Draft prospects - Who do we want?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Checking out the averages of some forecasts DX put together, the Utah PG Deion Wright looks to be highly undervalued at least in terms of DX's overall projections (not sure about Ford or others). The average of these models project him as the 10th best pick in the draft, but he's projected to actually be picked 27th (not sure what Ford projects). He's probably overlooked in part because he's a senior but some of these models even adjust for year and still project the kid to be really good.

He looks like a legit defending PG who could easily step in for Rubio as a backup and replacement if Rubio goes down again. Biggest drawback is he's not a great outside shooter, which is really what we need. But check out his video breakdowns. Numbers look solid, I like the kid's floor vision, passion, and defensive intensity. And let's be honest, we've got a ton of wings, we'll likely get a very good big with the number 1, and our backup PG spot was a serious problem for us last year that we still don't have a solution for.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Delon-Wright-78507/

Any interest in trying to package some assets to move up to nab him if possible?

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Analytics-Models-and-the-NBA-Draft-5021/

and

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Analytics-Models-and-the-NBA-Draft-Part-2-5068/

I would love to have Wright for all the reasons you mentioned and he should be avalible later in the 1st than Tyus or Grant will be so the cost shouldn't be as steep. I would give up both 2nd rounders to get him or maybe, just maybe, be able to trade Budinger and 31 for him.

Sign me up for Wright too, and I would be in favor of trading any combo of Bud and second rounders to get him. It doesn't concern me that he can't shoot, because I want our backup PG to play tough defense and distribute. I think we are going to have a potent offensive second unit anchored by Martin and Muhammad, and our backup PG doesn't have to be a great shooter.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Sign me up for Wright too, and I would be in favor of trading any combo of Bud and second rounders to get him. It doesn't concern me that he can't shoot, because I want our backup PG to play tough defense and distribute. I think we are going to have a potent offensive second unit anchored by Martin and Muhammad, and our backup PG doesn't have to be a great shooter.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I keep seeing, "Mudiay brings us the same strengths and weaknesses as Rubio" on this board. No, no he doesn't. The main thing wrong with that thought is that Mudiay gets to the cup and finishes with either hand. He's bulky as hell for a point guard and strong to boot. Rubio gets thrown off balance when he gets bumped going up, Mudiay finishes through contact and will likely get tons of and-ones at the next level. Mudiay also has the beginnings of a decent post game for a guard; I'd expect him to put opposing PGs in the blender several years from now. It's his ability to score the basketball that makes him a polar opposite of Rubio. We need to stop seeing that narrative on this forum.

Comparing how Mudiay and Rubio finish at the rim is flawed, because they are doing it against totally different defensive competition. I would amend your comment to say "Mudiay finishes through contact...against high school players and Chinese guys", because that's the only competition we have video of him playing against. I suspect Rubio would be a pretty good finisher against high school and Chinese defenses too.

Mudiay will step on the floor day one and be a better finisher/scorer than Rubio. Are you trying to argue otherwise? If so, that's really silly.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I keep seeing, "Mudiay brings us the same strengths and weaknesses as Rubio" on this board. No, no he doesn't. The main thing wrong with that thought is that Mudiay gets to the cup and finishes with either hand. He's bulky as hell for a point guard and strong to boot. Rubio gets thrown off balance when he gets bumped going up, Mudiay finishes through contact and will likely get tons of and-ones at the next level. Mudiay also has the beginnings of a decent post game for a guard; I'd expect him to put opposing PGs in the blender several years from now. It's his ability to score the basketball that makes him a polar opposite of Rubio. We need to stop seeing that narrative on this forum.

Comparing how Mudiay and Rubio finish at the rim is flawed, because they are doing it against totally different defensive competition. I would amend your comment to say "Mudiay finishes through contact...against high school players and Chinese guys", because that's the only competition we have video of him playing against. I suspect Rubio would be a pretty good finisher against high school and Chinese defenses too.

Mudiay will step on the floor day one and be a better finisher/scorer than Rubio. Are you trying to argue otherwise? If so, that's really silly.

What I think is really silly is pundits making absolute definitive statements about Mudiay based on video from high school and 10 games in China...neither of which bear much resemblance to what he is going to see in the NBA. Who knows if he will be a better or worse finisher than Rubio? He's certainly bigger and stronger than Ricky, but he wasn't exactly a great finisher in China. I just read this accompanying article which said a lot of nice things about Mudiay, but said this about his ability to finish: "He lacked the ability to finish at the rim. If he struggled finishing at the rim in China, what will it be like when he meets Marcin Gortat or Serge Ibaka at the rim in the NBA?"

http://hoopshype.com/columns/david-nurse/emmanuel-mudiay-made-in-china

My point exactly. Heck, I looked really good rebounding in high school, but suggesting that I would replicate that in the NBA is preposterous.

