Originally Posted by
Primetime
Assuming he comes out...
If we wind up in slot #2 and McLemore is the first pick, then I think the no-brainer is selecting Nerlens. I'll probably wind up posting this a trillion times before draft day, but Noel and McLemore are just so much more athletic than everyone else in this class. The others have question marks to the point where you have to wonder how they'll contribute in the NBA. But with McLemore and Nerlens, you know you're getting someone who won't be in over his head physically. Porter is a skilled swingman, Shabazz can score, but Nerlens is a freak athlete big man and that's just rare. The opportunity to pair Davis & Noel I think far, far outweighs any other option on the board. The NBA has evolved into a league where the big man's game is played above the rim; and if we can pair 2 guys who can run and jump like freaks, then I think we've set ourselves up for a situation where we enter every game with a distinct advantage. Hell, the Saints could even trot them out for hail mary situations.
Look back at last year's draft and look how those rookies are doing. The only 2 you can flat out say are future heavyweights in the NBA are Lillard and Davis. A big freak athlete and an athletic as all hell PG. No one foresaw Robinson's struggles, MKG's struggles, or Beal's struggles. Waiters is playing well, but there's no telling how he'll finish. I'm not saying those guys aren't any good, but just that if you redraft, Davis and Lillard are 1 & 2.
Davis and Lillard have the following in common; they were the 2 rookies who athletically were freakish. They possessed explosion + great feet.
So IMO, when in doubt, go with the blockbuster athletes who show good feet. It won't always work out well; if you look at the 2011 draft, you'd say go with the guys who come in skill-ready (Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson). But I standby my original point: Put Davis & Noel on the floor together and you give yourself at least the strength of entering every game with 2 of the most athletic big men to ever walk the earth.
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