2005 NBA Draft Thread

[beau_boy04]

Nbadraft.net says Rudy Gay is the next Scottie Pippen and he might be the next biggest thing coming out of high school since Tim Duncan. ok ok who's going to get the top draft choice pick next year?

[beau_boy04]

Sung Ming Ming is not being listed in any mock draft as of yet.

[The X]

depends if Stern introduces the age limit....

if no age limit is introduced then I'd have to say high school senior-to-be Greg Oden is almost a lock for No. 1....

if age limit is introduced then I'd probably say Rudy Gay at this point....Bargnani is looked at pretty highly as he is being compared to Dirk Nowitzki from what I've read....

but you might find a guy like Nemanja Aleksandrov could pull out of draft this season and contest for top pick next year (if age limit not introduced)....I think it would be wise for a couple of the PG's to pull out of draft this year and return for senior year (Gilchrist is a glaring example)....

[J@3]

From what I read, Rudy Gay is similar to Marvin Williams in that teams would be drafting for his potential. Greg Oden is the one I'd agree with too, but there's also that guy Josh something who commited to Duke I believe... either ways, at the moment I don't think next years draft will be as interesting as this one but of course that'll all change when the next draft comes.

[Ataraxia]

James White has declared....apparently when he was 18 he was gonna be the next Vince Carter....but then again draftnet called Deshawn Stevenson the next MJ

http://nbadraft.net/profiles/jameswhite.asp

NBA Comparison: Vince Carter

Strengths: Blessed with world class athleticism/leaping ability. Could win the NBA Slam Dunk Competition right now (although he couldn't even win the McDonald's HS Dunk competition thanks to fellow Gator recruit David Lee, and some questionable scoring). A track and field star. Very strong at taking players off the dribble, quick first step. Good touch on his jump shot. Has great potential.

Weaknesses: Still very raw. Jump shot and handle need refinement. Needs to get much stronger, improve defensively, gain consistency. May be tempted to leave after just one college season, but body, mind, and game look a couple years of college ball away from being NBA ready.
Notes - Blessed with unbelievable leaping ability. Can already hang in the clouds with the likes of Carter, Kobe, and MJ, and he's only 18. Give him a couple years and it could be scary. Can already dunk from behind the free throw line and go through his legs and dunk nonchalantly. A track star as well. Must get stronger and improve fundamentally. Potential is enormous.

Rashad McCants is rising back fast.....he might go top 15 the way hes been rising during the last few weeks or so....

[J-Smoove]

that hasn't been updated in a long time. i would consider that scouting report to be out of date.

he's a better jump shooter, but no consistent. hope he'll get drafted in the 2nd round. he'll make it as an all-nba-all-star-dunk-contest-er

[J@3]

That's if he makes a roster, apart from his dunking he doesn't really have a great deal to offer. He's a bit old too by rookie standards.

[Ataraxia]

McCants is back in lottery territory...wow talk abt comeback....from lottery pick to second round pick back to lottery pick...

Monta Ellis seems to have got a boost whilst Louis Williams is steadily dropping....strange I thought Louis is the better player.

[J@3]

From what I've read Louis Williams is another Dajuan Wagner type, and of course after him people are going to be a bit cautious. Monta Ellis is an interesting one, he wasn't even really being considered a few months ago and now he's going up the board.

[The X]

I doubt Rashad McCants will make it into late lottery....same with Monta Ellis....a certain young high school SG named Martell Webster has declared....he has NBA size at the SG (6'6" or 6'7" and 225lbs I think off top of my head), whereas those other 2 (and Williams too) are only about 6'2"-6'3"....

McCants and Ellis at the moment are mid 1st Rounders at best....although if Trajan Langdon can be picked in the lottery then I guess anything is possible

[J@3]

Ah Martell Webster, I reckon he's a bit of a dark horse out of the main highschoolers (Green, Ellis).

[Ataraxia]

Monta Ellis wont be a lottery pick thats 100% certain...unless he has some amazing workouts...hes gonna around 20 to 25 at best...

McCants is predicted to go at 12th by the Clips on draftnet....I dunno but I think McCants workouts will be the biggest factor for him....if he can show his talent off and not his problematic attitude then theirs a good chance he'll go 10 to 15(he was as high as 6 or 7 early on until he started believing he was in prison).

