Thinking about the Draft: Part I
by LACK on May 7, 2010 8:20 AM MDT
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PrintThis will be the first installment in a hopefully long series of installments about the draft. As you probably know, the Nuggets don't have a first round pick. In fact, we don't even have a pick at all! Now, at first that may seem like a big problem and may cause some people to panic (including me for about a second), but heed this:
The Nuggets have a rather cunning Front Office, and while it is true that they don't really do a whole lot compared to some other GMs, we can usually rely on them to make the right decision at the right time. A great example was the trade that we used to get Lawson last season, and I think that we could look at trading into the first round this season too to nab a good player.
Now, you might wonder "who could we trade"? That is not the issue for now, and I'll address that later. For the first couple of installments, I'll just give player descriptions and my opinion as to the guys that we should get.
I'll start off by supposing that we will trade into picks 15-20 like we did last season. If we do so, then the first person I'd like to see us get is Hassan Whiteside. The basic measurements show that he is 7'0" and 235 lbs, the average size for a very skinny NBA starting center (however, we have this guy named Steve Hess that could add another 15-20 lbs. of bulk to his frame). While I don't believe in highlight reels (as they only show his positives), I'll start off with that for him.
He is an athletic seven-foot freshman from Marshall, and he has drawn comparisons to Marcus Camby. Before you rattle off all the crap about Marcus Camby and how he can't shoot and how he gambled too much on defense and how he wasn't a good man-to-man defender, remember that Camby was, and still is, an above average starting center.
Offense: Hassan Whiteside is rather raw offensively, and while he has shown potential in knocking down those 20-foot jumpers, he hasn't done so consistently enough during his freshman season for that to be much of a threat. His athleticism has led him to be very boisterous around the basket, but he isn't very good at finishing tough layups, and needs more of a post-game to be a legit NBA starting center. However, he has the physical tools to succeed, and while he will need several years to fully develop, the Nuggets are a team with that luxury.
Defense: Hassan Whiteside is a good defender, no matter how you look at it. He led the nation in blocked shots, but he doesn't gamble too much and his crazy, 7'7" wingspan allows him to get blocks without having to lose post position. He has the athleticism of many NBA power forwards, but he also has decent fundamentals. His main weakness is in pick-and-roll situations, and sometimes he looks a bit queasy when he's pulled out to the perimeter on a bad switch or a jump-shooting opposing big, but that will get fixed with experience. The Nuggets as a team are HORRIBLE at defending the pick-and-roll, so it's not like he's going to make us any worse.
Rebounding: I know that this kinda goes into the defense catagory, but I've decided to make this its own catagory because he's just so damn good at it. He has a good work ethic and shows good effort, which is half of what one needs to be a good rebounder. Although he's too skinny and sometimes gets pushed out of position by opposing bigs, his length allows him to grab some of those longer rebounds, and on offensive rebounds he almost always goes for the putback (a la Tyson Chandler). He has strong hands, so he doesn't turn the ball over a whole lot.
The biggest question about him is not if he's going to fulfill his potential (with this team, he will). The biggest question is how long it's going to take him, and whether his skills in college will translate to the NBA. Since he played for a small school (and thus I don't really have any footage of him), he didn't play against players with the size of NBA centers. However, as mentioned before, he has a good work ethic, and I'm sure that by the time Nene's contract expires, he'll be more than ready to start at center.
You may wonder if we have that luxury or not, and it remains to be seen. During his rookie season, I forsee him as our fifth big and a guy that goes to the DLeague often to develop his skills (there's no shame in doing that, and he'll get more PT and experience there than sitting on the bench in the NBA). By his second season, he should be ready to be our primary backup center, and by his third season we might start him in certain situations.
This is all supposing that we get him in the first place, which is to be seen. However, if we do trade to the middle of the first, we should trade to Minnesota for the 16th pick, as he'll probably be available there. I'll finish this off with a picture of him, as again I don't have much footage of him because of where he played.
Passing the rock ^
Hassan Whiteside loves taking the highest percentage shot in basketball: the dunk.
Write respectfully of your SB Nation community and yourself.
