Some mock drafts have us taking Donatas Motiejunas.

i know they are youtube videos and all highlight films look amazing, but the one i saw i was extremely impressed with the way he ran the floor for a 7 footer, made a no look pass on the break and has a great three point shot, one was coming of a screen quick release… but with the attitude he has and no work ethic knocks i wouldn't take him…. to bad too, because when u watch his game film the kid has MAJOR talent… I think some of these Euro's do a disservice to themselves staying over there this long, they don't get pushed and get cocky and stop working….

Whoever takes him i'm sure knows this kid has the potential to be a VERY good player.. Scary thing about these Euro guys are DARKO… he had amazing workouts, games in the euro league and was a huge bust.. so you never really can tell...

 

I would be disappointed if they were to waste that 14th pick on Motiejunas.

 

And I would be disappointed if they wasted the 14th pick on Bismack.

 

I understand that everyone has their own opinion on who we should draft, but no matter who we end up taking I will be disappointed if the pick is met with anything but optimism. Whether someone agrees or disagrees with whoever we end up choosing, won't matter in the slightest way on draft night or even a few months later. Most drafts are crap shoots, and this one is no different. Anyone can think they know what a player is going to be, but you won't know until its proven on a NBA court.

 

Sorry if already posted.
http://www.thedreamshake.com/2011/6/20/2232849/nba-draft-notes-do-the-houston-rockets-desire-themselves-a-donatas?ref=yahoo

Here are some quotes:
"For several versions of this mock draft, I had the Rockets taking Chris Singleton, who fits their need for a stronger small forward. I won't compare him to Gerald Wallace, whom the Rockets tried to acquire at the trade deadline, but he does seem a bit like Wallace when he entered the NBA after one college season. Singleton could be the pick at 14, could go several spots sooner and like most of the mid-first round picks, could slide.

In the end, I thought the Rockets are more likely to choose someone that does something great, rather than a more versatile player that does more things well. Donatas Motiejunas has outstanding length and offensive skills."

"He doesn't really love basketball," a Central Division executive says. "He doesn't seem to appear to like to do anything that's even a little difficult. That scares you a little bit. The only thing he gets an excellent on is offensive rebounding and putbacks, and that's because he's doing it against midgets."

Said an Atlantic Division exec: "Right now, it's not even close. Vesely is a player and Motiejunas is an unknown. I've seen him play too many times when he would get two rebounds, three rebounds. He's projected in all these mocks to go top 10. I don't think so. I think he lacks passion for the game. He looks like he's got short arms. That might be a factor.

"He gets pushed under (the basket) a lot and then he reaches up. Guys are going up over him to get rebounds. He lacks fire, lacks emotion. Always has the same demeanor on the court. If you're 7 feet tall and you have any hope of coming over here you have to be, routinely, getting 10, 11 boards ... I can't get excited about him."

I wanted the Rockets to get this guy. He was the top international for his age group a couple years back. I don't like what I read the scouts said but I still believe the Rockets should draft best player available. I want the Rockets to get Kanter, Vesely, or Valanciunas and concentrate on SF in next year's draft which is better and SF are at a premium.

 

That's kind of my point. the 14th pick is just such a crap shoot. This draft doesn't even have a bonafide Superstar and after the top 5 picks it lacks anyone who is legit. You could argue that anyone we pick at 14 won't even be starter in the NBA.

 

http://twitter.com/TheHoopsReport

Hopefully us being interested in Motiejunas is just a smoke screen to drive up the asking price.

 

http://www.thedreamshake.com/2011/6/19/2231582/nba-mock-draft-update-predicting-the-unpredictability-of-the-houston#storyjump

This dude seems convinced that if we don't move up or out the 14th pick we are getting Donatas (Donut-Us). Weird. Anyway I am getting more skeptical of him but if Morey picks him then I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume it will be a good pick. His 1st round picks that Morey drafted have been good players (A.Brooks, P.Patterson). He seems to truly shine in the 2nd round. I think he mixes best player available with need in the 2nd. He bought rights to C.Landry when we lacked quality power forward play. Jermaine Taylor(has/had potential but not focused enough) and C.Budinger when we need more wing scoring. Dorsey rights bought when we needed some paint protection. Dorsey was Ben Wallace at Memphis in college. Just didn't pan out. It happens. He missed out on some 2nd round centers that have been mentioned in other threads but most teams missed out on them. 2nd round is like shooting craps. You win or crap out. No real in between.

