2016 NBA DRAFT: 'Peak Lamar Odom?': Why NBA GMs will hesitate to take Ben Simmons with the No. 1 pick

Simmons averaged 19.2 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 4.8 apg, and led the nation with 23 double-doubles as a freshman.

Still sure you want Ben Simmons as the number 1 pick?

The 6'10 point/power forward from Australia has all the talent and all the game to succeed on the big stage, but when it comes down to the level of maturity it takes to be a team's franchise player, Simmons has some serious red flags.

Let me preface what I have to say by making it clear that I hate the one-and-done rule.  They should let them go straight from high school or be three years removed from it like they do in football and baseball.

Simmons didn't wanna be at LSU.  Not for a one-year spectacle at least.  He probably knew from the minute he stepped on campus he was no normal college student. He's Ben Simmons.  And, everyone knows that he's less than a year away from becoming a millionaire.

But this is actually the new norm for college basketball now and guys are expected even as 18 and 19 years old to be able to handle it.

Simmons hasn't made the best case as being one of the guys that can handle it this year and his blatant disregard for the whole "student-athlete" thing causes questions of character, work ethic, and maturity.

Simmons' passing ability has garnered him comparisons to the great Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

The John Wooden player of the year award is one of the most prestigious accolades one can achieve as a college player, and for good reason.  It not only acknowledges playing skill but also academic standing is incorporated.

Simmons didn't make the cut.

Student-athletes must maintain a 2.0 GPA to be eligible for the award.  I guess no big deal but consider other one-and-dones such as Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, and John Wall were eligible for the award. When asked about it, Simmons had this to say:

"Mr. Wooden was a teacher, right?"

Simmons then added, "It's their award.  I'm not too worried about it.  I just want to win. I'm a team guy.  I just want my team to do well."

His team did not do well.

Winning is always the best elixir, and Simmons didn't do enough of it to turn his season into a feel good.  Best example: Carmelo Anthony was academically ineligible for the Wooden in his one-and-done year but, not only did he lead Syracuse to a NCAA tournament berth, they won the whole thing.

LSU struggled all year and the losses of forwards Jordan Mickey and Jarell Martin hurt it's consistency.  But with Simmons, his AAU teammate and top recruit Antonio Blakeney, veteran swingman Tim Quarterman, and a few other key pieces, it should have been a cinch that the Tigers make the NCAA tournament.  The wheels fell completely off when LSU got whooped by Texas A&M in the SEC tournament 71-38. But even if you go back to the loss at Kentucky March 6th, players were finger-pointing and complaining about a lack of leadership.

Simmons and Blakeney couldn't lead LSU to a tournament berth, even in a below average year for the SEC.

"A leader has to lead by example more than his mouth," Blakeney said. "This team has a lot of leading by talking and not by example."

Something tells me that Simmons is the catalyst for Blakeney's sentiments.

When LSU did not qualify for the tournament, the school announced it would not participate in any postseason tournament.

Simmons doesn't want to get hurt before the upcoming draft so I get that but aren't there other players on the team, too? Would a university like LSU cater to a player/student who had what basically amounts to a one-year deal?

Simmons has hurt his draft stock from about December on (this is probably the point in the season where he felt he did enough to prove he was the best NBA draft prospect and got bored with the minutia of 'playing school') and all of the questions of character and work ethic and the lack of winning are starting to get noticed and analyzed by scouts and draft pundits.

Last week, Jonathan Givony of draftxpress.com dropped Simmons to No. 2 in favor of Duke's Brandon Ingram.  People like NBC's Kurt Helin are reporting that Simmons at his best could be "peak Lamar Odom."

He's probably way too talented to pass up at outside of the top five, but the signs of negligible maturity are there.

-quotes c/o Jeff Goodman ESPN.com, Kurt Helin of NBC's ProBasketballTalk

Throwbackz: Worst NBA Draft Picks of All-Time: 'The Best Is Yet To Come?'

It's pretty well documented how awful rookie forward Anthony Bennett has played this season after being taken 1st overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.  But where does his terrible rookie campaign stack up against the most notable big men draft busts of ALL-TIME???  Below I have compiled statistics to illustrate performance (or rather futility) through the first 50 career games of 1st and 2nd overall NBA draft picks that never quite panned out.
All research and statistics compiled on basketball-reference.com

The ball just hasn't bounced Bennett's way this year.

