2012 Draft

[Rysen]

I know that a lot of fans are thinking that this draft isn't going to be as deep as they once thought it would be. However, keep in mind that most of the people that started saying that the draft wouldn't be as deep as originally thought to be, was analysts who saw teams like UConn, Vandy, Villanova, Memphis,etc all perform at a much lower level than expected. Then there were teams like Ohio State, who lost 3 games in a 5-game stretch... those same analysts started questioning the Buckeyes ability to get to the sweet-16... then a mere two weeks later those same people did another about-face, and said that the Buckeyes had thrust themselves back into title contention.

Fact is this: The Buckeyes have had the same talent all year... They have the "ability" to win a title, regardless of how many games they have won or lost.

Same with those players - the ones that made this draft so damn deep - They haven't suddenly lost their talent. They may have had a bad stretch, or their team was struggling for whatever reason, but those players are every bit as talented as they were when the prognosticators originally talked about the depth and possible greatness of this draft.

Those that think otherwise have allowed themselves to be misled. Instead of reading articles written by a writer who likely wont watch half the tournament, how about you take the next couple weeks and watch as many games as you possibly can - and make your own decision about how talented this draft is gonna be.

[ArchieBunker7]

I know that a lot of fans are thinking that this draft isn't going to be as deep as they once thought it would be. However, keep in mind that most of the people that started saying that the draft wouldn't be as deep as originally thought to be, was analysts who saw teams like UConn, Vandy, Villanova, Memphis,etc all perform at a much lower level than expected. Then there were teams like Ohio State, who lost 3 games in a 5-game stretch... those same analysts started questioning the Buckeyes ability to get to the sweet-16... then a mere two weeks later those same people did another about-face, and said that the Buckeyes had thrust themselves back into title contention.

Fact is this: The Buckeyes have had the same talent all year... They have the "ability" to win a title, regardless of how many games they have won or lost.

Same with those players - the ones that made this draft so damn deep - They haven't suddenly lost their talent. They may have had a bad stretch, or their team was struggling for whatever reason, but those players are every bit as talented as they were when the prognosticators originally talked about the depth and possible greatness of this draft.

Those that think otherwise have allowed themselves to be misled. Instead of reading articles written by a writer who likely wont watch half the tournament, how about you take the next couple weeks and watch as many games as you possibly can - and make your own decision about how talented this draft is gonna be.

The reasoning behind the draft not being quite as deep as once thought is because a lot of guys near the top haven't lived up to expectations(Sully, PJIII, Barnes, Drummond) and it seems like there could definitely be a few guys who decide to stay in school.

[Rysen]

The reasoning behind the draft not being quite as deep as once thought is because a lot of guys near the top haven't lived up to expectations(Sully, PJIII, Barnes, Drummond) and it seems like there could definitely be a few guys who decide to stay in school.

Although I agree with Drummond, you are way off base on the others you mentioned.

Sully - He hasn't lived up to expectations? He's added a jump shot, and raised his numbers everywhere. No, Sully has lived up to what he was expected.

Barnes - Nobody thought he was a defensive stalwart. He is an offensive nightnare for any team that has to play against him. He has played less minuted in his Soph year, and scored 2 more ppg, and raised his shooting averages despite having slightly more attempts per game. This is the best player in the draft - make no mistake about it.

PJ3 - The kid is what he is... he is a shooting guard on stilts. He will be picked lower than he should be, because he has grown 6 inches over the last 2 yrs and isnt used to his body yet, but when he gets to the NBA and has pros working with him to fill out; man, watch out!

McAdoo- He's one of the guys you could have mentioned w/o me arguing. He was expected to be a great college player, but his attitude has benched him.

I can probably name 50 guys that most of you haven't heard of that will be in this draft, guys like Garrett Stutz, and (especially) Jae Crowder; or Drew Gordon, John Jenkins, Michael Snaer, Moser, Henry Sims (extremely under-rated), and so many more. This draft is really talented! The Cavs are gonna get at-least 3 players (that make the team) w/o any deadline deals. Likely both 2nd rounders will stick, as I like the Cavaliers' scouting dept., and think they'll get the right type of players (kids with good attitude, coach-able, etc.).

[Tank God]

Although I agree with Drummond, you are way off base on the others you mentioned.

Sully - He hasn't lived up to expectations? He's added a jump shot, and raised his numbers everywhere. No, Sully has lived up to what he was expected.

Barnes - Nobody thought he was a defensive stalwart. He is an offensive nightnare for any team that has to play against him. He has played less minuted in his Soph year, and scored 2 more ppg, and raised his shooting averages despite having slightly more attempts per game. This is the best player in the draft - make no mistake about it.

PJ3 - The kid is what he is... he is a shooting guard on stilts. He will be picked lower than he should be, because he has grown 6 inches over the last 2 yrs and isnt used to his body yet, but when he gets to the NBA and has pros working with him to fill out; man, watch out!

McAdoo- He's one of the guys you could have mentioned w/o me arguing. He was expected to be a great college player, but his attitude has benched him.

I can probably name 50 guys that most of you haven't heard of that will be in this draft, guys like Garrett Stutz, and (especially) Jae Crowder; or Drew Gordon, John Jenkins, Michael Snaer, Moser, Henry Sims (extremely under-rated), and so many more. This draft is really talented! The Cavs are gonna get at-least 3 players (that make the team) w/o any deadline deals. Likely both 2nd rounders will stick, as I like the Cavaliers' scouting dept., and think they'll get the right type of players (kids with good attitude, coach-able, etc.).

