Your past prospect hits and misses.....

You watched them in college. You had strong opinions about them. Which ones did you get right, and which ones did you get wrong??

I was wrong about:

Chase Budinger. Thought he wouldn't do much, and he has been a contributor.

Roy Hibbert. Thought he was WAY too slow and awkward to be a starting NBA big.

Kevin Love. Saw him as a solid 16 and 10 guy, not some 25 and 12 all-star. I was actually worried about having him and Jared Dudley on the same team together because that would have been two glaring holes of poor length/athleticism. If only we could be so lucky now.

Michael Beasley. I was drooling over this guy. Like a lot of folks, I truly underestimated his, uh..."personality" issues.....

Terrence Williams. (See Beasley??)

Kemba Walker. He's already putting up better numbers than I ever expected. Pleasantly surprised.

I was right about:

Brook Lopez. He was a 7-footer simply built on a bigger scale(tremendous length, unlike a Spencer Hawes), and he statistically excelled in a 2008 PAC-10 loaded with big man talent.

Nikola Vucevic (maybe) Coveted this kid 2 years ago and he's already one of the best rebounders in the league. Time will tell.

Ryan Anderson. We desperately needed a stretch 4 in the summer of 2008, and we obtained an extra first round pick. I hoped Anderson would be a surprise pick there, but it turned out to be Alexis Ajinca. This is a cautionary tale: Sometimes you have to forget measurements and lend weight to basketball acumen/productivity...

D.J. Augustin. Thought him too physically-limited to be a good starter.

I like this idea, this is going to take me a while but here we go:

I was wrong about:

Rubio-although the jury is still out I watched him play at Barcelona and I knew he would be good out of the pick and roll but thought he would struggle to get his shot away in the NBA so teams would just smother him and block passing lanes. I also thought he would struggle defensively but he has a good eye for the ball and feel for the game to be fair

Terrance Williams- I was a T-Will fan, thought he would do great and thought he did in New Jersey but... well it just all went wrong didn't it.

Jan Vesley- I didn't think this guy was going to be amazing, but I certainly thought he would have a better career than he is having and I actually wanted him to slip until the 9th pick which we had

Jordan Hamilton- I loved this guy coming out of texas with Tristan Thompson... when he was slipping from the lottery all the way down to 26 I was desperate for us to trade into the late 20s which is normally relatively easy to do to get him.

Thomas Robinson- Too early to tell, and I actually think he will turn into a solid pro and will be pretty good but right now he looks like a bit of a flop.

Royce White- I really liked him... so far doesn't look like he will play an NBA game

I was right about:

I think I am going to enjoy this bit a little bit more...

Steph Curry- I loved his game, wasn't sure if he would be a 6th man scorer type player or a pg but either way I knew 7 was a good value pick.

Jonas Valancunis- Definitely not sure if I am right about this kid yet, but if he does develop I will claim him

Nick Vucevic- Funnily enough I loved this guy as well, I remember he was a bubble 1st rounder only 3 weeks before the draft.

Marshon Brookes- Not sure if this passes as a success? But for the 25th pick?

Chandler Parsons- Funnily enough I really wanted to get this guy somehow, I just watched him play for Florida and thought his game would translate + his passing visions and size.

Jae Crowder- Don't know how he dropped all the way to the 2nd round

I was wrong about:
Ricky Rubio - Did not think he would have a big impact in the NBA, I thought he was going to be too flashy & turnover prone.

Roy Hibbert - He looked like a bonafide scrub coming out of college.

Greg Oden - I thought this man was going to be an all-star his rookie year

JaVale McGee - I thought he had potential out the roof I thought he was going to develop very well.

Thomas Robinson - I didn't want us to draft him b/c he was a risk, but I thought T-Rob would be a force in the paint. Guess I was wrong.

Kemba Walker - Had no idea he would be this good, he is a future all-star player.

Tyrus Thomas - Coming out of LSU I thought TT was going to be a very good player with his athleticism and shot-blocking ability.

