2012-2013 NBA Prospects thread

[95pro]

Alex Len had meh day against Mason Plumlee.

i don't follow college ball that much, but i didn't think too much of Len today. heck the other guy showed more promise - Cleare. i think it was cleare, he had some good foot work for a big guy.

 

[Ronin]

Nerlens Noel had 19 points and 14 rebounds...good for him.

#1 Michigan vs #3 Indiana about to start!

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Nerlens Noel had 19 points and 14 rebounds...good for him.

#1 Michigan vs #3 Indiana about to start!

Noel reminds me quite a bit of Anthony Davis.

 

[Ronin]

Noel reminds me quite a bit of Anthony Davis.

You know I just don't see it. Everytime I watch Noel, I'm underwhelmed by his play....idk maybe he will turn out to be a good pro.

 

[sunsfan88]

I think Noel getting hurt is a blessing in disguise for the Suns. We may be able to trade Gortat and draft Noel with the LAL pick.

 

[Phrazbit]

I think Noel getting hurt is a blessing in disguise for the Suns. We may be able to trade Gortat and draft Noel with the LAL pick.

He wont slip out of the top 5. One of the few guys viewed as having franchise potential in this draft, I think he still goes top 3.

 

[Errntknght]

Who are the defensive 'gems' in the draft? I hope we don't draft anyone who's weak defensively with any pick, but I'd love to see us use the LA pick for a top notch defender. Failing that, get someone with a very strong defensive skill like rebounding or shot blocking. Those skills usually translate well to the NBA and even if the guy never develops beyond a specialist he'd probably be worth having. I suppose I should put having a non-stop motor in that same category.

 

[SirStefan32]

Who are the defensive 'gems' in the draft? I hope we don't draft anyone who's weak defensively with any pick, but I'd love to see us use the LA pick for a top notch defender. Failing that, get someone with a very strong defensive skill like rebounding or shot blocking. Those skills usually translate well to the NBA and even if the guy never develops beyond a specialist he'd probably be worth having. I suppose I should put having a non-stop motor in that same category.

Oladipo from Indiana is a hell of a defender, and he actually hasn't been terrible offensively this year either. He'd be a nice pick-up at the end of first round or early in the second round.

Porter, Smart and Glenn Robinson aren't bad defenders either. McLemore is not very good right now, and neither is Goodwin. I don't think we'll get a great defender with our pick this year.

 

[SunsTzu]

Who are the defensive 'gems' in the draft? I hope we don't draft anyone who's weak defensively with any pick, but I'd love to see us use the LA pick for a top notch defender. Failing that, get someone with a very strong defensive skill like rebounding or shot blocking. Those skills usually translate well to the NBA and even if the guy never develops beyond a specialist he'd probably be worth having. I suppose I should put having a non-stop motor in that same category.

Oladipo is probably the best candidate but he's currently projected to go a few spots higher than the LAL pick and may end up being in the conversation with the Suns pick by draft time.

If he declares I think Steven Adams will be the biggest impact defender in the draft but most people think he'll return for his sophomore season.

 

[Phrazbit]

We're as much of a mess on offense as we are on defense. Our half-court offense is a joke. Dragic is a terror in transition but he is really poor at creating looks in the half court. Neither he or Gortat are particularly good at the pick and roll, no one can create consistent looks on their own. When faced with a set defense our best offensive option is probably Scola, and that is really really sad.

 

[SirStefan32]

Yeah, I am OK with our pick (or picks) not being great defenders, but I do expect them to be at least average on defense. I think Porter will become a good defender, and I am optimistic about McLemore and Goodwin as well.

 

[ProdigalSun]

Oladipo > Shabazz?

 

[JCSunsfan]

Ha. I came on this thread to mention Oladipo and you are already talking about him. If he is truly improved in his shooting as the stats for this year seem to say, I am all for him. He seems like kind of a guard version of Scottie Pippen or Shawn Marion. Maybe a better comparions would be a bigger Leandro Barbosa (and a more tenacious defender). He is a little older than most of the one and done early entries, but he is progressing in the way that you would have wanted had he come out early.

I would love him with the Laker pick but he might climb too far for it.

 

[Russ Smith]

Oladipo from Indiana is a hell of a defender, and he actually hasn't been terrible offensively this year either. He'd be a nice pick-up at the end of first round or early in the second round.

Porter, Smart and Glenn Robinson aren't bad defenders either. McLemore is not very good right now, and neither is Goodwin. I don't think we'll get a great defender with our pick this year.

