Alex Len: Historical Comparisons to the Possible #1 Picks
2013-06-04
This post is the most tedious of the series…but you’ll survive.  Chad Ford’s Mock Draft 3.0 (ESPN Insider) noted that Alex Len was still being considered by the Cavs at #1.  The Maryland sophomore was also brought up by a few commenters last week, so by popular demand, I’m back with another player comparison*.  The young Terrapin is nimble, yet 250 pounds; a 7-footer, with rim protecting and scoring potential. Of course, he is currently rehabbing from surgery to stabilize an ankle stress fracture, leaving him unable to participate in the combine or workouts.
Len’s numerical profile is (without measurements**):
Alex Len – Age 20 at draft. 112.7 orating on 22.6 usage. Shooting percentages = 53 / 13 / 69. Scoring location distribution = 76 / 1 / 23. oreb% = 13.1. dreb% = 19.3. ast% = 7.7. stl% = 0.4. to% = 15.6. Blk% = 7.9. A:TO Ratio = 0.6. Postseason = NIT Final Four behind averages of 11 points, 7 boards, and 4 blocks in four games. Played NCAA’s 96th toughest schedule***.
Solid…not spectacular. I’m going to take a different tact for today’s article and make you work a little bit. I’ve included six other centers, all drafted in the early to mid-first round. If they were drafted older than Len, I included their age 20 season and their final collegiate campaign. Look at the provided information, and “tier” the players into similar levels of prospect. Include Len. After ten minutes, put your pencils down…eyes on your own paper.
Player A – age 20.3 at draft . 112.5 orating, 22 usage. Shooting Percentages = 58 / 9 / 73. Scoring Locations = 78 / 1 / 21. oreb% = 9.0. dreb% = 23.5. ast% = 9.9. TO% = 18.7. A:TO Ratio = 0.6. Stl% = 0.9. Blk% = 6.8. No Postseason tourney. Played the NCAA’s 18th toughest schedule.
Very similar to Len.
Player B – age 19.2 at draft – 109.3 orating on 24.7 usage. Shooting Percentages = 53 / 33 / 76. Scoring Locations = 83 / 1/ 16. oreb% = 8.1. dreb% = 18.1. blk% = 6.3. stl% = 1.0. ast% = 13.9. A:TO = 0.8. to% = 20.0.  No post-season tourney. Played the NCAA’s 55th toughest schedule.
This player was ten months younger than Len. Again, their results are relatively similar, especially considering Len’s freshman season offensive rebounding rate of 8.8%.
Player C – age 20.2 at draft. 110.5 orating on 32 usage. Shooting Percentages = 47 / 0 / 79. Scoring distribution = 71 / 0 / 29. oreb% = 11. dreb% = 19.2. ast% = 11.2. stl% = 0.6. to% = 13.5. blk% = 6.8. A:TO = 0.6. Lost in sweet 16 of NCAA tourney (60 points in 76 minutes). Played the NCAA’s 26th toughest schedule.
On offense, clearly superior to Len, using nearly one-third of his team’s possessions as efficiently as Len used fewer than one-fourth. His shot blocking and rebounding are slightly lesser, but nearly on par with the young Terrapin. Player C faced a more difficult schedule and offered a solid NCAA tourney run.
Player D – age 20.2. 103.6 orating, 25.4 usage. Shooting percentages = 61 / 0 / 65. Scoring distribution = 69 / 0 / 31. oreb% = 13.5. dreb% = 26.2. ast% = 8.3. stl% = 0.8. to% = 26.3. A:TO Ratio = 0.3. blk% = 7.4.  No post-season tourney. NCAA’s 232nd toughest schedule.
Still Player D – age 21.2 at draft. 112 orating on 29.7 usage. Shooting percentages = 62 / 0 / 75. Scoring distribution = 70 / 0 / 30. oreb% = 14.1. dreb% = 28.3. ast% = 8.3. to% = 24.1. A:TO Ratio = 0.3. stl% = 0.9. blk% = 8.5.  Lost in second round of NCAA tourney, averaging 18 points and 8 boards. NCAA’s 123 toughest schedule.
