Prospect watch 2011
- Thread starter asakkings
- Start date
Not a big fan of Henson's. I can't argue with his results, I just can't see a guy that skinny playing under the basket in the NBA. But who knows. Camby isn't the beefiest guy in the NBA. If Henson can develop a game away from the basket, then maybe I'd have a little more love for him.
Barnes is finally starting to excite me. 40 pts today on 12 of 17 shooting while goint 6 0f 8 from behind the arc. He even pulled down 8 boards. He was outstanding today. Although Kendall Marshall had trouble hitting his shots today, he still had 9 assists. Not one of his great games, but still better than most of the so called PG's in college. I'm really loving Barnes aggressiveness..
Barnes is finally starting to excite me. 40 pts today on 12 of 17 shooting while goint 6 0f 8 from behind the arc. He even pulled down 8 boards. He was outstanding today. Although Kendall Marshall had trouble hitting his shots today, he still had 9 assists. Not one of his great games, but still better than most of the so called PG's in college. I'm really loving Barnes aggressiveness..
After losing two games to New Mexico during the regular season, I guess Jimmer Fredette decided to take matters into his own hands yesterday. He racked up 52 points on 22 of 37 shooting. He was 7 for 14 from beyond the arc. Thats a lot of shots folks. But if he's making them at that high of a percentage, let him shoot. He normally leads the team in shot attempts, but even he doesn't usually take that many shots.
The strange part about the game is that Fredette usually goes to the freethrow line around 8 to 10 times a game, and sometimes as many as 15 to 18 times a game. In this game he only went to the line 1 time on a, and one. He's an a exciting player to watch.
The strange part about the game is that Fredette usually goes to the freethrow line around 8 to 10 times a game, and sometimes as many as 15 to 18 times a game. In this game he only went to the line 1 time on a, and one. He's an a exciting player to watch.
I want to throw some props to Kemba Walker. He's not one of my favorite players, but he is very talented. He had a great game as helped his UCONN Husky's win in overtime against Syracuse. He had 33 pts on 9 of 18 shooting. I believe he also had 12 rebounds, which is not bad for a little guy. He also had 5 assists, but added 4 turnovers. The kid is a great scorer, and when he gets hot, the other team is in trouble. If memory serves he also had 6 steals. It will be interesting to see how he matches up with NBA PG's. Especially defensively.
Kemba Walker has really turned himself into a player. Big Big step up from last year to this year. I didnt even see him as a real NBA player until this season. Props to him for putting in the work.
Two things I really like about Jimmer and Kemba is that they have been really clutch all season. Not afraid of the 'moment'. They want to close out games, and they have been able too. This team could certainly use players like that ... The Kings need closers. Its too bad both players are probly out of our pick range though .. I wouldnt take either guy with a top 4 pick.
Very excited to see Duke vs. UNC in about 10 minutes. If Barnes puts up big numbers again, this time against Duke .. Look out. Could be headed back into that #1 spot.
Either way, Barnes has cleary played himself back into the top 5 IMO. And right now, as far as guys I want on the Kings ( not really best player available, but my Kings wishlist ) I have Barnes at 2 with Irving ahead of him and Kanter behind him for my top 3.
One last point on Henson .. He is raw, but if he adds ALOT to his body, I see no reason why he cant be another Josh Smith. We have seen a lot of great athletes do nothing in the NBA .. Alot of these guys get drafted on defensive or offensive potential, but what I like about Henson is that he is already a really good defender. Everyone could look at a guy like Donte Greene in college, and see the physical tools and say that he could be a very good defender even though he didnt show anything on that side of the ball. Henson has all the tools and has actually proved himself on that end.
He'd be a gamble, but lets just say I like him more than someone like Aminu last year.
Two things I really like about Jimmer and Kemba is that they have been really clutch all season. Not afraid of the 'moment'. They want to close out games, and they have been able too. This team could certainly use players like that ... The Kings need closers. Its too bad both players are probly out of our pick range though .. I wouldnt take either guy with a top 4 pick.
Very excited to see Duke vs. UNC in about 10 minutes. If Barnes puts up big numbers again, this time against Duke .. Look out. Could be headed back into that #1 spot.
Either way, Barnes has cleary played himself back into the top 5 IMO. And right now, as far as guys I want on the Kings ( not really best player available, but my Kings wishlist ) I have Barnes at 2 with Irving ahead of him and Kanter behind him for my top 3.
One last point on Henson .. He is raw, but if he adds ALOT to his body, I see no reason why he cant be another Josh Smith. We have seen a lot of great athletes do nothing in the NBA .. Alot of these guys get drafted on defensive or offensive potential, but what I like about Henson is that he is already a really good defender. Everyone could look at a guy like Donte Greene in college, and see the physical tools and say that he could be a very good defender even though he didnt show anything on that side of the ball. Henson has all the tools and has actually proved himself on that end.
He'd be a gamble, but lets just say I like him more than someone like Aminu last year.
I have seen two games of Barnes. Early and the last game. Not the same guy. As much change as Cousins has made except in a different way, of course. THAT in itself says something about the man. So quick and graceful. A body that will fill out with muscle. He'll get a little taller although that's not crucial. Confidence. Did I say "confidence?" He carried a struggling team. He can attack the rim although not as well as the best. Still, not bad. Nice form on his shot. Good range. He'd make a good SF. Oh, wait.. 
As to using Greene as a measuring stick, don't draft a guy who has no desire to work on his game. Get a guy whose motor revs at a high rate and has a passion for improvement. Greene wants to have fun and with his natural tools, will have a nice long career sitting on one bench or another as he makes a tour of the league as the second or third person in trades.
As to using Greene as a measuring stick, don't draft a guy who has no desire to work on his game. Get a guy whose motor revs at a high rate and has a passion for improvement. Greene wants to have fun and with his natural tools, will have a nice long career sitting on one bench or another as he makes a tour of the league as the second or third person in trades.
I have seen two games of Barnes. Early and the last game. Not the same guy. As much change as Cousins has made except in a different way, of course. THAT in itself says something about the man. So quick and graceful. A body that will fill out with muscle. He'll get a little taller although that's not crucial. Confidence. Did I say "confidence?" He carried a struggling team. He can attack the rim although not as well as the best. Still, not bad. Nice form on his shot. Good range. He'd make a good SF. Oh, wait..
As to using Greene as a measuring stick, don't draft a guy who has no desire to work on his game. Get a guy whose motor revs at a high rate and has a passion for improvement. Greene wants to have fun and with his natural tools, will have a nice long career sitting on one bench or another as he makes a tour of the league as the second or third person in trades.
As to using Greene as a measuring stick, don't draft a guy who has no desire to work on his game. Get a guy whose motor revs at a high rate and has a passion for improvement. Greene wants to have fun and with his natural tools, will have a nice long career sitting on one bench or another as he makes a tour of the league as the second or third person in trades.
My question with Barnes is whether he can play the 2 spot in the NBA. I have no doubt he'll get stronger, but he doesn't have the biggest frame in the world, and physically looks more like a SG than a SF. He's a good athlete, but he's not a freak athlete. One thing I love of late, is his showing off some of his ballhandling skills. He's certainly moving back up my list. I'll have to see how he playes the rest of the way before locking him in the top five.
