Saric will only play for Celtics or Lakers

[kozlodoev]

The bias against European players here is astounding. He's a legit, highly touted and highly scouted prospect, yet here most people dump on him. How is he any different or more risky than Exum? Exum is even more unknown IMO.

He's not different for Exum. I wouldn't like picking Exum for exactly the same reasons (although he's at least showed up for the combine, so we know his real size).

I don't consider unwillingness to spend high draft picks for obscure, unproven players "a bias against European players". These are not the same thing.

[NorthernLightning]

Here are parts one and two of the ABA Championship, which Saric dominated in an upset victory over Nolan Smith, former Celtic Allen Ray, and 2014 first rounder Jusuf Nurkic. Take a look with an open mind if you have the time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnWeihy97yM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0ygKPfsmUI

[Roy H.]

The only weakness in his game is a streaky 3 point shot.

Huh.  If that's the case, I'm surprised he's not being considered at #1.  A 20 year old with only one minor weakness in his game, and a whole host of strengths?  He sounds like the next superstar.

[Casperian]

I'll just say I like Saric, I think his passing and vision look special for a kid his age and height, he seems to bust his behind to make things happen, and that it would be a shame if he had to develop in Europe instead of the NBA...

... and I'm basing my opinion off tape, too, which is certainly not enough to judge him accurately.

Danny watched him up close and knows more than we do, though, so if the Celtics pick him, I'd be very happy.

[kozlodoev]

The only weakness in his game is a streaky 3 point shot.

Huh.  If that's the case, I'm surprised he's not being considered at #1.  A 20 year old with only one minor weakness in his game, and a whole host of strengths?  He sounds like the next superstar.

Didn't you see? He's dominating the Allan Ray types out there, so he couldn't possibly have any flaws, could he? 

[Evantime34]

The bias against European players here is astounding. He's a legit, highly touted and highly scouted prospect, yet here most people dump on him. How is he any different or more risky than Exum? Exum is even more unknown IMO.

For you guys who hate euro players, Dirk , Pau , Dragic. Marc Gasol, and technically even Manu and Tony Parker among a few, say hello.

People seem to be pretty high on exum, he's international too. I'm personally high on Nurkic and Capela too if they are available with our second pick. To me it's all about value, I don't think Saric is a good value at #6 but if we trade back or if he slips to 17 I would be fine with this.

In general I don't like european players because I have less information about them than I do their American counterparts. I feel that this lack of information by the general fans often lead to a player getting overvalued because his faults haven't been under the same microscope as those playing in the US.

That being said, I got to commend you for sticking to your guns when you are getting a lot of push back for it. I know if you are right about Saric and he is a very good player I will be one of the first to acknowledge that you were right all along.

I'm curious if those who like Saric have seen more film on him than the rest of us or if they just see think that he could be the go to scorer we need.

[NorthernLightning]

The only weakness in his game is a streaky 3 point shot.

Huh.  If that's the case, I'm surprised he's not being considered at #1.  A 20 year old with only one minor weakness in his game, and a whole host of strengths?  He sounds like the next superstar.

He's not 7'1 like Embiid, nor is he as amazing as Wiggins, but he has a very real chance to be as good as Jabari.

You can laugh and disagree based on a youtube clip or a bad nbadraft.net scouting report, but that wouldn't make your laughter any more informed.

And think about that nbadraft.net scouting report you pasted parts of. You posted the negatives section where they call him a "jack of all trades, master of none", but the very first line of the scouting report was:

"At 6?10 it is very hard to find anyone in the world with the skills he possesses to play with or without the ball anywhere on the court"

Think about it for a minute and keep an open mind while you watch some games.

[Kevin OConnor]

The only weakness in his game is a streaky 3 point shot.

Huh.  If that's the case, I'm surprised he's not being considered at #1.  A 20 year old with only one minor weakness in his game, and a whole host of strengths?  He sounds like the next superstar.

Didn't you see? He's dominating the Allan Ray types out there, so he couldn't possibly have any flaws, could he? 

You understand that Allan Ray would look like a star if he were playing college basketball right now, right? I don't get how people can't comprehend that Saric is playing with MATURE MEN...not TEENAGERS and YOUNG MEN. The Adriatic League is far more talented than the NCAA and those jokes are just a waste of breath.

[pearljammer10]

So if we don't like the guy, it's automatically Euro bias?  Um...okay. 

