The re-shaping of the Detroit franchise is almost in full swing.  Remnants of the past have either been sent away, like Richard Hamilton, or should be on their way out shortly.  Greg Monroe was a great start for the youth infusion, and others, such as Jonas Jerebko and Brandon Knight will have the opportunity to show that they belong. With a pick in the Top 10 and 2 others before the middle of the 2^nd round, there is a chance to add pieces that will fit well around Monroe, and possibly Knight.  Let’s look at some of the Pistons’ options:


2011-2012 Record – 25-41 (4^th in Central Division, Eastern Conference)

Head Coach – Lawrence Frank

 

2-year Draft History  

2011 – Brandon Knight (1^st Round – 8^th),  Kyle Singler (2^nd Round – 33^rd), Vernon Macklin (2^nd Round – 52^nd)

2010 – Greg Monroe (1^st Round – 7^th), Terrico White (2^nd Round – 36^th)
 

Returning Players- Ben Gordon (SG), Rodney Stuckey (PG), Charlie Villanueva (PF), Tayshaun Prince (SF), Jason Maxiell (PF – Player Option), Jonas Jerebko (SF), Will Bynum (PG), Greg Monroe (PF/C), Brandon Knight (PG), Austin Daye (SF – Team Option)

Possible Key Additions – Kyle Singler (SF)

Team Needs- Perimeter shooter/slasher, Post defender, Rebounding, Bench depth

Position Needs –SG, PF, C

Picks –  #9 (1^st Round, Pick 9)

                #39 (2^nd Round, Pick 9)

                #44 (2^nd Round, Pick 14 – from Houston)

NBA Draft Blog Analysis

Unfortunately for Detroit, they are in a tough position right now.  The infusion of young talent, such as Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight, is still being slowed by the remnants of players past their prime, or just weren’t that good to begin with.  Monroe had a fantastic 2^nd season, and Knight did show some flashes, though I’m not convinced he is their point guard of the future.  With the 9^th pick in the draft, the Pistons aren’t going to get a team-changing player, but they should be able to start to fill in some serious deficiencies as they look toward the future.  The biggest priority is more of a classic post defender/rebounder to pair with Greg Monroe in the frontcourt, and fortunately this draft has a good amount whose value fall in the #9 range.  John Henson has great length and understands how to defend the post, despite not having a huge frame.  A good shot-blocker and rebounder, who has also improved on the offensive end and knows how to run the floor, Henson would be a great compliment to more skilled Monroe.  Henson’s UNC teammate Tyler Zeller would also be a good fit.  More skilled offensively than Henson as well as having the body to battle physically with bigger post players would definitely free Monroe up to play in the high post or around the lane.  Other players who could fit this need, such as Arnett Moultrie, would be a huge reach at #9.  Meyers Leonard would give some great size and a developing skill set, but I don’t think his understanding of the game is near the level the Pistons need to put on the court immediately.

With two mid-2^nd round picks at #’s 39 and 44, the Pistons have the opportunity to add another physical frontcourt player as well as looking for a scoring punch off the bench.  A player such as Drew Gordon, Kyle O’Quinn, or Bernard James would give the Pistons some good physical options who can defend and hit the boards off the bench.  All 3 are limited on the offensive end, but in spot minutes, it shouldn’t matter.  If they are looking to add some wing scorers with one of these picks, they can look at players such as Jared Cunningham or Orlando Johnson, who can both score in a variety of ways.  A player they should give a close look to is Kim English, who can give them a solid perimeter shooter, great understanding of the game, and a very good perimeter defender.

