BRIGGS wrote:Pheonix takes Nikola Jokic C

For the UK draft game by Briggs

Was got me Briggs, was sure you were picking Jordan Backnaski will be Briggs next draft selection
It is a very good pick though, COMPLETE STEAL

I think he could be one of the steals in the draft along with

DeAndre Kane/Delon Wright *Ron Harper* not sure if he is staying in this draft as a Junior*

Spencer Dwinwiddie *as he recovers from ACL/Knee Surgery, though his game is NOT based on athleticism to begin with but with shooting/BB IQ/ and size/versatility that his ceiling could be compared to Billups*

Dwight Powell - anywhere from Taj Gibson to Brandon Wright but with a nice shooting stroke with legit range when feet are squared

Burton - Felton on steroids as being a poor mans young Wade
Russ Smith
Corey Jefferson/Patrick Young *anywhere from Horford to Feztiz Ezili,
and many other including

KC McDaniels/DeAndre Daniels *Matt Barnes/Tony Allen*
Elfrid Payton (Gary Payton/Jrue Holiday) ,

as possibly LATE 2 round or undrafted steals including some of the above and my 4 favorite value steals being DeAndre Kane, Kendall Williams, Delon Wright, Backnaski by far, some notables including Alec Brown, Aaron Craft

In the end, this is by far one of the best drafts in recent years terms of finding players from picks 30-50 and possibly undrafted, with players that can both contribute right away or/and at least have solid potential to being a good NBA player on a contending team, there are no Lebron's though

Andrew Wiggins is comparable to a YOUNG Rudy Gay that can be a Derozan + talent

with Parker/Randle being comparable to CA himself with better DEF

poor mans Westbrook (Lavine)

Rhondo/Payton/Jrue Holiday (Exum/Smart/Elfrid Payton)

Monta Ellis (Napier)

Aaron Gordon (poor mans Blake Griffen)
Noah Vonleh (Chris Bosh)

but they are a lot of

Lopez brothers *Backnaski*

Alec Brown being AB/BJ Bullens,

Adrieyn Payne (poor mans STAT with range /Rasheed Wallace)

Bogdan Bogdanvic (young Rudy Fernandaz/older Brent Barry *without the hops*,

Kukoc and Morris Twins type talents, If you don't think these comparisons resemble a deep draft, I don't know what to say...

As for TJ Warren, I think the player that most resembles/comparable to his skill sets is a YOUNG IGGY
I can see why Briggs is very big on him, though I don't think he is worth REACHING on, with his projected pick being in the mid/late 1st rounder

DEVELOPMENT
====================

NO ONE knows if or how they will do in this department and that is the risk that comes with the draft, there are many factors including injury being the the biggest one especially for Sam Bowie/Walton etc,

How these players develop, if they reach their full potential/ceilings, etc, cannot be determined, it greatly depends on the team they are drafted by with their coaching/development staff, in addition to the coaching philosophy/ players as mentors to help them gain full potential both on and off the court something I think the league has went away from valuing the amount of VETS as player/coaches, probably the most important, their work ethic, ability to continue to grow/develop as players/humans, the off court distractions and their motivations, the teams leaders like OKC and Spurs have shown they have the gym rats that are infectious to speed development along with the Bulls, so in the end, time will tell

Utilizing the draft to go with Cap Space to build a team
=================================================================

Looking back at teams like Philly, Suns, Orlando, Atlanta, even Boston/ Bobcats/ New Orleans
It looked like they were doomed to suck the rest of the next decades, but some of these teams have really turned it around despite making some horrible moves/trades, now look at how the draft picks/assets they have acquired along with CAP SPACE can restore the balance with this new CBA, emphasizing more value on draft picks/cap space then ever before

As for as preserving cap space and doing a quick rebuild for either 2015/16 (Kevin Love/LA, Bosh, Rhondo/Dragic/Parker, Marc Gasol/Hibbert, Thad Young/Jeff Green, Asik,
There are many good role players +, in the end, it is the price/value we can get players for without overpaying
Like I am big on Rudy Gay if we can get him at the right price, 5-8m, many forget his potential was right up there after both Lebron and Durant as one of the most physically talented SF's with SG and PF abilities/size/athleticism along with Granger, then he hurt his knee and Gay/ZBO both took turns getting injured and carried the entire team when each other was out
However, when they both returned, with the development of Conley and Gasol, they were unable to find a balance and role to excel in with consistency
Part of the reason was because he loss his drive/motive after getting that MAX contract, he has the tools to also be a good defender and part of the reason why SHORTER contracts are a good thing for the player/teams with the CBA, keeping them motivated
He does lack BB IQ and relies much on physical abilities but it comes down to price vs risk/reward in the end, and he could be fixed just like how JR Smith grew under Woodson during a contract year
Gay also showed the ability to play SG and exploit that match up, though he was much younger, with the lineup