This player made a significant leap in production between his sophomore and junior years, going from a fringe prospect to a lottery selection. Against an improved schedule, and handling a star’s bulk of the offense, he scored effectively while registering as one of the NCAA’s best rebounders. He sure had butter fingers though.
Player E – age 19.6 – 110 orating on 25 usage. Shooting percentages = 58 / 36 / 64. Scoring locations = 80 / 3 / 17. oreb% = 14.7, dreb% = 26.6. ast% = 17.5. stl% = 0.9. to% = 22.8. A:TO = 0.8. blk% = 4.6. Lost in first round of NCAA tourney, providing 16 points and 8 boards in that effort. NCAA’s 87th toughest schedule.
Still Player E – age 20.6 at draft – 122 orating on 29 usage. Shooting percentages = 62 / 36 / 69. Scoring locations = 76 / 4 / 20. oreb% = 16. dreb% = 30. stl% = 1.8. blk% = 6.2. ast% = 18.1. A:TO = 0.9. Embarked on a sweet 16 run, leading his team with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks during those three games. Played the NCAA’s 90th toughest schedule.
At six months younger, he was vaguely similar to Len, but Player E was a much better rebounder.  He was also a solid passer, while Len blocked a few more shots. By six months older, Player E left Len in the dust.
Player F – Age 20.4 season. 107.5 orating on 23.9 usage. Shooting Percentages = 52 / 0 / 72. Scoring Locations = 79 / 0 / 21. oreb% = 11.5. dreb% = 15.6. stl% = 1.6. ast% = 3.1. to% = 16.6. blk% = 4.8. A:TO = 0.2. His team lost in the NIT final; over those five games, he averaged 9 points and 5 rebounds. Played the NCAA’s 9th toughest schedule.
Still Player F- age 22.4 at draft. 121 orating on 24.5 usage. Shooting percentages = 55 / 0 / 81. Scoring locations = 71 / 0 / 29. oreb% = 14. dreb% = 20.1. ast% = 6.2. to% = 15.3. A:TO = 0.5. stl% = 1.5. blk% = 5.2. Lost in Elite Eight of NCAA tourney, averaging 15 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks in four games. Played the NCAA’s 35th toughest schedule.
This player made strides on offense and the boards between his sophomore and senior seasons, but was clearly a cut below the rest of this group at 20 years old.
OK. So that was a grind, huh? Have all the numbers made you cross-eyed? Did you lump the players into tiers? I would say:
Tier 1: Player C (Brook Lopez) and Player E (Andrew Bogut). As a sophomore, Lopez took on star-level offensive usage against a competitive slate. As a young junior, Bogut similarly thrived on offense, while also finishing first in the NCAA for total rebounds.
Tier 2: Len, Player A (Meyers Leonard), Player B (Spencer Hawes), and Player D (Chris Kaman). For an age / statistical comparison, Leonard looks most similar to Len…he hasn’t done anything in the NBA yet though, so it’s hard to project much for Len based on that.
Tier 3: Player F (Tyler Zeller). I’m not trying to pick on Mr. Zeller, but included him due to Cavs fan’s familiarity. Clearly as a 20-year old, he was well behind this group, but continued improving over his final two years at Chapel Hill. Stacked up against this list, I cannot recall why I listed him at #8 next year, but I have complete faith that he is going to make a leap next year and make me look smart.
Summary: To wrap this up,Alex Len falls in with a group of players consisting of a career 9 & 6 guy at the bottom end (PER of 14), with a one-time All-Star at the top. Based on performance, he compares very similarly with the 11th pick in a strong 2012 draft class. What’s it mean? I hope that any talk of Len at #1 remains a Cavalier smoke screen. But hey, anytime you can draft a player with ceiling of one-time All-Star, while he is rehabbing an ankle injury, using the first pick in the draft…you have to consider that, right?
