OT: 5 Kentucky Players Declaring for Draft

[tzznandrew]

Davis
MKG
Jones
Lamb
Teague

That's more than I thought. A bit of an overhaul there...

When you factor in Miller was a senior, they lose their 92.3% of their scoring, and their top 6 in:

Minutes
Points
Rebounds
Assists

Wiltjer is the only player who averaged more than 10 rebounds or 1 point.

That is far more of an overhaul than any other year they did. It is worth it for them (title and all), but wow...

 

[aceboon]

Its what I expected, Teague played well down the stretch and this is a pretty weak PG draft.

 

[partial]

They're probably due for a crappy year. It's not uncommon to get a highly touted recruit who doesn't work out, but they have again what would be an insane freshman class coming in(and it's hard to get a dud if you're always getting top 15 players). I'm sure it's like groundhog day to Calipari.

 

[huskiesNhoos]

only problem this coming year is they go 5...maybe 6 deep. This year they at least had a couple guys who could come in off the bench in wiltjer, miller, and vargas

 

[selles]

Its what I expected, Teague played well down the stretch and this is a pretty weak PG draft.

Teague took a lot of heat for his early struggles, but he looked pretty darn good to me in the tourney. Played D, unselfish, hit the j's he needed to hit. I hate all things Squidboy but I couldn't help but take a liking to Teague's game. He's a much purer point than Knight. He'd probably struggle on a bad NBA team, but I think he'd be a solid piece on a good team.

 

[Fishy]

I don't know what to make of Teague's prospects - he certainly had a lot around him, but he led UK in minutes played and was generally pretty solid.

Lamb's an interesting case - he has decent size, but he really isn't much of a ball-handler and the NBA would expect him to be at his size....but crap, the kid hits 48% of his threes. I think he'll either flame out quickly or be one of those guys who quietly sticks for about a decade.

 

[dogpause]

Kentucky can reload the talent, but can they reload the chemistry?

 

[Brochacho]

Kentucky can reload the talent, but can they reload the chemistry?

They did for 3 consecutive seasons - I don't see why they can't do it again.

 

[mauconnfan]

They did for 3 consecutive seasons - I don't see why they can't do it again.

Nah not that easy......when you have that much talent you win some just because but to win it all there needs to be something special and that was Davis last year. No coubt the will reload and with their talent more than likely will go far but doubt they reach the pinnacle again!

 

[aceboon]

D Lamb reminds me of Cuttino Mobley, I can see him hanging around the league for quite awhile just off the strength of his shot making ability.

 

[tzznandrew]

The thing is, they not only loaded up on the best incoming players at key positions, but they always brought meaningful players back:

In Calipari's first year, he still had Paterson.
In his second he had Darius Miller and Liggins who both played over 10 minutes per game.
This past year he brought back Jones, Miller, and Lamb.

Wiltjer is the only player back who played any minutes.

Noel is a step down from Davis (not in ranking, but in fact).
Poythress is the #3 SF and will almost certainly be a step down from MKG (#1)
Goodwin should be good (#5 SG) but will likely be a step down from Lamb.

Even if they get Bennett (#2 PF), they don't have a PG. They'll probably find a way to accumulate wins (SEC blows), but I bet Calipari expected Teague and Lamb to return.

 

[aceboon]

The thing is, they not only loaded up on the best incoming players at key positions, but they always brought meaningful players back:

In Calipari's first year, he still had Paterson.
In his second he had Darius Miller and Liggins who both played over 10 minutes per game.
This past year he brought back Jones, Miller, and Lamb.

Wiltjer is the only player back who played any minutes.

Noel is a step down from Davis (not in ranking, but in fact).
Poythress is the #3 SF and will almost certainly be a step down from MKG (#1)
Goodwin should be good (#5 SG) but will likely be a step down from Lamb.

Even if they get Bennett (#2 PF), they don't have a PG. They'll probably find a way to accumulate wins (SEC blows), but I bet Calipari expected Teague and Lamb to return.

Ryan Harrow will be their PG, he should be better than what Teague was this year, which he'll need to be for them to go far because like you said they're a step down at the other positions compared to last year.

 

[Edward Sargent]

I don't know what to make of Teague's prospects - he certainly had a lot around him, but he led UK in minutes played and was generally pretty solid.

Lamb's an interesting case - he has decent size, but he really isn't much of a ball-handler and the NBA would expect him to be at his size....but crap, the kid hits 48% of his threes. I think he'll either flame out quickly or be one of those guys who quietly sticks for about a decade.

I think he handles at least as good if not better than our Lamb don't you think?

