Michigan Mock Draft Positions
There has not been much talk about the upcoming NBA draft, which is surprising given the huge effect it will have on the constitution of our team next year. There have been 30 threads created on the NBA draft during the time I got pulled away from writing this. Correct me if I’m wrong, but April 16th is the declaration date, so we will know who is staying and who is gone by then, right?
There hasn’t been much stated about who is packing up their rooms and who is entrenching themselves for another long March. I’ve referenced a few mock drafts to get a range on our potential pro prospects. McGary's range is odd, as most sites don't have him in the top 60. Maybe he was omitted from a few mock drafts due to saying he's 100% on returning to the team.
Trey Burke – (6, 6, 7, 7, 9, 9, 13, 17)
Possible teams have included: Kings, Hornets, Pistons, Thunder, Mavs, Bucks
Glenn Robinson III – (10, 10, 10, 10, 11, 16, 22)
Possible teams have included: Timberwolves, Nets, Bullets, 76ers, Hawks
Mitch McGary – (18, 24)
Possible teams have included: Knicks, Hawks
Tim Hardaway Jr. – (19, 28, 30, 32, 32, 47, 51)
Possible teams have included: Heat, Magic, Cavaliers, Bulls, Thunder
April 10th, 2013 at 11:46 AM ^
April 10th, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^
David Lee and Kevin Love.
Oh, and Wes Unseld.
April 10th, 2013 at 12:06 PM ^
April 10th, 2013 at 12:14 PM ^
three point shooter in college, however. He added that his second year in Minnesota.
April 10th, 2013 at 12:27 PM ^
when at UCLA. I believe he was over 30% from three which isn't bad for a big.
April 10th, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^
I looked it up! I didn't realize he jacked so many threes at UCLA.
April 10th, 2013 at 12:16 PM ^
We don't know that he doesn't have that kind of range. He just hasn't taken those shots in game. He has, however, taken a lot of 15' jumpers and hit them with relative ease. With the number of 3 point specialists we have on this team and his ability to drive, it wouldn't surprise me if the coaches told him not to take the 3 even if it's wide open. At the same time, it wouldn't surprise me to see him start taking those shots next year if no one is going to guard him that far away from the basket. If he can show that he can make those shots at all, it will open up things in the paint a lot more when he comes up top for a screen.
April 10th, 2013 at 12:53 PM ^
If he can shoot the three, is there a good reason the coaches would tell him to pass up wide open shots, especially a Beilien who likes his bigs to shoot? If a player who has played significant minutes and has not attempted a single three point shot over the course of a season, there probably is a reason and it isn't because the coaches are hiding thier secret weapon.
The guy shoots 44% on free throws, I think you might be overselling his range just a tad.
If McGary could shoot the three, I'm guessing we would have seen some pick and rolls where instead of rolling to the basketball, he rolls to the 3 point line. Kind of like what the Pistons did with Lambeer.
April 10th, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^
David Lee
April 10th, 2013 at 11:52 AM ^
some talking head said Dave Cowens whom I remember vaguely from my childhood. He was good...
April 10th, 2013 at 11:55 AM ^
IIRC Cowens was all about the hook shot. I don't think I have ever seen a McGary hook. Plus Mitch moves much better.
April 10th, 2013 at 12:51 PM ^
Dave Cowens was an excellent jump shooter from the foul line extended. Very similar to Mitch. And yes I am old and watched Cowens play.
Eh. Cowens was smaller, a better shooter, and a lot faster. He didn't rely much on the hook. I think the diving on the floor is what drove that comparison.
April 10th, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^
Ty Hansbrough
April 10th, 2013 at 12:00 PM ^
April 10th, 2013 at 12:04 PM ^
All the white players? Because obviously the only comparison for a white player is another white player.
April 10th, 2013 at 12:07 PM ^
subject was supposed to read <insert white big man with high motor>
April 10th, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
So close. You know, if you had an iPhone........
April 10th, 2013 at 12:05 PM ^
A taller Earl Boykins.
April 10th, 2013 at 12:11 PM ^
"Michael Jordan but taller" - Fred Jackson
April 10th, 2013 at 12:11 PM ^
A verison of Bill Laimbeer but with better overall ball skils. He does not have Laimbeer's 3-point shot but I think he can develop it if he opts to stay in school.
April 10th, 2013 at 12:17 PM ^
For those who remember, this guy was actually an awesome player who was constantly injured. He's got quite a bit of size on Mitch tho (7'3")
April 10th, 2013 at 12:28 PM ^
He could be considered one of the best basketball players ever had he played his whole career in the states. Think of him like a basketball version of Ichiro. He had a phenominal career both in his country and an above average career here given his age. Not many people know that about Sabonis.
