NBA thread

[ProggyMan]

Originally Posted by ChiliColdBlood

Ariza's agreed to terms with Houston. It's essentially a swap, except obviously Artest expires sooner.

I hate this move for the Lakers. Artest doesn't fit in the triangle at all, if I was a Laker fan I'd be pretty miffed that they let Ariza go. Hopefully they can keep Odom.

I'll take Artest over Arizas 8 points, 4 boards and overhyped defense.

[dac]

Originally Posted by trace87

enter shane battier
he did a much better job then artest during their series this year.

Yes. Completely.

[ProggyMan]

Turk to Portland was a false alarm.

[ProggyMan]

Draft Evaluation:
1. Blake Griffin, PF Oklahoma
Will get exposed against NBA length. Upside is Boozer with more offensive game, downside is as a solid starter for 10 plus years.
2. Hasheem Thabeet, C Connecticut
Great pick, One thing I look for in college players is improvement from year to year (i.e. Thabeet). He's already a very good defensive player with a reliable 18 footer (!) and a rapidly developing offensive game. He's reportedly hit the weights hard . How hard determines his NBA ceiling.
3. James Harden, SG Arizona State
The safe pick, I would have taken Tyreke Evans. Harden should be a solid starter, but Evans has superstar potential and very little downside. Presti should have dealt this pick to a team with the hots for Rubio in exchange for a pick from a sure lottery team next year if he liked Harden more than anyone else.
4. Tyreke Evans, PG/SG Memphis
I think the guy will be the best player from this draft both next year, in 5 years, 10 years and 20 years.
5/6. Jonny Flynn/Ricky Rubio, PGs Syracuse/Spain
Rubio is overhyped, will go back to Europe or get traded, Flynn is a poor mans Chris Paul.

[debaserr]

Originally Posted by ProggyMan

Draft Evaluation:
1. Blake Griffin, PF Oklahoma
Will get exposed against NBA length. Upside is Boozer with more offensive game, downside is as a solid starter for 10 plus years.
2. Hasheem Thabeet, C Connecticut
Great pick, One thing I look for in college players is improvement from year to year (i.e. Thabeet). He's already a very good defensive player with a reliable 18 footer (!) and a rapidly developing offensive game. He's reportedly hit the weights hard . How hard determines his NBA ceiling.
3. James Harden, SG Arizona State
The safe pick, I would have taken Tyreke Evans. Harden should be a solid starter, but Evans has superstar potential and very little downside. Presti should have dealt this pick to a team with the hots for Rubio in exchange for a pick from a sure lottery team next year if he liked Harden more than anyone else.
4. Tyreke Evans, PG/SG Memphis
I think the guy will be the best player from this draft both next year, in 5 years, 10 years and 20 years.
5/6. Jonny Flynn/Ricky Rubio, PGs Syracuse/Spain
Rubio is overhyped, will go back to Europe or get traded, Flynn is a poor mans Chris Paul.

1. I Blake Griffin is much more limited offensively than most people assume(poor ball handler, no go to post move). He has a sick body tho so he should be able to be ok.

2. I think Thabeet is gonna suck in the NBA. And I don't have the slightest memory of this 18-footer you speak of. Upside is a good backup in my opinion.

3. This kid just has such a solid all around game. I see him contributing from the get go. He really reminds me of Paul Pierce.

4. I don't think Evans will have much of an impact at all next year. He isn't very fast, he doesn't facilitate well at all, and he doesn't have a jump shot. He could get better, but I'm guessing he is gonna be a bust.

5/6. I really like Flynn, very similar to Chris Paul you are right. He can get to the rim, make the right play, and has a so so jumper. Plus hes tough as nails and fairly quick. However he is 5 11. I don't really know how well he will do, but I would lean towards good things. And yes I agree Rubio is really hyped up. He could be good down the line but I don't see him being effective in the NBA with that body. Plus he isn't very quick, just crafty as hell.

[ProggyMan]

1. I Blake Griffin is much more limited offensively than most people assume(poor ball handler, no go to post move). He has a sick body tho so he should be able to be ok.

I realize that, plus he has very short arms and is 6 foot 8 without shoes, but I think he can be a solid offensive player.

2. I think Thabeet is gonna suck in the NBA. And I don't have the slightest memory of this 18-footer you speak of. Upside is a good backup in my opinion.

Look up Thabeet workout on youtube. Upside is Dikembe with a better offensive game.

3. This kid just has such a solid all around game. I see him contributing from the get go. He really reminds me of Paul Pierce.

A poor mans Paul Pierce imo. I just don't see why Presti wouldn't deal this pick.

