Zoulogy Does the 2011 NBA Draft, Big 12 Style

No Morning Zou again. It’s almost like the lack of general stories leads to a lack of links to post! Weird!

[EDIT: Actually, there is one link worth sharing, and it’s Drew Magery’s ode to Dairy Queen. There are plenty of witty and funny internet writers out there, but nobody makes me actually laugh out loud as much as Magery. Warning, some course language is there. Kissing Suzy Kolber is not really that tasteful of a blog. Just hilarious and hilariously wrong.]

While Missouri essentially left the draft picture when Kim English and Laurence Bowers (wisely) pulled their names out of contention like we all expected them to, there is still a good amount of Big 12 players that are expected to be lottery picks, and a good number of Big 12 players will probably drafted in the rest of the first and second rounds as well. Such is expected from one of top basketball conferences around with one of the top basketball schools to recently lose to VCU in the Elite Eight.

While the extent of former Missouri forward Justin Safford’s playing career is probably overseas (I haven’t heard if that’s what he is doing or if he is going to continue playing basketball at all outside of the rec center), there are plenty of other players that I watched over the last few seasons that I grew to respect or eternally loathe while they were dunking all over Mizzou’s undersized frontcourt. So here are what the other, likely more qualified draft experts are saying. I’ll use SB Nation’s mock draft for reference, seeing as I’m a poor blogger and I can’t afford ESPN’s 100% correct, we-looked-into-the-future-to-get-it-all-right mock draft.

Projected picks and analysis after the jump

9. Charlotte Bobcats: Jordan Hamilton (Texas)

Height: 6-7

Weight: 220 lbs

Position: Combo guard/forward

Basic Averages: 18.6 ppg, 2.1 apg, 7.7 rpg

Strengths in a nutshell: Good-to-great scorer, can shoot from the perimeter, good sense on rebounding

Weaknesses in a nutshell: Questioned on defensive effort, some questionable shot selections, some occasionally poor shooting percentages

Why the Bobcats would take him: Charlotte is in desperate need of good players in general, but they could really use a big guy who can score the pumpkin, and they also need more threats from long range.

Thoughts:

Ninth? Really? I may hate Marcus Morris with the burning passion of a planet’s core, but even I know he would be a safer pick than Jordan Hamilton. Yes, the man can score the basketball in a multitude of ways. In fact, Hamilton only scored in single digits in one game last season, and that was 9 points in an easy win over North Florida. He had the ability to put up some absurd scoring numbers, but generally what I remember the most about Hamilton is how many shots he took in every game to get his 18-20 points, and towards the end of the season that was about all he could get (after going off on Texas A&M for 27 points on 10-14 shooting, he never got higher than 22 points).

While Hamilton was consistent with his scoring numbers, he was also consistent in putting up a lot of shots to get those points, and for taking double digit shots in all but one game (nine shots in a win over Oklahoma State), he never seemed to get that one ridiculous scoring game; his season high was 28 points against Pittsburgh in a tight loss. Put that together with his low assist numbers and only respectable rebounding averages (they’re good numbers for a duel threat forward/guard, but sometimes he seemed susceptible to a lack of effort on the glass)  and you can see where I’m coming from with the doubt.

Hamilton can be a good NBA player in the future, I don’t doubt that. He has the athleticism and scoring ability necessary to make it in the Association. I just don’t see his merit as a lottery pick. Honestly, I wouldn’t take him earlier than mid-to-late first round, and mid-first round may even be stretching it. If the Bobcats need a pure scorer that badly, maybe they should take a look at…

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Alec Burks (Colorado)

Height: 6-6

Weight: 195 lbs

Position: Shooting Guard

Basic Averages: 20.5 ppg, 2.9 apg, 6.5 rpg

Strengths in a nutshell: Super athletic, great at handling and scoring the basketball

Weaknesses in a nutshell: His three-point FG% actually dropped (quite a bit) between freshman and sophomore seasons, questionable jumpshot in general

Why the Bucks would take him: Destroyed last season by injuries and offensive struggles, the Bucks are looking into a lot of players who can simply score the basketball and be a generally productive member of the roster and potential starter in the future.

