The Official NBA Draft Day Thread 2014 Edition

[Dime Dropper]

Ben was #7 in a terrible draft... if he pans out great, we have two good sg's hopefully. Jamal Crawford has won multiple 6th man awards... he played alongside Reddick this year, both players got plenty of run. It's all good... Stauskas is gonna rock and Ben is still a solid young player/asset.

People throw this out all the time but at one point Ben was being talked about as a potential number 1. He showed some serious potential in college, shot the ball just as well as Nik and put up arguably better numers whilst being an elite athlete. Nik is more confident and skilled but there are no sure things. People have very short memories and there's some extreme revisionism about what Ben was in college.

 

[SacKings2002NBAChampions]

I can see PDA trading for a pick to get Micic. We'll see...

 

[Tetsujin]

Key word: Potential

I think we can all agree that Embiid has a good chance (if Injuries don't prevail) to become a future HOF'er.

MCW is in the next tier and then Saric/Noel in their own 3rd tier depending on how much work they put in.

Too raw to tell. Check back in after three seasons or so.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Love the Early pick.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

EDIT: Sorry Shasta, my fault. Got you confused with someone else.

LOL. Are you OK now? Just jokin

 

[Entity]

Would like to see us but a pick here and select Walter Tavares.

He we not catch up to NBA. Add 3 second violation to his league and he doesn't have those blocks and rebounds

 

[Henkel]

He's a fun player to watch, but do you guys think Kyle Anderson will be able to defend at the next level? Every time I saw him it was hard to imagine him being any kind of perimeter defender. If he's a four Pop better toughen him up and get him in the weight room.

 

[Dime Dropper]

He we not catch up to NBA. Add 3 second violation to his league and he doesn't have those blocks and rebounds

Seen him play a lot, have you?

 

[SacKings2002NBAChampions]

He's a fun player to watch, but do you guys think Kyle Anderson will be able to defend at the next level? Every time I saw him it was hard to imagine him being any kind of perimeter defender. If he's a four pop better toughen him up and get him in the weight room.

Diaw is far from being a top notch defender however it comes down to intensity. I think Pop can turn him into a star. Look at Leonard....
No doubt, Kyle Anderson doesn't fit in a better system than San Antonio. Anywhere else and I don't think he would have equal opportunity to succeed due to NBA style of play. Spurs play Euro-ball. Anderson can own at Euro-ball.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

He's a fun player to watch, but do you guys think Kyle Anderson will be able to defend at the next level? Every time I saw him it was hard to imagine him being any kind of perimeter defender. If he's a four Pop better toughen him up and get him in the weight room.

They'll use his length at the 3, with the right matchups. A bench player behind Leonard to start his career

 

[Glenn]

The comparisons to Klay Thompson are a bunch of bull dookie until the point in time comes that Stauskas shows he can not only defend at this level, but is an above average defender at this level and a top 3-4 defender on a playoff level team, while doing so against starting SG's.

You all see Klay have some very good mins D'ing up CP3 in the playoffs? Can Stauskas even guard Ben in practice?

If you're not factoring the difference on defense and are just looking at the offensive end, you're suffering from the same disease as our FO.

It is a disease easily caught. Defense is given little interest in the stats and when evaluating the skills of a player. Defense is only of importance when a game is played. If people don't understand this snide comment, I'm sorry.

I wonder how much a defensive minded coach can effect a team's defense even if the players have little defensive skill. It seems that the FO is laying a big turd on Malone's front door step in a bag, lighting it on fire, and ringing the doorbell. Good luck, Mike. I hope the result doesn't smell too bad.

 

[dude12]

I don't understand why so many on this forum right now aren't grasping the fact that Ben was one of the worst starters in the entire league last year. We lost 7 wins according to analytics from the sg position last year.... that's a ton of wins that could be had by acquiring a league average player. We needed to address that spot... our number one need no doubt. Now pg is our biggest need that we've taken care of sg.

Drafted SGs in consecutive years and we are hoping Stauskus delivers, but I think people would have rather seen a vet traded for or signed to solidify the position. It can also be said that our PF position has cost us wins and quite frankly, the defense from our PG (and backcourt overall) has been awful. People want to see defense from that position and offense but to actually stop the opposing guards would be a change......I can't even remember the last time we could stop the ball. Payton appeared to be someone that could fit that. And now hearing that Stauskus may be a combo....I'll believe it when I see it.

