Jabari Parker is who most GMs would take number one overall presently

[Donoghus]

Personally I'd be happy with either.

Yeah, I certainly wouldn't be disappointed with Wiggins. Same goes for Embiid as long as the due diligence has been done with his health ailments.

[Sketch5]

If we can land Parker, I hope DA talks PP into coming back and coaching him. He'd really benefit from having a guy who has the same style of play teach him how to be more successful in the league.

Maybe PP could teach him how to play D as well....

[nzea]

The main concern about Wiggins is really his ball handling. Having no handles coming into the pros is one of the top reasons players bust, along with low Basketball IQ.

[nzea]

The main concern about Wiggins is really his ball handling. Having no handles coming into the pros is one of the top reasons players bust, along with low basketball IQ.

Parker has all of these things. regardless of his defense or conditioning, one thing there sure of is that he'll be able to survive on his handle and his smarts.

[jambr380]

no jabari please.   Jabari + Rondo (if he doesn't improve) = open season for opponents on the offensive end.

You are using Rondo as a reason why our defense would be horrid if we drafted Parker? I realize he may not be as elite on the defensive end as he was a couple of years ago, but he is hardly the poster boy for bad defense.

There are a number of reasons why Parker may not be our guy, but this doesn't seem like one of them.

[Tr1boy]

no jabari please.   Jabari + Rondo (if he doesn't improve) = open season for opponents on the offensive end.

You are using Rondo as a reason why our defense would be horrid if we drafted Parker? I realize he may not be as elite on the defensive end as he was a couple of years ago, but he is hardly the poster boy for bad defense.

There are a number of reasons why Parker may not be our guy, but this doesn't seem like one of them.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIDYdSW2wew

watch from 9:25

The lack of focus and effort on the defensive end to me is a big concern. I've seen enough games of him playing (especially against big schools) to say that he is a really bad defender right now. Bad one on one and even worse at team defense.   Having faith that he will at least become a competent defender is like having faith Derrick Williams will finally put it together starting next season.  No guarantee
 

[Smokeeye123]

no jabari please.   Jabari + Rondo (if he doesn't improve) = open season for opponents on the offensive end.

You are using Rondo as a reason why our defense would be horrid if we drafted Parker? I realize he may not be as elite on the defensive end as he was a couple of years ago, but he is hardly the poster boy for bad defense.

There are a number of reasons why Parker may not be our guy, but this doesn't seem like one of them.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIDYdSW2wew

watch from 9:25

The lack of focus and effort on the defensive end to me is a big concern. I've seen enough games of him playing (especially against big schools) to say that he is a really bad defender right now. Bad one on one and even worse at team defense.   Having faith that he will at least become a competent defender is like having faith Derrick Williams will finally put it together starting next season.  No guarantee

Bored at times and plays less than stellar defense? People said the same thing about Dirk/Pierce/Carmelo.

Jabari just turned 19, he can learn to defend.

[Tr1boy]

no jabari please.   Jabari + Rondo (if he doesn't improve) = open season for opponents on the offensive end.

You are using Rondo as a reason why our defense would be horrid if we drafted Parker? I realize he may not be as elite on the defensive end as he was a couple of years ago, but he is hardly the poster boy for bad defense.

There are a number of reasons why Parker may not be our guy, but this doesn't seem like one of them.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIDYdSW2wew

watch from 9:25

The lack of focus and effort on the defensive end to me is a big concern. I've seen enough games of him playing (especially against big schools) to say that he is a really bad defender right now. Bad one on one and even worse at team defense.   Having faith that he will at least become a competent defender is like having faith Derrick Williams will finally put it together starting next season.  No guarantee

Bored at times and plays less than stellar defense? People said the same thing about Dirk/Pierce/Carmelo.

Jabari just turned 19, he can learn to defend.

your serious right? Pierce was a very good defender in college into the nba. He just got lazy later on and relied more on his smarts.

