The 2017 NBA Draft Thread

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #41 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Wed Nov 30, 2016 3:22 am

Here's a second rounder who will make an NBA roster.

Pitt beat Maryland tonight. Young had his 5th straight 20 plus point game. He reminds me a little bit of Antawn Jamison. Cross him with Paul Millsap. The guy has bounce. Plays defense. Has three-point range. And he's improved statistically all 4 years of NCAA play.

Michael Young, of Pittsburgh

Watch on YouTube

http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/michael_young_853324.html

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Michael-Young-70338/stats/

He looks like a Kris Middleton-type, Wesley Matthews-type, Jimmy Butler-type player. He's not going to be drafted high but he will be a regular roster player once he makes it to the NBA.

I'm sure the knock on Young is that he's smallish for a PF. I think he's got tweener skills and can play NBA SF offensively.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #42 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Wed Nov 30, 2016 3:43 am

Here's a player that Ernie Grunfeld would never even scout or draft:

He lit up Buddy Hield

Watch on YouTube

http://okstate.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2825

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jawun-Evans-76420/stats/

Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State

Maryland's next loss will be to Oklahoma State. I'll post more about Evans then.

AFM · Post #43 » by **AFM** » Wed Nov 30, 2016 5:40 am

CCJ has made his early year predictions! Hear hear!

Post #44 » by **Ruzious** » Wed Nov 30, 2016 2:29 pm

Good choices by CCH. I like Evans much more than Young. Young has the advantage of being a fully developed senior beating up on players wet behind their ears. Watching the Terps game, a criticism I have of him is there was no wiggle in his offensive game - everything was straight ahead. I don't think that will work in the NBA - where he's on the small side for a PF. And he does turn the ball over. But Evans - wow what a scorer. And now that there are several big PG's in the NBA, he can play either guard spot in the NBA. A great ball thief and a very low turnover rate considering all he does. He was Big 12 Frosh of the Year last season and a HS All American - I think he's a phenom.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #45 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Wed Nov 30, 2016 4:52 pm

Yes, Ruz, Evans looks like a Tony Parker or Chris Paul level scorer. He draws and finishes through contact. What I like most are his hands. Very active ball thief with a very tight handle. He also anticipates well as a passer.

I agree, Ruz, that Young doesn't have much "wiggle". Yep, he's the grown man beating up on NCAA youngsters. That said, look at his stats. I actually thought about...Len Bias. (Sacrilege, I know). Michael Young has improved in shooting and scoring. He's putting up 23 a game. He has both shot blocking and three point ability. Like I said above, I THINK he's fluid enough to be a good small ball PF off the bench. He might be an NBA SF. Dude reminds of Antawn Jamison--he gets buckets.

Last but not least: high character guys, both Evans and Young.

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Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #46 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Wed Nov 30, 2016 4:59 pm

Evans can immediately help the Wizards.

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Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #47 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Wed Nov 30, 2016 5:04 pm

Ruzious, you might be right about Young.

I missed on Drew Gordon and probably other of the type four-year, bully ball, players in the past.

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Post #48 » by **Ruzious** » Wed Nov 30, 2016 5:44 pm

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:Yes, Ruz, Evans looks like a Tony Parker or Chris Paul level scorer. He draws and finishes through contact. What I like most are his hands. Very active ball thief with a very tight handle. He also anticipates well as a passer.

I agree, Ruz, that Young doesn't have much "wiggle". Yep, he's the grown man beating up on NCAA youngsters. That said, look at his stats. I actually thought about...Len Bias. (Sacrilege, I know). Michael Young has improved in shooting and scoring. He's putting up 23 a game. He has both shot blocking and three point ability. Like I said above, I THINK he's fluid enough to be a good small ball PF off the bench. He might be an NBA SF. Dude reminds of Antawn Jamison--he gets buckets.

Last but not least: high character guys, both Evans and Young.

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It definitely helps that Young can play bully ball against some smaller players and hit the 3 against bigger guys - He just might fit in that Tobias Harris group - or Jamison, like you said.

But Evans... wow, I think you nailed it on him. This draft is being hailed for its big-time point guard talents, and I think that might be a reason Evans is getting over-looked. He might be a special player that could last outside the lottery.

doclinkin · Post #49 » by **doclinkin** » Wed Nov 30, 2016 6:46 pm

Lonzo Ball has a Jason Kidd aura about him. Unshaken. Sees the game the way few do.

Post #50 » by **Ruzious** » Wed Nov 30, 2016 10:34 pm

doclinkin wrote:Lonzo Ball has a Jason Kidd aura about him. Unshaken. Sees the game the way few do.

Definitely has the IT factor. Spectacular PG skills. Will likely go top 5 in the year of the PG draft - even with a very questionable jump shot.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #51 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Thu Dec 1, 2016 1:49 am

Ruzious wrote:
doclinkin wrote:Lonzo Ball has a Jason Kidd aura about him. Unshaken. Sees the game the way few do.

Definitely has the IT factor. Spectacular PG skills. Will likely go top 5 in the year of the PG draft - even with a very questionable jump shot.

docklinkin, DraftExpress has Lonzo Ball going third in its latest mock draft (after Josh Jackson and Markelle Fultz. Just before Dennis Smith.

