2020 NBA Draft Prospects: Thread II

[minimus]

But again, my main concern is that Toppin is older than other prospects, in Dayton he played as a bigman and he was bigger, faster than opponents. I just don't see how his skills will translate him into modern PF. He is more a С to me.

I disagree. I think he's only scratching the surface. Offensively, I feel like he's Aaron Gordon with a jump shot. Those types of athletic traits plus his decent skill level would translate just fine to the PF in Minnesota's system.

1) Aaron Gordon is an elite level athlete, I think he is severely underrated on this board. I dont think is Toppin is one the same level.

Aaron Gordon, of all people, could use what's become a somewhat pointless NBA Draft Combine to help his draft stock. Everyone knew he could dunk, and his 39-inch vertical leap and 32.5-inch standing vertical were respectively first and second among big men. His max vertical was eighth amongst all combine attendees, not far off guard Nick Johnson's 41.5-inch jump, which was tied with Glenn Robinson III and second-best to Oklahoma State's Markel Brown and Arizona State's Jahii Carson.

During the combine on Friday, Gordon completely cleared the stick on his max vertical attempt, forcing the staff working the event to put the sticks on stools. That's scary.

But it's everything else that could have NBA general managers swooning over the former Arizona Wildcats forward. At 6-foot-8.75, Gordon was seventh overall with a 10.81 second time the lane agility drill, which was just behind Johnson's 10.8 flat and the only top-10 time by a non-guard.

Best of all, Gordon put in a 2.76 second time in the shuttle that was better than any other player at the combine (the wings had not yet gone); better than Zach LaVine's 2.8 time or Tyler Ennis' 2.84.

What's all that mean?

For a power forward who is the youngest player in the draft, it shows that Gordon has the athletic ability to defend a wide range of players, and that's been one of the biggest selling points.

2) If we project him as uber-athletic big like Amare Stoudemire we need to use him in the way MDA used Amare:

Amare-Marion-Hill-Bell-Nash or Amare-Marion-Richardson-JJ-Nash

[KGdaBom]

We need to draft Toppin for the inevitable Obi Juan Okogie memes from the TimberTrolls

It would be great to corner the market of Star Wars nicknames.

[Mattya]

Well, I don't know where are you from, but I am not American, where I live there are a pro basket team in a better league than Australian one and it sucks if you compare it with NBA.

And before the Australian league where he played? The Lithuanian one? Come on.

I will give him credit if he would had played in Real Madrid, Barcelona or European teams like that, not hiding in low level leagues to show some stats and highlight against semipro opponents.

I prefer to bring Campazzo to the NBA and draft Edward's or Wiseman.

Of course the league sucks in comparison to the NBA. Every league sucks in comparison to the NBA.

My point is very clear, only have to read the whole text.

I read the whole thing. I just don’t agree. Especially when we are comparing him to college players.

[urinesane]

Lol, why isn't Mattya on all your block lists?

You'll get nowhere interacting with him.

This forum is much easier to read without him constantly picking fights with people.

[Jedzz]

We need to draft Toppin for the inevitable Obi Juan Okogie memes from the TimberTrolls

Need to trade for Ben Simmons to complete this.

[Jedzz]

Not trying to pick any fights, but I am surprised 13 people have fallen for Ball in the poll. Granted, the poll only having 3 choices sort of bites.

[_AIJ_]

If we pick big one our 1st pick, would you pick rj hampton with the 17th pick?


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[Mattya]

Lol, why isn't Mattya on all your block lists?

You'll get nowhere interacting with him.

This forum is much easier to read without him constantly picking fights with people.

Love you too sport.

[KGdaBom]

If we pick big one our 1st pick, would you pick rj hampton with the 17th pick?


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I wouldn't hate it.

[Klomp]

If we pick big one our 1st pick, would you pick rj hampton with the 17th pick?

Wouldn't be my first choice, but it might present one of the highest ceilings available at that pick. Whether or not he reaches that ceiling is another story, but it's a kind of value pick I could see this front office making.