F - Anthony Bennett, UNLV, 1st overall, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2013 (2nd, Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic)

games started: 0
games with less than 10 minutes played: 20
games with 30+ minutes played: 1 (33rd career game, 31:16 vs. New Orleans, L(-11) )
high point total: 19 (40th career game vs. Sacramento, W(+10) )
games played to reach 10+ points scoring:  32
high rebounds total: 11 (42nd career game @ Philadelphia, W(+29) )
double-doubles: 2 (40th and 42nd career game)


C - Greg Oden, Ohio State, 1st overall, Portland Trail Blazers, 2007 (2nd, Kevin Durant, Seattle SuperSonics)


GS: 39
games w/ less than 10 MP: 2
games w/ 30+ MP: 9
high PTS:  24 (35th career game vs. Milwaukee, W(+17), previous high scored 22 points @ Golden State, L(-5), 5th career game)
GP to reach 10+ PTS: 3
high REBS: 15 (twice, 19th and 35th career game)
double-doubles: 16

Even MJ couldn't steer Brown right.

F/C - Kwame Brown, Glynn Academy (GA), 1st overall, Washington Wizards, 2001 (2nd, Tyson Chandler, Los Angeles Clippers)
GS: 3
games w/ less than 10 MP: 21
games w/ 30+ MP: 4
high PTS: 14 (49th career game vs. LA Lakers, L(-21) )
GP to reach 10+ PTS: 2
high REBS: 12 (13th career game vs. San Antonio, L(-15) )
double-doubles: 1 (13th career game)

C - Michael Olowokandi, Pacific, 1st overall, Los Angeles Clippers, 1998 (2nd, Mike Bibby, Vancouver Grizzlies)

*played 45 games, 36 starts

games w/ less than 10 MP: 1
games w/ 30+ MP: 16
high PTS: 17 (twice, 3rd and 17th career game @Vancouver, L(-6) and @Boston, L(-34), respectively)
GP to reach 10+ PTS: 1
high REBS: 17 (37th career game @Vancouver, L(-3) )
double-doubles:  7


F/C - Pervis Ellison, Louisville, 1st overall, Sacramento Kings, 1989 (2nd, Danny Ferry, Los Angeles Clippers)
*played 34 games, 22 starts
games w/ less than 10 MP: 0
games w/ 30+ MP: 13
high PTS: 25 (33rd career game vs. Seattle, L(-12) )
GP to reach 10+ PTS: 9
high REBS: 12 (23rd career game @Indiana, L(-10) )
double-doubles: 4


C - Sam Bowie, Kentucky, 2nd overall, Portland Trail Blazers, 1984 (3rd, Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls)
*not all game logs available
high PTS: 24
GP to reach 10+ PTS: 4
high REBS: 20


C - Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, 2nd overall, Memphis Grizzlies, 2009 (3rd, James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder)
GS: 0
games w/ less than 10 MP: 25
games w/ 30+ MP: 0
high PTS: 10 (28th career game @Phoenix, W(+25) )
GP to reach 10+ PTS: 28
high REBS: 9 (twice)
double-doubles: 0

Melo, Wade, and Bosh were drafted AFTER him...

F/C - Darko Milicic, Serbia, 2nd overall, Detroit Pistons, 2003 (3rd, Carmelo Anthony, Denver
Nuggets)
*played 34 games, 0 starts
games w/ less than 10 MP: 31
games w/ 30+ MP: 0
high PTS: 6
high REBS: 6 

2012 NBA Draft Prospects: Dion Waiters

Waiters will add instant energy to any team that drafts him.

G - Dion Waiters - Syracuse - Sophomore
6-4 215 Life Center Academy/ Philadelphia, PA (12/1/1991)

Breakdown: The Orange were ranked in the top five for most of the 2011-12 season and most of their scoring punch was delivered by Waiters. The sophomore from Philly averaged 12.6 points per game in only 24 minutes per game coming off the bench and was effective from 3-point range, connecting on 36-percent of his attempts. Waiters showed great improvement in scoring from his freshman year, where he averaged 6.6 ppg, and raised his field goal percentage from 41-percent to 47-percent. He was also a solid defender in Jim Boeheim's matchup zone and averaged 1.8 steals per game last year.

