NBA Draft: Position Breakdown-Combo Forwards
This year's crop of combo forwards is particularly deep. Derrick Williams is the stud, but after that there are a ton of solid players. The difference between my number 2 prospect Kawhi Leonard and #7 prospect Jordan Hamilton is very minimal
Here are my combo forward rankings:
1. Derrick Williams-SF-Arizona-So. 6-9/248/9-0
Last year's stats: 19.5ppg, 8.3rpg, 59%-FG%
NBA comparison: Glenn Robinson
Like the 'Big Dog', Williams is a bit short to play the 4 but has the body to bang inside. He can shoot lights up like Robinson. Most people remember Robinson for having some injury problems and baggage but he was a 20 per night scorer for a good 5 years. Williams may end being the same type of star. Not quite a superstar but a very nice player like the 'Big Dog'
Likely career role: starting SF or PF with star potential, a possible 20 and 7 guy
2. Kawhi Leonard-SF-San Diego St-Jr. 6-7/227/8-3
Last year's stats: 15.5ppg, 10.6rpg
NBA comparison: Gerald Wallace/Scottie Pippen
When I compare him to Piipen, I am comparing him to Pippen in the 1987 Draft as a raw developing athlete out f Central Arkansas, not Pippen the Hall of Famer. Like Pippen and Wallace he does all the little thing right. He may never be quite as good as Pippen but at the very least he can have a Wallace/Shawn Marion impact on a team.
Likely career role: starting SF and defensive stopper/rebounder with star potential
3. Jan Vesely-CF-Czech Republic-INT. 6-11/230
Last year's stats: 10.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 59%-FG% (Euroleague)
NBA comparison: Andrei Kirilenko
Like AK 47, Vesely is a non traditional Euro player. He can shoot and play outside, but he'd rather dunk on you and play solid defense. That should translate well to the NBA
Likely career role: starting SF/PF with ability to be a solid defender
4. Marcus Morris-CF-Kansas-Jr. 6-9/230/8-10
Last year's stats: 17.2ppg, 7.6rpg, 57%-FG%
NBA comparison: Al Harrington
Like Harrington, Morris has the body of a 4 but can shoot outside and stretch the defense like a 3. Both are solid role players but not stars. He should have a 10-15 year career because of his size and ability to shoot.
Likely career role: starting combo forward, 4th/5th best player in a starting lineup
5. Tobias Harris-SF-Tennessee-Fr 6-8/223/8-8
Last year's stats: 15.3ppg, 7.3rpg
NBA comparison: Luol Deng/Shane Battier
A jack of all trades, master of none type of player. Harris didn't go to Duke like Deng and Battier but he has the basketball IQ of one. Harris will be able to contribute and is probably the least risky player in the entire draft
Likely career role: starter/role playing 4th-6th man
6. Chris Singleton-CF-FSU-Jr. 6-9/230/8-8
Last year's stats: 13.1ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.0 spg
NBA comparison: James Posey
An extremely long lock down defender that can hit open shots
Likely career role: starter/role playing lock down defender
7. Donatas Motiejunas-F/C-Lithuania-INT. 7-0/224
Last year's stats: 10.9ppg, 5.6rpg, 50%-FG% (Eurocup)
NBA comparison: Toni Kukoc
A lefty that can shoot but doesn't like to bang inside despite being a 7 footer
Likely career role: role playing specialty shooter best used off bench
8. Jordan Hamilton-SF-Texas-So. 6-9/228/8-8
Last year's stats: 18.6ppg, 7.7rpg
NBA comparison: Stephen Jackson
Likely career role: role playing combo forward, 2nd best scorer on a bad team, 4th/5th man on a playoff team
9. Tyler Honeycutt-SF-UCLA-So. 6-8/187/8-9
Last year's stats: 12.8ppg, 7.2rpg
NBA comparison: Tayshaun Prince/Austin Daye
Like Prince and Daye, Honeycutt has a nice all around game but he needs to spend more time in the weight room than on the court if he wants to ever have an impact in the NBA. 6-8/187 is way too skinny in this grown man's league.
Likely career role: role playing/starting SF 5th-7th man in a rotation
10. Kyle Singler-SF-Duke-Sr. 6-9/228/8-10
Last year's stats: 16.9ppg, 6.8rpg, 43%-FG%
NBA comparison: Kyle Korver
Both can shoot and both are liabilities on defense. Like Korver, Singler will be best with a pint guard like Derrick Rose or Deron Williams.
Likely career role: role playing specialty shooter best used off bench
11. Davis Bertans-SF-Latvia-INT. 6-10/211
NBA comparison: Peja Stojakovic
The kid can shoot lights out. He'll need time to develop but he could one day be on the Peja level
Likely career role: role playing specialty shooter best used off bench
12. Nikola Mirotic-PF-Montenegro-INT. 6-10/220
NBA comparison: Jason Kapono
I just didn't want to compare him to Peja. Mirotic and bertans have a nearly identical game only Bertans is two years younger and thus has slightly more upside.
