My preferred players at pick #6

[86MaxwellSmart]

I hope they wait to implement a New Age requirement--until After we get those Nets picks---would suck if they did it the year we finally get the #1 Pick.

[Celtics18]

I really hope Silver succeeds in implementing the two year rule.  Guys like Gordon, Vonleh, and Randle have such huge holes in their games that it's difficult to evaluate them.  One more year in college would tell us so much more about them.

True.  It's like buying beer that has only been brewed for 2/3 of the required time.

I'd rather see the age limit go back to eighteen . . . or lower.

For entrance into the NBA, or to brew/purchase/drink beer?! 

Both.

[KGs Knee]

I really hope Silver succeeds in implementing the two year rule.  Guys like Gordon, Vonleh, and Randle have such huge holes in their games that it's difficult to evaluate them.  One more year in college would tell us so much more about them.

True.  It's like buying beer that has only been brewed for 2/3 of the required time.

I'd rather see the age limit go back to eighteen . . . or lower.

For entrance into the NBA, or to brew/purchase/drink beer?! 

Both.

Age limits are messed up.

If you can fight wars you should be able to make money and drink, point blank.

Anyone that says otherwise is undeserving of respect.

[D.o.s.]

I really hope Silver succeeds in implementing the two year rule.  Guys like Gordon, Vonleh, and Randle have such huge holes in their games that it's difficult to evaluate them.  One more year in college would tell us so much more about them.

True.  It's like buying beer that has only been brewed for 2/3 of the required time.

I'd rather see the age limit go back to eighteen . . . or lower.

I'm on this wagon. Anything that makes the jobs of front offices easier by keeping people from making money for an arbitrarily determined amount of time (and feeds into the NCAA machine) is no good, Jerry.

Legally, I don't know how they currently get way with a minimum age requirement of 19 and one year removed from high school.  A guy has a right to make a living.  But I'm selfish and by raising the age requirement, the quality of play will improve at the college level and to a lesser extent the NBA since guys will enter the league with a better skill set.  I prefer the baseball rule where they can draft you straight from high school, but can't touch you for three years if you go to college.

... you are aware that there's an age requirement for House, Senate, and POTUS, right? Legal ain't got nothin' to do with it. The NBA is perfectly within their rights to raise the age limit -- even if I don't agree with it.

[Neurotic Guy]

I really hope Silver succeeds in implementing the two year rule.  Guys like Gordon, Vonleh, and Randle have such huge holes in their games that it's difficult to evaluate them.  One more year in college would tell us so much more about them.

True.  It's like buying beer that has only been brewed for 2/3 of the required time.

I'd rather see the age limit go back to eighteen . . . or lower.

For entrance into the NBA, or to brew/purchase/drink beer?! 

Both.

Age limits are messed up.

If you can fight wars you should be able to make money and drink, point blank.

Anyone that says otherwise is undeserving of respect.

Do you get respect if you think that if you aren't old enough to handle alcohol, you shouldn't be asked to fight in wars?  I'd be more inclined not to send 18 year olds to defend the country than to lower the drinking age again (it was 18 when I was 18 and it wasn't a great idea then).

Truth be told, not every 18 year old is able/allowed to serve. They have to meet physical and mental requirements and are under some pretty strict supervision in the military.  Drinking requires nothing but a birthday. I get your point, but it's not exactly the same thing.

[Vermont Green]

Vonleh scares me. He reminds me a lot of Javale McGee, a million dollar body with a ten cent head.

I have a similar problem with Vonleh except I keep thinking of Jajuan Johnson.

At this point, I believe the first 5 will be Wigg-Park-Em (in some order), Exum to Orl and then Gordon to UTAH.  I hope Utah takes Saric so we can get Gordon.

