Whatever happened to Aminu?

[DoDiGaG0]

I honestly have the feeling that Aminu will be a stud. I think hes a poor mans paul pierce.

why? he's proven to be nothing but athletic so far...

 

[Sparky6string]

Aesthic beauty? Yeah, I really don't care if he's Picaso. I'm more concerned that he can change directions quickly with the ball in his hands, penetrate to the basket, make defenses collapse on him, etc. If I thought he were a great outside shooter, I wouldn't be as concerned, but he's just not that great of an outside shooter.

Understood, but those things can be developed in time. Not every player needs that for their respective games either. According to scouts he's a quick learner, sponging up instruction like he does rebounds. And outside shooting can come too. I've said it beofre but the player Aminu most reminds me of is Donyell Marshall when he was first drafted- he was long armed, rebounded well and had limited range. By the end of Donyell's career he was a 3pt shooter. BTW all of this is just open minded quasi devil's advocate type stuff.

Today I'd actually prefer these guys in this order, providing Cousins is gone:

1)Aldrich
2)Johnson
3)George

 

[Kingster]

I really don't understand this impression that you have to be an advanced 1-on-1 dribbler to be a perimeter scorer, and everyone else is a spot up shooter.

You don't have to be an advanced dribbler to be a perimeter scorer (Johnson). But if that is all Johnson is going to be - a perimeter scorer with a good defensive game, then I'm wondering if that justifies the 5th pick in the draft. I guess if he was a great outside shooter, I could see it, but from what I've seen he doesn't have that kind of touch.

 

[Kingster]

Understood, but those things can be developed in time. Not every player needs that for their respective games either. According to scouts he's a quick learner, sponging up instruction like he does rebounds. And outside shooting can come too. I've said it beofre but the player Aminu most reminds me of is Donyell Marshall when he was first drafted- he was long armed, rebounded well and had limited range. By the end of Donyell's career he was a 3pt shooter. BTW all of this is just open minded quasi devil's advocate type stuff.

Today I'd actually prefer these guys in this order, providing Cousins is gone:

1)Aldrich
2)Johnson
3)George

We agree that outside shooting can be improved, and more than likely Johnson will get even better in that area. I doubt, however, that dribbling the ball, can be improved anywhere near the extent that shooting the ball can. I think in that area, what you see is pretty much what you get.

 

[Sparky6string]

You don't have to be an advanced dribbler to be a perimeter scorer (Johnson). But if that is all Johnson is going to be - a perimeter scorer with a good defensive game, then I'm wondering if that justifies the 5th pick in the draft. I guess if he was a great outside shooter, I could see it, but from what I've seen he doesn't have that kind of touch.

Really with what's available we could take that kind of viewpoint down the list, because no one has a complete game and everyone left is flawed. We could convince ourselves that no one available is worth the 5th pick, so then what? We gotta pick someone.

Also I'm unclear- are you saying you don't think Johnson is a good shooter? His % was very good and he showed growth from previous years. Although I am not an expert in these things those that are are impressed with his mechanics and form.

 

[Sparky6string]

We agree that outside shooting can be improved, and more than likely Johnson will get even better in that area. I doubt, however, that dribbling the ball, can be improved anywhere near the extent that shooting the ball can. I think in that area, what you see is pretty much what you get.

Not from my perspective. He may not ever look prettier bouncing the ball but he can reduce or keep TOs to an acceptable rate.

 

[Vlade4GM]

You don't have to be an advanced dribbler to be a perimeter scorer (Johnson). But if that is all Johnson is going to be - a perimeter scorer with a good defensive game, then I'm wondering if that justifies the 5th pick in the draft. I guess if he was a great outside shooter, I could see it, but from what I've seen he doesn't have that kind of touch.

What makes you say that? He has a quick release (both off the dribble and the catch) and great elevation. Shot 41% from 3. He's got everything you'd want in a shooter, and he's only going to get even better with his work ethic and better perimeter opportunities in the NBA.

He's a player who can score without the ball, finish strong at the basket, shoot well from mid range and 3, pass, defend his position, and rebound. What more would you like Johnson to do? Lay golden eggs? I'm hard pressed to see who else can provide as much as he can provide where we're picking.

 

[Sparky6string]

What makes you say that? He has a quick release (both off the dribble and the catch) and great elevation. Shot 41% from 3. He's got everything you'd want in a shooter, and he's only going to get even better with his work ethic and better perimeter opportunities in the NBA.

He's a player who can score without the ball, finish strong at the basket, shoot well from mid range and 3, pass, defend his position, and rebound. What more would you like Johnson to do? Lay golden eggs? I'm hard pressed to see who else can provide as much as he can provide where we're picking.

With that kind of skill-set if we can't get production from him then it's our fault.

 

[Telemachus]

You don't have to be an advanced dribbler to be a perimeter scorer (Johnson). But if that is all Johnson is going to be - a perimeter scorer with a good defensive game, then I'm wondering if that justifies the 5th pick in the draft. I guess if he was a great outside shooter, I could see it, but from what I've seen he doesn't have that kind of touch.

Actually, what I want in a SG is a good outside shooter that can play with or without the ball effectively and is a good defensive player. Obviously, I would like him to be able to handle the ball well enough to bring the ball up the floor at times and have some ability to create his own shot. I see no reason that Johnson can't be that kind of player.

