Post by Haberino on Jan 11, 2011 14:42:34 GMT -5
It's the top 7 and then everything else in the 2014 draft. I certainly wouldn't want to be picking after 8! There are high potential guys beyond the top 7, but they are also some of the most flawed prospects to enter BBS in a long time. Meanwhile, the top 7 all look like locks to be very solid players, which means that at least two of them will bust! But no doubt, this is a loaded draft class at the top, and there's a lot to like. A stellar wing player, a couple of very promising bigs, another very good wing, and three of the better, most complete point guard prospects we've seen in a long time.
1. Harrison Barnes SG 6'8'' 215 22 B+ B C B+ C+ A
Easily the number 1 pick, Barnes looks like the best prospect to come into BBS since Perry Jones. It's pretty scary to realize this guy is a good TCs and a couple of RCs away from being A-/A-/C/A-/B-, but he's going to be there and beyond in no time. There's no realistic way a franchise player of Barnes caliber gets passed on by the team with the first pick. The best part? Coming in with such unusually high ratings all but guarantees he doesn't bust.
BBS Comparison: This league has had a dearth of conventional, two-way perimeter players. Most guys have also had PF abilities, or have had a disparity between their inside and outside abilities. Thad Young is one of the few A-/A-/A- guys in the league today, but Barnes should pass him in no time. He's not the scorer Carmelo is or the all-around specimen Bron is, and he isn't the undersized, ultraquick Monta Ellis type. Barnes might just be his own player with no perfect comparison. He'll be a lot better than Qyntel Woods, Donta Smith, and Thaddeus Young have ever been, but ratings wise, this is is the type of player he is.
2. Marquis Teague PG 6'2'' 180 21 C+ B+ B- B- C- A
There are three very good point guard prospects in this draft, the best of which is Marquis Teague. Teague's offensive game has shades of Brandon Jennings written all over it. And though he may initially be in the range of 3 turnovers a night, with his potential and athleticism, there is very little stopping him from becoming an elite PG. Obviously the elite point guard comes before the wing, so Teague being second is a testament to how good Harrison Barnes will be. But a 24/10 prime within reach for Teague, and his defensive abilities will go a long way in potential matchups against guys like Rajon Rondo, Brandon Jennings, and Deron Williams.
BBS Comparison: Brandon Jennings, with fewer steals and turnovers.
3. Terrence Jones PF 6'9'' 210 22 B- C+ C B- C+ A
The dropoff between Teague and Jones is not due to ability, but rather to questions of BBS readiness. Jones is abnormally strong for his size, so his career will be a case study of the effects of weight on performance. Jones is ridiculously thin for the 4, and while he has range and strength to play the 3, he's listed at the 4 because his talents are best suited for it. He is eligible for 9 years of weight rooms, which would get him up to a more respectable 237 pounds. Frankly, if the weight isn't an issue, or if he can play the 3, he might be as good as Teague or even Barnes. That's how stellar his notes are (what's missing from a guy who can block, steal, score inside and out, rebound well, and is abnormally strong?). Crazy, but he might be a steal at the third pick.
BBS Comparison: Another uncommon prospect. His skillset resembles a lesser LeBron, minus the handle rating. The steals, blocks, and athleticism, and two-dimensional scoring resemble last version's Delvon Roe. Not going to lie, I'm stumped!
4. Rakeem Christmas C 6'9'' 230 22 B- C- D+ B- B- A
Like Jones, Christmas is undersized. Also like Jones, that seems to be the only noticeable drawback in his prospect status. And again like Jones, Christmas' strength should help overcome his weight deficiencies. If he can stick at center, he'll be a massive acquisition. His notes hold no cause for concern; he can rebound and score, and perhaps most importantly, he's a young shotblocker in a league where blocks are being funneled out. I'm guessing his defense goes up at PF, and even if he can't stick at center, he looks like a franchise player at the 4.
BBS Comparison: Derrick Favors. Christmas doesn't have Favors' size, and there's no telling he'll become the scorer Favors is, but with weight camps, RCs, and ACs, he has a chance to be a complete big man in the mold of Favors.
5. Ryan Harrow PG 5'11'' 165 22 C+ B- B- B- C- A
Harrow is small, and not the same scorer Teague is, but there isn't much else missing. PGs with solid inside and outside games don't need the A ratings to score over 20 a game, and Harrow looks like a 20/10 PG in his prime. Will he carry turnover problems with him his whole career? Will his rebounding be ghastly? Will he get bullied by bigger PGs. Harrow is clearly the first player with legitimate question marks casting doubt on just how good he'll become. But he has attractive, well-rounded ratings and there's no doubt he's a starting point guard.
