*** Official *** 2014 NBA draft thread

[MDC 7,105]

What do you want your team to do vs what do you think they'll do?

 

Sixers here. My dream scenario is Wiggins falling to 3 and dealing Thad Young plus the 10th pick to the Lakes to draft Randle, Gordon, Vonleh or Smart.

 

What I think we do is stand pat and draft Jabari Parker and Saric, deal Thad for a mid/late first and end up with someone like Payne or Young.

[WhiteWonder 2,673]

poor sixers cant even win the draft lottery. ive never seen a team with so much young talent play so badly and manage themselves so poorly. thad young is so much more valuable than a mid/late first who im sure the sixers will destroy.

 

now they want wiggins and want to trade with cleveland .

 

they trade jrue holiday for noel and i guess this #10 pick. now, despite their best efforts to tank they will probably have to trade #3 and #10 for wiggins and if im cleveland there is no way i do that.

[WhiteWonder 2,673]

my team has no picks. i wish they would find a way to trade Deron Williams.... and honestly Brook Lopez as well. Big men with bad feet don't last. sell him while teams are still high on his potential. bring back pierce on a short deal, let him and garnett ride into the sunset as nets. keep livingston and marcus thornton. Joe Johnson still has some good years left. develop Plumlee.

 

trading Deron and Lopez would need to bring in a decent haul. a young rising star at PG and/or a nice draft pick.

[The Moz 69]

Bulls

 

1.16 Cleanthony Early - One of the best players in the Draft IMO that people aren't hyping up much.

 

1.19 Shabazz Napier - We really need a good PG since Rose's give a damn is forever busted

 

Others I hope we consider -- James Young and Tyler Ennis

[WhiteWonder 2,673]

shabazz napier is flat out fun to watch. i would love it if brooklyn somehow found a way to draft him.... would require trading for a pick. send d-will packing for a player and pick!

[The Moz 69]

shabazz napier is flat out fun to watch. i would love it if brooklyn somehow found a way to draft him.... would require trading for a pick. send d-will packing for a player and pick!

I would Gladly trade Rose for Dwill. At least Deron plays

[JT 137]

Bulls

 

1.16 Cleanthony Early - One of the best players in the Draft IMO that people aren't hyping up much.

 

 

We have a winner. Early will be a big time NBA scorer. His individual skills were lost in the national feel-good story of WSU. I'm not sure who he guards, but he's a pure scorer who doesn't need volume shots. Effective inside and out, strangely long.

[JT 137]

I would Gladly trade Rose for Dwill. At least Deron plays

 

Williams is a bit bigger, so at least it's easier to spot the guy that can't shoot.

 

 

What do you want your team to do vs what do you think they'll do?

 

Sixers here. My dream scenario is Wiggins falling to 3 and dealing Thad Young plus the 10th pick to the Lakes to draft Randle, Gordon, Vonleh or Smart.

 

What I think we do is stand pat and draft Jabari Parker and Saric, deal Thad for a mid/late first and end up with someone like Payne or Young.

 

 

I think they go Parker and keep him, and I can live with that. He'd be an interesting addition to what thyey've got.

 

As long as it's not Wiggins or Embid. Wiggins doesn't have "it"; decent NBA player with crazy jumping ability. Embid is a 19 yr old big man with back problems. Nuff said.

[DankNuggs 305]

Celts have too many moving parts to assume they are going to use their picks... I like Randle and Vonleh at the #6... Later on I like Napier and Young. I assume they are going to get Kevin Love in a deal involving who knows what. Build around Love, Olynyk, Bass and Sullinger on the front line.... Deal Jeff Green. They need a 3 pt threat, but you can find shooters alot easier than big men. I'd like them to keep Rondo.

[KSB2424 3,148]

Charlotte Hornets - picks 9, 24 and 45.

 

Charlotte made huge strides in 2013. Jordan hired one of the best new coaches in Steve Clifford. Kemba Walker came into his own and Big Al Jefferson proved to be one of the best big men in the game. Add in younger a players like Cody Zeller and there is a solid foundation. Defense was a strong suit, but the glaring weakness is perimeter scoring.

 

We need scoring from the 2G and Wing Forward positions. Guys mentioned are Doug McDermott, Gary Harris, Zach Lavine and Nick Staukaus wih the first pick and local guys like TJ Warren and PJ Hairston at 24.

