Merged: The Draft Thread For Stuff About The Draft Including Thoughts About The Draft

^^^ Maybe not....

 

Does anyone know when the draft actually takes place? What time does it start? If it starts anytime after 4pm, I was thinking of having a draft party/Pool Party.
Anyone interested? I have two rooms with large screens, so the people who want a trade can be in one room and the people who want draft picks can be in another.

Just a thought, but Id be down it it works out scheduling wise. I don't get home from work until 4pm at the earliest.

 

June 22 with the Draft beginning at 4:00.

 

Would you guys trade #15, #20, and #26 for #22 and #27 if BKN would take Crabbe, Turner, and Leonard?

 

No, but it's not my money. I would not because I think at least one or two of those can show enough value in the first half of the season to enable a trade where we could get something back of value, rather than having to add more value.

 

Yes, I'd consider giving up one pick to erase all three contract mistakes to be fairly cheap.

 

I believe if we can find taker for at least 2 of those guys you go for it if we get something back in value. It could be future picks or a player that make us better.

 

Thanks!

 

It's almost here boys!

I'll be updating the OP with a few mock drafts until draft time.

 

The issues I have with John Collins had nothing to do with his athleticism. He's strong (for his weight), coordinated and a good leaper in space.

It's more about IQ/mentality defensively , and his skill level offensively. He feasted on terrible ACC defenses in college and will have to expand his offensive game if he wants to become a starting level PF on a good team.

 

Yeah, that athleticism doesn't translate to college game action though, so how will it translate to NBA action?

Meyers Leonard is tabbed as an "athletic" big man, but he doesn't put that athleticism to use at all. It doesn't translate.

My fear is Olshey falling in love with his athleticism and drafting him at 15.

 

Yeah, and that's on top of him not knowing how to use his athleticism to influence a basketball game.

He shouldn't go top 25 IMO, but he'll probably go within the top 17 because someone will fall in love with his athleticism and think it will translate.

 

Meyers doesn't put it to use because he's a scared puppy. His rookie year he had no problem attempting athletic plays.

Is Collins soft mentally? Legit question, I haven't watched him enough to have an opinion.

 

The mistake that people are prone to making with college prospects is thinking that what you see is what you get. A PG with above average first step quickness for college basketball doesn't mean that player will have an above average first step in the NBA. A 37.5 inch vertical jump at the draft combine doesn't mean that said players will play athletic.

I wanted Meyers because he had the base to build muscle, was athletic for his height, and had touch on his shot. Ignored the fact that he didn't use his athleticism well, his height was negated somewhat by his short wingspan, and his Bball IQ/Drive was below average.

There's so many different skills to take into account, both physically and mentally. Not only that, but depending on these skills, they all affect each other and translate in different ways depending on the player. And then, you have to judge the player as a product of the future based on the development of these skills and how it fits with other aspects of the players game into creating a good, whole, product.

But some people think it's as simple as watching a highlight tape and a couple halves of different games and coming to the understanding that the player they see is like (insert great NBA player here). It's not that simple. Not even close.

 

Even if Meyers wasn't "scared", his coordination and feel for the game negate his athleticism. Collins' doesn't translate because he's a slow jumper off of two, needs space to jump/is soft around the rip and can't jump with any sort of contact, and other smaller factors. He's no where near comfortable enough with dribbling to produce some of the slashing dunks he's showing in the DraftExpress video above.

All the buckets he's scoring over people in college he's barely getting off. He's not rising high above anybody. In the NBA, the shots he's barely getting off are getting blocked. He's undersized, and a couple GMs will make the mistake of thinking his athleticism will make up for it, just like they did with Thomas Robinson.

 

I'd be interested to hear where exactly you think he falls short athletically. He doesn't always move his feet well on the perimeter (I think this is more IQ, technique, motor related) and struggles with lift in traffic but you can so those things about most bigs his age. I agree that his lack of length hurts his finishing upside though.

Otherwise, I think he's above average for an NBA PF. Runs the floor well, good leaper in space and is a pretty quick off his feet on both his first and 2nd jumps. And I think he's athletic and coordinated enough to be an ok switch big if he's puts in the work/coached well.

Edit: Just read your post above.

Basically, I don't think John Collins fails because he's not athletic enough. It's more about defense/IQ plus role/skill translation imo.

 

And I think he really fails because of both factors. The problems with his defense/IQ plus role/skill translation as well as his athletic translation.

Someone like D.J. Wilson is so much more valuable IMO. Wilson runs the floor and uses his athleticism just as well, if not better than Collins. Wilson's taller, longer, and is a better shooter.

 

And still managed to only grab 7.7 rebs per 40 while playing w/ a similarly poor rebounder in Mo Wagner. I also think D.J. is more fluid and rangy than quick laterally which I think limits his switchability defensively.

D.J.'s theoretical role and tools make him intriguing, but if I were to bet on one sticking in the league, I'd still take John Collins. But I don't have much faith in either making an impact on a good NBA team.