And Then There Was One: Thank Nation 2. Raps pick 23rd

[MavCarter]

I would package both these picks with Carrolle for an expiring...

Thank god you're not the GM

[Rapcity_11]

I would package both these picks with Carrolle for an expiring...

Thank god you're not the GM

That's an all-time great bad trade proposal.

[RaptorsLife]

pascal 27th pick and norman 46th pick. trust masai with late picks, he will draft someone you never heard of him and he will be a gem

[WhatsaTDot]

These two picks should be used to acquire a star. We don't have room for rookies.

Great idea except stars aren't acquired by tossing in pick 27 & 30.

[Naysorn]

These two picks should be used to acquire a star. We don't have room for rookies.

Great idea except stars aren't acquired by tossing in pick 27 & 30.

They are when you throw in assets alongside them.

[CoachJReturns]

These two picks should be used to acquire a star. We don't have room for rookies.

I'm all for trading assets for a young star like Cousins, but I wonder if Masai would actually go through with it? His conservative approach of dropping dead weight and adding role players has worked great for him so far. He may not want to try to take a big leap forward. I could be wrong, but I think we should be prepared for the possibility of no major trades being made.
If he were to pass on a big deal, I kind of understand it from his perspective. Our previous general manager came out on the losing end more often than not when he traded draft picks. The only time it worked out was BC traded for Lowry, but that was kind of a fluke. He was BC's backup option when Nash declined to sign and BC didn't even stick around long enough to see Lowry become the player he is today. Long story short, it's easy to say trade picks for Cousins or some other young star, but there are almost always unexpected consequences(both good and bad) to any roster changes.

If we keep both picks, the upside is that Masai seems to like older picks and guys who can play minutes sooner rather than later. Also, with the D League likely expanding rosters, there will be a little more space for prospects.

[CoachJReturns]

I'm going to have to start watching Tyler Lydon from Syracuse. 6'8 forward, good shooter and even blocked shots at a good clip last year(1.8 per game).

[CoachJReturns]

The Canadian kid this year:

Justin Jackson, Freshman, Maryland, Forward, 6'7 225lbs.

Jackson had a nice shooting game on Tuesday. 3-5 from 3 and 7-12 overall for 17 points, to go along with 7 rebounds. Didn't show the passing that is supposed to be part of his game though. I remember seeing a video of him and he looked like a Lamar Odom type point forward. Guess he's not in that kind of role.

[CoachJReturns]

One more to watch for(I'm on a bit of a prospect rampage today it seems).

D.J Wilson of Michigan. Junior.

6'9 forward. Averaging 8 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks in the fist two games of the season. Seems to have at least a passable shooting touch as well. If his shot continues to make progress and he has enough quicks to defend SF, he looks like a Masai type of pick and the sort of forward we need.

[Red_Claw]

My early draft prospect front runner. Next Porzingis lite?

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/lauri-markkanen
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4066336/lauri-markkanen

Watch on YouTube

Will probably end up going top 10 though....move up with Poeltl?

[CoachJReturns]

My early draft prospect front runner. Next Porzingis lite?

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/lauri-markkanen
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4066336/lauri-markkanen

Watch on YouTube

Will probably end up going top 10 though....move up with Poeltl?

Early indications are it could be a deep draft that lacks a transcendent star, but has a lot of role player types. Markkanen could still be on the board.

Someone I like from a production standpoint early on is is Hassan Martin of Rhode Island. 6'7, 7'2 wingspan, can guard virtually any position, blocks shots and rebounds like a beast. He needs to develop a shot, but he's hitting .846 from the free throw line early on, so his touch can't be too bad. He has athleticism(38 inch vertical) and hands even bigger than Kawhi!!!
In short he's a physical freak, who only started playing organized ball a few years ago. Seems exactly like a Masai guy actually.
He's also incredibly young for a senior as he turns 20 years old next week! Must be a bright kid to start college so young.

