? These Players
I'm too lazy to give you Hollinger reports for all of them. I'll just do Valanciunas.
+ Mobile big man with knack for scoring around the basket. Makes free throws.
+ Strong rebounder in European competition. Decent athlete but needs muscle.
Valanciunas' translated European stats suggest he'll be solid player right away, and given that he's only 19 he could become a star. As a finisher around the basket he reminds one of Andris Biedrins, back when Biedrins was still alive, but Valanciunas has a better frame and one hopes he'll be able to pack more muscle on to it as he grows. Additionally, Valanciunas is a good foul shooter -- a notable contrast to Biedrins -- and could be a solid midrange shooter as a pro.
He'll spend this season in Lithuania and will likely struggle to check opposing post players initially when he comes to the U.S., but to get a center with star potential with the fifth pick was a great move for the Raptors.
TomShoe's take: He's seems tougher than Bargnani, and that's good enough for me. He'd be a real help, letting Barg slide to his natural position at the 4. It remains to be seen whether he can bang with more athletic big men. If he bulks up, he shouldn't have a problem. He might have to battle with Aaron Gray for the starting C job though.
Best Case: A tougher, better rebounding and defending Bargnani. What Barg was supposed to be.
Worst Case: A better shooting Jan Vesely?
1. Im going to say a healthy season. i &$#%#&@! hope so....
2. Same old OJ. solid starter but not a star.
3. A little over hyped but still should be a star.
4. Kyrie to stardom!
5. Seen the best of him.
6. yes 15 PPG but not ROY.
7. MKG want to say star but i think maybe a really good starter.
8. Should stay healthy, The second best now but not for to long.
9. NO
10. NO
11. J.Lamb, but Rivers is a boss.
Steph Curry- Injury plagued of healthy season? Stats? gof willing healthy .season avg 20&8
O.J Mayo- Back to 20ppg+ or same old OJ , its gonna be a big yr for him 22 ppg
Jonas Valanciunas- Real Deal or Over Hyped? Solid rookie yr
Kyrie Irving- Headed for Stardom of So phmore slump? A lil bit of both
Darren Collinson- New life with Mavs of have we seen best of him? The best of him has yet to come
Harrison Barnes- 15ppg as rookie O/U? Under , everyone that's a starter o. His team can score
MKG- Future Star or Future Role Player? Star role player , aka bend Wallace hes gonna be,a two way player
Andrew Bynum- Can he do it again(healhy)? Is he clearly 2nd best C in Leauge?
Anthony Randolph- Will he ever make it?
Nicholis Batum- Will stats jump like his bank account did?
Best Player out of this group(Future) J.Lamb A.Rivers A.Bradley T.Ross D.Montieunis PJIII
Steph Curry- Injury plagued or healthy season? Stats? 20pts 6asts
O.J Mayo- Back to 20ppg+ or same old OJ He needs to be around vets, good situation for him
Jonas Valanciunas- Real Deal or Over Hyped? This hopefully will mean the end of Colangelo.
Kyrie Irving- Headed for Stardom of Sophmore slump?
Darren Collinson- New life with Mavs of have we seen best of him?
Harrison Barnes- 15ppg as rookie O/U? Under
MKG- Future Star or Future Role Player? If he stays healthy
Andrew Bynum- Can he do it again(healhy)? Is he clearly 2nd best C in Leauge?
Anthony Randolph- Will he ever make it? No
Nicholis Batum- Will stats jump like his bank account did? Yes
Best Player out of this group(Future) J.Lamb A.Rivers A.Bradley T.Ross D.Montieunis PJIII
My thoughts on a couple of them:
Darren Collison will have a much better season next year. He will find holes in opposing defenses running the PnR with Nowitzki, much like JJ Barea did in previous years. Dallas' floor spacing will make everything easier for him.
Harrison Barnes will average fewer than 15 ppg as a rookie.
