Vander's Draft Selection Poll

[nyg]

OK, lots of thoughts in numerous different threads.  Now place your bets.

I say second round and surely not first.  Brew says 55% for first.  Opinions vary to a great degree, so put on your NBA GM hats.  

[Marquette_g]

I guess I don't see the NBA future for a guy who is not as good as DJO or Jerel and neither of them have "made it."  Jerel has played a grand total of 6 minutes in the NBA is a better offensive and defensive player than Vander.

I'm hoping to be wrong, just as I was about the team's record last year, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[brewcity77]

I guess I don't see the NBA future for a guy who is not as good as DJO or Jerel and neither of them have "made it."  Jerel has played a grand total of 6 minutes in the NBA is a better offensive and defensive player than Vander.

I'm hoping to be wrong, just as I was about the team's record last year, but I wouldn't bet on it.

You're confusing college player and NBA player levels. DJO and Jerel were both better college players than Wes Matthews, but who's been the better pro? With his size, his age, and the timing of his career trend, Vander is a better prospect than either McNeal or DJO were on draft night.

[mubb34]

I can see him getting drafted late second round, but I think he will end up playing in Europe within a couple of years...

[mu_hilltopper]

I guess I don't see the NBA future for a guy who is not as good as DJO or Jerel and neither of them have "made it."  Jerel has played a grand total of 6 minutes in the NBA is a better offensive and defensive player than Vander.

Made me check .. Jerel has 6 minutes, but only in the pre-season .. so doesn't count.  He has yet to play for the Jazz during his 10 day contracts.

But that's a great point:  Who would you rather have on your NBA team, Vander or Jerel?

Easy choice.

[JakeBarnes]

You're confusing college player and NBA player levels. DJO and Jerel were both better college players than Wes Matthews, but who's been the better pro? With his size, his age, and the timing of his career trend, Vander is a better prospect than either McNeal or DJO were on draft night.

But with Wes, I watched him and went "man, his jumper and iso work is great and tailored for the NBA even if he isn't being used correctly by Crean."  With Vander I always said "that jumper needs to happen more and his choices a bit better."  Granted, he gained respect by leaps and bounds this year in that department, but he could have really used more time to take that next step.

[wrk5923]

Vander will be drafted late-first round

You heard it here first.

[MU86NC]

Vander will be drafted late-first round

You heard it here first.

I'm sure his handlers r saying the same thing... I hope it happens for him!

[Eldon]

Made me check .. Jerel has 6 minutes, but only in the pre-season .. so doesn't count.  He has yet to play for the Jazz during his 10 day contracts.

But that's a great point:  Who would you rather have on your NBA team, Vander or Jerel?

Easy choice.

I always check the box score of the Jazz games every morning and I no longer see his name, whereas before it would say McNeal DNP coach's decision.  Any reason for that?

[brewcity77]

But with Wes, I watched him and went "man, his jumper and iso work is great and tailored for the NBA even if he isn't being used correctly by Crean."  With Vander I always said "that jumper needs to happen more and his choices a bit better."  Granted, he gained respect by leaps and bounds this year in that department, but he could have really used more time to take that next step.

I also thought Wes would be a good NBA fit and was the best prospect of the Amigos. But regarding Van, his shot and shot form have notably improved and his decision-making I don't feel was bad, it was his execution of missing good looks (which improved this year). I think another year would have suited him, but I don't think this is necessarily a bad idea.

Vander will be drafted late-first round

You heard it here first.

Unless you've been reading the board today.

[TallTitan34]

I'd guessed second round, but if he's declaring I have to assume he's been told there is first round interest.

[john31]

Now that Vander has committed to the draft and I have found my MU rose colored glasses, I say he gets picked second to last or last in the first round. I have to root for our guy, I don't think this was a good decision but I sincerely hope I am wrong. I want to think that there was interest by some team in the first round or things would not have turned out as they did. Good luck to Vander and Go Warriors!

[Blackhat]

at least the kid can work all day every day on his shot now.

[Groin_pull]

I predict someone will pick him at the end of the second round...but he won't make the cut. Will ultimately end up in Europe or the D League.

[chapman]

Decent shot he gets a trip to Vegas for summer ball.  That's as close to the NBA as he's getting.  Plenty of overseas opportunity though.

[Stretchdeltsig]

I wished he would have stayed for his senior year.  However, now that he's declared, I think some one could draft him in the late first round. 

[Otule's Glass Eye]

Interesting thing I saw on ESPN, point guard Marcus Smart of Oklahoma St, a consensus top 5 pick, will reportedly be returning to school. A lot of guys (including Vander) declaring when they aren't guaranteed money and Smart comes back as a top 5 pick? Don't think that's smart with the way next year's class looks like.

[Rockmic87]

Wouldn't it be nice if ESPN had room to mention that Vander is declaring during Sportscenter?

[HoopsMalone]

Which top ten team in the NBA would have a need for Vander if he is indeed going to be selected in the 20s?

