Look at the 2011 DRAFT.. Kawhi Leonard would be 2nd pick now

[unbreakable]

1 CLE Kyrie Irving
2 MIN Derrick Williams
3 UTA Enes Kanter
4 CLE Tristan Thompson
5 TOR Jonas Valanciunas
6 WAS Jan Vesely :wtf:
7 SAC Bismack Biyombo :confusedshrug:
8 DET Brandon Knight
9 CHA Kemba Walker
10 MIL Jimmer Fredette
11 GSW Klay Thompson
12 UTA Alec Burks
13 PHO Markieff Morris
14 HOU Marcus Morris
15 IND Kawhi Leonard
16 PHI Nikola Vucevic
17 NYK Iman Shumpert
18 WAS Chris Singleton 2.1 .044
19 CHA Tobias Harris 2.7 .089
20 MIN Donatas Motiejunas
21 POR Nolan Smith
22 DEN Kenneth Faried
23 Nicola
24 OKC Reggie Jackson
25 BOS MarShon Brooks
26 DAL Jordan Hamilton
27 NJN JaJuan Johnson
28 CHI Norris Cole
29 SAS Cory Joseph
30 CHI Jimmy Butler
31 MIA Bogan Bogdanovic
32 CLE Justin Harper
33 DET Kyle Singler
34 WAS Shelvin Mack
36 NJN Jordan Williams University of Maryland
37 LAC Trey Thompkins University of Georgia
38 HOU Chandler Parsons :eek:


1. kyrie
2. kawhi leonard
3. kenneth farried
4. chandler parsons
5. tristan thompson

[DMAVS41]

I'd take Klay in the top 5 probably

[roffie]

u could do this for every year.. there are always gems in later rounds that perform better than the top picks

[roffie]

I'd take Klay in the top 5 probably

yea i'll take klay over thompson

not many solid SGs now a days

[RedBlackAttack]

yea i'll take klay over thompson

not many solid SGs now a days
Much rather have Kyrie-Dion-Thompson than Kyrie-Klay-TRob(?). Thompson is quietly averaging 14/11 in the 45 games since Varejao went down and is essentially averaging a double-double for the season. And he's only 21. Savvy pick by Grant.

[InspiredLebowski]

Tobias Harris has been pretty great in Orlando. Skiles is a dumbass for playing Marquis Daniels over him.

[RedBlackAttack]

Said it in another thread earlier today, but this draft turned out to be pretty damn good, considering how maligned it was at the time.

Obviously, you have the one guy who is a potential superstar, which any good draft needs.

But, it is pretty rock solid all the way through. Tristan, Klay, Faried, Leonard, Morris, Shumpert, Parsons, Vucevic and Jimmy Butler have already shown they may be very solid pieces at worst. Then, you have Kanter and Val who have both shown flashes of being the real deal, but just haven't gotten the playing time/experience yet.

Then, you have guys like Williams, Kemba and Knight who may not be lighting it up yet, but they look like they'll be solid professionals for years to come.

Compare this draft to other recent years and it stacks up pretty well.


PS: No way I would take Leonard 2nd overall in this draft. He's a very nice player, but that's going a little too far.

[mrpibb]

You'd have to explain to me how neither Kanter nor Burks make the top 5.

[Dave3]

I still like Valanciunas. Remember this is his rookie year, so comparing him now to Kawhi's sophomore year is a bit unfair. For now though I like him as much as anyone not named Kyrie.

[noob cake]

15.1 pts/5.4 rebs/3.5 ast on 47.7% FG/38.1% 3FT

http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/files/2012/09/chandler-306x203.jpg

[InspiredLebowski]

Remember when Biyombo was the next big thing after that Hoop Summit game? I still think that dude's like 25 and just killed a bunch of high schoolers.

[DMV2]

Give some of them another year or two to see their full potential. A little too early to predict for a lot of them.

[MetsPackers]

Wasn't this the draft Isaiah Thomas was in too? He'd be top 10ish. And I think i'd take Thompson (klay) over Leonard but that's just me

[Sakkreth]

Only Kyrie over Valanciunas for me, so no.

[rmt]

I wish Pop would play Leonard over 36 mins (like most of his draft), but he's had tendonitis in his knees this year. He only playing about 30 mins/game - too little for someone so young - need the minutes to improve.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Only Kyrie over Valanciunas for me, so no.


Leonard >>>> soft ass Euro

[Dave3]

Leonard >>>> soft ass Euro
Calling Valanciunas soft is the equivalent of saying LeBron has no jumper. Don't pretend you have any NBA knowledge if you're just throwing out general statements that don't at all apply to the player.

[madmax]

Leonard >>>> soft ass Euro

:roll:
LMAO, that "soft ass euro" will be owning that big american stiff for years to come...keep dreaming:lol

[MiseryCityTexas]

That's why I sometimes feel that being an NBA scout is the easiest job in the world. These idiots think any damned body has nba potential when they really don't.

