This year's 4-6 picks: 1-3 in a "normal" year?

[Celtics18]

Saric isn't even a legitimate first-round pick.

THis is a joke, right?

I don't think its too far off. I've watched some vid and a game in which he played in the Adriatic League. Color me extremely unimpressed. Given the track record of Euros lacking dominant center size or overall athleticism, I gotta believe Saric is experiencing another common thing that happens to Euro players this time of the year, a really dumb jump up the mock draft boards based mostly on misinformation or a lack of information.

As far as I am concerned anyone taking Saric in the lottery is doing a major disservice to their team. Players like him tend to bust out or become solid bench role players.

You think the folks at DraftExpress and other draft sites are "misinformed" or "ill-informed" on Saric?  You don't think they've seen the same youtube videos as the rest of us?

Sure. Is DX always right? Heck are NBA GMs?

Definitely not.  But, it's my opinion that whoever takes Saric in this year's draft is going to be right.  I like his game.  He looks versatile enough, and like he has good enough handles to play the 3 in the NBA, and he looks big enough and strong enough to play the four.  He's going to be someone who can have an advantage against a lot of opponents.

The question marks are his defense and his athleticism.  From what I've seen, he looks athletic enough to play in the league and extremely fiery and competitive, which should help to mitigate some of his disadvantages on the defensive end.   

[nickagneta]

Agree to disagree then C18. I think people are going to be rather disappointed in Saric when they see the advantages he has in the Adriatic League that makes him excel there won't be anywhere near as effective in the NBA. I think to an extent Exum might fall into this category too. Of all the players in the top ten that I have seen discussed, I think Exum, Saric and Gordon have the highest chances of busting out.

Exum because he could just be an agent created hype who should never have been considered that high

Gordon because he has no shooting skills whatsoever

Saric because he lacks the athleticism and defense skills to make it in the NBA.

Of course I could be completely wrong as well. Sheer probability though makes it likely at least one does become a bust.

[Celtics18]

Agree to disagree then C18. I think people are going to be rather disappointed in Saric when they see the advantages he has in the Adriatic League that makes him excel there won't be anywhere near as effective in the NBA. I think to an extent Exum might fall into this category too. Of all the players in the top ten that I have seen discussed, I think Exum, Saric and Gordon have the highest chances of busting out.

Exum because he could just be an agent created hype who should never have been considered that high

Gordon because he has no shooting skills whatsoever

Saric because he lacks the athleticism and defense skills to make it in the NBA.

Of course I could be completely wrong as well. Sheer probability though makes it likely at least one does become a bust.

I agree on Exum.  My other top candidate for bustitude is Vonleh.  He certainly has all the physical skills to succeed, but I question whether or not he has the mentality.  That may be unfair to an eighteen year old kid, but the NBA is a man's world, and I think he might get swallowed up.

If ever there was someone who I think could have benefitted from staying in school another year, it's Noah Vonleh. 

[indeedproceed]

Saric isn't even a legitimate first-round pick.

THis is a joke, right?

I don't think its too far off. I've watched some vid and a game in which he played in the Adriatic League. Color me extremely unimpressed. Given the track record of Euros lacking dominant center size or overall athleticism, I gotta believe Saric is experiencing another common thing that happens to Euro players this time of the year, a really dumb jump up the mock draft boards based mostly on misinformation or a lack of information.

As far as I am concerned anyone taking Saric in the lottery is doing a major disservice to their team. Players like him tend to bust out or become solid bench role players.

'Not even a legitimate first round pick' is a pretty hyperbolic statement though. I haven't read anyone yet that suggested the Adriatic league was below the competition level of college ball. Yes, different , yes, not on par with Euro League, but not worse competitively. He might be a bust, but 'not a legitimate first round pick'? Yikes.

[Roy H.]

Saric isn't even a legitimate first-round pick.

THis is a joke, right?

I don't think its too far off. I've watched some vid and a game in which he played in the Adriatic League. Color me extremely unimpressed. Given the track record of Euros lacking dominant center size or overall athleticism, I gotta believe Saric is experiencing another common thing that happens to Euro players this time of the year, a really dumb jump up the mock draft boards based mostly on misinformation or a lack of information.

As far as I am concerned anyone taking Saric in the lottery is doing a major disservice to their team. Players like him tend to bust out or become solid bench role players.

'Not even a legitimate first round pick' is a pretty hyperbolic statement though. I haven't read anyone yet that suggested the Adriatic league was below the competition level of college ball. Yes, different , yes, not on par with Euro League, but not worse competitively. He might be a bust, but 'not a legitimate first round pick'? Yikes.

