Detroit Bad Boys - NBA draft 2013: Detroit Pistons draft prospectsA community of Detroit Pistons fans since 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48119/detroitbadboys-fave.png2013-06-27T10:38:12-04:00http://www.detroitbadboys.com/rss/stream/40824392013-06-27T10:38:12-04:002013-06-27T10:38:12-04:00NBA Draft 2013: Time, TV schedule and more
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The 2013 NBA Draft takes place on Thursday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET. </p> <p><b>Pre-Draft Coverage:</b> 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. ET (NBATV); 7 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)</p>
<p><b>Draft Coverage: </b> 7:30 p.m. - 11 p.m. ET (ESPN, WatchESPN Internet streaming and ESPN Radio)</p>
<p><b>Post-Draft Coverage: </b>12 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. ET (NBATV)</p>
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<strong>More</strong>: <a href="http://www.detroitbadboys.com/nba-draft-pistons" target="new">Detroit Pistons draft coverage</a>
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<p><b>Tentative Draft Order: </b></p>
<h4>First Round:</h4>
<p id="paragraph4">1. Cleveland Cavaliers<br>2. Orlando Magic<br>3. Washington Wizards<br>4. Charlotte Bobcats<br>5. Phoenix Suns<br>6. New Orleans Pelicans<br>7. Sacramento Kings<br><b>8. Detroit Pistons<br></b>9. Minnesota Timberwolves<br>10. Portland Trail Blazers<br>11. Philadelphia 76ers<br>12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto)<br>13. Dallas Mavericks<br>14. Utah Jazz<br>15. Milwaukee Bucks<br>16. Boston Celtics<br>17. Atlanta Hawks<br>18. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston via Brooklyn)<br>19. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Los Angeles)<br>20. Chicago Bulls<br>21. Utah Jazz (from Golden State via Brooklyn)<br>22. Brooklyn Nets<br>23. Indiana Pacers<br>24. New York Knicks<br>25. Los Angeles Clippers<br>26. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Memphis via Houston)<br>27. Denver Nuggets<br>28. San Antonio Spurs<br>29. Oklahoma City Thunder<br>30. Phoenix Suns (from Miami via L.A. and Cleveland)</p>
<h4>Second Round:</h4>
<p id="paragraph5">31. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Orlando)<br>32. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Charlotte)<br>33. Cleveland Cavaliers<br>34. Houston Rockets (from Phoenix)<br>35. Philadelphia 76ers (from New Orleans)<br>36. Sacramento Kings<br><b>37. Detroit Pistons<br></b>38. Washington Wizards<br>39. Portland Trail Blazers (from Minnesota via Boston & Cleveland)<br>40. Portland Trail Blazers<br>41. Memphis Grizzlies (from Toronto)<br>42. Philadelphia 76ers<br>43. Milwaukee Bucks<br>44. Dallas Mavericks (pick may be conveyed to Lakers)<br>45. Portland Trail Blazers (from Boston)<br>46. Utah Jazz<br>47. Atlanta Hawks<br>48. Los Angeles Lakers (pick may be conveyed to Dallas)<br>49. Chicago Bulls<br>50. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston)<br>51. Orlando Magic (from Golden State via Denver & New York)<br>52. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Brooklyn)<br>53. Indiana Pacers<br>54. Washington Wizards (from New York)<br>55. Memphis Grizzlies<br><b>56. Detroit Pistons (from Clippers)<br></b>57. Phoenix Suns (from Denver via. Lakers)<br>58. San Antonio Spurs<br>59. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City)<br>60. Memphis Grizzlies (from Miami)</p>
<p><i>This will not be the Draft Open Thread, as we will try to post one a couple hours before draft time with draft rumors updates. </i></p>
https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/6/27/4470206/nba-draft-2013-time-tv-schedule-order-trades-rumors-picksPackey2013-06-24T15:46:51-04:002013-06-24T15:46:51-04:00ESPN draft rater: Yay KCP, McCollum; Nay McLemore
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<figcaption>Kelly Lambert-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Instead of relying heavily on PER, ESPN's latest advanced stats basketball writer emphasizes WARP to rate prospects.</p> <p>Love him or hate him, I always looked forward to John Hollinger's yearly <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft">NBA Draft</a> Rater, especially when <span>Ty Lawson</span> was ranked the best prospect by his analysis and ended up falling to the 20s (and past the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Pistons</a> who instead went with <span>Austin Daye</span>).</p>
<p>Hollinger has moved on to more bear-infested pastures and Kevin Pelton has accepted the challenge of bringing NBA fans an advanced metrics-enhanced view of the NBA draft.</p>
<p>Here is <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2013/story/_/page/PerDiem-130624/ranking-prospects-warp">Pelton on his methodology</a>:</p>
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<p>I start by translating a player's college statistics to their NBA equivalents. That produces a per-minute rating, player win% (equivalent to PER), that projects how we can expect rookies to perform in the NBA next season. By adding age, I come up with a projection of how many Wins Above Replacement Player (WARP), on average, prospects will produce over their first five years -- the amount of time teams control a first-round pick between the four-year rookie contract and one year as a restricted free agent.</p>
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<p>The piece is <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2013/story/_/page/PerDiem-130624/ranking-prospects-warp">NBA Insider</a> but I'll pull out some highlights, especially considering the players Detroit fans have bandied about for the past month.</p>
<h4>1. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope needs to get more love.</h4>
<p>I remain perplexed by the lack of admiration for the game of Caldwell-Pope among Pistons fans. The team has a glaring need for both a quality defender and someone who can reliably hi the 3-ball and KCP provides that, and he also happens to rank third overall in Pelton's analysis. And as an added bonus you'll never confuse him for a combo guard. He's a legit shooting guard through and through.</p>
<h4>2. The point guards are closer in quality than you think.</h4>
<p>Trey Burke and Michael Carter-Williams are like polar opposites as far as point guard products go, and both have legitimate reasons that one should be ranked ahead of the other. C.J. McCollum, meanwhile, has always seemed like somewhat of a consolation prize for losing out on Victor Oladipo and Burke. But McCollum is the player that rates as the best point guard in this draft class.</p>
<p>Why? It largely comes down to rebounding. McCollum was very good and efficient so he rates best, Burke was a poor rebounder but efficient so he rates second and MCW was a very good rebounder but prone to the turnover and a poor shooter so he rates third.</p>
<h4>3. Red flags on Oladipo, McLemore and Muhammad.</h4>
<p>It's no surprise that Oladipo would fare poorly in the advanced stats prism because he had two mediocre years before blowing up big time in his junior year. Collectively, it means he's the 17th-best prospect by Pelton's system. But Pelton acknowledges that even if his offense regresses he'll be an impact defender. But people might be overlooking some evidence at their own risks.</p>
<p>McLemore, meanwhile, was the biggest surprise for me of any player rating. He ranks 18th with a poor usage rate and an inability to get to the free-throw line. He also turns the ball over too much for a catch-and-shoot player. It could be youth or it could be a warning sign that a player with a lot of hype from a big program is getting overrated.</p>
<p>I've ceased being afraid that the Pistons will actually draft Shabazz Muhammad (did I just jinx it?), but it's still nice to see advanced metrics viewing Shabazz as poorly as I do in person. He is one of two likely top-30 picks that registered a negative WARP from Pelton. That means he's basically as good as a 10-day contract type.</p>
<h4>4. Andre Roberson the steal of the draft?</h4>
<p>I've never heard of the Colorado big man but he registered the third-best rating of any prospect according to WARP. Of Roberson, Pelton writes, "Roberson fits a second-round stereotype -- an undersized power forward with big-time athleticism. He struggled last season trying to play more on the perimeter, but has excelled defensively and on the glass against bigger players. Consider Roberson a poor man's <span>Kenneth Faried</span>."</p>
<p>I know Dumars is probably going for a stretch four but I'd love to have a poor man's Kenneth Faried with a second-round pick.</p>
<h4>5. If Pistons don't get a point guard at pick No. 8, they should have good options in the second round.</h4>
<p>While it might just be a flaw in Pelton's metric, I noticed a lot of point guards rate quite well in his system. D.J. Cooper, Nate Wolters and Pierre Jackson all rated with a WARP above 2.0, which is quite good. Obviously, they compiled those stats against lesser competition in most cases but they are probably worth taking a flyer on.</p>
