Most Likely Situation: Barnes or Drummond
- Thread starter Bballkingsrock
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This question has been asked in different forms, and I am sure will be asked in different forms again several more times before the draft. My stance hasn't changed -- Drummond is PERFECT for this team...or he's not. I default to "on" for him and the dream of having the best frontcourt in the NBA for the next 15 years. But if he comes in and does not impress in workouts and interviews I'm willing to be dissuaded.
He doesn't really do anything that well, he didn't improve at much from freshman to sophomore year, he lives out on the perimeter despite not nearly being the pure shooter everyone claims him to be. All he does is score, and he's not even that good at that. He's a solid defender, but nothing special. That's not a top 10 pick, that's a Marshon Brooks type player that belongs in the mid to late first round. No thank you, players like that are a dime a dozen.
It's just projection right now, so nobody knows how these players are going to turn out. I really think you're going to be wrong about Barnes, I think he easily has All-Star talent and I feel pretty good about his work-ethic as well. Right now I give him the slight edge but a couple weeks ago I had Drummond ranked higher and it's a tough choice for me if it comes down to it because we have such a huge need at both positions. From everything I've seen so far I think these are the two players with the highest upside in the draft. If you could tell me before the draft that we will be able to sign Nic Batum away from Portland I would pick Drummond with no hesitation and our off-season would already be a success, but I think he's going to cost more than our owners will want to spend -- possibly a lot more. Which leaves me with a tough choice that really comes down to which guy you believe in the most as a competitor and how badly you think they want to be the NBA stars that they could be if they put in the work.
Give me Barnes. He's a fantastic athlete(40 inch vertical) and a good shooter. He's got above average height for his position. Formerly ranked #1 HS player in America. I think Cleveland might pick him but if not I'd take him in an instant. I think he'll be more motivated to be a great player than Drummond. Barnes at the worst IMO could be a Danny Granger type player and at the best could be an absolute super star. I don't see how people think his ceiling is a role player or whatever. The dude scored a lot and he doesn't get enough credit for his potential skills because he played in a system at UNC with a pure PG, a good big man in the post, and they ran set plays all the time. Someone is getting a steal with him IMO.
A vertical is not the end all be all of athleticism, and he doesn't even utilize it all that much in his game since he is a two feet jumper. What matters more is a good first step, which he doesn't have, to go with the ball handling he doesn't have.
"Formerly ranked #1 HS player in America"
Newsflash, they got it wrong.
"Formerly ranked #1 HS player in America"
Newsflash, they got it wrong.
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I don't like Drummond, period. I don't care if we draft #5 or trade down to #10, I still don't like him.
As far as Barnes, I don't see the All-Star ceiling that some believe that he has. Best case I believe is Granger; worst case is Marvin Williams. I'd take Barnes over Drummond because of IQ and fire for the game. At least with him you're not going to worry whether he's going to show up with his lunch pail every day. That said, I would hope there would be other players available that are better than Barnes because he's going to have difficulty when defenders get up in his face. He just doesn't appear to have the ability to break that type of pressure and get a shot. In that respect, he reminds me of a Jimmer. Barnes is the type of player that you can get in FA - a guy who can hit open outside shots, work around screens, and plays decent D. My hope is that teams ahead of the Kings take Drummond because they're desperate for length and Barnes becaue they are desperate for shooting.
As far as Barnes, I don't see the All-Star ceiling that some believe that he has. Best case I believe is Granger; worst case is Marvin Williams. I'd take Barnes over Drummond because of IQ and fire for the game. At least with him you're not going to worry whether he's going to show up with his lunch pail every day. That said, I would hope there would be other players available that are better than Barnes because he's going to have difficulty when defenders get up in his face. He just doesn't appear to have the ability to break that type of pressure and get a shot. In that respect, he reminds me of a Jimmer. Barnes is the type of player that you can get in FA - a guy who can hit open outside shots, work around screens, and plays decent D. My hope is that teams ahead of the Kings take Drummond because they're desperate for length and Barnes becaue they are desperate for shooting.
dont know if posted already but... uite interesting all the same you have got to wonder why??