[notthebowler]

Paul Flannery has a really good webcast of a discussion with Jonathan Givony from DraftExpress.  They talk about several of these guys; the hype vs. reality, expectations for each, etc.  It's an interesting listen as they discuss a handfull of prospects that could fall right in this range.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Podcast-Breaking-down-the-2014-Draft-with-SB-Nations-Paul-Flannery-4558/

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I like Gordon. I just think people have it wrong on what we need most. We missed out on picking Embiid who is pretty much a no brainer but I think most of all we need a SF who can both try and contain Lebron, KD, Joe J., and P.G. while also being able to attack them and make them work defensively. I know it's easier said than done but those are the guys we need to worry about for the next 10 years or more.

[indeedproceed]

I like Gordon. I just think people have it wrong on what we need most. We missed out on picking Embiid who is pretty much a no brainer but I think most of all we need a SF who can both try and contain Lebron, KD, Joe J., and P.G. while also being able to attack them and make them work defensively. I know it's easier said than done but those are the guys we need to worry about for the next 10 years or more.

That line of thinking is what led to Jeff Green's trade and extension. Not that it's flawed in theory, we do need an athletic, lengthy, competitive defender at either the 3 or 4 who can do work on LeBron and Melo if we hope to ever contend legitimately over the next 5-6 years (10 years is a bit long, Lebron won't be 'Lebron' in 2020, let alone 2024), but Jeff Green also shows us how little that matters without top end talent.

If we do keep the pick, I hope Danny takes the guy with the highest ceiling that can be realistically reached. Position shouldn't matter at all.

[loco_91]

I might change the order of these guys as we get more info from workouts but I've watched enough of them to decide. (Except Saric actually, I haven't seen anything other than his scouting youtube stuff). The one thing you'll notice is that all these guys have a bit of 'grit n balls' to them as KG would say 


1)Vonleh because of age (18, second youngest in this draft after Aaron Gordon), upside and size. His hands are huge, his arms are enormously long, he's probably still growing height wise. His jumping reaches were enormous. People are worried about his IQ but no one is mentioning his fire. He's a winner and he hates losing- that spells focus to me. At 18 yrs old you have just a world of potential there as a rim protector, post player, stretch 4/5 etc...

2) Smart: He's got the 'killer' winner's mentality that Rondo has and KG had. He's emotional and he's done some dumb stuff but he's still a kid and he wears his heart on his sleeve.
Lance Stephenson did so as well and he's arguably been the Pacers best player this playoffs.
His shot needs work, but his form is excellent and he attacks the rim relentlessly.
In a disciplined system with the right guidance and coaching this kid could become an All Star combo guard.
One of the best things about him is he plays hard on both ends, he also wants the ball in his hands when it counts and very few skilled athletes like Smart have that quality.
His numbers at Oklahoma State were eerily similar to Dwyane Wade's numbers after 2 seasons as Marquette- Smart's numbers this season were also hurt because of their system in my opinion. This is a guy that loves getting to the rim and getting free throws.- I would love to see him with Rondo and would cross my fingers that his shot improves another 5%

3) Saric: Long, athletic, smart and skilled. Can shoot the lights out. Could be the best player out of this draft in 5 years time and the biggest steal. At his age, he's led his Euro club to a championship and he ALSO has that killer fire about him. Size, scoring, smarts. I do worry about his athleticism but he's smart enough and agile enough make up for what he lacks in speed and strength on the offensive end. Major concern for me would be how well he'd guard NBA small forwards and containing speed.

4)Aaron Gordon: like Vonleh, he's YOUNG and strong. Built like an ox and could probably put on some more muscle without losing his athleticism. I don't know what position he'll play. He wants to play small forward but he needs serious work on the offensive end. He's got the speed and athleticism to defend the best, and if he can somehow use his great IQ to master his dribbling and ball skills in dribble breakdowns vs NBA small forwards and elite defenders he could be very similar to Andre Iquadala. He's a safe pick in the sense that at the very least he'll probably be an All NBA defender. He's so young that I'd be willing to gamble that he'll have enough time to develop his dribble game enough to attack the rim like Lebron and defend like Brandon Bass vs other hybrid forwards. Not sure if he'll ever fix that terrible jumpshot though.


