2018 Draft Thread Lucky #7

[TheSuzerain]

Tyrus Thomas measurements: 6'8" with 7'3" wingspan, 217lbs

Jaren Jackson Jr. measurements: 6'11" with 7'4" wingspan, 240lbs (according to DraftExpress)

Jackson is a size bigger, and I think that matters. It suggests he will grow into being able to defend centers.

I also think the way we look at athleticism for bigs is a bit more refined than it was then, at least on these boards. I feel like a few years back, we looked at athleticism more in terms of running and jumping ability and probably didn't consider lateral quickness as much as we might have, especially for big men. Tyrus clearly was more of a jumper than Jackson is, but I don't think he was nearly has quick of foot in a way that translates to playing either man or help defense. Plus, Jackson was a known commodity coming out of high school who has been scouted extensively for a while. Tyrus Thomas came out of nowhere to become a high lottery pick based on his incredible athleticism (again, mostly vertical) and his great play in his tournament run, but we didn't have as much data and experience with him.

I don't recall Tyrus Thomas lateral quickness ever being much of an issue.

Ultimately Tyrus Thomas was a highly talented player. Who checked a lot of the same boxes as Bagley and JJJ.

He ultimately failed due in large part to intangibles.

I think it had more to do with his inability to find a way to score efficiently in the nba. You can't get by on just dunks in the nba.

CC: Marvin Bagley and Mo Bamba

[johnnyvann840]

Mo Bamba will be a Chicago Bull

And how do we feel about that?

I doubt he falls that far, but I'd be fine with him in the 7-9 range. Not necessarily my #1 choice, but we'd be fortunate if he fell that far. I like him more than Porter.

I do too. I think MPJ is going to fall out of the top 5. He looked to me like somebody who had back surgery last month not last year. Stiff as a board. I would be really worried about it regardless of what medical reports say. He has such limited experience against anyone but high school children, many of who aren't even playing college BB. He came in and was selfish as hell for two games. Never made his teammates better in HS. I watched the entire McD's game and he didn't really impress me at all despite being MVP. He couldn't finish over high schoolers except on a lob pass. He looked stiff to me even before his surgery.

[johnnyvann840]

And by the way, I'd probably take Shai or Trae, in part because Shai will be a much better defender. And I think he'll be a better all around player. But he doesn't have the star potential of Trae.

I think SGA has even more star potential. And he's already a two way player. He's the top PG on my board. Has been for a while. I would be THRILLED if we came out of the draft with SGA and Carter.

[sh0ck]

A few thoughts on Trae Young

I don't believe in the Steph Curry comps. But I really do like the Steve Nash comps. He plays at a similar pace like Steve (with similar usage as well). Steph Curry's amazing ability to play off the ball isn't taken in account a lot of the time. Trae is a bit of a floater without the ball, never making cuts and never moving out of his spacing zones. Curry is incredibly active off the ball, weaving through screens, popping out on the weakside, or getting layups on give and goes.

Trae plays at his own pace, and has a boom/bust mentality when passing or shooting. Nash was kind of similar at the height of his run.

As for the defense. I think defense at the PG position is very overrated. The NBA is all about ball screens and using the Point Guard off of the pick/roll. As long as Trae doesn't allow guys to completely blow by him on the ball, or back cut him off the ball, he'll be fine for today's game. There will be times where bigger wings will do a pick/roll to get isolation on him (similar to what the Bulls did with Jimmy and IT during the Boston matchups), but he'll be fine if he puts on a little more weight and just competes.

I think he's a very boom or bust type of prospect and would benefit from a second ball handler (at the wing) and motion system that would work to get him open looks. To me, the Bulls are a pretty good fit because I think Dunn is a good compliment, and the Bulls run a lot of actions off the ball for shots. And having a creative point guard that changes the pull of the floor will help Lauri get more looks. But I have no idea what that would mean for LaVine.

Ultimately, I wouldn't hate the pick, but I think there are guys I like better than Young.

[Red Larrivee]

Mo Bamba will be a Chicago Bull

I wouldn't be upset with this. Bamba is a unique talent with rare length. He'll have to get stronger and develop more offensively, but he could potentially be dominant defensively. Between him and Markkanen, I feel like you have everything you could possibly want in a young frontcourt tandem.

[Chi town]

And by the way, I'd probably take Shai or Trae, in part because Shai will be a much better defender. And I think he'll be a better all around player. But he doesn't have the star potential of Trae.

