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2009 NBA Draft Preview

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Patrick Mills, St. Mary's Gaels



STATS
Height: 6'0" PG.
Age: 20 (8/11/88), Sophomore.
My Scouting Report: Quick... Can penetrate... Range... Great defender... Quick hands... Streaky.
Projection: Mid-late first.
NBA Comparison: Tony Parker.
Click to expand...

Im all over this bloke...

True Aussie... And a good leader...

Gonna Be Good!!!

Jump on the PATTY MILLS Bandwagon!!!
 
I think Shotgun Ricky goes 1st overall whenever he decides to enter the draft.
 
For where the cavs could pick in the 1st round Id look at players like Evan Turner and Gerald Henderson. There really isnt a lot of bigs that will be available late in the 1st but one that could be intriguing is DeJuan Blair. Very good rebounder and tough in the post but is 6'6" which is a turn off.
 
I wish we could grab Thabeet or Griffin,but that sh*t aint nowhere near possible.
 
Apparantly Wake Forest's Jeff Teague is drawing Chris Paul comparisons. CP3 led Wake Forest to its only #1 seed of all time, and right now, Teague has the team lying at #2. In Pauls final season at Wake Forest, he averaged 15.2 PPG, 6.6 APG, and 2.4 SPG, while Teague this season is averaging 21.2 PPG, 4 APG, and 1.8 SPG, not to mention Teague is averaging better percentages from the foul line, and three point line, and only 1.5% away from Paul's FG%. I'm not at all saying that Teague will be the next Paul, just an interesting prospect.

This draft has a great list of PG's, but the Cavs have Mo. It wouldn't make sence to go after a PG since we have Mo, Delonte, and Boobie, unless we are sure that we have a dominant PG. The Cavs two biggest position needs are SG, and PF. Three prospects that I will keep a close eye on are Earl Clark, Gani Lawal, and Patrick Patterson. Clark is 6'9", and noted as a SF, but he does play plenty of SG, and does have a lot of skills. He is one of the best players from this draft with a lot of potential, but since there are some very big names, he can drop from anywhere to 8-16. I would love to trade up to get this guy. He could be LeBron's Pippen (Note that I compared Clark to Pippen). I have always been a huge fan of Clark. The other two in Lawal and Patterson are also 6'9", but are PF's and are very tough and good defensive players, except they are somewhat raw on the offensive end. With Anderson Varejao playing very good at center, and Ben Wallace being able to play center, I think we are weaker at PF than center.

With that said, Z is getting old, and will have one season left on his contract when this draft takes place. He may re-sign a shorter term deal, but we will still need to look for long-term options. Both Cole Aldrich, and Jerome James are young, and could be options. Either of them could fall, though I really doubt Cole will, and even Jerome for that matter should be gone by 29 or 30. Trading up is not out of the question.

And as it may seem that all I am talking about is trading up, and how I would like to do that, trading down is not out of the question. The talent available at the early second round isn't much different than the talent available at the end of the first round. If we could get a pick next year, or cash in addition with the second round pick for our pick, I would like do that if we cannot move up.

Finally, xsabre, I am a big fan of Ricky, but at this point, Blake Griffin deserves that. He has been an absolute monster. Things can change, though. Last year at this point, people where saying that it was pretty much a done deal and that Beasley was going to be the #1 pick. This is just what it looks like from January, and I am sure will look different in June.
 
My post from my board: 1/11/09

I have been tracking players and this is an incredibly weak draft for what the Cavaliers needs are namely SG/swingman and C. Other than Z the Cavaliers dont have a big man on the roster over 6'10 (sorry Lorenzo Wright you really dont count). Other than James there is no rotation wing other than James over 6'3 except for Pavlovic and Szczerbiak and they will not be here in 2 years.

I know that the very preliminary draft prep of the Cavaliers is targeting big men.

The Cavaliers will very likely be picking in the bottom 3-4 in the first round and the players that fit the Cavaliers wont get a sniff of.

Also, remember that there is no more NBA Pre-draft camp. Players will get measured and tested but no games will be played.


Centers:

Cole Aldrich
Ht: 6'11
Wt: 245
Kansas - Sophomore

I think he is the best big man fit for the Cavaliers. He has good hands, good feet, rebounds, blocks shots, improving post game and despite a very funky form a good shooter from 15-18 feet. Unlike a lot of young big men he doesnt turn the ball over a lot and makes free throws. He is a good but not great athlete and needs to get stronger like most college sophomores along with finishing inside moves with more strength.