* – Anthony Bennett is still forthcoming.
** – Len’s wingspan was measured at the combine, but not his height, reach or weight, as he could not put weight on his injured ankle (thanks to commenters Demetrius and b33 for clarifying this).
*** – strength of schedule via kenpom.com
@KSwirve
I think the Cavs offense put Tyler in way too many pick and pops resulting in the mediocre FG%. Hes got great touch for baby hooks and short turnarounds, but lacks the strentgh to get to and hold position on the block. Zeller will blossom if he hits the weights, I guarantee it.
So, Josh, if we need to get more talented, not older, which talent do you think we should pick up with the number 1 pick? Make a Tackk of your pick and you could win a VIP experience at the Cavs’ draft party June 27th! Here’s how: cavs.com/tackk
Josh, to be fair we need to get older as well. Players ascend rapidly throughout there first couple years in the league (at least, good ones do). Kyrie and TT should be starting to approach the taper of their production bell curves, while Dion and Zeller are still on the steepest part of the incline, and our rookie (Nerlens) will be as bad as he will ever be until his mid 30’s (Hopefully). We do need to get older. But not by signing random FAs in their 30s. I’d like to make the playoffs this year, and think as long… Read more »
Let the young pieces gel together for the next few years, until they are all savvy vets who have played together for years and can dominate the league. Do that. Please don’t sign a bunch of stiff old vets for the “locker room presence”.
Thank you Josh, second that notion, getting suddenly older is not a magic cure to make a good team… the Knicks are old, I would rather have our roster then theirs
The need to get older sounds like you want to trade Dion Waiters for a player like Joe Johnson or Pau Gasol, just to have that “Veteran presence”, screw that, lets be young and talented and let Mike Brown teach the kids how to play some defense, and see how we do
*Worried, not weird.
In case anyone was getting weird as a result of KJ’s claim that the 16 oldest teams all made the playoffs this year, it is wildly false.
Houston, OKC and Denver were all in the bottom five of the NBA in average age. GS seems to be in the bottom 10. I didn’t bother looking any more after that.
We don’t need to get older we need to get more talented.
@ Kj
The Muhammad to Kobe comparison is laughable. Yeah, Kobe “barely” went in the top 10, but he was coming out of high school when drafted. He was what, 18 years old? Shabazz is a 21 year old nonathletic, undersized SF who does nothing but shoot (can’t rebound, can’t pass, can’t play defense). Kobe was one of the league’s best defensive players, could dish out 10 assists anytime he wanted, could rebound well, had ice in his veins, and was uber athletic in his prime.
Kj – your Kobe comparison is a bit over the top for ShaMu…but Ben Howland coached players tend to do better in the pros then their college statistics would otherwise show you. So it wouldn’t surprise me to see him do well at the next level.
Well, this has shown that comparing college players to current NBA players is basically pointless. Thanks, JAG. Your frankly ridiculous comparasion is a fine way to end this thread…
I’ll throw out my similarity comparisons for you regarding this draft Kevin. Noel/DeAndre Jordan; Burke/Nate Robinson; Porter/Tayshaun Price; Bennett/Derrick Williams; McLemore/Marcus Thornton; C. Zeller/T. Zeller; Len/Chris Kaman; Oladipo/Tony Allen; and Shabazz/Maggette…all in their prime.
Imagine holding the draft and picking the corresponding NBA player instead of the 2013 prospect. Not a lot of bargains there as top of the lottery picks.
