- The biggest change I’ve made is that I now have Michael Beasley going to the Heat instead of O.J. Mayo. There have been rumblings that Pat Riley thinks that Mayo and Dwyane Wade are too similar, and unless they can trade down to get him and pick up some more assets, they won’t take him at 2. It’s also been written that the Wolves are going to work out Mayo, and my gut feeling is that he will impress them to the point that they don’t feel like they need Beasley.
- Russell Westbrook has replaced D.J. Augustin as the Clippers pick as everything I have read says that Westbrook is the better prospect.
- Rumors are that the Bucks are leaning heavily towards Joe Alexander. This proves once again, that I am smarter than Chad Ford.
- People continue to write that Danilo Gallinari won’t drop below the Nets at #10, but I don’t think the Nets are planning on Anthony Randolph to be there, so I’m sticking with Randolph as the pick.
- Brandon Rush, my initial hope for the Sixers, continues to move up the draft board, and may go even higher. One scout said if he had to pick between Eric Gordon and Rush, he’d have to take Rush. He’d be a great fit in Portland.
- Kosta Koufos is rising up draft boards as well. Can’t say I’d be pleased if the Sixers drafted him, the couple times I’ve seen him play he seemed timid and soft.
- OK, so now the big change in my draft. With D’Andre Jordan, Marreese Speights, Darrell Arthur and JaVale McGee still on the board, the Sixers select J.J. Hickson. Here are my reasons:
1. I am hearing nothing but bad things about Jordan and McGee in their workouts. They are getting killed by Roy Hibbert. It is a general rule of the draft that if you are 7-feet tall, and don’t go Top-10, you just aren’t any good. I thought both of these guys would be workout wonders – they aren’t – and when’s the last time 7-feet tall guys, who don’t work out well and fall out of lottery developed into anything good?
2. I’ve already had Darrell Arthur dropping when I found out he was 6′7” and skinny, but now he’s skipping workouts with out so much as a call to tell the teams he won’t be there. Add character issues to a questionable PF prospect, and he’s dropping more.
3. I stand by what I said about Marreese Speights in earlier write-ups: If he lacks drive and conditioning, I don’t want him on my team.
4. This brings us to Hickson. Hickson strikes me as a PF version of our Thaddeus Young pick last year. He was incredibly efficient and effective as a freshman in the ACC (14.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 59% shooting). He’s skinny for his position, but he is a great athlete who is very versatile. He plays within himself, and doesn’t force shots or foul a lot on D (1.5 blk/g, 1.9 fouls/g). He is not as savvy or basketball smart as Young, but like Young, he’s only 19. He has been working out very well and is one of only a few players the Sixers have worked out. I think he would be a great fit in our system, and like Thad, could be picked higher than many people think.
- Alexis Ajinca takes a huge jump. Apparently he is a freak of nature, like a Tyrus Thomas. Not sure I’d want him on my team given how raw he is, but apparently NBA teams are interested.
- Courtney Lee to the Magic is the hot rumor right now. Productive small-school players tend to be good picks, so I could see that working out for them.
- Roy Hibbert stays in the same place despite rumors of great workouts. I’m just not buying it. By the way, it would really tick me off as a college basketball fan if a player on my team showed up to these NBA workouts in much better shape than they were during the season. What the hell? Couldn’t lose that 15 pounds before the season, Roy? Same goes for Kevin Love.
- Serge Ibaka to the Sonics, so that Mohammed Saer Sene, Johan Petro and Robert Swift have someone else to hang out with.
- Mario Chalmers defense and shooting would fit in well in San Antonio
- Ante Tomic to the Celtics, just to make Dannie mad. “Why would you draft someone who you know will never play in the NBA?” Well – at least it’s better than the Clippers taking Yaroslav Korolev over Danny Granger a couple years back.
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Man, the continuing hate of Hibbert is hilarious. Just getting in shape? Did you watch any Hoyas games this year? Hibbert was slimmed down and moving well all season… check the tapes.
Hibbert would be a good addition to the 6ers. He is smart, has touch around the hoop and is a great passer. Check the stats, his numbers play out well per 40 minutes.
Okay, now I await the Hibbert ridicule…
Keep up the good work, I love this site!!!!!!
LLOYD: No ridicule. Just a difference of opinion.
1. I can vouch for Pete, he is smarter than Chad Ford who doesn’t write anything new whatsoever in his mock draft installments.
