Parker is the Safest Pick

[jaketwice]

Good kid, can score in many ways, plays in the flow of the game, off the charts intelligence. Has a clear NBA position at small forward. Not an elite athlete, but elite enough.

What more could you want?

I think Wiggins and Embiid have more potential upside, but neither is the lock to be great in the NBA that Parker is right now. Sorry haters.

I think Wiggins is the best choice for the Celtics, but Parker should be the number one pick.

[Quetzalcoatl]

Good kid, can score in many ways, plays in the flow of the game, off the charts intelligence. Has a clear NBA position at small forward. Not an elite athlete, but elite enough.

What more could you want?

Defense

[Tr1boy]

Good kid, can score in many ways, plays in the flow of the game, off the charts intelligence. Has a clear NBA position at small forward. Not an elite athlete, but elite enough.

What more could you want?

Defense

+1. Defense might get better with experience but especially a better body. And getting a pro is not easy or possible for some people no matter what they do. Look at jared dudlley, scal etc

Wiggins imo is the safest bet. Embiid also more on the safe side with higher upside due to playing the center position

[Clench123]

And I don't think he's one of those guys we have to wait for to develop.  He's a type of player that can step in right away and make impact.  He is that good.

[jaketwice]

Good kid, can score in many ways, plays in the flow of the game, off the charts intelligence. Has a clear NBA position at small forward. Not an elite athlete, but elite enough.

What more could you want?

Defense

+1. Defense might get better with experience but especially a better body. And getting a pro is not easy or possible for some people no matter what they do. Look at jared dudlley, scal etc

Wiggins imo is the safest bet. Embiid also more on the safe side with higher upside due to playing the center position

Parker is just smarter than Wiggins. Looking at them play, it just seems clear that Parker has a better understanding for the game than Wiggins does. That's going to make him a better NBA player. We don't talk about BBIQ too much, but the fact is that the elite players: LeBron, KD, Dwayner Wade (as much as I HATE that guy) Rondo, CP3 - are all super duper smart players.

He also has that super long wingspan. I'm sure that Parker could figure out elite defense. Defense is mostly hustle (as proof of this, I can play defense and help my team in pick-up, even though I can barely hit a lay-up).

[Tr1boy]

Good kid, can score in many ways, plays in the flow of the game, off the charts intelligence. Has a clear NBA position at small forward. Not an elite athlete, but elite enough.

What more could you want?

Defense

+1. Defense might get better with experience but especially a better body. And getting a pro is not easy or possible for some people no matter what they do. Look at jared dudlley, scal etc

Wiggins imo is the safest bet. Embiid also more on the safe side with higher upside due to playing the center position

Parker is just smarter than Wiggins. Looking at them play, it just seems clear that Parker has a better understanding for the game than Wiggins does. That's going to make him a better NBA player. We don't talk about BBIQ too much, but the fact is that the elite players: LeBron, KD, Dwayner Wade (as much as I HATE that guy) Rondo, CP3 - are all super duper smart players.

He also has that super long wingspan. I'm sure that Parker could figure out elite defense. Defense is mostly hustle (as proof of this, I can play defense and help my team in pick-up, even though I can barely hit a lay-up).

Parker is smarter but Wiggins is that much more athletic and quicker.

During 1 on 1 play Parker is not easy to contain. But Wiggins is not also and cam score on you at will/get to the line. But on top of that is a good defender with physical tools to be lockdown one. Parker doesn't have this part of this game now. And hoping it will improve is just a wish

I'm not a big fan of drafting a guy inside the top 10 that doesn't have an all around game.

[GreenWarrior]

I didn't want to hijack a thread. so since we're on the subject of parker, i'm trying to gather some info.

is parker a "tweener" pf/sf? kinda like ryan gomes? which position would he play in the NBA?

I don't encourage drafting for need. I prefer drafting best player available/most talented. but if parker is of the same mold of sullinger I don't understand drafting him over wiggins. again, i'm uninformed & just going on what little I understand.

[jaketwice]

Parker is smarter but Wiggins is that much more athletic and quicker.

During 1 on 1 play Parker is not easy to contain. But Wiggins is not also and cam score on you at will/get to the line. But on top of that is a good defender with physical tools to be lockdown one. Parker doesn't have this part of this game now. And hoping it will improve is just a wish

I'm not a big fan of drafting a guy inside the top 10 that doesn't have an all around game.

The argument is that Parker is the SAFEST pick. True, Wiggins could be great - but he could also be Gerald Green.

Parker seems like he could be ask good a player as Paul Pierce, or Carmelo Anthony.

Wiggins seems like he could be Gerald Green - or Michael Jordan. Would you rather have Tracy McGrady, or Paul Pierce?

Look at Pierce's career: smart player, infrequently injured, clutch. McGrady lead the league in scoring, but he just lacked the maturity and, frankly, the intelligence, to be the franchise player Pierce has shown himself to be. Of course, you'd love to have MJ. But Wiggins just has not shown what Parker has shown. SAFEST pick? Jabari Parker.

[jaketwice]

I didn't want to hijack a thread. so since we're on the subject of parker, i'm trying to gather some info.

is parker a "tweener" pf/sf? kinda like ryan gomes? which position would he play in the NBA?

I don't encourage drafting for need. I prefer drafting best player available/most talented. but if parker is of the same mold of sullinger I don't understand drafting him over wiggins. again, i'm uninformed & just going on what little I understand.

I think Parker projects as an NBA SF. ...and I completely agree with you: I think Wiggins makes more sense for the Cs than Parker does. But I think Wiggins is a much riskier pick. That's all.

[Birdman]

If I had #1 pick, it would be Parker

[Tr1boy]

Parker is smarter but Wiggins is that much more athletic and quicker.

