TJ Warren to the NBA

[JasonEvans]

Says Yahoo. (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/north-carolina-state-s-t-j--warren-to-enter-nba-draft-182910944.html)

I wish him the best of luck. I suspect his ability to score in traffic and create for himself will serve him quite well at the next level. He may not have NBA-like explosiveness or athleticism, but I bet he is a very solid pro. I'd want him on my team.

--Jason "seems most draft experts have him going between about #15 and #20" Evans

[flyingdutchdevil]

Says Yahoo. (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/north-carolina-state-s-t-j--warren-to-enter-nba-draft-182910944.html)

I wish him the best of luck.

TJ Warren made himself a ton of money in the last 2 months. Now time to capitalize on that.

[Karl Beem]

Hmmm, between 13 and 18. I would think he would go ahead of Rodney.

[CDu]

The Bulls are likely to have two picks in the middle of the first round this year. I would not be at all upset if they used one of those picks on Warren. The amount he improved from last year to this year is just amazing. I think he'll be a very solid scorer as a third option in the NBA. And I think he's shown the drive to keep getting better.

[Olympic Fan]

Hmmm, between 13 and 18. I would think he would go ahead of Rodney.

Not according to Draft Express:

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2014/

Or Gary Parrish of CBS Sports:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/prospect-rankings

Or ESPN's Chad Ford:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft/results/top100/_/year/2014

Or nbadraft.net:

http://www.nbadraft.net/2014mock_draft

Every single one of them has Hood going ahead of Warren

[jv001]

Not according to Draft Express:

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2014/

Or Gary Parrish of CBS Sports:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/prospect-rankings

Or ESPN's Chad Ford:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft/results/top100/_/year/2014

Or nbadraft.net:

http://www.nbadraft.net/2014mock_draft

Every single one of them has Hood going ahead of Warren

If I was young enough to play a pick up game and I was the chooser, I'd take TJ ahead of Rodney and I love Rodney. They're both good players. GoDuke!

[CDu]

Not according to Draft Express:

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2014/

Or Gary Parrish of CBS Sports:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/prospect-rankings

Or ESPN's Chad Ford:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft/results/top100/_/year/2014

Or nbadraft.net:

http://www.nbadraft.net/2014mock_draft

Every single one of them has Hood going ahead of Warren

Yeah, I think the general edge for Hood over Warren is based on the fact that Hood is an ideal NBA SG (great size with guard skills) whereas Warren is a bit of a tweener (the game of a SF but in more of a SG body).

[FerryFor50]

Yeah, I think the general edge for Hood over Warren is based on the fact that Hood is an ideal NBA SG (great size with guard skills) whereas Warren is a bit of a tweener (the game of a SF but in more of a SG body).

I think it's the right decision for Warren. He had an outstanding season and NCSU wasn't looking like they were going to get any better next year. His stock won't be much higher.

[CDu]

I think it's the right decision for Warren. He had an outstanding season and NCSU wasn't looking like they were going to get any better next year. His stock won't be much higher.

Agree that it was the right decision for Warren, but I disagree about State getting better. They have transfer Trevor Lacey (Alabama) coming in to help with the scoring. They add another big body in Abu as well. And their plethora of young bigs (Anya, Washington, Freeman) should only get better. If they had Warren in the mix, they'd be a VERY interesting team next year.

[Karl Beem]

Not according to Draft Express:

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2014/

Or Gary Parrish of CBS Sports:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/prospect-rankings

Or ESPN's Chad Ford:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft/results/top100/_/year/2014

Or nbadraft.net:

http://www.nbadraft.net/2014mock_draft

Every single one of them has Hood going ahead of Warren

Let's see what they say next week.

[superdave]

Hmmm, between 13 and 18. I would think he would go ahead of Rodney.

Warren shot .267 from 3 this season. Hood shot .420 on significantly more attempts. With both guys projecting as 2-guards, 3-point shooting percentage is a significant part of the required skill set for that position and an increasing part of almost every NBA team's offense.

With that being said, Hood brings a great skill set to a team looking for a 3rd or 4th scoring option in the starting lineup. He will help space the floor and open up the middle for drivers and bigs. Warren seems to me more of a leader of a second unit who can score in bunches off the bench when the starters are out, but likely needs the ball in his hands too much to be a starter on a good team.

Of course, Warren may have more upside of the two, because he could spend the next couple of summers working on his 3-ball.

