[franfranParticipant]

Anthony Davis,     Best case: Kevin Garnett. Worst case: Marcus Camby meet Tyson Chandler.

Andre Drummond,  Best case: Amar’e Stoudemire.  Worst case: More fluid DeAndre Jordan.

Harrison Barnes,    Best case: Paul Pierce.   Worst case: Better intangibles Luol Deng. 

Perry Jones,          Best case: Rudy Gay.   Worst case: Less deffensive Anthony Randolph.

Terrence Jones,    Best case: Lamar Odom meets Josh Smith.   Worst case: Marvin Williams.

Austin Rivers,       Best case: Monta Ellis.   Worst case: O.J.Mayo.

Michael K.Gilchrist, Best case: Gerald Wallace. Worst case: More deffensive Kahwii Leonard.

Brad Beal,               Best case: Ray Allen.        Worst case: Shooter Gerald Henderson.

Jared Sullinger,       Best case: Carlos Boozer.    Worst case: Glen Davis.

Jeremy Lamb,         Best case: Reggie Miller.     Worst case: Larry Huges.

Kendall Marshall,   Best case: Jason Kidd (09-present.).   Worst case: Jose Manuel Calderon. 

Arnett Moultrie,      Best case: Jason Thompson.    Worst case: Jordan Hill.

Terrence Ross,        Best case: Dorell Wright.     Worst case: Wes Johnson.

Tyreke Evans,         Best case: Tyreke Evans.     Worst case: Shaun Livingston.

Doron Lamb,            Best case: Juan Carlos Navarro.   Worst case: Randy Foye. 

Patric Young,           Best case: Smaller Al Horford.   Worst case: Brandon Bass.

Quincy Miller,         Best case: Rashar Lewis (Seattle).   Worst case: Hedo Turkoglu.

LeBryan Nash,        Best case: Al Harrington.    Worst case: Al Thornton.

Marquis Teague,     Best case: Steve Francis.     Worst case: Jeff Teague.   

Adonis Thomas,       Best case: J.R Smith.      Worst case: Brandon Rush.

[FearTheStacheParticipant]

Good to know that Tyreke Evans’ best case is Tyreke Evans 

[franfranParticipant]

 oops, I meant Tony wroten

[hoops4thewinParticipant]

I may be in the minority but Brandon Rush is a better player than JR Smith. Rush is a very effcient offesive player who is a elite wing defender. JR is a chucker who doesnt play any defense.

[JWinterParticipant]

 Yeah, Rush has been far better this season than in any other in his career.  Ideally, JR would conform to the role that Rush does as a spot-up shooter/wing defender, but he just doesn’t have the necessary unselfishness.  If you’ve watched either this year or care more about efficiency and actual effectiveness than highlights, it’s pretty clear:

Rush > Smith

[invalidParticipant]

 

 rush is a very efficient offensive player who is a  elite wing defender

he may be the better defender but thats too much brO

[WrecklessParticipant]

Adonis Thomas – Josh Howard (Best Case)
Doron Lamb – Randy Foye/ Von Wafer (Worst)

[WrecklessParticipant]

Oh, maybe Jodie Meeks is a good comparison for Doron Lamb as well

[Maniac MaciejParticipant]

So, the worst case for these 20 or so players are anywhere from solid NBA rotation players to NBA All-Stars?

It’s still early, but this is the dumbest thing I’ve seen yet today. Luol Deng with better intangibles, ha. That shit cray.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

I’d say that looks more like a "best case-more likely case" comparison chart. Worst case guys should not be really good players, this draft just isnt that loaded. I like your thoughts though for a handful of them.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

You are an optimist. Seriously though man, your expectations for a majority of these players are way too high. I know a lot of people are high on this draft, but I believe it is not as deep as people think. Plus, even the best drafts usually produce about 3-4 All-Stars, very few of them being perennial.

The 1984 Draft produced 8 players that made at least one All-Star game, 4 who were perennial (MJ, Hakeem, Stockton, Barkley) and 14 players who averaged over 10 ppg for their career. That is considered possibly the best draft class of All-Time. This draft is not going to be that and I think that a majority of the predictions you have made expect too much, be it upside or down side.