https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/6/24/4460176/2013-nba-draft-espn-advanced-stats-WARP-detroit-pistonsSean Corp2013-06-10T09:05:32-04:002013-06-10T09:05:32-04:002013 NBA Draft Big Board - First Round
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<figcaption>Rob Carr</figcaption>
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<p>DBB's Kevin Sawyer provides his big board for the first round. </p> <p>It's time to assess the talent, to separate the wheat from the chaff, and draw some lines in the sand. Before the delicious platter of red meat, I give you a beet salad of observations. <br><br><b>This draft sucks</b>. People say this every year, largely because, as with any draft, the talent is unproven. So I assumed it wasn't really true. But I've been paying close attention to the draft for several seasons now, and it has never been less fun. We know there isn't a lot of star power, but there also aren't any Kenneth Farieds or <span>Ty Lawson</span>s. You know it's a lame draft when you find yourself cursing the fates <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123401/doug-mcdermott" class="sbn-auto-link">Doug McDermott</a> is returning to school. <br><br><b>Steals and rebounds are outstanding predictors of NBA success at any position</b>. Players seldom suddenly discover how to shoot free throws, for example, but they are an excellent marker of a player's athleticism, and they tend to be reliable regardless of the level of competition. <br><br><b>Measurements are lousy predictors of NBA success</b>. If they are extraordinary in some way (if a player is 7'2 or 5'11) they are hard to ignore, and they are helpful in determining whether a borderline shooter will succeed. But you don't want to draft a dude who can't hang in the ACC just because he's lengthy. <br><br><b>Hype is a worthless predictor of NBA success</b>. Just ask <span>Austin Rivers</span>. <br><br><b>There is more room to get creative...</b> In a deep draft, picking up a player on a lark is a profoundly bad idea. Passing up known quantities to take fliers on projects seldom works out, and the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Antonio Spurs</a> thank you kindly for your propensity to gamble. However, every year there are 15 or so impact players. As such, you are better off taking a player who has a one in five chance of being one of those players than a player who is guaranteed to be 22nd best. <br><br><b>...But ball don't lie.</b> Yes, on occasion some dude who biffed it in college turns it around and has a very productive career. But if you spend lottery picks on what-ifs, well, you'll have plenty of chances to do so in the future. <br><br>Enough of that. Here it is. Rankings!<br><br><b>1. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123694/victor-oladipo" class="sbn-auto-link">Victor Oladipo</a></b><br><br>Oladipo does virtually everything well. He shoots accurately, and with range. His rebounding and steals indicate elite athleticism. His defensive prowess is unquestioned. The fear, especially for those drafting him No. 1, is that he regresses to his freshman or sophomore level of performance in certain areas. <br><br>In a draft where every player has a question mark, that's a pretty small one. He might not be the most popular player to come out of the draft, but there is a good chance he will be the best, a player who brings elite efficiency at both ends of the court. <br><br><b>2. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145391/otto-porter" class="sbn-auto-link">Otto Porter</a> </b><br><br>The player with the most "superstar" potential, Porter has the height, speed and athleticism to be an outstanding small forward. Simply put, 8.8 r/40 and 40%+ from three is a rare combination for a wing. A couple concerns knock him out of the top slot. The first is that he is skinny, which will hurt him on the defensive end. <br><br>Second, a lot of his rebounds came while playing PF, where his rebounding rate would be considered unremarkable. Add to that Georgetown plays a somewhat unorthodox style (deflating, for example, Greg Monroe's rebounding numbers) and it's possible he's not quite the specimen he seems. <br><br><b>3. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145556/ben-mclemore" class="sbn-auto-link">Ben McLemore</a></b><br><br>The Ray Allen comparisons seem reasonable. McLemore's shooting stroke is unmatched in this year's draft class. His lights out free throw shooting should assuage any questions about whether his three point percentage is a fluke. He can also run the break, and should be able to use his range to open up the lane for dribble drives. <br><br>The primary knock on McLemore, that he isn't assertive enough, is just silly. Would anyone really prefer he miss a bunch of shots just so he can say he has a killer instinct or whatever? The more glaring concern is his athletic stats, which are a notch below Ray Allen. Given that he isn't particularly tall, there is a fair question as to whether he'll be able to get his shot off as well as he would like. <br><br><b>4. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175893/nerlens-noel" class="sbn-auto-link">Nerlens Noel</a> </b><br><br>Let's get this out of the way. Noel has a chance to be a once-in-a-decade defensive talent. His blocking and steals numbers are unmatched by any freshmen in recent memory.<span style="line-height: 9px;"> Now onto the red flags. <br></span><br>Here's the thing about the knee: I'm certain it will be just fine in the long run, but bad knees tend to come in pairs. Any team drafting him will have to deal with his injury this season, and very likely a similar injury the following season. Factor in his limited experience, and it might be season four before he gives you the all-NBA defense you drafted him for, at which point you will be making market price (or more) for his services.<br><br>The other concern is his rebounding. For someone who seems to have a knack for being at the right place at the right time, it's curious he would rate only 12th among prospects in rebounds per 40. Freshmen with his skill level tend to improve in that category, but given his lack of offensive contributions, it's a valid concern. <br><br><b>5. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145685/trey-burke" class="sbn-auto-link">Trey Burke</a> </b><br><br>Of the "Big 5", I have Burke at the end. Why? I am somewhat concerned about his shooting. He was efficient, hitting 38% from three and posting a 57% TS, but he wasn't <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/25615/ty-lawson" class="sbn-auto-link">Ty Lawson</a> good. <br><br>That said, what I like about Burke is that he takes seriously the role of a point guard as a decision maker on offense. Note, that is not the same as saying he is a pass-first guard. Rather, he looks to find the most efficient shot, even if it's his own. For that reason, I think his transition to the NBA will be a bit faster than most point guards, whose development can be interminable. <br><br>********************CLIFF!********************************* <br><br><b>6. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100927/cj-mccollum" class="sbn-auto-link">CJ McCollum</a> </b><br><br>The knock on McCollum seems to be that he is a combo guard. He strikes me as a prototypical shooting guard, and his statistical profile bodes well for his success at the position. He was an efficient and prolific scorer at Lehigh, but also boasted a solid rebounding rate, which quells my fears about his size. <br><br>His three point shooting was all over the map. A 42% shooter as a freshman, he dipped to 32% and 34% his sophomore and junior year respectively, before bouncing back to a flukey-looking 52% in his injury-shortened senior campaign. The biggest risk here is that weak competition inflated his stats. Even so, he looks like the best of the rest to me. <br><br><b>7. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101221/kelly-olynyk" class="sbn-auto-link">Kelly Olynyk</a> </b><br><br>As much as I hate big men who don't rebound very well, there isn't a lot of precedent for someone with Olynyk's skills. The most efficient scorer in the NCAA, and a prolific one at that, Olynyk nonetheless seems to play like a wing. However, he also has the post skills of a big man and is tall enough to get his shot when he wants it. Considering the frequency with which he made that shot, it's hard not to be interested. His profile is similar to Rik Smits, but with less shot blocking, and Canadian as opposed to Dutch. <br><br><b>8. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124249/jamaal-franklin" class="sbn-auto-link">Jamaal Franklin</a> </b></p>
<p>If you are looking for this year's <span>Kawhi Leonard</span>, look no further. Franklin demonstrated his athleticism by averaging 11 reb/40 while adding a healthy number of steals. The biggest problem? He can't shoot. That's trouble, if you are a shooting guard. <br><br>That said, in an NBA offense, and with less of a need to be the leading source of audience, Franklin should find a way to be very effective in the NBA. Leonard wasn't an efficient shooter either, for what that's worth.</p>
