|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 13, 2005 20:18:39 GMT -5
I seriously doubt he'll fall down to 18. I'm hearing that his stock has fallen and where he was once touted as a top pick, he's now possibly falling into the mid to late lottery (7 - 15 range).
But say that the unimaginable happens and Taft falls to 18, Ainge absolutely needs to take him. Even if Simien, Garcia, Villanueva, or whoever is there, Taft needs to be taken. I don't believe that he's that awful a player. He's got tremendous skills, excellent size for a big man, and very good agility and athleticism.
His numbers don't reflect it, but he's a good rebounder. He snatches the rebounds quickly and snaps it down with force. He's got excellent footwork in the post and likes to drop step left or right and get off a clean shot high above his head.
He's not shy by any means, but he can stand to be more aggressive more often.
If we can snag him at 18, he will be the biggest steal in the draft. I think he can surpass Kendrick Perkins as our potential future starter. He and Al Jefferson will make a super combination of offense and defense.
Don't believe all this talk that Taft is overrated. He's just running into some hard times in these workouts.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roadrunner on Jun 13, 2005 20:51:11 GMT -5
Depending who is still available, Taft is worth a gamble, but I would take a gamble first on Charlie V, or Webster, or Fernandez. There was absolutely no "buzz" on Taft in college. Though, if Danny picks him, then he knows what is up.
|
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 13, 2005 21:05:31 GMT -5
No buzz? Chris Taft was regarded at one point during the offseason as a possible #1 pick. He hasn't done anything this past season to merit that spot, but I think there's good reasons for that.
1) Take a look at the minutes played when you compare Taft to guys like Bogut and Marvin Williams. Taft averaged about 26 minutes a game, while Williams, who was a bench player for UNC, averaged 22 per game. And Bogut average 35 minutes per game. Not much you can do when your coach doesn't play you to your fullest extent.
2) Chevron Troutman was a vastly underrated player who stole some of Taft's thunder. Because Troutman was able to get a lot of offensive rebounds and putbacks, Taft wasn't able to pad his stats as much as some of the other top prospects in the league.
3) No one on the Panter's roster could get the ball into the post. Taft only touches the ball in the post half as much as he should be. Karl Krauser, though I like this kid, doesn't look to feed the ball into Taft (or Troutman for that matter). Pitt doesn't utilize the post play as much as other teams do.
I definitely feel that Taft is a worthier gamble than Charlie V, whom I like a lot, too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roadrunner on Jun 13, 2005 21:13:12 GMT -5
Buzz, I meant in overall play. Yes, he was regarded as a potential #1 pick, but I never read one article that said "players to watch - Chris Taft." Troutman, however, was a pretty feared player, at least in the Big East.
|
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 13, 2005 21:28:08 GMT -5
Yes, he didn't get much hype this past year, after the first month of the college season went by. He hasn't put up better numbers than he had last year as a freshman. But if you look back at the college basketball publications/magazines, you'll see his name on almost every single one of them (the ones I have all have him as one of the top 3 big men in the country--more than May, Simien, etc.).
Troutman gained a big boost in his status this past year, which took Taft's thunder. But in the games I've watched from this past year, Taft is still a very terrific looking prospect and his game has a lot of potential. One game in particular that I have (just watched it not too long ago) is Pitt vs. UCONN. Good matchup of the players I want to scout (Taft, Troutman, Krauser, Boone, Charlie, Marcus Williams, Rashad Anderson). Taft showed me a lot of things that already impressed me and he only solidified my opinion of him. He didn't shine in that game, and he can play more aggressively, more often. But I stand firm that if Taft falls to 18, Ainge should definitely take him. His offensive talents are better than Perkins' and because he's a fluid athlete and quick on his feet, he can cover more ground than Perkins on the defensive end.
|
|
|
|
Post by VI_CelticsFan on Jun 14, 2005 6:37:21 GMT -5
Yeah, he might be worth the gamble, depending on who's available. If Webster is available at 18, he will be hard to pass up. BTW, how tall is Taft derren?
|
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 14, 2005 15:17:17 GMT -5
Taft measured in at 6'9 1/2" at the Chicago Pre-Draft camp. But his arms are just as long as Kendrick Perkins' and Jefferson's. Though he doesn't have the prototypical Centers' height, I really feel that he can be a Center in the NBA.
Rule of thumb is you go for a Big man first before a wing player. If I had to choose between Chris Taft and Martell Webster, I will go definitely with Taft. He's got Eddie Curry's type athleticism, which is what really excites me about this kid.
|
|
|
|
Post by eja117 on Jun 14, 2005 17:37:34 GMT -5
i agree Taft would be a fine pick at 18 depending on who else is around. I hope if he falls that far he'll have a chip on his shoulder the size of Wyoming. Worst case scenario he is like Marcus Fizer who is an excellent 15th man. But Taft has a better body than Fizer.
|
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 14, 2005 17:46:22 GMT -5
Yep, if anything, Taft is going to give us better frontcourt depth. He's got more post moves than Blount and Raef (who actually have none) and he's just as agile around the rim as Jefferson. I really don't know why his stock has been dropping lately, but I've seen the vast talent in this kid and he's not a timid player either. He moves aggressively and he doesn't back down. He's not vocal and he doesn't draw attention to himself by yelling and screaming after a dunk or a blocked shot. But he's a player.
|
|
|
|
Post by meltinjohn on Jun 15, 2005 2:53:41 GMT -5
So all this talk supposedly isnt true that hes gonna suck? Then again, he had Wilcox comparisons. People also had a lot to say about Jefferson too. If we get Taft, hell join another Pittsburgher in Blount. Will this be good? I do not know. Pitt hasn't had anyone even remotely good in the league for a long long time.
This will be a tough choice in the green room on draft day who to pick. You got that Sergi guard, Rudy Fernandez, Taft, Jack. It will be a hard choice.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roadrunner on Jun 16, 2005 20:47:04 GMT -5
Hard to comment about a player I have actually never seen, but all the reviews say Rudy Fernandez is a player.
|
|
|
|
Post by meltinjohn on Jun 17, 2005 23:40:57 GMT -5
Danny I say goes with Rudy if he plans to move Pierce. I see a surprise pick like this to be honest. This way Allen could start or Ricky could be a starter leaving the new 6th man to be jeez I don't even know. Raef? Jefferson playing center would move Raef to the bench.
|
|
