CampNightmare8 (12-23-2012)
I personally don't consider Poythress a big unless he measures out bigger than expected. As it stands, if we drafted Poythress, I'd play him and MKG on the wings as the 2/3. His slashing ability, athleticism, and growing outside shooting would fit nicely with what we seem to be building.
CampNightmare8 (12-23-2012), Pepperz (12-23-2012)
I've only seen Len play against UK, and he had a good game, but he seems like he might suck in the pros to me. Noel is easily the best big man in the draft.
And that says a lot about the quality of big men in this draft, unfortunately.
Len, IMHO of course, doesn't have the athleticism to be an NBA star
Zeller, again IMHO, doesn't have the desire/fire to be an NBA star
Noel, you get the idea, doesn't have the skill
put them together and you're onto something. Bennett might actually be the best big, but he's only like 6'7 so meh. Poythress is more of Derrick Williams wing than a post player, Austin is the black Mullens, and I have no clue what Gobert is doing over in wherever he is
westbrook08 (01-18-2013)
And Steven Adams is rawer than an unborn rhino to further prove your point.
Noel isn't very skilled but he's easily got the physical tools to become so. Simply being an American and athletic is going to make him a better rookie than the other bigs in this draft. He shouldn't be any worse in the NBA than Meyers Leonard is right now, I'd still take that with a top 5 pick in this draft, especially if Muhammad is gone.
Swedd, do you consider McAdoo a big in the NBA? He strikes me as more of a tweener than Poythress and Derrick Williams frankly.
Right now if you made me choose from who I deem to be "true" big men, I'd have to go with Noel but I'd hold my nose as I did it. I've been saying for a long time that the NBA is becoming the Athlete's Basketball Association more so than the skilled players of yesteryear. Guys like Arvydas Sabonis, Vlade Divac, etc couldn't hang in today's league despite their skills and size. It's much easier for a guy like Noel to make an impact simply because he's 6'11 with athleticism than it is for a guy like Len even though I like him more as a basketball player.
I blow a raspberry every time somebody brings up McAdoo to me. I consider him as much a big as I do Mully. He has the athleticism and muscle to bang (even though he's a big short), but he'd rather shoot intermediate jumpers than work on his awful post game. He was supposed to save the team this year and he's really dropped the ball. My favorite big in carolina blue is Brice Johnson, and that says a lot
Marc Gasol (and Andrew Bynum when he's not injured) seem to have no problem hanging in today's NBA but I see your point.
And definitely feel you on the Brice Johnson thing, ugh.
Honestly I would just go after Noel. To me he looks like the best big man in the draft and we came make him become a very good player in this league
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