<p><b>9. Sergey Karasev </b><br><br>A Euro? This high? I think so. Karasev was an outstanding shooter for a wing, hitting around 40% of his threes for whatever a Triumph Moscow is. His 83% free throw shooting and ability to create off of penetration suggest a highly developed game. Oh, and he's 19, which means he will have plenty of time to develop. <br><br>On the downside, he's pretty much going to suck at defense.</p>
<p><b>10. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/176525/anthony-bennett" class="sbn-auto-link">Anthony Bennett</a> </b><br><br>His statistical profile might merit him being a little higher. Bennett was a solid rebounder, who scored at a good clip with 60% TS. However, his numbers are unremarkable for a power forward, and so you have to hope he can play the wing. His conditioning may well keep him from being able to defend the position. <br><br>There are scouts saying he's the most athletic player in the draft, so maybe there is more than meets the eye there, and he clearly merits a lottery pick based on his age and output. I just wouldn't get too excited.</p>
<p><b>11. <span>Tony Mitchell</span> </b><br><br>A roll of the dice? You bet. One of the most intriguing prospects in the country after a stellar freshman campaign, Mitchell struggled in every aspect of his game last year. So what do you believe? Did he regress or was it something else?<br><br>I'm inclined to chalk it up to an immature player (he lost a season of eligibility to academic issues) dealing poorly with a coaching change. That is, in and of itself, a genuine concern, but Mitchell has also shown that he can be a top five talent. I would have had him at this spot last year in a much deeper draft. Given the available options, I'll give him a mulligan, but he's the biggest boom or bust pick in the draft.</p>
<p><b>12. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124043/reggie-bullock" class="sbn-auto-link">Reggie Bullock</a> </b><br><br>It seems like people are finally coming around to Bullock. An outstanding shooter, Bullock also has solid athletic stats, belying the criticism he is one-dimensional. He doesn't get to the line a lot, and if his shot suffers in transition to the NBA, he could be a bust, but I'll take established skill over the, um, nothing that a lot of first rounders are offering.</p>
<p><b>13. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/144186/shane-larkin" class="sbn-auto-link">Shane Larkin</a> </b></p>
<p>There's a lot to like about Larkin. He's an outstanding shooter, reasonably efficient in terms of assists and turnovers, and thrives in the pick and roll. So why is he here and Trey Burke is up there? Whereas Burke has an unearned reputation for being too small to play the point, Larkin is one of the smallest players in terms of all-around measurements we've seen in years. His A/TO ratio is impressive, but mostly because he plays it close to the vest, and not because he is a prolific passer. Will someone his size have that opportunity at the NBA level?</p>
<p><b>14. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145499/cody-zeller" class="sbn-auto-link">Cody Zeller</a> <br></b><br>A slightly less efficient version of Kelly Olynyk, and all the same caveats apply. He is a skilled offensive player who isn't going to give you much in terms of rebounding and blocks. The key to his game will be maintaining a very high level of efficiency to compensate for the fact he won't be great at big men stuff. There's a good chance he does that, and he's young, so there is some chance he grows in those areas as well.</p>
<p><b>15. Rudy Gobert</b></p>
<p>Ordinarily, I don't like players who are a couple of years away from being real, actual pros. However, Gobert gives you a lot of raw material. He's 7'2 and doesn't have a bone disease, so there's that. Further, he shot over 70% from the field. Were those catch and shoot situations close to the basket? Of course, but that's exactly where I want a 7'2 guy to play. I call that good shot selection.</p>
<p><b>16. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100880/mike-muscala" class="sbn-auto-link">Mike Muscala</a> </b><br><br>This year's Kyle O'Quinn, a solid big who will get no love because he is a senior and went to a school fans have not heard of. Muscala's numbers aren't quite as impressive as O'Quinn's, but he was one of the best rebounders in the country. <br><br>His offense is a big question mark. No way he gets to the line once every five minutes in the NBA, but I think you've got a bankable skill here, and he should be productive right away.</p>
<p><b>17. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145393/kentavious-caldwell-pope" class="sbn-auto-link">Kentavious Caldwell-Pope</a> </b></p>
<p>With a name like the stodgy old dean in an 1980s movie, K-Pope fits the profile of a dude who could wind up anywhere from 7th to 30th on draft night. I think he should be somewhere in the middle. His athletic numbers are good, especially his steals/40. I am concerned about his two-point field goal percentage, especially given his borderline three point shooting. If the NBA three point line proves beyond his ken, he could be hurting for offense. That puts him firmly in the second tier of wings for me.</p>
<p><b>18. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99803/glen-rice-jr" class="sbn-auto-link">Glen Rice Jr</a>. </b><br><br>An interesting test of the projectability of NBDL numbers. Rice was pretty well dominant in his season at Rio Grande Valley, posting a 60% TS and averaging 10 reb/40 from the small forward position. The shooting improvement is notable, but is it meaningful? Rice is still only 22, so it isn't as though an uptick was out of the question. It's a risk, but I think you take it if you are in the latter half of the first round. <br><br><b>19. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100233/arsalan-kazemi" class="sbn-auto-link">Arsalan Kazemi</a> </b><br><br>Kazemi made an interesting move to get the attention of the NBA, transferring to Oregon for his senior year, and making a presumably overstated charge of racism to avert the one year transfer window. Theoretically, it paid off. He kept up his stellar rebounding (7th among prospects in reb/40) and efficient shooting (8th in TS%), and demonstrated he can defend against top-tier competition. <br><br>Players who transfer tend to be overlooked by scouts, but screw scouts. This guy has a chance to be good.</p>
<p><b>20. Mouhammadou Jaiteh</b><br><br>In Europe and in workouts Jaiteh has been rebounding and dominating like an NBA center. He averaged over 14 reb/40 in Euroball, while scoring tons of points on very efficient shooting. Then again, that was in France Pro B. Not like he had to go toe to toe with <span>Sean May</span> in Pro A or anything. I'd definitely want to see more in workouts, but he looks like the real deal to me.</p>
<p><b>21. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145085/pierre-jackson" class="sbn-auto-link">Pierre Jackson</a> <br></b><br>Jackson has been lost a bit in the point guard hype shuffle, but was quite effective running the point for Baylor. Very similar to Larkin, but less efficient from long range, Pierre Jackson is right there among the second tier in pure point rating, with a 58% TS to boot. All the size questions about Larkin are present here, but again, they haven't stopped him from being effective to date.</p>
<p><b>22. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123168/carrick-felix" class="sbn-auto-link">Carrick Felix</a> </b><br><br>A very similar profile to K-Pope, who gets the nod here on account of age. Felix does a bit of everything, with solid rebounding, shooting and defensive stats. He has the profile of a successful wing, but also has a number of weird transcript issues. His 66% free throw shooting also has me wondering whether his senior year three point shooting (37% vs. no higher than 31% prior years) is illusory. Still worth a look as we head to the home stretch of the first round.</p>
<p><b>23. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/53330/jeff-withey" class="sbn-auto-link">Jeff Withey</a> </b><br><br>Not letting the best shot blocker in the draft fall out of the first round. That said, his steal and rebounding numbers project poorly in terms of his overall defensive game. His efficient scoring (62% TS) and very reasonable foul rate tell me he knows how to pick his moments, and I think a good team will find the way to make the most of his limited athleticism. <br><br><b> 24. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101222/elias-harris" class="sbn-auto-link">Elias Harris</a> </b></p>
