Post by Spencer on Oct 12, 2010 16:58:46 GMT -5
2008 Draft Notes!
The 2008 BBS draft should be one of the more interesting drafts in BBS history. With most of the top players being 20 or under, there is plenty of room for growth among most of the lotto picks. As for who goes 1, it really shouldn’t be a tough choice. Derrick Rose has amazing physical ability and has shown the ability to be an offensive force. Not only does he have the requisite size, speed and athleticism but he is a productive offensive player that can get to the rim and pass. While his defense is less then ideal, Rose should still be a 20-10 threat every year. Now on to the rest of the draft class…
Centers…
Brook Lopez is the best C in this draft. He can do it all. He can score in the post and is a great FT shooter. He is a good man to man defender and can block shots. He is a solid rebounder as well. He does lack ideal athletically ability for a big man, but overall he should be a 18-10 guy in no time at all.
Alexis Ajinca is probably too thin to play C long term. He can block shots and create steals, but his offensive game is super raw. A definite project player that may never be more then a backup.
Roy Hibbert is a beast down low because of his amazing size. He can score very well ith his back to the basket, and is only really nimble around the hoop. Hibbert could surprise some people and become a solid starting C.
JaVale McGee is a human pogo stick that loves to block shots. Pretty raw offensively, McGee can rebound and defend enough to get quality minutes as a rookie.
Robin Lopez should be a serviceable backup big man. He can score some and rebound some. He can block shots. He can defend a little. Good at some things, great at none. Late 1st Round selection.
DeAndre Jordan is a raw player with big time upside. He is a beast down low. He loves to dunk and he’s very strong. He is also a decent shot blocker. Offensively he doesn’t do much besides dunk. His FT shooting is horrendous and he’s a black hole when he gets the ball.
Kosta Koufos is an extremely un-athletic jump shooting big man that can board. He is a role player and nothing else. Off the bench he should give you rebounds and a nice FT %.
Power Forwards…
Michael Beasley is a very good offensive player that has really no propensity for defense or involving his teammates. He never met a shot he didn’t like. He can score inside or out. He can post up, or drift out to beyond the three point line. Beasley would be a plus rebounder at SF, but a mediocre rebounder at PF.
Kevin Love is a tough physical basketball player that lacks the above the rim athleticism that so many people prefers these days. Love just scores around the basket, rebounds and passes out of the post. Defensively Love is pretty poor, but everything else he offers dictates he should be a very good BBS starter.
Anthony Randolph is a raw. He has physical ability in that he can run and jump. He is a solid help defender with his shot blocking. He is an above average FT shooter. He does lack basketball skills overall though and is a big time risk/reward player.
Jason Thompson is a solid post player that has some room to grow. He can do a little bit of everything. He can score down low. He has a solid jump shot. He can block shots. He can board. A definite late lotto pick that should be a nice BBS player.
Darrell Arthur is a high school sensation that kina flamed out at Kansas. He still has some promising abilities, but overall most scouts have soured on him. He’ll probably go late 1st Round just on the promise that he’ll be good one day.
JJ Hickson is a very good inside scorer. He isn’t athletic, and isn’t a special defender but he should be a nice backup big man scorer.
Mareese Speights can score inside. He uses his strength very well in the post. Speights is more of a brute then a legitimate post threat. Defensively he’s just mediocre.
Serge Ibaka is a wiry thin athletic big man who thrives on defense. He can run and jump as a help defender and gets a ton of blocks. He is also a very good rebounder. Might slip into the first half of Round 1.
Ryan Anderson is a very good offensive player. He can shoot with range and can score from the post. Anderson is a defensive liability wherever he plays, but with his lack of rebounding he’s probably better suited for SF.
DJ White is tough and rugged interior player that doesn’t have the athleticism to be much more then what he already is. What he is is a plus post scorer that won’t ever defend enough to get major minutes.
Small Forwards…
Danilo Gallinari is a sweet shooting Italian with a solid handle. Gallinari has deep range, way beyond the 3 point line. He loves to shoot from all over and has a great midrange game as well. Not much of a driver, Gallo is much better as a post up shooter.
Nicolas Batum is a very raw player with unlimited upside. He has shown the ability to do a little bit of everything. He can score inside and out. He can defend, man to man and help. He can also board pretty well for a wing. If everything goes just right Batum should be a stud one day.
Donte Greene is a long athletic forward with a nice jump shot. Greene is young and raw so his future game is a bit uncertain. He looks to be a nice scorer, but probably more of a complimentary offensive player. Greene isn’t a plus rebounder or defender and probably never will be.
Luc Mbah a Moute is a very smart player who loves to rebound and defend. He can do a little bit of everything, but he seems tapped out potential wise. Should be a nice backup wing player either way.
Joe Alexander is a good young player on the verge of being special. He can score inside and out and rebounds extremely well for his size. People question his ability to stay healthy and his overall athleticism. Some scouts are very high on him, while others think his ceiling is limited.