-“Tyler???? REALLY?” -“Not mad about it, but wow, how did Zeller get invited to the USA minicamp?!” Coach K has probably seen and scouted Zeller more than anyone over the last 5 years. I don’t get the hate against lil Z…the kid has exactly ONE deficiency, weight/strength. I would much rather have a prospect that is highy skilled and needs to bulk up, vs a kid with girth but undeveloped skills. He was All-Rook second team because he runs well, passes well, shoots well, gets himself into the lane defensively at an elite level, and has a high IQ. Plus… Read more »
Ok, I am sure I will lose you here but here goes my other weird thought: Muhammad is this draft’s Kobe. I know, I know but I can’t shake his feeling that he has a iron will and will make himself a devastating scorer in the league. And before people go nuts, Kobe barely went in the top 10 of his draft and many people said he did not have a pro game.
Btw, continuing on Porter being far more than a “low ceiling, low risk pick” here’s some more “proof”: Pelton: “Porter. Despite the concern about Porter’s upside, his WARP projection of 2.6 per year over his first five seasons suggests All-Star potential. Of the 25 players with projected WARP between 2 and 3 drafted from 2003 through 2008, nine have made at least one All-Star appearance.”
Kevin I wish you would jump in here and back me up on Porter like ya did with Dion last year! Ha!
Agree, Kevin. Total regression to the mean going on there. Your way is preferable, if still a tad crude (through no fault of yours)
I’ve talked myself into Noel at the #1, but if we trade down, I really don’t care between Len, Porter and Vico (I’m calling him that now), or even CZ. Offer Charlotte the #1 for #4 and a future 2nd rounder. Dallas the rest of our picks and CJ Miles for the #13 (and if they wanna throw in Marion I’m good with that too.) Minnesota- offer Charlotte’s future #2, our #1 in 2015, Gee and the Sacto pick for #9 We walk away with #4, Marion, #13, and #9. With 4, we could probably get Len easily. Not sure… Read more »
Yup, they are the 16th! Indy is 15th, I think. Bright future for both teams, obviously but seriously, the Cavs need to get older fast! Such a weird sentence…
“Kj says:
June 5, 2013 at 11:11 am
Slightly OT but it relates to the Cavs and the playoffs and that is the 16 oldest teams were the teams that made the playoffs. In fact, the average age of your team was the single determinant of whether you made the playoffs or not!”
OKC is one of the 16 oldest teams???
http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/6/2/4390134/alex-len-comparable-analysis I forgot show you something, look this comp model of Len(among others prospects), really blow my mind! is like a more comprehensive form of your request for this posts, predicting pts, ast, Ortg/Drtg, etc, imagine this work with an enormous database of your own it´s really amazing
Soulbreaker, Mega-similarity models like that are interesting, but they almost invariably end up regressing to the mean…or at least it appears that way. They are frequently pessimistic. Looking through a few of his other posts: Anthony Bennett has a 43% chance of being a “lowish minute NBA player” or a “washout”. For Nerlens NOel, there is a 55% chance that he falls in with a group of players like Elden Campbell, Tony Battie, Duane Causwell, Solomon Jones, Travis Knight, Hasheem Thabeet, Justin Williams…that’s his “likely” through “worst case scenarios”. There is a 57% chance that Trey Burke will be a… Read more »
THough obviously it is much more thorough than what I have done.
Every year, Kevin Pelton does a draft similarity ranking. He is one of the best basketball analytics writers out there, but the results of that study sometimes seem diluted. Last year, Brad Beal’s best comparison was Xavier Henry. Damian Lillard was Jordan Crawford. Harrison Barnes = Terrico White. Andre Drummond = Kosta Koufos.
http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2361
Looking back, 2011 and 2010 produced more recognizable names for the comparisons, but large scale similarity models produce some wacky results.
Ultimately, my little project here was certainly intended as slightly informative and hopefully a little fun, contrasted to hardcore analytics.
Kj,
I agree with you on Porter. I think he will be really good…not a superstar by any means, but top-50 NBA player perhaps.
here http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/ but only after 2009/2010. Maybe is not much but worst is nothing haha
The list of Healthy American Centers is pretty short, is my only conclusion… Just made my own list, and he was still 11th on the list of healthy guys, so idk
Not mad about it, but wow, how did Zeller get invited to the USA minicamp?!
