2012 NBA Draft Thread!

[WMD]

Originally Posted by WMD

GUARANTEED 100% CORRECT 2012 LOTTO MOCK!!!

1. New Orleans Hornets - Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
2. Charlotte Bobcats - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
3. Washington Wizards - Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
4. Cleveland Cavaliers - Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
5. Sacramento Kings - Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
6. Portland Trailblazers (f/Brooklyn) - Andre Drummond, C, UConn
7. Golden State Warriors - Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn
8. Toronto Raptors - Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor
9. Detroit Pistons - Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
10. New Orleans Hornets (f/Minnesota) - Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
11. Portland Trailblazers - Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
12. Milwaukee Bucks - Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
13. Phoenix Suns - Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
14. Houston Rockets - Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky

4 of my top 5 were right! Since I did this a couple hours after the lottery, what do I win?? Money??

[SeanTaylorRIP]

Best Draft's:

Portland: Didn't move any picks but made 3 excellent selections. Damian Lilliard is a guy I've long been high on. Can score, underrated explosive athlete, and decent PG skills. I think he will be a 15+5 guy right away maybe better. Starting PG for sure. Myers Leonard was a good pick. A lot closer to Drummond athletically than people think. Has a chance to develop into something special beside Aldridge. Although he has a high bust value much better than taking a limited guy like Zeller. Lastly Will Barton is a steal and a guy if he had gone #18 to Minnesota I would have no problems with. Will compete with Wesely Matthews for time at SG.

Detroit: Awesome draft for Detroit. Getting Drummond at #9 is an absolute steal and dream pick. I've never hopped off the Drummond bandwagon. At the least will have a Deandre Jordan type impact and allow Monroe to move to PF, although they may struggle at times with who will pick up the faster 4's in the league. Khris Middleton was a good value in the 2nd and a nice developmental wing who had big hype before the season. English was a nice role player who can make the roster as a shooter. Kind of expected them to get Hollis Thompson instead of either of these guys.

Houston: You can't argue the talent. Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Jones, and Royce White are the most talented players in the 10-20 range, whether they keep them or not they have definitely used their picks well with 3 lottery talents.

Oklahoma City: PJIII was a steal period. Much better than selling their pick the Thunder get a guy with top 10 ability on a small rookie contract. Learning under KDIII will help him immensely.

Golden State: Harrison Barnes is an absolute steal at #7, and not gives their starting lineup with Curry, Thompson, and Barnes 3 dead eye shooters to go along with David Lee and Andrew Bogut. Festus was a nice pick at 30 as an insurance policy for Bogut, Draymond Green is your prototype role player.

Good Draft's:

New Orleans: Anthony Davis was a home run pick, Darius Miller is a solid role player and a comfort for Davis, not a fan of the Rivers pick but it's ok.

Washington: Bradley Beal was a home run pick, Tomas was a head scratcher a bit for that high in the 2nd round.

Philadelphia: Moultrie is a steal and could get major minutes, the first rounder is apparently lottery protected for a long time so it was a good value, Harkless is a nice developmental player but picks makes sense if we see Iggy traded.

Dallas: Three good role players in Cunningham, Crowder, and James. Cunningham though has potential to be a starter down the line.

Charlotte: The two best perimeter defenders in the draft. MKG and Jeff Taylor will help change the culture of the Bobcats. If Kemba and Henderson can step it up as scorers it will make a huge difference. After stealing Taylor though in the 2nd round makes you wonder if Charlotte should have taken Thomas Robinson.

Bad Draft's:

Cleveland: Waiters is a horrible reach at #4. An undesized SG who can't shoot. He can definitely attack the hoop though but is just an average compliment to Kyrie. Zeller is a nice pick but they traded away potentially 3 players on their roster for a guy who isn't an upgrade over Varejao and doesn't really project to be a long time starter in this league, more of a role player.

Boston: Sullinger is overweight, slow, and has major back issues. Fab Melo isn't any better than Robert Sacre.

Indiana: Miles Plumlee is an awful pick in the first and brings you nothing new from Hansborough, also Orlando Johnson joins a huge log jam in Indiana.

[gpngc]

I agree that HOU and GS did very well. If Bogut and Curry can stay healthy (longshots), they could be pretty good.

I love MKG but Charlotte is so screwed. They have nothing else worth a damn. Kemba's a good bench player at best and Biyombo will never be good on offense. Rough team.

[SeanTaylorRIP]

Rockets get Aldemir from Clippers, another future asset.

[JRTPlaya21]

Great write-up STRIP. I still can't believe Waiters went that high and I almost feel bad for Boston lol. Love how my favorite squads have landed a III from Baylor though. Must be a sign.

