It's too early to talk draft but some positive observations

[Evantime34]

At this point I see us ending the season with the 15th pick. If it were up to me they would choose the best available out of the Poeltl, Lyles, Oubre, Booker Looney.

 I could see Pope rising but since the only draft site to have him in the first is Espn I wouldn't be surprised if he goes back to school.

[CFAN38]

keeping this thread going,

I am going to update my draft tiers article I wrote in the fan posts but wanted to throw out my quick thoughts on guys who are helping/hurting them selves in the tourney

Winslow, the big winner he looks like a much more complete player and is playing with a ton of energy. It is also really promising that he is hitting 3s at a nice clip. I had previously viewed him as the 9th player in this draft and the first member of the 3rd tier but now I think he warrants a jump up and could go anywhere from 5th-9th.

Poeltl, he really seemed to step up his intensity in the tourney. He is really raw but watching him vs Okafor and against the the small lineup of SF Austin really shows his physical potential. The fact that his biggest weakness is his strength is very promising. He looks like a kid who will have no problem adding 15-20 lbs as he gets into his early 20s. If he enters he is a lock to go lottery and a player I would love to see in Green.

Hollis-Jefferson, if only he could shoot. He has been the consummate energy/hustle guy. A rare player who has guarded the best scoring guard (Russell) and the best scoring big (Kaminsky) in the same Tourney. Is painfully stuck as with limited offense but will make it in the NBA on energy and D alone. One glimmer of hope is the fact that he is getting to the FT line and seems to be improving there.

 Dekker, while Kaminsky was the focus all regular season and Dekker struggled with injures he has suddenly exploded.  He has always been a player who scouts seem to be high on that never really showed it on the court, untill now. RD 1 20pts, RD 2 17pts, RD 3 23, RD 4 27. It also is very impressive that the 3rd and 4th round games where against Arizona and UNC two teams full on NBA length and athleticism. He is a kid who is peaking at the right time and his production coupled with size should push him into a spot in the post lottery teens. If the Cs make the playoffs and dont trade up I could see DA taking him at 15/16. 

Dawson, he isnt flashy but if he can prove to teams that he can improve his shot I can see him going early second. He has the perfect game/physical profile for a utility 3/4 in the mold of a poor mans Drayomd Green. While he isnt putting up big scoring numbers he is rebounding, defending and blocking shots.

Lyles, I was guilty of ignoring Lyles during the regular season and focusing on Towns, WCS and Johnson. I always just looked at him as a non shooting SF that was just big and athletic. The more I have seen of him this tourney it is clear he is a special player and on his way to being a very versatile starting PF. His mobility and teamates actually skewed my perception of him. I didnt realize how big he actually measured at 6'9 (with out shoes) and a 7'3.5" wingspan he is taller/longer then alot of starting PFs in the NBA.

I'm a bit intrigued with Ronda Hollis-Jefferson. He has a great handle and is one of the better athletes in the draft. If he can develop a jump shot, he could be a similar player to a Paul George. If we we get the 16th pick, I would probably prefer him over someone like Lyles.

George isnt a great comp to Hollis-Jefferson, PG was a great shooter in college. He came out of college with a slightly flawed (high TO rate) but obvious offensive skill set. Hollis-Jefferson on the other hand is extremely raw offensivly.

I would say MKG or a young Gerald Wallace are the best comps for Hollis-Jefferson. MKG and RHJ share nearly identical college stats. Like wallace and MKG Hollis-Jefferson can make it in the NBA on athleticism, energy and D along. If he develops any kind of outside shot it will be a bonus.

[Celtics18]

I've been studying up on Bobby Portis a little bit.  I like him and think he'd be a good pick at fifteen. 

[biggs]

So do we take Kaminsky if he's there?

[krumeto]

http://youtu.be/3suYLcsQDdg

Jakob Pöltl singled out KG as a favorite player. That's like end of the conversation to me . We are drafting the Austrian!

Seriously though, he is projected in the 11-20 range. I do not see Utah, Suns or OKC taking him. They all have other needs.

