Parker is the Safest Pick

[LooseCannon]

Given that he's still got that Mormon mission thing hanging over him, this is probably his only year at Duke either way.  If he's going to do it, now would be the normal time religiously and the obvious time as far as his future basketball career.  If he's not going to do it, he's not passing on it to come back to Duke.

I give some credence to the belief that he is interested in forming the Heatles of college basketball and joining forces with his good friend Jahlil Okafor and top point guard prospect Tyus Jones next season.  It sounds like he is the sort who might feel he owes it to Duke to make up for a disappointing tournament by staying at least one more year.

That doesn't mean I think he will definitely stay in college, but I don't buy into the ESPN talking head-style absolutism that there is no way Parker passes up the money he would get by entering the draft.

[Donoghus]

I think the gap between Randle and Parker is larger than you guys are anticipating.

Ditto.

If Parker comes out, he's not dropping past #4. 

[Sketch5]

I think the only thing keeping Parker out of the top 3 is if he choose to go to the draft, but doing his mission first. Some of the bottom teams wouldn't want to wait a couple years for a player.  Especially if he's away from high competition for two years.

Now he can do part time from what I understand, but Im not sure how it works. If he can spend his summers doing them until he fulfills is agreement, that could also change some things.

But one bad game doesn't really hurt his stock too much. It may change the 1,2,3 spots depending on how well Wiggins does, if Embiid comes back. MAYBE if Randle has a good show, he gets bumped up, but unlikely, but who would have thought that Bennett would have gone #1.

If anything from a bad performance I could see Parker stay a year and work on his game. I think the poor showing will also help Silver and wanting to keep players from entering until they are 20. Parker clearly looked over whelmed by the big game.

[LarBrd33]

I say if he falls to #8, we snatch him up... otherwise, might as well prepare for Plan B.

[SHAQATTACK]

Parker I want first . 

But ya know what Mick says ,


"Can't always get what you want" 



So I'd be thrilled to get Randle .....keep the best of the three ....between him , KO and Sully

And package up a deal .... Hump ,  PF of their choice and a first for KLove

Ask Melo would he like to quit the Knicks at the right moment and make a run at a title with RR

[Galeto]

I think the gap between Randle and Parker is larger than you guys are anticipating.

I'm not seeing it.  There big questions about how Randle will fare against PFs and centers in the paint and whether he has a perimeter game to counter.  Similarly there are questions about how Parker will fare against athletic small forwards who can stop his dribble penetration, play above him and force him to consistently knock down outside shots.  There huge defensive questions for both.

They are both defensively deficient players with questions about their finishing ability.  Randle's a better athlete with a similar high school pedigree.  There is no way there is a huge gap between them.  Parker's been the better player this season but that doesn't always create a huge gap in their draft evaluations, especially when you're dealing with freshman.

[Mr October]

Pathetic performance by parker. Clearly not ready for the nba.

Even not counting this game, i agree that Parker is not ready for the NBA. Most freshman aren't. Sure he could put up numbers on a garbage team. But if you are trying to win, he is going to struggle on defense and transitioning from 4/5 in college to a 3 in the nba. The Jeff Greens of the NbA are going to light him up.

Having said that i still select him at 3 or 4 based on the promise of what he can become. He should be lighting up opponents within a couple years.

So in other words, in today's era of one and done players, he probably is ready for the NBA. The only freshmen who are more ready are probably Randle and Wiggins.

[Celtics4ever]

The balls don't always go as predicted, relax folks.

[D.o.s.]

I think the gap between Randle and Parker is larger than you guys are anticipating.

I'm not seeing it.  There big questions about how Randle will fare against PFs and centers in the paint and whether he has a perimeter game to counter.  Similarly there are questions about how Parker will fare against athletic small forwards who can stop his dribble penetration, play above him and force him to consistently knock down outside shots.  There huge defensive questions for both.

They are both defensively deficient players with questions about their finishing ability.  Randle's a better athlete with a similar high school pedigree.  There is no way there is a huge gap between them.  Parker's been the better player this season but that doesn't always create a huge gap in their draft evaluations, especially when you're dealing with freshman.

I agree with you, but I think that Randle's biggest advantage (his physicality) is more likely to cause more problems with his transition into the NBA than Parker's (his scoring, obviously).

[Galeto]

I think the gap between Randle and Parker is larger than you guys are anticipating.

I'm not seeing it.  There big questions about how Randle will fare against PFs and centers in the paint and whether he has a perimeter game to counter.  Similarly there are questions about how Parker will fare against athletic small forwards who can stop his dribble penetration, play above him and force him to consistently knock down outside shots.  There huge defensive questions for both.

They are both defensively deficient players with questions about their finishing ability.  Randle's a better athlete with a similar high school pedigree.  There is no way there is a huge gap between them.  Parker's been the better player this season but that doesn't always create a huge gap in their draft evaluations, especially when you're dealing with freshman.

I agree with you, but I think that Randle's biggest advantage (his physicality) is more likely to cause more problems with his transition into the NBA than Parker's (his scoring, obviously).

Randle doesn't have good length or explosiveness in tight quarters but he could be a devastating pick and roll finisher and his open court speed might be second best to Griffin among bigs next season.  Parker doesn't enjoy any similar advantages at small forward.  I could definitely see a team thinking that Randle's been misused in Kentucky's stupid dribble drive offense and be a much better pro.  It wouldn't be a upset for guy rated anywhere from the first to third best high school player in his class and averaged a double-double as a freshman to be selected before an out of shape small forward.

[Smokeeye123]

Jabari is going to stay in school.  Aaron Gordon to the Celtics is where it's at.

[Tr1boy]

Jabari is going to stay in school.  Aaron Gordon to the Celtics is where it's at.

+1

[D.o.s.]

Doubtful.

[D.o.s.]

I think the gap between Randle and Parker is larger than you guys are anticipating.

I'm not seeing it.  There big questions about how Randle will fare against PFs and centers in the paint and whether he has a perimeter game to counter.  Similarly there are questions about how Parker will fare against athletic small forwards who can stop his dribble penetration, play above him and force him to consistently knock down outside shots.  There huge defensive questions for both.

They are both defensively deficient players with questions about their finishing ability.  Randle's a better athlete with a similar high school pedigree.  There is no way there is a huge gap between them.  Parker's been the better player this season but that doesn't always create a huge gap in their draft evaluations, especially when you're dealing with freshman.

I agree with you, but I think that Randle's biggest advantage (his physicality) is more likely to cause more problems with his transition into the NBA than Parker's (his scoring, obviously).

Randle doesn't have good length or explosiveness in tight quarters but he could be a devastating pick and roll finisher and his open court speed might be second best to Griffin among bigs next season.  Parker doesn't enjoy any similar advantages at small forward.  I could definitely see a team thinking that Randle's been misused in Kentucky's stupid dribble drive offense and be a much better pro.  It wouldn't be a upset for guy rated anywhere from the first to third best high school player in his class and averaged a double-double as a freshman to be selected before an out of shape small forward.

I will be you a whole entire TP that Parker, assuming he declares, will be drafted before Randle.

[indeedproceed]

List me some players who had mediocre to poor tourney showings that did well/is doing well in the nba.

I'm actually drawing a blank here. There are guys who didn't make the tournament and had to play in the NIT that have been stars, but guys eliminated at a high seed by a really low seed that ended up at least as stars? I remember the upset losses after the first round, but nothing like Parker had here.


But, we have guys like Fafnir who has an encyclopedic knowledge of NCAA basketball...so...FAFNIR!