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anybody watch this kid play? Is he worth a gamble in the late 1st?
Height: 6-10
Weight: 255 lbs
Birthday: 08/06/1990
College: Kentucky
DraftExpress
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anybody watch this kid play? Is he worth a gamble in the late 1st?
Almost no stats (3.4p/3.3r), but an eye-popping 1.6 blocks in 13.2 minutes. REALLY raw, though. You could count on one season, or maybe even two seasons in Austin. He probably wouldn't contribute during the Duncan era.
If you're doing a project, though, he'd probably be worth a flyer. Get 'em young. He's only 19.
I'd almost rather pass, though, with the risk of another Mahinmi-like cult pretty high in this case.
They'd never pass him the ball, but he's a great body, is very fluid, can become a great post defender in the NBA and it looked to me he has a nice touch. At the very least he can run and jump like a pro is supposed to do, unlike many "NBA ready" guys. Difficult to assess his level of readiness when he had such a limited role in his team.
Chad Ford has been saying that the Thunder are really high on him, and probably wouldn't get past their 2 picks.
I can see why, the Thunder now have the luxury to gamble on such a guy. (a bit like when Spurs gambled on Ian 2005). I think they will use the better pick (#20-22) to upgrade their shooting department and pick either Anderson, Williams or Bradley. to use the Suns pick for Orton (or another defensive true big man like Jerome Jordan or Larry Sanders) makes a lot of sense long term.
I think the fact that the Thunder have 2 guys at each of SG and PG(Thabo/Harden, Westbrook/Maynor), while they're not getting much out of their bigs is putting some weight to the idea of drafting bigs, and eventually one will work out. Serge has been really good for them, but getting a big guy who can defend at Centre makes some sense. If He could develop into a Perkins type, they'd presumably be very happy.
Also of note about him. The Draft express twitter (http://twitter.com/DraftExpress) is reporting that Orton apparently tore his ACL last year(Well, they're saying there's alot of talk at Portsmouth about it)
yeah, they already have a nicely balanced back court, but don't you agree that a true shooter at the wing is what is missing there to make it complete?
I think Harden shooting is good enough to work(at 37.5%). There is, I guess room in the rotation for a 5th guard, a combo type, who can play with Westbrook or Harden in the backcourt. And shooters of very high quality are always going to be useful when other guys are drawing attention. There isn't going to be a great number of available minutes though, so it's picking for depth(especially at SF). Their big rotation has some potential(Ibaka, and Muellens if he develops), but they're still a little small, and a bit of help rebounding and defending bulky bigs(Blair, for example) would help. I personally doubt that Collison and Krstic are really in their long term plans. (Maybe 1 I guess) If they're playing Green at PF, they kind of need someone to battle inside. Orton fits that bill a bit, as a fairly tall, Bulky type(260). Also, Orton depends on what they do in free agency, but there aren't that many high quality centres available.
For us, Bigs who can block will be valued, but if Splitter is on board, the big rotation isn't the biggest need(Unless people are traded). Depends on what happens, but I think there are better options for us, though I can understand the Thunder being quite interested and possibly taking him with their earlier pick.
I think Harden shooting is good enough to work(at 37.5%). There is, I guess room in the rotation for a 5th guard, a combo type, who can play with Westbrook or Harden in the backcourt. And shooters of very high quality are always going to be useful when other guys are drawing attention. There isn't going to be a great number of available minutes though, so it's picking for depth(especially at SF). Their big rotation has some potential(Ibaka, and Muellens if he develops), but they're still a little small, and a bit of help rebounding and defending bulky bigs(Blair, for example) would help. I personally doubt that Collison and Krstic are really in their long term plans. (Maybe 1 I guess) If they're playing Green at PF, they kind of need someone to battle inside. Orton fits that bill a bit, as a fairly tall, Bulky type(260). Also, Orton depends on what they do in free agency, but there aren't that many high quality centres available.
For us, Bigs who can block will be valued, but if Splitter is on board, the big rotation isn't the biggest need(Unless people are traded). Depends on what happens, but I think there are better options for us, though I can understand the Thunder being quite interested and possibly taking him with their earlier pick.
It doesn't really matter if Splitter is on board or not. A kid like this? He'll be spending one, if not two complete seasons in Austin.
He is the equivalent of drafting a kid out of highschool. Might be worth the risk. It raises an interesting thought. Are we at the point, where we need to draft long term prospects with a long term view for improvement? Rather than immediate contributors.
No, I think you still draft immediate contributors at this point in time. George Hill and DeJuan Blair have been huge in revitalizing this team and are key cogs in keeping us compe ive for the future. If you can add another piece like that I think you leap at it.
Parkers health has been an issue all year which, next year, could be completely reversed. Ginobili shows renewed everything and is still potent. And Duncan is still playing - therefore, it's still game on.
I agree with your statement about drafting a player as an instant reserve if possible. I would rather draft a foreign player and stash him than draft a young kid knowing he has 0% chance of contributing for at least 2 years and having to foot the bill.
NBA Mock Draft: Bigs Abundant But Offensively Challenged
SportingNews
20. San Antonio. Daniel Orton, C, Kentucky. Orton is unproven, but he has good size and could go higher for a team willing to gamble. The Spurs are looking to move up in the draft.
No.
I could see us drafting him, playing him a year in Austin, then sticking him at the end of the bench for ordering the wrong wine once at a team dinner.
Just kidding.
I think he'd be a great pick...a few years ago. I wouldn't mind trading a future to grab him as a 2nd 1st round pick this year. He'd be at the bottom of list of choices. Not upset if we grabbed him, but doesn't really fill an immediate need.
It surprises me that Kentucky had two centers with such high % body fat in Cousins and Orton... if you have trouble being in top shape at age 19/20 playing for one of the best programs in the country, what does that say about your chances at age 25 and beyond? I know it's not a deal-breaker, but it has to worry the GMs that are looking at them. I'd much rather deal with a young 225 lb center that needs to add 15 pounds of muscle than a young guy who needs to lose 15 pounds of fat.
^
I wouldn't touch Orton unless he goes the Blair route and slips to the 2nd round.
(and Blair did show that he can play 30 MPG for a season in college)
Orton's combine has also been a bit disappointing. he was always advertised as "true" 7 footer and comes out 6'10 in shoes. (great wingspan though). and not exactly in great shape and also not as impressive athletically as expected.
he is quite articulate and gives some funny answers, but I still got an ambivalent impression about him. not sure he is in fact that great to work with for a coach and the team.
and there is the story about his father, the wannabe coach, who reportedly is omnipresent and is pretty annoying. (like publicly claiming his son would be a top 5 pick and would have made Cousins look bad, if he had got more playing time)
Who was the last out of shape Center with almost no playing time in college that got drafted based on upside and potential that turned out to be an impressive pro?
Boston has Perkins AND Big Baby. It all depends on the environment the player gets dropped into.
Big Baby had a great college career and Perkins got drafted out of high school.
My post asked who was the last out of shape Center with almost no playing time in college that got drafted based on upside and potential that turned out to be an impressive pro?
DraftExpress
Daniel Orton has canceled all six of his remaining workouts, according to an NBA source. Speculation is that he may have a promise from OKC
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