2011 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: How Kyrie Irving Compares to John Wall and Derrick Rose - June 23
It's only natural to compare Duke and soon-to-be Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving to the Washington Wizards' John Wall and the Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose. After Thursday evening, it will mark three years in a row that a point guard went first overall, so this juxtaposition of the three franchise floor generals will continue on for many years.
Irving has been as good as advertised in his 11 college basketball games at Duke, similar to what John Wall brought to the floor at Kentucky in 2009-10. Offensively, he can do it all and shows a tremendous skill set for a young point guard.
Irving hung out with Wall at the NBA lottery, and met him during his official Kentucky visit. Irving articulated the advice Wall gave him.
"He just told me to keep my head high when I go through rookie ups-and-downs, and just enjoy the draft process," Irving revealed.
What about comparing himself to Derrick and John?
"I just try to emulate from afar, they're really special players, and I want to be as special, or close, in that range in my early career as they are right now," Irving said at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
Rose, along with Chauncey Billups and Chris Paul, are the players Irving watches closely as potential role models.
"Chris Paul is my favorite NBA player," Irving said. "The most important thing I try to emulate from Chris is the way he carries himself on and off the court. I just think he's a good person and a good NBA player."
Irving really has a mixture of attributes of a lot of NBA point guards but can probably closely be compared to Paul (not Wall or Rose). Irving is further along as a scorer at this point in his career but is not the distributor that Paul has become. Either way, this high of a comparison backs up my thought that Irving can be an elite NBA point guard like Paul.
Cleveland is both a city and a basketball team badly in need of a "face of the franchise."
"I definitely think about filling the void, but I just want to contribute as best I can and be as prepared as I can be," Irving said about the potential of being Cleveland's marquee player.
Irving has been to Cleveland twice for the Lebron Skills Academy, and he has a friendship with the self-ascribed "King."
Even though they play different positions, and their games are completely different, the fact that both will/have spent some time in the lime light as Cleveland's signature player means they will undoubtedly be compared to one another at some point. Look at all the unfair and unnecessary Rose-Michael Jordan comparisons out there.
Despite this, Irving is ready for the expectations.
"Duke definitely prepared me for this high profile moment," he said. "Even though it's a small gym. All eyes were on Duke for the 11 games I played."
Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:
2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
2011 NBA Offseason Winners - 12/23
2011 NBA Offseason Losers - 12/23
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/22
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/20
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/16
Chris Paul Trade Analysis - 12/15
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/14
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/10
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/9
Five Players Likely to Be Traded After NBA Lockout - 7/7
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southwest Division - 7/6
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Northwest Division - 7/5
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Pacific Division - 7/3
Cavaliers-Kings Trade Recap - 7/1
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Atlantic Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Central Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southeast Division - 6/29
2011 NBA Draft Trade Recaps - 6/25
2011 NBA Draft: Bobcats-Kings-Bucks Three-Way Trade - 6/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: How Kyrie Irving Compares to John Wall and Derrick Rose - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Kyrie Irving Ready to be a Franchise Point Guard - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kemba Walker is the Most Undervalued Player in the Draft - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Derrick Williams a Power Forward or Small Forward? - 6/22
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Wait, Kansas' Marcus and Markieff Morris are Twins??? - 6/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Jordan Hamilton Using Yoga to Help His NBA Draft Stock - 6/18
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Tristan Thompson Benefits from Weak Draft Class - 6/17
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kawhi Leonard's Versatility is His Biggest Asset - 6/14
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Chris Singleton is a Lottery Sleeper - 6/13
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Where Does JaJuan Johnson Fit in the NBA? - 6/11
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kentucky's DeAndre Liggins Made Right Decision in Entering NBA Draft - 6/10
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Should a Marijuana Arrest Affect NBA Draft Stock? - 6/9
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Nolan Smith Has Different Identity On and Off Court - 6/7
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Wall Mentoring Darius Morris - 6/5
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Brandon Knight Worth Third Overall Pick? - 6/2
Rumor: Cavs, T-Wolves, Pistons Discussing 3-Way Trade - 5/29
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Josh Selby Putting Kansas Behind Him - 5/28
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Marshon Brooks Rising Up Draft Boards - 5/26
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Alec Burks Connected to Bobcats - 5/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Combine Measurements - 5/21
Thunder Really Likes Kyle Singler? - 5/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Day 1 - 5/20
2011 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/16
2011 NBA Free Agents - 5/3
NBA Offseason and Draft Blog - Home
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 3
2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25
2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG
2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23
2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)
2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports
2010-11 NBA Season Previews
2009 NBA Draft Grades
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 21
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 3
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
2 5 9
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: How Kyrie Irving Compares to John Wall and Derrick Rose - June 23
It's only natural to compare Duke and soon-to-be Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving to the Washington Wizards' John Wall and the Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose. After Thursday evening, it will mark three years in a row that a point guard went first overall, so this juxtaposition of the three franchise floor generals will continue on for many years.
