JBB Mock Draft: #18 - Golden State - Tiago Splitter (Brazil, C)

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">#18 - Golden State Warriors - Tiago Splitter (Brazil, C)

Height: 6′11
Weight: 222 lbs.</div>

(Link to pick explanation)

Feel free to comment on the blog or in this thread, whichever you want.

*Profile written by Run BJM.

 

Yeah, I would not have a problem with Splitter based on what I have heard of him, but I dont know why someone has not drafted him already since he has been in the draft for the last few years...

 

I think the team that drafts him has to ante up for the buyout -- not Splitter himself...

 

Nope, AO, teams can't do that. They can only cover a certain amount of the buyout and that's it. The rookie contract has to do it and those figures are based on where he gets drafted.

Mike Dunleavy, for instance, made a ton of money being #3. A guy like Josh Howard doesn't get much compared to MDJ.

 

I just don't feel comfortable choosing a lot of players from other countries. Teams choose them very high up because they did so well in their country but sometimes that don't do well here. So, I don't think we should take that chance right now in the draft.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Silver Man Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I just don't feel comfortable choosing a lot of players from other countries. Teams choose them very high up because they did so well in their country but sometimes that don't do well here. So, I don't think we should take that chance right now in the draft.</div>

I can say the same thing with college kids. As a matter of fact, since 2002, all our successful picks are non-college players such as Pietrus, Biedrins, and Ellis. Ironically, all our not-so-successful picks are from college such as Dunleavy, Logan, Zimmerman, Diogu and POB. Besides, drafting foreign players are pretty much no longer high risk-high reward picks anymore, since so many scouts are following foreign players. Now a days, their risk is as big as college kids, and I have no problem drafting them.

As for Splitter... Well, he seems like a decent pick with 18th, since he can run and has some skill. Not going to complain, but by no mean, this is a sexy pick...

 

Well, thats unfair to use Patrick O'Bryant as an example, because he didn't really get to show us what he had because he wasn't ready for the NBA.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Silver Man Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well, thats unfair to use Patrick O'Bryant as an example, because he didn't really get to show us what he had because he wasn't ready for the NBA.</div>

Good point, although he still has been unsuccessful so far, maybe that will change. Monta has been successful because right out of the gate he seized hold of his opportunity, where POB was given chances but never capitalized. He had time to show it before going to NBDL, and after.

I just think he struggled to impress Nellie, who is tough on big men (and rookies). He doesn't seem to have the mental toughness, from my limited perspective. But he's still 7 feet with skills!

I think the W's have a lot of good big prospects who might emerge, actually. Even though I'd consider us thin at the PF right now, because we have barely any true PF starters, we have Zarko (who is perfect for Nellie), Powell (who showed he could earn his way on the floor with toughness, rebounding and mid-range jumper), POB (who at least beat the odds and got called up from NBDL for the playoff run), an the 7'2" Kosta Perovic (who reportedly was visited overseas by Mully last week, about the prospect of him joining GS next year).

I think between those 4 guys at least 1 will emerge as a significant big man for Nellie (if Nellie doesn't retire).

Still, it wouldn't hurt to draft a big like Yi Lian Jian, or, if we stay put, Splitter.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Silver Man Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well, thats unfair to use Patrick O'Bryant as an example, because he didn't really get to show us what he had because he wasn't ready for the NBA.</div>

Yeah, POB shouldn't be leveled as a bust yet, although his progress hasn't been promising so far.

But the point of the post is that there is no reason to shy away from foreign players these days since they aren't really unknown prospect anymore and had great success in NBA so far. I mean, isn't Spurs basically a group of foreign mercenaries? Also, the danger of "He did well in previous level, so he will do well in NBA too" exists in college as well...

 

I agree guys, we can't really hate on POB this early in the game. He had a nice NCAA showing, some good games in NBDL, and I think he just needs more practice against guys his own size. He also needs to get more confident and motivated so he can play big rather than just look big.