<p>I don't see a wide gulf between Harris and Bennett. Both are undersized for the power forward position, so-so rebounders and efficient scorers. Harris is older, of course, but it's passing strange people would whisper about Bennett in the top three while Harris goes undrafted. I think an experienced team looking for an extra big could do much worse.<br><b><br>25. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/146180/michael-carter-williams" class="sbn-auto-link">Michael Carter-Williams</a></b><br><br>Let's be clear. MCW cannot shoot. He doesn't need to add to his arsenal, or hone his jumper, or tweak this or that. When it comes to putting ball in basket, he is really, really bad. Of all the NBA players who are fantasy-eligible at the point guard position, none could match his 49% TS in college. The inability to put ball in basket has foiled many a great NCAA point guard (we love you Mateen). <br><br>Also, he stole a bathrobe, which is just so weird. Booze, I can understand, but a bathrobe? Anyone who needs a bathrobe that badly probably belongs to a cult. <br><br>To be clear, MCW is pretty good at the point-guardy things. Not so good that I would drop everything, ignore glaring red flags, and spend a top ten pick on him. A late first-rounder in a lousy draft in the hope he figures out how to score? Sure. <br><br><b>26. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26076/trevor-mbakwe" class="sbn-auto-link">Trevor Mbakwe</a></b></p>
<p>Mbakwe started his NCAA career during the Bush administration, so there isn't a lot of upside. That said, a contending team looking to add some rebounding and efficient scoring off the bench should probably pick him up. Mbakwe was one of the best rebounders in the NCAA last year, and that skill is likely to transfer to the NBA, even if nothing else does. Teams may shy away because of his personal issues, but they shouldn't hold out for very long. <br><br><b>27. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100020/jack-cooley" class="sbn-auto-link">Jack Cooley</a> </b><br><br>Seems destined to go undrafted and wind up being a conference finals unsung hero. Like Mbakwe, but with a little less defense and a little less violence, Cooley seems like a good bet to be a solid rebounder in the NBA and not break things on the offensive end. He might be limited to that, as he has extremely limited range, and won't be getting bunnies at the NBA level, but things are going to get pretty dicey at this point in the draft, so I'll take the bankable skill. <br><br><b>28. Dennis Schroeder </b><br><br>Something of a sensation because of his sexy scouting videos, but I am not convinced. His outside shooting is good (if not erratic), but his A/TO ratio pales in comparison to other prospects. He plays like an SG, and is very undersized for that endeavor. One thing I do like is that he limits his game to three pointers and shots close to the rim. An adherent to the <span>James Harden</span> philosophy interests me, even if the talent level isn't quite as high. Definitely worth a stab, but I think he'll be picked too high. <br><br><b>29. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101126/nate-wolters" class="sbn-auto-link">Nate Wolters</a></b><br><br>From the "can you believe the numbers" case files, I present to you Nate Wolters. You know the drill. Prolific, efficient scoring against a bunch of dudes who will be English Teachers and engineers in a couple of years. Here's what I like about him. He's 6'5, doesn't turn the ball over or foul (while doing a lot on both ends of the court) and he played 38.5 minutes per game last season. How many prospects put themselves on the line like that? <br><br><b>30. Shabazz Muhammed </b><br><br>Shamu was enormously disappointing at UCLA. His father is a lunatic. He lied about his age, which calls into question his dominating high school performances. My initial reaction was that maybe all the heat surrounding his NBA destiny had become such a distraction, and his coaching situation so miserable, that he simply couldn't perform well. <br><br>That said, dudes who shoot as much as Muhammed really control their own fate. This isn't like <span>Andre Drummond</span>, who watched helplessly while <span>Jeremy Lamb</span> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123385/shabazz-napier" class="sbn-auto-link">Shabazz Napier</a> chucked long threes early in the shot clock as an interim coach gazed at cheerleaders. I think it's just very likely Muhammed is a decent player who happens to be overhyped. <br><br>Stay tuned for Round 2. Or, as I call it, the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100746/jamal-olasewere" class="sbn-auto-link">Jamal Olasewere</a> show!</p>
https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/6/10/4402884/2013-nba-draft-big-board-first-roundKevin Sawyer2013-05-25T17:27:49-04:002013-05-25T17:27:49-04:00Counterpoint: Detroit should not trade Greg Monroe
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<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp suggests Detroit should draft Cody Zeller, and that such a move could make Greg Monroe expendable. The supporting logic is a few cards short of a full deck.</p> <p>"<i>A bird in hand is better than two in the bush.</i>" This proverb rings especially true for the NBA draft, although the proportion is a bit more dramatic. General managers, scouts, media personalities and fans often overvalue draft prospects when compared to existing NBA talent, and the 2013 NBA Draft is no different. Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press recently joined the club by <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20130522/COL08/305220029/drew-sharp-detroit-pistons-nba-draft-lottery">suggesting that a draft selection of Cody Zeller could make Detroit's Greg Monroe expendable</a>, and that the latter should be traded in turn:</p>
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<p>Zeller would have a higher upside than Monroe at a much cheaper price. Zeller already has the midrange offensive game Monroe still lacks. Pairing Zeller with Drummond would improve floor spacing and create potential matchup difficulties because Zeller’s midrange shooting ability would force an opposing big away from the basket.</p>
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<p>While Sharp's sentiment is fair, he's broken a fair amount of logic to make these assumptions. First, he's comparing the upside of a proven NBA player to an unproven, not-yet-drafted college prospect. Second, he's operating on poor information about Zeller's ability. Third, he's ignoring Monroe's superior college showing, his potential for range and the spacing value of high-post passing. Finally, he has implied that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a> should make both of these moves for an improved fit with a guy who has only started 10 NBA games to date. There's also the ill-conceived assumption that Greg Monroe has reached his peak, and the implication that Detroit can find the right return in a trade with his rookie-scale contract.</p>
<p align="center"><b>"Zeller would have a higher upside than Monroe at a much cheaper price."</b></p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link">Too chez: </span><span>Darko Milicic</span> would have a higher upside than <span>Ben Wallace</span> at a much cheaper price. Forgive my hyperbolic analogy for a moment and consider the point it illustrates. Sharp has compared a player who has not even played a minute of summer league to a guy who joined <span>Tim Duncan</span>, <span>David Lee</span> and <span>Dwight Howard</span> in <a href="http://bkref.com/tiny/9LtXj">a group of five elite offensive big men</a> that averaged 16 and 10 or more at Greg's efficiency level last season. Greg is the youngest in that group by 5 years. By comparison, Sharp is not even talking about a top draft prospect, he's suggesting this late lottery pick has greater potential. Without playing a single second in the NBA, isn't it a bit risky (and unfair to Greg Monroe) to pencil in Cody Zeller in a group where everyone other than Greg is a multiple All Star in the worst case or a multiple MVP in the best case?</p>
<p>Who knows, there might be a second round pick in this draft that ultimately has a higher career arc than Greg Monroe. With that, Sharp may not be wrong. But to compare the two players now, and to declare Cody Zeller the higher upside player is not only foolish and presumptive, it's also quite dismissive of the accomplishments of Greg Monroe.</p>
<p align="center"><b>"Zeller already has the midrange offensive game Monroe still lacks."</b></p>
<p>As I mentioned above, Sharp is operating on poor information to make this statement. In his sophomore season, Cody Zeller only attempted 24 jump shots in 36 games. That's less than one per game on average, and a tiny shred of a sample even if we assume Zeller made every single jumper. To suggest this is a defined competency that Zeller will bring to the NBA is either untruthful or just ignorant of the hard numbers. 24 shots is about as many as Cody Zeller might attempt in pre-game shoot-around, it is far from conclusive evidence of ability.</p>
<p>In fact, if we're making declarative statements about tiny amounts of data, let's take the last 30 three-to-fifteen foot jumpers Greg Monroe shot in 2012-13. His 42% shooting over those last 30 is above the league average for power forwards, but I doubt I'll hear anyone rushing to his defense on such a tiny sample. Doing so would be inconclusive and pointless-- just as inconclusive and pointless as making assertions about Cody Zeller's midrange jumper.</p>
