Jabari Parker is who most GMs would take number one overall presently

[Tr1boy]

Parker's freshman season has to be one of the most frustrating to project because everything comes with the caveat of his poor conditioning.  Just evaluating him based on his play and not whether he could be an above average athlete if he lose 15-20 pounds, he's not all that good of a prospect.  He struggled to get by defenders.  He struggled to get lift in the paint, where defenders played a foot above him.  He struggled to shoot consistently from outside after his scoring hot start.  And he struggled to keep focus on defense.  Doug McDermott was a vastly more effective driver than Parker was. 

But but but, Parker could be something else if he gets into great shape and becomes an above average athlete because he is so dang skilled.  There would also be no reason why he couldn't be a good defender.  He's 6'8, long, strong; throw in above average athleticism and a good on court work ethic and he could be a positive defense presence. 

More than most elite prospects, the combine and workouts could be huge, as much dropping from 1 to possibly 4 or 5 can be considered huge.  It really could go either way with him.  If he shows up in to the combine with like 18 percent body fat, that would elicit gasps and could put him squarely behind Exum.  If he shows up trim and flashes explosiveness in workouts, he could go no.1.

+1. very good points.

And Parker thinking about staying another year shows me that he knows he has to do work.  Hope he puts in the work and comes ready to the combine.

[D.o.s.]

Bored at times and plays less than stellar defense? People said the same thing about Dirk/Pierce/Carmelo.

Jabari just turned 19, he can learn to defend.

There's a difference between being described as someone who has the tools to play defense but lacks effort and being described as someone who might lack the quickness to guard SFs and the strength/size to guard PFs.

Part of the concern about Parker's defense is that he fits the classic tweener forward description where it's not clear what position he should be guarding in the NBA.  It's possible that he can produce incredible offense that outweighs defensive liabilities.  It's possible that losing some weight will improve his lateral quickness so that he can guard SFs on the perimeter or gaining some muscle will make him able to hold his own against bigger PFs.

Take a look at the offensively gifted combo fowards drafted in the top five who lacked a clear position and try to figure out if Parker looks more like the ones who succeeded or the ones who failed.

How does Parker lack a clear position?  Right now, pending improved conditioning, he's a defensively challenged SF with advanced offensive ability.  That doesn't make him a tweener.

What players are you referencing?  Let's see.  Derrick Williams is an obvious one and nothing like Parker because Williams is both a tweener defensively AND offensively.  Williams is largely a catch and shoot player who isn't all that good at catching and shooting.  Anthony Bennett is another one and again nothing like Parker because he's a tweener both offensively and defensively.  I'm sensing a trend here.  Similar to Williams, Bennett lacks the handle, quickness and diverse shot making to hack it at small forward and he's challenged to guard either small forwards or power forwards.  He was a puzzling choice by the fired Cavs GM. 

Beasley is another reference point but he hasn't busted because he's not skilled enough or can't defend (defense hasn't helped of course) but because he's been a black hole who simply hasn't been a good enough shot maker.  It's not for a lack of skill.  He can handle, shoot from distance, create in a variety of ways but he shies away from contact and loves jump shots most of all.  If Parker goes the way of Beasley, it's not going to be because he was a "tweener."

See, the thing is, I'm not seeing where your tweener label comes from.  Is Kevin Love a tweener?  I mean, he can't guard SFs or PFs either.  Being bad on defense is a negative to be sure but Jabari has the prototypical skill level of a wing.  If a team has a player who can go coast to coast off the dribble, handle in pick and roll and isolation situations, post up, shoot from distance and the mid-range and he stands 6'8ish, they'll slot him in at SF hopefully next to a defensive wing who can take tougher matchups.  If he plays some PF, it'll be because he might have an even greater offensive advantage and not because he has to like with Derrick Williams or Anthony Bennett.

Good points here, too. Glad you started posting again, Galeto.