I'd say Memphis or OKC would be his best bets to get drafted as a good fit. He is somewhat of a project.  Some of these teams can afford to sit him and let him develop in practice for a year.  Others want to win.  

OKC- maybe.  Harden is gone and I think that Kevin Martin comes off the books next year.  D Fish is probably done.  They have a couple other good guards though, and he could maybe develop for a year and take their spots when those other guys don't want to play for a minimum.

San Antonio- doubt it.  I can't see where he would fit with this team.  Vander is a project and I can see them wanting to get value now with their old core.

Miami- no

Denver- Maybe. Its hard to say what their strategy in general is besides stockpiling above average assets.

Clippers- I doubt it.  They are trying to win now.

Memphis-  They have two young PGs, but an opening at SG.  Maybe this is his best chance in the first round.

Knicks- no.  He doesn't add much for them.

Indiana- no

Brooklyn-  It's impossible to say what their strategy is.  They will need defense behind their aging contracts they have in the backcourt.  This is getting a little early in the draft though.  

Warriors/Rockets/Bulls/Hawks- All will probably have better options in the late teens and early 20s.  

[HoopsMalone]

Which top ten team in the NBA would have a need for Vander if he is indeed going to be selected in the 20s?

I'd say Memphis or OKC would be his best bets to get drafted as a good fit. He is somewhat of a project.  Some of these teams can afford to sit him and let him develop in practice for a year.  Others want to win.  

OKC- maybe.  Harden is gone and I think that Kevin Martin comes off the books next year.  D Fish is probably done.  They have a couple other good guards though, and he could maybe develop for a year and take their spots when those other guys don't want to play for a minimum.

San Antonio- doubt it.  I can't see where he would fit with this team.  Vander is a project and I can see them wanting to get value now with their old core.

Miami- no

Denver- Maybe. Its hard to say what their strategy in general is besides stockpiling above average assets.

Clippers- I doubt it.  They are trying to win now.

Memphis-  They have two young PGs, but a thin backcourt overall.  Maybe this is his best chance in the first round.

Knicks- no.  He doesn't add much for them.

Indiana- no

Brooklyn-  It's impossible to say what their strategy is.  They will need defense behind their aging contracts they have in the backcourt.  This is getting a little early in the draft though.  

Warriors/Rockets/Bulls/Hawks- All will probably have better options in the late teens and early 20s.  

[Otule's Glass Eye]

Which top ten team in the NBA would have a need for Vander if he is indeed going to be selected in the 20s?

I'd say Memphis or OKC would be his best bets to get drafted as a good fit. He is somewhat of a project.  Some of these teams can afford to sit him and let him develop in practice for a year.  Others want to win.  

OKC- maybe.  Harden is gone and I think that Kevin Martin comes off the books next year.  D Fish is probably done.  They have a couple other good guards though, and he could maybe develop for a year and take their spots when those other guys don't want to play for a minimum.

San Antonio- doubt it.  I can't see where he would fit with this team.  Vander is a project and I can see them wanting to get value now with their old core.

Miami- no

Denver- Maybe. Its hard to say what their strategy in general is besides stockpiling above average assets.

Clippers- I doubt it.  They are trying to win now.

Memphis-  They have two young PGs, but an opening at SG.  Maybe this is his best chance in the first round.

Knicks- no.  He doesn't add much for them.

Indiana- no

Brooklyn-  It's impossible to say what their strategy is.  They will need defense behind their aging contracts they have in the backcourt.  This is getting a little early in the draft though.  

Warriors/Rockets/Bulls/Hawks- All will probably have better options in the late teens and early 20s.  

I agree with pretty much everything except OKC, they seem keen on developing Jeremy Lamb as the next Kevin Martin/James Harden 6th man, so I don't think there would be much of an opportunity as they have Sefolosha and Lamb as their shooting guard combo.

[martyconlonontherun]

At the point in the draft you select solely on BPA. Good teams don't expect late first rounders to play right away, so they want the guy with the most potential. Hell, most prefer a young Euro that won't come over for another year since they don't have to pay him. No reason to pass on a guy that late just because it isn't a position of need.

[MUfan12]

at least the kid can work all day every day on his shot now.

Unless he gets a shot doctor to completely overhaul it, there's a ceiling to how much reps will help him.

His timing, form, and release are broken. Unfortunately, he's just ingraining bad habits that will be hard to break.

For his sake, I hope he is working with someone.

[Warriors10]

Wouldn't it be nice if ESPN had room to mention that Vander is declaring during Sportscenter?

Even on a slow day they wouldn't...

[Sunbelt15]

Unless he gets a shot doctor to completely overhaul it, there's a ceiling to how much reps will help him.

His timing, form, and release are broken. Unfortunately, he's just ingraining bad habits that will be hard to break.

For his sake, I hope he is working with someone.

None of this matters if the shot goes in. This is the same form that lead us to the Elite 8. If you look at the NBA and its history, some of the ugliest shot were the most effective (Adrian Dantley, Vinnie Johnson, Shawn Marion, etc.).