2020 NBA Draft Thread: Bulls pick 4th!

[nomorezorro]

any reason there's not more interest in vassell here? obviously shot creation is a skill this team badly needs, but i think "elite wing defender with high bbiq who can also shoot" is a pretty valuable piece if he pans out in the league.

and, like, i get that he's a "low ceiling" player, but also...is "devin vassell adding an off-the-bounce game" really more implausible than "lamelo ball learning how to shoot" or "deni avidja developing one elite skill" or whatever else the top prospects in our range need to do to pan out as legit stars

[FriedRise]

All these prospects with big glaring holes in their games from shooting, FT%, low number of games played (Wiseman only played 3 games), that I’d rather that we just trade down and get more assets: either get more stabs at this draft in mid/late range or for future picks.

[LikeMike23]

He got those 25 points on 28 shots and with those 9 assists he had 6 turnovers. Also his team lost.

LaMelo Ball had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.7-to-1 in Australia, which is damn good. His playmaking ability is unmatched in this draft. People aren't comparing him to Luka Doncic for nothing.

https://www.theringer.com/2020/8/20/21376264/2020-nba-draft-lottery-lamelo-ball-killian-hayes

Also, talking about his team lost is ridiculous. His team lost because it was a bad team. Good professional teams aren't bringing in high school players to play significant minutes.

Good assist to TO ratio, but in scouting video on him, one of his weaknesses is that his decision making is very bad at times. He launches deep 3's early in the shot clock. He tries too many fancy passes. Takes too many floaters instead of going to the rim. Doesn't get to the FT line. These are the kinds of things that he may grow out of, if he's coachable. Or he may not, and that is what makes me hesitant on him. A lot will depend on his attitude and if he's willing to change his game or if instead he's going to say "this is the way I play, take it or leave it".

I agree with this. LaMelo could improve his scoring efficiency and overall game drastically if he just made better decisions with the ball.

[SfBull]

Out of curiosity, why is Cole Anthony so low on projections? I’m guessing because of the knee injury?

Before that I swear he was a top 5 guy in this draft.

He was top 5 before the beginning of the College season.

Yeah, so outside of the injury (which is a legitimate reason to move him down) what did we see from him on college to make him a late lottery pick now?

He didn't play so we'll for being a top 5 pick not even top 10.

[SfBull]

yeah no ****.

But if you're picking a developmental guy, then why not pick someone with an A-tier athletic profile?

Why not pick a young prospect with a high ceiling?This will be a 2 player draft, weaker than last year's with Zion/Morant so we're free for getting a project.

They're all young prospects. It's a draft!

Does Deni have the highest ceiling at our pick?

From what I seen (which is a somewhat limited sample) my bet for players with higher ceiling besides Edwards and Wiseman would be Avidja and Okoro.I didn't like what I saw from Cole Anthony or Haliburton ( for me White is better), didn't watch a game from Toppin ,just highlights.
I have followed Avidja since last season , didn't watch any game from him but many highlights.
Watched only highlights from Hayes ,not excited about picking him.
I won't compare Avidja's game with Doncic's but I believe he has the skills for being a good player and won't be surprised if he goes higher than #4.

[SfBull]

Mock
https://www.nbadraft.net/

[LateNight]

any reason there's not more interest in vassell here? obviously shot creation is a skill this team badly needs, but i think "elite wing defender with high bbiq who can also shoot" is a pretty valuable piece if he pans out in the league.

and, like, i get that he's a "low ceiling" player, but also...is "devin vassell adding an off-the-bounce game" really more implausible than "lamelo ball learning how to shoot" or "deni avidja developing one elite skill" or whatever else the top prospects in our range need to do to pan out as legit stars

I like vassell a lot. Nesmith. I think Okoro seems promising.

Toppin has some interesting stats (shooting % and Box +/-) but his defensive awareness and motor concerns are a little worrying.

I’m not sold on any of the top 3 point guards.

Because I think some prospects in this draft are underrated, I think it might be interesting to see if we could trade Lauri or Young to pick up another pick in the late lotto / middle. Would love to see what AK does with two shots at it. But I have no idea if those trades are there.

[Chi town]

yeah no ****.

But if you're picking a developmental guy, then why not pick someone with an A-tier athletic profile?

Why not pick a young prospect with a high ceiling?This will be a 2 player draft, weaker than last year's with Zion/Morant so we're free for getting a project.

They're all young prospects. It's a draft!

Does Deni have the highest ceiling at our pick?

Him or Okoro. Okoro based on athleticism and positional value.

[kodo]

The Ringer updated their mock draft, has CHI taking Ball.

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/

CBS mock is up as well.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2020-nba-mock-draft-timberwolves-take-anthony-edwards-with-no-1-pick-after-winning-nba-draft-lottery/

Code: Select all

Ringer         CBS
1. Edwards     1. Edwards
2. Wiseman     2. Ball
3. Avdija      3. Wiseman
4. Ball        4. Avdija


Israeli star Deni Avdija is a point forward-type prospect with great playmaking skills who could help alleviate the offensive load in Chi-town. He's also been a winner everywhere he's been. At just 19 years old, he's a two-time Israeli League champion, Israeli League MVP, and a two-time FIBA European champ. With Chicago's recent front-office shakeup, it wouldn't be surprising to see them gravitate towards his upside. He finished the season on a high note for Maccabi Tel Aviv and has improved both as a scorer and with his physicality in recent months.

