if the kings don't get the top 3 pick...

[Bricklayer]

i don't think jianlian has superstar potential, he's not a franchise player imo. i'd say his downside is darko and his upside is pau, not much better than that. his lack of strength is going to hold him back from being a dominant rebounder or shot blocker. don't mistake mystery with potential.

I have no idea why lack of strength would keep him from being a dominant shotblocker. He may very well not be -- would not seem to be his focus -- but strength has little to do with shotblocking -- length and mobility does, and he's very mobile. Rebounding I have no idea. He's tall, active, and aggressive. No soft skinny stuff there. But when Zach Randolph or Carlos Boozer puts a shoulder into him and wants to move him out of the way, he's likely moving.

Again though, that's not the standard here. If you're looking for a star and can't get the next KG then dominant reboudning is a bonus, but not a must have. With his size and athleticism he could be a decent reboudner if he turns out to be a major player. The key is the offense. I made the comparison to a Tom Chambers to avoid the Dirk or Pau comparisons. But that style of player. Tall, long, super mobile (and a better athlete than either Pau or Dirk), not a banger, but a dynamic inside/out scorer. On the upside of course.

Really both of the Horford/Jianlin duo are risks. Both may work our, or neither. Horford is meat and potatoes but has to prove he's dynamic. Jianlin is dynamic but has to prove he's meat and potatoes.

 

[supamari0]

I've seen a good deal of Jianlian by virtue of the fact that the Chinese players get extra coverage due to Yao Ming down here.

He's a hell of an athlete for a 7 footer. He's capable of just cutting through defenses and slashing to the basket, which is something I've never seen from a guy that big. Pau Gasol is the closest I've seen to that but even he now just sits in the paint and posts up. (although he did more moving when he first came to the NBA)

But that being said, he's playing against clearly inferior competition in China. And he still needs to develop some type of post game along with good rebounding skills. He's got the quickness to be one of those 7 foot power forwards and be a good one at that. I don't like his defense at all and that must improve.

He'll never be a big guy or gain tons of muscle, he doesn't have the frame for it. But then again, a guy like Chris Bosh is a skinny guy that is good for a 20/10 game any day of the week.

It's a big gamble because of the whole change from China to America. Yao was able to transition nicely but that's mainly because he's got the most incredible work ethic of any player in basketball. (no exaggeration either) So it's tough to use Yao as a benchmark in terms of that transition.

Big risk but big reward but that's what the Kings need to do. Settling for a guy like Horford isn't the answer at all. This team needs to pick guys who can be franchise players, not role players and borderline stars.

 

[JJ_Evans]

If we pick Joakim Noah I would not be happy.

 

[nbrans]

Man, I can't believe people are so down on Noah. I think people can get a little out of hand on superstar potential -- a lot of GMs have gone down in flames gambling for the superstar and flopping. Darius Miles, Tskitishvili, Swift... in those drafts people went after the "superstar" potential of guys who hadn't really shown anything, when they would have been much better off drafting such boring sure things as Mike Miller and Caron Butler.

I understand the pressure to find a superstar when you're drafting low in the draft, but I also don't think people should write off Noah just because we have a fairly good sense of his potential. We're talking a tall, skilled, athletic big man who hustles his *** off, a much more skilled and taller Verejao. People would love his hustle in Sacramento. His cieling may not be as high as the mystery men, but he's already shown he's a winner and has heart.

I'm not saying he should definitely be the pick, but don't knock the guy for being a known commodity.

 

[SacTownKid]

I see it this way: Horford has the potential to help a franchise, Jianlian has the potential to be a franchise, namely ours.

If that's how it is, I'd put money on complete bust then when it comes to Jianlian. I have serious doubts about him being a franchise player. You could end up with a whole lot of nothing with Jianlian.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Man, I can't believe people are so down on Noah. I think people can get a little out of hand on superstar potential -- a lot of GMs have gone down in flames gambling for the superstar and flopping. Darius Miles, Tskitishvili, Swift... in those drafts people went after the "superstar" potential of guys who hadn't really shown anything, when they would have been much better off drafting such boring sure things as Mike Miller and Caron Butler.

I understand the pressure to find a superstar when you're drafting low in the draft, but I also don't think people should write off Noah just because we have a fairly good sense of his potential. We're talking a tall, skilled, athletic big man who hustles his *** off, a much more skilled and taller Verejao. People would love his hustle in Sacramento. His cieling may not be as high as the mystery men, but he's already shown he's a winner and has heart.

