What are y'alls thoughts on Chris Singleton? I think he brings a lot of defensive grit to the table, and if we were to draft him, we could A. Keep him on the team, thus making someone like Budinger or Williams expendable B. Trade him to a team for an already established player C. Trade him to a team for another drafted player, perhaps Marcus Morris or Bismack Biyombo. I like him a lot. I know he isn't the 7'0 we've been searching for, but he could be a key contributor to the team or be the last piece needed to gain a big man.
Motiejunas does look the part of a top notch big. He definitely has put on a lot muscles compared to the videos we saw of him the year before. If I had to guess he would probably also come more NBA ready than either Kanter or Valanciunas. The problem is as many have said--attitude and defense. Can he be coached to improve on such things? Maybe maybe not but he would not last to us if he did not have such blemishes. Worst case scenario, Timofey Mozgov (Darko Milicic?) Best case scenario, Pau Gasol (yes this is crazy, but if you're talking about absolute ceilings then his definitely extends into this territory). I guess it's time for us to take gambles on boom or bust prospects for the first time in Morey's history as Rockets GM.
Can we really trust the HoopsReport site in terms of rumors re: Motiejunas? There are some fairly obvious erros in Ryan Feldman's past work for the site, and I'm not sure whether it's merely very, very lazy research, or if he's just extrapolating from rumors posted on other sites. Exhibit A: Note that LaMarcus Aldridge, Rodney Carney and Brandan Wright were all traded in draft day deals, and obviously the teams that selected them called in the selections, yet this writer is using their selections as evidence for Charlotte and Chicago's likely picks. Exhibit B: Again, same error, likely caused by someone only looking at their NBA.com profile and seeing the team who drafted them, when Brockman was swapped on draft day with Sacramento. Most of the tidbits article is cobbled together from other reports (the Biyombo/Thompson part is almost lifted directly word for word from Chad Ford), Thompson/Warriors and Burks/Bucks aren't anything new, and the Kawhi Leonard/Kings stuff is also rehashed. I'm just skeptical, that's all. Anyone want to prove me wrong, be my guest; I would love to hear that this guy is closer to Jonathan Givony than Bill Ingram.
Left-handed Pau Gasol in a few years? Assuming he reaches his ceiling, of course. I'd love to draft him, but I'd force him to stay in the paint and learn/work on post moves everyday until he develops into a reliable low-post threat.
I'd take it with a grain of salt. He's not Bill Ingram in that he just makes stuff or steals info from other guys, who reported it first, but the info he's getting from playeres/agents/GM's/whoever is getting out there because they want it to get out there. Feldman has sources and he has been breaking news more than a few times, but he's not as reliable or creditable as Givony, mainly because he pretty much reports anything and everything he hears.
No. Pau Gasol is soft mentally, but despite what people claim, he is NOT soft physically. Pau just has mental lapses. But he will fight and bang with anyone and he will take any physical contact. Pau works very hard on his game. Pau is a good teammate and a leader. Motiejunas is soft and lazy. Motiejunas has been pretty much hated and despised by all his teammates. Motiejunas is the exact opposite of a leader. He's got the earned rep of a quitter. Motiejunas' personality is in the T-Mac range.
Would love to get Triston Thompson from Texas with the 14th pick or find a way to move up to get him, or Kemba Walker and or Jimmer if we move up. Not really interested in the Euros, except for Jonas. 23 would like to get Vuvevic and the PF/C from Purdue with the second round pick.
The good thing about work ethic problems is that those can change. You can become a harder worker, but you can't magically become more skilled. That doesn't mean that a light will definitely go off in Donatas' head, but with a guy with his offensive potential, it might just be worth the gamble.
Im sure Lowry will bring out the best in him. We have role models in this team, I bet the rockets style of play will rub off on him, along with Mchale and Scola coaching him a little will go along way.
Not that I want to stand pat, but If we stay at 14 & 23 in a worst case scenario, it doesn't look all bad: @ 14 (in order of preference if available): Jonas Valanciunas (if he slips because no 2011 buyout); Kawhi Leonard (if he should slip); Alec Burks (can't have to many slashers especially if K-Mart gets hurt); Donatas Motieunas (tall & athletic scorer); Tristan Thompson (athletic lefty defender with long arms); Bismack Biyombo (not sold on him as an every day center); Chris Singleton (wing defender w size & hops to help close out close games). @ 23 (take a center depending who is there): Bismack Biyombo; Nikola Vucevic; Jeremy Tyler; Greg Smith Or if we don't take a center (which I prefer @ 23) then in no particular order we could go: Tobias Harris (good bb iq & pro potential); Kenneth Faried (great rebounder); Jujuan Johnson (Jordan Hill with a Jumper); Nikola Mirotic (a good value here due to tough buyout); Jordan Hamilton (scoring wing); Tyler Honeycutt (athletic and long limbed wing); Darius Morris (backup point with size). Again, I hope we make a splash by trading picks or trading up, but if we have to stay at 14 & 23, it could look worse given what everyone says about this draft.
