Grading the 2012 Draft Results

[BlockParty]

We all have our own opinions, maturity allows us to gather the perception and insight from others to help identify things (good or bad) that we may have overlooked. Post links to articles here that talk about the Cats 2012 Draft.

Thoughts?

USA Today's Draft Grade (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/06/live-nba-draft-grades-pick-by-pick-analysis-as-it-happens/1#.T-2OlrXY80M)

details of our two picks:


2. Charlotte Bobcats: Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

In an NBA draft first, college teammates go first and second. Kidd-Gilchrist was a bit of a surprise with this pick, but he may be the safest pick in the draft other than Davis. Kidd-Gilchrist will provide the Bobcats with stability on the wing. But he may not be the scorer the Bobcats lack. Grade: B+Note the 2 teams after us received a B and C-


31. Charlotte Bobcats: Vanderbilt forward Jeff Taylor

Taylor is very similar to Kidd-Gilchrist, the Bobcats' first-round pick. But he's still a fine value at the top of the second round, where best available becomes most teams' top priority. At one time, he was viewed as a future star, but he's settled into a role as a good defender and slasher who can hit an open shot. Grade: B+
2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, F, Kentucky: B Grade
The Bobcats added a shooter in Ben Gordon via trade earlier this week, and now get a defensive-minded player in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who will bring a winning mentality to Charlotte. There were a ton of trade rumors here for this second pick, but the Bobcats do get a needed upgrade on the wing.

31. Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt: B+ Grade
I really liked Jeffery Taylor as a late-first-round value, so for Charlotte get him with the first pick of the second round resolves the team's need for depth on the wing even more when you add Ben Gordon and Kidd-Gilchrist into the equation. Taylor improved as a shooter during his four years at Vanderbilt and can guard multiple positions, so he gives the Bobcats more wing flexibility. http://www.walterfootball.com/nbaoffseason2012cha.php


Charlotte Bobcats

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2): The Cats took a great player with excellent motor who is an athletic freak and has excellent work ethic. So why did they wind up with a B-? MKG fills a need for the Bobcats, especially after the trade of Corey Maggette for Ben Gordon. But with limited ability to score on his own, and with so many needs, you have to wonder if a trade down wouldn't have been better for the franchise.

Jeffery Taylor (31): Athlete at a discount. Taylor fell out of the first round and the Bobcats were there to catch him. They need talent. He has talent. Great get.

Overall grade: B-http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/19442655/2012-nba-draft-report-card-for-all-30-teams



Charlotte Bobcats: They took the plunge and took the best player available, and I commend them for it. Gerald Henderson has not been good enough to scare a team away from taking a superior talent like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, especially since he is such a fantastic team guy and has a clear-cut NBA skill. It’s hard to tell what they could have acquired in a trade, so I cannot grade them down for it. Jeff Taylor was a strong value where they took him and it is intriguing that Charlotte now has two strong perimeter defenders who should be rotation players at worst.
http://basketball.realgm.com/article/221871/Great_Drafts_Bad_Drafts_And_All_Drafts_In_Between

[Hormel]

2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, F, Kentucky: B Grade
The Bobcats added a shooter in Ben Gordon via trade earlier this week, and now get a defensive-minded player in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who will bring a winning mentality to Charlotte. There were a ton of trade rumors here for this second pick, but the Bobcats do get a needed upgrade on the wing.

31. Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt: B+ Grade
I really liked Jeffery Taylor as a late-first-round value, so for Charlotte get him with the first pick of the second round resolves the team's need for depth on the wing even more when you add Ben Gordon and Kidd-Gilchrist into the equation. Taylor improved as a shooter during his four years at Vanderbilt and can guard multiple positions, so he gives the Bobcats more wing flexibility.
http://www.walterfootball.com/nbaoffseason2012cha.php


Charlotte Bobcats

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2): The Cats took a great player with excellent motor who is an athletic freak and has excellent work ethic. So why did they wind up with a B-? MKG fills a need for the Bobcats, especially after the trade of Corey Maggette for Ben Gordon. But with limited ability to score on his own, and with so many needs, you have to wonder if a trade down wouldn't have been better for the franchise.

Jeffery Taylor (31): Athlete at a discount. Taylor fell out of the first round and the Bobcats were there to catch him. They need talent. He has talent. Great get.

Overall grade: B-
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/19442655/2012-nba-draft-report-card-for-all-30-teams

[Dunk]

Draft grades don't mean crap until a couple years out until the guys selected have a few seasons of playing under their belt, IMO.