Thoughts:

Of all the great players in the Big 12 last year, my favorite (that didn’t play for the Tigers) was definitely Alec Burks, and I’m even a guy that didn’t hate Jacob Pullen. I’m not saying this makes him a sure-fire star at the pro-level or anything, but damn was the guy just fun to watch. After the season he had at Colorado, a lottery pick is almost to be expected from the Grandview native whom was passed on by both Missouri and Kansas before winding up in Boulder. Of course, Missouri was the only one of the pair to get torched by Burks and lose when he exploded (EXPLODED) for 36 points on 12-19 shooting in what was the beginning of Missouri’s apparent road woes.

Generally speaking, Burks already has the athleticism and reputation necessary to be a lottery pick, and now the only questions remaining are where he goes and whether or not he’ll succeed in the pros. I’m sure a lot of teams would take a shot at Burk, and with good reason. I think he can definitely develop into a starter for a mediocre team after a few years of development, and possibly help take that team to a new level of winning. With the players that would surround him in Milwaukee (which always seems to be on the brink of making a Thunder-esque transition to a playoff series-winning basketball team), I can definitely see the value both for the team and for Burks. Hopefully it works out that way.

Oh, and one more note. We’ve yet to see how well Burks can score inside the lane and at the rim (he was simply explosive at the college level) in the NBA, but if he can find success there and develop a consistent jumper, look out.

13. Phoenix Suns: Marcus Morris (Kansas)

Height: 6-9

Weight: 235 lbs

Position: Forward

Basic Averages: 17.2 ppg, 1.6 apg, 7.6 rpg

Strengths in a nutshell: Super athletic, ridiculously efficient on offense, multi-dimensional on offense

Weaknesses in a nutshell: To be perfectly honest, not many. Needs some work on defense, has whiny jerk syndrome, that’s about it

Why Phoenix would take him: Phoenix is old, Phoenix desperately needs a scorer and a big body down low, so essentially they need a guy like Marcus Morris

Thoughts:

I hate this guy. I hate this guy with a burning passion. Generally I hate every player that dons the crimson and blue outside of any off-the-court things like charitable things, success stories from growing up in a rough background, et cetera. Things that make the human heart feel good. That said, Marcus Morris on the court is a damn punk and I hate. One only needs to look at when he purposely bumped a referee in the ’09 Mizzou/Kansas game and got T’d up, or in the ’11 game at Allen Fieldhouse where he got T’d up for slapping Justin Safford in the face. But then you have the loud yelling and complaining at the refs after every. Single. Foul. Called. Every foul called his direction was immediately followed by a look of shock and awe, like a Morris would never commit a foul. Because the Morris twins are saints who save puppies and give players flowers and candy after they push him over to get an offensive rebound, I’m sure.

Outside of the intense hatred, both of the Morris twins are deserving of a first round selection, and I’m willing to give them praise for their endeavors on the court simply because they won’t be playing against Mizzou anymore. The Marcus half of Thing One and Thing Two is the better scorer of the pair; he’s ruthlessly efficient around the rim, and he also learned a killer jumpshot for his junior season at KU. I’m having a hard time seeing how a team in need of a good scorer would pick Jordan Hamilton over Marcus Morris, especially seeing how Morris is capable of stretching the floor just as well as Hamilton.

I think Morris will experience his growing pains and eventually become a fine bench player and then a fine starter (maybe) for whatever team he lands on. Or he could be a huge bust and fall off the face of the earth. Call me a jerk all you want, but you know I’m rooting for the latter in my heart. That said, can you imagine Morris getting to play with a guy like Steve Nash, even at his age? Wowza.

