Draft Discussion Part 3

[thamadkant]

What I think McD ia trying to do is have three 6'10 and taller guys starting and have them swap around the SF/PF/C spots... Be a nightmare matchup for traditional teams and even for small ball teams.

Is the difference in height between Tatum and Isaac really that much?

6'8 6'10 7'1 isn't bad either......with better offense.

I still lean Tatum at the end of the day 51 to 49 percent

It can, 2 inches allows the shooter to look over someone 6'7 or 6'8 which allows them to see plays. That extra 2 inches also allows that clean look during a jump shot...

If Tatum had 7'2+ wingspan he could very well bother tall players like Durant like how Kawhi and Dray does but that 2 inches can be big in the scheme of the NBA.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Wonder why Jackson cancelled with Boston?

[lilfishi22]

I wouldn't hesitate to package the Miami pick with the 4th to move into the second position if I felt sure about my target. But I don't like any of the top players enough to do it in this draft. I think Fultz is highly overrated and while he won't be a bust, I'd be very surprised if he ever started in an All Star game. Ball has the kind of game that might really shine in the NBA and I like his up-side far more than Markelle's but there's some glaring concerns there too.

Staying at 4 we can draft Jackson, Isaac or Tatum and I don't see them being all that different than the top names - they all come with lots of potential and lots of concerns. I don't want to pay a premium for anyone that comes with lots of concerns. OTOH, if the front office is convinced there's a superstar just waiting to be drafted at 2...well, put me down for a yes.

I feel like Fultz is the least talked about clear #1 pick in a while. Perhaps it's just this part of the forum but I feel like more is being about where Ball is going to land and how high will Jackson go than how talented Fultz really is.

That being said, I don't think I'd package #4 with the Miami pick to move up 3 spots in this draft. To me, Fultz is the clear cut #1 pick but I don't think he's the franchise changing player in the same way Anthony Davis, KAT, Irving or Griffin was as #1 picks.

[Mulhollanddrive]

I read Gambo say the asking price for pick 2 was too high and that Fox is still in play as we've met and seen him elsewhere.

[blee732]

I dont offer the Lakers the Miami pick. I offer them whatever the lower pick is in 2018 between Miami and ours. That way no matter what we get the higher of the two and the Lakers still get a 2018 pick (One im sure they wont be using on themselves, but to trade to a team to help unload contracts).

Honestly I don't see why we need to give up a pick at all if we're taking on a bad contract. The value difference between #2 and #4 is nowhere near the $53M on Deng's contract or the $48M on Mozgov's. If they want us to take on one of those contracts (especially if it allows them to sign Lebron and/or George), my asking price would be #2 without trading #4 back.

Its because no team is going to use a top 5 pick (Let alone the #2) just to unload a bad contract. Thats just a stupid move.

I don't mean they would take that offer, but paying $50M to get a #2 pick is lot closer to realistic than paying $50M just for the incremental benefit of moving up 2 spots. I think you start at the more reasonable ask, and sweeten with the Mia pick and/or something else. Paying $50M AND giving up another pick just to move up 2 spots just seems crazy to me.

[blee732]

Don't think I've seen this posted. Sounds like the Lakers' concern with Ball's conditioning is legit if they're asking to see his full daily training regimen in person. This probably means they're on the fence.

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[LukasBMW]

1. I'm still on the - "take Tatum and call it a day train"

Unless

2. We can snag Fultz @ #2 (+Deng) for #4 + Miami. Then trade Bledsoe for #7 and take Issac or Tatum

I'd also be OK with:

3. Fox @ 4 and then trade Bledsoe for #7 and take Issac/Tatum.

If we move up to take Ball, I will be SO pissed.

[jredsaz]

1. I'm still on the - "take Tatum and call it a day train"

Unless

2. We can snag Fultz @ #2 (+Deng) for #4 + Miami. Then trade Bledsoe for #7 and take Issac or Tatum

I'd also be OK with:

3. Fox @ 4 and then trade Bledsoe for #7 and take Issac/Tatum.

If we move up to take Ball, I will be SO pissed.

I won't be pissed if we trade up to get Ball but he better be worth it. It's unfortunate that is seems like the Suns have him #1. I think it's worth it to trade up to #2 for Jackson or Fultz. I have them in a tier together. Tatum, Isaac, and Ball are all too close to give up an asset to go get. McD better be right if he pulls this trade

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[Villalobos]

If Fultz falls, don't see any chance they trade that pick. If they're wary of Ball they'd just take Fultz.