I think you should write the Drtng,especially in this case because that is probably the most influential part of the game in a C, the team defense. Thanks for all the hard work!
Soulbreaker, A few thoughts. First, you are right that defense is highly important in a center. I don’t like defensive rating though, nor do I know where to find it for college players. My preference for defense is RAPM, for what that’s worth. I included steal rate, block rate and defensive rebounding rate, and Len wasn’t particularly spectacular at any of those. Maryland did have the NCAA’s 38th ranked adjusted defense this year, which is pretty solid (according to kenpom). Of course, Georgetown was 4th, Indiana was 13th…Kentucky was 77th (obviously Noel missed 1/3 of the season, plus UK plays… Read more »
Kaman has had a decent career. He like Jamaal Magloire, was an All-Star because of a lack of worthy options rather than his actual impact on his team. If Len could be Kaman with a better jumper that would be a solid addition. Still firmly in the Noel boat though.
I did have the idea of pairing Noel and Len. Noel’s lack of girth wouldn’t be as big of a deal at the 4. Both can protect the rim.
Ah, gotcha Kevin.
In that case I take back any positive thoughts I had about Len- even Kaman’s all-star season really wasn’t anything amazing.
Tom,
Kaman is the one time all star. Lopez was in a higher tier than Len.
Love the articles, but its unfair to call a 24 year old coming off his first all-star appearance as a “ceiling of a 1 time all-star”. Lopez could easily be a 2x all star if he had been healthy last season and he could easily be a 4-5x all-star by the time he is 30.
@Cols714
Ok, but they didn’t have the number one pick last year and it was “obvious” they would take Barnes at 4 when Beal and MKG didn’t fall. They didn’t take Barnes.
Now it’s “obvious” they’re going to take Noel…some of us have learned from the past and we aren’t about to bet the farm on Chris Grant making the “obvious” move.
I don’t know man, Cody Zeller is getting Chris Bosh and LaMarcus Aldridge comparisons, I’d take a 7 foot Chris Bosh any day of the week. Plus maybe having his brother on the team might give Tyler some extra confidence, we all know he needs it. Plus watching Tyler try and beat up his little brother could be hilarious.
Slightly OT but it relates to the Cavs and the playoffs and that is the 16 oldest teams were the teams that made the playoffs. In fact, the average age of your team was the single determinant of whether you made the playoffs or not! Food for thought with the Cavs next year. They need to get older.
Btw, 3 of the 4 Conference Finals participants were in the top 8 oldest teams…
@ Vesus
It might be decent, but that value would lie in us holding onto it and then it becoming more valuable. If we were to trade it to move up, no team is going to consider that Miami might not be as good in the future. They’ll just assume LeBron stays and it is a late first.
New Windhorst podcast.
http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=70&c=476&f=1487831
There’s also a podcst with Nerlens Noel. Haven’t listened that one yet.
@Gordon
Actually, I think the next Miami first rounder could be decent – keep in mind it will be 2015 – that team could potentially be pretty lousy (if Lebron bolts) and the pick could easily be 16-20, unless they sink into the lottery. Not great, but not garbage either.
That would be a fantastic slap in the face to Miami….Cleveland re-signs Lebron and still gets Miami’s draft pick from a season without him. Wow.
Tyler???? REALLY?
Sorry but the Barnes comparison doesn’t work. If they had the #1 pick last year it was obvious they’d take Davis. They do have the #1 pick this year and it’s obvious they’ll take Noel.
If they had the #1 pick last year would people still be talking about Beal or Thomas? Nope. We all knew then who they would draft. Just like we all do now.
Noel is the pick. Get used to it.
