ESPN NBA experts "re-do" draft (Burke and THJr featured)
BIll simmons, avery johnson, and jalen rose re-select their top 7 based on how the rookies have performed so far and both Trey Burke and THJr made the top 7 in all 3.
Great to see both our players doing well in the pros as rookies, but also getting acknowledged for their abilties.
Bill Simmons: burke 4 thjr 7
Avery Johnson burke 3 thjr 2
Jalen Rose burke 3 thjr 4
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10487128&ex_cid=espnapi_public
February 25th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
Watching THJ this year has been a lot of fun. I'm not really an NBA guy, but I am a New Yorker and have watched more Knicks game this year than ever before because of THJ. He's been a great spark off the bench for a team that, well, sucks.
Having said that, I think we can all agree that last year's draft was faily lackluster in overall talent. It's showing to be on the weaker side of the draft class spectrum. However, it's still great to see our guys doing so well.
February 25th, 2014 at 10:06 AM ^
Even assuming we can all agree that one can declare a draft lackluster after 60 games of 1 season, what point are you trying to make about that? Not sure I'm following what you are trying to imply there.
February 25th, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^
I believe the draft class to be lackluster due to a lack of guys who I see one day becoming perennial all-stars. Sure, this class will have its gems as all do, but from top to bottom, especially looking at the top 15 picks, I just don't see it being very strong. Take a look at drafts from the last twenty years and IMO you'll see more talent.
So I'm saying that after 60 games of 1 season, it's nice to see THJ and Trey being valued so highly. But in other years, IMO, I believe you could pick a top seven that would far and away be better than what the 2013 class presents. Obviously time can proove me wrong.
February 25th, 2014 at 10:37 AM ^
I could see how that would be your opinion if you are making a subjective talent evaluation. If you are looking at stats against NBA competition, the draft class looks similar to those of the past. One would also expect rookie's to raise their averages toward the end of the year so the stats from current rookies should be lower than previous classes with 20 games left:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/rookies/rankings/_/year/2013
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/rookies/rankings/_/year/2012
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/rookies/rankings/_/year/2011
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/rookies/rankings/_/year/2010
February 25th, 2014 at 10:43 AM ^
I thought his comment was quite clear----and accurate
February 25th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
I was confused because he was discussing how our guys were doing well in the NBA and then made a comment on the overall talent of the draft class, which isn't relevant to how good our guys are doing in the NBA.
Unless you can explain to me how Trey Burke's preformance in the NBA is dependent upon Anthony Bennett's preformance in the NBA? Then I agree you wouldn't need to imply anything.
February 25th, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^
But his rookie ranking is dependent on Anthony Bennett's performance. Seems pretty clear to me that he was stating that, despite playing well, in any other year they wouldn't be re-ranked as high.
I'm not sure if that's true or not, but his statement seemed clear to me.
February 25th, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^
I agree that his statement seemed clear and I agree with it. In most years, there is a rookie who is an all-star, another couple in the all-star discussion and a dozen or so who are solid starters. THJr is one of the top rookies and isn't even starting on a bad team (though he's gotten starter-ish minutes in a number of games).
February 25th, 2014 at 3:55 PM ^
This is the distinction. You guys are using (rightfully so with the thread topic) "playing well" to mean relative to other rookies. I am thinking of "playing well" as meaning relatiive to other NBA players.
February 25th, 2014 at 8:02 PM ^
No, I think they're using other rookies to determine whether or not the re-draft, which is the entire point of this thread, is any different than it would typically be based on the strength of the class. That seems extremely straight-forward to me.
February 25th, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^
I agree re: THJ being a lone bright spot for the Knicks this year. It's a shame that Dolan/Woodson are so incompetent that they insist that JR Smith still get 30+ minutes/game and cut into Hardaway's playing time.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:32 PM ^
Just think how crazy good we would have been if they both came back. What a fun year of basketball that would have been, not that this year has not been good anyway.
February 25th, 2014 at 9:58 AM ^
Given a 2nd shot at the 2013 draft, Joe Dumars traded the Pistons' picks for an underrated young gun named Baron Davis because he heard from a friend that Davis dominated at UCLA and his game would really translate to the NBA level.
February 25th, 2014 at 10:02 AM ^
Burke at #3 or #4? Dumars is beyond thrilled at this re-draft because it basically shows there were other GMs just as stupid as he was regarding Burke.