Kevin Love - I knew he would be good but not a 25 & 12 type of superstar player. Definetely blew my mind.

Mario Chalmers - He was solid throughout the tourney and especially in the championship game. I thought Miami had a steal when they drafted him. Guess I was wrong.

Michael Beasley - I had this guy becoming the next great thing. He had everything offensively, a good jumper, a post game, he could bang in the paint, he was a really good rebounder and was very versatile. Too bad he was a knucklehead and got into coke and stuff and never panned out the way ANYONE planned.

JJ Redick - Coming out of Duke, and me being a hardcore duke fan I STILL thought Redick would be a player that was in and out the d-league trying hard to stay on a team. He's exceeded my expectations for him.

Damian Lillard - People we're comparing him to D-Rose and I was saying "Well if Marquis Teague played D2 he'd be looking like that too" he's certainly played great so far.

Alando Tucker - Thought this guy was going to be a stud in the league.

Acie Law IV - I had so much hope in Acie Law and still to this day I have NO IDEA how he's not a good nba player.

JameSon Curry - i was so high on this guy coming out the draft. He got into drugs thought and ruined his career.

Nick Fazekas - Could shoot, could do everything at 6'11 I had high hopes for this kid it just didn't pan out.

Travis Diener - Loved him at Marquette with D Wade & Steve Novak. Thought he was going to be a really good point guard in the league I loved his game. Didn't really play the way I thought he would but he was a solid pg especially when he was in Indy.

I was right about:

Aaron Afflalo - I knew he was a steal in the draft when DET drafted him. People criticized Afflalo coming out the draft and I always believed he had the body to be a solid nba player.

Stephen Curry - I knew he could shoot the lights out, I knew he was a floor general and had the ability to put the team on his back at any time.

DeMarcus Cousins - I knew he was going to keep progressing his post game and I knew he was a unique/versatile big man since his days @ KU.

Tristan Thompson - An okay player, I said that was one of the most terrible picks i've seen (considering how much better players were out there).

MKG - I knew he was going to be one of the best rookies, and do everything & also do a lot of things that don't show up on the stat sheet.

Jared Dudley - I remember him at Boston College and something about the way he played made me think he was going to be a solid nba player. He improved his defense throughout his nba career tremendously.

Steve Novak - I remember once he was drafted by the rockets I was like they drafted a steal this guy can shoot the lights out. Obviously it didn't work out in Houston but the Spurs shed a little light on him and the league took notice, and once the Knicks got him it was a done deal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Plowright

I like this idea, this is going to take me a while but here we go:

I was wrong about:

Rubio-although the jury is still out I watched him play at Barcelona and I knew he would be good out of the pick and roll but thought he would struggle to get his shot away in the NBA so teams would just smother him and block passing lanes. I also thought he would struggle defensively but he has a good eye for the ball and feel for the game to be fair

Terrance Williams- I was a T-Will fan, thought he would do great and thought he did in New Jersey but... well it just all went wrong didn't it.

Jan Vesley- I didn't think this guy was going to be amazing, but I certainly thought he would have a better career than he is having and I actually wanted him to slip until the 9th pick which we had

Jordan Hamilton- I loved this guy coming out of texas with Tristan Thompson... when he was slipping from the lottery all the way down to 26 I was desperate for us to trade into the late 20s which is normally relatively easy to do to get him.

Thomas Robinson- Too early to tell, and I actually think he will turn into a solid pro and will be pretty good but right now he looks like a bit of a flop.

Royce White- I really liked him... so far doesn't look like he will play an NBA game

I was right about:

I think I am going to enjoy this bit a little bit more...

Steph Curry- I loved his game, wasn't sure if he would be a 6th man scorer type player or a pg but either way I knew 7 was a good value pick.

Jonas Valancunis- Definitely not sure if I am right about this kid yet, but if he does develop I will claim him

Nick Vucevic- Funnily enough I loved this guy as well, I remember he was a bubble 1st rounder only 3 weeks before the draft.