Tristan Thompson will take part in the Canadian equivalent
“Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller invited to USA Basketball minicamp in July” – Other then winning the Lottery probably the best thing that has happens for the Cavs this offseason
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2013/06/kyrie_irving_dion_waiters_and.html
I don’t see us moving past Dallas at 13. If we have the assets (19,31,33) to move up to that point, then then someone has to want Tyler or a bench player for us to move up. It just seems like a longshot and a complicated longshot at that. Honestly I would be excited to go into next year with Noel and Karasev or Bullock. I think either wing could be a future starter.
@Gordon Look at New Orleans… I think where they are picking, and whats available, they might be willing Trey Burke – they already have Vasquez and Brian Roberts so not a great upgrade Oladipo – I know Eric Gordon is always hurt, but when healthy he is better then Oli Anthony Bennett – which i think fits the best, may not be available, and next to Anthony Davis, I dont know who is going to successfully guard 3’s Alex Len – Foot and Robin Lopez So if the cavs, package and move up to 6 we can talk about, Oladipo,… Read more »
I heard the Dallas Marion and the 13 for the 19, 31, and 33 but Chard Ford and I think Pelton tweeted yesterday that 1. Dallas can’t trade the pick until the actual draft (so that deal could already be done in principle) and 2. There’s a process of informing the league that you intend to sign your first round pick at a later date that could allow Dallas to pick a Eurostash player and not have it count against their cap (so mayeb they don’t do the deal if they love Saric or Karasev and they’re available).
1 Nerlens Noel (Cavs) 2 Ben McLemore (Magic) 3 Otto Porter (Wiz) 4 Anthony Bennett (Bobcats) 5 Victor Oladipo (Suns) 6 Trey Burke (Pelicans) 7 Cody Zeller (Kings) 8 C.J. McCollum (Pistons) 9 Shabazz Muhammad (Wolves) 10 Alex Len (Blazers) 11 Steven Adams (Sixers) 12 Kelly Olynyk (Thunder) 13 Michael Carter-Williams (Mavs) 14 Dennis Schroeder (Jazz) 15 Dario Saric (Bucks) 16 Rudy Gobert (Celtics) 17 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Hawks) 18 Mason Plumlee (Hawks) 19 Sergey Karasev (Cavs) 20 Jamaal Franklin (Bulls) 21 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Jazz) 22 Tony Mitchell (Nets) 23 Shane Larkin (Pacers) 24 Tim Hardaway Jr. (Knicks) 25 Allen Crabbe… Read more »
@ Adam Zeller wouldn’t be my ideal draft pick, but I was looking at the teams ahead of Minnesota and I couldn’t find one that would want to move back to #13. Minnesota needs multiple pieces around Love, so I could see them biting. I’d absolutely love to grab one of Porter, Oladipo, or Bennett. No thanks on Shabazz. But can we realistically move back into the top 5 to grab one of them? Perhaps the plethora of #1 picks will help, but these teams will also understand that the Memphis and Miami first rounders will not be great ones,… Read more »
@W C Couldnt agree more, banking on the fact that we are going to get the Lottery to fall our way again may not be the best route for this team to go
@ Gordon You had me, I was all behind you, “I am most excited for is what the Cavs are going to do with their second #1”, YES, agree “package the #13, #19, both second rounders, and future #1 to move back into the top 5 to grab a guy like Bennett, Oladipo, Len, or even Burke”, totally agree and am praying Grant finds a way to do this “we simply do not have the roster space to add two first rounders each year through 2018-2019” great, my feeling exactly Then you said we should draft Cody Zeller, when we… Read more »
@ Cols714
Pretty sure the consensus last year was that Grant was very high on Harrison Barnes. He was the “best guy” available. Grant didn’t draft him. I could easily see Grant bucking consensus and taking someone like Oladipo or Bennett.
That being said, if the choice really comes down to big man and it’s either Len or Noel….you take the guy with the knee problem, not the guy with the foot problem.
If the Cavs win the lottery next year, the NBA will change the lottery system. They will call it The Gilbert Rule. But that would be something – especially if we sign a rejuvenated Oden and Lebron.
