Andrew Wiggins

[supp]

What are everyone's thoughts on McDermott in the NBA? I had never seen more than 3 or 4 of his games prior to this year, but with Creighton in the BE now, I have seen them quite a bit on FS1.

He's much better than I thought - I had him pegged as an Adam Morrison (great numbers in a crap conference), but he is better than that with solid athleticism, a good frame, and is REALLY skilled. He is as versatile a scorer as there has been in the college game in a while. He may not have the "potential" of Embiid, Wiggins, etc., but I guarantee he will make a more profound impact in year 1. I would not be surprised if he averaged 18+ ppg in year 1.

Agree. Morrison even in college looked like he was all-elbows out there. Awkward and uncoordinated. This kid is smooth. He has a Euro game. But he can mix it up inside too. He's like Lionel Simmons but with a much better stroke.

 

[two3zone]

The Darius Miles story is a big reason why I'm not interested in the NBA. To wit: "Under NBA rules, if a team is granted salary-cap relief for a career-ending injury to a player who thereafter participates in at least ten games the next season, the salary cap relief is terminated and the amount is added back to the team's salary cap ceiling. On January 8, 2009, after Miles played six pre 2008-2009-season games with the Celtics and two before being released from a non-guaranteed contract by the Grizzlies, the Portland Trail Blazers threatened to sue any of the other 29 NBA teams that picked up Miles and played him specifically to adversely impact their salary cap and tax positions. In response, the NBA players' association threatened to file a grievance against the Trail Blazers. After a directive from the NBA Commissioner's office the next day declaring that any team could sign Miles and the League would approve the contract, the Memphis Grizzlies re-signed Miles on January 10, 2009 to a 10-day non-guaranteed contract. Miles then played the two games necessary to trigger re-addition of the $18 million to Portland's cap amount. Miles then re-signed two more 10-day contracts with the Grizzlies before being signed for the rest of the 2008–09 season on January 30, 2009." ~Wiki The NBA doesn't give two sh!ts whether the "one and done's" prosper at the pro level because there are more coming every year. So, effectively, the NBA is eating its own young.

What does this have to do with one and dones? He had a career ending injury.

 

[scottynguyen]

In regards to McDermott's NBA potential, put it this way, Steve Novak is the best shooter on the planet (imo) and he can't find consistent minutes in the league. Granted, McDermott's game is a little more versatile than that.

I worry about McDermott's ability to finish at the next level. And I worry that he'll be a turnstile on defense, like potentially one of the worst defender in the league. Steal rate has proven to be a pretty good indicator of NBA success and McDermott's steal rate paints a pretty grim picture. If he can manage to become a slightly below average to mediocre defender and a decent team defender he can find a place in the league.

You want to talk about frauds. I think Randle is the biggest fraud in the class, in relation to where he's being projected. T-rex arms, bully ball in the post, bad defender.

 

[richard levy]

Wiggins reminds me of Harrison Barnes, size, game. Barnes was a big deal out of HS, cover of SI, last time I looked he was still in the league.Randle reminds me of Zack Randolph, same frame, same game. I think they both do fine

 

[We Are Syracuse]

Wiggins is and never will become half the shooter that harrison barnes is.. I see more of a Gerald Wallace once he fills out. Harrison Barnes had a great pull up game in college. Wiggins jump shot is non-existant.

 

[Orangeyes]

Many here, including me, wondered what the big deal with James Harden was. Cuse beat his team and he did nothing. He also came up short in another high profile game (forget which). I've learned I'm not the talent evaluator I thought I once was. If the scouts drool, there is probably a reason for it. You can see what some of the fuss is about though- that play where he sailed out of bounds but still got the put back was impressive.

The simple reason he didn't impress is that he was slowed down by an injury when ASU played us.

 

[Garbs]

Wiggins will thrive in the NBA, just like MCW, made for the NBA game.

He will also thrive with a competent PG (which is Kansas' weakness), see when he played with Ennis.

Kansas' front-line is stacked though so I wouldn't put to much into his lack of numbers, hard to stuff the stat sheet with Embiid/Ellis/Traylor/Black etc. also putting up numbers.

 

[wallacecuse]

In regards to McDermott's NBA potential, put it this way, Steve Novak is the best shooter on the planet (imo) and he can't find consistent minutes in the league. Granted, McDermott's game is a little more versatile than that.

I worry about McDermott's ability to finish at the next level. And I worry that he'll be a turnstile on defense, like potentially one of the worst defender in the league. Steal rate has proven to be a pretty good indicator of NBA success and McDermott's steal rate paints a pretty grim picture. If he can manage to become a slightly below average to mediocre defender and a decent team defender he can find a place in the league.

You want to talk about frauds. I think Randle is the biggest fraud in the class, in relation to where he's being projected. T-rex arms, bully ball in the post, bad defender.

McDermott has infinitely more game than Novak...Novak is a poor man's Korver. As a defender, we will have to wait and see.

 

[Waltdods]

In regards to McDermott's NBA potential, put it this way, Steve Novak is the best shooter on the planet (imo) and he can't find consistent minutes in the league. Granted, McDermott's game is a little more versatile than that.