[Neeva]

1. Ball (at 1 or trade down with charlotte) , 17. Maxey or Hampton or Anthony, 33. Isaiah Joe, or Cassius Stanley or Leandro Bolmaro would be a homerun draft night.

[Rookie-Mistake]

Anyone on here getting those Jonny Flynn vibes with Edwards? I've been watching some YouTube videos of both and see similarities.. stats look similar.. the hype is definitely there.. you could almost argue that if Flynn were in this draft, he would be top 3 consideration.

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[Worm Guts]

Maybe if Flynn was bigger, he was sub 6 feet without shoes. Flynn had hype from a great Big East tournament, Edwards has hype from being a highly rated pro prospect since HS.

[Klomp]

If he falls out of the lottery, Cole Anthony is gonna be a downright steal for someone!

[Klomp]

Good analysis from SI in their just-released big board:

The case for Edwards at No. 1 centers on the likelihood he’ll eventually anchor a team’s offense. He has the tools and skills to do it, and while he made plenty of freshman mistakes in his lone season at Georgia, there were moments of offensive brilliance during which he looked like a potential star. The primary question is whether his decision-making struggles stem simply from inexperience, or if there’s a deeper issue with feel and on-court processing that may hamper his team success if deployed in a high-use capacity. But Edwards played only three years of high school basketball at a small high school before reclassifying, and he consistently flashes the ability to see and complete some impressive passes while going downhill, and the context leaves some room for optimism. While he was at times an uninterested defender, he has the physical capacity to defend opposing ballhandlers late in games, and given how much was asked of him on offense as an 18-year-old freshman it’s hard to hold him to a ridiculous standard on that end. Edwards will require time and patience, but the ceiling here is substantial.

https://www.si.com/nba/2020/09/16/2020-nba-draft-big-board-updated-top-80-rankings

[Jedzz]

Good analysis from SI in their just-released big board:

The case for Edwards at No. 1 centers on the likelihood he’ll eventually anchor a team’s offense. He has the tools and skills to do it, and while he made plenty of freshman mistakes in his lone season at Georgia, there were moments of offensive brilliance during which he looked like a potential star. The primary question is whether his decision-making struggles stem simply from inexperience, or if there’s a deeper issue with feel and on-court processing that may hamper his team success if deployed in a high-use capacity. But Edwards played only three years of high school basketball at a small high school before reclassifying, and he consistently flashes the ability to see and complete some impressive passes while going downhill, and the context leaves some room for optimism. While he was at times an uninterested defender, he has the physical capacity to defend opposing ballhandlers late in games, and given how much was asked of him on offense as an 18-year-old freshman it’s hard to hold him to a ridiculous standard on that end. Edwards will require time and patience, but the ceiling here is substantial.

https://www.si.com/nba/2020/09/16/2020-nba-draft-big-board-updated-top-80-rankings

This is why it would be wise to give him a few years of bench minutes around 15-20 mins max to slowly get acclimated while constantly being taught what is best by his coaches and the starters in front of him showing how to get things done the right way.

Or you could go the Minnesota classic route and start him for 36+ minutes for his first 328 games and see if he improves play slowly through trial and error over years. You can see how an amazing talent like Simmons hasn't changed in three seasons of constant starts. No improvement on what he could already do coming in. So other teams make this mistake as well when these players are drafted so high. Teams feel the pressure to start them regardless of what they really need to reach their best play the fastest way.

[CptCrunch]

Good analysis from SI in their just-released big board:

The case for Edwards at No. 1 centers on the likelihood he’ll eventually anchor a team’s offense. He has the tools and skills to do it, and while he made plenty of freshman mistakes in his lone season at Georgia, there were moments of offensive brilliance during which he looked like a potential star. The primary question is whether his decision-making struggles stem simply from inexperience, or if there’s a deeper issue with feel and on-court processing that may hamper his team success if deployed in a high-use capacity. But Edwards played only three years of high school basketball at a small high school before reclassifying, and he consistently flashes the ability to see and complete some impressive passes while going downhill, and the context leaves some room for optimism. While he was at times an uninterested defender, he has the physical capacity to defend opposing ballhandlers late in games, and given how much was asked of him on offense as an 18-year-old freshman it’s hard to hold him to a ridiculous standard on that end. Edwards will require time and patience, but the ceiling here is substantial.

https://www.si.com/nba/2020/09/16/2020-nba-draft-big-board-updated-top-80-rankings

This is why it would be wise to give him a few years of bench minutes around 15-20 mins max to slowly get acclimated while constantly being taught what is best by his coaches and the starters in front of him showing how to get things done the right way.