[Brodeur]

I think Waiters will be much better than you give him credit for.

[Brodeur]

Originally Posted by gpngc

I agree that HOU and GS did very well. If Bogut and Curry can stay healthy (longshots), they could be pretty good.

I love MKG but Charlotte is so screwed. They have nothing else worth a damn. Kemba's a good bench player at best and Biyombo will never be good on offense. Rough team.

The problem is that Charlotte now has three really good perimeter defenders, but no real scorers. It's really awkward.

[gpngc]

Originally Posted by Brodeur

The problem is that Charlotte now has three really good perimeter defenders, but no real scorers. It's really awkward.

Yes. Ben Gordon is going to get to shoot 40 times a game though so that should be fun.

[WMD]

Originally Posted by gpngc

Yes. Ben Gordon is going to get to shoot 40 times a game though so that should be fun.

He was gonna do that anyway.

[mqtirishfan]

Sullinger is going to be a superstar and Melo will be an all-star.

/drunk

[nobodyinparticular]

Originally Posted by gpngc

I agree that HOU and GS did very well. If Bogut and Curry can stay healthy (longshots), they could be pretty good.

I love MKG but Charlotte is so screwed. They have nothing else worth a damn. Kemba's a good bench player at best and Biyombo will never be good on offense. Rough team.

I really don't like GS's perimeter defense though. Curry, Klay and Barnes are all well below average defenders. That could be a big issue.

I agree with you on Charlotte. I freaking love MKG. My 2nd favorite player in this draft. But I don't like that he is going to a team that is devoid of any offensive talent whatsoever.

[mqtirishfan]

I'm going to hate Charlotte forever for taking Taylor to backup MKG. He should be a starter in the NBA.

[SuperMcGee]

Magic fans need to be more enthused with Nicholson. Dude is Mayor McCheese. You also have McGee rooting on your side, now!

[yodapoop]

I was so pissed the Heat didn't take PJ3...I mean I know we were taking whoever the hell that player we did for Philly, but damn, it woulda been nice to get him for our team or at least to keep him away from the Thunder. But whatev, we are the champs bitches! And shame on a bunch of other teams before us passing on him and letting him get that freeking far.

[mqtirishfan]

Originally Posted by yodapoop

I was so pissed the Heat didn't take PJ3...I mean I know we were taking whoever the hell that player we did for Philly, but damn, it woulda been nice to get him for our team or at least to keep him away from the Thunder. But whatev, we are the champs bitches! And shame on a bunch of other teams before us passing on him and letting him get that freeking far.

But hey, you guys got some big white stiff, and some likely protected to all hell first rounder.

[yodapoop]

Originally Posted by mqtirishfan

But hey, you guys got some big white stiff, and some likely protected to all hell first rounder.

And only have to spend as little money as possible...

[D-Unit]

Originally Posted by SuperMcgee

Magic fans need to be more enthused with Nicholson. Dude is Mayor McCheese. You also have McGee rooting on your side, now!

I'm already feeling much better about the pick. Not like it was a reach, mostly was upset on passing on PJ3... but Nicholson is a much better post player and post defense... can shoot, rebound... while he's not oozing with athleticism, I think he's a hustler who gets the most out of his talent.

Between him and Kyle O'Quinn the Magic added two PFs who will scrap and make it tough for any wing trying to drive to the rim. Bye Bye to the 4 out, 1 in gimick system. Now we have guys who can clean up after Dwight's misses and provide weakside defensive help where Ryan Anderson and Glen Davis don't.

[D-Unit]

Originally Posted by sbh15

it's either Nicholson or a trade

EDIT: Wojnarowski is a lying bastard

Originally Posted by D-Unit

...and Woj has not always been right.

Originally Posted by sbh15

what do you mean? he's been dead on tonight

did you forget?

Woj tries to be right, and he is one of the better ones out there, but he's no Adam Schefter. Woj has been wrong a lot.

[TACKLE]

Originally Posted by Brodeur

I think Waiters will be much better than you give him credit for.

I gotta agree with Brody here. Assuming they realized they needed a scorer a lot more than a PF and it came down to Waiters and Barnes, give me the more explosive player who can create his own offense off the dribble over the solid spot-up shooter. Knot to nock Barnes but I think it's easier to find another player (next year/FA/etc) who brings to the table what he does than it is to find another Waiters type.

[mqtirishfan]

Originally Posted by yodapoop

And only have to spend as little money as possible...

PJ3 might have been the kind of prospect that is worth the money.

