Who would you take #1?

[clyde21]

The Bamba hype is out of control how do you get better once games stop playing


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He's charming, quick and long. I figured he'd win people over with interviews. Being in Austin I saw a lot of interviews before the season and some good long articles about him and he was really intriguing, but then watching him he is just SO raw offensively and so frail. He needs to put on a lot of weight.

I definitely wouldn't take him in the top few picks.

I think that's my main thing with him and why I think he could easily bust. Not even that he's raw, it's the skinny, long and frail thing. He almost seems destined for a bad freak injury or 3 that really alters his career. Like even if it doesn't end his career, it'll just be early enough in his career a couple times to really halt his progress and thus he'll always remain raw and skinny and eventually will have to be relegated to simply a mid minute role player off the bench or a limited minute starter.

But his ultimate ceiling type potential is off the hook and this isn't guy whose so raw mentally he'll never figure out where to be on a screen, or how to execute a simple proper drop step and he can shoot and will likely get better and has the measures and athleticism to be a monster defender. It's hard not to like him for the long term.

Being skinny doesn't matter at 19-years-old if you have the frame. He has an outstanding frame and could easily gain 20 lbs. without losing any quickness in an NBA program.

[bondom34]

If Bamba weighed about 20 pounds more he'd be 2 for me, but his size right now definitely is an issue. His on court game looks to be fantastic.But going against bigger guys in the NBA it's tougher to project

[bwgood77]

If Bamba weighed about 20 pounds more he'd be 2 for me, but his size right now definitely is an issue. His on court game looks to be fantastic.But going against bigger guys in the NBA it's tougher to project

Did you watch him a lot at Texas? A lot of his full games?

[vincecarter4pres]

He's charming, quick and long. I figured he'd win people over with interviews. Being in Austin I saw a lot of interviews before the season and some good long articles about him and he was really intriguing, but then watching him he is just SO raw offensively and so frail. He needs to put on a lot of weight.

I definitely wouldn't take him in the top few picks.

I think that's my main thing with him and why I think he could easily bust. Not even that he's raw, it's the skinny, long and frail thing. He almost seems destined for a bad freak injury or 3 that really alters his career. Like even if it doesn't end his career, it'll just be early enough in his career a couple times to really halt his progress and thus he'll always remain raw and skinny and eventually will have to be relegated to simply a mid minute role player off the bench or a limited minute starter.

But his ultimate ceiling type potential is off the hook and this isn't guy whose so raw mentally he'll never figure out where to be on a screen, or how to execute a simple proper drop step and he can shoot and will likely get better and has the measures and athleticism to be a monster defender. It's hard not to like him for the long term.

Being skinny doesn't matter at 19-years-old if you have the frame. He has an outstanding frame and could easily gain 20 lbs. without losing any quickness in an NBA program.

Oh listen, I love Bamba as a prospect, but I just feel like he's a candidate for those suspect injuries like Porzingis had last year. I'm not literally trying to have a crystal ball here on freak injuries, but I just feel like guys who are legitimately over 7 feet tall and skinny as a stick are usually much higher risk, especially if they're high picks and play a ton of minutes, have a high usage, come with a target on their backs.


I don't think about it so seriously that I'd pass on him, it's just a concern of mine with him and when I love J3 and really like Doncic and Bagley as well, it would be my deciding factor between him and Bagley to me, whether it's silly or petty or whatever.

I agree with you though, his frame is wide/broad, he could put on 20 pounds no prob and he doesn't ever have to become some bulky monster, he'd be just find focusing on strengthening his core instead of strictly adding bulk once he does put on that 20 or so pounds and be Kevin Garnett or Hornets Alonzo wiry strong.

[bondom34]

If Bamba weighed about 20 pounds more he'd be 2 for me, but his size right now definitely is an issue. His on court game looks to be fantastic.But going against bigger guys in the NBA it's tougher to project

Did you watch him a lot at Texas? A lot of his full games?

No, just stuff I've been looking at lately. I may be missing things, just a general concern with guys his size. Even with that he's still top 5 for me.

[Revived]

The Bamba hype is out of control how do you get better once games stop playing

By working on your game? You've never heard of playing getting better in the off season? How do you think Oladipo turned into a star player with Indiana last season?

As for Bamba...

[The Box Office]

Mo Bamba. Forget Ayton.

[Pro-Am40]

I would go with Luka Doncic. He has experience playing overseas, and a lot of upside.

[bigworld2017]

Mo Bamba. Forget Ayton.

I agree with you. I will concede that Ayton has the advantage right now because of his frame. Ayton has a ready made NBA body right now. Bamba will need to add some functional weight. And he will. He just turned 20 a few weekends ago. Once Bamba gets to 240-245 pounds, the same weight Kevin Garnett played at during his prime, he will be strong enough to compete with anyone. His athleticism, extraordinary length, agility, shot blocking excellence, coachability, intelligence....He has the complete package for me. I hope my Bulls do whatever it takes to be in a position to draft him.

[pelifan]

I dont know why people think Bamba will easily add weight. I think he'll always have long skinny legs and a thin waist. You can only add so much weight if you dont have the frame for it.

