Following potential 2014 draftees

[Hantlers]

Haha, PKM says a scout doesn't think other scouts are as high on Randle and within an hour he's gonna drop on everyone's board here.

It depends on who drafts him and what they have. But the kid is NBA ready today and will be very good. Does he have holes? Yup. Does he have the highest ceiling? Nope.

There is A LOT to be said about these kids before now and draft day. Both from scouts and PKM .

Bah. I'm not going to trust somebody's opinion when I don't hear the details of why they don't like a guy.

I'm sticking to what I've said about Randle the entire time. I think he can be a starter, but I don't think he'll ever be an impact player. Lackluster on defense, and I don't think a decent portion of his offense will translate. He's a better Tyler Hansbrough, impact wise, IMO.

 

[fishonjazz]

Its weird that before the season almost everyone said Randle had a huge ceiling and could be great. Not sure why one decent season at KY changed that.

I agree.
Very strange

 

[Hantlers]

I agree.
Very strange

Typically being able to see a player more will change people's opinions of him.

All most people had to rely on was HS scouts take on him, which are typically unreliable. It's why some of us won't speculate too much on players until they actually see them play a decent amount.

 

[fishonjazz]

Typically being able to see a player more will change people's opinions of him.

All most people had to rely on was HS scouts take on him, which are typically unreliable. It's why some of us won't speculate too much on players until they actually see them play a decent amount.

That is what i find wierd though.

Before we ever saw him he was considered top 3 or 4 then he has a pretty great year against good competition on an extremely young team with poor perimeter players and fight double and triple teams and get to the championship = he isnt very good now

 

[Game6Conley]

Julius also started the year with the distinction of being one of the more NBA ready players in this draft, many said "he can get you 20 and 10 in an NBA game right now"

if you see the LSU games, or the 1-7 fg perfomance vs Florida in the SEC Championship theres a real disconnect with that "hes ready to dominate" line of thinking

he managed to have some ugly games vs Mississippi St, Vanderbilt, and South Carolina

its really during that stretch that he hurt his value imo... there's also this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNYMz2oFTuU

 

[Bodhi]

Julius also started the year with the distinction of being one of the more NBA ready players in this draft, many said "he can get you 20 and 10 in an NBA game right now"

if you see the LSU games, or the 1-7 fg perfomance vs Florida in the SEC Championship theres a real disconnect with that "hes ready to dominate" line of thinking

he managed to have some ugly games vs Mississippi St, Vanderbilt, and South Carolina

its really during that stretch that he hurt his value imo... there's also this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNYMz2oFTuU

Ya, totally. Wonder what he could have done in the tourney. Guess we will never know.

 

[spycam1]

That is what i find wierd though.

Before we ever saw him he was considered top 3 or 4 then he has a pretty great year against good competition on an extremely young team with poor perimeter players and fight double and triple teams and get to the championship = he isnt very good now

His stats and tourament run have nothing to do with it.

It's because we now know more about him and he has flaws that scouts didn't think he had before such as:

-his athleticism (doesn't get off the ground very quick)
- his jumper
-his handles

Mainly the fact that his athleticism has been exposed in a major way is why I don't think he has a great ceiling. Him being a double double machine and leading his team to the title game doesn't change that. He'll never be a great athlete, nor will he ever be very long. Combine that with the fact that he's not as skilled (jumper and ball handling) as scouts thought, and it's not hard at all to see why the perspective on him has changed. Could he improve his skills? Of course. But he can't change his physical gifts, and that's the biggest thing that's worse than what people initially thought.

 

[spycam1]

I think Randle will be good, just not great. He could maybe even make a few All-Star games if all goes right for him, but he'll never be the top dog on a title contender, IMO.

 

[fishonjazz]

His stats and tourament run have nothing to do with it.

It's because we now know more about him and he has flaws that scouts didn't think he had before such as:

-his athleticism (doesn't get off the ground very quick)
- his jumper
-his handles

Mainly the fact that his athleticism has been exposed in a major way is why I don't think he has a great ceiling. Him being a double double machine and leading his team to the title game doesn't change that. He'll never be a great athlete, nor will he ever be very long. Combine that with the fact that he's not as skilled (jumper and ball handling) as scouts thought, and it's not hard at all to see why the perspective on him has changed. Could he improve his skills? Of course. But he can't change his physical gifts, and that's the biggest thing that's worse than what people initially thought.

Good response.

Hopefully he will be a hard worker and overcome his lack of athleticism. (Kevin love not athletic or good defensively)

Good explanation of his dropping stock though

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Its weird that before the season almost everyone said Randle had a huge ceiling and could be great. Not sure why one decent season at KY changed that. Im not nearly as excited about him as I was to begin, but just dont buy that he is not that well regarded and not seen as someone who could get better. Not doubting what PKM's homey is saying, just my perspective.

Randle is a decent physical specimen, even if his standing reach isn't ideal. He just didn't show a ton of skills--like much outside shooting touch to complement his drives in the paint. His handling and passing weren't that fluid, he didn't finish plays above the rim...etc. He looks like he's going to need to play a face-up game out on the floor, like Millsap or David West, but he needs to develop more skills to be a first-option scorer. Plus, people still have a hangover from picks like Derrick Williams, Anthony Bennett, and Thomas Robinson, although Randle is better than all three.

