2014 NBA Combine Thread (Measurements Are Posted)

[Tr1boy]

Gordon is going to be a SF in the nba.  He does too many things just to be a pf and sf is perfect spot for him.  He will improve on his shot.

per Gary Washburn twitter
Aaron Gordon said he's interested in the #celtics, eyes lit up when asked about playing NBA small forward, says he can defend small forwards

Glad to hear he has worked on his shot. I liked the way he says there is no more hitch, more fluid and his approach in shooting the three, mid range and ft are consistent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgZaxp8z2DY

[RebusRankin]

Exum appears to have good height and length for a guard.

[saltlover]

Payne is going to be a role role player at best. He unfortunately has small lungs for his body and you can see him after 5 mins, slouching trying to catch his breath.   At best he will give you maybe 10 good min in a game (min spread out) but don't expect much else.

Actually, he was playing with mono that went undiagnosed until after the season.

[Tr1boy]

Payne is going to be a role role player at best. He unfortunately has small lungs for his body and you can see him after 5 mins, slouching trying to catch his breath.   At best he will give you maybe 10 good min in a game (min spread out) but don't expect much else.

Actually, he was playing with mono that went undiagnosed until after the season.

mono or not. He has small lungs.  he can't sustain a high level of performance for more than 5 min. 

If he didn't have lung issues, we be talking about him going in the top 5.

[saltlover]

Payne is going to be a role role player at best. He unfortunately has small lungs for his body and you can see him after 5 mins, slouching trying to catch his breath.   At best he will give you maybe 10 good min in a game (min spread out) but don't expect much else.

Actually, he was playing with mono that went undiagnosed until after the season.

mono or not. He has small lungs.  he can't sustain a high level of performance for more than 5 min. 

If he didn't have lung issues, we be talking about him going in the top 5.

You say some dumb things sometimes.  Small lungs??  Have you seen his chest x-ray?  Do you even know how lung capacity is measured?  Have you ever had mono?  To me, it's ridiculous that he played as well as he did with it.

And no, he would not be top 5, because he's 23 years old and that's a big strike against him.  He's a good stretch four on offense, but is not outstanding in any facet of his game, and probably has limited upside from where he is.

[Tr1boy]

Payne is going to be a role role player at best. He unfortunately has small lungs for his body and you can see him after 5 mins, slouching trying to catch his breath.   At best he will give you maybe 10 good min in a game (min spread out) but don't expect much else.

Actually, he was playing with mono that went undiagnosed until after the season.

mono or not. He has small lungs.  he can't sustain a high level of performance for more than 5 min. 

If he didn't have lung issues, we be talking about him going in the top 5.

You say some dumb things sometimes.  Small lungs??  Have you seen his chest x-ray?  Do you even know how lung capacity is measured?  Have you ever had mono?  To me, it's ridiculous that he played as well as he did with it.

And no, he would not be top 5, because he's 23 years old and that's a big strike against him.  He's a good stretch four on offense, but is not outstanding in any facet of his game, and probably has limited upside from where he is.

Do you do any research before your write?

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2012/01/michigan_states_adreian_payne_1.html

He said it himself.  The condition has not improved.

please do some research next time

[Lucky17]

Do you do any research before your write?

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2012/01/michigan_states_adreian_payne_1.html

He said it himself.  The condition has not improved.

please do some research next time

In the two years since that article was written, looks like Payne saw plenty of time on the court.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/51545/adreian-payne

If it's not improved, it hasn't hampered his ability to play 25 minutes night.

[Tr1boy]

Do you do any research before your write?

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2012/01/michigan_states_adreian_payne_1.html

He said it himself.  The condition has not improved.

please do some research next time

In the two years since that article was written, looks like Payne saw plenty of time on the court.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/51545/adreian-payne

If it's not improved, it hasn't hampered his ability to play 25 minutes night.

watch from 12:36
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHvs_z_gaoM

This guy is going to drop imo. He can play around max 25 minutes at college ball level (while some guys are playing 30-35 plus min). In the nba he be lucky he can play 10-15 minutes at a high level.

 

[Lucky17]

Wasn't he suffering from mono while playing that game?

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2014/05/michigan_states_adreian_payne_60.html

Just looked at his game log: he played 35 minutes that night. With mono.

http://espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400549858

I'm starting to see this guy in a new light.

[Tr1boy]

Wasn't he suffering from mono while playing that game?

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2014/05/michigan_states_adreian_payne_60.html

i watched several games of him playing this past season. Earlier in the seasn, later in the season (the season prior).  Mono or not, he looked like he had trouble breathing at times. And it's not every game he has trouble. Some games he looked like every other starter. Some games he is huffing and puffing like crazy like the clip above (could be bc of where he is playing that day (higher altitude) , or if its muggy weather outside etc.). Whatever it is, you can never be sure he will perform at a high level on a consistent basis

[PhoSita]

Seems like Vonleh has the wingspan / reach to play some center, though his game may need to develop some.

He has huge hands, too, apparently.  That's encouraging.

[BigAlTheFuture]

So if Payne had normal lungs, he would be a top 5 pick? LOL.... no.

[chambers]

A lot of replies in this thread mentioning Aaron Gordon, but he's not on the interview list and I can't see us going near him unless we trade down. To me he seems like he'll go anywhere between 8 and 12 but not as far back as 17...doesn't seem like our pick territory.

Personally I think if we keep our pick then we go for a home run and potential game changing type of player rather than a role player prospect like Gordon or Randle.

To add to the Randle debate, I think he'll struggle to bully other big men around the rim in the NBA, and there's a strong possibility he could be a rich mans Thomas Robinson.

Remember to look at guys in their system- the whole reason they have the combine is because so many of these guys are stuck in a system that traps them ie Michael Carter Williams or Terrence Ross... This is where Danny strikes gold.

[moiso]

So if Payne had normal lungs, he would be a top 5 pick? LOL.... no.

He has a stress fracture in his left lung

[crimson_stallion]

Seems like Vonleh has the wingspan / reach to play some center, though his game may need to develop some.

He has huge hands, too, apparently.  That's encouraging.

Yeah. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people. 

In today's NBA skilled 7-foot centers are rare.  There are a number of ~6'10" guys who are plenty effective at the center spot (Al Jefferson, Dwight Howard, Al Hortford, etc) so I do not see any reason at all as to why Vonleh couldn't become a very good center in this league.

Physically he has:
* An NBA ready body (6'10" and > 240lbs)
* A very good combination of strength and mobility
* Incredible length (7'4" wingspan)

In terms of skill / talent he has:
* A solid jumper out to the three point line
* A solid jump hook with both hands
* Elite rebounding skills (>14 rebounds per 40 minutes, ranked #1 in the Top 100)
* Above average shot blocking skills (> 2 blocks per 40 minutes)
* Good 1-on-1 defense in the post (uses his strength and length well)

Although Embiid is obviously the favourite to be the best big in this draft, it would not surprise me in the least if Vonleh is just as good (or even better) 3 years down the track. 

I think Smart could be a sleeper as well.  Most people are predicting him to go 7th or 8th (some even lower) but I think he looks a LOT like Dwyane Wade when he first entered the league.  Ball handling question marks, so-so jumpshot, slashing style of play, defensive toughness, "take control' mentality, etc. 

Gordon is I think going to be the biggest flop of the top 8.  I think somebody is going to take him too high because of his physical gifts, but I think he has 'role player' written all over him.  He lacks an elite skill and the only real value I see for him in the league is as a defensive stopper (much like Shane Battier, but without the range).