At 5-8 it has to be Vonleh

[Eja117]

I have a sincere question for all of the New Englanders on CB:  how much do you think the CB love for Noah Vonleh (and Napier to an extent) is related to their connection to the area? 

I am a life-long Celtics fan who lives in Cincinnati and I see something similar w.r.t. the Bengals every year as the NFL draft approaches.  You get mock drafts loaded with Ohio State players year after year after year.

I saw maybe half a dozen Indiana games this year and I wasn't impressed with Noah at all.  Maybe I just happened to see his off nights, I don't know. 

I do know this from my personal experience: if they take him, I'll quickly convince myself that he will be a fantastic addition to the team, haha.  I've done that a few times over the years with players I don't like.

virtually none

[PaulAllen]

Vonleah is one of my favorite players in the draft and I think he has a top 5 ceiling in this draft however its all going to depend on if Danny will b uilt the team for "win now" or continue rebuild... Vonleah is still too raw to compete next year, as is Exum who I like as well. My play tomorrow guys are Wiggins, Parker, Embiid, Randle, and Gordon.

[fantankerous]

Per a Jonathon Givony tweet from the combine, Vonleh measured:

6'8" without shoes
7'4.75" wingspan
11.75" hand length (second all-time to Greg Smith's 12")

[Mr October]

Pre combine, Vonleh is the top 8 prospect i like the least. He is so raw. freshman Randle and Gordon are more advanced as to how to use their bodies on offense and defense. And Smart looks like the real deal.

As i said maybe a month ago, in that 5-8 range, Vonleh has the lowest floor and highest ceiling. I get the fascination. Drafting him is an attempt at a big home run.

Now i am looking forward to seeing the measurements on all these guys. Those numbers could break some ties.

[D.o.s.]

I still like Smart better than Vonleh -- that's totally just a stylistic preference, though.

We do need a rim protector, either through trade or in the draft.

[CoachBo]

Any pick we land below 3 needs to be traded.

Don't like Big 10 bigs. Don't like Vonleh at all. We don't have the time to wait on an 18 year old to develop. Ownership isn't going to invest five years in wallowing.

[SHAQATTACK]

I am scared of big ten bigs after Johnson we took a few years ago.   

Me too......I'm gun shy .  JJJ .....was awful and weird ,  low IQ

Fab was even worse and even stranger and a clutz to boot....

Exum appears intelligent ....and skilled

Randle maybe be physically and mentally ready to contribute . ,but I like Barkley, ZBo type players ...so I'm biased.

[Smitty77]

This just came down from Chad Ford:

Noah Vonleh measured 6' 8" in socks, a crazy 7' 4.25" wingspan, 9' 0" standing reach, 247 pounds.
11:29 - 15 May 14 Reply Retweet Favorit
- See more at: http://hoopshype.com/videos/usatoday/the-five-most-improved-players-in-the-nba#sthash.9yWeKEAl.dpuf

Thoughts??

IMO, this is HUGE!!!!!

Smitty77

[Mr October]

I wonder if Vonleh becomes a shorter version of Lamar Odom, as well as less of a runner and less handle and passing.

The two players have big wingspans, can hit the 3, rebound well, have small forward games trapped in power forward bodies, and can have big performance swings from game to game.

That sounds like a nice bench player, but perhaps not a starter if he doesn't have the added versatility that Odom brought to the table.

No matter what he will be a project.

[scotto1205]

Dang 6'8" was not what I was expecting.

[playdream]

Dang 6'8" was not what I was expecting.

way too short for C..

[footey]

Yeah, I think Celts lose interest in Vonleh as a Plan C center (Plan A Embiid, Plan B trade).  Just is too undersized.  Seems destined to play power 4, and we don't need another 4.

[D.o.s.]

Not that I see any real resemblance between the two, but Ben Wallace was only 6'9".

[Mr October]

Not that I see any real resemblance between the two, but Ben Wallace was only 6'9".

He was the rare modern era undersized center. He was also a great leaper, incredibly strong, and had the mental makeup to own the paint on defense and own the glass.

I dont see that in Noah Vonleh. I see Lamar Odom or Al Horford if he reaches his potential.

[colincb]

Vonleh's 18, can grow (or not), has good bulk, with a wingspan close to Hibbert's and greater than Chandler's, and we're playing in an era of small ball.  Best rebounder in the 2014 draft, he can play center in today's NBA.

Alternatives in the 5-8 range are Smart, Randle, and Gordon, none of whom can shoot.