No Guest Commentary

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Similar to Draft Classmate Harrison Barnes, Austin Rivers came into college on the verge of being overhyped, and as often happens in situations like that, lack of production tends to bring out a lot of negativity.  In the 2^nd half of this past season, Duke mixed up their offense more to play to Rivers’ strengths, and better results often came along with it.  He plays well in isolation and can be a very good shooter, but will the need to be a focal point of the offense dissuade teams from picking him?   Let’s take a look at Austin Rivers:

Austin Rivers, Duke – Freshman

Guard -  6'4, 203

15.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 43.3% FG, 65.6% FT, 36.5% 3FG

Offense

Perimeter Shooting-  Rivers has very good form on his jumper, using his legs well to get lift, having a high, quick release, and excellent follow-through.  He is able to hit shots off the catch or the dribble.  He falls in love with staying behind the 3-point line too often unless he is going all the way to the basket.  He needs to develop his mid-range jumper more, especially after he beats his man off the dribble but the help is waiting.  He likes to create space for his jumper using his dribble, but he relies often on a crossover to a step-back 3.  While it has worked on occasion, it is not something you want to rely on behind the 3-point line.  He uses screens well, both with and off the ball, and gets his shot off quickly before the defense recovers.  Shot selection is a general issue for Rivers, and his shot selection from the perimeter is no different.  Besides his dribble, he uses a good jab step and ball fake to create space or get the defender off-balance, but then will often settle for staying in the same spot to shoot the ball when he has 3 or 4 open feet in front of him.

Ballhandling/ Penetration- Rivers has very good ballhandling skills.  He is strong with both hands and keeps very good control of the ball.  He has a great set of advanced dribbles to create space and get by his man, including an excellent crossover, as well as good hesitation and spin moves.  He does need a tendency to get careless at times, looking to beat traps alone with his dribble or leaving the ball exposed too much when preparing to make his move.  Rivers has a good first step, but relies on using his dribble more often to get a defender off-balance before he attempts to go by them.  While he is successful many times doing this, it can often take up a lot of time, and can bring an offense to a halt.  Once he gets by his man, he is very aggressive attacking the basket, which again, can be good, but also cause some bad situations.  He draws defenders easily in the lane, and he has good body control trying to get around them to get to the rim.  He can finish in a variety of ways, but there are some big areas that need to improve.  Rivers needs to become more confident in his mid-range and short jumpers.  At the NBA level, he is not going to get to the basket nearly as often, so he will need to be able to stop and hit the shot when he has space.  Also, he needs to do a better job finishing with his left hand on the left side.  He prefers to use his right hand on the left side, often scooping the ball up towards the basket underneath defenders.  This happens because he is also trying to avoid contact instead of drawing it and still getting his shot.  He uses screens well to get into the lane, coming off them tightly and turning the corner quickly.  He does need to do a better job keeping his head up and looking for the screener after he releases, especially in pick-and-roll situations.

Rebounding/Passing- Rivers doesn’t do much on the offensive boards, unless the ball happens to come right to him.  When he drives to the basket and misses his shot, he usually takes himself out of position from grabbing his own miss, and if he is on the perimeter, he usually stays out there instead of looking to get a long rebound.  Rivers sees the court well and is capable of making some good passes, but his decision making is still developing.  He is very good at drawing help defenders, but he needs to do a better job keeping his head up looking for the open man.  When he gets into the lane, he seems to have tunnel-vision, focusing squarely on getting his shot off. Often, it is a good play, but many times, if he looked around, he would find teammates in great position to make a play.

Free Throw Shooting - Rivers has the potential to be a very good free throw shooter, and his percentage doesn’t really reflect his ability.  Like his jumper, his form is good, but his free throws seem rushed.  If he slows down and focuses, he should do very well.  He also should get to the line a lot more for the amount of times of he gets into the lane and gets to the rim, but he shies from contact.  He has to do a better job looking to draw fouls while still being able to get his shot.

Defense

Perimeter Defense- This is a major area where Rivers needs to improve.  On the ball, he positions himself well most of the time, but he needs to do a better job staying low.  His lateral movement is good, but his foot speed needs to improve.  Also, he needs to improve his balance when in his defensive stance, often leaning to one side which leaves him open to being beat by a quick move.  Off the ball, Rivers needs to work on his positioning, especially making sure he is in position to be aware of what is going on around him, making it easier for him to anticipate screens and help if needed.  Also, while he does a good job trying to get over screens, because he is often late to react to his man’s movements, he ends up getting caught on the screen.  When pressuring the ball, especially in half-court situations, he needs to do a better job watching his positioning and balance.  He often will pressure his man getting directly on top of him, but he doesn’t have the quickness in most instances to stay with him, so he ends up getting beat or fouling.   Rivers also needs to make more of an effort closing on perimeter shooters.

