I also wouldn't be disappointed. I went from knowing little about him to being a fan. It wouldn't surpirse me to see him move up the draft boards a little. I understand the scouts were impressed with him all week long. He would certainly fill a position of need, and to be honest, up until now, there was no one after Porter at the SF position that I had any interest in.
2013 Draft Prospects
- Thread starter Vlade4GM
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I have quite a few posts on him if you want to go back and look, although I'm sure you've seen them as I believe they were in response to you when you were asking what Euro guys to look out for in the summit game. Karesev is a very talented player, he's going to be good. He's very experienced for a 19 year old and is probably the most important player on his team in a good league. He's putting up very impressive numbers, it's hard to put up big stats in Europe as I mentioned already. Rebounds and assists are very difficult to accumulate so it's a case of stats really NOT telling the whole story, even less than in the NBA. His passing ability is very good for an NBA SF, and he has a high IQ to go along with it. He's probably top of my list for European guys, though there are a few others I like too.
Faults are athleticism (he's not a terrible athlete, just average, and his body looks like he doesn't know what the word gym means, which is odd now in Europe for a professional, though he is still young), and defense. As you said, he shouldn't be a liability, but he probably won't lock anyone down either. Apart from that, he has a very well rounded game and still some upside left given his youth and the untapped body development.
He'll definitely be a first round pick, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him move into the teens. As far as surprising picks for us go, I wouldn't cry if we reached for him. He'd fit in well on this team.
I agree with everything you said. Its a shame I can't watch some of the international games. The few that are available just aren't enough. I think he would be a great fit on our team. I'm sure some on the foum would cry to high heaven for a while, but in time they'll come around. His athleticism is my only question mark, but he does appear to have very good lateral quickness, and good anticipation on defense. Athleticism is such a general term, and people forget that a person can be lacking in one area, but be very good in another. For instance, I was a very fast runner in my youth, but my vertical leaping ability was just average. On the other hand, I knew guys that jump out of the building, that could never beat me in a foot race. Some people have better hand/eye coordination than others, or better reflex action. Anyway, I won't bore you with anymore of that. Needless to say I wouldn't be disappointed if we were to choose him.
And thanks for the early headsup on him....
And thanks for the early headsup on him....
He needed to stay in school. He's not ready to play in the NBA yet. Give him another year or two, and he might be something. Not sure why your so high on this kid. I like him, but he far from the top of my list. Not a SG and undersized for the SF position. Possible he'll still grow an inch or so, which would help. I don't want another John Salmons playing SF for us. A lot of these kids come out before they should. They end up on a team and don't get playing time. They could be playing in college gaining valuable experience. When your looking at a potential draftee in the first round, especially the lottery, he should be the best player on his team. I don't think you can say that about Robinson. Maybe next year you can.
I like Bullock! Good defender that can guard both the SF and SG positions. Very good shooter, who shot over 40% from long distance this past season. His handles are just OK, but he is capable of creating his own shot on occasion. I think he should go in the bottom of the first round, but its possible he'll slip into the top of the second round. I think he would be a solid choice at our spot in the second round. He's not my first choice, but I'd certainly be OK with him. I'm not sure of his position. I think his handles have to improve to play SG, and he's a just a bit undersized to play SF. If he had a bigger wingspan, which he doesn't, I could see him as a SF. Probably why he's projected where he is.
Watched some footage of kiwi Steven Adams and have to move him somewhere inside top-5 most wanted. Kinda this year's Drummond. Never showed solid ball skills and is only a little better FT shooter at .443, though unlike Drummond he went up as the season went along and over the second part of the year he was around .550. Will need a lot of work on his skillset, but good screens and court awareness are already there, which with his body is probably enough to buy him same minutes as Drummond had this season. His main appeal is Dalembert level mobility with bigger body. Would take Noel, McLemore, Porter and probably Oladipo over him, but after that his potential and improvement during the season(don't forget this teenager had to adjust to living in foreign country and away from his family of like 20 siblings 
) is just too big to pass.
) is just too big to pass.
Watched some footage of kiwi Steven Adams and have to move him somewhere inside top-5 most wanted. Kinda this year's Drummond. Never showed solid ball skills and is only a little better FT shooter at .443, though unlike Drummond he went up as the season went along and over the second part of the year he was around .550. Will need a lot of work on his skillset, but good screens and court awareness are already there, which with his body is probably enough to buy him same minutes as Drummond had this season. His main appeal is Dalembert level mobility with bigger body. Would take Noel, McLemore, Porter and probably Oladipo over him, but after that his potential and improvement during the season(don't forget this teenager had to adjust to living in foreign country and away from his family of like 20 siblings ) is just too big to pass.
) is just too big to pass.
To Adams credit, he really improved this year as the season progressed. I thought Pitt did a good job of bringing him along slowly, and not expecting him to come in and be a savior. By the end of the year, he was a good contributer to the team. Personally I think he would have benefited by staying at least one more year at Pitt. But it is what it is, and what usually happens in the case of a player like Adams, is he slides down the draft board and ends up getting drafted by one of the top teams in the league, like the Spurs, or the Thunder, and a couple of years later, Wa La everyone wonders why everyone passed on the kid. He's a very good athlete with good defensive potential, as well as offensive potential. So, if your willing to go out on a limb and bet on the future, then draft him.
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What about Tony Mitchell? I know he really regressed this season, but he was in the worst possible situation at NTU. He's athletic, superb defender and rebounder, can block shots and get steals, and can shoot fairly well for a PF/SF. He may just be a fit for this team. Not saying we should make him lotto or anything, but if we trade down, or he slides to round 2, we should get him.
