ESPN Mock Draft 3.0?!??!?

Cousins is uber-talented, but I wouldn't touch him with a 10-foot pole.

What I like about NBAdraft.net is that they provide an alternative analysis to DraftExpress while having a strong historical knowledge of player comparisons. Sure, DX trumps in the detailed analysis and sources, but NBAdraft provides a nice, yet less in-depth resource. However, their Chris Washburn comparison is entirely too close to comfort - and I fear may be spot-on in some respects to DeMarcus's outlook.

Without stirring up too much of a fire, can someone tell me when the last time a guy with DeMarcus's work ethic, body fat %, and character issues was able to become a consistent star?

I find NBADraft.net's comparisons to be terrible. I don't visit that site anymore since I found out about DraftExpress, but when I did it seemed like they just picked a player who each player looks like and went with it
 
As far as I know, neither guy has worked out for the Kings yet right? So the preliminary "buzz" on who the Kings may or may not prefer has got to be based entirely on past performance, measurements, and interviews. There's still a ton of time for this to get shaken up. I've been watching Cousins' production all year and thinking he might be the guy for us. He was more dominant than Wall towards the end of the season. I've tended to think the attitude problems are blown out of proportion and we'd be crazy to pass on him if he's still there.

On the other hand, Petrie has a lot of experience to look back on now with past drafts, and if he sees enough reason to stay away from Cousins I'm not going to sweat it too much. Petrie drafted a young guy with potential in Wallace who he never seemed to really believe in, and then watched him blossom into an All Star for another organization. Call that a miss. He also drafted two high volume scorers from smaller schools and saw one of them thrive (Martin) and one of them, well, not (Douby). Surely his ability or inability to judge character in the past is going to be a factor here.

There's no doubt we need a dominant inside player like Cousins on this team. So there better be some pretty big red flags if we're going to pass on him.
 
I doubt Shaq has a 16% body fat even now, and certainly didn't have one when he was 19. So I do't think he fits the bill.

That said, you can look at it as a negative or a positive. The only reason Cousins might be available at 5 is because he's fat and has an attitude. If he was in shape and was a choirboy he'd probly jump Wall for the top pick. That's how good he was on the court this year.

When Shaq came into the league he had a 12.2% body fat. I would almost guarantee you that it is much higher now. He looked anything but overweight his rookie season.
 
As far as I know, neither guy has worked out for the Kings yet right? So the preliminary "buzz" on who the Kings may or may not prefer has got to be based entirely on past performance, measurements, and interviews. There's still a ton of time for this to get shaken up. I've been watching Cousins' production all year and thinking he might be the guy for us. He was more dominant than Wall towards the end of the season. I've tended to think the attitude problems are blown out of proportion and we'd be crazy to pass on him if he's still there.

On the other hand, Petrie has a lot of experience to look back on now with past drafts, and if he sees enough reason to stay away from Cousins I'm not going to sweat it too much. Petrie drafted a young guy with potential in Wallace who he never seemed to really believe in, and then watched him blossom into an All Star for another organization. Call that a miss. He also drafted two high volume scorers from smaller schools and saw one of them thrive (Martin) and one of them, well, not (Douby). Surely his ability or inability to judge character in the past is going to be a factor here.

There's no doubt we need a dominant inside player like Cousins on this team. So there better be some pretty big red flags if we're going to pass on him.

First off, I'm going to put my trust in Petrie and company when it comes to Cousins, if it comes to Cousins. But if it does, and I hope it does, His reputation and not being in NBA basketball shape, could end up being a blessing for us. I've watched basketball for a long time. I remember Derrick Coleman. A player that had HOF talent. The game came easy to him. Too easy. He had everything but the fire in him. And you could tell. He just took what came, and that was fine with him. And you know, maybe it was. He wasn't playing up to our expectations, but he might have been playing up to his. No way to know. Rasheed, Stanley Roberts, who believe or not was the starter in front of Shaq in college. Jerome James. There have been countless players that had the talent, but were willing to settle for whatever the mininum effort would bring. I've played with players like that. You just scratch you head and wonder.

Not to beat a dead horse, but I watched Cousins and company play 24 times. Cousins may have been out of shape. More so at the beginning, but obviously still at the end. But he didn't play like someone that was willing to accept whatever he could get with the mininum effort.

When asked in the interview where he expected to go in the draft. He said he wanted to go number 1. I think the kid wants to be great. I just don't think he knows what it takes to be great. Thats the immaturity. I don't know if he has the drive to match his expectations. But he does have the expectations and thats a good start. He's about to go through a learning process. Regardless of who drafts him. Its not really a matter of whether he's going to fail or not. He's too talented to fail. Its a question of just how good, or great he can be.

Ask yourself this. If he was that out of shape, and still led all of college in several catagorys in per 40 minutes. How good could he be if he was in top NBA shape?
 
When Shaq came into the league he had a 12.2% body fat. I would almost guarantee you that it is much higher now. He looked anything but overweight his rookie season.

Shaq was out of shape the same way Dwight Howard is out of shape. :p
shaquille-oneal.jpg
 
If we pass on Cousins for Aminu I will break many things on draft day...

Trust GP on these issues. he does a great job of evaluating talent. It is possible, that side by side Aminu is just plain better than Cousins. we as posters really do not get to see this very important part of evaluations.
 
Trust GP on these issues. he does a great job of evaluating talent. It is possible, that side by side Aminu is just plain better than Cousins. we as posters really do not get to see this very important part of evaluations.

Exactly. I think I've studied these guys enough for my own satisfaction. I have my preferences, but I won't be disappointed in whatever player we get since I won't be privy to the team private workouts.
 
I don't want any part of Aminu. To me, he screams "bust". If I had to hang my hat on one of the top guys failing from this draft, it would be him. He doesn't really have a position, he's not skilled. He is a decent athlete with good length. Not enough skills to play SF, not big enough to play PF. The comparisons to Josh Smith are not correct. Apart from scoring at a decent rate and rebounding at a good rate, Aminu really doesn't do much else well. He has potential, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Again, I'm not ruling him out completely, he clearly does have talent, but he's the guy that sticks out to me as the most uncertain prospect.

Just give me Cousins or Johnson (whoevers left) and go home. It would be much easier to take Johnson if we hadn't both Greene and Casspi, but Johnson might be the BPA. I think he might even surprise some and be a legit star. If he can play the two, which it's beginning to look like he can in workouts, then you could make an argument that he'd be a better pick than Cousins due to his maturity and attitude (I'm not going to make this argument just yet).

For anyone whose interested, here's a workout from him recently put up on DE - http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Wesley-Johnson-Late-Night-ATTACK-Athletics-Workout-3485/
 
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