2014 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

[BleedGreen1989]

More and more news about how Joel Embiid is going to stay in school another year. UGHHHHH Embiid how can you do this to us!

Hate the be the bearer of bad news, but I think our chances at a #1 pick are pretty slim anyways.

I still expect us to fall in the 4-8 range in all honesty.

[Tr1boy]

Embiid and parker i feel will stay another year. But not wiggins, so likely he goes 1. Randle will declare as well smart and we already know exum will.

Not sure about vonleh but it might be smart to come as his stock is high

[Evantime34]

I would be very surprised if Embiid and Parker pull out of the draft. It's easy for them to say they might stay mid season, but when top pick dollars are being waved at them, it will be hard to resist

[Donoghus]

I would be very surprised if Embiid and Parker pull out of the draft. It's easy for them to say they might stay mid season, but when top pick dollars are being waved at them, it will be hard to resist

They're also not going to flatout and announce their coming out mid-season while playing for their college teams.

[Dog_Lover106]

I would be very surprised if Embiid and Parker pull out of the draft. It's easy for them to say they might stay mid season, but when top pick dollars are being waved at them, it will be hard to resist

Yes, it would be hard to imagine both Cliff Alexander and Kelly Oubre already committing to Kansas next year without assurances that Embiid and Wiggins would be going to NBA. No way these two top recruits are going to a school next year to sit on the bench.

Look at Kentucky since one and done became the norm. Noel only committed to Kentucky because Davis was leaving, Randle only committed to Kentucky because Noel was leaving and Towns and Trey Lyles only committed to Kentucky because Randle will be leaving.

I am hoping Noah Vonleh stays even though I hate Crean. Noah is barely 18 and as talented and hard working as he is, he is not really ready for the NBA. Same with Wayne Selden.....it is really hard to develop confidence and do your thing with coaches like Self and Crean. 

[Yoki_IsTheName]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx2IXpr5Wzk

Intrigued by this kid. He's 19 and has some work to do (as with a lot if not most prospects) but you can already tell that he's imposing.

He's at #24 in DraftExpress. Brooklyn/ATL pick anyone?

not for me. He barely gets off the ground.  He will get his shots swatted left and right

Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, David West, Andrew Bogut, Brook Lopez cant jump as high as every other big but they can manage to get their shots up.

The kid is 19 years old, and already is an imposing force in the EuroCup. Legit size for a Center and as the video showed, his lack of vertical leaping doesnt stop him form being a defender in the paint because he's long.

And (in Jim Ross' voice) by God, did you see how he moves and the footwork?

Again, I'm not saying he's a surefire prospect. Like the rest of the kids, he needs some work, but you see the potential there. And just because he cant jump as high as Serge Ibaka doesnt mean he cant turn into a good NBA Center. Did you see how this kid moves and how he can force his way inside, as a 19 year old?

[BleedGreen1989]

RE: Chris Walker

Chris Walker had four points, two rebounds and two blocks in seven minutes in his debut for Florida on Tuesday.

There were 19 NBA scouts in attendance for Walker's first game as he's an anticipated first round pick if he leaves school after his freshman season.

"We're happy he's with us,'' Scottie Wilbekin said. "He came in and did his job. He helped us in the way he can help us.''

Walker sat out the first semester as a non-qualifier academically.

[Evantime34]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx2IXpr5Wzk

Intrigued by this kid. He's 19 and has some work to do (as with a lot if not most prospects) but you can already tell that he's imposing.

He's at #24 in DraftExpress. Brooklyn/ATL pick anyone?

not for me. He barely gets off the ground.  He will get his shots swatted left and right

Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, David West, Andrew Bogut, Brook Lopez cant jump as high as every other big but they can manage to get their shots up.

The kid is 19 years old, and already is an imposing force in the EuroCup. Legit size for a Center and as the video showed, his lack of vertical leaping doesnt stop him form being a defender in the paint because he's long.

And (in Jim Ross' voice) by God, did you see how he moves and the footwork?

Again, I'm not saying he's a surefire prospect. Like the rest of the kids, he needs some work, but you see the potential there. And just because he cant jump as high as Serge Ibaka doesnt mean he cant turn into a good NBA Center. Did you see how this kid moves and how he can force his way inside, as a 19 year old?

The highlights look good, but i'm wary of foreign centers who dominate because everyone is significantly smaller than him on the court. The video made it seem like he was being guarded by players with SG/SF NBA size in the post. Not sure those moves look so good against people with length and size behind them. Then again at some point we need some size. If we can't go big with our first pick I would be fine taking him here, although I would prefer to add pure scorers with both picks to aid our anemic offense..

That being said he rebounds well because he boxes out, not because he's simply taller than his opponents. I bet he could come in and give some solid rebounding/low post scoring other than that i'm not sure about him.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx2IXpr5Wzk

Intrigued by this kid. He's 19 and has some work to do (as with a lot if not most prospects) but you can already tell that he's imposing.

He's at #24 in DraftExpress. Brooklyn/ATL pick anyone?

not for me. He barely gets off the ground.  He will get his shots swatted left and right

Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, David West, Andrew Bogut, Brook Lopez cant jump as high as every other big but they can manage to get their shots up.

The kid is 19 years old, and already is an imposing force in the EuroCup. Legit size for a Center and as the video showed, his lack of vertical leaping doesnt stop him form being a defender in the paint because he's long.

And (in Jim Ross' voice) by God, did you see how he moves and the footwork?

