Is Sullinger the #1 Pick Right Now?

• 0311sdp

  To play in the NBA (at the 4 spot) because he will never be a 5, he needs to develop the 12-18 foot shot. Some say he already has that but I have not seen it yet. He will never be a star at the next level (Karl Malone , Kevin McKale) but should have a very good career. The reason I say that is he as someone else pointed out he is too slow and not a great athlete, but he is very basketball smart to make up for the lack of physical talent at the college level. This lack of natural quickness and explosiveness will catch up with him at the next level, that being said, I would love to have the earning potential that this kid has. I think he plays 2-3 years at OSU and then makes the jump.
• thedynasty1998

  

  0311sdp;603077 wrote:To play in the NBA (at the 4 spot) because he will never be a 5, he needs to develop the 12-18 foot shot. Some say he already has that but I have not seen it yet. He will never be a star at the next level (Karl Malone , Kevin McKale) but should have a very good career. The reason I say that is he as someone else pointed out he is too slow and not a great athlete, but he is very basketball smart to make up for the lack of physical talent at the college level. This lack of natural quickness and explosiveness will catch up with him at the next level, that being said, I would love to have the earning potential that this kid has. I think he plays 2-3 years at OSU and then makes the jump.

  I agree about the 12-18 footer, however I have seen him do it, so that isn't of concern. He just doesn't have to use it at OSU because he's so much bigger physically and can get a deep post every time.
  
  The thing that will determine whether he's an above average NBA player of an elite is how much stronger he gets. I think he can put on 30 lbs of muscle in his upper body and if he does that, he can be dominant. There just are not that many guys in the NBA with his back to the basket skills.
  
  You may think he plays 2-3 years, but he certainly doesn't need it.
• centralbucksfan

  thedynasty1998;603084 wrote:The thing that will determine whether he's an above average NBA player of an elite is how much stronger he gets. I think he can put on 30 lbs of muscle in his upper body and if he does that, he can be dominant. There just are not that many guys in the NBA with his back to the basket skills.
  
  .

  
  The dude is strong enough to play in the NBA right now. Thats part of why he is who he is right now. The knock is his quickness in being able to guard much quicker players. He has skills, as you said to step outside and play. But he needs to refine those and improve much more. Being able to do it vs HS players vs NBA, as u know, is complete other world.
  
  **Misread the comment about "muscle". So yes, I would agree with him being able to get stronger. Although as I stated, he is already strong enough to compete at the next level.
• Jester

  

  Sullinger would not be 300 lbs if he added 30 lbs of muscle. You don't just add on the weight without losing some first. Turn the fat into muscle. I'm sure Sullinger could put on some muscle and still maintain around the same weight he currently is.
• centralbucksfan

  Jester;603477 wrote:Sullinger would not be 300 lbs if he added 30 lbs of muscle. You don't just add on the weight without losing some first. Turn the fat into muscle. I'm sure Sullinger could put on some muscle and still maintain around the same weight he currently is.

  
  I misread what was stated as far as the muscle/weight. He has actually come a long way in terms of toning himself even since he enrolled at OSU. So I would agree that he can still tone himself even more. But again, the dude is already a beast and that is part of why he is as good as he is and why most think he can play at NBA level. But yes, he could certainly continue to get into better shape/stronger.
• thedynasty1998

  

  centralbucksfan;603906 wrote:I misread what was stated as far as the muscle/weight. He has actually come a long way in terms of toning himself even since he enrolled at OSU. So I would agree that he can still tone himself even more. But again, the dude is already a beast and that is part of why he is as good as he is and why most think he can play at NBA level. But yes, he could certainly continue to get into better shape/stronger.

  
  I agree with you. But his body still looks "soft" which is why I think he can really develop his body dramatically over the next couple years. And yes, he is very strong at the college level, but there is a huge difference in playing against 18-20 year olds and 25-30 year olds. I'm sure he is as aware as anyone on what he can do to have the most success at the next level and I have no doubt that he will accomplish that.
• se-alum

  

  0311sdp;603077 wrote:To play in the NBA (at the 4 spot) because he will never be a 5, he needs to develop the 12-18 foot shot. Some say he already has that but I have not seen it yet. He will never be a star at the next level (Karl Malone , Kevin McKale) but should have a very good career. The reason I say that is he as someone else pointed out he is too slow and not a great athlete, but he is very basketball smart to make up for the lack of physical talent at the college level. This lack of natural quickness and explosiveness will catch up with him at the next level, that being said, I would love to have the earning potential that this kid has. I think he plays 2-3 years at OSU and then makes the jump.