It has nothing to do with what we've seen of him on tape or anything, though.  It's that Euro bias, you know.

What have you clowns seen on tape? A year old scouting report?

Oh, so if we disagree with you now, we're "clowns"?  I see.

Didn't realize we had a NBA scout & reputable authority in our midst.

I just happened to have watched 5 of his games from this season before I opened my yap.

Good for you.

And I still maintain that I wouldn't touch him with #6.    Which is all, you know, came out of my "yap".

Man, you should have seen that sixth game though...Boy he sure looked like a bust in that sixth game.

[NorthernLightning]

Most two hour a week, two week a year armchair scouts look at wingspan, vertical leap, and espn and form their opinion.

The casual fan/scout doesn't want to fall for the next Bargnani or Darko, and knowing as little about European players as ESPN, they err on the side of dismissing the prospect.

Same goes for European descent players, which is why Olynyk and Mason Plumlee fell so low in the draft, and Miles Plumlee was a non-entity before this year.

[NorthernLightning]

Even after watching Olynyk shoot lights out with extreme consistency after the all star break, and aggressively using his good handles to get where he wanted to go, Celtics fans - Celtics Fans - still doubt that he can get his shot off and create his own offense going forward.

If Olynyk wasn't 7 ft, and Saric wasn't 6'10, they would have much more of a point, but at that height they are among the tallest trees in the forest and good/great ball handling goes a loooooong way at that height.

And Saric is much more mobile than Olynyk, fyi.

I like Aaron Gordon more at the 6th pick because his elite athleticism and defense would better cover up the defensive shortcomings of KO and Sully, but Saric definitely has a more fearless scoring mentality while still being a pass first player and a darn good one who always hits the open man or gets the hockey assist.

Gordon is a good ball handler and dribbler as well, but his scoring mentality is much less developed right now than Saric's, as are his scoring moves.

I wouldn't blame Danny for taking Saric and putting him right into that Paul Pierce role of Point Forward/go-to scorer, which he could do from both the 3 or the 4.

And given that KO and Sully might not ever make a good frontcourt, regardless of any freak athlete at SF alongside them, taking Saric and finding a real rim protecting center might be a good way to go.

[D.o.s.]

The only weakness in his game is a streaky 3 point shot.

Huh.  If that's the case, I'm surprised he's not being considered at #1.  A 20 year old with only one minor weakness in his game, and a whole host of strengths?  He sounds like the next superstar.

Didn't you see? He's dominating the Allan Ray types out there, so he couldn't possibly have any flaws, could he? 

You understand that Allan Ray would look like a star if he were playing college basketball right now, right? I don't get how people can't comprehend that Saric is playing with MATURE MEN...not TEENAGERS and YOUNG MEN. The Adriatic League is far more talented than the NCAA and those jokes are just a waste of breath.

CAPITAL. LETTERS.

[NorthernLightning]

And as much as I LOVE Aaron Gordon, the fact is he has a psychological issue with free throws. He is about a 70% ft shooter in practice, but 40% in games.

I've seen him be taken out of the game in the 4th quarter of a nail-biter because he missed two straight one and one opportunities that would have given Arizona the late boost they needed.

Sometimes psychological issues are harder to correct than skill deficiencies, and that is just one thing to weigh in this draft process. Is Gordon going to be able to stay in the game late in the 4th quarter of close games? Seems like we need a player or two that can help close out close games.

[D.o.s.]

Most two hour a week, two week a year armchair scouts look at wingspan, vertical leap, and espn and form their opinion.

The casual fan/scout doesn't want to fall for the next Bargnani or Darko, and knowing as little about European players as ESPN, they err on the side of dismissing the prospect.

Same goes for European descent players, which is why Olynyk and Mason Plumlee fell so low in the draft, and Miles Plumlee was a non-entity before this year.

European and 'of european descent' =/= white. Stop with that. I don't see you lamenting the unappreciated merits of Dennis Schroeder.

Also, your KO stuff about how great he was after the ASB is demonstrably false. He was better, sure, but 'great' he was not.
http://vorped.com/bball/index.php/player/shotchart/1573-Kelly-Olynyk

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/olynyke01/gamelog/2014/

[NorthernLightning]

But Saric's father is an over-controlling head case, and this "I'll only come over if Boston or LA drafts me" business has the father's fingerprints all over it.