The 2015 NBA Draft Thread: Draft Day Is Here

[wavycrocket]

Are Weight issues a legitimate concern for Jahlil?

Nope. He has a big body type, and of course will have to work a lil harder to stay in shape, but it's not a legit concern. Demarcus Cousins was fatter in college, and had a lot of Derrick coleman comparisons.

Look at him now.

 

[dacomeup]

Man what... Okafors offense is significantly better than towns at this point. No shot of him having a higher ceiling on the offensive side.

Ceiling =/= right now. Plenty of scouts feel the same way about his ceiling being higher on both ends. DX and Chad Ford both moved him to #1 on their boards this week.

Okafor's defensive weaknesses aren't overblown. He offers very little re: rim protection. As a 7 footer, that's not good.

 

[ValarMorghulis]

Demarcus is so much more athletic than he looks.

Just body wise, I see him struggling, al Jeff is a good ceiling for his game but what happens with his weight in years 24-30 will be interesting

Jahlil right now is a perfect fit for the triangle in new york, la would be a good fit with Randle playing the perimeter which he prefers.

 

[fun guy]

Okafor's motor is concerning. He draws tim duncan mentality comparisons but really, there's too many times hes just standing straight up and doing nothing while waiting to set a pick or deciding to get in the post

 

[wavycrocket]

Demarcus is so much more athletic than he looks.

Just body wise, I see Eddy Curry in him. Obviously 1000% more skilled.

Jahlil right now is a perfect fit for the triangle in new york, la would be a good fit with Randle playing the perimeter which he prefers.

Eddy curry was WAY bigger than Jahlill coming out. Much less mobile. He was still a good prospect. DMC actually had the 2nd highest body fat % in the 2010 draft. He was like 6'11 290. A lot of people don't remember, but he couldn't shoot, and was a horrible defender earlier on his career. Dude was a bully down low though. Inproved his game a ton.

 

[ValarMorghulis]

15 lbs difference on nbadraft.net

But I changed that, saying the name eddy curry is like a 4 letter word.

Thought better of that

 

[ValarMorghulis]

Fair point about his motor, especially if you're only playing half the game already.

That effects whether he'll ever be an elite rebounder

 

[wavycrocket]

15 lbs difference on nbadraft.net

But I changed that, saying the name eddy curry is like a 4 letter word.

Thought better of that

Actually, the comparisons on Nbadraft.net had Cousins compared to Eddy Curry, Benoit Benjamin and Derrick Coleman.

He came a long way. Id say jahlill compares more to what Cousins is now, without the range yet. Think he can add that in time and be a 20 & 10 type of guy. Cousins inproved a lot on the defensive end. You can improve there.

I think we forget just how horrible he used to be on that end.

 

[8pm at msg]

So basically the argument is:

Does Okafor has a better shot of being a great offensive/good defensive big than Towns has a shot of being a good offensive/great defensive big.

 

[osh kosh bosh]

edit whoops

 

[ValarMorghulis]

15 lbs difference on nbadraft.net

But I changed that, saying the name eddy curry is like a 4 letter word.

Thought better of that

Actually, the comparisons on Nbadraft.net had Cousins compared to Eddy Curry, Benoit Benjamin and Derrick Coleman.

He came a long way. Id say jahlill compares more to what Cousins is now, without the range yet.

Nah I meant that Currys draft body was 6'11 285, JO is listed at 6'11 270.

I didn't get a chance to look at Big Al, but I remember him being skinny early on in Minny.

 

[durantula]

Man what... Okafors offense is significantly better than towns at this point. No shot of him having a higher ceiling on the offensive side.

Ceiling =/= right now. Plenty of scouts feel the same way about his ceiling being higher on both ends. DX and Chad Ford both moved him to #1 on their boards this week.

Okafor's defensive weaknesses aren't overblown. He offers very little re: rim protection. As a 7 footer, that's not good.

His offensive ceiling is no where enar what Okafor's is, if KAT makes improvements each of his first 2-4 years, he might be where Okafor is at now. Okafor's game is right now is ridiculous how smooth and polished it is. His post game comes so natural to him, its scary what he'll be able to do in 3-5 years as long as he keeps working.

Again, no shot KAT has a higher offensive ceiling then Okafor.

 

[dacomeup]

The problem is that you're just enthralled with Okafor's back to the basket game being more advanced than Towns right now, while not considering all of the other aspects of being a good offensive player. Towns is still raw offensively, but a damn good offensive player right now.

But I digress. You got it. 

 

[durantula]

I mean dude...he is a center. I dont want my center taking step back jumpers at the top of the key. Towns is very raw, while I'll give it to him, he can abuse a guy who he has 50lbs on while not getting doubled, that's not gonna happen in the NBA. I just dont know where he'll stand when hes going up against guys his size and strength. As far as the little Ive seen from him, he seems like a good passer, but again so is Okafor. Man I really hope the Kentucky Duke game happens lol

 

[awwsome]

as I tried to explain to you who thought Zach Lavine would be a 40% shooter from 3 in the pros.

