The Official 2013 NBA Draft Talk Thread

[PTBG]

In the 2012-13 season, UCLA freshman Shabazz Muhammad shot 44.3 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from long range.

He didn't bring that touch with him to Chicago, hitting just 36 percent of his jump shots throughout the shooting portion of the combine.

Muhammad is probably pretty upset that he shot worse in a non-game scenario than he did during Pac-12 action this winter.

It's not something that's going to demolish his draft stock, but a few more teams could pass on him if he doesn't rectify things during private team workouts.

at Shabazz

In the combine's version of "around the world," Michigan shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. delivered a prolific long-range display.

He sank 19 of 25 triples from beyond the arc and looked every bit the part of a dangerous pro shooter.

Hardaway's greatest asset to NBA teams heading into his rookie campaign is his outside shooting, so it was terrific for him to prove that he can stroke it—and then some.

Combine drills don't always translate to in-game success, but he seems primed to terrorize NBA defenses once he gets the chance.

Kentucky standout Nerlens Noel may have lost a bit of lower-body bulk during his ACL rehab, but 206 pounds is still exceedingly light for a 6'10" post player.

He shouldn't just worry about getting pushed around by NBA big men. There are guards, including 6'3", 213-pound Victor Oladipo, who are heavier than him.

Oladipo possesses an exemplary physique comprised of chiseled muscle, so Noel's shame isn't that he weighs less, but rather that he's feathery in general.

Even if Noel weighed slightly more than Oladipo, it would still be miles below where he needs to be to compete on the block in the NBA.

C.J. Leslie's physical prowess wasn't limited to the lane agility drill.

He was by far the tallest player to eclipse 40" in the max-vertical category. The next-tallest player to reach that height was 6'5" Michael Carter-Williams.

Even more striking was Leslie's three-quarter court sprint, where he nearly outran the freakish Shane Larkin. Leslie dashed in 3.1 seconds, and Larkin barely edged him out with a 3.08.

He came to make a statement at the combine, and the numbers spoke loudly once the dust settled.

There really isn't a suitable adjective to describe Rudy Gobert's wingspan.

The 7-foot French baller registered a 7'8.5" wingspan, blowing away the field and making pro coaches salivate over the damage he could do defensively.

In game situations, the amount of square footage he can cover simply by reaching is astounding.

Gobert also posted a ridiculous 9'7" standing reach, which means he could probably dunk a tennis ball if he tip-toed.

 

[tremonthustler1]

Hardaway has instantly become overrated. His shot selection is booty no matter how he looked at the combine.

 

[Tres Leches]

I'll take the Indiana Pacers spot if its still available

 

[FAH1223]

Shabazz Muhammad: I'm the best player in the NBA Draft! | ProBasketballTalk

UCLA swingman Shabazz Muhammad out to change perceptions before NBA draft | The Washington Post

 

[DoubleClutch]

So who gonna be the best pg out of this class. So many good ones. Cj McCollum or Trey Burke probably. But that German/African dude might shock some people.

 

[FAH1223]

So who gonna be the best pg out of this class. So many good ones. Cj McCollum or Trey Burke probably. But that German/African dude might shock some people.

Burke's scouting report reminds me of Jameer Nelson

McCollum is going to be a good 6th man, 3rd guard. I wouldn't mind the Wizards picking him to replace Jordan Crawford and also play next to Beal or Wall.

Schroeder... I don't know much about. He screams like a Utah Jazz or Dallas Mavericks pick.

 

[DoubleClutch]

And what about Isiah Cannan, Ray Mccallum and Shane Larkin? They're some of the best pg athletically.

 

[Kang Deezy]

Larkin is an interesting one to me.

Off the charts athletically

 

[FAH1223]

Good write up here:

The most important day of the NBA calendar for Wizards fans is upon us -- The NBA Draft Lottery. Tonight, the Wizards will learn just how far back they'll move when the ping pong balls have stopped bouncing.

Sitting eighth by virtue of their all-in chase for that elusive ninth "seed," the most likely outcome is the team staying right where they are and ending up with the eighth selection. Here are the chances for each of Washington's possibilities tonight (ordered from greatest likelihood to least):
•8th pick -- 70.2%
•9th pick -- 16.5%
•3rd pick -- 4.8%
•2nd pick -- 4.1%
•1st pick -- 3.5%
•10th pick -- 0.8%
•11th pick -- 0.1%
Between now and draft day, you're going to hear the "This Draft Is The Suck" anthem. In my analysis, using my draft database (dubbed Ye Olde Draft Analyzer -- YODA for short), there doesn't look to be an all-time elite at the top, but there are a number of players with the potential to be contributors at the NBA level. There are potential All-Stars as well -- depending on how hard and smart they work.

Before presenting YODA's first look at the 2013 draft, a few words about it. YODA is based on a player's NCAA production and his physical measurements and athletic tests at the NBA draft combines. Why use the combine athletic data? Because it's the publicly available OBJECTIVE measure of a player's athletic ability.

YODA takes each player's per minute stats, adjusts for age/class, position and level of competition, incorporates the combine data and spits out a final grade. Also, there's an assessment of a player's handsomeness. (Just kidding on that last one.) If a player doesn't participate in a draft combine, there is no bonus/penalty awarded for size or athleticism.

For today, I'm presenting players by their "tiers" in YODA -- I'll dig in deeper with more information from the database as we get closer to the draft.