[TheBoyWonder22]

Portland kicked ass. I'm not a huge Meyers Leonard fan, but he's probably the second best pure center in the draft. Lillard is awesome. The only way this draft would have been better is if Drummond fell two more picks. Regardless, I approve.

[fenikz]

ya seemed like Portland and Toronto should of worked out a deal, Ross would of certainly of fallen to 11

[WMD]

Totally didn't expect to be able to get Drummond. I didn't think anybody thought it was possible until about a week ago when I started seeing Drummond fall to #9 in mocks.. I was so used to seeing Henson, Leonard, Zeller, or Perry at #9. After seeing a few different scenarios, I started to hope for it but didn't really think it'd happen. And then it actually happened.

[Cudders]

Originally Posted by LTgiants

Tyler Zeller and Dion Waiters



I feel bad for Cavs fans.

Originally Posted by gpngc

Cleveland is so stupid to get stupid ass Zeller for two picks here. Draymond Green is still there idiots. Same thing last year when they took stupid Tristian Thompson over Vala. So bad.

Originally Posted by SeanTaylorRIP

Bad Draft's:

Cleveland: Waiters is a horrible reach at #4. An undesized SG who can't shoot. He can definitely attack the hoop though but is just an average compliment to Kyrie. Zeller is a nice pick but they traded away potentially 3 players on their roster for a guy who isn't an upgrade over Varejao and doesn't really project to be a long time starter in this league, more of a role player.

To be honest, I don’t feel too bad about the Cavs’ draft. I was a bit surprised at four, since most media outlets had us all but married to Harrison Barnes weeks ago and we didn’t bring Waiters in for a personal work out, but it’s not the complete head-scratcher that some have made it out to be. Outside of Uncle Drew, the Cavs have zero scorers. Antwan Jamison was the second option last season and he won’t be returning, so the Waiters pick makes basketball sense. Waiters has a better offensive skill set than Barnes. He can create, slash, shoot, and has shown streaks of a killer instinct. On a team bereft of natural scorers, those qualities are attractive. And let’s be real, even though Cavs management called Waiters a steal at four, Chris Grant made his move for Brad Beal and Charlotte backed out. The first-tier of prospects weren’t a viable option for Cleveland. That left Waiters, a late-riser, as Plan B. I don’t see what’s so egregious about that. Who, out of that second-tier, was a clear cut above Waiters? Barnes? For what reason? For all of Barnes’ accolades, Waiters attacks the basket better and has higher shooting percentages across the board. Better FG%, 3P%, eFG%, TS%, and even carries a much, much better A/TO ratio.

As for the Zeller pick, the Cavs needed to bring in a new pivot. Varejao is their best available trading chip and I think Cleveland would be willing to deal him to a contender that craves hustle and size for more assets if the right deal presented itself. Zeller is depth and insurance. And he was the seventeenth overall pick in the NBA Draft. That’s not a super premium selection. At that point, if he can become a solid part of the rotation, it isn’t a wasted pick. Plus, there were strong rumors that the Cavs had no interest in using all of their choices and bringing four rookie bodies into camp. Zeller was higher on their board and slipped out of the lottery and they found a partner in Dallas. From a conceptual standpoint, Zeller fits with what I think the Cavs are attempting to build under Scott, and that’s an energetic running team. When it comes to seven-footers, Zeller runs the court at an exceptional level, flashes a functional jump-hook in the post, and a budding mid-range jumper to space the floor for Irving and Waiters. His skill set suggests he can be a contributing member going forward. Not to mention, he’s a strong complement to Tristan Thompson, who the Cavs are still high on.

Most of the concerns I have with Waiters and Zeller are related to defense. Waiters was “hidden” in ‘Cuse’s matchup zone for most of his college career, but I’ve seen reports that he was their best man-to-man defender and he impressed scouts in that regard in his pre-draft drills. At the least, he’s got tools to work with. Still, Irving and Waiters is a smaller backcourt from a defensive perspective and that’s a little worrisome. Zeller has the length and standing reach of a tyrannosaurus rex and could stand to get tougher inside.

But, Chris Grant favors a statistical approach to evaluation, and both Waiters and Zeller scored well in advanced metric categories, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that they’re Cleveland-bound.

And I won’t lose any sleep over missing out on Draymond Green. He’s a classic tweener with minimal upside. He might be a nice stretch four when paired with Bogut, but the (limited) potential of Draymond Green would never preclude me from making a move.

[jayceheathman]

Originally Posted by WMD

4 of my top 5 were right! Since I did this a couple hours after the lottery, what do I win?? Money??

The fact you were right just offsets the fact that you were way off on Perry Jones and Sullinger.