If I am reading you correctly, then you wouldn't want to take Reggie Miller or Mitch Richmond if they were there at #5. Richmond was good scorer that player great defense, but had questionable handles and passing ability. Miller was a great shooter that relied on his teammates setting picks for him to get shots and was an average defensive player at best. Both had great NBA careers and would look terrific playing next to Tyreke.

I'm not saying that Johns will be as good as either of those players, but think he has the potenial to play at that level if he keeps working hard on his game (whcih he shown the desire to do).

 

[bajaden]

Aesthic beauty? Yeah, I really don't care if he's Picaso. I'm more concerned that he can change directions quickly with the ball in his hands, penetrate to the basket, make defenses collapse on him, etc. If I thought he were a great outside shooter, I wouldn't be as concerned, but he's just not that great of an outside shooter.

Well I'm not sure what your definition of a great outside shooter is? Johnson shot 50% overall. Which is pretty dammed good for a jumpshooter. And he shot 41% from 3pt land. Which also is pretty dammed good. The guy can shoot the ball. Also, lets be clear on one thing. Johnson is a very very good basketball player. He's not just some slug that can shoot a spot up three. He wouldn't be ranked as high as he is if he wasn't talented. There are a whole bunch of guys that can sit out there and shoot spot up three's. But they can't do the other things that Johnson can do.

He's considered a very good defender. I'll give you that Syracuse played a zone all the time. But there were times that he was defending one on one and he was very good. Zone or no zone, at some point someone will try and break the zone down and you can be playing one on one. When it happened Johnson did very well. He's a terrific athlete with very good lateral movement. So there's no reason to think he can't defend.

He handles the ball just fine. No, he's not Tyreke Evans or Evan Turner, but he's very capable of creating his own shot, or taking his man off the dribble. He's not my first choice, but he's a dammed good basketball player, and a terrific rebounder for his position.

 

[bajaden]

Understood, but those things can be developed in time. Not every player needs that for their respective games either. According to scouts he's a quick learner, sponging up instruction like he does rebounds. And outside shooting can come too. I've said it beofre but the player Aminu most reminds me of is Donyell Marshall when he was first drafted- he was long armed, rebounded well and had limited range. By the end of Donyell's career he was a 3pt shooter. BTW all of this is just open minded quasi devil's advocate type stuff.

Today I'd actually prefer these guys in this order, providing Cousins is gone:

1)Aldrich
2)Johnson
3)George

Marshall was a much better shooter coming out of college than Aminu. Taller too.. Aminu might be better looking...

 

[bajaden]

I'm starting to think that insanity has set in. I can't believe that anyone is debating Johnson's shooting ability. The guy is a great shooter. Especially from outside the line. Lets look at some of the shooters in his draft..

Johnson: 50.2% overall, 41.5% from 3 pt range.

Babbit: 50.0% overall, 41.6% from 3pt range.

Rautins: 43.8% overall, 40.7% from 3pt range.

Bledsoe: 46.2% overall, 38.3% from 3pt range.

Wall: 46.1% overall, 32.5% from 3pt range.

Anderson: 45.7% overall, 34.1% from 3pt range.

E. Williams: 45.9% overall, 36.6% from 3pt range

D. Jones: 45.0% overall, 31.1% from 3pt range

Aminu: 44.7% overall, 27.3% from 3pt range

Warren: 43.8% overall, 30.9% from 3pt range

Bradley: 43.2% overall, 37.5% from 3pt range

George: 42.4% overall, 35.3% from 3pt range

White: 43.0% overall, 34.3% from 3pt range

I think we can clearly see that Johnson, Babbitt and Rautins were in a different class when it came to shooting the ball from the outside. You can also see why I like Babbitt so much. Rautins is a guy that falls into the RUDY class. He'll spill his guts out on the floor if it will help the team win. He's a terrific shooter and a very good ballhandler and passer. He's just not a good athlete. My gut tells me that somehow, someway, he'll find his way onto an NBA team. The guy just bleeds basketball.

But I hope we can put this Johnson not being a good outside shooter crap to bed. He's one of the top outside shooters in college. And I have no idea where anyone came up with the idea that he wasn't a good shooter. Pure nonsense!!

 

[Chupacabra]

Well, ive been wrong before lol. However, if Aminu turns into a stud im going to say i told you so. Otherwise ill own up to a terrible prediction.

 

[Sparky6string]

Marshall was a much better shooter coming out of college than Aminu. Taller too.. Aminu might be better looking...

If he had any shooting at all he would have been a much better shooter than Aminu. =p


@Chupacabra- I was just thinking about who the busts of this draft might be. There are some in every draft and this one has a lot of guys that have the possibility of being busts- maybe we should have a pool on it.

 

[ElRey]

wow Johnson's shooting numbers ARE impressive.

 

[DoDiGaG0]

wow Johnson's shooting numbers ARE impressive.

Johnson is going to be a legit utility man who can do it all... Score, Rebound, Pass, Defend, block shots, get steals, shoot, drive a bit....

he just a jack of all trades..ace of none....

If cousins is gone he would be a great pick up

PG) Tyreke
SG) Dante
SF) Johnson

that is possibly the longest and most athletic trio in the NBA

 

[Rug King]

DoDiGaG0,

I'm looking at your first 5 mock draft.

1. John Wall
2. Evan Turner
3. DeMarcus Cousins
4. Wesley Johnson
5. Derrick Favors

That's not the highest probability in my opinion but it very well could turn out that way. Tyreke slipped to 4 last year so it could happen.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Statistical analysis of SF's http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Situational-Statistics-This-Yearas-Small-Forward-Crop-3503/