ESPN Mock Draft

[AustinHoya03]

A few BE names in the mix:

Chris Taft (Pittsburgh) @ #8 overall

Hakim Warrick (Syracuse) @ #15 overall

Charlie Villanueva (UCONN) @ #23 overall

I think that's a little high for Taft, but whatever. If NBA teams are gambling on high school kids with "upside," why not gamble on Chris Taft?

ESPN only predicted the first round, so only the big names are mentioned. One New Big East Conference dude, Francisco Garcia, was listed under "other possible first-round picks."

Here's the link, but you've gotta be an Insider subscriber to view the article.

insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2005/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&id=2067787

[Big Dog]

More importantly, who does the mock draft have the Bucks taking?

I'm still trying to decide whether I need to change my name in light of a new no.1 overall pick.

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

Don't change your name - I woke up from an NBA finals induced nap to find out that A) the game was still being played (well SA was playing, Detroit was whining and trowing in the towel like they do when they're down late), B) Glen Robinson still plays quality basketball despite the fact I didn't know he played for SA until Game 2 of the NBA Finals

[EasyEd]

I would take both Warwick and Villanueva before Taft.

[SFHoya99]

With Majerus coming out saying that Bogut has a degenerative eye disease, you may be Marvin Williams Hoya. Whereupon you may be banned from the board.

As for Taft, someone is going to be vastly disappointed with their pick. Like someone who claims that "marraige will keep them from cheating" getting into the NBA ain't going to make Taft try.

[the_way]

I think this is why the NBA wants an age limit. Bogut will be another Bryant Reeves, Eric Montross, Michael Olawokandi type center. The guy is overrated. I never really paid attention to Taft's career. I think people like his size and weight at the power forward position. Warrick can be the next Cedric Ceballos, but with a lot more athleticism. He has small forward size with a power forward game. He can block shots and dunk, run the floor but has limited offensive game. He doesn't necessarily have a defined position, like Marcus Camby. I can see Warrick being a guy that picks up garbage points, like Ceballos did and have a good solid career. He needs to develop a mid-range game. Marvin Williams has the UNC/ACC thing going for him in terms of hype. But the guy will not be an impact player. Villanueva needs to stay in school. The guy cannot play defense, has no post-up game. He will really need to develop in order to be effective in the NBA. I think he will be a bust or average player at best in the NBA, but nothing more.

[Deleted]

Yeah I'm not sold on Bogut as a runaway #1. I only saw him play five or so times last year, and I know he's tall but I feel like he's going to get his @$$ handed to him down low in the NBA. Now if they move him around the court and get him outside some, he'll be successful I assume as his shot is decent and he can pass pretty well. He'd be great in a Princeton style NBA offense that gets him away from the basket and some big bruisers (but guys like the Wallaces are going to eat him up).

[SFHoya99]

Neither Taft nor Bogut will be affected by the age limit. I don't think Villanueva or Marvin Williams would be either, esp. if the limit will be 19, as it has been recently rumored.

I don't disagree on your evaluations, though. This draft sucks.

[RBHoya]

Isn't this mock from a little while back? I'm pretty sure most people think Taft will fall further than that now. A lot of Knick fans I know wanted Taft for a long time.... then he had this workout in which he apparently looked horrible to many scouts, including Isiah Thomas. I'd be very surprised if he goes in the top 10 at this point.

Providence's Ryan Gomes may sneak into the bottom of round 1 as well. I think he'd be a good pick for a contending team, as he can get some PT right off the bat. I also think he'll be a better player than Taft over the long haul.

[the_way]

sfhoya99 said:

Neither Taft nor Bogut will be affected by the age limit. I don't think Villanueva or Marvin Williams would be either, esp. if the limit will be 19, as it has been recently rumored.

I don't disagree on your evaluations, though. This draft sucks.

I hear you SF99, but what I'm talking about in terms of the age limit had nothing to do with that. What i'm saying is that bad teams stay bad. By the time these young high school players or early entrees develop, they don't want to stay with their original team, because the team still sucks. The good teams get players in the draft or free agency ready to play already without this "potential" factor , i.e., Tayshawn Prince, Josh Howard, Marquis Daniels,etc. Watch Julius Hodge go to a decent team and be a solid contributor. Its horrible. There is nobody in this draft that will make an impact in this league.

[theEDGEfactor]

I dont know what you all are talking about? There are tons of talent in this draft and tons of impact players. Marvin Williams is an amazing talent and will have an impact right when he comes in the league. How about Gerald Green, great impact player in the future. Chris Paul anyone? Also, you can look to the bottom and see an up and coming center by the name of Johan Petro, or the European in Fran Vazquez. This is one of the deepest drafts in NBA history, the top 25 picks could have been top10 any other year. Great draft, and you will all see, 3 years down the road, this draft will be similar to the 2003 draft.

[the_way]

theedgefactor said:

I dont know what you all are talking about? There are tons of talent in this draft and tons of impact players. Marvin Williams is an amazing talent and will have an impact right when he comes in the league. How about Gerald Green, great impact player in the future. Chris Paul anyone? Also, you can look to the bottom and see an up and coming center by the name of Johan Petro, or the European in Fran Vazquez. This is one of the deepest drafts in NBA history, the top 25 picks could have been top10 any other year. Great draft, and you will all see, 3 years down the road, this draft will be similar to the 2003 draft.

