The 2015 NBA Draft Thread: Draft Day Is Here

[addict4sneakers]

College definitely helps GMs and scouts. Not every kid coming out of HS will have the tangibles, intangibles, and size of a LeBron, KG, Dwight Howard, and Kobe,. 

Perfect examples are the Harrisons twins. If the went straight out of HS, they could have easily been lottery pick, maybe cracked the Top 10, and robbed two teams straight blind, because all they have to go off of is HS and AAU games, . HS game tape doesn't mean s**t when two 6'6 guards are playing high school teams trotting out a 5'6 PG, who just got promoted to Varsity from JV 3 weeks prior. 

College gives scouts a better gauge of how players will play with heighten competition. It's not perfect (NOTHING is ever perfect), but it's much better.

They are also a perfect example of college not making you a better player. Two years under a hall of fame coach and they are still mid 2nd round picks

 

[NickFolarin]

Just be real how would y'all feel if your team draft Renaldo Sidney, Aaron or Andrew Harrison, Abdul Gaddy, or Samardo Samuels with your valuable lottery pick 

 

 

[100027]

 
Exactly

Why is this being overlooked? Nobody is FORCING these GMs to draft them. There's no pressure from fans and ownership saying "Hey...draft Kwame Brown or else you're fired". 

All these dudes go through the same evaluation process. If a GM thinks (insert teenager here) projects to be a better player than (insert imaginary NBA-ready upperclassman here)...who's fault is that?

We always here about the young guys that don't pan and why the rule is good. Well where's the rule that prevents Adam Morrison from happening?

Or maybe...JUST MAYBE...some guys pan out...some don't. Just like in EVERY sport regardless of an age limit.

The year lets the GMs make better decisions.  That simple.  Doesn't mean there won't be busts.

GMs feel that they have to take greater risks if players are coming right out of high school because otherwise they could miss on those prospects.

 

[100027]

As a fan it sucks, I want the players to stay their 3/4 years to see their games picked apart so my franchise doesn't get stuck off a sample size.

Word.  Exactly.  3-4 might be too much but 2 for sure.  I don't want to be watching an NBA where the Harrison twins are lottery picks because they came fresh out of HS without an extra year to get exposed first.

 

[NickFolarin]

 

As a fan it sucks, I want the players to stay their 3/4 years to see their games picked apart so my franchise doesn't get stuck off a sample size.

Word.  Exactly.  3-4 might be too much but 2 for sure.  I don't want to be watching an NBA where the Harrison twins are lottery picks because they came fresh out of HS without an extra year to get exposed first.

EXACTLY!!!

 

[ValarMorghulis]

No, I wouldn't go that far


I would hate to have to see the next Bron/KD/ Wiggins BS through 3 years of college ball for no ******* reason.


1 year is more than enough for those elite guys to suffer through and GMs to get a view into what they might be able to do.

 

[NickFolarin]

College basketball is basically an internship for the NBA

 

[shoeking2101]

Again, there's no way in hell playing college basketball, under College basketball rules, with college level teammates, prepares you BETTER for the NBA. It makes no sense. AAU > College basketball as far as evaluation goes.

Understand, that the only reason an age restriction is in place, is for those players who were going to the league anyway. One year isn't going to change much. The players who were going to college that weren't on DX were gonna stay 3 to 4 years anyway, so why put the rule in place? For the players who are going to use the college system for 7 months then bounce. Nothing can be gained for 7 months. Really, the rule is also in place so that teams can get players in their primes under that rookie deal / extension.

 

[100027]

Again, there's no way in hell playing college basketball, under College basketball rules, with college level teammates, prepares you BETTER for the NBA. It makes no sense. AAU > College basketball as far as evaluation goes.

Understand, that the only reason an age restriction is in place, is for those players who were going to the league anyway. One year isn't going to change much. The players who were going to college that weren't on DX were gonna stay 3 to 4 years anyway, so why put the rule in place? For the players who are going to use the college system for 7 months then bounce. Nothing can be gained for 7 months. Really, the rule is also in place so that teams can get players in their primes under that rookie deal / extension.

Yes.  And again, it's not about player development or preparation but an extra audition against better, older players before the draft comes along.  Pretty simple.

People need to accept that the rule isn't "for the good of the kids" but "for the good of the NBA".  And then realize that as a fan, that can be a good thing.

 

[shoeking2101]

College basketball is basically an internship for the NBA

It's just soooo different from the NBA, in every single way, that it's silly to me to actually try and measure how good someone will be in the league, by playing in college. Having pro level teammates, coaching, a life that revolves around basketball fully, among other things is a stark contrast to the balancing act of the "student-athlete."

Which, by the way is a farce anyway because these guys know they're going pro, and have known since their senior year of HS. Do you realllyyyy think they care about college classes?

 

[quise2024]

Oakfor
Mudiay
DLo
Stanley
Winslow
Towns

Idk what y'all see in towns bc I can't see it.

did u watch okafor last night???

 

[NickFolarin]

Again, there's no way in hell playing college basketball, under College basketball rules, with college level teammates, prepares you BETTER for the NBA. It makes no sense. AAU > College basketball as far as evaluation goes.