[Andrew1984Participant]

@franfran: Nice job on those! I agree with a lot of them. Very well thought out. I think you were spot-on with Jeremy Lamb, Jared Sullinger, and LeBryan Nash. Here are some of my takes:

Austin Rivers plays a lot like Nick Young, but with a pedigree and an IQ higher than room temperature.
Tony Wroten reminds me a lot of Sleepy Floyd, ’83-’89ish. He’s got great vision and is so smooth in traffic.
Quincy Miller: Best case: Jamal Mashburn, Worst case: DerMarr Johnson
Meyers Leonard: Best case: Alonzo Mourning, Worst case: Chris Mihm

I’ve been trying to find a comparison for Anthony Davis for a year now, and I can’t come up with one. He handles the ball better than KG or Camby ever did, and I think that hasn’t been noticed much because Kentucky hasn’t really asked him to handle it. I know this is probably unwarranted, but I think he may have some DREAM in him!

[Andrew1984Participant]

Oh, and for Meyers Leonard, I meant ‘Zo at the end of his career, after his 20 and 10 days.

[Cosbysweater7Participant]

Austin Rivers- Best Case: Dwyane Wade

Jared Sullinger-Best Case: Kevin Love

[bjcart53Participant]

@mboricua430 do you think austin rivers can be a dwyane wade type player. With the blocks steals and more explosive plays. He can shoot the three but when he tries to back it out and attack with that head of steam in the nba he will get blocked more times than not. Kid is gonna really have to refine his game. His ceiling isn’t as high as some think. The NBA is gonna be tough on him. 

[Cosbysweater7Participant]

Yeah I agree with what you’re saying. I forgot to add that he’ll never be as good as Wade defensively, but I do think he’ll be a better shooter. Rivers is the only player in college who truly has a killer instinct and he also has the ability to make clutch shots down the stretch. Even the staff at Duke compared his game to Dwyane Wade, so I dont think that comparison is that bad. That’s why I said best case scenario,and Rivers is only a Freshman and Wade came out his junior year. So, two years from now he may refine his game to that level by then

[JWinterParticipant]

 I registered just to say how bad this original post was.  

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 Drummond worst case is a better Deandre Jordan? That’s a pretty high basement. 

And Barnes worse case is better than a current all-star? 

Q. Miller worst case should be Donte Greene 

And looking at Teague, Jeff had a better college career as it stands now so why would his brother be at least as good as him in the league? 

[Ghost01Participant]

 Sort of ridiculous to say a collegiate athlete whose disappeared at times "worst case scenario" is a better Luol Deng. Luol Deng is pretty darn good. 

[Krypt14Participant]

Kostas Sloukas best case Michael Jordan with better 3pt shot, worst case shorter Wilt Chamberlain.

[kobyzParticipant]

Anthony Davis, Best case: Bill Russell meet Thaddeus Young. Worst case: Andrei Kirilenko.

Andre Drummond, Best case: Shawn Kemp. Worst case: JaVale McGee.

Harrison Barnes, Best case: Paul Pierce/Michael Finley. Worst case: Wilson Chandler.

Perry Jones, Best case: Nicolas Batum(bigger)/Clifford Robinson. Worst case: Earl Clark.

Terrence Jones – James Johnson.

Austin Rivers, Best case: Derek Anderson/Jamal Crawford

Michael K.Gilchrist – Shawn Marion meets Caron Butler.

Brad Beal, Best case: Joe Dumars. Worst case: Cuttino Mobley.

Jared Sullinger, Best case: Zach Randolph/Carlos Boozer. Worst case: Luis Scola.

Jeremy Lamb – Eddie Jones/Allan Houston.

Kendall Marshall – Mark Jackson/Ricky Rubio

Arnett Moultrie, Best case: Kevin Willis/Joe Smith. Worst case: Jan Vesely.

Terrence Ross, Best case: Paul George. Worst case: J.R. Smith.

Tony Wroten, Best case: Baron Davis. Worst case: Shaun Livingston.

Doron Lamb, Best case: Michael Redd(smaller). Worst case: Vernon Maxwell.

Patric Young – Kris Humphries

Quincy Miller, Best case: Jamal Mashburn. Worst case: Austin Daye.

LeBryan Nash, Best case: Corey Maggette. Worst case: Al Thornton.

Marquis Teague, Best case: Stephon Marbury. Worst case: ?.

Adonis Thomas, Best case: Sam Young. Worst case: ?.

 

Kris Joseph, Best case: Richard Jefferson. Worst case: Sonny Weems.

Cody Zeller – Greg Monroe/Marcin Gortat

Tyler Zeller – Vin Baker/Jason Thompson

Meyers Leonard, Best case: Elden Campbell. Worst case: Ian Mahinmi

Trey Burke – Mike Conley

Tim Hardaway Jr – Courtney Lee

Myck Kabongo – Darren Collison

 John Henson – Amir Johnson/Ed Davis

Ryan Boatright – Jeff Teague

 

[Ghost01Participant]

 Bill Russell meet Thaddeus Young

 

WTF?

