shack009 said:
Guitarsoup said:
shack009 said:
https://nbadraft.theringer.com/mock-draft
Kevin O'Connor updated his mock draft today and it is my nightmare scenario for the Mavs.
1. Wemby
2. B Miller
3. Scoot
4. Whitmore
5. Jarace Walker
6. Amen Thompson
7. Hendricks
8. Ausar Thompson
9. Anthony Black
10. Cason Wallace
11. Dick
Most expect Houston at 4 to take a Thompson, but KOC has them taking Whitmore as a better fit to go with Harden. Most people think Detroit at 5 would take Whitmore if he is there, so Houston snagging him moves them to Jarace Walker, who I think the Mavs would love to have.
I thought it was likely Indiana at 7 would decide who the Mavs take, because they would take one of Walker or Hendricks if both are available, then you hope whichever one they don't take makes it past Washington and Utah.
KOC writes that he thinks the Mavs would trade the pick, but that Cason could fit as a good defensive backcourt guy.
God I hope Houston gives Harden 4y200mm and Houston takes a ridiculous upside potential guy that can jump really well rather than guys that are proven 2-way players.
This is interesting. You seem to be implying you don't like Whitmore all that much. I think every mock I have seen has him going before at least one of the Thompson brothers, though I think this may be the first I have seen where he is before both of them.
Would you take both Thompsons over him. what are your thoughts on Whitmore and where he fits in this group of prospects. Early on, I was hoping he could be a guy that would fall to the Mavs, though that seems nearly impossible given how high he has risen in mocks recently.
I haven't watched enough of Nova to really say, but there are always guys that just explode in the combine because of a huge vertical or whatever and end up disappointing.
Whitmore is crazy athletic, but he will be less able to rely on that to dominate in the NBA as he could in college.
He doesn't seem to have any real moves or fundamentals. He isn't a good passer and while his strength and athleticism is good for a defender, he doesn't seems to have the defensive instincts that others have.
I just have a real tough time deciding to take a guy #4 that relies on his athleticism without many real fundamental abilities. He isn't a shooter, he doesn't have low post moves, he takes bad mid-range shots, he isn't a stopper on defense, and he isn't a good passer. Maybe he proves me wrong, but that tends to make me think he is gonna be a ball stopping chucker on offense unless he can run on a team like the
Lob Flop City Clippers.
I think his game will need a lot more work and coaching than some of the other top 10 guys and I would probably take him after Hendricks, maybe both of the twins and Maybe even Walker. I think that Walker has a lower ceiling, but has a much higher floor and will be a better defender 3-5 in the NBA than Whitmore.
Whitmore's shuttle run was 3rd worst at the combine. His 3/4 court sprint was mid. Standing vertical was 31.5. His Max Vertical was 4th best.
His hands are small (2nd smallest of all SF at the combine) and he was 6'5.5 without shoes with a 6'8 wingspan.
Other than max vertical, none is that impressive to me.
I think a 22-win team giving Harden 4y200mm would be worse than trading two early 20s guys that average 8ppg and the 10th pick for a 38yo crybaby. That's real franchise suicide, because you can't move that contract at all.