I do think it's laughable. You don't know anything about these kids. Lillard, Waiters, and Lamb could all end up being better than Nic Batum. So yes, I do think it's laughable to come to a snap judgement on a bunch of rookies that haven't even played in the league yet.
Is this semantics? Nic is now better than those kids. Some of those kids could develop to be better than Nic is now, or ever will be? Right?
I don't know if it's semantics. We have no idea how well those guys will do in the league. They might be better than Batum right now. To just flat out say that Nic Batum is better than someone who hasn't played a day in the league is laughable.
Yeah, Wroten is such a mixed bag of super talent and crap. Parts of his game you love and other parts look like they could keep him from ever being a player.
Like come to a snap judgement like you have believing that these unproven college kids are better then an up and coming SF like Nic?
I didn't come to a snap judgement. I said they could be better. We don't know, do we? You're the one with the snap judgement saying that Nic is definitely better than those guys.
No one said any of them were. You're the only one in this thread making a definitive statement about players' relative abilities.
Not to derail the bickering about Nic, but . . . I'm starting to wonder if taking Lillard at 6 makes perfect sense (assuming Drummond isn't there). You would have to put him up against NBA talent to see if he can compete, but I love his balance. Shoots well from outside, penetrates, draws lots of fouls, handles the ball, has solid size for a PG, and supposedly has a great work ethic and attitude. 24.5 pts/g on 15.5 fga/g 41% on threes on 7+ attempts/g and near the top in the nation at FTA/g, and leading Rivers by quite a bit. Having said that, Lillard had slightly lower numbers than Beal when he was a Freshman.
The point is, we need someone who can get to the line. Batum only got 2.7 FTA last season, and he's at 1.7 for his career. That's terrible. Maybe he'll step it up next season. Maybe he's ready to turn a corner, but for right now he's a free agent and it's likely he's going to demand in the neighborhood of 9 or 10 million per season. That's an awful lot to pay for someone who hasn't shown us much.
I don't think his lack of shooting will be what holds him back. He doesn't ever have to have a great shot to be a great PG in league. With his size, athleticism and court vision, a nice J would be nice, but isn't mandatory. Imagine a 6' 5" Rondo. I think the number one thing he has to work on his his control on the court. Too many stupid mistakes all of last season.
He's been the guy I've wanted since the get-go. It would soothe some of my doubts to hear he performs well against talent in workouts, but I think he would be a great fit next to Batum/LA. It gets harder to say if Drummond is still there though, if he is and Ross doesn't shoot up as high as I think he will, I'd really like a Drummond/Terrence Ross draft.
I keep hearing that if he had gone to a major college he would be top 5 for sure. I think when people see him in workouts against other talent, the small school stigma will fall off. Typically guys fall if they show a weakness in workouts. Lillard sounds like he is doing well and will move up if anything. I would love him at 11, but I don't think he will be there. If he and Beal were both there at 6, I would prefer Lillard. In two more years of college Beal may have become as good as Lillard is. I believe Lillard is only an inch shorter and a bit slighter in build, but Lillard is a PG (score first, but he is a PG) and nobody is calling Beal anything but a 2.
Lillard shows a much quicker first step as well and more athleticism. Seriously don't get the Beal hype.
If we could get Drummond at six (big if) and Lillard at 11 (another big if) that would be a very good draft imo.