[LooseCannon]

Bored at times and plays less than stellar defense? People said the same thing about Dirk/Pierce/Carmelo.

Jabari just turned 19, he can learn to defend.

There's a difference between being described as someone who has the tools to play defense but lacks effort and being described as someone who might lack the quickness to guard SFs and the strength/size to guard PFs.

Part of the concern about Parker's defense is that he fits the classic tweener forward description where it's not clear what position he should be guarding in the NBA.  It's possible that he can produce incredible offense that outweighs defensive liabilities.  It's possible that losing some weight will improve his lateral quickness so that he can guard SFs on the perimeter or gaining some muscle will make him able to hold his own against bigger PFs.

Take a look at the offensively gifted combo fowards drafted in the top five who lacked a clear position and try to figure out if Parker looks more like the ones who succeeded or the ones who failed.

How does Parker lack a clear position?  Right now, pending improved conditioning, he's a defensively challenged SF with advanced offensive ability.  That doesn't make him a tweener.

What players are you referencing?  Let's see.  Derrick Williams is an obvious one and nothing like Parker because Williams is both a tweener defensively AND offensively.  Williams is largely a catch and shoot player who isn't all that good at catching and shooting.  Anthony Bennett is another one and again nothing like Parker because he's a tweener both offensively and defensively.  I'm sensing a trend here.  Similar to Williams, Bennett lacks the handle, quickness and diverse shot making to hack it at small forward and he's challenged to guard either small forwards or power forwards.  He was a puzzling choice by the fired Cavs GM. 

Beasley is another reference point but he hasn't busted because he's not skilled enough or can't defend (defense hasn't helped of course) but because he's been a black hole who simply hasn't been a good enough shot maker.  It's not for a lack of skill.  He can handle, shoot from distance, create in a variety of ways but he shies away from contact and loves jump shots most of all.  If Parker goes the way of Beasley, it's not going to be because he was a "tweener."

See, the thing is, I'm not seeing where your tweener label comes from.  Is Kevin Love a tweener?  I mean, he can't guard SFs or PFs either.  Being bad on defense is a negative to be sure but Jabari has the prototypical skill level of a wing.  If a team has a player who can go coast to coast off the dribble, handle in pick and roll and isolation situations, post up, shoot from distance and the mid-range and he stands 6'8ish, they'll slot him in at SF hopefully next to a defensive wing who can take tougher matchups.  If he plays some PF, it'll be because he might have an even greater offensive advantage and not because he has to like with Derrick Williams or Anthony Bennett.

My longer reply was eaten up by some site maintenance, but Parker is often described as a tweener.  Draft Express is just one site which lists tweener status as one of his potential weaknesses.  He fits the classic definition of a tweener: concern that he lacks the quickness to guard SFs and the size/strength to guard PFs.  Tweener status is mainly about questioning which position he will guard in the NBA.  No one has ever suggested that Kevin Love guard SFs.  He's been viewed as a possible PF/C, never as a potential combo forward.

Right now, there is some debate as to whether he can be a small forward whose offense can compensate for a lack of quickness to guard opponents on the perimeter or if he is better off as an undersized power forward who functions as a stretch four.  Some want him to work on improving his lateral quickness, while others want him to build strength.

He could be like Carmelo Anthony, a guy whose ability to create mismatches on offense are seen as outweighing his defensive liabilities.  He could be more like Michael Beasley, a guy who was seen as having a polished offensive repertoire coming out of college, but who, like Parker, has been described as sometimes looking lost on defense.  He could end up with a perceived value somewhere in between, like a Jeff Green with better rebounding and worse defense.  There is a decent possibility that Parker ends up being a chucker who cannot credibly defend either forward position well enough to justify playing him.

I believe that players with Parker's size and skill set tend to do better in the NBA when they show they can function as a stretch four, so that would be my first choice on how to play him.

