2014 NBA Draft Discussion Thread

[PickNRoll]

I'm extremely high on Nurkic.  I'd have him as high as 6 or 7 based on what little I've seen.  Players with that size, mobility and touch just don't come around often.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Nurkic has little lift off the ground. How is his rim protecting capabilities?

The kid is long.

As I stated before, Marc Gasol Andrew Bogut and Tim Duncan at this stage of his career doesnt have the lift that most athletic bigs have, but still manage to be able to GREATLY protect the rim because of their length.

Nurkic has length, and he's 19 so there is some potential to grow. He's physical, and has long arms.

Add to it his skill, tenacity on the boards and mobility (i'm still drooling on that pick and roll defense he does on the video package), he's a very good prospect to have.

[Tr1boy]

Nurkic has little lift off the ground. How is his rim protecting capabilities?

The kid is long.

As I stated before, Marc Gasol Andrew Bogut and Tim Duncan at this stage of his career doesnt have the lift that most athletic bigs have, but still manage to be able to GREATLY protect the rim because of their length.

Nurkic has length, and he's 19 so there is some potential to grow. He's physical, and has long arms.

Add to it his skill, tenacity on the boards and mobility (i'm still drooling on that pick and roll defense he does on the video package), he's a very good prospect to have.

6'11 with 7'2 is good but not long.  Marc Gasol and Roy Hibbert at 7'0 plus both have 7'4 wingspan (that is long)

Omer Asik is 6'11 with 7'2 wingspan but also has a nice lift

Nurkic will have some issues against stronger/longer guys. Even Perk at 6'10 has a 7'4 wingspan and struggles underneath vs length/guys who can jump

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Nurkic has little lift off the ground. How is his rim protecting capabilities?

The kid is long.

As I stated before, Marc Gasol Andrew Bogut and Tim Duncan at this stage of his career doesnt have the lift that most athletic bigs have, but still manage to be able to GREATLY protect the rim because of their length.

Nurkic has length, and he's 19 so there is some potential to grow. He's physical, and has long arms.

Add to it his skill, tenacity on the boards and mobility (i'm still drooling on that pick and roll defense he does on the video package), he's a very good prospect to have.

6'11 with 7'2 is good but not long.  Marc Gasol and Roy Hibbert at 7'0 plus both have 7'4 wingspan (that is long)

Omer Asik is 6'11 with 7'2 wingspan but also has a nice lift

Nurkic will have some issues against stronger/longer guys. Even Perk at 6'10 has a 7'4 wingspan and struggles underneath vs length/guys who can jump

Roy is 7'2" and 7'4", he's long.

Marc has what, 1 inch and 2 inches over Nurkic. I give you that, but he also has no lift like Nurkic. He's just massive, strong and he's instincts defensively is sound. Nurkic has that potential. BTW, Nurkic has 9'1.5" standing reach, that's solid.

He also has the skill offensively too. Remember, he's 19. Nineteen, he can be a bit more agile as he ages and continued training.

[Tr1boy]

Nurkic has little lift off the ground. How is his rim protecting capabilities?

The kid is long.

As I stated before, Marc Gasol Andrew Bogut and Tim Duncan at this stage of his career doesnt have the lift that most athletic bigs have, but still manage to be able to GREATLY protect the rim because of their length.

Nurkic has length, and he's 19 so there is some potential to grow. He's physical, and has long arms.

Add to it his skill, tenacity on the boards and mobility (i'm still drooling on that pick and roll defense he does on the video package), he's a very good prospect to have.

6'11 with 7'2 is good but not long.  Marc Gasol and Roy Hibbert at 7'0 plus both have 7'4 wingspan (that is long)

Omer Asik is 6'11 with 7'2 wingspan but also has a nice lift

Nurkic will have some issues against stronger/longer guys. Even Perk at 6'10 has a 7'4 wingspan and struggles underneath vs length/guys who can jump

Roy is 7'2" and 7'4", he's long.

Marc has what, 1 inch and 2 inches over Nurkic. I give you that, but he also has no lift like Nurkic. He's just massive, strong and he's instincts defensively is sound. Nurkic has that potential. BTW, Nurkic has 9'1.5" standing reach, that's solid.

