Chad Ford says we will pick Kelly Olynyk

[ctrey]

Just finished listening to the Bill Simmons/Chad Ford podcast. Chad as already labelled Fab Melo a massive bust. He also said Sullinger was worth the risk and agreed with Bill that if he comes back ok (They also agreed that most guys come back healthy these days) that he will be special. Chad also said ironically that Olynyk could be the player that people get excited about and ends up being a stiff. Melo is a stunning bust for sure and Olynyk is at best a poor mans Vlade Divac. At best.

I'm not seeing the Divac comparison. I see him more of a Luis Scola clone, but taller. A below the rim type that excels in the fundamentals (shooting, passing, footwork) and gets the job despite excellent leaping ability.

The Divac comp was regarding a player who played horrible defense but stayed in the league as a great pick and pop center with great passing ability. I see Olynyk as lesser Divac in league that Divac type players are no longer viable.

[Celtics18]

I'd prefer Plumlee or Dieng . . . or even McGary or Adams . . . or maybe even Austin or Muscala or Payne or Withey  . . . , but I won't be devastated if we get Kelly Olynyk.  I think that kid could turn out to be pretty good. 

[Monkhouse]

I dislike Kelly Olynyk. He is definitely talented, but I'd rather get someone like Isiah Austin, Dieng, Plumlee, or if we can't get any serviceable bigs worth getting trade them with other players for a better big.

It isn't that I feel he isn't skilled, but most of the things he brings to the plate isn't what we're missing. Plus I've heard his defense is average, and at times below.

[ctrey]

Good Grief.



Again, I see him more of a Scola type. Is he going to be a good shot blocker, no However, he will excel in transition offense and his passing ability from the high post would be a great addition to our team. He and KG would form a nice tandem with their interior passing ability. Remember also that the NBA has become highly dependent on pick and rolls. I think he would provide immediate impact in this area with his shooting ability to pick and pop, as well as his sure hands, ability to finish with either hand, footwork, mobility, and fundamentals on rolls to the basket.

He definitely won't be a workout wonder, but I would love to see him in Green based on all the other things he brings to the table.

For starters KG is going to retire soon. Could happen after this year so the idea of Olynyk and KG as a "Tandem" is a non-starter. Additionally if you assume that Olynyk and Sullinger are on the team they could never play together as we would be slaughtered inside. Olynyk is not a good rebounder so we still not have that problem solved. This guy scored well in a mid-major conference. Otherwise he was not good at all. Bad rebounder, can not defend the rim one bit. How does a guy like that work with a team that already has problems defending the rim as is is? Yes, he may be able score a bit but who can he defend in the NBA?

[Atzar]

Just finished listening to the Bill Simmons/Chad Ford podcast. Chad as already labelled Fab Melo a massive bust. He also said Sullinger was worth the risk and agreed with Bill that if he comes back ok (They also agreed that most guys come back healthy these days) that he will be special. Chad also said ironically that Olynyk could be the player that people get excited about and ends up being a stiff. Melo is a stunning bust for sure and Olynyk is at best a poor mans Vlade Divac. At best.

This draft is deep at the 3 and 2 positions. Which we actually really need. A legit 2 to be sure. I love Bradley but he is a one who can guard twos and with Bradley and Rondo in the back court you simply are not going to get enough scoring. That is still a major problem with this team, particularly in the playoffs against good teams. We have a really hard time scoring enough. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope or Jamaal Franklin are the two guys I would love to get. If a miracle occurred C.J. McCollum would be great if he is there at 16 or 17 if we end up picking there.

Too early to label Melo a bust.  We knew from the start that he would be a multi-year project.  Anybody who expected a contribution from him this year wasn't paying attention. 

I like Franklin, although admittedly I haven't seen much of him. 

I have seen a bit of Caldwell-Pope, though, and I have very mixed feelings about him.  He can really fill it up when he's going, but he's a chucker who takes a ton of difficult jumpers and doesn't have much ability to score in the paint or get to the line.  He'll need to really work on his handle and his strength to change that.

It's hard to say whether some of his shot selection issues are because his teammates suck.  On many possessions, a bad shot by KCP is better than a decent shot by somebody else. 

[indeedproceed]

One thing about Ford that I've always suspected is that he makes picks sometimes that 'arrange' for teams later to get the guy he wants them to get. I'm not saying he plays favorites, just sometimes things 'fall out' where a guy just happens to drop to the team he wants the player to go to.

[ctrey]

Just finished listening to the Bill Simmons/Chad Ford podcast. Chad as already labelled Fab Melo a massive bust. He also said Sullinger was worth the risk and agreed with Bill that if he comes back ok (They also agreed that most guys come back healthy these days) that he will be special. Chad also said ironically that Olynyk could be the player that people get excited about and ends up being a stiff. Melo is a stunning bust for sure and Olynyk is at best a poor mans Vlade Divac. At best.

This draft is deep at the 3 and 2 positions. Which we actually really need. A legit 2 to be sure. I love Bradley but he is a one who can guard twos and with Bradley and Rondo in the back court you simply are not going to get enough scoring. That is still a major problem with this team, particularly in the playoffs against good teams. We have a really hard time scoring enough. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope or Jamaal Franklin are the two guys I would love to get. If a miracle occurred C.J. McCollum would be great if he is there at 16 or 17 if we end up picking there.

Too early to label Melo a bust.  We knew from the start that he would be a multi-year project.  Anybody who expected a contribution from him this year wasn't paying attention. 