The 5 Aces: Irving/Wiggins/Lebron/Noel/Oden
Backed up by the 2 Quatros: Waiters/Thompson
@ Gordon Just to expand a little on your trade idea with Houston. The Cavs could trade some non-guaranteed contracts to Houston for T. Robinson, R. White, and T. Jones. Houston might do this because they want cap space to go after Howard. The benefit to the Cavs would be hoping that one of these guys might develop. All are coming off lack-luster rookie years. Perhaps one of them could improve. If they don’t, the drawback for Cleveland would be minimal. Each one has a team option next season. If they don’t pan out, the Cavs don’t pick up the… Read more »
Cleveland trades filler + two second rounders to Dallas for Marion + #13 Cleveland then trades #13, #19, and a future second rounder (or 10, who cares) to Minnesota for #9 Cleveland selects Cody Zeller at #9 for an offensive-minded center who can learn behind AV, and will help the big rotation while Noel rehabs his knee. If AV is a double-double machine at the deadline, and is healthy, with C-Zeller playing well as a rookie, move him to a contender for a young SF. What about AV + future 1st rounder to Houston for Chandler Parsons after Houston whiffs… Read more »
I am more and more on board with the idea of drafting Noel. When he was playing at Kentucky, I was telling everyone I would kill for the Cavs to win the lottery so that they could take him. After the injury, I still wanted him. Now, after reading this series, I am sticking to that. What I am most excited for is what the Cavs are going to do with their second #1. We know that the Cavs can grab the Mavs #13 overall pick if they so choose. The question is, do the Cavs grab #13 and then… Read more »
Good point Adam, its going to be hard. Honestly, is everyone dead set against drafting Noel, sitting him for the year, not signing any free agents or reupping on all of our options, and just going for Wiggins/Jabari next year? We aren’t going to be contending, and if we draft Noel (pretty projecty with the injury) we’ll have to have very good health and get a couple decent one year rentals to make the playoffs. Is that worth one more year of suck to have a core of Noel-TT-Wiggins/Jabari-Dion-Kyrie with Andy as a backup and enough money for a Max… Read more »
I”m serious. Does anyone really think the Cavs (if they keep the pick and I think they will) will draft anyone but Noel?
No. No one does. No one would put any money on anyone but Noel.
We saw this same crap during the Irving draft. People were talking all sorts of crazy nonsense. The Cavs are great at drafting. They will take the best guy. The best guy is obviously Noel.
Quit pretending it’s not.
Cols with his irrational overconfidence that he knows all strikes again, fun guy On a different subject, it is becoming evident that the Cavs might be in one of the toughest divisions in Basketball next year… there are plenty of questions within the division but damn on paper it looks really tough Pacers and Bulls, depending on Rose and to a much lesser extent Granger may be fighting for the best records in the conference if not the league Cavs and Pistons both have drafted well and if nothing else will have extremely talented teams next year and beyond I… Read more »
This series wasn’t a waste of time. This has been one of the best series on this blog in the past few years. Take your negativity somewhere else!
The Cavs are taking Noel. It’s the correct move. Unless they can trade for Kevin Love (not happening) that’s the pick. This whole series was a waste of time.
Thanks for participating, Cols714. To a large extent, sports fandom is a waste of time. We all do it anyways.
“I hope that any talk of Len at #1 remains a Cavalier smoke screen. But hey, anytime you can draft a player with ceiling of one-time All-Star, while he is rehabbing an ankle injury, using the first pick in the draft…you have to consider that, right?” Ugh.
There’s several moves that the Cavs could make that I could get on board with. Drafting Len #1 would not be one of them.
No height, weight or reach because his foot was in a boot and not supposed to be excessively-weight bearing.
Thanks Demetrius and b33. I have edited the post accordingly.
i believe his height wasnt measured at the combine because he was in a walking boot at the time