2018 NBA Draft Talk

[nickhx2]

so like, how did the hawks fail so hard? still can't figure it out

[Ranma]

so like, how did the hawks fail so hard? still can't figure it out

I don't get it either. I'm a big believer in their new GM Travis Schlenk since I've previously advocated hard for him to be the Clippers' new GM as Doc's replacement in the role. The owners supposedly were pulling for Young while the front office staff were for Doncic. I was going to give him some slack as acquiescing to ownership's wishes, but that doesn't play off well for him either as a guy charged with turning things around. However, it's being reported that Schlenk was high on him all along.

Giving up Doncic for Young is a blunder even if you're getting a future first-round pick. I think the future pick is protected, to boot. Atlanta gave up what promises to be a true franchise player for a box-office draw who will likely not ever contribute to postseason success.

Kevin Huerter seems like a good pick at 19th overall but Chandler Hutchison, Anfernee Simons, and even Robert Williams were still on the board. Still, I can't fault them for going with Huerter since he's been a workout wonder and looks to be a great shooter with passing ability.

Omari Spellman seems like another decent pick as the last pick in the first round as a versatile glue guy who seems to contribute to winning teams.

Devonte Graham is supposed to exude leadership as an older PG prospect at the 34th overall pick in the second round but Khyri Thomas would have been the better call even as a SG who can handle playmaking duties. I'm not necessarily a fan of De'Anthony Melton's but he's supposedly a more skilled PG prospect. Plus, high-upside projects like Mitchell Robinson and Hamidou Diallo were both also on the board at that selection slot. Can't say I like Atlanta's decision at that spot.

[nickhx2]

shrug, guess he's just another awful gm.

while i'm still skeptical of robinson, at least i can trust this FO to make mostly positive moves. has to really suck being a hawks fan right now.

[Ranma]

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[Ranma]

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[Forte IV]

The more tape I see on Robinson the more okay I am in the pick

[nickhx2]

he had some sicko dunks and moves but i'm gonna cry if he turns out to be a trash tier defender

[Ranma]

Meanwhile, the Mavs are conducting a clinic in value drafting.

Walked in with the #5 and #33, walked out with the #2 overall talent and an outstanding glue guy who fits their system and philosophy perfectly (think JJ Barea).

As a Dallas resident, it's getting increasingly difficult not to like this team.

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[KXKriszna]

Is there any chance that we can get De'Anthony Melton (#46) from Houston Rockets?
This man is a beast on defense and would be a really good addition for a low price

[esqtvd]

so much for the

Buy into the 2nd round 39%

option on the poll in this thread. Unless I missed something, no picks were sold this year. The Sixers had 4 picks they have little room for and wanted future picks, not cash. They got a future 2nd rounder plus cash from the Lakers, 2 future 2nds from the Pistons, and traded 56 and 58 for the 54, drafting someone named Shake Milton.

Buying 2nd rounders may be a thing of the past. If you franchise is so cash-strapped you can't take a flier on your future, you're doing it wrong.

[Ranma]

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[ejftw]

Would've preferred to give our 19 Second (or that weirdly set up one) over 21, since 21 is when HS players may be able to declare, but it is what it is.

Cleveland one could be great if Bron bails out again.

[QRich3]

so like, how did the hawks fail so hard? still can't figure it out

According to Givony, the Hawks front office wanted Jaren Jackson but ownership forced them into Young to sell some jerseys, never a good situation to be in.

They obviously thought Doncic is not gonna be as good as a lot of people project, and if they think that, they got some good value out of the pick. But having ownership force you into a player solely for his commercial appeal is pretty awful. I'm still rooting for Young though.

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[clips4ever]

From Kawhi and Doncic to Jerome freaking Robinson. I'm just speechless at the ineptitude of this franchise. I guess this team is just never going to address the wing situation.

I totally agree with you about the end results being deflating. We were in play for Doncic, Kawhi (which would have likely led to LeBron), and any number of scenarios with talented players left on the board and we came away with just Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) and Jerome Robinson. I'm sorry but that is disappointing no matter how you slice it.