[Zelaznyrules]

Wonder why Jackson cancelled with Boston?

Deep team, very little playing time for rookies? I can't think of any other likely reason.

[Mulhollanddrive]

I just listened to Gambo in full and I am thinking we will be picking Isaac @ 4.

- Explored moving up to pick 1,2,3 but cost too much.
- 4 main options @ 4 who are extremely hard to split: 3 SFs and Fox (but IMO if he's in the pack, we'll take the simpler SF option).
- Jackson apparently promised by a top 3 team.
- That leaves Tatum and Isaac. Isaac is the McDonough prototype and it may be a small thing but I keep hearing his name first whenever the group is mentioned either by Gambo or McDonough.

[JDLAW]

It is amazing to see how fluid this becomes as teams get closer to draft day. Teams are putting out misleading information for three main reasons: 1) to see if they can get their player at a lower position while gaining an asset; 2) to see if they can get a read on which teams get edgy if their targeted player might suddenly become unavailable and 3) to send a message to a player to get serious. I see the Lakers' interest in Jackson possibly over ball as sending a message to Ball,"Get serious and get in shape. If I were the Lakers' management and I saw Ball's celebration about the second pick, Ball's reluctance to work out for anyone other than the Lakers and his half-assed, mediocre work-out. I would be sending Ball and his crazy father a message, you aren't a Laker yet and you might not be if you do not get it together. It send enough of a message that Ball called for a 2nd opportunity work-out. If his second work-out went well, I'd expect the Lakers to take him. I think Magic wants a PG who is a great distributor and he sees a little of himself in Ball.

[Mulhollanddrive]

So despite all the curve balls I think it'll turn out pretty similar to consensus next week:

Boston - Fultz
Lakers - Ball or Jackson
Philadelphia - Ball or Jackson
Phoenix - Isaac or Tatum

With Isaac I think we're going to know very early if he's a boom or bust. If he can handle, move quick, create shots in Summer League the NBA is his, who can stop that? If he can't he might look like rookie Bender for his career.

[JMac1]

So despite all the curve balls I think it'll turn out pretty similar to consensus next week:

Boston - Fultz
Lakers - Ball or Jackson
Philadelphia - Ball or Jackson
Phoenix - Isaac or Tatum

With Isaac I think we're going to know very early if he's a boom or bust. If he can handle, move quick, create shots in Summer League the NBA is his, who can stop that? If he can't he might look like rookie Bender for his career.

I think Mc'D should have a good feel on that before we pick him. If we draft him, then he displayed those skills or the likely hood of developing/improving upon those skills; If we pick Tatum, Isaac didn't display those skills.

At the end of the day, I'm betting Fox. Minus his shooting (which my not be as bad as it seems) he is a combination of Tatum (offensive skills and Isaac (defensive skills), which says he has more potential than either of them.

[Zelaznyrules]

If Fultz falls, don't see any chance they trade that pick. If they're wary of Ball they'd just take Fultz.

Unless they're wary of Fultz too.

[sunsbum]

God I love this time of year.

[SlovenianDragon]

God I love this time of year.

Its like a love/hate.

Because come draft day people will be super happy or sad.

THEY DRAFTED THE GUY I LIKE!

They drafted the guy I didn't like.

And some are neutral to a few of the picks.

The thing is we will never know if the guy we like or don't like will make it or not make it in the NBA.

Half the fun is the build up and half the other half is the aftermath.

Either way I cant wait til draft day!

also on a side note one thing I always loved about the NBA is they have a summer league....

I don't watch really any sport but basketball does any other sport do this or are we lucky?

Because summer league after draft day is HYPPEEE.

[Saberestar]

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[Saberestar]

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[bwgood77]

I dont offer the Lakers the Miami pick. I offer them whatever the lower pick is in 2018 between Miami and ours. That way no matter what we get the higher of the two and the Lakers still get a 2018 pick (One im sure they wont be using on themselves, but to trade to a team to help unload contracts).

So if it's protected we end up with no picks? Or they don't get one at all? I don't offer them a pick. If I do it's probably theirs. It's probably in the teens. If they play as well as they did the last half of the season they will be a playoff team, and they may play a lot better if they sign someone good. They will likely be better than us if we play our young guys a lot especially our rookie.