Tiers are, in effect, broad groupings of players who are approximately the same level of prospect. The tiers run from 10 to zero (well, technically there are a handful of guys who somehow achieved negative tiers -- two of them (JJ Reddikk and Nazr Mohammed went on to play in the NBA, so go figure). Here are the tiers with sample players for each.

10 -- Shaquille O'Neal (SO) -- Shaq's the only guy to hit this level.

9 -- No one. Yeah, that's how outlandish Shaq was that year. No other player in my ever-growing database has even reached a 9.

8 -- Anthony Davis (FR), Shaquille O'Neal (JR), Kevin Love (FR), Hakeem Olajuwon (SO), Kevin Durant (FR)

7 -- Grant Hill (JR), Tim Duncan (SR), Elton Brand (SO), Shawn Marion (FR)

6 -- Chris Webber (FR), Shane Battier (SR), Elton Brand (FR), Paul Millsap (JR) Dwyane Wade (SO & FR)

5 -- Tim Duncan (FR), Jason Kidd (FR), Al Horford (JR), Stephen Curry (JR), James Harden (FR)

4 -- Cole Aldrich (FR), Alec Burks (SO), Mario Chalmers (SO), Brandon Roy (JR), Greg Monroe (SO), David Lee (FR), Nate Robinson (JR)

3 -- Steve Blake (JR), Javale McGee (SO), Jeff Taylor (SR), Danny Granger (FR), Chris Singleton (JR)

2 -- Matt Barnes (SO), Morris Almond (JR), Robert Sacre (SO), Jared Jeffries (SO), Tyshawn Taylor (SR), Lance Goulbourne (SR), Ryan Gomes (SR)

1 -- Garrett Temple (FR & JR), Morris Almond (SO), Vernon Macklin (SR), Darius Miller (FR)

0 -- Cartier Martin (FR), Festus Ezeli (SO), Ashton Gibbs (SR)

Got all that? There's a quiz later.

Basically, the higher the tier, the more likely the player is to be a better pro. To merit a first round pick, a player needs to land in tier 4 or higher. Tier 3 are second rounders.

So, with all that preamble, here's this year's draft by tier (note, no one rated into tiers 10, 9 or 8):

Tier 7

•Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana

Tier 6
•Cody Zeller, C, Indiana

Tier 5
•Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
•Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky
•Kelly Olynyk, C, Gonzaga
•Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas
•Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
•Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV
•Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse
•Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville
•Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh

Tier 4
•Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, PG, Georgia
•Shane Larkin, PG, Miami
•Reggie Bullock, SF, North Carolina
•C.J. McCollum, SG, Lehigh
•Tyrus McGee, SG, Iowa State
•Jeff Withey, C, Kansas
•Mason Plumlee, PF, Duke
•James Southerland, SF, Syracuse
•D.J. Stephens, PF, Memphis
•Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UCLA
•Alex Oriakhi, PF, Missouri
•Arsalan Kazemi, PF, Oregon
•Zeke Marshall, C, Akron
•Mike Muscala, C, Bucknell
•Nate Wolters, PG, South Dakota State
•Ray McCallum, PG, Detroit Mercy
•Elias Harris, SF, Gonzaga
•Jamaal Franklin, SG, San Diego State
•Russ Smith, PG, Louisville
•Allen Crabbe, SG, California
•Gregory Echenique, C, Creighton
•Alex Len, C, Maryland
•Kevin Young, SF, Kanas


I could keep going, but that's a first round worth of names, plus a few into the second round.

At the top, Oladipo looks to be just as good a prospect as recent first overall selections like Kyrie Irving (tier 7) and John Wall (tier 6). He's not a historically good prospect like Anthony Davis, but he has the tools and production of a player who should be an excellent pro.

Cody Zeller (tier 6) would be another worthy top overall pick in many drafts, and would be a top 2-3 pick in virtually every class.

Lots more to come as the draft gets nearer.

Broom on the Warpath - The 2013 NBA Draft According to YODA

 

[tremonthustler1]

8 -- Anthony Davis (FR), Shaquille O'Neal (JR), Kevin Love (FR), Hakeem Olajuwon (SO), Kevin Durant (FR)

One of these things is not like the other

 

[5StarElite]

Draft where it seems there's no franchise players? Bobcats got the first pick on lock. Best thing for them to do would be to draft Noel, stash that nikka all season and hope to re up on Wiggins a year later.

 

[jaguar paw]

@tremonthustler1

Even though Otto is a better fit for what they need currently.We will have to go with Nerlens Noel.

Cavs defensively suck and they will give Noel the time to develop and get stronger.

Hibbert, Drummond, Sanders, and Noah in their division alone are going to eat this dude alive if he started next year but he won't because of Varejao/Zeller.



They will be back in the lottery somehow (probably because of injuries again) they will find their SF next year or this summer in free agency.

 

[Malta]

@tremonthustler1

Even though Otto is a better fit for what they need currently.We will have to go with Nerlens Noel.

Cavs defensively suck and they will give Noel the time to develop and get stronger.

Hibbert, Drummond, Sanders, and Noah in their division alone are going to eat this dude alive if he started next year but he won't because of Varejao/Zeller.

He's not in Drummond's weight class , big Drum was almost 3 hunna this season.

 

[jaguar paw]

He's not in Drummond's weight class , big Drum was almost 3 hunna this season.

:cry:

No worries....Noel won't be one the court at the same time as him.

:nonikkas:

 

[Malta]

One of these things is not like the other

Who said that? Dream was a Junior.