Just personal with me I guess. There were a lot of games where I didn't like the way he played. So I guess from my prespective, if you putting a team together, why not pick the type of players that fit the best. I think Randle would fit beautifully. Randle is a better player in my opinion. His problem is his height. I just don't want selfish players on the team. And at times Collins was selfish.
But aside from that, I don't think the Kings main need is at point guard. I think its at SG. Which is why I like players like Vasquez.
Elliott Williams is someone I'm highly skeptical about on several fronts.
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PROJECTION: 38-50
Willie Warren? Here's my thumbnail:
Willie Warren had a terrible sophomore campaign and has slipped in the draft as such, but taking his skills as a whole he's definitely a viable NBA-role player. The pros is that he has a compact body at 6'4" 200, and his usage rate in college is such that he shouldn't have much trouble adapting as a role player (he's a middling scorer in the NBA). His overall offense is a mixed bag, however: what he does excel at, though, is in mutual exclusion, as he takes a lot of threes and gets to the line a lot offensively (only Scottie Reynolds and Elliott Williams had higher rates of both), and looking deeper he's a very good finisher as well, but appears to be only average as a long-range bomber. His skills are such that he'll be a SG at the next level, but he's a pretty good passer for the 2-guard and may act as a combo at spurts. But he's also highly turnover prone, and only four SGs in college had higher turnover rates with more possessions used. But those are offensive stats--his defensive stats ring highly, highly questionable--as he's a poor rebounder, even for a PG, and virtually negligible steal and block rates at college (he had 0 blocks in 21 games this year). His offense, with the mutual exclusion and some passing, overall is a plus, and combo guards of his ilk are getting more en vogue in the league, and should more than make up for his questionable defense. He'll find a role somewhere as a popcorn machine scoring guard with some passing, and may hit his stride as a sixth man type. PROJECTION: 25-35
How about another tweener guard?
Elliott Williams is someone I'm highly skeptical about on several fronts. It's hard to take away praise from a year where he showed himself to be a very good scorer who, like Warren, based his offensive game upon mutual exclusion (free throws and threes). He's a preferred slasher than shooter, a smart move because he can finish well and really get to the line (top 2 among SGs) while his long range game appears to be average at best overall. But while he can get to the basket, at 175 lbs and being a undersized SG (6'4") will this translate effectively to the next level? I have some doubts. Like Warren above, he'll have to rely on his scoring game--his rebounding and passing are average at best, and he's slightly below average in the passing lanes as well. He's relatively turnover prone as well. It's hard really getting up on his potential--his best asset of getting to the line/finishing might be eradicated with his slight frame, and as a long range shooter there's huge doubts, and the other parts of his game are average at best. His freshman year at Duke was also very nondescript. Unlike Warren, who has the body and better passing ability to perhaps make a bigger difference. PROJECTION: 38-50
Totally with you on Vazquez. To me, he's a better version of the skills we need from Garcia (minus the d). He's tall which helps out in maximizing the Tyreke mismatches, shoots well, has good vision and is extremely clutch. 33 might be a little early for him but if you could pick up a cheap 2nd rounder, he's someone I'd really like to see us draft. I also like Randle, who I could see go undrafted and think the Kings should sign to a summer league deal right after the draft ends.
Thats what I'm hoping for with Randle. And its likely he will go undrafted. By the way I don't think that Vasquez is bad defender. He'll certainly give you the effort. He does play with a fire in his belly. I will agree however that his athleticism, or lack there of does limit him to some degree.
One of the hosts at the combine qualified athleticism. He said that when they refered to a player having only average athleticism, they were referring to NBA average athleticism. And that an average NBA player is 10 times more athletic than the average athlete off the street. His point being that all NBA players are good athletes. They only become average when compared against each other.
When someone starting talking about the potential of one of the players, he laughed and said yeah. Potential is what gets GM's fired.
I know Williams most likely will be drafted higher than that, as he has hype surrounding him that will elevate him somewhere in the 20s, but my projections are more or less based on where their talents should place them in the draft. With regards to Williams' defense, he has a good man-to-man defensive rep but at 175 lbs there's no way he'll be able to sustain that against stronger guards, even if he has the athleticism to match up (many good wing defenders either have height (Prince, Battier) or strength (Afflalo, D Jones) to excel in the NBA, and Williams has neither). And besides, I think he's a bit too scoring oriented to really invest himself as a defensive stopper, so a mindset change might be necessary. Just very, very skeptical overall.