Not sure how we would aquire Henson. I wouldn't take him in the top 5. I wouldn't even take him in the top 10. I can't see him doing anything that Whiteside can't do. And Whiteside has a bigger frame. If he had any offensive skills at all, I'd be more interested. But at the moment he's a one trick pony. Not that there's not a need for that, its just that its not the Kings greatest need right now.
Was that just one game of ball handling? It seemed quite good. As to position, SG or SF, is it that crucial? I see your point but matchups may dictate what his position is in any given game. If we use a more modern and less constricting naming system and call him a wing, that might settle it. If SF means a wing that can rebound, we aren't particularly desperate for rebounders for the first time in, er, 25 years or so.
I have a bad feeling about Kemba mainly because of the team he is on and the cool name. Not sure he is a good pick where we might pick but I have seen him twice and unless I've got him confused with some one with a less cool name, he seemed to have the ball in his hands a lot.
I am not good at analyzing players at the college level and projecting ahead.
I have a bad feeling about Kemba mainly because of the team he is on and the cool name. Not sure he is a good pick where we might pick but I have seen him twice and unless I've got him confused with some one with a less cool name, he seemed to have the ball in his hands a lot.
I am not good at analyzing players at the college level and projecting ahead.
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I don't think Barnes will have a problem playing SG in the NBA if asked to do so. He's already got range on his jumpshot and he can create his own shot if need be. Those seem to be the two most important skills for that position. He hasn't handled the ball a lot this year because North Carolina's system didn't ask him to. I think he looks a little small for a SF too, but he's young. And anyway, he'll have to get stronger to play either position. That's an adjustment most rookies have to make.
The rumor today is that Kryie Irving might play in the tournament. Apparently he's been doing 5 on 0 drills. The next step is for him to actually practice with the team. I'm hopeful that he'll play. The first game would be a good time to start. Better to ease him back in against a number 16 seed, than a number 5 or 6 seed. Anyway, I've got my fingers crossed.
This is the best news I've heard in a long time. Only got to see him a couple times before the injury. Love his talent and ability, and the fact that he is so composed at this age says alot. Really smart kid, and has the personality, mentality and demeanour of a star (which is important). He'd be my number one.
My list from 11 to 20:
11. Kawhi Leonard: A sophmore, 6'7", SF. Leonard is an athletic do a little bit of everything type of player. Some would call him the glue player for SDSU. He's not great anything, but he's good at a lot of things. His shot from beyond the arc has improved greatly this year. But most of his offensive game comes from within 12 feet of the basket. He has a nice turn around jumper in the key, and he gets a lot of offensive putbacks. At first sight, he appears to be a very good garbage player, but after you watch him a while, you realize how talented he is. His biggest weakness, along with a consistent outside shot is his ballhandling. While not terrible, it definitely needs improvement. Leonard is a player thats hard to describe in terms of why you'd rank him this high, but he's a player you want on your team. He's a difference maker that always seems to impact the team in some way. He's a player with a lot of intangibles.
12. John Henson: A sophmore, 6'10", PF. If Henson weighed 250 pounds instead of 200 pounds, I'd have him ranked higher. If Henson had any type of offensive game away from the basket, I'd have him ranked higher. In fact, when you first look at Henson, and then look at his defensive and rebounding stats, your first thought is, you've got to be kidding. Non the less, defensively, he impacts just about any game he's in. I can see him as a weakside helper almost immediately in the NBA. What I can't see, is him matching up against some of the bigger, and stronger PF's in the NBA. Henson runs the floor very well and has quick feet. He's a very good shotblocker and extremely good rebounder. Almost all of his offense comes at the basket, and to be fair, he has a very nice touch around the basket. He also has good hands, handles the ball well, and is a decent passer. At the next level, he needs to add considerable strength, and develop a game away from the basket. He could be a surprise player in the future.
13. Brandon Knight: A freshman, 6'3", PG. Knight has a lot of tools. Whoever drafts him is going to get a very good basketball player for the future. The only thing holding Knight back are his mistakes. He has very good size for the position. He's very quick, and more quick than fast. He can play both ends of the floor extremely well. He's a very good defensive player with good lateral movement. He's very good at staying in front of his man. Offensively is where he shines. He's a terrific shooter from beyond the arc, but is also good at driving the lane to either finish or dish. He has an excellent mid-range game, which I wish he would use more. His weakness is in forcing something when its not there, and to be honest, there are many times when the entire load of putting points on the board seems to fall on his shoulders. He needs to work on his ballhandling, which is good, but could be better, and would help him in creating his own shot, or driving and dishing. Adding more muscle and getting stronger would also help. On the whole, I really like Knight, and he may be the next best PG in the draft.
14. Jordan Hamilton: A sophmore, 6'7", SF/SG. One of my favorites that has really stepped up his game from his freshman year. He's an athletic jack of all trades type of player, and may be the best player on the Texas team. He's a good, and willing, but not a great defender. I think he lacks a little lateral quickness, at least when it comes to guarding some of the quicker SG's in the NBA. He's a very strong player and rebounds extremely well for a player of his size. On most nights he's the leading rebounder on the team. He just has a nose for the ball. He has an outstanding mid-range game, which he doesn't exploit nearly enough. He's a good outside shooter, but tends to be streaky from there. And while he's good at finishing around the basket, its here that he tends to get in trouble. He has a bad habit of driving into traffic with nowhere to go. Thus his turnover rate is higher than it should be. He also needs to get more arc on his jumpshot. It tends to get very flat at times. Almost all of his problems are correctable. I think he has a bright future in the NBA.
15. Chris Singleton: A junior, 6'9", SF. Singleton is out with an ankle injury, so you won't be watching him play for Florida St. Singleton is one of the most athletic players in college, and may be the best defensive player in college. If your looking for a lockdown defender at the SF, PF, SG, and at times PG position, he's your guy. He has very quick feet, and great length. He'll remind you of Ron Artest at times with his quick hands. Singleton is also very strong in the upper body and rebounds well. Offensively, its a different matter. He's not a terrible offensive player. He just doesn't have that nice soft touch around the basket that you'd like. His mid-range jumpshot is good enough to keep people honest. His biggest improvement has been the development of his spot up three point shot. Like Doug Christie, when he's set and has his body squared up, he's very accurate from there. He's not someone that can come off a screen and shoot. So offensively, at least at the moment, he has limitations. But what he does bring to the game overshadows those limitations.
16. Markieff Morris: A junior, 6'10", PF. I know most people will have his twin brother Marcus ranked higher than him. I just happen to like Markieff's game more. I think he's a better man defender, and he's definitely a better rebounder. To be honest, both their games are similar with the offensive edge going to Marcus. Both have decent to good post games, and both have a nice mid-range game. What holds back both guys is their athleticism. While Markieff is a decent to good athlete, he's not going to wow anyone from that point of view. He's a fundamentally sound player that has good basketball IQ. He's very strong, and tends to have a little mean streak in him, which I like. I'm having a hard time with Markieff's potential. What you see now, may be what you have. He could become a less athletic version of David West, or he could be a more aggressive version of Sheldon Williams. My gut tells me to lean in the David West direction, with a little less offense.
