The NBA Draft is tonight! There is a lot of information out there about the top prospects and it seems like everyone has a first round "mock draft." I decided to focus in on one conference and try to give some insight on these prospects and their professional future instead.
I have included Seniors who are projected as possible draft picks and all underclassmen who declared early and have signed with an agent. Let me know if I left off anyone who you think may be drafted!
Alabama
Mikhail Torrance
Best Case Scenario: He gets drafted by a team who can develop him as a backup point guard. He eventually becomes a reliable sub and contributor to a winning team. Think of George Hill's role with the Spurs.
Worst Case Scenario: He goes undrafted and ends up having a decent overseas career.
Draft Projection: #54 overall pick to the Clippers. I like Torrance. He has good size for a point guard and is a tough cover. He shoots his jump shots right handed, but his left hand is his strong hand when he is driving to the basket. He wasn't spectacular at Bama, but he improved every year. Great FT shooter as well.
Arkansas
Courtney Fortson
Best Case Scenario: Follows in the footsteps of former Razorback Kareem Reid and has a successful career playing for the Harlem Globetrotters, NBDL teams, etc.
Worst Case Scenario: He is required to go back and play for the Razorbacks for two more years.
Draft Projection: Undrafted. Fortson has had "character issues," he is a horrible shooter, he averaged over 5 turnovers a game last season, and he is undersized. He is on this list because he declared early.
Michael Washington
Best Case Scenario: He earns his way onto the end of a NBA bench and plays a year or two in the league.
Worst Case Scenario: He goes undrafted and plays overseas or in the NBDL for a few years.
Draft Projection: Undrafted. Washington is one of the rare players who really saw his stock drop after returning for his Sr. year. He took a step back on the offensive end of the court and his rebound numbers also decreased. In the end, I think that being a below average defender will ultimately be what keeps him from being drafted.
Kentucky
John Wall
Best Case Scenario: He quickly becomes an all-star caliber player (think Derek Rose) and leads his team to the playoffs.
Worst Case Scenario: He turns into Jay Williams (#2 Pick in 2002 out of Duke) and never lives up to his potential. Not a really fair comparison to either player since Jay's career was ended by an injury, but that is the floor for Wall.
Draft Projection: #1 overall pick by the Washington Wizards. There has been plenty of talk about Wall, so I will move on.
DeMarcus Cousins
Best Case Scenario: Lands on a team that keeps him motivated and in shape. Develops into an offensive force down low.
Worst Case Scenario: Struggles to maintain his conditioning on the NBA level. Starts hearing Eddy Curry comparisons.
Draft Projection: #5 overall pick to the Sacramento Kings. Cousins is one of the guys who is referred to as having the most "upside" in the draft. I'm not as convinced. He has an incredible skill set, but he was often in foul trouble at Kentucky. He only averaged 23 minutes a game and seemed to lack motivation at times. I'm not sure how he will react to an 82 game season.
Daniel Orton
Best Case Scenario: He becomes a reliable big man for a solid team. Think Kendrick Perkins.
Worst Case Scenario: He never develops his game and only spends a few years in the NBA. Think Jason Smith.
Draft Projection: First Round, #21 overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Orton "played" one year at Kentucky. He averaged a little over 3 points and 3 rebounds a game. There are concerns about his left knee that he had surgery on in High School. Most mock drafts that I have seen have Orton going in the lottery, but I just don't see how they justify that. I think that taking Orton at #21 is still too early, but the Thunder could use a big man and he may be the best available at this point.
Eric Bledsoe
Best Case Scenario: Bledsoe is a guy that could be a starter in the NBA this season. Has all-star potential down the road.
Worst Case Scenario: He is forced into early playing time and doesn't respond well.
Draft Projection: First round, #18 overall to the OKC Thunder. Bledsoe would be a great value pick for the Thunder if he falls to them. Great team for him to be on and he would get to play behind Russell Westbrook.
Patrick Patterson
Best Case Scenario: He gets drafted by a playoff team and immediately earns playing time.
Worst Case Scenario: He ends up on a bad team and is forced into carrying more of the offensive load than he is capable of.
Draft Projection: First round, #20 overall to the San Antonio Spurs. Patterson is one of the "NBA ready" players in this years draft. I was very impressed with Patterson's development from his Sophmore to Junior year. He was willing to sacrifice some shots when Kentucky brought in John Wall & Co. He even worked on developing an outside shot. I think that the he has potential to be an Antonio McDyess type player (during McDyess's role player years).
LSU
Tasmin Mitchell
Best Case Scenario: There is a small chance that he could get drafted in the second round. Making a NBA roster looks like the best case scenario for Mitchell.
Worst Case Scenario: Doesn't make it into the NBA and ends up playing ball overseas.
Draft Projection: Undrafted. Mitchell never really lived up to what I thought he would become after his freshmen year at LSU. He still has quite a few holes in his game for a guy who is turning 24 this week. I think that he will have to earn his way onto a team as a free agent.
Ole Miss
Terrico White
Best Case Scenario: A team drafts White based on his athleticism and he sneaks into the first round.
Worst Case Scenario: He falls to the second round and then fails to make a NBA roster.
Draft Projection: Second Round, #32 overall to the Miami Heat. Miami traded their first round pick, but they still have need for a guard. White is a risk in the first round, but he has a lot of potential here. With no guaranteed contracts in the second round, he would have to earn his place on the roster.
Mississippi State
Jarvis Varnado
Best Case Scenario: Develops into a Marcus Camby type player. Long NBA career with possibility of leading the league in rebounds or blocks at some point in time.
Worst Case Scenario: Is more of an Amir Johnson (current NBA player, 5+ years in the League) type player. Solid defender who earns starts occasionally and a reliable bench player.
Draft Projection: Second Round, #35 overall to the Washington Wizards. Varnado is my favorite player on this list. He is likely to be drafted in the second round and I think he will be a steal. He will never be a go to scorer on the offensive end of the court, but neither will 3/4 of the guys drafted in front of him. He could really anchor a team defensively.
Vanderbilt
A.J. Ogilvy
Best Case Scenario: He gets scooped up late in the second round by a team who is in desperate need of help in the low post.
Worst Case Scenario: He goes undrafted and plays overseas. Not too bad of a scenario considering that Ogilvy could go home to Australia and be the star of a professional team there.
Draft Projection: Undrafted. Ogilvy's stock really declined during his years at Vanderbilt. He is a solid player, but I think he lacks the athleticism and defensive ability to make it in the NBA.
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