2012 Draft Prospect: Marcus Denmon

[Bruno]

http://missourisportsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Marcus-Denmon-1.jpg
Height: 6-3
Weight: 185 lbs
Birthday: 03/20/1990
College: Missouri

DraftExpress (http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Marcus-Denmon-6491/)
nbadraft (http://www.nbadraft.net/players/marcus-denmon)

[Drom John]

Pro Basketball Draft (June 13, 2012) has the Spurs drafting Denmon.

[ace3g]

always good when our draft pick only had 1 comment, lol

[lmbebo]

heh and a mock draft actually got it right too!

[DesignatedT]

yeah baby!!!!! next gary neal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Uriel]

:lol

:depressed

[jesterbobman]

Spurs are definitely a stats heavy team(in general) and Denmon showed up well.

http://kevinjbroom.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/2012-nba-draft-position-rankings-from-yoda/

http://wagesofwins.com/2012/03/05/a-search-for-the-next-jeremy-lin-part-2-marcus-denmon/

http://wagesofwins.com/2012/06/25/2012-nba-draft-extravaganza-the-rankings/

As good as can be expected with 59.

[loveforthegame]

Seems like a good kid and he certainly looks good on paper.

[ace3g]

@MizzouMonster12 is his twitter

[Drz]

Hory sheet. I'm a big Mizzou fan and completely didn't see this coming.

He does bring a dimension we don't have; an athletic slasher/shooter. He doesn't fit the usual Spurs mold in being a specialist in either area though. Interesting. I guess we'll see. I know I'm excited to have him here because of my Missouri ties, but I'm not sure if others feel the same.

I assume we all expected to hear Machado's name. When they said "Marcus," I thought the last name would be a foreign name I'd never heard of.

Edit: my post came off a little negative, but really I'm just surprised. He definitely has the ability to excel here. He was always a better player than English at Missouri, but was drafted lower primarily because his height. For.guards though, height isn't that huge an issue. In any case, welcome to San Antonio Marcus!

[ducks]

guy can shot threes
neal gone?

[DesignatedT]

1cr7p1DMfGQ

[T Park]

My cousin who goes to Mizzou said he's kinda a better shooting Eric Bledsoe.

[DesignatedT]

Looks like he can handle the ball pretty well which is good.

[DesignatedT]

jqIHVy7kfmQ

[ace3g]

Paul Garcia PS ‏@24writer

RT @drew_48moh: RC said team looked into traded up, but thought they were better off with what they had presently.
Expand

Paul Garcia PS Paul Garcia PS ‏@24writer

RT @drew_48moh: RC Buford on Denmon: "Guy can shoot the ball."

UWO8Osr4eZo&feature=player_embedded

[mexicanjunior]

Toros found a nice rotation player.

[SenorSpur]

Paul Garcia PS ‏@24writer

RT @drew_48moh: RC said team looked into traded up, but thought they were better off with what they had presently.
Expand

Paul Garcia PS Paul Garcia PS ‏@24writer

RT @drew_48moh: RC Buford on Denmon: "Guy can shoot the ball."

UWO8Osr4eZo&feature=player_embedded

Didn't they say the same thing about Jack Mclinton?

[DesignatedT]

At least this guy has like 3 inches on Mcclinton.

[loveforthegame]

Paul Garcia PS ‏@24writer

RT @drew_48moh: RC said team looked into traded up, but thought they were better off with what they had presently.

Good to know RC.

[timvp]

Spurs are definitely a stats heavy team(in general) and Denmon showed up well.

http://kevinjbroom.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/2012-nba-draft-position-rankings-from-yoda/

http://wagesofwins.com/2012/03/05/a-search-for-the-next-jeremy-lin-part-2-marcus-denmon/

http://wagesofwins.com/2012/06/25/2012-nba-draft-extravaganza-the-rankings/

As good as can be expected with 59.

Good stuff. Here's more:


Marcus Denmon, Missouri, .526, .407, 20.6, 1.8, 7.7, 1.4: Denmon is a pretty solid prospect. I don’t see too many holes in his game as I do with several other players here. He fits the profile of a good NBA role player. He tops every necessary benchmark required for a successful NBA SG. He has 3 years hitting over 40% of his 3-pointers. He has by far the lowest turnover rate of any guard available this year. A player who brings the effective sniper/low turnover skill set is a good player who works very effectively as a role player next to a superstar. While he’s never been much of a willing passer, his extremely low turnover rate suggests he might even be able to handle some point.

The only issue I can see with Denmon is his size. He’s 6’2” without the great wingspan. That’s a problem in the sense that it makes it difficult to project him as a starter. But he looks like he has what it takes to become an effective bench player. Players like Denmon just don’t get the respect they deserve in the draft. He’s been a solid 4-year player on a very good team who has proven on the court he can do everything necessary to help an NBA team. He’d be a bargain in round 2.

http://hoopsanalyst.com/blog/?p=862

[Russ]

I can't wait to hear RC gush about how they can't believe Denmon was still around at 59.:rollin

[JsnSA]

His biggest criticism seems to be his lack of size at 6'3.


Here is a list of active former all stars that were 6'3 or shorter. Not saying he will ever be an all star because lets face it he most likely won't but there are other players his size or shorter that were successful. Of course most of them were scoring PG's than pure SG's.




GILBERT ARENAS 6-3
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS 6-3
BARON DAVIS 6-3
DEVIN HARRIS 6-3
STEVE NASH 6-3
DERRICK ROSE 6-3
RUSSELL WESTBROOK 6-3
DERON WILLIAMS 6-3
TONY PARKER 6-2
RAJON RONDO 6-1
MO WILLIAMS 6-1
JAMEER NELSON 6-0
CHRIS PAUL 6-0

[Russ]

Paul Garcia PS ‏@24writer

RT @drew_48moh: RC said team looked into traded up, but thought they were better off with what they had presently.

I'm not sure there was that much to be had in this draft.

[timtonymanu]

Didn't they say the same thing about Jack Mclinton?

I don't understand the pick. I know it's just a 59th pick, but I would think the Spurs were satisfied with Gary Neal being the deadly shooter on the team. Getting Denmon seems redundant, but oh well, I expect Denmon to make it at most for a training camp invite.

[DPG21920]

I remember being hyped about McClinton and Denmon seems better. Guess its just about what they will do with mills or Neal. Or maybe he won't be competing with them right now.

[blizz]

We already had two short dead eye shooters in Neal and Mills. Neal f'd up too much and couldn't play D and Mills didn't get off the bench. If you're taking a chance, why not take a chance on someone with size?

[timvp]

For the record, Denmon was in San Antonio for a workout last week.

[Mel_13]

I don't understand the pick. I know it's just a 59th pick, but I would think the Spurs were satisfied with Gary Neal being the deadly shooter on the team. Getting Denmon seems redundant, but oh well, I expect Denmon to make it at most for a training camp invite.

Neal has just one year left at the minimum salary.

[T Park]

We already had two short dead eye shooters in Neal and Mills. Neal f'd up too much and couldn't play D and Mills didn't get off the bench. If you're taking a chance, why not take a chance on someone with size?


Like?

[blizz]

Like?

ANYONE...you can't tell me there was no one out there taller than 6'2"

[Hoops Czar]

Lateral move and nothing more. Another guy who struggles to create his own shot. He'll sit back and camp behind the three point line waiting for his chance to continue during mop-up time.