Or you could go the Minnesota classic route and start him for 36+ minutes for his first 328 games and see if he improves play slowly through trial and error over years. You can see how an amazing talent like Simmons hasn't changed in three seasons of constant starts. No improvement on what he could already do coming in. So other teams make this mistake as well when these players are drafted so high. Teams feel the pressure to start them regardless of what they really need to reach their best play the fastest way.

You want to bench a #1 pick for developmental reasons?

Very 'unlucky' that MIN won the lotto in a year that you even consider benching the #1 pick.

[TheProdigy]

Good analysis from SI in their just-released big board:

The case for Edwards at No. 1 centers on the likelihood he’ll eventually anchor a team’s offense. He has the tools and skills to do it, and while he made plenty of freshman mistakes in his lone season at Georgia, there were moments of offensive brilliance during which he looked like a potential star. The primary question is whether his decision-making struggles stem simply from inexperience, or if there’s a deeper issue with feel and on-court processing that may hamper his team success if deployed in a high-use capacity. But Edwards played only three years of high school basketball at a small high school before reclassifying, and he consistently flashes the ability to see and complete some impressive passes while going downhill, and the context leaves some room for optimism. While he was at times an uninterested defender, he has the physical capacity to defend opposing ballhandlers late in games, and given how much was asked of him on offense as an 18-year-old freshman it’s hard to hold him to a ridiculous standard on that end. Edwards will require time and patience, but the ceiling here is substantial.

https://www.si.com/nba/2020/09/16/2020-nba-draft-big-board-updated-top-80-rankings

This is why it would be wise to give him a few years of bench minutes around 15-20 mins max to slowly get acclimated while constantly being taught what is best by his coaches and the starters in front of him showing how to get things done the right way.

Or you could go the Minnesota classic route and start him for 36+ minutes for his first 328 games and see if he improves play slowly through trial and error over years. You can see how an amazing talent like Simmons hasn't changed in three seasons of constant starts. No improvement on what he could already do coming in. So other teams make this mistake as well when these players are drafted so high. Teams feel the pressure to start them regardless of what they really need to reach their best play the fastest way.

I think it's a mistake to decide how much playing time or what kind of role you're going to give a rookie before they even get drafted. It usually makes sense to start guys off slowly and then build up their minutes as they get more comfortable and hopefully earn a bigger role. I'm not a fan of throwing a guy like Culver into a big role as a rookie that he's unprepared for. Other guys like Zion, Luka, and Morant are ready from day 1 and earn an expanded role early on. We need to take it on a case by case basis and that applies to whoever we draft at #1.

[Baseline81]

I think it's a mistake to decide how much playing time or what kind of role you're going to give a rookie before they even get drafted. It usually makes sense to start guys off slowly and then build up their minutes as they get more comfortable and hopefully earn a bigger role. I'm not a fan of throwing a guy like Culver into a big role as a rookie that he's unprepared for. Other guys like Zion, Luka, and Morant are ready from day 1 and earn an expanded role early on. We need to take it on a case by case basis and that applies to whoever we draft at #1.

I agree... to an extent.

In this case, the Wolves have a very capable SG in Beasley. I would first see how he, Russell and Towns operate before inserting Edwards, should he be the selection.

[KGdaBom]

Anyone on here getting those Jonny Flynn vibes with Edwards? I've been watching some YouTube videos of both and see similarities.. stats look similar.. the hype is definitely there.. you could almost argue that if Flynn were in this draft, he would be top 3 consideration.

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Other than both being basketball players I see zero similarities between Flynn and Edwards. I see some similarity with Wiggins, but not a lot. I see similarities to Mitchell, Dipo and Wade.