He also has the skill offensively too. Remember, he's 19. Nineteen, he can be a bit more agile as he ages and continued training.

I mean it might sound like nitpicking but in terms of wingspan and reach, even a little could make a big difference (all things being comparable). Nurkic like you said has a 9'1.5 reach but Gasol has a 9'4 reach. Vucevic has a 7'5 wingspan and 9'4.5 reach. 

So Nurkic's inability to jump also is going mean he going to have to work harder underneath the basket against these kind of Centers (and high flying athletes). 

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Nurkic has little lift off the ground. How is his rim protecting capabilities?

The kid is long.

As I stated before, Marc Gasol Andrew Bogut and Tim Duncan at this stage of his career doesnt have the lift that most athletic bigs have, but still manage to be able to GREATLY protect the rim because of their length.

Nurkic has length, and he's 19 so there is some potential to grow. He's physical, and has long arms.

Add to it his skill, tenacity on the boards and mobility (i'm still drooling on that pick and roll defense he does on the video package), he's a very good prospect to have.

6'11 with 7'2 is good but not long.  Marc Gasol and Roy Hibbert at 7'0 plus both have 7'4 wingspan (that is long)

Omer Asik is 6'11 with 7'2 wingspan but also has a nice lift

Nurkic will have some issues against stronger/longer guys. Even Perk at 6'10 has a 7'4 wingspan and struggles underneath vs length/guys who can jump

Roy is 7'2" and 7'4", he's long.

Marc has what, 1 inch and 2 inches over Nurkic. I give you that, but he also has no lift like Nurkic. He's just massive, strong and he's instincts defensively is sound. Nurkic has that potential. BTW, Nurkic has 9'1.5" standing reach, that's solid.

He also has the skill offensively too. Remember, he's 19. Nineteen, he can be a bit more agile as he ages and continued training.

I mean it might sound like nitpicking but in terms of wingspan and reach, even a little could make a big difference (all things being comparable). Nurkic like you said has a 9'1.5 reach but Gasol has a 9'4 reach. Vucevic has a 7'5 wingspan and 9'4.5 reach. 

So Nurkic's inability to jump also is going mean he going to have to work harder underneath the basket against these kind of Centers (and high flying athletes).

You make a really good point.

I guess we agree to disagree. DraftExpress thinks he has enough length to be a solid rim protector despite the low vertical. But what you say makes absolute sense. 

I just think his skill level and mobility along with him being young and play burly is a very intriguing and should deserve to be looked at. I get the inability to jump and the measurements, but I think we can make it work. I mean, he's not really short.

[Tr1boy]

Just rewatched Nurkics draftexpress clip and i remember why i was not highly impressed. His defense fundementals are bad. He uses his arm alot instead of moving his feet. The worse is how he starts to yap at the refs like Cousins does. He might lack fundementals but its no excuse not to try harder.  Maybe he has improved but if not and he is still yapping away, no thanks

Watch the way Aaron Gordon plays defense, starting at 2:11. Now that is the way you play defense

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MeP9bTv_90

[Tr1boy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9lhU8nQ2Hw

Anybody like Micic? He reminds me of a poor man Jason Kidd. Jason Kidd at 35

[PickNRoll]

Nurkic has little lift off the ground. How is his rim protecting capabilities?

The kid is long.

As I stated before, Marc Gasol Andrew Bogut and Tim Duncan at this stage of his career doesnt have the lift that most athletic bigs have, but still manage to be able to GREATLY protect the rim because of their length.

Nurkic has length, and he's 19 so there is some potential to grow. He's physical, and has long arms.

Add to it his skill, tenacity on the boards and mobility (i'm still drooling on that pick and roll defense he does on the video package), he's a very good prospect to have.

6'11 with 7'2 is good but not long.  Marc Gasol and Roy Hibbert at 7'0 plus both have 7'4 wingspan (that is long)

Omer Asik is 6'11 with 7'2 wingspan but also has a nice lift

Nurkic will have some issues against stronger/longer guys. Even Perk at 6'10 has a 7'4 wingspan and struggles underneath vs length/guys who can jump

Roy is 7'2" and 7'4", he's long.

