2020 NBA Draft - We have a FRP!....for now

[DayofMourning]

Really warming up to Saddiq Bey. Kid is really good. Wonder where he will go.

[DayofMourning]

This is one of the more extensive draft breakdown mocks I've seen:

https://www.lineups.com/articles/nba-mock-draft-guide-2020/

[DayofMourning]

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/

[puppa bear]

This is one of the more extensive draft breakdown mocks I've seen:

https://www.lineups.com/articles/nba-mock-draft-guide-2020/

Great find! Thanks for posting - it should keep me reading for a bit

[Wiltside]

That was an interesting read (Lineups), got me thinking about some additional prospects I hadn't really thought of.

Gonna do some further reading and video analysis before commenting further though.

[HeatIn5]

Thoughts on Jaden McDaniels?

[DayofMourning]

Thoughts on Jaden McDaniels?

Zero interest.

[HeatIn5]

Thoughts on Jaden McDaniels?

Zero interest.

Ok cool

[twix2500]

Thoughts on Jaden McDaniels?

I think he is interesting. Thou I never watched him play besides highlights. Need to make him a better ball handler. He could be a true stretch scoring 4 like Odom.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[DayofMourning]

Thoughts on Jaden McDaniels?

Zero interest.

Ok cool

• Still improving 3-point shooter
• Half-court offense needs work, especially off-ball play (motion)
• Struggles to finish through contact at the rim
• Settles for contested pull-ups too often, even in transition
• Can improve with scoring off-the-dribble
• Needs to be more assertive, learn to draw and finish through contact
• Raw post-game, needs work, struggles to get to the rim
• Telegraphs passes at times, overly turnover-prone
• Skinny – needs to put on muscle, thin frame so may not be possible
• Isn’t tough enough to exploit smaller defenders with drives/post-ups
• Makes bad decisions – hurls his body into a crowd instead of kicking out
• Inefficient offensively – negative OBPM, 52.2% true shooting

Overall, he seems to be an inefficient low IQ big man who plays small.

[Wiltside]

Alright, my initial thoughts, based on us picking around the #23 we are at currently.

A few guys I like following my initial reading and video highlight watching...

Patrick Williams, 18.8yrs old, SF/PF, 6'8", 225lbs, FSU
Current rankings: #28 (Tankathon), #8 (NBADraftroom), #14 (USAToday), #11 (Lineups), #15 (NBADraft.net)
Why I like him:
Young, athletic wing with a good physical profile and long wingspan. Put up modest numbers for FSU in limited game time (9ppg, 4rpg, 1spg, 1blk, 22mpg), but flashes a nice overall skillset. Can shoot the three, has plus athleticism and defensive switchability. May be a little redundant if we want to give KZ those backup 3/4 mins next season, and depends on what we do with DJJ in the offseason as to whether this would make sense. Also uncertain on whether he will even be there, given the wide opinions on him above. Seems a lotto talent that someone would gamble on, unfortunately.

Saddiq Bey, 21yrs old, SF, 6'8", 216lbs, Villanova
Current rankings: #18 (Tankathon), #17 (NBADraftroom), #13 (USAToday), #16 (Lineups), #28 (NBADraft.net)
Why I like him:
Prototypical 3&D prospect. At 21, he's ready to play now. Can legit shoot - averaged 2.5 treys per game on 45% from deep. Low turnover numbers and got better as the year went on offensively. Unfortunately, also looks like he will fall outside of our draft range given players with his physical profile and skillset will be highly in demand. Late lotto looks likely (how's that for alliteration).

Mamadi Diakite, 23yrs old, PF/C, 6'9", 230lbs, Virginia
Current ranlings: Unranked (Tankathon), #28 (NBADraftroom), #48 (USA Today), #25 (Lineups), #52 (NBADraft.net)
Why I like him:
He really wasn't on my radar at all until I read that Lineups write up on him. 7'3" wingspan, decent size although skillset fits more at the 5 spot. Is older which will count against him on Draft night, but has only been playing basketball for 5 years - so there could be untapped upside there. Has improved every year at Virginia numbers-wise, and has begun to show stretch 5 potential - shot 36% on 0.7 treys per game 1.8 attempts. Athletic and a decent shot blocker (1.3 and 1.7 per the past 2 seasons). Turnover issues seem to be down to the fact he tries to do too much, which is probably a sign of him being newer to the game and correctable. May be someone we look at if we trade back out of the first round and into the early second, as we are prone to do.

Looking at the really wide mock draft rankings, it's hard to get a read on whether this is realistic or not. The draft is super even across the board, ultimately it will end up on how teams rank the individual players and what they need (sounds stupid, isn't it always!?)

Likely to be plenty of dealing in this one for teams to get the guy they want.