6. Jereme Richmond SF 6'7'' 220 22 B C C- B+ C+ A
Richmond's B inside grade looks to be a bit inflated by his athleticism, but he's got very nice potential, is a great defender and rebounder for a rookie, and his talent will eventually catch up to his athletic abilities. That's because SFs generally don't find it to hard to develop their outside games, and Richmond looks to be elite elsewhere. Don't be surprised if he's an All-Star for years to come.
BBS Comparison: He could be a lesser version of Demar Derozan offensively -- something like a better Bill Walker. But defensively, unlike his offensive comparisons, he'll be in elite company.
7. Ray McCallum PG 6'1'' 185 21 C+ C+ C+ B- D A
From the start, we know he's a better ballhandler than the two point guards taken before him. His game is less developed, sure, but his notes also say he can be the best of three, and that he'll be compared to the other two throughout his career. Translation: he's going to be a great point guard. You may not get the high assists or 20 point averages from the get-go, but low turnover point guards with this talent and potential don't come around often, so if you're the kind of GM willing to invest in ACs and RCs, McCallum could well be the best pick of the three. Not a normal seventh pick, that's for sure.
BBS Comparison: Kirk Hinrich in his prime, only this time, with inside scoring. Maybe not the same shooter.
8. Terrence Ross SG 6'5'' 195 22 C+ B+ C- C C- A
Ross is a flawed player, but he's the last of the high potential guys with a BBS ready skillset. Meaning he can score. I don't think he's the next JJ Reddick or Michael Redd honestly, but his notes say he can score inside and out. I'm more inclined to think of him as a Wesley Johnson or, best case scenario, Paul George offensively, but I could be wrong. Mediocre defense and below average rebounding and handling grades mean he's a world apart from the top 7. Still, could be a very nice option scorer in the right system. Surround him with defenders!
BBS Comparison: Wesley Johnson or a worse Will Barton. GTFO.
9. Damontre Harris C 6'10'' 215 22 C+ C- D+ B- C A
The dropoff continues. To me, there a seven elite types in the lotto, and then it gets precarious. Harris needs a massive amount of development, but we know he can block shots and hit jumpers. Rebounding grade, weight, handles and general lack of development are disconcerting, but we know he's athletic and that he has potential. Buyer beware: that potential better be very high, or you'll need to invest a lot of upgrades in him if he's ever going to start.
BBS Comparison: I don't know. Rosters won't load for me. Doesn't DJ have some shitty bigs like this guy? He sucks!
10. Vander Blue SG 6'3'' 185 21 B C- D+ B C A
PUUUUUKE. C- outside! D+ handles! Come on down! I think Blue has nice potential, but I wouldn't expect much better than 17 PPG, very low assists, and no range. His defense will be nice. Gotta wonder if both inside and defense are a bit inflated by his athleticism. I think he'll pan out as a solid starter though.
BBS Comparison: Beep Lane lite. I'm so making Beep Lane once fake players get popping.
11. Jordan McRae SG 6'5'' 185 22 C+ B C- A- C- B
He has B potential but his notes are all positive and his game is way developed for a rookie. I wouldn't be surprised if he's better than the guys who go 8-11. Just do the eye test on this guy: with decent potential and RCs, he can't be very far off from B-/A-/C/-/A ratings. Maybe I'm being optimistic, but I think this guy is a clear lotto pick.
BBS Comparison: DJ Richardson, only good.
12. Travis McKie SF 6'7'' 190 22 C+ B+ C- B- B- C
Sorry, but I can't get excited about a way undersized 4 with turnover issues (Deshaun Thomas) or a massively raw wing whose inside grade is all jumping (Tony Mitchell). It's not that I think McKie has hidden potential; it's just that he's really, really advanced for a rookie and I think the guys with better potential are too flawed to really developed. McKie has a chance to start in BBS because he does a lot of things well. Again, I do the eye test with him. RCs and ACs could make him B-/A-/C-/B/B and that's a really good player. I prefer the safe, developed pick late lotto to the high risk guys. Note that I know Spence likely envisions this guy as a mid-to-late first-rounder, but the end of the lotto is just really weak.
BBS Comparsion: Matt Bonner when Nanz had him (pretty sure that was this version!) or a better Channing Frye.
13. DeShaun Thomas PF 6'7'' 215 22 B C D+ C+ C A
I'm not a big fan, but his notes state he has high potential and strength, so maybe he can stick at PF. You obviously can't take him and hope to move him to SF, and he's got too many risks to his game (handles, way undersized, lack of general development) for me to draft him, but the combination of decent ratings and seemingly real A potential make him a lotto pick. Assuming his strength can negate his lack of size, a B/C scorer from the get-go at PF is very nice. That being said, C rebounding at 6'7, 215 with no chance of playing SF is very not nice.
