Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 23, 2006 22:54:45 GMT -5
Gee, in a draft where we could possibly hold multiple mid first round picks, we face a dilemma because the strength of this draft is its wing players. And that's the position in which we are already stocked to the max at. 3 of the nation's top players play the wing positions; Adam Morrison, JJ Redick, and Rudy Gay.
Morrison is the nation's leading scorer, but right behind him is JJ Redick. Both are averaging 27+ ppg. And Rudy Gay is the most versatile of them all. But I'm not that high on Gay, although I think he's a terrific player. He doesn't have that killer's mentality.
Aside from these 3, there is Rodney Carey, who is a really gifted athlete--quick as lightning and is a human popo stick. His jumper is a bit stiff, but he can shoot the ball. And then there's Ronnie Brewer and Shawne Williams--two guys who I hope to scout at some point this year. PJ Tucker is another guy to watch. A smaller wing player by today's standards (6'4"~5"), but he's got a mean streak and the game to back it up. He's a fiercer Tony Allen, but slightly less slick athletically.
This draft will not have any franchise big men, but may produce some solid ones. Among the top are Shelden Williams, Tiago Splitter, LaMarcus Aldridge, and an Italian prospect named Andrea Bargnani. None will be top Centers in the NBA, but a couple of them could turn out to be better overall players than Kendrick Perkins (Shelden Williams and Tiago Splitter). A guy who I would like to see Ainge grab in the second, or late first--depending on who's left--is Paul Milsap. He's the nation's leading rebounder at 12+ rpg and he's averaging over 20+ ppg.
PG is another position where there aren't any franchise players available, but could produce some nice PG's in the NBA. At the top is Rajon Rondo--a very slick ball handler who's good at creating plays for teammates, as well as for himself. A developing jumper has made his game even more dangerous, and his intangibles puts him in the Ginobli-Teyshaun-Delonte class (guys who makes things happen on the court that most players aren't able to). But compared to Chris Paul, last year's top PG prospect, Rondo is not quite that level. Randy Foye and Daniel Gibson make up the other two top PG prospects, but they are scorers first and distributors second.
Sleepers:
As I mentioned above, Paul Milsap may turn out to be a sleeper in this draft. A guy who made a career of rebounding is definitely a winner in my book. And his scoring is a nice compliment to his rebounding game.
Another big man who I'd take in the late 1st/early 2nd is Craig Smith. Another powerfully built scorer/rebounder, like Milsap.
At PG, I'm intrigued by the stats being put up by Jose Juan Barea. If this is the first time you are hearing this name, you aren't the first. I only ran into this guy as I pulled up college stats. Not only is he among the nation's leading scorer, but he's also the nation's top assist man at 8.8 apg. And to boot, he's a fairly solid rebounder, especially for a PG who's only 5'11". I'm thinking Steve Nash. Hopefully Ainge has scouted this guy.
Another sleeper pick to solidify our PG situation may be Dee Brown. I liked this kid from last year (I liked him more than Deron Williams), but an ankle injury forced him to pull out of the draft. He's a lightning quick PG who's a catalytic scorer. Killer jumper and is electric on the fast breaks. Not much of a PG prospect, but will make the right passes. But he's a guy I think can fit in well with our team game because he plays with a lot of energy, looks to get open for jumpers, and can push the ball.
Morrison is the nation's leading scorer, but right behind him is JJ Redick. Both are averaging 27+ ppg. And Rudy Gay is the most versatile of them all. But I'm not that high on Gay, although I think he's a terrific player. He doesn't have that killer's mentality.
Aside from these 3, there is Rodney Carey, who is a really gifted athlete--quick as lightning and is a human popo stick. His jumper is a bit stiff, but he can shoot the ball. And then there's Ronnie Brewer and Shawne Williams--two guys who I hope to scout at some point this year. PJ Tucker is another guy to watch. A smaller wing player by today's standards (6'4"~5"), but he's got a mean streak and the game to back it up. He's a fiercer Tony Allen, but slightly less slick athletically.
This draft will not have any franchise big men, but may produce some solid ones. Among the top are Shelden Williams, Tiago Splitter, LaMarcus Aldridge, and an Italian prospect named Andrea Bargnani. None will be top Centers in the NBA, but a couple of them could turn out to be better overall players than Kendrick Perkins (Shelden Williams and Tiago Splitter). A guy who I would like to see Ainge grab in the second, or late first--depending on who's left--is Paul Milsap. He's the nation's leading rebounder at 12+ rpg and he's averaging over 20+ ppg.
PG is another position where there aren't any franchise players available, but could produce some nice PG's in the NBA. At the top is Rajon Rondo--a very slick ball handler who's good at creating plays for teammates, as well as for himself. A developing jumper has made his game even more dangerous, and his intangibles puts him in the Ginobli-Teyshaun-Delonte class (guys who makes things happen on the court that most players aren't able to). But compared to Chris Paul, last year's top PG prospect, Rondo is not quite that level. Randy Foye and Daniel Gibson make up the other two top PG prospects, but they are scorers first and distributors second.
Sleepers:
As I mentioned above, Paul Milsap may turn out to be a sleeper in this draft. A guy who made a career of rebounding is definitely a winner in my book. And his scoring is a nice compliment to his rebounding game.
Another big man who I'd take in the late 1st/early 2nd is Craig Smith. Another powerfully built scorer/rebounder, like Milsap.
At PG, I'm intrigued by the stats being put up by Jose Juan Barea. If this is the first time you are hearing this name, you aren't the first. I only ran into this guy as I pulled up college stats. Not only is he among the nation's leading scorer, but he's also the nation's top assist man at 8.8 apg. And to boot, he's a fairly solid rebounder, especially for a PG who's only 5'11". I'm thinking Steve Nash. Hopefully Ainge has scouted this guy.
Another sleeper pick to solidify our PG situation may be Dee Brown. I liked this kid from last year (I liked him more than Deron Williams), but an ankle injury forced him to pull out of the draft. He's a lightning quick PG who's a catalytic scorer. Killer jumper and is electric on the fast breaks. Not much of a PG prospect, but will make the right passes. But he's a guy I think can fit in well with our team game because he plays with a lot of energy, looks to get open for jumpers, and can push the ball.
