Tyreke Evans is shooting up the board.
I think Ellington in the lottery is ridiculous, I can see how a case can be made for Henderson and Budinger but neither in my opinion should be drafted over Evans, and I'm not really not sold on Harden every ASU game I actually watched he failed to impress. In five years I think they fall DeRozan>Evans>Harden or Henderson toss up>All other 1st round SG's >Ellington>Budinger.
I cant help but thinking Harden will be the next Antoine Wright, Jarvis Hayes, Reece Gaines type drafted way to high but might end up being a good player. Budinger will be like a foreign player BUST (Nikoloz Tskitishvili).
I think Harden could be a GREAT player he has the potential to be. He can shoot he's athletic a little under sized but think Allen Iverson only 6'0 if that . Another guy is Nate Robinson 5'9 if that everyone knows he can jump out of the gym. But let's get to the point Tyreke Evans he's a Freshmen can't play D does not have much Leadership for a team. Does not have a very good jump shot, he's not ready for the NBA. Ok passer, not very clutch. Things he's good at are he has good Athleticism, Very good size, he's fast, and is a good ball handler. Now he does have potential to improve those things. But he could use another year in college maybe two.
Over at www.nbadraftdaycountdown.com we have Evans a couple spots ahead of Harden. That is definitely based on potential. Having watched a ton of Pac-10 ball, there isnt much not to love about Harden. His athleticism is better than most think, he has an amazing IQ, is a great defender and an unselfish teammate.
The thing with Evans is his skills match the direction of the game. The NBA is so much isolation, so much wing play, so much drive and kick. Those are Evans strengths. Not to mention, he would go crazy in an open floor system. If he finds himself with the right shooting coach, he has no ceiling.
And I think that is the difference between him and Harden, scouts feel as if they know what they are getting with Harden ala Brandon Roy (comparing that image not their skills, although those are similar as well). Depending on their situation, I believe both will be names we remember from this class - and I dont think there are many.
How do you know he is going to be a bust, I think he is going to be 19ppg, 4rpg,4apg type of player. How is going to be a bust and he didn't even get drafted yet.
Blake Griffin could be a bust
Earl Clark could be a bust you don't yet
just wait until next season start.
I just dont think he will be able to finish at the rim in the NBA as well as he did in college, plus I cant see him running a NBA team. His handle is real nice (ala Jamal Crawford) but his shot sucks and I dont think he can play without the ball, I think he will be a bust because it seems like he will be drafted in the lottery and he I dont think he will be a lottery type player...
I like Tyreke Evans. Im not sure if he is ready but it was the perfect opportunity for him to leave after that performance against Mizz. Im not too shocked he is moving up due to the fact he has the talent. He needs to improve his jumper. He wont be a bust, not at all, in fact i see him having a good career.
He's not shooting up any draft boards. ESPN has had him in the top 10 for a while. DraftExpress also has him up there.
I tend to side with this site placing him in the 15-25 range because I see him as Jim Harden without a jumpshot or basketball IQ, but this is really such a wide-open draft after Griffin, Rubio and Thabeet that he could go anywhere from top-10 to late first round depending on how he works out.
Jimmy Harden is an excellent scorer, a good shooter, and (I believe) a deceptive athlete that has the strength to be a solid perimiter defender against your average 2-guard in the league. He had little help down at ASU, and I think he will benefit tremendously from playing in the NBA with a more competent supporting cast to spread the floor for him.