Following potential 2014 draftees
- Thread starter Dr. Jones
- Start date
spycam1
Well-Known Member
You're making me warm up to Aaron Gordon a bit.
I feel like the Jazz need a dominant athlete on the wing. We've got skill/IQ/finesse players. We need another guy who can dominate his position and just overpower, like Favors and Kanter will.
I like Gordon, a lot. However, I see Kanter and Favors as the future front court and one of two situations will play out in regards to Gordon;
1) He plays primarily PF and is overly redundant as he shouldn't be an off the bench guy.
2) He plays SF and we see every team pack the paint.. and we are a poor team, defensively, on the perimeter (and offensively as well).
I think Gordon is a huge get for someone, but we may be the worst fit. I would like to see us get some long, athletic, sharp shooting, wings to compliment our bigs. Preferably. However, I am always for BPA... I'm just addressing your 'fit' queries.
A-Train (old)
Well-Known Member
Ahh, what the hell. I took a srs early nap today and not feelin' the least bit tired. Soo, I'm gonna go ahead and do a summary of what I think about the top-30 prospects from the 2014 draft class, using DX top-30.
Andrew Wiggins - Best player in the 14' class. Period. Possibly the best prospect since LeBron James. That's including Derrick Rose, Anthony Davis, John Wall etc. Slightly skinny for his height, but that will come in due time. Just so dominant and athletic. Canadian's are going to be selected back to back at #1 and that is without a doubt. Not really the best choice in Kansas, but he is so good it really doesn't matter who he plays for.
Jabari Parker - After Wiggins, the next best player seems to be Parker. Sports Illustrated dubbed Parker as the best high school player since LeBron, but Wiggins takes that. Just a dominant scorer, has a very good build for his size unlike Wiggins. Reminds me a lot of Melo personally. Would have been really cool to see him go to BYU or anywhere else besides Duke. If a team misses out on Wiggins, trust me Parker is a great consolation prize.
Julius Randle - Just been in love with this guys game lately. Great ball handler for his position, one of the best passing big men in this class if not the best. Has range out to the three point line and athletic as hell. Consensus top three player in this class. The best recruit Kentucky got this year and no slouch at that. Would have been the #1 pick this year along with Wiggins and Parker as well.
Aaron Gordon - Pretty much coming out of nowhere and making a name out of himself lately. A top-5 player in this class for sure, but has the most bust potential out of any of the top players. Blake Griffin lite, will be keeping a close eye on him as he will be playing an hour away from where I live. Expect a lot of analysis from me about him this year.
Andrew Harrison - My favorite player of this draft class. Great size for a point guard at 6'5. Just a great scorer and facilitator. Without a doubt the best point guard prospect since Irving and Wall. Harrison is going to be really good this year. Will have a ton of options to pass the ball too, creating more open shots for himself as well.
Dante Exum - Admittedly haven't seen a lot of him. Not really buying the hype as a top-5 player in this class, but definitely a top-10 player. Looked really raw and skinny at the Nike Hoops Summit. But has a ton of talent none the less.
Marcus Smart - Made a horrible mistake on going back to school, unless he is planning on staying 3 to 4 years at OKST. Would have been a top-5 pick this year and instead will be a top-10 pick next year. Returning to school as a projected top-10 pick has not worked out too well lately (Sullinger, McAdoo). A great scorer none the less and has great size for a point guard, but is he really a point guard? Reminds me of Tyreke at times, but is always in foul trouble.
Mario Hezonja - Once again, haven't seen much of him to comment. From what I read, seems like a great scorer. Not a really good defender though. Relies heavily on the isolation play.
Glenn Robinson III - Another guy who should have entered the draft. Right now is projected at #9, but I guarantee he will be in the 14-20 range come draft time. Loved to watch him play with Burke. Is an all-around player. Doesn't really do one thing that well that he can focus on in a game in my opinion.
Montrezl Harrell - Bench player or fringe starter from Louisville this year, not sure which one. Don't know why he is rated so highly, maybe because he will have a bigger role this year? Not really seeing the hype with him in the lottery.
