2020 NBA Draft Prospects: Thread II

Klomp · Post #941 » by **Klomp** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 3:42 pm

Baseline81 wrote:
Klomp wrote:You said you want a SCORING point guard. Ball can SCORE. Is he as efficient as you'd like him to be? No, but I'd rather have someone you need to reign in than someone you need to tune up.

The scoring comparison to Rubio is ridiculous. At 19, Rubio was terrified of taking open jumpers. That hurts your offense more than taking and missing.

I could have worded it better instead of assuming most would understand the difference between an efficient and inefficient scoring PG.

I am not sure if being terrified of taking open jumpers hurts you more than having someone constantly shoot and miss. In the latter scenario, those shots would be better taken by other players on the floor. Again, much like what happened to Lonzo, teams are simply going to allow LaMelo to shoot, which he will. If his percentages are as poor as there were overseas...

Is Russell Westbrook no longer a scoring PG because he's not efficient?

People overreact to low shooting percentages. If taking 10 shots a game, the difference between a 30% shooter and a 40% shooter is one make. But being a threat to shoot is critical. You bring up his brother as if it's a negative, yet Lonzo has improved from 30% as a rookie to 37% this year on basically the same volume.

Klomp · Post #942 » by **Klomp** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 3:43 pm

KGdaBom wrote:I disagree jacking up many 3s a game at 25% is going to hurt your offense more than a very good passer finding somebody else to take them. If we had Ball I would only want him taking wide open layups. Leave the shooting to those who can actually make them.

Luka Doncic hurts the Mavs offense, got it...

Klomp · Post #943 » by **Klomp** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 3:46 pm

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Klomp · Post #944 » by **Klomp** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 3:54 pm

Just noticed that the Spurs, Celtics, Magic and Blazers are four of the six picks immediately before us at 17. Spurs are one of the best front offices in league and other four run similar four-out stuff as us. Will be interesting to see who's left.

Klomp · Post #945 » by **Klomp** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 3:59 pm

According to a Western Conference executive, word around the league is Minnesota isn't leaning one way at No. 1, sounds "confused" and feels pressure after "messing up last year by trading for Jarrett Culver."

The belief is that Minnesota's priority is to trade, realistically down the board assuming an established star won't become available. If the Wolves stick at No. 1, multiple sources say they'd bet on LaMelo Ball having the edge over Anthony Edwards.

Rival scouts have mentioned fit issues with Ball in Minnesota, specifically his ability to play alongside other ball-dominant players and whether a team's defense featuring Ball, D'Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns has any chance in a seven-game series against Western Conference opponents.

But Ball also has a chunk of support as the draft's top overall prospect, and with president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas still unsure about the makeup of his team (Russell and Towns have played one game together), fit might not factor into Minnesota's decision.

On the other hand, there are trade-down targets who do fit the roster on paper, including Deni Avdija, Isaac Okoro, Tyrese Haliburton, Devin Vassell and Patrick Williams. Rosas could even make a case for Obi Toppin if he was willing to go all-in with offense.

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Baseline81 · Post #946 » by **Baseline81** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 4:08 pm

Klomp wrote:According to a Western Conference executive, word around the league is Minnesota isn't leaning one way at No. 1, sounds "confused" and feels pressure after "messing up last year by trading for Jarrett Culver."

The belief is that Minnesota's priority is to trade, realistically down the board assuming an established star won't become available. If the Wolves stick at No. 1, multiple sources say they'd bet on LaMelo Ball having the edge over Anthony Edwards.

Rival scouts have mentioned fit issues with Ball in Minnesota, specifically his ability to play alongside other ball-dominant players and whether a team's defense featuring Ball, D'Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns has any chance in a seven-game series against Western Conference opponents.

But Ball also has a chunk of support as the draft's top overall prospect, and with president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas still unsure about the makeup of his team (Russell and Towns have played one game together), fit might not factor into Minnesota's decision.

On the other hand, there are trade-down targets who do fit the roster on paper, including Deni Avdija, Isaac Okoro, Tyrese Haliburton, Devin Vassell and Patrick Williams. Rosas could even make a case for Obi Toppin if he was willing to go all-in with offense.

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Both Doogie and Krawczynski have said this, especially about thinking Ball has an edge over Edwards.

I am curious how the Wolves sound "confused," though.

Klomp · Post #947 » by **Klomp** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 4:10 pm

Baseline81 wrote:I am curious how the Wolves sound "confused," though.

Yeah I'd be surprised if they were confused....

KGdaBom · Post #948 » by **KGdaBom** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 4:19 pm

_AIJ_ wrote:
KGdaBom wrote:
_AIJ_ wrote:I really hope maxey falls at 17. He'll be the starting 2guard as soon as year 2

Over Edwards and Beasley??
Time will tell.

Was thinking if we dont draft edwards or ball with the first pick

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I sure don't see him being better than Beasley. Time will tell.

minimus · Post #949 » by **minimus** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 4:33 pm

Klomp wrote:According to a Western Conference executive, word around the league is Minnesota isn't leaning one way at No. 1, sounds "confused" and feels pressure after "messing up last year by trading for Jarrett Culver."