[wuck]

Don't stress out arguing with someone who was banned for good earlier today...

[winner0274]

Don't stress out arguing with someone who was banned for good earlier today...

If only we could truly keep heath away for good...

[Jon]

If only we could truly keep heath away for good...

Yeah, there's something to be said for just letting the folks who want to put him on ignore do it just once and be done with it; but I'm surprised he was allowed to last this long given how much he apparently went out of his way to piss off the mods/admins of the board.

[bcort]

Fab seems dumb as rocks. As a late pick, he's probably not a bad prospect, but I have a feeling he'll disappoint a lot of people. He's got the brains of Javale McGee mixed with Demarcus Cousins.

Fab is ineligible for the tourney...

Also makes me not having Syracuse in the Final Four more likely.

[winner0274]

Fab is ineligible for the tourney...

Also makes me not having Syracuse in the Final Four more likely.

Good! I have Syracuse losing to Vanderbilt.

[Pioneer10]

Good! I have Syracuse losing to Vanderbilt.

Love to get Jeff Taylor if we can grab a mid/late 1st round pick. 3 and D guy who is athletic on the break. Add a Lamb or Beal at the SG and we would have a nice 3 man rotation on the wing with Gee next year.

Jeff Taylor is 22 so his upside isn't as large as other SF's like Barnes and MKG. On the other hand he's been impressive in both meetings against Kentucky and MKG. He's also steadily increased his 3pt% each year indicating he will work on his game while having ideal size and athletic ability for a 3.

[narbar32]

Love to get Jeff Taylor if we can grab a mid/late 1st round pick. 3 and D guy who is athletic on the break. Add a Lamb or Beal at the SG and we would have a nice 3 man rotation on the wing with Gee next year.

Jeff Taylor is 22 so his upside isn't as large as other SF's like Barnes and MKG. On the other hand he's been impressive in both meetings against Kentucky and MKG. He's also steadily increased his 3pt% each year indicating he will work on his game while having ideal size and athletic ability for a 3.

I love Jeff Taylor too. He just reminds me so much of Gee, though, for better or worse. Started off as mostly just an athlete, always strong on defense, added an outside shot, became more comfortable putting the ball on the floor and finishing at the hoop, and in general has just made major strides in becoming an all-around basketball player.

I don't know whether having Gee and drafting Taylor is wise hedging of our bets or simply redundant. But despite loving Taylor as a prospect, I'm more inclined to hope for a developmental big at that point in the draft (Melo, Pat Young, Lucas N) than a duplicative piece, despite my belief that Taylor is more likely to succeed in the NBA than one of those project bigs.

[Pioneer10]

I love Jeff Taylor too. He just reminds me so much of Gee, though, for better or worse. Started off as mostly just an athlete, always strong on defense, added an outside shot, became more comfortable putting the ball on the floor and finishing at the hoop, and in general has just made major strides in becoming an all-around basketball player.

I don't know whether having Gee and drafting Taylor is wise hedging of our bets or simply redundant. But despite loving Taylor as a prospect, I'm more inclined to hope for a developmental big at that point in the draft (Melo, Pat Young, Lucas N) than a duplicative piece, despite my belief that Taylor is more likely to succeed in the NBA than one of those project bigs.

We need someone to replace Casspi not Gee In all seriousness, Taylor and Gee can play SG minutes when whoever our future SG sits so having a three man rotation at 2/3 makes sense.

That being said mid to late first rounders are crapshoots so to each his own in terms of what positional preference you want to go for. Personally I'm for the following situation which is also realistically possible

Our pick (5-10 range with likely MKG/Barnes off the table): Lamb or Beal
Second pick (mid first rounder acquired via Sessions movve): Jeff Taylor
FA: Omer Asik plus Ilyasova with the cap space we have (Asik is a real possibility: him plus Ilyasova more likely a pipe dream)

Next year we'd be running Irving, Lamb, Taylor, Gee, AV, TT, Asik. Weakness would be the lack of a scoring big but we would be a nightmare for teams on defense and I mean post traumatic stress disorder like stuff not I lost my candy type of dreams.

[howler1313]

We need someone to replace Casspi not Gee In all seriousness, Taylor and Gee can play SG minutes when whoever our future SG sits so having a three man rotation at 2/3 makes sense.

That being said mid to late first rounders are crapshoots so to each his own in terms of what positional preference you want to go for. Personally I'm for the following situation which is also realistically possible

Our pick (5-10 range with likely MKG/Barnes off the table): Lamb or Beal
Second pick (mid first rounder acquired via Sessions movve): Jeff Taylor
FA: Omer Asik plus Ilyasova with the cap space we have (Asik is a real possibility: him plus Ilyasova more likely a pipe dream)

Next year we'd be running Irving, Lamb, Taylor, Gee, AV, TT, Asik. Weakness would be the lack of a scoring big but we would be a nightmare for teams on defense and I mean post traumatic stress disorder like stuff not I lost my candy type of dreams.

Wouldn't mind taking a chance with Fab Melo as well. You've got to think he's coming out now that he's academically ineligible. He's raw and may have some maturity/character problems, but athletic seven footers like him are always valuable.

[NtG]

Fab Melo is inelligible for the tournament, probably academics again. If that is the case, there is no way I want him.

[BimboColesHair]

Fab Melo is inelligible for the tournament, probably academics again. If that is the case, there is no way I want him.

Yeah, cause academics determines how he plays basketball, if thats the case the Bulls should have never drafted Derrick Rose....sure he has maturity issues, but who didn't when they were 21 years old and in college? Better than any center we have on roster and has potential.