17. Kenneth Faried: A senior, 6'8", PF/SF. Anyone thats taken the time to watch this kid play has fallen in love with him. I would take him on my team anytime, anywhere. Faried is a freak athlete that runs like the wind, jumps like superman, is far stronger than he appears, and plays with the intensity of Gengis Khan on uppers. He is the best rebounder in all of college basketball and is the all time NCAA record holder for four year players, having surpassed Tim Duncan. He is an outstanding defensive player that will simply wow you with his quickness and ability to get into passing lanes. He's a great shotblocker who plays much taller than his 6'8". In my humble opinion, he can guard all five positions on the floor, and at times he appears to do all at the same time. His limitations come on the offensive side of the ball. Most of his scoring comes at the basket, and most on offensive putbacks. But he does have a decent post game and has a nice touch around the basket. He is the best player on Moorehead St. and is double and triple teamed the minute he touches the ball, so its hard to know just how good his offense is. Personally I think he has tremendous potential, and that includes offensively.
18. Jeff Taylor: A junior, 6'6" SG/SF. Taylor may be the best defensive SG in the draft. He's a lockdown defender, pure and simple. If Taylor's offensive game matched his defensive game, he'd be a top 10 pick. He's a very good athlete with good quickness and has outstanding anticipation on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, he does show promise. He has a nice looking jumpshot, and is very accurate from mid-range. Its from beyond the arc that he suffers. He'll go 3 for 6 one night, and then go 0 for 8 the next. Unfortunately there are more of the latter than the former. He tends to shoot off balance at times, and he also tends to force shots at times. All of which lead to bad shooting stats. I still think that Taylor has the potential to be a very good player in the NBA. Most of his weaknesses are correctable. He's a very good athlete, and plays with aggression. He's one of those guys that two or three years from now you'll wish you drafted.
19. Tristan Thompson: A freshman, 6'9" PF. Thompson is the next best player on the Texas team after Hamilton. He's a big strong kid that has really grown as the season has progressed. He has very long arms and good anticipation on blocking shots around the basket. He's a good, but not a great athlete, but is capable of playing above the rim. His defensive technique has really improved and his foul rate has gone down. He's far from a finished product however. Offensively he's mostly a post player. At times it appears he's not sure what he's doing and gets by on strength alone. He has developed a nice little turn around jumper in the key from around 8 to 10 feet. He also has a nice little side pop along the baseline. I don't think he's NBA ready yet and would be best served by staying in college another year. He's had a very nice freshman year, and if he can build on that for next year, he'll see his name up at the top of the draft board.
20. Marcus Morris: A junior, 6'9", PF. Think Markieff with more offense, and less defense and rebounding, and you have Marcus. So its sort of, pick your poison. Marcus has a game similar to Boozer with less quickness, and fewer rebounds. He likes to take his 15 to 18 foot jumpshot, but he can also take it to the basket. He has a good post game, but isn't a good leaper. So he has to be a little more craftty around the basket. He's very strong, and has decent hands. Like his brother, he has a little mean streak in him, and has been accused of being a dirty player at times.
I wish I could be more enthusiastic about the Morris twins. They just don't wow me, and I could be dead wrong about them. There's no denying the results they get. I see both of them having NBA careers, but I don't see either of them as stars. Both appear to me as role players at the next level. Nothing wrong with that. Every team needs good role players. I also tend to think that Markieff has the best chance of being a starter in the NBA.
Final 10 later::::::
11. Kawhi Leonard: A sophmore, 6'7", SF. Leonard is an athletic do a little bit of everything type of player. Some would call him the glue player for SDSU. He's not great anything, but he's good at a lot of things. His shot from beyond the arc has improved greatly this year. But most of his offensive game comes from within 12 feet of the basket. He has a nice turn around jumper in the key, and he gets a lot of offensive putbacks. At first sight, he appears to be a very good garbage player, but after you watch him a while, you realize how talented he is. His biggest weakness, along with a consistent outside shot is his ballhandling. While not terrible, it definitely needs improvement. Leonard is a player thats hard to describe in terms of why you'd rank him this high, but he's a player you want on your team. He's a difference maker that always seems to impact the team in some way. He's a player with a lot of intangibles.
12. John Henson: A sophmore, 6'10", PF. If Henson weighed 250 pounds instead of 200 pounds, I'd have him ranked higher. If Henson had any type of offensive game away from the basket, I'd have him ranked higher. In fact, when you first look at Henson, and then look at his defensive and rebounding stats, your first thought is, you've got to be kidding. Non the less, defensively, he impacts just about any game he's in. I can see him as a weakside helper almost immediately in the NBA. What I can't see, is him matching up against some of the bigger, and stronger PF's in the NBA. Henson runs the floor very well and has quick feet. He's a very good shotblocker and extremely good rebounder. Almost all of his offense comes at the basket, and to be fair, he has a very nice touch around the basket. He also has good hands, handles the ball well, and is a decent passer. At the next level, he needs to add considerable strength, and develop a game away from the basket. He could be a surprise player in the future.
13. Brandon Knight: A freshman, 6'3", PG. Knight has a lot of tools. Whoever drafts him is going to get a very good basketball player for the future. The only thing holding Knight back are his mistakes. He has very good size for the position. He's very quick, and more quick than fast. He can play both ends of the floor extremely well. He's a very good defensive player with good lateral movement. He's very good at staying in front of his man. Offensively is where he shines. He's a terrific shooter from beyond the arc, but is also good at driving the lane to either finish or dish. He has an excellent mid-range game, which I wish he would use more. His weakness is in forcing something when its not there, and to be honest, there are many times when the entire load of putting points on the board seems to fall on his shoulders. He needs to work on his ballhandling, which is good, but could be better, and would help him in creating his own shot, or driving and dishing. Adding more muscle and getting stronger would also help. On the whole, I really like Knight, and he may be the next best PG in the draft.
14. Jordan Hamilton: A sophmore, 6'7", SF/SG. One of my favorites that has really stepped up his game from his freshman year. He's an athletic jack of all trades type of player, and may be the best player on the Texas team. He's a good, and willing, but not a great defender. I think he lacks a little lateral quickness, at least when it comes to guarding some of the quicker SG's in the NBA. He's a very strong player and rebounds extremely well for a player of his size. On most nights he's the leading rebounder on the team. He just has a nose for the ball. He has an outstanding mid-range game, which he doesn't exploit nearly enough. He's a good outside shooter, but tends to be streaky from there. And while he's good at finishing around the basket, its here that he tends to get in trouble. He has a bad habit of driving into traffic with nowhere to go. Thus his turnover rate is higher than it should be. He also needs to get more arc on his jumpshot. It tends to get very flat at times. Almost all of his problems are correctable. I think he has a bright future in the NBA.
15. Chris Singleton: A junior, 6'9", SF. Singleton is out with an ankle injury, so you won't be watching him play for Florida St. Singleton is one of the most athletic players in college, and may be the best defensive player in college. If your looking for a lockdown defender at the SF, PF, SG, and at times PG position, he's your guy. He has very quick feet, and great length. He'll remind you of Ron Artest at times with his quick hands. Singleton is also very strong in the upper body and rebounds well. Offensively, its a different matter. He's not a terrible offensive player. He just doesn't have that nice soft touch around the basket that you'd like. His mid-range jumpshot is good enough to keep people honest. His biggest improvement has been the development of his spot up three point shot. Like Doug Christie, when he's set and has his body squared up, he's very accurate from there. He's not someone that can come off a screen and shoot. So offensively, at least at the moment, he has limitations. But what he does bring to the game overshadows those limitations.