 

[HuskyBballFan]

only problem this coming year is they go 5...maybe 6 deep. This year they at least had a couple guys who could come in off the bench in wiltjer, miller, and vargas

They were 6.5 deep last year. Miller played a lot, Wiltjer played a little, Vargas played when Jones or Davis were in foul trouble.

They'll be just fine, but I wonder if they have anybody like Kidd-Gilchrist in the current crop. It's one thing to have a whole bunch of talented guys like Terrance Jones who may or not may not show up everyday. It's another thing to have a tough as nails guy like MKG who'll scratch and claw for 12 rebounds and play lock down D even if he isn't scoring.

 

[tzznandrew]

Ryan Harrow will be their PG, he should be better than what Teague was this year, which he'll need to be for them to go far because like you said they're a step down at the other positions compared to last year.

That's what I missed--Harrow. I totally forgot they had a guy coming in who could play the position well.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I am surprised all these guys were willing to take a pay cut to go to the NBA.

 

[JaYnYcE]

What a tasteless dig at bunch of young men. It must suck being you.

 

[Walker11]

There are levels in reloading and I believe Kentucky is on a 2 year reloading plan right now. As mentioned, they are bringing in a crew of 5 * players to replace the departing 5*, but there is a huge difference in a top 5 overall player in his class, and the 5 * which are ranked 12-25, which is what Kentucky is bringing in, save Noel. Davis, MKG, Teague were all the elite, top players at their positions in their class - as were Cousins, Wall, Knight etc. Cal has done a very good job with the slightly lower ranked guys like Bledsoe and Lamb but they have greatly benefited by thy bevy of talent around them. We can expect to see a more inconsistent UK team next year who is probably a 3 or 4 seed and I only expect Noel to be a one and done. That said, they following year could be their best team yet with an absolutely loaded 2013 class where the top guys at their positions like Randle, Parker and the Harrison twins are all high on UK.

Cauley is super raw and Wiltjer will always be a defensive liability to an extent - Bennett committing would be huge for them at the 4 spot. A lineup of Harrow, Goodwin, Poythress, Bennett and Noel will be very good but their depth will lack and they will be younger and less talented than usual. Who knows though, it looks like an even more down year for the NCAA next year when I see team like UNC projected to be top 10 - a team which I wouldn't be surprised to see end up on the bubble.

 

[huskymagic]

The thing is, they not only loaded up on the best incoming players at key positions, but they always brought meaningful players back:

In Calipari's first year, he still had Paterson.
In his second he had Darius Miller and Liggins who both played over 10 minutes per game.
This past year he brought back Jones, Miller, and Lamb.

Wiltjer is the only player back who played any minutes.

Noel is a step down from Davis (not in ranking, but in fact).
Poythress is the #3 SF and will almost certainly be a step down from MKG (#1)
Goodwin should be good (#5 SG) but will likely be a step down from Lamb.

Even if they get Bennett (#2 PF), they don't have a PG. They'll probably find a way to accumulate wins (SEC blows), but I bet Calipari expected Teague and Lamb to return.

Othern than Nerlens who is a step down from Anthony Davis, everyone else that Calipari got is better than what he had this year. Ryan harrow is a better version of teague. Archie Goodwin is a quicker more athletic version of doron lamb.

Poythress is a physical specimen at the small forward spo and is a quicker, stronger, and more athletic version of MKG. Poythress also has good technique on his jumper and can hit outside shots.

Other than losing Davis, he got upgrades at every position from what he had this year which sucks because he will have a legit shot to repeat this year. If we are not allowed in the tourny I will be rooting for Louisville or Indiana to stop them in the NCAA tournament.

 

[caw]

Othern than Nerlens who is a step down from Anthony Davis, everyone else that Calipari got is better than what he had this year. Ryan harrow is a better version of teague. Archie Goodwin is a quicker more athletic version of doron lamb.

Poythress is a physical specimen at the small forward spo and is a quicker, stronger, and more athletic version of MKG. Poythress also has good technique on his jumper and can hit outside shots.

Other than losing Davis, he got upgrades at every position from what he had this year which sucks because he will have a legit shot to repeat this year. If we are not allowed in the tourny I will be rooting for Louisville or Indiana to stop them in the NCAA tournament.

I would say Ryan Harrow is about the same as Teague so far. He might be better because he should be a sophomore/junior version as opposed to a freshman version, but just from a prospect POV he's fairly similar.

Goodwin is quicker and more athletic than Lamb but Lamb had a lot of savvy and was a heck of a shooter. Not sure this is an upgrade for the team, just very different players. It is an athletic upgrade, that I will agree on.