4. I don't think Evans will have much of an impact at all next year. He isn't very fast, he doesn't facilitate well at all, and he doesn't have a jump shot. He could get better, but I'm guessing he is gonna be a bust.

If you think Griffin is sick bodywise then take a look at Evans. He's got a midrange game and a scorers mentality.

5/6. I really like Flynn, very similar to Chris Paul you are right. He can get to the rim, make the right play, and has a so so jumper. Plus hes tough as nails and fairly quick. However he is 5 11. I don't really know how well he will do, but I would lean towards good things. And yes I agree Rubio is really hyped up. He could be good down the line but I don't see him being effective in the NBA with that body. Plus he isn't very quick, just crafty as hell.

Agreed.

[debaserr]

ehhh i hear that evans is fairly slow in his lateral movement. making it harder for him to guard people and change direction. he does have a huge wingspan tho which will help. but do you want a "scorers mentality" in your point guard? and his jumper is fairly weak, he mostly just got to the rim in college.

[ProggyMan]

His midrange game is pretty good, his 3 point shooting is awful though. He's a combo guard, a scorer. I think he would have fit well with Westbrook in OKC.

[debaserr]

Originally Posted by ProggyMan

His midrange game is pretty good, his 3 point shooting is awful though. He's a combo guard, a scorer. I think he would have fit well with Westbrook in OKC.

i haven't had much of a chance to see westbrook in the pros. but isn't he a combo guard also? who is gonna distribute?

[Son of JayJamJah]

Draft Thoughts:

I love Blake Griffin. He'll be one of the top six players in the NBA within four years. His game in college reminds me of Charles Barkley and Karl Malone in their early NBA days when their jump shot was streaky but they overwhelmed people physically. The best thing about him is that he's a sure thing because he's so natural. He understands the game, loves the game and works hard because he wants to. I don't buy the stuff about his wingspan, he has an above average wingspan for a human being, it's just below average by NBA standards. But still at 6'8.5" wing a 7'0+" wingspan is only slightly less the ratio then Tayshaun Prince (a notoriously "long" player) who is 6"8.5" with a 7'2" wingspan. Either way he'll adjust slightly if he has to it won't burden him.

I don't like Thabeet at #2. I agree with the idea of him having a better offensive game then Mutumbo, but he's not nearly as agile as Mutumbo in his prime let alone his Gerogetown days. I think he's a top 10 guy in this draft, but to me best case scenario he's a third best player on a playoff team, I'd have traded the pick for either 3,4 or 5 if I could have.

To me the second most valuable player in this draft is Rubio. He's another sure thing in my opinion. He's only 18, still developing physically and potentially growing and instead of coming here and sitting the bench or playing an overly expanded role on a bad team he gets to play in the real NBA minor leagues, European Professional Ball.

What I like about Rubio is similar to what I like about Blake Griffin. He's a natural. His passing and court vision is special, you just don't see people doing that anymore. One scout exaggerated and said he's already a better passer then Steve Nash. The big thing is his defense though. Chris Paul called him the best defender he's ever faced. His sampling was against a 17 year old Rubio at the '08 Olympics.

His jump shot needs to improve and it will, he has 6'0" speed and quickness in a lanky 6'5" frame, that could make him a special finisher in the NBA when he matures. He will be a top five NBA PG within one year of his arrival (if he's not rushed to the NBA).

I like Harden, but thing he's really over valued in this draft, He is smooth though, should be an instant impact player too which is nice.

Evans I don't like, he's a guy who should be good, but doesn't have the discipline or desire to reach his own potential. He's a very mediocre effort guy defensively. I liken him to a Corey Maggette\Larry Hughes type who'll have flashes of excellence, but overall be a third or fourth tier valued player, a sixth man on a good team a go-to-guy on a lottery team.

Flynn is a guy I like but have concerns with his transition to the pros. I think he'll be good, but probably a fringe top five PG below the class of Paul, Williams, Parker, Rose and Rondo.

Stephen Curry is the other sure thing in this draft to me. I love guys who can shoot and handle the ball. He is a said to be a much better defender then I would have thought, Jerry West loves this guy and said he'd take him #2. That's all I need to hear.


Here's an overall breakdown of my opinions

Sure Things: Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio, Stephen Curry

Potential Stars: Gerald Henderson, Brandon Jennings, James Harden, Hasheem Thabeet

Solid Picks: Jordan Hill, Tyler Hansbourgh, Ty Lawson, James Johnson, Jeff Teague, Jonny Flynn

Disappointments: Terrance Williams, DeMar DeRozan, BJ Mullens, Darren Collison, Tyreke Evans

Busts: Earl Clark, Austin Daye, Victor Claver

Steals: Danny Green, Jrue Holliday, Eric Maynor, Sam Young, DeJaun Blair