Understand, that the only reason an age restriction is in place, is for those players who were going to the league anyway. One year isn't going to change much. The players who were going to college that weren't on DX were gonna stay 3 to 4 years anyway, so why put the rule in place? For the players who are going to use the college system for 7 months then bounce. Nothing can be gained for 7 months. Really, the rule is also in place so that teams can get players in their primes under that rookie deal / extension.

AAU is definitely not what its cracked up to be. Yes, there are teams where Dwight Howard and Josh Smith play together, and other great players play other great teams. But the talent difference in AAU is GREAT! I know first hand teams that had guys that didn't make their high school team. AAU is basically a highlight tape for top recruits. Elite teams beat up on smaller teams. 

 

[quise2024]

When Okafor dominates on Monday, it should seal him as the number 1.

 

[ValarMorghulis]

AAU > College Basketball ??

GMs give 0 ***** about these recruited all-star travel teams who play no defense and/or FC press all game and try to get their mixtape right

I've heard it all.

 

[quise2024]

Don't let one night fool you.

frank was an stretch player that had experience on big O.

Plus foul trouble.

Bad match up.

everyone knew from jump okafor was gonna have trouble guarding frank on the perimeter.

What do u think hes gonna face in the League, someone who doesnt have experience stretching his game from mid range to the 3? Cmon

and fouls are part of the game

 

[victor page]

AAU > College Basketball ??

GMs give 0 ***** about these recruited all-star travel teams who play no defense and/or FC press all game and try to get their mixtape right

I've heard it all.

Yeah...except for the fact that it used to be the NBA's #1 evaluation tool when they were allowed to attend.

 

[quise2024]

While I don't follow baseball heavy.

Isn't it you can come out of college or wait 3 pairs?

I think that rule would help.

baseball is

go straight of high school
go to juco and leave after 1st or 2nd year
go to university you have to wait 3 years

Either way you hit some level of minor leagues. Only the real deals get thrown straight in to triple A and have a chance at september call ups (98% of the time only pitchers)

Best part about baseball is, you dont have to go if you dont want to and theres no declaring. They just pick u and you decide what you wanna do, go to the league or go back to school.

 

[ValarMorghulis]

Wasn't the Nike/ABCD Camp and other invitationals a bigger draw?

 

[victor page]

Wasn't the Nike/ABCD Camp and other invitationals a bigger draw?

Invitationals = AAU

The same scouts that went to Nike + ABCD went to Peach Jam, Big Time, Charlier Weber, etc.

 

[shoeking2101]

Invitationals = AAU

The same scouts that went to Nike + ABCD went to Peach Jam, Big Time, Charlier Weber, etc.

Exactly. High school events were bigger draws than college at one point

 

[dacomeup]

Your correct, as a GM no one is forcing then to draft.

But with 35+ games vs 95+ games the evaluation process is a lot tougher.

As a athlete I understand.

As a fan I hate it.

You want to make the most money, when your stock is sky high your going to leave, the longer you stay in school the more you get picked apart.

As a fan I have them watch them take some 19/20 year old and wait 5-6 years till they hit their prime in hopes they become something.

They're evaluating them for much longer than 35+ games. Are you familiar with the Nike EYBL league, the LeBron Skills Academy, CP3 camp, Kobe camp and all the other stuff that the TOP prospects go through each year. If it's just a 35 game evaluation, then these GMs and scouts are stealing money. Many of them are anyways, and it's ultimately a crapshoot in a lot of cases anyways.

When y'all say that the rule is better for the league, I hope you mean financially. That's literally the only case. What's the difference between Doug McDermott or Nik Stauskas riding the bench and not being productive in comparison to Mudiay or D'Angelo Russell struggling through their rookie year?

 

[keel252]

did u watch okafor last night???

You can't be serious in thinking one game dictates his draft status.

 

[shoeking2101]

Rookies are going to struggle, whether it's a 4 year player or a one and done, or a 2 and threw player, it doesn't matter. Rookies are going to struggle simply because the NBA game is far different than college in every way.

So with that being the case, why not let these rookies struggle at 19 years old so they are still young when they finally figure things out?

 

[quise2024]

You can't be serious in thinking one game dictates his draft status.

not at all but that one game showed a whole lot of what he wasnt used to or couldnt do.

Who has he played all season that he had to guard on the perimeter like that. Or that put up with his one way game of banging.

By,no means am i saying dude isnt talented or isnt 1st round status cuz he is. But all that hype of him leading up to that game last night fizzled when he got matched up with an equal-better opponent.

Every other game all season teams had to double him and got beat still or got beat off a dish. The only team that didnt double was ND because they were content on trading 2 for 3 provided they knocked down their shots


He just gonna have to develope more, which we know isnt coming from another year at duke cuz hes leaving. But in todays nba game hes gonna have to guard dudes that make perimeter shots. Not to mention he isnt much of shooter himself

 

[100027]

Rookies are going to struggle, whether it's a 4 year player or a one and done, or a 2 and threw player, it doesn't matter. Rookies are going to struggle simply because the NBA game is far different than college in every way.

So with that being the case, why not let these rookies struggle at 19 years old so they are still young when they finally figure things out?

Not.  The.  Point.

Because one more year of being able to see young athletes play means easier decisions about who is good and who is not good.

No one wants to watch struggling 19 year olds who are simply not good and will never be good just because a team had to draft them based on their measurables in senior year of high school.