[tbennett76Participant]

Might need the flame retardant for this one-

There is one absolute red flag, screaming the bridge is out, sure fire bust candidate-Marcus Smart.

Read that again.  He has D-Legaue athleticism, and people comparing him to Harden are reaching.  James has a clever game, he is crafty off the bounce and has much better transition instincts than Smart.  Now is Smart a tough player?  Yes, and for that reason he might actually stick as a reserve, but he is not a lottery pick, and I shake my head when I look at his cement first step against inferior athletes called NBA caliber.

There is one absolute sure fire superstar-Dante Exum.  This kid is a ridiculous talent, stupid good. Quick as Michael Jordan at that age, with similar finishing skills and length, he is to me, the most exciting prospect since Lebron, although completely different in game.  Shows a great motor, and the ability to disrupt passing lanes, if he develops a shot he will probably be the best player in this draft.  I pick him number 1, because he has the ability to dominate on both ends of the floor.  Incredible court vision and excellent ball handling  allows him to seamlessly transition to point when needed.

Andrew Wiggins will be a good player.  Andrew Wiggins does not have the motor to be a transcendent player.  He does have the talent to if he develops one.  His ball handling is ok, not great, and in the NBA, all small forwards need to be able to run the offense on the wing, the game is just different now.  He will be a star, of sorts, because of his ability to score, but like Tracy McGrady, will be an offense stopping iso scorer if he does not focus on passing, which if he does, could make him a healthy Penny Hardaway, however I see him as peaking out at a ‘Nique, which is just short of transcendent.  Now here is the thing, the kid is 18.  He might still grow, and if he does, we could be looking at something similar to KD.

Jabari Parker is an interesting case.  For one thing he gets fat easily, but he is skilled and intelligent with the ball, and very good facing the basket.  But you can’t take him above Wiggins, you just can’t. Wiggins has too much athleticism and his sheer ability to get to the basket will help teams stay in games.  

Joel Embiid is a lottery ticket lottery pick.  He could be something like The Dream, the most purely skilled center the game has EVER seen, yes that includes Jabbar, Russell, etc.  But you can’t blame GM’s for having Thabeetitis.  I did not say the best, I said the most skilled.

 

Notes-Exum is transcendently skilled as is Wiggins.  Parker enjoys the comparisons to Carmelo Anthony, and this does not enthuse me.  Smart is going to cost a GM his job.  A slow 1, and a poor shooting 2 is a bad selection, and you don’t have to be a genius to figure that out.  Wiggins is wasted at KU, he should have gone to LOU or UK where he could have been featured.  Self runs his offense through the post and Wiggins has to be the secondary scorer, which is close to malpractice by Self to not relent on his philosophy.  But Dean Smith did the same thing with MJ-however he had Sam Perkins and James Worthy as primary inside threats.

Wiggins spins a lot, and I prefer a slasher at the pro level.  He is not as quick as Exum, and nowhere near as good of a passer.  He is a bit bigger, and a more spectacular finisher.  You won’t miss either way, but a warning, Wiggins is quick, and a leaper, but he is also only 200 lbs.  He needs to get stronger to play a wing in the NBA, but what happens to that athleticism when he does?  Lebron got stronger, but he had a bigger frame at Wiggins’s age AND the athleticism.  This makes a difference.  Filling in a frame is not the same as filling out a frame.  The body changes completely with the latter aerodynamically.  

1.  Exum-floor Steve Smith, ceiling, better than Clyde Drexler just short of MJ, because I can’t ever make that comparison.  He has THAT kind of potential.  All he needs is to work on that jumper.  A lot of this depends on whther he stays a 1 or moves to a 2 primariliy.  Personally, the gait, confidence, swagger make me wish for him to go to a 2.

2.  Wiggins.  Floor Harrison Barnes, ceiling Dominque Wilkins.

3.  Embiid-MUCH higher ceiling than Parker, but lower floor too.

4.  Parker uses too much palm to shoot.  Will be a volume shooter.  Floor Antoine Walker, ceiling Paul Pierce

My would not touch will a ten foot pole team, Smart, Glenn Robinson III, Zach Levine, Gary Harris, LeBryan Nash

My smartest GM in the room team-Exum, Adreian Payne, Jordan Clarkson, James McAdoo, Spencer Dinwiddie (I love pick and roll specialists in the NBA.)

I have not looked at the UK trio, so can’t say much about Julius Randle, Willie-Cauley Stein, or Andrew Harrison.