  Do you find any irony in the fact that you say he won't be a star because he is too slow and not a great athlete, but the 2 stars you did list (Malone, McHale), were slow and not great athletes??
• thedynasty1998

  

  se-alum;604254 wrote:Do you find any irony in the fact that you say he won't be a star because he is too slow and not a great athlete, but the 2 stars you did list (Malone, McHale), were slow and not great athletes??

  
  I had no idea what he was trying to say with those two as examples, so I left it alone. Wasn't sure if he was saying Malone wasn't a star or that he's a far better athlete than Sullinger. Either of which would be false statements.
• Y-Town Steelhound

  

  thedynasty1998;604269 wrote:I had no idea what he was trying to say with those two as examples, so I left it alone. Wasn't sure if he was saying Malone wasn't a star or that he's a far better athlete than Sullinger. Either of which would be false statements.

  
  Malone was certainly a great athlete but McHale was far from it. McHale had an incredible array of post moves and knew when to use them. I feel like Sullinger also makes up for his lack of elite athleticism by having a polished post game, so it is not unreasonable to say that he would be an all star in the NBA.
• centralbucksfan

  se-alum;604254 wrote:Do you find any irony in the fact that you say he won't be a star because he is too slow and not a great athlete, but the 2 stars you did list (Malone, McHale), were slow and not great athletes??

  
  Sully is one hell of a basketball player...but to compare him to Malone and Mchale is a LONG stretch. I watched both of those guys in their prime, both are hall of famer NBA players and Sully doesn't hold a candle to either one.
• Y-Town Steelhound

  

  centralbucksfan;612778 wrote:Sully is one hell of a basketball player...but to compare him to Malone and Mchale is a LONG stretch. I watched both of those guys in their prime, both are hall of famer NBA players and Sully doesn't hold a candle to either one.

  
  I don't think the point was to compare Sullinger to two HOF players, but more to show that you don't have to have Shawn Kemp-like athletic ability to be a great NBA big man. You could even argue the point about his size by bringing up Charles Barkley who was undersized himself. Again, not comparing the players....just saying that it's not impossible for Sullinger to develop into an all-star caliber forward. Tim Duncan is probably the best big man of his generation and isn't overtly athletic.
• centralbucksfan

  Y-Town Steelhound;612812 wrote:I don't think the point was to compare Sullinger to two HOF players, but more to show that you don't have to have Shawn Kemp-like athletic ability to be a great NBA big man. You could even argue the point about his size by bringing up Charles Barkley who was undersized himself. Again, not comparing the players....just saying that it's not impossible for Sullinger to develop into an all-star caliber forward. Tim Duncan is probably the best big man of his generation and isn't overtly athletic.

  
  Got your point, and its valid one at that. But McHale was also 6'11" with VERY long arms and had the best posts moves I have seen to date. Malone is a more fair comparison. But we have yet to see Sully step outside like Malone. BUT who knows how good Sully will be. He is only 18yrs of age. His greatest improvement has yet to be seen. Which is kind of scarey. I wouldn't sell him short at all at this point.
  I'd luv to see him stay at OSU one more year..because with Williams coming in, Sully can be moved to the power forward position. Which is where he would play in the NBA. Hope we are able to see this next year.
• Laley23

  

  ^^^You like McHale over The Dreams post moves???
  
  I think they are both amazing, but the Dream made my jaw drop.
• centralbucksfan

  Laley23;612959 wrote:^^^You like McHale over The Dreams post moves???
  
  I think they are both amazing, but the Dream made my jaw drop.

  
  Ya, I'd agree. I think McHale had more post moves..but the Dream was so quick and athletic....definately jaw dropping.
• centralbucksfan

  Very nice article in the NY Times on Sullinger. Good read even for non OSU fans.
  
  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/sports/ncaabasketball/26buckeyes.html?_r=1
• 77Legend

  

  Man, sucks to be Sully huh?
• Early Cuyler

  

  krambman;595692 wrote:If the draft were tomorrow, would Jared Sullinger be the #1 pick? I haven't watched a ton of college basketball yet this year, but I have a hard time seeing who would get picked ahead of him right now.

  
  Perry Jones
• Automatik

  

  centralbucksfan;614485 wrote:Very nice article in the NY Times on Sullinger. Good read even for non OSU fans.
  
  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/sports/ncaabasketball/26buckeyes.html?_r=1

  
  Great article. You can definitely tell he started on his post moves at young age. I honestly can't think of a freshman big EVER whos footwork is as polished as Sully's....but I'm only 26.
• Hb31187

  

  Automatik;617167 wrote:Great article. You can definitely tell he started on his post moves at young age. I honestly can't think of a freshman big EVER whos footwork is as polished as Sully's....but I'm only 26.

  
  Wayman Tisdale was NUTS as a freshman. Thatd be my pick for best Freshman big man
• Thunder70

  

  If Kevin Love can be successful in the NBA, Sullinger can too...