BBS Comparison: I have no fucking clue.
1. Harrison Barnes SG 6'8'' 215 22 B+ B C B+ C+ A
Easily the number 1 pick, Barnes looks like the best prospect to come into BBS since Perry Jones. It's pretty scary to realize this guy is a good TCs and a couple of RCs away from being A-/A-/C/A-/B-, but he's going to be there and beyond in no time. There's no realistic way a franchise player of Barnes caliber gets passed on by the team with the first pick. The best part? Coming in with such unusually high ratings all but guarantees he doesn't bust.
BBS Comparison: This league has had a dearth of conventional, two-way perimeter players. Most guys have also had PF abilities, or have had a disparity between their inside and outside abilities. Thad Young is one of the few A-/A-/A- guys in the league today, but Barnes should pass him in no time. He's not the scorer Carmelo is or the all-around specimen Bron is, and he isn't the undersized, ultraquick Monta Ellis type. Barnes might just be his own player with no perfect comparison. He'll be a lot better than Qyntel Woods, Donta Smith, and Thaddeus Young have ever been, but ratings wise, this is is the type of player he is.
2. Marquis Teague PG 6'2'' 180 21 C+ B+ B- B- C- A
There are three very good point guard prospects in this draft, the best of which is Marquis Teague. Teague's offensive game has shades of Brandon Jennings written all over it. And though he may initially be in the range of 3 turnovers a night, with his potential and athleticism, there is very little stopping him from becoming an elite PG. Obviously the elite point guard comes before the wing, so Teague being second is a testament to how good Harrison Barnes will be. But a 24/10 prime within reach for Teague, and his defensive abilities will go a long way in potential matchups against guys like Rajon Rondo, Brandon Jennings, and Deron Williams.
BBS Comparison: Brandon Jennings, with fewer steals and turnovers.
3. Terrence Jones PF 6'9'' 210 22 B- C+ C B- C+ A
The dropoff between Teague and Jones is not due to ability, but rather to questions of BBS readiness. Jones is abnormally strong for his size, so his career will be a case study of the effects of weight on performance. Jones is ridiculously thin for the 4, and while he has range and strength to play the 3, he's listed at the 4 because his talents are best suited for it. He is eligible for 9 years of weight rooms, which would get him up to a more respectable 237 pounds. Frankly, if the weight isn't an issue, or if he can play the 3, he might be as good as Teague or even Barnes. That's how stellar his notes are (what's missing from a guy who can block, steal, score inside and out, rebound well, and is abnormally strong?). Crazy, but he might be a steal at the third pick.
BBS Comparison: Another uncommon prospect. His skillset resembles a lesser LeBron, minus the handle rating. The steals, blocks, and athleticism, and two-dimensional scoring resemble last version's Delvon Roe. Not going to lie, I'm stumped!
4. Rakeem Christmas C 6'9'' 230 22 B- C- D+ B- B- A
Like Jones, Christmas is undersized. Also like Jones, that seems to be the only noticeable drawback in his prospect status. And again like Jones, Christmas' strength should help overcome his weight deficiencies. If he can stick at center, he'll be a massive acquisition. His notes hold no cause for concern; he can rebound and score, and perhaps most importantly, he's a young shotblocker in a league where blocks are being funneled out. I'm guessing his defense goes up at PF, and even if he can't stick at center, he looks like a franchise player at the 4.
BBS Comparison: Derrick Favors. Christmas doesn't have Favors' size, and there's no telling he'll become the scorer Favors is, but with weight camps, RCs, and ACs, he has a chance to be a complete big man in the mold of Favors.
5. Ryan Harrow PG 5'11'' 165 22 C+ B- B- B- C- A
Harrow is small, and not the same scorer Teague is, but there isn't much else missing. PGs with solid inside and outside games don't need the A ratings to score over 20 a game, and Harrow looks like a 20/10 PG in his prime. Will he carry turnover problems with him his whole career? Will his rebounding be ghastly? Will he get bullied by bigger PGs. Harrow is clearly the first player with legitimate question marks casting doubt on just how good he'll become. But he has attractive, well-rounded ratings and there's no doubt he's a starting point guard.
6. Jereme Richmond SF 6'7'' 220 22 B C C- B+ C+ A
Richmond's B inside grade looks to be a bit inflated by his athleticism, but he's got very nice potential, is a great defender and rebounder for a rookie, and his talent will eventually catch up to his athletic abilities. That's because SFs generally don't find it to hard to develop their outside games, and Richmond looks to be elite elsewhere. Don't be surprised if he's an All-Star for years to come.
