NBA mock draft

[banyon]

Yeah, I got some time to waste tonight...Interesting to see some of the Big XII related players. No more High Schoolers you haven't heard of. I probably watch too much college basketball, but here are my thoughts in blue.
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Round 1:

1. Charlotte Rudy Gay 6-8 220 SF UConn So. I knew he was good, but I didnt know #1 overall type good. Guess he gets the $$$ windfall since O.J. Mayo can't go pro.

2. *Chicago Adam Morrison 6-8 220 SF Gonzaga Jr. The next "Larry Legend" or the next "Keith Van Horn" I'm not sure. He certainly has a well-rounded all around offensive game. I think he's more like Nowitzki than the other two guys. Guess he and Kirk Hinrich will battle each other for the worst haircut in the NBA.

3. Atlanta LaMarcus Aldridge 6-11 245 PF Tex. So. He's really difficult to defend. He also has the tools to be an elite defender. Fortunately for the rest of the Big XII, he hasn't figured that out yet. It'll be too bad for him if he has to rot away in Atlanta for a couple of years. I don't think Atlanta needs him and Marvin Williams. They need to draft a guard here.

4. Portland Andrea Bargnani 6-11 240 PF Italy 1985 Well, he's tall and Italian. Maybe he'll be better than Darko Milicic? I'd never take a foreign player this high unless you have some real evidence.

5. Orlando JJ Redick 6-4 190 SG Duke Sr. I'm surprised he's this high. He and Morrison will definitely be 1-2 in the Player of the year contest, but I've heard scouts knock him for getting shut down by longer, athletic players like Memphis' Rodney Carney.

6. *Toronto Rodney Carney 6-7 205 SF Memphis Sr. Speaking of Carney, this is a good spot for him. Would work well with the ultra-quick Chris Bosh.

7. Seattle Tyrus Thomas 6-9 218 PF LSU Fr. I though Glen Davis was their best player? I guess it's like last year with Marvin Williams/Sean May. Must have some upside. LSU is a team I haven't watched yet. Puzzled that they lost to Houston, but gave UCONN all they wanted in Stoors.

8. *Boston Shelden Williams 6-9 250 PF Duke Sr. I think he's overrated this high on the board. He'll be a serviceable backup IMO, but he should slide down the board after a while.

9. Houston Ronnie Brewer 6-7 217 SG Arkansas Jr. [not sure he's this good. I can think of about 10 players in the Big XII I'd rather have.

10. Chicago Randy Foye 6-3 205 PG Villanova Sr. He's legit and talented. If Nova hits their shots they are unbeatable.

11. *Minnesota Mardy Collins 6-6 205 PG/SG Temple Sr. Haven't seen Temple play. Good history of picks there though.

12. Sacramento Rajon Rondo 6-2 171 PG Kentucky So. He should NOT go in the draft until he has an outside jump shot. Big mistake if he does IMO.

13. Golden St. Aaron Gray 7-0 270 C Pittsburgh Jr. He's tall, but so was Chenowith.

14. Philadelphia Richard Roby 6-6 190 SG Colorado So. He's pretty good, could get a lot better on D. I hadn't heard he was leaving early. I guess it's not as if his teams going to get better next year though.

15. Utah Brandon Roy 6-5 195 SG Washington Sr. This guy is one of the only reasons UW is even decent this year. He's ready.

16. *Phoenix Maurice Ager 6-4 180 SG Mich. St. Sr. Shouldn't Mich. St be better with all of their talent and experience?

17. Washington Daniel Gibson 6-2 190 PG Texas So. There he goes. Done in 2, just like TJ Ford. He can really shoot. I'm not sure he's the playmaker that Ford was though.

18. *New York Josh Boone 6-10 237 PF UConn Jr. I think this guy goes up higher on the board after UCONN's tourney run.

19. *NO/OK City Tiago Splitter 6-11 236 PF Brazil 1985 Just what Ok city needs, Brazilians.

