2013 NBA Draft

[FiveThous]

I would not be shocked to see Anthony Bennett be the #1 pick tomorrow night.

 

[Stitches]

There seems to be a few guys near the top of most draft boards that will be impact players in the league for years to come, but none are at that superstar level that would make them a no-brainer to be selected with the number one overall pick.

That may be why the Cavaliers were looking into trading the top pick in the draft, albeit with a ridiculously high asking price. But it’s also a reason that reports have Cleveland still undecided as who to take with that critical pick, though it appears more and more like they are leaning in a particular direction.

From Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports Network:

"The Cleveland Cavaliers are still leaning towards Maryland’s Alex Len with the first overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, per a source…..

An underrated storyline 4 Cavs/Len per sources is Cleveland hired Vitaly Potapenko as player development coach. Like Len, a Ukraine native."

Aran Smith also has Len going number one at the top of his mock draft over at HoopsHype.

It’s possible the Cavs could still trade the pick if they lower their expectations of what they’re open to receiving in return, but if they retain it, they should select whomever they feel makes the most sense for their team as opposed to going with the consensus top talent on the board.

Again, all of these reports are interesting, but we have little assurance as to what’s real and what isn’t until these picks are made. But if you want to look at one more piece of information that might give us a clue as to what the Cavs are thinking, check out their owner Dan Gilbert’s Twitter page, and look at who he’s following.

Gilbert follows just 409 people, and one of them is Victor Oladipo.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....lex-len-with-first-overall-pick-in-the-draft/


Looks like there's a new person claiming we're leaning towards Len tomorrow.

 

[winner0274]

I think people are really setting themselves up for disappointment if they still want oladipo or bennet. Those are really long shots now. Close to saying Mclemore is on that list too and Porter might not be far behind. Just judging the media reports, id be stunned if its someone besides len or noel.

After the last two drafts I'm ready for anything.

 

[Rich]

Dont always believe everything you read.

Thanks.

 

[shoes22]

/debate.

Welcome to Cleveland, Nerlens.

How is NERLENS saying he thinks he'll be ready by Novemeber end the debate? All injured players say stuff like this.

 

[Dillinger]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>From what I've been told, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Cavs&amp;src=hash">#Cavs</a> could add a casino to the deal and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Timberwolves&amp;src=hash">#Timberwolves</a> are not trading Kevin Love.</p>&mdash; Tom Withers (@twithersAP) <a href="https://twitter.com/twithersAP/statuses/349939084724142082">June 26, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[shoes22]

Also talk radio the past couple hours has been all Alex Len, all the time. It's nauseating.

 

[abraxas]

I'm starting to lean toward what Ford wrote: all the other guys are smokescreens for the Cavs wanting to trade down a bit and pick Oladipo. He just seems like a Grant/Gilbert guy.

 

[Jack Brickman]

I think people are really setting themselves up for disappointment if they still want oladipo or bennet. Those are really long shots now. Close to saying Mclemore is on that list too and Porter might not be far behind. Just judging the media reports, id be stunned if its someone besides len or noel.

I think McLemore should be on the long shot list well before Oladipo, Bennett, and Porter. He's passive, showed up for workouts out of shape, has been making poor decisions regarding representation, doesn't really fit a need, has no handles, and has mediocre metrics. I really don't see why he'd be the guy at number one. I think people fell in love with his jump shot (which is nice) and his athleticism (which he utilizes kind of poorly in games without elite handles, btw) and started overlooking all of the (many) holes in his game. I think he's a glorified role-player in the NBA unless he learns how to handle the ball, and I'm not confident a guy with his mentality will ever improve dramatically at the next level.

Porter doesn't have great athleticism, but he basically satisfies every other criteria I would think the Cavs examine when scouting prospects: hard-worker, intelligent, good family background, great metrics, improved dramatically from freshman to sophomore year, team-first guy, etc. The same goes for Oladipo, except he's a bit less skilled than Porter, doesn't project as well with metrics (although admittedly that's less of a concern with Oladipo than with McLemore given the work ethic and improvement he's shown), and is a year older.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Is there some rule that Potapenko can only teach post moves to another Ukrainian? I think way too much is being read into that. Z worked with Tristan, who was neither Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Belarussian, Estonian, Uzbek, or otherwise a citizen of the former Soviet Union. And that seemed to work out just fine.

Potapenko had really fluid big-man skills, but was cursed with tiny hands of stone. He's got coaching experience, so he seems like a good choice to mentor any of our big men or potential big men. Moreover, if the Cavs really are serious about trying to trade that pick for an established player, then the whole idea of hiring Potapenko just for Len falls apart.

 

[Soar]

Also talk radio the past couple hours has been all Alex Len, all the time. It's nauseating.

Cleveland has horrible talk radio. Just don't listen. The only good thing about Cleveland radio is Tom Hamilton. Beyond that, it is putrid.

 

[catfish]

Reading the chad ford chat. The guy really has no idea who the CAVS are going to draft. Looked at draft rater from 2012 and drummond didnt rate highly according to Hollinger's statistical analysis which is different than Peltons but he still ranked him 5th anyway. Seems like basketball analytics of college games with junk defenses can only go so far.

 

[Soar]

Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine 1m
Thomas Robinson to Cavs for No. 19 pick. Thomas Robinson to Bulls for No. 20. Word is both of those scenarios are on table for Rockets

 

[CodyL1121]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Thomas Robinson to Cavs for No. 19 pick. Thomas Robinson to Bulls for No. 20. Word is both of those scenarios are on table for Rockets</p>&mdash; Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/349940702932770816">June 26, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Edit: Tecumseh beat me to it

 

[Kevalier]

Player comparisons from Pelton, I apologize if it's already been posted somewhere:

5. Ben McLemore, Kansas
Comparisons: Daniel Gibson (96.4), Willie Warren, Jeremy Lamb, Rashad McCants

McLemore would surely prefer the comparison to fellow St. Louis native Bradley Beal (96.7), but Beal was nearly a year and a half younger during his freshman season. Fellow Kansas guard Brandon Rush (96.9) is another player stylistically similar, albeit much older.