He's shooting 41% from 3 on 3 attempts per since the All Star break though.


For someone who claims to watch all Wolves games, you should know that.


He'll be a 40% shooter, stroke has gotten even better.

 

[victor page]

I mean dude...he is a center. I dont want my center taking step back jumpers at the top of the key. Towns is very raw, while I'll give it to him, he can abuse a guy who he has 50lbs on while not getting doubled, that's not gonna happen in the NBA. I just dont know where he'll stand when hes going up against guys his size and strength. As far as the little Ive seen from him, he seems like a good passer, but again so is Okafor. Man I really hope the Kentucky Duke game happens lol

The best 2 centers in the league right now do. (Cousins and Gasol)

 

[champcruthik]

Nothing I've seen in the tournament has changed my mind about taking Towns #1 overall over Jah. I'm pretty comfortable in that belief, same with Russell over Mudiay. WCS, Justise, and others somewhere behind that top-4.

Kris Dunn declared?

i want someone to give FVV a shot in the NBA

Dunn gets wild with the ball. Really needs to cut down on turnovers at the next level.

Height will be VanVleet's doom for most NBA scouts.

Pitino said Harrell and Rozier are entering the draft.

"Trez" likely boosted his stock after a strong tournament showing offensively. I liked him so much outside the lottery in the 18-20's.

Rozier probably goes in the 20's. Gets buckets quickly, but inefficiently. Could run a second unit as a score-first PG. Don't love 6'1'' high-volume scorers.

I'm going WCS no question if I'm the Magic, he fits too well.

Orlando building a defensive foundation just like Philly. Core of: Payton - "Dipo" - Harris - "Vucci Mane" - WCS. Hennigan would need to add more shooting, but otherwise a competitive squad on both ends of the floor in the East.

 

[ValarMorghulis]

I was thinking the same thing... Bruh have you seen the "centers" in the L now?? It ain't the 90's.


Having a back to the basket game is like finding Bigfoot

 

[dacomeup]

Nothing I've seen in the tournament has changed my mind about taking Towns #1 overall over Jah. I'm pretty comfortable in that belief, same with Russell over Mudiay. WCS, Justise, and others somewhere behind that top-4.

Agreed. I'll still probably lean towards Russell over Jah. The possibility of landing another Harden type of player trumps the possibility of getting a Brook Lopez/Al Jeff with better passing to me. 

 

[ValarMorghulis]

Putting the James Harden comp on Russell is completely unfair to him. He's nowhere near the athlete James is and won't be able to get to the rim as easily in the L which he feeds on.

I do think he'll be a better shooter and passer out the gate.

I'm struggling to think of an accurate comp for him

 

[osh kosh bosh]

Harden had the same athleticism concerns coming out of ASU. but Harden was like 230 at the combine and was always strong as hell and made up for it with craftiness getting fouled.

But I agree not sure Russel can be a number option unless he gets to the line more or finishes better at the rim.

his body seems like it would benefit greatly from NBA stregth training.


I think Russel is more Manu than Harden but those 3 are obviously the same type of player.

 

[ValarMorghulis]

....Then JH jumped a 39 inch vert at the Combine and opinions changed

 

[osh kosh bosh]

....Then JH jumped a 39 inch vert at the Combine and opinions changed

37 inches actually.

a hair above average for NBA 2 gaurd, average is 35.3

 

[ValarMorghulis]

"No projected lottery player was more surprising at the combine than James Harden. Many scouting reports on Harden say that he’s not athletic, but his results say otherwise. First, he recorded a 37” vertical and reached the same maximum height (11’8.5”) as Blake Griffin. Second, he ran a 3.13 sprint, which was only one hundredth behind speedster Ty Lawson, and repped 17 on the bench press. It’s been reported that the Thunder are considering him at #3."


If Russell can do this I'll be pleasantly surprised. Can't Wait.

 

[durantula]

I mean dude...he is a center. I dont want my center taking step back jumpers at the top of the key. Towns is very raw, while I'll give it to him, he can abuse a guy who he has 50lbs on while not getting doubled, that's not gonna happen in the NBA. I just dont know where he'll stand when hes going up against guys his size and strength. As far as the little Ive seen from him, he seems like a good passer, but again so is Okafor. Man I really hope the Kentucky Duke game happens lol

The best 2 centers in the league right now do. (Cousins and Gasol)

Neither of those guys are better than (healthy) dwight

I was thinking the same thing... Bruh have you seen the "centers" in the L now?? It ain't the 90's.


Having a back to the basket game is like finding Bigfoot

It's not that theyre being phased out, it's just theres not many of them anymore like you said. Now when 1 comes around and if he stays injury free, he's gonna be a problem for years and years to come.