16. Markieff Morris: A junior, 6'10", PF. I know most people will have his twin brother Marcus ranked higher than him. I just happen to like Markieff's game more. I think he's a better man defender, and he's definitely a better rebounder. To be honest, both their games are similar with the offensive edge going to Marcus. Both have decent to good post games, and both have a nice mid-range game. What holds back both guys is their athleticism. While Markieff is a decent to good athlete, he's not going to wow anyone from that point of view. He's a fundamentally sound player that has good basketball IQ. He's very strong, and tends to have a little mean streak in him, which I like. I'm having a hard time with Markieff's potential. What you see now, may be what you have. He could become a less athletic version of David West, or he could be a more aggressive version of Sheldon Williams. My gut tells me to lean in the David West direction, with a little less offense.
17. Kenneth Faried: A senior, 6'8", PF/SF. Anyone thats taken the time to watch this kid play has fallen in love with him. I would take him on my team anytime, anywhere. Faried is a freak athlete that runs like the wind, jumps like superman, is far stronger than he appears, and plays with the intensity of Gengis Khan on uppers. He is the best rebounder in all of college basketball and is the all time NCAA record holder for four year players, having surpassed Tim Duncan. He is an outstanding defensive player that will simply wow you with his quickness and ability to get into passing lanes. He's a great shotblocker who plays much taller than his 6'8". In my humble opinion, he can guard all five positions on the floor, and at times he appears to do all at the same time. His limitations come on the offensive side of the ball. Most of his scoring comes at the basket, and most on offensive putbacks. But he does have a decent post game and has a nice touch around the basket. He is the best player on Moorehead St. and is double and triple teamed the minute he touches the ball, so its hard to know just how good his offense is. Personally I think he has tremendous potential, and that includes offensively.
18. Jeff Taylor: A junior, 6'6" SG/SF. Taylor may be the best defensive SG in the draft. He's a lockdown defender, pure and simple. If Taylor's offensive game matched his defensive game, he'd be a top 10 pick. He's a very good athlete with good quickness and has outstanding anticipation on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, he does show promise. He has a nice looking jumpshot, and is very accurate from mid-range. Its from beyond the arc that he suffers. He'll go 3 for 6 one night, and then go 0 for 8 the next. Unfortunately there are more of the latter than the former. He tends to shoot off balance at times, and he also tends to force shots at times. All of which lead to bad shooting stats. I still think that Taylor has the potential to be a very good player in the NBA. Most of his weaknesses are correctable. He's a very good athlete, and plays with aggression. He's one of those guys that two or three years from now you'll wish you drafted.
19. Tristan Thompson: A freshman, 6'9" PF. Thompson is the next best player on the Texas team after Hamilton. He's a big strong kid that has really grown as the season has progressed. He has very long arms and good anticipation on blocking shots around the basket. He's a good, but not a great athlete, but is capable of playing above the rim. His defensive technique has really improved and his foul rate has gone down. He's far from a finished product however. Offensively he's mostly a post player. At times it appears he's not sure what he's doing and gets by on strength alone. He has developed a nice little turn around jumper in the key from around 8 to 10 feet. He also has a nice little side pop along the baseline. I don't think he's NBA ready yet and would be best served by staying in college another year. He's had a very nice freshman year, and if he can build on that for next year, he'll see his name up at the top of the draft board.
20. Marcus Morris: A junior, 6'9", PF. Think Markieff with more offense, and less defense and rebounding, and you have Marcus. So its sort of, pick your poison. Marcus has a game similar to Boozer with less quickness, and fewer rebounds. He likes to take his 15 to 18 foot jumpshot, but he can also take it to the basket. He has a good post game, but isn't a good leaper. So he has to be a little more craftty around the basket. He's very strong, and has decent hands. Like his brother, he has a little mean streak in him, and has been accused of being a dirty player at times.
I wish I could be more enthusiastic about the Morris twins. They just don't wow me, and I could be dead wrong about them. There's no denying the results they get. I see both of them having NBA careers, but I don't see either of them as stars. Both appear to me as role players at the next level. Nothing wrong with that. Every team needs good role players. I also tend to think that Markieff has the best chance of being a starter in the NBA.
Final 10 later::::::
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I mean't for my top 30 list to be here, so it will probably be out of sequence. Non the less, here it is..
I going to see if I can't work my way through my current top 30 players. The only non USA player I have on my list is Enes Kanter and thats because he's a consensus top 5 pick. My list has nothing to do with where I think these players will actually be drafted. I just have them in my personal order of perference.
1. Kyrie Irving: A freshman, 6'2" PG from Duke. He's just now recovering from a toe injury, and may be back for the tournament. He only played in 8 games before the injury, and I only saw 3 three of those games. Irving is a more prototypical PG. By that I mean, he thinks pass first. He's a very good athlete and is very quick. I wouldn't put him in the John Wall or Derrick Rose realm of quickness, but he's very close. He has excellent court vision and is a very good passer. Unlike Wall, he has a good outside shot and is also good at driving to the basket to either finish, or dish. He plays more under control than Wall did, thus he doesn't turn the ball over as much. He is the best PG in the draft, and possibly the first pick in the draft.
2. Derrick Williams: A sophmore, 6'8", SF/PF from Arizona. I see Williams as a SF at the next level. Perhaps thats wishful thinking on my part since I think its a position of need for the Kings. He's an above average athlete who is comfortable playing just about anywhere on the floor. He has an excellent jumpshot out to 3 point range, but also has a very good post game. He's an excellent rebounder and handles the ball fairly well for a guy his size. He has excellent basketball IQ, and is someone I would call a closer. He knows how to win games with the clock running out. He leads all of college in 3 point shooting percentage, although he doesn't take that many shots from there. At the college level he's a good defender. He appears to have good lateral quickness, so there's no reason he can't be a good defender at the next level. There aren't many players in this draft that I would feel confident in saying, your looking at a future star. But Williams is one of those. I would include Irving in that small group as well.
3. Jared Sullinger: A freshman, 6'9", PF from Ohio St. Sullinger is your classic PF. At 270 pounds and very strong, he dominates in most games in the post. His technique around the basket is almost picture perfect. He has a very strong lower body, and he knows how to use it. He almost always leads his post move with his hips and never drops his shoulder into the defender. He's a terrific rebounder and he's not a bad passer out of the double. Defensively, he's a good man defender and is hard to move off his defensive position. If he has a downside, its that he's a below the rim player. If I had to make a comparison, it would be Al Jefferson. I'm curious to see what his true height is at the combine. I have no doubt he'll be a good player at the next level. I'm just not sure how good. He's very young, and already seems polished in areas that take other players years. I'm not predicting stardom, but its possible.
4. Enes Kanter: A 19 year old, 6'11", center. I saw him play in two games agains United States highschoolers. In those two games, he was the best player on the floor and simply dominated. He reminded me of Cousins at the time, and still does. He has good hands and is very strong. His entire game is around the basket and he's very physical. Like Cousins, his game is below the rim. He has an abundance of post moves, and is a very good rebounder. In the two games I saw, he appeared to have little or no game away from the basket. Doesn't mean he doesn't, it just means I didn't see it. Defensively, its hard to say. Both the games I saw were typical, undisciplined all star type of games. So who know's?