Billy Walker is a great leaper. Physically he’s a freak. Very fast, good strength for his size. He also has a pretty nice mid range game.
Brandon Rush is a very good shooter. He has nice range and is pretty consistent from 15 feet to the 3 point line. Rush is also a pretty smart player. Really limits his TOs. Not much of a passer or defender. Probably a backup long term.
Shooting Guards…
Eric Gordon is an athletic player with a nice shooting touch. Gordon is such a good shooter he has not really worked on his ability to drive to the basket. His athleticism leads one to think his inside scoring could improve in the pros. Defensively he just isn’t that great.
Courtney Lee has a great midrange game. He is just deadly from 15-20 feet. Doesn’t really pass well, or get to the basket well. Good passer, good ball handler. Should be a solid mid 1st Round pick.
JR Giddens is a solid scorer and rebounder for his size. Unfortunately he isn’t that great of a defender and he cant really shoot that well.
Point Guards…
Russell Westbrook is a big time prospect. He is so athletic. He can jump and run with almost anyone in this class. Westbrook is also a plus rebounder for his position. His jump shot is weak, but he has so much upside you really shouldn’t worry too much about him. He’s going to be great.
OJ Mayo is a very nice offensive player. He can score inside and out. He’s also a solid passer with very good size. His best BBS position may be SG where his versatility will be better suited. Not a freak athletically, his upside is unknown.
Jerryd Bayless is an electric talent. Faster then most PGs, Bayless is also a good jumper. In college he got by more with athletic ability then true basketball skills. As far as true PG abilities he is very raw. Not much of a passer and some trouble with handling the ball. Might be better suited as a SG long term.
DJ Augustin is a lightning quick undersized PG with a good shooting touch. Not an elite passer, he does have a good handle and should develop into a solid player in BBS.
Mario Chalmers should be a very good backup PG. Chalmers is a very good defender that loves to play the passing lanes and create steals. Chalmers also has a nice jump shot. Chalmers doesn’t have a ton of upside, but will still be a nice late 1st Round pick.
Goran Dragic is an intriguing European prospect. He has great size and love to get to the basket. Not much of a long range shooter, Dragic has a very nice midrange game. His athleticism is limited and his success in Europe is a bit questionable because of the level of competition he faced.
George Hill should be a solid backup PG. Not much of a passer, he can handle and defend. Not super athletic, but he is a very good man to man defender. Nice late 1st Round selection.
The 2008 BBS draft should be one of the more interesting drafts in BBS history. With most of the top players being 20 or under, there is plenty of room for growth among most of the lotto picks. As for who goes 1, it really shouldn’t be a tough choice. Derrick Rose has amazing physical ability and has shown the ability to be an offensive force. Not only does he have the requisite size, speed and athleticism but he is a productive offensive player that can get to the rim and pass. While his defense is less then ideal, Rose should still be a 20-10 threat every year. Now on to the rest of the draft class…
Centers…
Brook Lopez is the best C in this draft. He can do it all. He can score in the post and is a great FT shooter. He is a good man to man defender and can block shots. He is a solid rebounder as well. He does lack ideal athletically ability for a big man, but overall he should be a 18-10 guy in no time at all.
Alexis Ajinca is probably too thin to play C long term. He can block shots and create steals, but his offensive game is super raw. A definite project player that may never be more then a backup.
Roy Hibbert is a beast down low because of his amazing size. He can score very well ith his back to the basket, and is only really nimble around the hoop. Hibbert could surprise some people and become a solid starting C.
JaVale McGee is a human pogo stick that loves to block shots. Pretty raw offensively, McGee can rebound and defend enough to get quality minutes as a rookie.
Robin Lopez should be a serviceable backup big man. He can score some and rebound some. He can block shots. He can defend a little. Good at some things, great at none. Late 1st Round selection.
DeAndre Jordan is a raw player with big time upside. He is a beast down low. He loves to dunk and he’s very strong. He is also a decent shot blocker. Offensively he doesn’t do much besides dunk. His FT shooting is horrendous and he’s a black hole when he gets the ball.
Kosta Koufos is an extremely un-athletic jump shooting big man that can board. He is a role player and nothing else. Off the bench he should give you rebounds and a nice FT %.
Power Forwards…
Michael Beasley is a very good offensive player that has really no propensity for defense or involving his teammates. He never met a shot he didn’t like. He can score inside or out. He can post up, or drift out to beyond the three point line. Beasley would be a plus rebounder at SF, but a mediocre rebounder at PF.
Kevin Love is a tough physical basketball player that lacks the above the rim athleticism that so many people prefers these days. Love just scores around the basket, rebounds and passes out of the post. Defensively Love is pretty poor, but everything else he offers dictates he should be a very good BBS starter.