 

Just to pass along some news (nothing new). But Donatas Motiejunas measured at the Sixers workout (today) at above 7'0 without shoes, making him 7'1 in shoes. He also weight in at 240 lb ...

If you combine that with his athleticism and overall mobility along with all his offensive skills, that can give us one hack of an advantage at the 4 ..

 

Philly's #50 pick this year, unprotected first AND second next year, for our 14 this year.

Or

Philly's 16, 50 this year, 2nd round pick next year, for our 14 this year.

They get Donatas and with their 16 we take the guy we really wanted all along.

 

Change "4" to "3" and that's what they used to say about Tim Thomas. Gotta say, the alleged attitude and work ethic issues with this kid are scary.

 

I'd want nothing to do with him - in the very least he'd be the same 7-foot SF Bargnani tries to play as. He's absolutely not going to make it as a C, despite his size. Can't post up, can't defend in the post, can't handle contact, can't rebound. No muscle on him.

Yikes. He screams bust.

 

I had Tim Thomas on my fantasy team back when he was in Phoenix. Dude was raining 3s for me. But he is Tim Thomas afterall and he will lose you games with his inconsistent shooting. Don't know if Tim Thomas had the potential Donatas has but I mean why not draft a potential franchise player? This draft doesn't have that outside the first 5 picks besides Donatas. Irving compared to CP3/Conley. Derrick Willimas to Beasley/David West. Kanter to Al Horford. Then people after 5-6 range are being compared to ROLE players. I mean this draft is not a good draft. Why not take a gamble? More then likely this player that we draft isn't going to make a significant difference for us unless he has franchise talent potential. 2012 draft is they draft of real potential all-stars/superstars.

 

Donatas is a Power Forward. Not a Center. Bargnani is...confused. Bargnani has Center height, a soft Power Forward physique, and shoots the ball like a Spot up Shooting Guard. Dude be lighting it up but his unique skills for his size DOES NOT offset his lack of physical skills for his position. Donatas COULD have enough skillis to offset his negatives like Dirk does. Not saying he has the potential to be Dirk, just the potential to be an effective stretch 4 that scores in bunches. If he can play D like Dirk and his O is on point, he we be a potential star.

 

You must not have seen him recently... The guy has a very noticeable improved frame, and strength. His foot work and overall post move are a lot sharper and more refined.

 

He finally put on some weight and filled out a little bit.

<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/G5Tblw5WggQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here is a quote from the 76ers Director of Player Personnel
"He sees himself in a few years as maybe being able to play as a five," Witte said. "Right now, he’s obviously a four. He has a stretch-four mentality. He can go to the low post ... We see him as a power forward. He sees himself as a power forward that eventually will be able to play more as a center."

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/...-the-76ers-choice-at-No-16.html#ixzz1Pq3SHkLv

 

The defensive differences between Bargnani and Donatas are that the 2nd one has quicker feet to defend outside, he can be a pure PF.

One thing I've come to hate about the draft is how everybody focus his talk on players weaknesses, not considering properly his -sometimes unusual- strenghts. Especially at a 14th pick... what do you expect to get? I mean, we should know beforehand that at 20 years old, players are often imperfect. But some of them have legit room for improvement, some others don't.

 

anchel is speaking the truth. It is the 14th pick not top 5. Kobe, J.O'neal, Nash in the 96 draft which one of the greatest were drafted in the teens that are/were franchise players. How many franchise players are drafted outside the lottery? Practically none. Granger just popped in my head. There is a reason for scouting. The best aren't just going to slip late lottery to late first round. Too many resources these days. We know way more as fans about future players stats because we live in the information age compared to fans of the 90s. Donatas has franchise player potential unlike players of past who were selected at 14.

 

Motiejunas is a huge talent. He is also a lazy prima donna with a bad attitude and he hates defense and physical contact.

A player Morey would love.... all stats, no substance.

 

Neither Darko, nor Motiejunas would make the top 200 players in Europe, prior to coming to the NBA. I'm not sure what you mean about "not being pushed".

Motiejunas is a slightly above average power forward, playing on a mid level team, in mid level European leagues.

Darko was nothing more than a scrub by European standards before he came to the NBA.