Will Zeke be Drafted by an NBA Team?

[Captain Kangaroo]

I select "yes." KD's connection to LeBron places Zeke in Miami with the last pick of Round #2, replacing the ageless Jawon Howard.

The presence of Norris Cole lends credence to Miami's NE Ohio draft bias.

[Dave in Green]

Good poll. While it's no lock that Zeke will be drafted, I'm taking the optimistic view and voting yes. Beyond his 4-season performance record with the Zips, I think Zeke will impress some NBA teams in pre-draft workouts and convince at least one team that his upside makes him a good draft investment.

[MDZip]

Athletic seven footers are a rarity even in the NBA. He gets drafted.

[legendofzippy]

I'm voting No, but predicting NBA GM's is almost impossible. With the development league and European options, I have to think we'll be able to continue to follow him somewhere.

[Aaron]

I vote 'No' on being drafted, but primarily because of his position. I think Cody Zeller entering the draft probably pushed Zeke down from a late 2nd round to out of it.

I fully expect Zeke to be signed to the NBA D-League this summer, and on a team next year if the improvement he showed at Akron continues.

[Dr Z]

IMO two things would have helped him out, success in the NCAA tournament, and/or one more year at the JAR. I really hope he gets drafted for the sake of future recruiting.

[Class of 82]

If he isn't drafted, it will be a huge surprise, imo. I don't believe he'll ever be a marquee guy at the next level, but he's an athletic 7-footer who can defend and eat some minutes.

[Buckzip]

I say no. He was a good, not great, player on a mid major.

He wouldn't have started on most top 25 teams.

Great defender and shotblocker though.

[Zipgrad1990]

I voted yes more out of hope than anything else. I think he will either be a late second round selection or not at all. However drafted or not, I do believe he will play in the NBA someday.

[Z.I.P.]

IMO two things would have helped him out, success in the NCAA tournament, and/or one more year at the JAR. I really hope he gets drafted for the sake of future recruiting.

I vote for the latter!

[Kangaroo Craig]

The Miami choice is logical, but I am going to say early to mid 2nd round. I believe his stock will rise at the NBA combine.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I miss the old days when guys like Michael Olawokandi, Yinka Dare and Dasagana Diop would chime-in.

[Zip Watcher]

Agreed. "Dan Hipsher's Seat" was one of the best posters we had at the Dreamwater site.

[jeaglet1]

I select "yes." KD's connection to LeBron places Zeke in Miami with the last pick of Round #2, replacing the ageless Jawon Howard.

The presence of Norris Cole lends credence to Miami's NE Ohio draft bias.

The Heat don't appear to have a pick in this draft, so they'd have to buy one from another team. (For some reason I thought every team had to have a pick after what Stepien did to the Cavs, but apparently thatjust says you cant trade firsts in back to back years.) First round pick to Cleveland for LBJ, second rounder to the Grizzlies for Ricky Sanchez.

http://www.prosportstransactions.com/baske...Future/Heat.htm

Off topic, but while looking up the Stepien draft rules, I read during the course of the 1981-82 season alone, he fired three and hired four different head coaches. Wow.

[Captain Kangaroo]

The Heat don't appear to have a pick in this draft, so they'd have to buy one from another team. (For some reason I thought every team had to have a pick after what Stepien did to the Cavs, but apparently thatjust says you cant trade firsts in back to back years.) First round pick to Cleveland for LBJ, second rounder to the Grizzlies for Ricky Sanchez.

http://www.prosportstransactions.com/baske...Future/Heat.htm

Off topic, but while looking up the Stepien draft rules, I read during the course of the 1981-82 season alone, he fired three and hired four different head coaches. Wow.

You are correct. I missed the Memphis trade.

This guy sees Zeke in LA. Possibly taking the place of former UCLA 2nd round pick, and former Cav 7-footer Ryan Hollins?

[legendofzippy]

You are correct. I missed the Memphis trade.

This guy sees Zeke in LA. Possibly taking the place of former UCLA 2nd round pick, and former Cav 7-footer Ryan Hollins?

See, that's another example of how confusing the NBA is. You see Ryan Hollins aimlessly wandering around the court, providing zero benefit to his team, and you think to yourself - Zeke is better than that! But then you look at mock drafts, and it's hard to see Zeke edging out any of those guys.

But it's the NBA, you really don't have to get drafted to wind up on a roster anymore.

[jeaglet1]

You are correct. I missed the Memphis trade.

This guy sees Zeke in LA. Possibly taking the place of former UCLA 2nd round pick, and former Cav 7-footer Ryan Hollins?

I had no clue either until I looked it up haha. I definetly think Zeke would provide more value than Hollins.