NBA Skill-Set: Waiters body is NBA ready at 6-4 and 215-pounds with room to add more muscle. His best attribute in college was his Dwyane Wade-like explosion to the basket driving off screens and ability to finish in traffic with highlight reel worthy dunks. Waiters has a solid jumper and uses above-average ballhandling skills to create seperation from defenders to get his shot off. His frame will allow him to force the issue off the dribble and create fouls driving to the basket in isolation situations. He will need to work on decision making in pick-and-roll situations as that really wasn't his role in the Syracuse offense. The most intriguing quality that NBA GMs will like about Waiters is that he came off the bench for all 71 games he played for the Orange, so he should have no discomfort transitioning to a substitute role.

NBA Player could-be-like: James Harden. The physique, athleticism, and bulldoggedness are already there for Waiters. He will have to continue to work on his shooting so he can be more consistent with his percentages from 3-point and the foul line especially. And perhaps he could work on growing a long beard . . . it's really a Philly style anyway.

2012 NBA Draft Prospects: Harrison Barnes

Barnes has the ideal NBA physique.

F - Harrison Barnes - North Carolina - Sophomore
6-8 223 Ames H.S./Ames, IA (5/30/1992)

Breakdown:  Barnes showed improvements in FG% (.423 to .440), 3P% (.344 to .358), and PPG (15.7 to 17.1) from his freshman to sophomore years.  That said, it doesn't seem he has had any marked improvements in his draft status by staying the extra year (Currently ranked #7 overall prospect by draftexpress.com after being ranked as low as #11 last year). 

NBA Skill Set:  Barnes does have the ideal frame for an NBA small forward at 6-8 and with a wingspan of 6-11, and a well-chiseled 223 pounds.  He doesn't jump out of the gym like other top SF prospects so his role coming out will probably be as a defender first.  Barnes was mainly a catch-and-shoot/ pull-up jumper guy at UNC and will need to work on being able to get to the basket more and take advantage of his size to get to the free throw line.  He also needs to work on being a better passer/facilitator in the framework of an offense as he won't be a primary option right away when he gets to the league.

NBA player could-be-like:  Paul Pierce.  Barnes isn't going to ever 'wow' anyone with his athleticism but Pierce never really did either and is a perennial NBA All-Star.

'Mo Betta Blues'

No easy layups on Davis' (23) watch.

Dominant point guards have been the key to Kentucky head coach John Calipari's success in recent years.  This year, it's a former point guard who is the key dominant figure for the No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats (27-1, 13-0 Southeastern Conference) and will likely be the next Coach Cal player to go first overall in the NBA Draft. From Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans at Memphis and John Wall and Brandon Knight at Kentucky, Calipari has counted on freshmen floor generals to lead their teams deep into the NCAA Tournament.   Freshmen forward Anthony Davis stands 6-foot 10-inches tall with a wingspan of a seven-footer, and is widely known for his ability to defend the paint (4.8 blocks per game, leads nation).  Davis wasn't always known for his shot-blocking though, not until the end of his junior year of high school in Chicago, when a growth spurt added him10 inches between the end of his sophomore year to the beginning of his senior year.  Calipari will take it.  Davis' inside presence is just what the Wildcats need to compliment the bevy of perimeter talents on the roster.  Sophomore forward Terrence Jones returned for another year after being a projected lottery pick last year.  Jones has the frame to bang underneath with the big men (he's listed as 6-9, 252-pounds) and the agility to take slower defenders off the dribble.  Guards Doron Lamb (48-percent from 3-point) and Darius Miller (38-percent 3-point) are spot up shooters that can light it up from deep when teams focus on stopping Davis and Jones in the paint.  Add in freshmen guard Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who has a similar game and body frame to Jones but with superior ballhandling, and Marquis Teague (younger brother of Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague) who leads the team in assissts per game (4.7), and it's easy to see why Kentucky is the top team in the nation and the frontrunner to win the 2012 NCAA Championship.  Here is a list of other talented players in the country putting in work for their respective teams this year.

