2016 draft thread: Part 2

[bwright213]

I'm very high on the Jamal Murray train.

Jamal Murray scored 20ppg on great percentages as a freshman.

There have been 22 seasons in NCAA History scoring 20ppg, taking more than 7.5 3s a game, hitting on better than 40% of 3s and better than 45% from the field. Only 2 were freshman. Steph Curry is the only one who put up a better season than Jamal Murray as a freshman. Murray was 12th no matter the class.

Imagine if he stayed through his senior year.

Other guys I like are Skal Labissiere, Marquese Chriss, Deyonta Davis, Denzel Valentine, Timothe Luwawu, Furkan Korkmaz, Wade Baldwin, and Ben Bentil. not necessarily that order.

I am on the same page, Murray is my top realistic choice (I don't see Bender making it past PHX). I just think his skill set and versatility, especially at his age, is too good pass up. It's too bad that the PF's in this draft class are weak on top end talent.

Skal and Davis scare me, definitely boom or bust prospects that would've been better served growing another year in college. If we traded back to late lottery or mid teens then I would definitely take a look at them though.

Luwawu and Korkmaz are interesting, but like most I haven't seen enough of their game to make a good judgment call.

[jpatrick]

I think Murray is going to end up going #3. My not so bold prediction, basically what Bill Simmons already said, is that Boston trades that pick for Okafor (other pieces involved) and the Sixers take Murray to be the shooter/PG to go with Simmons. While Murray isn't a prototypical PG, his shooting will fit perfectly with Simmons' playmaking.

The Suns would then take Bender, unless he ends up tanking his workouts over here. That would leave us with Hield, Dunn, Brown, or whoever the player that rises during workout is.

[bwright213]

I think Murray is going to end up going #3. My not so bold prediction, basically what Bill Simmons already said, is that Boston trades that pick for Okafor (other pieces involved) and the Sixers take Murray to be the shooter/PG to go with Simmons. While Murray isn't a prototypical PG, his shooting will fit perfectly with Simmons' playmaking.

The Suns would then take Bender, unless he ends up tanking his workouts over here. That would leave us with Hield, Dunn, Brown, or whoever the player that rises during workout is.

I would be shocked if Okafor was traded for the third pick, but then again it's the Philly so I probably shouldn't be all that surprised. I think if Okafor was in this class he would be the clear cut #1 pick, so I don't see the value.

[jpatrick]

Interesting that Dunn is reportedly refusing to workout for the Celtics. I don't think the Suns are taking a PG with their guard situation.

Maybe there is some legs to Thibs' liking of Dunn. The Hornets could take him after us, but he could slide too. Interesting. You don't see a lot of refusals to workout unless an agent knows a players floor in the draft and that floor isn't too low.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Interesting that Dunn is reportedly refusing to workout for the Celtics. I don't think the Suns are taking a PG with their guard situation.

Maybe there is some legs to Thibs' liking of Dunn. The Hornets could take him after us, but he could slide too. Interesting. You don't see a lot of refusals to workout unless an agent knows a players floor in the draft and that floor isn't too low.

It just doesn't make sense positionally - Celtics have Smart and Isaiah Thomas

[Peezo]

If you think Buddy Hield is a JJ Redick clone, you sprint to the podium and draft him. Redick is way underrated.

This. JJ is an incredibly valuable player and a solid comp. He and Buddy might be the same level of athlete, which is all you should be able to ask for out of someone with a stroke like that. We'd all love to add another Harden or Wade, but those guys don't come around every draft and I don't see any of them here. I love this kid's floor but let's not act like he has no ceiling either. If he could become a JJ type of player we would be lucky to snag him at five and add him to our core.

[C.lupus]

I think Murray is going to end up going #3. My not so bold prediction, basically what Bill Simmons already said, is that Boston trades that pick for Okafor (other pieces involved) and the Sixers take Murray to be the shooter/PG to go with Simmons. While Murray isn't a prototypical PG, his shooting will fit perfectly with Simmons' playmaking.