I like Franklin, although admittedly I haven't seen much of him. 

I have seen a bit of Caldwell-Pope, though, and I have very mixed feelings about him.  He can really fill it up when he's going, but he's a chucker who takes a ton of difficult jumpers and doesn't have much ability to score in the paint or get to the line.  He'll need to really work on his handle and his strength to change that.

It's hard to say whether some of his shot selection issues are because his teammates suck.  On many possessions, a bad shot by KCP is better than a decent shot by somebody else.

Out here in Texas I see enough west coast games to have seen Franklin. I think that guy is great, always vicious in his demeanor. Super aggressive. I love watching him and I would love to see him, Bradley, Green and Rondo play in a rotation. I swear had Franklin played for Kentucky or UNC he would be a top five pick. Regarding KCP, he is a bit of a chucker but boy, his team was awful. Just dreadful. He had to create everything and teams keyed on him like crazy. 

[Who]

Olynyk sounds like he could be interesting as an offensive orientated backup center behind a more defensively able starting center.

With his combination of size, mobility and shooting ability ... Olynyk may be able to work as a PF/C combo type big man.

[clover]

Just finished listening to the Bill Simmons/Chad Ford podcast. Chad as already labelled Fab Melo a massive bust. He also said Sullinger was worth the risk and agreed with Bill that if he comes back ok (They also agreed that most guys come back healthy these days) that he will be special. Chad also said ironically that Olynyk could be the player that people get excited about and ends up being a stiff. Melo is a stunning bust for sure and Olynyk is at best a poor mans Vlade Divac. At best.

This draft is deep at the 3 and 2 positions. Which we actually really need. A legit 2 to be sure. I love Bradley but he is a one who can guard twos and with Bradley and Rondo in the back court you simply are not going to get enough scoring. That is still a major problem with this team, particularly in the playoffs against good teams. We have a really hard time scoring enough. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope or Jamaal Franklin are the two guys I would love to get. If a miracle occurred C.J. McCollum would be great if he is there at 16 or 17 if we end up picking there.

I'm fearing he may be right about Melo.  I think this is a draft of wings and centers, with a surprising number of still-to-develop centers to be picked in the teens with some real potential.  That is very rare.  But the C's are most in need of a two and a center, as well, and I'd expect Danny to pick one or the other.  I'm guessing center, as it is so much easier to trade for a 2.

[T-LoDaniels]

Kelly Olynyk is arguably the best offensive player in the draft. He also didn't play THAT many minutes at Gonzaga (around 27 a game). His per36 stats are pretty impressive:
24.6ppg  9.9rpg  2.3apg  1.5bpg.

His rebounding struggles are overstated I think. He's admittedly not a great rebounder, but he's not a horrible one (like Bargnani, Brook Lopez) either. He's not a good shot-blocker. I don't really care. Playing good pick-and-roll defense and making the correct defensive roations are more important defensive traits in my opinion and he's smart enough to learn complex NBA-level defensive schemes. (Charlotte last year was no. 5 in the NBA in blocked shots but was also arguably the worst defensive team in history)

I don't know... I guess I just like draft prospects that have high BBIQ's and can actually play basketball well.

[Snakehead]

Wow OP, two threads where you couldn't be more wrong.

You say he's slow and "nailed to the floor"... he's probably the best moving big in college basketball (next to Zeller).  He doesn't jump out of the gym, but you don't need to when you are that tall.  That's very overrated.

To me, he reminds me of Vlade and a taller Scola.  This kind of versatile big man scorer and passer would fit very, very well with our team.  This is the type of player that is against the grain in college.  In the pros where movement is much better, spacing is much better, he can be hit with better passes from guards, he can be set up for more open jumpers, he will be out on the break more, etc. he has a skill set that can be properly utilized.

I just hope he's there and doesn't get picked before.

[SHAQATTACK]

I'm not seeing alot of free agent Bigs the C's can swing either , until PP and KG leave.

Still think sideshow Bob would make a huge impact on the present team.

Not my first choice , but C's would probably be lucky to land Olynyk.

[CFAN38]

Olynyk sounds like he could be interesting as an offensive orientated backup center behind a more defensively able starting center.

With his combination of size, mobility and shooting ability ... Olynyk may be able to work as a PF/C combo type big man.

I agree,

Having watched Olynyk I would not say he is a stiff he moves very well for his size. I question his length and defensive impact but think he will make a great 3rd big.

[PhoSita]

Guys, it's a terribly weak draft and we're picking in the middle of the first round.

I'll take any player who has a shot of being a rotation player in the NBA.  Kelly fits the bill.  Even better, he's a skilled seven footer.  Not easy to get those.

Newsflash -- picking Olynyk doesn't mean Fab Melo is a bust.  Chances are neither Olynyk or Fab will end up being the kind of center you want to play 30+ minutes a night, so they could easily both be part of the 5 rotation a few years from now.

[Yogi]

How is a 7ft guy considered undersized?  He doesn't remind me of Scola at all.  He reminds me of Dirk Nowitzki.  He has some serious issues on defense but they don't have to do with limited physical traits.  He's pretty good in pick and roll defense but he gives up position too easily on the block.  He also seems to miss cutters and rotations.  I'm more concerned about him maintaining his focus on defensive rotations and boxing out.  If he can improve those he can be a fantastic player in the NBA.  I am also not sure about how good of a passer he can become.  In college he was the star, but how he'll do in the NBA is determined only by how he can focus and play when he is the last option on the floor.