Pre Draft Discussion

[bwgood77]

Interesting...from asking anonymous NBA Scouts questions....their last question....

10. WHO IS THE MOST OVERHYPED PLAYER IN THE DRAFT?

I feel like this draft has been pretty fairly valued relative to some other years…there’s not necessarily one guy where it’s like, totally off with his rough projected angle versus where he should go…

Marvin Bagley, he put up big numbers, I think he will put up big numbers, but part of me wonders if that’ll be empty calories, losing-type stats, I see where he’s at, he’s either a four-man that can’t shoot or a five-man that can’t defend, I don’t really love that combination…

Trae Young, leading the country in scoring and assists is a big deal, but double-digit turnovers in certain games, his team not being very good, I don’t know if it was the media that did it or just that this nation loves the highlight reel guys. If you can boil someone’s game down to a 30-second clip, they get all the love. He just doesn’t feel like a solid pick for me in the top 10…

Trae, I wouldn’t take him in the lottery...

Three months ago it was Trae, but now it’s probably Zhaire Smith, because he’s arguably a first–round pick and he’s getting mocked 20 picks higher...I don’t know what else he does besides being athletic. I think he could end up being a rotation player...I think there’s a lot of questions with Zhaire but there’s a big variance there, talk about elite bounce and spectacular athleticism, but he’s so new to playing on the wing...

Chandler Hutchison is an athletic wing, but he’s not a playmaking wing, not a knockdown shooter, he’s just sort of a wing, and I don’t trust his shot. I wouldn’t have promised him, I don’t know for sure who did…

The way he’s being talked about at No. 2, you could say it’s Michael Porter Jr. There’s just still so many question marks with him right now...

Mo Bamba, you look at him and there’s questions about his love of the game and his physical and mental toughness. The body looks like it’s going to be hard to put a ton of weight on it. If you watch film, he doesn’t seem to enjoy any bit of physicality. It’s great he can hit a shot, but do you really want a 7’1 guy out on the perimeter?

https://www.si.com/nba/2018/06/19/nba-draft-2018-anonymous-scouts-trae-young-luka-doncic-michael-porter?utm_campaign=thecrossover&utm_medium=social&xid=socialflow_twitter_si&utm_source=twitter.com

[jcsunsfan]

His role model player is Kevin Garnett. I am really good with that. Not sure I could pick a better one. KG's competitiveness and fire second to none.

[sunsfever68]

His role model player is Kevin Garnett. I am really good with that. Not sure I could pick a better one. KG's competitiveness and fire second to none.

right. Now if he can improve on the defensive side of the ball, defensive awarness, etc

He has the talent and motor. Question is does he have the desire to be great on that end.

If he does, and he is, we definitely will have picked the best player in the draft and our franchise big man for 15 years.

[Archx]

Could Ryan come out in the last minute and say "Ayton is not 100% our guy..." Just to maybe try and draw some trade offers or stir things up a bit? I know he never said publicly Ayton is our guy but the fact that they didn't inform his camp to work out for other teams kinda looks like he is from the start.

[bwgood77]

I'm starting to think Trae could slide. I think there is a good chance he could go at a few spots in the lottery but I won't be shocked if every time he is considered, someone else goes ahead of him....even a couple of point guards.

I won't be shocked if he falls outside of the top 10 or more. The Hawks may want him (since Schlenk was in GS when they took Curry) and may want to trade down a few spots to take him, but not sure they'd take him at 3.

If he did drop to a spot we might be able to move up to, the Hawks would likely to to outbid us since they also have a bunch of picks.

Of course I don't even know if we are high on him given Book's already terrible D...obviously our D would be pretty atrocious.

[gaspar]

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[bwgood77]

Could Ryan come out in the last minute and say "Ayton is not 100% our guy..." Just to maybe try and draw some trade offers or stir things up a bit? I know he never said publicly Ayton is our guy but the fact that they didn't inform his camp to work out for other teams kinda looks like he is from the start.