Anthony Randolph is a raw. He has physical ability in that he can run and jump. He is a solid help defender with his shot blocking. He is an above average FT shooter. He does lack basketball skills overall though and is a big time risk/reward player.
Jason Thompson is a solid post player that has some room to grow. He can do a little bit of everything. He can score down low. He has a solid jump shot. He can block shots. He can board. A definite late lotto pick that should be a nice BBS player.
Darrell Arthur is a high school sensation that kina flamed out at Kansas. He still has some promising abilities, but overall most scouts have soured on him. He’ll probably go late 1st Round just on the promise that he’ll be good one day.
JJ Hickson is a very good inside scorer. He isn’t athletic, and isn’t a special defender but he should be a nice backup big man scorer.
Mareese Speights can score inside. He uses his strength very well in the post. Speights is more of a brute then a legitimate post threat. Defensively he’s just mediocre.
Serge Ibaka is a wiry thin athletic big man who thrives on defense. He can run and jump as a help defender and gets a ton of blocks. He is also a very good rebounder. Might slip into the first half of Round 1.
Ryan Anderson is a very good offensive player. He can shoot with range and can score from the post. Anderson is a defensive liability wherever he plays, but with his lack of rebounding he’s probably better suited for SF.
DJ White is tough and rugged interior player that doesn’t have the athleticism to be much more then what he already is. What he is is a plus post scorer that won’t ever defend enough to get major minutes.
Small Forwards…
Danilo Gallinari is a sweet shooting Italian with a solid handle. Gallinari has deep range, way beyond the 3 point line. He loves to shoot from all over and has a great midrange game as well. Not much of a driver, Gallo is much better as a post up shooter.
Nicolas Batum is a very raw player with unlimited upside. He has shown the ability to do a little bit of everything. He can score inside and out. He can defend, man to man and help. He can also board pretty well for a wing. If everything goes just right Batum should be a stud one day.
Donte Greene is a long athletic forward with a nice jump shot. Greene is young and raw so his future game is a bit uncertain. He looks to be a nice scorer, but probably more of a complimentary offensive player. Greene isn’t a plus rebounder or defender and probably never will be.
Luc Mbah a Moute is a very smart player who loves to rebound and defend. He can do a little bit of everything, but he seems tapped out potential wise. Should be a nice backup wing player either way.
Joe Alexander is a good young player on the verge of being special. He can score inside and out and rebounds extremely well for his size. People question his ability to stay healthy and his overall athleticism. Some scouts are very high on him, while others think his ceiling is limited.
Billy Walker is a great leaper. Physically he’s a freak. Very fast, good strength for his size. He also has a pretty nice mid range game.
Brandon Rush is a very good shooter. He has nice range and is pretty consistent from 15 feet to the 3 point line. Rush is also a pretty smart player. Really limits his TOs. Not much of a passer or defender. Probably a backup long term.
Shooting Guards…
Eric Gordon is an athletic player with a nice shooting touch. Gordon is such a good shooter he has not really worked on his ability to drive to the basket. His athleticism leads one to think his inside scoring could improve in the pros. Defensively he just isn’t that great.
Courtney Lee has a great midrange game. He is just deadly from 15-20 feet. Doesn’t really pass well, or get to the basket well. Good passer, good ball handler. Should be a solid mid 1st Round pick.
JR Giddens is a solid scorer and rebounder for his size. Unfortunately he isn’t that great of a defender and he cant really shoot that well.
Point Guards…
Russell Westbrook is a big time prospect. He is so athletic. He can jump and run with almost anyone in this class. Westbrook is also a plus rebounder for his position. His jump shot is weak, but he has so much upside you really shouldn’t worry too much about him. He’s going to be great.
OJ Mayo is a very nice offensive player. He can score inside and out. He’s also a solid passer with very good size. His best BBS position may be SG where his versatility will be better suited. Not a freak athletically, his upside is unknown.
Jerryd Bayless is an electric talent. Faster then most PGs, Bayless is also a good jumper. In college he got by more with athletic ability then true basketball skills. As far as true PG abilities he is very raw. Not much of a passer and some trouble with handling the ball. Might be better suited as a SG long term.
DJ Augustin is a lightning quick undersized PG with a good shooting touch. Not an elite passer, he does have a good handle and should develop into a solid player in BBS.
Mario Chalmers should be a very good backup PG. Chalmers is a very good defender that loves to play the passing lanes and create steals. Chalmers also has a nice jump shot. Chalmers doesn’t have a ton of upside, but will still be a nice late 1st Round pick.
Goran Dragic is an intriguing European prospect. He has great size and love to get to the basket. Not much of a long range shooter, Dragic has a very nice midrange game. His athleticism is limited and his success in Europe is a bit questionable because of the level of competition he faced.
George Hill should be a solid backup PG. Not much of a passer, he can handle and defend. Not super athletic, but he is a very good man to man defender. Nice late 1st Round selection.