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i wish we could a 15-20 pick... but no team would give one up, cuz the bobcats pick seemed to b much higher unlike ours...
also i see Whiteside as Javae McGee/ Deandre Jordan type player… which id like to have… but not to over expect… its only a slight improvement over Johan
No it isn't
This guy is bursting with potential, and he’s more athletic than Johan, he’s a better rebounder, a better defender, and much younger. Plus, this is looking towards the future. We need to think long-term and not short-term, as thinking short-term has helped contribute to us being over the luxury tax this year AND NEXT YEAR TOO!
"Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." - Charles Shackleford
"He’s a stiff." - The Legendary Doug Moe
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors." - Weldon Drew
"I really didn't want it, but now that I've won it, it's nice. It's an honor. It's nice to know people don't think you're a total idiot. ... It must have been a poor year for coaches." - Doug Moe...talking about winning 1987-88 Coach of the Year award.
"Keep your head up and don't let anything get to you." - Dante Bichette Jr.
#3 + #6 + #15 + #1 = QPU #25, and no, it's not because of Anthony Carter
O and the 16th pick from minny is the one they got from us...
so i doubt they want to trade it back and wait longer for a worse pick… i think we could get miami’s pick if we take cook or jones off their hands
while both cook and jones could fit as an extra shooter
LACK I've seen him in the top 15 of some mock drafts...even as high as 11
I don’t know how feasible this is. Unless his stock drops between now and draft day, I can’t see Whiteside being available at 16.
Quitter's People United: Member 12
Even as high as 6
Quitter's People United: Member 12
by Uh on May 2, 2010 8:35 PM MDT up reply actions
OK, sorry
I’ll leave this one up to now, but my next ones will be either the end of the first round or the second round
I’ll do a trades one later
"Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." - Charles Shackleford
"He’s a stiff." - The Legendary Doug Moe
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors." - Weldon Drew
"I really didn't want it, but now that I've won it, it's nice. It's an honor. It's nice to know people don't think you're a total idiot. ... It must have been a poor year for coaches." - Doug Moe...talking about winning 1987-88 Coach of the Year award.
"Keep your head up and don't let anything get to you." - Dante Bichette Jr.
#3 + #6 + #15 + #1 = QPU #25, and no, it's not because of Anthony Carter
Oh
Maybe Memphis at 12 if we can offer good enough stuff
I don’t read many mock drafts, but I saw him at 15-18 before…
"Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." - Charles Shackleford
"He’s a stiff." - The Legendary Doug Moe
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors." - Weldon Drew
"I really didn't want it, but now that I've won it, it's nice. It's an honor. It's nice to know people don't think you're a total idiot. ... It must have been a poor year for coaches." - Doug Moe...talking about winning 1987-88 Coach of the Year award.
"Keep your head up and don't let anything get to you." - Dante Bichette Jr.
#3 + #6 + #15 + #1 = QPU #25, and no, it's not because of Anthony Carter
by LACK on May 3, 2010 6:23 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
I don't like it
From the video what I see is guy who doesn’t finish around the rim, isn’t very thletic and only shoots jumpers. Nugz don’t need another big who thinks he can shoot. We need a big banger who is tough and will fight for boards. Plus as you say he’s been playing small basketball programs with small centers, his block numbers have surely been inflated because of that
Why live life on the edge, when you can jump off?
What could we use to trade into the first round?
A future pick won’t get it done. At the most that’s only worth like the 25-30th pick, and I kind of doubt it. Second round is more likely, you could buy a pick or give up Balkman or something. The reason the Charlotte pick got us Ty last year is it was kinda likely to be in the lottery.