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pl...news.asp?sport=NBA&id=1965&line=182328&spln=1
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pl...news.asp?sport=NBA&id=1965&line=182328&spln=1
i think if i was kings Gm i whould have as my list of who to take 5th pick
1. Davis
2. MKG
3. T-Rob
4. Drummond
5. Barnes
6. Beal
i have anouther question too... if Davis does in his ACL (season long serious injury ect...) before the draft
a) do the hornets take him
b) if not how far does he slide and do we take him
1. Davis
2. MKG
3. T-Rob
4. Drummond
5. Barnes
6. Beal
i have anouther question too... if Davis does in his ACL (season long serious injury ect...) before the draft
a) do the hornets take him
b) if not how far does he slide and do we take him
Agreed on the comparison. Barnes is a safe pick, but unlike most of those kinds of picks, he still has borderline all star upside. If he never improves again he will still be a starting caliber NBA SF. I would honestly pick Henson or T. Jones before him even if they are considered "reaches" at that spot.
I will be horrified (but excited) if they pick Drummond.
I will be horrified (but excited) if they pick Drummond.
Wonder why? It's obvious. Drummond can't play, and the Kings have Hassan Whiteside, who is a better rebounder, shot blocker, free throw shooter, foul-drawer, and has a better touch around the rim, a better post game, better length, a better attitude, and isn't afraid of contact, and actually wants to play like a big man. Hassan is criminally underrated these days.
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what i mean is why whould they not want him before they have seen him workout and interview him
Agreed. I don't love the MKG - Wizards fit. I think they need a SG who can shoot it (Beal) or an SF who can shoot it (Barnes) more than they need MKG.
In my opinion, the Wizards are the biggest threat to the Kings landing MKG. I don't see MKG going 2nd .. and I DO believe the Cavs really want Barnes. Singleton kind of fits their MKG role already. Not that I don't think MKG will be better than Singleton, because I do .. but he was billed as an elite defensive SF out of college, and posted a decent .346 3p% in his rookie season. Not shabby for a role playing, potential glue guy starting small forward.
I flat out think the Wizards could use Robinson, Drummond, or Beal more than they could use MKG. I don't think I'm just saying that either .. I think if I were the Wizards I would have Beal first on my draft board, then Drummond, then MKG or Robinson is a toss up. Seraphin and Booker played decent last season, but that shouldn't prevent them from drafting a big to pair up with Nene for the next 5 years. Vesely is an interesting name too .. I hear a lot of people calling him a PF, but if I'm the Wizards .. I pray he finds a home at the SF spot... which would put MKG further down the Wizards draft board.
And I just don't think MKG is worth the #2 pick. For a team like Charlotte .. Robinson and Biyumbo makes some sense. A tad undersized (although Biyombo has freak arms) but they would have a very nice offensive-defensive big pairing to build around. If Robinson proves enough in his workouts, he makes a lot of sense for the Bobcats. As we have seen time and time again, it's never a bad move to build your team around a 'post' scorer. And like I said before, Beal could be in play here too.
In my opinion, the Wizards are the biggest threat to the Kings landing MKG. I don't see MKG going 2nd .. and I DO believe the Cavs really want Barnes. Singleton kind of fits their MKG role already. Not that I don't think MKG will be better than Singleton, because I do .. but he was billed as an elite defensive SF out of college, and posted a decent .346 3p% in his rookie season. Not shabby for a role playing, potential glue guy starting small forward.
I flat out think the Wizards could use Robinson, Drummond, or Beal more than they could use MKG. I don't think I'm just saying that either .. I think if I were the Wizards I would have Beal first on my draft board, then Drummond, then MKG or Robinson is a toss up. Seraphin and Booker played decent last season, but that shouldn't prevent them from drafting a big to pair up with Nene for the next 5 years. Vesely is an interesting name too .. I hear a lot of people calling him a PF, but if I'm the Wizards .. I pray he finds a home at the SF spot... which would put MKG further down the Wizards draft board.
And I just don't think MKG is worth the #2 pick. For a team like Charlotte .. Robinson and Biyumbo makes some sense. A tad undersized (although Biyombo has freak arms) but they would have a very nice offensive-defensive big pairing to build around. If Robinson proves enough in his workouts, he makes a lot of sense for the Bobcats. As we have seen time and time again, it's never a bad move to build your team around a 'post' scorer. And like I said before, Beal could be in play here too.