Basketball Insiders consensus mock v5.0

[mef730]

I'm practically apoplectic at where this set of four mocks has Skal.  Skal has worse college stats than Chriss, Davis, and Ellenson.  He doesn't rebound.  He doesn't shoot from long-range.  He blocks shots sometimes, but fouls at an alarming rate -- one every five minutes.  He was a complete disappointment in his one season in college.  He was also very old for a freshman.  He turned 20 in March.  That's the age of a sophomore, not a freshman.  He's 9 months older than Davis, 10 months older than Elenson, and 16 months older than Chriss. 

He doesn't have good reach for a big.  He's pretty lightweight.  His athleticism isn't special (31 inch vertical as a 19 year-old). He's someone who looked good playing kids 2 years younger than him on the AAU circuit a couple of years ago, but has very limited basketball skills.  That he is between 4-9 in all of these mocks is ludicrous.  (Heck, that he's #11 in draft express' mock also makes no sense).  He doesn't resemble an NBA-ready player, and at age 20, it's very difficult to see the upside.

I will be very annoyed if the Celtics pick him in the first round, and I will openly mock any team that picks him in the top 20.  Players who turn 21 during their rookie season should not be expected to spend time in the D-league if they're lottery picks. 

He's tall, but not exceptionally so for an NBA big.  That's it.

/rant

Frankly, I thought the best line in the whole piece was this one about Skal's abilities:

His athleticism and length are off the charts. Quite frankly, this is the kind of setting where Labissiere thrives because there isn’t competition. There’s nobody to take advantage of his thin frame and he isn’t in game situations.

Wow, he did really well when he was the only guy on the floor? That sounds like a #9 to me.

Mike

[KG Living Legend]

Knowing next to nothing about College basketball and how various programs, competition, etc impact stats... just purely going off the numbers, my pick at #3 would have to be Jamal Murray.

I think if we're resigned to getting a fairly one dimensional prospect at #3, instead of trying to get a guy who is likely to become the sort of player you hope to get in the top 3, Murray is probably the best choice.

My preference is to swing for the fences at 3 -- even if it's for a super raw guy like Chriss, God help us -- and try to pick up some future role players elsewhere in the 1st / early 2nd.

Yeah I mean... I don't watch the game.  But Murray seems to have decent size (6'5, 207), averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds as a Freshman... and shot an impressive 45%/41%/78%.   Whoever Ainge picks, I'm sure will be someone they have confidence in.  If Murray is the guy they select after vetting all the prospects, I'll be pretty encouraged.  Instead of taking some guy who shot 41%/29%/60% and hoping he somehow develops a shot, or taking some Senior who was subpar for two years until he got old enough to bully younger guys, at least that Murray kid has a College career that can give you reasonable expectations he'll be an offensive weapon on the next level and is young enough to continue developing.

 Whoop whoop I'm glad people are coming around to my boy Murray.


 To be fair here 6'3" shoes off. Already 205 pounds at 19 years old. And I've seen many times where he crashes into the defender and they bounce off him at the rim and he finishes.

 Cons. A little undersized and his wingspan is avg.
             First step is questionable.
               Laterally quickness is average.
Pros
  Lights our shooter.
  Very good handles
 Lifetime point guard except for last year
 39" vertical
 Strong body absorbed contact
 Good pick and roll player
 19 years old 20 points 5 boards as a freshman.
 Smooth player, plays in control high BBIQ
 Knows he's the man. Super competitive.