Rebounding- Rivers can be a good rebounder on the defensive end.  He anticipates missed shots well and looks to get to the ball quickly.  He will try to avoid the area if a lot of big men are around, but he will look for opportunities to sneak in if an offensive player is close to grabbing the ball.    If he gets a rebound, he can look to push the ball quickly up the court, but he needs to be aware of who is around him before he takes off.   He needs to make sure to at least watch for an offensive player trying to make a play on a missed shot from the perimeter and try and put a body on him.

Transition

Rivers can be explosive in open court situations when he has the ball in his hands.  He gets up the court quickly and he can beat most players who try to come out and stop him.  As in most cases when he has the ball in his hands, he needs to do a better job seeing the court and looking for open teammates.  He is also capable of filling the lanes and either spotting up and knocking down the jumper or making a move off the catch and heading to the basket.

Summary & Intangibles

Athleticism – High

BB IQ – Very High

Rivers is no doubt a NBA level talent.  His game has been shaped to play in the NBA since he started playing, and while the Duke offense wasn’t a place where it shined often, when it did, he looked almost unstoppable. He understands the game very well, but right now, he is most effective when the offense is running through him.  Almost every movement he makes on offense is for him to try and get a player in a one-on-one situation in space.  Unfortunately, there won’t be many teams that will make him the primary option next season, so he will need to adjust – either creating more for other players or learning to move and be effective without the ball.  Defensively, he will also need to work hard on his perimeter defense, especially off-the-ball defense.  However, the talent is there, the understanding of a lot of the game is already in place, and there is a lot of room for him to grow if he is willing to accept being a secondary option for a while.  Also, it will be a few years down the road, but with his vision and handling, he could become a starting point guard in the NBA.  But again, he will need to work on creating shots for others more often.  I think his draft value is  in the lower part of the lottery (8-14), and no matter if the other areas don’t develop quickly, I have no doubt he will be able to score plenty for someone.

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After an uncharacteristic losing streak in the month after the massive brawl between Xavier and Cincinnati, Tu Holloway realized that some changes needed to be made in order to get the Musketeers season back on the right track.  In order for team to get back to winning, Holloway was going to need to make a bigger effort to get his teammates involved, even if it meant sacrificing some of his own numbers; and it worked.  Starting from Holloway taking only 3 shots in a win at Fordham, Xavier then won 14 of their last 19 games, including making it to the finals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament, and their 3^rd Sweet 16 in 4 years.  This didn’t mean Holloway wasn’t going to score anymore; he did that just as well as he did before.  But getting everyone else more involved made the team as a whole better.  It made Holloway a better player also, allowing him to work on other areas of his game, while knowing that if his team needed him to score, he could give it to them.  Holloway wrapped up his college career in a big fashion, averaging over 22 points over 3 NCAA Tournament games.  Now heading into his pro career, Holloway is working hard to show how complete a player he has become.  He has spent time training in Indianapolis and Las Vegas, and has worked out for many NBA teams, including the Spurs, Knicks, 76ers, Memphis, and Lakers, with more scheduled leading up to the Draft.  I had the chance to talk to Holloway recently about his game, shifting his focus during the season, and more:

Tu on how his game developed at Xavier:

“Having stayed 4 years in college, I was able to develop different things every year.  I learned how to different things depending on people guarded you.  I learned to be consistent in different parts of my game.  My senior year, we had a problem early on in the year, but I took it as an opportunity to help the younger players and get others, like Dez Wells and Mark Lyons, more involved.  There were some games I would only take a couple of shots, but eventually getting the others involved helped us at the end of the year and the NCAA Tournament.”