20. Indiana Rudy Fernandez 6-6 172 SG Spain 1985 Never heard of him.But at least Pacer fans can shout "RU-DY, RU-DY!"

21. New Jersey Kevin Pittsnogle 6-10 255 PF WV Sr. Yes! Fear the Pittsnogle.

22. NO/OK City Paul Davis 6-10 260 PF/C Mich. St. Sr. Again I ask, shouldn't Mich. St. be better?

23. Memphis Hilton Armstrong 6-11 235 C UConn Sr. UCONN's frontline is a monster. That being said, one of the three will probably be a bust. My money's on this guy.

24. *NewJersey Marcus Vinicius 6-9 220 SF Brazil 1984 Brazil is really representing in the draft. Half of these guys will never show up or be out of the league in 2 years. It remonds me of what Jason Kapono said one time "I should have dropped out of school... grown a beard... moved to Europe and change my name to Kaponovich... I would have been a lottery pick."

25. Cleveland Nick Fazekas 6-11 235 PF Nevada Jr. His team's underacheivement has started to affect his draft stock. He needs a couple of W's in the Tourney to move up.

26. *LA Lakers Marco Killingsworth 6-7 268 PF Ind. Sr. seems awfully low for a guy that displays this much ability. That's be a steal for the Lakers. Surely someone will wise up.

27. Phoenix Mike Gansey 6-4 205 SG W. Virginia Sr. Solid, if unspectacular player. Very Hinrich-esque.

28. *New York Matt Haryasz 6-10 230 PF Stanford Sr. Stanford's not that good this year and neither is this guy.

29. Dallas Hassan Adams 6-4 201 SF Arizona Sr. Really? Really? . talk about underacheivement.

30. *Portland Taj Gray 6-8 235 PF Oklahoma Sr. I think he's better than this. Long and quick. His teams' performance hurts his stock too.

Round 2 to follow.

[Mi_chief_fan]

Didn't Detroit just acquire Orlando's #1?

[REST STOP HOOLIGAN]

Talk about your BIG Xll BIAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Every player you list that is not big Xll you say there are five players better than them from the Big Xll.


Go ahead name me 10 players from the Big Xll that are better than Ronnie Brewer!

[LiL stumppy]

Taj Gray is my man.Hope he does better than that.

[banyon]

Originally Posted by REST STOP HOOLIGAN

Talk about your BIG Xll BIAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Every player you list that is not big Xll you say there are five players better than them from the Big Xll.


Go ahead name me 10 players from the Big Xll that are better than Ronnie Brewer!

____________________________________________
R. Brewer 18.6 ppg, 2.1 APG 4.7 RPG 33.9% 3Pt Pct

Against quality competition...

vs. UCONN in Hawaii: 8-17 FG 8-11 FT 25 pts 2Reb 2 Ast
vs. KU in Hawaii 7-21 FG 6-9 FT 23 Pts 2 Reb 3 Ast
vs. Maryland in Hawaii 6-15 FG 5-6 FT 19 Pts 4 Reb 2 Ast.
vs. LSU 4-11 FG 6-8 FT 16 Pts 7 Reb 3 Ast
@ Kentucky 7-15 FG 7-7 FT 23 Pts 5 Reb 3 Ast
@ LSU 8-17 FG 6-7 FT 24 Pts 5 Reb 1 Ast
________________________________________________

T. Gardner 19.8 PPG 2.0 APG 3.1 RPG 40.5% 3Pt Pct

vs. Illinois in STL 2-12 FG 0-0 FT 6 Pts 2 Reb 0 Ast
@ Oklahoma 7-17 FG 3-5 FT 21 Pts 3 Reb 4 Ast
vs. Colorado 7-14 FG 3-5 FT 21 Pts1 Reb 2 Ast
vs. Kansas 13-22 FG 7-8 FT 40 Pts 2 Reb 3 Ast
vs. Texas 5-16 FG 2-2 FT 15 Pts 2 Reb 5 Ast
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They almost look like the same player. With maybe a slight edge to Brewer on Rebounding and the edge to Gardner on 3 point shooting. Same low FG pct and propensity to chuck the ball. Both juniors and not seen with a lot of room to develop. Both 6-6 ish. Both don't appear to pass the ball all that well. Problem is, the NBA values the 3 pointer out of their guards. Brewer can't slash against the bigger bodies he'll see in the association. The other problem is...I'm comparing Brewer to Thomas Gardner. I don't think Gardner will even be 1st team Big XII, so that's not good.

