2015 Nba Draft Discussion: Russell, Nance Jr., Brown

Reminds me of another draft where bigs went 1 & 2. 1 guy was more athletic with a higher ceiling, but considered more of a project that could take a while to develop. He told the #2 team he wouldn't play for them & rather than call his bluff, they traded down to 4. The other had a more polished NBA ready game, coming off posting 18-10 on his way to a NCAA title. A draftexpress article before the draft claimed the GM with #1 would be tossing & turning the night before, deciding which to take. While the GM at #2 would sleep like a baby knowing whichever big he got, he'd have a potential franchise player. The athletic kid with more potential went #1, the more NBA ready big went #2 & his name just happened to be Okafor. Obviously their games & the circumstances are different. But I can't help but wonder if the more athletic kid with more potential might be a top 10 player/best C in the league & lead his team to the finals.

 

I'm rooting for Statebook to make the team. Summer league MVP baby

 

there was a big oafish white guy who played really well in the tourney a nd looked like stainbrook, but I swear he had a hard to spell polish name. I remember posting about wanting one of the two polish bigs ( the other was from Arizona). who am I thinking of?

edit: karnowski

 

I mean come on, Mitch. Legend in the making

 

Karnowski of the Zags. Gonzaga has provided us with a steady stream of backup centers (Turiaf, Sacre). I liked Karnowski too, I just think he may be a little slow, despite his size.

 

dawson is intriguing, as is richaun holmes.

interesting quote from kupchak about looking first for immediate impact. I'm not sure all teams approach it with that mindset.

 

Alan Williams had an impressive interview. DX has him going 59th. 261 for a 6-8 big is impressive. Could help with some of Okafor's rebounding deficiencies. Worth keeping an eye on as a trade/purchase pick player or if he goes undrafted.

 

Following post in partial jest...

The Lakers will be required to draft at least two white guys this year. They are way off the normal quota we are required to carry as a team in LA. Last year Nash who never played, and Ryan Kelly were the extent of our offering. If I generously extend to non-black, I can include Lin. Others can be noted like Sacre (Half Canadian), Boozer (half latino), and make people wonder, but none pass as Caucasian.

Ex:

2013-14: Nash, Kelly, Gasol, Kaman, Blake
2012-13: Gasol, Nash, Blake
2011-12: Blake, Gasol, Kapono, McRoberts, Murphy, Walton
2010-11: Blake, Gasol, Walton, Sasha
2009-10: Gasol, Morrison, Sasha, Walton

You get the drift. Right now Ryan Kelly is the only Gringo projected to be on the Roster. I call two draft picks/signings this year that are butt white and are on the opening day roster. Just saying. Call it politics, call it marketing, call it cheap talent, but that's how I see it happening.

Who among our pale skinned brothers would you be least offended by drafting?

 

Adam Zagoria of SNY.TV:

Larry Brown says Emmanuel Mudiay is expected to work out for the Lakers, Sixers and Knicks, the teams picking 2, 3 and 4 in the NBA Draft.
A second source told SNY.tv that the order of the workouts will go Lakers first, Knicks second and then the
Sixers last. Mudiay has been working out in New York, including at House of Sports in Ardsley to prepare for NBA workouts.
“Emmanuel Mudiay is going to make everyone on his team better,” Brown, the former Knicks and current SMU coach, told The 4 Quarters Podcast on Monday.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....lakers-sixers-knicks-in-advance-of-nba-draft/

 

hernangomez could be a stash guy, which would line up with some of mitch's comments. but do you need to use the 27 to get him? I did read somewhere (maybe this thread?) that he had one of the best seasons ever for a 20 year old in ACB. the company he was keeping stat-wise were all successful nba players.

also, what's larry brown's deal with mudiay? I know he had originally signed to play under him (smu my alma mater, btw), but did that come with brown agreeing to serve as de facto agent? he's really putting his rep on the line for the kid, to whom he really owes nothing.

 

I watched a couple of Xavier games in the Tourney and too was impressed with Stainbrook. Big, awkward, Rambis glasses, I laughingly dismissed him as they tipped off the fist game I watched. Then as he dominated the paint, out hustled every one on the court, hit shot after shot with slick moves to the hoop and mid range jumpers I changed my tune. Great backstory too. I don't know how he'd do against NBA bigs, but as a late 2nd rounder,he could surprise.

 

My feeling as well, but if they liked his workout they may do a Clarkson and buy a pick late in the 2nd round. He could play for the defenders and show what he's got.