I think SGA has even more star potential. And he's already a two way player. He's the top PG on my board. Has been for a while. I would be THRILLED if we came out of the draft with SGA and Carter.

I think SGA has Paul George potential. Don't see him as a PG at the next level at all though. I also think due to his 2 and ability to get to the FT line that he has a pretty solid floor too.

[League Circles]

And by the way, I'd probably take Shai or Trae, in part because Shai will be a much better defender. And I think he'll be a better all around player. But he doesn't have the star potential of Trae.

I think SGA has even more star potential. And he's already a two way player. He's the top PG on my board. Has been for a while. I would be THRILLED if we came out of the draft with SGA and Carter.

If we drafted SGA would you make it a point to trade Dunn for a wing player or would you try and see if Dunn and SGA can play together?

[Chi town]

Mo Bamba will be a Chicago Bull

I wouldn't be upset with this. Bamba is a unique talent with rare length. He'll have to get stronger and develop more offensively, but he could potentially be dominant defensively. Between him and Markkanen, I feel like you have everything you could possibly want in a young frontcourt tandem.

Not me. In this NBA you can't be a one way defensive player. You can get away as a one way offensive player if you put up big numbers but not as a defensive player.

I don't buy Bamba's offense at all. Think he is a long term project.

I'd take Carter over him.

[Axolotl]

With his shooting and ability to draw fouls, I don't think Young will have trouble putting up points. His efficiency and overall game will really improve being surrounded by better players. His vision is also elite for an NBA prospect. I would only be mad if we took him before #7. After that, I'm all in on Trae Young.

This is exactly how I feel about Young too.

[thewraith]

Why is Trae Young considered an elite passer? Flashy doesn't equal elite, he averaged over 5 turnovers per game. He ranked 224th in the NCAA in assist turnover ratio.

You pick every player like that so what is your point? It's very few Lebrons and Shaqs

[Chi town]

A few thoughts on Trae Young

I don't believe in the Steph Curry comps. But I really do like the Steve Nash comps. He plays at a similar pace like Steve (with similar usage as well). Steph Curry's amazing ability to play off the ball isn't taken in account a lot of the time. Trae is a bit of a floater without the ball, never making cuts and never moving out of his spacing zones. Curry is incredibly active off the ball, weaving through screens, popping out on the weakside, or getting layups on give and goes.

Trae plays at his own pace, and has a boom/bust mentality when passing or shooting. Nash was kind of similar at the height of his run.

As for the defense. I think defense at the PG position is very overrated. The NBA is all about ball screens and using the Point Guard off of the pick/roll. As long as Trae doesn't allow guys to completely blow by him on the ball, or back cut him off the ball, he'll be fine for today's game. There will be times where bigger wings will do a pick/roll to get isolation on him (similar to what the Bulls did with Jimmy and IT during the Boston matchups), but he'll be fine if he puts on a little more weight and just competes.

I think he's a very boom or bust type of prospect and would benefit from a second ball handler (at the wing) and motion system that would work to get him open looks. To me, the Bulls are a pretty good fit because I think Dunn is a good compliment, and the Bulls run a lot of actions off the ball for shots. And having a creative point guard that changes the pull of the floor will help Lauri get more looks. But I have no idea what that would mean for LaVine.

Ultimately, I wouldn't hate the pick, but I think there are guys I like better than Young.

But he doesn't compete. I also think that PG defense is one of the most important in the league. Whether that be by the PG on the PG or in the PnR switch.

I like the Nash comp but I think he will be abused on defense. In the end I think his 3 ball, passing, and FTs will make him efficient enough to make up for it but I am fully expecting him to be near league worst defenders and negatively impact his team due to his D.

I do agree that he could fit next to Dunn and he would help Lauri alot IMO.

[Chi town]

And how do we feel about that?

I doubt he falls that far, but I'd be fine with him in the 7-9 range. Not necessarily my #1 choice, but we'd be fortunate if he fell that far. I like him more than Porter.

I do too. I think MPJ is going to fall out of the top 5. He looked to me like somebody who had back surgery last month not last year. Stiff as a board. I would be really worried about it regardless of what medical reports say. He has such limited experience against anyone but high school children, many of who aren't even playing college BB. He came in and was selfish as hell for two games. Never made his teammates better in HS. I watched the entire McD's game and he didn't really impress me at all despite being MVP. He couldn't finish over high schoolers except on a lob pass. He looked stiff to me even before his surgery.

I think MPJ is hyped fool's gold but I think some team will overdraft him and take him 4-5.

