Official 2011 NBA Draft thread

Not really...he's a shrimp. I was suprised Xavier Silas from Northern Illinois, a guy that averaged over 25 pts in a tough defensive conference (the MAC) didn't even get a mention. All that crap they sell these kids about these mid-majors when they are recruiting them...that they will have the chance to play in the NBA if they put up the numbers, is junk. Yeah the MAC has had plenty of players drafted, but not consistently.

Prediction: Jarrod Jones from Ball State will be the next MAC player drafted. He was a freshman last year. That's sad...is the MAC in that bad of shape that virtually none of the players in the conference have a chance to play NBA ball?

 

I laughed out loud seven times in an empty house while reading Simmons' Draft Diary XV.

 

I just finished it. Pretty damn good.

 

I think if I read Simmons regularly I could start enjoying the NBA again.

 

What about Zigler? He looks like a potential pro to me.

 

He got a lot of hype for turning down the big boys to play for his dad at CMU, but what I saw of him (only about five games) I think he has to work pretty hard to get better. Do not like his handle and doesn't finish strong enough. I like Zeigler, but think Jones (6-9, 245) has a pro body now. Trey is pretty skinny.

 

Zeigler made a bad choice, not so much because he went to the MAC, but that he went to play for his dad, who I don't think is a great coach. Is dad going to help him develop much?

 

Vesely's girlfriend is attractive, but the way people were talking about her I was expecting something more. I guess its par for the course with this draft.
One other thing - did Fredette ever go on a mission? Is he still planning to? I mean, besides saving the Kings franchise?

 

He did not go on a mission and does not plan to.

 

I'm a Kings fan and I think Fredette is a good fit there, but I'm a little stunned at how much some of the experts "love" this pick.

 

Gotta love something in this draft, don't you? Once again, today I flip on the radio and Van Pelt and whoever's with him (Ryan Russillio, I guess) are talking about how Irving ain't Rose or Evans and how Williams ain't that good, etc.

Some people like Williams, some think he's a tweener. I like him, but I wonder if he'll be able to guard anybody.

Given all that, if you can get somebody at 9-10 who they think will thrive because of who picked him and how he'll fit in, then it is a pick to love -- in this draft.

I'm not sold on Fredette. Been a lot of great white hopes coming out of the American college game over the years and almost none pan out. Kevin Love is an obvious recent exception.

 

Always funny to hear an expert talk about how they love a pick and how so-and-so will fit into the team only to have the player shipped to another team a few minutes later.

I'll defer to the scouts on evaluating players, but I've never really understood how a player who has proven success on the college level (like a Walker) is discounted in comparison to another player who hasn't had the same level of success. I get that certain physical skills are more valued in the NBA, but you wonder why those physical skills didn't translate to more success at a lower level.