[CDu]

Warren shot .267 from 3 this season. Hood shot .420 on significantly more attempts. With both guys projecting as 2-guards, 3-point shooting percentage is a significant part of the required skill set for that position and an increasing part of almost every NBA team's offense.

With that being said, Hood brings a great skill set to a team looking for a 3rd or 4th scoring option in the starting lineup. He will help space the floor and open up the middle for drivers and bigs. Warren seems to me more of a leader of a second unit who can score in bunches off the bench when the starters are out, but likely needs the ball in his hands too much to be a starter on a good team.

Of course, Warren may have more upside of the two, because he could spend the next couple of summers working on his 3-ball.

I disagree that Warren needs the ball in his hands to score. In fact, one of the things I find most impressive about Warren is his ability to "find" points. If you watched State play this year, you'd see that Warren actually didn't spend that much time on the ball. He worked very hard off the ball to get into good scoring positions, and he would then take the one or two dribbles needed to get the shot he wanted whenever necessary. He wasn't just an efficient scorer in terms of FG%; he was an efficient scorer in terms of time with the ball in his hands.

I think Warren would have many of the same characteristics as Hood in terms of being a good 3rd/4th scoring option. Where he falls short of Hood is in ballhandling and possibly shooting. And I say only "possibly" with shooting because, while he shot poorly from 3 this year, he was spectacular from 3 last year.

[superdave]

I disagree that Warren needs the ball in his hands to score. In fact, one of the things I find most impressive about Warren is his ability to "find" points. If you watched State play this year, you'd see that Warren actually didn't spend that much time on the ball. He worked very hard off the ball to get into good scoring positions, and he would then take the one or two dribbles needed to get the shot he wanted whenever necessary. He wasn't just an efficient scorer in terms of FG%; he was an efficient scorer in terms of time with the ball in his hands.

I think Warren would have many of the same characteristics as Hood in terms of being a good 3rd/4th scoring option. Where he falls short of Hood is in ballhandling and possibly shooting. And I say only "possibly" with shooting because, while he shot poorly from 3 this year, he was spectacular from 3 last year.

I agree with your point. Warren is the best college scorer I can recall who touches the ball and gets a shot up quickly since Jamison. A better way to say what I was trying to say is that Warren needs the team to work to get him shots. He scored a lot off offensive rebounds, but also needed a lot of screens set for him. Warren is more of a flash or curl scorer than a dribble-drive guy. I dont know how that translates in the NBA whereas Rodney translates pretty well as a spot up shooter who can also put it on the floor to create for himself.

[CR9]

The Bulls are likely to have two picks in the middle of the first round this year. I would not be at all upset if they used one of those picks on Warren. The amount he improved from last year to this year is just amazing. I think he'll be a very solid scorer as a third option in the NBA. And I think he's shown the drive to keep getting better.

I would love if they drafted TJ. Or Rodney. Or WCS. But TJ is such a tough rebounder and and has the size to contribute right away. Under Thibs defensive tutelage, he could be something for them.

[SupaDave]

Says Yahoo. (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/north-carolina-state-s-t-j--warren-to-enter-nba-draft-182910944.html)

I wish him the best of luck. I suspect his ability to score in traffic and create for himself will serve him quite well at the next level. He may not have NBA-like explosiveness or athleticism, but I bet he is a very solid pro. I'd want him on my team.

--Jason "seems most draft experts have him going between about #15 and #20" Evans

Gotta disgree on him not having NBA athleticism. He is deceptively strong. When they played us there were times where he looked like a man amongst boys. Kid is legit and will keep growing. If I had to pick a player who is physically similar to TJ (6'8, 233) it would be Sean Elliott (6'8, 220) who first comes to mind. He also kinda reminds me of Brian Stith - not quite such a good thing. Then again, Dennis Scott (6'8, 230) was never out of his mind athletic - at one point in time it was a downright joke how fat he was. And lastly, at TJ's peak - I think he's Stacy Augmon (6'8, 213) - which is nothing to sneeze at.

[tommy]

Gotta disgree on him not having NBA athleticism. He is deceptively strong. When they played us there were times where he looked like a man amongst boys. Kid is legit and will keep growing. If I had to pick a player who is physically similar to TJ (6'8, 233) it would be Sean Elliott (6'8, 220) who first comes to mind. He also kinda reminds me of Brian Stith - not quite such a good thing. Then again, Dennis Scott (6'8, 230) was never out of his mind athletic - at one point in time it was a downright joke how fat he was. And lastly, at TJ's peak - I think he's Stacy Augmon (6'8, 213) - which is nothing to sneeze at.