Again, I'm not saying he's a surefire prospect. Like the rest of the kids, he needs some work, but you see the potential there. And just because he cant jump as high as Serge Ibaka doesnt mean he cant turn into a good NBA Center. Did you see how this kid moves and how he can force his way inside, as a 19 year old?

The highlights look good, but i'm wary of foreign centers who dominate because everyone is significantly smaller than him on the court. The video made it seem like he was being guarded by players with SG/SF NBA size in the post. Not sure those moves look so good against people with length and size behind them. Then again at some point we need some size. If we can't go big with our first pick I would be fine taking him here, although I would prefer to add pure scorers with both picks to aid our anemic offense..

That being said he rebounds well because he boxes out, not because he's simply taller than his opponents. I bet he could come in and give some solid rebounding/low post scoring other than that i'm not sure about him.

The kid is 19 years old, Evan, and already he can muscle his way down low.

I understand the level of competition, but he's still playing pro basketball and that's saying something.

And it's not just his physicality, it's the way he moves. For the record, i'm not comparing his overall potential to Joel Embiid's, but if we're talking about a 7 footer with length than can move, this kid CAN move just as Embiid can, dare I say better (if you look at the video and the way he plays PnR defense, his footwork is amazing).

There's a lot to work with there, he moves really well, he's big, he pplays physical and he looks like he's got that Eastern European toughness and he's 19 years old. There are flaws that need to be sanded, but overall he could be a starting Center in this league.

He's slotted at 24 (per DraftExpress), perfect low risk-high reward pick, but I won't be surprised if his stock rises.

[Evantime34]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx2IXpr5Wzk

Intrigued by this kid. He's 19 and has some work to do (as with a lot if not most prospects) but you can already tell that he's imposing.

He's at #24 in DraftExpress. Brooklyn/ATL pick anyone?

not for me. He barely gets off the ground.  He will get his shots swatted left and right

Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, David West, Andrew Bogut, Brook Lopez cant jump as high as every other big but they can manage to get their shots up.

The kid is 19 years old, and already is an imposing force in the EuroCup. Legit size for a Center and as the video showed, his lack of vertical leaping doesnt stop him form being a defender in the paint because he's long.

And (in Jim Ross' voice) by God, did you see how he moves and the footwork?

Again, I'm not saying he's a surefire prospect. Like the rest of the kids, he needs some work, but you see the potential there. And just because he cant jump as high as Serge Ibaka doesnt mean he cant turn into a good NBA Center. Did you see how this kid moves and how he can force his way inside, as a 19 year old?

The highlights look good, but i'm wary of foreign centers who dominate because everyone is significantly smaller than him on the court. The video made it seem like he was being guarded by players with SG/SF NBA size in the post. Not sure those moves look so good against people with length and size behind them. Then again at some point we need some size. If we can't go big with our first pick I would be fine taking him here, although I would prefer to add pure scorers with both picks to aid our anemic offense..

That being said he rebounds well because he boxes out, not because he's simply taller than his opponents. I bet he could come in and give some solid rebounding/low post scoring other than that i'm not sure about him.

The kid is 19 years old, Evan, and already he can muscle his way down low.

I understand the level of competition, but he's still playing pro basketball and that's saying something.

And it's not just his physicality, it's the way he moves. For the record, i'm not comparing his overall potential to Joel Embiid's, but if we're talking about a 7 footer with length than can move, this kid CAN move just as Embiid can, dare I say better (if you look at the video and the way he plays PnR defense, his footwork is amazing).

There's a lot to work with there, he moves really well, he's big, he pplays physical and he looks like he's got that Eastern European toughness and he's 19 years old. There are flaws that need to be sanded, but overall he could be a starting Center in this league.

He's slotted at 24 (per DraftExpress), perfect low risk-high reward pick, but I won't be surprised if his stock rises.

Size always rises. Can't say I agree on him moving like Embiid. He seems like he has a good sense of positioning but I don't think he is near as quick as Embiid.

His shooting stroke looks decent but his offhand has too much of an influence on his shot which is why he can shoot free throws well when he has time but doesn't shoot great from the midrange in games.

I said I would be fine with him at 20 but I would just prefer a Stauskas, or PJ Hairston who can stretch the defense and put points on the board.

[erisred]

I can't believe that everyone thinks Aaron Craft couldn't carve out rotation minutes on a decent team tomorrow. Watched the Iowa game, I mean..he's a gamer. He has an incredible motor and head on his shoulders. He'd land on his feet in the NBA.

Craft won't play one minute of NBA ball. He'll be in medical school, residency, and then a practicing MD through what would have been his playing years. That's my guess anyway.

[Birdman]

The more I watch Parker, the more I would pick him #1

[Birdman]

And I see some mock drafts that has Aaron Gordon late teens-early 20's..i thought he would go earlier than this

[Atzar]

I'm intrigued by Nurkic as well.  If he's available in the 20's, I'd happily take him. 

Big, willing to bang, decent length, hands and feet are quicker than you'd expect given his size.  Tries on both ends.  Looks like there's room for his body to improve, which would likely help him a bit athletically. 

Raw, especially on defense, but you can say that about almost all bigs his age.  If he's intelligent and works hard, he could absolutely be worth the pick. 

[Mr October]

And I see some mock drafts that has Aaron Gordon late teens-early 20's..i thought he would go earlier than this

I would be shocked if Gordon fell out of the top 10. The guy looks like the matrix reloaded. I have only seen 1 mock with him falling that low.