May 21, 2013

WFNY 2012 NBA Draft Not-So-Big Board 3.0

May 25, 2012 by 31 Comments

With the NBA Draft lottery quickly approaching and pre-draft workouts already in full effect, we thought it would be an opportune time to discuss the Cavaliers and their decisions come June 28.

Do Cavaliers opt to address the weak wing positions? Do they bolster their admittedly shallow front court? Who are the best players beyond the much-discussed top three?

Knowing that the Wine and Gold will be selecting no lower than sixth-overall, we have been able to narrow down the Not-so-Big Board once again, limiting it to six players with the rest being left for debate. There are undoubtedly clear-cut tiers involved, but the Cavs have a great chance at entering this October with one of the better players the college game had to offer.

We will continue to update this as players start to make their way to Independence to show Chris Grant and Company what they have to offer. Until then, do enjoy.

____________

  Player   Thoughts
1 Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky   I tried my best to keep him below the first-overall slot on the NSBB’s of old, but there is absolutely no way, under any circumstances, that Davis cannot be the selection if the Cavaliers are lucky enough to land the top slot once again. Size, athleticism and the ability to make an impact without the ball — a perfect recipe for a rookie heading into the NBA, playing for a team already fit with one of the best young point guards in the league. Davis would likely split time between power forward and center if he came to Cleveland, but nothing I’ve seen leads me to believe this would be an issue.
       
2 Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky   Andrew has already touched on this, but it’s worth repeating: the kid is the real deal and would be an absolute perfect fit if he were to be the one selected by the Cavaliers this June. Knock his form all you’d like, there is no doubt in my mind that MKG’s work ethic and character has Independence salivating. He’s the perfect wing for Byron Scott’s offense and does not let up on the defensive end. Kidd-Gilchrist may never be the 30-points-per game scorer that Cleveland grew accustomed to for most of the last decade, but he’s easily the best replacement the team could land via the upcoming draft.
       
3 Bradley Beal, SG, Florida   If Cleveland stays in their third-overall spot, Florida’s Beal is not a terrible consolation prize. One of the best shooters in the draft who also happens to play at a position of great need, Beal is fearless, clutch and willing to carry his team on any given night. He’s a stellar rebounder for a player of his size, can play the point in times of need and can play wing defense on players larger than he due to his NBA-ready frame. Not your average undersized off-guard, Beal represents the third of three players who will solidify the top tier of the upcoming NBA Draft; Cavalier fans should be happy with either of these three players.
       
4 Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut   This is where things start to get interesting. Thomas Robinson may get looks at the fourth-overall slot if another team is drafting, but with the power forward spot essentially spoken for in Cleveland, the Cavaliers have a decision to make. Do they take the best center in the draft despite an underwhelming Freshman campaign, or do they go with the next-best wing player? Right now, I think Grant is leaning towards the former. A lot will be determined with a private workout/interview, but given the weakness at the center spot this past season, Drummond’s the pick here.
       
5 Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina   A year ago, the Cavaliers would have considered Barnes with the second-overall pick had they had it. Fast forward to today and the once highly-touted scorer may be looking at fall on draft day. Barnes may be one of the best pure scorers in the draft and his length makes him very much NBA ready. He’ll need to add some bulk and show at least some desire to drive to the  rim, but his fundamentals and mid-range game make him very intriguing for a team in dire need of a small forward. His reputation took a bit of a hit with all of this “brand” talk this past season, but everything else points to Barnes being a great kid. I’ll take it.
       
6 Perry Jones III, SF, Baylor   And rounding out the top-six is a player who, with Barnes, was among the most desired just a little over one year ago. At 6-feet-11-inches, Jones gets the nod over the rest of his peers as he’s not only been impressing in pre-draft workouts, but has been doing so from the small forward position. After a season of hit-or-miss and essential replication of his Freshman campaign, Jones has nowhere to go but up with his workouts and interviews this off-season. He has insane upside, incredible athleticism, can jump out of the gym yet put the ball on the floor when needed. This sixth spot is his to lose.

The best of the rest:

Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas — Great skill, great size, and a huge season for the NCAA runners-up. That said, unless he blows the Cavaliers front office away with a for-the-ages set of workouts, I cannot envision any scenario where they draft another power forward (not named Anthony Davis) with an early first-round pick. Sorry, TD.

Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State — Sure, keeping him in Ohio would make for a great story, but Sullinger’s regression and battle with injuries did not help his draft stock. There is concern about size and ability to succeed at the next level and some pundits have him falling out of the top 10. Returning to Ohio State may have cost Satch’s kid a few dollars when it’s all said and done.

Jeremy Lamb, SF, Connecticut — The uber athletic Lamb could easily be in the discussion for the sixth-overall spot in a battle with Jones, potentially even giving Barnes a run for his money. Despite his biggest weakness being his strength, Lamb can do essentially whatever he wants on the floor thanks to a seven-foot wingspan and solid mid-range game. A dark horse for the top-five come June.

Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina – With his brother opting to stay at Indiana for at least one more season, Tyler Zeller becomes the second-best pure big man in the draft. Propelled by a strong finish to the regular season and a 20-20 game in the NCAA tournament, the seven-footer will be a solid addition to the post game of whichever team calls his name.

Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse – A player whom some had pegged to go at the end of the first round just a few months ago, Waiters has drawn comparisons to Miami’s Dwyane Wade and seen his name subsequently jump up draft boards. He doesn’t have the best shot, but he’s slashing ability coupled with his strength make Waiters the second-best shooting guard in the draft.

Previous Not-so-Big Boards:

Not-So-Big Board 2.1
Not-so-Big Board 1.4
Not-so-Big Board 1.3
Not-so-Big Board 1.2
Not-so-Big Board 1.1
Not-so-Big Board: 1.0

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  • mgbode

    I’m not so sure that Barnes is “falling” on the draft board.  It’s just that someone fighting for 2nd overall in the 2011 draft very well may be in the 5-8 range in this one.

  • Natedawg86

    How does TT stack up to these guys?

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/ Scott @ WFNY

    Yes and no. I had him in the top three earlier this year. If Lamb (and/or Jones) find a way to get selected before him, that’s a pretty big drop. Sullinger-esque.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/ Scott @ WFNY

    If he were in this batch, I would put him among the ranks with Robinson, ahead of Sullinger. Kid’s going to be good once he gets his post/offensive game down pat.

  • mgbode

    fair points.  and for me it’s so hard to separate J.Lamb and Barnes.  it’s actually one of the reasons I’m a bit cautious on Beal.   Beal was okay all year, but really turned it on down the stretch.   just like Barnes did last year.   it was expected the “switch was on” and that was just Barnes, but he proved to be inconsistent a bit when he went back.

    still top5 worthy, but I wonder if Beal isn’t getting a SEC/NCAA tourney bump up based on the last time we saw him (like Derrick Williams last year too).

  • mgbode

    my Cavs big board:

    1. Davis
    2. MKG
    3. Beal
    4. J.Lamb
    4A. Barnes
    5. T. Robinson
    6. sob gently

    ok, 6. Tyler Zeller (but man would that suck to miss out on the above)

    Really down on:  Drummond, PJIII, Henson, Sullinger

  • mgbode

    Scott, who are the guys you are looking at later in the draft?

    as you noted Waiters will likely be gone.  I think Terrence Ross will also get a boost into the lottery.

    that may just leave guys like Jenkins, Harkless, Fab Melo to choose from.  Quincy Miller might be another candidate if we get Beal with our first pick though he’s a huge project. 

  • Edmondsr

    This list does not include and EUROS.  Last year they were all over the top 10.  ANyone know why so thin this year?  Always when Cleveland has a top pick………except for……….

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    “kid’s going to be good once he gets his post/offensive game down pat” is an awfully big qualifier don’t you think?  He has “potential” but he’s not close to being in Robinson’s league, not even after a year in the NBA. 

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    After three it’s a debate and depends on which team is selecting.  Personally I have Robinson before either Lamb or Barnes but that’s just my preference.

  • porckchopexpress

    I kinda hope the Cavs fall into that 4-6 spot (I don’t just root for them to tank I root for them to tank the draft too)  if only to take Perry Jones at a place that it is socially acceptable.  He’s the best all around talent in this draft, with questions about his motor. By all accounts I’ve red he is a stand up kid who refused money from other schools because he committed to Baylor.  He also has a mother who needs a heart transplant, and his family is in some constant form of homelessness.  And its not like he played with teammates who were looking to maximize his potential.
    Will he find the NBA gear?  I can say that he will with as much certainty as anyone can say that MKG will find a jumper, Beal will find a way past being 6’3, or Barnes will find his way to the rim. 

  • http://twitter.com/PEngle39 Phil Smith

    False. Thompson is every bit as good as Robinson, and probably better since they’re the same age and TT has a year in the NBA already. They are different players with different skill-sets. Thompson will be an all-star; ESPN even said it in their re-draft where he went #2 overall. We saw Thompson at his ABSOLUTE floor of his development this season. He’s only going to get better from here–big steps are coming.

  • mgbode

    for a different team, sure.  i’m always up for BPA this early, but #3-5 (4 players) are so even that you can shift it to team need.

  • mgbode

    PJIII frightens the heck out of me.   You definitely like the super-high-ceiling if they ever get there guys (since you also like Drummond).   I guess I’ve been too burned by the Ty Thomas, Kwame Brown, Eddy Curry’s of the world to want to go that route this early in the draft.

    this draft has so many more sure-things with the elite skill levels to boot that I don’t think it’s worth it.   last year, I would have been much more ambivalent.

  • Pete

    He may not be an All Star big man, but he certainly has a good chance of being a 12-15 point, 10-12 rebound, 2+ bpg big man if his work ethic is what has been reported.