The belief is that Minnesota's priority is to trade, realistically down the board assuming an established star won't become available. If the Wolves stick at No. 1, multiple sources say they'd bet on LaMelo Ball having the edge over Anthony Edwards.

Rival scouts have mentioned fit issues with Ball in Minnesota, specifically his ability to play alongside other ball-dominant players and whether a team's defense featuring Ball, D'Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns has any chance in a seven-game series against Western Conference opponents.

But Ball also has a chunk of support as the draft's top overall prospect, and with president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas still unsure about the makeup of his team (Russell and Towns have played one game together), fit might not factor into Minnesota's decision.

On the other hand, there are trade-down targets who do fit the roster on paper, including Deni Avdija, Isaac Okoro, Tyrese Haliburton, Devin Vassell and Patrick Williams. Rosas could even make a case for Obi Toppin if he was willing to go all-in with offense.

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BR? Well, they are funny.

moonpie · Post #950 » by **moonpie** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 5:30 pm

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Klomp · Post #951 » by **Klomp** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 5:35 pm

moonpie wrote:

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He's been getting late 1st buzz. I think ideally I'd wait until 33 and hope he's there.

Klomp · Post #952 » by **Klomp** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 5:41 pm

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minimus · Post #953 » by **minimus** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 5:57 pm

Klomp wrote:

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_AIJ_ · Post #954 » by **_AIJ_** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 6:41 pm

Damn it! I want to draft Deni now! This draft sucks. lots of options to choose from.

UnFadeable21 · Post #955 » by **UnFadeable21** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 7:06 pm

Klomp wrote:

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From the same article on Anthony Edwards

Concern with Anthony Edwards for a top pick

Teams are worried about Edwards' drive and enthusiasm for winning, and according to a source, the Golden State Warriors aren't a likely landing spot due to these concerns.

Despite media projections and upside that everyone acknowledges, he has a shaky reputation within NBA circles. Dion Waiters has been used by skeptics as a comparison or low-end outcome for Edwards, an inefficient scorer at Georgia whose Bulldogs finished 13 of 14 teams in the SEC.

Scouts and executives have mentioned that his teams haven't won at any level, and that he even forgets plays and actions.

He could still get consideration at No. 1 from Minnesota, but most seem to think the Wolves will favor Ball, who should also generate more interest from teams looking to trade up, given his superior star power and potential to transform a struggling team's identity with his flashy playmaking and exciting pace.

Meanwhile, the more we ask around about Edwards, the more we hear concern about his professionalism and ability to impact winning, even if his scoring production carries over.

While a trade could throw off any predraft predictions, the likelihood of Edwards dropping to No. 3 seems to have increased. The Charlotte Hornets would then have a tough call, particularly if James Wiseman is still on the board.

UnFadeable21 · Post #956 » by **UnFadeable21** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 7:20 pm

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Baseline81 · Post #957 » by **Baseline81** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 7:23 pm

UnFadeable21 wrote:

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Did you expect him to say something different?

UnFadeable21 · Post #958 » by **UnFadeable21** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 7:33 pm

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UnFadeable21 · Post #959 » by **UnFadeable21** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 7:44 pm

2020 Trend: Extra stock into IQ, intangibles

One scout brought up the notion that his team will be putting more stock into basketball IQ and other valued intangibles compared to previous years.

Teams are having a tough time identifying the obvious NBA talent in this draft. Worried about misevaluating it, they could feel more confident in drafting a player who makes good decisions, competes and brings a positive presence to their locker room—even if they don't possess appetizing upside.

Based on where certain prospects stack up on most draft boards around the league, overvaluing intangibles seems to be a strategy shared by other organizations.

Okoro and Haliburton stand out as the posterboys for this conversation. Both are projected 10 picks and perimeter players who averaged fewer than 17.0 points per 40 minutes.

KGdaBom · Post #960 » by **KGdaBom** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 7:47 pm

Klomp wrote:
Baseline81 wrote:
Klomp wrote:You said you want a SCORING point guard. Ball can SCORE. Is he as efficient as you'd like him to be? No, but I'd rather have someone you need to reign in than someone you need to tune up.

The scoring comparison to Rubio is ridiculous. At 19, Rubio was terrified of taking open jumpers. That hurts your offense more than taking and missing.

I could have worded it better instead of assuming most would understand the difference between an efficient and inefficient scoring PG.

I am not sure if being terrified of taking open jumpers hurts you more than having someone constantly shoot and miss. In the latter scenario, those shots would be better taken by other players on the floor. Again, much like what happened to Lonzo, teams are simply going to allow LaMelo to shoot, which he will. If his percentages are as poor as there were overseas...

Is Russell Westbrook no longer a scoring PG because he's not efficient?

People overreact to low shooting percentages. If taking 10 shots a game, the difference between a 30% shooter and a 40% shooter is one make. But being a threat to shoot is critical. You bring up his brother as if it's a negative, yet Lonzo has improved from 30% as a rookie to 37% this year on basically the same volume.

I get that people shouldn't overreact to low shooting percents. I was the first to point out that Rubio would make 1 shot per game less than the average PG and the rest of his game more than made up for it. However, the rest of Ball's game isn't that good.

Who should Minnesota Pick at #1 (Assuming Minnesota keeps the pick)?