Trading JR to get in the first round would be possible, but probably not a good deal for both sides.
twitter.com/skitalicious
Quitter's People United Member #13
No way that the Nuggets get this guy
Isn’t happening, so why kid ourselves.
smith to knicks for wilson chandler
chandler is still on his rookie deal. he is 6’8" and can play the 2 or 3 positions. denver can also get a 2nd round draft pick. smith playing in d’antoni’s system and he is from new jersey. new york strikes out in free agency they will need a plan B. the 2nd round pick could be used to get mac koshwal from depaul. he is 6’10" and could become a combo of tim duncan and dwight howard. koshwal was one of three player to average a double double in the big east conference for a struggling depaul team.
pick up a calf every day pretty soon you will be picking up a cow
we're on a mission from god
Wilson Chandler stinks
He is definitely a 3, not a 2, and although he can score decently he’s not much of a shooter. His rebounding is below average
"Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." - Charles Shackleford
"He’s a stiff." - The Legendary Doug Moe
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors." - Weldon Drew
"I really didn't want it, but now that I've won it, it's nice. It's an honor. It's nice to know people don't think you're a total idiot. ... It must have been a poor year for coaches." - Doug Moe...talking about winning 1987-88 Coach of the Year award.
"Keep your head up and don't let anything get to you." - Dante Bichette Jr.
#3 + #6 + #15 + #1 = QPU #25, and no, it's not because of Anthony Carter
by LACK on May 3, 2010 6:25 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Is JR Smith much of a shooter these days?
it seems like for every 6/6 3 pointers made per game
there is equally as many games where he goes 1 for10.
i'd be down with Wilson Chandler
he rocks pony shoes if i’m not mistaken
and he could fill a scoring void off the bench.
OK, I guess I'm fine with him
I just don’t see him as a SG
"Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." - Charles Shackleford
"He’s a stiff." - The Legendary Doug Moe
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors." - Weldon Drew
"I really didn't want it, but now that I've won it, it's nice. It's an honor. It's nice to know people don't think you're a total idiot. ... It must have been a poor year for coaches." - Doug Moe...talking about winning 1987-88 Coach of the Year award.
"Keep your head up and don't let anything get to you." - Dante Bichette Jr.
#3 + #6 + #15 + #1 = QPU #25, and no, it's not because of Anthony Carter
One person I think the Nuggets & fans keep overlooking
Is Jonathan Brockman of the Kings. He absolutely murdered us this year. He plays like a Joey Graham with an extra 50lbs on him and rebounds and defends extremely well. Maybe we could trade Butch for Brockman or through Malik Allen to the Kings for another backup big or something
Swats.
The Kings aren't that stupid
But it’s a possibility too. I’m focusing on the draft.
"Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." - Charles Shackleford
"He’s a stiff." - The Legendary Doug Moe
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors." - Weldon Drew
"I really didn't want it, but now that I've won it, it's nice. It's an honor. It's nice to know people don't think you're a total idiot. ... It must have been a poor year for coaches." - Doug Moe...talking about winning 1987-88 Coach of the Year award.
"Keep your head up and don't let anything get to you." - Dante Bichette Jr.
#3 + #6 + #15 + #1 = QPU #25, and no, it's not because of Anthony Carter
brockman has a cheap contract
joey graham can do anything brockman can do given the chance. kings got a steal and will not want to give him up until they have to sign him to a big contract.
pick up a calf every day pretty soon you will be picking up a cow
we're on a mission from god
Hey LACK have you seen this
http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2010/5/3/1455559/2010-nba-mock-draft-version-1-0
might help. They have Hassan Whiteside at 14, and call him a true boom-or-bust player. Seems reasonable.
Quitter's People United: Member 12
I just finished reading that as I saw your comment
Their opinion is the same as mine. I guess I was being too optimistic. I’m supposed to be the pessimist here so I can cancel out the optimism from jpage78, right?
"Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." - Charles Shackleford
"He’s a stiff." - The Legendary Doug Moe
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors." - Weldon Drew
"I really didn't want it, but now that I've won it, it's nice. It's an honor. It's nice to know people don't think you're a total idiot. ... It must have been a poor year for coaches." - Doug Moe...talking about winning 1987-88 Coach of the Year award.
"Keep your head up and don't let anything get to you." - Dante Bichette Jr.
#3 + #6 + #15 + #1 = QPU #25, and no, it's not because of Anthony Carter
Only 60
Can be drafted. There is alot of kids looking to avoid cba restructuring. Why not sign an undrafted player and take a gamble?
by Mason P on May 3, 2010 11:24 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
This draft seems pretty heavy on C's and PF's
After Evan Turner and the kid from Kentucky (Wall), there is a lot of depth in the front court to be had. I seriously think we should be looking to invigorate this team via the draft as opposed to grabbing a 2-3 year player. You inject optimism into the future this way, and we basically haven’t done that since drafting Melo (not that we’re going to be able to trade up to the #3 slot but…)
I would love to see us land a Demarcus Cousins, but that’s probably wishful thinking.