[Mel_13]

ANYONE...you can't tell me there was no one out there taller than 6'2"

And all those guys are now free agents.

[jesterbobman]

His only real weakness is size, but if he was 6'6", he would've been drafted far, far earlier. I'd rather have the awesome midget who helps you win than a useless 7 footer who'd only be the 7th big.

[ducks]

Mills wants to get back
watch and see

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

Any chance they don't try to turn him into a PG a la Neal? If he can be Gary Neal + athleticism, then it's worth a shot, but probably won't work.

[ace3g]

CelFeZiIcJY&feature=player_embedded

[blizz]

His only real weakness is size, but if he was 6'6", he would've been drafted far, far earlier. I'd rather have the awesome midget who helps you win than a useless 7 footer who'd only be the 7th big.

If he's an awesome player he wouldn't have lasted till #59. He's not helping any NBA teams win any time soon.

[Nathan89]

1cr7p1DMfGQ&feature=related

Last 30 seconds

He feels he can play a role like Avery Bradley and pressure the ball.

1. I like that he setting realistic goals. He's not comparing himself to a star.
2. He can recognize the value of defense and believes it's something he can do. Therefore he will try to do it.

[Mel_13]

If he's an awesome player he wouldn't have lasted till #59. He's not helping any NBA teams win any time soon.

Same could be said about every other player available at 59. So why are you upset?

[Sense]

His biggest criticism seems to be his lack of size at 6'3.


Here is a list of active former all stars that were 6'3 or shorter. Not saying he will ever be an all star because lets face it he most likely won't but there are other players his size or shorter that were successful. Of course most of them were scoring PG's than pure SG's.




GILBERT ARENAS 6-3
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS 6-3
BARON DAVIS 6-3
DEVIN HARRIS 6-3
STEVE NASH 6-3
DERRICK ROSE 6-3
RUSSELL WESTBROOK 6-3
DERON WILLIAMS 6-3
TONY PARKER 6-2
RAJON RONDO 6-1
MO WILLIAMS 6-1
JAMEER NELSON 6-0
CHRIS PAUL 6-0


I'm sure there's a bigger list of players 6'3 and under who suck.. so this list doesn't make sense.

You could make a list of players drafted around 59 that ended up being steals and you'd have a better list, but the probability of Denmon being one of them is still small.

He can shoot the ball so he's good in our system.

[blkroadrunners]

His scoring/shooting ability is nice and dandy, but the main thing I care about from him is can he play good/great man-to-man defense.

[Solid D]

He could show some things at Summer League.

[ElNono]

Supposedly he's a pretty good perimeter defender... if he can shoot as good as Neal AND provide some perimeter D, we might have something here...

[T Park]

ANYONE...you can't tell me there was no one out there taller than 6'2"

Nice breakdown of "anyone"

Btw the "anyone" you reference are FA, not drafted by anyone else.

So your complaining about not drafting scraps..

Fucking gnsfs...

[T Park]

He could show some things at Summer League.


If he can be the anti Jack Mclinton...

[timvp]

Summer league should be pretty interesting. It was obvious within like one quarter of summer league that McClinton couldn't hang at this level. We should be able to tell pretty quickly with Denmon if he actually has a chance.

[ducks]

Supposedly he's a pretty good perimeter defender... if he can shoot as good as Neal AND provide some perimeter D, we might have something here...

he better shot better then the last 59 pick spurs picked in an elimation game

[Solid D]

Even if Denmon doesn't show much at first, Denmon is still a guy who will work at his game a la CJ Watson (Just as good a shooter or better than Watson was for Bruce Pearl). Spurs fans laughed at CJ's lack of D and lack of PG skills from his summer league appearance but CJ's hung in there and has helped several teams including filling in for Derek Rose at Chicago.

[JsnSA]

I'm sure there's a bigger list of players 6'3 and under who suck.. so this list doesn't make sense.




There are more players of any size that suck than are all stars. That's not the point. The point was that despite his lack of size there is a chance he could still be good/ok/not_suck. He is a 59th pick after all.

[ElNono]

he better shot better then the last 59 pick spurs picked in an elimation game

At least he's not french, tbh

[ace3g]

Marcus Denmon ‏@MizzouMonster12

Glad to b apart of such a great organization , excited about the opportunity, ready to work #spurs

[Em-City]

he sounds way more comfortable at playing the point than gary neal has..

[ducks]

maybe spurs think diaw is a lock to come back

[Salty]

:pop: "Someone that can shoot lights out and contribute at the 2 spot? We've gotta make him a point guard."

[Sense]

There are more players of any size that suck than are all stars. That's not the point. The point was that despite his lack of size there is a chance he could still be good/ok/not_suck. He is a 59th pick after all.

That's like saying hey.. Earl Boykins made it in the NBA, he has a chance.

[ElNono]

Agree spurs working on having the slowest and shortest team in the NBA, not a good combo.

2 bigs there for the taking and we pick a guy not likely to make the team unless neal is traded.

You sound surprised... sources didn't tell you about this move? crofl

[timvp]

After some quick research, I like the pick. 99% chance he doesn't make it but he fits the typical mold of second round gems. In the second round, the players who make it are usually players who have a serious flaw that they are able to overcome. The players who don't make it are usually the ones who fit the NBA prototype but simply lack the necessary skills.

Denmon on paper has the skills to make it. Good scorer. Extremely efficient. His steals and rebounds point to him being an above average athlete. He's shown improvement from year to year. Plus, his team success shouldn't be ignored.

The only glaring flaw is his size. He's short and his wingspan isn't anything special. There's a 99% chance that flaw will kill his NBA chances. But if he is able to find a way to overcome that flaw -- either by switching to point guard or getting strong enough to defend shooting guards while shooting quickly enough to avoid length -- he has the requisite ability to make it.

:tu @ the philosophy behind the pick

[wildbill2u]

Interesting comparison table from the Wages of Wins article tells me we might have another "steal" here. I mean what do we expect at 59th pick, a Michael Jordan or Derrick Rose?

The following table compares Denmon’s statistics with the average college small forward and with the shooting guards in Draft Express’s Top 100 Prospects. Before you get confused, let me explain. Because of Missouri’s lack of size this year, Denmon played more minutes at small forward than at shooting guard. Accordingly, it is more appropriate to compare him to players who actually played the same position as him this season. At the same time, Denmon will unquestionably play shooting guard if he plays in the NBA. And since Draft Express categorizes players by their probable NBA position, it is more appropriate to compare him to shooting guards in Draft Express’s Top 100 for the purpose of a future competition comparison.

STAT AVG. SF SGS IN DE TOP 100 MARCUS DENMON
eFG% 48.9% 53.4% 58.4%
TS% 52.8% 57.5% 67.6%
3P% 34.6% 38.2% 41.0%
FT% 71.0% 74.0% 90.2%
Reb40 5.74 5.51 5.89
DReb40 4.11 4.24 4.39
OReb40 1.64 1.27 1.50
Ast40 2.24 2.95 2.61
Stl40 1.34 1.56 1.76
Blk40 0.43 0.46 0.04
TO40 2.45 2.71 1.36
PF40 3.20 2.45 1.08
Points!40 13.89 19.75 21.12
WS40 2.81 4.84 9.04
Marcus Denmon is good at, well, everything. But he is exceptionally good at shooting efficiently and taking care of the basketball. He is great at shooting threes and even better at the free throw line. These strike me as attributes that will translate well into the pro game. Let’s focus again on Nelson’s observations: Denmon shoots with great efficiency because he has a great shot selection; his inability to create his own shot might be an issue. In other words, Denmon doesn’t and won’t force shots. This sounds like a player who could make a substantial positive contribution at shooting guard, which is without question the weakest position in the NBA. And while the position generally weak, teams often put too heavy an emphasis on it (a phenomenon I’ll call the Michael Jordan Effect). Many teams, probably unreasonably, elect to build their offenses around volume shooting 2-guards. In turn, efficient but small guards get overlooked for want of 6-6, 216 guys with “potential.”

