nbadraft.net currently has Dedric Lawson going 23rd in the 2017 draft

http://www.nbadraft.net/2017mock_draft

has Austin Nichols going 28th

And away we go.

I don't see either going unless both dramatically improve their perimeter game

Dedric is a very appealing stretch-4 prospect. Wouldn't surprise me if he flirted with the draft after this season if he can avoid the freshman wall...

(12-18-2015 09:19 AM)HometownTiger Wrote:  Dedric is a very appealing stretch-4 prospect. Wouldn't surprise me if he flirted with the draft after this season if he can avoid the freshman wall...

Would love to see him come back for his sophomore year and play his way into a lottery pick. I'm guessing Pastner would like that as well.

I swear I am going to stop watching Tiger basketball if every time we get a guy who can walk and chew gum is projected to be a one and done.

(12-18-2015 09:27 AM)EdmondTiger Wrote:  

(12-18-2015 09:19 AM)HometownTiger Wrote:  Dedric is a very appealing stretch-4 prospect. Wouldn't surprise me if he flirted with the draft after this season if he can avoid the freshman wall...

Would love to see him come back for his sophomore year and play his way into a lottery pick. I'm guessing Pastner would like that as well.

Yeah - it'll be interesting to see what he hears back from the NBA after the season. We do have the advantage of his brother being on the team & his dad on staff. That could put us over the edge, but no one will blame him if he leaves after this year and gets drafted in the 1st round, but misses the lottery.

Also, GP has mentioned that we could give "Keelon" and raise if we wanted to... LOL

.

The age limit requiring American players to be 19 and a year out of high school was implemented in 2005, creating a system where players would simply go to college for a year and then declare for the draft. Silver and predecessor David Stern have long spoken about the desire to increase the limit to 20. But no change, which would have to be discussed with the union, was made during the last round of collective bargaining in 2011.

Can someone please explain how Wiltjer is going 39 (2016) who appears to be as athletic as Nichols and close to Dedric and much more skilled than both. Is the 2016 draft just that much stronger?

I just don't see either going that high as neither have "potential", neither is extremely athletic or tall or strong.
Being skilled has yet to just propel someone above their on court results, heck Doug McDermott went 9th after essentially breaking all scoring records and he was of similar build and athletic ability of both Austin and Dedric.

The guy that runs this web site has been way off on one ocassion in particular. I think it was the year that CDR was eligible. He didn't even have him being drafted. I had emailed him on it and he responded back that he didn't think CDR was that good. This was about 10 games into the college basketball season. So, knowing that, I would question what is posted on this web site.

You've got to be kidding me. Nichols has very little hope of ever playing in a NBA uniform. Dedric Lawson, on the other hand, is definitely an NBA player. How good? Luckily we'll get this season and next to watch him mature before he heads to the NBA. Dedric is already a strong rebounder and can handle the ball amazingly well for 6'9". He needs to get used to the college game and understand what he can and can't do. But more than anything else, he (and his brother) need to relax a little and quit pressing. Just like Rose had to do.

Cutting down turns is about the easiest thing to do and I am sure he will do it. I also don't believe he is that bad a shooter, just needs to relax and play ball.

Anyway, except that Nichols was here last year and Dedric is here this year, why are we comparing the 2. Nichols was a good college forward with good hands, could score around the rim and played pitiful defense, although he figured out how to block (or foul) short driving guards. His game is no where near Dedric's.

(12-18-2015 11:23 AM)cmt Wrote:  You've got to be kidding me. Nichols has very little hope of ever playing in a NBA uniform. Dedric Lawson, on the other hand, is definitely an NBA player. How good? Luckily we'll get this season and next to watch him mature before he heads to the NBA. Dedric is already a strong rebounder and can handle the ball amazingly well for 6'9". He needs to get used to the college game and understand what he can and can't do. But more than anything else, he (and his brother) need to relax a little and quit pressing. Just like Rose had to do.

Cutting down turns is about the easiest thing to do and I am sure he will do it. I also don't believe he is that bad a shooter, just needs to relax and play ball.

Anyway, except that Nichols was here last year and Dedric is here this year, why are we comparing the 2. Nichols was a good college forward with good hands, could score around the rim and played pitiful defense, although he figured out how to block (or foul) short driving guards. His game is no where near Dedric's.

Austin is 6'9" 230 lbs. That's an NBA power forward. The NBA is going towards "small ball" so the 4 is relied upon to stretch the floor and defend pick & rolls. His feet are too slow to defend on the perimeter. He's not an explosive athlete either so he has to rely on length & skill in the paint. He does have a nice mid range game which helps his case...but, Austin better use this year off to develop a 3-point shot. His mechanics are fine, just needs to take/make 3s next year for UVA. That's his ticket to REALLY shoot up the board. He has good length and uses it to rebound and block shots. Great hands and tremendous footwork on the low block...very skilled and has a high basketball IQ. Playing in UVa's system should help him a lot...like, he could KILL IT next year. Wouldn't surprise me at all.

IMO, he's definitely an NBA prospect - but Dedric is a better prospect. Keep in mind, Austin will be an older prospect & that'll hurt his stock.

I think he's a mid-2nd round guy when it's all said & done. Just don't see him being the shooter he needs to be to jump up in the draft.

(12-18-2015 11:48 AM)HometownTiger Wrote:  

(12-18-2015 11:23 AM)cmt Wrote:  You've got to be kidding me. Nichols has very little hope of ever playing in a NBA uniform. Dedric Lawson, on the other hand, is definitely an NBA player. How good? Luckily we'll get this season and next to watch him mature before he heads to the NBA. Dedric is already a strong rebounder and can handle the ball amazingly well for 6'9". He needs to get used to the college game and understand what he can and can't do. But more than anything else, he (and his brother) need to relax a little and quit pressing. Just like Rose had to do.

