Official 2012 NBA Draft Thread

[jonathanlambert33]

Would never make it past the Cavs, Kings and Blazers.

Depends. If MKG is still on the board at #4, do you take Beal or MKG? I've heard yall like MKG more, but you'd know better than me I guess. Personally I think yall would do better with MKG.

The Kings aren't taking him, if anything they'll trade out of the spot for someone to select him.

Blazers, I could definitely see them taking him at #6 but this is still a very deep draft. Maybe they instead decide to select someone else at #6 then take a two at #11 (Ross, Lamb, Waiters, Rivers) since it's a deep class.

Personally I don't think he's available at #4, he should go top 3.


Also, I listened to a Cavs podcast today, do most Cav fans dislike Thompson and his selection last year as the dudes who were on this?

 

[elcheato]

There is pretty much a 0% chance MKG and Beal are both on the board at #4. They would take MKG, but again, there is no way they're both there.

It's split, because most fans bought into Valanciunas because he looked like the selection at 4. Thompson didn't come out of no where, but not many saw it happening.

 

[Elite]

Any team that would take MKG over Beal is doing something wrong.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Completely depends on the team. Beal will be the better player imo (though his numbers don't back up his reputation, interestingly enough) but MKG could make more sense to some teams.

 

[Elite]

Completely depends on the team. Beal will be the better player imo (though his numbers don't back up his reputation, interestingly enough) but MKG could make more sense to some teams.

CHICAGO -- Expectations in the NBA draft can be a double-edged sword.

Florida guard Bradley Beal knows all about them.

Ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the high school class of 2011 by ESPN.com, Beal came to Florida with the rep as the best perimeter scorer in his class. He also came with a comp that would be difficult for anyone to live up -- Boston Celtics sharp shooter Ray Allen.

As a freshman at Florida, forced to play off the ball thanks to an entrenched veteran backcourt of Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton, Beal struggled to live up to the hype.

He rebounded like a demon and played terrific defense. But that's who Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was supposed to be. Not Beal.

Beal often appeared to be thinking too much and would easily fall out of rhythm. His body language sagged. His graceful jumper felt rushed and failed to find the bottom of the net. By February his 3-point percentage was hovering at 30 percent.

"This is the next Ray Allen?" a number of NBA GMs asked me at the time.

Beal had his own doubts.

"I don't know what happened," Beal told me after a private workout in Chicago on Tuesday. "I think I was just second-guessing myself. My whole life, I just went out and played aggressive basketball. I was thinking about everything. I was trying to fit in and defer to players who had been there longer. Coach [Billy] Donovan and I had a lot of long talks. He told me I had to be aggressive and to play my game. Finally, everything just started to click."

Donovan didn't have the same doubts. He told ESPN.com in January that Beal was the most mature player he's coached in his career. He praised his basketball IQ and his humility. He knew Beal was putting team dynamics ahead of individual stats. Beal said Donovan pushed him to just play his game -- to quit thinking and let his natural talents take over.

By March, Beal began looking the part of the next Ray Allen. In his last five games, during the SEC and NCAA tournaments, Beal averaged 16.6 ppg, shot 58 percent from the field, 46 percent from 3, averaged just two turnovers a game and led his team to the Elite Eight.

His two biggest games of the year came during that stretch -- a 20-point, 8-rebound, 5-assist performance against Kentucky in the SEC tournament and a 21-point, 6-rebound, 4-assist game where he shot 80 percent from the field against Marquette.

Suddenly Beal's naysayers started to get back on the bandwagon in a big way.

The expectations game was now cutting the other way.

Very few prospects can struggle the way Beal did during much of his freshman season and, with a handful of great games, bounce right back to where he initially was projected to be. When people expect you to be great, they'll also look for any signs that point in that direction.

The last player I can remember having the same effect was Derrick Rose in 2008 (though Harrison Barnes came close toward the end of his freshman season).

While Beal has never slipped below No. 5 on our Big Board, suddenly he was in everyone's top five.

Are the expectations getting out of control again? I doubt it after watching Beal in a workout in Chicago on Tuesday.

Beal looks confident again. He showed off that picture-perfect jump shot from everywhere on the floor. This time it didn't just look good leaving his hands, it was going in at a clip of about 85 percent from everywhere on the floor.

He has an NBA body, is an excellent athlete and is working hard on improving his handle so that he can be more of a combo guard at the next level. More importantly, he said he's learned his lesson.

"I've been through some adversity now," Beal said. "And I've overcome it. I have more faith now and I know who I am as a player. When I step onto the court in the NBA, I'm going to be me."

Or maybe ... Ray Allen.

Explains Beal's early season struggles

 

[elcheato]

I'm not going to read the article and just point the finger at two of his terrible team mates. Boynton and Walker

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Thanks, hadn't read that.

But Ray Allen? That's a discredit to Ray.

I have no question that Beal will be a fantastic player, but where will he end up among the all-time NBA shooters?

Obviously we can't say for sure, but we can speculate. Top 5? Top 10? Top 20? Top 50?

Unless they're going to be a all-time shooter like Ray, I don't think someone should be compared to him. There are probably some great players and great shooters that can fit into a comparison with Beal more. Basically saying I don't think he'll be a all-timer.

 

[SaintFan25]

I guess Lillard really impressed in his solo-workout for the Blazers today. Sounds like the odds of us taking him at #6 are pretty high.

 

[RipCity32]

Anything for Drummond to fall to 9

 

[Pugz]

who have the pistons even worked out so far?

 

[Elite]

The Blazers should take Bosh for 6 and 11 :kanyethumb:

Then Miami can draft Drummond at 6 and Leonard at 11

 

[elcheato]

The Heat wouldn't do that deal.

 

[ZigZag]

Why would anyone want Drummond? Dude has bust written all over him

 

[Elite]

I know, especially because they're both project bigs and we'd be getting worse as a time for the next 2 or 3 years

 

[RipCity32]

who have the pistons even worked out so far?

Probably a bunch of clowns.

 

[elcheato]

I laughed out loud at that

 

[Pugz]

i read drummond was supposed to be working out for us but then didnt read if he did or not.

 

[RipCity32]

I think it is starting to be inevitable that we take Henson, regardless of what is available. Which sucks cause Perry Jones could be available.

 

[Pugz]

i have zero faith in the team. i also read that gores only wants to spend the bi-annual which means nothing special will happen at all this off-season. lulz

 

[RipCity32]

But dude, we have the pieces in place with the current roster to make the playoffs!!!!!!!!!!
I really don't like Gores. He is way too much into the presentation aspect of the Palace and whatnot, but could not care less of the product he puts on the court.