Official 2012 NBA Draft Thread

[CameronCrazy06]

Austin Rivers measured 6-5 too, good news for him.

 

[Elite]

Rivers is going to be a hell of a lot better than a bunch of guys that are going to be drafted ahead of him.

 

[elcheato]

Agreed. Guards who can create there own shot and get to the rim are always a welcome sight.

 

[Elite]

I'd be interested in seeing how draft guys would rank each player if they were all going to reach what people believe is their potential.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Rivers is victim of hype coming out of high school.

 

[bosoxlover12]

Best scorer in the draft.

IMO Beal>, but Lillard is definitely #2. Will be a good fit in New Orleans or Portland (I don't see Toronto taking him)

 

[CameronCrazy06]

IMO Beal>, but Lillard is definitely #2. Will be a good fit in New Orleans or Portland (I don't see Toronto taking him)

I agree with you that Beal probably will be better, but I meant right now, as evident by Lillard being top 5 in the nation in scoring and Beal averaged less than 15 a game.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

If Lillard averaged 25 a game (I think it was 25) at Weber State how many ppg's would Rivers or Beal average at Weber State?

 

[CameronCrazy06]

I'm not sure, Rivers WAS the #1 option at Duke so it's not like he didn't get his opportunities. Beal also shot 35% from 3 so I doubt he could have put up the same stats with Lillard's shot selection (bad shots he HAD to take)

I get the arguments against Lillard because he played in a small conference, but I also think watching this guy play he's VERY talented, and can play PG at the NBA level and make plays for OTHERS, which is something he wasn't asked to do in college. We'll see.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

My argument really doesn't have that much to do with him playing at Weber State. My argument is just that he does one thing good (and he isn't special at it), and is in a weak PG class. That's just the perfect storm. PG is like the QB of the NBA draft. Have to compensate. Same reason why Ponder was taken so high, Tannehill, and so on.

If he came out last year, where would he be ranked in the PG class? Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker, Jimmer Fredette, Iman Shump, Nolan Smith, Reggie Jackson, Norris Cole, Cory Joseph. Where would you rank him in that class? Kyrie, Knight, Kemba, and Shump are no brainers imo. What's the difference between Lillard and Jimmer? He's more athletic? Neither are good defenders, neither have good court vision, neither have good passing skills.

Chad Ford stated if Derrick Williams was in this draft class, he'd probably go 6-10. So where should Lillard really fit? It's a tricky question, but how does the #2 guy in last years draft go 6-10, Lillard is at best the fifth rated PG in last years class, but people talk about him as a guy that MIGHT not even be available for the Hornets at 10?

The only real explanation I see is that Lillard and Kendall Marshall are being over compensated because of a weak PG class. Both are stretches at 10, and honestly I'm not sure if either are lottery picks. Very very bottom of the lottery maybe.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

If Lillard had the year he had in 2011-2012 in 2010-11 and came out I guarantee you he'd have been a top 7 pick and probably 2nd PG behind Kyrie.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

If Lillard had the year he had in 2011-2012 in 2010-11 and came out I guarantee you he'd have been a top 7 pick and probably 2nd PG behind Kyrie.

Lol no...just no

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Why don't you explain to me why he wouldn't have been. He was better than Jimmer and Jimmer was a top 10 pick...

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Why don't you explain to me why he wouldn't have been. He was better than Jimmer and Jimmer was a top 10 pick...

The Jimmer factor is irrelevant because he was drastically overrated by being a top 10 pick.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

I'm saying he would have been DRAFTED this high. He would have been in a competition with Brandon Knight for 2nd PG drated. He'd have been picked over Jimmer and Kemba

 

[.infamous]

Syracuse guard Dion Waiters canceled all team workouts and interviews at NBA pre-draft camp, source tells Y! Sports.

Source believes Waiters has a high draft promise from a team.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I'm saying he would have been DRAFTED this high. He would have been in a competition with Brandon Knight for 2nd PG drated. He'd have been picked over Jimmer and Kemba

Lol no he wouldn't have. You drastically overrate a one trick pony my friend.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Because I forgot Brandon Knight is such a multi-dimensional point guard as is Kemba. All of them are scoring guards....

 

[jonathanlambert33]

That's confusing David.

Hornets - no
Wizards - no
Cavs - no
Kings - no
Blazers - ??
Warriors - no
Raptors - reportedly trying to move the pick
Pistons - ??
Hornets - no

So Portland? I don't know, they have Wes Matthews on a nice deal and could probably get a better player there. Detroit? They have Stuckey and Gordon on bad contracts.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Because I forgot Brandon Knight is such a multi-dimensional point guard as is Kemba. All of them are scoring guards....

All of them are better defenders, better floor generals, better passers.

Like I said, you drastically overrate an unproven one trick pony.