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

These guys really could go either way.  It might be determined if guys fit in with where they end up. 

Say for instance, if you compare Anthony Davis to another 6’9 shot blocker phenom who could run and dunk and rebound with an unrefined offensive game then, at least as far as protypes go he would be closer to Bill Russell than Kevin Garnett (KG was a lot taller with more of a face-up game than Anthony Davis).  But, his worst case scenario might be a guy who just blocks shots and rebounds and finishes inside (maybe like Joel Anthony).  I might want to say that a worst case scenario for Davis would be Stromile Swift but Stro was a knuckle head with a low basketball IQ.  Plus, he was a fantastic dunker and Davis is not really known for his dunking.  Davis has a better motor too.  If Anthony Davis’ game doesn’t develop a lot more then his athleticism, shot blocking, dunking, and motor might turn him into the next Keon Clark (but I think Clark was taller) for a reasonable worst case scenario.  … if Anthony Davis stays mostly a role player through out his career then he might end up as a Bo Outlaw type who is smart, savvy, hustles, rebounds, blocks shots, and puts a few points on the board.  If Anthony Davis scores more, keeps dunking and refines his offensive game, ball handling and passing then he will end up being the guy we all wanted Josh Smith to be.  A stat-stuffing, fantasy superstar who is fun to watch and wins a lot.

Andre Drummond reminds me too much of Greg Oden.  He kinda looks the same and is not too fluid either.  He looks too passive.  He might end up just being a solid center, but nothing special.  Oden looked better in college, so if Drummond doesn’t turn it on he might turn into a poor man’s Oden with fewer health problems.

MKG is one of the few guys with star potential.  I think that he gets it and he has a nice blend of motor, athleticism, talent, and smarts.  

Harrison Barnes is a guy who I don’t think will be a superstar but could end up being a very nice player — maybe even an all-star.  If he works on his ball handling and passing then I could see him being a taller, small forward version of Joe Johnson, fundamentally sound, a good scorer, and a good 2nd or 3rd option on a great team, even an all-star but not a super star.  If Barnes ends up being more of a small forward who gives you around 18 a night and tehn chips in with other stats then I see him being like Sean Elliott who was a great third option behind Tim Duncan and David Robinson on a title team. 

Fab Melo should be a good value pick in this draft if he falls outside the top 10.  He is a good defensive presence and a solid athlete.  He looks more fluid than Andre Drummond and has better defensive awareness.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Melo has a better NBA career than Andre Drummond.  Fab Melo looks long, big, and a heady player who might not fill up the stat sheet every night but he defends and gets it done.  Supposedly he has hit a few jumpers this year.  If Syracuse ends up winning the title this year then Fab Melo might end up being a Joakim Noah type prospect with better offense.  

I watched Adonis Thomas in the McDonald’s dunk contest, live at Memphis Madness, and on TV for the Tigers.  He is ok at this point but nothing too special.  He can’t really shoot well and I never really saw him throw it down.  He is not really a freak athlete which makes Adonis Thomas kind of a tweener forward who is 6’6 with more of a power forward’s game.  He has the frame, body, smarts, and solid athleticism to be the next Larry Johnson but he could end up being the next Quincy Pondexter too (I saw Q Pon live twice this past week for the Grizzlies) Pondexter is a 6’6 small forward with good size, and motor with a heady game but not a great offensive threat (although he did throw down a nice alley-oop dunk) and is a solid and active defender.  Q Pon can also rebound some too.  Q Pon hit a 3 in a game I went too and had a 2-2 3 point game a week or so ago I think but he is not known as a 3 point threat.  Pondexter is playing well for us and looks to be a solid rotation guy throughout his career but he will never sniff the all-star game.  

Will Barton is long and skinny (did I mention that he is skinny) who can score and throw down some nice dunks.  He has good ball handling skills with a flair for passing.  He plays a ton of minutes and can get a bunch of rebounds and a few steals too.  If he could play lockdown defense and put on some more muscle then I could see him being a Latrell Sprewell type guy in the league.  Average case for him would be Stephen Jackson.  

I am not sure who to compare these two guys too but I kinda feel like Perry Jones and Terrence Jones are kinda the same player.  Terrence Jones then would be the value pick.  Terrence is the 3rd or 4th option on offense at Kentucky so he doesn’t get a bunch of looks but both guys are solid players who may or may not live up to their potential.  Both of these guys sound like Marvin Williams types who could possibly start but would be better suited as a backup forward off the bench who could score some, shoot some, and get some rebounds.  Terrence Jones is best suited as being a very good rotation guy off the bench on a great team.