(Side note, Daequan Cook could be had for a sack of peanuts if you read the Heat blog wrap up of last seasons disappointments. I’d be intrigued by what a trade of JR Smith to El Heat could bring us in terms of a big, or a pick, plus Cook.)
The Heat don't have a real big for next season
Haslem/O’Neal are free agents this summer. Beasley hardly counts as a big, as he’s really a SF in a PF’s body.
"Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." - Charles Shackleford
"He’s a stiff." - The Legendary Doug Moe
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors." - Weldon Drew
"I really didn't want it, but now that I've won it, it's nice. It's an honor. It's nice to know people don't think you're a total idiot. ... It must have been a poor year for coaches." - Doug Moe...talking about winning 1987-88 Coach of the Year award.
"Keep your head up and don't let anything get to you." - Dante Bichette Jr.
#3 + #6 + #15 + #1 = QPU #25, and no, it's not because of Anthony Carter
Kenneth Faried
I’d like to see us get Kenneth Faried in mid to late first round. A little bit undersized at power forward at 6’8 but extremely athletic and tough and led college in rebounding last year at 13 boards a game. And rebounding is the one stat that translates from college to the pros
by Birdman and Jay arah on May 8, 2010 11:03 AM MDT reply actions
That type of player...
Will easily fall into the second round. Let’s trade into the early second and grab him or Lawal there.
"Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." - Charles Shackleford
"He’s a stiff." - The Legendary Doug Moe
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors." - Weldon Drew
"I really didn't want it, but now that I've won it, it's nice. It's an honor. It's nice to know people don't think you're a total idiot. ... It must have been a poor year for coaches." - Doug Moe...talking about winning 1987-88 Coach of the Year award.
"Keep your head up and don't let anything get to you." - Dante Bichette Jr.
#3 + #6 + #15 + #1 = QPU #25, and no, it's not because of Anthony Carter
Darington Hobson
6’7 ft.
205 lbs.
He plays PF and he’s a bit undersized at that position. Although he averages 15.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 4.6 APG, 44.0% FG%, 36.1 3PT% in 33 games. Pretty good numbers and he’s pretty athletic. So I propose we get the pick of the Grizzlies. We trade K-Mart and Graham for Ronnie Brewer, Haddadi and their 1st rounder.
QPU Agent #43
There are 10 ways to hit a knuckleball although none of them work.
If we get him, we'd have to spend 2 years or so getting some muscle on that frame
That’s like NBA Shooting Guard size right there. But that 4.6 APG number seems really good to me. His overall averages seem more like that of a small forward though…3-point range often translates decently well from college to the NBA, but it’ll be hard for him to get rebounds against players 5 inches taller and 60 pounds stronger than him.
"Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." - Charles Shackleford
"He’s a stiff." - The Legendary Doug Moe
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors." - Weldon Drew
"I really didn't want it, but now that I've won it, it's nice. It's an honor. It's nice to know people don't think you're a total idiot. ... It must have been a poor year for coaches." - Doug Moe...talking about winning 1987-88 Coach of the Year award.
"Keep your head up and don't let anything get to you." - Dante Bichette Jr.
#3 + #6 + #15 + #1 = QPU #25, and no, it's not because of Anthony Carter
And as a reply to your signature...
That’s only true when Chuck Haeger is not pitching.
"Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." - Charles Shackleford
"He’s a stiff." - The Legendary Doug Moe
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors." - Weldon Drew
"I really didn't want it, but now that I've won it, it's nice. It's an honor. It's nice to know people don't think you're a total idiot. ... It must have been a poor year for coaches." - Doug Moe...talking about winning 1987-88 Coach of the Year award.
"Keep your head up and don't let anything get to you." - Dante Bichette Jr.
#3 + #6 + #15 + #1 = QPU #25, and no, it's not because of Anthony Carter
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