[Spursfanfromafar]

From what I am reading elsewhere and from what Timvp says, Denmon seems the typical Spurs pick (from the domestics)... possible steal and decent potential. I hope this pans out. In any case, I had the least expectations out of this draft and so if Denmon even makes the team as the 13th/14th man a la James Anderson, I will be happy.

[T Park]

After some quick research, I like the pick. 99% chance he doesn't make it but he fits the typical mold of second round gems. In the second round, the players who make it are usually players who have a serious flaw that they are able to overcome. The players who don't make it are usually the ones who fit the NBA prototype but simply lack the necessary skills.

Denmon on paper has the skills to make it. Good scorer. Extremely efficient. His steals and rebounds point to him being an above average athlete. He's shown improvement from year to year. Plus, his team success shouldn't be ignored.

The only glaring flaw is his size. He's short and his wingspan isn't anything special. There's a 99% chance that flaw will kill his NBA chances. But if he is able to find a way to overcome that flaw -- either by switching to point guard or getting strong enough to defend shooting guards while shooting quickly enough to avoid length -- he has the requisite ability to make it.

:tu @ the philosophy behind the pick



Way too much optimism.

[ElNono]

People need to realize it's the #59 pick... if he survives the 1st year, it's almost a success already... anything more than that is gravy...

[JsnSA]

That's like saying hey.. Earl Boykins made it in the NBA, he has a chance.

Or its like saying these 13 current NBA players are the same height or shorter and still became NBA all stars so lack of height doesn't doom this guy from the start. That is all that was intended. But I suspect you know that. Or maybe you're slow. Either way I could care less.

Its a late 2nd round pick. Nothing to get excited about but the Spurs have found diamonds in the rough before so who knows.

[angelbelow]

Overall, NBA.com has positive things to say about his game. They definitely bumped up their production value because I don't remember their draft coverage ever being this good (aesthetically):

http://www.nba.com/draft/2012/prospects/marcus-denmon/

[wildbill2u]

There are some real interesting things in the stat table I posted earlier where Denmon is compared to the Draft Express Top 100 SFs and SGs. And they don't involve scoring.

1. Better than average rebounds overall and defensive rebounds and better O rebounds than SGs probably shows he is smart at positioning himself since he isn't terribly tall or heavy. If he can play smart and box out, then his size deficiency may be overcome?

2. Better than average steals may mean he's aggressive on defense and has the ability to anticipate.

3. Combining the stat on steals with low PF rate may indicate good footwork and BB IQ?

It's always a plus when a shooter can do other things.

[BatManu20]

I find it hilarious that so many people are bitching about this pick. It was the second to last pick in the draft, were you all expecting an all-star or something? Anyone who followed college basketball and Mizzou this year know's this kid can ball. He's a deadly shooter, the only knock is his size. He's 6'3 with shoes on and says can handle the ball well and if that's the case then he at least has a shot at backup PG. Let him show what's got in summer league, you never know until they compete. On top of that he's another high character guy. I'm happy we drafted him over some teenage European who we wouldn't even see for another 5 years. I hope he silences the haters.

[Darkwaters]

People need to realize it's the #59 pick... if he survives the 1st year, it's almost a success already... anything more than that is gravy...

Thank you! A voice of reason for once. It's the second to last pick of the draft. You wanted a bigger splash on draft night? Then root for a losing team during the regular season and you'll enjoy draft night more. I hear the Hornets are desperate for fans.

People are so spoiled after Manu Ginobili. It's like how every Cowboys fan thinks all their UDFA's are the next Romo or Austin.

[Ice009]

Didn't the Kings draft Isaiah Thomas late in the second round last season? There's proof right there that you can draft a small guard late in the second round and have him become a rotation player. He even started around half their games.

[Darkwaters]

Summer league should be pretty interesting. It was obvious within like one quarter of summer league that McClinton couldn't hang at this level. We should be able to tell pretty quickly with Denmon if he actually has a chance.

I'm curious, does anyone think the plan might be the draft n' stash Denmon? He can still play summer league but just can't attend training camp.

Remember, McClinton was offered that route and instead he forced the team's hand and signed his tender. But another late round pick, James Gist, went to Europe and developed over there for a few seasons. Sure, it didn't work out for Gist, but he was the 57th pick - again, not a high chance of success on either.

[Biggems]

i wonder if there was any interest at all in Robert Sacre......

[Spurs da champs]

You guys are getting way too excited over the 59th pick.

[racm]

Yeah tbh if he makes the roster let alone be a rotation player I'd consider that a major coup. But at the least it's a low risk, good reward pick.

Undersized for his position, but given how many scoring PGs there are in the league, he could upgrade his game if he added ball-handling.

[Darkwaters]

I'd be curious to see what percentage of players make the day one roster that are taken in the late second round (ie, 50-60). I think the number might be a sobering reminder to some.

In the late second you don't draft for need, you draft whomever the hell you think has the talent to actually make it in the league.

[freetiago]

im hearing this guy is a good defender and the fact that he compares himself to avery bradley tells me a lot
i think people are blowing the height thing out of proportion
the top SGs arent 6'7 guards who post everybody up
that beal kid is like 6'4
6'4 seems to be the new height of SGs in the undersized nba
with the new up and comers
eric gordon
beal
rivers
marcus thornton
marshon brooks
etc
all 6'4

id like to see mills leave because hes a streaky shooter/undersized/not good defensively/0 court vision
he could become the PG/SG for the bench unit and bring in a lot of energy defensively which the current second unit lacks

[AlleyOopNazi]

spurs.com says his favorite food is tacos. Thats fuel of a champion around here.

[timvp]

Interesting story about Denmon. Similar to Stephen Jackson's story, tbh.




His coping skills; Missouri’s Marcus Denmon has had to overcome adversity throughout his life. He does it with a rare toughness and family.

By Sam Mellinger

COLUMBIA | Marcus Denmon can tell the difference between gunshots, even in a church, and even during his cousin’s funeral. You could too if you lived his childhood, and its why he stayed calm while grieving women screamed and even his Missouri basketball coaches ducked under pews.

This is the first time he’s talked about any of this, at least publicly. He sat in the front row that day last month, a pallbearer for a cousin killed in cold blood, when more than 70 gunshots rocked the Macedonia Baptist Church at 25th and Benton in Kansas City.

Denmon immediately recognized the shots coming from outside, knew the blasts weren’t getting closer, but not everyone grew up like him so chaos engulfed the church.

Children wailed tears. One woman jumped out a window, and a man in a suit bumped the casket containing the cousin Marcus called a brother and considered a best friend.

The box started to rock, and Marcus leaped up to steady it. All around him, 400 mourners turned into mayhem, the last respects for his beloved cousin turned into a crime scene. Anger bubbled inside.

