Where would Fultz and Ball rank in the last 5 drafts

[The-Power]

It seems to only very recently be getting overrated. I think it is just a product of people seeing some of these prospects through rose colored glasses. Which happens every year around this time. It will pass I think.

Huh? This draft has been consistently praised as extremely good before the college season even started and that hasn't changed since. Also I don't believe people see prospects through rose-colored glasses - there has been as much criticism as praise on this board for instance. Believe it or not, you can be high on this draft class and still see flaws in every player.

[Cammo101]

It seems to only very recently be getting overrated. I think it is just a product of people seeing some of these prospects through rose colored glasses. Which happens every year around this time. It will pass I think.

Huh? This draft has been consistently praised as extremely good before the college season even started and that hasn't changed since. Also I don't believe people see prospects through rose-colored glasses - there has been as much criticism as praise on this board for instance. Believe it or not, you can be high on this draft class and still see flaws in every player.

It is an extremely good draft class. That hasn't changed. What has changed is in the last week on here I'm seeing stuff like how Ben Simmons would have gone 5th in this draft, Simmons is the only guy from last year who would go in the top 10 of this draft, Lonzo Ball is Jason Kidd, but better...

It's a good class, but the hype on it has officially gotten out of control. Specifically it seems on Ball and Fultz, who somehow are now considered prospects on the level of guys like Towns and Simmons. It's obviously not everyone here, or even the majority, but it's getting louder.

[Duke4life831]

It seems to only very recently be getting overrated. I think it is just a product of people seeing some of these prospects through rose colored glasses. Which happens every year around this time. It will pass I think.

Huh? This draft has been consistently praised as extremely good before the college season even started and that hasn't changed since. Also I don't believe people see prospects through rose-colored glasses - there has been as much criticism as praise on this board for instance. Believe it or not, you can be high on this draft class and still see flaws in every player.

Ya I've been praising this class for way over a year now. Also there has been plenty of criticisms for all the top prospects this year. Ball has been one of the most critiqued prospects I've seen in awhile.

[bigboi]

Said it before the year and I still feel the same way. I think Simmons would go 4th or 5th in this draft.

Simmons was a consensus #1. This draft doesn't have a consensus #1 type of player (it has several "second tier" players). Simmons would go first and it wouldn't be close.

No, he wouldn't. Stop it. JJ would prob go ahead of Simmons, freaking poowater Ingram had an argument

[EvanZ]

Said it before the year and I still feel the same way. I think Simmons would go 4th or 5th in this draft.

Simmons was a consensus #1. This draft doesn't have a consensus #1 type of player (it has several "second tier" players). Simmons would go first and it wouldn't be close.

No, he wouldn't. Stop it. JJ would prob go ahead of Simmons, freaking poowater Ingram had an argument

[EvanZ]

It seems to only very recently be getting overrated. I think it is just a product of people seeing some of these prospects through rose colored glasses. Which happens every year around this time. It will pass I think.

Huh? This draft has been consistently praised as extremely good before the college season even started and that hasn't changed since. Also I don't believe people see prospects through rose-colored glasses - there has been as much criticism as praise on this board for instance. Believe it or not, you can be high on this draft class and still see flaws in every player.

Ya I've been praising this class for way over a year now. Also there has been plenty of criticisms for all the top prospects this year. Ball has been one of the most critiqued prospects I've seen in awhile.

You can see why after tonight.

[peachbucket]

I think the consensus draft boards would be close to this...

Tier 1
1a. Towns
1b. Embiid (without injury)
2. Fultz

Tier 2
3. Jackson
4. Ball
5. Simmons

Tier 3
6. Parker
7. Wiggins
8. Russell
9. Ingram
10. Okafor

[Unbreakable99]

I'm going to rank it as far as talent. Embiid was hurt and wouldn't go top 5 if you include all the classes but when you go by talent he would.

1. Simmons
2. Embiid
3. Towns
4. Ball
5. Jackson

Fultz would go somewhere after that.

[Golabki]

I was never as in love with Simmons as a lot of people. But, he was on a whole different level as a prospect. His unique skillset as a 6'10" legit point guard made him a special talent that teams were clamoring for even despite his deficiencies. Considering what LeBron has done to the league, I think Simmons would have been the very first player taken in that draft range, even if I personally would have preferred Towns at the very least to him.

Well... I think comparing Simmons to LeBron is a little silly... but it seems like the bigger disagreement is that you see Fultz/Ball as very mediocre prospects for top picks. I mean below Ingram?!

Mediocre is a strong word. I'd say middle of the road for top picks. Not transcendent talents, but not Anthony Bennett either.

Based on your ranking they are more like good #2s... which I'd call medicore if your drafting #1. Bennett was disasterous.

[Golabki]

I'm going to rank it as far as talent. Embiid was hurt and wouldn't go top 5 if you include all the classes but when you go by talent he would.

1. Simmons
2. Embiid
3. Towns
4. Ball
5. Jackson

Fultz would go somewhere after that.

I think you can make a strong case for Embiid if it wasn't for the injuries. He dropped to #3 for a reason.

[Golabki]

I think the consensus draft boards would be close to this...

Tier 1
1a. Towns
1b. Embiid (without injury)
2. Fultz

Tier 2
3. Jackson
4. Ball
5. Simmons

Tier 3
6. Parker
7. Wiggins
8. Russell
9. Ingram
10. Okafor

I agree that there's a pretty good case for Jackson to be in the group... very strong for a potential #3.