2. Lloyd – Our concern with Roy Hibbert is not about his skill level. I watch Big East basketball all season following Nova. It is about his assertiveness, aggression and attitude to get after it that is lacking in my opinion. And I don’t think you see those things in workouts. So what you are left with is a legit 7-footer with nice hands, decent footwork and a soft touch and that can be a bit deceiving. But with that kind of ability he should be a better rebounder in college and not disappear in games during the season which happened more often than it should have.
Good to see another mock draft Pete, keep up the good work. The new season began midway through the second quarter last night, draft is this Thursday, and the deadline for players to opt out of their contracts is next week. Exciting time to be a sixers fan I hope.
Concerning the draft, it really looks like its going to be either Marreese Speights or J.J. Hickson. Both players should be available at 16, so who do we pick? I haven’t seen either one play a full game, but from what I’ve read and seen(Draftexpress and youtube) Speights seems to have considerable more upside. DExpress likened him to Al Jefferson in the best case scenario. Incredibly soft touch, great footwork, and an impressive post game. Drive and conditioning are question marks, but those same questions were asked about Al Jefferon. Pete, I think Speights is a worthy gamble, especially at 16.
Hickson, however, was limited to a Brandon Bass comparison. A small and athletic PF who makes me think of Leon Powe. I love Powe, but I don’t want him as my starting PF…
Well, for guys like Love, they can get in shape because they’re on a strict training regimen that is nearly impossible to do during the school year due to regulations and time and monetary constraints.
I read somewhere that Love has each meal delivered, and is working out about 4-5 hours a day. It’s a lot harder to do that when you have practice regulations, class and whatnot.
Pete,like to make you 2 bets #1 CDR will go before 20! #2 Ask any collage coach that played him,you can’t stop him man on man. thats why everyone zoned mem.with one man on CDR an collaspe on him when he got the ball.We are talking NBA,its made for CDR.
Yeah, if we stay at 16 I like Spreights. Now, I have not seen him play, but he has a real deal NBA PF body, and his advanced stats in college predict a big future. Check out Draft Express for that story. If we can move up, I’d target Love.
Big Turk – I’ll make that bet. I like CDR, but I don’t think he has the upside of many of the players picked ahead of him. He struck me as a “crafty” scorer in college, and that has been backed up so far in his workouts where teams aren’t very impressed with his athleticism. I think the highest he goes is #22 to Orlando. You may be right about your second point, but there are several players (Morrison, Adam) who you could have said that about in college who aren’t very good.
Morty – I did not see a lot of Speights either, and I do agree that he has the body and skill to be a good PF, but I’ve heard questions about his work ethic and drive and when I hear that all I think is Mike Sweetney, Ike Diogu, Melvin Ely, Marcus Haislip, etc… If the concerns about that turn out to be false, I’d be glad to have him.
No thanks on Hibbert, doesnt seem to fit our system at all. Plus then do you move Dalembert? Cause he sure aint playing 4. And I would rather have Dalembert then Hibbert.
What about Kosta Koufas if he falls to us? I think it is possible that he does. I hear that he is killing the other 7 footers from this draft in the workouts. I didnt see him too much this year, so I cant say I am sold.
Pete,work out are potenial.Most all general managers know this.You see college recruits evey day that are always great at practice but can’t bring it to the game.I’ve seen players that can’t Miss in practice, but can’t see the back board at the reel game.Some just can’t handle crowds.George Gervin looked like crap at practice an could be handled with a zone,but in the NBA he was great.Jorden was a very good college player,was slowed a bit by the zone.but was GREAT in the NBA.Players that like to take on other players man to man an can do it EXCELL in the NBA,an thats CDR>
Wow did you just liken CDR to George Gervin and Michael Jordan?
It is well known and documented Jordan was “slowed” by Dean Smith and his 100% team offensive approach. Put Jordan on a team that allowed him to run wild and everyone would have gotten a better idea of what NBA Jordan became while he was in college.
Only person that could stop Jordan is Dean Smith. lol
Dannie-NOt saying hes a M.J. or G.G. but that type of player.He excels in taking defenders one on one in the game.I never seen anyone in college that could handle him man to man. Kevin_ YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY WRIGHT!!!!!!!
I don’t think CDR will go top 20…but he should. Next to Brandon Rush (who IMO should be an automatic top 10 pick) he is the best swingman/SF in this draft. Someone said he is a “crafty” scorer, and I agree, but I don’t think that means that he won’t be able to score on the next level.
