[GreenLanternParticipant]

I know he is saying all the “right” things now just like most guys at this time of year in his position, but if the buzz right now on this guy is legit, Whiteside will make the smart decision for him and enter the draft this year and here’s why:

At age 20, he is two years older than class and will actually turn 21 BEFORE this year’s draft, so his “upside” is shorter than most pro prospects in his class.

He plays for a smaller school in an average (at best) conference, which limits but doesn’t hurt his development.

Did I mention the pro buzz on this guy is REALLY REALLY high right now? I’ve read that scouts feel there is only one player in the country (Wall) with more next level tools as a prospect.

Since his stock is this high (we’re talking top 10 here guys) that means more than likely he will go to a team he can contribute to immediately and develop since will already be 21, unlike a teenager that you might need to coddle more and bring along more slowly.

I saw the game he had against UNC earlier this season and defensively he dominated Ed Davis for long stretches even though he didn’t have a standout overall game against them. Offensively he’s raw but NBA scouts don’t worry about that in a young big man more than his defensive instincts and physical and athletic attributes, which Whiteside has in spades. His length is ridiculous, his shoulders have the broadness that scouts look for to add muscle, he has top notch quickness and agility, and word is he is coachable but aggresive at the same time. I’m telling you guys this guy is the real deal, at LEAST as legit as Paul George or Charles Garcia as a prospect. I would like to see him stay as a basketball fan another year to develop, but when I look at the facts as far as what’s best for him, his family, and his career, I expect him to make the jump in 2010, not 2011.

[butidonthavemoney]

Excellent post. I also think he will enter the draft this season. I think he is overrated, reminds me of when John Riek was considered a top-ten pick by Chad Ford and Jeff Goodman thought he would be the number 1 pick in the 2009 draft.

I hope I’m wrong though, because he could be a really exciting player if things work out for him.

[Adi Joseph]

No, no, no. Butidonthavethemoney, you have to understand. Goodman and Ford were basing their claims about Riek on hearsay about a player who was not even dominating against really bad competition. Whiteside has looked great against D1 opponents, even some particularly good teams. He’s the real deal.

And don’t forget, Riek has never even made an NBADraft.net Mock Draft.

[GreenLanternParticipant]

I understand the skeptism around this guy, but the thing that stands out and why scouts are beginning to swear by him is his activity level. He is NOT a stiff nor does he take plays off. That’s why he will end up definitely deserving a top 10 selection.

[MuggsyParticipant]

I figure he will jump for draft this year as well, hype is too high not too. He’d only hurt himself if he waited.

[butidonthavemoney]

You guys are probably right. I should clarify I have never seen Whiteside play, I’m basing my opinion on nothing but my instincts.

On another note, Adi_Joesph, have you read the Popcorn Story in Off-Topic? You’ve been mentioned in it.

[Clyde-Glide10]

I think he can be a top 3 pick. I seen him play 3 times and he looked impressive every time.

[butidonthavemoney]

You guys are probably right. I should clarify I have never seen Whiteside play, I’m basing my opinion on nothing but my instincts.

On another note, Adi_Joseph, have you read the Popcorn Story in Off-Topic? You’ve been mentioned in it.

[tli232]

I agree that it’s highly likely that Whiteside will go this year. I think his biggest attraction is the fact that at worst he’ll be an above average NBA defensive 7 footer in the mold of Dalembert and Pryzbilla. I know what you’re saying, but those players aren’t worth top 5 picks! Well, compare that to Montiejunas who’s game very much resembles that of Milicic and Tshkitisvili (however you spell it). Both BUSTS who can’t play well enough to stay in the rotation. If I’m an NBA GM, and I know I’m getting something between Dalembert and Camby, I think I’d use a top 10 pick on him in a heartbeat, especially in this year’s draft where there aren’t too many legit Center prospects not named Cole Aldrich.

For the chance to nab someone who’s at least a defensive stopper who can continue to develop his offensive game, I’d take the guy with my lotto pick.

Honestly, Whiteside cannot stand to gain too much by staying, so book it, he’s entering the draft this year!

[GreenLanternParticipant]

I honestly think he is the closest thing to Dwight Howard since Dwight Howard. He will easily gain at least 20 more pounds of muscle…

[Clyde-Glide10]

I hope he stays for one season so NY have a chance to get him

[gatorheelsParticipant]

Yeah I agree, I think he is going in the 2010 draft….Lottery Pick

I’ve got to see him play more but I would probably take him over Aldrich.  Just to big of a defensive presence with too much length.  Plus way more upside. We all know how much GMs/scouts love potential.

[Clyde-Glide10]

I’m telling you- Andrew Bynum. Give him 2 seasons in the NBA with some professional people to help him gain muscle and develop post moves…

[Michael.S.Participant]

I been hearing about this guy like crazy the past 5 days,he shot up outta nowhere

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

tli232, how do you know you are getting a guaranteed above average NBA defensive 7 footer in the mold of Dalembert and Pryzbilla? Wasn’t that the justification for taking Thabeet? Wasn’t that the argument that teams shouldn’t let Mullens slip too far despite the fact that he was awful at Ohio State? What makes Whiteside a better prospect than 2nd round pick DeAndre Jordan? I can add a bunch of names to the list of guys whose defensive abilities meant that they had a low floor: Saer Sene, JaVale McGee, Hilton Armstrong, Josh Boone, and Cedric Simmons.