Tu on his strengths as a player: 

“I think my passing ability is overlooked.  Also, my defense and shooting have become stronger.  I’m just trying to continue to develop.  I may have played 4 years of college, but I still have room to get a lot better.”

Tu on what parts of his game he still wants to improve:

“I am working hard on my point guard skills.  I will need to be able to run my team, be vocal, and be a leader.  There will always be room to improve and get better, no matter who you are.”

Tu on what role he can fill immediately at the next level:

“I’m a competitor.  I know I can be a rookie starter in the league.  Look at what Isaiah Thomas did last year.  I don’t want to go to a team and say that I want to be a role player.  I want to be a starter, and will keep working until I do.”

Tu on playing in the Draft Combines in New Jersey and Chicago:

“New Jersey was different.  There was the chance to play 5-on-5 with everyone.  I spent about 95% of my time on the court playing point guard.  I wanted to show teams that I can play there.  In Chicago, it was a lot of 1-on-1 work.  You were broken down by positions and teams could watch similar players go against each other.  I guess it could help them make some decisions if they were interested in 2 players and got to watch them go against each other.”

Tu on what he wants teams and fans to know about him:

“Honestly, the last couple of years, there was a lot of talk about me being one of the top point guards in the country.  Now, even though I have gotten better, there is a lot of talk about some other guys probably being picked ahead of me.  Watch me play, watch the past couple of seasons.  I know I can help any team, and I am going to keep working hard to prove it.”

I want to thank Tu for his time and I wish him the best of luck as he looks to fulfill his dream of getting to the NBA.  I also want to thank Tzvi Grossman of ASM Sports for helping set up this interview.   Tu has been on the NBA radar for a few seasons, and each year he has shown a different facet to his game that should endear him to NBA teams, and he certainly has the confidence to go after whatever he wants.  If he can combine his scoring ability with the ability to run a team consistently, I see no reason why he couldn’t be a valuable contributor to a NBA team.

Check back in the coming weeks for more great interviews and scouting reports as we head towards the 2012 NBA Draft.  Follow me on Twitter - @NBADraftBlog – for updates, leave your comments below, or feel free to email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

You have to hand it to Raptors’ fans.  Years of front office blunders have not dampened their loyalty to the team, but it may not last much longer for this regime.  The current team, for the most part, is a collection of cast-offs and draft picks waiting to fulfill their potential.  Even former #1 pick Andrea Bargnani is just a good player, nothing special, and certainly not a player you can build a team around.  There is hope that last year’s lottery pick, Jonas Valanciunas, arrives in the NBA and shows some semblance of being worth a Top 5 pick, but I am still skeptical.  However, 3 picks in this deep draft can bring some talent to Toronto, whether they use the picks or use them as part of a trade package.  Let’s look at some of the Raptors’ options:

2011-2012 Record – 23-43 (4^th in Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference)

Head Coach – Dwayne Casey

2-year Draft History  

2011 – Jonas Valanciunas (1^st Round – 5^th)

2010 – Ed Davis (1^st Round – 13^th), Solomon Alabi (2^nd Round – 50^th- Acquired from Miami for 2013 conditional 2^nd round pick and cash)

Returning Players- Jose Calderon (PG), Andrea Bargnani (PF/C), Amir Johnson (PF), Linas Kleiza (SF), Jerryd Bayless (PG – Qualifying Offer), DeMar DeRozan (SG), Ed Davis (PF), James Johnson (PF), Gary Forbes (SF), Solomon Alabi (C – Team Option)

Possible Key Additions – Jonas Valanciunas (C)

Team Needs- Backup/Future point guard, Perimeter shooting, Wing scoring, Depth at all positions, Post scoring

Position Needs – PG, SG, SF, PF, C

Picks –  #8 (1^st Round, Pick 8)

                #37 (2^nd Round, Pick 7)

                #56 (2^nd Round, Pick 26 – from Indiana)

