Post by Spencer on Dec 9, 2008 0:08:46 GMT -5
This draft is mostly about its depth in the middle and the intrigue of who will go 1. From 3-15 the talent is very similar, so some players will fall, and others will rise. 1 and 2 are locks, but in which order is uncertain. And a huge new twist this year, a buyout could also play a role in who goes first.
Duck-Young Bak and Devereux St. Cloud are the top 2 prospects for this draft. Bak is a great scorer who loves to drive to the basket. He is relentless on offense and has the upside and athleticism to be a star in BBS. But he will also cost a ton of cash in year 1. Not only will the drafting team need to pay his regular rookie salary, but they will also need to pay a 10 million dollar buy out to his team overseas. This could be enough to make St. Cloud seem more attractive. Some scouts actually prefer St. Cloud with all things equal. He has a more balanced offensive game, and seems like more of a prototypical 2 way wing in the mold of Kobe Bryant or Tracy McGrady. St. Cloud also has the physical attributes to become more of a rugged defender.
After the top 2 the draft could go in any number of directions. So lets focus on the top at each position....
Centers....Alfonso Robinson is a terrific looking prospect with serious question marks. While he is easy going and a nice guy, he may be too nice. His work ethic is non-existent and his physical skills may not be good enough for him to be more then mediocre in the next level...Karron Thomson is a superbly talented passing big man. He loves to dish from the post and could get as many as 5 assists a game in the pros. The rest of his game is solid, although he'll never be an All Star type player...Pete Walker is a solid player who should go lotto. His defense, rebounding and inside/outside offensive game should allow him to become a very solid starter at C. Walker doesn't have big time upside, but should be a solid C in the league...Joon Seop Choi is a solid shooting big man with some nice rebounding skills. Probably not a good enough defender to be a starter, Choi will be a perfect 3rd or 4th big man...
Power Forwards...Gabe Machata is a super talented player who can rebound, defend and shoot. Machata might be a better fit at SF long term because of his lack of a post game, but he is so versatile he could play either forward spot well. Machata could go 3...Cody English is a superb inside scorer who lvoes the ball in the post. Unfortunately English has no interest in playing defense, rebounding or listening to coaches. English is a consistent problem and has shown nothing for anyone to think he'll change now...J.J. Keenan is a deadly post player who just overpowers anyone in his way. Keenan is abnormally strong and just bullies anyone that guards him. His upside is limited, but his ability to score will serve some team well...Jerome Rouseau is a tough rebounder and hard worker. His skill set is pretty poor, but he will work tirelessly to get better. A solid inside player and rebounder, Rouseau should be a solid bench player for years...
Small Forwards...Josh Ely is a poor mans Kevin Durant. Very skinny, and defensively challenged, Ely loves to score. Ely can score inside and outside, and can rive to the basket. He does have some problems giving the ball up, and doesn't always make the best decisions. If too much is expected of him, he will disappoint. If he is picked 8-15 it'll be a very good pick...Ernest Panariello is a very solid scorer from inside and out. He is also a solid defender. Reminds some scouts of Linas Kleiza a bit. Definately not huge upside, but a solid player that could become a 5th starter for some team...Filipe Jatoba is a great defender. He will earn his paycheck shutting down opposing wings. Jatoba is also a very solid 3 point shooter. Unfortunately every other aspect of his game is severely under developed...Charles Wincy is a wide body who loves to clean the glass. Wincy is a relentless rebounder who is almost impossible to block out. Although not a good defender, his rebounding should be enough to give him nice minutes in the league...
Shooting Guards...Ja'Shon Garrison is somewhere between Tyreke Evans and Lance Stephenson is ability. He loves to score and handle and is also a decent defender. If groomed correctly Garrison could be a star...Tahir Carrington is a very solid player who should be a starter in BBS. Carrington can score inside and out and defend a little...Braden Issel is a just a super leaper. He loves to rise above the rim and throw it down hard. Issel should be in multiple dunk contests if he stays in the league...Hahn Owens is a sleeper pick that tons of scouts like. While he has kinda flown under the radar, Owens has been superb in workouts recently and should go mid round 1...Glen Rice Jr is a super shooter. Easily the best shooter in the draft. Unfortunately he doesn't really have a position. He doesn't really have the handles to play 1, or the size or defensive abilities to play 2. Some team will probably take him sooner then they should...
Point Guards...Nathaniel Davidson is the best point in the draft. A great ball handler Davidson loves to set up his teammates. Davidson is also a solid shooter and an above average defender...Billy Hoyle is a flashy play maker with some upside. Hoyle is a notch below Davidson at almost everything, but they are similar players and both should be very good...Bruce Riggs is a very good offensive point guard. He looks for his shot first, and looks to pass second. Riggs seems like a perfect fit as a backup combo guard...Nate Terry is a very good inside scorer who can pass and defend. He reminds some of Mike Conley, but unlike Conley, Terry has limited athleticism.
