Post by JR on May 2, 2020 14:38:04 GMT -8
JR’s 2001 Draft Big Board Top 20 (Before Ratings)
This is just my opinion on these players hearing a little from everybody on the boards when the class was released.
*Disclaimer: Not sure if Andrei Kirilenko is in this class or not.
*Disclaimer: Not sure if Andrei Kirilenko is in this class or not.
1. Gilbert Arenas PG United States Arizona (So.)
- I know talk of his defense being D+ might scare some people away, but if the Commish of the league has you as their avatar you should go 1st. Also, who doesn’t love a score first PG who won’t pass the ball much? I know I do. Arenas has the ability to lead the league in scoring in his prime that’s how good of a scorer he is.
2. Pau Gasol PF/C Spain FC Barcelona (Spain)
- Honestly Pau will probably go number one, but I feel like he should go 2nd. He will be a very good all around big in this league. Might be soft which is why I believe he’s not the number 1 player in this draft class. Being second isn’t a slouch in this draft class. Pau looks to be a double double threat night in and night out while providing some rim protection.
3. Joe Johnson SG United States Arkansas (So.)
- Here is where it can go either way. The top 2 will most likely be those two I have ranked 1 and 2 respectively. 3rd, I can see a number of players being ranked here on other big boards, but I am going to go with the deadly scorer Joe Johnson. I really like his game and how it should translate to BBS. He’s a do it all guard and should be strong enough to play SF as well.
4. Tyson Chandler C United States Dominguez HS (Compton, California)
- Tyson Chandler lands 4th on my big board. This is because he is too raw offensively coming out of high school. I think going to college would help him hone some offensive skills down, but the kid decided to take that jump. A great defender with his athleticism and length, as well as a great rebounder. Needs to add muscle to his teenage body.
5. Gerald Wallace SF United States Alabama (Fr.)
- Gerald Wallace is an interesting prospect coming out of Alabama. A straight freak athlete. Can guard 4 positions on the court and an excellent rebounder as well. He reminds me of Shawn Marion of the Rockets, and look what he did in preseason wow. He lands 5th for a similar reason as Tyson very raw offensively.
6. Tony Parker PG France Paris Basket Racing (France)
- Tony Parker is right outside of the top 5 and its very close. Parker has yet to show range on his jump shot. Seems like he needs a lot of work on that. Nobody likes a PG who can’t make at least a 15 footer. He is young and should be able to hone his jumper this is why he is 6th on my big board. He has potential to be a very good floor general in this league and for a long long time as well.
7. Jason Richardson SG United States Michigan State (So.)
- Jason Richardson is another athlete in this class. He might be a little more refined on offense then some of the guys above him on my big board as well. He is more ready then the likes of Tyson, Tony, and Gerald, but does he have enough untapped potential to stay better then them? I’m leaning to no but not by much. Jason will be a very good scorer at shooting guard, not quite as good as Joe, but hell be up there.
8. Richard Jefferson SF United States Arizona (Jr.)
- Richard Jefferson is a great two player with some potential to be an All-Star. He is athletic enough and strong enough to play either wing position. I think him and Jason Richardson might be flopped when the ratings come out for me. Solid mid range and good form to make you think if given enough love on 3 point shooting he may be respectable from behind the arc.
9. Samuel Dalembert C Canada Seton Hall (So.)
- Samuel Dalembert is exactly what I look for in a big man. Plays hard defense, and rebounds the ball. He doesn’t ask for it on the block and gets his buckets from running the floor and offensive rebounds. He will never overwhelm anybody on offense and this is his downfall. His upside on offense is minimal, complete opposite of who comes next.
10. Zach Randolph PF United States Michigan State (Fr.)
- Zach Randolph is a bruiser downlow. The kid can just score. He is so unathletic but crafty down low. Knows how to use his body very well and his touch is extremely soft. His positioning is out of this world and the rebounding numbers will show. Definitely a candidate to go to SF since he cant block many shots since he is so unathletic. So he may be higher on other boards if they think he can be a SF on their team.
