||Draft|| TJ Leaf?

[dviss1]

Perhaps you'd prefer who draftexpress has us taking in their latest mock draft:

#15 - Ike Anigbogu
#20 - Harry Giles
#26 - Tyler Lydon

I'm not high on Leaf (ha!), but he currently has two more good knees than Giles.

Portland drafting Tyler Lydon would tick off all of Mediocre Man's boxes (white, American born, from Syracuse).

Personally, I can't think of a worse way to waste three first round picks in a deep draft.

BNM

I'd hate all of those picks too.

 

[handiman]

If you want to talk recently then let me change that to "signed". Our biggest recent free agents (all who I like ) can't shoot.
ET, Aminu, Harkless, and Davis .

Bottom line is we need players who have multiple skills so they can stay on the court. Leaf has offensive skills
Why are we convinced that Leaf is a poor defender?
Because he is not strong? He can get stronger.
Is he slow? No
Is he short? No
Is he not athletic? No
Is he white? ..............

You didn't say signed, you said drafted. All the non-shooters were free agents.

 

[dviss1]

If you want to talk recently then let me change that to "signed". Our biggest recent free agents (all who I like ) can't shoot.
ET, Aminu, Harkless, and Davis .

Bottom line is we need players who have multiple skills so they can stay on the court. Leaf has offensive skills
Why are we convinced that Leaf is a poor defender?
Because he is not strong? He can get stronger.
Is he slow? No
Is he short? No
Is he not athletic? No
Is he white? ..............

Have you ever even seen him play? Because if you did the reasons would be pretty clear.

 

[dviss1]

So Steph Curry? Probably the closest thing to an "average physical specimen" that dominates in the NBA.

Buuuuuut Steph is quick as a hiccup and speedy. When you can do that and have limitless range it makes you unguardable.

 

[dviss1]

If both are still available at #26, there is absolutely no way I take Leaf over Bolden.

 

[dviss1]

So fucked up, where the hell is the new Larry Bird?

That cat was one of a kind. There was no one like him and never will be.

HE is Legend. Not Butters.

 

[dviss1]

People whine and complain about the white guys we already do have on the roster, why would we want another one?

I'd take Zach Collins in a heartbeat. I'd even move up to take him. Looks like we're in position to do that.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Have you ever even seen him play? Because if you did the reasons would be pretty clear.

I watch almost every Pac 12 game. Plus I live in LA so yeah I have seen him play. The kid was a McDonald's All American. It's Not like he came out of nowhere. He chose UCLA over Oregon last year after decommitting from Arizona. so yes I have been watching him closely for a while. Not saying he has ideal lateral quickness, but few PF's do and the ones that do usually have other weaknesses. You need multiple types of PF's IMO. Leaf has a lot of intangibles. Not saying take him at 15 but I would at 20 unless someone else unexpectedly slips to us.

He is no Adam Morrison who I knew would be a bust. Leaf does not have to rely on being an explosive athlete at the PF position like AM did at SF.
As I have said before he might take a year or two to physically develop but he certainly has the skills already.

 

[dviss1]

I watch almost every Pac 12 game. Plus I live in LA so yeah I have seen him play. The kid was a McDonald's All American. It's Not like he came out of nowhere. He chose UCLA over Oregon last year after decommitting from Arizona. so yes I have been watching him closely for a while. Not saying he has ideal lateral quickness, but few PF's do and the ones that do usually have other weaknesses. You need multiple types of PF's IMO. Leaf has a lot of intangibles. Not saying take him at 15 but I would at 20 unless someone else unexpectedly slips to us.

He is no Adam Morrison who I knew would be a bust. Leaf does not have to rely on being an explosive athlete at the PF position like AM did at SF.
As I have said before he might take a year or two to physically develop but he certainly has the skills already.

I just don't see it. He doesn't pass the eye test. He's just not a fast twitch athlete.

Plus, he didn't defend in college so he won't be able to at the next level.

Edit: And he's very much like Adam Morrison in the fact that he's never open. Every time he scores somebody is in his face. That's not going to translate to the next level either.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I just don't see it. He doesn't pass the eye test. He's just not a fast twitch athlete.

Plus, he didn't defend in college so he won't be able to at the next level.

Edit: And he's very much like Adam Morrison in the fact that he's never open. Every time he scores somebody is in his face. That's not going to translate to the next level either.

I would take Zach Collins over TJ in a heartbeat but I would not say Zach is a fast twitch athlete either.

I get that UCLA as a whole had the reputation of not defending because of their fast paced run n gun style. But that doesn't mean he can not defend. He actually has pretty good instincts and timing on his blocks. I think once he gets stronger it will help his D. He has a high BBIQ IMO.

Never open? He was open all the time. Especially on the perimeter and when he ran the floor. He was just very unselfish so he often passed it back. UCLA had a lot of weopons. And the fact that he does score with someone in his face....is that not a positive? If he played next to Dame, CJ, and Nurk.......he would be open. He has a good pull up jump shot as well. He can put the ball on the floor and he can flat out pass. (For a big man)

I don't think TJ is a must get, but if he had stayed in school another year we would have no chance at him next year. He would have been a high lottery pick. He is only going to get better. So at 20 I think he is a good investment for the future.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

 

[MickZagger]

Pete Chillcut on steroids

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

There were some pretty accurate assessments in here; he has done nothing in three years.