Robinson is dominating in his first year as starter.

Thomas Robinson, Forward, Kansas Jayhawks. If Anthony Davis is the No. 1 player in the country, then Robinson is 1A.  The junior spent most of his career backing up Marcus and Markieff Morris (14.6 minutes per game in 2010-11, 31.2 mpg this year) and has flourished in his first opportunity to be a starter.  Robinson is an intimidating force on both ends of the floor.  He has a polished back to the basket game in the low post (17.4 ppg) and finishes almost everything in the paint with a power dunk.  Robinson is a better than average defender and a vacuum on the boards, as his 11.9 rebound per game average ranks second in the NCAA.

Kendall Marshall, Guard, North Carolina Tarheels.  He's not the quickest or most athletic point guard out, but his basketball instincts are advanced to the point where he might be the second coming of Jason Kidd.  If you wanted to show a young player how to play the point guard, definitely show him some clips of Marshall.  The sophomore has a knack for seeing the play before at happens, and it is largely due to him always having his head up on the dribble and he is never in a hurry when he breaks out in that UNC transition offense that coach Roy Williams likes to run.  Marshall's offense is improving - he had a career-high 22 points and went 4-for-5 from 3-point in his most recent outing Feb. 21 at North Carolina State.  Still, passing is his thing as he had 13 assists and zero turnovers in that same game.  His 9.8 assists per game average is second best in the nation.

Kris Joseph, Forward, Syracuse Orange.  It's always good when your most versatile player is your best player.  Joseph is the definition of a swingman with his ability to play in the post on both ends of the floor, play the perimeter on both ends of the floor, as well as being the go to guy down the stretch.  The senior from Montreal had a career-high 29 points Feb. 8 in an overtime win against Georgetown on a day when no one on the Orange could get anything going offensively.
 
Marcus Denmon, Guard, Missouri Tigers.  The Tigers are a guard oriented team and Denmon is the top dog.  The 6-3 senior has no problem driving the lane against the big men on offense or crashing the defensive boards, as his 5.1 rebounds per game average indicates.  What makes Denmon special for No. 3 Missouri (25-3, 12-3 Big 12) is his fearlessness as a shooter.  He has shot himself out of a early season slump and is averaging 17.8 points per game while shooting 40-percent from 3-point.

Green (23) is the unquestioned leader for Izzo's Spartans.

Draymond Green, Forward, Michigan State Spartans.  Green is quietly having the best year of his career under coach Tom Izzo and once again, Spartie looks like they have the type of squad that doesn't have a ton of flash, but is built for the NCAA Tournament.  The senior from Saginaw has put this team on his broad shoulders this year leading the team in scoring (15.5), rebounding (10.3), and is second in assists (3.8).

Austin Rivers, Guard, Duke.  It's a different type of squad for Mike Krzyzewski this year at Duke with no real go to guy on the roster at season's start.  Enter Austin Rivers, who was the top ranked high school baller by many scouting publications last year, and a fierce shooter who never met a shot he didn't like.  Rivers has the complete package on offense.  He can take you off the dribble and adjust his shot mid-air to get the best angle, or hesitate off the dribble and pull-up for jumpers.

Jones leads the Big East in poins (20.3) and rebounds (11.2).

Other players to watch:

F - Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
G - Pierre Jackson, Baylor
F - Otto Porter, Georgetown
F - Mike Scott, Virginia
F - Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
G - Dee Bost, Mississippi State
G - Rodney McGruder, Kansas State
F - Jeronne Maymon, Tennessee
F - John Henson, North Carolina
G - Shabazz Napier, Connecticut
F - Perry Jones III, Baylor
F - Kevin Jones, West Virginia
F - Fab Melo, Syracuse
G - Dominic Cheek, Villanova
F - C.J. Leslie, North Carolina State
F - Cody Zeller, Indiana
G - Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas
G - Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette

WeekleeInsperayshunFrumThaWurldUvSportz



Durant is a NBA superstar; while Oden can't shake the injury bug.

