2009 NBA Draft Thread

[UMFan83]

I didnt realize Dar and Mac declared for the draft. If they both get drafted, DePaul might have a historically bad season. Maybe something like 2-30 (0-16).

[SouthSideRyan]

I know he's like 7 foot, but B.J. Mullens was incredibly bad this year. He plays so soft and looks completely complacent out there. He'll get drafted on his height alone and the fact he is still 19/20, but I don't see him making it in the NBA.

Yeah, he really, really isn't very good right now. I was a little bit disappointed about him entering. But, supposedly he comes from a poor family, so I definitely can't blame the guy. If Turner comes back it would be awesome,though. :)

 

Yeah he reminded me of JaJuan in his freshman year in regards to toughness. You could see JaJuan had potential but he was physical enough to be effective consistently. Mullens could really benefit from another year but if its a money thing I completely understand.

 

Difference is Mullens has an NBA body now, and Johnson, a year older, still doesn't.

[Derwood]

I know he's like 7 foot, but B.J. Mullens was incredibly bad this year. He plays so soft and looks completely complacent out there. He'll get drafted on his height alone and the fact he is still 19/20, but I don't see him making it in the NBA.

Yeah, he really, really isn't very good right now. I was a little bit disappointed about him entering. But, supposedly he comes from a poor family, so I definitely can't blame the guy. If Turner comes back it would be awesome,though. :)

 

Yeah he reminded me of JaJuan in his freshman year in regards to toughness. You could see JaJuan had potential but he was physical enough to be effective consistently. Mullens could really benefit from another year but if its a money thing I completely understand.

 

Difference is Mullens has an NBA body now, and Johnson, a year older, still doesn't.

 

okay, but having an NBA body doesn't mean you can play. The parade of 7 foot white goons the NBA has seen is pretty laughable. How many are any good?

[SouthSideRyan]

I know he's like 7 foot, but B.J. Mullens was incredibly bad this year. He plays so soft and looks completely complacent out there. He'll get drafted on his height alone and the fact he is still 19/20, but I don't see him making it in the NBA.

Yeah, he really, really isn't very good right now. I was a little bit disappointed about him entering. But, supposedly he comes from a poor family, so I definitely can't blame the guy. If Turner comes back it would be awesome,though. :)

 

Yeah he reminded me of JaJuan in his freshman year in regards to toughness. You could see JaJuan had potential but he was physical enough to be effective consistently. Mullens could really benefit from another year but if its a money thing I completely understand.

 

Difference is Mullens has an NBA body now, and Johnson, a year older, still doesn't.

 

okay, but having an NBA body doesn't mean you can play. The parade of 7 foot white goons the NBA has seen is pretty laughable. How many are any good?

 

Not many, which is why teams need to keep drafting 7', 270 guys because "you can't teach size" I fully admit I'm an Eddy Curry hater, but Mullens is far more skilled than Curry was when he was drafted. I don't think Matta used him properly this year. They already play a paper thin zone, there's no reason he couldn't have stayed out there on the block all game. There was nobody in the Big 10 that could compare to his size. If I were a big man, I'd have to question going to OSU. I don't think Oden was ever used properly either. Oden should have dominated the college game.

 

Is Mullens a project? For sure. But he's also 19 years old, and can score. Whether he can ever play acceptable defense on the NBA level, or maintain his size while being conditioned to play 30 minutes a game over an 82 game season is the question.

[cubweiser03]

This draft class is rather unimpressive to me. Blake Griffin is very talented but a lot of his damage is done on the blocks with his back to basket (hes got size, but enough?). I question how effective thats going to be in the NBA. He is good on the glass and the open floor but i rarely saw him doing anything facing the basket.

[Guest]

Aminu returning, Teague to test the waters: http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9430894/Sources-reveal-Wake-Forest-trio's-leanings

 

Jordan Hill will enter the draft and hire Bill Duffy to be his agent. DeMar Derozan is likely in and signing an agent: http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/goodmanonfox/2009/04/08/EARLY_ENTRIES_ETC

 

Nic Wise (Arizona) is in without an agent too.

