I really don't know why so many people think Kanter is the clearcut BPA at #3. Knight improved significantly throughout the NCAA season and I don't see why he won't do the same as he progresses in the NBA.
The NBA potential of Jonas Valanciunas
June, 8, 2011
Jun 8
12:16
PM ET
Comments6
By Fran Fraschilla
This is an NBA draft that is devoid of big men, so Lithuania's 7-foot, 245-pound 19-year-old, Jonas Valanciunas, has a lot of interest from teams in the lottery. At his age, there is no doubting his intriguing potential, but expecting him to help a team right away is unrealistic.
More critically for teams in position to select him is projecting where Valanciunas' game will be five years from now. It is not inconceivable to some NBA personnel that he could be the best player in this draft by then -- of course the risk is that the NBA executive that drafts him could be fired by then.
You don't ever win anything playing it safe though. The Jazz have to aim for superstar potential now that Deron is gone.
Valanciunas over Vesely if it comes down to that, but Kanter still two steps above both.
Thanks guys. I think this info is valuable.
Also, this is Koufos' numbers from when he was in the 2007 U18 Euro campionship:
COMPARISON
K. Koufos (GRE)
PPG.......26,5
RPG.......13
ORPG.......3,2
DRPG.......9,8
ASPG.......0,4
FG2P%...57,8%
FG3P%.....9,1%
FT%.......59%
Initially I scoffed when some compared Kanter's numbers to Koufos. But here they are. Very comparable at this level of competition - and look how Koufos has dominated the NBA. I'm getting more uncomfortable with Kanter. But does Valanciunas make me feel any more secure?
Both Koufus and Kanter have/had enough talent to be very good players. What Kanter has going for him is that he is really fluid and he appears to be a very hard worker. The latter is one of the most important things for a professional athlete. You can't teach it and Koufus didn't have it.