Draft prospects thread

[Jstock12]

Sabonis won't make it out of the lottery. Love his game, but he's not realistic for us.

I know it's really early yet, but draft express has him dropping like a rock in their ratings of NBA prospects. He is listed like #27 now. Would have to think that if he is rated that poorly he'd just return back to school but he's going to need to make a major overhaul to his game to become a lottery pick IMO.

2 great games by the kid in the last 3 days. 36pts/16rebs vs Tennessee & 23pts/8rebs/6ast (and a three-pointer) vs Pepperdine. It seems like he's figuring out what to do when he's double and triple-teamed. Also works on keeping his emotions in check, and more importantly less fouling. Oh, and he has improved from being a 67% ft shooter last year to 82% this year That being said, I'm starting to doubt him going in the lottery. Maybe 15-20 range is more realistic.

P.S. Also has a myriad of post moves. Check out the very first highlight in this video:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C0L-dQX1sU[/youtube]

So smooth

[Grang33r]

I watched some of the Gonzaga game tonight, he looked like a beast. And i didnt realize until tonight that Zaga wasn't even ranked... lol

[Jstock12]

I watched some of the Gonzaga game tonight, he looked like a beast. And i didnt realize until tonight that Zaga wasn't even ranked... lol

At first they were ranked #13. Apparently now they aren't.

[8305]

Nigel Hayes would be available in the 20's according to Draft Express. The guys 6'8" 235 with a 7'3" wing span. Nice skill set to go with it. He could be a Morris twin type player.

[pacers33granger]

With how jumbled the East is right now it's tough to look at prospects we might be in range for. We (and a lot of the other East teams) have gone back and forth between 2-9. We could really have a mid 20s pick or a mid teens pick and there's a big difference in value there usually.

[Jstock12]

I watched some of the Gonzaga game tonight, he looked like a beast.

Beastly last two games for Sabonis:
35p/14r/4a/3b/1s
28p/17r/4a/3b/3s
Combined 19/27 FG (70.4%) & 25/31 FT (80.6%)

[Scoot McGroot]

I watched some of the Gonzaga game tonight, he looked like a beast.

Beastly last two games for Sabonis:
35p/14r/4a/3b/1s
28p/17r/4a/3b/3s
Combined 19/27 FG (70.4%) & 25/31 FT (80.6%)

Very good. However, he didn't outshine his teammate Kyle Wiltjer (a guy that is known to have little to no potential in the NBA) in either of the two games, and they were against extremely poor competition in Portland and San Francisco.

Sabonis has played very well since taking the starter role, though, and does bear close watching the rest of the season, especially against more formidable competition that might better show his future NBA potential.

[basketballwacko2]

Depending on the rest of the season I'd doubt Sabonis is gonna be there when we draft.

The guy I'm liking is Denzel Valentine at Michigan State he's got a little Dremond Green vibe about him.

[Scoot McGroot]

Depending on the rest of the season I'd doubt Sabonis is gonna be there when we draft.

The guy I'm liking is Denzel Valentine at Michigan Statem.

Me too. I also like Melo Trimble, Caris Levert, and Demetrius Jackson in a similar vein. Also, really like Jarrod Uthoff, too. Tremendous shooter and defends the rim well, too. Really springy and seems to fit well as a position less big man in the SF/PF mold. Might be able to grab in the 2nd as well, if he comes out this year. Though, he could stick around for a 4th year and be like a Frank Kaminsky, too.

[Moooose]

Sabonis will likely climb into the lottery when the combine and workout starts. He's just that good. I will not be surprised if he goes Top 10, especially if he can prove that he's got range.

There are several guys I like for the Pacers. French players Yabusele and Luwawu are interesting.

Yabusele is the Brandon Bass / Ike Diogu kind of player, but with range. He's slower than a Draymond Green though. His physique and strength reminds me of Larry Johnson.

Luwawu is a Gerald Green kind of guy, but has better basketball IQ.

[Scoot McGroot]

I'm wishing beyond wishes that teams pass over Buddy Hield like they did Danny Granger, due to his age and size. That kid can ball, and he worked his tail off to get better.

[Grang33r]

I'm wishing beyond wishes that teams pass over Buddy Hield like they did Danny Granger, due to his age and size. That kid can ball, and he worked his tail off to get better.

Reminds me a bit of James Harden.

A player im liking a lot is Vanderbilt point guard Wade Baldwin. Great defender, huge reach, athlete, moves well with the ball, smart player. Reminds me of a Russell Westbrook.

[Grang33r]

I hope not many NBA scouts went to see Wade Baldwin tonight. I stayed home because of a blizzard today and watched his game and it was far from impressive. Small sample size but bad shot selection, lots of misses just some ugly basketball from him.

[Grang33r]

Purdue vs. Indiana tonight, on ESPN. Anyone watching?

[basketballwacko2]

I'm still big on Valentine from Mich State.

[Moooose]

I'm still big on Valentine from Mich State.

With the success of Draymond Green, Valentine could be a borderline lottery pick barring any setback.

[Scoot McGroot]

I'm still big on Valentine from Mich State.

With the success of Draymond Green, Valentine could be a borderline lottery pick barring any setback.

Borderline? Maybe around 13 or so, but it's more likely he falls. He's tremendous, and I'd love to have him. He's multi-faceted in his game, and a true leader. However, he's a senior, and much older than teams in the lotto like to draft. Also, he didn't do a lot his freshman or sophomore years, and magically grew his junior and senior years in his game. Some, like us, would attribute this to hard work. Others, like many GM's who are on the edge of losing their jobs, might attribute this to an older player feasting on younger guys, something he won't be able to do in the NBA.

I, personally, like Valentine, and think he'll turn into a good NBA player. However, he's not exactly prime GM material in terms of a draft pick.

[basketballwacko2]

I agree with Scoot, Valentine should be a top 10 player but since he's a Sr a lot of teams will prefer some 19 yr old over him but Valentine is a guy who could come right in and help most teams.

I would expect we will be drafting somewhere between 16 and 22 depending on the rest of the season, if we could get Valentine at 18 or so that would be a steal on the level of getting Granger at 17 back a few years. But I'd be willing to trade up to get him if it looks like he's going higher.

[Moooose]

I'm still big on Valentine from Mich State.

With the success of Draymond Green, Valentine could be a borderline lottery pick barring any setback.

Borderline? Maybe around 13 or so, but it's more likely he falls. He's tremendous, and I'd love to have him. He's multi-faceted in his game, and a true leader. However, he's a senior, and much older than teams in the lotto like to draft. Also, he didn't do a lot his freshman or sophomore years, and magically grew his junior and senior years in his game. Some, like us, would attribute this to hard work. Others, like many GM's who are on the edge of losing their jobs, might attribute this to an older player feasting on younger guys, something he won't be able to do in the NBA.

I, personally, like Valentine, and think he'll turn into a good NBA player. However, he's not exactly prime GM material in terms of a draft pick.

Exactly. And I think some upper tier team can get into that 13-15th spot to grab him because he's NBA-ready. To trade up and grab him in the top 10 would be ridiculous, so that tail end of the lottery could be just perfect for any contender looking for immediate help.

[No-Man]

The pick should be between Valentine, Hield or Sabonis, it depends on the idea about the team, if George is supposed to continue playing SF, then Domas makes the most sense, plus a guy like Gbinije or Selden in the 2nd.