[dnbman]

Draft grades don't mean crap until a couple years out until the guys selected have a few seasons of playing under their belt, IMO.

Harshing the mellow, man!

While that's true, I always like to read that people in the know think we did a good job.

[ohara831]

Some people are just killjoys. I thought the Cats did very well. Got the BPA at #2 and at #31. Well done.

[ohara831]

http://basketball.realgm.com/article/221871/Great_Drafts_Bad_Drafts_And_All_Drafts_In_Between

RGM grouped us in the "Great Draft" group.

[SWedd523]

edited OP to add grades and stickied thread

[BRNC]

MKG was not my choice but he's a solid player...this is our first draft that I'd give an A....

Taylor is a player I've coveted...I think he'll be a reliable rotation player...he's talented, athletic, smart and a hard worker...great draft all-around...

[ohara831]

http://www.sbnation.com/2012/6/29/3125327/nba-draft-grades-grading-the-east-where-the-bobcats-are-finally

A+ from SBNation.

[ohara831]

A- from Chad Ford at ESPN. And he NEVER likes what we do. So we must have done something right.

[Kemba2Hendo]

B+ and I am a tough judge.

[Hormel]

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS | GRADE: A-
Round 1: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2)

Round 2: Jeffrey Taylor (31)

Analysis: Michael Jordan has a very shaky track record when it comes to the draft, but I thought the Bobcats did well Thursday night. Kidd-Gilchrist was the No. 2 player on our Board, and the Bobcats didn't hesitate to take him despite the fact that other picks were more polished and could provide help sooner on the offensive end.

I believe MKG has a chance to be the second-best player in the draft and feel he could really help transform a losing culture in Charlotte. He won't win rookie of the year and won't be a dominant scorer right away, but he'll do all the little things that will help everyone on the team play the game with more intensity.

Taylor was also a solid pick at No. 31. He, too, is an excellent defender and an elite athlete. My only qualm with him at 31 is that he is a very similar (albeit more limited) version of MKG. I think they should've gambled a bit on Baylor's Quincy Miller here. He has much more upside than Taylor and was a low-risk prospect in the second round.


-Chad Ford , ESPNINSIDER

[notdeadyet]

Kidd-Gilchrist AND Taylor are BOTH considered top-tier wing defenders in this draft, and fit Dunlap's mantra of RUNNING for baskets. The best way to get your running game going and keeping it going is... creating turnovers with your defense. Both these guys fit that PLAN perfectly.

[dnbman]

Kidd-Gilchrist AND Taylor are BOTH considered top-tier wing defenders in this draft, and fit Dunlap's mantra of RUNNING for baskets. The best way to get your running game going and keeping it going is... creating turnovers with your defense. Both these guys fit that PLAN perfectly.

LOVE that Taylor is a mature talent with a great 3 point shot. He'll be a perfect rookie to pair with MKG, even though they play the same position.

[notdeadyet]

Jeffery seems to have some fire in the belly too. GOOD!
http://www.nba.com/warriors/2012-draft-prospect-profile-jeffery-taylor

[Veteran_Picksetter]

LOVE that Taylor is a mature talent with a great 3 point shot. He'll be a perfect rookie to pair with MKG, even though they play the same position.

A rotation back up in pick 31 is a good "get".

But also, I think they can play on the court together as long as they are alongside a guard who can really create for them. I hear Taylor can guard the 3 perimeter positions himself.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

"notdeadyet"


Best name ever. I should have come up with that one for myself.

[dnbman]

A rotation back up in pick 31 is a good "get".

But also, I think they can play on the court together as long as they are alongside a guard who can really create for them. I hear Taylor can guard the 3 perimeter positions himself.

Who would you peg as the 2 on the offensive end in the half court? Just play them both on opposite wings and pick and roll starting with Kemba?

[TheBeagle]

A- from Chad Ford at ESPN. And he NEVER likes what we do. So we must have done something right. Wow. That is scary. I know he was huge on MKG but you'd figure because we drafted him, he'd fall out of love with him.

All I know is our two drafts under Cho have been amazing.

[BrotherDave]

Assuming we were stuck with our picks: B for MKG and A- for Taylor. Would have preferred Drummond to MKG and I hate taking wings this high in the draft unless they are "sure fire" studs but whatever. Everybody loved our Ammo draft too. *rolls eyes* Taylor was definitely BPA at 31 and he'll be a solid player most likely.

Assuming we could have traded down for multiples: C-
If there was a smidgen of truth that we could have landed Cleveland's 4 and 24, we should have. Still very likely we would have had MKG as I heard Byron Scott gushing over Dion Waiters but could have also added a big like Arnett Moultrie and we wouldn't be sitting around worrying about what crappy FA big we're about to overpay.