 

Apparently McDermott is havng rally good workouts for teams against other SF's. I've come to realize he may turn into a decent NBA player. A Mike Miller or Wally Szerbiack type player. And thats a good thing as those guys in their hey day were good.

 

Zach Lavine appears to be a wildcard. He didn't produce big numbers his freshman year at UCLA but his combination of shooting and athleticism has scouts comparing him to fellow Bruin, Russell Westbrook. Mighty high upside that may be to tough for Charlotte to ignore at #9.

[JT 137]

Celts have too many moving parts to assume they are going to use their picks... I like Randle and Vonleh at the #6... Later on I like Napier and Young. I assume they are going to get Kevin Love in a deal involving who knows what. Build around Love, Olynyk, Bass and Sullinger on the front line.... Deal Jeff Green. They need a 3 pt threat, but you can find shooters alot easier than big men. I'd like them to keep Rondo.

 

I see multiple Celtics fans mention Sullinger as a piece to build with and I don't see it at all. He's Big Baby Davis imo. Big body with some touch who, on a lousy team, will post decent looking numbers. But he doesn't defend anybody now and is just going to get fatter. If I found a taker who liked him I'd ship him out of town (postage paid at the other end) asap.

 

Plus, if they get Love, he simply won't be able to play at the pace they'll look to go at.

[DankNuggs 305]

 

I see multiple Celtics fans mention Sullinger as a piece to build with and I don't see it at all. He's Big Baby Davis imo. Big body with some touch who, on a lousy team, will post decent looking numbers. But he doesn't defend anybody now and is just going to get fatter. If I found a taker who liked him I'd ship him out of town (postage paid at the other end) asap.

 

Plus, if they get Love, he simply won't be able to play at the pace they'll look to go at.

Front line guy with good hands and above average basketball IQ. He is a big baby clone with a better attitude. He may end up being a 6th or 7th man on a legitimate team, but guys like him and Bass are valuable.

[Drizzay 698]

Hopefully, if the Twolves do trade Love to Boston, they get Olynik and some of the Nets draft picks in return. Anything else, and I would pass.

[The Moz 69]

Randle and Parker are IMO the 2 can't miss studs but Wiggins and Embiid have the 2 biggest upsides. Wiggins has MEGA star potential and potetial to be a giant bust

[MDC 7,105]

Randle and Parker are IMO the 2 can't miss studs but Wiggins and Embiid have the 2 biggest upsides. Wiggins has MEGA star potential and potetial to be a giant bust

I think with his athleticism you at least get a stud defender who's terrific in transition. Wiggins floor to me is Igoudala - good player but not what you're hoping for out of a Top 3 pick.

 

Embiid could be Hakeem the Dream and he could be Greg Oden.

 

Parker has the safest floor. At worst he's a double double machine. At best he learns to play D and becomes Paul Pierce. I would be totally satisfied with him at 3.

 

Randle is a pretty safe bet too. He reminds me a lot of Zack Randolph. I think he will be putting up 20-10 for a long time after he develops physically.

 

Aaron Gordon is the other guy I really like in this draft. His shot is terrible but that's his only flaw.

 

Can't wait til draft night.

[KSB2424 3,148]

Can't wait til draft night.

 

It is fun. I always love the NBA Draft.

 

I'll do the Miami Heat too.

 

They pick late in both rounds but I think they'd be wise to let Mario Chalmers go (who is a FA this year) as they would have to pay him a decent salary and draft Shabazz Napier late first round. OR there is talk out there of Tyler Ennis actually dropping lately so he'd be a good pick there too.

 

Late second they can draft a 3-point shooter if you ask me. The Heat need a rim protector type big man on D, but the second round in a draft is not the place to find that. They don't need a "project" big man. That must come via Free Agency for the big man rim protector. I think they can draft a guy like Joe Harris from UVA or Andre Dawkins from Duke who are really good spot up shooters. They can flat out stroke it from 3. Both will be second round picks because they are specialists, but for a good team (who has established starters) specialists are great role players.

[cbfalcon 825]

 

It is fun. I always love the NBA Draft.

 

I'll do the Miami Heat too.

 

They pick late in both rounds but I think they'd be wise to let Mario Chalmers go (who is a FA this year) as they would have to pay him a decent salary and draft Shabazz Napier late first round. OR there is talk out there of Tyler Ennis actually dropping lately so he'd be a good pick there too.

