Cody Zeller #1???
That's racist bro.
On the topic of Cody Zeller going #1, I doubt that will happen. It's not that he doesn't have the skill. He's an incredibly talented post scorer and runs the floor like a Ga-Zeller.
The thing keeping him from going #1 in the draft is most likely how scouts view his ceiling. Most NBA scouts define potential as production vs. skill, meaning that a raw freshman that produces nearly as much as a developed senior will have a higher draft position.
His skill might be working against him, as younger, more athletic guys like Bennett, McLemore, and Noel all have a greater chance of going #1. It's not impossible, but doesn't seem as likely. I'd give #4 as his absolute floor, he's too good to pass up.
Calm down, the draft's over a year away. No there's no way he'll be drafted first because of those t-rex arms you already mentioned (6-8 wingspan) will pull down his draft stock no matter how skilled he his offensively. His wingspan limits him as a rebounder and defender so perhaps top 5 because of his skill, but definitely not #1.
I would say he has the ability to go top 5 but I'd have Shabazz, Adams, Noel and McAdoo ahead of him personally.
I think that Shabazz is most likely to go one but if Steven Adams proves to be a legit prospect, I could see his size being a huge selling point.
If he makes vast improvements and becomes a truly dominant player than I think he could. But that's a pretty big "if". Zeller is a 6'11'' moble player and if he takes his game to the next level in 12-13 and drops like 20pppg and 10 rpg and maintains his high level of efficiency then I think he would certainly be in the conversation.
WOW -40 for telling the truth. I am a White American and there is a reason it has been 35 years since Kent Benson was the last White American player taken with the #1 pick. White players are clearly not as talented on the whole as Black players. Numbers don't lie. I am not trying to be controversial I am just stating facts. 1977 was the last year a White American was drafted first. How many of you were even alive at that point? I know I wasn't so in my lifetime there have been absolutely zero White Americans picked first. After Kevin Love who is the next best White American in the league...David Lee? Kirk Hinrich? Love could have been the top overall pick with his skills but the perception was that he wasn't athletic enough. He now leads the league in rebounding and can score from anywhere. Movies like White Men Can't Jump perpetuated the stereotype that White players aren't as athletic. The percentage of White American players in the league went from 24% in 1980 to 10% currently. The percentage of black players remained the same but the International guys are skyrocketing and replaced the 14% of White American players who were in the league 30 years ago.
I SAID AMERICAN SO BOGUT IS an AUSSIE....get your life together.
I don't generally neg people, but I don't think you got negged due to the current racial statistics of the NBA, but for matter of fact stating it will never happen again. We just don't know. If Tim Duncan would have come out early, Keith Van Horn would have been the #1 pick in 1997.
If the 1996 draft were done all over, you could make a case for Steve Nash at #1, most would still pick AI, but Nash has had a longer less troubled career.
We just don't know. If Zeller or Mitch McGary dominate next season or the season after that, who's to say it can't happen? You're right Shabazz and Noel are guys that are heavy favorites, but we don't know for sure. Harrison Barnes isn't going to go #1, a lot of people thought he was a lock after his freshman year.
Keith Van Horn was terrible and if he would have went #1 he would have ruined it for all white guys forever no doubt so thank you Timmy for staying in school. They don't redo drafts so they base much of scouting on potential and measureables and that wasn't exactly Steve Nash's biggest assett....He is also Canadian so although he is North American he would not be considered a White American.
I am not literally saying it is impossible but it is highly improbable and there is no way that Zeller will be the one to break the streak...for the exact reasons I have been saying....not athletic enough, doesn't measure well with wingspan, good but not great potential. He is undoubtably a very nice player but he won't go first.
and nobody thought Harrison Barnes was a lock to go first after his freshmen year. He underacheived his first year at UNC and most of the hype about him being a #1 pick was before he ever got on campus at UNC because the perception was that he was an athletic guy who could get his own shot off whenever when in reality he is only average athletically and is more of a spot up shooter who struggles to get to the basket.
@ sewok ... : this "what if" game is great when you write like bill simmons... if not you should avoid.
Van Horn at 1st in SA... next to robinson...hum hum... I have absolutely no idea if he could have been as successful as duncan but I'm sure he wouldn't have lived the same carreer in a so steady and quality organization as the spurs were/are...
Remember how good was KVH from day one... best scorer and leader in a roster full of effective scorers : kittles, cassell, gill, gatling (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NJN/1998.html)
26 W /56 L : 1996/97
43 W /39 L and PO : 1997/98
Imagining him next to a so much dominant Robinson able to teach him D and in the SAS/Pop' system... he could have been great...
JYD beat me to the "system matters" arguement, so way to go for KVH. Also Van Horn was very good for quite a few years until, seemingly anyway, a few injuries and Kenyon Martin totally punking him even though they were teammates shot his confidence to hell.
And the real answer to whether a white person will go first is "who cares?" A white guy might be best someday, he might not. So? Does it honestly matter?
Zeller is a 4, not a 5, but what a 4. He could be among the top post players in the league. He has a ton of Pau to his game in the best way possible. He'd likely #3, though I could see him going 2 since Shabazz is a 2 and there's so many 2s going to lottery teams this year.
^Yeah, KVH was a 20 and 8 player in his first 3 seasons before injuries set in.
I worded that wrong, Barnes "would be". Before he had played a college game, many thought he'd be the #1 pick and if high schoolers were still allowed to go pro there would have been a very good chance he would have gone #1.
Noel and Bazz haven't played a college game. I like them both and think they have a lot of potential, but we can't say with certainty one of them will be #1.
I hope for Cody Zeller's sake that he doesn't go number one. I don't think he will, but if he does, it'll dramatically change the way people view him. I think he can be a very productive, and a good pro, but it's all about the perception of being the #1 pick. I don't think he could live up to that high standard.
Blake Griffin is not white. He is bi-racial and his dad is black as can be.
I just wanted to bring this thread back because I was very impressed with my -44 for stating no White American player would be drafted first overall. It has been 36 years since it has happened and I will be stunned if it happens anytime soon. Zeller is a lottery pick but I don't think anyone considers him a potential first pick at this point...even in this draft where there is no consensus first pick. White American cheese is great but White American basketball players are a dying breed.
In that same time since 1977 two bi-racial players Jason Kidd and Mike Bibby have been drafted 2nd overall. Also 4 white American players have been selected 2nd overall, just for fun without using google can anybody name the 4 white american players drafted 2nd overall since 1977.
Do you guys really think Cody Zeller has the greatest chance to go #1 next year? I think this is absolutely absurd. This site has been high on Bazz and Noel for a long time, and you have to give them their props as being the first to talk about the Kiwi Stephen Adams, but do you really think Cody Zeller can go in front of them? I believe he only has a 6'8 or 6'9 wingspan. Don't get me wrong, I think there is a good chance he could be a top 5 pick, but #1 ? No, not in a year that has Shabazz Muhammad. I can see him going over Noel who lacks an offensive game, but not Bazz.
Props to having Poythress #7, I see him and Goodwin having huge years next year.