Something about this guy's nature tells me he's not a going to be a star player, but he could be an important piece to a starting five lineup. Why couldn't this guy be as exciting as Andrew Bynum was/is to some people? Sure he's a lightweight compared to Bynum, but there's so few 7 foot mobile centers these days, so I'm hoping we at least develop POB a little longer and see what he can do. He might surprise and be a Robert Parish later on. I think Project O' Bryant can get stronger and he's got a unique hookshot. He's got good hands, some nice finesse skills, extremely long wingspan, and he seems like a good guy.

Even if he turns out to be the shotblocking, rebounding version of Mark Blount with better hands, it's better than having no center or having a backup center equal to the offensive skill level of Foyle. Toothpaste university can't even freakin' dunk and he's 6'10 with a huge wingspan. But maybe that's me... since I feel like we had the ass end of all starting centers in the league back in 2004, I'm grateful for guys like Beans and POB who won't be all clumsy. Let's just say Foyle was so bad, starting Clif Robinson or Andris Biedrins at center seemed like a better idea back in 2004. Hell, I would have taken Toronto's Rafael Aruajo off Babcock's hands.

Of course, I'm not sure about POB sometimes... I've seen some pretty bad shot selection coming from outside the paint. Guy thinks he's Duncan. Get inside the paint, cheesecake!

If we get Tiago Splitter, I hope it is for the power forward spot. He could be like a good defensive power forward who can also score inside some and maybe shoot some outside stuff once in a while. My only gripe is that Splitter can't shoot free throws much better than Biedrins or Jrich. So much for mental toughness because his form is actually okay.

 

http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=B5P

I guess Splitter improved from the charity stripe this year.

I remember Splitter used to be a 50% free throw shooter back when I was excited about his supposed inside/outside game and comparrisons to Pau Gasol on nbadraft.net (probably around when Splitter was about 19 years old and was playing some small forward/power forward). But it looks like he can go into a game and hit 1 of 3 or 2 of 3 on some nights. It's weird because he plays facing the basket on his Brazillian national team and he plays a defensive, in-the-paint center on his Spanish team. He knows English and he's German Brazillian.

I say if he's at #18, let's get him. He's like Biedrins in some fashion with the height and lateral quickness and good hands, but he plays more conservatively on weakside help sometimes if his goal is to be a position defender or rebounder. Plus... this guy doesn't leap very much. He can score with either hand, but he'll probably get swatted a lot unless he can develop more above the rim and power moves. He's not really an offensive player... which sucks... but he's a nice team player who hustles and he can be useful on pick and rolls and setting picks quite a bit. Maybe that's where the PJ Brown comparrisons begin. I think he looks more like a Beans and Chris Mihm and Jeff Foster all combined.

I'll watch more of him over the next few weeks. I can probably find some old euroleague footage back when he was a younger player and see some of his latest stuff.

 

From what I have read about Splitter, he sounds like Andris Biedrins without the shot-blocking but perhaps with slightly better IQ and perhaps a better shot if he has shown some ability to shoot near or at the international 3 point line. Having Andris, POB, Splitter, and Kosta as the front-court lineup would be interesting. Each of them are young, tall, athletic (well maybe outside of Kosta), can handle the ball in the high post (well maybe outside of Andris), and should be decent defenders in the paint. I am not overly excited about Splitter. But I suppose he could fit somehow. But I can also see him being kind of a bust. His offensive game is not very strong, his defense is supposed to be good but he can't block shots, and I guess his FT shooting is bad as well. I don't know, there are some parts that make you think, oh this is another Andris Biedrins. He is supposedly very athletic, quick, tall, stronger as defender, good hands, etc. But without the shot blocking ability nor much offense, it makes me beg the question whether he is bust material. I would feel better if the Warriors were able to grab this guy early in the second round. I wouldn't mind seeing him on this team, just probably not with the 18th pick.

