Post by Tehran on Jul 6, 2015 13:55:16 GMT -6
#1 Real Madrid - LeBron James
The obvious pick here. He should be a star, but he'll need to improve his 3PT shot if he really wants to become a special player. The best advantage he may give you is at PG. He's not going to be much of a difference maker defensively, at least with blocks and steals. He looks a little too much like Scottie Pippen for my liking, but with the first pick- I think you have to take him based on his name alone
#2 Beijing Aoshen - Carmelo Anthony
You could have talked me into 'Melo at #1. He will be a special player offensively. There is no doubt about that; and unlike LeBron, he may end up a decent rebounder. LeBron's supposed ability to play PG puts him over the top, but I think Anthony will end up the better scorer and more reliable player on the wing.
Philadelphia 76ers
#3 Dwight Howard
#4 Amar'e Stoudemire
Dwight is another obvious pick, but I'm not sold on Amare. I understand the desire for a balanced future front court, but I think Horford is the better player. Stoudemire will probably always be a liability defensively, and I'm not sure he'll ever be anything more than an average rebounder. It's a reasonable gamble, especially because Dwight looks to be a force defensively for the future. No one else besides Horford really jumps out at 4, and Amare has a lot of potential at only 19.
#5 Tel Aviv Maccabi - Brandon Roy
Not a big fan of this pick. Roy looks OK, but I would have taken a shot at Williams. Arenas is probably better off playing the 2, and I'd be more comfortable with an Arenas/Williams combo than the Roy/Arenas duo. It's not necessarily a bad pick, but Roy is a tad boring.
#6 Cairo Zamalek - Jay Williams
Love the pick. Outside of the top 2, I think he's the most reliable player in this draft. He will be a starting quality PG in the next two years, and he has the potentially to be an above average starter. He will never be an All-Star, but he's a lock to be a starter for a long-time. Doesn't really have any weaknesses.
Belgrade KK Partizan
#7 Andre Iguodala
#8 Al Horford
Horford was the last guy that I thought clearly had starter quality potential. He's young, big, good defensively, and looks to have some potential offensively. I think he will probably end up being the third or fourth best player in this draft, so getting him at #8 is pretty good. Iggy is what he looks like, a good defensive player that will be limited offensively. He was easily the best wing available at this point, but I may have taken a flier on Lee or Nene here if I was Belgrade
#9 Tel Aviv Maccabi - David Lee
Another pick that I'm not crazy about. I think he should have taken Nene here, but I prefer defensive bigs over scorers. Lee should be pretty good, but will need a bit of TC magic to really make a difference anytime soon. The obvious flaw with Lee is his defense, which will probably always be below average.
#10 Detroit Pistons - Nene Hilario
This is another guy that I'm surprised he slid this far. Like Horford, I think Nene is another guy who will end up a starter on a good team. His ability to anchor the middle defensively will provide more valuable than scoring big like Lee. I believe he has the potential to be a top 5 player in this draft. At 19, he should have plenty of potential to improve his offense.
#11 Berlin Alba - Caron Butler
Not really an inspiring pick, but I'm not really sure who is a better pick. There is a bunch of flawed wing guys that go in the middle rounds (see: Butler, Deng, Szczerbiak, and Maggette) that have potential ranging from borderline starter to useful bench guy. Butler and Deng probably have the best potential to become starters, but I wouldn't be expecting much more than a backup 2/3 from either at this point.
#12 Philadelphia 76ers - Dajuan Wagner
Wagner's a fun pick. He will probably never see the court, but the age and across the board potential should keep him interesting for a few TC's. There are a few guys that are better and probably will be better, but no one in the draft has the potential of Wagner. Can't blame Philadelphia for taking the chance, but not a good situation for the rest of the draft if teams are picking guys at 12 that will probably never see the court.
#13 Buenos Aires Boca Júniors - Chris Kaman
I actually like this pick more than the Wagner pick. Kaman is going to take a few years, but he has the potential to be a serious contributor. It'll be interesting to see how the Stoudemire, Kaman, Horford, and Lee all end up. I think all four of these guys are a bit of a crap-shoot. I think Horford will probably end up the best of the bunch, but Stoudemire has the best potential.
#14 New York Knicks - Danny Granger
Forgot him on the list of mediocre wing players that will go in the later first round. Like Butler, he looks to be an 8th or 9th man. He has some potential, and could potentially end up as the best wing outside of the top 2. It'll be interesting to see if he can throw some B's up on the board after TC #2. Good pick for this late in the draft.
#15 Berlin Alba - Luol Deng
The parade of mediocre wing prospects continues. Deng is a great athlete, and with a little potential he could prove useful. The draft really thins out after this point. Deng will definitely be in the league in a few years, most guys that go after this pick are questionable at best.