[Jkam31]

If Bamba weighed about 20 pounds more he'd be 2 for me, but his size right now definitely is an issue. His on court game looks to be fantastic.But going against bigger guys in the NBA it's tougher to project

Did you watch him a lot at Texas? A lot of his full games?

Anybody willing to take Bamba top 5 didn’t watch his games

The Bamba hype is out of control how do you get better once games stop playing

By working on your game? You've never heard of playing getting better in the off season? How do you think Oladipo turned into a star player with Indiana last season?

As for Bamba...

You think he’s the only one working out


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[bondom34]

If Bamba weighed about 20 pounds more he'd be 2 for me, but his size right now definitely is an issue. His on court game looks to be fantastic.But going against bigger guys in the NBA it's tougher to project

Did you watch him a lot at Texas? A lot of his full games?

Anybody willing to take Bamba top 5 didn’t watch his games

The Bamba hype is out of control how do you get better once games stop playing

By working on your game? You've never heard of playing getting better in the off season? How do you think Oladipo turned into a star player with Indiana last season?

As for Bamba...

You think he’s the only one working out


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I'd just value a big with less questions on defense. He's the best in that regard other thanaybe JJJ

[jimross]

Bamba or JJJ

[Revived]

I dont know why people think Bamba will easily add weight. I think he'll always have long skinny legs and a thin waist. You can only add so much weight if you dont have the frame for it.

Even Thon Maker added weight and strength this off season, I think it’s definitely possible for Bamba to do it.

Gobert had a skinner frame than Bamba coming in and he had no problem adding weight.

[pelifan]

I dont know why people think Bamba will easily add weight. I think he'll always have long skinny legs and a thin waist. You can only add so much weight if you dont have the frame for it.

Even Thon Maker added weight and strength this off season, I think it’s definitely possible for Bamba to do it.

Gobert had a skinner frame than Bamba coming in and he had no problem adding weight.

disagree on Gobert. He was skinnier but his frame was not skinny. Bamba is built like Nerlens Noel or Tyson Chandler and will be a high center of gravity player.



Gobert's waist is wider than Bamba's and his legs are not as long, the fact Bomba already looks kinda filled out in the upper body and only weighed 225 at the combine is a little concerning to me. Id be surprised if he ever weighs more than 240 and it will take him more than a few years just to get to that imo.

[CptCrunch]

Luka or JJJ

Bamba is a D grade prospect. Ayton is a C grade one.

[BostonCouchGM]

MPJ has face of the NBA talent. I don't think there's been anyone as physically gifted with his skills since Anthony Davis. He's a bonafide superstar in the making.

[rpa]

It's really a tougher question than the media makes out. This draft is so different because every player at the top just flat out dominated last year (Bagley/Ayton are 2 of 5 players in 25 years to average 20/10 as freshman, Doncic MVP of Euroleague, JJJ is the Greek God of advanced stats, Trae Young was ridiculous, etc.) but they all have massive red flags.

Me? I'd take Doncic. Basketball IQ is such an important trait and he's got it in spades (along with a whole hell of a lot else).

It still shocks me that people are so infatuated with Bamba. We're in an era where it's impossible for a single player to dominate a game on defense.

[UcanUwill]

I dont know why people think Bamba will easily add weight. I think he'll always have long skinny legs and a thin waist. You can only add so much weight if you dont have the frame for it.

Even Thon Maker added weight and strength this off season, I think it’s definitely possible for Bamba to do it.

Gobert had a skinner frame than Bamba coming in and he had no problem adding weight.

Gobert isn't even that good of a post defender, and no one really cares. The leaner and quicker you are, the better that is nowadays. How often teams post their bigmen anyway in this day and age? So Jonas Valanciunas or Hassan Whiteside will push you around for 2 possessions, does that even matter, nowadays you have to be quick and defend pick and roll, ideally be able to switch.

[The-Power]

I dont know why people think Bamba will easily add weight. I think he'll always have long skinny legs and a thin waist. You can only add so much weight if you dont have the frame for it.

Even Thon Maker added weight and strength this off season, I think it’s definitely possible for Bamba to do it.

Gobert had a skinner frame than Bamba coming in and he had no problem adding weight.

Gobert isn't even that good of a post defender, and no one really cares. The leaner and quicker you are, the better that is nowadays. How often teams post their bigmen anyway in this day and age? So Jonas Valanciunas or Hassan Whiteside will push you around for 2 possessions, does that even matter, nowadays you have to be quick and defend pick and roll, ideally be able to switch.

It's not just or even primarily about post defense. It's about being able to resist contact on drives to the rim, when guys have gained steam. Bamba's length definitely helps him a lot to overcome some of the issues, but defenders will successfully go right into his body on drives nonetheless. He can fix this issue, but it's not a given.

And generally speaking, I still don't understand why everybody is so convinced that Bamba is going to be a can't-miss defensive prospect. Yes, his length is unreal and he offers other things as well. But in this day and age, you have to be able to defend out on the perimeter and for all the talk about his nimble movements, we actually don't know if Bamba can handle the switching in the NBA well. Also, much of his rim protection was 'classic' and came from camping close to the rim waiting for the drives. We don't know yet how effective Bamba's rim protection is going to be on a more spread-out NBA court – and that's incredibly important because having elite rim protection is probably his biggest selling point.