2014 NBA Draft Thread

[ballinsam23]

Wiggins defensive ability is probably the best i've seen at the college level in a while. Added to the fact that he's already unstoppable in transition, he has to pan out man. Just has to.

The only reason I would not draft him is because he seems like a mental ******.

 

[champcruthik]

Both flourish in the open-court and feast on transition opportunities. Except Green has a NBA jumper and Wiggins doesn't, as of now.

 

[100027]

Both flourish in the open-court and feast on transition opportunities. Except Green has a NBA jumper and Wiggins doesn't, as of now.

Well it took Green a damn long time to get that jumper... Longer than it should take Wiggins.

Wait, what's so bad about Wiggins' jumper now anyway?

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

Wiggins defensive ability is probably the best i've seen at the college level in a while. Added to the fact that he's already unstoppable in transition, he has to pan out man. Just has to.

The only reason I would not draft him is because he seems like a mental ******.

I don't know if mental ****** is fair, more that he may not have that mentality (and/or ability) to lead a team to deep playoff runs. I think mentally he is very stable in terms of not shrinking in big moments, it's more so that he is often left out of the action instead of being in the middle of it (offensively). He simply doesn't have the skills right now to be in the middle of the action offensively because his handle is not there and like the scouts said, he lacks go to moves. He is lethal defensively and that will keep him relevant while he develops his ball skills

 

[offset pow clow]

The same rabid dissection took place with Teddy Bridgewater and Johnny Manziel in the NFL Draft. I suppose it's the scouts' job to over critique and analyze every minuscule detail.

I see it as the scouts arent trying to set themselves up for dissapointment by putting high expectations on these players as they did in the past, it seems like they would rather have the player prove them wrong instead of putting high expectations on a player to end up dissapointed

 

[champcruthik]

Well it took Green a damn long time to get that jumper... Longer than it should take Wiggins.

Wait, what's so bad about Wiggins' jumper now anyway?

Streaky/inconsistent. Doesn't have deep range. College opponents were daring, begging Wiggins to shoot from outside.

 

[100027]

I see it as the scouts arent trying to set themselves up for dissapointment by putting high expectations on these players as they did in the past, it seems like they would rather have the player prove them wrong instead of putting high expectations on a player to end up dissapointed

That's fair and also it is obviously their job to try and find holes to poke.

I was more commenting on hearing nothing but positives about guys like MKG in recent drafts, who in retrospect were never that talented.

 

[mgrand15]

Well it took Green a damn long time to get that jumper... Longer than it should take Wiggins.

Wait, what's so bad about Wiggins' jumper now anyway?

He only shot 34% from the closer college 3. He only shot 44% from the field. And it's not like he was in the role where he had to do everything and was forced to take on double teams/contested shots and create for others. He was basically a role player in that KU system. When Embiid is attracting doubles, you should be able to shoot better than 44%/34% if you're legit. WIth that said, I like his form and think he'll turn into a really good shooter in the future. But he's no where near Gerald Green level - who was a 37/38% NBA 3pt shooter the moment he stepped foot in the league. And that's coming from a guy that takes wildly contested 3s and step back 3s.

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

MKG's offense was getting torn apart pre-draft as well

 

[offset pow clow]

I don't know if mental ****** is fair, more that he may not have that mentality (and/or ability) to lead a team to deep playoff runs. I think mentally he is very stable in terms of not shrinking in big moments, it's more so that he is often left out of the action instead of being in the middle of it (offensively). He simply doesn't have the skills right now to be in the middle of the action offensively because his handle is not there and like the scouts said, he lacks go to moves. He is lethal defensively and that will keep him relevant while he develops his ball skills

You typed all of that just to say hes unassertive, hes joe johnson mentally but dominique physically, he has all the tools to be great but the mentality is what brings the the greatness out of players, we just gotta wait & see how bad he wants it

 

[mr marcus]

A rich man's Gerald Green isn't a bad comparison for Wiggins, especially the way Green played and improved this season. Green's jumper is obviously better, but Wiggins' defense is already top notch and will translate immediately. Then again, I said the same thing about MKG.

i knock Wiggins offense but it's not even close to as bad as MKG 

 

[wavycrocket]

Rookie Stat projections for Wiggins, Embid and Parker.

Wiggins: 15ppg 5rpg 1.5 apg 1.5stls 0.9blks. 44% 28% 75%

Embid: 10ppg 7rpg 1.8blks 51% 68%ft

Parker: 18.5 ppg 6rpg 2.5apg. 44% 32% 74%

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

You typed all of that just to say hes unassertive, hes joe johnson mentally but dominique physically, he has all the tools to be great but the mentality is what brings the the greatness out of players, we just gotta wait & see how bad he wants it

Well I'm trying to be fair to the kid, he's 19 years old. There's a lot that goes into this. My point was I don't think it's really fair to say he's a mental ******.

Bottom line I don't think he will be the type of player to lead and carry a team on his back and lead them to deep playoff runs. He's not built that way. Still worthy of a top 3 pick no doubt and still could be a great player

 

[buc em]

Wiggins = Joe Johnson x Dominique Wilkins

Just wow

 

[shoeking2101]

Dear god please let the Cavs and Bucks pick Wiggins and Embiid.....pleaaaase.