There are certainly a lot of PGs in this draft. There's also the ever-prevalent overvaluing of freshmen or potential vs actual good players. Jawun Evans has already demonstrated that he is a competent to good PG. He's a sophomore not even in most mocks.

Post #52 » by **Ruzious** » Thu Dec 1, 2016 7:23 pm

A player I love and who might be there when the Wiz pick in the first round is OG Anunoby. It's not fair to compare anyone to Kawhi Leonard, but... there are so many similarities. He plays defense the same way - able to cover quick guards on the perimeter despite being 6'8 230 (saw it against UNC). Wingspan is reported to be 7'6 - though I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. Still raw offensively - but he's productive on that side and showing potential. He's more of a 3 than a 4, but when you can get a special player, you take him (and say Oh gee, we got OG) - and he does have the physical strength to be a stretch 4 in the NBA.

Post #53 » by **nate33** » Thu Dec 1, 2016 8:34 pm

Ruzious wrote:A player I love and who might be there when the Wiz pick in the first round is OG Anunoby. It's not fair to compare anyone to Kawhi Leonard, but... there are so many similarities. He plays defense the same way - able to cover quick guards on the perimeter despite being 6'8 230 (saw it against UNC). Wingspan is reported to be 7'6 - though I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. Still raw offensively - but he's productive on that side and showing potential. He's more of a 3 than a 4, but when you can get a special player, you take him (and say Oh gee, we got OG) - and he does have the physical strength to be a stretch 4 in the NBA.

You can never have enough guys with that body type in today's game. It's one of the reasons why I consider Porter to be close to untouchable.

Marko1980 · Post #54 » by **Marko1980** » Fri Dec 2, 2016 11:41 am

As I told you before the best player of Europe "Milos Teodosic" is free agent ending this saison. He is ok to play in NBA if he have a club to offer him 3M.

He is a very smart player with excellent passing skills and is elected as the best basketball player not playing in NBA by NBA coachs.

Teo vs USA

Watch on YouTube

Teo last game (Milos Teodosic vs Baskonia [34pts, 10asts, 43PIR, EuroLeague 2016-17, Round 9] )

Watch on YouTube

Teo top 20

Watch on YouTube

Post #55 » by **Ruzious** » Fri Dec 2, 2016 2:52 pm

We're seeing Sato having a tough time adjusting to the NBA, and I wouldn't expect it to be easier for Milos - given his lack of athleticism. Just my opinion from looking at a little of the video - great Euro player, but I don't think he's quick/fast enough to play the point in the NBA, and his lack of athleticism and strength would make it difficult to excel at the 2. I'm more of a Nando fan as far as NBA ability, but he signed a 3 year deal with CSKA.

Post #56 » by **Ruzious** » Fri Dec 2, 2016 5:59 pm

Looking for the next Jae Crowder, I'm looking at Bonzie Colson of Notre Dame. A 6'5 220 lb junior power forward. Draftexpress.com has him listed... as the 63rd best sophomore in college - nowhere near making a 2 round draft. The size doesn't fit the position, but he does have a 6'11.5 wingspan. 14.9 rebounds per pace adjusted 40 minutes, not to mention 25.2 points, 2.2 blocks, 1.4 steals, 2.2 assists vs 1.6 turnovers. And has started to shoot 3's at a 38.5% clip - good sign that he's made over 90% of his FT's. Pat Connaughton also played PF for Notre Dame at that size and made Portland's roster. Seems to me, Colson has put up clearly better numbers and should get drafted. Also seems to me Bonzi Wells was about that same size - and also played for Portland. Coincidence? Nnnn...Yes.

ozthegap · Post #57 » by **ozthegap** » Sat Dec 3, 2016 4:51 am

Why is everyone looking for someone to replace wall in the draft. We should be looking for someone to put Morris on the bench.

Dat2U · Post #58 » by **Dat2U** » Sat Dec 3, 2016 6:20 am

ozthegap wrote:Why is everyone looking for someone to replace wall in the draft. We should be looking for someone to put Morris on the bench.

You draft the best player and the way things are looking we could use a 3rd guard anyways.

The top of the draft appears to be guard & wing heavy too.

ozthegap · Post #59 » by **ozthegap** » Sat Dec 3, 2016 6:27 am

Dat2U wrote:
ozthegap wrote:Why is everyone looking for someone to replace wall in the draft. We should be looking for someone to put Morris on the bench.

You draft the best player and the way things are looking we could use a 3rd guard anyways.

The top of the draft appears to be guard & wing heavy too.

Trade down while picking up an extra 1st rounder from philly or the Celtics?

Dat2U · Post #60 » by **Dat2U** » Sat Dec 3, 2016 6:28 am

Here's name for y'all. Isaiah Hartenstein. He's 24th on DX and #14th on NBA draft net. He's 6-11 245, solidly built and got the ideal physical tools you want in an NBA PF and he's definitely a fast twitch athlete. He's only 18 and is raw but has a nice toolbox of developing skills. He can do a little of it all (dribble, shoot, pass, post) but is still learning how to use these skills in game situations and will try to do too much. He's also a little immature but most big guys that size are. If he has the work ethic, he could really be a big time player in a few years.