The day after Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant dropped a NBA season high 51 points, Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden had his third season ending knee surgery and fifth career surgery overall.  Oden was drafted first overall in the 2007 NBA Draft with Durant going No. 2 . . . So coming in second is not the same as being "first loser" as some people say.  Just ask Portland fans.

'Just Wondering . . .'

Slim chance to repeat in big D without Barea and Chandler. 

What are the Dallas Mavericks doing to the roster with these latest acquisitions?  You bring in a disgruntled Lamar Odom, who is clearly not ready to leave the Lakers nor the limelight of L.A., and an aging Vince Carter from Pheonix, who is no longer 'half-man, half-amazing' (he's more like 99-percent-man, 1-percent-amazing), and stands to get $18-million this year while leting go of starting center Tyson Chandler and reserve point guard J.J. Barea: two players that played enormous roles in winning the NBA Championship last year?  I'm sure they'll save money in the long run but you just lost yourself a shot at a repeat. . .

Did Xavier University guard Tu Holloway think his 'gangsters in the locker room' comment would help his already questionable NBA Draft prospects?

Harrison's wreckless style finally has him sidelined a game.

Why does Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison appeal any of his reprimands for illegal hits?  Normally, I'm the first guy to be all up-in-arms when I see a flag or a guy get fined for making a vicious, but clean hit.  I can't say that when I see a Harrison hit though because he always leads with the crown of his helmet and launches his body at defensless receivers/quarterbacks; which is exactly what they tell you not to do.  Funny thing about it: I honestly do not think that the man cares.  That's just the way he's always going to tackle . . . atleast until someone really gets hurt.

'Johnnie On The Spot'

Beast of the East.

Connecticut guard Kemba Walker was the clear cut favorite to win Big East player of the year early in the season, but his play has been less than spectular as of late, and the Huskies don't look as formidable.  Coming down the stretch in the regular season, no team in the conference, or maybe even the entire country, is playing better than the St. John's Red Storm (No. 25 ESPN/USA Today, No. 23 AP) and most of that success has had to do with senior guard Dwight Hardy.  At the beginning of the season, newly hired head coach Steve Lavin said he would be happy with being in the conversation for the NCAA tournament come this time of year.  With the Johnnies (19-9, 11-5 Big East) going 7-0 in the month of February, with wins over potential tourney number one seed Pittsburgh, UConn, and most recently Villanova, the only question about St. John's tournament status is how high they will be seeded.  And with a roster that includes nine seniors who haven't won much over their college careers, they have the look of a team that won't be happy with just getting to the dance.  Hardy is the hard-nosed squad leader and is flat out balling during this recent seven game stretch.  The Bronx native had a career-high 33 points in the dramatic win over Pitt at Madison Square Garden where he drove through the paint and made a Jordanesque dribble fake away from the baseline, spun back towards the baseline while tip-toeing to keep his balance, and laying in the game-winning teardrop over a couple of defenders with 1.2 seconds left on the clock.  I felt like describing in writing, but just watch and see for yourself . . .

In the matchup with 'Nova last Saturday Hardy topped that scoring mark with 34 points in a 81-68 road win at the Pavilion.  Right now, he's got to be the front-runner for Big East player of the year with Providence guard Marshon Brooks, (25.1 points per game leads Big East, second in nation), Notre Dame senior guard Ben Hansborough, and Walker being the other considerations.  SJU is currently the third ranked team in the Big East (a conference expected to get 11 teams into the NCAA tournament) and has the opportunity for more big wins when the conference tournament starts next week at the Garden.  Hardy and St. John's are heading into March Madness with a head of steam, but they're not the only team to watch out for.

Kansas State

Senior guard Jacob Pullen is playing like the first-team Big 12 talent he is late in the season after a rocky start.  The Wildcats (21-9, 9-6 Big 12), currently unranked after opening the season ranked No. 5, have two big wins over Kansas and Missouri at home in each of the last two weeks and a 75-70 statement victory over a hungry Texas team in Austin on Monday.

Brigham Young

It's not just Jimmer who can hurt you when facing the Cougars.  BYU (27-2, 13-1 Mountain West) has crept up to No. 3 in the polls -- the highest ranking in school history -- and Fredette (27.3 points per game, leads nation) gets solid assistance from 6-foot-5 forward Charles Abouo, a swingman that can bang on the boards as well as knock down the open 3, and senior guard Jackson Emery, who has hit four or more 3-pointers in a game eight times this season. 