Thanks,

Todd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jester87Participant]

1) I’m afraid you’re going to get negged to death, but I agree with you to a certain extent about Smart. I read many people (think of Chad Ford) saying he still has a shot to be the first overall pick, and everyone considers him a lock for the top 5-6, but I’m a bit skeptical (and I’m not surprise, reading Ford’s chat, that he says that some scouts don’t like him at all as a Nba prospect). He doesn’t have outstanding athleticism, he’s a below the rim finisher he doesn’t have a position, he’s a streaky shooter, he’s not a ball handler wizard, not sure how much he can run a team. He’s a great competitor, strong, a great defender, and has great work ethic, so he might be able to improve throughout his career, but I don’t see all that talent. I see some bust risk and not that much upside; too many question marks. I’m also aware that those kind of competitors, good characters guys won’t fail often, but I wouldn’t put him in the same discussion with the top 3-4 prospects of this draft.
2) Honestly I haven’t seen Exum play much, I saw a couple of his game this summer and the rest were highlights. But if I were a GM he’d scare the crap out of me. I mean, I might be too risk adverse, but all we have seen of him are some games in the under 19 world championship. This guy is playing what? Recreational basketball? I don’t think high school basketball in Australia is that great. The competition he faces currently, as far as I know, is much worse than HS ball. If he declares he would be like the least experienced player ever to be drafted. The one scouts knew the least about. This kind of picks usually go wrong.
3) By the way McGrady happened to be a great passer, often criticized in his early days for being too unselfish. Sure much better than Wiggins. But then he played with really terrible teammates in Orlando. I also think T-Mac had better instincts and feel for the game than Wiggins. And Penny was a total different kind of player, he was basically a point guard.
4) Self is a very good coach. Maybe he doesn’t have Pitino’s reputation of constantly producing lottery picks, but imho players learn more under him. Also, Wiggins is not averaging the numbers many expected, but he wouldn’t for the Wildcats either. But Self’s system is more advanced, while Kentucky, well, they basically play AAU ball. And playing in a sophisticated motion offense helps young lottery picks going in the Nba without bad habits, stopping the ball too much and playing too many isolations.
5) I see many people nitpicking on Jabari’s shooting form, honestly it looks very good to me. He must improve his shooting selection though, he takes too many difficult contested pull up jumpers. I don’t really like the comparisons, Pierce is smaller and has never played in the low post as much as Jabari does. Walker isn’t really a great name for worst case scenario, though he owns the worst shooting selection ever (and the all time great "because there are no fours" quote), he was a multiple time all star and close to stardom before injuries and his questionable diet put an early end on his career.
6) I kinda like some of the smart picks/bad picks name, though I won’t bet against Smart. I have a few doubts on Harris and I don’t think he’s worthy of a top 10 selection. I really like what Payne could bring and I think he can still improve a lot though he’s a senior. I strongly disagree on other names: LaVine imho is not ready and can really use another year in college but he has really intriguing skills and upside, I see him as a lock for the top 10. I’m not enthusiast about Clarkson and Dinwiddie. James McAdoo hardly looks like a Nba player now.

[Jester87Participant]

1) I’m afraid you’re going to get negged to death, but I agree with you to a certain extent about Smart. I read many people (think of Chad Ford) saying he still has a shot to be the first overall pick, and everyone considers him a lock for the top 5-6, but I’m a bit skeptical (and I’m not surprise, reading Ford’s chat, that he says that some scouts don’t like him at all as a Nba prospect). He doesn’t have outstanding athleticism, he’s a below the rim finisher he doesn’t have a position, he’s a streaky shooter, he’s not a ball handler wizard, not sure how much he can run a team. He’s a great competitor, strong, a great defender, and has great work ethic, so he might be able to improve throughout his career, but I don’t see all that talent. I see some bust risk and not that much upside; too many question marks. I’m also aware that those kind of competitors, good characters guys won’t fail often, but I wouldn’t put him in the same discussion with the top 3-4 prospects of this draft.
2) Honestly I haven’t seen Exum play much, I saw a couple of his game this summer and the rest were highlights. But if I were a GM he’d scare the crap out of me. I mean, I might be too risk adverse, but all we have seen of him are some games in the under 19 world championship. This guy is playing what? Recreational basketball? I don’t think high school basketball in Australia is that great. The competition he faces currently, as far as I know, is much worse than HS ball. If he declares he would be like the least experienced player ever to be drafted. The one scouts knew the least about. This kind of picks usually go wrong.
3) By the way McGrady happened to be a great passer, often criticized in his early days for being too unselfish. Sure much better than Wiggins. But then he played with really terrible teammates in Orlando. I also think T-Mac had better instincts and feel for the game than Wiggins. And Penny was a total different kind of player, he was basically a point guard.
4) Self is a very good coach. Maybe he doesn’t have Pitino’s reputation of constantly producing lottery picks, but imho players learn more under him. Also, Wiggins is not averaging the numbers many expected, but he wouldn’t for the Wildcats either. But Self’s system is more advanced, while Kentucky, well, they basically play AAU ball. And playing in a sophisticated motion offense helps young lottery picks going in the Nba without bad habits, stopping the ball too much and playing too many isolations.
5) I see many people nitpicking on Jabari’s shooting form, honestly it looks very good to me. He must improve his shooting selection though, he takes too many difficult contested pull up jumpers. I don’t really like the comparisons, Pierce is smaller and has never played in the low post as much as Jabari does. Walker isn’t really a great name for worst case scenario, though he owns the worst shooting selection ever (and the all time great "because there are no fours" quote), he was a multiple time all star and close to stardom before injuries and his questionable diet put an early end on his career.
6) I kinda like some of the smart picks/bad picks name, though I won’t bet against Smart. I have a few doubts on Harris and I don’t think he’s worthy of a top 10 selection. I really like what Payne could bring and I think he can still improve a lot though he’s a senior. I strongly disagree on other names: LaVine imho is not ready and can really use another year in college but he has really intriguing skills and upside, I see him as a lock for the top 10. I’m not enthusiast about Clarkson and Dinwiddie. James McAdoo hardly looks like a Nba player now.

