NBA Draft question

[Lester Bangs]

I think Harden has the best chance to be a huge bust. Slow, plays below the rim and the jumper is suspect. He overpowered opponents to get into the lane in college. Won't happen in the NBA.

He did rely on being stronger than the other guards to have success in the Pac-10, but the jumper is pretty damn good. Hit 40 percent of treys as a freshman and that slipped to 35 as a sophomore, largely because he was wearing two defenders almost every night. Really slowed down late last year, which probably had something to do with the fact that Sendek rode his ass like a mule to the tune of 35 mpg.

You make a good point about his getting into the lane in college and how it won't happen in the NBA. That's when he'll have to fall back on the mid-range game, so we'll see. I have long admitted to a man-crush on Harden, but to me, the guy is just a really good basketball player, kind of the way Brandon Roy was when he came out of Washington. That has to count for something.

Biggest busts: Thabeet and Jordan Hill. Big men with suspect feet always get this honor.

 

[93Devil]

What is the over/under on Jennings draft position and his move to Europe being a bad decision?

I just saw a mock draft of him landing at 19. If that is the case, then Europe was a bad decision. If he is as good as people said he was coming out of high school, I would think a lottery selection would have happened.

 

[JackReacher]

What is the over/under on Jennings draft position and his move to Europe being a bad decision?

I just saw a mock draft of him landing at 19. If that is the case, then Europe was a bad decision. If he is as good as people said he was coming out of high school, I would think a lottery selection would have happened.

I think one of the guys at SI was saying how Jennings might fall to Philly at 17; that his stock is falling fast today.

Funny how he's one of the premier guards in the draft yesterday, yet today, he's crap.

 

[Pancamo]

What is the over/under on Jennings draft position and his move to Europe being a bad decision?

I just saw a mock draft of him landing at 19. If that is the case, then Europe was a bad decision. If he is as good as people said he was coming out of high school, I would think a lottery selection would have happened.

I think one of the guys at SI was saying how Jennings might fall to Philly at 17; that his stock is falling fast today.

Funny how he's one of the premier guards in the draft yesterday, yet today, he's crap.

Blowing off the European Pre-Draft workout didn't help.

 

[Lester Bangs]

What is the over/under on Jennings draft position and his move to Europe being a bad decision?

I just saw a mock draft of him landing at 19. If that is the case, then Europe was a bad decision. If he is as good as people said he was coming out of high school, I would think a lottery selection would have happened.

Yeah, but either way he would have been exposed, and since he didn't make it into school. You think he should have just sat out a year? Will be interesting if anybody ever tries that. For him, he got big money in Europe and now he'll get three years guaranteed, so it's hard to say it was a bad decision ... unless he falls out of the first round.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

See Thabeet as more likely to turn into a Mutumbo than a Darko. Which wouldn't be all bad, but certainly not worthy of the no. 2 pick.

On the flip side, the team that grabs Lawson is getting a bigtime bargain.

 

[RossLT]

I think Flynn is going to be a huge steal for someone.

 

[Stoney]

I just saw a mock draft of him landing at 19. If that is the case, then Europe was a bad decision. If he is as good as people said he was coming out of high school, I would think a lottery selection would have happened.

Not sure where Jennings was projected as a draft prospect out of HS. But, regardless, that all depends on how his year of college would've gone. From what I've read, his time in Europe exposed problems with his decision-making skills with the ball. In HS he could just blow by guys and drive to the hoop whenever he wanted, but had trouble adjusting his game against the higher level of competition. Well, those are the exact same sort of flaws that likely would've been exposed playing a year of Divison 1 basketball.

 

[Cosmo]

See Thabeet as more likely to turn into a Mutumbo than a Darko. Which wouldn't be all bad, but certainly not worthy of the no. 2 pick.

On the flip side, the team that grabs Lawson is getting a bigtime bargain.

Good analogy on Thabeet ... he has great instincts around the basket defensively.

 

[Philosopher]

I see Thabeet as more of a Sam Dalembert.

If teams believed that Thabeet was the second coming of Mutumbo, there would be a lot more interest in him.

As it is, I see him going #2 regardless, just for the chance that he turns into Mutumbo.

 

[JackReacher]

I see Thabeet as more of a Sam Dalembert.