The Suns would then take Bender, unless he ends up tanking his workouts over here. That would leave us with Hield, Dunn, Brown, or whoever the player that rises during workout is.

I would be shocked if Okafor was traded for the third pick, but then again it's the Philly so I probably shouldn't be all that surprised. I think if Okafor was in this class he would be the clear cut #1 pick, so I don't see the value.

His off court issues last year and Philly's glut in the frontcourt could lower his value a bit, though. I think it would be a good move for Philly to make. They need to balance that roster.

[wildvikeswolves]

I've been going back and forth all year. Getting talked back in to Dunn. Would love if Bender fell to us, but that's unlikely. Murray and Dunn seem like the most likely guys to be selected by us right now.

[gopher wolf]

If we do take Dunn I think we really need to get two really quality FA signings to come off the bench, a 3 and D wing and a backup center or potential starting stretch 4. If we take Murray, Hield or Brown, I think we can get away with having Tyus play the point and only signing one good big. That is unless Dunn can play a significant portion of his minutes at the two.

[john2jer]

Worst rule change the NBA ever made is when they outlawed playing in shoes.

I think you're smart enough to know why the no-shoes measurement is important. It's about standardizing heights.

Sure, until someone tries to bastardize the argument by comparing two people's heights but one gets to wear shoes and the other doesn't.

[bwright213]

I think Murray is going to end up going #3. My not so bold prediction, basically what Bill Simmons already said, is that Boston trades that pick for Okafor (other pieces involved) and the Sixers take Murray to be the shooter/PG to go with Simmons. While Murray isn't a prototypical PG, his shooting will fit perfectly with Simmons' playmaking.

The Suns would then take Bender, unless he ends up tanking his workouts over here. That would leave us with Hield, Dunn, Brown, or whoever the player that rises during workout is.

I would be shocked if Okafor was traded for the third pick, but then again it's the Philly so I probably shouldn't be all that surprised. I think if Okafor was in this class he would be the clear cut #1 pick, so I don't see the value.

His off court issues last year and Philly's glut in the frontcourt could lower his value a bit, though. I think it would be a good move for Philly to make. They need to balance that roster.

I would think they would be more likely to move Noel, but I agree they definitely need to balance that roster. If I'm Boston I would jump on that Okafor trade the second it was offered, assuming they weren't asking for #3 and one of their main pieces.

[C-Dub47]

I really can't say I'm way more into one guy than the other either. Dunn, Murray, Bender, all sound very good to me. I'd probably put Bender above the other two but it's most likely a moot point since he probably goes top 4.

Hield is interesting, I'm a fan. I just don't know that I'd take him over any of those three.

[MNRunLeft]

I'm interested to see if someone like Marquese Chriss doesn't see his value increase to the point where he's at least in consideration at 5. He check a lot of boxes the Wolves need to address and I think outside of maybe Simmons & Ingram he might have as much upside as anyone in the class. Wouldn't be the safest pick but could be the homerun that completes the core.

[vagelis]

I like Marquesse Chriss! He has great athleticism and I think he is a better prospect than Aaron Gordon.
But I think that the guards can impact the game of a team more than the tall guys.
So, I prefer that we draft a guard but if we draft a tall guy Marquesse Chriss is the best choice in number 5, in my opinion.

There is an option to draft a guard and trade a player for Marquesse Chriss.

[andyhop]

I think Murray is going to end up going #3. My not so bold prediction, basically what Bill Simmons already said, is that Boston trades that pick for Okafor (other pieces involved) and the Sixers take Murray to be the shooter/PG to go with Simmons. While Murray isn't a prototypical PG, his shooting will fit perfectly with Simmons' playmaking.

The Suns would then take Bender, unless he ends up tanking his workouts over here. That would leave us with Hield, Dunn, Brown, or whoever the player that rises during workout is.

I would be shocked if Okafor was traded for the third pick, but then again it's the Philly so I probably shouldn't be all that surprised. I think if Okafor was in this class he would be the clear cut #1 pick, so I don't see the value.

