Snapbacks and Handshakes: The 2017 Draft (Raps pick #23)

[CoachJReturns]

Here's the thing....

I did not know he had that type of handle

This could be another one of those cases where a Kentucky player's true ability is buried under the incredible glut of talent coach Cal recruits.

Since the season is over we've seen this dude hitting 3's and displaying a tight handle. Of course, it has all been in workouts against invisible men, but still...

Watch on YouTube

Handle looks sloppy. Only center I could see us maybe being interested in is Adebayo who Ford said Masi liked. He's got elite length and shot blocking potential. Bam won't be the pick. I think one of the 3 point shooting big will be the pick particularly with Patterson likely gone for ca reasons.

How does his handle look sloppy? Not even close. Do you expect him to be Kyrie freakin Irving? He's still a big man, have some perspective.

I'd suggest watching NBA players practice their handles on their own. Point guards dribble multiple balls and do things that would blow people away when nobody's guarding them. Personally, I've coached kids(I'm talking pre-teen) who looked much more fluid with a ball and I'm not exaggerating, though obviously this is a big guy we're talking about. He's not bad by center standards, but I can't see him using ball handling at the next level for many years. Poeltl is a more fluid ball handler and shooter from what I've seen of college and Euro footoage, so we already have a skilled big developing. Siakam also looked pretty smooth in the D League finals.
I hope Masai is open to all options, but I think the pick is someone like Leaf or Lydon. There is a reactionary trend of addressing needs on an annual basis rather than having a real plan. First we added offensive players to have more scoring. Then they added defensive players. Now they want 3 point shooters. We definitely need 3 point shooting, but as far as need goes I think what we really need are guys who can shoot, put the ball on the floor, pass and defend. They don't grow on trees though and getting one outside the lottery is unlikely.
This may be a suggestion nobody likes, including myself, but at some point it may be wise to include our best two way prospect Powell in a package for a forward who can address all these needs. Just my opinion though.

[Tofubeque]

Anyone else like DJ Wilson? 7'4" wingspan, 240 lbs, seems to contest and guard on the perimeter fairly well. Shoots the 3 a bit

I see a lot of "true" 5s in our range and I'd be wary of them if I were a GM. The position is basically dead at high-level play.

[OAKLEY_2]

Anyone else like DJ Wilson? 7'4" wingspan, 240 lbs, seems to contest and guard on the perimeter fairly well. Shoots the 3 a bit

I see a lot of "true" 5s in our range and I'd be wary of them if I were a GM. The position is basically dead at high-level play.

For now it might be but trends change.

[HeadtopChunes]

Anyone else like DJ Wilson? 7'4" wingspan, 240 lbs, seems to contest and guard on the perimeter fairly well. Shoots the 3 a bit

I see a lot of "true" 5s in our range and I'd be wary of them if I were a GM. The position is basically dead at high-level play.

Not necessarily a Tristan Thompson, DeAndre Jordan type big is still incredibly valuable. You don't need the 3 at that position but PnR defense and quick feet are becoming a requirement.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Anyone else like DJ Wilson? 7'4" wingspan, 240 lbs, seems to contest and guard on the perimeter fairly well. Shoots the 3 a bit

I see a lot of "true" 5s in our range and I'd be wary of them if I were a GM. The position is basically dead at high-level play.

For now it might be but trends change.

If you just look at most draft mocks, they're loaded with "stretch bigs" or guys desperately trying to show they can stretch the floor. When you look at the NBA, there are very few 6"10 + guys that can hit volume 3s and hang in a rotation. I'd imagine there are actually more "true 5s" getting minutes, but I haven't looked into it yet. A lot of "stretch" 4s are really 3s that have moved over.

Anyway, the way to approach the mid-teens and beyond is to just look at players that might specialize and eventually breakout. There will be about 10 that crack a rotation out of like, 45 picks. Maybe one or two becomes an impact player for some stretch.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Anyone else like DJ Wilson? 7'4" wingspan, 240 lbs, seems to contest and guard on the perimeter fairly well. Shoots the 3 a bit

I see a lot of "true" 5s in our range and I'd be wary of them if I were a GM. The position is basically dead at high-level play.

I had an eye on him, but unless he can play the 3 I'm not interested. Much too soft a rebounder to be anything more than an occasional spot up shooter/weak side shot blocker. I'm thinking Anthony Tolliver.

[OAKLEY_2]

Anyone else like DJ Wilson? 7'4" wingspan, 240 lbs, seems to contest and guard on the perimeter fairly well. Shoots the 3 a bit

I see a lot of "true" 5s in our range and I'd be wary of them if I were a GM. The position is basically dead at high-level play.

Not necessarily a Tristan Thompson, DeAndre Jordan type big is still incredibly valuable. You don't need the 3 at that position but PnR defense and quick feet are becoming a requirement.

Jakob says hi.

[JShuttlesworth]

I really want Semi. He'd fit right in with this team

[HeadtopChunes]

Anyone else like DJ Wilson? 7'4" wingspan, 240 lbs, seems to contest and guard on the perimeter fairly well. Shoots the 3 a bit

I see a lot of "true" 5s in our range and I'd be wary of them if I were a GM. The position is basically dead at high-level play.

