2018 NBA Draft

[Marcus]

Oh hes definitely old enough for the G League. Its not the same as the NBA, the only requirement is you have to be 18 by the end of the year. So basically everyone who graduates high school is eligible to go straight to the G League. Plus Robinson is really old for the class, hes going to be 20 next April.

This just shows the G League is not even on the radar for guys like Robinson. I believe the G League still has 2 salary tiers for guys not with NBA contracts. I believe the tiers are 19k and 25k. Thats basically minimum wage. So Im sure Robinson's agent or whoever will pay him to workout the entire year and he will make more money than the G League would give him while not being stuck with the horrible G League schedule and travel.

I still think there is an easy fix for the age thing with the NBA. Keep the age requirement as it is, but allow teams to draft players and stash them in the G League until theyre old enough for the NBA. The players could get paid right out of high school and the G League would start to get a ton of big names coming through the league every year.

With your scenario do you see elite level HS talents being willing to wait out that year in the G-League instead of college? Lets say they have the grades and pick from any elite level program and are on the radar for top 3 whenever they decide to leave for the draft how many do you think make the decision to G-League it up over college?

Also, and this is all based on my intrigue with your idea. With the age limit still intact, are we allowing some of our older kids to jump as soon as they are of age? So in the case of someone like Robinson and say Luka Doncic, or better yet this past season where we have a kid like Fultz and then a Josh Jackson. In your scenario if they both declared would Josh be eligible for the main roster due to age while Fultz plays G-League until he's old enough?

I don't know if Doncic is right example because he can get 2+ million per year easily, if he decides to stay in Real few more years. So G-league makes no sense for him.

Which is why I moved on to Fultz and Jackson.

[Worm122]

When the ncaa season starts?


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[Justwar]

Don't know a ton about him and since we won't get a chance to see him this season in the NCAA, somebody sell me on Mitchell Robinson. I can see from clips he's a freak athlete for his size but what's the skillset like? I can see a shot blocker, fluid athlete, good length, we're obviously gonna get an idea of his work ethic and passion since he's essentially working out for a year before hitting the league. What separates the rest of the pack from what Mitchell can bring a NBA team?

Mitchell has a very good chance being better than bamba. Better timing because he's a better athlete on defense, better on offense

[No-Man]

Don't know a ton about him and since we won't get a chance to see him this season in the NCAA, somebody sell me on Mitchell Robinson. I can see from clips he's a freak athlete for his size but what's the skillset like? I can see a shot blocker, fluid athlete, good length, we're obviously gonna get an idea of his work ethic and passion since he's essentially working out for a year before hitting the league. What separates the rest of the pack from what Mitchell can bring a NBA team?

Mitchell has a very good chance being better than bamba. Better timing because he's a better athlete on defense, better on offense

He is def more explosive than Bamba, and nimbler, Bamba has better balance and strength, I worry about Mitchell hips esp in PnR, he can be weird moving in space.

It depends a ton on the mentality and way they carry themselves, the one that is more into working hard and accepting a role, is probably gonna be the better prospect.

Bamba has a better frame, better structure to add weight too, Robinson has great timing for blocks, but not sure he does for defense in general.

Bamba's shooting is overstated, he tries and the mechanics arent awful, but his shot is flat and slow as ****, he isnt gonna be a threat, and he might not be a threat on lobs as much as people think, he is sooo damn long, but, he isn't quick off the floor, or quick in general, coordinated and moves well to be sure, but not seeing a ton of use for him on offense.

All that can improve of course.

[Marcus]

So would it basically be hype separating Robinson and Bamba for you guys?

[No-Man]

So would it basically be hype separating Robinson and Bamba for you guys?

Man, not really I get the concerns with Robinson, although his lack of name might come from hype more than deep analysis, and Bamba feels solid for a certain playing style.

I just have concerns with Bamba explosiveness or lack there of, he needs to be able to be a lob-threat catch to stay on the floor in the current NBA enviroment, or they will scheme him out of games.

Bamba still feels safer, but Robinson for me has higher upside.

[Mulhollanddrive]

I have to be convinced on both Ayton and Bamba.

If they were 6'9 I'm not sure they're be considered better than Robert Williams.

[Marcus]

I have to be convinced on both Ayton and Bamba.

If they were 6'9 I'm not sure they're be considered better than Robert Williams.

With all three I think it's a time will tell thing for different reasons.

Ayton talent wise isn't a question. how he decides to use it is. We could have another Karl Towns or another Renaldo Sydney.

Bamba I think has to be more than a one trick pony to garner a top pick. Defensive versatility is through the roof, needs size, and some sort of effective offensive game I think. not forcing trying to prove he can hit a jumper but just a real legit no questions asked I can do this at any level and put the ball in the basket. Something viable for teams to work with.