Cutting down turns is about the easiest thing to do and I am sure he will do it. I also don't believe he is that bad a shooter, just needs to relax and play ball.

Anyway, except that Nichols was here last year and Dedric is here this year, why are we comparing the 2. Nichols was a good college forward with good hands, could score around the rim and played pitiful defense, although he figured out how to block (or foul) short driving guards. His game is no where near Dedric's.

Austin is 6'9" 230 lbs. That's an NBA power forward. The NBA is going towards "small ball" so the 4 is relied upon to stretch the floor and defend pick & rolls. His feet are too slow to defend on the perimeter. He's not an explosive athlete either so he has to rely on length & skill in the paint. He does have a nice mid range game which helps his case...but, Austin better use this year off to develop a 3-point shot. His mechanics are fine, just needs to take/make 3s next year for UVA. That's his ticket to REALLY shoot up the board. He has good length and uses it to rebound and block shots. Great hands and tremendous footwork on the low block...very skilled and has a high basketball IQ. Playing in UVa's system should help him a lot...like, he could KILL IT next year. Wouldn't surprise me at all.

IMO, he's definitely an NBA prospect - but Dedric is a better prospect. Keep in mind, Austin will be an older prospect & that'll hurt his stock.

I think he's a mid-2nd round guy when it's all said & done. Just don't see him being the shooter he needs to be to jump up in the draft.

I think you're right about Austins prospects. It depends on his ability to 1. Defend the perimeter and 2. Shoot from the perimeter. Detric has nba written all over him.

Ever looked at the end of some of these NBA benches?

Both players will have a shot at the league.

If Dedric finishes the season around 17 and 9 and has either a couple good postseason games or shines vs. top tier AAC teams, Dedric is BOH.

(12-18-2015 12:35 PM)salukiblue Wrote:  If Dedric finishes the season around 17 and 9 and has either a couple good postseason games or shines vs. top tier AAC teams, Dedric is BOH.

Bank of Hawaii?

(12-18-2015 12:35 PM)salukiblue Wrote:  If Dedric finishes the season around 17 and 9 and has either a couple good postseason games or shines vs. top tier AAC teams, Dedric is BOH.

Right. Chris Wallace was on Vernon the other day saying that the league and the draft have been about upside for a long time now.

Even if he doesn't finish with those numbers, but let's say his outside shot starts coming around - that could be enough for some teams - a 17 year old 6-9 guy who is fluid, scores at the basket, boards and shoots from outside.

I still believe he'll hit the freshman wall though. He may not, but the odds are against him once teams with better players have enough scouting footage on him.

(12-18-2015 09:49 AM)macgar32 Wrote:  Can someone please explain how Wiltjer is going 39 (2016) who appears to be as athletic as Nichols and close to Dedric and much more skilled than both. Is the 2016 draft just that much stronger?

I just don't see either going that high as neither have "potential", neither is extremely athletic or tall or strong.
Being skilled has yet to just propel someone above their on court results, heck Doug McDermott went 9th after essentially breaking all scoring records and he was of similar build and athletic ability of both Austin and Dedric.

Where do you come up with these statements? Wiltjer is a senior and has developed a few decent moves but subpar athlete, lack of quickness, not a good defender and really a spot up shooter. Can't guard his position that well. Not a good rebounder. That's per Draft Express. Sabonis on his own team is much better NBA prospect. Dedric has much more upside for NBA as just turned 18 yr old. Won't talk about Nichols NTR.

BOH! is a simulated gun shot noise, used as a positive vocal response to a big tune or massive bassline in the 'drum & bass / jungle' (electronic dance music genre) community.

(12-18-2015 11:48 AM)HometownTiger Wrote:  

(12-18-2015 11:23 AM)cmt Wrote:  You've got to be kidding me. Nichols has very little hope of ever playing in a NBA uniform. Dedric Lawson, on the other hand, is definitely an NBA player. How good? Luckily we'll get this season and next to watch him mature before he heads to the NBA. Dedric is already a strong rebounder and can handle the ball amazingly well for 6'9". He needs to get used to the college game and understand what he can and can't do. But more than anything else, he (and his brother) need to relax a little and quit pressing. Just like Rose had to do.

Cutting down turns is about the easiest thing to do and I am sure he will do it. I also don't believe he is that bad a shooter, just needs to relax and play ball.

Anyway, except that Nichols was here last year and Dedric is here this year, why are we comparing the 2. Nichols was a good college forward with good hands, could score around the rim and played pitiful defense, although he figured out how to block (or foul) short driving guards. His game is no where near Dedric's.

Austin is 6'9" 230 lbs. That's an NBA power forward. The NBA is going towards "small ball" so the 4 is relied upon to stretch the floor and defend pick & rolls. His feet are too slow to defend on the perimeter. He's not an explosive athlete either so he has to rely on length & skill in the paint. He does have a nice mid range game which helps his case...but, Austin better use this year off to develop a 3-point shot. His mechanics are fine, just needs to take/make 3s next year for UVA. That's his ticket to REALLY shoot up the board. He has good length and uses it to rebound and block shots. Great hands and tremendous footwork on the low block...very skilled and has a high basketball IQ. Playing in UVa's system should help him a lot...like, he could KILL IT next year. Wouldn't surprise me at all.

IMO, he's definitely an NBA prospect - but Dedric is a better prospect. Keep in mind, Austin will be an older prospect & that'll hurt his stock.

I think he's a mid-2nd round guy when it's all said & done. Just don't see him being the shooter he needs to be to jump up in the draft.

Austin can play in the NBA for a long time, very similar David Lee out of Florida