Post by aar on May 3, 2011 10:46:04 GMT -5
Since the season is in its infancy, I will not be taking draft order or team needs into account. This is simply a ranking of the top-14 players in the draft based on their perceived upside and ratings.
1) Lorenzo Carr SF 6'10'' 210 20 C+ C+ C+ B+ C+ A
Carr looks like he has the most upside in this draft. He has good length and can do a little bit of everything.
At age 20, it's likely that he has big upside and his ratings tend to indicate such as well.
It will be interesting to see his notes to determine which defensive categories are his strongest. That will likely be the determining factor in where he gets selected.
2) Dexter Rider PG 6'3'' 215 23 B B B A C+ B
I mean, really, who's going to pass up a guy with these ratings? Even if he had "C" potential, he would go in the top-3 without a doubt.
The biggest question mark with Rider initially will be whether or not he is a good ball handler. Either way, with those ratings, teams will happily settle for 3 topg if they have to.
Rider will be a starter and possible All-Star from day one.
3) Purnell Jackson PG 6'7'' 210 19 B C B C+ C A
How can you not love a 6'7" point guard with these ratings. While he's nowhere near as good as Rider yet, he's young, has big upside and has similar starting ratings to Jacquez Knight.
Jackson looks like a boom or bust prospect, but with likely comparisons to Magic Johnson, he could end up going higher than 3rd overall.
4) Wayne Worthington SF 6'9'' 205 19 A- C C C C+ A
Worthington looks like the type of small forward that will be a huge contributor to an inside-oriented team.
If his upside is real, he'll have "A" inside in no time and can contribute immediately.
The big question is whether he'll be more like DeMar DeRozan or more like Tony Mitchell.
5) J.T. Irish SF 6'6'' 200 22 C A- B- A- B- B
At five, it's a toss-up between Irish and Okulaja, but I'm going with the more offensively sound player here. While his handles and defense may not be as high as Okulaja, he looks like a Timothy Rouser-type who can contribute immediately.
Irish can do a little bit of everything and would be the perfect player to plug in as a starter.
6) Jojo Okulaja SF 6'7'' 225 23 C+ C B+ A B B
Okulaja could go higher, depending on his notes. If he's a big shot blocker, he could go top-4, but if he's a good perimeter defender, he could go lower than this position.
He looks like a Julysses Hall clone and that could frighten some potential GMs or alternately, could be exactly what a GM wants for their starting lineup.
7) Hasim Al-Fatun C 6'11'' 200 19 C+ D+ D+ A- C+ A
Al-Fatun looks like a nice, raw shot blocking type who can contribute immediately as a backup and could grow into a nice starter.
This draft is thin in terms of big man talent and while he may not have the best ratings of the remaining players, I expect him to be the first big man off the board at around this draft spot.
8) Brandon Watts PF 6'8'' 234 22 B B C C+ B B
Watts is next off the board as a potential Antoine Walker clone. A guy who can score inside and out and grab board.
Can he play small forward as well? If he can, he could end up going higher, depending on team needs.
Watts looks like an intriguing prospect.
9) J.J. Erving SG 6'6'' 220 20 B+ B- C C C+ A
Erving reminds me a lot of DeMar DeRozan as well. He solid scoring ratings, is young and can rebound.
His lack of defense could drop him to around this spot, but his potential rating and scoring ratings could have him going in the top-5.
Time will tell based on his notes.
10) Alex Bellamy C 7'0'' 310 20 B- D+ D+ C+ B- A
Bellamy is a huge prospect and his notes will also be the determining factor on where he's drafted.
From his ratings and body, he looks like a strong big man in the mold of Dez Ford who will be able to contribute and put up numbers right away.
The big question is obviously: Can he block shots?
11) Albert Smith SF 6'10'' 222 19 B C+ C+ B- C B
Smith reminds me of Jackson Roberson, he's young and looks like he can do a bit of everything.
However, with only B potential, I expect that he scares off a lot of suitors in search of a player with more upside.
His notes may explain why he doesn't have A potential.
12) Bradley Barker PG 6'0'' 185 19 C A- B+ C D+ A
With the two other highly ranked point guards going off the board early, Barker falls into someone's lap late in the lottery.
He looks like a boom or bust prospect who will either be a huge difference maker or a career bench player.
13) Josh Owens PF 6'9'' 222 21 B C+ D+ C+ B B
With the lack of bigs in this draft, a middle-of-the-road big man prospect like Owens will likely go in the lottery.
He can score inside and out and grab boards, but he really looks like nothing special.
That said, a lot of bigs who haven't looked like anything special have ended up being steals in the late first round.
14) Brady Cooper SG 6'1'' 196 20 C A+ C C D B
Finally, we get to this draft's Cullen McMurtry. A guy who will immediately fit into an outside-oriented offense who will shoot high percentages off the bench.