Irving has been as good as advertised in his 11 college basketball games at Duke, similar to what John Wall brought to the floor at Kentucky in 2009-10. Offensively, he can do it all and shows a tremendous skill set for a young point guard.
Irving hung out with Wall at the NBA lottery, and met him during his official Kentucky visit. Irving articulated the advice Wall gave him.
"He just told me to keep my head high when I go through rookie ups-and-downs, and just enjoy the draft process," Irving revealed.
What about comparing himself to Derrick and John?
"I just try to emulate from afar, they're really special players, and I want to be as special, or close, in that range in my early career as they are right now," Irving said at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
Rose, along with Chauncey Billups and Chris Paul, are the players Irving watches closely as potential role models.
"Chris Paul is my favorite NBA player," Irving said. "The most important thing I try to emulate from Chris is the way he carries himself on and off the court. I just think he's a good person and a good NBA player."
Irving really has a mixture of attributes of a lot of NBA point guards but can probably closely be compared to Paul (not Wall or Rose). Irving is further along as a scorer at this point in his career but is not the distributor that Paul has become. Either way, this high of a comparison backs up my thought that Irving can be an elite NBA point guard like Paul.
Cleveland is both a city and a basketball team badly in need of a "face of the franchise."
"I definitely think about filling the void, but I just want to contribute as best I can and be as prepared as I can be," Irving said about the potential of being Cleveland's marquee player.
Irving has been to Cleveland twice for the Lebron Skills Academy, and he has a friendship with the self-ascribed "King."
Even though they play different positions, and their games are completely different, the fact that both will/have spent some time in the lime light as Cleveland's signature player means they will undoubtedly be compared to one another at some point. Look at all the unfair and unnecessary Rose-Michael Jordan comparisons out there.
Despite this, Irving is ready for the expectations.
"Duke definitely prepared me for this high profile moment," he said. "Even though it's a small gym. All eyes were on Duke for the 11 games I played."
Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:
2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
2011 NBA Offseason Winners - 12/23
2011 NBA Offseason Losers - 12/23
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/22
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/20
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/16
Chris Paul Trade Analysis - 12/15
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/14
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/10
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/9
Five Players Likely to Be Traded After NBA Lockout - 7/7
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southwest Division - 7/6
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Northwest Division - 7/5
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Pacific Division - 7/3
Cavaliers-Kings Trade Recap - 7/1
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Atlantic Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Central Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southeast Division - 6/29
2011 NBA Draft Trade Recaps - 6/25
2011 NBA Draft: Bobcats-Kings-Bucks Three-Way Trade - 6/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: How Kyrie Irving Compares to John Wall and Derrick Rose - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Kyrie Irving Ready to be a Franchise Point Guard - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kemba Walker is the Most Undervalued Player in the Draft - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Derrick Williams a Power Forward or Small Forward? - 6/22
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Wait, Kansas' Marcus and Markieff Morris are Twins??? - 6/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Jordan Hamilton Using Yoga to Help His NBA Draft Stock - 6/18
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Tristan Thompson Benefits from Weak Draft Class - 6/17
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kawhi Leonard's Versatility is His Biggest Asset - 6/14
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Chris Singleton is a Lottery Sleeper - 6/13
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Where Does JaJuan Johnson Fit in the NBA? - 6/11
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kentucky's DeAndre Liggins Made Right Decision in Entering NBA Draft - 6/10
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Should a Marijuana Arrest Affect NBA Draft Stock? - 6/9
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Nolan Smith Has Different Identity On and Off Court - 6/7
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Wall Mentoring Darius Morris - 6/5
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Brandon Knight Worth Third Overall Pick? - 6/2
Rumor: Cavs, T-Wolves, Pistons Discussing 3-Way Trade - 5/29
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Josh Selby Putting Kansas Behind Him - 5/28
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Marshon Brooks Rising Up Draft Boards - 5/26
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Alec Burks Connected to Bobcats - 5/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Combine Measurements - 5/21
Thunder Really Likes Kyle Singler? - 5/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Day 1 - 5/20
2011 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/16
2011 NBA Free Agents - 5/3
NBA Offseason and Draft Blog - Home
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SunsFan
07-06-2012
02:18 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.183
(total posts: 1)
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Why the MOTHERF U C KING LAKERS!!!!!NASH WHY!!!!