It isn’t fair to just name two Europeans and just say that a third will have the same fate. Darko didn’t fail because there was something inaccurate regarding his abilities in the scouting reports. He failed because he is a spoiled turd who didn’t want to work. He wanted PT handed to him. He felt because he had games in Orlando and Memphis where he’d go for 20-10 or 15-8 or something like that on some night he should get more time or touches every time after that. If Darko wasn’t a knucklehead, he wouldn’t be on his way out of the league. Nikoloz Tskitishvili never played against the competition Motiejunas is facing with Benetton.

[Adi Joseph]

I would say Darko did fail because of inaccuracies in his scouting report. Scouts overrated his quickness, agility and shooting like CRAZY. We were made to believe he had the same guard skills Dirk or Pau have displayed, which couldn’t have been further from the truth.

Tskitishvili was just an absurd pick that no good scouts honestly believed was smart at any point.

The truth is, though, that as a result of those two players, we’ve learned our lessons. The scouting on Motiejunas has been far more intensive than that on Darko and Tskita, and so far, he’s held up according to those scouts.

[Clyde-Glide10]

Mike- Yea, He’s actually good. He has skills he’s not super raw.

BTPH- Yea, he is a defensive center. We need Thabeet is raw but Whiteside is not using 7-3 size. He’s actually has post moves

[Michael.S.Participant]

So Motiejunas is a legit top 5 pick AdiJoseph? When will we get an update? We haven’t seen one in a long time

[Clyde-Glide10]

They updated it like 10 times….

[Michael.S.Participant]

Really?I haven’t seen one update on Motiejunas since the summer…I missed a whole ten?

[Michael.S.Participant]

Whitesdale? Have you seen either one of them play?

[Clyde-Glide10]

They didn’t update his profile…they updated the mock.

I would feel more comfortable drafting Whiteside over Motiejuanas tho…

[Clyde-Glide10]

I know…I made a mistake. I been calling him Whitesdale since I heard about him.

I’ve Seen Whiteside play 3 times.

[Michael.S.Participant]

Oh, cool… I haven’t seen him yet. But i have seen Motiejunas and I like his game alot. If you would take Whiteside over him you must be pretty high on him,

[tli232]

1st of all,
Thabeet is probably doing just as well or better than most predicted for him in his first season. I mean, he’s shown flashes of defensive brilliance. I think, barring serious injury, Thabeet will be better than Damlembert in 3 years. I think that’s worth it for a legit Center who could defend the likes of D12, Bynum, or Brook Lopez. Give him time, he’ll show to be a decent pick (not as good as if they picked up Evans though, haha)

Secondly, Those other Defensive guys you mentioned have not shown near the type of dominance of Whiteside, even in their senior years (or last year they played). Whiteside is only a Freshman (older), imagine he stayed 3 more years, see how he stacks up to Josh Boone/ Hilton Armstrong then.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Guarding Dwight Howard and Brook Lopez? With a billy club and taser maybe, not on a basketball court.

Many of those I mentioned played against much better competition where the numbers weren’t quite so inflated, but Boone averaged 3 blocks per game at UConn as a sophomore. McGee averaged 3 a game at Nevada when he was younger than Whiteside. Simmons averaged 2.5 in the ACC when he was younger than Whiteside. They got to the NBA as so many prospects who got to the league because of their reputation as a shot blocker, and stunk. The size gap closes, and NBA players have more experience playing against players with freakish length. It is why I see little value in shot blockers with few offensive skills, needs to learn how NBA defensive rotations and schemes work, and no body to bang with NBA bigs who work the middle.

[seecocoaballParticipant]

Donatas can’t stay on the floor in Europe. He’s a top 15 pick, though.

[Adi Joseph]

I’ll ask Aran. I’ll tell him the people want more Motie. I can’t speak for foreign prospects too much myself, but I know Aran feels strongly that he’s a top-5 guy.

In the meantime, I can say this about Whiteside — he reminds me quite a bit of Marcus Camby, but he’s got a better touch and feel in the paint on offense.

[tli232]

Yeah, the value in Purely Defensive Centers isn’t high, I must admit, but one has to put things into perspective. How many highly touted True Center Prospects in the NCAA or elsewhere have refined offensive skills? Very few. The only one I can think of in the last couple years is Spencer Hawes. I just think it’s easier for a good defensive center to develop a decent offensive game than a good offensive center (they rarely exist) to develop Solid defensive instincts.

Oh, I didn’t mean that he could effectively defend Howard right out of college. I was thinking in a few years, he’ll have to potential to limit Howard’s impact on the game with his big frame; the same cannot be said for many center projects of the last few years.

[Michael.S.Participant]

Thank you Adi Joseph

[Disrespect_MeParticipant]

motiejunas killed cousins at the hoop summit

a prototypical inside outside guy but idk about his ideal playing weight

he would complement a lot of defensive centers

but his defense will be exposed against the bigger PFs like Gasol Dirk and Garnett

[the I in winParticipant]

I see Monti getting killed his first 2-3 year but then coming out to be an allstar. Basically exactly what Dirk did.

[MkadozaParticipant]

Good offensive centers more often then not move to the power forward position where they can take advantages of mismatches. Either that or they become a niche center, like Frye with his three point shot. Of course you have you legit good big men like Kaman and Bogut, but thats the ceiling you hope for.

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