[Warpticon]

This draft class is rather unimpressive to me. Blake Griffin is very talented but a lot of his damage is done on the blocks with his back to basket (hes got size, but enough?). I question how effective thats going to be in the NBA. He is good on the glass and the open floor but i rarely saw him doing anything facing the basket.

 

Neither does Dwight Howard. Not saying Griffin is as good as him, but when you're that good at playing back-to-basket and working from strength and athleticism, sometimes it doesn't matter so much that you lack the finesse skills. Put it this way: he had similar numbers to Beasley last year, and I think his game is better geared to immediate success at the next level than Beasley's.

[stuy119]

This draft class is rather unimpressive to me. Blake Griffin is very talented but a lot of his damage is done on the blocks with his back to basket (hes got size, but enough?). I question how effective thats going to be in the NBA. He is good on the glass and the open floor but i rarely saw him doing anything facing the basket.

 

Neither does Dwight Howard. Not saying Griffin is as good as him, but when you're that good at playing back-to-basket and working from strength and athleticism, sometimes it doesn't matter so much that you lack the finesse skills. Put it this way: he had similar numbers to Beasley last year, and I think his game is better geared to immediate success at the next level than Beasley's.

 

It's also why the NBA sucks, among other reasons. Players aren't as polished as they would be if they stayed in school for another year or two and worked on developing the deficiencies in their game.

[imb]

I'm trying to think of the list of players in this draft that I like, as of right now.

 

Griffin, Evans... Jordan Hill... I think that's it. I'm leaving room for Rubio and Jennings to play their way into my heart.

[Outshined_One]

If Rubio declares, we will see a repeat of last year's Rose/Beasley discussions with him and Griffin. Frankly, I think Rubio's got the goods to go #1 overall in this draft.

[imb]

If Rubio declares, we will see a repeat of last year's Rose/Beasley discussions with him and Griffin. Frankly, I think Rubio's got the goods to go #1 overall in this draft.

 

I don't think he's even close to physically ready for the NBA, but if someone like say, the Wizards want to take him ahead of OKC, that'd be fine with me

[SpongeWorthy]

I'm trying to think of the list of players in this draft that I like, as of right now.

 

Griffin, Evans... Jordan Hill... I think that's it. I'm leaving room for Rubio and Jennings to play their way into my heart.

 

Well his ceiling isn't out of this world but I don't see anyway Harden isn't a very good player in the NBA.

[Guest]

SpongeWorthy beat me to it but definitely Harden.

[Outshined_One]

If Rubio declares, we will see a repeat of last year's Rose/Beasley discussions with him and Griffin. Frankly, I think Rubio's got the goods to go #1 overall in this draft.

 

I don't think he's even close to physically ready for the NBA, but if someone like say, the Wizards want to take him ahead of OKC, that'd be fine with me

 

Another year would benefit him (especially after his wrist injury last year) in terms of getting a bit more size and more consistent outside shooting, but someone with his court vision, intelligence, creativity, and defensive ability would be a tremendous asset in the NBA. The NBA is currently very guard-friendly and I think there's something to be said for that.

 

Plus, I like Griffin, but I'm not enamored with him.

[imb]

If Rubio declares, we will see a repeat of last year's Rose/Beasley discussions with him and Griffin. Frankly, I think Rubio's got the goods to go #1 overall in this draft.

 

I don't think he's even close to physically ready for the NBA, but if someone like say, the Wizards want to take him ahead of OKC, that'd be fine with me

 

Another year would benefit him (especially after his wrist injury last year) in terms of getting a bit more size and more consistent outside shooting, but someone with his court vision, intelligence, creativity, and defensive ability would be a tremendous asset in the NBA. The NBA is currently very guard-friendly and I think there's something to be said for that.

 

Plus, I like Griffin, but I'm not enamored with him.

 

defensive ability? he weighs 125 pounds, he'll get abused from day one

[Outshined_One]

If Rubio declares, we will see a repeat of last year's Rose/Beasley discussions with him and Griffin. Frankly, I think Rubio's got the goods to go #1 overall in this draft.

