Comments on: Detroit Pistons #DraftDreams: Festus Ezeli

By: jalen thompson

jalen thompson — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 04:49:32 +0000

This guy is a sleeper in the draft and would be long gone before the end of the first round

By: tarsier

tarsier — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 22:56:09 +0000

You don’t need a crystal ball to know a guy’s floor and ceiling–just to figure out how good he’ll actually be. That’s why they are called floor and ceiling. They are the end points of the range of how effective a player might end up being.

I never said Ezeli would be in the league for just two years, contributing nothing, before moving on. Just that that (and not Nazr Mohammed) is the bottom of his potential.

By: tarsier

tarsier — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 22:53:42 +0000

That is the floor of every single player who is not a first round lock! Seriously, most guys not drafted in the top 10 don’t stick in the league. If someone is a sure thing to at least be a role player, the only way he makes it into the late 20s is if his ceiling is incredibly low. It’s called scouting. Sure things with at least decent ceilings get drafted early. Period.

By: frankie d

frankie d — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:37:30 +0000

@tarsier
btw, what games did you see ezeli play?

By: frankie d

frankie d — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:33:56 +0000

“ But his floor is most assuredly in the range of playing 5 mpg for two seasons, then going to the D-league then finding another non-basketball occupation. Anyone who has a higher floor than that has no chance of making it to the second round.”

so…you know this for a fact?
you have a crystal ball, i assume…

By: tarsier

tarsier — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:15:10 +0000

You seriously overestimate the “at worst.” Every year there are several guys like him drafted. Just like you said before, because they are big, somewhat athletic, and productive in college. And the chance of such a player turning out well is worth the chance someone takes to draft him. But most don’t last past the end of their rookie deal. Could Ezeli be better than Nazr Mohammed? Absolutely, if that were his ceiling, he wouldn’t be worth drafting. Because Nazr Mohammed caliber players are available for not much more than the contract of early picked rookies. But his floor is most assuredly in the range of playing 5 mpg for two seasons, then going to the D-league then finding another non-basketball occupation. Anyone who has a higher floor than that has no chance of making it to the second round.

By: frankie d

frankie d — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 01:01:34 +0000

well, i’ve seen 6 of vanderbilt’s games this year. a couple of those games, he’s been ok or mediocre. other games he’s played well or very well. i don’t really think about what generally “translates” to the nba level or whether someone is an average or above average starter. i just look at the player and what he does or does not do well. imho, it’s pretty clear that ezeli has the physical profile and demonstrable skills that, absent injury, will pretty much guarantee that he’ll play at the nba level. if there is one kind of player who always gets a shot, its a seven footer. and if that seven footer has any sort of athleticism, a team will probably find some way to use him. imho, the only question about him is whether he’s going to be a 7th or 8th guy in a rotation or a solid starter. i think it’s much more likely that he’s going to be a solid starter. but then, that is just my opinion after watching him play.

By: tarsier

tarsier — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:17:54 +0000

Yeah, have you? He plays well, but he is hardly phenomenal on the college level. He is an above average starter. Rarely does that translate to role player on the NBA level, much less more than a role player.

By: frankie d

frankie d — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:12:14 +0000

ezeli’s ceiling is that of a starting nba big.
at his worst, imho, he will be a nazr mohammed-level role player.
a big man with his athleticism, his length, his strength, he’s going to find a role in the league. heck, eric dampier is still playing. diop is still stealing money.
ezeli will be at least as good as those guys. at least.
at his best, imho, he can be a starting big man on a nba playoff team.
in detroit, imho, he could provide an excellent partner for monroe. he will be able to do everything that maxiell does, but he will do it better. he is bigger, quicker, longer, just as strong and a better shotblocker. neither one is a great rebounder. max is a better shooter. but ezeli would be an upgrade for that position because of his superior defensive presence and size.

By: frankie d

frankie d — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:01:34 +0000

i will bet that ezeli is drafted ahead of fab melo. he’s got a better motor and seems to be more competitive. melo may have more natural talent, but i think ezeli will be a better pro.
melo still is a bit “soft” after losing lots of weight. ezeli doesn’t have any concerns of that sort.