[85Bears]

Not gonna lie, Obi would be a real fun pick. Why couldn’t he line up at the SF spot?

Zach
Coby
Obi
Lauri
Wendell

Who cares about D. Let them run.

Plus Coby to Obi sounds great.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NecessaryEvil]

Final predictions for tomorrow night :

Bulls move into the top 5

GSW pick within the top 2

[JimmyJammer]

Not gonna lie, Obi would be a real fun pick. Why couldn’t he line up at the SF spot?

Zach
Coby
Obi
Lauri
Wendell

Who cares about D. Let them run.

Plus Coby to Obi sounds great.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I did not watch enough college games to make any deduction regarding Toppin, but it sounds like he might be another Jabari Parker based on scouting reports and highlights I have seen. He is a guy who is athletic who can play inside and outside, but with terrible defense. At least Jabari was young enough when he came into the league but Toppin is already 22 which kind of worries me about his ceiling and shelf life.

[JimmyJammer]

Wasn't it the combine or workouts when Ja really caught people's attention and made his case for 2nd overall pick? Maybe it's eyes on the combine...


Sent from somewhere you’ve never been.

Nope, Ja took his game to another level in the ncaa tournament, and that took a lot of people by surprise.

[Leslie Forman]

I did not watch enough college games to make any deduction regarding Toppin, but it sounds like he might be another Jabari Parker based on scouting reports and highlights I have seen. He is a guy who is athletic who can play inside and outside, but with terrible defense. At least Jabari was young enough when he came into the league but Toppin is already 22 which kind of worries me about his ceiling and shelf life.

Jabari without the ACL tears is probably having a pretty good career right now, though.

Toppin is older but his path so far is not unlike Jimmy Butler's. Had to do the prep school/juco thing, then redshirted, and then blew up in college. So maybe the age is actually an artificial stock reducer for him that makes him a dark horse?

[Chi town]

I did not watch enough college games to make any deduction regarding Toppin, but it sounds like he might be another Jabari Parker based on scouting reports and highlights I have seen. He is a guy who is athletic who can play inside and outside, but with terrible defense. At least Jabari was young enough when he came into the league but Toppin is already 22 which kind of worries me about his ceiling and shelf life.

Jabari without the ACL tears is probably having a pretty good career right now, though.

Toppin is older but his path so far is not unlike Jimmy Butler's. Had to do the prep school/juco thing, then redshirted, and then blew up in college. So maybe the age is actually an artificial stock reducer for him that makes him a dark horse?

He’s a big. Not a wing. Can’t create.

IMO he’s John Collins with less D. Good player with upside but def not a player that will put you over the top in this NBA.

Deni, Okoro, and Hayes all have an upside and positional value that if they reach their ceiling they could be your franchise player and lead handler. I don’t think any of them get there but they could get close.

Hayes could be Conley

Okoro could be Jimmy

Deni could be Tatumish/MPJ with playmaking

[305bullsfan]

any reason there's not more interest in vassell here? obviously shot creation is a skill this team badly needs, but i think "elite wing defender with high bbiq who can also shoot" is a pretty valuable piece if he pans out in the league.

and, like, i get that he's a "low ceiling" player, but also...is "devin vassell adding an off-the-bounce game" really more implausible than "lamelo ball learning how to shoot" or "deni avidja developing one elite skill" or whatever else the top prospects in our range need to do to pan out as legit stars

As a FSU alumn I am wondering this too. I know he is not a sexy name from a football school, but in a draft that doesnt have a sure thing at any pick, and so much boom/bust potential, maybe the most solid player is the way to go (perhaps at 4 is why people think its a reach, which I can see). Only 19, improved from freshman to sophmore year, 3 and d guy, good character, room to improve. While he will never be a #1 option (and borderline 2nd), he is the type of player all contenders need. He could be a better version of Deng and hopefully soon we can find out our Drose superstar to go along with him.

[Dresden]

What's the difference between Halliburton and Hayes?

[Leslie Forman]

IMO he’s John Collins with less D.

Not sure that's really possible.

Hayes could be Conley

Okoro could be Jimmy

Deni could be Tatumish/MPJ with playmaking

And Corey Benjamin could have been Michael Jordan.

IDK, this draft is garbo so I'm looking for what things are the most frivolous/easy to overcome for the top guys, and age just might be that in Toppin's case. At least at the college level, he plays kinda like how people wish Markkanen did.

[Dan Z]

What about trading the pick? Is there any move that make sense? Or is it just better to keep it?

[Chi town]

What about trading the pick? Is there any move that make sense? Or is it just better to keep it?

Given the salary cap going down and money getting tighter I think AK will keep it. He’s already mentioned rookie contract scales.

If we move it then I think it’s trading down to pick up an asset and getting their guy.