2019-2020 College/Draft thread (Part 2)

[Deeeez Knicks]

to add to that point, from this video. No NBA in there right mind is going to go over the screen to allow that pass vs LaMelo when he can't shoot for sh*t.

Yeah he needs to fix his shot if he wants to be effective in the NBA. Maybe he proves everybody wrong like Ja. Ja can shoot it a bit now. Maybe Lamelo does the same thing. I won’t bet on it though.

Ja still shot it at a 36% clip his soph year so while the off the dribble shooting was a question mark like LaMelo the shots were still going in a a much higher rate.

25% from 3 is pretty atrocious no matter how you look at it.

The shot is def a concern, but its something that can be developed. He showed some progress. I think he was near 35% from 3 over the last couple of games and was racking up triple doubles. I think he is around 74% from the line, which is ok.

I would gamble on it.

[moocow007]

Yeah he needs to fix his shot if he wants to be effective in the NBA. Maybe he proves everybody wrong like Ja. Ja can shoot it a bit now. Maybe Lamelo does the same thing. I won’t bet on it though.

Ja still shot it at a 36% clip his soph year so while the off the dribble shooting was a question mark like LaMelo the shots were still going in a a much higher rate.

25% from 3 is pretty atrocious no matter how you look at it.

The shot is def a concern, but its something that can be developed. He showed some progress. I think he was near 35% from 3 over the last couple of games and was racking up triple doubles. I think he is around 74% from the line, which is ok.

I would gamble on it.

The thing with LaMelo is that hes' extremely bright, mature and competitive (kind of like Barrett). I think he'll be fine and learn what it takes for him to excel in the NBA. His brother Lonzo, who has an even uglier shot, learned and is shooting 38-39% (in volume) from 3 right now.

[Deeeez Knicks]

Ja still shot it at a 36% clip his soph year so while the off the dribble shooting was a question mark like LaMelo the shots were still going in a a much higher rate.

25% from 3 is pretty atrocious no matter how you look at it.

The shot is def a concern, but its something that can be developed. He showed some progress. I think he was near 35% from 3 over the last couple of games and was racking up triple doubles. I think he is around 74% from the line, which is ok.

I would gamble on it.

The thing with LaMelo is that hes' extremely bright (both basketball wise and from a business standpoint) and competitive. I think he'll be fine and learn what it takes for him to excel in the NBA. His brother Lonzo, who has an even uglier shot, learned and is shooting 38-39% (in volume) from 3 right now.

Yeah, the IQ, feel for the game, and other aspects are things that can't be taught and should translate very well. It's next level type skills he has in some of those areas. You never really know for sure about the shot, but there are signs it could come around.

There is a bit of risk as well, but most players seem to have some risk in this draft

[mpharris36]

Ja still shot it at a 36% clip his soph year so while the off the dribble shooting was a question mark like LaMelo the shots were still going in a a much higher rate.

25% from 3 is pretty atrocious no matter how you look at it.

The shot is def a concern, but its something that can be developed. He showed some progress. I think he was near 35% from 3 over the last couple of games and was racking up triple doubles. I think he is around 74% from the line, which is ok.

I would gamble on it.

The thing with LaMelo is that hes' extremely bright, mature and competitive (kind of like Barrett). I think he'll be fine and learn what it takes for him to excel in the NBA. His brother Lonzo, who has an even uglier shot, learned and is shooting 38-39% (in volume) from 3 right now.

LaMelo is a non existent defender which is another concern even if he fix's the shot which will be difficult to do.

The passing is special, the shot selection is questionable.

His fit next to RJ is super questionable as well. I see much more potential with guys like Edwards/Hayes/Haliburton as potential fits next to what we already have to get the most out of the roster.

[Deeeez Knicks]

The shot is def a concern, but its something that can be developed. He showed some progress. I think he was near 35% from 3 over the last couple of games and was racking up triple doubles. I think he is around 74% from the line, which is ok.

I would gamble on it.

The thing with LaMelo is that hes' extremely bright, mature and competitive (kind of like Barrett). I think he'll be fine and learn what it takes for him to excel in the NBA. His brother Lonzo, who has an even uglier shot, learned and is shooting 38-39% (in volume) from 3 right now.

LaMelo is a non existent defender which is another concern even if he fix's the shot which will be difficult to do.

The passing is special, the shot selection is questionable.

His fit next to RJ is super questionable as well. I see much more potential with guys like Edwards/Hayes/Haliburton as potential fits next to what we already have to get the most out of the roster.