Athleticism and individual team workouts are very overrated. Every college player that played in good conferences have a great resume to look at for any scouts…THE ACTUAL GAMES THEMSELVES. All the information you need is watching players in actual competitive games that matter. CDR is not a guy that will wow people in workouts or draft camps…get him on the court, he can blow by anyone with his first step, can shoot the rock, can flat out score, and is unselfish.
As for Hibbert…Bill Simmons has used the term “underrated-overrated” talking about guys like Josh Howard who were once underrated, and now are overrated because they got too much recognition. I think Hibbert is the opposite…he’s overrated-underrated.
He suffered from getting way too much exposure when his game was far more raw. He’s always had the same weaknesses: not authoritative, not a dominant scorer, slow as molasses, etc. That said, he’s definitely become a crafty college veteran. He has really worked his butt off to turn himself into a basketball player, and not just a raw big man. His all around game is great…he plays smart, is a great passer, and shockingly has developed nice footwork and an array of post moves on the block. He’s no NBA starter, but I’d definitely use a 2nd round pick on Hibbert to have a quality backup C for 15 mpg.
Out of Arthur, McGee, Speights, Koufos, Greene…I think Speights is by far the best pick. If it were a proven solid guy with a great attitude vs. a more skilled guy that doesn’t have great work ethic…I’ll always choose the mature one. But in this case…ALL of these players have question marks and are unproven. So I say go with Speights.
I don’t know why anyone would comment on a guy’s talent without having seen him play…this guy is a REALLY talented scorer on the block. If he righted his attitude this guy could really turn himself into one of those beefy beasts in the paint…something we obviously sorely lack. Greene is in love with the 3 ball and you couldn’t pay him to go near the block, Koufos is very skilled but far too finesse, McGee is flat out raw and not at all ready for the NBA, and Arthur, while I like him a lot, is a bit of a tweener. I say go for the 6′10 guy with the post game. Arthur is my 2nd choice, Hickson my 3rd, Hendrix my 4th.
Espn just put up some videos of all the draft prospects and I have to admit, CDR is interesting… Could we get him and Speights?
Koufos- No thanks. Is a little too “Frederic Weis-y” to me.
Hibbert- Very good, but doesn’t fit the Sixers’ system. He’d be a far better fit somewhere like Cleveland or Utah, where they don’t run as much.
CDR=Adam Morrison, but with less shooting ability.
Speights= Derrick Coleman, but with less pure talent and way less shooting ability.
Hickson is intriguing. I like high-energy guys at the 4, but I usually only want that if you’ve got a scoring center…which we don’t.
Mostly…there really isn’t a guy at 16 I like. I used to think Love was the guy, and with all the trash people were talking about him at the end of the season I thought MAYBE we’d have a shot at him at 16, but those hopes were dashed with every board, three and block in the tournament.
What I would try is to sign Brand and draft a guy like Chalmers or Courtney Lee.
ZACK: I thought you might like a peek into the mind of Tony DiLeo regarding our #16 pick….”We have no problem with a project – someone that we feel could use a year or 2,” said DiLeo, who added that the decision to select high school star Lou Williams had been guided by the same principle. “We like our team. We think our players are going to get better over the years. We have cap room to go out and get a free agent. And there is the possibility of a trade. So the player [we take] does not have to come in and be the savior.”
That doesn’t sound so bad, does it? I’m ok with getting 1 impact player via free agency, 1 via trade, and adding for the future via the draft. How about you?
i’ve heard CDR be compared to Rip Hamilton by a few people. if you look at his game the comparison makes alot of sense. he isn’t over athletic and he wont break any ankles with crossovers or what ever, but he can drive by people and get to the basket. he can spot up for the j and shoots at a pretty good efficiency and has good form. he is also a solid defender. detroit would love to get their hands on him but he will most likely be gone before then. i could see him going anywhere from 19-27.
it has been reported that Westbrook has a promise from some team in the middle of the lottery. you can cancle out New York and LAC because they are desperatly trying to move up to grab Mayo. the Bucks and Pacers will not be able to work him out. this leaves the most likley candidate to be charlotte.
its been rumoured that Minn. will be highly interested in moving out of the three spot if Beasley is not available. teams looking to move up are the Clippers, Bucks, and Knicks. the Bucks are willing to give Redd, Williams, Yi, and Villanueva. the Clippers have said noone is untouchable.
Where is Jason Thompson? SI.com says the Rider power forward could go as high as No. 14 to the Warriors.