2015 Draft Prospects:
- Thread starter bajaden
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bajaden
Hall of Famer
I wouldn't count on Okafor going number one just yet. I'd say it's a toss up between Okafor and Towns. For instance, if we were to get lucky and end up with the number one pick in the draft, it's highly likely that we'd pick Towns. He's a better fit next to Cousins, and frankly, he's a better athlete than Okafor, and is overall more skilled. What Okafor is, is the classic 7 foot, 270 pound center with excellent post skills. It probably depends on who is doing the picking and what their needs are.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
The Harrison twins have declared. It'll be interesting to see how deep into the draft they go, seeing as how a lot of people considered them to be the eighth or ninth best players on their team. If both of them do get drafted and everyone on the Wildcats expected to enter the draft goes through with the process, that has to be some sort of record right?
Bosnian Diehard
Starter
It's crazy how much their stock fell. They were both projected to be top 10 picks for the 2014 Draft before the season.
Dime Dropper
All-Star
We're sitting at number 6 now right? For once I think I'm relatively happy there. I think the consensus drop-off point is at 6. Usually we're sitting one spot behind that point.
My top 6 at the moment:
1. Towns
2. Okafor (not my number 2 for us however)
3. Russell
4. Mudiay
5. WCS
6. Winslow
Winslow is really growing on me. Duke's most consistent and impressive player down the stretch and has good skills, size (moreso in strength than height, admittedly, but also shouldn't be undersized) and athleticism for a 3. He has potential to be quite good defensively too. I like his personality and drive too, he seems very intelligent and has that natural confidence. Clearly I think he's a 3 at the next level.
My top 6 at the moment:
1. Towns
2. Okafor (not my number 2 for us however)
3. Russell
4. Mudiay
5. WCS
6. Winslow
Winslow is really growing on me. Duke's most consistent and impressive player down the stretch and has good skills, size (moreso in strength than height, admittedly, but also shouldn't be undersized) and athleticism for a 3. He has potential to be quite good defensively too. I like his personality and drive too, he seems very intelligent and has that natural confidence. Clearly I think he's a 3 at the next level.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
I agree that Winslow is a 3 at the next level. The last time he was measured was over a year ago, and he measured 6'6" without shoes, which means he's at least 6'7" with shoes, and it's also possible he's grown a little in the last year. he also has a 6'10" wingspan. So his size isn't a problem. He's already a good defender at the college level, and he can defend both the SG and SF position. He could play some SG in a pinch, but he needs to improve his handle a bit to play there with regularity. In different circumstances, he'd be high on my list, but with Gay already on the team, along with Casspi probably returning, I don't see a great need at the SF positon. He'd be more of a luxury choice.
Unless the Kings intend to address the backup center position, and possibly the PF position through freeagency or trades, then I think they have to pick up a big in a draft that's heavy with bigs. However if were picking at six, and someone takes Cauley-Stein at five, then Winslow has to be on the radar. Either that, or trade down a few spaces and pickup either Turner, or Kaminsky. Not to worry though. I've already predicted that were going to move up to the top spot in the draft, take Towns and go home happy.
I can actually realistically see us win the lottery this year. If not win it, get top 3. I Believe!
Dime Dropper
All-Star
Agreed, but if they're serious about using Gay at the 4 a lot (I hope not, but it seems likely), then I think Winslow is a good fit. I love Casspi off the bench, I wouldn't be comfortable if he's our starting SF with Gay at the 4. Winslow isn't my top choice, but I do like him. I think Jimmy Butler with better outside shooting is a decent comparison, as far as comparisons go.
WCS is my number 1 choice if we stay at 6 and he's available. I'm with you on that.
LPKingsFan
All-Star
I would agree, unless Karl and the FO are really committed to Gay playing big minutes (and/or possibly starting) at the 4 spot next year. Then another big, strong defensive minded SF makes a good pairing. If Gay and Cousins are the starters at the 4 & 5 and Thompson the third big off the bench then SF all of a sudden DOES become a position of need, especially since Casspi is not a lock to return. I personally would rather keep Rudy at the 3, find a starting caliber PF this offseason (draft, trade, free agency) and add bench shooting but it really depends on what the gameplan is going forward.