Well they wouldn't inform his camp to work out for other teams anyway. What purpose would it serve for Ryan to say that? It would possibly only piss off the agent and player. He's already said on many occasions they will consider a number of prospects.

[Archx]

Could Ryan come out in the last minute and say "Ayton is not 100% our guy..." Just to maybe try and draw some trade offers or stir things up a bit? I know he never said publicly Ayton is our guy but the fact that they didn't inform his camp to work out for other teams kinda looks like he is from the start.

Well they wouldn't inform his camp to work out for other teams anyway. What purpose would it serve for Ryan to say that? It would possibly only piss off the agent and player. He's already said on many occasions they will consider a number of prospects.

Yeah true that, but he wasn't really convincing that PHX would really consider other options. And i think it diminish a bit their chances to get really good trade offers. Specially if other clubs consider different players to be at the top.

[bwgood77]

Could Ryan come out in the last minute and say "Ayton is not 100% our guy..." Just to maybe try and draw some trade offers or stir things up a bit? I know he never said publicly Ayton is our guy but the fact that they didn't inform his camp to work out for other teams kinda looks like he is from the start.

Well they wouldn't inform his camp to work out for other teams anyway. What purpose would it serve for Ryan to say that? It would possibly only piss off the agent and player. He's already said on many occasions they will consider a number of prospects.

Yeah true that, but he wasn't really convincing that PHX would really consider other options. And i think it diminish a bit their chances to get really good trade offers. Specially if other clubs consider different players to be at the top.

I think they are stoked at a chance for Ayton. I am curious what they would have done at #2 though.

[Archx]

Well they wouldn't inform his camp to work out for other teams anyway. What purpose would it serve for Ryan to say that? It would possibly only piss off the agent and player. He's already said on many occasions they will consider a number of prospects.

Yeah true that, but he wasn't really convincing that PHX would really consider other options. And i think it diminish a bit their chances to get really good trade offers. Specially if other clubs consider different players to be at the top.

I think they are stoked at a chance for Ayton. I am curious what they would have done at #2 though.

Hehe and i think you know the answer

[bwgood77]

Yeah true that, but he wasn't really convincing that PHX would really consider other options. And i think it diminish a bit their chances to get really good trade offers. Specially if other clubs consider different players to be at the top.

I think they are stoked at a chance for Ayton. I am curious what they would have done at #2 though.

Hehe and i think you know the answer

Well, maybe. But it's tough...he's really spent a lot of time leading up to the draft talking about how many great bigs there were and how it was our biggest need. Seemed really high on JJJ and fairly high on Bamba/Bagley.

My biggest fear is that we ended up 2 and took Bagley over Doncic. If I was a Kings fan right now I'd be really nervous.

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[TheXgasm]

LOL @ saying Jay-Z is the GOAT and it's not even close.

He's not, and even if he were the debate would be massive.

[bwgood77]

LOL @ saying Jay-Z is the GOAT and it's not even close.

He's not, and even if he were the debate would be massive.

Doesn't it say Drake is the GOAT when he tries?

[Archx]

I think they are stoked at a chance for Ayton. I am curious what they would have done at #2 though.

Hehe and i think you know the answer

Well, maybe. But it's tough...he's really spent a lot of time leading up to the draft talking about how many great bigs there were and how it was our biggest need. Seemed really high on JJJ and fairly high on Bamba/Bagley.

My biggest fear is that we ended up 2 and took Bagley over Doncic. If I was a Kings fan right now I'd be really nervous.

I am incredibly nervous man. I really really hope Kings don't pick Luka. I rather see him in ATL than SAC for some reason.. But Bagley looks promising so i could see SAC taking Bagley. They have enough guards anyway...

[bwgood77]

Hehe and i think you know the answer

Well, maybe. But it's tough...he's really spent a lot of time leading up to the draft talking about how many great bigs there were and how it was our biggest need. Seemed really high on JJJ and fairly high on Bamba/Bagley.

My biggest fear is that we ended up 2 and took Bagley over Doncic. If I was a Kings fan right now I'd be really nervous.