<p align="center"><b>"Zeller ... would improve floor spacing and create potential matchup difficulties because Zeller’s midrange shooting ability would force an opposing big away from the basket."</b></p>
<p>Having freshly poked holes in the assertion that 24 shots in a year makes a midrange shooter, there's a second flaw in the above statement by omission. Sharp omitted <span>Greg Monroe's</span> passing game, a rare ability that provides floor spacing with a similar value to mid-range shooting. Greg Monroe averaged roughly as many assists per game as he did shot attempts from 3 to 15 feet. When operating in the high post, Monroe's defender is pulled out of the paint to facilitate cuts to the basket and perimeter shots from players moving off-the-ball. It's a central element of the Princeton-style offense Monroe practiced in Georgetown, and it was used last season effectively to create floor spacing for penetration and easy buckets off of the pass from Greg.</p>
<p>The question of what is more valuable -- high post passing vs. midrange 2-point shooting -- is a philosophical discussion but from where I sit, I'll opt for the pass. There's an argument to be had for the value of 3-point shooting from a stretch big, but the same doesn't hold true for big men who shoot long 2's. Long 2-point shots are low quality shots that connect at less than 40% on average and they rarely get whistled for an extra point. Passing from midrange is a better alternative because the players attempting the shots are usually cutting to the basket (and potentially picking up a shooting foul) or attempting a spot-up three-pointer. The passing big usually finds <span class="sbn-auto-link">the open</span> man a higher percentage shot that brings home 3-points instead of just two, and converts at a better clip. The one counterargument is the potential for a turnover from a bad pass, but in our examples, Greg Monroe only averaged half a turnover a game more than Zeller did in pace-adjusted, even minutes.</p>
<p align="center"><b>"Pairing Zeller with Drummond"</b></p>
<p>The logical flaw here is one of implication. Sharp implies that Detroit should make these moves, a draft pick of Cody Zeller and a trade of Greg Monroe, to present a better pairing with Andre Drummond. The excitement about Andre Drummond is warranted, but it should be guarded. Sharp is suggesting rather drastic changes to the Detroit Pistons to fit around a guy who started only 10 games last season, who missed a good chunk of the season with a back injury, and is a long-term work-in-progress on the offensive end. The implication here, and I'm paraphrasing, is that Drummond is the centerpiece and despite only a fraction of playing time together, Greg Monroe is an unsatisfactory fit and should be traded.</p>
<h3 align="center"><b>Patience, Pistons Faithful</b></h3>
<p>Greg Monroe has earned plenty of time to determine how well he can handle the role of a power forward. There is no rush nor reason to pass judgment on his ability thus far. Even as the Pistons approach the negotiation of a contract extension with Monroe, they should see a post-rookie max contract as a very tradeable value. Players like <span>Roy Hibbert</span> and <span>LaMarcus Aldridge</span> and others were hot commodities even after the ink was dry on their $13M starting salaries. Big men who can score efficiently and rebound strongly are a rare commodity, a commodity with a cap value higher than the post-rookie max will allow. Detroit should not feel it necessary to trade Monroe to avoid that level of commitment, because players of his production deserve that kind of commitment. His skill, his upside, his age and durability command that kind of commitment.</p>
<p>If Andre Drummond does indeed become a dominant All Star player, and Greg Monroe does not ultimately pan out at power forward, the Pistons can make that decision when it has enough information to do so. It doesn't yet have that information, and it's in no rush to make knee-jerk decisions in the mean time. I, for one, feel no reason to rush based on Cody Zeller's 24 sophomore jump shots or <span>Andre Drummond's</span> 10 career starts. I feel Greg Monroe deserves a lot more credit and faith than many fans -- and apparently sports writers -- have honored him with to date.</p>
https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/5/25/4365668/counterpoint-pistons-should-absolutely-not-trade-greg-monroeMike Payne2013-05-22T17:00:36-04:002013-05-22T17:00:36-04:00Should the Pistons trade down or out?
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<figcaption>I, too, have a headache. | USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Detroit has received the #8 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft Lottery. Is this range right for Detroit, or should the team consider trading down or out for lower picks, future picks or talent?</p> <p>Chances are, the most promising players in the 2013 NBA Draft will be off the board when Detroit picks at #8. After a disappointing result in the draft lottery, Detroit is not likely to have a shot at Victor Oladipo, Trey Burke, Otto Porter or Ben McLemore. While there is value to be found in Detroit's draft range, it's hard to expect this value to match Detroit's primary needs of starting-caliber talent on the wing. The question Detroit's front office will need to examine now is whether this pick has more value on the trade market than it will on draft night. In short, should Detroit trade its #8 pick?</p>
<p>Before we explore a few trade opportunities, we should consider Detroit's needs this year and beyond. Detroit will need to use draft picks, trades and free agent signings to find a starting-caliber point guard, shooting guard and small forward. The team will have the greatest opportunity to make these acquisitions within the next two years, when it has two consecutive cap space windfalls including two large expiring contracts. Unfortunately, Detroit will need to forfeit its lottery pick to Charlotte next season if the team wins a few more games next season, which is a very likely scenario. In total, by trading this pick, Detroit should aim to acquire more picks, preferably including a 2014 first round pick. Detroit should also attempt to use its cap space to absorb salary to facilitate these trades.</p>
<h3 align="center">Draft Pick Swap Scenarios</h3>
<p align="center"><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a>: Trading Down and Adding Talent</b></p>
<p>The Phoenix Suns ended the 2012-13 NBA season with a worse record than Detroit. The Suns will have roughly $5M in available salary this summer, with no significant cap savings until 2014. Their only real opportunity to improve this summer is in the draft, and they only have one valuable pick to do so. Detroit's #8 pick and an additional $8M in cap space (for a total of $13M in available salary) would provide Phoenix with greater draft and free agent opportunities-- and combined assets similar to what Houston used last summer to acquire <span>James Harden</span>.</p>
<p><i>Phoenix Acquires</i>: the #8 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.</p>
<p><i>Detroit Acquires</i>: the rights to Miami's #30 pick in 2013, the rights to Minnesota's 2014, 2015 or 2016 lottery pick (top 13, 12 and 12 protected respectively) and <span>Marcin Gortat</span>.</p>
<p><i>Detroit's gain</i>: Detroit effectively trades the #8 pick for a #30 pick, a #14 pick and the expiring salary of productive big man Marcin Gorat. When Detroit receives the #14 pick will depend largely on when both <span>Kevin Love</span> and <span>Ricky Rubio</span> register a healthy season, which is a risk, but if that doesn't pan out Detroit will end up with two second round picks in 2017. Marcin Gortat has several values for Detroit-- he acts as a financial placeholder that moves $8M in expiring salary to next summer or he becomes a trade asset for deadline deals in February. Gortat is also very productive, a talent worthy of the starting lineup and a great option behind <span>Andre Drummond</span>. If Detroit can sell Gortat into a mid-level deal for a few years after 2013-14, this would be a great way to start that process.</p>
<p><i>Phoenix's gain</i>: Phoenix adds a second lottery pick in the 2013 draft, adds another $8M in available salary and only gives up pick rights in the process, not their own picks. While Phoenix would likely be reticent to give up Marcin Gortat, they face losing him next summer without a talent return in the process. For the Suns, this move would be an opportunity to explore a larger trade that acquires a top draft pick this year, an All Star caliber player or, at worst, it gives them two picks and enough cap space for a post-rookie max contract.</p>
<p>(<i>I have vetted this trade with the people at SB Nation's Suns blog, who largely support the proposal.</i>)</p>
<p align="center"><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a>: Adding Picks and Salary</b></p>