If teams believed that Thabeet was the second coming of Mutumbo, there would be a lot more interest in him.

As it is, I see him going #2 regardless, just for the chance that he turns into Mutumbo.

Can't remember who it was, but some current or former coach -- I'm guessing former -- said today on the Dan Patrick Show that he'd take Thabeet number one overall ahead of Griffin.

 

[Lester Bangs]

See Thabeet as more likely to turn into a Mutumbo than a Darko. Which wouldn't be all bad, but certainly not worthy of the no. 2 pick.

On the flip side, the team that grabs Lawson is getting a bigtime bargain.

Any NBA team, if it could break out the tea leaves and see that Thabeet=Mutombo, would probably spend the No. 1 overall pick on him and certainly the No. 2. His career numbers don't look good because he hung out for about seven years longer than he should have, but the first 10 years he was a double-double every night and one of the game's great defenders.

If five guys in this draft have a Mutombo-like career, it will be remembered as a very good talent pool.

I like the Thabeet-Dalembert comparison. Very similar players.

 

[RossLT]

I see Thabeet as more of a Sam Dalembert.

If teams believed that Thabeet was the second coming of Mutumbo, there would be a lot more interest in him.

As it is, I see him going #2 regardless, just for the chance that he turns into Mutumbo.

Can't remember who it was, but some current or former coach -- I'm guessing former -- said today on the Dan Patrick Show that he'd take Thabeet number one overall ahead of Griffin.

Wow, that would be a really gutsy move. Can't say I agree with it, the only dude I would take over Griffin is Tyreke Evans, I love his game and think he is going to be a great player.

 

[JackReacher]

I see Thabeet as more of a Sam Dalembert.

If teams believed that Thabeet was the second coming of Mutumbo, there would be a lot more interest in him.

As it is, I see him going #2 regardless, just for the chance that he turns into Mutumbo.

Can't remember who it was, but some current or former coach -- I'm guessing former -- said today on the Dan Patrick Show that he'd take Thabeet number one overall ahead of Griffin.

Wow, that would be a really gutsy move. Can't say I agree with it, the only dude I would take over Griffin is Tyreke Evans, I love his game and think he is going to be a great player.

I feel the same about Rubio.

 

[RossLT]

I see Thabeet as more of a Sam Dalembert.

If teams believed that Thabeet was the second coming of Mutumbo, there would be a lot more interest in him.

As it is, I see him going #2 regardless, just for the chance that he turns into Mutumbo.

Can't remember who it was, but some current or former coach -- I'm guessing former -- said today on the Dan Patrick Show that he'd take Thabeet number one overall ahead of Griffin.

Wow, that would be a really gutsy move. Can't say I agree with it, the only dude I would take over Griffin is Tyreke Evans, I love his game and think he is going to be a great player.

I feel the same about Rubio.

See, I haven't ever seen Rubio so I can't say that about him. Evans I have seen and was very impressed.

 

[JackReacher]

Just saw where the NBCSports.com guy has Rubio going 3rd to the Thunder, based on heavy rumors that they'll trade him to the Knicks for David Lee.

Rubio in NYC? Now, THAT would be interesting.

 

[Pancamo]

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2009/06/24/news/doc4a419dadeb1eb042040531.txt

Evans' cousin gets 9-20 years for a drive-by murder in which Tyreke was the driver. Why wasn't Tyreke charged?

 

[Pancamo]

Just saw where the NBCSports.com guy has Rubio going 3rd to the Thunder, based on heavy rumors that they'll trade him to the Knicks for David Lee.

Rubio in NYC? Now, THAT would be interesting.

David Lee and the 8th pick or just Lee?

 

[JackReacher]

Just saw where the NBCSports.com guy has Rubio going 3rd to the Thunder, based on heavy rumors that they'll trade him to the Knicks for David Lee.

Rubio in NYC? Now, THAT would be interesting.

David Lee and the 8th pick or just Lee?

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/7966511

Doesn't mention the pick. Or I could be reading this completely ass-backward. It's been a long day.

 

[RossLT]

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2009/06/24/news/doc4a419dadeb1eb042040531.txt

Evans' cousin gets 9-20 years for a drive-by murder in which Tyreke was the driver. Why wasn't Tyreke charged?

Is that supposed to make me change my opinion of him as a BASKETBALL player?