Why is no one talking about Jeff Taylor

[LooseCannon]

Given where Taylor is being projected in mock drafts, I wonder if Ainge can squeeze some extra value by trading down in the first round to pick up a future second round pick and still get Taylor.

[Sketch5]

Does this sound like a perfect compliment to Rondo (and Garnett) or what?  Throw in the fact that he's a defensive player and he's perfect for Doc too.  If we keep both picks, Taylor could be the "safe" pick and we could pick one "upside" guy for the future.
[/quote]

Yeah what I was thinking use one for the "help now guy"  and then use the other for the "gamble" pick.

Would be what most GM's would do, but i could see DA gambling on both as well.

[mqtcelticsfan]

I will continue to believe that if he didn't have T-Rex arms, he'd be a lottery pick with ease. He probably has about the worst wingspan of any player his height in draft history.

[Who]

I will continue to believe that if he didn't have T-Rex arms, he'd be a lottery pick with ease. He probably has about the worst wingspan of any player his height in draft history.

What was his wingspan and standing reach?

[mqtcelticsfan]

I will continue to believe that if he didn't have T-Rex arms, he'd be a lottery pick with ease. He probably has about the worst wingspan of any player his height in draft history.

What was his wingspan and standing reach?

Height without shoes: 6' 6"
Wingspan: 6' 6.25"
Reach: 8' 5.5"   

[Eris]

I will continue to believe that if he didn't have T-Rex arms, he'd be a lottery pick with ease. He probably has about the worst wingspan of any player his height in draft history.

What was his wingspan and standing reach?

Height without shoes: 6' 6"
Wingspan: 6' 6.25"
Reach: 8' 5.5"   

Reach was only 8' 3.5"

However, he makes up for it with his nice elevation :  33.5" no - step and 40" Max.

If Taylor is playing SG he has excellent measurements. Not as great if you match him up with SFs.

[mqtcelticsfan]

I will continue to believe that if he didn't have T-Rex arms, he'd be a lottery pick with ease. He probably has about the worst wingspan of any player his height in draft history.

What was his wingspan and standing reach?

Height without shoes: 6' 6"
Wingspan: 6' 6.25"
Reach: 8' 5.5"   

Reach was only 8' 3.5"

However, he makes up for it with his nice elevation :  33.5" no - step and 40" Max.

If Taylor is playing SG he has excellent measurements. Not as great if you match him up with SFs.

This is why I feel that Taylor would be a clear lottery pick without that wingspan. He's an elite athlete, a great defender, and can hit the three consistently. That's a recipe for success. His poor wingspan just limits some of his defensive potential.

[frosty33]

I will continue to believe that if he didn't have T-Rex arms, he'd be a lottery pick with ease. He probably has about the worst wingspan of any player his height in draft history.

What was his wingspan and standing reach?

Height without shoes: 6' 6"
Wingspan: 6' 6.25"
Reach: 8' 5.5"   

Reach was only 8' 3.5"

However, he makes up for it with his nice elevation :  33.5" no - step and 40" Max.

If Taylor is playing SG he has excellent measurements. Not as great if you match him up with SFs.

Agreed, I can see him in a Thabo Sefolosha role (same height as him by the way) as a SG but w/ a better offense. I saw some Avery Bradley type of defense in this vid 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6trjk9f2aio
imagine having Avery sit then bringing in Taylor right after. Opposing SG's would have no chance!!

[csfansince60s]

While his D is his trademark, like AB, don't sleep on his O. Aside from stroking it from 3 land, Taylor is also a great slasher and is aggressive in taking it to the hole and can finish.

He can play right away. If KG comes back, especially, we should take this kid.

[ChampKind]

I will continue to believe that if he didn't have T-Rex arms, he'd be a lottery pick with ease. He probably has about the worst wingspan of any player his height in draft history.

What was his wingspan and standing reach?

Height without shoes: 6' 6"
Wingspan: 6' 6.25"
Reach: 8' 5.5"   

Reach was only 8' 3.5"

However, he makes up for it with his nice elevation :  33.5" no - step and 40" Max.

If Taylor is playing SG he has excellent measurements. Not as great if you match him up with SFs.

According to DraftExpress, his standing reach was 8'5.5". I can understand the concerns about his wingspan, but his excellent lateral movement should assuage a lot of those doubts. His defensive game was never predicated on anticipation and getting into lanes to create steals - his quickness and strength was used to keep his center of gravity in front of opponents at all times. He used that to guard the 1-4 positions at Vandy. He is very difficult to back down, very aware of screens, and extremely tough to get around.

Like 60s said, he's got a diverse offense as well, but that seems to suffer from his inconsistency. Plenty of times I've seen Taylor get into the lane with a great move only to get hesitant around the rim and miss a bunny. Things like that tend to send him into funks. When he's feeling it, he can be the best player on the court no matter what team he was matched up against. When he's not, he'll still give you 110% on defense, but he can fade away offensively.

That was something that he improved on as he got older at Vandy, and something that having John Jenkins on the team made less significant, but if I'm Danny Ainge, I'd be more concerned about that than his wingspan. After watching him for 4 years, I never felt that short arms affected his game (though that could change against a higher caliber of athlete in the NBA).

[Who]

How athletic is Jeff Taylor?

If you were to compare him to a current NBA player (in terms of athleticism), who would it be? Quickness and explosiveness? Which player(s) would you compare him to?

[ChampKind]

How athletic is Jeff Taylor?

If you were to compare him to a current NBA player (in terms of athleticism), who would it be? Quickness and explosiveness? Which player(s) would you compare him to?

Physically, he's similar to Chase Budinger but with greater lateral speed. Great vertical leap and the ability to finish strong combined with a solid and still developing outside shot. Taylor may be more adept into getting into the lane but Budinger is more consistent as an offensive presence. On defense, Taylor should prove to be better at staying in front of his assignment thanks to a stronger frame and quicker feet.

He weighed in lighter for the combine than he did as a player. He famously added 25 lbs of muscle between sophomore/junior year to get up to 225 at Vandy but hit his predraft workouts at 213. I'm not sure how that will affect his strength, but he backs his speed with good balance and a physical presence, similar to how Paul Pierce looks on a good night.

[perks-a-beast]

Taylors main problem is that he can't create his own shot. He'll be very similar to a Mickael Pietrus/DeShawn Stevenson type player.