 

I don't think he's even close to physically ready for the NBA, but if someone like say, the Wizards want to take him ahead of OKC, that'd be fine with me

 

Another year would benefit him (especially after his wrist injury last year) in terms of getting a bit more size and more consistent outside shooting, but someone with his court vision, intelligence, creativity, and defensive ability would be a tremendous asset in the NBA. The NBA is currently very guard-friendly and I think there's something to be said for that.

 

Plus, I like Griffin, but I'm not enamored with him.

 

defensive ability? he weighs 125 pounds, he'll get abused from day one

 

He's bigger than that (Draft Express and NBA Draftnet have him at 180 pounds) and he's apparently done a very good job when it comes to racking up steals.

[imb]

If Rubio declares, we will see a repeat of last year's Rose/Beasley discussions with him and Griffin. Frankly, I think Rubio's got the goods to go #1 overall in this draft.

 

I don't think he's even close to physically ready for the NBA, but if someone like say, the Wizards want to take him ahead of OKC, that'd be fine with me

 

Another year would benefit him (especially after his wrist injury last year) in terms of getting a bit more size and more consistent outside shooting, but someone with his court vision, intelligence, creativity, and defensive ability would be a tremendous asset in the NBA. The NBA is currently very guard-friendly and I think there's something to be said for that.

 

Plus, I like Griffin, but I'm not enamored with him.

 

defensive ability? he weighs 125 pounds, he'll get abused from day one

 

He's bigger than that (Draft Express and NBA Draftnet have him at 180 pounds) and he's apparently done a very good job when it comes to racking up steals.

 

steals have little to do with defensive ability and unless he's 7 feet tall, he doesn't weight anywhere near 180 pounds.

 

in fact, he's on the cover of this month's slam, and he looks like a 12-year old

[imb]

SpongeWorthy beat me to it but definitely Harden.

 

6'4 shooting guard with limited athleticism who isn't a great shooter. Any other year he'd be a late lotto pick, and no one projects greatness for guys drafted in that range

[SpongeWorthy]

SpongeWorthy beat me to it but definitely Harden.

 

6'4 shooting guard with limited athleticism who isn't a great shooter. Any other year he'd be a late lotto pick, and no one projects greatness for guys drafted in that range

 

I don't think anyone necessarily projects greatness for players that are taken in the top 5 either. It's a semantic argument but I see Roy/Ginobili type effectiveness (maybe more towards the Manu end of the spectrum) out of Harden. That's pretty damn good.

[Guest]

He's great at getting to his spots and getting inside. He does need to develop his right hand and the outside shot as you said.

[imb]

SpongeWorthy beat me to it but definitely Harden.

 

6'4 shooting guard with limited athleticism who isn't a great shooter. Any other year he'd be a late lotto pick, and no one projects greatness for guys drafted in that range

 

I don't think anyone necessarily projects greatness for players that are taken in the top 5 either. It's a semantic argument but I see Roy/Ginobili type effectiveness (maybe more towards the Manu end of the spectrum) out of Harden. That's pretty damn good.

 

The Roy/Ginobili comparison kind of makes me feel better about Harden as a player, though he's nowhere near as athletic (in my opinion, anyway, I'll admit I've only seen a handful of his games+highlights) as either of them. Ginobili is smaller but quicker, as is Roy.

[Guest]

I think a bigger Ginobli is a great comparison. He's not quick but he has enough athleticism to suceed.

[imb]

The only thing is, though, that Ginobli succeeds because he's quick enough to slash, Harden's ability to get to the basket is totally dependent on his size advantage, which will end up negated somewhat in the NBA

[illiniguy]

Thank you. I missed a number of those declarations. Guess no longer subscribing to a newspaper has its downfalls.

 

 

I hadn't heard and am surprised by Evan Turner (especially) and Willie Warren at least not testing the waters.

 

I always take the "returning" section with a grain of salt. Flynn was in that column and he sounded pretty adamant when he was saying he'd return and then the story that he was testing the waters came out yesterday.

His coach is making him test the waters. Told him he owes it to himself.

[hawkeyecub]

Would someone please tell me why the eff Eric Devendorf thinks he can leave early and play in the NBA?