"Can't miss" prospects

[Rastapopoulos]

Suppose you have the #21 pick and your goal is to pick a player that will have an NBA career. Maybe he'll never be a starter, but he'll be in the league for ten years minimum. Who's your choice? Remember, your sole criterion of choice is the height of the floor not the height of the ceiling. (This is called "maximin" strategy.)

I'm thinking Nolan Smith is probably up there. (He's a Jarrett Jack/Mario Chalmers type.)

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Kenneth Faried

Trey Thompkins
Nikola Mirotic

Darkhorse:

Jimmy Butler

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Jimmy Butler

Beat me to it!

What about Shelvin Mack? He's the Anthony Johnson of the 'tens!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I actually think Isaiah Thomas is going to do okay. He's taller than Nate Robinson and more of a PG, and Nate's been surprisingly hard to bounce out of the NBA.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The only guy (outside of the projected top 5) I've watched this year and said to myself, "that guy is going to be a solid contributor for years to come" is ... ummm ... Farried I guess. Everybody else I kind of liked went back to school.

 

[MickZagger]

Alec Burks.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Alec Burks.

Not available at 21. (Unless some serious disaster happens.)

 

[glazeduck]

Travis Leslie. If you can defend the perimeter in the association, you'll always have a roster spot somewhere (see: Udoka, Ime).

 

[LittleAlex]

There isn't one. None of the guys available at 21 are even as good as Pendergraph and he was barely at an NBA level.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

There isn't one. None of the guys available at 21 are even as good as Pendergraph and he was barely at an NBA level.

History will prove you wrong. Even the suckiest drafts have second rounders that make it. For example 2006 is widely regarded as one of the weakest in memory, but check this out:

21. Phoenix             Rajon Rondo
25. Cleveland           Shannon Brown
26. LA Lakers           Jordan Farmar
36. Minnesota           Craig Smith
42. Cleveland           Daniel Gibson
47. Utah                Paul Milsap
49. Denver              Leon Powe
50. Charlotte           Ryan Hollins

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'm going to go with Jordan Williams as well. He can rebound like crazy, and as everybody knows That's The One Skill That Reliably Translates, plus he's lost a lot of weight even since college ended. That reminds me of Udonis Haslem. Plus his weak point was supposed to be shooting, but he's shooting great in That One Workout Video I Saw.

(I would also add Tobias Harris, who has me thinking of Jared Dudley, but I don't think he'll be there at 21. That said, DraftExpress has him at 22...)

 

[MickZagger]

Not available at 21. (Unless some serious disaster happens.)

You arent getting a player in this draft at 21 thats cant miss.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Trade up (a tad) for

Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried
Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried
Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried
Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried
Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried
Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried
Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried
Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried Kenneth Faried | Kenneth Faried

 

[MickZagger]

Faried's alright, but your acting like he's the second coming.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

You arent getting a player in this draft at 21 thats cant miss.

Okay - won't miss.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Faried's alright, but your acting like he's the second coming.

Of Paul Millsap? Sure.

 

[craigehlo]

Faried's alright, but your acting like he's the second coming.

NCAA rebounding leaders by year:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NCAA_Division_I_men's_basketball_season_rebounding_leaders

Faried is either the next Milsap or the next Rashad Jones-Jennings. It's a roll of the dice.

 

[MickZagger]

He's got a good motor thats for sure, but is really undersized. Is the next Reggie Evans or the next Rodman? I'm thinking Evans.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

you need more than an engine to be the next worm, you need a mean streak, and penis piercings

 

[JDC]

I think Faried is gone by 21, and plus a lot of you have brought him already so I leave him out here ,but I got quite a few guys I like as role players going forward.

Norris Cole- PG who plays great D is rare nowadays and he has nice all around offensive skills.
Jimmy Butler- Coaches love this guy. Smooth athlete that does a little bit of everything and just plays the game the right way.
JuJuan Johnson- Better shooting, smarter, Hakim Warrick which will be good enough to carve out a long career.

 

[MickZagger]

I think Faried is gone by 21, and plus a lot of you have brought him already so I leave him out here ,but I got quite a few guys I like as role players going forward.

Norris Cole- PG who plays great D is rare nowadays and he has nice all around offensive skills.
Jimmy Butler- Coaches love this guy. Smooth athlete that does a little bit of everything and just plays the game the right way.
JuJuan Johnson- Better shooting, smarter, Hakim Warrick which will be good enough to carve out a long career.

I think all those guys are 2nd round talents though.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I think all those guys are 2nd round talents though.

"Second round talents" like Ha or second round talents like Milsap?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Suppose you have the #21 pick and your goal is to pick a player that will have an NBA career. Maybe he'll never be a starter, but he'll be in the league for ten years minimum. Who's your choice? Remember, your sole criterion of choice is the height of the floor not the height of the ceiling. (This is called "maximin" strategy.)

I'm thinking Nolan Smith is probably up there. (He's a Jarrett Jack/Mario Chalmers type.)

I guess someone was listening...