He thinks about payback, because who wouldn’t? He’d rather whoever did this die than go to jail, he means this literally, and the pain he feels now is worsened by the isolation of being two hours from the people he loves most.

“I’m not a person that gets close to people that often,” he says. “Besides my teammates, I don’t love nobody but my family. When you’re gone for so long, you just want to be around people you love.”

Marcus Denmon thinks he’s tougher than you, and more specifically, he has to be tougher than you. This defines how Marcus plays basketball, and makes him a perfect fit for coach Mike Anderson’s Missouri Tigers.

“Not all kids have that,” MU assistant Matt Zimmerman says.

Jacob Pullen is Kansas State’s preseason All-American, and KU’s Josh Selby might be a one-and-done lottery pick, but it’s the 6-foot-3 guard from Hogan Prep who would be Big 12 Player of the Year at this point. Denmon is a self-made star now, a chance to be Kansas City’s most successful college basketball player since Brandon Rush or maybe even Wayne Simien.

He is the leading scorer for the nation’s No. 10 team and one of college basketball’s most efficient players, averaging more than 17 points in fewer than 30 minutes, and hitting 50 percent of his threes and 85 percent of his free throws.

He has more than twice as many assists as turnovers, and 246 points on just 164 shots. In one four-game stretch, he scored 79 points on just 38 shots.

Teammate Michael Dixon says Chris Paul is the only player he’s gone against who’s more competitive than Dixon, and Anderson will gush about Denmon’s hard work and leadership. But mostly, Denmon wants to be known as tough.

It makes him sick that so many Kansas City kids seem to transfer, for instance, and the pride comes out when he talks not only of sticking at Mizzou but playing through a fracture under his kneecap that required surgery and that would’ve kept most in street clothes.

Denmon was MU’s second-leading scorer last season, and when he got the award for the team’s sixth man of the year, told the banquet audience he didn’t want to win it again. Already, and in a program built to have interchangeable parts, Denmon is the Tigers’ most indispensable player.

He led a furious comeback with 27 points in an eventual loss to Georgetown, saved the Oregon game with 19 points on seven shots, made an essential steal down the stretch in an overtime win over Vanderbilt, and the game’s biggest play with a long outlet pass to Laurence Bowers against Illinois.

Denmon is a boy grown to a man, any mark about bad grades forcing a transfer from Lincoln Prep after his sophomore year now washed away by making Academic All-Big 12 last season.

He is the hardest working player on a team full of them, never done at practice until he’s made at least a few hundred extra shots, finally showing the college basketball world what he’s capable of with two healthy knees and an overflowing confidence.

“Every shot I take in a game I’ve taken that shot thousands of times,” he says.

“Sometimes he just won’t be denied,” Anderson says. “He’s just growing in front of our eyes.”

Marcus was four or five the first time someone he loved got shot, and just a year older the first time someone he knew got killed.

He says things like “bullets don’t have eyes,” and “where I’m from people come and go,” lessons embedded in him since grade school. His grandmother, Bertha, became something like a neighborhood mother, caring for five children of her own plus at least nine others she thought to be in danger.

Most of the people Marcus loves make up this inner circle, many of them marked by the same “FBL” tattoo he has on his right forearm. It stands for “Family By Love,” and the men in this fraternity might not all be technically related but call each other “cousin” and “brother.”

Marion Denmon had that tattoo. He was Marcus’ cousin, known as “Little Daddy,” and they were mostly inseparable growing up.

“You saw him, you saw me,” Marcus says. “That’s how it was.”

Marcus thinks about Marion every day. Sometime he cries, sometimes he sits with nothing but his thoughts. Marion was a good kid who sometimes made the wrong decisions, Marcus says, drawn to the streets in a way that tempted trouble.

Long before this month, Marcus worried that his being in Columbia instead of Kansas City left Little Daddy pulled in by bad choices.

Marcus felt like a calming force, and didn’t like to think about what might happen when he was away.

People ask Marcus all the time now if he’s OK, if he needs to talk about things, and he usually fibs and says everything’s fine.

Everything’s not fine, of course, but he has a lot of practice coping with loss.

Five friends grew up in Kansas City’s urban core, each with those FBL tattoos. Two are in jail. One just died from a gunshot.

“Me and Marcus look at it like God must have a plan for us,” says Justin Henderson, a junior at Central Missouri. “We’re the only ones still around.”

Marcus has been having these dreams lately. They started a year or so ago, way before Marion’s death, crazy dreams, all the time, every time he goes to sleep, stuff he can’t explain.

The other night, after the Northern Illinois game, he dreamed about meeting a guy he beat up back in the eighth grade. Only it wasn’t really that guy, just his body and name, with someone else’s face. Some ugly dude.

Anyway, Marcus told the guy they didn’t have problems any more, that was a long time ago, middle school, and they’re grown now but the ugly guy was ticked.

Then some girl ran into the room and started shooting. Little Daddy was there. He got shot. They all got shot. Only in the dream, it didn’t hurt.

“He’s been in my dreams a lot lately,” Marcus says. “Some is good and funny. Some is bad and terrible, like, ‘Why am I having these crazy thoughts?’”

Back at the church, the middle of chaos, and all Marcus could do was wait.

He remembers being furious. Sad. Frustrated. He heard something like this might happen, but you hear a lot of things when emotions are involved.

The gunshots, to him at least, clearly sounded more like disrespect than danger, someone trying to make a point more than another obituary, but it took a good 45 minutes for the mourners to calm down enough to properly let out. At least one of the limos outside had a bullet hole.

“I just wanted the service to be ended right,” Marcus says. “I just wanted to get my little bro in the ground.”

Around 400 people attended the funeral, but after the shots, only 50 or so made it to the repast. Just the people who loved Marion most, Marcus says.

He believes in God, even now, that this must be in His plan. He also believes in consequences, real consequences, the kind given out by a higher power and not the police.

Sometimes, Marcus thinks about seeing that revenge for himself.

But by now, he has too much at stake.

“I’m going to be successful,” he says. “And the people that’s at home doing the dumb, petty stuff like shooting in the air at a funeral, they’re going to still be broke with no money and be bums and just still be at home. I’m doing something. I’m going to be successful. So, why? Why get into that? Even if I want to, why?

“I’m smarter than that.”

http://mellinger.kansascity.com/entries/vault-reasons-root-frank-martin-kim-english-and-marcus-denmon-tomorrow/

[Mel_13]

I'd be curious to see what percentage of players make the day one roster that are taken in the late second round (ie, 50-60). I think the number might be a sobering reminder to some.

In the late second you don't draft for need, you draft whomever the hell you think has the talent to actually make it in the league.

Scroll thru the years (previous draft/next draft buttons at the top of the page) and see:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_2011.html

[racm]

So he's a guy who provides nasty as well as accurate shooting and capable D?

Pop must love this.

[rascal]

After some quick research, I like the pick. 99% chance he doesn't make it but he fits the typical mold of second round gems. In the second round, the players who make it are usually players who have a serious flaw that they are able to overcome. The players who don't make it are usually the ones who fit the NBA prototype but simply lack the necessary skills.

Denmon on paper has the skills to make it. Good scorer. Extremely efficient. His steals and rebounds point to him being an above average athlete. He's shown improvement from year to year. Plus, his team success shouldn't be ignored.