  • Pete

    I think he’s going to be a double-double a night pick and roll partner with a decent 15 foot jumper in the end, and is going to be a terrifying matchup defensively.

  • porckchopexpress

    I should qualify by saying that I like them only if Grant and Scott agree with me :)   meaning if they see either of their flaws as too great I’m not going to pound the table with coulda shoulda’s even if either player goes on to great things with someone else.  That being said, Perry Jones playing with a coach like Scott, and a look to pass first PG like Irv   I could see him go to a team like Sac and end up a mess or come to Cleveland, get his parents life in order, find the support and motiviation he needs and really doing something special

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/ Scott @ WFNY

    Harkless and Fournier at the wing, Ezeli at the post.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/ Scott @ WFNY

    I’m probably the most intrigued by Jones as anyone who writes for WFNY. That said, as I tweeted earlier today, I wish the Cavs were in a position where they could afford the risk. A 6-11 SF is very rare. I’m hearing a lot of Paul George comparisons out there, which is fine by me. Not sure that’s enough for the team, however.

  • mgbode

    thanks.   all guys with reported really great work ethics.  pair them with Irving/TT/MKG and that’s alot of hard-working lunch pail guys on one team.

    only issue with Ezeli is that he seems to be a pure defensive guy.  and, all our frontcourt players are defense-first guys.  we definitely could use him off the bench though.

  • mgbode

    as noted on Andrew’s thread, I could see him going to Portland and having complete freedom to just wreak havoc from the bench.

    imagine being a wing defender against Portland next year and defending Batum, then he sits down and you can’t breathe a sigh of relief because PJIII’s whole job is going to wear you down.

    I agree with Scott (above) that he might be a bit of a luxury pick that we cannot afford (I don’t think he’d thrive as much as one of the ‘main’ guys on a team).

  • http://twitter.com/PEngle39 Phil Smith

    Agreed. Paul George was a #10 pick, much like Jones should be– the Cavs won’t be picking past 6, hopefully much earlier. I watched PJ’s workout yesterday, he’s crazy athletic but i don’t think he has the feel for basketball that Paul George has or the refinement.

    I think the Cavs would be happy landing one of Davis, Beal, MKG, and Barnes.

  • http://twitter.com/Rldinvestments Ryan

    I think Beal will end up being a great fit. To me he just has the feel of someone who will produce and be consistently effective.  

  • woofersus

    I agree except I’m not sure it makes any sense to add Robinson to the Cavs even though I really like his game.  He’s not going to play center and the both Thompson and Varejao (unless they are considering trading him) are better off at PF than center.  I think if we fall to #6 we should look at Zeller.  There should be a few talented wing players (albeit not top tier) left in the late first round.

    I certainly prefer Lamb over PJII though.  Jones has a great body and lots of potential, but he just has no fire on the court.  He’ll impress in workouts, but watching film tells another story.  I need to do more research on Drummond.  I didn’t really get to see him play.

    I’d go:
    1. Davis
    2. MKG
    3. Beal
    4. J.Lamb
    5. Barnes
    6. Zeller

  • Yup

    Really down on 3 guys who have some of the highest upside in the whole draft? Man, I don’t understand that esp as you have Beal at 3 who even if he is the knock down shooter some claim (despite ZERO statistical evidence to that fact in his only CBB season) he has a much lower ceiling than those you are “down” on.

    FWIW, here’s video of John Lucas describing how impressive Henson had been in workouts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4Setg17kBY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

    Sounds like he could be the Rasheed part 2 i think he can be…regardless he’s a MUCH better prospect than Zeller. Come on…

  • Yup

    I don’t thinkthere’s anyway Harkless is still at 24. He will rise…

  • mgbode

    that’s the crazy part of this time of year.  guys like Harkless, Waiters, Ross are all early 20s picks.   we each have our favorites and the odds are that some of them will rise.

    but, if they rise, that means someone above them slips.   and not all of them will actually rise.

  • mgbode

    T.Robinson is just there as he is clear BPA.  I would consider a trade-down if available (if not, then yeah, I’d take BPA when it’s a clear one)

  • mgbode

    I didn’t see the 3pt shooting that he apparently had in HS, no.  However, he was the best mid-range shooter in college bball last year.  I’ll take that from a guy who likes to drive to the hoop.

    and, we’ve been around the bend on Henson vs. Zeller.  I see your points, but I still feel Henson is a 6’11″ 220lb finesse forward who can’t hit outside shots or pass particularly well.  ‘Sheed was dangerous because he was money from 15ft.

  • bridgecrosser

    This is way off after the first three picks.  Robisnon, Harless and Lamb.  Cavs look for a combo of talent and gym-rat-ness.  Harless seems to fit the bill.

    Barnes made a name for himself schooling farm boys from Iowa.  If he played in a pre-draft camp and said he played at Kent State, he’d be a 20-40 range pick.  Living off high school glory.

  • Yup

    I’m guessing u didn’t watch the video where Luc talks about how Henson looks shooting the ball?