BF Draft Board: Pick #7

by Mike Prada on May 28, 2009 12:35 PM EDT in Draft

I know, I know, we could easily trade the pick, but with the Wizards getting the fifth pick and currently owning a high second-rounder, we need to fill out an official community draft board. Keep in mind, folks, that this is a Wizards-centric draft board, not necessarily a list of who you believe are the top prospects in the draft. This is in order of best fit to worst fit among the top prospects in this draft. Ability of course plays a role, but consider first and foremost how this player will fit with the Wizards.

In a mild surprise, DeJuan Blair edged out Tyreke Evans and DeMar Derozan for the sixth spot on our draft board. I say "mild surprise" because while I've been driving the Blair bandwagon (well, more like the anti-Jordan Hill bandwagon), I didn't expect so many people to jump aboard. I do think it shows the weakness of this draft that we're hoping for a prospect like Blair with several flaws that will likely prevent him from being an all-star. Who knows, we'll see.

That leaves us with the following list.

Blake Griffin (prospect profile)
Ricky Rubio (prospect profile)
Hasheem Thabeet (prospect profile)
James Harden (prospect profile)
Jordan Hill
DeJuan Blair

Here's the vote for the seventh spot. For more on a couple of these prospects, check out Rook's prospect reviews for Evans and Derozan.

Poll

Who gets the seventh spot on the Bullets Forever draft board?

Tyreke Evans

40 votes

DeMar Derozan

20 votes

Stephen Curry

23 votes

Ty Lawson

8 votes

Gerald Henderson

6 votes

Terrence Williams

1 votes

Jonny Flynn

6 votes

Jrue Holiday

3 votes

Brandon Jennings

17 votes

124 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I'm going Curry for two reasons

1) We need 3 point shooting. NY fell off last year, and I realize that Arenas and Deshawn were hurt, but still. We need someone who can come in off the bench and spark the team.

2) Curry can play both on and off the ball. No, he’s not the PG of the future. But I’m not sold on Crittendon, and until NY proves he can be consistent, someone who can play both guard spots is still a real need. Seriously, would you rather see Mike James shot-jacking or Curry? That’s what I thought.

My concerns are his size and his defense, but if JJ Redick can get minutes for the Magic then I’m positive Curry could help the Wiz. Maybe no more than 20 minutes a game, but that’s all any rookie is probably gonna play anyway.

Getting buckets since 2003.

by Icantfeelmyface on May 28, 2009 12:57 PM EDT reply actions

There are nothing but guards left on our lottery draft board...

So I have to take the guard who is one of the deadliest 3 point shooters in the history of college basketball… the one who would have caught up to Pistol Pete in all-time NCAA points scored, had he returned for his senior year… who comes from a basketball family with father Dell Curry and brother Seth Curry (transferring to Duke next year)… who raised his assists to 5.6 from 2.9 in the past year while averaging 28.6 ppg…

We have no true outside shooters on our squad right now. With nothing but guards left on our draft board, why take the guys who can’t shoot? Better yet, why pass on the deadliest shooter in the draft?

I see no reason why Curry couldn’t be a minimum of Mo Williams. These two guys’ skill sets seem very similar to me.

Dear Diary, JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!

by Evander holyfield on May 28, 2009 3:04 PM EDT reply actions

This is where the draft becomes difficult to determine the best "fit" for Washington

This part of the draft is full of Point Guards that are either shoot-first Points, can’t play defense, or are considered “combo” Guards.

What the Wizards need are:
1. Defensive minded players
2. A big banger in the post…. rebounder, defender, low post scoring, wide body (Blake Griffin?)
3. Upgrade at Shooting Guard
4. A dead-eye 3-point shooter
5. 3rd String, uber-quick, pass-first, lock-down defensive Point Guard

Stephen Curry might develop into an NBA 3-point shooter, but his game right now is predicated on having the ball in his hands. He’s more of a ball dominant “combo” guard. Plus, he doesn’t play defense. (He’ll be perfect on the Knicks).

Ty Lawson might fit the "uber-quick pass first lock-down defensive Point Guard… but this is a little high on the draft board to take him. Besides there are a couple of better defenders available for that kind of need lower in the 1st Round or early 2nd round (Darren Collison, Toney Douglas)

Demarr DeRozan has great size and athleticism at the SG position but is too raw. The Wizards need someone that can contribute right away.

So, even though he’s not the perfect “fit” at this point in the Draft board – I chose Tyreke Evans. Of the top 4 guys on this list, Evans is the best defender. He’s not a pure point… more like a shoot-first Point, but he’s lightning-quick, fast, athletic and, oh yeah, did I say he can defend?

