The NBA Draft Stock Report checks in on which players have made a name for themselves in the past week; either helping or hurting their future draft position. Kentucky‘s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Will Barton of Memphis have really caught my eye as of late. Check out whose stock I am buying and selling.
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BUY:
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky, Fr.
I like a ton of things about the way this kid plays the game. He’s a gamer, has good size for the NBA, gets after it on defense, rebounds the basketball, and understands how to play the game. If MKG had a better outside shot, he would be a top five candidate. Still, there is no way he slips out of the top ten if he is indeed a one-and-done.
Will Barton, SG, Memphis, Soph.
Over his last four games, Barton is averaging 26 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. He is dynamic scorer off the bounce and in transition, and has also improved his consistency shooting the ball from the outside. Barton has the potential to be a lottery pick if he declares for the draft this summer.
Alex Young, G/F, IUPUI, Sr.
Young is a mid-major guy you have probably never heard of but exploded for 43 points in a win against Western Kentucky last weekend. At 6-6, he has ideal size for a NBA wing and uses that to get to the basket. Young is an inconsistent outside shooter but should get second round looks and could be a draft day sleeper like the last Jaguar to be selected; George Hill.
Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State, Jr.
A year after suffering a season-ending foot injury, Lillard is leading the nation in scoring at almost 27 points per game. Besides his struggles against Cal in the Wildcats last game, he has shot lights out early in the season. Lillard has good size and strength for a NBA point guard and rebounds well for his size. He is not a terrific distributor but can certainly dish out dimes when needed. Since he received a medical redshirt for last season, Lillard should technically be a senior this season which might mean he turns pro after this season. If so, he could get first round looks especially if he keeps up this high level of production.
SELL:
Jordan Taylor, PF, Wisconsin, Sr.
The Pre-Season All-American has struggled with his shot early this season, hitting just 37% from the field, 31% from distance, and 69.2% from the charity stripe including a somewhat perplexing 0-10 shooting performance versus UNLV’s aggressive guards last weekend. Taylor still has one of the top assist-to-turnover ratios in the country but his slow start to the season doesn’t help my claim that he can be a first round pick.
Yancy Gates, PF, Cincinnati, Sr.
I’m guessing punching an opponent in the face and playing a major part in an on-the-court melee is not going to improve your NBA Draft stock. I have never been a fan of Gates’ potential as a pro. He doesn’t play hard on a nightly basis, relies too much on his jump shot rather than throwing his big body around inside, and just lacks any real intensity on the court. That is until, the end of the Xavier game when he throwing punches like it was the Malice at the Palace. No NBA GM is going to waste a draft pick on a guy like Gates. (Click here to see the video of Gates punching a Xavier player.)
PREVIOUS NBA DRAFT STOCK REPORTS:
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11/22/11
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.
You can follow him on Twitter at DavidKay_TSB.