[chambers]

Parker is the most skilled forward prospect we've seen in a long time in the NBA.
He's been playing out of position at power forward due to his extra weight going into the season after a foot injury, and his Duke team's lack of size.
He brings NBA strength and he hasn't even lifted properly yet- He's been banging with the big boys down low in the NCAA against the best power forwards and centers in the NCAA and he's still holding his own.

He should turn his weight into muscle in the NBA- or at least drop most of the extra 20-30 pounds he put on after the injury once he gets into an NBA regimen.

Triboy is blabbing on about how bad his footwork his which is hilarious because this guy has had the best footwork of all the elite prospects at small forward/power forward for YEARS now.
Triboy I don't know why you hate Jabari so much- probably because he takes the shine away from your waterboys like Aaron Gordon and TJ Warren, but he's pretty much the most complete offensive player in a draft for years- this is why Ainge has been wet for him for so long.

He's got the footwork and anticipation of a heavyweight boxing champ- and the strength to go with it. He's got an utterly perfect shooting stroke and can shoot off the dribble, pulling up and has a lovely fade away jumper that he uses posting up against opposing power forwards.

He's going to have options in the NBA as either a small forward or a power forward because of how good his footwork is. Get him in the gym and eating correctly on a strict NBA diet and he'll drop 20 pounds quickly. This kid has a 7 foot wing span, can rebound and has one of the highest bball IQ's, if not the highest, in this class. You'll notice his passing ability and his ability to read offense and make the correct play. In a worst case where he doesn't lose any weight and packs on 30 pounds of muscle, can you imagine a power foward that's a mix between Jarred Sullinger's passing ability and Paul Pierce's dribbling handle with speed and footwork like Pierce? (As well as the jumpshot and three point stroke?)

The defensive issues are his biggest weakness, but he's the kind of personality that loves to get better and win like all the great NBA players have. He's got that killer swag mentality and he wants the ball in his hands for the big moment.
He's never had to play defense until college because he's always simply outscored everyone he's ever played and that's all he's had to do. He's beginning to understand defense at a higher level but he's been playing out of position and carrying extra weight which will hurt him on both ends.
The good thing is that he will soak up knowledge like a sponge. He doesn't have attitude problems and he's reasonably down to earth/in check because of his religious upbringing. (I'm agnostic by the way). He wants to get better and he wants to win- this is why NBA GM's aren't worried about his defensive problems at 19 years old. He's smart enough to learn and even the poorest athletes can be okay defenders as long as they are smart about it. Jabari is by no means a poor athlete though and with his 7 foot wing span and intelligence he should transition after his 2nd or 3rd year.

I've been watching this kid since he was 14 years old and Danny Ainge was following him around the country.
I can't remember the last time I saw a 6 foot 8 forward with this kind of footwork, natural anticipation and instincts. I also haven't seen a top prospect player since Steph Curry with such brilliant shooting mechanics from all over the floor. Thinking back about guards, I'm stumped to think of the last 6 foot 9 guy with footwork and shooting skill like Jabari.

He's going to be an All Star. If he can get his body under control and his hormones calm down, he'll hopefully lose some puppy fat and turn into a Hall of fame candidate.

*Killer mentality with no one but 'god' on his side.
*Best shooting mechanics for a player his size in years. (Kevin Love?)
*Footwork of a 2 guard, similarly to Paul Pierce with incredible hesitation and dribble control moves.
*Strength and size of an NBA player at 19 years old. Hormones of a 19 year old.
*Basketball IQ and composure common among all great NBA players.

There's a reason he's still a consensus number one pick among GM's.

[Tr1boy]

If you read my post properly Chambers, i meant footwork on the defensive end.    Staying low, side stepping in either directions, having either the left or right hand up or both , all in one motion.  Contesting jump shots when possible.   Just trying harder, especially near the end of the games

His offensive skills is good, though he can improve on his shot selections at times.  He has to take it into the basket alot more to make things difficult for defenders.   

Hopefully due to the extra weight and bad conditioning he is lacking stamina vs laziness