I worry about McDermott's ability to finish at the next level. And I worry that he'll be a turnstile on defense, like potentially one of the worst defender in the league. Steal rate has proven to be a pretty good indicator of NBA success and McDermott's steal rate paints a pretty grim picture. If he can manage to become a slightly below average to mediocre defender and a decent team defender he can find a place in the league.

You want to talk about frauds. I think Randle is the biggest fraud in the class, in relation to where he's being projected. T-rex arms, bully ball in the post, bad defender.

I think this is unfair to McDermott. He has a much more complete game than Novak. Just looking at college stats, in his career at Marquette, 73% of Novak's field goal attempts were three-pointers. For McDermott, this number is about 28%. Novak is a guy who quite literally can't do anything but shoot. McDermott is not that.

 

[Hopkins16]

Wiggins will thrive in the NBA, just like MCW, made for the NBA game.

He will also thrive with a competent PG (which is Kansas' weakness), see when he played with Ennis.

Kansas' front-line is stacked though so I wouldn't put to much into his lack of numbers, hard to stuff the stat sheet with Embiid/Ellis/Traylor/Black etc. also putting up numbers.

His game, athleticism and streaky dominance reminds me of Felipe Lopez.

 

[Orangeyes]

“There’s no player that’s out there on the horizon that’s a Tim Duncan or a LeBron James,” the Hall of Fame Syracuse coach told SNY.tv by phone Thursday.

“I’ve seen all these guys play. I think they’re very talented players. They’re not that kind of player. They’re not transcendent players that are gonna make your franchise into a 10-12-15-year winning franchise because you’re there. I don’t see that.”

From Zags Blog

I agree with JB, these guys are good but not franchise changing good

 

[wallacecuse]

Wiggins reminds me of Harrison Barnes, size, game. Barnes was a big deal out of HS, cover of SI, last time I looked he was still in the league.
Barnes reminds me of Zack Randolph, same frame, same game. I think they both do fine

I think you are mistaken. Barnes and Randolph are as comparable frame-wise as CJ and Dajuan. They could not look, play more different.

 

[rstone7727]

Last night I thought Wiggins had a bewildered look during the game. I think he kind of realizes he is not as good as expected. He'll play in the NBA though and needs time to find himself.

 

[Melancer46]

I think people were just expecting more out of Wiggins. I still think he, Embiid, and Exum are the three best prospects in this year's draft in any order you want. Embiid looks like he could potentially have the complete package of a franchise center. A lot of development still to do, but he has everything you look for.

I think Wiggins will be able to enter the NBA and immediately be a plus defender, and I think he'll be able to give a team 15 or so points a game as a rookie just based on transition, hustle, and spot-up points. He reminds me a bit of a college basketball version of Jadeveon Clowney. Seems like they both are just kind of bored with the college game. Some people have said that Wiggins doesn't really "want it", but to me, if a guy doesn't have the heart, he isn't relentlessly attacking the rim like he was last night. There have been times throughout the year where you could see him flip the switch and start demanding the ball. When he gets in that mode, he's really special to watch. Like MCW, he wasn't a strong ball-handler for his position, but both could beat their man off the dribble at will simply because their first step and quickness for their size was elite. At the end of the day, Jabari might be a better fit for a couple of teams (for example, I think he'd fit in very nicely as a PF next to Noel in Philly once he bulks up a little more), but I think Wiggins is a tier above him in terms of being an NBA prospect. I think the difference between their defensive play is greater than the difference between their offensive play, and I don't think Jabari will ever be able to become an average wing defender.

And then you have Exum. Same sort of frame as MCW, but with more muscle and more quickness. I think he's going to be a stud in the NBA too. Can play PG or SG and will likely be able to beat his man off the dribble whenever he wants in the NBA.

 

[Melancer46]

What are everyone's thoughts on McDermott in the NBA? I had never seen more than 3 or 4 of his games prior to this year, but with Creighton in the BE now, I have seen them quite a bit on FS1.

He's much better than I thought - I had him pegged as an Adam Morrison (great numbers in a crap conference), but he is better than that with solid athleticism, a good frame, and is REALLY skilled. He is as versatile a scorer as there has been in the college game in a while. He may not have the "potential" of Embiid, Wiggins, etc., but I guarantee he will make a more profound impact in year 1. I would not be surprised if he averaged 18+ ppg in year 1.

I don't think he'll go to a team where he has a chance to put up numbers like that. I think he'll be a role player off the bench as a rookie, and probably will remain that way for most of his career. He reminds me a bit of Wally Szcerbiak (however you spell it), which wouldn't be a bad thing at all. But I think 18 points a game as a rookie is a pipedream unless one of the late-lotto teams completely blows it up and he's thrust into a starting role.

 

[Melancer46]

Wiggins is and never will become half the shooter that harrison barnes is.. I see more of a Gerald Wallace once he fills out. Harrison Barnes had a great pull up game in college. Wiggins jump shot is non-existant.