I see the loads of potential with Wiggins and Embiid but they're both probably the biggest risks in this draft IMO. Jabari is at worst Glenn Robinson, at best Melo/Pierce.

Man listen...

I'm almost 100% positive it'll go JE, Wiggins, Parker. So positive i'm willing to bet money that this is how the first 3 will be drafted. (Just kidding about the money but i'm pretty sure that it'll play out this way.)

 

[mgrand15]

You typed all of that just to say hes unassertive, hes joe johnson mentally but dominique physically, he has all the tools to be great but the mentality is what brings the the greatness out of players, we just gotta wait & see how bad he wants it

It's not about being unassertive. If you don't have handles, you can't impose your will on the game. You literally can't take over games. You need to let it come to you. That's more what happens with Wiggins.

 

[100027]

Rookie Stat projections for Wiggins, Embid and Parker.

Wiggins: 15ppg 5rpg 1.5 apg 1.5stls 0.9blks. 44% 28% 75%

Embid: 10ppg 7rpg 1.8blks 51% 68%ft

Parker: 18.5 ppg 6rpg 2.5apg. 44% 32% 74%

Hard to imagine either Wiggins or Parker shooting 44% as rookies.

 

[shoeking2101]

Here's my thing with Wiggins:

I just don't see how he'll be an effective enough scorer in the league to live up to his lofty draft billing and expectations. I think he's too light to be able to do much of anything in the half court except for settle for long contested 2's and 3's. Now that may change, but his ability to create for himself and others leaves a lot to be desired if he's the number 2 pick. I feel that his free throw rate will suffer in a big way because of this and for me that's huge if you're going to build a franchise around someone. I was really harsh at the beginning of the year in Wiggins, but i've come around a bit on him now. He definitely has the capacity to be really good, however I still have my reservations about him as being an elite two way player on the next level. (I am more sure that he'll become an elite defender rather than an elite offensive talent) I just don't see him being able to manufacture offense in the half court well enough, relative to his draft position.

 

[dman14]

would you guys be disappointed if wiggns became a demar type player at the very worst? an all-star who can get buckets and lead a team to the playoffs. or does he have to be a megastar?

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

Here's my thing with Wiggins:

I just don't see how he'll be an effective enough scorer in the league to live up to his lofty draft billing and expectations. I think he's too light to be able to do much of anything in the half court except for settle for long contested 2's and 3's. Now that may change, but his ability to create for himself and others leaves a lot to be desired if he's the number 2 pick. I feel that his free throw rate will suffer in a big way because of this and for me that's huge if you're going to build a franchise around someone. I was really harsh at the beginning of the year in Wiggins, but i've come around a bit on him now. He definitely has the capacity to be really good, however I still have my reservations about him as being an elite two way player on the next level. (I am more sure that he'll become an elite defender rather than an elite offensive talent) I just don't see him being able to manufacture offense in the half court well enough, relative to his draft position.

Actually exactly where I'm at with Wiggins. He needs to improve his handle but at least he has the desire defensively to be great

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

would you guys be disappointed if wiggns became a demar type player at the very worst? an all-star who can get buckets and lead a team to the playoffs. or does he have to be a megastar?

I don't think he's going to be a megastar, whatever that is.

He's not really built to be a guy who will carry a team, IMO. Judging by his skill set and his mentality

 

[champcruthik]

Given the hype and athleticism, a DeRozan-type career path would be disappointing. Wiggins is supposed to be a superstar, franchise cornerstone, future top-10 NBA player.

 

[shoeking2101]

would you guys be disappointed if wiggns became a demar type player at the very worst? an all-star who can get buckets and lead a team to the playoffs. or does he have to be a megastar?

I wouldn't, because I don't think he's as good of an offensive player as Demar in the half court. If he becomes a 21, 22 ppg scorer on 42% or something like that, and becomes an all star, then that's a bit more than I project him to be. I really don't see him as the best player on a playoff team. I just don't see him as being prolific enough offensive player to be that.

Will he get better? One would like to assume that. However, in my opinion (just mine ) people's skill sets are already there when they come into the league, no matter their ages. In most cases, players get better and what they already do now, they don't add significantly to their game and become new players.

You bring up Demar...Demar, more or less was the exact same player offensively in the 10th, and 11th grade. Now obviously variables such as teams, players around you, coaching, etc. come into play, but look at Demar in the 11th grade. He looks just like he does now. Same strengths for the most part, same weaknesses.

 

[wavycrocket]

Hard to imagine either Wiggins or Parker shooting 44% as rookies.

Star wings usually shoot about 41-44% as rookies, so I don't think that's too far off base.

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

Given the hype and athleticism, a DeRozan-type career path would be disappointing. Wiggins is supposed to be a superstar, franchise cornerstone, future top-10 NBA player.

If folks are still operating on those expectations from what we've seen of Wiggins there's going to be a lot of disappointed people