Each prediction includes two players that could go No. 1 overall and John Wall has been the projected No. 1 overall pick since the college basketball season began. Even after seeing this draft loterry shake-up, Wall is still projected to be taken first.
Evan Turner, on the other hand, had to rise from the bottom. He was able to overcome a critical injury, and become a top prospect in the draft. Some even go as far as saying that Turner is the best prospect in the draft.
Both of these players could easily be selected No. 1 overall, but now I believe John Wall is the heavy favorite to be selected by the Wizards.
However, that doesn't make it the best choice for the Wizards. Let me give you a breakdown on both players to better judge who really is the better choice for the Wizards.
John Wall
Wall was mature the day he stepped onto the University of Kentucky campus. He had the guts to take the game-winning shot in his first game of play, and I am sure we all know how that went.
From then on, people considered Wall to be better than previously advertised--many scouts had expected him to be good, but not this good.
He is blazingly fast, displaying Derrick Rose-like speed in the open court, while still being able to handle the ball proficiently. He has great athleticism that he uses once he gets into the paint, and also finishes well around the rim. I once saw Wall put the ball behind his back while fighting off a defender and continued on to dunk the basketball.
Wall would be a great addition to any NBA team. He is a great play-maker and displays some great skills for a player so raw. Did I mention that he has shown limited potential? And that most of his potential still lies within him, untouched and unharnessed?
Why Wall is a good pick for the Wizards
Regardless of the talent on your roster at the point guard position, you do not pass up a player like Wall. He is a proven scorer, displaying flashes of a baby Derrick Rose in many games at Kentucky. Not to mention, he is defensively polished at the point guard position. His large, lanky frame will allow him to knock the smaller guards out of their sets and create turnovers.
Why Wall is a bad pick for the Wizards
Sometimes when you are drafting No. 1 overall, to take such a young player you have to be very cautious. Wall is a great prospect, but one thing that hurt the Wizards last season was turnovers. In college, Wall averaged four turnovers a game. Not to mention, the recurring five-plus turnover outings, which got up to the uglier seven turnover game on four occasions.
Drafting a turnover-prone player to a team that needs to cut down on turnovers could be bad news.
Evan Turner
Turner was everything to the Ohio State Buckeyes. When he broke his back, it was said he would possibly sit out for 6-to-8 weeks; his team went down the drain. However, with Turner being such a strong player, he was able to come back in merely four weeks and help the Buckeyes' return to form.
Turner is a 6-foot-7 point, shot, and forward. He can literally play three positions and play them all well. He showed he can run an offense by taking over the point guard position for the Buckeyes, leading them to the NCAA tournament after suffering such a critical injury.
He also showed that he could play the two guard position with his pick and pop and mid-range game. At the three position, he has the size of a forward. And when you put all of what I just said together, it makes a good cause for him to play at the three.
Why Turner is a good pick for the Wizards
Selecting Turner now could help the Wizards a lot. Not only would they be provided with a wing threat, but examine the possible thee-prong attack in Andray Blatche, Gilbert Arenas and Turner. Turner can help them in the mid-range game and take pressure off Arenas to be the main factor on offense.
On defense, you can rely on Turner to crash the boards and make defensive plays to get the ball back to his team . Evan Turner can be Mr. Everything from the wing position. He is a great ball-handler, shooter in the mid-range game, a smart player and most notably, he is consistent.
Why Turner is a bad pick for the Wizards
Remember when the Pistons passed on Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, etc, in the 2003 NBA draft to fill a need? That is still haunting them to this day. I'm not saying that Turner will be another Darko, but there is a chance that he may not live up to expectations in the NBA.
The one aspect of his game that scares me the most is his lack of agression. Yes, he takes it to the rim, yes, he plays with heart, and yes, he can be aggressive when he wants, but has anyone noticed that Evan Turner shies away from contact once the game gets too physical? Refer back to the Tennessee game in this year's tournament, or the Siena game film during the previous one.
In the NBA it's all about being physical. If he wasn't doing that in the college game, the pros may eat him alive.
Overall
Like i said before, each one of them could be selected No. 1 overall, but it is all based on the Wizards. In my opinion, the better pick for the Wizards is Turner. He can do it all from the wing position and that will still allow Arenas to run the point in Washington, which is great news.
Playing beside a superstar like Arenas, and a growing star in Blatche, should be the ideal situation for Turner. That takes the pressure off Turner and gives him fresher legs on the court, without forcing him to run the court crazy and do it all like he did at Ohio State.
Turner is the better choice for the Wizards, but Wall will be the No. 1 overall pick. No one in their right mind can pass on a guy that is being compared to Derrick Rose. Have you seen the way Wall handles the game? Once his shot and overall game improves, we are talking about one of the best point guards in the NBA.
Written by DeAnte Mitchell, edits by Lauren Garrison
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Keep the comments clean folks!