Mitch McGary - Should have struck the iron while it was hot. Played below average until the NCAA tourny and then really turned it up a notch. Can be a good scorer at times and is a high level energy player. Made a mistake to return.
Joel Embiid - Not really sure about him. Haven't seen him play or anything. 7'0" who will play for Kansas. Has huge size, but with Wiggins and Selden, will he be able to make that much of an impact? If he can, that will prove his worth and show that he is a good player.
Isaiah Austin - Really raw and weak player. Could use a few pounds and that is an understatement. A good shooting big, not buying the hype of him in the lottery. Could be a great pick for a team in the late-twenties. A potential steal.
James McAdoo - Won't ever get his stock back to what it was his freshman year. Not really improving as a player. A tweener between a small forward and a power forward. Does bring a lot of energy to the game and can be a good scorer at times. Another player who really should have struck the iron while it was hot. Probably going to be a pick in the late twenties if he comes out. Needs to show me that he is improving, the more he gets older and the more he is the same player will drop his stock a lot.
Willie Cauley-Stein - Wow, way too low in this big board. Not sure what DX doesn't like about him. Keep in mind he only has played basketball for a total of two years. Was a wide-receiver in high school and really shows that he is athletic on the court. Next to Wiggins he might have the highest potential as anyone in this draft. Was a really high energy player and was definitely one of my favorite players this past year in college basketball.
Did the first 15 today and will probably do the next 15 tomorrow. Players of mention for the next 15: Aaron Harrison (vastly underrated), Dario Saric (scoring small forward from overseas), Rasheed Sulaimon (young scorer from Duke), Alex Poythress (a player who made a good move to return to school), and Vasilije Micic (crafty point guard from overseas).
Andrew Wiggins - Best player in the 14' class. Period. Possibly the best prospect since LeBron James. That's including Derrick Rose, Anthony Davis, John Wall etc. Slightly skinny for his height, but that will come in due time. Just so dominant and athletic. Canadian's are going to be selected back to back at #1 and that is without a doubt. Not really the best choice in Kansas, but he is so good it really doesn't matter who he plays for.
Jabari Parker - After Wiggins, the next best player seems to be Parker. Sports Illustrated dubbed Parker as the best high school player since LeBron, but Wiggins takes that. Just a dominant scorer, has a very good build for his size unlike Wiggins. Reminds me a lot of Melo personally. Would have been really cool to see him go to BYU or anywhere else besides Duke. If a team misses out on Wiggins, trust me Parker is a great consolation prize.
Julius Randle - Just been in love with this guys game lately. Great ball handler for his position, one of the best passing big men in this class if not the best. Has range out to the three point line and athletic as hell. Consensus top three player in this class. The best recruit Kentucky got this year and no slouch at that. Would have been the #1 pick this year along with Wiggins and Parker as well.
Aaron Gordon - Pretty much coming out of nowhere and making a name out of himself lately. A top-5 player in this class for sure, but has the most bust potential out of any of the top players. Blake Griffin lite, will be keeping a close eye on him as he will be playing an hour away from where I live. Expect a lot of analysis from me about him this year.
Andrew Harrison - My favorite player of this draft class. Great size for a point guard at 6'5. Just a great scorer and facilitator. Without a doubt the best point guard prospect since Irving and Wall. Harrison is going to be really good this year. Will have a ton of options to pass the ball too, creating more open shots for himself as well.
Dante Exum - Admittedly haven't seen a lot of him. Not really buying the hype as a top-5 player in this class, but definitely a top-10 player. Looked really raw and skinny at the Nike Hoops Summit. But has a ton of talent none the less.
Marcus Smart - Made a horrible mistake on going back to school, unless he is planning on staying 3 to 4 years at OKST. Would have been a top-5 pick this year and instead will be a top-10 pick next year. Returning to school as a projected top-10 pick has not worked out too well lately (Sullinger, McAdoo). A great scorer none the less and has great size for a point guard, but is he really a point guard? Reminds me of Tyreke at times, but is always in foul trouble.