Nah. Elliott and Augmon were skinny guys, finesse players. Not guys who really mixed it up inside. Warren is a brute in there, much more able to play power basketball, IMO. Comps? Michael Kidd-Gilchrist but more gifted offensively. Thomas Robinson? Patrick Patterson?

[CDu]

Nah. Elliott and Augmon were skinny guys, finesse players. Not guys who really mixed it up inside. Warren is a brute in there, much more able to play power basketball, IMO. Comps? Michael Kidd-Gilchrist but more gifted offensively. Thomas Robinson? Patrick Patterson?

Paul Pierce.

[Des Esseintes]

Paul Pierce.

Good call, though the ceilings are not really comparable. Martell Webster maybe?

[CDu]

Good call, though the ceilings are not really comparable. Martell Webster maybe?

I am not ready to put a ceiling on Warren. I mean, did people think Pierce would be as good as he was coming out of college? Dude was really good in school, but he made himself a much better pro.

Given how hard Warren worked this past offseason to prepare for a leading role (MUCH better conditioning, wider variety of shots) I just don't want to say what his limit is.

[Des Esseintes]

I am not ready to put a ceiling on Warren. I mean, did people think Pierce would be as good as he was coming out of college? Dude was really good in school, but he made himself a much better pro.

Given how hard Warren worked this past offseason to prepare for a leading role (MUCH better conditioning, wider variety of shots) I just don't want to say what his limit is.

I completely hear that. Warren will likely not get drafted nearly as highly as Pierce was, so that factored in my thinking on potential. On the other hand, Pierce went way too low at #10, so maybe that speaks to your point as much as mine if they turn out to be similar players. Still, Paul Pierce is a Hall of Famer. That's a big comp for any kid.

[bedeviled]

I know the national media has reported that Warren is entering the draft, but he responded to those reports with the following:

(tweet)
TJ Warren ‏@T24Warren 8h
Undecided

(retweet)
Mandy Mitchell ‏@MandyWRAL 7h
. @T24Warren tells me he is yet to make a decision on his future.

Just sayin'. Also, Marcus Paige made clear via Twitter that he is staying in "school" (quotation marks may or may not be mine ;) )

[CBecker]

Warren shot .267 from 3 this season. Hood shot .420 on significantly more attempts. With both guys projecting as 2-guards, 3-point shooting percentage is a significant part of the required skill set for that position and an increasing part of almost every NBA team's offense.

.

Warren is a SF for sure..

As a floor I could see him being like Markieff Morris, who's having a breakout year in Phoenix (like half their roster). Similar size, maybe Morris is a bit stronger but they score in similar ways. But then again, Warren is more mobile in the open court. He's quite devesating on the break and I can see that carrying on to the next level as well.

[Slackerb]

I don't agree that Warren and Hood project at the same position in the NBA. Warren is much more of a SF.

Also, most people expect Warren to go, but why is everyone acting like the Yahoo report from "sources" is a done deal. Warren hasn't actually declared for the draft or announced his intentions yet, but everyone is reporting it as if he already has.

[CDu]

I don't agree that Warren and Hood project at the same position in the NBA. Warren is much more of a SF.

Also, most people expect Warren to go, but why is everyone acting like the Yahoo report from "sources" is a done deal. Warren hasn't actually declared for the draft or announced his intentions yet, but everyone is reporting it as if he already has.

Agree on both points. Hood is an NBA SG. Warren is an NBA SF. Warren is much more physical than Hood, but not nearly as good a ballhandler. And probably not as good a perimeter shooter (hard to say: Warren was a great 3pt shooter as a freshman but mediocre as a sophomore).

Now, Hood could play some SF and Warren could play some SG. But both are better served playing different positions.

[DukeDevilDeb]

Not according to Draft Express:

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2014/

Or Gary Parrish of CBS Sports:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/prospect-rankings

Or ESPN's Chad Ford:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft/results/top100/_/year/2014

Or nbadraft.net:

http://www.nbadraft.net/2014mock_draft

Every single one of them has Hood going ahead of Warren

Important to check on a daily basis. NBADRFAFT.NET has Warren at 11 and Hood at 14 as of 11 am on 3/27/14.

[superdave]

Chad Ford says NBA scouts ding Warren for not being able to shoot 3-s and not being an elite athlete. His poll of GM's has Hood in the 10-20 range and Warren mid-to-late first round.