NBA Draft Blog Analysis

While #8 in this draft is not ideal, the Raptors do have options if they choose to keep the pick.  Obviously, if Valanciunas is going to come to the NBA next season, it does shift priorities a bit.  While Jose Calderon isn’t a bad point guard, the Raptors are not going to take a leap back to playoff contention with him as the point guard.  With 2 point guards whose draft value falls around this spot possibly available, Damian Lillard and Kendall Marshall,  the Raptors could go a long way to making this an area of strength for the future.  Lillard will give some immediate scoring pop from the position, and his ability to shoot or get into the lane should open up the floor for Bargnani and DeRozan, and to draw defenders from Valanciunas.  Either would be a good fit, though similar to Anthony Davis, I think if the Raptors want to maximize Valanciunas’ development, Marshall would be the better fit.  The only other direction I think the Raptors should really consider here would be a wing scorer to pair with DeRozan.  Harrison Barnes would be ideal here, but I don’t think he gets to #8, but the next best option should be available – Austin Rivers.  Rivers has the ability to attack the basket off the dribble, and can knock down open shots.  He isn’t a very good perimeter defender, so the Raptors’ bigs will need to compensate a bit, but his potential to bolster the offense may be worth it.  Also, Rivers has a great feel for the game, and a few years down the road could be a very good NBA point guard.  Jeremy Lamb would also be a good option here.  He has the ability to hit from the perimeter and is constantly improving his ability to create his own shot.  He still needs to work on getting to the basket more effectively and is inconsistent on the defensive end, but he still has a lot of room to grow as a player.

Depending on what they do at #8, the Raptors can fill another area of need, or add depth, with a quality player at #37.  If they want to add another wing scorer, they could have a choice among players such as Doron Lamb, Jared Cunningham, or Orlando Johnson.  There is one player who is not often mentioned in this spot, but I think would be a good fit here, and that is Kim English.  A very good perimeter shooter and defender, English also has a great understanding of the game, and he makes the players around him better.  He has the size to play the 2 or the 3, and can defend either of them also.  They can also look at adding some toughness to their frontline with a player such as Drew Gordon, Bernard James, or Kyle O’Quinn.  All 3 would give them a player who could make up for the toughness that Ed Davis, Bargnani and Valanciunas lack.

I would be surprised if the Raptors use the #56 pick, and are likely, in my mind, to trade it or stash an International player.

Guest Analysis – James Borbath (Dino Nation Blog) 

About a month before the NBA Draft Lottery I had a conversation with Jack Armstrong who works on Raptors broadcasts and some folks may know him from his occasional work on NCAA games in the U.S. When Jack suggested if the Raptors lost the lottery they could and maybe should consider trading the pick it caused quite a reaction with Raptor fans who heard the interview. This is in fact what became the Raptors reality in the draft lottery they didn't win. So, they remained at 8 after losing a coin flip to the Warriors. Bryan Colangelo after the draft lottery would address the media on a conference call. Short of saying 8th pick is for sale it seemed pretty clear his intentions. He has enough youth, and as he put it he wants the Raptors to go to "The next level." Which according to him was not likely to be found at the 8th pick in the draft. The Raptors already have a number of young players on the roster and in their rotation. What they want now is some proven NBA talent. They can afford to do this because they are getting their 5th pick from last year in Jonas Valanciunas coming to join their roster. 

Rumors of deals with Memphis for Rudy Gay and hope of a deal with Philly for Andrea Iguodala (who the Raptors could have drafted if  Rob Babcock was not incompetent) dominate the talk more than names they could select at 8, 37 or 56. Colangelo has ended his self imposed exile from the wheeling and dealing trade arena and it seems he has some chips to play with in this draft. He even admits that it would be highly unlikely to see the Raptors walk away with 3 players out of this draft on the roster next season. If Colangelo cannot make a deal the Raptors need is pretty glaringly obvious with apologies to James Johnson mainly because he knows M.M.A and Karate and could kill me. Still the Raptors lack really anything at the wing positions especially the small forward. Johnson or a combo 3/4 in Linas Kleiza is not exciting anyone. So the best wing on the board is the obvious choice. If that guy is not there the Raptors would look point guard and likely move down to get one and try and save a few bucks. Selecting a point guard at 8 for some, myself being one of them seems a bit of a reach. The Raptors are in love with their pick at 37 though and only way they move that one I think will be to move up in the draft perhaps packaged with 56 that they acquired from the Pacers in the Barbosa deal at the deadline. Raptors one way or the other will be a story on draft night but it may very well have nothing to do with anyone in this draft class and more about someone on an existing NBA roster.