Likely career role: role playing specialty shooter best used off bench
Other possible 2nd round picks:
13. Jimmy Butler-SF-Marquette-Sr. 6-8/222/8-6
14. Jereme Richmond-SF-Illinois-Fr. 6-7/207/8-11
15. Chandler Parsons-SF-Florida-Sr. 6-10/221/8-9
16. Bojan Bodanovic-SF-Bosnia-INT. 6-7/216
17. Chris Wright-SF-Dayton-Sr. 6-8/217
18. Gary Flowers-SF-Southern Miss-Sr. 6-8/214
Here are my combo forward rankings:
1. Derrick Williams-SF-Arizona-So. 6-9/248/9-0
Last year's stats: 19.5ppg, 8.3rpg, 59%-FG%
NBA comparison: Glenn Robinson
Like the 'Big Dog', Williams is a bit short to play the 4 but has the body to bang inside. He can shoot lights up like Robinson. Most people remember Robinson for having some injury problems and baggage but he was a 20 per night scorer for a good 5 years. Williams may end being the same type of star. Not quite a superstar but a very nice player like the 'Big Dog'
Likely career role: starting SF or PF with star potential, a possible 20 and 7 guy
2. Kawhi Leonard-SF-San Diego St-Jr. 6-7/227/8-3
Last year's stats: 15.5ppg, 10.6rpg
NBA comparison: Gerald Wallace/Scottie Pippen
When I compare him to Piipen, I am comparing him to Pippen in the 1987 Draft as a raw developing athlete out f Central Arkansas, not Pippen the Hall of Famer. Like Pippen and Wallace he does all the little thing right. He may never be quite as good as Pippen but at the very least he can have a Wallace/Shawn Marion impact on a team.
Likely career role: starting SF and defensive stopper/rebounder with star potential
3. Jan Vesely-CF-Czech Republic-INT. 6-11/230
Last year's stats: 10.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 59%-FG% (Euroleague)
NBA comparison: Andrei Kirilenko
Like AK 47, Vesely is a non traditional Euro player. He can shoot and play outside, but he'd rather dunk on you and play solid defense. That should translate well to the NBA
Likely career role: starting SF/PF with ability to be a solid defender
4. Marcus Morris-CF-Kansas-Jr. 6-9/230/8-10
Last year's stats: 17.2ppg, 7.6rpg, 57%-FG%
NBA comparison: Al Harrington
Like Harrington, Morris has the body of a 4 but can shoot outside and stretch the defense like a 3. Both are solid role players but not stars. He should have a 10-15 year career because of his size and ability to shoot.
Likely career role: starting combo forward, 4th/5th best player in a starting lineup
5. Tobias Harris-SF-Tennessee-Fr 6-8/223/8-8
Last year's stats: 15.3ppg, 7.3rpg
NBA comparison: Luol Deng/Shane Battier
A jack of all trades, master of none type of player. Harris didn't go to Duke like Deng and Battier but he has the basketball IQ of one. Harris will be able to contribute and is probably the least risky player in the entire draft
Likely career role: starter/role playing 4th-6th man
6. Chris Singleton-CF-FSU-Jr. 6-9/230/8-8
Last year's stats: 13.1ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.0 spg
NBA comparison: James Posey
An extremely long lock down defender that can hit open shots
Likely career role: starter/role playing lock down defender
7. Donatas Motiejunas-F/C-Lithuania-INT. 7-0/224
Last year's stats: 10.9ppg, 5.6rpg, 50%-FG% (Eurocup)
NBA comparison: Toni Kukoc
A lefty that can shoot but doesn't like to bang inside despite being a 7 footer
Likely career role: role playing specialty shooter best used off bench
8. Jordan Hamilton-SF-Texas-So. 6-9/228/8-8
Last year's stats: 18.6ppg, 7.7rpg
NBA comparison: Stephen Jackson
Likely career role: role playing combo forward, 2nd best scorer on a bad team, 4th/5th man on a playoff team
9. Tyler Honeycutt-SF-UCLA-So. 6-8/187/8-9
Last year's stats: 12.8ppg, 7.2rpg
NBA comparison: Tayshaun Prince/Austin Daye
Like Prince and Daye, Honeycutt has a nice all around game but he needs to spend more time in the weight room than on the court if he wants to ever have an impact in the NBA. 6-8/187 is way too skinny in this grown man's league.
Likely career role: role playing/starting SF 5th-7th man in a rotation
10. Kyle Singler-SF-Duke-Sr. 6-9/228/8-10
Last year's stats: 16.9ppg, 6.8rpg, 43%-FG%
NBA comparison: Kyle Korver
Both can shoot and both are liabilities on defense. Like Korver, Singler will be best with a pint guard like Derrick Rose or Deron Williams.
Likely career role: role playing specialty shooter best used off bench
11. Davis Bertans-SF-Latvia-INT. 6-10/211
NBA comparison: Peja Stojakovic
The kid can shoot lights out. He'll need time to develop but he could one day be on the Peja level
Likely career role: role playing specialty shooter best used off bench
12. Nikola Mirotic-PF-Montenegro-INT. 6-10/220
NBA comparison: Jason Kapono
I just didn't want to compare him to Peja. Mirotic and bertans have a nearly identical game only Bertans is two years younger and thus has slightly more upside.
Likely career role: role playing specialty shooter best used off bench
Other possible 2nd round picks:
13. Jimmy Butler-SF-Marquette-Sr. 6-8/222/8-6
14. Jereme Richmond-SF-Illinois-Fr. 6-7/207/8-11
15. Chandler Parsons-SF-Florida-Sr. 6-10/221/8-9
16. Bojan Bodanovic-SF-Bosnia-INT. 6-7/216
17. Chris Wright-SF-Dayton-Sr. 6-8/217
18. Gary Flowers-SF-Southern Miss-Sr. 6-8/214
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