Mario Hezonja - Once again, haven't seen much of him to comment. From what I read, seems like a great scorer. Not a really good defender though. Relies heavily on the isolation play.
Glenn Robinson III - Another guy who should have entered the draft. Right now is projected at #9, but I guarantee he will be in the 14-20 range come draft time. Loved to watch him play with Burke. Is an all-around player. Doesn't really do one thing that well that he can focus on in a game in my opinion.
Montrezl Harrell - Bench player or fringe starter from Louisville this year, not sure which one. Don't know why he is rated so highly, maybe because he will have a bigger role this year? Not really seeing the hype with him in the lottery.
Mitch McGary - Should have struck the iron while it was hot. Played below average until the NCAA tourny and then really turned it up a notch. Can be a good scorer at times and is a high level energy player. Made a mistake to return.
Joel Embiid - Not really sure about him. Haven't seen him play or anything. 7'0" who will play for Kansas. Has huge size, but with Wiggins and Selden, will he be able to make that much of an impact? If he can, that will prove his worth and show that he is a good player.
Isaiah Austin - Really raw and weak player. Could use a few pounds and that is an understatement. A good shooting big, not buying the hype of him in the lottery. Could be a great pick for a team in the late-twenties. A potential steal.
James McAdoo - Won't ever get his stock back to what it was his freshman year. Not really improving as a player. A tweener between a small forward and a power forward. Does bring a lot of energy to the game and can be a good scorer at times. Another player who really should have struck the iron while it was hot. Probably going to be a pick in the late twenties if he comes out. Needs to show me that he is improving, the more he gets older and the more he is the same player will drop his stock a lot.
Willie Cauley-Stein - Wow, way too low in this big board. Not sure what DX doesn't like about him. Keep in mind he only has played basketball for a total of two years. Was a wide-receiver in high school and really shows that he is athletic on the court. Next to Wiggins he might have the highest potential as anyone in this draft. Was a really high energy player and was definitely one of my favorite players this past year in college basketball.
Did the first 15 today and will probably do the next 15 tomorrow. Players of mention for the next 15: Aaron Harrison (vastly underrated), Dario Saric (scoring small forward from overseas), Rasheed Sulaimon (young scorer from Duke), Alex Poythress (a player who made a good move to return to school), and Vasilije Micic (crafty point guard from overseas).
thanks for the reply PKM. I want to analyze him in detail as the year goes on.
Could this change if you see him shoot decently at Arizona this year?
Does this also mean Hayward can't be that deadly shooter from outside?
Another question. If you don't feel Hayward can draw people out of the paint is he truly the answer at that position?
I'm looking at plan B here. Let's say we fall into the 3-6 range which is fairly likely.
We'll be devastated having missed out on Wiggbari.
So who do we take?
Exum and Harrison are 1s right? Would we be getting them to play with Burke?
Do we get Smart to be a 1/2 combo guard?
Who do you guys want in my scenario?
We'll be devastated having missed out on Wiggbari.
So who do we take?
Exum and Harrison are 1s right? Would we be getting them to play with Burke?
Do we get Smart to be a 1/2 combo guard?
Who do you guys want in my scenario?
Pick BPA
You absolutely have to pick BPA in my opinion and to me that is clearly Andrew Harrison. Take him without even thinking or blinking. We'll be set at the PG for years and years. Andrew Harrison + Favors/Kanter alone would get us to the Western Conference Finals for YEARSSSSSSSSS AND YEARSSSSSSSS.
He can drive it. He can shoot it. He can run the team. He is quick and he draws foul. What more could we ask for?
Spurs Model
The Spurs Model is tried and tested. Remember who the Spurs have. They have a solid C in Duncan, they have a solid PG in Parker. The 1-2 punch right there. Then they simply fill out the rest of the roster with "3's and D's"... We already have Hayward for that - just pick another guy with the GSW pick that fills that role (GRIII, Aaron Harrison, Gary Harris) and we're set for LIFE.