Webster I believe has played weak during his last few games....but hes still a predicted lottery pick....I think he'll end up around 15-20....most of the HS swingmen fall down after their workouts...Josh Smith & JR Smith last year, both of them fell outta the lottery after workouts and the pre-draft camp...I expect the same to happen to Green...he'll prolly end up in the late lottery region though cause of his bigger upside.

[The X]

with the way the Smith's played last year, they were steals that late....I don't expect anyone to sleep on Green or Webster to fall far....depending on workouts Green could go as high as 4 or 5 but shouldn't fall out of the top 10....Webster is probably in 10-14 range but could slide depending on workouts, similar to JR Smith last season....

draft is really interesting though....I'm hoping a few players make the right decision and withdraw from the draft as at the moment this draft is very deep....a good year to have more than one 1st Rounder I'd say....Bobcats must be pretty happy with Cavs' failure

[J@3]

From what I can remember, Utah have quite a few picks aswell.

[Ataraxia]

From what I can remember, Utah have quite a few picks aswell.

One first rounder and 3 second rounders to be exact.

[J@3]

If I were them I'd pick someone decent in the first round and use the 3 second rounders on Euro's so they can leave them over there to develop.

[J@3]

Wow Utah's picks...

Lottery pick
#27
#31
#54
#60

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

More Euros for Utah... They already have Giricek, Okur, Kirilenko, Lopez and Bell ( okay, he's not European... ). Grab another 3 with the second round picks and the highest paid member of the Jazz will be the translator...

[J-Smoove]

if new orleans doesn't end up with 1st overall pick, they'll have two tar heels. one that renegaed them and the other that made himself a top 3.

im still flabergasted by people saying "o if jr smith was with unc, he'd be starting!" truth is, roy williams wasn't going to allow a freshmen to start over a perfect-fit defensive guard in the lineup. jr woulda easily been a 6th man alongside with "7th man" marvin gaye.

shit, if new orleans management doesn't screw things up and actually grab some decent names via offseason, i'm hoping on to their bandwagon (assuming marvin is drafted by them).

[Ataraxia]

Ill be joinin u on the Hornets bandwagon phil/rein ...well Im sorta on it already with JR in town....but Im hopin they get Paul instead...they need a PG....Lee Nailon rocks

[J-Smoove]

haha

jr's been a machine for new awlins. he's exceeded my expections. still kinda pissed that he renegaded on UNC, but it was essentially a blessing in disguise for marvin. only thing im afraid of now is him becoming either a superstar (i think marvin's got the potential to be that) or become a huge bust, a la RODNEY F-ING WHITE. (still rooting for you rodney..)

[Ataraxia]

haha

jr's been a machine for new awlins. he's exceeded my expections. still kinda pissed that he renegaded on UNC, but it was essentially a blessing in disguise for marvin. only thing im afraid of now is him becoming either a superstar (i think marvin's got the potential to be that) or become a huge bust, a la RODNEY F-ING WHITE. (still rooting for you rodney..)

hell yeah huge Rodney White fan right here

man the Warriors should play him more....hopefully they trade Dunleavy for a center then maybe Rodney can get a shot at starting

[The X]

Utah should keep there top pick and trade the #27 & #31 to move up the draft....or combo some up....

if they don't win out in the lottery and fall, they could always add the #27 to their pick to move up....either way, they have many options....

but they'll draft 2 Euros I'd say

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

man the Warriors should play him more....hopefully they trade Dunleavy for a center then maybe Rodney can get a shot at starting

the only thing Rodney has been any good at in the last year or two is spotting some minutes at PF... nothing more...

[The X]

I'm hoping that many of the early entries withdraw as they are setting themselves up for failure....if they don't withdraw then there will be a record number of high schoolers that will go in the 2nd Round....

if you're a bubble 1st Round PG then go back to school....if you are a bubble 1st Round SF then go back to school....if you are a bubble 1st Round high schooler then go to college....

I understand that sometimes situations dictate their actions, but these kids need to open their eyes to reality....

and besides, I want next year's draft to be a little stronger than it will be if age limit is incorporated