@BreakTheHuddle
6th
overall: Portland (from New Jersey)
Andre
Drummond, C, Connecticut
Many reports have
Dion Waiters going to Rip City should he fall to the sixth slot. Others believe
the Blazers covet a point guard with the pick they acquired from the Nets in
the Gerald Wallace deal - but the possibility of adding a center prospect with
tremendous upside could be too good for the Blazers to pass up. Drummond is as
raw a talent as they come. If he manages to harness his considerable natural
ability, the pairing of he and Lamarcus Aldridge would give Portland
one of the best front lines in the sport.
7th
overall: Golden State
Damian
Lillard, PG, Weber State
Questions persist
about the level of talent Lillard competed against in the Big Sky Conference,
but the experts seem unanimous in declaring him to be the best point guard
prospect available in the draft. Kendall Marshall and Marquis Teague aren't
quite worthy of such a high pick. Landing a solid point guard prospect would
allow the Warriors to shift injury-prone Stephen Curry to his more natural
2-guard position. Ideally, Lillard could facilitate Curry in being the primary
scorer for a team that will need the buckets now that Monta Ellis is gone.
8th overall: Toronto
Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
Orange coach Jim Boeheim is famous for his utilization of the 2-3 zone, which gives NBA scouts fits because they have a hard time determining whether or not his players can play man-to-man at the professional level. Raptors coach DwaneCasey earned this position by his work as a defensive coach with the 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks, and the team had better hope he can coax some 'D' out of Waiters, whose offensive playmaking ability will help atone for the loss of Jose Calderon via a trade last season.
9th overall: Detroit
Perry Jones, PF, Baylor
8th overall: Toronto
Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
Orange coach Jim Boeheim is famous for his utilization of the 2-3 zone, which gives NBA scouts fits because they have a hard time determining whether or not his players can play man-to-man at the professional level. Raptors coach DwaneCasey earned this position by his work as a defensive coach with the 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks, and the team had better hope he can coax some 'D' out of Waiters, whose offensive playmaking ability will help atone for the loss of Jose Calderon via a trade last season.
9th overall: Detroit
Perry Jones, PF, Baylor
Last year, ancient Ben Wallace and career role player Jason Maxiell saw the majority of the minutes at the power forward spot for the Pistons. Charlie Villanueva, a disappointment even when healthy, missed much of the season. Enter the youthful Perry Jones, a freakish athlete whose inconsistency on the defensive end can be hidden with the effective Greg Monroe occupying the center spot in the Motor City.
10th overall: New Orleans (from the L.A. Clippers via Minnesota)
Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
I know what you're thinking, but let me explain. Anthony Davis will play primarily power forward, and he and Zeller would form a nice young presence inside for the Hornets since Chris Kaman appears set to leave via free agency. Many mock drafters speculate New Orleans will go with a 2 or a 3 in this spot, but with the likelihood of Eric Gordon's re-signing, the greater need is on the interior. Zeller runs the floor as well as any big man in the draft and since his game skews towards the offensive end, he'd be a terrific complimentary piece to the Unibrow.
2 comments:
So, the Tyler Zeller to New Orleans thing ought to stir up a little talk...
It actually does make sense. Personally I think Meyers Leonard is a better prospect. 10th is a tough place to pick this year. They could go many different directions. Establishing a solid post presence is never a bad thing, however. It's just a matter of how those big guys pan out...
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