 

Late second they can draft a 3-point shooter if you ask me. The Heat need a rim protector type big man on D, but the second round in a draft is not the place to find that. They don't need a "project" big man. That must come via Free Agency for the big man rim protector. I think they can draft a guy like Joe Harris from UVA or Andre Dawkins from Duke who are really good spot up shooters. They can flat out stroke it from 3. Both will be second round picks because they are specialists, but for a good team (who has established starters) specialists are great role players.

Shouldn't you wait until you find out where Lebron is playing, before deciding who "your team" is?

[KSB2424 3,148]

Shouldn't you wait until you find out where Lebron is playing, before deciding who "your team" is?

 

I already did "my" team. The Charlotte Hornets. But nobody replies to posts and threads about the Hornets. I might as well be talking to myself. Just look at this thread, nobody replied to my Hornets post but you quickly chimed in when I posted about the Heat.

 

So, since I love the NBA and the draft I decided to add to the discussion and post what I think the Heat should do. Is that okay with you?

[IGotWorms 4,057]

Shouldn't you wait until you find out where Lebron is playing, before deciding who "your team" is?

[cbfalcon 825]

 

I already did "my" team. The Charlotte Hornets. But nobody replies to posts and threads about the Hornets. I might as well be talking to myself. Just look at this thread, nobody replied to my Hornets post but you quickly chimed in when I posted about the Heat.

 

So, since I love the NBA and the draft I decided to add to the discussion and post what I think the Heat should do. Is that okay with you?

 

[KSB2424 3,148]

 

 

Ah, got it. You're trolling.

 

Well done, I guess. If you're in to that sort of thing.

[The Moz 69]

I think with his athleticism you at least get a stud defender who's terrific in transition. Wiggins floor to me is Igoudala - good player but not what you're hoping for out of a Top 3 pick.

 

Embiid could be Hakeem the Dream and he could be Greg Oden.

 

Parker has the safest floor. At worst he's a double double machine. At best he learns to play D and becomes Paul Pierce. I would be totally satisfied with him at 3.

 

Randle is a pretty safe bet too. He reminds me a lot of Zack Randolph. I think he will be putting up 20-10 for a long time after he develops physically.

 

Aaron Gordon is the other guy I really like in this draft. His shot is terrible but that's his only flaw.

 

Can't wait til draft night.

Have you seen Julius Randle? Damn how much more Physically you want the kid to develope he is already beast. Once he learns to perfect his mid range jumper a little better he will be a STUD - he is already a decent FT shooter for a big man at 19.

 

If I had the #1 pick - I would pick Parker as IMO the kid has the best head on his shoulders, works hard, and just has a great all around game. Picking 2nd I go Randle as he reminds me a lot of Karl Malone.

 

If I was Philly's GM picking next I trade down to the team picking 6/7and get their 1st rounder and their 1st rounder next year too. then Draft Marcus Smart who I like better right now then Wiggins or Embiid and have him 3rd on my draft board anyway.

[phillybear 366]

poor sixers cant even win the draft lottery. ive never seen a team with so much young talent play so badly and manage themselves so poorly. thad young is so much more valuable than a mid/late first who im sure the sixers will destroy.

 

now they want wiggins and want to trade with cleveland .

 

they trade jrue holiday for noel and i guess this #10 pick. now, despite their best efforts to tank they will probably have to trade #3 and #10 for wiggins and if im cleveland there is no way i do that.

 

The Sixers are not going to trade #3 and #10 to Cleveland. That's not even a topic of discussion for them. That would be a dumb offer. They are simply looking to dump their last big money veteran contract with Thad Young, a semi-disgruntled player on a team going nowhere fast by design. His deal will run out in a year or two, so they are trying to get something for him, like ensuring they get the guy they want in the draft. But, I strongly suspect that if the Sixers are not blowing smoke up everybody's ass and actually want Wiggins, they can get him by standing pat at #3. But, with a team that is so tight lipped like this current regime, it's odd that they are making their interest in Wiggins so well known. Bluff? The draft has 3 players at the top tier, so all they need to do is sit back and take the one that is left over at their choice no matter who it is.

 

Also, they are looking to suck for another year, because if they make the playoffs this year, they have to surrender a first round pick to Boston. If they fail to make the playoffs, they only have to give up a 2nd round pick to Boston. I think this team is looking to add as many assets as they can, so they can't throw away 1st rounders. They have a sh!t load of cap room, and are adding 3 top 10 picks to their team this year, counting Noel, who redshirted last season. Giving up the incredibly overrated Jrue Holliday for Noel and the #10 pick this year was one of the better trades I've seen in a while. Plucking Michael Carter Williams last year showed a good eye for talent.