Excellent defender, good size, still 19 and right where we pick.

[CFAN38]

http://youtu.be/3suYLcsQDdg

Jakob Pöltl singled out KG as a favorite player. That's like end of the conversation to me . We are drafting the Austrian!

Seriously though, he is projected in the 11-20 range. I do not see Utah, Suns or OKC taking him. They all have other needs.

Excellent defender, good size, still 19 and right where we pick.

I have been very high on Poetlt for months if he declares I really hope DA goes after him and trades up if necessary. He even seems like a great fit for a draft promise early to get him to avoid workouts. He will not be instantly productive as a rookie but I would expect him in th rotation in 2nd years and starting in 3rd. While Okafor is going to be A+ on offense and D+ on defense and WCS will be D+ on offense and A+ I think Poeltl will but much more well rounded in his prime C+ on offense B+ on D.

[Evantime34]

Someone give me a comp for Poeltl. I kind of see him as the last of the quality centers but I don't know a ton about him. Is he athletic? Will he be able to defend the rim and the pick and roll at the NBA level? Can he shoot? I would love someone to sell me on him as a prospect.

[jonaslopes]

Someone give me a comp for Poeltl. I kind of see him as the last of the quality centers but I don't know a ton about him. Is he athletic? Will he be able to defend the rim and the pick and roll at the NBA level? Can he shoot? I would love someone to sell me on him as a prospect.

Great defense (good shot blocker), still raw on offense (he is only 19). But in my opinion his ceiling is higher than Cauley-Stein's. He was very good against Okafor. He reminds me a bit of Robin Lopez and Tiago Splitter.

[Evantime34]

Someone give me a comp for Poeltl. I kind of see him as the last of the quality centers but I don't know a ton about him. Is he athletic? Will he be able to defend the rim and the pick and roll at the NBA level? Can he shoot? I would love someone to sell me on him as a prospect.

Great defense (good shot blocker), still raw on offense (he is only 19). But in my opinion his ceiling is higher than Cauley-Stein's. He was very good against Okafor. He reminds me a bit of Robin Lopez and Tiago Splitter.

I just read this and he seems like a quality player. http://upsidemotor.com/2015/01/12/jakob-poeltl-scouting-report-january-2015/

I would like it if he was more of an explosive athlete that could finish above the rim (which is what we need imo) but he seems like a solid prospect that could grow into something very good. I will be interested to see how he tests athletically at the combine.

[mef730]

I'd like Poeltl a lot if he's still there at 15 or 16, but after his performance in the tournament, I'm not sure he will be.

Mike

[HomerSapien]

What I like most about what I've seen from Poeltl this year is his quick feet defensively.  He can move very nimbly out of the paint to help and is quick enough to recover. I think he'll develop into a very good defender/shot blocker at the 5.

He's probably my top choice for the C's anywhere from 10 - 16. I have him after WCS and ahead of Turner and Kaminsky in my C rankings.

[chambers]

I've been studying up on Bobby Portis a little bit.  I like him and think he'd be a good pick at fifteen.

I agree. If you like him you'll probably like Trey Lyles. Portis has a nicer stroke but Lyles has the dribbling ability to play an SF/PF in the NBA.
Portis would be a good pick up.
Check out Caris Levert with the Clippers pick too, serious all round player who's been playing injured and his stock will drop. Nasty scorer at the SG/PG spot.

[Csfan1984]

Poeltl  reminds me of Bogut

[byennie]

I think Poetl is great value anywhere outside the lottery. I see him as a rich man's Steven Adams (who isn't a bad player himself). He's better offensively at the same age, and has elite defensive potential if he can add another 10-20 pounds. I wouldn't be surprised if he gave us 12-15 points, 7-9 rebounds, and ~2 blocks within a couple of years with no major weaknesses.

Realistic chance that he's a better pro than Turner, Looney and Kaminsky and possibly challenges for the 3rd best center in this draft after Towns and Okafor.

[byennie]

Edit: CBlog doing wonky things to me