[Axolotl]

I'm not saying a bad defender can't be a pretty valuable player, I just think it absolutely has to be factored into the equation, and heavily.

Defence is factored in the equation about Young, and heavily. If it wasn't he'd be consensus top 3, and no one would blink if he went first.

[sh0ck]

A few thoughts on Trae Young

I don't believe in the Steph Curry comps. But I really do like the Steve Nash comps. He plays at a similar pace like Steve (with similar usage as well). Steph Curry's amazing ability to play off the ball isn't taken in account a lot of the time. Trae is a bit of a floater without the ball, never making cuts and never moving out of his spacing zones. Curry is incredibly active off the ball, weaving through screens, popping out on the weakside, or getting layups on give and goes.

Trae plays at his own pace, and has a boom/bust mentality when passing or shooting. Nash was kind of similar at the height of his run.

As for the defense. I think defense at the PG position is very overrated. The NBA is all about ball screens and using the Point Guard off of the pick/roll. As long as Trae doesn't allow guys to completely blow by him on the ball, or back cut him off the ball, he'll be fine for today's game. There will be times where bigger wings will do a pick/roll to get isolation on him (similar to what the Bulls did with Jimmy and IT during the Boston matchups), but he'll be fine if he puts on a little more weight and just competes.

I think he's a very boom or bust type of prospect and would benefit from a second ball handler (at the wing) and motion system that would work to get him open looks. To me, the Bulls are a pretty good fit because I think Dunn is a good compliment, and the Bulls run a lot of actions off the ball for shots. And having a creative point guard that changes the pull of the floor will help Lauri get more looks. But I have no idea what that would mean for LaVine.

Ultimately, I wouldn't hate the pick, but I think there are guys I like better than Young.

But he doesn't compete. I also think that PG defense is one of the most important in the league. Whether that be by the PG on the PG or in the PnR switch.

I like the Nash comp but I think he will be abused on defense. In the end I think his 3 ball, passing, and FTs will make him efficient enough to make up for it but I am fully expecting him to be near league worst defenders and negatively impact his team due to his D.

I do agree that he could fit next to Dunn and he would help Lauri alot IMO.

PG defense is no where near the importance of Wing defense and Big defense.

Granted it helps to have a good defender at PG to slow down the point of attack with opposing PGs, ultimately it is more important to protect the rim and stop the incredible isolation wings in this league (LeBron, Harden, KD).

Take a look at the elite PGs in this league. Very few of them are plus individual defenders.

Non-plus defenders - Lillard, Irving, Curry, Westbrook, and Kemba

Plus defenders - CP3

Average defenders - Lowry

[Benedict Miller]

He did what a lot of kids do nowadays which is stay back a class so he can go up against less physically mature competition in junior high and high school.

How do you know?

Read it somewhere a while back. If I can find the source I'll share it.

Ok then Danny Brown.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

A few thoughts on Trae Young

I don't believe in the Steph Curry comps. But I really do like the Steve Nash comps. He plays at a similar pace like Steve (with similar usage as well). Steph Curry's amazing ability to play off the ball isn't taken in account a lot of the time. Trae is a bit of a floater without the ball, never making cuts and never moving out of his spacing zones. Curry is incredibly active off the ball, weaving through screens, popping out on the weakside, or getting layups on give and goes.

Trae plays at his own pace, and has a boom/bust mentality when passing or shooting. Nash was kind of similar at the height of his run.

As for the defense. I think defense at the PG position is very overrated. The NBA is all about ball screens and using the Point Guard off of the pick/roll. As long as Trae doesn't allow guys to completely blow by him on the ball, or back cut him off the ball, he'll be fine for today's game. There will be times where bigger wings will do a pick/roll to get isolation on him (similar to what the Bulls did with Jimmy and IT during the Boston matchups), but he'll be fine if he puts on a little more weight and just competes.

I think he's a very boom or bust type of prospect and would benefit from a second ball handler (at the wing) and motion system that would work to get him open looks. To me, the Bulls are a pretty good fit because I think Dunn is a good compliment, and the Bulls run a lot of actions off the ball for shots. And having a creative point guard that changes the pull of the floor will help Lauri get more looks. But I have no idea what that would mean for LaVine.

Ultimately, I wouldn't hate the pick, but I think there are guys I like better than Young.

But he doesn't compete. I also think that PG defense is one of the most important in the league. Whether that be by the PG on the PG or in the PnR switch.

I like the Nash comp but I think he will be abused on defense. In the end I think his 3 ball, passing, and FTs will make him efficient enough to make up for it but I am fully expecting him to be near league worst defenders and negatively impact his team due to his D.

