Austin Daye
The only thing this kid has going for him is his size and length, which are admittedly intriguing. He is soft as hell though, and from what I saw an average NBA athlete at best. He isn't very quick, or explosive, and even at a small level of ball couldn't ever dominate two plays in a row. He has potential but he definately needs 20 pounds minimum which I dont se happening. To be honest, not to be racist but I feel like people dont like to make comparisons of black guys to white guys and vice versa, but the player he reminds me most of from the past few years is Steve Novak. 6'10 ish, lanky, and can shoot but thats about it. Daye won't block a whole lot of shots at the next level I dont think. He will be a defensive liability for a long time too because he isn't strong enough to guard 3's or 4's and most nba 3's are too quick for him too.
Well, Anthony Randolph weighed only 5 pounds more at last years combine, and is basically the same length.
I take it most of you wouldn't mind having Randolph on your team? What if you had Randolph and he could also shoot 40% from 3? That would be one of the best prospects in the league...
Now, I'm not saying they are the same player, although they both provide good ball handling in a very long thin package. Randolph does seem more athletic. However if you wouldn't mind getting a player (Randolph) who is equally rail thin and plays more down low where that's a serious liability, why are you all so against getting a similarly built player who has more of an outside game that might mask his weakness to a certain extent?
Personally I consider Daye intriguing, and I would take him in the lottery. He's a deadly outside shooter who can shoot over anybody, and is super long. He might fill out too. I know there's some kind of crazy idea working its way around the web that it's easy for a player to learn to shoot well, but I think that's crap. Yes, most players improve their shooting some, but a player who is already shooting 40% as a freshman in college from 3 is a special shooter, and it's very rare that someone who shoots 30% will ever reach them, shooting is a talent.
This kid has a 9-2 reach and can shoot 3s, in this weak draft i would rather say that he is underrated.
Bargnani couldn't do anything but shooting 3s(taller but same standing reach and altough he weighs more he still can't rebound) and got drafted at #1, Steve Novak has a 6 inch(!) lower standing reach and still found his niche in the league.
He could end up as the steal of the draft.
The big thing is he could be a steal, but his flaws are way to great for him to come out this year. If he goes back to college, gets stronger, a bit quicker, and stuff he could be pretty good, but i do not like him coming out this year. One thing is he did finish on 63% of his finishes. This is a suprise, but he really needs to go back
Not sure how you can compare him to Dunleavy, where is the similarity?
Daye has a 4 inch reach advantage, and blocked over 2 shots a game. Plus he shoots a better % from 3 than Dunleavy ever did.
Anyway, if he is like Dunleavy, which I don't see, I would argue that a 4 inches longer Dunleavy who shoots better from outside and blocks shots is worth more than a #20 pick in a weak draft.
Daye's such a tease. I personally don't think he'll ever live up to his expectations. (NBA Draft.net compared him to Kevin Durant going into College.) I think Best case scenario he's a Rashard Lewis and worse case he's a Tim Thomas. He's an intriguing prospect, but not a Lottery prospect. A nice grab in the Mid to Late 1st.
Best case Rashard Lewis?!! Worst Tim Thomas?!! if he gained 50 pounds his best case would be a less athletic Tim Thomas. He's the second coming of Darius Rice who couldnt cut it in the league. Mike Dunleavy?!! come on man! even he is more athletic than Daye and more skilled offensively. plus he has that coaches son thing that gives him a great feel for basketball. and although he may be similar in size to Randolph he's not really comparable because Randolph plays stronger in addition to all of his other skills. yall are comparing him to NBA starters, all-stars, and guys who have had long successsful NBA careers. is it really a given that Daye will enjoy that much success in the NBA, because yall are writing as if it is?
No, it is not a given at all alphamale! The point is not that it is a given, the point is that there is a glimmer of possibility. Teams draft largely on potential, which means the best case scenario, the cieling, what's the best that could happen. In the case of Daye, there's a good chance he busts, but there's also a good chance he puts on 30 pounds of muscle to go with that killer shot, and regains some athleticism from his first year before he hurt his knee.
I do think Darius Rice is a good worst case comparison btw (and that's someone else I thought had a shot - oh well).
I have him 15 to the Pistons...he has a excellent jumper and could mix it up at SF and PF. He could come of the bench and play sporadically ( like 50 to 60 games)
He could go to a offseason workout ( Remember Dwight Howard wasnt always big...he worked out)
do yall know how hard it is for a guy who has a naturally freaky skinny build to put on weight? there's a reason KD, Tayshawn, Rip Hamilton, etc...havent put on any weight. its damn near impossible. i bet the guy eats like Kobayashi and cant put on a pound. we all know someone like this, i'm sure, and for them putting on pounds is much easier said than done.
This prospect really interests me. He is so long with a 7-2 wing span, and a 9-2 standing reach. He has a great jumper, and seams to have the potenial to be very very good, but why is he still in this draft. As good as he can be, he really needs to get stronger, because his length is made irrelavant by his lack of strength. I do not think he can compete with NBA players yet, but i think he could be better than curry. IF he reaches his potenial