 

Sixers are moving in a good direction, fast. Aside from all the young talent they are about to add, along with having 5 2nd round picks in a draft this deep this year, and cap room to make a move on an impact free agent to two in the next season or two, they should be competing for a playoff spot in 2015-16. They way they churned the roster last year, stripped it down, and kept auditioning players, no stone unturned, looked a lot like that first year or two of the Seahawks under Carroll and Schneider. I like what they are doing.

[JT 137]

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/sixers/Report-Top-NBA-Draft-prospect-Joel-Embiid-suffers-foot-injury.html

 

Joel Embiid with a foot injury that "may" be broken.

 

19 year old big man with limited organized basketball background who already has had back problems significant enough to keep him out of the biggest games of his life. Now this.

 

He may end up a steal, but drafting him high is about as lousy a bet as you could make.

[MDC 7,105]

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/sixers/Report-Top-NBA-Draft-prospect-Joel-Embiid-suffers-foot-injury.html

 

Joel Embiid with a foot injury that "may" be broken.

 

19 year old big man with limited organized basketball background who already has had back problems significant enough to keep him out of the biggest games of his life. Now this.

 

He may end up a steal, but drafting him high is about as lousy a bet as you could make.

A broken foot would be awful news for the Sixers since that might take Wiggins / Parker off the board 1-2. On the other hand if Embiid fell to 5-6 it could be a huge coup for whoever drafts him there.

[MDC 7,105]

Stress fracture in his right foot.

[DankNuggs 305]

Drop to #6....

[MDC 7,105]

Drop to #6....

You guys want Joel Oden?

[DankNuggs 305]

You guys want Joel Oden?

Ya, I'd take the risk... His upside is so much higher than Randle or Vonleah.. You need 3 studs and a stable of solid role players to win a championship, if you have a shot to lock down a stud you take the risk.

[phillybear 366]

Ya, I'd take the risk... His upside is so much higher than Randle or Vonleah.. You need 3 studs and a stable of solid role players to win a championship, if you have a shot to lock down a stud you take the risk.

 

Yeah, no reason for him to go any lower than #3 anyway. Broken foot is not a big deal. I thought Cleveland was going to take Embiid at #1. Now, I think he might go to the Sixers at #3, who certainly are in no hurry this upcoming season to improve. You'd have an interesting front court with Noel, Embiid, and Thad Young, if he sticks around. It would be easier to find a swing man than to find talented, dominant front court players. Oh, yeah, they have the #10 pick to grab a shooter. No worries.

[cyclone24 1,912]

Mannix on the Dan Patrick show said doctors think its 4-6 months before it heals...9 months before he sees the floor. Basically the whole first year.

 

Ouch.......Joel...meet Yao Ming

[patweisers44 814]

Sorry, my quote function doesn't work at work, but to Nuggs/PB point about taking the risk on Embiid. I would take the risk on him but not with a top five pick. Ask the Trail Blazers how Sam Bowie worked out. Yao Ming, etc. I would say stress fractures in the legs or feet are worse for basketball players than they would be for any other major sport.

[MDC 7,105]

 

Yeah, no reason for him to go any lower than #3 anyway. Broken foot is not a big deal. I thought Cleveland was going to take Embiid at #1. Now, I think he might go to the Sixers at #3, who certainly are in no hurry this upcoming season to improve. You'd have an interesting front court with Noel, Embiid, and Thad Young, if he sticks around. It would be easier to find a swing man than to find talented, dominant front court players. Oh, yeah, they have the #10 pick to grab a shooter. No worries.

I don't think Noel and Embiid can co-exist - neither of them can guard a 4 or hit a shot anywhere outside the paint. That group would be a terror on defense but awful on O.

 

If they take Embiid I think they'll look to trade one or the other center. More likely Joel goes 1-2 anyway, or the Sixer trade up or stand pat and draft Dante Exum. He's a bad fit for the Sixers too but you can make 2 PGs work a lot better than 2 centers.

 

If it were up to me they'd trade down from 3-5 and up from 10-6/7 and end up with some combo of Exum / Smart and Randle / Vonleh / Gordon. They can draft a shooting specialist in round 2.