Marc has what, 1 inch and 2 inches over Nurkic. I give you that, but he also has no lift like Nurkic. He's just massive, strong and he's instincts defensively is sound. Nurkic has that potential. BTW, Nurkic has 9'1.5" standing reach, that's solid.

He also has the skill offensively too. Remember, he's 19. Nineteen, he can be a bit more agile as he ages and continued training.

Nurkic shows as a better low post player.  His game is built much more in the mold of Shaq than Marc Gasol.  Gasol picks you apart with passing from the high post.  Defensively, they're not in the same area code, but I'm OK with that for now. 

He looks pretty fiery too.  After a few years of Jeff Green, I'd be alright if we picked a couple guys with chips on their shoulder.  I'm even considering Stauskas for that very reason.

[Tr1boy]

Nurkic has little lift off the ground. How is his rim protecting capabilities?

The kid is long.

As I stated before, Marc Gasol Andrew Bogut and Tim Duncan at this stage of his career doesnt have the lift that most athletic bigs have, but still manage to be able to GREATLY protect the rim because of their length.

Nurkic has length, and he's 19 so there is some potential to grow. He's physical, and has long arms.

Add to it his skill, tenacity on the boards and mobility (i'm still drooling on that pick and roll defense he does on the video package), he's a very good prospect to have.

6'11 with 7'2 is good but not long.  Marc Gasol and Roy Hibbert at 7'0 plus both have 7'4 wingspan (that is long)

Omer Asik is 6'11 with 7'2 wingspan but also has a nice lift

Nurkic will have some issues against stronger/longer guys. Even Perk at 6'10 has a 7'4 wingspan and struggles underneath vs length/guys who can jump

Roy is 7'2" and 7'4", he's long.

Marc has what, 1 inch and 2 inches over Nurkic. I give you that, but he also has no lift like Nurkic. He's just massive, strong and he's instincts defensively is sound. Nurkic has that potential. BTW, Nurkic has 9'1.5" standing reach, that's solid.

He also has the skill offensively too. Remember, he's 19. Nineteen, he can be a bit more agile as he ages and continued training.

Nurkic shows as a better low post player.  His game is built much more in the mold of Shaq than Marc Gasol.  Gasol picks you apart with passing from the high post.  Defensively, they're not in the same area code, but I'm OK with that for now. 

He looks pretty fiery too.  After a few years of Jeff Green, I'd be alright if we picked a couple guys with chips on their shoulder.  I'm even considering Stauskas for that very reason.

what about this guy? Would he help us?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dAlA7m6PcI

I love the 1:41 steal , coast to coast basket. That is smooth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHWouIsjQPg

[PickNRoll]

You know I love TJ Warren!  What is the right comp for this guy?  6'7" but plays a little bigger than that.  Not exceptionally athletic, but sneaky quick. Uses all sorts of sneaky angles, subtle hip-checks, up and unders,shields defenders using the rim, 3pt range... and everything he touches goes in the hole.  I can't think of a guy like this in the last 20 years.  Maybe Antoine Walker, except not a knucklehead or a chucker, lol.  You don't score ~25/game in the ACC by accident.

[Tr1boy]

You know I love TJ Warren!  What is the right comp for this guy?  6'7" but plays a little bigger than that.  Not exceptionally athletic, but sneaky quick. Uses all sorts of sneaky angles, subtle hip-checks, up and unders,shields defenders using the rim, 3pt range... and everything he touches goes in the hole.  I can't think of a guy like this in the last 20 years.  Maybe Antoine Walker, except not a knucklehead or a chucker, lol.  You don't score ~25/game in the ACC by accident.

He is 6'8 with a 6'10 wingspan. Not bad for a SF.  He reminds me of one of those crafty old school players. Your right about sneaky quick

[indeedproceed]

Watched most of the KS/OK game. Embiid looked lost at times, but clearly the best athlete among the big men. Wiggins made some nice plays but unless you were watching for him explicitly you forgot where he was for large sections of the game (you never forgot where Embiid was).

Ellis looked okay I guess. Same with Selden.

The white guys for OKA looked like they might be in the running for 'most annoying players to play against'.

[Boris Badenov]

Anyone else feeling that Stauskas might be a good use of our late-first round pick?

[celticmania]

Mario Hezonja with the second pick if he declares