The only glaring flaw is his size. He's short and his wingspan isn't anything special. There's a 99% chance that flaw will kill his NBA chances. But if he is able to find a way to overcome that flaw -- either by switching to point guard or getting strong enough to defend shooting guards while shooting quickly enough to avoid length -- he has the requisite ability to make it.

:tu @ the philosophy behind the pick

Short shooting guards often struggle in the NBA. I don't expect this pick to be any different. At pick 59 the Spurs would be lucky to draft a player good enough to make the team.

[Drz]

A couple quick points, from someone who watched 25 Mizzou games this past year:

DEFENSE -- It's very good, despite his height. He's highly athletic. Denmon should be an above average defender in the NBA.

CREATE OWN SHOT -- Yes, he can do it.

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

Interesting story about Denmon. Similar to Stephen Jackson's story, tbh.




His coping skills; Missouri’s Marcus Denmon has had to overcome adversity throughout his life. He does it with a rare toughness and family.

By Sam Mellinger

COLUMBIA | Marcus Denmon can tell the difference between gunshots, even in a church, and even during his cousin’s funeral. You could too if you lived his childhood, and its why he stayed calm while grieving women screamed and even his Missouri basketball coaches ducked under pews.

This is the first time he’s talked about any of this, at least publicly. He sat in the front row that day last month, a pallbearer for a cousin killed in cold blood, when more than 70 gunshots rocked the Macedonia Baptist Church at 25th and Benton in Kansas City.

Denmon immediately recognized the shots coming from outside, knew the blasts weren’t getting closer, but not everyone grew up like him so chaos engulfed the church.

Children wailed tears. One woman jumped out a window, and a man in a suit bumped the casket containing the cousin Marcus called a brother and considered a best friend.

The box started to rock, and Marcus leaped up to steady it. All around him, 400 mourners turned into mayhem, the last respects for his beloved cousin turned into a crime scene. Anger bubbled inside.

He thinks about payback, because who wouldn’t? He’d rather whoever did this die than go to jail, he means this literally, and the pain he feels now is worsened by the isolation of being two hours from the people he loves most.

“I’m not a person that gets close to people that often,” he says. “Besides my teammates, I don’t love nobody but my family. When you’re gone for so long, you just want to be around people you love.”

Marcus Denmon thinks he’s tougher than you, and more specifically, he has to be tougher than you. This defines how Marcus plays basketball, and makes him a perfect fit for coach Mike Anderson’s Missouri Tigers.

“Not all kids have that,” MU assistant Matt Zimmerman says.

Jacob Pullen is Kansas State’s preseason All-American, and KU’s Josh Selby might be a one-and-done lottery pick, but it’s the 6-foot-3 guard from Hogan Prep who would be Big 12 Player of the Year at this point. Denmon is a self-made star now, a chance to be Kansas City’s most successful college basketball player since Brandon Rush or maybe even Wayne Simien.

He is the leading scorer for the nation’s No. 10 team and one of college basketball’s most efficient players, averaging more than 17 points in fewer than 30 minutes, and hitting 50 percent of his threes and 85 percent of his free throws.

He has more than twice as many assists as turnovers, and 246 points on just 164 shots. In one four-game stretch, he scored 79 points on just 38 shots.

Teammate Michael Dixon says Chris Paul is the only player he’s gone against who’s more competitive than Dixon, and Anderson will gush about Denmon’s hard work and leadership. But mostly, Denmon wants to be known as tough.

It makes him sick that so many Kansas City kids seem to transfer, for instance, and the pride comes out when he talks not only of sticking at Mizzou but playing through a fracture under his kneecap that required surgery and that would’ve kept most in street clothes.

Denmon was MU’s second-leading scorer last season, and when he got the award for the team’s sixth man of the year, told the banquet audience he didn’t want to win it again. Already, and in a program built to have interchangeable parts, Denmon is the Tigers’ most indispensable player.

He led a furious comeback with 27 points in an eventual loss to Georgetown, saved the Oregon game with 19 points on seven shots, made an essential steal down the stretch in an overtime win over Vanderbilt, and the game’s biggest play with a long outlet pass to Laurence Bowers against Illinois.

Denmon is a boy grown to a man, any mark about bad grades forcing a transfer from Lincoln Prep after his sophomore year now washed away by making Academic All-Big 12 last season.

He is the hardest working player on a team full of them, never done at practice until he’s made at least a few hundred extra shots, finally showing the college basketball world what he’s capable of with two healthy knees and an overflowing confidence.

“Every shot I take in a game I’ve taken that shot thousands of times,” he says.

“Sometimes he just won’t be denied,” Anderson says. “He’s just growing in front of our eyes.”

Marcus was four or five the first time someone he loved got shot, and just a year older the first time someone he knew got killed.

He says things like “bullets don’t have eyes,” and “where I’m from people come and go,” lessons embedded in him since grade school. His grandmother, Bertha, became something like a neighborhood mother, caring for five children of her own plus at least nine others she thought to be in danger.

Most of the people Marcus loves make up this inner circle, many of them marked by the same “FBL” tattoo he has on his right forearm. It stands for “Family By Love,” and the men in this fraternity might not all be technically related but call each other “cousin” and “brother.”

Marion Denmon had that tattoo. He was Marcus’ cousin, known as “Little Daddy,” and they were mostly inseparable growing up.

“You saw him, you saw me,” Marcus says. “That’s how it was.”

Marcus thinks about Marion every day. Sometime he cries, sometimes he sits with nothing but his thoughts. Marion was a good kid who sometimes made the wrong decisions, Marcus says, drawn to the streets in a way that tempted trouble.

Long before this month, Marcus worried that his being in Columbia instead of Kansas City left Little Daddy pulled in by bad choices.

Marcus felt like a calming force, and didn’t like to think about what might happen when he was away.

People ask Marcus all the time now if he’s OK, if he needs to talk about things, and he usually fibs and says everything’s fine.

Everything’s not fine, of course, but he has a lot of practice coping with loss.

Five friends grew up in Kansas City’s urban core, each with those FBL tattoos. Two are in jail. One just died from a gunshot.

“Me and Marcus look at it like God must have a plan for us,” says Justin Henderson, a junior at Central Missouri. “We’re the only ones still around.”

Marcus has been having these dreams lately. They started a year or so ago, way before Marion’s death, crazy dreams, all the time, every time he goes to sleep, stuff he can’t explain.

The other night, after the Northern Illinois game, he dreamed about meeting a guy he beat up back in the eighth grade. Only it wasn’t really that guy, just his body and name, with someone else’s face. Some ugly dude.

Anyway, Marcus told the guy they didn’t have problems any more, that was a long time ago, middle school, and they’re grown now but the ugly guy was ticked.

Then some girl ran into the room and started shooting. Little Daddy was there. He got shot. They all got shot. Only in the dream, it didn’t hurt.

“He’s been in my dreams a lot lately,” Marcus says. “Some is good and funny. Some is bad and terrible, like, ‘Why am I having these crazy thoughts?’”

Back at the church, the middle of chaos, and all Marcus could do was wait.

He remembers being furious. Sad. Frustrated. He heard something like this might happen, but you hear a lot of things when emotions are involved.

The gunshots, to him at least, clearly sounded more like disrespect than danger, someone trying to make a point more than another obituary, but it took a good 45 minutes for the mourners to calm down enough to properly let out. At least one of the limos outside had a bullet hole.

“I just wanted the service to be ended right,” Marcus says. “I just wanted to get my little bro in the ground.”