We were talking about him on the UCLA board I'm on, many of us including me like him better than Shabazz. not even close athletically, Oladipo is a freak athlete, improving offense, excellent defense.

Bazz is a better scorer but Oladipo is a better all around player IMO, and he's improving much faster than Bazz is because Bazz is a more polished product.

I agree Bazz will get picked first but I wouldn't be surprised at all in 3-4 years if Oladipo is a better NBA player.

He reminds me of Sprewell without all the baggage.

 

[Russ Smith]

Oladipo > Shabazz?

Yes IMO.

 

[slinslin]

Oladipo > Shabazz?

uh no, aside from being 2 years older..

Oladipo is clearly a better defender but on offense Shabazz is much much better.

 

[Russ Smith]

uh no, aside from being 2 years older..

Oladipo is clearly a better defender but on offense Shabazz is much much better.

18 months older and who cares when one guy clearly is improving at a much faster rate than the other. Bazz got good early, as a soph, and really worked hard on his body, he's a very mature(physically) 19 year old. In fact his body is "going the wrong way" IMO, he's getting too thick. Even with the loss of weight since the season started he's not all that explosive.

Oladipo is a MUCH better athlete. He'll probably never be the scorer Bazz is but scoring and offensive rebounding is all Bazz does, terrible defense, black hole with the ball, selfish attitude. I'd take Oladipo for him right now as a UCLA fan if trades in college were possible.

Bazz is really only improving one area of his game, his shot, and even there it's still a low release set shot.

 

[slinslin]

Well I will take Shabazz easily.

Afflalo, Westbrook and Holiday how did they look in college? UCLA is a terrible guard program, terrible system.

 

[Russ Smith]

Well I will take Shabazz easily.

Afflalo, Westbrook and Holiday how did they look in college? UCLA is a terrible guard program.

Well Afflalo was POY in the conference. Westbrook was playing the 2 because of Collison and so was Holiday. When it became clear Westbrook might be a 1 in the NBA his stock exploded, that's why he tested the waters he played the 1 when Collison was out hurt and NBA teams loved him. Then he blew up in the workouts and stayed in the draft.

I'm all for removing Howland as coach but you're making a bad comparison, none of those 3 played in the offense Bazz is. Bazz has complete freedom, he doesn't defensive rebound he releases on the break, UCLA is running the ball much more this year and Bazz can take any shot he wants. The other 3 none of them had even remotely comparable freedom in the offense.

I've seen all but the last 2 UCLA games(out of the country for those 2) and I'm still amazed people project Bazz to be such a high pick. It's a weak draft but he's completely left hand dominant, can't handle the ball, won't pass(1 apg), plays no defense, won't defensive rebound, he has 2 blocks in 700 minutes this season! Can't move his feet laterally, he just powers through guys and has improved his shot enough in college he's effective scoring.

I'd take Oladipo in a heartbeat, and McLemore.

 

[Phrazbit]

Not sure if I'd take him over Shabazz but I'm thrilled with Oladipo's emergence. If we whiff on the lotto it would suck to have the 4th pick in a 3 player draft.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Not sure if I'd take him over Shabazz but I'm thrilled with Oladipo's emergence. If we whiff on the lotto it would suck to have the 4th pick in a 3 player draft.

Yup. Its nice to have one more option.

 

[JCSunsfan]

uh no, aside from being 2 years older..

Oladipo is clearly a better defender but on offense Shabazz is much much better.

a year and a half. Olapido was born in May if 92, Shabaz in Nov of 93.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgWJGiJJAwk

When I watch this kid, I think, this is what Jared Dudley would be like if he was athletic.

He's a better Leandro Barbosa. Same speed, better motor, better defense.

 

[slinslin]

In basketball terms he is 2 years older, he is a junior, Shabazz a freshman. Oladipo is supposed to be better right now, he had 2 years extra semi-professional coaching and basketball experience under his belt.

 

[Errntknght]

Two people mentioning that Olapido is a better defender than Barbosa... that's damn faint praise.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Two people mentioning that Olapido is a better defender than Barbosa... that's damn faint praise.

Well, the good news is he's a far better defender than Barbosa. Prior to this season, Oladipo was considered a limited NBA prospect because of his lack of offensive ability. He had been considered a defensive specialist. I know you're just quoting others but his name for those interested is Victor Oladipo.

Steve