But I agree with your assessment that Rubio and Mudiay do not bring the same strengths and weaknesses...they are very different players. I think the comment comes from the fact that both have unimpressive outside shooting statistics. However, Rubio has always been a very good free throw shooter, while Mudiay struggles from the line (only 57% last season, not much better than Okafor), which suggests
that Mudiay's shooting woes may not be fixable.

Mudiay appears to have some impressive physical skills, but he has to be considered a big risk for a lottery pick. I wouldn't want to be Phil Jackson sitting with the 4th pick right now.

[Volans19]

Justice Winslow doing a Playstation thing with Wiggins

[youtube]y2LPctgfZK0[/youtube]

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Couple quick draft thoughts (after a night of beers with the in-laws):

1. Hoopshype says the Hornets are willing to basically sell the 9 pick for the cost of Lance Stephenson (9 million this year is all that's guaranteed). Like 87% of everything we hear about the draft these days, it's probably made up, but still thought I'd throw it out there. We've already got a ton of wings, and Stephenson is batshit crazy, but if Papa Taylor's got an extra 9 million tucked away someplace to buy out a player . . . (come to think of it, that's batshit crazy, who has 9 million to blow?) Okay, forget point number 1.

2. Fans everywhere, can we PLEASE stop using the word "elite" so f'ing much? It's losing its meaning fast, people. It's supposed to be something extremely rare, the absolute best. At this point we've already watered it down to mean "above average." Keep this up, and pretty soon it'll mean "about average," and eventually "bad, but not completely shitty." Before you know it, we'll be talking about J.R. Smith's elite decision making and the elite new "burger" at White Castle.

3. Let's set aside the superficial predictions about how good these players will actually become, and get to the important task of predicting who will wear the most ridiculous suit on draft night. With Wiggins and Payne, we really upped our insane outfit quotient last year, https://www.google.com/search?q=2014+NBA+Draft+clothes&biw=1685&bih=991&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CCUQsARqFQoTCNLl8IXjjcYCFeSW2wodGZIAhQ#imgrc=_as you can see. Who will bring the crazy this year? My money is on http://nypost.com/2014/04/08/yes-kentucky-lost-but-that-shirt/Willie Cauley-Stein.

3.5. Let me make a quick suggestion for anybody who would like to beat Mr. Cauley-Stein for the "honor" of craziest outfit. Be original. Don't sew a jersey into the inside of your jacket. Sew a fucking jacket into the inside of your jersey.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

It must have been a good night Drew....And with the in-laws? The alcohol was either escapism or you have really cool in-laws. It's funny, because my in-laws just rolled into town today. They don't drink. :-(

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

Would love to get Justise Winslow if he falls a bit. He's my third favorite player in the draft after the two bigs. Would offer up a combo of Shabbazz and Bjelica plus a 2nd. I'd reluctantly consider offering Dieng if I had to. Other guys I'd like to trade up for with Bjelica and a 2nd if they are available in the middle of the 1st would include Stanley Johnson, Myles Turner, Bobby Portis or Kevon Looney. A team can't have enough two way players. I'd definitely consider trading both 2nd rounders to trade up into the late first round if Tyus Jones can be had. Even if we can't get Jones, I think there will be some decent point guards available in the early second round.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

It must have been a good night Drew....And with the in-laws? The alcohol was either escapism or you have really cool in-laws. It's funny, because my in-laws just rolled into town today. They don't drink. :-(

My wife and I moved to her tiny hometown last year, and everybody here is an in-law. Plus it's in Germany, so everybody drinks beer. But nobody knows anything about basketball.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Would love to get Justise Winslow if he falls a bit. He's my third favorite player in the draft after the two bigs. Would offer up a combo of Shabbazz and Bjelica plus a 2nd. I'd reluctantly consider offering Dieng if I had to. Other guys I'd like to trade up for with Bjelica and a 2nd if they are available in the middle of the 1st would include Stanley Johnson, Myles Turner, Bobby Portis or Kevon Looney. A team can't have enough two way players. I'd definitely consider trading both 2nd rounders to trade up into the late first round if Tyus Jones can be had. Even if we can't get Jones, I think there will be some decent point guards available in the early second round.

This seems to happen every draft. Us fans want to exchange current assets and pile up prospects that we've fallen in love with from a single draft class. If we were to put in place all of the ideas folks here have presented, we'd end up with 5+ rookies on the team playing major roles.

I'd be fine if we take some of our existing assets and trade for another pick....in a future year. For example, we have two second rounders. Let's try to trade one of them for a future 2nd. When it comes to Bjelica, I'd like to see what he could do in a Wolves uniform, but if we trade him for a draft pick, I'd rather it be for a future 1st, and preferably to a team drafting in the upper half. We need to backfill some of the first rounders we've given away lately.