[anthony_DavIS23Participant]

 I actually enjoyed this post a lot – don’t really like Parker or smart either.

My smartest GM in the room  – Exum, Embiid, Jerian Grant, Cauley Stein, Payne, Aaron Harrison and Cj Fair

[anthony_DavIS23Participant]

 I actually enjoyed this post a lot – don’t really like Parker or smart either.

My smartest GM in the room  – Exum, Embiid, Jerian Grant, Cauley Stein, Payne, Aaron Harrison and Cj Fair

[ChewyParticipant]

 on a few things:

1. The reason for Wiggins not averaging 100 pts like everyone expected him too (hyperbole) is because of his own assertiveness; not Self’s offense.

2. If you picking on Jabari’s shot, then you are just being petty because you wanted to be original and go with another knock other than his athletisism. Well guess what? The only knock you can realistically have on Jabari is his athleticism.

3. I would literally give up TV and Internet for my entire summer if next season I can watch a Rose/ Levine backcourt next Winter!

4. Marcus Smart is strong enough to get where he will need to go, even without a first step ala Marc Jackson/ Deron Williams (w/out the J).

Things I agree on with OP:

1. Exum is going to be a stud. I think his potential is 3rd behind Wiggins and Embiid, but ahead of Parker and Randle.

2. Speaking of Embiid, is there anyone out there that doesn’t like this guy? If there is, why?

3. The old timey use of the phrase. "This does not enthuse me."

 

You most likely will get negged to death because Smart is a sure-fire top 7 pick, but it was a fun read.

[LindseyParticipant]

 agree with everything except if we’re talking knocks on Jabari, i think his athleticism is way better than his defensive footwork, positioning, effort, quicks and instincts. It will be what might keep him from superstardom in the league moe than any other aspect of his game.

[LindseyParticipant]

 agree with everything except if we’re talking knocks on Jabari, i think his athleticism is way better than his defensive footwork, positioning, effort, quicks and instincts. It will be what might keep him from superstardom in the league moe than any other aspect of his game.

[ChewyParticipant]

 on a few things:

1. The reason for Wiggins not averaging 100 pts like everyone expected him too (hyperbole) is because of his own assertiveness; not Self’s offense.

2. If you picking on Jabari’s shot, then you are just being petty because you wanted to be original and go with another knock other than his athletisism. Well guess what? The only knock you can realistically have on Jabari is his athleticism.

3. I would literally give up TV and Internet for my entire summer if next season I can watch a Rose/ Levine backcourt next Winter!

4. Marcus Smart is strong enough to get where he will need to go, even without a first step ala Marc Jackson/ Deron Williams (w/out the J).

Things I agree on with OP:

1. Exum is going to be a stud. I think his potential is 3rd behind Wiggins and Embiid, but ahead of Parker and Randle.

2. Speaking of Embiid, is there anyone out there that doesn’t like this guy? If there is, why?

3. The old timey use of the phrase. "This does not enthuse me."

 

You most likely will get negged to death because Smart is a sure-fire top 7 pick, but it was a fun read.

[BloodFoLyfe]

Did you not see marcus smart out rebounding nba bigs>?