Conly
Gay
Mike Miller
Warrick
Darko

I think he can play a similar role as a starter with the right talents around him but now he but focus on his all round game especially becoming at least good defender, or he can be a 6th man type player, regardless he has a lot of work to catch up on, and like JR Smith must mature/grow/develop on his strengths and weakness's
with also many RFAs like Irving, Drummond, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, Vucivic, Faried, Iman Shumpert *still has a opportunity to catch up on development, he certainly showed his potential prior to hurting himself and with trainers/development coach, and a Head Coach/system that he excelled in rather than staying in the corner and watching as we went 1v1 with Woodson in addition to a flawed philosophy on both OFF and DEF

or

2016/17 (with Durant and Noah currently UFA's unless they sign extensions)
======================================================================================

The biggest reason why I think we didn't hesitate the offer Fisher that 5m per year vs Kerr was for the possibiliy of recruiting Durant if we are unable to land our superstar
It really hurt us big time when we traded for AB, losing 3 picks, one of which is in 2016 1st rounder *which Nuggets get the better off*, along with 2 2nd rounders, one of which is in this summers final picks *that really can make a difference had we known Phil Jackson would be on board vs our traditional front office

Finestrg wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

Finestrg wrote:At 51 Dallas takes C Isaiah Austin.

Hey fine--you know this draft is super deep when many of these 2nd rounders would easily be 1st rounders in different drafts. For Baylor--both Austin and Jefferson did not play as well the year before because they did not have Jackson and it's very hard for BIGS to separate and breakout when there is more than 1 NBA caliber big on the team. Isiah Austin had some games last year where he looked like Marcus Camby and Jefferson--more so the year before looked like the 2nd coming of a form of Amare Stuodemire. Now we are getting these guys in the 50 range.

There's some obvious risk with the two guys I took for Dallas in the 2nd round -- but I'd like to think upside will win out in the end. Ron just mentioned Dinwiddie a few posts back in this thread and I definitely agree on the skill level/B-Ball IQ/versatility standpoints as well the fact that his smooth game hasn't been solely reliant on athleticism as we see with other players -- should bode well in terms of making a full recovery or close to it. I think this kid will make a full recovery from the torn ACL, even if it takes a tad longer than expected. A 6'6" PG/SG with his size & NBA-ready skill-set is worth waiting a few extra weeks or months for if need be...On Austin, I dunno---I know he's legally blind in one eye and that gives you pause but to get a 7'1" C with his standing reach (the best in their entire database of current players per DX I believe) and his blossoming skills on both ends (VERY GOOD offensive potential coupled with the legitimate rim protection) make him super intriguing. Gotta tighten up in some areas -- needs to add some more bulk/strength, rebounding and shooting percentage must climb -- but I think that can all be improved. This guy's ceiling could be Roy Hibbert, better maybe...And if I'm wrong, oh well, he was a 2nd round pick that didn't pan out at 51. Easy to turn the page. Should be at least a serviceable backup C in the NBA...Worth a shot at 51 imo....Thinking McGary may have been a little bit of a reach for the LAC at 28 but I like the fit behind Griffin and Jordan. I don't quite see the David Lee comparisons with McGary that I've been reading but maybe something close to Noah or Nick Collison -- that I can see.

Totally agree on this draft. Beyond deep...Hope that bodes well for our Knicks! Hopefully Phil finds a way to deal us in for a pick or two. If not, hopefully we're ready to pounce on the best available undrafted talent. Should be quite a bit of value leftover after 60.

BRIGGS wrote:Philly takes Jordan Bachnaski C

I think he will be a great pick if he is a mid/late 2nd rounder
Players I would compare him include Robin and Brook Lopez but with better mobility/athleticism

They are both different type of BIG's but I believe Backnaski has the positives of both brothers
Somewhere between both brothers in terms of SCORING/POST presence from Brook and DEF/REBOUNDING of

Briggs or anyone, wondering if there are better comparisons for Backnaski
I think in a weak draft, he would be a late 1st rounder type talent