NBA Draft Projections: Predicting Where Top of Scorching SG Class Will Land
The 2012 NBA Draft is shooting-guard heaven.
If your favorite team needs a two, there hasn’t been a class more loaded in years. Here are the top three two-guards and where they’ll land.
3. Austin Rivers: Toronto Raptors
Aran Smith of NBADraft.net reported that Rivers is rising rapidly on big boards. Well, at least one big board.
"We're hearing Bryan Colangelo and the Raptors are leaning towards Austin Rivers over Dion Waiters at 8.
— NBADraft.net (@nbadraftnet) June 27, 2012"
Toronto is in desperate need for a wing across from DeMar Derozan who’s capable of putting the ball in the basket. James Johnson, Linas Kleiza and Rasual Butler are mediocre talents at best. Outside of Derozan, the Raptors didn’t have a single wing that averaged double figures in scoring last season.
Derozan is long enough at 6’7” to slide over to the three and Rivers complements the high-flyer extremely well. While Derozan thrives scoring inside the three-point line, Rivers is a sharpshooter from downtown.
2. Dion Waiters: Golden State Warriors
According to Chad Ford of ESPN, Jerry West is pushing for the Warriors to select Waiters. Last summer, Alan Hahn of Newsday reported that West was pushing for the Warriors to select Klay Thompson.
Guess what happened? Golden State drafted Thompson.
Waiters is exactly what the Warriors need coming off the bench. Thompson and Stephen Curry are lights-out shooters, but neither plays above the rim. Waiters is a top-notch athlete that isn’t a shooter, but a scorer.
Not only does his scoring ability contrast with Curry's and Thompson’s well, but Waiters is an exceptionally talented ball handler and passer for a shooting guard. Because of that, he’d be able to play alongside both Curry and Thompson to form a fluid three-man rotation at the position.
1. Bradley Beal: Cleveland Cavaliers
David Aldridge of TNT reported that, hours before the draft begins, Charlotte is running an auction for the No. 2 pick.
"Source: Bobcats have five legit offers they're currently exploring to trade the second pick overall in tonight's NBA Draft.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) June 28, 2012"
With a gun to my head, I’m not betting against the Cavs not only being one of those five teams, but winning that auction. Cleveland owns the No. 24, 33 and 34 picks in the draft and packaging one or two of them to move up for Beal would be 100 percent worth it.
Beal is such a phenomenal shooter that he’s drawing comparisons to Ray Allen. Throw in the fact that he’s a superior athlete, rebounder and finisher to Allen and Beal is a can’t-miss prospect.
Kyrie Irving and Beal side by side would light up the league for years to come if the Cavaliers shore up the pieces around them.
David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.