I'm usually pretty positive on players in drafts, but this one...is just bad. There will always be a guy or two who turn out to be All Stars, but I'm only liking Noel and Burke at this point. Shabazz may be a good NBA player at some point, but the Kings roster needs a lot of tweaking first before he'd fit in. I also like Franklin from SD St. as a Terrence Ross type of player who translates well to the NBA. If the Kings are at #6, then I think they should trade the pick for a vet SF if possible.
I don't know enough about the International guys this year to comment, but I'm curious about Karasev now.
Otto Porter just doesn't seem like a top 5 pick talent wise to me. Bennett is intriguing, but I'm tired of the undersized PFs. This guy is probably the one who actually pans out, but not going there.
If the Kings could get a pick from 10-20, this could be a decent role player draft with guys like Withey, Dieng, or Plumlee as guys who could work alongside of Cousins.
I don't know enough about the International guys this year to comment, but I'm curious about Karasev now.
Otto Porter just doesn't seem like a top 5 pick talent wise to me. Bennett is intriguing, but I'm tired of the undersized PFs. This guy is probably the one who actually pans out, but not going there.
If the Kings could get a pick from 10-20, this could be a decent role player draft with guys like Withey, Dieng, or Plumlee as guys who could work alongside of Cousins.
I'm going to disagree on Porter. I really like him. Very skilled and he's turned himself into a good shooter. He's just a good all around player. If we can draft him, there's no way I'd trade the pick. I feel the same way about Olapido. Not saying I wouldn't trade down, but only if everyone I like is off the board. Agree on Muhammad. I want no part of him. Not a big fan of Plumlee either. Dieng and Withey I like.
I went from being a big fan of Mitchell's a year ago, to being very sceptical about him. I honestly don't know what kind of player he is. Is he a PF, or a SF. His shooting, which wasn't that good to begin with, has gotten worse, but he never gets tired of launching shots. He has special skills, but he doesn't play in a way where he can use them. He's a terrific athlete, with very good shotblocking skills. Maybe the right coach can grab him by the nose and head him in the right direction.
By the way, spent the day sitting on a beach south of Mulege, 600 miles south of the border. Absolutely beautiful here.
By the way, spent the day sitting on a beach south of Mulege, 600 miles south of the border. Absolutely beautiful here.
Whether he's a PF or a SF, I think he will fit this team. As a PF, he can provide shotblocking and interior defense, rebounding and athleticism. As a SF, he could provide peremiter defense, rebounding, and shooting. He just needs to put it all together and make it happen.
Also, good for you. In Fairfield, all we get is wind and fog.
Also, good for you. In Fairfield, all we get is wind and fog.
On average, players that don't define themselves at a position, fail. I like a lot about Mitchell, but not as the 6th pick in the draft. You won't get any immediate help from him. Now if I were picking in the 17 to 25 range, then perhaps I'd take a chance on him. Depending on who else was available of course.
Love Mulege's beaches. My wife and I camped down there for a couple weeks at Burro. Will make it back someday.
OK, would it be too much of a "stretch" to draft Rudy Gobert?
7'2" with a 7'9" wingspan. Crazy. And he moves a lot better than I thought. Will need to be developed, but man, with this weak draft might as well go for a homerun.
http://www.rudygobert.biz/index.html
7'2" with a 7'9" wingspan. Crazy. And he moves a lot better than I thought. Will need to be developed, but man, with this weak draft might as well go for a homerun.
http://www.rudygobert.biz/index.html
He's weak but if you stick him as 5th big behind Boogie, JT(or Pat) and Hayes he can play PF for some time. Looking at the clips he showed ability to stay with some small guys in french League. Obviously nobody expects him to stick to Westbrook or Rose, but he should be able to stay with PFs and bother them with his length even after giving up position. Stays in position in the clips I saw and not run around looking for blocks, although likes to reach, but he's still young. Unlike Mam Jaiteh plays in the 1st french League and his competition is better than NCAA. Shot 70% from FT so should be able to get set mid-range jumper up and running. Gets enough rebounds given his rim protector status, but more of an offensive rebounder.
I don't know what to think about Gobert. He scares me because he's pushed around very easily, and his centre of gravity is very high even for someone his size. That said, I haven't seen much of him at all and he does have some intriguing traits. Athletic, long, tall, shot blocker. He's at least the right type of big we should be looking for, so I'll reserve judgement. I can't say I'm leaning one way or another with him, we'll just have to wait and see.
On a side note, Wiggins will declare for a college today... Will be interesting to see where he goes.
On a side note, Wiggins will declare for a college today... Will be interesting to see where he goes.
Gobert will be at the combine, will be interesting to see him alongside (towering over) USA prospects. He definitely needs a few years to fill out, but could be useful here and there early on. If he shows well at the combine and private workouts, hard to imagine he doesn't go top 10 in this (lousy) draft.
Kansas wins the Wiggins lotto.
Kansas wins the Wiggins lotto.
I believe I posted about Gobert a while ago. He's another, that if your looking long term, he could be a steal. But if your looking for immediate help, I don't think you go there. Although he's played against good competition, he's still very raw, and needs desparatly to add strength. I think he'd be the perfect candidate for the D-League if we were to draft him. He's definitely an interesting prospect.
I don't think there's a chance in hell that Gobert would have put up the same numbers as Noel. Noel is still weak but he's a better all-round athlete and more polished (which is saying something), and stronger. He also has better shot-blocking instincts and is a better defender despite being smaller. Who knows, maybe Gobert will turn out the better player down the road (though I really doubt that), but right now, Noel is certainly the better player. And that's coming from someone who thinks Noel may need a few seasons before he starts to scratch the surface of his potential.
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