Thursday, June 27, 2013

NBA Draft predictions for Burke, Hardaway Jr.

The NBA Draft takes place tonight and a pair of Michigan Wolverines should be featured in the first round.
Here are my predictions for where Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. will end up.

Trey Burke – No. 7 to the Sacramento Kings
Burke has been a bit of a mystery leading up to the draft. He has been projected as high as No. 2, but is now being projected at No. 12 to Oklahoma City by ESPN Insider Chad Ford. I think Burke will find himself more in the middle of that, to Sacramento at No. 7. The Kings could use Burke’s ball-handling and scoring ability for their team that seems to constantly be in rebuilding mode. Michigan fans won’t be happy to see Burke taken 7th, because the Pistons could be an option at 8.

Tim Hardaway Jr. – No. 27 to the Denver Nuggets
I have seen a lot of mock drafts putting Hardaway to the Clippers at 25, but I think the draft will shake out a little differently and he will find himself in Denver. The Nuggets could use Hardaway’s skills in their fast-paced offense. Brian Shaw may have a different style of coaching than George Karl, but the Nuggets are built to push the floor and Hardaway would be a great option for them because of his ability to play multiple positions.

Bonus Pick – Detroit Pistons No. 8 – Michael Carter-Williams
I think Carter-Williams would be the best option for the Pistons, unless one of the top players fall back to them. Detroit needs to find itself a true point guard that can distribute the ball to the young bigs like Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond. This would also allow Brandon Knight to play more of a small guard role and then fill in a point when needed. Carter-Williams could be a bust, but the 6-6 point guard has a lot of potential.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Burke or Hardaway - Who has the better NBA career?

It’s been a while.
I went into a little bit of hibernation from the blog with basketball season ending, but am ready to start things back up this week with the NBA Draft looming and the college football season not too far off.
The big focus of this week is on the 2013 NBA Draft and the future of Michigan guards Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr.
It’s funny how things have changed for both men since the college season ended.
It was a slam-dunk decision for Burke to opt for the NBA Draft, but Hardaway’s decision to leave seemed somewhat questionable.
However, the momentum of both players seems to be turning. Burke will still be a lottery pick, but his stock seems to be sliding. Hardaway started as an expected second-round pick, but is now working his way into the first round and still climbing each day.
ESPN Insider Chad Ford lists Burke as No. 9 on his NBA Draft big board, while Hardaway Jr. has climbed up to a tie for 24th.
Burke is stuck in-between positions, as he is a shooting guard/point guard mixture. Burke will look to score and not just be a floor general, but he still has the skills to run the floor.
Hardaway has been impressive in his workouts, with Ford indicating he could go anywhere from seventh to 27th, but he still is a work in progress.
Hardaway Jr. has the raw talent to be great in the NBA, just like his father. He could be a mid-to-late first round pick that ends up being a huge success for an NBA franchise.
Burke, however, seems to be riding that boom or bust moniker right now. Is he too small? Will his game translate to the NBA level? Can he be a franchise player?
Time will tell on both, but here is your chance to share your thoughts on both players.