Around 400 people attended the funeral, but after the shots, only 50 or so made it to the repast. Just the people who loved Marion most, Marcus says.

He believes in God, even now, that this must be in His plan. He also believes in consequences, real consequences, the kind given out by a higher power and not the police.

Sometimes, Marcus thinks about seeing that revenge for himself.

But by now, he has too much at stake.

“I’m going to be successful,” he says. “And the people that’s at home doing the dumb, petty stuff like shooting in the air at a funeral, they’re going to still be broke with no money and be bums and just still be at home. I’m doing something. I’m going to be successful. So, why? Why get into that? Even if I want to, why?

“I’m smarter than that.”

http://mellinger.kansascity.com/entries/vault-reasons-root-frank-martin-kim-english-and-marcus-denmon-tomorrow/


Good article. I agree with the Jax comparison. In a different thread I saw a video interview with him. He was really stone faced...and reminded me in demeanor of Kawhi Leonard. I mean, just like almost no expression. Put that in context with this article and it sounds like a good prospect - not just for pick #59, but more specifically for someone to be able to fit into Pop's world...that is, assuming he can actually translate his skills to the next level.

Good pick. Way better than drafting some 7' slow-footed Frankenstein. Yeah, the team needs size, but they really need a reliable backup PG. Obviously, Denmon is a SG but he's going to have to be a 1.5 to survive in the NBA. A good roll of the dice. He can't be worse than CoJo.

[elemento]

I think he will be a combo guard in the NBA in the same mold of Bradley and Bledsoe.

What i like about him is the fact that not only the boy can shoot, but he can handle the ball. What's killing Gary Neal when he plays the point is his crap ball-handling skills.

I will give the boy a chance to prove himself. I hope he can make it. Seems like a hard-worker kid. Everything i read about the boy i like.

[Bruno]

A question for people who have seen him play: how athletic and quick is he?

His combine athletic results are really great both in the jumping and speed areas but I'm always cautious with these "out of the game" numbers .

[Ouglagbok]

If he's an awesome player he wouldn't have lasted till #59. He's not helping any NBA teams win any time soon.
Manu was drafted #54 and look how he turned out... People judge and every now and then might miss some special talent. For that matter didn't MJ like not make his high school team?

[dylankerouac]

From these past few pages I am very excited about this pick and his potential. Can't wait to see him on the court.

[racm]

Manu was drafted #54 and look how he turned out... People judge and every now and then might miss some special talent. For that matter didn't MJ like not make his high school team?

57th actually.

Still, I'm not surprised most Spursfans want the next Manu when the Spurs pick 50+. Most teams would be glad to have a benchwarmer in that range, let alone a rotation player.

Take last season's squad. Two of the starters were 2009 second rounders, and a third rotation player was also a 2009 second rounder.

[Ouglagbok]

57th actually.

Still, I'm not surprised most Spursfans want the next Manu when the Spurs pick 50+. Most teams would be glad to have a benchwarmer in that range, let alone a rotation player.

Take last season's squad. Two of the starters were 2009 second rounders, and a third rotation player was also a 2009 second rounder.
TY, My bad

[Drz]

A question for people who have seen him play: how athletic and quick is he?
Very. Mizzou was possibly the most athletic college basketball team in the country last year, and he was the best athlete on the team.

What's especially nice is how that athleticism is utilized. This isn't even close to one of those players whose game is ALL athleticism and has no shot, no smarts. He uses his athleticism to be fast, to hustle, and to play great pressure D, but he doesn't rely on it as a crutch.

[Nathan89]

The big question for me is his ball-handling. If anyone has a video that displays this skill I would like to see it.

[Bruno]

Very. Mizzou was possibly the most athletic college basketball team in the country last year, and he was the best athlete on the team.

What's especially nice is how that athleticism is utilized. This isn't even close to one of those players whose game is ALL athleticism and has no shot, no smarts. He uses his athleticism to be fast, to hustle, and to play great pressure D, but he doesn't rely on it as a crutch.

Thanks.

I don't know if he will make it but he seems to be a very good fit with Spurs roster. Like the series against Clippers has shown, Spurs could really use an athletic quick guard.

[Nathan89]

rLrW7Ia0dPw&feature=related

Kx_L2RMzbtc&feature=relmfu

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

Good to hear some positive feedback from those have followed him. Yeah, he's short but if he's fast then that's a positive in a different way. Spurs are usually slow and short. As others have said, we'll probably know right away if he can hang.

[Vic Petro]

Seems similar to Bobby Jackson.

[ace3g]

Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN

Just got off phone with Spurs' draftee Marcus Denmon. Passed over until No. 59, he's coming w/ a chip on his shoulder. This is a good thing.

Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN

For instance: "With my accolades and my body of work, I was still overlooked. I'm going in hungry and humble," Denmon said.

Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN

More Denmon: "I feel I'm better than a 59th draft pick."

Denmon, scouting Denmon: "My toughness, my competitive nature. That's something that's going to transfer well."

Denmon says he's scheduled to report to SA on July 5. Will play for Spurs' entry in LV Summer League later that month.

Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN

Denmon admits some would rather not be drafted at all than go so late. "I definitely did. I'm definitely excited about joining the Spurs."

[CGD]

It'd by nice if a team that drafts an American player in the 2nd round could opt to keep is rights if that player decided to play in Europe for a few years instead of trying his luck in the NBA immediately. I see this kid, and other American's we're drafted late like McClinton and Gist that would have benefited from going overseas for a few years. It'd been nice if the Spurs retained there rights somehow.

[Mel_13]

It'd by nice if a team that drafts an American player in the 2nd round could opt to keep is rights if that player decided to play in Europe for a few years instead of trying his luck in the NBA immediately. I see this kid, and other American's we're drafted late like McClinton and Gist that would have benefited from going overseas for a few years. It'd been nice if the Spurs retained there rights somehow.

They can.

The Spurs did exactly that with James Gist. It does require the player to cooperate. McClinton forced the issue. The Spurs had to choose between keeping him on the roster or waiving him.

[benefactor]

The big question for me is his ball-handling. If anyone has a video that displays this skill I would like to see it.
I watched him several times last season and he looked very good handling the ball. In fact, there are very few flaws in his game from what I've seen. He was one of the reasons I had Mizzou going so far in my bracket because the times I've watched him he really looked dominant in stretches. I was actually pretty surprised to hear his name at 59. I had forgotten about him after Mizzou got upset and the Kentucky hype machine took over.

I really like this pick a lot. From a value standpoint I don't think the Spurs could have done much better...as he is easily the BPA at 59. Its not a stretch to say there is better than a 50% chance he starts the season on the Spurs roster.

[benefactor]

Very. Mizzou was possibly the most athletic college basketball team in the country last year, and he was the best athlete on the team.

What's especially nice is how that athleticism is utilized. This isn't even close to one of those players whose game is ALL athleticism and has no shot, no smarts. He uses his athleticism to be fast, to hustle, and to play great pressure D, but he doesn't rely on it as a crutch.
This is pretty well said. There are a lot of players that are athletic but play out of control because of it. Denmon is very athletic but he is smart and opportunistic. He does a nice job of recognizing when to tap into that explosiveness and when to reign it in.

[Juventini]

Another reason that the Spurs decide to pick Denmon is probably because Missouri run the same motion offense and push the ball up the court really fast. Heck, they even use small ball which Pop in love with.