Marshon Brookes- Not sure if this passes as a success? But for the 25th pick?

Chandler Parsons- Funnily enough I really wanted to get this guy somehow, I just watched him play for Florida and thought his game would translate + his passing visions and size.

Jae Crowder- Don't know how he dropped all the way to the 2nd round

---

Good call on Parsons. Got to see him destroy us in the Houston game last year. Looked like the real deal.

Yeah, it's too early to tell on T-Rob. There's too much there to give up on him quite yet.

I was way off on Curry. Thought he would be a 'tweener and not enough of a PG distributor. Too slight of build. Also a mid major flash-in-the-pan rich momma's boy. Thought he would be redundant with DJ Augustin on the roster. What a joke. I need to be smacked.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CorbKicks8

I was wrong about:
Ricky Rubio - Did not think he would have a big impact in the NBA, I thought he was going to be too flashy & turnover prone.

Roy Hibbert - He looked like a bonafide scrub coming out of college.

Greg Oden - I thought this man was going to be an all-star his rookie year

JaVale McGee - I thought he had potential out the roof I thought he was going to develop very well.

Thomas Robinson - I didn't want us to draft him b/c he was a risk, but I thought T-Rob would be a force in the paint. Guess I was wrong.

Kemba Walker - Had no idea he would be this good, he is a future all-star player.

Tyrus Thomas - Coming out of LSU I thought TT was going to be a very good player with his athleticism and shot-blocking ability.

Kevin Love - I knew he would be good but not a 25 & 12 type of superstar player. Definetely blew my mind.

Mario Chalmers - He was solid throughout the tourney and especially in the championship game. I thought Miami had a steal when they drafted him. Guess I was wrong.

Michael Beasley - I had this guy becoming the next great thing. He had everything offensively, a good jumper, a post game, he could bang in the paint, he was a really good rebounder and was very versatile. Too bad he was a knucklehead and got into coke and stuff and never panned out the way ANYONE planned.

JJ Redick - Coming out of Duke, and me being a hardcore duke fan I STILL thought Redick would be a player that was in and out the d-league trying hard to stay on a team. He's exceeded my expectations for him.

Damian Lillard - People we're comparing him to D-Rose and I was saying "Well if Marquis Teague played D2 he'd be looking like that too" he's certainly played great so far.

Alando Tucker - Thought this guy was going to be a stud in the league.

Acie Law IV - I had so much hope in Acie Law and still to this day I have NO IDEA how he's not a good nba player.

JameSon Curry - i was so high on this guy coming out the draft. He got into drugs thought and ruined his career.

Nick Fazekas - Could shoot, could do everything at 6'11 I had high hopes for this kid it just didn't pan out.

Travis Diener - Loved him at Marquette with D Wade & Steve Novak. Thought he was going to be a really good point guard in the league I loved his game. Didn't really play the way I thought he would but he was a solid pg especially when he was in Indy.

I was right about:

Aaron Afflalo - I knew he was a steal in the draft when DET drafted him. People criticized Afflalo coming out the draft and I always believed he had the body to be a solid nba player.

Stephen Curry - I knew he could shoot the lights out, I knew he was a floor general and had the ability to put the team on his back at any time.

DeMarcus Cousins - I knew he was going to keep progressing his post game and I knew he was a unique/versatile big man since his days @ KU.

Tristan Thompson - An okay player, I said that was one of the most terrible picks i've seen (considering how much better players were out there).

MKG - I knew he was going to be one of the best rookies, and do everything & also do a lot of things that don't show up on the stat sheet.

Jared Dudley - I remember him at Boston College and something about the way he played made me think he was going to be a solid nba player. He improved his defense throughout his nba career tremendously.

Steve Novak - I remember once he was drafted by the rockets I was like they drafted a steal this guy can shoot the lights out. Obviously it didn't work out in Houston but the Spurs shed a little light on him and the league took notice, and once the Knicks got him it was a done deal.