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

 I see Marquis Teague best case is Steve Francis and not only you one of these websites compared him to "Franchise" as well.

I don’t see it, Teague does not have that explosive leaping ability, nor can he finish around the rim as well as Francis.

After the height and build, I don’t see anything that they have in common.

[Kinguy11Participant]

 Andre Drummond, Best case: Amar’e Stoudemire. Worst case: More fluid DeAndre Jordan. – franfran

You overrate Drummond. Even if he’s not having a good season but still has potenial. Butwhat if he never reaches that potenial?

Also, apperantly the worsy case scienairo for Quincy Miller is for him to earn 10 mil, so even if he busts he can retire and be set up for life.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

kobyz,

I can also see the Anthony Davis — AK-47 comparison. 

Arnett Moultrie sounds like Chris Gatling. 

 

[Andrew1984Participant]

You know it’s a great thread when Vernon Maxwell’s name makes an appearance. Kudos, all.

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

 If you really watch Ryan Botright, his game reminds me of Kemba Walker,may sound fishy that they both went to UCONN, but really watch him, from the hesitations,to the stepbacks, to the shake and bake game, to the Jordans.

Just watch these highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbwHEhJjIAI

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

some of these comparisons are pretty funny

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

 What’s even funnier is people keep comparing Marquis Teague and Jeff Teague…….

For the tousandth time:

After the height,mom,dad,household,highschool,hometown they have NOTHING in common on the bball court besides being athletic guards!

Marquis is nowhere near the shooter Jeff was in college and i’m going by college because Marquis isn’t in the NBA yet, Jeff also had a variety of moves off the dribble, was more explosive and a better leaper, Marquis is more powerful and possibly has a better first step.

But if you didn’t know they were brothers you would not compare the two, they really play nothing alike.

[aamir543Participant]

I think we fail to realize how few stars there actually are in the NBA. Not every top 5 guy will be a Superstar franchise type guy. We might have one, at most two this year, and since we have some really great shophmores and Freshman, e might see a lot of solid starters, but we won’t see surefire stars flooding the Lottery.

[Ghost01Participant]

 Lets look at the last 5 drafts, excluding 2011, since its too early to tell. 

 

2006: You got one Star (Lamarcus Aldridge), A solid player on a lottery team (Bargnani), a role player/bottom of bench guy (Tyrus Thomas) and 2 busts (Morrison, Shelden Williams)

2007: You got one legit MVP/superstar (Durant), a fringe all star (Horford), 2 role players (Conley, J Green), and a bust (Oden)

2008, one of the best drafts of the decade, you got a legit MVP/superstar (D Rose), two STARS (Love, Westbrook) and 2 talented players, but overall busts (Mayo, Beasely; we’ll call em role players) in the top 5.

2009, you got a Star (Blake Griffin) 3 promising young guys (Evans, Rubio, Harden) and a legit bust (Thabeet).

2010, you got probably no Stars, and I would argue not even a single all star. And Wes Johnson already looks like a bust.

 

So, to all of you making comparisons for every top 5 guy as a future star, lets tally it up. For 2010, I’ll call Cousins and Wall promising young guys, Turner and Favors role players and Wes a bust (admittably, this could change), so out of 25 players chosen in the top 5:

 

2 MVP/Superstars

4 Stars

1 Fringe All Star

1 Lottery Star

5 Promising young players

7 Role Players

5 Busts

 

This is no science, you get some really good, and some really bad every year.

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

I would consider Turner and Favors promising young players too…

If I had to pick 1 star, 1 Promising, 2 role players and 1 Bust in the 2011 Draft top 5 It would go…

Star- Kyrie Irving

Promising- Derrick Williams

Role Players-Enes Kanter and Tristan Thompson

Bust-Jonas Valencunas

The Raps passed on Brandon Knight and Kemba Walker when their biggest long term need was PG…

[Shanetaylor95Participant]

^ how would you consider Jonas v. a bust when he is never played a second in the league

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

So this guy is struggling to make an impact at the COLLEGE level and his worst-case scenario is a "more fluid DeAndre Jordan"?  Last I hear, Jordan is kind of good.

[Krypt14Participant]

 Jonas V will at the very least bring 7feet of toughness and hard work. I see his basement as a 10/10 guy purely based off how hard he plays.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

Remember what DeAndre Jordan did in College? Drummond is averageing 10ppg and 8 rpg in the Big East with a bunch of shot happy guards who really dont distribute. He is insanely raw, but lets not pretend Deandre Jordan is even close to an elite NBA C

 

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