I'm not saying he should definitely be the pick, but don't knock the guy for being a known commodity.

he's not what we need, period. having heart and hustle are all well and good, but i'm sorry none of them can compare to talent. not saying he doesn't have it, but the guy's ceiling is a defensive specialist who can pass. he's not even that polished defensively either. high energy guys are a nice novelty, but they're not what make franchises. not saying i wouldn't pick him but there are a number i'd pick before him.

 

[nbrans]

he's not what we need, period. having heart and hustle are all well and good, but i'm sorry none of them can compare to talent. not saying he doesn't have it, but the guy's ceiling is a defensive specialist who can pass. he's not even that polished defensively either. high energy guys are a nice novelty, but they're not what make franchises. not saying i wouldn't pick him but there are a number i'd pick before him.

Uh...... we don't need size, rebounding, interior defense, passing and shotblocking?

 

[LPKingsFan]

True, but we also need a heart and soul, take the game over and carry the team on your back player.

Which is really why we really ought to be going after a second first-round pick. That way we can shore up our weaknesses with a surefire pick on one hand, and take a roll of the dice on a franchise player with the other.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Uh...... we don't need size, rebounding, interior defense, passing and shotblocking?

where did i say we couldn't use him? i'm saying he's a role player, he's not a franchise player. not even a 2nd best player on a contender.

 

[nbrans]

where did i say we couldn't use him? i'm saying he's a role player, he's not a franchise player. not even a 2nd best player on a contender.

You said he's not what we need, period, so I was responding to that -- he is the type of player we need, and someone who can do all the things Noah does would be more than just a roleplayer. That's sort of like calling Ben Wallace a roleplayer. I'm not saying Noah = Ben Wallace, but it's not like Noah would only be good at one thing or is a guy who couldn't play big minutes. I think we'd all be extremely thrilled to have a Tyson Chandler + hustle and passing at power forward or center.

I agree with you that we need a franchise player, but of the bigs in the draft, it's only Oden and Durant who are looking as close to sure thing superstars as you're going to have in a draft (obviously there is no sure thing).

Then there's that tantalizing second tier of Brandan Wright, Noah, Horford, Splitter, Jianlian and Thabeet. Those guys are all a mishmash of differing skills, readiness levels and upside, and I wouldn't write off any of them, including Noah.

 

[PBNJ31]

Right now I'd take an enemic potato

 

[PBNJ31]

he's not what we need, period. having heart and hustle are all well and good, but i'm sorry none of them can compare to talent. not saying he doesn't have it, but the guy's ceiling is a defensive specialist who can pass. he's not even that polished defensively either. high energy guys are a nice novelty, but they're not what make franchises. not saying i wouldn't pick him but there are a number i'd pick before him.

What we need = Heart, hustle, defense, passing, high energy and shotblocking. ????

 

[PBNJ31]

You said he's not what we need, period, so I was responding to that -- he is the type of player we need, and someone who can do all the things Noah does would be more than just a roleplayer. That's sort of like calling Ben Wallace a roleplayer. I'm not saying Noah = Ben Wallace, but it's not like Noah would only be good at one thing or is a guy who couldn't play big minutes. I think we'd all be extremely thrilled to have a Tyson Chandler + hustle and passing at power forward or center.

I agree with you that we need a franchise player, but of the bigs in the draft, it's only Oden and Durant who are looking as close to sure thing superstars as you're going to have in a draft (obviously there is no sure thing).

Then there's that tantalizing second tier of Brandan Wright, Noah, Horford, Splitter, Jianlian and Thabeet. Those guys are all a mishmash of differing skills, readiness levels and upside, and I wouldn't write off any of them, including Noah.

Agree.

 

[Vlade4GM]

You said he's not what we need, period, so I was responding to that -- he is the type of player we need, and someone who can do all the things Noah does would be more than just a roleplayer. That's sort of like calling Ben Wallace a roleplayer. I'm not saying Noah = Ben Wallace, but it's not like Noah would only be good at one thing or is a guy who couldn't play big minutes. I think we'd all be extremely thrilled to have a Tyson Chandler + hustle and passing at power forward or center.

I agree with you that we need a franchise player, but of the bigs in the draft, it's only Oden and Durant who are looking as close to sure thing superstars as you're going to have in a draft (obviously there is no sure thing).

Then there's that tantalizing second tier of Brandan Wright, Noah, Horford, Splitter, Jianlian and Thabeet. Those guys are all a mishmash of differing skills, readiness levels and upside, and I wouldn't write off any of them, including Noah.

yea he's not what we need, so that's why i'd take wright and horford over him, i'd possibly even trade down for jianlian. i also said we could use him and that's why i said i'd pick him if others were off the board already.