<p>The Mavericks<a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4696123/sources-mavs-trying-to-trade-no-13-overall-pick"> are apparently interested</a> in trading their #13 pick in the 2013 draft without returning any salary. They are interested in trimming cap space in order to make a run at <span>Dwight Howard</span> in free agency. Detroit can help by absorbing this pick's cap hold and taking on salary, which would allow Detroit to try and acquire an additional pick from Dallas.</p>
<p><i>Dallas Acquires</i>: $11M in cap 2013-14 cap savings</p>
<p><i>Detroit Acquires</i>: Dallas' #13 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Dallas' second round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and <span>Shawn Marion</span>.</p>
<p><i>Detroit's Gain</i>: Like the trade that receives Marcin Gortat above, this trade would effectively be a cap space placeholder to move money to the next free agent class, or present a trade asset for the 2014 February deadline. It's a pricey acquisition for a player who doesn't have much on-court value left, so Detroit's primary interest is the 2013 lottery pick and an additional second rounder for 2014.</p>
<p><i>Dallas' Gain</i>: Dallas clears an additional $11M in cap space in 2013, giving the team enough space to offer Dwight Howard a max deal and fill a few additional roles in free agency.</p>
<p align="center"><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Utah Jazz</a>: Advanced Pick Swap</b></p>
<p>Utah's needs are similar to Detroit, in that they have two gifted young big men and a troubled backcourt. They were reportedly once very interested in Brandon Knight, which Detroit may be able to take advantage of in a trade. If Utah is interested in moving up and acquiring Knight, Detroit might be able to swap for a pick in this draft and add another next year.</p>
<p><i>Utah Acquires</i>: Detroit's #8 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Brandon Knight</p>
<p><i>Detroit Acquires</i>: Utah's #14 pick in 2013, Utah's first round pick in 2014.</p>
<p><i>Detroit's Gain</i>: Detroit moves back very little in the 2013 lottery range, while picking up a first round pick in 2014, a round it may otherwise have to sit out. Utah would likely add protections to their 2014 pick. Note that Detroit would also save $3.6M in 2013 salary.</p>
<p><i>Utah's Gain</i>: Utah moves up in the 2013 draft, keeps their additional first round pick and acquires a young prospect at their greatest position of need. Utah doesn't make a habit of parting with first round picks, but this is one scenario where they might be inclined to do so.</p>
<p>(<i>Fans of Brandon Knight may naturally be hesitant about this trade proposal. I feel that Detroit should explore any opportunity they can to bring in a first round pick next summer. If things go well in 2013-14, they'll have a pick to help address any remaining roster holes. If things go poorly, they will have two first round picks to use or package in a greater deal. In my eyes, <span>Brandon Knight's</span> value is absolutely worth that kind of flexibility for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Pistons</a>.</i>)</p>
<p align="center"><b>Other Opportunities</b></p>
<p align="left">The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> have the 19th pick in 2013 in addition to their lucky #1. They have two additional first round picks in 2015, one from Miami, one from Memphis, and a slew of second rounders as well. Detroit may have an opportunity to turn its #8 pick into several late first rounders, but the payoff may be too far in the future for Detroit to part with this pick. If Detroit would consider taking on salary, like <span>Anderson Varejao</span> should Cleveland select Nerlens Noel, Detroit might be able to try for Cleveland's own future first rounder with protections. There's not a lot to love here despite Cleveland's slew of picks. It's also tough to say which young assets Cleveland would part with for a pick, and that conversation might need to include Detroit's own young assets-- which Detroit really only has two of.</p>
<p align="left">The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> has two first round picks in the 2013 draft, including their own #29 pick and the #12 pick from Toronto. Detroit might be able to swap for those two picks straight up, as the cap holds work out to be roughly the same and OKC has less need for development options. What's more, Detroit could make this trade without taking on salary or giving up additional picks or players, which would allow Detroit the continued flexibility to make trades with teams like Dallas, giving Detroit multiple picks to re-package.</p>
<p align="left">The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> have picks 17 and 18 in the 2013 draft, and may be interested in trading these to move up toward Detroit's range. If Detroit could add these two picks and move one for a 2014 first round pick, it may let the team spread out its draft flexibility across two draft classes.</p>
<p align="center"><b>Summary</b></p>
<p align="left">Trading down from Detroit's #8 pick in the 2013 draft does present a few interesting opportunities. If Detroit has a chance to trade back in to the 2014 first round while keeping a pick in this year's first round, that may be best for the team going forward. Given that the clear top five in this draft may be off the board by #8, it makes the sting of parting with a high pick all the more manageable.</p>
<p align="left">Ultimately, the reason to explore the market for swapping picks is to make sure the team is poised for the playoffs after the summer of 2014. If the result of Detroit's moves this summer doesn't improve the team's record, the Pistons would have two first round picks, two large expiring contracts and additional cap space to make a massive push next summer. If the team improves after this summer, it will still have a first round pick to fill a need next summer if it executes one of the above trades. These aren't exciting trades, but they each present a means to an end-- a greater push in the future with newly acquired assets. It's either that... or Shabazz Muhammad.</p>
<p align="left">For now, if you could swap Detroit's #8 pick for another pick in this draft or the next, who would you target by trade? In a forthcoming article, we'll explore Detroit's options of packing this pick with other existing assets to bring back talent by trade.</p>
https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/5/22/4356296/nba-draft-rumors-should-detroit-swap-its-8-pickMike Payne2013-05-16T10:11:16-04:002013-05-16T10:11:16-04:00Cody Zeller's DBB scouting report
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<figcaption>Andy Lyons</figcaption>
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<p>Leading up to the draft lottery, members of the Detroit Bad Boys staff will weigh in on the Detroit Pistons' draft prospects. We continue with Indiana's Cody Zeller. Should the Pistons draft him?</p> <h4>What would Zeller bring to the Pistons?</h4>
<p><b>Shinons*: </b>Brandan Wright is a trending favorite among DBBers as a free agency target. Zeller would bring many of the same qualities that Wright does. Efficient, versatile scoring with mediocre rebounding. The biggest difference is the defensive end, where Wright's length helps him as a shot-blocking threat. The only area where he really stands out is in getting to the line, which he does more than 7 times per game and converts 75% of the time.</p>
<p><b>Mike Payne: </b>A productive offensive big man with room to grow. His ability to draw contact and convert well at the line makes him more valuable than he might appear at first glance.</p>
<p><b>Ben Gulker: </b>If his game transitions to the NBA successfully, everything an NBA team would want in a big man. He scores the ball efficiently even while being responsible for creating his own shots, both from the post and facing up. He's great on the boards, and he blocks shots. He's also a very good free throw shooter for a big man, and he's excellent at getting to the line to boot. He's also got all that intangibly stuff the scouts like, and in this case, it's paid off big time on the court.</p>
<p><b>Sean Corp: </b>A whirling dervish energy that is perfectly suited to a sixth-man role and could prove infectious to his teammates and help get the crowd pumped up. Think Walter Hermann, Jonas Jerebko or Will Bynum. He will play hard, he will play smart and he will find a way to get the ball into the basket. I'm not sure how others feel about him but I have a feeling I'm a bigger Zeller supporter than most. I just feel like he has the instincts and craftiness to score in the NBA and that his lack of strength and size won't be as much of an issue as people fear, at least on the offensive end. I feel like he could be a perfect sixth man in Detroit and those types of players have value. He attempted 259 free throws last season, one of the best marks for big men in college basketball. That tells me a lot about his basketball instincts.</p>