April 10th, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
My Vydas, he's not Your Vydas heeessss Arvydas Sabonis
April 10th, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^
McGary and Varejao have a lot of similarities. About the same size, both high-energy players, neither has much of an outside shot and both are below-average FT shooters. McGary has a higher ceiling, I think, because he is going to eventually pack on a little more muscle and be able to be a more physical defender, plus he can handle the ball better.
April 10th, 2013 at 11:56 PM ^
Not as solid defensively, but could be down the road. Very active and disruptive.
Offensively, aside from the obvious bank shot repoitoire he can run the floor in transition and even run the point on it with crisp passing and good awareness of spacing, excellent court-vision. Has range out to a good distance for a big guy. Lacking in Duncan's post-game at this time which is likely the main fault with the comparison.
Solid rebounder, though doubtful he will ever be a league leader or close, more like a 9-10 guy.
I think poor man's Duncan is more accurate than Love or David Lee who are just white guys who are similar build and not slow and plodding. I think those comparisons are lazy. Love is a much better rebounder than McGary and shares almost nothing in common with him. His defensive game is totally different - McGary will be a much better defender in the NBA - and Love has range that McGary will never have. Lee is also a much better rebounder and a terrible defender who isn't nearly as skilled offensively as McGary.
I'm really not "race card" guy, and racial issues are not a significant portion of my daily thoughts, but I do get annoyed that white basketball players are only compared to, or remind people of, other white players. Just like a black QB can only remind you of another black QB. There are 2 kinds of NFL slot receivers: white ones to remind us of Wes Welker or Ed McCaffrey, and everyone else.
Ok, no more rant, but thanks for reasonably comparing McGary to someone without considering skin color.
Except for it's not that reasonable. Tim Duncan is a top 20 player all time. No offense to Mitch, but he's not even a "poor man's" Tim Duncan. I mean Mitch doesn't even have a single post move.
I did not mean to imply anything beyond the fact that Mitch will play a style similar to Duncan's but at a - at best - 14-15 ppg, 9-10 rpg, 3 apg, 1.5 bpg, 1 spg clip with less efficient defense. As opposed to Duncan's tremendous post D and 24 ppg, 11-12 rpg, 4 apg, 3 bpg, 1 spg prime.
"Poor Man's Tim Duncan" describes just about every big man in the NBA for the last 12 years or so which makes it not a very meaningful comparison. There are very few as good or better than Tim Duncan so what does that tell you?
It's meant as a comparison in style, not in ability, necessarily. "Poor Man's Tim Duncan" doesn't refer to every center who isn't as good as Tim Duncan, but rather a player with a similart style to Duncan, but not as good, or not as good yet. Not every big man plays like Tim Duncan. Whether or not you agree with the example is different than saying it doesn't tell you anything.
If there was a super athletic but not so skilled big man coming out of college, you might call him a Poor Man's Dwight Howard instead.
High energy player, with limited offensive game, but his stroke is much better.
Kevin Love is a future hall of famer with range, I'm not going that far.
(I just saw mfan_in_ohio's post, basically everything he already said)
Named Wes Unseld
He reminds of a poor mans David Lee. Not quite as skilled but has a great motor.
April 10th, 2013 at 11:47 AM ^
From people like Chad Ford and Givony from Draft Express...(both pretty reasonable)
It seems as if Burke (obviously), GRIII, and McGary all have 1st round grades- Burke being top 10 and the other 2 being top 20. Thjr is likely a 2nd round pick.
Best case scenario is that we only lose Burke and Worst case scenario is that we obviously lose all 4 of them.
April 10th, 2013 at 11:48 AM ^
...just kidding.
I think if we lose just Burke and GR3 we can be okay, if we lose all four we're going to be fighting to make the tournament again.
April 10th, 2013 at 11:51 AM ^
According to ESPN.com (http://espn.go.com/nba/draft), the deadline is April 28 for early eligibility entry.
April 10th, 2013 at 11:58 AM ^
Not sure who is right here, but CBS:
"Wednesday, April 16 is the NCAA's official Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline -- when players have to pull out in order to maintain their college basketball eligibility."
It may be that the NBA has a later deadline, but the NCAA athletes that don't withdraw their inquiry by the 16th are considered ineligible.
April 10th, 2013 at 12:06 PM ^
if you declare you have until the 16th to pull out, you can declare afterwards..but you can't change your mind.
April 10th, 2013 at 12:11 PM ^
April 10th, 2013 at 12:12 PM ^
April 10th, 2013 at 11:51 AM ^
I love GR3, but how the hell is he so high on draft boards.. A second year would do him a great service.
April 10th, 2013 at 11:56 AM ^
April 10th, 2013 at 12:11 PM ^
April 10th, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^
FWIW my sources tell me that THJ's father wants him to finish his degree.
April 10th, 2013 at 11:56 AM ^
I like your sources, random internet guy.
April 10th, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^
hasnt mcgary already said he is coming back.