No guarantee he comes out but if he declares he will rise way out of the Cavaliers reach.

Jerome Jordan
Ht: 7'0
Wt: 225
Tulsa - Junior

I have not seen him as a junior yet but I saw him last year. He is long and very athletic. Good shotblocker whose defense is ahead of his offense. He has a nice baseline spin move and a nice jump hook that I understand is getting better. He runs well but needs to get stronger Numbers have not jumped as expected and you wonder why he isnt playing more as a cannon fodder for Memphis C-USA school. Blake Griffin destroyed him earlier this year but supposedly is starting to pick up the production.

He is the type of guy that even if he doesnt blossom this year will rise out of the Cavaliers reach during workouts.

Ive only mentioned 2 guys since BJ Mullens and Hasheem Thabeet wont fall out of the top 20 if they come out and Greg Monroe is top 5. Mullens might since he hasnt been productive at OSU yet but the dearth of big men pretty much excludes him falling too far. Ive seen Oregon's Michael Dunigan and he is more raw and immature than JJ Hickson. Wake Forest's Tony Woods cant get on the floor as much as Mullens at the moment.

That pretty much leaves Andrew Ogilvy who is a mid-to-late first round talent but I question his ability to rebound, his athleticism and whether he will be able to defend well enough to ever be more than a backup C despite his nice set of offensive skills.


Shooting Guards/Swingmen:

Evan Turner
Ht: 6'7
Wt: 205
Sophomore - Ohio State

The word is getting out about Evan Turner. He is one of the more versatile wings in college basketball. He can guard multiple positions, handle the ball and create. He is very good from the midrange in. People are already bringing up the Poor Man's Brandon Roy comparisons. Turner needs to improve his range greatly to be an NBA wing as well as value the ball better. Right now he is turnover prone. He needs to get stronger to be able to finish inside which is the strength of his game.

He would be great in the Cavaliers system but he is another guy that if he declares will wind up going lottery top 20 at worst.

Scotty Hopson
Ht: 6'7
Wt: 185
Freshman - Tennessee

I really like Hopson's skill set. He is long armed and a very good athlete with good explosion and great range. Think JR Smith without the Wanksta. He has been a role player so far as a freshman and needs to improve in a bunch of areas; ballhandling, midrange game, strength, passing and defense but the ability to improve is there.

Hopson would be a complete upside pick. He is 2 years of rapid growth at the very least from contributing to an NBA team.


James Anderson
Ht: 6'6
Wt: 195
Sophomore - Oklahoma State

Got a chance to see Anderson recently and he is a pretty good athlete with a nice wingspan. He can really shoot the ball with range and isnt a bad defender for a young player. Right now he is a cacth and shoot guy meaning that he needs to improve his ballhandling so he can contribute more than just scoring. Doesnt give you much else except for rebounding right now.

He can shoot with range, rebound and has the tools to defense. Those 3 things make attractive to the Cavaliers. Will probably stay in school but could be there with the Bulls pick if he comes out.


Paul George
Ht: 6'7
Wt: 185
Freshman - Fresno State

My sleeper. This guy is way off the reservation. He isnt even in the Draft Express database, Chad Ford has 69 wings in his rankings and George isnt listed. nbadraft.net finally had a blurb on him this past week. I saw George play at the very beginning of the season against St. Mary's who has Australian Olympian Patrick Mills. George has that classic highlight reel SG explosion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uXmDwm8UJY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFGl1_WjPMQ

Following his numbers his shooting is hard to ignore. Most athletes like him cant shoot. George is shooting 54% from the field and 46% from three taking over 4 per game. His team is a pretty mediocre mid-major team in a conference not known for defense. He has played in my mind 4 teams that are worth something. Against Oregon State, the only team from a major conference but a bad one, George really struggled going 2-9 for 6 points and no rebounds. However, he has played against 3 quality tournament quality mid-major schools; St. Mary's, Creighton and UNLV. Against St. Mary's he had 25-10 on 9-16 shooting. Against UNLV he had 24-5 on 10-16 shooting and against Creighton 21-7 on 6-11 shooting. George needs to improve his ballhandling and develop a midrange game along with getting stronger and probably learn how to defend.