 

[spycam1]

Good response.

Hopefully he will be a hard worker and overcome his lack of athleticism. (Kevin love not athletic or good defensively)

Good explanation of his dropping stock though

He's quite honestly on the same level as Jabari athletically, imo. But nowhere near as skilled offensively and never will be.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I think Vonleh is a real sleeper in this draft if he does well in workouts. By that, I mean he could get to #4 or #5. He was a bit off the radar and didn't get to show a ton for Indiana this year. His measurables, shooting touch and ability to play both ends will impress some teams.

 

[spycam1]

Good response.

Hopefully he will be a hard worker and overcome his lack of athleticism. (Kevin love not athletic or good defensively)

Good explanation of his dropping stock though

I still have no idea how K-Love puts up the stats that he does tbh. Dude is a warlock or smth.

 

[spycam1]

I think Vonleh is a real sleeper in this draft if he does well in workouts. By that, I mean he could get to #4 or #5. He was a bit off the radar and didn't get to show a ton for Indiana this year. His measurables, shooting touch and ability to play both ends is going to impress some teams.

I agree. I wouldn't blame a team for picking him over Randle. Wayyyyy longer, prob a better athlete, better jump shot, a better defender...

Vonleh prob has more potential.

 

[spycam1]

Don't mean to bag on Randle too much, but he's definitely not the prospect people thought he was in high school.

 

[Fishsticks]

Randle is a decent physical specimen, even if his standing reach isn't ideal. He just didn't show a ton of skills--like much outside shooting touch to complement his drives in the paint. His handling and passing weren't that fluid, he didn't finish plays above the rim...etc. He looks like he's going to need to play a face-up game out on the floor, like Millsap or David West, but he needs to develop more skills to be a first-option scorer. Plus, people still have a hangover from picks like Derrick Williams, Anthony Bennett, and Thomas Robinson, although Randle is better than all three.

Agree with all this. I think most concerning is his athleticism, which oddly enough was considered one of his strengths. Just want to believe he was at a disadvantage this season and not used properly. He was such an outstanding HS player, crazy no one saw his weaknesses until this year.

 

[Fishsticks]

I think Vonleh is a real sleeper in this draft if he does well in workouts. By that, I mean he could get to #4 or #5. He was a bit off the radar and didn't get to show a ton for Indiana this year. His measurables, shooting touch and ability to play both ends will impress some teams.

Yep. Was on him early on. Stretch 4 with size, ability to rebound and a solid defender.

 

[Bodhi]

I think Randle will be good, just not great. He could maybe even make a few All-Star games if all goes right for him, but he'll never be the top dog on a title contender, IMO.

I actually agree fully with this. I guess the diff is what we expect at the 5-6 spot.

Let me clarify, I'm not advocating us taking him at all at this point. I just don't know enough about the guys in that range to fully from an opinion. That said, outside of MAYBE the 3-4 guys considered by most to be the potential franchise changers, I'm then looking for a potential all-star. Maybe even a guy like Millsap who would only be an all-star in the east.

Let's be honest, any of the guys in that range (Randle, Gordon, Smart) are coming into this with realistically too many flaws to ever be a superstar. They all have varying degrees of upside but I'd be willing to bet none ever really become elite. But they don't ever have to be to be considered a great pick.

To continue my rambling, I think Vonleh actually has the potential to be better than the 3 mentioned because of his athleticism, length and outside shot potential/upside. He also has the biggest bust potential. That's why this **** is so fun.

 

[spycam1]

I actually agree fully with this. I guess the diff is what we expect at the 5-6 spot.

Let me clarify, I'm not advocating us taking him at all at this point. I just don't know enough about the guys in that range to fully from an opinion. That said, outside of MAYBE the 3-4 guys considered by most to be the potential franchise changers, I'm then looking for a potential all-star. Maybe even a guy like Millsap who would only be an all-star in the east.

Let's be honest, any of the guys in that range (Randle, Gordon, Smart) are coming into this with realistically too many flaws to ever be a superstar. They all have varying degrees of upside but I'd be willing to bet none ever really become elite. But they don't ever have to be to be considered a great pick.

To continue my rambling, I think Vonleh actually has the potential to be better than the 3 mentioned because of his athleticism, length and outside shot potential/upside. He also has the biggest bust potential. That's why this **** is so fun.

Agree with a lot of this.

I guess I view Gordon as someone who MIGHT be able to surpass expectations and reach perennial All-Star level ala Paul George. He's got truly elite athleticism to go along with great BBIQ and motor. It also sounds like he's got the work ethic to put it all together.

If we're unlucky enough to miss out on the top 4, then I'm taking a chance on Gordon.

 

[Fishsticks]

Does anyone see smart as a smaller version of IGGY but with hell a fire? Disruptive as ****. I know a lot of you are down him, but we need that fire on this team. Just sayin, if SHTF and we fall to 6 I'd love him as a consolation