[WhyParticipant]

 Who do you prefer? Vonleh has the size advantage and could step out to the college 3pt line. Randle is a bulldozer who probably has more range than he showed at Kentucky. Both are potential All-Star power forwards.

I like bringing questions here because alot of you guys watch a crap ton more college hoops than I do, so dont flame me for my opinoin (or do lol).

Heres how I see it. Vonleh has some mouthwatering measurements (hands, wingspan, vertical) and supposedly has a better shooting touch (but he didnt shoot many 3’s) than Randle. Randle didn’t really impress athletically at the combine like some seemed to have thought he would. 

Now I have seen more Randle than Vonleh, so this opinion means very little, but I just have a hard time thinking Vonleh will be better. Randle has that motor and energy and just looks like he wants to be great and will work his ass off to get where he wants to be. Maybe Vonleh is the same way, I dont know, but based on my eye test, I like Randle. 

This post is meant to bring about a discussion and debate, I’m not trying to state any facts or beat my chest about something. I’m looking for some of the more informed posters to give  there opinions on this stuff. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[morestealsthanscoresParticipant]

I think its a great question, and I think you’ve identified the key issue. The reason this sort of stuff is so hard to predict is because aside from massive physical disadvantages, I believe a huge amount of success is mental.

Look at Kevin Love. When there was that threat the other day about ‘who did you underestimate’ everyone said Kevin Love. I underestimated Kevin Love. I thought he’d bust massively.

But he worked his ass off. I have never in my life seen a single-season transformation like his. I’ve seen players improve a jump shot, step out a couple of feet. With Love, it felt like he literally grew a 3 point game overnight. I mean, I just looked it up- he jumped from 11% from 3, to 33%, to 42%. That’s crazy. And it’s nothing to do with the length of his arms, his natural ability, or even that maddening word ‘intangibles’. That’s working your ass off.

So, I have no clue either. Apparently Vonleh is a bit of a gym rat as well, and he does have the physical tools…but as you say, I’ve seen Randle put it together in-game, even before that tourney run, and he seems to have that grit and competitive spirit. Vonleh has a higher ceiling, but Randle’s more likely to reach it.

[morestealsthanscoresParticipant]

I think its a great question, and I think you’ve identified the key issue. The reason this sort of stuff is so hard to predict is because aside from massive physical disadvantages, I believe a huge amount of success is mental.

Look at Kevin Love. When there was that threat the other day about ‘who did you underestimate’ everyone said Kevin Love. I underestimated Kevin Love. I thought he’d bust massively.

But he worked his ass off. I have never in my life seen a single-season transformation like his. I’ve seen players improve a jump shot, step out a couple of feet. With Love, it felt like he literally grew a 3 point game overnight. I mean, I just looked it up- he jumped from 11% from 3, to 33%, to 42%. That’s crazy. And it’s nothing to do with the length of his arms, his natural ability, or even that maddening word ‘intangibles’. That’s working your ass off.

So, I have no clue either. Apparently Vonleh is a bit of a gym rat as well, and he does have the physical tools…but as you say, I’ve seen Randle put it together in-game, even before that tourney run, and he seems to have that grit and competitive spirit. Vonleh has a higher ceiling, but Randle’s more likely to reach it.

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 It reminds me of the argument people made in drafting Favors over Cousins.  You just cant ignore how dominant Randle was in college over measurements and potential.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Yeah I have Randle ahead of him too for similar reasons.  Give me someone who has shown they can dominate games.  Everybody will point to their similar rebounding numbers and even close PPG for that matter.  But if you ever watched the 2 of them play you know who was more impressive.  Vonleh has all of the physical tools you could want in an NBA PF, but watching him play the game he didn’t show enough for me.  Randle will contribute from day 1, I think Vonleh will start being a significant contributor 3 or 4 years down the line.

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Yeah I have Randle ahead of him too for similar reasons.  Give me someone who has shown they can dominate games.  Everybody will point to their similar rebounding numbers and even close PPG for that matter.  But if you ever watched the 2 of them play you know who was more impressive.  Vonleh has all of the physical tools you could want in an NBA PF, but watching him play the game he didn’t show enough for me.  Randle will contribute from day 1, I think Vonleh will start being a significant contributor 3 or 4 years down the line.

 

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 It reminds me of the argument people made in drafting Favors over Cousins.  You just cant ignore how dominant Randle was in college over measurements and potential.

[Z-LegendParticipant]

 To me, it’s a no-brainer that you should draft Julius "C-Webb" Randle over Noah "Joe Smith" Vonleh.

[Z-LegendParticipant]

 To me, it’s a no-brainer that you should draft Julius "C-Webb" Randle over Noah "Joe Smith" Vonleh.