I'd say Embiid without injury doesn't exist... which is why he wasn't on my list

[nurseryc]

Simmons is the clear number 1 with the question posed. Where Fultz and Ball rank is somewhere after that.

[No-Man]

Said it before the year and I still feel the same way. I think Simmons would go 4th or 5th in this draft.

Simmons was a consensus #1. This draft doesn't have a consensus #1 type of player (it has several "second tier" players). Simmons would go first and it wouldn't be close.

How is Fultz not a consensus nº1? you need to stop reading Dean Demakis and his absurd takes man, that stuff aint good for you.

[TurboTitan]

some horrifying opinions on here oh my goodness

[peachbucket]

I think the consensus draft boards would be close to this...

Tier 1
1a. Towns
1b. Embiid (without injury)
2. Fultz

Tier 2
3. Jackson
4. Ball
5. Simmons

Tier 3
6. Parker
7. Wiggins
8. Russell
9. Ingram
10. Okafor

I agree that there's a pretty good case for Jackson to be in the group... very strong for a potential #3.

I'd say Embiid without injury doesn't exist... which is why he wasn't on my list

I would say that this list doesn't exist because these prospects are from different years...it's a hypothetical exercise to compare prospects...that's why I included Embiid.

A couple of caveats to my list...

I have Simmons ranked lower than he should be because of the competitive issues he showed at LSU...from a pure basketball perspective I think he belongs at the end of Tier1 or the top of Tier2 ahead of Jackson as he will be a double digit rebounder in the NBA.

Also, I think Ball has a good chance to end up a transcendant player (like Steve Nash) and may very well belong in Tier1 ahead of Fultz...I'm just hesitant to put him there right now because he will require the right offensive system (ball movement, surrounded by scorers), time to mature physically, and possible overhaul his shot mechanics...although I do expect him to get there.

[Worm Guts]

I don't really understand how people have Simmons going first, with his questionable shooting and defensive effort.

[Duke4life831]

I don't really understand how people have Simmons going first, with his questionable shooting and defensive effort.

Yup. Dont get me wrong I think hes a solid prospect and should be an all star. But he has 0 jump shot, terrible FT shooter, doesnt have any legit low post moves, isnt a good defender and hes known for his passing yet has always had a bad Ast/TO ratio. Again not saying hes a bad prospect, but to act like hes this great prospect that is untouchable, I dont get.

[PLO]

I don't really understand how people have Simmons going first, with his questionable shooting and defensive effort.

Yup. Dont get me wrong I think hes a solid prospect and should be an all star. But he has 0 jump shot, terrible FT shooter, doesnt have any legit low post moves, isnt a good defender and hes known for his passing yet has always had a bad Ast/TO ratio. Again not saying hes a bad prospect, but to act like hes this great prospect that is untouchable, I dont get.

Simmons was a decent ft shooter, a reason why many thought his jump shot could be reclaimed (though it's true that is questionable). No "legit" low post moves? Have we watched the same player in college?! As far as his defending, I think he's a wait and see, he's certainly got something to work with on that end but did have a lack of application there.

The reason he would be one is because in college he looked like lebron lite, there's very very few prospects you could describe as such anywhere at any time in the history of the game.

[HeartBreakKid]

Am I missing something? Simmons isn't a consensus generational prospect like Anthony Davis was, why is it crazy to say Simmons wouldn't go top 5 in a redraft of the past 5 drafts? Simmons was the #1 overall in his draft, yes....but his draft is considered to be a weak draft.

I've come around to Simmons, but I don't think he is really above the top 3 or 4 players in this years draft. I think someone like Lonzo Ball seems like a better prospect, perhaps same tier.

[Duke4life831]

I don't really understand how people have Simmons going first, with his questionable shooting and defensive effort.

Yup. Dont get me wrong I think hes a solid prospect and should be an all star. But he has 0 jump shot, terrible FT shooter, doesnt have any legit low post moves, isnt a good defender and hes known for his passing yet has always had a bad Ast/TO ratio. Again not saying hes a bad prospect, but to act like hes this great prospect that is untouchable, I dont get.

Simmons was a decent ft shooter, a reason why many thought his jump shot could be reclaimed (though it's true that is questionable). No low "legit" low post moves? Have we watched the same player in college?! As far as his defending, I think he's a wait and see, he's certainly got something to work with on that end but did have a lack of application there.

The reason he would be one is because in college he looked like lebron lite, there's very very few prospects you could describe as such anywhere at any time in the history of the game.

63% FT shooter in high school and 67% FT shooter in college (63% in his 6 SL games). I would not consider someone who shoots in the mid 60s to be a decent FT shooter. When it comes to his low post moves, I saw a solid right hand hook (didnt do it too often), either than that the majority of his post moves was more of a bully ball style where he was able to get away with it because he had a size and athleticism advantage. So Im not sold that his low post scoring will translate to the NBA.

Id also say Lebron-lite is a very favorable way to describe him. He was like Lebron just without the defense, with basically a 1/1 Ast/TO ratio and without the wins.

Ill say it again, Im not a Simmons hater, I think hes going to be a real good pro. But he wasnt Lebron-lite in college for LSU and I dont see this elite type prospect that others talk like he is. I feel like he was part of a really weak draft class so he was really hyped up by ESPN (shocking they televised his games and the draft).