[jtoler]

First draft just looking over spots, will probably edit before the season starts.
Every year certain picks baffle me and I hit a high succes rate in picking out the bad picks, lets see how this goes.

1. Andrew Wiggins - Needed to dominate in college before coming out, he didnt that and I dont think he ever cared, dont think he wants or can handle the burden of being picked first, Im gonna hope Cavs fans arnt envisioning a reincarnation for King James because they wont find it here. Dont think he has a leader personality and he's now being thrust in a position where he will almost have to be.
6. Marcus Smart - Reminds me of Tony Allen, not a bad thing at all, but not worthy of number 6 either. So isnt a shooting guard who cant really shoot an oxymoron? Yes and being drafted by Boston, a place as passionate about its sports as any other is a concern also, when things arnt going so well I hope Mr. Smart keeps things mellow and plays through the tough times.
8. Nik Staukas - I liked watching him at Michigan but he's overrated, shouldnt have gone this high, after hitting what 6 treys against St. the media anointed him even more and Im a big Michigan fan and love Staukas. Sadly Staukas falls into the aged old history of the NBA looking for the next great white ballplayer and ends up being drafted too high,(see Luke Jackson, Adam Morrison, although I can see him becoming like a Jeff Hornacek, which is a good thing.

13. Zach Lavine - I balleyhooed this kid up from before the start of the season after watching some film of him, has raw natural talent culminated from an immense growth spurt during final years of high school, should have stayed in school, he doesnt know how to actually play basketball yet.

15. Adreian Payne - I love Payne and his game with his lack of strength for the position works in college but he shouldnt be counted on to do half as much on this level.

18. Tyler Ennis - Average athlete, but doesnt need to be freakish with the game he employs, the media wanted to point to a reason why Cuse started 25-0 and since Ennis was the new kid on the block he became the public darling by default. Dont get me wrong, I liked his poise as a freshman and heady ball play, its just that a number of guys on the college level can do what he does, they just werent freshmen.

21. Mitch McGary - Never saw the love affair with McGary, but if youre OKC looking for another Nick Collison, well McGary's your guy, just dont expect him to really ever start.

30. Kyle Anderson - At least at PG he'll be a bust, I think he's too slow for the NBA, height at the position isnt enough, huge hitch in jumpshot that isnt particularly accurate anyway. I do like his mindset on the floor and the Spurs are the best team that accentuates that mindset so SF at best, perhaps can mold into a Boris Diaw type, a pass first playmaker who sets picks and looks for cutters on the block. Could fill in at backup PG at worst.

[KRIT]

Agree on pretty much all of them except Payne and Kyle Anderson. I'm iffy on Smart.

Hard to ever call the last pick of the first round a bust, but I think he should fit in well with SA. He'll basically take over Diaw's role. McGary could be solid. He'll be one of those hustle guys that comes off the bench and plays defense and gobbles up rebounds.....don't think he'll be a bust, esp. at pick #21.

Payne is your prototypical stretch 4. He'll have a solid NBA career at worst imo.

I doubt Wiggins will ever live up to the hype. He'll likely be a good player, but when we look back at this draft 10 years from now, he may not even be a top 5 player from this draft class. He's basically Rudy Gay with a better attitude.

1000% with you on Lavine though.

[nskokov]

First draft just looking over spots, will probably edit before the season starts.
Every year certain picks baffle me and I hit a high succes rate in picking out the bad picks, lets see how this goes.

1. Andrew Wiggins - Needed to dominate in college before coming out, he didnt that and I dont think he ever cared, dont think he wants or can handle the burden of being picked first, Im gonna hope Cavs fans arnt envisioning a reincarnation for King James because they wont find it here. Dont think he has a leader personality and he's now being thrust in a position where he will almost have to be.

6. Marcus Smart - Reminds me of Tony Allen, not a bad thing at all, but not worthy of number 6 either. So isnt a shooting guard who cant really shoot an oxymoron? Yes and being drafted by Boston, a place as passionate about its sports as any other is a concern also, when things arnt going so well I hope Mr. Smart keeps things mellow and plays through the tough times.

8. Nik Staukas - I liked watching him at Michigan but he's overrated, shouldnt have gone this high, after hitting what 6 treys against St. the media anointed him even more and Im a big Michigan fan and love Staukas. Sadly Staukas falls into the aged old history of the NBA looking for the next great white ballplayer and ends up being drafted too high,(see Luke Jackson, Adam Morrison, although I can see him becoming like a Jeff Hornacek, which is a good thing.

13. Zach Lavine - I balleyhooed this kid up from before the start of the season after watching some film of him, has raw natural talent culminated from an immense growth spurt during final years of high school, should have stayed in school, he doesnt know how to actually play basketball yet.