But you guys gotta understand that we certainly tried to conduct those trades but the buying price was way too high (Taking Parsons contract in exchange for Harris and the 2 picks for the 4th pick, even though Doncic went a pick before anyways). In the case of Kawhi, I think the Spurs keep him this offseason. They're very patient with him and they have no real reason to rush and trade him now, so that's not our fault either. We probably did the best we could do in terms of trades and ended up with our point guard of the future (regarded as the best PG this draft by many) and a guard that'll either develop into a smart JR Smith or a Klay Thompson with less defensive ability. We did well this draft so I'm happy with the results.

[QRich3]

I don't think we were ever in play for Doncic, we just didn't have enough stuff to offer an attractive package. Like, I'm sure we tried, but it was never a realistic idea. Might as well be upset we didn't trade for Steph Curry, you might want it all you can, it's just not possible to make it happen.

[KXKriszna]

At first I was shook. But with every hour I'm more happy with what we have. Sure it's a bit sad that PHX was able to get Mikal in exchange of Zhaire (who we could pick) and that we passed on guys like Lonnie or Holiday but look at the bright side. We have an amazing young PG in Shai who can become some kind of a "face" of our team and we got a complete player who maybe isn't TOP10 Prospect but he looks like someone who can become an amazing high IQ player.
Let's hope this duo becomes this teams future!
Shai x Jerome let's go!

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[Dloading99]

Surprised I think Jerry West slippin

I know you got your dude from Kentucky but how do you not Draft Michael Porter and I heard all the stuff about the back. but that dude can shoot the shlit out of the ball. he's a shooter. he's a 6-11 Klay Thompson and he's athletic.

Dude can flat out score. dude can score.

I thought the reason yall traded Blake was to try to get this guy. you don't get into the top of the Lottery and he falls to you and you don't draft that didn't get that.

I know West liked the dude from Boston College but over Micheal Porter??????? really. he was the consensious Number one pick before the Season. Gatorade player of the Year Mcdonlads MVP all American game. it's not like he forgot how to play basketball he came back and still looked good in the tournament.


And yall allow him to go to Denver. that Nugget team is going to be a beast in this conference Jamal Murray Gary Harris Will Barton Micehal Porter and Jokic that's a lot of three point shooting and spacing. a lot of pick and pop.

[Ranma]

But you guys gotta understand that we certainly tried to conduct those trades but the buying price was way too high (Taking Parsons contract in exchange for Harris and the 2 picks for the 4th pick, even though Doncic went a pick before anyways). In the case of Kawhi, I think the Spurs keep him this offseason. They're very patient with him and they have no real reason to rush and trade him now, so that's not our fault either. We probably did the best we could do in terms of trades and ended up with our point guard of the future (regarded as the best PG this draft by many) and a guard that'll either develop into a smart JR Smith or a Klay Thompson with less defensive ability. We did well this draft so I'm happy with the results.

Even if you factor out Doncic and Kawhi, this draft was disappointing given what was still left on the board when it was the Clippers' turns to pick. A good rule of thumb is that you always draft best player available (BPA) regardless of need, especially in the lottery. This is particularly true with a draft class that was considered deep. In this area of the draft board, we should have been looking for prospects with more star potential, especially given the lack of such players the team currently has. It's not like the Clippers are just one or two players away from competing for a championship right now.

I'll have to expand in more detail my opinion on the matter given how late it is at the moment, but neither Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jerome Robinson were considered to have the significant upside of a star player. SGA is more likely than Robinson to become one, but at this juncture, there were other prospects with higher ceilings such as Michael Porter, Jr., Zhaire Smith, Lonnie Walker IV, and I'll even argue Anfernee Simons, There are question marks and trade-offs that push each of those prospects either up or down the draft board, but suffice to say, that there would be less objections had we traded down and selected Robinson with a late first-round pick than a lottery selection.