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For a program as storied at Temple, some subpar years during the first half of the last decade left a lot of fans concerned for the direction of the program.  However, the seniors who just wrapped up their careers had a lot to do with getting the program headed in the right direction, including 101 wins and 4 NCAA appearances in the last 4 seasons.  Ramone Moore was a vital part of that group, and it looked like he saved his best for last.  Known primarily as a scorer during his first few years at Temple, Moore developed an impressive all-around game by his final season.  The scoring was still there, leading the team with over 17 points per game, but he also posted career highs in rebounds and assists, while also playing the tough perimeter defense that Temple expects from their guards.  Versatility, especially among the guard positions, is always in demand by NBA teams; allowing them to be flexible with their line-ups and personnel decisions.  Moore brings a good level of skill, plus a great dose of maturity, to his game, and he should continue to be on NBA teams’ workout lists heading into the Draft.  Moore, who has been training with John Lucas in Houston, has already worked out for the 76ers, Chicago, Houston, and took part in the Minnesota group workout; and he still has more to come.  I had the chance to talk to Moore recently about his development, his game, and more:

Ramone on how his game developed at Temple:

“A lot of things changed during college.  My first couple years, I was mainly driving to the basket.  Once my role increased, I knew I would have to do more shooting and ballhandling, so I worked a lot on those things.”

Ramone on playing his college career in Philadelphia:

“It really meant a lot to me.  It was the main reason I stayed home to play.  I grew up among a lot of Temple fans, so for me to have a chance to be home and play for and support the community, it was what I really wanted.  There were so many great players that came before me at Temple, so playing there was an honor.”

Ramone on his strengths as a player: 

“Shooting has become one of my bigger strengths.  I have been working very hard on that, and doing things like moving without the ball.  Once I get it going, I can be a really good scorer.  I just do what I can to try and prepare for any situation I could be faced with.”

Ramone on what parts of his game he still wants to improve:

“NBA guys are faster and stronger than at the college level, so I am working becoming stronger and faster myself.  Also, the season will be much longer, so I am making sure I am prepared for that.  The thing is you really don’t know what it will be like until you go through it, so I am just trying to prepare the best I can.  I’ve been working on my ballhandling more.  I’m not a typical 2 guard, so I want to work on being able to make more plays for my teammates.”

Ramone on what role he can fill immediately at the next level:

“I will be the guy who gets there early and leaves late; becoming a real part of the team.  Whatever I need to learn, I will do it.  I’ll do whatever it takes to make my team better.”

Ramone on what he wants teams and fans to know about him:

“I believe I am a great person.  I was raised as a good kid, and I don’t get into trouble.  I am all about making the team better, and I have worked hard on making my attitude fit that.  I have grown a lot over the years at Temple, and I am someone that people like to be around.  I just want to be part of a team and doing what I can to make it better.”

I want to thank Ramone for his time and I wish him the best of luck as he looks to fulfill his dream of getting to the NBA.  I also want to thank Tzvi Grossman of ASM Sports for helping set up this interview.   As Ramone said, having the opportunity to be able to play for your family and friends is special, but he not only did that, he shined.  Temple has a long of history of developing successful players, and Ramone will see his name added to that list.  His ability to score quickly and often, along with his understanding of the game and desire to continually improve, will make him a great part of any team he plays for next year.

Check back in the coming weeks for more great interviews and scouting reports as we head towards the 2012 NBA Draft.  Follow me on Twitter - @NBADraftBlog – for updates, leave your comments below, or feel free to email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.