James Harden will be a lottery pick. DeMar DeRozan has holes in his game big enough to drive a semi through and would still be off the board by the time the Cavaliers pick. Wayne Ellington isnt big enough to offset his questionable ballhandling, defense, athleticism and just a pretty good jumpshot. Chase Budinger has seemingly platuead but he would be a value pick where the Cavaliers would be. Manny Harris can score but cant shoot a lick. Greivis Vasquez cant shoot. Gerald Henderson is a smarter and more skilled Dahntay Jones but he cant really score either. Tyreke Evans has tunnel vision and cant shoot. Terrance Williams is a big athlete that can get to the basket but is also cant shoot and seemingly doesnt know he cant by the shots he takes


There will be probably be a group of undervalued guys that will be left on the board in the range when the Cavaliers pick in the first and second round but arent great fits or need fillers right now.

Damion James SF/PF - Texas, Tyler Smith SF/PF - Tennessee, Sam Young SF - Pitt, Danny Greene SG/SF - UNC, Josh Heytvelt PF - Gonzaga

If Willie Warren PG/SG - Oklahoma or Patrick Patterson PF - Kentucky are somehow there when the Cavaliers pick you take them on talent alone.

I havent seen any international players other than watching youtube clips of Giorgi Shermadini who has just now joined a high level team in Europe Panathinaikos.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-KCL9PKVIc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efc5BjL0wG4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3owa5E_a-9s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g84lzOhYF2w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRhhpBlK-8k
Click to expand...
 
King of the Cavs 23 said:
Im all over this bloke...

True Aussie... And a good leader...

Gonna Be Good!!!

Jump on the PATTY MILLS Bandwagon!!!
Click to expand...


Yeah Im on that bandwagon. After watching him in the Olympics and at the start of the college he looks he will be a solid pro. If the cavs didnt already have Mo, West and Boobie I would love them to draft him.
 
This draft isn't great for the Cavs considering all of the point guards. The Cavs have Mo, Delonte, and Boobie to cover that for us. I don't want another tweener at SG, I want a player who is atleast 6'5" and can defend the opposing teams SG's well. Looking at all the players I listed, James Harden, Demar DeRozen, Chase Budinger, Evan Turner, Gerald Henderson (6'4" but strong, and a good defender), Wayne Ellington, Jodie Meeks (6'4" but strong, and great defensively), and Earl Clark (6'9" but does play a lot of SG, and is very good defensively) fit that description. Assuming that we don't have enough to trade for James Harden (Top 5 pick), my favorites to trade up for are Evan Turner, and Earl Clark. Most likely it will take more to trade up for Earl Clark, but both of them are great. Earl Clark could be my favorite option outside of the Top 5 in the entire draft. I really think that he can be good. Then, if we keep our pick, Gerald Henderson, Wayne Ellington, and Jodie Meeks could all probably fall to us.

Now, this draft isn't too deep with PF's, but as I said early, I really like Gani Lawal, and Patrick Patterson. They are both strong, and good defensively, but raw offensively. I doubt either of them go lottery, though it is very possible depending on the rest of the season, so they should be a lot easier to trade for than a lottery player.

A lot of you could be thinking, "What would we trade to move up in the draft!?!" Well, for one, as I already explained, Ben Wallace. He will be like Wally Szczerbiak this year, but with a bigger expiring, and an expiring for 2010 will be more valuable than a 2009 expiring. Considering that there are around 20 teams who will be trying to gain cap space for the 2010 frenzy. A deal around Ben Wallace for another player with a multiyear deal (not saying that is a bad thing, it could be a good player) and the pick. Another way could be working a deal around Wally this season with a bad team, and try to get there pick.
 
I don't think comparing Hansbrough to Kaman is accurate. Hansbrough is one of those players who excels in college basketball, but his game won't translate completely to the n.b.a. He is very small, and relies a lot on his heart and intensity. I see him as more of a matt harpring player, with a little more skill.

However, if the cavaliers hang onto their first rounder, I think Henderson may be available come the end of the first round and i'd like to see them make a play for him.
 
Is there a chance Scotty Hopson falls to the end of the 1st round? He is pretty talented and still young. My guess is Ferry is going to have to work some magic, the same type of magic he used to get Boobie in the draft.
 
Ive been sayin this for 2 years......Brandon Jennings is the future of the NBA and my second favortie player behind Lebron. Brandon Jennings will be better than Chris Paul.
 
King J said:
I wish we could grab Thabeet or Griffin,but that sh*t aint nowhere near possible.
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I'm with you right there, If you could grab Thabeet that would be insane. I would give up Wally or something for a top 5 pick. I would even trade Andy for him. (maybe not but you get my point)
 
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