Right now I think I would perfer Rudy Fernandez or perhaps trading up for Yi.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Clif25 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">From what I have read about Splitter, he sounds like Andris Biedrins without the shot-blocking but perhaps with slightly better IQ and perhaps a better shot if he has shown some ability to shoot near or at the international 3 point line. Having Andris, POB, Splitter, and Kosta as the front-court lineup would be interesting. Each of them are young, tall, athletic (well maybe outside of Kosta), can handle the ball in the high post (well maybe outside of Andris), and should be decent defenders in the paint. I am not overly excited about Splitter. But I suppose he could fit somehow. But I can also see him being kind of a bust. His offensive game is not very strong, his defense is supposed to be good but he can't block shots, and I guess his FT shooting is bad as well. I don't know, there are some parts that make you think, oh this is another Andris Biedrins. He is supposedly very athletic, quick, tall, stronger as defender, good hands, etc. But without the shot blocking ability nor much offense, it makes me beg the question whether he is bust material. I would feel better if the Warriors were able to grab this guy early in the second round. I wouldn't mind seeing him on this team, just probably not with the 18th pick.

Right now I think I would perfer Rudy Fernandez or perhaps trading up for Yi.</div>

I get that impression of Tiago Splitter as well. He was supposed to be something like a Pau Gasol in the beginning, but the way he's being used on his pro team and his national team is bizarre because he plays separate roles for each of them. Defensively, I've seen he can block quite a few shots but I'm not sure if he's consistent at that or if this can translate to the pros since the pace can be quicker. I've seen this guy foul out in a game where he had more than 3 blocks. I think he can make it in the nba though since his upside is that his defense remains constant and he'll have Biedrins there to help guard the paint. His inside outside offense we'll probably have to develop if we pick him. But there's some potential to be a decent starter if he can score as 5th option and play terrific D (especially if post D and how he gives ground to force off balance travels or he let's the defender walk himself into a charge).

I also like how he gets points inside (as last option offense though), but it's like he makes these little flip shots that could get blocked by a longer defender. He doesn't really finish with authority above the rim, even though this guy can finish on alley oop dunks. Scouts talk about how he's on a stacked team, but if he's only the 5th option on that starting lineup, who are the other guys and why aren't more in the nba draft? Besides Luis Scola and ex-nba guy Travis Hansen, I mean.

Maybe, he's a role player in a starting lineup, but he could emerge into a star. We never know. I mean who the heck was David West or Mehmet Okur or Gerald Wallace all of a sudden? I know with big men, teams need to be more patient with those types. Being that big, it's hard to develop reliable and quick moves and be aware of double teams and feeling or judging contact before it happens.

 

I'd be happy with Splitter. We need another defensive anchor in the post, and Splitter's passing and offensive abilities could make him a good contrast to Biedrins.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Silver Man Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well, thats unfair to use Patrick O'Bryant as an example, because he didn't really get to show us what he had because he wasn't ready for the NBA.</div>

Well....playing 2-3 min a week hardly shows if a guy is "ready" for a thing.
Diogu....per 40 min scored 22+ with 11+ boards...making him 3rd in scoring,2nd in rebounds. So Ike did basically what he was supposed to-but played so few min it was seldom relevant. Murphy had 3 straight double double years.

We had....what...a new coach every 2 years. We seem to do better with walk on nobodies than with out gazillion Lotto picks...now scattered all around the league. Rd 2 picks Marc Jackson,Steve Logan,Derrick Zimmerman,were DRAFTED,yet we didn't even sign them up for preseason. Walk ons Boykins,Cardinal,Barnes,Azubuike...who nobody else much wanted-them we treat like lotto picks,they get rotation minutes-even starts.

Our "Development" crew seems unable to fix or analyze anything,players pretty much have to seek out independant coaches,trainers on their own if they want to get better.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Well....playing 2-3 min a week hardly shows if a guy is "ready" for a thing.
Diogu....per 40 min scored 22+ with 11+ boards...making him 3rd in scoring,2nd in rebounds. So Ike did basically what he was supposed to-but played so few min it was seldom relevant. Murphy had 3 straight double double years.

We had....what...a new coach every 2 years. We seem to do better with walk on nobodies than with out gazillion Lotto picks...now scattered all around the league. Rd 2 picks Marc Jackson,Steve Logan,Derrick Zimmerman,were DRAFTED,yet we didn't even sign them up for preseason. Walk ons Boykins,Cardinal,Barnes,Azubuike...who nobody else much wanted-them we treat like lotto picks,they get rotation minutes-even starts.

Our "Development" crew seems unable to fix or analyze anything,players pretty much have to seek out independant coaches,trainers on their own if they want to get better.</div>
I'm not sure what you're trying to say here REREM. Are you trying to say that the Warriors don't develop their talent because they don't give them enough PT? Or are you saying that the Warriors just can't develop their own players?

