EvenMoney’s NBA Draft 2011 – Top 10 Power Forwards, #1

#1 – Rick Jackson

This is a deep draft for Power Forwards, even though none of them are going to come in and be franchise saviors. Some of them will be game-changers, the type of player you put next to your other dominant big man, whether he’s a Center or Power Forward. With the dearth of true NBA-sized Centers, many of our ranked PFs will play Center in many team rotations.

Rick Jackson fits that bill, as the best valued Power Forward in our ranking. He is a player who will mainly score in the paint, so it helps if the team drafting him has a play-making Point Guard.

Jackson excels at rebounding and defense, and will dish out an assist or two. Though nothing overly-exciting about his game and with limited (if any) shooting range, he is a threat to score and will not be detriment to a team’s offensive fluidity.

Still not convinced? Ponder the stats below and press play!

Video courtesy of lebrontheking123

PF	Rick Jackson
	BPM		PCM	DIR	TPA
Rank	12.88	11.00		4.50	31.00

 Out of 138 players:

·     Rick Jackson would be a first round pick in all 4 metrics, which basically means no “bust” factor. A team can slot him as a Top 10 pick and feel very confident.

·     He’s a senior who has shown improvement each year.

·     Considered as a whole (BPM), as well as for each specialty (PCM for Production; DIR for Defense; and TPA (Talent/Skill-set).

EvenMoney’s NBA Draft 2011 – Top 5 Small Forwards, #5

#5 – Bill Clark

Bill Clark is a potent offensive threat and could be the steal of the draft. He simply gets it in – the bucket. We put Bill in the #5 slot of our SF ranking because of his off/on defense and the question about his true position (Shooting Guard or Small Forward).

Bill has a great skill-set, in that he will give you three-pointers, rebounds, assists and steals. The problem is that he does it only at slightly above the average for this draft class. Part of why his numbers don’t jump out is because he’s teammates with our #2 ranked SF (Damian Saunders).

Still not convinced? Ponder the stats below and press play!

Video courtesy of DuquesneBasketball

SF	Bill Clark
	BPM		PCM	DIR	TPA
Rank	40.63	47.00		54.25	6.00

 Out of 138 players:

·        Bill Clark would be a first round pick in only 1 of the 4 metrics. This ranking of #6 poses a BIG question.

·        If a team is willing to develop him as its 3^rd most important player, he could be the steal of the draft.

·        We see Clark as a mid second round pick.

·        Considered as a whole (BPM), as well as for each specialty (PCM for Production; DIR for Defense; and TPA (Talent/Skill-set).

EvenMoney’s NBA Draft 2011 – Top 5 Small Forwards, #4

#4 – Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard is a long range jumpshot away from being dominant. He’s on that coin called potential. If a team is willing to invest the time to work on his jumper, then he’s a gamble worth taking. This past season, he shot only 29% from three-point land, the college one.

His athleticism and speed translates into being a great rebounder, good steals numbers and playmaking ability (assists). Still not convinced? Ponder the stats below and press play!

Video courtesy of smyrnall

SF	Kawhi Leonard
	BPM		PCM	DIR	TPA
Rank	28.65	20.00		40.75	20.00

Out of 138 players:

·        Kawhi would be a first round pick in 3 of the 4 metrics, but even then his defense is not bad.

·        What is pushing him into the 20’s is his offensive inefficiency, which is symptomatic of the lack of a good jumpshot.

·        If a team is up for the work it would take, he could go lottery.

·        Considered as a whole (BPM), as well as for each specialty (PCM for Production; DIR for Defense; and TPA (Talent/Skill-set).

EvenMoney’s NBA Draft 2011 – Top 5 Small Forwards, #3

#3 – Tyler Honeycutt (or) Chris Singleton

Tyler Honeycutt and Chris Singleton are our ‘take your pick’ Small Forwards and are slotted the #3 SFs in our ranking. They provide comparable defense. Honeycutt will give you more playmaking but needs to cut down his turnovers.

Both players have the ability to hit the three-point shot but Honeycutt needs to make it a lesser aspect of his game. Singleton is the more efficient player but needs to cut down on his fouling.

Still not convinced? Ponder the stats below and press play!

Video courtesy of jonathantjarks

Video courtesy of PalestraACC

SF	Tyler Honeycutt
	BPM		PCM		DIR	TPA
Rank	40.72	72.33		17.00		35.00

 

SF	Chris Singleton
	BPM		PCM	DIR	TPA
Rank	42.14	85.33		11.00	32.00

 Out of 138 players:

·        Both players are prospects that a team can take late in the first round – early 20’s because of what they provide on defense and rebounding.

·        Honeycutt and Singleton have all-around games and can become very good long range shooters.

·        Considered as a whole (BPM), as well as for each specialty (PCM for Production; DIR for Defense; and TPA (Talent/Skill-set).

EvenMoney’s NBA Draft 2011 – Top 5 Small Forwards, #2

#2 – Damian Saunders

Damian Saunders is the best all-around defender in the draft - that player who makes it OK to say, “I'm in love with a man nearly twice my age”! He is straight up, old skool, rough & rugged, basement party style wicked! His calling card is defense but he has enough offensive game to punish a team if they don’t D’ Up! WHUT?

But, Damian is going to get hit with that he’s a senior who has not shown much growth shtick. Instead of calling it consistency, the fact that his numbers have been similar the past three years at Dusquene, the pundits will say he lacks upside.

Damian put up 11.5 PPG on 49% from the field and 35.7% from three-point land. He did that while grabbing 8 boards with 2 assists, 2 steals and 2.5 blocks. Source - http://draftexpress.com

Still not convinced? Ponder the stats below and press play!