I'm excited for the lottery.. I know many at KFs are underwhelmed about our draft pick, but this is a HUGE thing.
We're only 1 game ahead of ORL and if they win out more games than we do, we have the potential 5th spot which is a guarantee to pick between either Russell, Mudiay, WCS, or Winslow.
That's a W-W!
I don't know why everyone is talking about Winslow though.. because we're going to draft Mudiay..
We're only 1 game ahead of ORL and if they win out more games than we do, we have the potential 5th spot which is a guarantee to pick between either Russell, Mudiay, WCS, or Winslow.
That's a W-W!
I don't know why everyone is talking about Winslow though.. because we're going to draft Mudiay..
twslam07
All-Star
I'm excited for the lottery.. I know many at KFs are underwhelmed about our draft pick, but this is a HUGE thing.
We're only 1 game ahead of ORL and if they win out more games than we do, we have the potential 5th spot which is a guarantee to pick between either Russell, Mudiay, WCS, or Winslow.
That's a W-W!
I don't know why everyone is talking about Winslow though.. because we're going to draft Mudiay..
No, we're two games ahead of Orlando (we have 51 losses, they have 53). I don't see us switching places with them considering we only have 4 games left and 3 of those 4 are against the Nuggets, Lakers, and Lakers.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Obviously there's a lot of gray area right now. Without knowing the front office plans, were shooting arrows in the air and hoping they hit something. So I do in fact agree with you. Depending on Karls plans, the draft could go several different ways, and those plans could change if we were to get lucky and jump up to the top three spots. However, regardless of whether we play Rudy at the four most of the time or not, I can still see a need for drafting WCS. He would certainly be a better backup center than JT. At least long term, and Gay won't be playing 48 minutes. So spot duty for WCS at backup center, and backup PF might be the best thing for the Kings and for Stein. He could be our defensive specialist off the bench in year one of his career.
I could make a similar case for either Johnson or Winslow and live with either decision, but I've yearned for a top defensive big man for a long time. They don't grow on trees, and WCS is one of those. I think if you have the opportunity to draft one, you have to take him.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
I'm excited for the lottery.. I know many at KFs are underwhelmed about our draft pick, but this is a HUGE thing.
We're only 1 game ahead of ORL and if they win out more games than we do, we have the potential 5th spot which is a guarantee to pick between either Russell, Mudiay, WCS, or Winslow.
That's a W-W!
I don't know why everyone is talking about Winslow though.. because we're going to draft Mudiay..
I've nothing against Mudiay. Other than some video available on line, and youtube, I know nothing about him. He could be the next great PG for all I know. I just don't see a great need for a PG right now. We have Collison, who on paper appears to fit Karl's style of play. I'm sure that Miller will be retained for another year, and we have McCallum. No, we don't have a top ten PG, but I feel we have other areas greater need. Now if we were to jump up into the 3rd spot, then you'd have to consider Mudiay along with Russell. Personally, I'd try and trade town with Philly who according to rumors is lusting after Mudiay. Of course I'm higher on Russell because I got to see him play a lot this past season. I think he's going to be a star in the league. But hey, Mudiay might end up being the better player. The team workouts will help determine some of these things.
By the way, the Draft Combine is scheduled for May 12th for those interested. It's usually carried on ESPN.