Not necessarily a Tristan Thompson, DeAndre Jordan type big is still incredibly valuable. You don't need the 3 at that position but PnR defense and quick feet are becoming a requirement.

Jakob says hi.

Love Jakob he's so smart. Masai says he'll have the 3pt shot eventually. If only he could catch lobs.

[HeadtopChunes]

I really want Semi. He'd fit right in with this team

Semi would be a great fit. I think he's the next Jae Crowder. But if we want anything other than a future role player probably not the way to go.

[LonZoBallin]

What if we win 60 next year?

If we underachieve in the playoffs again, who cares?

I love season play cause i like watching the team grow into what i hope to be a competitive playoff team. But if our season strategies don't equal play off success, the season is a waste of time.

Id rather get into the playoffs by the skin of our teeth and be a real threat than the way things have gone the last few years.

If we tank the only place we smell the playoffs is in our hopeful conventional wisdom projections because it is as unproven and conceptual as any pick we might select.

How is it unproven? 79% of the superstars in the history of the NBA were picked in the top 10. You need superstars to win championships.

[RaptorsLife]

If we underachieve in the playoffs again, who cares?

I love season play cause i like watching the team grow into what i hope to be a competitive playoff team. But if our season strategies don't equal play off success, the season is a waste of time.

Id rather get into the playoffs by the skin of our teeth and be a real threat than the way things have gone the last few years.

If we tank the only place we smell the playoffs is in our hopeful conventional wisdom projections because it is as unproven and conceptual as any pick we might select.

How is it unproven? 79% of the superstars in the history of the NBA were picked in the top 10. You need superstars to win championships.

Yesterday you were talking about top 5. Now it's 10 lol.

[execoftheyear]

Not necessarily a Tristan Thompson, DeAndre Jordan type big is still incredibly valuable. You don't need the 3 at that position but PnR defense and quick feet are becoming a requirement.

Jakob says hi.

Love Jakob he's so smart. Masai says he'll have the 3pt shot eventually. If only he could catch lobs.

Watch on YouTube

[HeadtopChunes]

Jakob says hi.

Love Jakob he's so smart. Masai says he'll have the 3pt shot eventually. If only he could catch lobs.

Watch on YouTube

I know he has the athleticism for it but I'll be honest I kinda forgot. He had that poster dunk agaisnt the Hawks too lol. If he can catch lobs we should throw lobs but then again our offense isn't exactly the most diverse.

[OAKLEY_2]

Love Jakob he's so smart. Masai says he'll have the 3pt shot eventually. If only he could catch lobs.

Watch on YouTube

I know he has the athleticism for it but I'll be honest I kinda forgot. He had that poster dunk agaisnt the Hawks too lol. If he can catch lobs we should throw lobs but then again our offense isn't exactly the most diverse.

No Masai I am better than Drummond. Bam!

[OAKLEY_2]

Watch on YouTube

[LonZoBallin]

If we tank the only place we smell the playoffs is in our hopeful conventional wisdom projections because it is as unproven and conceptual as any pick we might select.

How is it unproven? 79% of the superstars in the history of the NBA were picked in the top 10. You need superstars to win championships.

Yesterday you were talking about top 5. Now it's 10 lol.

Please show me one post where I said top 5?

You're the biggest troll on this board. Go away

[RaptorsLife]

How is it unproven? 79% of the superstars in the history of the NBA were picked in the top 10. You need superstars to win championships.

Yesterday you were talking about top 5. Now it's 10 lol.

Please show me one post where I said top 5?

You're the biggest troll on this board. Go away

I'm just happy were not rebuilding in the near future. Ride and die with this core until wheels fall off.

Lol But your right you said top 10 but weird I was top 5 the whole time and you never corrected me. Either you edited your post or I was drunk lol

Anyways Hope your 2nd fav team phx suns get lonzo ball bruh

[Saciid11]

Here's the thing....

I did not know he had that type of handle

This could be another one of those cases where a Kentucky player's true ability is buried under the incredible glut of talent coach Cal recruits.

Since the season is over we've seen this dude hitting 3's and displaying a tight handle. Of course, it has all been in workouts against invisible men, but still...

Watch on YouTube

He is my favorite choice if he is there 23 ..Emekafor type of game, a bit more athletic then okafor ever was and best off all Bam is healthy compared Okafor coming in the league ...

[CoachJReturns]

Not necessarily a Tristan Thompson, DeAndre Jordan type big is still incredibly valuable. You don't need the 3 at that position but PnR defense and quick feet are becoming a requirement.

Jakob says hi.

Love Jakob he's so smart. Masai says he'll have the 3pt shot eventually. If only he could catch lobs.

In what little footage there is of him playing internationally, he has shown a perimeter shot. He's going to be the most skilled 7 foot player we've ever had by far. We really don't need a center at all, so unless someone who blows us away is available there's no reason to take one. They'd have to be head and shoulders above anyone else since they'll automatically be behind another very young prospect on the depth chart.