Anyway, that's my summary. I actually hope we trade for Kevin Love and Asik, and then sign Lance Stephenson or Aaron Afflalo, but if we don't, I want one of those guys.

Love these picks, possibly except Saric. A few points:
-You should mention Smart's outstanding D. He is a really safe pick, I think, as he will certainly be a lockdown defender, and his offense is already good enough to make him a solid rotation player. If he improves either his jumpshot or his PG skills, he will be an all-star. However, his shooting form is not exactly pretty, so I think PG skills are a better bet for him to develop, especially given the great BBIQ and feel for the game he's demonstrated on D.
-Aaron Gordon isn't exactly built like an ox. His biggest weakness besides his shooting is strength, but it does look like he can put more meat on his frame. It isn't a huge concern for the C's; against teams with defensive-minded front courts, I'd really like to see a lineup of RR, AB, Gordon, Sully and KO. Lockdown perimeter D, great spacing from the bigs while Rondo feeds Gordon for layups.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I like Gordon. I just think people have it wrong on what we need most. We missed out on picking Embiid who is pretty much a no brainer but I think most of all we need a SF who can both try and contain Lebron, KD, Joe J., and P.G. while also being able to attack them and make them work defensively. I know it's easier said than done but those are the guys we need to worry about for the next 10 years or more.

That line of thinking is what led to Jeff Green's trade and extension. Not that it's flawed in theory, we do need an athletic, lengthy, competitive defender at either the 3 or 4 who can do work on LeBron and Melo if we hope to ever contend legitimately over the next 5-6 years (10 years is a bit long, Lebron won't be 'Lebron' in 2020, let alone 2024), but Jeff Green also shows us how little that matters without top end talent.

If we do keep the pick, I hope Danny takes the guy with the highest ceiling that can be realistically reached. Position shouldn't matter at all.

10 or more is guys like KD and George.

I don't mean just defensively though, I mean a guy who can tire them out by relentlessly attacking them inside... someone who makes them defend more than just the perimeter. When Jeff Green is at his best (usually against LeBron), he murders them inside and out, he attacks like we wish he would most games.


This idea also takes into consideration who we have at the other positions... I think those guys make up a potentially nice team when they work at it and mature. I'm not saying we have to keep them but I would like guys that mirror their potential.

RR

AB

Green/Gordon/Someone similar (someone stronger and more willing to attack than Green is who I would prefer)

KO

Sully


Again, doesn't have to be those guys but guys who play the way they do. I think that group has a lot of potential.

[indeedproceed]

I don't think there are 10 or more guys like LeBron and KD, I don't think there are more than 1 more guys like them, really. LeBron, KD, Melo, that's it. Guys who can turn a game on its head if they're on their game, because their mix of skill, size, strength (in Lebron and Melo's case), and athleticism are just about unguardable. It's the same problem the outgoing generation had with McGrady, Kobe, and Pierce.

After the top tier, there's a bunch of 'but' guys. Yeah, Paul George is super talented, BUT... And so on.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I don't think there are 10 or more guys like LeBron and KD, I don't think there are more than 1 more guys like them, really. LeBron, KD, Melo, that's it. Guys who can turn a game on its head if they're on their game, because their mix of skill, size, strength (in Lebron and Melo's case), and athleticism are just about unguardable. It's the same problem the outgoing generation had with McGrady, Kobe, and Pierce.

After the top tier, there's a bunch of 'but' guys. Yeah, Paul George is super talented, BUT... And so on.

Sorry, I think you missed what I said, those are the guys we have to worry about for 10 or more seasons, of course there isn't close to 10 of them at SF. Yes, KD and LeBron are a different tier but guys at their position who we need to pay attention to include Melo, Joe, and Paul George... Melo just doesn't worry me nearly as much because I think he can be taken off his game more than KD and LeBron can be, he is a good defender but when that shot doesn't drop he isn't going to be anyone you need to worry too much about.