Video courtesy of DuquesneBasketball

SF	Damian Saunders
	BPM		PCM	DIR	TPA
Rank	18.67	27.00		1.50	37.00

Out of 138 players:

·        Damian Saunders would be a first round pick in 3 of the 4 metrics. The one that is seemingly knocking him back is TPA, which highlights his lack of scoring and consistent 3pter.

·        With his PCM (production) at 27 and TPA (talent/skill) at 37, this would be a good range to slot him.

·        Considered as a whole (BPM), as well as for each specialty (PCM for Production; DIR for Defense; and TPA (Talent/Skill-set).

EvenMoney’s NBA Draft 2011 – Top 5 Small Forwards, #1

 #1 – Derrick Williams

Derrick Williams might be the best player in this draft when it comes to a future NBA career. He is the kind of guy a team can rebuild around by relying on his offensive dominance and brilliance. He is the player a team has to be willing to give consistent guidance as to what makes a NBA superstar player.

Williams can score with the best of them – on the break, the post and the perimeter, including three-point range (57%). He has a NBA build, though if slotted to play Power Forward regularly he would be considered undersized. As a projected Small Forward, the scoring and rebounding fits, but not the lack of playmaking numbers and the high number of personal fouls.

Still not convinced? Ponder the stats below and press play!

Video courtesy of Knightmatic

SF	Derrick Williams
		BPM		PCM		DIR	TPA
Rank	36.49		6.67		63.75		33.00

 Out of 138 players:

·        Williams’s overall numbers do not impress, as he would be a first round pick in only 1 of the 4 metrics – the one that gives us overall production. He is slated to go Top 4.

·        If picked by the right team, he will have instant success; otherwise he may suffer question marks throughout his career.

·        He needs strong coaching so that he can become a better playmaker and defender.

·        Considered as a whole (BPM), as well as for each specialty (PCM for Production; DIR for Defense; and TPA (Talent/Skill-set).

EvenMoney’s NBA Draft 2011 – Top 5 Shooting Guards, #5

 #5 – E'Twaun Moore (or)  Ben Hansbrough

E'Twaun Moore and Ben Hansbrough are two players who will give a team similar production and results but in different ways. It really is a matter of preference and need. Both have versatile offensive games, with three-point range and accuracy.

E’Twaun has the more athletic game, can score in more ways (volume) and a better rebounder. Ben is more efficient, gets to the line more and better play-maker. A team can’t go wrong with either guy.

Still not convinced? Ponder the stats below and press play!

Video courtesy of btfu5

Video courtesy of awasiele

SG	E'Twaun Moore
	BPM		PCM	DIR	TAP
Rank	42.96	48.00		56.25	11.00

SG	Ben Hansbrough
	BPM	PCM	DIR	TAP
Rank	54.54	44.00	88.00	10.00

  

Out of 138 players:

·         Both players are second round picks – early 40’s.

·         E’Twaun is valuable as a player who could guard the league’s bigger PGs while providing a scoring threat from either guard position.

·         Ben can spell the starting Point Guard while being a scoring threat, particularly a zone buster.

·         Considered as a whole (BPM), as well as for each specialty (PCM for Production; DIR for Defense; and TPA (Talent/Skill-set).

EvenMoney’s NBA Draft 2011 – Top 5 Shooting Guards, #4

 #4 – Alec Burks

Alec Burks got everybody on that Aaliyah 'age ain't nothing but a number' so we can be together kick. At 19 years old, Burks has done two seasons in college and many have him as a lottery pick. Don’t get me wrong – we like Burks, enough to rank him as our #4 SG and we strongly considered him for the third spot.

We like his all-around offensive game - minus the three-point shooting-, play-making abilities and rebounding. He’s also a decent defender but it is one of his weaker points. When it comes to Shooting Guards, we feel the ability to defend the position is what makes or breaks a player. In Alec’s case, it is a matter of intensity and conviction.

Alec’s ability to get to the Free Throw line and offensive repertoire makes him a viable candidate for a young team looking to groom a player. Still not convinced? Ponder the stats below and press play!

Video courtesy of buffvision

SG	Alec Burks
	BPM		PCM	DIR	TAP
Rank	39.51	14.67		78.50	7.00

Out of 138 players:

·         Alec would be a first round pick in 2 of the 4 metrics – with defense being his downfall. He got injured (shoulder) during a draft workout with the Milwaukee Bucks.

·         Do you feel like gambling? Yes; then use any pick from 7 to 14. No; then wait until late first or early second round.

·         Considered as a whole (BPM), as well as for each specialty (PCM for Production; DIR for Defense; and TPA (Talent/Skill-set).

EvenMoney’s NBA Draft 2011 – Top 5 Shooting Guards, #3

 #3 – Iman Shumpert

Iman Shumpert is that SG you put in a veteran squad’s starting lineup and they will not miss a beat. He has a very mature yet uber-athletic game, complete with NBA mid-range jumper where if he stays 17ft. and in, he will excel. Anything beyond that, he will struggle.

He has good ball-handling skills, both to create his own shot and dish. We put him ahead of many other SGs who are in the same skill and talent class because of his defense. His strength is that of a perimeter defender (quick feet and hands), where you can even bring him off the bench to disrupt both guard positions, and match-up against smaller Small Forwards.

Still not convinced? Ponder the stats below and press play!

Video courtesy of GaTechfan4life3

SG	Iman Shumpert
	BPM		PCM	DIR		TAP
Rank	26.45	48.33			15.25	13.00

 Out of 138 players:

·         Though Iman would be a first round pick in 3 of the 4 metrics, he might not get drafted until the late-20’s.

·         Unless he dedicates a tremendous amount of time to it, he should forget about taking 3pters at the NBA level

·         Considered as a whole (BPM), as well as for each specialty (PCM for Production; DIR for Defense; and TPA (Talent/Skill-set).