Willie Warren (Oklahoma, Sophomore)
PG/SG - 6'3 ½ (200 lbs.)
Age: 20
A talented, but undersized shooting guard, Warren has a great shooting stroke and the ability to create shots enough to keep his defenders honest. He's not a true point, but can create for others and should be one of the best scorers in the draft.
Warren is an enigma. He has unique scoring and creation ability, but he also attempts to make flashy plays, does not always play with high IQ, and will take jumpers beyond normal range for no reason. As an undersized shooting guard, it will be interesting to see how he plays at the next level with players with equal athleticism; especially with a low release on his jumper.
Defensively, Warren is quick enough to guard opposing point guards and is built well enough to keep up with some shooting guards. However, even though NBA shooting guards do not post up as much, they will be able to shoot over him. I do think he can handle playing point guards on the defensive end as he has enough quickness and length to create problems.
How does Warren's game translate to the NBA?
Warren has good handles with either hand and a variety of floaters to use in the lane. He has the speed to keep up with most guards, is a good, but not great creator, and can shoot; albeit streaky. Where Warren's game is really going to shine is on the famous pick-and-roll, where he can shoot, drive, or set up teammates.
Warren's best year was as a Freshman when he had Blake Griffin as a teammate. Warren was able to spot-up off of drive-and-kicks or off a pass back from a double-teamed Griffin. Warren's flexible enough to play as a spot up shooter or come off screens when he doesn't have the ball in his hands as the primary creator.
Overall, Warren could go anywhere from late lottery to late first-round. Ideally, I feel Warren is more talented than Anderson and Henry, but will be limited by his size. The best outlook for Warren would be serving as a 6th man feeding off of a star shooting guard such as the Grizzlies O.J. Mayo, or with a dominant big man such as Dwight Howard. Right now Warren's game seems to emulate that of a Mo Williams, Jason Terry, or Jameer Nelson. I expect Warren to be a steal if taken after lottery as you can never have enough scorers, and he will be a contributor for a long time playing anywhere from 20-30 minutes on a given night.
How would Willie fit on the Bulls Team?
Actually, I don't believe it would even enter as a thought unless the Bulls have a trade down for Kirk Hinrich. Even though Warren is taller than Ben Gordon, one of the last things the Bulls would want to do is to take another undersized guard after not resigning Gordon for the same reason. Warren would be great for the Bulls in terms of spacing, providing another scorer off the bench in which he could sub for Rose or play off Rose.
Filed under: Draft Coverage
Tags: 2010 nba draft, chicago bulls, point guard, profile, Shooting Guard, Willie Warren
Justin,
Flynn is a blur in the open court and more of a natural point, but I do agree I am willing to take a chance on Warren at that pick if 2-3 others are not there that I like.
As I said yesterday, we can all wait and see who the Bulls highlight on their DRAFT CENTRAL page through PLAYER INTERVIEWS or we can speculate about SG's and C's.
If I wanted to speculate, I would give you these 6 names.
#1) James Anderson SG
#2.) Xavier Henry SG
#3.) Quincy Pondexter SG/SF
#4) Larry Sanders PF/C
#5.) Solomon Alabi PF/C
#6.) Epke Udoh PF/C
I am ok wit one and two. If either of them are there I think we snag em.
Pondexter isnt a good shooter. He is more of a Terrence Willaims and a three. The last position we need is a three who cant shoot. Very streaky. Also, not even a first round talent. I would rather take Babbit.
As far as your next three choices, I am in no favor of getting any bigs in the draft. I think its kind of pointless since we will most likely than not get a big in FA and we already have Asik coming over. Why would they take a big and a project at that
Sanders is a havier TT
Alabi is Marcus Camby with no offense
Udoh has no offense whatsoever
Neither of these bigs has any offense. We dont need anothe big who is a project and cant score. If we miss our on Henry or Anderson, we go BPA who will robably be a George, Babbit, Bradley or Warren.
The only big I would even consider at our pick is whiteside.
They need to throw that BEST AVAILABLE PLAYER thing out the window.
It didn't work last year when they past over DEJUAN BLAIR for James Johnson.
They need SHOOTERS. That means JAMES ANDERSON or XAVEIR HENRY.
I agree with Doug...All NBA picks should be the best player available and not for need. Nobody really knows who will pan out..Pick the best player available in your estimation. The majority of the players in the draft can score points at the college level...but the translation to NBA is where the scouts earn their money.
We still don't know about DeJuan Blair is a success compared to James Johnson. The picks made after 15 is usually for the future and it is a bonus if it is good in the first 2 years. After all, so many teams passed on him. Taj is on 1st team rookie and not Blair. So that story is still to be written..
But there's no simple or altogether accurate way to judge the players to determine the best available. Success at the college level certainly isn't an accurate metric for success at the NBA level. Athleticism won't do it, as a ton of excellent athletes have flopped in the NBA.
So tell me, what's this system of yours that, with 100% accuracy, will rank college players by their level of future success in the NBA? There are plenty of systems out there which can paint us a picture, but it's more impressionist than photorealistic.
Sure, as you examine players, some tiers become evident. Even then, players do tend to surprise us by breaking the molds we tried to cast for them. But assuming that the tiers are at least fairly accurate, why not consider some of your team's greater needs when picking within a tier?