11. Eddie Griffin PF United States Seton Hall (Fr.)
- Here is where I would not want to be picking in this draft. My big board says there are 10 guys that are sure fire starters in this draft. I think the freshman from Seton Hall deserves this spot but barely misses the top 10 at 11. With that being said he is a very versatile and looks to be oozing with some potential. Going to the right team is key for this guy in my honest opinion. Should be starter or 6th man type backing up multiple positions.
12. Mehmet Okur C Turkey Efes Pilsen (Turkey)
- Mehmet Okur lands just outside my top 10 as well. He is the first real player that I think people will play at SF that comes in as a big. He is a good outside shooter and will be an elite rebounder at the Small Forward Position. The center out of Turkey looks the part of smooth, and easy transition into that position. This could have him rated a tad bit higher on other GM’s big board.
13. Shane Battier SF United States Duke (Sr.)
- Shane Battier is a player that should be able and be a rotation player at the very least as soon as he steps on the court. He might even be a starter due to his defensive abilities. His lack of potential is why he lands at 13 on my big board. Other might value his ability to come in and be camped early on and be helpful for a team trying to compete more so than a rebuilding team. He should have plus rebounding as well for a wing coming in. Solid player and will have a long career in BBS.
14. DeSagana Diop C Senegal Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia) HS
- The amoung of youth and potential in this draft is pretty deep. Desagna will be a very good big in this league. His offense is not to be desired for a big, but his defense and rebounding are very much so. I think he is similar to Samuel, but not as good and he might have a chance to surpass him in the long run but those chances are slim. 14th on my big board because of his ability to be a good defender downlow and a rim protector.
15. Troy Murphy PF United States Notre Dame (Jr.)
- Troy Murphy will and should be used solely at SF in BBS. His lack of rim protecting dictates that for me and his outside shot is so pretty. If he is played at PF I think his stats will suffer because of the lack of strength he has. I would love me some Troy and is probably going to outperform some of these guys above him early on in their careers. This is why he lands in the top 15 of my big board.
16. Eddy Curry C United States Thornwood HS (South Holland, Illinois)
- Eddy “Big Mac” Curry, is an interesting prospect. This is a huge kid already at the age of 18 and that might entice somebody to spend a lotto pick on this kid. He looks like a low post scoring stud and could be a good rebounder if he figures out how to use his body at the next level. My concern with him will he eat too many Big Macs and ruin his potential or will he put in the work and cut the McDonalds out of his diet? This is the biggest question of this draft class.
17. Jamaal Tinsley PG United States Iowa State (Sr.)
- Jamaal Tinsley is an extension of the coach on the court. He has that dog mentality and will compete against anybody regardless of the talent discrepancy. The senior from Iowa State knows how to run the offense to perfection his problem has always been will he be able to score enough to keep these defenses honest at the next level. I think he will be a really good backup and might be able to slide into the starting spot for some teams. I like his physical play at the point guard position and his never back down attitude.
18. Brendan Haywood C United States North Carolina (Sr.)
- Brendan Haywood is another big that has the makings of a long term rotational player. He is very good at rebounding and a solid defender already and those skills will definitely translate. I think he has enough scoring ability to be a double double threat night in and night out. He has had a better college career then Diop and Dalembert, but his age and ability to improve much scares me some so he falls on my big board for now.
19. Kwame Brown C United States Glynn Academy (Brunswick, Georgia)
- Kwame Brown yet another high schooler making the jump straight to BBS. I like this kid a lot but his ranking wont show it. He has dominated in high school, but that is because he is physically bigger, stronger and more athletic then his competition. Does this hurt his stock because he hasn’t played top competition yet? For me, absolutely. I need to see him up against some of the competition in this draft for him to solidify his skills he has shown thus far.
20. Vladimir Radmanović PF FR Yugoslavia FMP (Yugoslavia)
- Vladimir Radmonovich lands at number 20 on my big board. The hoopla around Vlad is that he can be the next Peja Stojakovic. I’m not getting behind this, but I do agree he needs to play SF to be a factor in BBS. The kid from Yugoslavia has a nice looking stroke, pause, and has unlimited range for a guy his size. I can see the comparisons, but I do not think he will reach the same level as a scorer as Peja. I think he can be utilized and make some rotations, but he does need a lot of work still.