---

I can relate to a lot of this.

You are so right about Acie Law. That guy was CLUTCH in college. What the heck happened??

And Hibbert DID look like a bona fide scrub in college. No doubt.

I still say it's too early to make a final judgement on T-Rob. I have faith in his strength and rebounding ability. Maybe he is missing a parental figure with this new life??

Lol dunno what's wrong with Acie man, I was like his biggest fan coming out of college. Also I forgot to add JameSon Curry I liked him a lot.

It wasn't until this past year that I really, really watched college ball.

Probably right
too early to tell
Probably wrong
2012
Thought these guys would be great: Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Andre Drummond, Meyers Leonard, Royce White.
Thought these guys would be good: MKG, Beal, Waiters, Ross, Jeremy Lamb, T-Rob, Andrew Nicholson, Moultrie, Crowder, Jeff Taylor, Darius Miller.
Thought these guys would be busts: Rivers, Henson, Marshall, Zeller, Wroten, Plumlee, Green.

Really, all these guys are "too early to tell" as I like to at least give these guys an opportunity to get playing time before a final verdict is given. But, really, everyone is playing about like I thought they would. Royce being crazier than usual threw everyone for a loop but I think he comes back, Zeller and Henson are playing a bit better than I thought they would so early (still reaches IMO).

2011
Great: Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight
Good: Kemba Walker, Bismack Biyombo, Derrick Williams, Kawhi Leonard, Chris Singleton, Reggie Jackson, MarShon Brooks
Bust: Jimmer Fredette, Klay Thompson, Morris Twins, Kyle Singler

Probably wrong about Knight. Thought he'd be great but he needs some improvement to be good frankly. I had no idea Singleton was such a dumb-dumb, was really high on him during the draft. Klay is better than I thought he'd be but I still think he sucks at everything but shooting. Really, Singler has surprised me the most but I guess the year in Europe paid off.

i dont agree that the morris brothers are "busts" and i dont think Derrick Williams and Reggie Jackson are coming along very well at all. BUT this is just my opinion and you are certainly entitiled to yours. not looking to start and argument

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BrotherDave

It wasn't until this past year that I really, really watched college ball.

Probably right
too early to tell
Probably wrong
2012
Thought these guys would be great: Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Andre Drummond, Meyers Leonard, Royce White.
Thought these guys would be good: MKG, Beal, Waiters, Ross, Jeremy Lamb, T-Rob, Andrew Nicholson, Moultrie, Crowder, Jeff Taylor, Darius Miller.
Thought these guys would be busts: Rivers, Henson, Marshall, Zeller, Wroten, Plumlee, Green.

Really, all these guys are "too early to tell" as I like to at least give these guys an opportunity to get playing time before a final verdict is given. But, really, everyone is playing about like I thought they would. Royce being crazier than usual threw everyone for a loop but I think he comes back, Zeller and Henson are playing a bit better than I thought they would so early (still reaches IMO).

2011
Great: Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight
Good: Kemba Walker, Bismack Biyombo, Derrick Williams, Kawhi Leonard, Chris Singleton, Reggie Jackson, MarShon Brooks
Bust: Jimmer Fredette, Klay Thompson, Morris Twins, Kyle Singler

Probably wrong about Knight. Thought he'd be great but he needs some improvement to be good frankly. I had no idea Singleton was such a dumb-dumb, was really high on him during the draft. Klay is better than I thought he'd be but I still think he sucks at everything but shooting. Really, Singler has surprised me the most but I guess the year in Europe paid off.

---

I'm using a loose definition of bust in that these are guys that were taken too early compared to the other players. Realistically, what separates a player from being a hit versus a miss is so dependent on their draft situation/team dynamics.

I think guys like Derrick Williams and Reggie Jackson are doing pretty well, they're mostly just stuck behind guys on the depth chart. But thanks for the critique, I appreciate it.