His off court issues last year and Philly's glut in the frontcourt could lower his value a bit, though. I think it would be a good move for Philly to make. They need to balance that roster.

The fact that the Sixers were dramatically better without him on the court especially on offense where he is supposed to shine would also be a major part of it

[wablty]

I like Marquesse Chriss! He has great athleticism and I think he is a better prospect than Aaron Gordon.
But I think that the guards can impact the game of a team more than the tall guys.
So, I prefer that we draft a guard but if we draft a tall guy Marquesse Chriss is the best choice in number 5, in my opinion.

There is an option to draft a guard and trade a player for Marquesse Chriss.

I could get behind Chriss if they're sold on him. There's a tendency to pay too much attention to the mocks because that's what out their, but what matters are the team evaluations. He's big enough, he could shoot a bit and he fits the athlete motif we've got going.

[john2jer]

5 is a little high, imo, for Chriss. I do love his ability to step out a bit and he dunks everything, plus can attack the basket. but defensively he's terrible and doesn't rebound. Doesn't take much basketball awareness to shoot and dunk, takes a bit more to play good defense and rebound the basketball. Seems lost a lot on that end.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I like Marquesse Chriss! He has great athleticism and I think he is a better prospect than Aaron Gordon.
But I think that the guards can impact the game of a team more than the tall guys.
So, I prefer that we draft a guard but if we draft a tall guy Marquesse Chriss is the best choice in number 5, in my opinion.

There is an option to draft a guard and trade a player for Marquesse Chriss.

I could get behind Chriss if they're sold on him. There's a tendency to pay too much attention to the mocks because that's what out their, but what matters are the team evaluations. He's big enough, he could shoot a bit and he fits the athlete motif we've got going.

rebounding #s are sux though

from dx profile

At 4.1 rebounds per-40, Chriss ranks among the least prolific power forwards in NBA Draft history according to our database.

I have a hard time getting behind that; wolves were getting slammed by off rebounds too often

[Saltine]

I'm interested to see if someone like Marquese Chriss doesn't see his value increase to the point where he's at least in consideration at 5. He check a lot of boxes the Wolves need to address and I think outside of maybe Simmons & Ingram he might have as much upside as anyone in the class. Wouldn't be the safest pick but could be the homerun that completes the core.

He has some red flags... we could really use rebounding;

At 4.1 rebounds per-40, Chriss ranks among the least prolific power forwards in NBA Draft history according to our database. Among first round picks, only Thaddeus Young (who played mostly SF in college) had a worse defensive rebounding rate in the draft's last 30 years.Chriss almost never puts a body on opposing big men in an attempt to box out and prepare for loose balls coming off the glass, and his relatively small standing reach (measured at 8'9, comparable with most small forwards) didn't help matters much. In addition to his instincts, his motor here leaves a lot to be desired as well, as if at times appears he's operating at half speed, and far more focused on his work on the offensive end.

Not surprisingly, that translates to the rest of his play defensively. He has the quickness needed to stay in front of nearly everyone he encounters, and the explosiveness to block a decent amount of shots, but lacks the fundamentals, discipline and consistent effort required to take advantage of that. Opposing coaching staffs regularly targeted him in isolation situations, and found a lot of success doing so, as he would typically either commit a foul or give up a basket.

Chriss was one of the most foul prone players in college basketball, being disqualified from 15 of his 34 games, and committing four fouls in ten others. Many of his fouls seemed highly unnecessary, particularly early in the season, and appeared to be almost entirely due to a lack of focus.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Marquese-Chriss-83240/

[Vindicater]

I like these guys

Brown - I think he could be a beast coming off the bench and leading a second unit. He would mean the end for Shabazz though as he would fill his role.

Dunn - Really like what he brings as a point guard although I think it means bye bye Rubio.

Murray - If Thibs can handle the egos I think Murray/Rubio/Lavine would be a dynamite 3 guard rotation. You could mix and match the starting duo for who you are playing.