There may be better players available, but the allure of an A+ outside guy might be too much for a team to pass up.
Version 2.0 will be written when the Draft Notes get released.
1) Lorenzo Carr SF 6'10'' 210 20 C+ C+ C+ B+ C+ A
Carr looks like he has the most upside in this draft. He has good length and can do a little bit of everything.
At age 20, it's likely that he has big upside and his ratings tend to indicate such as well.
It will be interesting to see his notes to determine which defensive categories are his strongest. That will likely be the determining factor in where he gets selected.
2) Dexter Rider PG 6'3'' 215 23 B B B A C+ B
I mean, really, who's going to pass up a guy with these ratings? Even if he had "C" potential, he would go in the top-3 without a doubt.
The biggest question mark with Rider initially will be whether or not he is a good ball handler. Either way, with those ratings, teams will happily settle for 3 topg if they have to.
Rider will be a starter and possible All-Star from day one.
3) Purnell Jackson PG 6'7'' 210 19 B C B C+ C A
How can you not love a 6'7" point guard with these ratings. While he's nowhere near as good as Rider yet, he's young, has big upside and has similar starting ratings to Jacquez Knight.
Jackson looks like a boom or bust prospect, but with likely comparisons to Magic Johnson, he could end up going higher than 3rd overall.
4) Wayne Worthington SF 6'9'' 205 19 A- C C C C+ A
Worthington looks like the type of small forward that will be a huge contributor to an inside-oriented team.
If his upside is real, he'll have "A" inside in no time and can contribute immediately.
The big question is whether he'll be more like DeMar DeRozan or more like Tony Mitchell.
5) J.T. Irish SF 6'6'' 200 22 C A- B- A- B- B
At five, it's a toss-up between Irish and Okulaja, but I'm going with the more offensively sound player here. While his handles and defense may not be as high as Okulaja, he looks like a Timothy Rouser-type who can contribute immediately.
Irish can do a little bit of everything and would be the perfect player to plug in as a starter.
6) Jojo Okulaja SF 6'7'' 225 23 C+ C B+ A B B
Okulaja could go higher, depending on his notes. If he's a big shot blocker, he could go top-4, but if he's a good perimeter defender, he could go lower than this position.
He looks like a Julysses Hall clone and that could frighten some potential GMs or alternately, could be exactly what a GM wants for their starting lineup.
7) Hasim Al-Fatun C 6'11'' 200 19 C+ D+ D+ A- C+ A
Al-Fatun looks like a nice, raw shot blocking type who can contribute immediately as a backup and could grow into a nice starter.
This draft is thin in terms of big man talent and while he may not have the best ratings of the remaining players, I expect him to be the first big man off the board at around this draft spot.
8) Brandon Watts PF 6'8'' 234 22 B B C C+ B B
Watts is next off the board as a potential Antoine Walker clone. A guy who can score inside and out and grab board.
Can he play small forward as well? If he can, he could end up going higher, depending on team needs.
Watts looks like an intriguing prospect.
9) J.J. Erving SG 6'6'' 220 20 B+ B- C C C+ A
Erving reminds me a lot of DeMar DeRozan as well. He solid scoring ratings, is young and can rebound.
His lack of defense could drop him to around this spot, but his potential rating and scoring ratings could have him going in the top-5.
Time will tell based on his notes.
10) Alex Bellamy C 7'0'' 310 20 B- D+ D+ C+ B- A
Bellamy is a huge prospect and his notes will also be the determining factor on where he's drafted.
From his ratings and body, he looks like a strong big man in the mold of Dez Ford who will be able to contribute and put up numbers right away.
The big question is obviously: Can he block shots?
11) Albert Smith SF 6'10'' 222 19 B C+ C+ B- C B
Smith reminds me of Jackson Roberson, he's young and looks like he can do a bit of everything.
However, with only B potential, I expect that he scares off a lot of suitors in search of a player with more upside.
His notes may explain why he doesn't have A potential.
12) Bradley Barker PG 6'0'' 185 19 C A- B+ C D+ A
With the two other highly ranked point guards going off the board early, Barker falls into someone's lap late in the lottery.
He looks like a boom or bust prospect who will either be a huge difference maker or a career bench player.
13) Josh Owens PF 6'9'' 222 21 B C+ D+ C+ B B
With the lack of bigs in this draft, a middle-of-the-road big man prospect like Owens will likely go in the lottery.
He can score inside and out and grab boards, but he really looks like nothing special.
That said, a lot of bigs who haven't looked like anything special have ended up being steals in the late first round.
14) Brady Cooper SG 6'1'' 196 20 C A+ C C D B
Finally, we get to this draft's Cullen McMurtry. A guy who will immediately fit into an outside-oriented offense who will shoot high percentages off the bench.
There may be better players available, but the allure of an A+ outside guy might be too much for a team to pass up.
Version 2.0 will be written when the Draft Notes get released.