Best case scenario for us is that Ben takes major steps in knocking down shots and playing above average defense, Ray Mac taking the next step and now Stauskus being the combo guard worthy of the 8th selection in a loaded draft.....can all of this happen? Sure. I seriously all hope it works out.....but I have some legitimate doubts right now

 

[dude12]

Ben was #7 in a terrible draft... if he pans out great, we have two good sg's hopefully. Jamal Crawford has won multiple 6th man awards... he played alongside Reddick this year, both players got plenty of run. It's all good... Stauskas is gonna rock and Ben is still a solid young player/asset.

I like your enthusiasm.....I hope your right

 

[Tetsujin]

Solid analysis, Bill.

"I dunno. I like what I read about him in articles and stuff..."

"Do we think he's a little Shaun Livingston-ey?"

 

[Entity]

Seen him play a lot, have you?

Over seas shot blockers translate 1-20

 

[pshn80]

This makes Isaiah Thomas look like an even worse fit as our PG

Au contraire! Stauskas potentially can make IT and. our offense much better. Just remember Ben's time last year when he was not available (unable) to pass, catch, get himself open, dribble, defend, etc. thus being a no-man and making the team offense a four person affair. A different, ball handling, dribbling competent SG can make a huge difference this year. Good pick. I hope he plays up to my expectations.

 

[sdballer]

Au contraire! Stauskas potentially can make IT and. our offense much better. Just remember Ben's time last year when he was not available (unable) to pass, catch, get himself open, dribble, defend, etc. thus being a no-man and making the team offense a four person affair. A different, ball handling, dribbling competent SG can make a huge difference this year. Good pick. I hope he plays up to my expectations.

If only bball was played on one side of the court.

 

[kingsboi]

I like Glenn Robinson III, I think he will be a solid contributor for Minnesota.

 

[pshn80]

One-side is a start and better than none.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Solid analysis, Bill.

"I dunno. I like what I read about him in articles and stuff..."

"Do we think he's a little Shaun Livingston-ey?"

Lets cut to the chase. Bill is downright horrible. How on earth he has a commentating job is,...well it's a sign of the times I guess

 

[Kingster]

I will cry if they make the playoffs before we do.

It does help if you tank like you mean it. The Kings just kinda coulda woulda tanked. Philly tanked with a vengeance.

 

[sdballer]

One-is a start and better than none.

True but it only addresses part of why people are irritated. The fact that he's better than Ben at those things were known to an extent before the last draft and PDA missed it yet acted like he was the second coming. Means this draft is a do over on a draft one year ago. Not a great sign for dealing with the team's other weaknesses.

As I stated earlier, all PDA has shown an ability to do is to grab damaged goods.

 

[pshn80]

If only bball was played on one side of the court.

One-side is a start and better than the present "none".

 

[VF21]

Lets cut to the chase. Bill is downright horrible. How on earth he has a commentating job is,...well it's a sign of the times I guess

Just remember, it's not who you know. It's WHAT you know and who you have pictures of. Apparently, Simmons has tons of pictures.

 

[Glenn]

Au contraire! Stauskas potentially can make IT and. our offense much better. Just remember Ben's time last year when he was not available (unable) to pass, catch, get himself open, dribble, defend, etc. thus being a no-man and making the team offense a four person affair. A different, ball handling, dribbling competent SG can make a huge difference this year. Good pick. I hope he plays up to my expectation.

A refreshing attitude and there may be some truth in this. I am not sure what people expected with a #8 pick with the FA period not having started and plenty of time to trade.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

I wish the Kings had a 2nd rounder. Some steals are going down so far in the 2nd round. Early, KJ McDaniels, Glenn Robinson

 

[SacKings2002NBAChampions]

Jokic and Nurkic at Denver....interesting
Along with Gary Harris...damn. They have a good future going forward.

Not really sold on Jokic but has a good upside.

 

[Monster]

I like Glenn Robinson III, I think he will be a solid contributor for Minnesota.

Only problem with him is consistency. Some games he looked like a top 5 pick. Then, for seemingly no reason at all, he'd have 5 or 6 games where he looked like he could go undrafted. He'd disappear in some big games and inflate his stats against weaker teams. But, then he'd go off on a good team and look like a solid lottery pick again. IMO, he made a mistake leaving school early.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

On another note, have you guys seen Nik Stauskas' GF? my goodness

 

[Tetsujin]

On another note, have you guys seen Nik Stauskas' GF? my goodness

Nik's GF has the same hair color as Jimmer's wife! JIMMER 2.0!