Draft projection is frequently a measure of today's failures compared with tomorrow's successes. Most players get drafted despite some glaring problems with their games. Derrick Rose, Blake Griffin, Tyreke Evans, John Wall -- none of these guys could shoot (some still can't). Kevin Durant couldn't lift his own weight. Kevin Love was heavy and slow. Understand?
But occasionally we see draftable players who look today pretty much like they'll look tomorrow. For a player who seems to be close to what his peak performance level will be while still in college, it could be the kiss of death for his first-round dreams (NBA teams like drafting upside in the first round). If those players, however, are destroying college basketball, everything is possible. For Kemba Walker, anything after the first four or five picks is up for grabs. And scouts are talking about Walker more than any player so far this season.
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David Thorpe
NBA- NBA Analyst for ESPN.com
- Executive director of Pro Training Center
- Started coaching career in 1987
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David Thorpe is an NBA analyst for ESPN.com's Scouts Inc. and the executive director of the Pro Training Center in Clearwater, Fla., where he oversees the player development program for NBA and college players. David has trained Kevin Martin, Corey Brewer, Omri Casspi, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, Yi Jianlian, Courtney Lee, Kyrylo Fesenko, Earl Clark, Jrue Holiday, DeJuan Blair and others.
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