You are joking, right? I hope you are. You wouldn't be related to Isiah Thomas would you?

[SFHoya99]

theedgefactor said:

I dont know what you all are talking about? There are tons of talent in this draft and tons of impact players. Marvin Williams is an amazing talent and will have an impact right when he comes in the league. How about Gerald Green, great impact player in the future. Chris Paul anyone? Also, you can look to the bottom and see an up and coming center by the name of Johan Petro, or the European in Fran Vazquez. This is one of the deepest drafts in NBA history, the top 25 picks could have been top10 any other year. Great draft, and you will all see, 3 years down the road, this draft will be similar to the 2003 draft.

Awful draft. Don't just regurgitate hype.

LeBron James (2003) could have started as a HS senior on any college team in the nation. You're hyping UNC's SIXTH man and a HS kid looking mid-Lottery. People have been talking about Vazquez for years, but he's never come over. And the most hyped Euro dropped out of the draft, again.

I've never been a Carmelo fan, but is there a college player coming out with his talent? Gerald Green is a HS kid with better tools, but nowhere near the skills.

1. James - no one near his talent
2. Milicic - still would probably be picked over most of the Euros in this draft
3. Anthony - better than any college player in this draft
4. Bosh - I guess Blatche or someone has his tools, but none of the HS big men or college guys seem to have his skills.
5. Wade - see #1
6. Kaman - May be as good as this year's #1
7. Hinrich - can you see any of the PGs in this class outplaying him? Maybe as good, but not better
8. TJ Ford - unfotunate injuries
9. Big Mike

etc.

[RaleighHoya]

They now have Taft going in the 20's because he has a ton of talent but the heart of a NBDL player (they even say that).

They have Frye from Az. moving into the Knicks spot at number 8. They still have Williams going first, although the Bucks are saying they will draft Bogut. The Green kid from high school is rumored to be going third.

They also have the Knicks taking Bynum with the last pick in the first round over people like Blatche. Blatche is a possible 1st rounder according to the latest ESPN Insider mock.

[theEDGEfactor]

I am not joking at all. Just watch and you will see. In a few years, some of these kids in the draft are going to be HUGE. Heck after next season is over, save this post and show it to yourself. Marvin Williams will come in and put up 15/5/5 thats just how good he is. Gerald Green will show he has talent- next J.R. Smith. Chris Paul is an unbelievable talent and will have the first season similar to Jay Williams. Warrick, Frye, May will have good futures. McCants and Felton will be solid. There are just so many names. Then you go to Vazquez- a great talent. I have been looking at all these stars for more than 3 years now, and know what the NBA is getting- a great future.

[SFHoya99]

Marvin Williams won't average 15 pts or 5 assists. But even if he did, you realize that by comparing this class to 2003, you compared him to LeBron James. 15/5/5 ain't gonna cut it there.

Gerald Green is more Josh Smith then J.R. Smith. He has nowhere near the stroke. And if he is... you'd rather have Josh Smith over Chris Bosh? Carmelo Anthony? Dwyane Wade?

Jay Williams was nothing special his rookie year.

The NBA is getting a bunch of role players. Which is fine.

But you said, "this draft will be similar to the 2003 draft." Yeah, we'll compare. The 2003 draft -- 2 years later, already looks like it may have 2 Hall of Famers and at least 2 more All-stars.

[theEDGEfactor]

I never said Marvin Williams was LJ. And I never said I would take Green over Bosh. But, but me saying it will be similar to the 200 draft, I mean we will be getting some up and coming stars. I did not mean that these players will be similar to LJ,Wade, and Melo, but it will be the best draft next to the 2003 from the last 7 years. Gerald Green can play ball, he has an NBA body already, and he his athletic, thats all needed in being an up and coming player. Jay Williams finished 4th in rookie voting behind Amare, Yao, and Butler, so I would say thats a pretty good year.

[the_way]

theedgefactor said:

I never said Marvin Williams was LJ. And I never said I would take Green over Bosh. But, but me saying it will be similar to the 200 draft, I mean we will be getting some up and coming stars. I did not mean that these players will be similar to LJ,Wade, and Melo, but it will be the best draft next to the 2003 from the last 7 years. Gerald Green can play ball, he has an NBA body already, and he his athletic, thats all needed in being an up and coming player. Jay Williams finished 4th in rookie voting behind Amare, Yao, and Butler, so I would say thats a pretty good year.

Jay Williams stunk his first year compared to all the hype he had coming in. I knew he would be a bust before his unfortunate accident. Chicago was disappointed in him. Jamal Crawford was outplaying him at the PG position, the whole year. This draft is not deep at all. You must have gone to the Isiah Thomas and Chris Mullin school of talent evaluation.

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

When did the NBA draft become as pointless as the NHL and MLB drafts where foreign players with "huge upsides" and high school players with similar qualities are take in droves respectively - it seems like teams are undermining themselves through these draft strategies.

[CTHoya08]

I don't understand that either. In fact, it's been one of the Sports Guy's biggest complaints of the past few years too.