[phillybear 366]

Sorry, my quote function doesn't work at work, but to Nuggs/PB point about taking the risk on Embiid. I would take the risk on him but not with a top five pick. Ask the Trail Blazers how Sam Bowie worked out. Yao Ming, etc. I would say stress fractures in the legs or feet are worse for basketball players than they would be for any other major sport.

 

I'd let my medical people take a look at him and see what they think. I agree that leg injuries are troubling for basketball players, but Sam Bowie never strukc me as an athletic guy and Yao Ming was a bit too tall and stiff. If Embiid is athletic enough, well, whatever. It's just speculation. It's not a knee. I don't think broken feet are a big deal. I've had one. But I don't go up and down the court every night either.

 

I will say that the Sixers better make sure that if they examine Embiid, it better not be the idiots that looked over Andrew Bynum's knees and said everything was peachy. Those dopes should have been fired 2 years ago.

[cyclone24 1,912]

A big man thats had back surgery and a broken foot in the last year? Nope.....no thanks........hed be on my DND list.

[phillybear 366]

I don't think Noel and Embiid can co-exist - neither of them can guard a 4 or hit a shot anywhere outside the paint. That group would be a terror on defense but awful on O.

 

If they take Embiid I think they'll look to trade one or the other center. More likely Joel goes 1-2 anyway, or the Sixer trade up or stand pat and draft Dante Exum. He's a bad fit for the Sixers too but you can make 2 PGs work a lot better than 2 centers.

 

If it were up to me they'd trade down from 3-5 and up from 10-6/7 and end up with some combo of Exum / Smart and Randle / Vonleh / Gordon. They can draft a shooting specialist in round 2.

 

I think the plan would be for Noel to move to the 4. They spent the entire last year during his rehab also reworking his shot. Completely overhauling it, the jumper, the free throw, everything. He's young enough where he can add offensive skills, and right now I have no idea what he's capable of, but they say he's a quick and eager learner, so there's that.

 

It may be that Exum is the guy the Sixers take, but it's not filling a need area either. I think it will be hard to trade out of #3 because if nobody wants Embiid at #3, then there is no value to anybody to move up to #3.

[phillybear 366]

A big man thats had back surgery and a broken foot in the last year? Nope.....no thanks........hed be on my DND list.

 

Get him a foam mattress, all problems go away.

[MDC 7,105]

 

I think the plan would be for Noel to move to the 4. They spent the entire last year during his rehab also reworking his shot. Completely overhauling it, the jumper, the free throw, everything. He's young enough where he can add offensive skills, and right now I have no idea what he's capable of, but they say he's a quick and eager learner, so there's that.

 

It may be that Exum is the guy the Sixers take, but it's not filling a need area either. I think it will be hard to trade out of #3 because if nobody wants Embiid at #3, then there is no value to anybody to move up to #3.

I really don't think Noel can play the 4: he has no shot at all and loses value as a rim protector if you have him guarding stretch forwards. That's not to say they won't draft Embiid but the two of them wouldn't be on the court together much and I'd expect one to get dealt.

 

Exum isn't an ideal fit either but two PG sets aren't totally unheard of - it would make more sense than Noel / Embiid. More likely the Sixers move all over the draft board on Thursday night.

[phillybear 366]

I really don't think Noel can play the 4: he has no shot at all and loses value as a rim protector if you have him guarding stretch forwards. That's not to say they won't draft Embiid but the two of them wouldn't be on the court together much and I'd expect one to get dealt.

 

Exum isn't an ideal fit either but two PG sets aren't totally unheard of - it would make more sense than Noel / Embiid. More likely the Sixers move all over the draft board on Thursday night.

 

Having 5 second round picks and a pair of first rounders gives them plenty of capital to move around.

 

I'm really fascinated by their rebuild and this draft in particular. I'll be watching it next week.

 

If they do end up with Embiid, he'll redshirt a year for sure. Which fits the plan of tanking this upcoming season as well, looking to compete the following year. I think Embiid is simply following the rebuild by tanking script.

[MDC 7,105]

 

Having 5 second round picks and a pair of first rounders gives them plenty of capital to move around.

 

I'm really fascinated by their rebuild and this draft in particular. I'll be watching it next week.

 

If they do end up with Embiid, he'll redshirt a year for sure. Which fits the plan of tanking this upcoming season as well, looking to compete the following year. I think Embiid is simply following the rebuild by tanking script.

I am hoping he still goes 1-2 so the Sixers end up with Wiggins / Parker. In a huge hoops fan and felt like I got punched in the gut when I saw the news yesterday.