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Tristan Thompson (Texas)

Height: 6-8

Weight: 225 lbs

Position: Forward

Basic Averages: 13.1 ppg, 1.3 apg, 7.8 apg, 2.4 bpg

Strengths in a nutshell: Innate rebounding ability, lots of potential, the requisite amount of athleticism

Weaknesses in a nutshell: Raw/ needs development in terms of low post scoring

Why Philly would take him: This appears to be all about the future, with the assumption that Thompson will one day replace Elton Brand or Thaddeus Young

Thoughts:

Well, first here are more thoughts from SB Nation

"While Tristan Thompson isn’t the polished, low-post scorer and defensive rebounder the Sixers need in the short term, he can develop into a possible cornerstone of the franchise with the right teaching. He’d fill the void left by Thaddeus Young (if he leaves) on the offensive glass, because Tristan was one of the nation’s best at cleaning up after his teammates. With Elton Brand’s contract on the downside of tradeable, he could slip into the starting lineup midseason or next year if Elton gets moved. While he’s got the length, I don’t think he and Brand would work well as a starting front court, so it’s likely that Spencer Hawes would retain the center position for this season."

Thompson to me was sort of an enigma whenever I watched him play. I would always forget that he was on the floor, and then he’d still wind up with a 15-10 with three blocks or something like that. He always put up quiet numbers, so maybe that has something to do with my general lack of knowledge or opinion on the matter. I’m sure he’ll need work in the pros, and I’m sure he has the ability and work ethic to develop and eventually succeed at the highest level. Having teachers like Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young certainly wouldn’t hurt him. Thompson is one of those wait and see draft prospects, one that’s a bit more of a gamble, but definitely worth the upside.

22. Denver Nuggets: Markieff Morris (Kansas)

Height: 6-10

Weight: 245 lbs

Postition: Forward

Basic Averages: 13.6 ppg, 1.4 apg, 8.3 rpg, 1.1 bpg

Strengths in a nutshell: Ruthlessly efficient on offense, great rebounder and shot-blocker

Weaknesses in a nutshell: Not as pure a scorer as Marcus, another bad egg in terms of attitude issues

Thoughts:

Essentially, Markieff is the Morris twin that is taller, bigger, and more defensive-minded. He also had a ridiculous three-point percentage of .424, although he made one fewer three than Marcus (he also took around 15-20 few shots from deep than Marcus, but still) and show similar scoring prowess to his brother, despite the fairly big difference in scoring averages.

A lot of people think ‘Kieffer has late lottery pick potential but will be pushed back by the gaggle of talent at the forward position in the draft, thus leading our presumably friendly Nuggets blogger to think the other Morris is a potential draft steal simply by being picked 20 or later.

"Without even having to look them up on Basketball-Reference.com, you know the names of the power forwards who came from big college programs, were drafted after the 20th pick and had immediate impacts on their respective teams: Blair, Jon Brockman, Darrell Arthur(another Jayhawk!), Carl Landry, Josh McRoberts, Paul Millsap, Leon Powe, Glen Davis, Jason Maxiell, David Lee, Brandon Bass and Ronny Turiaf. And that’s just in the last six years!"

Wow, assuming a pick is going to be a success because other good forwards were taken around the same time? Sorry, but that looks like the kind of magical bullsh*t I might write whenever I’m over-hyping a Mizzou player (Justin Safford deserves to be picked, dammit! Mr. Irrelevant or bust!).

Speaking of magical bulls%&*t, wouldn’t it be fabulous if all of the Morris twins’ successes and talents were due to some magical link that caused them to play better when they’re on the same team? And then they do horrible and sit in their rooms crying at night because they miss each other and they miss being good at basketball? Man, that would just make my day.*

*Of course if that did happen, they’d probably end up on the same team, suddenly become all-stars, win three championships and then rise to a new level of hatred in my eyes. That’s just how unlucky I am.

That’s it for your expert Big 12 players suspected to be drafted in the first round analysis!* Tomorrow I will bring you an even more detailed** analysis of the Big 12 players in both rounds and where they’re drafted. See you then! And pray for Justin Safford’s surprise pick by the San Antonio Spurs!

*Results will totally vary

**Not guaranteed

Matt Suppes is an expert at guessing things, and is therefore an expert at predicting future NBA rookie success rates. He can even guess people’s weight WITHOUT LOOKING AT THEM. Look for Matt in the future when he usurps all of ESPN’s Mock Draft Analysts.