[Mr. Body]

My little fwiw. This is a really good pick at the 59. The only real major flaw with this guy is his size. If he can manage to back-up the point better than Neal, this is aces.

[objective]

advanced nerd numbers loved Jeremy Lin coming out of college too. And he was somebody who in college never played close to as well as he did for the Knicks, so there's reason to hope.

[Libri]

I like what I'm hearing about Denmon. Looking forward to seeing him in summer league.

[angelbelow]

A couple quick points, from someone who watched 25 Mizzou games this past year:

DEFENSE -- It's very good, despite his height. He's highly athletic. Denmon should be an above average defender in the NBA.

CREATE OWN SHOT -- Yes, he can do it.

But sample size?

Jk, thanks for the take. Everything I'm reading.. from poster observations, articles, interviews have been positive so far. Looking forward to watching him play in a few weeks.

[ttdog]

Chad Ford's Insider Draft Profile:

Overall Rank 62
Position Rank 16
Hollinger PER 25.66
Projection Second Round Pick/Undrafted
Positives

Super efficient two guard
Excellent shooter with deep range
Good finisher at the basket
Rarely turns the ball over

Negatives

Undersized for his position

Chad Ford's Draft Grades from Insider:



SAN ANTONIO SPURS | GRADE: A-

Round 1: None

Round 2: Marcus Denmon (59)

Analysis: I really like this pick for the Spurs. Denmon is the sort of efficient combo guard who could thrive in the Spurs' system. He shoots it well, defends and can even play the point in a pinch. I'm not expecting huge things from him, but could see him as a rotation player in San Antonio down the road.

[Marcus Bryant]

It was the 59th pick. If you find yourself frustrated about this selection, it's probably time to take a shower this month and stop refreshing the forum.

[rascal]

Neal is just not all that good. Denmon has a great shot to push Neal off the roster. Spurs still need a true backup pg. Denmon in, Neal off he roster.

Spurs need to package Neal with Bonner, Blair, or Anderson and add a player with some size.

Add a backup pg, bring in Denmon as Neal's replacement. Trade Neal and Blair or Neal and Anderson for a big. Amnesty Bonner.

3 players off the roster, Neal, Bonner, Blair or Anderson(preferably Anderson) 3 players added to the roster , the backup pg- free agent signing, Denmon and the big they get from the trade.

[freetiago]

Neals a good backup shooting guard
hes one of the best shooters in the nba and best ppm scorers in the nba
its more the spurs fault they cant hide one bad player
instead pop puts lineups like bonner/blair/neal/diaw in when he could play neal wiht the starters more

carlisle was able to play terry huge minutes hes an even worse defensive player then neal and still have a capable D

[ace3g]

Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN

Marcus Denmon's coach at MU, Frank Haith, paints Denmon as an overachiever who "has had to grind it out his whole career."

Haith thinks Denmon's grit will serve him well in bid to make Spurs. "In order to survive, you need a little edge. He plays with an edge."

Haith calls Marcus Denmon "a tough, hard-nosed, gritty kid. He plays with a lot of passion. He does things the right way."

[Budkin]

Wow I wasnt feeling very good about our pick last night but after reading this entire thread I'm sold on the guy. Let's hope he works out.

[racm]

If he turns out to be even 3/4s of a George Hill I will be in awe.

Sure, OKC got the vaunted steal of the draft by getting a lottery talent in Perry Jones late in the 1st round, but has Reggie Jackson cracked the rotation?

[ace3g]

Denmon unfazed by long odds

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2012/06/30/denmon-unfazed-by-quest-for-a-spot-2/

[CGD]

Gosh, to read this thread you'd think we got top 10 talent at the 59th... Dude will probably get cut, but may find himself back here in 2 years after some time in Europe.

[Darkwaters]

Gosh, to read this thread you'd think we got top 10 talent at the 59th... Dude will probably get cut, but may find himself back here in 2 years after some time in Europe.

I don't know how you read that out of this thread. What I seem to keep hearing is, "Why didn't we draft a top 10 talent with the 59th pick? There were plenty of superior players still available!"

[Vic Petro]

Neals a good backup shooting guard
hes one of the best shooters in the nba and best ppm scorers in the nba

Too much bashing of Neal. TJ Ford retiring forced him into a role he's not fit to play.If/when the Spurs acquire a capable backup PG, Neal can still shine in the role he was meant to play: sharpshooter off the bench. He shouldn't have any more responsibility than making shots.

[therealtruth]

Bledsoe was killing the Spurs the first two games before tweaking his knee and Bradley probably played the best one-on-one defense I have seen played on Parker last year.

The guy is the same size as Westbrook and Gordon and both are more SG than PGs. Not saying this guy is going to be on their level, but Denmon was the leader on one the best College teams in NCAA last year.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1240395-spurs-2012-nba-draft-picks-grades-results-and-analysis/page/2

I agree, this guy fits the Spurs mold perfectly.

So you are saying there's a chance we drafted the next Russell Westbrook?

[racm]

Drafting a guy with 25 PER with the 59th pick? DAYUM.

[Darkwaters]

Denmon was a solid selection at 59 and I fully support it. I can't wait to watch him play the summer league and see what he can do. If he looks promising, but the writing is on the wall that he won't make the team, I'm not above pushing him to Europe for a season to learn the PG position. Then bring him back, a la James Gist, and see if more time has improved his stock.

[Roger Freemason Jr.]

Everything I see on Denmon, states that he is a fantastic
player, & his ppg & even his rpg speak for themselves.

The only knock is his size. Which baffles me, with all the
undersized SG's in the league already, why would that
be such a significant problem? The kid can shoot, & yes,
he ABSOLUTELY is a great pick up at 59.

[Roger Freemason Jr.]

Also, when they announced our draft pick,
the commentator (whoever it was) was singing
Denmon's praises a little more than anyone before him (understanding that most were draft and stash euro's with ridiculous names).

But yeah, I was waiting to hear the commentator
commend the Spurs for acquiring another steal, late
in the draft. I like to believe they did, although mine and
nobody else's expectations should be anywhere near high.

[racm]

Also, when they announced our draft pick,
the commentator (whoever it was) was singing
Denmon's praises a little more than anyone before him (understanding that most were draft and stash euro's with ridiculous names).

But yeah, I was waiting to hear the commentator
commend the Spurs for acquiring another steal, late
in the draft. I like to believe they did, although mine and
nobody else's expectations should be anywhere near high.

Hey, most 59th picks don't even play in the NBA. If the kid turns out to be a rotation player, Pop will laugh once more on the way to the bank.

[xellos88330]

I don't know about this kid. He is an undersized 2, but Iverson was undersized too. I'm not saying that this kid is the second coming of AI, but just stating he is undersized shouldn't be the end to any conversation concerning his potential. Personally I like his comparison to Avery Bradley. This is the one thing that gets me most interested.

[racm]

I don't know about this kid. He is an undersized 2, but Iverson was undersized too. I'm not saying that this kid is the second coming of AI, but just stating he is undersized shouldn't be the end to any conversation concerning his potential. Personally I like his comparison to Avery Bradley. This is the one thing that gets me most interested.

Rondo and Bradley together are a rather undersized backcourt.