For the record, each of these draft sites have us taking the following at present:

Tankathon: Jalen Smith, PF/C, Maryland
NBADraftroom: Jalen Smith, PF/C, Maryland
USAToday: Jahmi'us Ramsey, SG, Texas Tech
Lineups: Aleksej Pokusevski, PF, Serbia
NBADraft.net: Reggie Perry, PF, Mississippi State

[DayofMourning]

I'm down with any of those mocks Wilt, cept for Ramsey.

On another note, nbadraft.net pulled another goofy comparison out of the hat. Onyekas NBA comp was John Collins. I can see what they were attempting somewhat as an oop target on O, but there's probably not a worse comparison defensively.

[HeatIn5]

I'm down with any of those mocks Wilt, cept for Ramsey.

On another note, nbadraft.net pulled another goofy comparison out of the hat. Onyekas NBA comp was John Collins. I can see what they were attempting somewhat as an oop target on O, but there's probably not a worse comparison defensively.

idk why, but Ramsey kinda reminds me of a knock off Walmart Westbrook.

[HeatIn5]

Hmmm Jalen Smith and Bam would make such an interesting front court.

[DayofMourning]

Hmmm Jalen Smith and Bam would make such an interesting front court.

Though Jalen has been railed on for being too skinny, I actually like his frame quite a bit. He looks like he can add some quality muscle naturally. He has a good looking jumper and a lot of energy. I think he could grow into a real good player. Maybe not a superstar, but a great complement to Bam at minimum.

[twix2500]

I really like Grant Riller. I would like to know how he looks in workouts against higher level players. If he looks just as effective and quick, I would target him somewhere in the draft. I am not sure how he looks defensively, but offensively he looks to have elite quickness and creativity and is a gamer. His experience may allow him to immediately be ready to play. He is very similar to Nunn, but more of a ball handler and less of a shooter.

[HeatIn5]

I really like Grant Riller. I would like to know how he looks in workouts against higher level players. If he looks just as effective and quick, I would target him somewhere in the draft. I am not sure how he looks defensively, but offensively he looks to have elite quickness and creativity and is a gamer. His experience may allow him to immediately be ready to play. He is very similar to Nunn, but more of a ball handler and less of a shooter.

Funny you mention him I was reading about him yesterday in the draft forum.

Do you like him more than Kira Lewis and Nico Mannion?

Going to go watch some film now.

[twix2500]

I really like Grant Riller. I would like to know how he looks in workouts against higher level players. If he looks just as effective and quick, I would target him somewhere in the draft. I am not sure how he looks defensively, but offensively he looks to have elite quickness and creativity and is a gamer. His experience may allow him to immediately be ready to play. He is very similar to Nunn, but more of a ball handler and less of a shooter.

Funny you mention him I was reading about him yesterday in the draft forum.

Do you like him more than Kira Lewis and Nico Mannion?

Going to go watch some film now.

Can't say I like him better, because I haven't watched a single college game last season. Im making my judgement by highlights. However I'm kind equal on all 3. They have their pros and cons. Lewis seems more of a project but the most talented of the 3. Mannion more poised and heralded. Riller is mature and cat quick, but lack experience in level of comp.

The stepien really likes him
https://www.thestepien.com/2020/03/30/case-grant-riller/

[HeatIn5]

Just went back and watched a bunch of film today -

We're in a great spot because we have young talent, but I think we have 3 serious needs on the horizon -

1. A backup PG (assuming we either don't resign Goran or only sign him to a 1 year deal, we have a history when we have big money teams of getting young cheap PGs - Alston, Chalmers, Cole, Napier, Nunn and Im surely missing some)

2. A complimentary big to Bam - If we are getting Giannis/AD or a big fish, this may not be as big of a need. If we are getting Beal/Dipo, this is VITAL in our serious contention. Meyers and Kelly are not going to cut it when things get serious. We seriously need to upgrade here.

3. 3&D Wings - Crazy to think that with the team we had this year but there is a chance we lose Crowder, Iggy, and DJJ. even if we lose 2 out of 3 and KZ steps up a bit, I think you still need another guy.

here are my current top 10 rankings for us (players in our range) on 6/21 with now 4 months till the draft -


1. Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona
2. Jalen Smith, F/C, Maryland
3. Kira Lewis, PG, Alabama
4. Jahmi'us Ramsey, PG, Texas Tech
5. Vernon Carey, F/C, Duke
6. Cassius Winston, PG, Michigan State
7. Saddiq Bey, F, Villanova
8. Grant Riller, PG, Charleston
9. Patrick Williams, F, Florida State
10. Aleksej Pokusevski, F/C, Serbia

[HeatIn5]

Watch on YouTube

Watching Jalen Smith against Luka Garza really makes me consider moving him to 1.