Weak draft says who!? Some intriguing bigs in the 2013 NBA draft

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Withey reminds me of Stiemsma

He has a better touch underneath than Goldi-blocks. And I think he's probably stronger base-wise as well.

[Smartacus]

Thought not a center I would add Ryan Kelly to this list. Most mocks have him going in the 2nd but he will end up goin late 1st and will contribute in a Matt bonner like role. Being 6'11 with great range Nice bball iq I could see him in our rotation next season.

Not really enough upside for my tastes. Think I'd rather just give Shavlick some meaningful minutes and see if he can find some of that China magic.

[nickagneta]

have you watched austin play? he cant hit a jumper to save his life

next, what is with the obsession with 7 footers? we will not draft a 7 footer and expect a good player... 7 footers that are good or have potential DO NOT fall to our draft spot. Im letting you know that.

anyways....you have to be kidding me if you think we will draft a big this go around. this draft has too many good guards to skip... you cant pass on trey burke or cauley-stein or even hardaway jr....

1. Cauley Stein is a seven foot center not a guard.

2. This team's biggest need is at the PF/C position.

3. You can get quality 7 footers/big PFs that are very valuable late in the draft:

DeAndre Jordan - 2nd rounder
David Lee - pick 30
Roy Hibbert - pick 17
Serge Ibaka - pick 24
Tiago Splitter - pick 28
Carl Landry - 2nd rounder
Glen Davis - 2nd rounder
Paul Milsap - 2nd rounder
Ersan Ilyasova - 2nd rounder
Andray Blatche - 2nd rounder
Brandon Bass - 2nd rounder
Anderson Varejao - 2nd rounder
David West - pick 18
Boris Diaw - pick 22
Kendrick Perkins - pick 27
Ryan Anderson - pick 21

[clover]

have you watched austin play? he cant hit a jumper to save his life

next, what is with the obsession with 7 footers? we will not draft a 7 footer and expect a good player... 7 footers that are good or have potential DO NOT fall to our draft spot. Im letting you know that.

anyways....you have to be kidding me if you think we will draft a big this go around. this draft has too many good guards to skip... you cant pass on trey burke or cauley-stein or even hardaway jr....

1. Cauley Stein is a seven foot center not a guard.

2. This team's biggest need is at the PF/C position.

3. You can get quality 7 footers/big PFs that are very valuable late in the draft:

DeAndre Jordan - 2nd rounder
David Lee - pick 30
Roy Hibbert - pick 17
Serge Ibaka - pick 24
Tiago Splitter - pick 28
Carl Landry - 2nd rounder
Glen Davis - 2nd rounder
Paul Milsap - 2nd rounder
Ersan Ilyasova - 2nd rounder
Andray Blatche - 2nd rounder
Brandon Bass - 2nd rounder
Anderson Varejao - 2nd rounder
David West - pick 18
Boris Diaw - pick 22
Kendrick Perkins - pick 27
Ryan Anderson - pick 21

Yes, though they usually take some time to develop.

[nickagneta]

have you watched austin play? he cant hit a jumper to save his life

next, what is with the obsession with 7 footers? we will not draft a 7 footer and expect a good player... 7 footers that are good or have potential DO NOT fall to our draft spot. Im letting you know that.

anyways....you have to be kidding me if you think we will draft a big this go around. this draft has too many good guards to skip... you cant pass on trey burke or cauley-stein or even hardaway jr....

1. Cauley Stein is a seven foot center not a guard.

2. This team's biggest need is at the PF/C position.

3. You can get quality 7 footers/big PFs that are very valuable late in the draft:

DeAndre Jordan - 2nd rounder
David Lee - pick 30
Roy Hibbert - pick 17
Serge Ibaka - pick 24
Tiago Splitter - pick 28
Carl Landry - 2nd rounder
Glen Davis - 2nd rounder
Paul Milsap - 2nd rounder
Ersan Ilyasova - 2nd rounder
Andray Blatche - 2nd rounder
Brandon Bass - 2nd rounder
Anderson Varejao - 2nd rounder
David West - pick 18
Boris Diaw - pick 22
Kendrick Perkins - pick 27
Ryan Anderson - pick 21

Yes, though they usually take some time to develop.

Almost all players chosen out of the lottery take years to develop and most big men in the lottery still take years to develop. I think the C's can be patient.

I honestly am not sure they even keep the pick. I could see them trading or selling it.

[indeedproceed]

have you watched austin play? he cant hit a jumper to save his life

next, what is with the obsession with 7 footers? we will not draft a 7 footer and expect a good player... 7 footers that are good or have potential DO NOT fall to our draft spot. Im letting you know that.

anyways....you have to be kidding me if you think we will draft a big this go around. this draft has too many good guards to skip... you cant pass on trey burke or cauley-stein or even hardaway jr....

1. Cauley Stein is a seven foot center not a guard.

2. This team's biggest need is at the PF/C position.

3. You can get quality 7 footers/big PFs that are very valuable late in the draft:

DeAndre Jordan - 2nd rounder
David Lee - pick 30
Roy Hibbert - pick 17
Serge Ibaka - pick 24
Tiago Splitter - pick 28
Carl Landry - 2nd rounder
Glen Davis - 2nd rounder
Paul Milsap - 2nd rounder
Ersan Ilyasova - 2nd rounder
Andray Blatche - 2nd rounder
Brandon Bass - 2nd rounder
Anderson Varejao - 2nd rounder
David West - pick 18
Boris Diaw - pick 22
Kendrick Perkins - pick 27
Ryan Anderson - pick 21

TP, well done.