15. Adreian Payne - I love Payne and his game with his lack of strength for the position works in college but he shouldnt be counted on to do half as much on this level.

18. Tyler Ennis - Average athlete, but doesnt need to be freakish with the game he employs, the media wanted to point to a reason why Cuse started 25-0 and since Ennis was the new kid on the block he became the public darling by default. Dont get me wrong, I liked his poise as a freshman and heady ball play, its just that a number of guys on the college level can do what he does, they just werent freshmen.

21. Mitch McGary - Never saw the love affair with McGary, but if youre OKC looking for another Nick Collison, well McGary's your guy, just dont expect him to really ever start.

30. Kyle Anderson - At least at PG he'll be a bust, I think he's too slow for the NBA, height at the position isnt enough, huge hitch in jumpshot that isnt particularly accurate anyway. I do like his mindset on the floor and the Spurs are the best team that accentuates that mindset so SF at best, perhaps can mold into a Boris Diaw type, a pass first playmaker who sets picks and looks for cutters on the block. Could fill in at backup PG at worst.

All of the bolded players who you made comparisons to have been in the league or will be in the league for well over a decade. All those teams would be more than happy to have the player turn out like that, with the exception of perhaps Boston and Marcus Smart but I see him becoming a respectable offensive player.

A true bust, outside of a top 5 pick, is a guy who is out of the league in 3-4 years.

I don't think Aaron Gordon will be out of the league in 4 years, but I think he has bust written all over him considering he was drafted 4th. He can't shoot a lick (45% FT shooter), doesn't have any post moves, and relied on his sheer athleticism for the majority of his buckets (alley-oops, fast breaks, crashing the glass). His ball handling is good for a power forward but if he's forced to be on the perimeter it will become exposed in the NBA. He also missed lots of bunnies near the rim in the college, his touch isn't great, but got bailed out because of his ability to grab his own board against less athletic players.

Poor man's Andrei Kirilenko - slightly smaller, not quite as good of a shot blocker, passer, or shooter. Has some potential since he is so young.

[James Marques]

Question is are these guys busts because they suck.... or because the NBA wants them to be busts?

[cane]

Jtoler, I disagree with your assessment of Marcus Smart. He's not a shooting guard, he was drafted to play the point. I know his shot needs improvement, but there are many other things he does well. With hard work, he can improve his jumper, but that's really his only major weakness. I'm a Celtic fan, and I liked the pick. I think the kid's a player and will have a long career. It will be fun to look back at this thread in a couple years that's for sure.

[KRIT]

Jtoler, I disagree with your assessment of Marcus Smart. He's not a shooting guard, he was drafted to play the point. I know his shot needs improvement, but there are many other things he does well. With hard work, he can improve his jumper, but that's really his only major weakness. I'm a Celtic fan, and I liked the pick. I think the kid's a player and will have a long career. It will be fun to look back at this thread in a couple years that's for sure.

Lol at Smart being a PG in the NBA. No chance.

[R.P. McMurphy]

Reality is like in any draft probably north of 90% taken in round 1 have the "potential" to be a bust. I find drafts mildly enticing to watch but the commentary and "expert" analysis is laughable. Truth is it's a crapshoot and nobody knows for awhile in most cases.

[spargament]

Media hyping this draft ahead of time as potentially the best of the past several years is just dumb. Looks to be exactly the opposite. Looks like last years draft, except Wiggins is a backcourt player, and this year's Nerlens got picked way earlier

[t-wizzle]

You realize that Wiggins' game is built more for the pro game than the college game right? His ceiling is crazy high. Try not to let a few college games cloud your judgment.

Marcus Smart won't be that good. He can't shoot and plays with reckless abandon. He's basically a bad version of Westbrook but not nearly as explosive.

Stauskas will be a good pro. He can run off screens and shoot and has good overall basketball skills.

Lavine is a runner and jumper. We'll see if his game develops but he could be a Gerald green type.

[shaps17]

Wiggins is not like Lebron. Its rediculous to even expect that from him. About the only thing they have in common is speed.

Lebron was much stronger, a better ball handler, a much better passer and pretty much slightly better in every facet of the game except for defense.

[jtoler]

Wiggins is not like Lebron. Its rediculous to even expect that from him. About the only thing they have in common is speed.

Lebron was much stronger, a better ball handler, a much better passer and pretty much slightly better in every facet of the game except for defense.

I wasnt comparing them, I was saying it as I hope the city of Cleveland dont feel as if he's their savior, stay tuned much more to come with player busts and projections.

[shaps17]

I wasnt comparing them, I was saying it as I hope the city of Cleveland dont feel as if he's their savior, stay tuned much more to come with player busts and projections.

Your absolutely right. My comment wasnt directed at you but at all the people who are comparing him to Lebron