2011 NBA Draft Was Supposed to Have Been Weak

[Triumph36]

Are you seriously trying to compare the hall of fame players, hall of fame coach, and system of championship winning Kawhi was drafted into, compared to Kyrie and the situation he was in the last three years? Hysterical.

Yeah, because everyone should win with Mike Brown, Dion Waiters, Alonzo Gee, and Earl Clark at the helm.

again with the "system" cop out while giving no credit to kawhi. that is what's hilarious.

but you're right, mike brown and dion waiters are the reason why kyrie is a revolving door on defense. totally. now that he's playing next to lebron he's going to be racking up those all-defense teams in no time.

 

[Kris032]

I think what the other is saying is that Kawhi was put into a position wherein he was able to maximize his skills and at the same time cover his weakness while growing/developing from year 1 up to the present. The system thing is not being exaggerated, however it did play into importance as it allow him to slowly develop as a two way player. The spurs system does not only indicate the way they play basketball but also the way how they develop their players. I could probably guess that when Kawhi entered the league, they started to develop first his corner three rather than making him do those spot up jumper in order to allow or give him a comfortable rhythm in shooting the ball. you mention his work ethic, but there's been a lot of guys like him that came into league peg as having off the charts work ethic and yet despite that still did not develop or maximize their talent. Effort is just one aspect of player development. You still need to have a clear vision or rather a blue print on how to develop a player and that is what the Spurs gave or communicated to Kawhi on a consistent basis.

yes, i will stick to kyrie as still the # 1 pick on that draft. He has 1 characteristic in which the other players on that draft that doesn't have though whether he can maximize is a question that we can only see in the future.

 

[morgwon]

I think its a tossup and would depend on the need of the team. I don't think it as clear cut as some of the Kyrie fans think it is. I can see some teams taking Kawhi first.

 

[Omar The Horse]

Remember when people were angling for the Cavs to draft Derrick Williams at #1 ?


Good times.

 

[Jordan]

The Cavs take Kyrie #1 in that draft 8 days a week. It depends who has that pick, though. For example, the Bulls at that time probably take Kawaii Leonard because they did not need a point guard. I think people are slighting both Kyrie and Kawaii. The former is no longer that bad at defense, especially with Mozgov, and is probably the third best scorer in the NBA. He also is an incredible passer, albeit he lacks the court vision to take full advantage of it. Kawaii is a great defender, athletic, and has begun to evolve as a scorer. Kawaii is probably the best perimeter defender in the NBA right now.

My point is that the 2011 draft produced what will most likely become two superstars, a whole group of all-stars, and a ton of role players.

 

[godfather]

I would take Klay Thompson before Kawhi Leonard. I don't even think that's really debatable either. You could make a more compelling case of Klay or Kyrie (but I think it's still Kyre).

He's seen as arguably the best two-way shooting guard today. He's a hell of a lot more devastating as a scorer at this point than Leonard. Nothing to definitively to say Kawhi is a much better defender either. He's bigger, but Klay guards multiple positions himself.

He was clearly the integral part that helped changed the Warriors franchise, along with Steph Curry. Where Kawhi was drafted and helped add on to the legacy of the Spurs. Those are two different things.

Look, I like Kawhi, he's turned out to be a hell of a player. No, I don't think anyone is seriously trying to say its been just the system. But has he benefit a lot from playing for the Spurs? Who the hell wouldn't?

Let's be real, the Spurs were a good team before him. They have won 4 NBA championships before he came aboard, they have maybe the best coach ever. They are the ultimate franchise.

Let's not pretend every gifted player has been lucky enough to be granted something like that.

 

[The Oi]

Say it with me guys... THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A WEAK DRAFT.

I'm not going to say that with you, because there have definitely been weak drafts.

1995 was infamously awful. Garnett is a HOF obviously, but the next tier was Finley, Wallace, Stackhouse, (early career) McDyess and then everything after was solid role players and absolute garbage.

If there was a superstar in that 2013 draft, we'd know by now. As is, the best players in that draft are:

Victor Oladipo
Nerlens Noel
Greek Freak
Gorgui Dieng
Rudy Gobert

I don't know that there's a superstar or even perennial all star in that bunch, though I do think all of those guys will have excellent careers.

 

[godfather]

I'm not going to say that with you, because there have definitely been weak drafts.

1995 was infamously awful. Garnett is a HOF obviously, but the next tier was Finley, Wallace, Stackhouse, (early career) McDyess and then everything after was solid role players and absolute garbage.

If there was a superstar in that 2013 draft, we'd know by now. As is, the best players in that draft are:

Victor Oladipo
Nerlens Noel
Greek Freak
Gorgui Dieng
Rudy Gobert

I don't know that there's a superstar or even perennial all star in that bunch, though I do think all of those guys will have excellent careers.

Ugh, that draft was awful, and I am confident it will stand the test of time being bad.

 

[NorthCoastBias]

How can anyone talk about weak drafts and not bring up 2000? That is probably the worst draft ever. A whopping three All-Stars (Kenyon Martin, Jamaal Magliore, and Michael Redd) from that draft and only one guy (Redd) to earn All-NBA honors.

 

[DougHeil]

If two non-players are picking two teams composed of the players of the 2011 draft, which player is picked first?

Kyrie 24/7. It's not even a close call.