Duck-Young Bak and Devereux St. Cloud are the top 2 prospects for this draft. Bak is a great scorer who loves to drive to the basket. He is relentless on offense and has the upside and athleticism to be a star in BBS. But he will also cost a ton of cash in year 1. Not only will the drafting team need to pay his regular rookie salary, but they will also need to pay a 10 million dollar buy out to his team overseas. This could be enough to make St. Cloud seem more attractive. Some scouts actually prefer St. Cloud with all things equal. He has a more balanced offensive game, and seems like more of a prototypical 2 way wing in the mold of Kobe Bryant or Tracy McGrady. St. Cloud also has the physical attributes to become more of a rugged defender.
After the top 2 the draft could go in any number of directions. So lets focus on the top at each position....
Centers....Alfonso Robinson is a terrific looking prospect with serious question marks. While he is easy going and a nice guy, he may be too nice. His work ethic is non-existent and his physical skills may not be good enough for him to be more then mediocre in the next level...Karron Thomson is a superbly talented passing big man. He loves to dish from the post and could get as many as 5 assists a game in the pros. The rest of his game is solid, although he'll never be an All Star type player...Pete Walker is a solid player who should go lotto. His defense, rebounding and inside/outside offensive game should allow him to become a very solid starter at C. Walker doesn't have big time upside, but should be a solid C in the league...Joon Seop Choi is a solid shooting big man with some nice rebounding skills. Probably not a good enough defender to be a starter, Choi will be a perfect 3rd or 4th big man...
Power Forwards...Gabe Machata is a super talented player who can rebound, defend and shoot. Machata might be a better fit at SF long term because of his lack of a post game, but he is so versatile he could play either forward spot well. Machata could go 3...Cody English is a superb inside scorer who lvoes the ball in the post. Unfortunately English has no interest in playing defense, rebounding or listening to coaches. English is a consistent problem and has shown nothing for anyone to think he'll change now...J.J. Keenan is a deadly post player who just overpowers anyone in his way. Keenan is abnormally strong and just bullies anyone that guards him. His upside is limited, but his ability to score will serve some team well...Jerome Rouseau is a tough rebounder and hard worker. His skill set is pretty poor, but he will work tirelessly to get better. A solid inside player and rebounder, Rouseau should be a solid bench player for years...
Small Forwards...Josh Ely is a poor mans Kevin Durant. Very skinny, and defensively challenged, Ely loves to score. Ely can score inside and outside, and can rive to the basket. He does have some problems giving the ball up, and doesn't always make the best decisions. If too much is expected of him, he will disappoint. If he is picked 8-15 it'll be a very good pick...Ernest Panariello is a very solid scorer from inside and out. He is also a solid defender. Reminds some scouts of Linas Kleiza a bit. Definately not huge upside, but a solid player that could become a 5th starter for some team...Filipe Jatoba is a great defender. He will earn his paycheck shutting down opposing wings. Jatoba is also a very solid 3 point shooter. Unfortunately every other aspect of his game is severely under developed...Charles Wincy is a wide body who loves to clean the glass. Wincy is a relentless rebounder who is almost impossible to block out. Although not a good defender, his rebounding should be enough to give him nice minutes in the league...
Shooting Guards...Ja'Shon Garrison is somewhere between Tyreke Evans and Lance Stephenson is ability. He loves to score and handle and is also a decent defender. If groomed correctly Garrison could be a star...Tahir Carrington is a very solid player who should be a starter in BBS. Carrington can score inside and out and defend a little...Braden Issel is a just a super leaper. He loves to rise above the rim and throw it down hard. Issel should be in multiple dunk contests if he stays in the league...Hahn Owens is a sleeper pick that tons of scouts like. While he has kinda flown under the radar, Owens has been superb in workouts recently and should go mid round 1...Glen Rice Jr is a super shooter. Easily the best shooter in the draft. Unfortunately he doesn't really have a position. He doesn't really have the handles to play 1, or the size or defensive abilities to play 2. Some team will probably take him sooner then they should...
Point Guards...Nathaniel Davidson is the best point in the draft. A great ball handler Davidson loves to set up his teammates. Davidson is also a solid shooter and an above average defender...Billy Hoyle is a flashy play maker with some upside. Hoyle is a notch below Davidson at almost everything, but they are similar players and both should be very good...Bruce Riggs is a very good offensive point guard. He looks for his shot first, and looks to pass second. Riggs seems like a perfect fit as a backup combo guard...Nate Terry is a very good inside scorer who can pass and defend. He reminds some of Mike Conley, but unlike Conley, Terry has limited athleticism.