You might have already posted this somewhere, but I'd be curious to here your take on Kaminsky and how you think he'll translate to the NBA
Kingster
Hall of Famer
This team has sooo many needs I don't see a need for pointing out what we don't have a need for. Mudiay, come on down! If he can be a top 5 point guard in this league instead of a bottom 10 point guard, please, please come on down!
bajaden
Hall of Famer
I really like Kaminsky. I've tried hard to talk myself out of liking him, but everytime I tried, he'd jump up and have a great game. He's been compared to Pau Gasol, and to Spencer Hawes, depending on which scout you listen to. I think he's somewhere in between the two. He's very skilled and can score in the post, and from beyond the arc. He's a good rebounder, a good passer, and he handles the ball very well for a seven footer. He has great BBIQ. The question of course is can he defend, and I don't have that answer. He defended pretty well in college. He outplayed Okafor in the final game of the year. Lure Okafor away from the basket, and he becomes very average. The only knock on Kaminsky is his lack of athleticism. If he was a good athlete, he'd probably be a top five pick. As a result, he becomes a mystery man. You think he'll be fine at the next level, but your not sure. So if you pick him at 14 or 15, you feel fine about it, but your afraid to pick him between 5 and 8.
I suspect that Kaminsky will get picked somewhere between 10 and 15 and five years from now, if the draft were re-done, he'd be a top five pick. If only I had a crystal ball.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Well I do think a team has to prioritize. On one side you have your needs listed in order of greatest to least. On the other side you have your list 0f players in order of best to worse. When your turn comes, you see who is left on the player side and how that player fits in on the needs side. If the best player available fits your least need, then you might want to go to the next player down on the list and see how far the quality drops between the two players. I'm all about taking the best player available, but sometimes its not a clear choice.
Now people can try and sell me on PG's and SGs and SF's etc. All I know, is that our weakest area the entire season, was having no one that could hold down the fort when Cousins was off the floor. We probably lost more games for that reason than anything else. We only had one more player on the team that had legit size at the center position and that was JT. I don't count Hollins because he's not a basketball player. Evans is 6'8". Landry is barely 6'9". I don't know what Williams is, but he sure as hell isn't a center, and he can't rebound. Or he can, and won't. When you add in that the only player we can play next to Cousins that's a good post and rim protector, is Cousins himself. We desperately need a quality 7 footer that we can put on the floor next to Cousins, or when Cousins is either on the bench, or is missing a game due to injury. Anything else would be nice to have, but isn't a great need. If Cousins goes down with an injury next season, Winslow can't play center. Neither can Mudiay.
Now if we can fill that need through a trade, or freeagency, I'm fine with that. Other than that, I want Willie Cauley-Stein. Or of course, if we get lucky, Karl Anthony Towns. Who by the way, I can see playing PF as well as center.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Not a bad comparison. I also think he's a better post player than Miller, but then I'm nit picking. Actually, I'm not nit picking, am I?
Kingster
Hall of Famer
Since we're talking about draft prospects, not FA and trading, I have to disagree. We don't need to prioritize our needs in drafting. We just need to identify the best talent in the draft. After the draft, the FO can prioritize all they want with trades and FA, but if they keep the pick I hope they can just manage one simple chore - draft the best guy available, regardless of position.
As for the backup center need, that's the biggest need I identified at the beginning of the season. It's still a big need. We don't even have a mediocre backup for Cousins. However, finding a backup center can happen in a trade or FA. We had decent one a little while ago in Cole Aldrich and we let him go.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
Not that there was any doubt but
Shams Charania @ShamsCharania 3m3 minutes ago
Ohio State freshman D'Angelo Russell plans to declare for the NBA Draft within the next two days, deciding upon agency, sources tell RealGM.
Shams Charania @ShamsCharania 3m3 minutes agoOhio State freshman D'Angelo Russell plans to declare for the NBA Draft within the next two days, deciding upon agency, sources tell RealGM.
Stanley Johnson is probably the best two way player in the draft. He can score from three, he can handle and drive, he can post up, he's a great man-to-man defender and he's excellent in the passing lanes. I'm strongly considering pushing him into my top 4 once he declares even though we already have Rudy Gay at SF. If you don't think he's a good two way player I feel like you haven't even seen him play.
Stanimal is not a great defender yet, and he struggles against speedsters or guys running off the ball relentlessly. He's not explosive in either direction, doesn't know yet, how to handle situations, when there's no clear path to the basket on his drives - he's a good ballhandler, but isn't shifty. Overall he's an excellent prospect though - might become a legitimate second option, while being a plus defender.