Bynum won't clearly be the 2nd best center in the league. KG is better, as is Duncan, and Chandler, who has already had a major impact on the Knicks defense, is close.
Nic Batum won't have the breakout year his contract would suggest. He will only improve marginally.
Best Player out of this group: Lamb, then Motiejunas, then Avery Bradley, then Terrence Ross, then PJIII, then Austin Rivers
Steph Curry- Injury plagued of healthy season? Stats? inbetween - 65 games 18 ppg 6 apg 2.3 spg 45/41/89
O.J Mayo- Back to 20ppg+ or same old OJ - Sophomore O.J. 17 ppg
Jonas Valanciunas- Real Deal or Over Hyped? Slow out of the gate, but very productive by the season's end
Kyrie Irving- Headed for Stardom of Sophmore slump? score less team wins more (IE Blake Griffin)
Darren Collinson- New life with Mavs of have we seen best of him? We've seen the best of him. Just a starter, nothing more
Harrison Barnes- 15ppg as rookie O/U? U probably 12 or 13. Doubt he'll have a better R Year than Klay
MKG- Future Star or Future Role Player? 3 or 4 time All-Star
Andrew Bynum- Can he do it again(healhy)? Is he clearly 2nd best C in Leauge? Easily 2nd best, and yes
Anthony Randolph- Will he ever make it? No
Nicholis Batum- Will stats jump like his bank account did? Nope, they never do, lol
Steph Curry- This has nothing to do with anything we really know. I expect a healthy-ish and 18-7 season. Hope he keeps his efficiency up.
O.J Mayo- Same old OJ with greater counting numbers and still mediocre efficiency.
Jonas Valanciunas- Good at first, eventual star.
Kyrie Irving- He'll start slow thanks to the injury then be a star.
Darren Collinson- He'll be better with the Mavs. He's not much of a facilitator, which he was asked to be with Indy, but on Dallas he has guys who can get his own shot.
Harrison Barnes- Over 15 with terrible efficiency.
MKG- Future Star
Andrew Bynum- He'll likely be healthy and, yes, he's second best easily.
Anthony Randolph- No - there's a minute squeeze in the Denver frontcourt.
Nicholis Batum- No, he'll moderately improve.
Best Player out of this group(Future) D.Montieunis
Steph Curry- I'll say mostly healthy. 16/5/3
O.J Mayo- Neither. Improvement from being in a better system, but too many scorers on the team for him to put up 20.
Jonas Valanciunas- Real Deal. At least in that there are more starting centers that he should match up well with than there are that he matches up poorly with.
Kyrie Irving- Sophmore slump. Just not enough people around him who can put the ball in the basket. Defenses aren't going to have to do much beyond stopping Kyrie Irving.
Darren Collinson- New life. Going back to doing things he does well.
Harrison Barnes- I'll take the under.
MKG- Role player
Andrew Bynum- I'm going to say can't stay healthy again, but when healthy he's definitely hard to argue against being the 2nd best.
Anthony Randolph- No. Never.
Nicholis Batum- No, he is what he is.
Best Player out of this group(Future) - I'll go with PJIII. Hopefully, we get to see him in a system that he fits in at some point.
What are your guys predctions for these interesting names in 2013??
Steph Curry- Injury plagued of healthy season? Stats?
O.J Mayo- Back to 20ppg+ or same old OJ
Jonas Valanciunas- Real Deal or Over Hyped?
Kyrie Irving- Headed for Stardom of Sophmore slump?
Darren Collinson- New life with Mavs of have we seen best of him?
Harrison Barnes- 15ppg as rookie O/U?
MKG- Future Star or Future Role Player?
Andrew Bynum- Can he do it again(healhy)? Is he clearly 2nd best C in Leauge?
Anthony Randolph- Will he ever make it?
Nicholis Batum- Will stats jump like his bank account did?
Best Player out of this group(Future) J.Lamb A.Rivers A.Bradley T.Ross D.Montieunis PJIII