Melo was never a bad defender. In college it was hard to know bc he played for cuse but in the nba he has been considered at least to be competent.

being 19 is no excuse. Why are some guys at the same age at least trying?? His body hopefully evolves but the mentality has to change. Maybe in the nba he will get scolded if he doesn't try harder and he will change. But seeing that he is not a self starter means he has alot of work to do. Some guys here say , well if you have a rim protecting center or 3 very good defender it will hide his issues. Thats not the way it works. In the playoffs that one weak link in the defensive end will help you lose

[LooseCannon]

Melo was never a bad defender. In college it was hard to know bc he played for cuse but in the nba he has been considered at least to be competent.

Melo has often been considered to be capable of good defense, but horrible because he is incredibly lazy and takes plays off.  He is seen as a bad on defensive rotations and weak on help defense.  One thing that is often brought up in criticism of his defense is how he always wants to switch when faced with a screen or pick and never tries to fight through a screen or go over or under a pick.

Melo might be the guy most likely to be referenced when other NBA players make a joke about someone else being a poor defender.

[Tr1boy]

Melo was never a bad defender. In college it was hard to know bc he played for cuse but in the nba he has been considered at least to be competent.

Melo has often been considered to be capable of good defense, but horrible because he is incredibly lazy and takes plays off.  He is seen as a bad on defensive rotations and weak on help defense.  One thing that is often brought up in criticism of his defense is how he always wants to switch when faced with a screen or pick and never tries to fight through a screen or go over or under a pick.

Melo might be the guy most likely to be referenced when other NBA players make a joke about someone else being a poor defender.

i do agree.  He is lazy more than incapable.  Parker is incapable right now.  He has very poor footwork, defensive instincts are bad.  He is just totally lost at times and when his man drives by him he stops hoping someone bails him out.

It will be better for him to bulk up and be a pf in the nba imo. You don't have to move around as much as a sf has to.  He can do a number on pf's from the perimeter and as long as he puts on muscle can at least hold his ground vs longer/bulkier guys

[jambr380]

no jabari please.   Jabari + Rondo (if he doesn't improve) = open season for opponents on the offensive end.

You are using Rondo as a reason why our defense would be horrid if we drafted Parker? I realize he may not be as elite on the defensive end as he was a couple of years ago, but he is hardly the poster boy for bad defense.

There are a number of reasons why Parker may not be our guy, but this doesn't seem like one of them.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIDYdSW2wew

watch from 9:25

The lack of focus and effort on the defensive end to me is a big concern. I've seen enough games of him playing (especially against big schools) to say that he is a really bad defender right now. Bad one on one and even worse at team defense.   Having faith that he will at least become a competent defender is like having faith Derrick Williams will finally put it together starting next season.  No guarantee

I realize that Jabari isn't the best defender (although I think he could be), it's that you don't want to pair him with Rondo because you think Rondo is also a horrible defender - adding Rondo to your statement struck me as a bit odd. Your concerns about Jabari on the defensive end are totally valid. Overall, though, he does seem like the 'safest' pick.

[freshinthehouse]

I don't believe Jabari's defensive future in the NBA is as dire as Triboy does, but I do believe it is cause for concern.  That's the reason I am leaning towards Wiggens between the two of them.  I think Jabari has a good enough work ethic so that he'll put in quality effort on D, but I don't see a future for him where he doesn't need to be hid somewhat on D.  Wiggens, meanwhile, has the tools to be an all-NBA defender.

That being said, I'd be thrilled to have either of them on the C's.  C'mon magic ping pong balls!

[Galeto]

Parker's freshman season has to be one of the most frustrating to project because everything comes with the caveat of his poor conditioning.  Just evaluating him based on his play and not whether he could be an above average athlete if he lose 15-20 pounds, he's not all that good of a prospect.  He struggled to get by defenders.  He struggled to get lift in the paint, where defenders played a foot above him.  He struggled to shoot consistently from outside after his scoring hot start.  And he struggled to keep focus on defense.  Doug McDermott was a vastly more effective driver than Parker was. 