5. Harrison Barnes: A freshman, 6'8", SF. After hiding all year behind his press clippings, he finally showed up in the last 10 games. Its almost as if I'm watching a completely different player. And I like the one I'm seeing now. He has a picture perfect jumpshot with range out beyond the arc. He's also showed off some ballhandling skills of late which leads me to believe he could play some SG as well. He's a good, but not an freak athlete. He appears to have very good lateral movement, which would bode well for the defensive side of the ball. He's a decent rebounder, but so far, nothing to write home about. Physcially he has a small frame, which makes me wonder how he'll stand up against some of the stronger SF's in the NBA. He's one of the youngest, if not the youngest player in college basketball, so there's plenty of time for him to add muscle. It wasn't that long ago that I had him all the way down to 16 on my list. So he's made a huge jump back into the top 5 with me.
6. Terrence Jones: A freshman, 6'8", SF. Terrence is an interesting player. He's one of those guys thats either going to be an impact player and a star, or just decent role player. He excites me on certain levels, and disappoints me on others. Perhaps because I see so much potential in him. He's a very good defender and especially good as a weakside shot blocker. He handles the ball like a guard. Its not often that you see player his size with handles like that. He's a very good athlete and is a quick leaper. He has good length, which helps him on defense. He's also very strong and physcial around the basket, and is a good rebounder. Offensively, most of his scoring comes from within 10 feet of the basket. His jumpshot leaves a lot to be desired and will need a total makeover at the next level. Surprisingly, he has good touch on his jumper, and makes more than you would think. So there's hope! He plays with a lot of intensity, which sometimes leads to his being somewhat tempermental. If he can develop a good outside game, he can be a star in this league. At worse, he can be a lockdown defender.
7. Alec Burks: A sophmore, 6'6", SG. I probably have Burks ranked higher than most. I just like the kid. I see a lot of potential. He's a very good athlete with great quickness and leaping ability. At the college level he's a good defender. At the next level, he'll need to add strength in order to match up with the Ray Allens of the world. He has a good jumpshot, but is very erratic with it. Especially from beyond the arc. He has a good mid-range game, but has the habit of fading away at times and leaving the shot short. All correctable things. I'm high on him because I've seen him take over games, and the first thing I look for is whether a player impacts the game, and then how often. He has that ability. He also needs to work on his ballhandling, which hinders his ability to create his own shot at times. He tends to be a little one handed. With work, I see him as a two way player.
8. Perry Jones: A freshman, 6'11", SF. Perry, Perry, Perry! Just where is your head. This kid came into the season as the most highly touted player, and has ended up being the biggest disappointment. Think Donte Greene with twice as much talent, and you have him. So far he's been an underaccheiver surpreme. This kid can run like a deer, dribble and pass like a point guard, jump out of the building, and has a picture perfect jumpshot. And he has the intensity of a lump of coal. I think I've seen two games all year that I can say he had any impact on the game. And I've seen Baylor play over 20 times this year. Jones has the most potential of any player in college this year, and he's done nothing to display any of it. He plays token defense, and to be fair, Baylor plays a 2/3 zone, so its hard to make a decent judgement. He's a rebounder of convenience. If the ball bounces to him, he grabs it. But he seldom goes out of his zone for a rebound. He's a great passer, but doesn't rack up many assists. He handles the ball extremely well, but seldom uses it to create his own shot, or attack the basket. He scares me. I'm afraid to draft him because I'm afraid that what I see is what I get. And I'm afraid to not draft him, because I'm afraid the light will go in his head, and he'll become a superstar, because he has the much talent.
9. Kemba Walker: A Junior, 6'0", PG. Kemba reminds me a lot of Allen Iverson, and since I wasn't a big fan of Iverson, I haven't been a fan surpreme of Walker's. However, my personal bias aside, he's a very talented player. Offensively he has a terrific pullup mid-range jumper. He's also lightning quick, and if his defender turns his head for a second, he'll be by you on his way to the basket. He's a very good athlete, and despite his lack of height, he has no problem at all dunking the ball. He's not as creative a finisher as one would like and gets his shot blocked more than you would like. Its his shot from beyond the arc thats erratic. Its either on, or its off. The problem with Kemba, is that at times, he doesn't seem to know the difference. Thus, you'll get some games with 6 out of 20 from the floor at times. He's a good passer, but doesn't rack up as many assists as you would like, and unfortunately turns the ball over too much. Now all of these things are correctable, so I'm sure someone will take Kemba fairly high. PG's and Centers are at a premium, so you've got to take a shot when a good one comes along. When I said he's not one of my favorites, its because I don't see him as a good fit for the Kings. He's fun to watch though. And he plays with surpreme confidence.
10. Jimmer Fredette: A senior, 6'2", PF/SG. Fredette is a shooter surpreme. He can be unconcious at times shooting from 10 to 15 feet beyond the three point line, and making them. They showed him in warmups before one of the games shooting from half court for fun, and making around 7 of 10 from there. If your playing against him and he gets hot, your in serious trouble. The thing I love about Fredette, is that he seems to know instinctively when his shot is off, and he'll start taking the ball to the basket, where he'll either finish or dish to a teammate. Despite being known for his shooting, he's turned himself into a pretty good PG. He does tend to force things at time and it gets him into trouble and usually leads to a turnover. A lot of his turnovers are a result of being hounded and doubled and sometimes tripled every time the ball touches his hands. As a result a lot of his shots are off balance. He's a player that will see the NBA as a welcome sight where they can't mug you without a foul being called. The huge question hanging over Fredette is whether he can play defense at the next level. If the scouts thought he could, he'd be a top five pick. I think he's a better athlete than he's being give credit for. How that translates, we'll see..
The next ten later:::::
I going to see if I can't work my way through my current top 30 players. The only non USA player I have on my list is Enes Kanter and thats because he's a consensus top 5 pick. My list has nothing to do with where I think these players will actually be drafted. I just have them in my personal order of perference.
1. Kyrie Irving: A freshman, 6'2" PG from Duke. He's just now recovering from a toe injury, and may be back for the tournament. He only played in 8 games before the injury, and I only saw 3 three of those games. Irving is a more prototypical PG. By that I mean, he thinks pass first. He's a very good athlete and is very quick. I wouldn't put him in the John Wall or Derrick Rose realm of quickness, but he's very close. He has excellent court vision and is a very good passer. Unlike Wall, he has a good outside shot and is also good at driving to the basket to either finish, or dish. He plays more under control than Wall did, thus he doesn't turn the ball over as much. He is the best PG in the draft, and possibly the first pick in the draft.
2. Derrick Williams: A sophmore, 6'8", SF/PF from Arizona. I see Williams as a SF at the next level. Perhaps thats wishful thinking on my part since I think its a position of need for the Kings. He's an above average athlete who is comfortable playing just about anywhere on the floor. He has an excellent jumpshot out to 3 point range, but also has a very good post game. He's an excellent rebounder and handles the ball fairly well for a guy his size. He has excellent basketball IQ, and is someone I would call a closer. He knows how to win games with the clock running out. He leads all of college in 3 point shooting percentage, although he doesn't take that many shots from there. At the college level he's a good defender. He appears to have good lateral quickness, so there's no reason he can't be a good defender at the next level. There aren't many players in this draft that I would feel confident in saying, your looking at a future star. But Williams is one of those. I would include Irving in that small group as well.
3. Jared Sullinger: A freshman, 6'9", PF from Ohio St. Sullinger is your classic PF. At 270 pounds and very strong, he dominates in most games in the post. His technique around the basket is almost picture perfect. He has a very strong lower body, and he knows how to use it. He almost always leads his post move with his hips and never drops his shoulder into the defender. He's a terrific rebounder and he's not a bad passer out of the double. Defensively, he's a good man defender and is hard to move off his defensive position. If he has a downside, its that he's a below the rim player. If I had to make a comparison, it would be Al Jefferson. I'm curious to see what his true height is at the combine. I have no doubt he'll be a good player at the next level. I'm just not sure how good. He's very young, and already seems polished in areas that take other players years. I'm not predicting stardom, but its possible.