He makes a impact on the game I watched him hang with real nba players on the usa select team and hold his own. You cant tell me nothing about smart. Some ppl are just ball magnets and hes one whether on offense or defense the ball finds him someway he make the right plays. I became a fan of smart since he beat shabazz in highschool. How can you rank dante exum above smart? How many games have you watched of him ,what nba cal players has he went against yeah he fills up the stat sheet but remember Charles Garcia a few years back he was putting up crazy numbers but against what competition ,how efficient? 

I like embiid but hes one of the players who is still a raw talent he can make a gm or get a gm fired. Although at the next level he will be bought along slowly and with Drummond taking off you don’t want to pass on a solid big. Even after hasheem.

note:  hasheem should have never been drafted 2nd after getting demolished by blair the way he did grizz should have drafted harden in a six man role the way okc did.

[The QParticipant]

 The fact that Thabeet couldn’t dominate a very mediocre Michigan St front court in that final four and let a vastly inferior team beat them should’ve been all scouts needed to see. 

[The QParticipant]

 The fact that Thabeet couldn’t dominate a very mediocre Michigan St front court in that final four and let a vastly inferior team beat them should’ve been all scouts needed to see. 

[BloodFoLyfe]

Did you not see marcus smart out rebounding nba bigs>?

He makes a impact on the game I watched him hang with real nba players on the usa select team and hold his own. You cant tell me nothing about smart. Some ppl are just ball magnets and hes one whether on offense or defense the ball finds him someway he make the right plays. I became a fan of smart since he beat shabazz in highschool. How can you rank dante exum above smart? How many games have you watched of him ,what nba cal players has he went against yeah he fills up the stat sheet but remember Charles Garcia a few years back he was putting up crazy numbers but against what competition ,how efficient? 

I like embiid but hes one of the players who is still a raw talent he can make a gm or get a gm fired. Although at the next level he will be bought along slowly and with Drummond taking off you don’t want to pass on a solid big. Even after hasheem.

note:  hasheem should have never been drafted 2nd after getting demolished by blair the way he did grizz should have drafted harden in a six man role the way okc did.

[SpartanGloryParticipant]

 You also had Gary Harris on your do not touch list and James McAdoo on the draft list. Pretty laughable. Parker has a solid shot at being the best player from this draft class and will have the best early impact. I think his ceiling is a little higher than Paul pierce, though they have similar games.

[SpartanGloryParticipant]

 You also had Gary Harris on your do not touch list and James McAdoo on the draft list. Pretty laughable. Parker has a solid shot at being the best player from this draft class and will have the best early impact. I think his ceiling is a little higher than Paul pierce, though they have similar games.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I like Wiggins more as a 6’7 athlete if he plays the 2.  A 6’7, 200 lb. guy at the small forward spot is nothing special — almost undersized.

If a GM passes on Embiid and he turns into a superstar, then you better look for a new job.

Jabari Parker is the "SAFE" pick in the top 2 or 3. 

I would go Embiid 1, Jabari Parker 2, with Smart or Wiggins at 3. 

Smart is an oversized point guard which would be a luxury in today’s NBA. 

Wiggins is a guy who would have been great in the old ABA.  A 6’7 small forward who can get by people and dunk over guys.  Not known as a shooter though.  I like 6’7 shooting guards in today’s NBA over a 6’7 lanky small forward.  Is Wiggins going to guard LeBron, Durant, Paul George, or even Carmelo or Rudy Gay?  What is Wiggins’ upside as a small forward on the next level?

I like Randle a lot but I am not sold on his length.  He reminds me a bit of Z Bo — but without Z Bo’s length.  BUT, if your team needs a power forward you can take him as high as 2.

I haven’t seen much of Exum.  I saw a few highlights on YouTube though.  Why doesn’t he dunk?  Doesn’t make any sense.

Not sure about the rest of the first round but you could make one heck of a team out of Smart, Wiggins, Parker, Randle, and Embiid.  That should be an all-star team one day. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I like Wiggins more as a 6’7 athlete if he plays the 2.  A 6’7, 200 lb. guy at the small forward spot is nothing special — almost undersized.

If a GM passes on Embiid and he turns into a superstar, then you better look for a new job.

Jabari Parker is the "SAFE" pick in the top 2 or 3. 

I would go Embiid 1, Jabari Parker 2, with Smart or Wiggins at 3. 

Smart is an oversized point guard which would be a luxury in today’s NBA. 

Wiggins is a guy who would have been great in the old ABA.  A 6’7 small forward who can get by people and dunk over guys.  Not known as a shooter though.  I like 6’7 shooting guards in today’s NBA over a 6’7 lanky small forward.  Is Wiggins going to guard LeBron, Durant, Paul George, or even Carmelo or Rudy Gay?  What is Wiggins’ upside as a small forward on the next level?