In the first round: No.14th pick: Bismack Biyombo No. 23th pick: Tyler Honeycutt or Jonas Valanciunas Thats my opinion..with a day left till the draft
What the hell happened to Jacob Pullen? Dude was all world at KSU two years ago, then fell off the radar. I don't see him anywhere on the mocks.
If we stay # 14 and #23, give me Biyombo (if available), Singleton or Montiejunas @ 14 and then Tobias Harris @ 23.
Here is something interesting. http://www.nbadraft.net/nba-draft-top-5-lists NBA Draft: Top 5 Lists Athleticism: 1. Travis Leslie 2. Chris Wright 3. Iman Shumpert 4. Derrick Williams 5. Jan Vesely Strength: 1. Enes Kanter 2. Jeremy Tyler 3. Greg Smith 4. Bismack Biyombo 5. Charles Jenkins Speed: 1. Kemba Walker 2. Kyrie Irving 3. Brandon Knight 4. Norris Cole 5. Isaiah Thomas Explosiveness (Guards): 1. Travis Leslie 2. Randy Culpepper 3. Iman Shumpert 4. Josh Selby 5. Kemba Walker Explosiveness (Forwards): 1. Derrick Williams 2. Jan Vesely 3. Chris Wright 4. Bismack Biyombo 5. JuJuan Johnson (Un)Athletic: 1. Nikola Vucevic 2. Ben Hansbrough 3. Jordan Williams 4. Kyle Singler 5. Klay Thompson Length: 1. Bismack Biyombo 2. Reggie Jackson 3. Nikola Vucevic 4. Jonas Valanciunas 5. Marshon Brooks Shooters: 1. Jimmer Fredette 2. Davis Bertans 3. Nikola Mirotic 4. Andrew Goudelock 5. Ben Hansbrough Ball Handlers: 1. Kemba Walker 2. Kyrie Irving 3. Alec Burks 4. Darius Morris 5. Corey Fisher Passers: 1. Darius Morris 2. Kyrie Irving 3. Julyan Stone 4. Chandler Parsons 5. Demetri McCamey Defenders: 1. Chris Singleton 2. Bismack Biyombo 3. Iman Shumpert 4. Tristan Thompson 5. Cory Joseph Rebounders: 1. Kenneth Faried 2. Enes Kanter 3. Jordan Williams 4. Jonas Valanciunas 5. Bismack Biyombo Post Skills: 1. Trey Thompkins 2. Enes Kanter 3. Jordan Williams 4. Nikola Vucevic 5. Donatas Motiejunas Competitors: 1. Kemba Walker 2. Derrick Williams 3. Shelvin Mack 4. Jimmer Fredette 5. Marshon Brooks Warriors/Toughness: 1. Kenneth Faried 2. Enes Kanter 3. Jan Vesely 4. Markieff Morris 5. Kemba Walker Versatility: 1. Chris Singleton 2. Julyan Stone 3. Marcus Morris 4. Iman Shumpert 5. Chandler Parsons Basketball IQ: 1. Kyle Singler 2. Kyrie Irving 3. Chandler Parsons 4. Brandon Knight 5. Nolan Smith Best Potential: 1. Derrick Williams 2. Enes Kanter 3. Kyrie Irving 4. Donatas Motiejunas 5. Jan Vesely High Risk/High Reward: 1. Jeremy Tyler 2. Tristan Thompson 3. Bismack Biyombo 4. Tyler Honeycutt 5. Jonas Valanciunas Low Risk: 1. Derrick Williams 2. Klay Thompson 3. Enes Kanter 4. Marcus Morris 5. Nolan Smith Overrated: 1. Bismack Biyombo 2. Iman Shumpert 3. Josh Selby 4. Charles Jenkins 5. Chris Singleton 1st Round Sleepers: 1. Donatas Motiejunas 2. Tyler Honeycutt 3. Tobias Harris 4. Jimmer Fredette 5. Alec Burks 2nd Round Sleepers: 1. Trey Thompkins 2. Norris Cole 3. Kyle Singler 4. Chandler Parsons 5. Matthew Bryan Amaning Free Agent Gems (Likely Undrafted): 1. Ravern Johnson 2. Julyan Stone 3. Justin Hurtt 4. Chris Wright 5. Cam Long
Interesting. I'd say he's worth a look in the 2nd round. Shelvin Mack too - loved his game at Butler.