I would not worry about fit too much at the top of the draft. We should go with best player if theres a difference. If LaMelo pans out I think he could fit well with just about anyone. Even if we are looking at fits, Edwards could be questionable since he is shooting less then 30% and more of a scorer, then facilitator....but I wouldnt really hesitate to pick him if he's bpa.

I do like Hayes a lot too, and Haliburton so depending on our spot would be good with them

[finestrg]

I'd look to grab Daniel Oturu in this draft. Then turn around right away and hire the best big man coach(es) I can find to coach up and develop his offensive game. His strength/physical presence, rebounding, and shot-blocking are all innate attributes that will always be there -- for me it would be how to take what already looks like a pretty darn good offensive player and make him elite.

No idea if Hakeem The Dream still does his big man camp. He'd obviously be the first choice to consider but even if he still offers his tutelage, I got the impression his one-on-one mini camps with guys were just temporary (like when STAT went to see him). Not sure who else out there would be a good fit to coach up a kid like Oturu on the offensive side of the ball... I think guys like James Edwards, Adrian Dantley, and Mark Aguirre might be a little long in the tooth now to be relevant... I was just thinking about Melo -- even if it was just in the off-season -- I know he was basically a wing and not a prototypical big-man, but he was still one of the best offensive players to even lace 'em up. And like i said, the only thing I'd want to do is coach up Oturu's offensive skills as quickly as possibly, if we ever decided to draft this kid. I really think Melo would be a good fit here, the more i think about it. He was very graceful in the post with his back-in/turn-arounds, his up and unders and squaring up a guy in the mid range with the jab-step and shoot/one-two dribble and shoot offense. In some of Oturu's video that I've seen, he's shown flashes of some of this, but if we drafted him and ever got him to emulate Melo on offense, with his rebounding and shot-blocking already at a high level, we could be looking at a monster big-man here.

Thoughts? Would Melo be a good option to bring in and help coach up/improve a young big man's offensive game? Was still performing at a pretty high level for the Blazers before the league shut down. I wonder if he'd ever be interested in something like that, even a year or 2 out from now?

[3toheadmelo]

Ja still shot it at a 36% clip his soph year so while the off the dribble shooting was a question mark like LaMelo the shots were still going in a a much higher rate.

25% from 3 is pretty atrocious no matter how you look at it.

Yes the numbers between Ja and Lamelo is quite significant. There was still major questions about Ja’s shot though.

What is Lamelos free throw numbers looking like? I believe Ja was a solid FT shooter as well

Ja was a 80% shooting in college which was really good

Melo is like 75% so you can make the case there is room to grow as a shooter.

But the shot simply will make it nearly impossible for him to be a good off the dribble shooter like his brother.

The FT shooting does give the potential to be a solid off the ball shooter if he works on it.

I think Lamelo’s shot is more fixable than Lonzo’s. Imo it’s more fluid. Lonzo’s shot was ugly on many levels lol. Looks a lot better now though. So if Lonzo can fix it then so can Lamelo I guess

[RHODEY]

Gotta bring up Kira Lewis again. He gives me Ja Morant vibes without the hops/athleticism.

Watch on YouTube

Just vibes. Of course he isn’t Ja, but his speed is killer. Has to tighten up handle and get just a tad craftier.

Ok I seee what you're saying ...Ja without the Verticality, but with the court vision and wiggle. Sorry

[HerSports85]

Wonder if the Timberwolves will be willing to trade the 16th pick and if so what will be their price? DSJ + SRP?

[jvsimonetti0514]

Wonder if the Timberwolves will be willing to trade the 16th pick and if so what will be their price? DSJ + SRP?

The dream would be give them Randle and the Clippers pick. It just depends if they have cap space or not.

[Fat]

Hayes
Nesmith
Barret
Mitchell

[moocow007]

The shot is def a concern, but its something that can be developed. He showed some progress. I think he was near 35% from 3 over the last couple of games and was racking up triple doubles. I think he is around 74% from the line, which is ok.

I would gamble on it.

The thing with LaMelo is that hes' extremely bright, mature and competitive (kind of like Barrett). I think he'll be fine and learn what it takes for him to excel in the NBA. His brother Lonzo, who has an even uglier shot, learned and is shooting 38-39% (in volume) from 3 right now.

LaMelo is a non existent defender which is another concern even if he fix's the shot which will be difficult to do.

The passing is special, the shot selection is questionable.

His fit next to RJ is super questionable as well. I see much more potential with guys like Edwards/Hayes/Haliburton as potential fits next to what we already have to get the most out of the roster.

Personally I think Haliburton benefits from the college game most. I don't think he can translate his full production skill set to the NBA and has the lowest ceiling of the bunch. I don't see him as any close to being a star in the NBA. He's really more of a solid player and in the right system maybe a starter.

