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it's pretty painful to read old things you wrote.
— Spike Eskin (@SpikeEskin) June 17, 2015
The final 2015 Liberty Ballers Big Board will be released sometime next week, and years from now, we'll look back and wonder how in the hell did Kevin Looney ever sneak into the top 14.
Unlike other sites, we don't change our big boards months and years after the draft - we stand by our picks, even when they make us look completely and utterly foolish. As they often do...
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Here is our full Sixers Big Board. Gets pretty funky after the Top 9: http://t.co/obFCLxebh2
— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) June 25, 2014
The good: Wiggins at No. 1 was pretty much a no-brainer, but we'll take credit for it anyway. Embiid's injury history led to his slide down to No. 4 - let's pray that there aren't three better players in the 2014 draft class when all is said and done.
The bad: It's way too soon to write off Noah Vonleh, but there really was no way that he should have snuck into the top five. And it looks like we may have undersold Elfrid Payton and Zach LaVine.
The ugly: Dante Exum at No. 2 calls for a serious mulligan. Nik Stauskas at No. 10 is a head scratcher as well, but if this was a ranking of best nicknames, "Sauce Castillo" would be No. 1. And then there's the matter of Gary Harris.
The community Big Board: A Wiggins/Embiid/Parker top 3 is as solid as it gets. And even the potential misses (Exum at 4, McDermott at 12) are understandable. This is as good as Chad Ford's final Big Board (at least as it stands today).
The quote: "Will he make his presence felt in the NBA? Probably. But I can't wait two years for him to come here, and that's why I have him lower than those who will actually play here." -- Jake Pavorsky on Dario Saric
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One hour away. Here's the @Liberty_Ballers Big Board with tons and tons of content: http://t.co/UcmJFI4iMG
— Michael Levin (@Michael_Levin) June 27, 2013
The good: Now this is a big board that we can be proud of. Victor Oladipo came in No. 1 overall, and the accompanying write-up included the following quote from yours truly: "Oladipo's athleticism will make up for his less-than-ideal size, and he'll be the best player in this draft two years from now." You're welcome. By the way, we were higher on Dennis Schroeder than most sites - we completely bought into that "German Rondo" hype.
The bad: Ben McLemore at No. 3 was a miscalculation, and even No. 5 was too high for Anthony Bennett.
The ugly: Six of us didn't even have Giannis Antetokounmpo ranked, but it's hard to accurately evaluate a potential lottery pick who plays overseas in middle school gyms. Rudy Gobert and Kelly Olynyk also failed to crack the top 15.
The community Big Board: Nerlens Noel took home the top spot in the community big board, with Victor Oladipo coming in second. Shabazz Muhammad finishing at No. 9 was a good call, but not as impressive as Rudy Gobert's selection at No. 15.
The quote: "I don't think most will have McLemore at #1 on their big board, but I think he's got the skill set to be a game changer in the NBA. He's got good range, and sees the floor extraordinarily well. If he bulks up a bit, he could be a force at the next level." -- Jake Pavorsky on Ben McLemore
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Liberty Ballers 2012 Big Board http://t.co/a9yGfDjM
— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) June 26, 2012
The good: The future beastness of Anthony Davis was clear long before draft day as all of the Liberty Ballers writers had him penciled in at the No. 1 spot. And nothing for nothing, most of the top six consists of the best players in that class (Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Harrison Barnes).
The bad: Thomas Robinson at No. 2 was a bit optimistic, but the biggest whiff was on Portland point guard Damian Lillard (No. 11), who came in a couple of spots below Jeremy Lamb and the immortal Perry Jones III. Draymond Green didn't even get a mention, but to be fair, he did slide into the second round of the actual NBA Draft, so there's that.
The ugly: Dion Waiters at No. 10? Ugly. And some guy named "Jordan" had slotted Royce White at No. 13. Good job, Jordan.
The community Big Board: You all flipped Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Thomas Robinson at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots because you're smarter than us. And kudos for Damian Lillard sneaking into the top 8.
The quote: "To me, Sullinger is a no brainer if he's available at #15. I get the injury concerns if you have a top-5 pick. But #15? Come on... The value is too great to pass up. Besides, I also have back problems and can recommend a great chiropractor. I get $20 off my next adjustment for a referral, so it's a win win." -- Dave Rueter on Jared Sullinger