I'm not going to go ga ga over just seeing someone impress at the combine in somewhat restricted drills. But I do think that one has to take some notice of Ryan Richards. He's certainly a physcial specimen and seems to have basic fundamentals down. Since were talking about the 33rd pick here, I wouldn't be opposed to taking a flyer on him at that point. You'd have a raw 6'11" Pf that you could groom the way you want. I don't know much about him since he's a european player and currently playing for a Spanish team I believe.
What I do know is that he's a graceful athlete that runs the floor very well and seems to have good hops. He appears to have a long wingspan and in the drills he shot the ball well. Now that leaves a lot we don't know. How he handles the ball? How he passes the ball? Whats his basketball IQ? How well does he play defense?
At the same time, he's only 19 years old. I would certainly take a look at him. You never know when your looking at a diamond in the rough.
Looking overseas again, the Kings also interviewed Ryan Richards on Thursday evening. The 19-year-old forward from England is listed at 6-113/4 in shoes.
From today's Sacramento Bee (haven't seen it posted yet, but may have missed it):
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/22/2769139/aldrich-might-be-good-fit-for.html
more in the article....
I also like Lance Stephanson as a possible second rounder, though I think he'll get picked up in the first. Came to the combine in great shape, and he has a pretty versatile offensive game. Can shoot, drive, be physical. Could be a really nice player.
There's no denying Stephenson's talent. I don't know how much you watched him play this year, but if you think Cousins is a head case, then Stephenson is physcatic. This is a guy that I saw get upset with a non call and just walk back to the other end of the court out of bounds at a nice leisurely pace. His coach had to come off the bench, run down to where he was and push him back onto the court. I saw this happen twice.
That aside, he's a very good basketball player. He's not the most athletic player out there, but he certainly talented..
There's no denying Stephenson's talent. I don't know how much you watched him play this year, but if you think Cousins is a head case, then Stephenson is physcatic. This is a guy that I saw get upset with a non call and just walk back to the other end of the court out of bounds at a nice leisurely pace. His coach had to come off the bench, run down to where he was and push him back onto the court. I saw this happen twice.
That aside, he's a very good basketball player. He's not the most athletic player out there, but he certainly talented..
I saw Stephenson maybe once, but I agree with you, everything ive read and herd points to him being the headcase type like Cousins. Whether its true or not I dont know. Same goes for Cousins. So many of the athletes this year have perfect records, which makes players like Cousins and Lance look worse than they probly are.
Just like Cousins though, he has the talent. I would take Cousins at 5 without a doubt, and I AM one of those who think he might be a little crazy. Like you said, Lance has the talent of a first rounder whos head might force him into the second round. We could do worse than him there, thats for sure. I like his style. Reminds me a bit of a Bonzi Wells/ bully type guard. Would be nice to have on the bench. I liked his attitude at the combine too, during the the drills he did with the other guards. Seemed into it, and looked like a good enough guy. Of course, it is the combine, and it doesnt mean much. Just sayin.
My choice is Parakhouski.
May be I am a little bit biased because he is from Belarus and Mom is originally from Belarus too
I like his size and toughness, and he has a nice shot. I think he's worth a gamble.
I only do not understand why his last name is spelled Parakhouski. If I am not mistaken, his last name is Параховский. So, it should be spelled Parakhovskiy or Parakhovski.
Even if Stephenson didn't have the attitude issues, I'd say his gameface needed at least another year of school to grow. He's an average scorer who lacking a good jumper and great range at the moment, and considering his future position is at SG, those two are a premium and is a primary reason why he should have stayed at school (not sure if he can develop it on the fly at the NBA). Moreover, offensively, he's only an average finisher and doesn't get to the line well, so offensively he might have some problems in the NBA. Also, despite being 6'5" he really seems more SF than SG at the moment, taking into account his power body, the lack of range, his very good rebounding at both ends of the court and his only average passing ability. Defensively he's also questionable, not really being a good deflections type. I really don't see much potential with him as of now, and have bones to pick with offensively/defensively, not to mention he's a slight tweener--I see very slight shades of Bonzi Wells, but I don't think he's as physical offensively or defensively and anyway he'll have a long road to travel if he even gets there. I'd say he probably gets undrafted.
http://www.draftexpress.com/article...obson-Hayward-Richards-Stephenson-Garcia-3484
Some 2nd rounder interviews. I was impressed with Parakhouski.
I just listened to it myself. I also was impressed. I don't know how many times you got to see him play, but when you consider how long he's played the game, he's way ahead of some others IQ wise that have played the game for a long time.