4. Enes Kanter: A 19 year old, 6'11", center. I saw him play in two games agains United States highschoolers. In those two games, he was the best player on the floor and simply dominated. He reminded me of Cousins at the time, and still does. He has good hands and is very strong. His entire game is around the basket and he's very physical. Like Cousins, his game is below the rim. He has an abundance of post moves, and is a very good rebounder. In the two games I saw, he appeared to have little or no game away from the basket. Doesn't mean he doesn't, it just means I didn't see it. Defensively, its hard to say. Both the games I saw were typical, undisciplined all star type of games. So who know's?
5. Harrison Barnes: A freshman, 6'8", SF. After hiding all year behind his press clippings, he finally showed up in the last 10 games. Its almost as if I'm watching a completely different player. And I like the one I'm seeing now. He has a picture perfect jumpshot with range out beyond the arc. He's also showed off some ballhandling skills of late which leads me to believe he could play some SG as well. He's a good, but not an freak athlete. He appears to have very good lateral movement, which would bode well for the defensive side of the ball. He's a decent rebounder, but so far, nothing to write home about. Physcially he has a small frame, which makes me wonder how he'll stand up against some of the stronger SF's in the NBA. He's one of the youngest, if not the youngest player in college basketball, so there's plenty of time for him to add muscle. It wasn't that long ago that I had him all the way down to 16 on my list. So he's made a huge jump back into the top 5 with me.
6. Terrence Jones: A freshman, 6'8", SF. Terrence is an interesting player. He's one of those guys thats either going to be an impact player and a star, or just decent role player. He excites me on certain levels, and disappoints me on others. Perhaps because I see so much potential in him. He's a very good defender and especially good as a weakside shot blocker. He handles the ball like a guard. Its not often that you see player his size with handles like that. He's a very good athlete and is a quick leaper. He has good length, which helps him on defense. He's also very strong and physcial around the basket, and is a good rebounder. Offensively, most of his scoring comes from within 10 feet of the basket. His jumpshot leaves a lot to be desired and will need a total makeover at the next level. Surprisingly, he has good touch on his jumper, and makes more than you would think. So there's hope! He plays with a lot of intensity, which sometimes leads to his being somewhat tempermental. If he can develop a good outside game, he can be a star in this league. At worse, he can be a lockdown defender.
7. Alec Burks: A sophmore, 6'6", SG. I probably have Burks ranked higher than most. I just like the kid. I see a lot of potential. He's a very good athlete with great quickness and leaping ability. At the college level he's a good defender. At the next level, he'll need to add strength in order to match up with the Ray Allens of the world. He has a good jumpshot, but is very erratic with it. Especially from beyond the arc. He has a good mid-range game, but has the habit of fading away at times and leaving the shot short. All correctable things. I'm high on him because I've seen him take over games, and the first thing I look for is whether a player impacts the game, and then how often. He has that ability. He also needs to work on his ballhandling, which hinders his ability to create his own shot at times. He tends to be a little one handed. With work, I see him as a two way player.
8. Perry Jones: A freshman, 6'11", SF. Perry, Perry, Perry! Just where is your head. This kid came into the season as the most highly touted player, and has ended up being the biggest disappointment. Think Donte Greene with twice as much talent, and you have him. So far he's been an underaccheiver surpreme. This kid can run like a deer, dribble and pass like a point guard, jump out of the building, and has a picture perfect jumpshot. And he has the intensity of a lump of coal. I think I've seen two games all year that I can say he had any impact on the game. And I've seen Baylor play over 20 times this year. Jones has the most potential of any player in college this year, and he's done nothing to display any of it. He plays token defense, and to be fair, Baylor plays a 2/3 zone, so its hard to make a decent judgement. He's a rebounder of convenience. If the ball bounces to him, he grabs it. But he seldom goes out of his zone for a rebound. He's a great passer, but doesn't rack up many assists. He handles the ball extremely well, but seldom uses it to create his own shot, or attack the basket. He scares me. I'm afraid to draft him because I'm afraid that what I see is what I get. And I'm afraid to not draft him, because I'm afraid the light will go in his head, and he'll become a superstar, because he has the much talent.
9. Kemba Walker: A Junior, 6'0", PG. Kemba reminds me a lot of Allen Iverson, and since I wasn't a big fan of Iverson, I haven't been a fan surpreme of Walker's. However, my personal bias aside, he's a very talented player. Offensively he has a terrific pullup mid-range jumper. He's also lightning quick, and if his defender turns his head for a second, he'll be by you on his way to the basket. He's a very good athlete, and despite his lack of height, he has no problem at all dunking the ball. He's not as creative a finisher as one would like and gets his shot blocked more than you would like. Its his shot from beyond the arc thats erratic. Its either on, or its off. The problem with Kemba, is that at times, he doesn't seem to know the difference. Thus, you'll get some games with 6 out of 20 from the floor at times. He's a good passer, but doesn't rack up as many assists as you would like, and unfortunately turns the ball over too much. Now all of these things are correctable, so I'm sure someone will take Kemba fairly high. PG's and Centers are at a premium, so you've got to take a shot when a good one comes along. When I said he's not one of my favorites, its because I don't see him as a good fit for the Kings. He's fun to watch though. And he plays with surpreme confidence.
10. Jimmer Fredette: A senior, 6'2", PF/SG. Fredette is a shooter surpreme. He can be unconcious at times shooting from 10 to 15 feet beyond the three point line, and making them. They showed him in warmups before one of the games shooting from half court for fun, and making around 7 of 10 from there. If your playing against him and he gets hot, your in serious trouble. The thing I love about Fredette, is that he seems to know instinctively when his shot is off, and he'll start taking the ball to the basket, where he'll either finish or dish to a teammate. Despite being known for his shooting, he's turned himself into a pretty good PG. He does tend to force things at time and it gets him into trouble and usually leads to a turnover. A lot of his turnovers are a result of being hounded and doubled and sometimes tripled every time the ball touches his hands. As a result a lot of his shots are off balance. He's a player that will see the NBA as a welcome sight where they can't mug you without a foul being called. The huge question hanging over Fredette is whether he can play defense at the next level. If the scouts thought he could, he'd be a top five pick. I think he's a better athlete than he's being give credit for. How that translates, we'll see..
The next ten later:::::
Well if you read what I had to say about him, you saw that my ranking was based purely on his production, and not how much I liked him. My problem with him is that I just can't convince myself that he'll be able to rebound like that in the NBA. You just know he's going to get pushed around under the basket. The kid has to get a lot stronger.
If I were to go purely on my gut, I wouldn't have Perry Jones ranked as high as I do, because he's done absolutely nothing to earn that high a ranking.
If I were to go purely on my gut, I wouldn't have Perry Jones ranked as high as I do, because he's done absolutely nothing to earn that high a ranking.
Irving, Valanciunas, and Sullinger are the only guys in this draft that I'm fairly high on. Barnes and Kanter are two wait-and-see's.
