Gobert before Zeller
I have never been a fan of Cody Zeller, thought it was hilarious several experts had him going #1 for quite some time, and have watched his stock fall to somewhere between 7-14. With the freakish Gobert on the rise, teams looking for a big in that range will have some interesting choices. Gobert and Zeller are really polar opposites. One lacking the size with a solid resume and skills. The other with little playing experience against high-level competition, but is 7'2 with an insane wingspan. I know I would take a chance on size+potential rather than the below the rim player.
Chances Gobert goes before Zeller? and Who would you take?
I think Cody Zeller's measurements and game speak volumes that he's may be a better fit as a PF in the NBA then a C. I know I'm the only one but I have Steve Adams as the as the best C on the board after Noels. Yes I think Adams is a better prospect then Len.
The best players in that league were Alexis Ajinca and Edwin Jackson along with Sean May and Khalid El-Amin. Here are the All Stars from that league: http://www.court-side.com/news/blog/france-lnb-all-star-selections-annou....
Alexis Ajinca is who I compare Gobert to most.
gobert and ajinca are nothing alike except they're big and french...
not the same game not the same mental tools not the same generation not the same player in every aspect of the game.
And French proA is not a big league like lega ACB in spain but it's a tough one to produce when you're a very young man playing against experienced players (ajinca did not have the same experience in his early development).
Gobert has much better hands and is just a better overall athlete then Thabeet. I'd even argue that Gobert is a better all around prospect then Thabeet was. The only thing Thabeet had going for him besides his height was his strong base.
But nobody's ever had a wingspan and reach like Gobert. The last person who came close was Biyombo whose much rawer but even he went 7th and has been able to make an impact protecting the rim and dunking.
I'm not saying he is going to be great, by any means. Just saying I would take him ahead of Zeller. If you ask me, that is not saying much because I think Zeller is a bum. That size/length has way more potential to effect winning than what Zeller does for your team, or should say, what he doesn't do (rebound/rim protect/finish) well. I was just interested to hear other people's take on the two players who are opposites in terms of game/scouting report and stock rising/falling, and slotted in the same range.
Answer me honestly, have you ever seen Gobert actually play a game without watching highlights on youtube before making this statement? People are comparing him to Ajinca because of their crazy measureables but it doesn't seem like anyone actually knows how he plays
These measurements don't matter. Not one bit. I sometimes question why they even do these measurements. I know what you are all thinking, what about Miles Plumlee or Alexis Ajinca or Biyombo. Well here's how I determine why they got selected so high.
Indiana saw Miles Plumlee do very well at the combine, they liked what they saw, so they brought him in for a workout, they continued to like what they saw and decided that he would fit on their team very well, so they drafted him. Same with Alexis Ajinca and Biyombo. Had Plumlee done poorly in workouts and still performed quite well at the combine, I believe his stock would have plummeted, because teams would have seen his weaknesses and realize that he doesn't fit with their team. I believe that skills, workouts, maturity, and how a team believes that player fits into their system all have a higher aspect on determining where a player will be selected then that players actual measurements at the combine. So, no I don't believe Gobert's stock is going to rise because of his outstanding performance at the combine so far. I still believe he will be able to barely crack the top 20.
Biyambo hasn't been able to make an impact that's straight shananigans. He was a rotation player mostly starting on the 2nd worst team in the NBA. With 27-mpg averaged 5-ppg 7.5-rpg, and 2-bpg on 46% FGs while only shooting dunks and layups. Although I do believe with a devote development in place he can live up to that potential, at this point he plays like a more athletic Joel Anthony. Not quite a game hanger yet.
a little ahead of yourself. Yes, Gobert is big just standing there, but lets wait and see his athletic testing numbers before we annoint him as the next great big man. Compare his 8 and 5 vs French comp to Zeller's 16 and 8 vs Big Ten/NCAA comp. I'd take Noel, Zeller, Olynyk, Len, Adams and Dieng before Gobert.