Sure. As far as NBA productivity, I'll take...

LaMarcus Aldridge. Daniel Gibson. PJ Tucker. Brandon Rush. Julian Wright. Mario Chalmers. Taj Gray. Curtis Stinson. Reggie Roby. Joseph Jones. (most of these guys I'd rather have right now, the rest will be better with development time).

Tell me something. If Ronnie Brewer's so great, why isn't Arkansas an NCAA tourney team? Great players take teams on their backs and beyond expectations. Remember Wally Sczerbiak? He's a mediocre NBA player, but he took Miami (OH) deep in the tourney. Are you saying that this Ark. team has less talent surrounding Brewer than Miami (OH) had surrounding Wally? Or look at Pittsnogle. Or Pops Mensa-Bonsu. How about Nick Fazekas (or Kirk Snyder a couple of years ago)? Is Ark less talented than Nevada's surrounding cast?

Making these lists, you're bound to cheese somebody off. I had to pick on somebody and I chose your guy. Sorry if that bothers you, but I've seen him play a few times and never been all that impressed.

Until he can shoot the 3, there's no way he should go that high.

[banyon]

Originally Posted by Mi_chief_fan

Didn't Detroit just acquire Orlando's #1?

You are right:

Acquired forward Darko Milicic and guard Carlos Arroyo from the Detroit Pistons for center Kelvin Cato and a future first-round pick.

Who is running Orlando's front office? They should let Detroit bear the responsibility of their draft bust-pick. Giving up a 5 pick is ridiculous IMO. Enjoy J.J. Redick or whoever you get that will almost certainly be better than Darko.

[dj56dt58]

Originally Posted by banyon

A 6'4" SG is going #1? sorry, J.J. is not LeBron (or O.J. Mayo who would've gone #1). Scouts see that he gets alot of his shots off of screens that NBA players might not be able to set as easily as Duke does against college competition. I think he'll actually be a worse pick than 5 after draft camps and stuff. That Memphis/Duke game where Carney held him scoreless for a whole half will get a lot of looks.

BTW if you want an inside presence, then Morrison is not your guy. Trade down for one of the UCONN guys IMO.

I wouldn't take Reddick #1 for the reason that you mentioned, but I don't see many teams passing him up either. He is the best player in the nation. Really, it all depends who gets that #1. I'm hoping it's the Knicks, bc that spot goes to Chicago. I think Morrison would make a good Forward in the NBA, which is what Chicago needs. I wish he was a little taller though, but It's ok since we're not looking for a center since Chandler is starting to play well. Plus we can get Morrison, and another good forward later since we have two first round picks. I would give both of them up to have Curry back though

[banyon]

Originally Posted by dj56dt58

I wouldn't take Reddick #1 for the reason that you mentioned, but I don't see many teams passing him up either. He is the best player in the nation. Really, it all depends who gets that #1. I'm hoping it's the Knicks, bc that spot goes to Chicago. I think Morrison would make a good Forward in the NBA, which is what Chicago needs. I wish he was a little taller though, but It's ok since we're not looking for a center since Chandler is starting to play well. Plus we can get Morrison, and another good forward later since we have two first round picks. I would give both of them up to have Curry back though

Yeah. or Elton Brand.

I didn't like either one of those moves by Reinsdorf.

[Mecca]

I'd just like to point out that Tiago Splitter is the coolest name ever.

[dj56dt58]

Originally Posted by banyon

Yeah. or Elton Brand.

I didn't like either one of those moves by Reinsdorf.

I know..it's like every time the Bulls get good players they let them go. If Ben Gordon gets traded to Boston, or anywhere else for that matter, I'm gonna go nuts

[REST STOP HOOLIGAN]

Originally Posted by banyon

____________________________________________
R. Brewer 18.6 ppg, 2.1 APG 4.7 RPG 33.9% 3Pt Pct

Against quality competition...

