Who would you rather draft? Who do you think will be the better pro? Most mocks seem to have Kidd-Gilchrist ahead of Beal. I think both are going to be really good NBA players. Kidd-Gilchrist will be a great all around player, but I think Beal will ultimately be the better pro.
IMHO it'll be MKG. Beal's looking really good but at the end of the day he's still a 6'4/6'5 SG. This is a new NBA, where the Kobe and MJ prototypes will be pushed aside for 6'8/7'0 forwards like LBJ and KD. MKG is totally raw and lacking in skillset, but his behavior during college shows that he's one of the most mature rookies ever drafted. I have no doubts he'll work on his game and emerge as one of the best in the business before long.
For me, it's easily Beal. I like MKG's on-court demeanor and leadership, but he's terribly overrated as an NBA prospect IMO. If he didn't play at Kentucky, there would be ZERO talk of him being drafted at #2.
MKG's skillset can be found much later in the draft... high-intensity player, maximum effort on defense, scrappy offense based on drives and transition. Someone like Jae Crowder can provide the same thing in the second round.
Unless MKG gives written guarantee that he will totally change his shooting mechanics to ultra text book perfect and practice the hell out of it, I really don't see the point. No amount of repetition can fix the shooting form he uses now. And IMO in an era of basketball where if you are not a post, not excessively strong or tall, and can not shoot the ball then you are not going to be a superstar. Beal may not be huge in size, but he is a shooter and level header scorer who has taken end of game shots as a freshman. He really feels the void the Rockets need next season and I would love to see him in Houston.
This. I don't know how people don't look at MKG's numbers, measurables, etc... and line them up next to Quincy Acy from Baylor. Look similar? Their production last year was the exact same, in almost the exact same situations, only Acy was more effecient. Same height. Acy has 3" longer reach. They have the same skillset. They have the same weaknesses. MKG is 3 years younger, but that does not explain why 1 is a top 5 pick, and the other is a 2nd rounder. What explains it, is HYPE
If he didnt play at UK he would have averaged 18 and 11 playing the SF slot. He averaged 7 boards a game at the 3 playing along side Terrence Jones (late lottery) and Anthony Davis (#1 Overall). Hes a man. 2-3 years he will be an all-star. Super athletic, great vision, reads the play well, great rebounding instinct, great defense He lacks an outside shot, but so does LBJ, Wade, Kobe....
To strengthen my previous post, let's compare MKG to Acy. Head to Head. MKG against Baylor's questionable zone. Acy matched up against the great Kentucky defense. Acy 34 Minutes 22pts, 7/11fg, 7-7ft, 8 rebs (4offensive), 1ast, 1blk, 1stl MKG 27 Minutes 18pts, 7/10fg, 4-4ft, 5 rebs (2offensive), 1ast, 0blk, 0stl
Beal. MKG wont be a superstar, he'll be a high-motor instesity player. When I watch MKG I don't see star. Not at all. He doesn't have a great offensive game, he mostly powered past people in college. I see Gerald Wallace at best for MKG.
Look at who MKG played along side. Like I said above, MKG played beside potentially 5 other first round picks. Translated to: He shared the shots, the assists, the ball, the rebounds. Put Quincy Acy on UK and he doesnt start, and he probably ends up the 8th man behind Darius Miller and Kyle Wiltjer. If hes lucky he would beat out Kyle, because Kyle is slower than molasses and cant play D.
Moot point. They were the 3rd options on their repective teams. They had the same amount of opportunity. If anything, playing around those cats gave MKG more room to work.
Also Davis and MKG were in foul trouble that entire game. Also MKG was +22 in +/- that game. Acy was +2. Also UK played to defend the 3 that game. Thats why Baylor shot 4-14. Did you watch it? Cause I did.