BBS Comparison: He could be a lesser version of Demar Derozan offensively -- something like a better Bill Walker. But defensively, unlike his offensive comparisons, he'll be in elite company.
7. Ray McCallum PG 6'1'' 185 21 C+ C+ C+ B- D A
From the start, we know he's a better ballhandler than the two point guards taken before him. His game is less developed, sure, but his notes also say he can be the best of three, and that he'll be compared to the other two throughout his career. Translation: he's going to be a great point guard. You may not get the high assists or 20 point averages from the get-go, but low turnover point guards with this talent and potential don't come around often, so if you're the kind of GM willing to invest in ACs and RCs, McCallum could well be the best pick of the three. Not a normal seventh pick, that's for sure.
BBS Comparison: Kirk Hinrich in his prime, only this time, with inside scoring. Maybe not the same shooter.
8. Terrence Ross SG 6'5'' 195 22 C+ B+ C- C C- A
Ross is a flawed player, but he's the last of the high potential guys with a BBS ready skillset. Meaning he can score. I don't think he's the next JJ Reddick or Michael Redd honestly, but his notes say he can score inside and out. I'm more inclined to think of him as a Wesley Johnson or, best case scenario, Paul George offensively, but I could be wrong. Mediocre defense and below average rebounding and handling grades mean he's a world apart from the top 7. Still, could be a very nice option scorer in the right system. Surround him with defenders!
BBS Comparison: Wesley Johnson or a worse Will Barton. GTFO.
9. Damontre Harris C 6'10'' 215 22 C+ C- D+ B- C A
The dropoff continues. To me, there a seven elite types in the lotto, and then it gets precarious. Harris needs a massive amount of development, but we know he can block shots and hit jumpers. Rebounding grade, weight, handles and general lack of development are disconcerting, but we know he's athletic and that he has potential. Buyer beware: that potential better be very high, or you'll need to invest a lot of upgrades in him if he's ever going to start.
BBS Comparison: I don't know. Rosters won't load for me. Doesn't DJ have some shitty bigs like this guy? He sucks!
10. Vander Blue SG 6'3'' 185 21 B C- D+ B C A
PUUUUUKE. C- outside! D+ handles! Come on down! I think Blue has nice potential, but I wouldn't expect much better than 17 PPG, very low assists, and no range. His defense will be nice. Gotta wonder if both inside and defense are a bit inflated by his athleticism. I think he'll pan out as a solid starter though.
BBS Comparison: Beep Lane lite. I'm so making Beep Lane once fake players get popping.
11. Jordan McRae SG 6'5'' 185 22 C+ B C- A- C- B
He has B potential but his notes are all positive and his game is way developed for a rookie. I wouldn't be surprised if he's better than the guys who go 8-11. Just do the eye test on this guy: with decent potential and RCs, he can't be very far off from B-/A-/C/-/A ratings. Maybe I'm being optimistic, but I think this guy is a clear lotto pick.
BBS Comparison: DJ Richardson, only good.
12. Travis McKie SF 6'7'' 190 22 C+ B+ C- B- B- C
Sorry, but I can't get excited about a way undersized 4 with turnover issues (Deshaun Thomas) or a massively raw wing whose inside grade is all jumping (Tony Mitchell). It's not that I think McKie has hidden potential; it's just that he's really, really advanced for a rookie and I think the guys with better potential are too flawed to really developed. McKie has a chance to start in BBS because he does a lot of things well. Again, I do the eye test with him. RCs and ACs could make him B-/A-/C-/B/B and that's a really good player. I prefer the safe, developed pick late lotto to the high risk guys. Note that I know Spence likely envisions this guy as a mid-to-late first-rounder, but the end of the lotto is just really weak.
BBS Comparsion: Matt Bonner when Nanz had him (pretty sure that was this version!) or a better Channing Frye.
13. DeShaun Thomas PF 6'7'' 215 22 B C D+ C+ C A
I'm not a big fan, but his notes state he has high potential and strength, so maybe he can stick at PF. You obviously can't take him and hope to move him to SF, and he's got too many risks to his game (handles, way undersized, lack of general development) for me to draft him, but the combination of decent ratings and seemingly real A potential make him a lotto pick. Assuming his strength can negate his lack of size, a B/C scorer from the get-go at PF is very nice. That being said, C rebounding at 6'7, 215 with no chance of playing SF is very not nice.
BBS Comparison: I have no fucking clue.