I do agree that he could fit next to Dunn and he would help Lauri alot IMO.

If we draft Trae and he pans out, I’ll be ready to flush Dunn like a dead goldfish. I don’t think they can share the court.

[Benedict Miller]

Porter Jr needs to get healthy, can't evaluate his college career, but I did see him get 10 boards. He's top 5 at least if healthy.

[thewraith]

Mo Bamba will be a Chicago Bull

I wouldn't be upset with this. Bamba is a unique talent with rare length. He'll have to get stronger and develop more offensively, but he could potentially be dominant defensively. Between him and Markkanen, I feel like you have everything you could possibly want in a young frontcourt tandem.

Not me. In this NBA you can't be a one way defensive player. You can get away as a one way offensive player if you put up big numbers but not as a defensive player.

I don't buy Bamba's offense at all. Think he is a long term project.

I'd take Carter over him.

Yeah I'm surprised about people wanting Rudy Gobert in the lottery lol. I think dude is going to be good on D but as a big man if you're not on some Embiid stuff as a big man your kinda lost right now unless you're Shaq dominant and I don't see that with Bamba. If we draft him I'll hope he does great of course as with anybody else we draft.

[TheSuzerain]

A few thoughts on Trae Young

I don't believe in the Steph Curry comps. But I really do like the Steve Nash comps. He plays at a similar pace like Steve (with similar usage as well). Steph Curry's amazing ability to play off the ball isn't taken in account a lot of the time. Trae is a bit of a floater without the ball, never making cuts and never moving out of his spacing zones. Curry is incredibly active off the ball, weaving through screens, popping out on the weakside, or getting layups on give and goes.

Trae plays at his own pace, and has a boom/bust mentality when passing or shooting. Nash was kind of similar at the height of his run.

As for the defense. I think defense at the PG position is very overrated. The NBA is all about ball screens and using the Point Guard off of the pick/roll. As long as Trae doesn't allow guys to completely blow by him on the ball, or back cut him off the ball, he'll be fine for today's game. There will be times where bigger wings will do a pick/roll to get isolation on him (similar to what the Bulls did with Jimmy and IT during the Boston matchups), but he'll be fine if he puts on a little more weight and just competes.

I think he's a very boom or bust type of prospect and would benefit from a second ball handler (at the wing) and motion system that would work to get him open looks. To me, the Bulls are a pretty good fit because I think Dunn is a good compliment, and the Bulls run a lot of actions off the ball for shots. And having a creative point guard that changes the pull of the floor will help Lauri get more looks. But I have no idea what that would mean for LaVine.

Ultimately, I wouldn't hate the pick, but I think there are guys I like better than Young.

But he doesn't compete. I also think that PG defense is one of the most important in the league. Whether that be by the PG on the PG or in the PnR switch.

I like the Nash comp but I think he will be abused on defense. In the end I think his 3 ball, passing, and FTs will make him efficient enough to make up for it but I am fully expecting him to be near league worst defenders and negatively impact his team due to his D.

I do agree that he could fit next to Dunn and he would help Lauri alot IMO.

I don't think you can call PG defense important when you look at the team success of Irving, Curry, Lillard, IT, Harden, Tony Parker, etc.

It's not meaningless, but it doesn't look that important. Certainly pales in comparison to the importance of PG offense.

[TheHrvReport]

I wouldn't be upset with this. Bamba is a unique talent with rare length. He'll have to get stronger and develop more offensively, but he could potentially be dominant defensively. Between him and Markkanen, I feel like you have everything you could possibly want in a young frontcourt tandem.

Not me. In this NBA you can't be a one way defensive player. You can get away as a one way offensive player if you put up big numbers but not as a defensive player.

I don't buy Bamba's offense at all. Think he is a long term project.

I'd take Carter over him.

Yeah I'm surprised about people wanting Rudy Gobert in the lottery lol. I think dude is going to be good on D but as a big man if you're not on some Embiid stuff as a big man your kinda lost right now unless you're Shaq dominant and I don't see that with Bamba. If we draft him I'll hope he does great of course as with anybody else we draft.

Gobert was top 18 in PER and top 15 in BPM last year...Bamba has the same defensive potential with more range (his shot mechanics are nice too). I'm definitely taking that player top 6-7. These types of players are not flashy but a lot of what they do and how they benefit teams doesn't show up in the box score. Having an elite defensive big man would do wonders for our team IMO.