Edwards? I've said that Edwards is probably the safest pick but I'm dubious of his handle and creativity off the dribble against NBA defenses for him to be that type of impact talent that can elevate this team significantly. In that sense, it's the same kind of concern Barrett has and is showing. His all around game though should at least lend him to be a top 3rd SG but, no, not a perennial all-star do I see.

Hayes I'm very high on but he's obviously the most risky of the group. I would not mind if he's the one the Knicks end up with but it's a risk taking him 1st overall as he's really done the least among the players in this group. But what I've seen I definitely love. Have said something about Hayes just feels right.

Point is everyone has weaknesses and risks.

You want to project to see how many of those weaknesses can be fixed and how well his strengths can play in the NBA. For LaMelo it's pretty clear what his strengths are and there is no reason to expect that those strenghts won't translate at the next level. His shooting is a concern but there's no better example of how that very likely can improve than looking at his brother Lonzo. Uglier shot and yet 'Zo' is shooting near 40% from 3 this year after making adjustments. And he's taking a lot of 3's. Defense likely will always be a none strength but there are a lot of NBA stars that aren't good defenders. Lonzo right now looks like he's FINALLY headed to being the player that folks though when he was drafted and LaMelo IMO is more talented. Even their dad said so lol.

[mpharris36]

Wonder if the Timberwolves will be willing to trade the 16th pick and if so what will be their price? DSJ + SRP?

The dream would be give them Randle and the Clippers pick. It just depends if they have cap space or not.

when James Johnson picks up that player option

James Johnson + 16

for

Randle + Clippers pick

draft

Hayes with our 6th pick

get Nesmith with 16

sign Wood

Hayes
Nesmith
RJ
Wood
Mitch

that is the semblance of a modern offense

[moocow007]

Gotta bring up Kira Lewis again. He gives me Ja Morant vibes without the hops/athleticism.

Watch on YouTube

Just vibes. Of course he isn’t Ja, but his speed is killer. Has to tighten up handle and get just a tad craftier.

Kinda a little Ja, a little De'Aaron Fox. Yes he takes that long fast strides that's hard to keep up with. Not as natural or fluid as the other two guys but for pure bee line end to end with the ball in his hands, yeah, he's top, top tier.

[jvsimonetti0514]

Wonder if the Timberwolves will be willing to trade the 16th pick and if so what will be their price? DSJ + SRP?

The dream would be give them Randle and the Clippers pick. It just depends if they have cap space or not.

when James Johnson picks up that player option

James Johnson + 16

for

Randle + Clippers pick

draft

Hayes with our 6th pick

get Nesmith with 16

sign Wood

Hayes
Nesmith
RJ
Wood
Mitch

that is the semblance of a modern offense

I pulled up the trade machine before and saw that Johnson was all grayed out it didn't tell me if it was a player or team option. It probably be a win/win for both teams. They can turn a bad contract into a better third banana to keep towns happy and still get a pick and we can move up in the draft. I wonder what Wolves fans would think of about this?

[HerSports85]

Hayes + Nesmith is a A + draft. Move up in the second round and grab Kira Lewis.

Randle + clippers pick + our SRP

For

16th + their SRP + whoever they want to throw in to make the #s work.

[RHODEY]

Hayes + Nesmith is a A + draft. Move up in the second round and grab Kira Lewis.

Randle + clippers pick + our SRP

For

16th + their SRP + whoever they want to throw in to make the #s work.

So if they cancel the season and post season i wonder when they would hold the lottery and draft?

[knickstape21]

6 - Hayes
27 - Ramsey
38 - Diakite

[Deeeez Knicks]

Updated mock from Wasserman. Knicks take Cole Anthony at #6...I would roll with Killian Hayes in this scenario

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2881349-2020-nba-mock-draft-questions-loom-during-basketball-hiatus?share=twitter#slide11

The New York Knicks figure to look past Cole Anthony's inefficiency at North Carolina, where it was clear he lacked talent around him and spacing. He still pumped in 18.5 points and 2.2 threes per game, and though his 4.0 assists sound underwhelming, his passing skills looked better than the numbers suggest.

Assuming new president Leon Rose isn't as familiar with international scouting, he's likely to have more of a comfort level drafting a player like Anthony, who'd give the lineup a new franchise point guard and familiar name for the agitated fanbase to get behind.

It will be interesting to see how much thought the Knicks give to Killian Hayes, a more natural playmaker than Anthony, but not the same caliber of scorer or shooter. It seems safer to project the Knicks taking the player they've presumably had eyes on since midway through high school. Anthony and Barrett could make for a dynamic offensive backcourt.

[HerSports85]

Watch on YouTube