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on May 28, 2009 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

Yes he can defend

But he can’t shoot the three, and he is ineffective without the ball in his hands. Honestly, I don’t think he would bring much more than JC (good defender that can’t shoot) or DS (good defender that can’t shoot or finish) does to the team in the short term. In the long term, he might be a better pick than Curry, but he doesn’t seem to fit well with this team now.

I think Evans should be drafted by a team that is willing to give him a couple years to develop into a PG. That team is not the Wizards.

Getting buckets since 2003.

by Icantfeelmyface on May 28, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

sell the pick

if you are only interested in what a kid does in his rookie year then don’t bother. The draft is for prospects not immediate impact. So couple the pick with Deshawn to a team who can absorb his salary and pick a 2 guard at 32. That move as more immediate impact on the cap than anything else Ernie could do.

by Jheiser3 on May 28, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

that's fine with me

We are built to win now – projects aren’t useful. However, I don’t agree that when you pick a rookie you can’t expect him to contribute. Just look at Courtney Lee for the Magic. Some rooks are NBA ready and can be expected to be rotation players on a playoff team by the end of the year. Curry is one of those I think.

Getting buckets since 2003.

by Icantfeelmyface on May 28, 2009 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

CL

Lee wasn’t picked 5th overall. If you want a guy who is as good as he’s going to be sign a free agent.

by Jheiser3 on May 28, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Or

pick a senior at #32. The draft, after Griffin, is about long range potential not finding an 8th man for playoff team. Immediate needs get fixed in free agency. Pick a guy like Danny Green or Joe Ingles at 32. Ingles has pro experience and a jumper to match.

by Jheiser3 on May 29, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

How is Curry more of a ball-dominant guard than Evans?

Stephen Curry might develop into an NBA 3-point shooter, but his game right now is predicated on having the ball in his hands.

There is no question whether Curry is an NBA 3-point shooter. But your argument against Curry’s game that he needs the ball to be effective is skewed. Curry was the creator of offense at Davidson, and if he didn’t have the ball in his hands, they would be horrible. Aren’t teams supposed to put the ball in the hands of their best players? The same thing happened at Memphis when Calipari realized that Evans was his best player. He gave him the ball and told him to create. The difference between these two guys on offense is Curry doesn’t have to have the ball in his hands to be effective. He has the perfect skill set to spread the floor for threes or come off screens to knock down jumpers. The ability to handle the ball is only a positive.

The only thing I worry about when drafting Curry is having a small backcourt. That is where Tyreke Evans comes in. But with Evans, I feel like he duplicates Critt and Dom’s skill sets and would struggle to find time next year, where Curry would play a specific role on the team which would ease his transition to the NBA game.

Dear Diary, JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!

by Evander holyfield on May 28, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

One of my main criteria for picking draft choices for the Wizards

is choosing players that either CAN play defense, or have the desire and the tools to play defense.

Curry is going to be a very GOOD scorer in the NBA. Like I said, he would be fabulous on the Knicks (or Golden State). But he will not be able to defend in the NBA. Not in his Rookie year, nor in the future.

From DraftExpress: Defensively, Curry puts a solid effort in, but is extremely limited by his poor physical tools on this end of the floor. He lacks great height, length or strength, and possesses below average lateral quickness, making him a potential defensive liability when being matched up with some of the more explosive guards the NBA is known for.

If someone were to hand over the reigns of the Wizards to me, and make me GM for Draft night… and I had a choice between Curry, DeRozan, Ty Lawson or Tyreke Evans…. I chose Evans – because he can defend… a skill that the Wizards are sorely lacking. But if someone twisted my arm and forced me to draft Curry, I would immediately trade him to the Knicks (who really like him.) for someone that can play defense.

Like I said, Evans is not the “perfect fit” at this point in the Draft board – but he’s the best one on that list. In my opinion.

Obviously, you value shooting over defense – and that’s fine. That’s your opinion, and you are certainly entitled to it.

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on May 28, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

similar

but I’d take DeRozan. Evans is only a PG because Memphis didn’t have a decent PG. Skills and mentality wise he is a 2. He overwhelmed guards at the college level but he can’t do that with his handle in the NBA. Thus DeRozan was my guy, he already has some mid range moves and I prefer the structure of his in-progress jump shot to Evans. Its talent/work ethic ratio for me and even Calipari said that Evans coasted most of the time. I don’t think you go from coasting in HS, coasting in college to being the hardest working guy in the NBA.

by Jheiser3 on May 28, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I go with the best player left on the board

And I know it sounds crazy, but I think its Brandon Jennings. For me its based on pure potential, I know his year in Italy wasn’t terrific, but I think it will really help his development.

"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck

by George Templeton on May 28, 2009 5:01 PM EDT reply actions