John Henson makes me sad, he's one of those guys that just has great talent, but just may never have the body to make it at his true position. It's too bad. If he had a bigger frame and an exra 40-50 lbs, he'd probably be the 1st or 2nd pick in this draft.
John Henson makes me sad, he's one of those guys that just has great talent, but just may never have the body to make it at his true position. It's too bad. If he had a bigger frame and an exra 40-50 lbs, he'd probably be the 1st or 2nd pick in this draft.
Yeah, I think I said that if he weighed 250 instead of 200, he'd be a top five pick. I really can't comment on Valanciunas since I haven't seen him play. Obviously a lot of scouts are very high on him. I've seen the usual youtube video's etc., but never seen him play in a game. I really like Derrick Williams a lot, and I assume were talking about top 5 picks here. He's just a fundamentally sound player with surprising athleticism. He reminds me a lot athleticly of Griffin, in the sense that he just doesn't show it off all that much. And then all of a sudden he'll explode to the ball for a rebound and you go wow, where did that come from. Griffin was similar at Oklahoma. I had people on this fourm try to tell me he wasn't that athletic. And I can see why, because he just didn't have it on display all the time.
I don't know if you've had a chance to see Kenneth Faried play Vlade, but he plays tomorrow against Louisville and trust me, he's worth watching. He's not a great offensive player, but it doesn't matter. He's a kid that won't just wow you once or twice in a game. He'll wow you every 5 or 6 minutes. He might be the best athlete in the draft, and he plays with an 800 horsepower motor.
I'm also higher on Terrence Jones than most people are. His strange shooting motion aside, he's a very skilled player. He handles the ball extremely well. He's a very good passer. He's a very good rebounder. And he's a very good defender and shotblocker. I've seen him play so many times it almost becomes a big blurr. But I think he's going to be a very good player in the NBA. Not right away, but give him a year or two.
I don't know if you've had a chance to see Kenneth Faried play Vlade, but he plays tomorrow against Louisville and trust me, he's worth watching. He's not a great offensive player, but it doesn't matter. He's a kid that won't just wow you once or twice in a game. He'll wow you every 5 or 6 minutes. He might be the best athlete in the draft, and he plays with an 800 horsepower motor.
I'm also higher on Terrence Jones than most people are. His strange shooting motion aside, he's a very skilled player. He handles the ball extremely well. He's a very good passer. He's a very good rebounder. And he's a very good defender and shotblocker. I've seen him play so many times it almost becomes a big blurr. But I think he's going to be a very good player in the NBA. Not right away, but give him a year or two.
I listened to over an hour of Chad Ford on ESPN radio the other day. Most of the conversation was draft related. So as best I can remember it. His two favorite players to watch play are Jimmer Fredette and Kemba Walker. He said that he thinks Fredette will be a better all around PG in the NBA because he has better court vision and has more of the mentality of a PG. He pointed out that Fredette averages more assists than Walker, and has fewer options to pass to. He said the major difference between Fredette and Walker is that at UCONN, Walker is the main offensive weapon, and that at BYU, Fredette is the only offensive weapon. I should point out that Ford teaches at BYU, so there could be just the wee bit of bias.
As to Walker's height, he said that when he interviewed Walker in Hawaii that he (Ford) who is 6'2" had to look down at Walker. He guessed that at best he' around 5'10".
On Sullinger, he compared him to a cross between Boozer and Brand. And like Brand, he has very long arms. But unlike Brand, he doesn't block many shots. He thinks he'll be a good player, but not a great player. He said the scouts didn't like the fact that Sullinger gets a lot of his shots blocked in college, which will only increase in the NBA.
Perry Jones is considered the biggest chance to grab a superstar, or grab a bust. He said one scout told him that some GM will probably gamble on Jones with a high pick. He said there are GM's that would rather gamble on taking a superstar with a high pick, than taking a sure pick that you know will only be a role player. He said one scout rated Jones chances of becoming a star at 17%. Please don't ask me how he came to that number.
He said that five of the top scouts that he trusted the most all said that the one player that they belive will end up being the best player taken in the draft when its all said and done, will be Terrence Jones. They said that aside from his being tempermental at times and taking a play off now and then because of his being tempermental, that he was one of the most skilled players in the draft.
He said that just about every team he talked to had Derrick Williams in their top 5. Interestingly, he said that he didn't think that Kyrie Irving would be as great as some of the previous PG's to come out. He said he wasn't in the same class as Wall or Rose, and certainly not Paul. He never elaborated on why, but it kind of surprised me. On the whole he didn't think that there were any clear cut superstars in the draft. Doesn't mean there won't be one or two, its just that no one has distanced themselves from the rest of the pack.
He did like what he's been seeing from Harrison Barnes of late, and upon doing some research he came to two conclusions. Number one, Barnes improvement coinsides with Kendall Marshall become the fulltime PG at North Carolina. And number two. That when North Carolina needs a basket at the end of the game, Barnes is the guy that they've been going to. Which means they have a lot of confidence in Barnes now. Plus he's been delivering at a high percentage. All in all he said that Barnes has worked his way back into the conversation.
A couple of players that he thinks will go higher than people expect are Issiah Thomas and Kenneth Faried. He said just about every scout has something good to say about Faried, and the scouts he trusts the most all say that Faried will be a lottery pick. He said with the way Thomas has been playing that if he were 6'2" instead of the 5'9" he's listed at, and he thinks thats generous, that he would be a top ten pick in this draft.
Ford is not the be all, end all. But I couldn't find that much I disagreed with. I'm still wondering about his comments on Irving. Anyway, thats all I can remember for now. There was more, but some of it wasn't draft related, and some of it I can't remember..
As to Walker's height, he said that when he interviewed Walker in Hawaii that he (Ford) who is 6'2" had to look down at Walker. He guessed that at best he' around 5'10".
On Sullinger, he compared him to a cross between Boozer and Brand. And like Brand, he has very long arms. But unlike Brand, he doesn't block many shots. He thinks he'll be a good player, but not a great player. He said the scouts didn't like the fact that Sullinger gets a lot of his shots blocked in college, which will only increase in the NBA.
Perry Jones is considered the biggest chance to grab a superstar, or grab a bust. He said one scout told him that some GM will probably gamble on Jones with a high pick. He said there are GM's that would rather gamble on taking a superstar with a high pick, than taking a sure pick that you know will only be a role player. He said one scout rated Jones chances of becoming a star at 17%. Please don't ask me how he came to that number.
He said that five of the top scouts that he trusted the most all said that the one player that they belive will end up being the best player taken in the draft when its all said and done, will be Terrence Jones. They said that aside from his being tempermental at times and taking a play off now and then because of his being tempermental, that he was one of the most skilled players in the draft.
He said that just about every team he talked to had Derrick Williams in their top 5. Interestingly, he said that he didn't think that Kyrie Irving would be as great as some of the previous PG's to come out. He said he wasn't in the same class as Wall or Rose, and certainly not Paul. He never elaborated on why, but it kind of surprised me. On the whole he didn't think that there were any clear cut superstars in the draft. Doesn't mean there won't be one or two, its just that no one has distanced themselves from the rest of the pack.
He did like what he's been seeing from Harrison Barnes of late, and upon doing some research he came to two conclusions. Number one, Barnes improvement coinsides with Kendall Marshall become the fulltime PG at North Carolina. And number two. That when North Carolina needs a basket at the end of the game, Barnes is the guy that they've been going to. Which means they have a lot of confidence in Barnes now. Plus he's been delivering at a high percentage. All in all he said that Barnes has worked his way back into the conversation.