vs. UCONN in Hawaii: 8-17 FG 8-11 FT 25 pts 2Reb 2 Ast
vs. KU in Hawaii 7-21 FG 6-9 FT 23 Pts 2 Reb 3 Ast
vs. Maryland in Hawaii 6-15 FG 5-6 FT 19 Pts 4 Reb 2 Ast.
vs. LSU 4-11 FG 6-8 FT 16 Pts 7 Reb 3 Ast
@ Kentucky 7-15 FG 7-7 FT 23 Pts 5 Reb 3 Ast
@ LSU 8-17 FG 6-7 FT 24 Pts 5 Reb 1 Ast
________________________________________________

T. Gardner 19.8 PPG 2.0 APG 3.1 RPG 40.5% 3Pt Pct

vs. Illinois in STL 2-12 FG 0-0 FT 6 Pts 2 Reb 0 Ast
@ Oklahoma 7-17 FG 3-5 FT 21 Pts 3 Reb 4 Ast
vs. Colorado 7-14 FG 3-5 FT 21 Pts1 Reb 2 Ast
vs. Kansas 13-22 FG 7-8 FT 40 Pts 2 Reb 3 Ast
vs. Texas 5-16 FG 2-2 FT 15 Pts 2 Reb 5 Ast
___________________________________________________
They almost look like the same player. With maybe a slight edge to Brewer on Rebounding and the edge to Gardner on 3 point shooting. Same low FG pct and propensity to chuck the ball. Both juniors and not seen with a lot of room to develop. Both 6-6 ish. Both don't appear to pass the ball all that well. Problem is, the NBA values the 3 pointer out of their guards. Brewer can't slash against the bigger bodies he'll see in the association. The other problem is...I'm comparing Brewer to Thomas Gardner. I don't think Gardner will even be 1st team Big XII, so that's not good.

Sure. As far as NBA productivity, I'll take...

LaMarcus Aldridge. Daniel Gibson. PJ Tucker. Brandon Rush. Julian Wright. Mario Chalmers. Taj Gray. Curtis Stinson. Reggie Roby. Joseph Jones. (most of these guys I'd rather have right now, the rest will be better with development time).

Tell me something. If Ronnie Brewer's so great, why isn't Arkansas an NCAA tourney team? Great players take teams on their backs and beyond expectations. Remember Wally Sczerbiak? He's a mediocre NBA player, but he took Miami (OH) deep in the tourney. Are you saying that this Ark. team has less talent surrounding Brewer than Miami (OH) had surrounding Wally? Or look at Pittsnogle. Or Pops Mensa-Bonsu. How about Nick Fazekas (or Kirk Snyder a couple of years ago)? Is Ark less talented than Nevada's surrounding cast?

Making these lists, you're bound to cheese somebody off. I had to pick on somebody and I chose your guy. Sorry if that bothers you, but I've seen him play a few times and never been all that impressed.

Until he can shoot the 3, there's no way he should go that high.

First of all Brewer is not my boy!! I'm a college basketball overall. Personally I prefer Kentucky and I'm also quite a fan of Chris Lofton of Tennessee. I see your point to a degree, but I still not believe there 10 prospects out there from the BigXll better than Brewer. You Also have Rajon Rondo entirely too high, well you and the rest of the world. This kid is going to be a big disapointment. He shoot s blazing 43% from the free throw line and just over 30% from the field. He looks more and more lost everyday. He has also been yanked from starting lineup with the other two McD's all-americans.

[banyon]

Originally Posted by REST STOP HOOLIGAN

First of all Brewer is not my boy!! I'm a college basketball overall. Personally I prefer Kentucky and I'm also quite a fan of Chris Lofton of Tennessee. I see your point to a degree, but I still not believe there 10 prospects out there from the BigXll better than Brewer. You Also have Rajon Rondo entirely too high, well you and the rest of the world. This kid is going to be a big disapointment. He shoot s blazing 43% from the free throw line and just over 30% from the field. He looks more and more lost everyday. He has also been yanked from starting lineup with the other two McD's all-americans.

I have Rondo too high? it's NBA Draft Net's projection, not mine. My comment on Rondo should tell you how I feel.

Originally Posted by banyon

12. Sacramento Rajon Rondo 6-2 171 PG Kentucky So. He should NOT go in the draft until he has an outside jump shot. Big mistake if he does IMO.

I gave you 10 Big XII prospects better than Brewer. Who am I wrong about?

[phxchief]

Phoenix needs size.... oh wait, it's February.