Nervous Nerlens Noel.
I try so hard to be tolerant and all that bullshit, but god god oh god why is Bill Simmons allowed to talk about the draft
I just want to say how disappointed I am that my nickname for him, Veal, never caught on.
You know, it’s like that scene in Teen Wolf where FALLS DOWN MINESHAFT
Who the eff is Victor Oladipo? Should I be happy as a Magic fan?
Hey, I went 1 for 5 with my draft prediction. Good thing I don’t make my living at this.
I think Noel haunts everybody who passed on or traded him, and that Cody Zeller is a bust. McLemore was a steal for Sacramento, they might live some friskiness ahead.
Boston should avoid Wallace like the plague, he’s the exact sort of player a rebuilding team doesn’t need: expensive, long contract, good enough to help you stay in no-man’s-land (10-14th pick or so) but not so good you can contend with him. They might want to bring a third team on this, someone willing to give up a draft pick or young players for Wallace.
Meh. I like McLemore better, but Oladipo’s scrappy, a hard worker, and will play great defense for you. Considering this crappy draft, you should be fairly happy.
My Thunder are up. I’m prepared to be disappointed.
“Anytime you can get the 3rd best big man in the draft, when the first two are still available, you have to go for it.” - Michael Jordan
No.
Well, wait, let me rephrase that: are you interested in a six-four guard who took eight shots a game and had more turnovers than assists?
I mean, you needed a glue guy with that #2 overall pick, not ballhandlers or scorers or guys with skills. Right?
Steven Adams??? Never heard of him.
C’mon now, he got his three-point shot up to 44% this year.
How about Noel and a #1 for Jrue Holiday! That’s insane. I know good point guards seem to be under every couch cushion right now, but shipping out a 23-year-old All-Star is pretty damn risky. Good for the Pelicans, though, they are officially percolating. If Eric Gordon is *ever[/I healthy and has his mind right, they have a nice starting five.
The league needs to buy Charlotte, move them to Seattle, and find a competent owner. They are a joke.
He took 68. I’m not a statistician but we’re talking about the number two pick.
Yeah, but still.
(I liked McLemore for Orlando)
I like Oladipo, think that he might be the best wing defender in the draft, will play bigger than 6’4" (or 6’5"), as his wingspan is 6’9"; should be able to check both the 1 and the 2, with occasional assignments on 3s. Hard worker. Could be a Tony Allen type. However, in other years, a player like him would be more likely picked at the end of the lottery.
I agree with all of that, except maybe for checking 1s, but I think the second part is the key. I think it applies to this year’s draft, too. If you desperately wanted a rampaging Tony Allen freak, Jamaal Franklin is still sitting on the board now.
Incidentally, god almighty do I love Jamaal Franklin, so don’t get me wrong about 'Deep.
My wag about Orlando is that McLemore was unimpressive in the workouts (I had read something to that effect), and that, while Victor might have a lower ceiling, is a safer bet to be a solid player (work habits plus above NBA average athleticism).
Denver has a chance to have 4 seven-footers on their roster, which would probably be a record: Kosta Koufas, JaVale McGee, Timofey Mozgov, and this French kid, Rudy Gobert.
I like Trey Burke for Utah, good trade for them.
Teams over the last few years do seem to be placing more emphasis on work ethic and motor, relative to physical gifts and measurables.