2018 Draft Thread #6

[Darius Miles Davis]

If the Knicks don't win a top 3 pick (and maybe if they win #2 or 3), I see them taking Young with their pick. So if they end up jumping us at #8, and Trae is on the board, I would be shocked if they don't take him.

No doubt. So, for me, them jumping us isn't a huge deal and might actually save us from what I believe would be a mistake. Either way though, I've always kind of had Mikal Bridges in the back of my mind as the consolation prize at 8 or 9, and now I'm growing convinced he won't be there. Even assuming Young goes at 8, how is Bridges there at 9?

Ayton
Doncic
Bagley
JJJ
Porter
Bamba
M. Bridges
Young - Knicks

So in order for us to get Bridges at 9, someone would have to take Carter or Sexton instead of him in that top 8. I suppose it could happen, but as I said I don't see a market for 2 point guards in that top 8. I just can't see Sexton AND Young going that high given the teams that are there. They just don't need point guards, and these guys aren't good enough to completely throw team need out the window.

So really it would have to be Carter that someone falls in love with. Which I suppose is possible. But Bridges is setting the world on fire right now. Ah, fiddlesticks!

I've also heard the Knicks like Miles Bridges, but it's early, and who knows if it's true and/or how much the like him.

[GimmeDat]

I don't know that the Knicks going or Young is such a foregone conclusion. They have no talent at the 3 spot, and if you go by this thread Bridges is almost the favored prospect in a vacuum anyway.

Point is a hole as well for them, for sure, but they do at least have Mudiay and Ntilikina if you consider him at least a part time PG (I do) to give an opportunity to at the position.

[Moosegary]

I can see Orlando drafting young or Sexton. I think they will finish in the 6th or 7th spot. (Have six games with tank teams) Ayton, Bagley and Doncic will be gone.

[3noD]

At this point, with our ranking, I'd be absolutely estatic with Bamba. Doubt be drops to 9 though.

Gone have to be happy with Wendell Carter the way this is going.

I know.... It would be painful if they took another lumbering offensive big man, crowded the rotation furthermore.

I'm OK with Bamba because I'm convinced he'll be Gobert-lite at worst, and that guy makes an immediate defensive impact with his absolutely mind-boggling wing-span.

But beyond that, IMO we need guard talent. Shot makers, dribbling wizards, and creators.

I'm in the boat that thinks it'd be a mistake to "marry Kris Dunn" just because he was an "important piece" in the Jimmy trade. I acknowledge he's improved, but we're gonna hit a wall in 2 years if we have a PG who isn't a scoring machine. Just the way I see it. I find it no coincidence that the past 5 years, the top-5 teams every season have had offensive wizards at the point.

(Kyrie, Curry, Harden/Paul, Lowry, healthy Isaiah, Lillard, Westbrook -- Spurs maybe being the only exception, although they still had a functioning Tony Parker and quite a push from Mills during their last finals runs in '13 & '14)

But the nice thing about Dunn is he has the skill and size to guard wings, so I can see him in a nice 3-guard rotation. So with that said, I'd be behind Young or Sexton if they were at 9-10. Much sooner than Wendell Carter.

I’m also in the let’s not get married to Chris Dunn at pg. I think he can be a piece in the rotation, but I could see him in a Marcus Smart mode. But I have doubts on whether he can be an elite starting pg in the league. So if Young is there at 9, I’m ok if Bulls go for him.


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[Chi town]

I think Vonleh and Blakeny are better than anything we can get w the Pels pick. Kinda sad.

That changes if we miss the playoffs.

[GimmeDat]

I wouldn't get too down on the Pels pick yet.. as someone said before, it's only 1.5 games away from being in the lottery! Still a lot to pan out yet.

Even at 20 or so, there's still potential starting talent out there. Just need to pick smart. But if we can get back in to the 12-18 range with it, it's suddenly very valuable again.

[TheHrvReport]

GarPax are always getting steals in the mid to late 1st round. Their only bad pick was Teague...have faith dudes.

[WindyCityBorn]

GarPax are always getting steals in the mid to late 1st round. Their only bad pick was Teague...have faith dudes.

McDermott was an awful pick and we gave up a lot to get him.

[Axolotl]

The reality now is that barring lottery luck, we draft a role player. Said player may make the team better, but not by a significant amount, and not in a way that could not be done by signing some suitable other role player.

Going to next season, we will not be a significantly better team than we are now. Dunn, LaVine and Markkanen may improve in the offseason, but not likely by a leap that makes a difference - other than placing us later in the lottery.

I hope I'm badly off the mark with this.

[GimmeDat]

This is ESPN (aka DX)'s latest mock -

1. Deandre Ayton

2. Luka Dončić

3. Jaren Jackson, Jr.

4. Marvin Bagley, III

5. Mohamed Bamba

6. Wendell Carter, Jr.

7. Michael Porter, Jr.

8. Collin Sexton

9. Trae Young

10. Mikal Bridges

11. Miles Bridges

Carter at 6.. it's a big call but they have been talking him up a fair bit. I like Carter but I would consider this a win if he goes before us.

I don't see Sexton at 8, I think it's a bit reactionary, but again, in the case of both he and Young, if they go before us, that benefits us. I wouldn't want us taking either.

Give me Mikal in this outcome, but the larger hope should be that we can get someone like Bamba or Porter to fall to us.