Not solely, mind you, but if your roster is loaded with a slashing and driving back court who aren't great man defenders, why would you pick another one when there's a very similarly talented lock down defender with a sweet stroke from outside?
Agreeing with Doug is fine (sometimes...haha), but the Bulls' management doesn't always draft the BEST AVAILABLE PLAYER.
Johnson over Blair...MISTAKE.
Thomas over Roy...MISTAKE.
I rest my case.
You're judging in hindsight. Whether or not the Bulls thought James Johnson was the BPA, they definitely didn't think it was Blair, who they passed up twice for players at the same position (JJ was considered a 4 at the time). You're just assuming they didn't draft BPA, however in all likelihood they did. The problem, as msalivar already stated, is that it's not a science. Portland drafted Greg Oden because he was considered by them (any most of the league) as the BPA. That didn't work out, but it doesn't mean their strategy wasn't the best way to go about it.
Players that are on my radar:
1.) Xavier Henry
2.) James Anderson
3.) Gordon Hayward
4.) Paul George
5.) Willie Warren
I don't really see us getting a big because the ones that will likely be available really don't have much offensive ability and I don't feel like waiting around for another raw big man to develop.
ADVICE:
Listen to me.
I'm telling ALL OF YOU that the Bulls' management will select a player that they highlight with an INTERVIEW PAGE on their DRAFT CENTRAL website.
It has happened that way the last 4 seasons.
* I gave the 6 players that I think will get an INTERVIEW PAGE.
Stay tuned.
Mr. Happy,
I'll be glad to cover all of them as I plan on it eventually. I will say that I really don't see Pondexter as a fit.
Completly agree.I dont like any of the bigs that are around our picks and dont think they will be the BPa even there. If we somehow miss anderson and Henry, then we should look at a vrsetile 3. Not a four. We already have Asik coming over. We need to give him a legit shot.
George, Babbit, Warren, Hayward
We need shooting and scoring. Not more big projects.
There is certainly no guarantee that Asik is coming over. First he has to want to, second he has to be healthy and third we have to find the money to pay him.
If we sign a max guy we are down to something in the neighborhood of $5 million to fill out the roster.
I have no idea what kind of money Asik would want or what he is worth, but most likely it is more than the 17th pick is getting.
Also, with the departure of Miller, we are an absolute midget team. Noah is our biggest big at 6'10.5". Have you checked out the Lakers front line.
We need a lot more size. We need 3 point shooting also, but we have no size even if our free agent is Bosh or Amare.
That is why I like Alabi, a legitimate 7 footer, who can come in and back up Noah, and maybe eventually play with Noah for short stretches with Noah at the 4.
I'd rather get our 3 point shooting in the form of Anthony Morrow, but I really don't know that much about the college shooters that might be available at 17.
However, as they say you can't teach height and/or length.
He looks intriguing
Willie Warren seems like a Randy Foye type player with the mind of Delonte West. I would hope the Bulls would take a pass on him.
I think James Anderson or Solomon Alabi would be interesting, but I would like to see the Bulls trade the 17th pick for the Nets 27th and 31st selections. I would be alot happier with Terrico White and Art Parakhouski giving the team depth at two position. If the Bulls do the right thing in free agency, there will definitely be a need for cheap roster fillers.
I would NOT draft Willie Warren in the 1st round. Thats the last thing we want is a undersized 2 gurad. Plus he has major characters issues. Only way I would draft him is if he is still there in the 2nd round.
I do appreciate all the feedback and keep them coming! Thanks again guys!
Kevin
Kevin,
I have advice for you.
Do your next 6 write-ups on the players I have selected above.
They are who the Bulls need.
I am not big on really taking a big at our pick because I dont like the big prospects that fall to our place.
I would much rather take a guard, since Kirk is more effective when he has less pressure on him.
If we took warren, It would mean we know we are getting a Big on FA or we are trading Kirk. I doubt it though be he reminds me alot of Rodney Stuckey.
He looks intriguing. Teams can always use a guy who can create his on shot as long as he shoots a reasonable percentage. Shot selection sounds like a big concern but by the mid first round every prospect has at least one big concern and best player available is the best way to go.
Most guys drafted around 17 never sniff heavy minutes so if Warren can he would be a good selection regardless of fit.
I agree Doug and you know more about the Bulls internally, but that was what the preached last year on the Bulls P.R. wise, so that's just my opinion.
I'm just saying it's imperfect enough that once you get a group of guys who are similarly rated by your system, you might as well choose the one who meets the most needs.
I'd have to pass on Willie Warren. His rebounds are very low for athletic/NBA credentials. Activity stats steals etc. are well below excpetional. Also in his second season his field goal percentage at 43.8 doesn't get it done. Also, I watched him play against Oklahoma State and his demeanor was very negative and self-basorbed. Not interested.
Now consider how many times you see a few picks late in the lottery be flops or marginal role players, and then someone around where we're picking be a solid rotation player, or even starter? And honestly, beyond some GM's clearly being awful, can you honestly say that any stand out as clearly more skilled at drafting than others?
I can't say I see a statistically relevant superiority of one GM or another. Certainly nothing that couldn't just as easily be chalked up to luck.
So I say, unless you have someone significantly higher rated than anyone else, factor need heavily (along with character and work ethic). Honestly, it's such a crap shoot, you might as well.