In terms of Ike, I think he's overrated by some people on this board. Sure he can put up big scoring numbers, but he's a terrible defender and his attitude is poor. Also Per 40 minute stats are useless. And then you mention Murphy's inflated numbers. So I think here you're saying that the Warriors gave the wrong player PT? Or are you saying that it doesn't show how good a player is, whether they get minutes or not?

In terms of the RD2 picks compared to walk-ins. I don't see much of a difference between the two, in terms of opportunity. Also Marc Jackson did sign with the Warriors, but he went overseas first. Steve Logan had a contract dispute with the Ws, which is why he never signed. Kind of stupid on Logan's part, he has no leverage. I'm not sure about Zimmerman.

In terms of Boykins, Cardinal, Barnes, and Azu (to some extent), what they did was show that they could play and produce when given the chance. Plus they were helped by extenuating circumstances. They capitalized. Plus you have to realize that those are only four players. That's not a lot in the last 5 years or so. In terms of 2nd rounders the W's got Monta and Arenas. I guess my point is that the W's didn't treat their walk-ons as lotto picks. They proved they could play. If you're a second rounder that's how it should be too. Even a first rounder - or then you get players like Dunleavy getting undeserved minutes. I like how Biedrins earned his minutes by proving he could play.

In terms of the last statement, I don't think "development" crews help improve players all that much. It's all about the player and his talent. Practicing helps, but they have to really practice and even then that doesn't mean they will get better or good enough.

In terms of the Warriors making bad picks, the draft is a crap shoot nowadays. The second round is even tougher to find players. And if you compare the success of draft picks on other teams, I doubt it's much better than what the Warriors have done.

 

Yeah, one of the reason Diogu's 48 min looks rather good is because you just know what type of game he will have by playing 5 mins. The major problem with Diogu is that he just tries to do the same thing whether you are against 7 footer or 6'6" forward. Once in a blue moon, he brings good games, and he will get lots of playing time. But, many times, he goes out and pick up quick fouls, commit number of TOs in 2 mins or just don't do anything. That's why his game logs are filled with 15 mins or less playing time with occasional 30+ mins. And, those few good results are boosting up 48 mins stats, because he generally doesn't get 15 mins or more playing time. He was supposedly NBA ready, but after 3 systems, he still couldn't even find a regular bench role yet. It's only his 2nd years though, so maybe he will turn around someday.

For Logan and Zimmerman, Logan refused to sign with Warriors, because he wanted 3 years guaranteed contract and held out for a year. Quite dumb thing for a 2nd rounder to do. Then, one year later, he tried to join Warriors by attending a summer league, but he didn't perform well at all. So, I don't think he was even invited to the training camp. Zimmerman was with us for a short time (and I believe he made an opening day roster), but he didn't do anything significant and was eventually waived. Considering how more than 80% of 2nd rounders don't survive after the first year, I believe our 2nd rounders have been very successful with Arenas and Monta.

At the end, good players usually emerges whether you are training camp invitees or draft picks. Both Arenas and Monta started to produce once they received minutes, and Biedrins also start to produce once he wasn't treated like some stiff under Monty. And, both Cardinals and Boykins are still in NBA as backups. In last 10 years or so, I don't remember that many players who just exploded after we let them go willingly or failed to develop...

 

I have not seen enough of Tiago to connect this more of a general statement with Tiago's game. However from what I have heard/read/seen I am leaning this way about him. What I am thinking is that the Warriors have enough developing bigs right now with Patrick O'Bryant, Kosta Perovic, and perhaps Josh Powell to some degree if the Warriors resign him. The Warriors also have two second round picks to draft another player who could perhaps be developed at a similar pace as perhaps Tiago would. I, for one, would not be very pleased to see the Warriors pass up on the BAP for another developing big who may not even be able to join the team until the following season. This is especially the case since I believe POB can bring the similar strengths as Tiago to the table; those being defense, shot blocking, athleticism/mobility and (at least something he seemed to improve from the D-League last year) rebounding and he is a definite for next season's roster.