I like Randle a lot but I am not sold on his length.  He reminds me a bit of Z Bo — but without Z Bo’s length.  BUT, if your team needs a power forward you can take him as high as 2.

I haven’t seen much of Exum.  I saw a few highlights on YouTube though.  Why doesn’t he dunk?  Doesn’t make any sense.

Not sure about the rest of the first round but you could make one heck of a team out of Smart, Wiggins, Parker, Randle, and Embiid.  That should be an all-star team one day. 

[BloodFoLyfe]

The best thing about this draft is the tourney hasn’t started another player will come out of nowhere and rise like curry, tyreke evans ,westbrook,Paul George ,Oladipo( I rember watching him play  2 years ago my gf hated him because he was beating Kentucky with his hustle plays  I thought he was nice college player but wouldn’t get drafted at the time but he improved beyond what I could imagine ) etc

[Sewok15Participant]

Come out of nowhere? Tyreke Evans? He was the 3rd ranked player in his class going into his freshmen year at Memphis. By that logic Derrick Rose came out of nowhere as well because he was the 5th rated prospect and rated behind Kyle Singler.

[Sewok15Participant]

Come out of nowhere? Tyreke Evans? He was the 3rd ranked player in his class going into his freshmen year at Memphis. By that logic Derrick Rose came out of nowhere as well because he was the 5th rated prospect and rated behind Kyle Singler.

[BloodFoLyfe]

not at all he didn’t come out of nowhere but he moved up. He was up and down  in stock for the longest and he climbed the boards draft time.

[BloodFoLyfe]

not at all he didn’t come out of nowhere but he moved up. He was up and down  in stock for the longest and he climbed the boards draft time.

[BloodFoLyfe]

The best thing about this draft is the tourney hasn’t started another player will come out of nowhere and rise like curry, tyreke evans ,westbrook,Paul George ,Oladipo( I rember watching him play  2 years ago my gf hated him because he was beating Kentucky with his hustle plays  I thought he was nice college player but wouldn’t get drafted at the time but he improved beyond what I could imagine ) etc

[LA12Participant]

 I think you’re vastly overrating him. Better than Clyde Drexler and just short of MJ? C’mon.

I think a more realistic ceiling for him is Brandon Roy, a top 3 SG in the league. And he was only Top 3 because he happened to play at the same time that Kobe and Wade were in their primes. I think that’s his real ceiling, a guy who could lead a team to a top four seed, be relied on to get his own shots, create for teammates and take over game almost at will (if he can develop this quality, I haven’t seen enough of Exum to judge his ability in the clutch and assertiveness but Roy was top notch in this area).

 

[LA12Participant]

 I think you’re vastly overrating him. Better than Clyde Drexler and just short of MJ? C’mon.

I think a more realistic ceiling for him is Brandon Roy, a top 3 SG in the league. And he was only Top 3 because he happened to play at the same time that Kobe and Wade were in their primes. I think that’s his real ceiling, a guy who could lead a team to a top four seed, be relied on to get his own shots, create for teammates and take over game almost at will (if he can develop this quality, I haven’t seen enough of Exum to judge his ability in the clutch and assertiveness but Roy was top notch in this area).

 

[Sewok15Participant]

So you like James McAdoo and hate Zach LaVine? Have you watched any college basketball this season?

[Sewok15Participant]

So you like James McAdoo and hate Zach LaVine? Have you watched any college basketball this season?

[DolanCareParticipant]

I agree that the Marcus Smart – James Harden comparisons are wrong. But Smart will be an effective NBA starter. Having a lightening quick first step is something that scouts tend to drool over but is often an overrated ability. I don’t care how fast your first step is, if you can’t finish at the rim you’re useless in the NBA. 

Sebastian Telfair, Darren Collison, Randy Foye these players are NBA athletes with that coveted first step but they didn’t have the ability to absorb contact and score at the hoop. Smart is strong, wide-built and has shown great finishing ability. That’s a translatable skill. 

[DolanCareParticipant]

I agree that the Marcus Smart – James Harden comparisons are wrong. But Smart will be an effective NBA starter. Having a lightening quick first step is something that scouts tend to drool over but is often an overrated ability. I don’t care how fast your first step is, if you can’t finish at the rim you’re useless in the NBA. 

Sebastian Telfair, Darren Collison, Randy Foye these players are NBA athletes with that coveted first step but they didn’t have the ability to absorb contact and score at the hoop. Smart is strong, wide-built and has shown great finishing ability. That’s a translatable skill. 

[Author]

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