For some reason, I also thought of J.R. Smith when I'm reading about Robinson, but they're not comparable. Smith was a McDonald's All-American who had tremendous athleticism. His attitude and shot-selection devalued him as a prospect. And these comparisons of Robinson to Donovan Mitchell I'm seeing elsewhere are downright lazy wishful thinking. Again, Robinson is not nearly the athlete Mitchell is and, conversely, Mitchell isn't the shooter that Robinson portends to be just yet. Mitchell impressed and skyrocketed up draft boards in limited fashion because he made drastic improvements to his overall game in a rather short period of time during the pre-draft process. Robinson is being judged mostly on what he's shown during his college career with glimpses during workouts that showed parts of his game that weren't showcased previously.

[clips4ever]

But you guys gotta understand that we certainly tried to conduct those trades but the buying price was way too high (Taking Parsons contract in exchange for Harris and the 2 picks for the 4th pick, even though Doncic went a pick before anyways). In the case of Kawhi, I think the Spurs keep him this offseason. They're very patient with him and they have no real reason to rush and trade him now, so that's not our fault either. We probably did the best we could do in terms of trades and ended up with our point guard of the future (regarded as the best PG this draft by many) and a guard that'll either develop into a smart JR Smith or a Klay Thompson with less defensive ability. We did well this draft so I'm happy with the results.

Even if you factor out Doncic and Kawhi, this draft was disappointing given what was still left on the board when it ws the Clippers' turns to pick. A good rule of thumb is that you always draft best player available (BPA) regardless of need, especially in the lottery. This is particularly true with a draft class that was considered deep. In this area of the draft board, we should have been looking for prospects with more star potential, especially given the lack of such players the team currently has. It's not like the Clippers are just one or two players away from competing for a championship right now.

I'll have to expand in more detail my opinion on the matter given how late it is at the moment, but neither Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jerome Robinson were considered to have the significant upside of a star player. SGA is more likely than Robinson to become one, but at this juncture, there were other prospects with higher ceilings such as Michael Porter, Jr., Zhaire Smith, Lonnie Walker IV, and I'll even argue Anfernee Simons, There are question marks and trade-offs that push each of those prospects either up or down the draft board, but suffice to say, that there would be less objections had we traded down and selected Robinson with a late first-round pick than a lottery selection.

For some reason, I also thought of J.R. Smith when I'm reading about Robinson, but they're not comparable. Smith was a McDonald's All-American who had tremendous athleticism. His attitude and shot-selection devalued him as a prospect. And these comparisons of Robinson to Donovan Mitchell I'm seeing elsewhere are downright lazy wishful thinking. Again, Robinson is not nearly the athlete Mitchell is and, conversely, Mitchell isn't the shooter that Robinson portends to be just yet. Mitchell impressed and skyrocketed up draft boards in limited fashion because he made drastic improvements to his overall game in a rather short period of time during the pre-draft process. Robinson is being judged mostly on what he's shown during his college career with glimpses during workouts that showed parts of his game that weren't showcased previously.

The Doc as GM Clippers would've drafted Porter Jr. We don't know what's going on with his injuries but they're more severe than public portrayal. Wouldn't be surprised if he misses summer league. Walker's injury reports also scared off teams but to me, there's no reason to be "disappointed" or mad about this pick at all. Anyone who was closely following the Clippers the days before the draft already had in mind that Robinson was a very probable pick for the Clips at 13. And ya, of course he's being judged mostly on his college career and workouts. Isn't that what the entire draft is about? He's not really JR Smith in the sense that Robinson is one of the highest IQ players in the draft and subsequently, a much better passer and decision maker. Can play point with Beverley and shooting guard with SGA. Sure, he's not crazy athletic or anything but he is certainly athletic enough to blow by defenders and finish above the rim. Think Jamal Murray in that sense. I agree with you that he's not really similar to Mitchell but maybe Robinson also made drastic improvements to his game during the pre-draft process. In fact, that's the most probable reason that he jumped on draft boards. At this point, it's obvious that we are not retaining Milos and Bradley and probably trading away Williams for a wing player when we are eligible to. Robinson's floor is high and at worst he'll be a servicable 18 ppg scorer in the league. No reason to be mad about this pick at all

[wco81]

Lot of guards now.

Sounds like Evans, Wallace and Teodosic may not figure to be on the roster?