Really? Barnes could hardly create for himself to get to that pull-up in the first place. Wiggins form on his shot looks pretty good to me, and it's really quick. I also find it funny that people act like Jabari is an incredible shooter and Wiggins can't shoot at all when they both shoot about the same %. Jabari's pull-up is definitely better, but Wiggins is a solid catch-and-shoot guy.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Neither Wiggins or Jabari are great shooters, but at least Jabari is an excellent rebounder and has a scorers mentality. I've yet to see anything besides dribbling that will translate to the NBA for Wiggins. A lot of what I hear is wiggins is going to be great in the NBA because ESPN, Scout, Rivals, and 247 told me so and they are never wrong. If thats the case, the Harrison twins would still be projected as top ten picks, and we know that isn't the case.

If anything I look at Wiggins and see a poor mans Rudy Gay, and Rudy Gay was a lot better shooter at this stage than Wiggins is. I don't get why so many people worship GM's and Recruiting Services year after year when they continuously are wrong about their projections. Theres more busts in the top 15 of the NBA Draft every year than their is in just about any other sport. More reason why these guys should stay in school at least two years. Heck, Joe Lunardi is more accurate in his tournament projections than Rivals ever is with their top 150.

 

[Melancer46]

Neither Wiggins or Jabari are great shooters, but at least Jabari is an excellent rebounder and has a scorers mentality. I've yet to see anything besides dribbling that will translate to the NBA for Wiggins. A lot of what I hear is wiggins is going to be great in the NBA because ESPN, Scout, Rivals, and 247 told me so and they are never wrong. If thats the case, the Harrison twins would still be projected as top ten picks, and we know that isn't the case.

If anything I look at Wiggins and see a poor mans Rudy Gay, and Rudy Gay was a lot better shooter at this stage than Wiggins is. I don't get why so many people worship GM's and Recruiting Services year after year when they continuously are wrong about their projections. Theres more busts in the top 15 of the NBA Draft every year than their is in just about any other sport. More reason why these guys should stay in school at least two years. Heck, Joe Lunardi is more accurate in his tournament projections than Rivals ever is with their top 150.

It's hard to compare their rebounding when Jabari is the biggest guy on his team and Wiggins is playing SF on a team that rotates like 6 different big men in that are all BIG men. I also don't see Wiggins and Jabari as the same position in general. To me, Jabari is a PF that can play some SF. Wiggins is a SF that can play some SG. And I think Wiggins projects to be an elite defender in the NBA. I'm more confident that Wiggins reaches an All-NBA Defense level on that side of the ball than I am with Jabari becoming an elite scorer in the NBA. I don't think Jabari will be a good enough scorer to be the #1 guy on a contending team, so I actually don't like the fact that he has that mentality.

If the bolded is actually what you hear about Wiggins, then you talk to the wrong people lol.

 

[LennX6]

You're giving them WAAAAAY too much credit.

Doesn't explain what happens in Minneapolis

 

[scottynguyen]

I think this is unfair to McDermott. He has a much more complete game than Novak. Just looking at college stats, in his career at Marquette, 73% of Novak's field goal attempts were three-pointers. For McDermott, this number is about 28%. Novak is a guy who quite literally can't do anything but shoot. McDermott is not that.

My point was poorly articulated. The worry is, while Novak has been just a 3-point shooter his entire college/NBA career, will McDermott's offensive versatility translate to the next level. He does get a lot of his points around the rim and at the FT line now at the college level, and I think in the NBA that's it's going to be very difficult for him to finish with any type of efficiency in the paint given his lack of height/wingspan/athleticism. So unless he finds creative ways to score inside the 3-point line, will he simply become a specialist like Novak. We'll have to wait and see, I'm not that optimistic.

I don't want to sound like a hater or anything, I have nothing against the kid. I'd probably take a flyer on him in the 20s somewhere.

 

[Madbiker]

Off the charts athleticism and he can get to the rim, hang in the air and finish. But his outside shot isn't good and his decision making can be suspect at times. He is not LeBron or Kobe. Maybe he develops into a great player but he isn't great now. I hate the way the media and the NBA hype up these freshmen for their own purposes.

 

[SWC75]

I think you are mistaken. Barnes and Randolph are as comparable frame-wise as CJ and Dajuan. They could not look, play more different.

I think he meant to compare Randle to Randolph, not Harrison Barnes. If I an right, he typed "Barnes" instead of Randle because he'd just been talking about Barnes.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I agree that Wiggins is a great defender, but thats all i see. He can't shoot, doesn't pass that great and i'm not sure how you can say hes a great finisher. He's just an athlete to me. I get the NBA drafts athletes, but thats why we have so many busts.

Also, the year Harden played us and came out he still averaged over 20 a game for ASU even though we rolled them in the tournament. At least there was proof of him being an elite scorer.

 

[richard levy]

I think you are mistaken. Barnes and Randolph are as comparable frame-wise as CJ and Dajuan. They could not look, play more different.

meant Randle, had barnes on he brain

 

[richard levy]

I think he meant to compare Randle to Randolph, not Harrison Barnes. If I an right, he typed "Barnes" instead of Randle because he'd just been talking about Barnes.

thanks, you read my mind