Valid points but A LOT of teams passed on Manu, Gasol and Boozer while Z-Bo looked like a walking mental issue for a LONG time. Cleveland CAN NOT go into this draft looking for tough gritty players, they need to try and hit homeruns. You point out the busts that have happened but it's just a risk you take. Its one thing to pass up Durant or Jordan for Bowie and Oden but your asking them to pass up the consensus #1 and #2 picks for mid 1st rounders. If they fail then not only does it put the Cavs back A LONG time but probably cost you your career as a gm.
One guy that looks really intriguing is Darius Morris. He has size and can distribute the ball. He has a chance to be great, but he will need to be able to improve his outside shot to be truly effective. If he can hit 40% from 3, this guy is going to be a weapon some day.
A minor point of contention - Dajuan Wagner fell out of the league because shortly after he arrived he was diagnosed with an advanced case of ulcerative colitis and soon had his entire rectum and colon removed. No joke. It's actually an amazing feat that he came back post surgery and made the Warriors roster for a year. I also strongly disagree with the idea that Manu isn't athletic. i've seen that guy swat a bat out of the air mid-flight. Do you know how fast bats are? That requires cat like reflexes and quickness. He may not be the fastest person up and down the court, but he is a hell of an athlete. That said - not excited about Derrick Williams future either.
Did you not see D Williams manhandle Duke in the tourney? He will be a very good player. I queston K Irvin as the number 1 pick. How can a guy who only played in 12 games be considered that good. Especially a PG. On the next level he will get eaten up by C Paul, D Rose, D Will, Westbrook, even T Parker. I just do see him as being that good. He already has a weight issue....
It's actually not that bad for them; They're only on the hook for it for two more years, one of those being a possible lockout year. Why would you give up a top 10 pick to escape one year of a deal? That makes no sense. They would still be a bad team and have no draft pick to show for it. And only $9M of it is guaranteed his final year, saving them $3M. Additionally, there's a high likelihood that the new CBA will contain an amnesty clause.
Jonathan Bender, Eddie Curry, Shaun Livingston, Marvin Williams, Rodney White. And these were just the guys picked high. And no Manu is NOT athletic, he's crafty.
Vince Carter is one of the most athletically gifted players to ever step on an NBA court. A vertical 5 inches lower than his is no insult. 38 inches is average??? Take a look at this link http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre...11&sort2=DESC&draft=0&pos=0&source=All&sort=7 and go through all the years looking at the max verts....ignorant statement.
This is not all the max verts ever. It is just as far back as 2000, and only includes those who actually participated in such drills. Many top players don't, ala Kyrie Irving.
Only two guys are superstars and only one of those two has been at that level for a long period of time. Also, only 1 of your 5 examples are perimeter players. Not much to support your theory on Jimmer being worth #1 or #2.
Okay, well let me take a few for example. Terrence Williams: 37.5 Jermaine Taylor: 37.5 Chase Budinger: 38.5 Demar Derozan: 38.5 John Wall: 39 Russell Westbrook: 36.5 Andre Iguodala: 34.5 Dwyane Wade: 35 Would you please enlighten me as to which players above are not athletic??
I never said that. You are the one saying Manu is NOT athletic and said his 38 inch vertical was "average at best". If Manu with a 38 inch vertical isn't athletic, why is Wade athletic with his 35 inch vertical??
But Manu has to be, because according to you, max vert equals athletic ability, so if that is the case my only conclusion I can draw is that you believe Manu is more athletic than wade. Numbers don't lie right?