[duhrant35Participant]

 I think both will be real solid pros.  I see Randle as more of a good 1st or second option on a bad team or being a 3rd or 4th option on a good team.  I think Vonleh is more valuable because of his ability to play the 5.  I would take Vonleh if I had other scorers on the team and wanted to get a good defender/floor spacer (as I see him as being a Bosh with the Heat/Ibaka with the Thunder on offense type).  If I wanted a scorer (in the David Lee mold as I see with Randle) [note-these are not exactly comps as much as the role these players would flourish] I’d take Randle.  I do think both are a level above Aaron Gordon who I think will need to be in a much more specific role (kind of like MKG on Charlotte or if he really improved could be Shawn Marion Suns).

 

Although this topic will be beaten to death before the draft, I really think this is an interesting debate.

[duhrant35Participant]

 I think both will be real solid pros.  I see Randle as more of a good 1st or second option on a bad team or being a 3rd or 4th option on a good team.  I think Vonleh is more valuable because of his ability to play the 5.  I would take Vonleh if I had other scorers on the team and wanted to get a good defender/floor spacer (as I see him as being a Bosh with the Heat/Ibaka with the Thunder on offense type).  If I wanted a scorer (in the David Lee mold as I see with Randle) [note-these are not exactly comps as much as the role these players would flourish] I’d take Randle.  I do think both are a level above Aaron Gordon who I think will need to be in a much more specific role (kind of like MKG on Charlotte or if he really improved could be Shawn Marion Suns).

 

Although this topic will be beaten to death before the draft, I really think this is an interesting debate.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 What about Aaron Gordon?

i don’t know why Jarnell Stokes is so low.  Great skillset, length, size, hops, and some shooting range.  He had a great tourney too.  

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 What about Aaron Gordon?

i don’t know why Jarnell Stokes is so low.  Great skillset, length, size, hops, and some shooting range.  He had a great tourney too.  

 

[GrandmamaParticipant]

 I like Randle more, but I think it’s close.  

[GrandmamaParticipant]

 I like Randle more, but I think it’s close.  

[rileymcshea3Participant]

 This reminds me of when Dion Waiters and Bradley Beal got drafted. You got the guy that is ball dominant and can become a go to scorer then you have the guy that scores without the ball and within the flow of the offense.

Randle is the guy you can give the ball to in the post and make a move to score inside, or he can shoot the midrange if they play off of him or blow by slow big men to the basket. He is also good at using combination of strength and athleticism to attack the glass on both sides of the court. In my opinion his ceiling is a mix of Blake Griffin and Zach Randolf.

Vonleh on the other hand can catch and shoot to spread the court and score within the offense. He has the option to do a pick and roll, or pick and pop. He is good at using his length on defense and had great frame to add on more muscle. Vonleh’s ceiling reminds me of a mix between Chris Bosh and Lamarcus Aldridge. 

Of course those ceilings would be great to reach but probably unlikely,  wRandle I see more of a game changer that has to be on the right team. With Vonleh I see a guy that can fit into any system and play any role of a big man.

[rileymcshea3Participant]

 This reminds me of when Dion Waiters and Bradley Beal got drafted. You got the guy that is ball dominant and can become a go to scorer then you have the guy that scores without the ball and within the flow of the offense.

Randle is the guy you can give the ball to in the post and make a move to score inside, or he can shoot the midrange if they play off of him or blow by slow big men to the basket. He is also good at using combination of strength and athleticism to attack the glass on both sides of the court. In my opinion his ceiling is a mix of Blake Griffin and Zach Randolf.

Vonleh on the other hand can catch and shoot to spread the court and score within the offense. He has the option to do a pick and roll, or pick and pop. He is good at using his length on defense and had great frame to add on more muscle. Vonleh’s ceiling reminds me of a mix between Chris Bosh and Lamarcus Aldridge. 

Of course those ceilings would be great to reach but probably unlikely,  wRandle I see more of a game changer that has to be on the right team. With Vonleh I see a guy that can fit into any system and play any role of a big man.

[SnowtaParticipant]

 I didn’t realize how big Vonleh is it’s crazy he weighed in higher than Pat Young at the combine. I love Randle and would probably have to take him over Vonleh, but I think they both could be all-star PF’s. I think Vonleh would be great playing with an offensive center like Cousins or Pek and Julius would be great with a defensive center like Nerlens.

[SnowtaParticipant]

 I didn’t realize how big Vonleh is it’s crazy he weighed in higher than Pat Young at the combine. I love Randle and would probably have to take him over Vonleh, but I think they both could be all-star PF’s. I think Vonleh would be great playing with an offensive center like Cousins or Pek and Julius would be great with a defensive center like Nerlens.

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