The obvious pick here. He should be a star, but he'll need to improve his 3PT shot if he really wants to become a special player. The best advantage he may give you is at PG. He's not going to be much of a difference maker defensively, at least with blocks and steals. He looks a little too much like Scottie Pippen for my liking, but with the first pick- I think you have to take him based on his name alone
#2 Beijing Aoshen - Carmelo Anthony
You could have talked me into 'Melo at #1. He will be a special player offensively. There is no doubt about that; and unlike LeBron, he may end up a decent rebounder. LeBron's supposed ability to play PG puts him over the top, but I think Anthony will end up the better scorer and more reliable player on the wing.
Philadelphia 76ers
#3 Dwight Howard
#4 Amar'e Stoudemire
Dwight is another obvious pick, but I'm not sold on Amare. I understand the desire for a balanced future front court, but I think Horford is the better player. Stoudemire will probably always be a liability defensively, and I'm not sure he'll ever be anything more than an average rebounder. It's a reasonable gamble, especially because Dwight looks to be a force defensively for the future. No one else besides Horford really jumps out at 4, and Amare has a lot of potential at only 19.
#5 Tel Aviv Maccabi - Brandon Roy
Not a big fan of this pick. Roy looks OK, but I would have taken a shot at Williams. Arenas is probably better off playing the 2, and I'd be more comfortable with an Arenas/Williams combo than the Roy/Arenas duo. It's not necessarily a bad pick, but Roy is a tad boring.
#6 Cairo Zamalek - Jay Williams
Love the pick. Outside of the top 2, I think he's the most reliable player in this draft. He will be a starting quality PG in the next two years, and he has the potentially to be an above average starter. He will never be an All-Star, but he's a lock to be a starter for a long-time. Doesn't really have any weaknesses.
Belgrade KK Partizan
#7 Andre Iguodala
#8 Al Horford
Horford was the last guy that I thought clearly had starter quality potential. He's young, big, good defensively, and looks to have some potential offensively. I think he will probably end up being the third or fourth best player in this draft, so getting him at #8 is pretty good. Iggy is what he looks like, a good defensive player that will be limited offensively. He was easily the best wing available at this point, but I may have taken a flier on Lee or Nene here if I was Belgrade
#9 Tel Aviv Maccabi - David Lee
Another pick that I'm not crazy about. I think he should have taken Nene here, but I prefer defensive bigs over scorers. Lee should be pretty good, but will need a bit of TC magic to really make a difference anytime soon. The obvious flaw with Lee is his defense, which will probably always be below average.
#10 Detroit Pistons - Nene Hilario
This is another guy that I'm surprised he slid this far. Like Horford, I think Nene is another guy who will end up a starter on a good team. His ability to anchor the middle defensively will provide more valuable than scoring big like Lee. I believe he has the potential to be a top 5 player in this draft. At 19, he should have plenty of potential to improve his offense.
#11 Berlin Alba - Caron Butler
Not really an inspiring pick, but I'm not really sure who is a better pick. There is a bunch of flawed wing guys that go in the middle rounds (see: Butler, Deng, Szczerbiak, and Maggette) that have potential ranging from borderline starter to useful bench guy. Butler and Deng probably have the best potential to become starters, but I wouldn't be expecting much more than a backup 2/3 from either at this point.
#12 Philadelphia 76ers - Dajuan Wagner
Wagner's a fun pick. He will probably never see the court, but the age and across the board potential should keep him interesting for a few TC's. There are a few guys that are better and probably will be better, but no one in the draft has the potential of Wagner. Can't blame Philadelphia for taking the chance, but not a good situation for the rest of the draft if teams are picking guys at 12 that will probably never see the court.
#13 Buenos Aires Boca Júniors - Chris Kaman
I actually like this pick more than the Wagner pick. Kaman is going to take a few years, but he has the potential to be a serious contributor. It'll be interesting to see how the Stoudemire, Kaman, Horford, and Lee all end up. I think all four of these guys are a bit of a crap-shoot. I think Horford will probably end up the best of the bunch, but Stoudemire has the best potential.
#14 New York Knicks - Danny Granger
Forgot him on the list of mediocre wing players that will go in the later first round. Like Butler, he looks to be an 8th or 9th man. He has some potential, and could potentially end up as the best wing outside of the top 2. It'll be interesting to see if he can throw some B's up on the board after TC #2. Good pick for this late in the draft.
#15 Berlin Alba - Luol Deng
The parade of mediocre wing prospects continues. Deng is a great athlete, and with a little potential he could prove useful. The draft really thins out after this point. Deng will definitely be in the league in a few years, most guys that go after this pick are questionable at best.