[stxspurs]

Just heard an interview on morning drive. He is way cocky and doesn't think before he talks. They mentioned about Manu turning out good at late round. He said that he doesn't like Argentinans but he is ok. Uh what? Also he souls have been top 20 and asked who is is like. He said michael Jordan and hell no lebron ain't better than Jordan. Idk pop is gonna get at this kid for sure. Hope he turns out as a steal

[SPURSCHAMP]

Just heard an interview on morning drive. He is way cocky and doesn't think before he talks. They mentioned about Manu turning out good at late round. He said that he doesn't like Argentinans but he is ok. Uh what? Also he souls have been top 20 and asked who is is like. He said michael Jordan and hell no lebron ain't better than Jordan. Idk pop is gonna get at this kid for sure. Hope he turns out as a steal

We all hope he turns out to be a steal but I think spurs fans have been spoiled by the likes of Ginobili, after all this kid is just the 59th pick. Also, are you ESL?:lol

[stxspurs]

What is ESL?

[SPURSCHAMP]

English as a Second Language

[stxspurs]

Lol no. Just can't txt with fat thumbs lol

[SPURSCHAMP]

Lol no. Just can't txt with fat thumbs lol

Oh ok:toast

[monkeypunk]

I think we need some youngsters with some fire, some confidence and some attitude. Especially if they can take (and make) big shots.

Great players figure out ways to overcome physical shortcomings, pun intended...

[benefactor]

He said that he doesn't like Argentinans but he is ok.
Not sure if I believe this. Transcript or it didn't happen.

[Obstructed_View]

Also, when they announced our draft pick,
the commentator (whoever it was) was singing
Denmon's praises a little more than anyone before him (understanding that most were draft and stash euro's with ridiculous names).

But yeah, I was waiting to hear the commentator
commend the Spurs for acquiring another steal, late
in the draft. I like to believe they did, although mine and
nobody else's expectations should be anywhere near high.

I don't think it's out of the question that he could stick in the NBA. He's bigger and has more range and talent than guys like Curtis Jerrells or Jacque Vaughn. Guys with more going against them have made themselves into productive players in the league. It's probably up to how hard he wants to work. Definitely not a bad pick for where it was.

[Obstructed_View]

Not sure if I believe this. Transcript or it didn't happen.

If he said it, I'm more apt to believe that it was a joke. If it was, he and Manu will hit it off immediately.

[stxspurs]

It was an interview Friday on the morning drive. I was shocked myself

[benefactor]

If he said it, I'm more apt to believe that it was a joke. If it was, he and Manu will hit it off immediately.
:tu

[stxspurs]

Nope I don't think so. Mike Taylor even thought it was fake, but they responded it was really him. I looked on the website and i didn't see a link. Maybe they will replay on taylors show this afternoon. He said it and it wasn't in a joking manner. He has a big ego and it comes thru in that interview. He also said that mizzou loss in the tournament wasn't his fault and to look his box score. If it was a joke is be shocked.

[sehui]

say wuhhh..

Yeah I'm going to need to listen to this myself,

from the interview he said he compared himself to Avery Bradley, which is a pretty good and humble goal.

I don't mind cocky, but there shouldn't be any racism, especially if its toward the ethnicity of the most beloved Spur the past 4-6 years.

[stxspurs]

there is not a podcast for the show. i emailed Walter Pasicrita and asked im where i can find it or if there is a link to the intview. no reply yet.

[ace3g]

not sure if this is it:

http://podcast.610sports.com/kcsp2/3542153.mp3?rhidownloadlink=true

[tesseractive]

I don't know about this kid. He is an undersized 2, but Iverson was undersized too. I'm not saying that this kid is the second coming of AI, but just stating he is undersized shouldn't be the end to any conversation concerning his potential. Personally I like his comparison to Avery Bradley. This is the one thing that gets me most interested.

The most interesting possibility is if the Spurs plan on putting him on the floor with De Colo, who (if I understand the scouting reports correctly) can handle the ball and pass but isn't a great defender and can't defend point guards.

Denmon should be able to defend point guards just fine, and he's apparently done a lot of work to be effective in the pick and roll, but may not have the overall ball handling and passing skills we'd like in a point. So between the two of them, it could end up being a pretty workable backcourt, at least for a second unit -- if they both develop, anyway.

[stxspurs]

not sure if this is it:

http://podcast.610sports.com/kcsp2/3542153.mp3?rhidownloadlink=true

it should be for the ticket 760 morning drive

[ace3g]

Dime Q&A: Orlando Johnson and Marcus Denmon Discuss The Pre-Draft Process

http://dimemag.com/2012/07/dime-qa-orlando-johnson-and-marcus-denmon-discuss-the-pre-draft-process/

[ace3g]

Looks like Spurs.com will have a video interview with Marcus today:

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7407mLVKm1rugvcno1_1280.jpg

[ace3g]

Marcus Denmon - Heartbreak and Hope

http://www.nba.com/spurs/features/120719_rodriguez_denmon

[Biggems]

I hope he turns out to be something, even if for only a year or two....I am still smarting over passing on Robert Sacre. We need bigs, and Sacre would have been a nice addition. I absolutely hate that he went to the Lakers of all teams. I have a feeling he will become a very solid player for them and give us fits.

[timvp]

I hope he turns out to be something, even if for only a year or two....I am still smarting over passing on Robert Sacre. We need bigs, and Sacre would have been a nice addition. I absolutely hate that he went to the Lakers of all teams. I have a feeling he will become a very solid player for them and give us fits.

Sacre has been horrible in summer league. Not an NBA player, tbh.

[DesignatedT]

I still think the Spurs should have taken Hollis Thompson.

[playblair]

@1:20..........

YSdyqZ6JZyc

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

@1:20..........

YSdyqZ6JZyc
WTF

Edit: Overreacted right away, but it could be non-guaranteed contract. Sadly meaning he could suffer the same fate as Gist(!). I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[Darkwaters]

WTF

Edit: Overreacted right away, but it could be non-guaranteed contract. Sadly meaning he could suffer the same fate as Gist(!). I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

He says hes "looking forward to signing with the Spurs." The reference to having two years with the Spurs is probably just citing the typical 2nd rounder contract (2 years at the minimum).

He'll probably get the James Gist treatment. In fact, he might be doing what Jack McClinton did a couple years back when he declined to go to Europe and signed the bare-bones minimum tender that the Spurs were required to offer him in order to retain his rights. You'll remember that Jack was cut in training camp and the Spurs forever lost his rights at that point. Not a huge loss, as it were.

[Chinook]

If Neal goes, Denmon could stick. The Spurs have the room on their roster to keep him, and he can do a lot of what Neal does.

Or this could signal one of two other things:

Mills is on the move, which seems unlikely, as the draft was probably the best time to trade him. But it's still possible. De Colo or Joseph could also be on the block, but Mills is probably closer to Denmon.

The team is happy with their guard situation and is not going to look to add players there. If they are going to bring in a big free-agent, it may be a forward or a center.

[playblair]

new denmon interview ...............

http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=26&c=374&f=1594061 (http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=26&c=374&f=1594061)

[EP Money Man]

after summer league, "God willing I will be with the Spurs."

[EP Money Man]

talked to RC about possibly "replacing" Gary Neal ...

[Darkwaters]

If Gary does walk I hope he latches on with a decent team. Sure he has considerable flaws in his game, but he produced for us in big games. I'll always be a Gary Neal fan. But his time on this team is probably over.

[spurraider21]

What about jack mcclinton

[Bruno]

Mills >>>> Denmon.