Well, college ball has a lot of different levels.  The Adriatic league is the 9th ranked league in Europe.  Saric's team didn't qualify for the Euroleague last year, so he played in the second-tier Eurocup (and he put up mediocre stats while his team massively struggled).

As for Saric, I'm sure he's a first rounder, but like a lot of foreign players, the hype is unreal.  He's described as a not-particularly-athletic tweener with a decent (but not great) outside shot and good instincts.   Based on video, I wonder about his ability to keep up with SFs, and whether he has the strength to defend PFs. 

He's young, so he can still develop.  However, there's reason to be skeptical; there have been a lot more Euro busts than there have been solid players.

[nickagneta]

Saric isn't even a legitimate first-round pick.

THis is a joke, right?

I don't think its too far off. I've watched some vid and a game in which he played in the Adriatic League. Color me extremely unimpressed. Given the track record of Euros lacking dominant center size or overall athleticism, I gotta believe Saric is experiencing another common thing that happens to Euro players this time of the year, a really dumb jump up the mock draft boards based mostly on misinformation or a lack of information.

As far as I am concerned anyone taking Saric in the lottery is doing a major disservice to their team. Players like him tend to bust out or become solid bench role players.

'Not even a legitimate first round pick' is a pretty hyperbolic statement though. I haven't read anyone yet that suggested the Adriatic league was below the competition level of college ball. Yes, different , yes, not on par with Euro League, but not worse competitively. He might be a bust, but 'not a legitimate first round pick'? Yikes.

Yeah Coach's comment is hyperbolic but as I said I don't see him as a lottery pick. He might be a serviceable to productive bench role player which in this draft puts him in the 20s in my opinion.

[indeedproceed]

Saric isn't even a legitimate first-round pick.

THis is a joke, right?

I don't think its too far off. I've watched some vid and a game in which he played in the Adriatic League. Color me extremely unimpressed. Given the track record of Euros lacking dominant center size or overall athleticism, I gotta believe Saric is experiencing another common thing that happens to Euro players this time of the year, a really dumb jump up the mock draft boards based mostly on misinformation or a lack of information.

As far as I am concerned anyone taking Saric in the lottery is doing a major disservice to their team. Players like him tend to bust out or become solid bench role players.

'Not even a legitimate first round pick' is a pretty hyperbolic statement though. I haven't read anyone yet that suggested the Adriatic league was below the competition level of college ball. Yes, different , yes, not on par with Euro League, but not worse competitively. He might be a bust, but 'not a legitimate first round pick'? Yikes.

Yeah Coach's comment is hyperbolic but as I said I don't see him as a lottery pick. He might be a serviceable to productive bench role player which in this draft puts him in the 20s in my opinion.

Jonathan Givony from Draft Express characterized him as, 'Like Hedo Turkoglu in Orlando, but better, that's his ceiling'

I think that's an accurate description of his 'realistic ceiling', a legitimate point forward who can bring the ball up sometimes, but who disappears a bit if he's not involved, a mismatch for teams offensively at the 3, but a poor match defensively.

[nickagneta]

Saric isn't even a legitimate first-round pick.

THis is a joke, right?

I don't think its too far off. I've watched some vid and a game in which he played in the Adriatic League. Color me extremely unimpressed. Given the track record of Euros lacking dominant center size or overall athleticism, I gotta believe Saric is experiencing another common thing that happens to Euro players this time of the year, a really dumb jump up the mock draft boards based mostly on misinformation or a lack of information.

As far as I am concerned anyone taking Saric in the lottery is doing a major disservice to their team. Players like him tend to bust out or become solid bench role players.

'Not even a legitimate first round pick' is a pretty hyperbolic statement though. I haven't read anyone yet that suggested the Adriatic league was below the competition level of college ball. Yes, different , yes, not on par with Euro League, but not worse competitively. He might be a bust, but 'not a legitimate first round pick'? Yikes.

Yeah Coach's comment is hyperbolic but as I said I don't see him as a lottery pick. He might be a serviceable to productive bench role player which in this draft puts him in the 20s in my opinion.

Jonathan Givony from Draft Express characterized him as, 'Like Hedo Turkoglu in Orlando, but better, that's his ceiling'

I think that's an accurate description of his 'realistic ceiling', a legitimate point forward who can bring the ball up sometimes, but who disappears a bit if he's not involved, a mismatch for teams offensively at the 3, but a poor match defensively.

Dont see the Hedo comparison. Hedo was a heck of a shooter, was a good team defender and more athletic than most gave him credit for. Didn't see that Saric looked to have the potential to be that good. I also think the guys at DX tend to go a little over the top in their assessments of foreign players, at least from what I have read from them over the years. I trust their assessments on college players a lot more.