Williams I still think has to prove something. Looked really good at time last year but needs to follow up with a huge leap. He can't be the same player he was a year ago. We've seen that show already. There has to be growth all-around or else I personally think he missed his shot.

Lots of talent this draft but tons of questions near the top.

[Justwar]

Should we prepare for the rapture since fisch and I are agreeing? And I just don't see towns potential in ayton. He'll need develop a physical post game. Towns still was a much better shooter at the same age. Towns off the dribble was too. I think he's more a slightly more skilled Ibaka to me. That's damn good but yeah

[The-Power]

Lots of talent this draft but tons of questions near the top.

Much fewer question marks than last year, imo.

[Marcus]

Lots of talent this draft but tons of questions near the top.

Much fewer question marks than last year, imo.

who are your top prospects this time around and what do you like about them?

[The-Power]

Lots of talent this draft but tons of questions near the top.

Much fewer question marks than last year, imo.

who are your top prospects this time around and what do you like about them?

Doncic, Bagley, Bamba, Porter, Jackson Jr., Bridges and Brown Jr. are my top 7 at this point with Ayton being a wildcard I struggle to rank until I see his work ethic and game in college. I reckon a lot can change over the course of the year, though. I've written about them quite a bit by now so perhaps you're interested in my thoughts on a particular player? On this board I've mostly explained why I'm so high on Jackson and Brown.

[Duke4life831]

So would it basically be hype separating Robinson and Bamba for you guys?

Man, not really I get the concerns with Robinson, although his lack of name might come from hype more than deep analysis, and Bamba feels solid for a certain playing style.

I just have concerns with Bamba explosiveness or lack there of, he needs to be able to be a lob-threat catch to stay on the floor in the current NBA enviroment, or they will scheme him out of games.

Bamba still feels safer, but Robinson for me has higher upside.

Hes more explosive than Gobert and Gobert is a solid lob threat and can stay on the floor.

[No-Man]

So would it basically be hype separating Robinson and Bamba for you guys?

Man, not really I get the concerns with Robinson, although his lack of name might come from hype more than deep analysis, and Bamba feels solid for a certain playing style.

I just have concerns with Bamba explosiveness or lack there of, he needs to be able to be a lob-threat catch to stay on the floor in the current NBA enviroment, or they will scheme him out of games.

Bamba still feels safer, but Robinson for me has higher upside.

Hes more explosive than Gobert and Gobert is a solid lob threat and can stay on the floor.

I am not sure he is, not than current Gobert.

he might get more explosive as he grows, like Rudy did though.

[Mulhollanddrive]

There always seems to be a big man ranked high based on athletic potential that drops:

DraftExpress Rankings around October pre-season.

2011 - Perry Jones no.2
2012 - Jared Sullinger no.4
2013 - Isaiah Austin no.6
2014 - Cliff Alexander no.5
2015 - Skal Labissiere no.1
2016 - Harry Giles no.3

I think Porter, Bagley, Doncic with developed skillsets are safe bets to go 1-5 while Ayton and Bamba are more wildcards who could go anywhere in the first round 1-30.

I would love to see a genuine center in contention for no.1 pick because there is an opportunity to dominate the NBA in the position for the next 15 years given weaker opposition, imagine Olajuwon or Robinson in this era.

[CptCrunch]

Does Bamba have any notable skills aside from being athletic enough for his size, tall and doubly exceptionally long?

[Mulhollanddrive]

Shooting shows promise, much better offensively in his Australia pre-season games than I expected from a Gobert comparison.

[The-Power]

Does Bamba have any notable skills aside from being athletic enough for his size, tall and doubly exceptionally long?

Understanding the game on defense.

[Duke4life831]

Does Bamba have any notable skills aside from being athletic enough for his size, tall and doubly exceptionally long?

Hes a really good defender. Its not just him being really long (definitely helps), but he has really good timing defensively and seems to be in the right place a very good amount of time for someone his age. So to me that is one of the reasons im really high on him because he has a very rare combination of elite of elite tools defensively to go with the right mindset and IQ defensively.

Offensively he has solid touch on his shots, so that leads to having some potential offensively but that side of the ball is not what makes him a great prospect. To me Bamba is a great prospect because I havent seen a high school player that had multiple DPOY awards written all over him in a long long time. Youre going to draft him hoping for a Rudy Gobert type effect for your defense.

[Justwar]

So would it basically be hype separating Robinson and Bamba for you guys?

Man, not really I get the concerns with Robinson, although his lack of name might come from hype more than deep analysis, and Bamba feels solid for a certain playing style.

I just have concerns with Bamba explosiveness or lack there of, he needs to be able to be a lob-threat catch to stay on the floor in the current NBA enviroment, or they will scheme him out of games.

Bamba still feels safer, but Robinson for me has higher upside.

Hes more explosive than Gobert and Gobert is a solid lob threat and can stay on the floor.

Gobert has a better frame, size and probably athleticism