Poythress is a fine player and could be better than MKG, but the big question is the motor. MKG had a fantastic motor that is going to be hard to replace by anyone, even a better prospect, like Poythress.

The big downgrade will be at the PF position, with Jones gone. There is some talk of them signing Bennett/Jefferson but currently this is a huge downgrade to Wiltjer.

The second big downgrade is at Center. Noel is a fantastic player but he is not as good as Davis on either side of the court from what I have seen.

The third downgrade is the bench. They lose Wiltjer to the starting 5, they lose Miller and Vargas to graduation. They replace them with Cauley, who is a great pickup but raw. If they get Bennet/Jefferson then they gain back Wiltjer on the bench but still lose Miller.

Miller is a huge lose (assuming all 5 starters are gone) because they have no backup guards. Miller was able to come in and back up the 2 which shifted Lamb to the 1 and gave Teague a rest. Unless they can get something out of the blue or can pull something from their stiffs, they are in trouble in the backcourt.

If they that is their lineup that will be younger than this past year and not as deep.

 

[Ricky1Moore]

Losing Anthony Davis is all that matters in bringing them back down to earth. He was a once every ten years type of college player, set them apart. I have no doubt they will be formidable next year, but it will be much different from this year

 

[UCHuskies08]

What a tasteless dig at bunch of young men. It must suck being you.

 

[sportsjunky1]

Doesn't really matter they still have the #1 recruiting class coming in. Cal and all the players knew they were all leaving after this year. UK is a basketball business. they have a 1 year pit stop then they have to bounce specially after a national championship. The NCAA will take a step back from this year with alot of teams losing alot of talent. This team is way better then a 3/4 seed like someone said. If they get Anthony Bennett with all signs saying he will come. there starting 5 is stacked city! look for them to cruise thew the season get a #1 seed go for a deep run and try to repeat. Then its judgement day and they all go to the pros and they reload again. If they get Bennett they should be preseason #1 they should be a#1 seed They should be atleast a final 4 team. only schools they should worry about is ucla, nc state, Indiana.But right now i will still put my $$$ on Kentucky to win it all come 2013.

 

[CTFIRERETIRED]

With the addition of these 5, how far does this push Drummond and Lamb [Jeremy] down the draft board?

 

[caw]

With the addition of these 5, how far does this push Drummond and Lamb [Jeremy] down the draft board?

JMO (with the caveat being the draft order is unknown)

Drummond gets pushed out of the #1 spot, because that is obviously going to Davis now. Correspondingly, this moves Lamb down a spot.

I'm not sure if Michael Kidd-Gilchrist pushes Drummond down or not, but I think he does move Lamb down a spot. I don't see Doron Lamb, Marquis Teague or Terrance Jones moving Lamb or Drummond down. They could be drafted ahead of Drummond and/or Lamb but I can't see why.

Before the five UK players I would guess it would go something like this:

1-3: Beal, Drummond, Robinson
4-9: Sullinger, Lamb, Barnes, Henson, Jones III, Zeller
10-12: Lillard, Rivers, Leonard

IMO 4-9 are all fairly equal.

Davis obviously moves someone out of the top 3, MKG may also move someone out of the top 3. Terrence Jones is probably a top 10 pick, but could be higher depending on workouts (his tweener status hurts him, unless he proves agile enough to man the 3). Teague could move ahead of Lillard, but shouldn't go in the top 10, unless a team drafts by need (New Orleans needs a PG badly and they do have 2 picks). Doron Lamb is a nice player, but he will need a very nice workout to move up, his athletic ability is questionable at best (he was blocked by Kemba in the final four on a fast break, Kemba may be an athletic freak, but Lamb supposedly has 4-5 inches on him).

So I guess this could move Drummond to #5 at worst and Lamb to #12. Personally, I wouldn't take Sullinger that high unless he's 6'10 or taller. He seems too much like a Big Baby player to be a lottery pick. Robinson is also a huge question mark, if he's 6'7, I don't take him until the late lottery. He seems to have trouble with taller players and IMO is more Milsap then Kemp. I know people are in love with Beal, but I just don't see the Ray Allen comparisons at all. Henson scares me with his weight.

I would be more apt to draft on potential, even if it bit me in the butt, because you can't win in the NBA without star power. If I have a star (NO/Washington) I would be more OK drafting a secondary player who I know will not bust. If I don't have a star (Charlotte) I reach for one (Drummond/Lamb/Beal/Barnes/Jones III).