<p><b>Kevin Sawyer: </b> Efficient scoring. As a bona fide first options, Zeller registered a solid 62% TS his sophomore year. Zeller has a sophisticated arsenal of offensive moves, and is adept at getting to the line. As a 20 year old 7 footer, he has the size and the time to develop into an even more dominating player on the offensive end.</p>
<h4>Biggest red flag?</h4>
<p><b>Shinons*: </b>His tiny arms. When's the last time we've seen a legitimate seven footer with only a 6'8 wingspan? Still though, this could play out to be a positive though as he could be dubbed a T-Rex. Or perhaps Z-Rex?</p>
<p>Really though, combined with his lack of athleticism, it definitely impacts his finishing and rebounding ability and limits his upside at the next level.</p>
<p><b>Mike Payne: </b>There aren't really any pronounced risks with Cody Zeller. He looks like a pretty effective package without the exciting shot-blocking and athleticism.</p>
<p><b>Ben Gulker: </b>There are some legitimate questions about how well his game will translate to the NBA, seemingly derived from some concerns about his wingspan. At the NCAA level, this was unnoticeable; in almost every game he played, he was the most dominant big man on the floor by a wide margin. Obviously, we'll know more about his measurables shortly, but I'd argue it would be better to analyze how big he has played than how big he measures. Here's a quick plug for some statistical analysis I think is pretty good - <a href="http://shutupandjam.net/draft-rankings/" target="_blank">Zeller ranks sixth overall</a>.</p>
<p><b>Sean Corp: </b>His lack of size, particularly his lack of lower body strength concerns me. I think he might get eaten alive by low-post players in the NBA. He doesn't seem to have the body type that is going to allow him to bulk up in a major way so he is destined to get pushed around down low, give up position and high-percentage scoring opportunities. That might prevent him from being a starter in the NBA but I do think there is a place for him on the bench and in the rotation.</p>
<p><b>Kevin Sawyer: </b>His rebounding and defensive numbers were unremarkable, especially for someone his height. Team's should be concerned about his lack of improvement. Indeed, he seemed to demonstrate his eye-popping 67% TS from his freshman season was something of a fluke. While he cut down on fouls, he compensated by increasing turnovers. For someone whose value lies entirely in his offensive efficiency, that's a bad thing.</p>
<p>It's also really difficult to forget just how bad Tyler Zeller was this season, though that probably isn't fair?</p>
<h4>On a scale of 1/10, how would you feel about Zeller joining the roster?</h4>
<p><b>Shinons*: </b>4/10. When you watch Zeller, you don't see the appeal. You see him go for long stretches making no impact in any aspect of the game and when he does realize that he needs to assert himself, he does something awkward that results in him being blocked or falling weirdly. You shake your head. But you watch IU go on to win, and you check the box score and see that Zeller has 16 points on 10 shots, 8 boards, and a couple blocks, steals, and assists. Where did that come from?</p>
<p>Zeller's being underrated as a prospect. Indiana's record went to 10-21 and 12-20 before Zeller to 27-9 and 29-7 with him. He's not an exciting player, but he's effective.</p>
<p><b>Mike Payne: </b>4/10. He'd be a nice backup big man, but the Pistons should try to address that in free agency. Detroit would be wise to spend their draft pick on a position of need.</p>
<p><b>Ben Gulker: </b>I'm going to go quite a bit higher than (I think) a lot of DBB'ers would go: 8/10. Here's why:</p>
<p>First of all, the stats suggest he's going to be a good NBA big man. Immediate production seems likely, starting-caliber production in time equally so. So even if my trade scenarios (detailed below) are fantasy, the worst-case scenario is a three-headed monster of a big man rotation up front. Obviously, the Pistons need to address shooting guard and small forward desperately, but as it stands, there isn't much depth behind Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe either. Zeller's athleticism grants him the versatility necessary to be successful at either big position depending on match ups, so he could spell either position with thoughtful rotation planning, and be paired with either Drummond or Monroe depending on match ups.</p>
<p>Now, the trade scenario. I'll be doing some more analysis on this later this spring, but here's the short version: all signs point to the Pistons being conservative in free agency this summer and retaining some of their cap space going into trade season so that they can absorb more contracts coming in than going out.</p>
<p>Typically, a player on a rookie-scale contract can only return a player on a similar contract; that won't apply to Detroit if Dumars does as he's hinted. In that scenario, it isn't difficult to imagine trade built around a lottery-caliber player like Zeller (say Zeller + Knight for fun) that brings back 2-3 players at positions of need, and maybe future draft considerations as well.</p>
<p>This would be the type of salary cap management that is making Daryl Morey a cult legend. Whether or not Joe has the freedom to pursue that type of long-viewed approach is unknown.</p>
<p><b>Sean Corp: </b>8/10. He could be the first big man off the bench right away (YHIHF). He does a lot of what Jonas Jerebko does but with more traditional power forward skills. And while he was never asked to shoot from the perimeter in college (only attempted 24 jump shots), he has a good shooting stroke and I think could add that to his arsenal in the NBA, which would help him utilize his quickness and driving ability against the much bigger players in the NBA. He might never be a starter in the NBA but that shouldn't disqualify him from being a top-10 pick in this draft. If my choice was between Zeller and Shabazz Muhammad or CJ McCollum I would probably pick Zeller.</p>
<p><b>Kevin Sawyer: </b> 3. I'm not a fan. If you are going to go for a big man who scores efficiently, but doesn't rebound or block shots, my preference would be Kelly Olynyk, who led all prospects in shooting efficiency with a higher usage rate. At best, you've got Brook Lopez. Pass.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Wvb2SNJ9T4w"></iframe></p>
<p>Now, your thoughts.</p>
https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/5/16/4335588/nba-draft-2013-mock-cody-zeller-dbb-scouting-reportPackey2013-05-15T22:54:22-04:002013-05-15T22:54:22-04:00Nerlens Noel's DBB scouting report
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gDWsTQcX4DIvCChweTfsnFFtYDU=/642x260:2665x1609/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13206619/20130301_kkt_sf6_402.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Leading up to the draft lottery, members of the Detroit Bad Boys staff will weigh in on the Detroit Pistons' draft prospects. We continue with Kentucky's Nerlens Noel. Should the Pistons draft him?</p> <h4>What would Nerlens Noel bring to the Pistons?</h4>
<p><b>Shinons*: </b>How would you like to have the most exciting team in the league? One that leads the league annually in blocks, steals, and rebounds? One that features a potentially historically good defense? Even better than the Bad Boys or Going to Work eras? That's how highly I think of Noel.</p>
<p>This guy put up a combined 6.5 blocks and steals. He is the best defensive playmaking prospect I'm aware of. Davis last year had 6.1. Before these two, the next best that I can think of was <span>Jarvis Varnado</span>, who put up 5.4 his senior year. This number, 6.5, it's unbelievable.</p>
<p><b>Mike Payne: </b>A defensive force in the paint, a shot blocker of the purest form in a very wiry, fragile frame. Think <span>Marcus Camby</span> in the best case, <span>Hasheem Thabeet</span> without the resume in the worst case.</p>
<p><b>Sean Corp: </b>An elite shotblocker, rebounder and defender. The best big man trio in the NBA. The best player in the 2013 NBA Draft. The ability to completely take away the paint from the opposing team. A high top fade that puts <span>Iman Shumpert</span> to shame.</p>
<p><b>Kevin Sawyer:</b> Defense. Lot's of it. Noel's defensive numbers are off the charts against top tier competition. He easily led prospects in block rate, and is top three in terms of steals. And he did it without fouling at a particularly high rate. He has the potential to be a once-in-a-decade defensive talent. Those only come along once per decade!</p>
<p><b></b></p>
<h4>Biggest Red Flag?</h4>
<p><b>Mike Payne:</b> The ACL injury doesn't help. His frame doesn't either-- he makes <span>Anthony Davis</span> look like <span>DeJuan Blair</span>.</p>
<p><b>Shinons*: </b>Certainly, it's his ACL tear. He'll almost certainly be out past the All Star break, and it's always a risk any time you draft a player who's injured. Will he be back with the same explosiveness? I certainly think so, but it's definitely the biggest red flag that he comes with.</p>