Misery loves company.
February 25th, 2014 at 10:13 AM ^
This can't be true. Josh Katzenstein on Twitter says that Trey Burke can't create his shot and KCP will be better in the long run.
Katzenstein knows it all. /s
February 25th, 2014 at 10:41 AM ^
again, KCP may be fine going forward, but to project that he will be better in the long run is based on almost nothing beyong contrarianism. Trey has some work to do on the defensive end and on offense in the lane---but virtually all of his points already come when he creates his own shot--and as we know, few work harder than Trey, and odds are he will fix/reduce most of his deficiencies.
February 25th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^
That stands for sarcastic...the post that you were replying to used it, which means, they were being sarcastic. You are absolutely right, but everyone here pretty much knows that already. That Katzenstein guy is cleary very confused.
February 25th, 2014 at 10:57 AM ^
While I guess I could have been clearer---I think the fairer reading of my comment was that it was adding to the post and the criticism of Katzenstein.
But thanks for the help. /s
February 25th, 2014 at 3:29 PM ^
so while I take some responsibility for imperfect clarity, you get to stand by your snarky misreading.
February 25th, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^
having THJ 2nd is absurd. Still good to see former UM players getting good reviews though.
February 25th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
I personally wouldn't rank THJ 2nd either but I don't think it's that farfetched especially if you are projecting how good he can be later down the line. His game is translating far better in the NBA than it ever did in college, and he is coming off the bench and not getting starters minutes. He has been extremely impressive this year. It's kind of crazy that a guy I would've thought was about our 4th best player last year (behind Burke, McGary, GR3) is a guy you can reasonably say is performing in the top-5 rookies in the NBA this year.
February 25th, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^
is certainly one key to success. They talk about him as the best shooter in the draft. . .
It's fascinating to figure out why he translates so well, though; I think part of it is having become really, really strong.
February 25th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
I'm thinking the only game Avery has seen this year was the BBVA Compass Haier 2014 Rising Stars Challenge sponsored by Hyundai Ford.
February 25th, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^
was impacted by the need of the team. For example, did they think the top two teams passed on Trey since they needed a different skill set. (...haven't read the background yet)
February 25th, 2014 at 10:43 AM ^
I didn't read the article but I can only assume KCP went #1 in all three, right?
February 25th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
Selection was supposed to be based on talent alone, not team needs. They gave Burke and THJr a lot of love, it was great to see. Avery Johnson called him (Timmy) the best shooter in the draft! Pretty awesome segment to watch as a Michigan fan, that's for sure.
February 25th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
"Yeah, right. Whatever," Joe Dumars.
February 25th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^
In your title you probably should have put the word experts in quotations as well.
February 25th, 2014 at 12:46 PM ^
Avery Johnson was a successful coach and Bill Simmons is one of the better NBA journalists. I realize they're not the Spurs front office, but their eye for talent is probably better than yours or mine.
February 25th, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
The Greek Freak (Giannis Antetokounmpo - Bucks) is easily my favorite prospect from this draft class. He might never amount to much, but he has the size/skill potential to be a perennial all-star. Kid's fun to watch.
February 25th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
(Half the responses to Trey Burke NBA updates)
>__>
February 25th, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^
Keep rewarding his piss poor decisions.
February 25th, 2014 at 2:23 PM ^
I always view these re-ranks as "who would I rather have on my team if a game were played today", which operates under a completely different set of criteria than "who I would want on my team for the next 3+ years with restricted free agency rights to boot".
February 25th, 2014 at 3:15 PM ^
Don't keep us in suspense - where did KCP go?
February 25th, 2014 at 4:04 PM ^
They only drafted the first 7 slots. Shockingly enough, no one picked KCP for his elite defense.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:57 PM ^
Why I make a better GM than half these clowns.
#IrrationalBlogger
#ME
February 25th, 2014 at 5:42 PM ^
effectively missed on Burke and THJ, two guys right in his backyard.
February 25th, 2014 at 7:49 PM ^
Mateen Cleaves was a bust so there was no way another local PG product could succeed. What a coward.
February 25th, 2014 at 7:59 PM ^
I don't think you can count THJ as a "miss". He was projected to go go early 2nd and it was a bit of a surprise for the Knicks to select him where they did. If we had taken him 8th overall heads would have rolled.