A couple of players that he thinks will go higher than people expect are Issiah Thomas and Kenneth Faried. He said just about every scout has something good to say about Faried, and the scouts he trusts the most all say that Faried will be a lottery pick. He said with the way Thomas has been playing that if he were 6'2" instead of the 5'9" he's listed at, and he thinks thats generous, that he would be a top ten pick in this draft.
Ford is not the be all, end all. But I couldn't find that much I disagreed with. I'm still wondering about his comments on Irving. Anyway, thats all I can remember for now. There was more, but some of it wasn't draft related, and some of it I can't remember..
Hey Baja, 2 things:
1 - As a lurker in this thread, since I watch a ton of pro but little college (even that is either UCLA or following pro prospects), I love all of the updates and analysis you provide. I fear that sometimes you might worry you are just talking to yourself. Or just Unica and you, but both of you guys and most others in this thread have great insight and perspective that is very much appreciated. I have forwarded your posts on more than one time to friends of mine who are looking to learn more about the draft. So again, thank you and please keep up the great work.
2 - I am not surprised with the Irving quote when taken in context. I have read on other sites as well that Irving could be a great PG, but Rose and Paul are very high company. For a player who has played only 5 games this year and was a consensus superstar coming into college, I'm not surprised the analysts are hesitant to compare him to MVP candidates. Which is funny when you remember Paul wasn't even a top 3 pick.
I also am becoming a big Faried fan. I am curious, how high do you think he can go and either at what pick would you take him for the Kings (if we slip) or what would you give up for him. Seems like he could be a good pairing with cousins. Seems like the kind of annoying player that helps teams get to the next level.
I think what surprised me about Ford's comments on Irving, was that he just left it hanging there. He made the statement, but didn't explain why he thought what he thought. Currently I have Faried going in the middle of the first round. If I were doing the picking, and its probably a good thing I'm not, Faried is one of the those guys I reach for. I think he could ultimately end up getting picked in the top 10. Some of it depends on how he plays in the tournament, and some depends on the combine and the team workouts. He's not without flaws, especially on the offensive side of the ball. And there may be some concern over his true height. But if he ends up being closer to 6'9" than 6'7", and shows some offensive skills that may be hidden in how he's used at Moorehead St., he'll start climbing up the draft boards.
Very impressed with Faried so far. This is my first time watching him and wow .. he is active. Again, he is struggling on offense .. doesnt seem to have a jumper, but he is attacking the rim pretty good for a guy his size, just not converting the layups. He can get better at that.
Reminds me of a better defending cross between Brockman and Thompson. Also seems to have better leadership qualities than those guys. I like him, but he wont be in our range. Some team will be very happy with him though.
Reminds me of a better defending cross between Brockman and Thompson. Also seems to have better leadership qualities than those guys. I like him, but he wont be in our range. Some team will be very happy with him though.
Two things. First time I've ever seen him ask to be taken out of game. I'd heard that he had Asthma, but it never seemed to affect him. Obviously playing at 5000 feet has some effect. Secondly, while he's not noted for his offense, this is the most I've ever seen him miss around the basket. I will give credit to Louisville. They play a smothering defense. Hopefully he'll get it going in the second half..
I was impressed. He is a worker. You never forget when he's on the court because he is everywhere. He strikes me as an inspirational player too .. he gets the team fired up with his hustle and energy. Literally came up with the game winning block on a Lousville 3 point attempt. Could have been a foul but I thought it was clean. It was a special play though .. not many guys his size can contest like that with their hands straight up and come down with a block. I dont even think he jumped, just held his ground and used his good hands to get the ball.
Obviously a beast on the glass as advertised. Really mixed it up inside. He has a knack for making the game ugly, and he so good at playing that game that it works in his favor. Got a lot of good looks at the basket but didnt convert. I want to see him make those shots, but like I said before .. there is no reason to think he wouldnt get better at that.
Obviously a beast on the glass as advertised. Really mixed it up inside. He has a knack for making the game ugly, and he so good at playing that game that it works in his favor. Got a lot of good looks at the basket but didnt convert. I want to see him make those shots, but like I said before .. there is no reason to think he wouldnt get better at that.
Maybe I'm a little crazy here, because he's not ranked in anyones top 5 mock drafts, but the more I watch him, the more I think Fredette would be a absolutely great fit for us. Does anyone else see a larger Stephen Curry when watching him? I like Curry, but his size has always bothered me. Fredette is much more built,and has an nba body, whereas I still don't think Curry has an nba body. Looks like he's 16. That's one of the reasons I'm not as concerned about his defense as others. He'll never be great on that end, but I don't see him getting abused either, like Curry usually does.
Now on offense, I get excited when thinking about him next to Tyreke. Very willing passer, and creative with the ball. Very good vision. Very good ballhandler. Exceptional shooter. I salivate at the idea of Reke/Cousins kicking the ball out to him spotting up. He would really help spread the floor the minute he steps on the court. I love Thorntons shooting also, be he'll never be a point. Also, being a 4 yr college player, I would think he'd have no problems stepping in immediately as a starter. An ideal pg next to Tyreke would be a little taller, and a better defender, but all the other qualties match up.
He puts up a lot of shots for BYU, but that's more out of necessity. I don't see him being your typical shoot first point in the nba. A guy who can handle like him, with his vision, and shooting ability, but isn't necessarily a shoot first point, doesn't come around too often.
Anyone else feel this way?
Now on offense, I get excited when thinking about him next to Tyreke. Very willing passer, and creative with the ball. Very good vision. Very good ballhandler. Exceptional shooter. I salivate at the idea of Reke/Cousins kicking the ball out to him spotting up. He would really help spread the floor the minute he steps on the court. I love Thorntons shooting also, be he'll never be a point. Also, being a 4 yr college player, I would think he'd have no problems stepping in immediately as a starter. An ideal pg next to Tyreke would be a little taller, and a better defender, but all the other qualties match up.
He puts up a lot of shots for BYU, but that's more out of necessity. I don't see him being your typical shoot first point in the nba. A guy who can handle like him, with his vision, and shooting ability, but isn't necessarily a shoot first point, doesn't come around too often.
Anyone else feel this way?
My big thing with Jimmer is that at his absolute best, I think he can be a less crafty version of Curry who also doesnt have as good a handle or playmaking ability.
Now, thats a pretty good player! I'd take him on my team anyday .. I just like other players more. If we trade down or trade for a second pick and drafted him I'd be fine with that, but I just think we can do better with a top five pick. I would absolutely take Irving, Barnes, and Kanter over him .. And while I dont love Williams or Sullinger, I think you have to take those guys over Jimmer. Then there is Perry Jones and all of his potential ... And I personally like Kemba Walker a little bit more.
Thats all my opinion of course.. I like Jimmer, but I think we ( and the media ) may be slightly overrating him.
Now, thats a pretty good player! I'd take him on my team anyday .. I just like other players more. If we trade down or trade for a second pick and drafted him I'd be fine with that, but I just think we can do better with a top five pick. I would absolutely take Irving, Barnes, and Kanter over him .. And while I dont love Williams or Sullinger, I think you have to take those guys over Jimmer. Then there is Perry Jones and all of his potential ... And I personally like Kemba Walker a little bit more.
Thats all my opinion of course.. I like Jimmer, but I think we ( and the media ) may be slightly overrating him.