But but but, Parker could be something else if he gets into great shape and becomes an above average athlete because he is so dang skilled.  There would also be no reason why he couldn't be a good defender.  He's 6'8, long, strong; throw in above average athleticism and a good on court work ethic and he could be a positive defense presence. 

More than most elite prospects, the combine and workouts could be huge, as much dropping from 1 to possibly 4 or 5 can be considered huge.  It really could go either way with him.  If he shows up in to the combine with like 18 percent body fat, that would elicit gasps and could put him squarely behind Exum.  If he shows up trim and flashes explosiveness in workouts, he could go no.1.

[LooseCannon]

Bored at times and plays less than stellar defense? People said the same thing about Dirk/Pierce/Carmelo.

Jabari just turned 19, he can learn to defend.

There's a difference between being described as someone who has the tools to play defense but lacks effort and being described as someone who might lack the quickness to guard SFs and the strength/size to guard PFs.

Part of the concern about Parker's defense is that he fits the classic tweener forward description where it's not clear what position he should be guarding in the NBA.  It's possible that he can produce incredible offense that outweighs defensive liabilities.  It's possible that losing some weight will improve his lateral quickness so that he can guard SFs on the perimeter or gaining some muscle will make him able to hold his own against bigger PFs.

Take a look at the offensively gifted combo fowards drafted in the top five who lacked a clear position and try to figure out if Parker looks more like the ones who succeeded or the ones who failed.

[Galeto]

Bored at times and plays less than stellar defense? People said the same thing about Dirk/Pierce/Carmelo.

Jabari just turned 19, he can learn to defend.

There's a difference between being described as someone who has the tools to play defense but lacks effort and being described as someone who might lack the quickness to guard SFs and the strength/size to guard PFs.

Part of the concern about Parker's defense is that he fits the classic tweener forward description where it's not clear what position he should be guarding in the NBA.  It's possible that he can produce incredible offense that outweighs defensive liabilities.  It's possible that losing some weight will improve his lateral quickness so that he can guard SFs on the perimeter or gaining some muscle will make him able to hold his own against bigger PFs.

Take a look at the offensively gifted combo fowards drafted in the top five who lacked a clear position and try to figure out if Parker looks more like the ones who succeeded or the ones who failed.

How does Parker lack a clear position?  Right now, pending improved conditioning, he's a defensively challenged SF with advanced offensive ability.  That doesn't make him a tweener.

What players are you referencing?  Let's see.  Derrick Williams is an obvious one and nothing like Parker because Williams is both a tweener defensively AND offensively.  Williams is largely a catch and shoot player who isn't all that good at catching and shooting.  Anthony Bennett is another one and again nothing like Parker because he's a tweener both offensively and defensively.  I'm sensing a trend here.  Similar to Williams, Bennett lacks the handle, quickness and diverse shot making to hack it at small forward and he's challenged to guard either small forwards or power forwards.  He was a puzzling choice by the fired Cavs GM. 

Beasley is another reference point but he hasn't busted because he's not skilled enough or can't defend (defense hasn't helped of course) but because he's been a black hole who simply hasn't been a good enough shot maker.  It's not for a lack of skill.  He can handle, shoot from distance, create in a variety of ways but he shies away from contact and loves jump shots most of all.  If Parker goes the way of Beasley, it's not going to be because he was a "tweener."

See, the thing is, I'm not seeing where your tweener label comes from.  Is Kevin Love a tweener?  I mean, he can't guard SFs or PFs either.  Being bad on defense is a negative to be sure but Jabari has the prototypical skill level of a wing.  If a team has a player who can go coast to coast off the dribble, handle in pick and roll and isolation situations, post up, shoot from distance and the mid-range and he stands 6'8ish, they'll slot him in at SF hopefully next to a defensive wing who can take tougher matchups.  If he plays some PF, it'll be because he might have an even greater offensive advantage and not because he has to like with Derrick Williams or Anthony Bennett.