During 1 on 1 play Parker is not easy to contain. But Wiggins is not also and cam score on you at will/get to the line. But on top of that is a good defender with physical tools to be lockdown one. Parker doesn't have this part of this game now. And hoping it will improve is just a wish

I'm not a big fan of drafting a guy inside the top 10 that doesn't have an all around game.

The argument is that Parker is the SAFEST pick. True, Wiggins could be great - but he could also be Gerald Green.

Parker seems like he could be ask good a player as Paul Pierce, or Carmelo Anthony.

Wiggins seems like he could be Gerald Green - or Michael Jordan. Would you rather have Tracy McGrady, or Paul Pierce?

Look at Pierce's career: smart player, infrequently injured, clutch. McGrady lead the league in scoring, but he just lacked the maturity and, frankly, the intelligence, to be the franchise player Pierce has shown himself to be. Of course, you'd love to have MJ. But Wiggins just has not shown what Parker has shown. SAFEST pick? Jabari Parker.

what?  no way man

Safest means the whole package in my eyes. Not just a lockdown defender or offensive machine. Parker's defense is a concern. It has been all year long.

How is that considered safe for the nba? Mr Wiggins scored 41 yesterday and has been improving literally by the game.  And he is going to be better than Gerald Green.  Green has loose handles, even today. Wiggins already has a mid range game, which finally Gerald Green is starting to adopt in his game

The bottom line is when you tally up all the pts (ahtleticism, defense, scoring, jump shooting, defense etc) Wiggins has more pts than Parker.  Thus Wiggins is the safer choice in my books.  And i do understand where your coming from with Pierce vs Green, but Pierce was never considered a dominant player. He couldn't carry a team on his back on his own.

[crimson_stallion]

I think the issue with Parker is that his main talent is scoring, and scoring is one of those attributes that doesn't always translate from college to the NBA.  Many times in the past there have been elite college scorers who's scoring ability never really translated once that player was suddenly playing against guys with NBA size athleticism and talent.

Rebounding and defense however tend to translate better.  Guys with elite defensive talent In colledge do tend to become elite (or at least very good) NBA defenders. 

That's why I think Embiid, Wiggins, Smart and Exum are lower risk players in a way, because even if they do not reach their offensive potential they are likely to be (at the very least) excellent defensive players.  On the other hand, if Parker's offensive dominance doesn't translate in to his NBA game he will be a nobody...aside from a solid rebounding SF, which on its own has minimal value in this league.

Also the league today highly values athleticism when determining upside.  A young rookie with the type of physical gifts that Exum, Wiggins and Embiid have will have super-high trade value on potential alone, even if they don't work out in their rookie seasons.

I actually think the safest pick is probably Smart.   He had the right attributes mentally (IQ, high motor, desire to win), he can play either other guard position, and he is a strong performer on both ends of the court.  Doesn't really have a huge hole in his game, and he'd likely to he a very solid starter at the very least.

Personally though, I'd still take the potential of Exum/Wiggins/Embiid over the 'safety' of Smart.

               

[greentouch]

I saw the last ten minutes of yesterday's Duke-NC game and although Parker had an excellent offensive game his defense was such a problem, I don't consider him a safe pick at all.  I am not sure that he understands that defense is even part of the game.  There was a total lack of effort on that end of the court and several blow by layups that he gave the matador approach to.

[Tr1boy]

On the other hand, if Parker's offensive dominance doesn't translate in to his NBA game he will be a nobody.

Which = Derrick Williams part 2.

I saw the last ten minutes of yesterday's Duke-NC game and although Parker had an excellent offensive game his defense was such a problem, I don't consider him a safe pick at all.  I am not sure that he understands that defense is even part of the game.  There was a total lack of effort on that end of the court and several blow by layups that he gave the matador approach to.

He just either doesn't care as much or has to conserve his energy. Maybe a lack of high end motor. But yeah i noticed that since day 1.

Mcdermott who is less athletic, quick is a better defender than Parker (at the same age was a better defender). 

People are willing to overlook parkers defensive incapabilities like its minimal. But its a domino effect how it can mess up everyone else. The concern is legit imo

Somebody is going to draft Parker bc of his offensive skills and hope he becomes a better defender. But i wouldn't be surprised if he drops to 5th or 6th

[Atzar]

On the other hand, if Parker's offensive dominance doesn't translate in to his NBA game he will be a nobody.

Which = Derrick Williams part 2.

I saw the last ten minutes of yesterday's Duke-NC game and although Parker had an excellent offensive game his defense was such a problem, I don't consider him a safe pick at all.  I am not sure that he understands that defense is even part of the game.  There was a total lack of effort on that end of the court and several blow by layups that he gave the matador approach to.

He just either doesn't care as much or has to conserve his energy. Maybe a lack of high end motor. But yeah i noticed that since day 1.

Mcdermott who is less athletic, quick is a better defender than Parker (at the same age was a better defender). 

People are willing to overlook parkers defensive incapabilities like its minimal. But its a domino effect how it can mess up everyone else. The concern is legit imo

Somebody is going to draft Parker bc of his offensive skills and hope he becomes a better defender. But i wouldn't be surprised if he drops to 5th or 6th

Agree with almost everything you're saying.  For all of the effort and intelligence Parker displays on offense, that doesn't carry over to the other end of the court. 

I actually do think his offense is good enough to make him a very good (but perhaps not elite) player regardless of this flaw.  Wiggins, on the other hand, is a two-way player whose floor is something like Kawhi Leonard.  If Wiggins learns to consistently impose his will on offense (and he's trended in that direction as the year has gone on), he's an absolute monster.  Certainly a safer bet than Parker in my opinion (I do, however, think Embiid is the biggest risk of the three). 

Also, lol at the Wiggins-Gerald Green comparison.  Aside from size and leaping ability, the two really don't have much in common.