[MBz]

I want Gorgui Dieng.  The kid can seriously defend and he's getting better offensively every time he plays.  He should be there end of first round.  I think he can be a very good NBA center.

[Smartacus]

have you watched austin play? he cant hit a jumper to save his life

next, what is with the obsession with 7 footers? we will not draft a 7 footer and expect a good player... 7 footers that are good or have potential DO NOT fall to our draft spot. Im letting you know that.

anyways....you have to be kidding me if you think we will draft a big this go around. this draft has too many good guards to skip... you cant pass on trey burke or cauley-stein or even hardaway jr....

1. Cauley Stein is a seven foot center not a guard.

2. This team's biggest need is at the PF/C position.

3. You can get quality 7 footers/big PFs that are very valuable late in the draft:

DeAndre Jordan - 2nd rounder
David Lee - pick 30
Roy Hibbert - pick 17
Serge Ibaka - pick 24
Tiago Splitter - pick 28
Carl Landry - 2nd rounder
Glen Davis - 2nd rounder
Paul Milsap - 2nd rounder
Ersan Ilyasova - 2nd rounder
Andray Blatche - 2nd rounder
Brandon Bass - 2nd rounder
Anderson Varejao - 2nd rounder
David West - pick 18
Boris Diaw - pick 22
Kendrick Perkins - pick 27
Ryan Anderson - pick 21

Wow forgot Hibbert went that low. He's one of the players I covet most in the league. To be fair to lightspeed9 he was speaking about 7 footers falling to this range which from your list   leaves only...
Hibbert
Jordan
Splitter
Varejao
But lets add...
Vucevic 16th pick
Byron BJ Mullens 24th pick
I still think Melo will develop 21st?
Robin Lopez 15th pick
And if we expand to trade up range
Brook Lopez went 10th
Spencer Hawes went 10th

[Evantime34]

I want Gorgui Dieng.  The kid can seriously defend and he's getting better offensively every time he plays.  He should be there end of first round.  I think he can be a very good NBA center.

I'm a fan as well, he is a defensive big that could help this team right away

[CelticsFan9]

I live in Louisville, and I've watched Dieng a ton, but for those that want him:

1.  He's staying for his senior year

2.  When he comes out next year, you better hope he's put on weight, because he'll get killed in the post

3.  Offensively, his hands aren't great, and his midrange jumper (much like Fab's) isn't consistent

I'd love to have Gorgui, but he'd be a project like Melo is (although he'd be able to contribute sooner than Fab will).

[Galeto]

I live in Louisville, and I've watched Dieng a ton, but for those that want him:

1.  He's staying for his senior year

2.  When he comes out next year, you better hope he's put on weight, because he'll get killed in the post

3.  Offensively, his hands aren't great, and his midrange jumper (much like Fab's) isn't consistent

I'd love to have Gorgui, but he'd be a project like Melo is (although he'd be able to contribute sooner than Fab will).

Isn't Pitino having him "walk" on Senior Night because he's all but gone to the NBA?  I think he's coming out.

Dieng is already 23.  Oh he's definitely coming out.

 

[rondofan1255]

Dieng, Siva, and Marra were honored on Senior Night at the ND vs.UofL game. Dieng will be in this year's draft. I'm a diehard Cards fan!

[CelticConcourse]

have you watched austin play? he cant hit a jumper to save his life

next, what is with the obsession with 7 footers? we will not draft a 7 footer and expect a good player... 7 footers that are good or have potential DO NOT fall to our draft spot. Im letting you know that.

anyways....you have to be kidding me if you think we will draft a big this go around. this draft has too many good guards to skip... you cant pass on trey burke or cauley-stein or even hardaway jr....

1. Cauley Stein is a seven foot center not a guard.

2. This team's biggest need is at the PF/C position.

3. You can get quality 7 footers/big PFs that are very valuable late in the draft:

DeAndre Jordan - 2nd rounder
David Lee - pick 30
Roy Hibbert - pick 17
Serge Ibaka - pick 24
Tiago Splitter - pick 28
Carl Landry - 2nd rounder
Glen Davis - 2nd rounder
Paul Milsap - 2nd rounder
Ersan Ilyasova - 2nd rounder
Andray Blatche - 2nd rounder
Brandon Bass - 2nd rounder
Anderson Varejao - 2nd rounder
David West - pick 18
Boris Diaw - pick 22
Kendrick Perkins - pick 27
Ryan Anderson - pick 21

Wow! TP for a very interesting list.

[Tr1boy]

No more projects please. The only guy i would take that is a project is Cauley Stein. Just way too much length, athleticism, and right amount of skill to be good very soon.

But i'd pass in a heartbeat guys like Isiah Austin (rail thin, so JJJ comparison is ok).

My #1 big guy choice who should be around when we draft is Jeff Withey. He is a backup on a team with a star center but on every other team would be a starter much in the way Tyler Zeller is starting for the Cavs. I can see the Stiemnsma comparisons also. But Withey is a little bit more aggressive on both ends of the court,has developed much faster and has already a better post game.

I would feel safe for our team having Sully and Withey guard the interior for the foreseeable future. 

I would bet also if you ask Sully the #1 guy who rocked him last year, it would be Withey.

[Smartacus]

Agree to disagree, I'd say with this draft we should be looking for someone with more upside that Jeff Withey. He's a senior and closer to his athletic peak.

Also what about Fab Melo? He's been a good soldier developing in the D League all year. Don't think we should be so quick to essentially give away his spot to a more developed player.

Austin brings a skill set that no one except KG possesses with his high release jump shot. He's thin now but so is Anthony Davis and even Durant once played 2 guard, just think his ceiling's higher. And hey he seem's to come from hard workers, his uncle Isaac won MIP back in 97.