[GimmeDat]

Read on Twitter

Good company for Zhaire Smith.

I would be really happy if we could land Smith with the Pels pick.

[NDave79]

Super impressive SEC tourney for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

He's an interesting prospect

- 6'6" with a 7" wingspan

https://www.seccountry.com/kentucky/kentucky-uk-basketball-pro-day-measurements-heights-vertical

- Seems like a high IQ and high character type

- Doesn't seem super explosive, but consistently gets into the paint. I think his athleticism likely improves as he fills out and gets stronger.

[DanTown8587]

Mikal Bridges seems like a guy who is good at a lot of things but lacks the true length + athleticism to really impact a game at the NBA level. To me, Bridges seems like he'll end up a Justin Holliday now type pro which is probably not a bad career at the number nine pick but not something this team needs to get.

[molepharmer]

If the Bulls do fall to the #9 pick, maybe lightning will strike again with #9. These are some of the #9's over the last 21 years: Drummond, Derozan, G Hayward, K Walker, J Noah, Iguodala, A Stoudemire, S Marion, D Nowitzki, T McGrady

[3noD]

Mikal Bridges seems like a guy who is good at a lot of things but lacks the true length + athleticism to really impact a game at the NBA level. To me, Bridges seems like he'll end up a Justin Holliday now type pro which is probably not a bad career at the number nine pick but not something this team needs to get.

Yeah, I realize Mikal has been good recently, but I’m still taking my chances with Young if he’s available. I prefer to go with the high rewards vs the low risk. Besides, I’m not sold on Dunn as starting pg.


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[DuckIII]

I don't know that the Knicks going or Young is such a foregone conclusion. They have no talent at the 3 spot, and if you go by this thread Bridges is almost the favored prospect in a vacuum anyway.

Point is a hole as well for them, for sure, but they do at least have Mudiay and Ntilikina if you consider him at least a part time PG (I do) to give an opportunity to at the position.

I have to admit that a big part of my belief in the Knicks taking Young is for the hype splash factor. Dolan is all about that.

I agree, from a purely objective basketball perspective Mikal makes more sense.

Keep up the stupid Jimmy. No need to change now. FANS LOVE YOUNG HE’s LIKE CURRY! YOU DON’t WANT TO BE THE OWNER WHO PASSED ON THE NEXT CURRY DO YOU?!?

[DuckIII]

Mikal Bridges seems like a guy who is good at a lot of things but lacks the true length + athleticism to really impact a game at the NBA level. To me, Bridges seems like he'll end up a Justin Holliday now type pro which is probably not a bad career at the number nine pick but not something this team needs to get.

Mikal could certainly just end up a 3 and D. But “length” isn’t his problem.

He doesn’t have freakshow length like Kawhi but he’s 6’7 with a 7’0.5 wingspan.

[DanTown8587]

Mikal Bridges seems like a guy who is good at a lot of things but lacks the true length + athleticism to really impact a game at the NBA level. To me, Bridges seems like he'll end up a Justin Holliday now type pro which is probably not a bad career at the number nine pick but not something this team needs to get.

Mikal could certainly just end up a 3 and D. But “length” isn’t his problem.

He doesn’t have freakshow length like Kawhi but he’s 6’7 with a 7’0.5 wingspan.

That profile isn't that rare.

Snell - 6'7 with 6'11
Covington - 6'7.5 with 7'2
Porter - 6'8.5" with 7'1
Roberson - 6'7 with 6'11

I think he'll be a good defender but he won't be lock down and he won't be a great scorer because I don't think he has the dribble game to do it. If you want to take a risk he's the next underdeveloped wing who's game would greatly transform if they improve their dribbling that's one argument to make but he really doesn't have the vertical game or the frame that lends you to believe he can finish at or near the rim consistently enough to be a NBA guy that can help an offense.

[Ralphb07]

Same people thought Donavan Mitchell didn’t have such and such to be a good player at the next level.

[CoreyVillains]

Mikal Bridges seems like a guy who is good at a lot of things but lacks the true length + athleticism to really impact a game at the NBA level. To me, Bridges seems like he'll end up a Justin Holliday now type pro which is probably not a bad career at the number nine pick but not something this team needs to get.

Mikal could certainly just end up a 3 and D. But “length” isn’t his problem.

He doesn’t have freakshow length like Kawhi but he’s 6’7 with a 7’0.5 wingspan.

That profile isn't that rare.

Snell - 6'7 with 6'11
Covington - 6'7.5 with 7'2
Porter - 6'8.5" with 7'1
Roberson - 6'7 with 6'11

I think he'll be a good defender but he won't be lock down and he won't be a great scorer because I don't think he has the dribble game to do it. If you want to take a risk he's the next underdeveloped wing who's game would greatly transform if they improve their dribbling that's one argument to make but he really doesn't have the vertical game or the frame that lends you to believe he can finish at or near the rim consistently enough to be a NBA guy that can help an offense.

Mikal is an elite finisher at the rim and his calling card his entire college career has been as a lockdown defender. I think you should look into him a bit more because it doesn't seem like you know too much about him besides his name. To your point on the player profiles of the four above players not being rare, I'm not sure what you're point is? Three of the players you chose to highlight make their teams wayyyy better when they are on the court. Snell would too if he wasn't so passive as a player. Mikal is a great NBA basketball prospect.