<p>One might suggest that the potential of three big men worthy of max contracts would be the biggest. I think three franchise players would be a great problem to have.</p>
<p><b>Sean Corp: </b>Dude tore his ACL. For a player that relies so much on their athletic ability anything that might rob him of that is a concern.</p>
<p><b>Kevin Sawyer: </b>I think people are underestimating the knee issue. He's slated to miss much of next season recovering. From there, he'll still be on the rookie learning curve. Worse, it often happens that players who suffer injuries to one knee suffer a similar injury to the other. Say the other ACL goes his second season. A team might be investing four seasons in him, only to have another team clear cap room and swoop in with a huge offer.</p>
<p>There is also the curious lack of rebounding. He wasn't terrible, but his rebounding rate is on par with potential stiff Alex Len. That attribute can develop slowly in freshmen, however, and his athletic numbers and measurements indicate it's a matter if when, not if, he can dominate on the glass.</p>
<p><b></b></p>
<p><b></b></p>
<h4>On a scale of 1/10, how would you feel about Nerlens Noel joining the roster?</h4>
<p><b>Mike Payne:</b> 5/10. Obviously, he has a pretty remarkable talent. However, he doesn't fill a need in Detroit, he's already torn his ACL and it may take several years before he has the mass to man the NBA five. If Detroit didn't have <span>Andre Drummond</span>, he'd be a lot more attractive.</p>
<p><b>Shinons*:</b> An enthusiastic 10. I'm hoping like crazy that he's the guy who inexplicably falls this year, that teams scare themselves away over nonsense like the lack of pre-draft workouts or not getting the summer league. Noel can establish an identity for the Pistons as an elite defensive team with the best young frontcourt in the league. It's extremely unlikely to happen, but that's not going to stop me from getting excited over the thought.</p>
<p><b>Sean Corp:</b> 6/10. I almost placed this in the red flag section but it fits here too. If you draft Noel could you ever confidently stick Andre Drummond and Noel on the court together at the same time? Neither has a jump shot or much of an offensive game other than being able to finish at the rim. The defenders of both players would just collapse toward the basket and take away the driving ability of both. That being said, Noel is a difference maker on defense and on the glass and the Pistons need a defensive minded big man to join their rotation.</p>
<p><b>Kevin Sawyer: </b> 8. He doesn't fit a need, and the knee injury is of particular concern to the Pistons, who have the chance to make a real leap toward contention this year. For those reasons, he drops to 4th or 5th on my wish list. Still, if he's the guy who drops on draft night, it would be silly not to take a chance on him.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7E3ZFRmXo08" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Now, your thoughts.</p>
https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/5/15/4335502/nba-draft-2013-nerlens-noels-dbb-scouting-reportPackey2013-05-10T08:59:23-04:002013-05-10T08:59:23-04:00Anthony Bennett's DBB scouting report
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Leading up to the draft lottery, members of the Detroit Bad Boys staff will weigh in on the Detroit Pistons' draft prospects. We continue with UNLV's Anthony Bennett, who just last month was mocked by NBADraft.net and DraftExpress to go to the Pistons. Should the Pistons draft him if he's available?</p> <h4>What would Bennett bring to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Pistons</a>?</h4>
<p><b>Shinons*: </b>A perimeter threat who would fit alongside either Monroe or Drummond. Athletic with an efficient inside-out game, Bennett would be a nice offensive weapon. He used his impressive wingspan to become a strong rebounder, and put up solid numbers in an underrated conference. Also, if we drafted him I could insist on calling him Tony Bennett and ask him to sing I Left My Heart in San Francisco.</p>
<p><b>Mike Payne: </b>A shorter, chunkier <span>Charlie Villanueva</span>.</p>
<p><b>Sean Corp: </b>The lack of size and long wingspan that Joe Dumars apparently loves so much. Bennett is the classic tweener -- a burly body without the size or low-post moves to play down low in the NBA. So he either has to develop his skills in the post or become more than just a respectable shooter from deep. He's only a freshman and very raw so there is no telling what skills he will be able to develop as he puts miles on his NBA odometer, but it would definitely be a high risk, high reward proposition as I'm not sure he has the talent right now to be an effective NBA player.</p>
<p><b>Kevin Sawyer: </b>A little bit of everything, and a lot of nothing. Bennett was a reasonably efficient shooter and a fairly prolific scorer. His rebounding rate was reasonable for his position, and his defensive stats project solidly, and he has decent range. The latter attribute gives him the potential to create matchup problems. He fits the mold of a stretch four, which is still en vogue in the NBA, I guess.</p>
<h4>Biggest red flag?</h4>
<p><b>Shinons*: </b>Defense. Players like Bennett are attractive as lottery picks because of their mismatch potential. Their athleticism and versatility make folks drool with the mismatch potential on the offensive end. But that same mismatch potential kills them on the defensive end.</p>
<p><b>Mike Payne: </b>Two stand out-- first, his height. He's 6'7", which is barely below average for a small forward let alone a power forward, which is likely his NBA position. Second, he averages a lot more fouls and turnovers than he does assists/steals/blocks (4.3 : 2.8), which might seem a bit arbitrary but I see it as a suggestion that he's pretty one-dimensional. Points and rebounds are great, but they might not scale to the NBA given his height and lack of a clear positional fit.</p>
<p><b>Sean Corp:</b> Lack of defensive knowledge and/or effort. Honestly, when you're 6-foot-8 with the kind of length and athleticism Bennett possesses you should dominate college basketball. Instead Bennett appears to be disinterested in that phase of the game. He gets pushed around by the big guys and gives up way too much space down low and he doesn't have the instincts to cause trouble along the perimeter. The Pistons are hypothetically "going for it" next year and the owner has publicly declared that his wallet is open. That means that Bennett probably wouldn't be able to play through his defensive mistakes and would be buried on the bench. Then all of a sudden the Pistons have yet another raw NBA talent who they refuse to develop.</p>
<p><b>Kevin Sawyer: </b>His size. Sure, he can create matchup problems, but he will become a matchup problem on defense. That's a zero sum game, and recent precedent has not been kind to teams drafting tweener stretch fours. Moreover, I'm just not sure he's that good. His numbers were solid, but unspectacular. He seems like a nice pickup in the middle of the first round, not the potential #1 pick he is projected to be.</p>
<h4>On a scale of 1/10, how would you feel about Bennett joining the roster?</h4>
<p><b>Shinons*: </b>1/10. I don't like him. He feels like Charlie Villanueva, <span>Michael Beasley</span>, or <span>Derrick Williams</span>. Guys like him just never wind up being all that valuable. They tend to be defensive liabilities, not having the fluidity or ball-handling ability to use their athleticism to their advantage offensively, and just turn into shooters - yet not as good of shooters as a prospect who is a "pure shooter." In short, I'd take Erik Murphy ahead of him.</p>
<p><b>Mike Payne: </b>1/10. Detroit doesn't have a need for a shorter, chunkier Charlie Villanueva. Although he has great length, a nice stroke and he can play multiple positions, so he might certainly be on Dumars' radar.</p>
<p><b>Sean Corp: </b>3/10. The Pistons should definitely not be afraid about drafting a big man in the first round. The Pistons are set in the starting lineup but with <span>Jason Maxiell</span> moving on and my hope that Charlie Villanueva and Ktrl-V never see the floor in 2013-14, that means they need another big man to join their frontcourt rotation. They could use an athlete and a shooter and Bennett appears to possess both qualities. He also, it seems, should develop into a quality NBA defender, capable of guarding multiple positions. Bennett could be the steal of the draft or he could be like 90 percent of the big men who declare, tantalize with their measurables and scoring acumen but don't do anything in the league because they don't care about defense.</p>
<p><b>Kevin Sawyer: </b>4. He's a nice piece and the Pistons have a spot for his talents. However, he is clearly a second tier talent. He isn't top five among potential draft picks in any one category. I think he'll be a pretty competent player, but I can't get excited over him.</p>
<p>Now, your thoughts. </p>
https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/5/10/4318362/nba-draft-2013-anthony-bennetts-dbb-scouting-report-mockPackey