[spectre]

Assuming we were stuck with our picks: B for MKG and A- for Taylor. Would have preferred Drummond to MKG and I hate taking wings this high in the draft unless they are "sure fire" studs but whatever. Everybody loved our Ammo draft too. *rolls eyes* Taylor was definitely BPA at 31 and he'll be a solid player most likely.

Assuming we could have traded down for multiples: C-
If there was a smidgen of truth that we could have landed Cleveland's 4 and 24, we should have. Still very likely we would have had MKG as I heard Byron Scott gushing over Dion Waiters but could have also added a big like Arnett Moultrie and we wouldn't be sitting around worrying about what crappy FA big we're about to overpay.

If they would have taken Waiters anyway why would they trade assets to pick him sooner when drafting him at 4th was already a reach?

I didn't like the Ammo draft at all.

[Ghost Kat]

I thought we did the right thing in this draft. In all honesty looking at the projected starting line up, SF was the biggest need and question mark. Hustle,Team player, great person, defensive minded, all things repeated about our picks. Both these guys are good picks for the future of the franchise.

[BrotherDave]

If they would have taken Waiters anyway why would they trade assets to pick him sooner when drafting him at 4th was already a reach?

I didn't like the Ammo draft at all.
B/c they really, really, really liked Dion Waiters. GM's don't care about media/fan scrutiny on perceived reaches.

[captaincrunk]

B/c they really, really, really liked Dion Waiters. GM's don't care about media/fan scrutiny on perceived reaches.

What if they thought Waiters to be the third best wing option, behind MKG and Beal?

[BrotherDave]

What if they thought Waiters to be the third best wing option, behind MKG and Beal?

Why ask why? Drink Bud Dry.

BroD:<--------[breakdances on NBA draft speculation]

[captaincrunk]

Why ask why? Drink Bud Dry.

BroD:<--------[breakdances on NBA draft speculation]

you're making an equally absurd assumption when you claim to know just who it is they'd pick if MKG was on the board. Sooooooooooooooo

[spectre]

B/c they really, really, really liked Dion Waiters. GM's don't care about media/fan scrutiny on perceived reaches.

LOL! So even tho they knew they could get Waiters with the 4th pick why not just gift the 24th to us so they could pick him at 2!

There is definitely some reaching going on...

[Chef]

you're making an equally absurd assumption when you claim to know just who it is they'd pick if MKG was on the board. Sooooooooooooooo

the cleveland gm was on the scott van pelt show podcast the day after the draft. he said after davis who they assumed would not be there at 2 their draft order was mkg then waiters. he said mkg was rated slightly ahead of waiters. they tried to get to the #2 slot but couldn't make it work. the other big goal they had was to package the other 3 picks to move up and get only 1 more player. they didn't want 4 rookies. so that is why they didn't want to trade us all of their picks. as it stood, they used the other 3 picks to swap with dallas at 17 to take zeller.

[captaincrunk]

the cleveland gm was on the scott van pelt show podcast the day after the draft. he said after davis who they assumed would not be there at 2 their draft order was mkg then waiters. he said mkg was rated slightly ahead of waiters. they tried to get to the #2 slot but couldn't make it work. the other big goal they had was to package the other 3 picks to move up and get only 1 more player. they didn't want 4 rookies. so that is why they didn't want to trade us all of their picks. as it stood, they used the other 3 picks to swap with dallas at 17 to take zeller.

sounds like both teams had to compromise

[BrotherDave]

LOL! So even tho they knew they could get Waiters with the 4th pick why not just gift the 24th to us so they could pick him at 2!

There is definitely some reaching going on...
Weirder things have happened and more often than you'd think.

[spectre]

Weirder things have happened and more often than you'd think.

All fine for playing "what if" but we have 2 sources now that say they had MKG over Waiters...one being their own GM.

So no.

[BrotherDave]

All fine for playing "what if" but we have 2 sources now that say they had MKG over Waiters...one being their own GM.

So no.
Like all those sources that had our coaching finalists as Sloan, Snyder, and Shaw?

[spectre]

Like all those sources that had our coaching finalists as Sloan, Snyder, and Shaw?

LOL!

One set of sources was before the fact....the other after the fact.

So again, no.

[dnbman]

LOL!

One set of sources was before the fact....the other after the fact.

So again, no.

And wasn't one of the sources IN the Cavs' draft room?

WAIT! I'm posting in a 2012 draft thread!!! Must never return here!!