[SilkkTheShocker]

LOL at the myth that Jonas is going to be some kind of a stud. ****ing soft.

[B-Easy8]

I would take Kyrie then Big V and Kanter.

Kawhi is an awesome role player but I don't see him ever becoming a star.

[MiseryCityTexas]

Parsons is the player these so-called scouts expected Vesely to be.:oldlol:

[Sakkreth]

Leonard >>>> soft ass Euro

Never watched JV play claims to know that Leonard is better :facepalm

[Dasher]

I'd argue that Kemba is the second best player in this draft, and there is no real reason to keep him out of the top 5, at minimum. He's often the best player on the floor for both teams.

[andremiller07]

Could make a strong argument Nikola V should have gone top #5 as well

[Sakkreth]

I would take Kyrie then Big V and Kanter.

Kawhi is an awesome role player but I don't see him ever becoming a star.

This man gets it.

[kshutts1]

1) Irving
2) JV
3) Kemba
4) Faried
5) Vucevic
6) Kanter
7) Leonhard
8) Butler (maybe I'm biased as a Bulls fan, but looks great so far and he's a two-way player unlike....)
9) Klay
10) Shumpert (pre-injury Shump would be 6.. I assume he will get his "mojo" back, but until he does, he stays here)

Honorable mention: Tristan Thompson, Derrick Williams (never really given a shot in Minn), Knight, Harris, Montiejunas, Cole, Parsons

Irving is in a class by himself. Then 2-5 are lumped together. And lastly, 6-10 are all pretty much interchangeable as well. Obviously just one man's (somewhat uninformed) opinion.

[Nash]

Irving
Faried
Kawhi
Vucevic
Tristan Thompson

[RagaZ]

He will be Top 3ish SF in NBA in 2-3 years time.

[Just2McFly]

If Val got playing time he would be 2nd best

[Rekindled]

1) Irving
2) JV
3) Kemba
4) Faried
5) Vucevic
6) Kanter
7) Leonhard
8) Butler (maybe I'm biased as a Bulls fan, but looks great so far and he's a two-way player unlike....)
9) Klay
10) Shumpert (pre-injury Shump would be 6.. I assume he will get his "mojo" back, but until he does, he stays here)

Honorable mention: Tristan Thompson, Derrick Williams (never really given a shot in Minn), Knight, Harris, Montiejunas, Cole, Parsons

Irving is in a class by himself. Then 2-5 are lumped together. And lastly, 6-10 are all pretty much interchangeable as well. Obviously just one man's (somewhat uninformed) opinion.

parsons and norris cole are in the same group ? :biggums:

parsons should no lower than no.5 on the list, dude is a beast and borderline allstar.

[chips93]

parsons should no lower than no.5 on the list, dude is a beast and borderline allstar.

:biggums:

[All Net]

God parsons was a steal

[Xiao Yao You]

You'd have to explain to me how neither Kanter nor Burks make the top 5.

Haven't gotten the minutes. They'll be moving up the list next year.

[KobeBaRyant]

Faried over Leonard

[SCdac]

Kawhi is definitely sick. Spurs are 8-1 when he scores 17 points or more this season. He's #2 in mpg for the Spurs both this season and last, and leads the team in steals. Probably leads the Spurs in fast break points too (if anybody, he's behind Parker). And he's for sure the best dunker on the team. He's going to be great as he continues to find his place in the league and the Spurs roster evolves.


http://i.minus.com/iwzLKSkZDLSyE.gif

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2306417/KawhiBehindTheBackSlam.gif

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2321387/leonard.gif

[chips93]

maybe its because i love tristan thompson, but anybody else think faried is overrated? hes a good rebounder, but offensively hes pretty bad, and his defense is very uneven

[(e)]

Butler averages 15.5 pts, 8 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk as a starter..and shoots 90% from the free throw line.

He's turned out to be a huge steal at 30. Will likely be Chicago's starting 2 guard next season.

[chips93]

Butler averages 15.5 pts, 8 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk as a starter..and shoots 90% from the free throw line.

He's turned out to be a huge steal at 30. Will likely be Chicago's starting 2 guard next season.

hes only started 10 games

:coleman:

[(e)]

hes only started 10 games

:coleman:
Still turning out to be a great pickup. I'd rather have Butler than half the people that got drafted above him.

[chips93]

Still turning out to be a great pickup. I'd rather have Butler than half the people that got drafted above him.

definitely. If you can get even a rotational player at the 30th pick, you've done well.

[kurple]

maybe its because i love tristan thompson, but anybody else think faried is overrated? hes a good rebounder, but offensively hes pretty bad
what?

:biggums:

[Whoah10115]

Faried has been THE BEST player in the draft thru these two seasons.