[TdotRap4Lyfe]

With the expanded roster, Im sure we can find at least one good player in this draft if we keep both picks. Since we have our second as well, probably send two players to Europe and another in the D-league, hopefully move Carroll for a second or something.

[CoachJReturns]

With the expanded roster, Im sure we can find at least one good player in this draft if we keep both picks. Since we have our second as well, probably send two players to Europe and another in the D-league, hopefully move Carroll for a second or something.

If we came away with any of Anunoby(unlikely), Blossomgame or Hassan Martin, I think I'd be happy. All guys with good potential who should be able to contribute sooner rather than later, which seems to fit Masai's draft philosophy lately.

[Syd-TK3]

Yeah that Anunoby kid screams Masai.
But he looks like he's gonnna rise up to maybe even top 10

[BoyzNTheHood]

My early draft prospect front runner. Next Porzingis lite?

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/lauri-markkanen
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4066336/lauri-markkanen

Watch on YouTube

Will probably end up going top 10 though....move up with Poeltl?

Early indications are it could be a deep draft that lacks a transcendent star, but has a lot of role player types. Markkanen could still be on the board.

Someone I like from a production standpoint early on is is Hassan Martin of Rhode Island. 6'7, 7'2 wingspan, can guard virtually any position, blocks shots and rebounds like a beast. He needs to develop a shot, but he's hitting .846 from the free throw line early on, so his touch can't be too bad. He has athleticism(38 inch vertical) and hands even bigger than Kawhi!!!
In short he's a physical freak, who only started playing organized ball a few years ago. Seems exactly like a Masai guy actually.
He's also incredibly young for a senior as he turns 20 years old next week! Must be a bright kid to start college so young.

I just checked out some video on him. It seems like he's only a post player at this point, and can only go left.

[Kinger95]

I would package both these picks with Carrolle for an expiring...

Thank god you're not the GM

That's an all-time great bad trade proposal.

If those expirings were Ibaka/Gallo I think I'd do that. Not only because it would improve us this year while we still have Kyle, but we're also running out of room for young guys and they can't even see the floor. Plus your get out of the carroll's deal

[CoachJReturns]

Yeah that Anunoby kid screams Masai.
But he looks like he's gonnna rise up to maybe even top 10

DraftExpress.com has him ranked 9th already. Things can always change, but it's probably best to focus on the other guys to avoid disappointment.
Blossomgame, Hassan Martin, Devin Robinson etc...

Robinson is actually pretty intriguing. Good height, very athletic and can shoot.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Devin-Robinson-72830/

[Kevin Willis]

Since Hassan plays for RI he will have to dominate his competition this year. However he should be available in our range if he does.

Anunoby is gone unless we move up, maybe shoving JV in a teams face for a reward. It's early though so lets see what happens. I also think this draft class might not have a ton of generational players (how many do outside of Lebron's) but there will be a few all-stars.

[CoachJReturns]

Since Hassan plays for RI he will have to dominate his competition this year. However he should be available in our range if he does.

Anunoby is gone unless we move up, maybe shoving JV in a teams face for a reward. It's early though so lets see what happens. I also think this draft class might not have a ton of generational players (how many do outside of Lebron's) but there will be a few all-stars.

Hassan has great physical tools, but it would be unfair to expect him to dominate offensively. Defensively though, he certainly could. His shot blocking numbers for a guy who's only 6'7 are pretty ridiculous through 3 games, though obviously they will come down to earth. He's very much like Siakam as a guy who started playing late, though he's still quite young having started his college career at 17 years of age. Like a lot of guys, he'll have to show a big improvement in his shooting during pre-draft workouts to move him up on draft boards. It can be done, as Jaylen Brown proved this year, but not many do of course.

[TradeLowry]

-Fultz best player in the country
-Lonzo ball gonna average close to a triple double
-Fox is the best player on Kentucky so far
-Dennis smith, Ntilikina, frank jackson,


6 point guards could go top 10 next year.

3 maybe even 4 in the top 5.