Arizona

Yeah, the Wildcats did drop two games on the road in the conference over the weekend but there is a well kept secret in Tucson that will come to light come tournament time.  Teams better not sleep on Arizona because sophomore forward Derrick Williams is a potential NBA lottery pick who has quietly put together an All-American calibur season.  The 6-foot-8 Williams (19.1 points per game, 8.1 rebounds) is an elite athlete who is virtually unguardable.  He has notched double figures in scoring in all but one game this year while shooting 61-percent from the field.  Words can't say enough, roll footage . . .

 

'UConn Jack'

Walker is averaging 26.9 ppg in 2010-11

The college basketball season really doesn't start until conference play starts.  Sure there are some good non-conference matchups but no one is paying attention to those when the NBA is starting up and the NFL is solidly in the stretch run of the season.  Lemme get you updated.  In case you don't know, the front runner for National Player of the Year honors is UConn junior point guard Kemba Walker, who has gone from being a quality player at the "1" to a scoring machine that takes over games and comes through in the clutch.  Walker, the nation's leading scorer at 26.9 ppg, has dropped 29 or more in six of the 12 games played so far this season and has scored atleast 18 points in every game.  He was especially spectacular in a 83-79 UConn win against Wichita State in Hawaii at the Maui Invitational in November, where 29 of his 31 points came in the second half.  With the Huskies (10-1, #4 ranked by Associated Press) trailing the Shockers 73-70 with 4:07 left, Walker went on a rampage, scoring 13 of UConn's final 14 points down the stretch to help seal the win and avoid the upset.  No doubt, Kemba has been ballin'.  Here are some other players around the NCAA doin' their thing.

Jared Sullinger, Forward, Ohio State Buckeyes.  The highly touted freshman has delivered early on and is averaging 17-and-10 on the year.  Sullinger is light on his feet despite his size (6-9 280) and his great hands.  Attributes that allowed him to drop 40 (12-17 FG, 16-23 FT) on IUPUI earlier this season allong with 13 boards.

Rick Jackson, Forward, Syracuse Orange.  The senior from Neumann-Goretti H.S. in Philly is finally coming into his own for Jim Boeheim's squad as a dominant inside man in the vaunted 2-3 zone defense and as a productive offensive player in the post.  Jackson's 14-and-12 average is a big improvement from his previous career high averages (9.7 ppg, 7 rpg, as a junior) and he has proved that he can come up big no matter what the stage or competition (17 points and 16 rebounds in a 72-58 against Michigan State 12/7/10 at Madison Square Garden).

Can McCamey continue the hot shooting in Big Ten play?

Demetri McCamey, Guard, Illinois Fighting Illini.  McCamey has improved his draft stock considerably so far this year.  The senior is shooting the lights out from three (49 percent) and he has shown the ability to be a consistent playmaker, averaging 7.1 assists per game, good for sixth in the country.

Terrence Jones, Forward, Kenucky Wildcats.  Jones is the next Wildcat one-and-done to the NBA player and it ain't hard to tell why when you see him play.  Though still very raw, Jones, a freshman, posses guard skills for his 6-8 244 pound frame.  He can play multiple positions at the college level and be affective at each.  Jones has proven this by filling up the stat sheet this year, averaging 18.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2 blocks, 1.4 steals, and shooting a decent 33-percent from the 3-point line.

No sophomore slump for Williams. (18.2 ppg, 11.9 rpg)

Other Players To Watch:
F - Jordan Williams, Maryland
G - Austin Freeman, Georgetown

G - Nolan Smith, Duke

G - Brandon Knight, Kentucky

F - JaJuan Johnson, Purdue

G - Corey Stokes, Villanova

G - Quincy Acy, Baylor

F - Marcus Morris, Kansas

G - Ashton Gibbs, Pitt

G - Scotty Hopson, Tennessee

F - Tristan Thompson, Texas

G - Chris Wright, Georgetown

G - LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor

G - Josh Selby, Kansas