THE BEST. Irving is, of course, the rightful #1 choice. But Faried, even in limited minutes, has had more impact than anyone in that draft. Denver's system leaves minimizes volume stats. Faried's already one of the best rebounders in basketball and his defense is actually very good. His tenacity more than makes up for the few fundamental mistakes he makes. Irving has been great, sure. But he hasn't been better, from beginning to end, than Faried has been. He's been better in spots because he's a greater player.


This was a great draft...Kemba Walker is more than a solid player. He's gone down in the 2nd half of the season, but he's on a historically bad team. He was great in the first half of the year. He can rebound, he's got real defensive potential, is dynamic, and can lead a team. And there are a bunch others. Great draft.

[Unstoppabull]

A seemingly weak draft apparently turned out fairly solid after all. Yeah, a couple hidden gems like Parsons, Shumpert, Leonard, Faried, Jimmy BUtler have been steals.
But how many Potential Superstars are there? 1? Far cry from the best draft.

[Xiao Yao You]

maybe its because i love tristan thompson, but anybody else think faried is overrated? hes a good rebounder, but offensively hes pretty bad, and his defense is very uneven

The question is will his game evolve or will he basically be the guy he is now?

[unbreakable]

Leonard has been the best player so far in this draft....

Kyrie cant even play more than 5 games in a row meanwhile hes at the club hosting parties every other weekend :facepalm

[Qwyjibo]

I'd still risk it on Valanciunas' potential and take him 2nd.

[Budadiiii]

Reggie Jackson is the best player in this draft.

Cavs take him number 1 if they have a second chance. Why would anyone want some egotistical injury prone douche bag? Nah..

Kawhi is a top 5 pick, I take Kenneth over him though you dumbass idiot

[PrettyCool]

Reggie Jackson is the best player in this draft.

Cavs take him number 1 if they have a second chance. Why would anyone want some egotistical injury prone douche bag? Nah..

Kawhi is a top 5 pick, I take Kenneth over him though you dumbass idiot
Try hard.

[brwnman]

No he wouldn't. Not even close to 2nd...

[steve franchise]

No. Parsons > Leonard.

[InspiredLebowski]

what's this arthritic knee stuff with Leonard? that just bullshit?

[IGotACoolStory]

What? I thought Faried's offense is better than advertised. He's showed a variety of shots from the post, along with his energetic finishing. Even some jumpers.

Defense could use some work, tho.

[alenleomessi]

kanter will be the 2nd best player of this draft in few years

[Xiao Yao You]

Next year. He was the best player on the court a few weeks ago when Jefferson was out.

[brandonislegend]

Parsons is better.

[StroShow4]

Kawhi is a nice role player, but no.

[R.I.P.]

No. Irving, Faried, Kanter, Valanciunas, Vucevic would be picked over Leonard. K. Thompson and B. Knight possibly, too. One thing is for sure. That draft looks pretty damn good already. At leats 15 deep with really good players. Nobody would like a do-over more than the Wizards. It

[lilgodfather1]

In terms of all star (potential) talent, there's really only a handful of those guys. Tristan, JV, Kemba, Klay (SG is weak). There's only one superstar, Kyrie.

But this draft had exactly what the NBA needed. It produced very solid rotation players for a lot of teams. A weak draft turned out to be one of the best drafts in the last 5 years. If you go down the list 1-60, the talent level from '11 is definately higher than most of the previous drafts. It will never be star heavy like '03, but it might have been what the league needed.

[NuggetsFan]

maybe its because i love tristan thompson, but anybody else think faried is overrated? hes a good rebounder, but offensively hes pretty bad, and his defense is very uneven

Faried isn't a great offensive player but he's improved this season. He's also on a competitive team and gets nothing drawn up for him so he basically has to get his on offensive rebounds, hustle plays, alley ops. He could easily average 14 a game on a team, like the Cavaliers for example. His %'s would obviously drop as well tho.

He's still on a leash which I think some people forget. He'll get yanked from time to time or foul trouble. This month for example only averaging 24 minutes a night. At the start of the season getting 31 minutes he was averaging 13/11.

I'm not sure where I'd take Faried in a re-draft. I do think he's better than Thompson tho, and I feel confidently in that because whenever I watch a Cavs game I keep an eye on Tristan. Don't think it's some huge gap or anything but enough to say Faried is the better player. I'd rather Leonard & Parsons over Thompson as well. Cavs got Irving tho, so you guys without question win the draft and Thompson does look like he'll be a player.

[PrettyCool]

Such a solid draft. There's 9-10 guys who could be the second best player in 5 years depending on their development. At the very least they will all be solid starters, and impact players. The Thompson's, Faried, Leonard, Jonas, Vucevic, Kanter, parsons, Walker. Dark horses in Montejunas, and possibly Shump. You of course got your superstar in Kyrie.

LOL @ the wizards for drafting Vesely. Hell, even Jimmer looks like he's going to be a rotation player.