CJ
07-05-2012
07:11 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx6.44
(total posts: 4)
78
30
Again Banks is clueless, claiming Eric Gordon has already re-signed with New Orleans.
Also the 'Clippers' weren't involved in the Marvin Williams/Devin Harris trade. Does this guy even proof read anything he writes? Atrocious.
abe
07-05-2012
08:39 am
xxx.xxx.xxx1.87
(total posts: 1)
19
12
walt eric gordon is signing with the suns not the hornets
Ben Wallace
07-04-2012
06:54 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.153
(total posts: 1)
26
71
To be totally honest, Henson and Zeller wouldn't be any better than Meyers Leonard. They are all going to bust.
C-3PO
07-04-2012
05:27 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.234
(total posts: 1)
21
9
Eric Gordon signed an offer sheet with the Suns dumb @ss, New Orleans has yet to match that offer, so he didn't resign like you said.
Geiger
07-03-2012
07:03 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx3.66
(total posts: 2)
27
10
The Nets are not out of the running for Dwight and are offering a package of Humphris, Lopez and Brooks with draft picks..Its sad to even hear the Nets entertain that idea, but it very well could happen.
A team to look out for is the Lakers..an offer of Bynum, Artest and the Odom exception for Howard and Turkaglus monster contract is a win-win for both teams.
Geiger
07-03-2012
07:03 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx3.66
(total posts: 2)
12
9
The Nets are not out of the running for Dwight and are offering a package of Humphris, Lopez and Brooks with draft picks..Its sad to even hear the Nets entertain that idea, but it very well could happen.
A team to look out for is the Lakers..an offer of Bynum, Artest and the Odom exception for Howard and Turkaglus monster contract is a win-win for both teams.
@CJ
07-03-2012
04:33 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.104
(total posts: 1)
16
121
So basically you're asking Walt to fire one "clueless" dumbass for another? lol Whats the point?
Rise Above
CJ
06-30-2012
04:54 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx6.44
(total posts: 4)
213
107
Paul Banks, yet again showing how clueless he is. Almost every other draft analyst has the Rockets' with a positive ranking. This clown does understand that the Rockets are likely to make trades, with all the assets they've compiled?
I agree that Meyers Leonard is probably going to be a bust, but you can't call Portland a 'loser' for stealing the 6th pick from the Nets. How about a 'loser' ranking for the Cavs for reaching so much for Dion Waiters? Or trading all their other picks for another likely bust in Tyler Zeller? But Banks has a 'man crush' (not that there's anything wrong with that) on Waiters, so he'd never mark the Cavs down. Fire this guy Walt, I'll work for free!
Ben
06-25-2012
09:00 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.254
(total posts: 1)
10
23
So....Henson is overrated because he has trouble keeping and putting on weight and strength. And you stated that size and strength is everything in the nba for a big. But....isn't Davis just as if not more lanky and undersized than Henson....? And Henson is only one year older and both have similar wingspans? Just a thought..
@Live
06-22-2012
10:10 am
xxx.xxx.xxx6.15
(total posts: 1)
11
8
You are an idiot, you apparently don't know how basketball trades work, its all about salary dumping. IN the NBA you are either rebuilding, championship contender, or youar e going to stay consistently medicore. They were never going ot win a championship with Okafor and Ariza taking up that much money on their books.
Live
06-22-2012
04:28 am
xxx.xxx.xxx3.80
(total posts: 1)
8
70
Washington - B
Hornets - Big fat F Sure the Hornets is going to waive Lewis and relieve cap space to sign Gordon to a longer deal and draft Anthony Davis but so what! They let go a great defensive guy that can hit 3s here and there. They got NOTHING in return for Ariza and Okafor but a 2nd rounder. I didn't like what the Hornets got in return and it was a bad deal IMO.
Vince
06-19-2012
04:03 am
xxx.xxx.xxx3.99
(total posts: 1)
42
8
It was a play on words, not a pun. More importantly, know who else couldn't bench press 185 pounds at the NBA Combine? This one player called Kevin Durant.
Ben
04-15-2012
09:06 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx7.65
(total posts: 1)
29
20
I like how only one of these players actually got traded
Omar
03-23-2012
04:20 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx6.60
(total posts: 1)
14
14
its a good thing i was wearing sartight white with built in neon when i went to the Super bowl. they almost didnt let me on the field:) and on a side note.. i feel bad for Slash:/
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2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 3
2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25
2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG
2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23
2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)
2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports
2010-11 NBA Season Previews
2009 NBA Draft Grades
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 21
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 3
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
2 5 9
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