I am incredibly nervous man. I really really hope Kings don't pick Luka. I rather see him in ATL than SAC for some reason.. But Bagley looks promising so i could see SAC taking Bagley. They have enough guards anyway...

If Sac drafts Bagley they will have drafted the two guys I liked least out of the top prospects in consecutive years.

I think if you are a Doncic fan you would want him in Memphis or Dallas...not Atlanta...they are going to do a slow rebuild I think. Grizz and Mavs will probably try to win next season...and have solid vets around him.

[King4Day]

LOL @ saying Jay-Z is the GOAT and it's not even close.

He's not, and even if he were the debate would be massive.

Growing up in the 90's I will always see guys like 2pac and BIG ahead of him. Arguments can be made, and that's fine, but saying 'it's not even close', to me, means not enough homework was done on his competition.

[Calvin Klein]

Anybody else worried about those comments Ayton made about not enjoying his time in the US and feeling like a job?

I am afraid this is just the beginning of a very bumpy ride with this pick

[bwgood77]

Anybody else worried about those comments Ayton made about not enjoying his time in the US and feeling like a job?

I am afraid this is just the beginning of a very bumpy ride with this pick

Haven't seen them...where did you see those? If I'm worried about anything, it's team basketball concepts.

Here is some funny stuff from MPJ....where he mentions who he reminds himself of and then proceeds to say it doesn't feel bad to be in the same conversation with those guys..

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[Djedefre]

2Pac is greater than Jay Z
Biggie is greater than Jay Z
Nas is greater than Jay Z
Rakim is greater than Jay Z
Big L is greater than Jay Z
MF Doom is greater than Jay Z
Kool G Rap is greater than Jay Z
Scarface is greater than Jay Z
...

[darealjuice]

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Another solid read, some more interesting excerpts for those who can't see:

Ayton possesses qualities that can’t be taught, and the things he lacks are those that have the highest percentage of improving. But that doesn’t ensure that Ayton will improve in those areas, and they are almost all related to the way he sees the game.

Put another way, his biggest strengths are individual strengths and his biggest weaknesses are team weaknesses. He shows a feel for the game in his footwork and poise and displays a lack of it in his understanding of the other nine people on the court. Watching Ayton, it’s easy to see that he is very good in 1-on-1 isolations with high-level footwork, balance and fluidity. He has a relatively smooth shot that is structurally sound and can improve with repetition. He is also a willing passer. On the other hand, he is a very poor screener and doesn’t have a feel for how to space the floor. The good news is that coaches are used to working with players to develop in these areas; he’ll receive no shortage of tutelage and reps. The bad news is there is always the risk of an unwillingness or a lack of capacity to understand.

Ayton, of course, has uncanny size and physical ability. He is already filled out and physically imposing at 19. He will most likely continue to put on muscle and weight as he ages, which would have been a great sign in 1990, but is a bit more concerning now, when NBA bigs need to be fluid and perimeter-oriented.

That said, Ayton already is a fantastic pick-and-roll defender for his size. He routinely gets down into a stance and uses his quickness to slow ball handlers and then get back to his man, even in situations with multiple screens. He is very good at showing his frame to the ball handler and anticipating the angle of the screen.

Although Ayton averaged fewer than two assists per game, those statistics don’t do justice to his passing ability. At Arizona, he didn’t play with particularly great finishers or spot-up shooters, so his passes weren’t maximized. He rarely hunted points and seemed to be a willing passer in both big-to-big situations and when kicking out to the perimeter. He didn’t always make the right read, but he was always actively looking and aware of where his teammates were.

On defense, he has to show that he can read and react to the other four players on the court...

This relates directly to his rim-protection skills. In college, he showed the ability to help and recover but on a bigger floor with better and quicker offense, he may not be as effective. The NBA’s defensive 3 seconds rule will require him to leave the lane, and teams will force him to come out and defend further away from the basket, given the way NBA bigs can shoot from deep. He will need to anticipate his help responsibilities faster than what we saw in college