2018 NBA Draft Thread

[The Consiglieri]

Would be relieved if the Clippers took Williams. Could definitely see him becoming a dominant big given time, but could also easily see him becoming a fat and happy bust cliche. Like the other guys rumored around the zone better. Still, like the fact that it feels like we'll still be inside a third tier at our slot, maybe the second tier.

[Error Afflalo]

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[Dark Faze]

If that happens there's a strong chance we miss on Bridges, Smith and Williams. Nightmare.

[Error Afflalo]

If that happens there's a strong chance we miss on Bridges, Smith and Williams. Nightmare.

DiVincenzo and/or Lonnie Walker should still be there in that scenario.

[NatP4]

If that happens there's a strong chance we miss on Bridges, Smith and Williams. Nightmare.

DiVincenzo and/or Lonnie Walker should still be there in that scenario.

If we assume that all of these guys are gone:

Ayton
Doncic
Bagley
Jackson
Carter
Bamba
Mikel Bridges
Porter
Young
Sexton
Knox
Smith
Williams
Bridges

We end up with SGA still. Don’t be upset about that. 17 points 5 rebounds 6 assists 2 steals 0.6 blocks per40 on 58% TS. 9.1 BPM 21.2 PER 5.2 win shares as a freshman.

7ft wingspan, he’s a legit 6’6. Can probably play the 1-3. Shot 40% from 3 on 17 more attempts than Zhaire Smith.

Good motor, good basketball IQ, you won’t hate watching the guy. The new NBA is about wings and ball handlers. Having Wall Beal Sato SGA Oubre and Porter would be some excellent depth at the 1-4.

Now, be scared as hell that Knox is the guy who drops because he’s bad at basketball.

[80sballboy]

If that happens there's a strong chance we miss on Bridges, Smith and Williams. Nightmare.

DiVincenzo and/or Lonnie Walker should still be there in that scenario.

Tough to even think about this pick now that we could trade down but Lonnie Walker is starting to grow on me. Never loved him at Miami but I think that's because of the hair. He looks goofy but he's got a bit of a Dwyane Wade build with long arms and powerful body. He can develop into a combo guard. He's also very smart so IQ may outweigh the lack of production he had at the U.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/6/19/17477536/lonnie-walker-iv-draft-feature

[NatP4]

If that happens there's a strong chance we miss on Bridges, Smith and Williams. Nightmare.

DiVincenzo and/or Lonnie Walker should still be there in that scenario.

Tough to even think about this pick now that we could trade down but Lonnie Walker is starting to grow on me. Never loved him at Miami but I think that's because of the hair. He looks goofy but he's got a bit of a Dwyane Wade build with long arms and powerful body. He can develop into a combo guard. He's also very smart so IQ may outweigh the lack of production he had at the U.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/6/19/17477536/lonnie-walker-iv-draft-feature

I like Walkers potential as well, but here’s a stat:

FG%:

February: 39% (8 games)
March: 37% (3 games)

ACC conference play: 41%

Conference tournament: 28%

NCAA tournament: 41%

And the IQ doesn’t really transfer over to the defensive side of the ball where he posted a 1.3 DWS and an awful 1.6 DBPM, he’s a better athlete than that.

Donovan Mitchell didn’t shoot well in college either, but his box plus minus figures were 8.0 and 11.6. His win shares per 40 just destroys Walker’s.

So the question, why are his numbers all trash?

[NatP4]

It’s gonna get whacky, and both Robinson and Walker have been rumored to go potentially in the top 14, so to me, WORST case scenario is Knox or SGA dropping, more than likely only SGA.

The worry should be that Ernie thinks “we need a center not a guard” and trades back to save money and take Wagner.

[80sballboy]

DiVincenzo and/or Lonnie Walker should still be there in that scenario.

Tough to even think about this pick now that we could trade down but Lonnie Walker is starting to grow on me. Never loved him at Miami but I think that's because of the hair. He looks goofy but he's got a bit of a Dwyane Wade build with long arms and powerful body. He can develop into a combo guard. He's also very smart so IQ may outweigh the lack of production he had at the U.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/6/19/17477536/lonnie-walker-iv-draft-feature

I like Walkers potential as well, but here’s a stat:

FG%:

February: 39% (8 games)
March: 37% (3 games)

ACC conference play: 41%

Conference tournament: 28%

NCAA tournament: 41%

And the IQ doesn’t really transfer over to the defensive side of the ball where he posted a 1.3 DWS and an awful 1.6 DBPM, he’s a better athlete than that.

Donovan Mitchell didn’t shoot well in college either, but his box plus minus figures were 8.0 and 11.6. His win shares per 40 just destroys Walker’s.

So the question, why are his numbers all trash?

He's 19 years old. That's why. He can get better. He's long, athletic, powerful. Smart off the court. Upside is very good. If he was perfect, he wouldn't drop to 15. And he's not Donovan Mitchell. Nobody in this draft is.

I like the scouting report below. I think his biggest improvement is not his shot but handle. Once he improves that, he'll get to the line more and score more at the rim.
https://www.clipsnation.com/2018/6/6/17432752/2018-nba-draft-profile-lonnie-walker-iv-would-be-a-massive-gamble-for-the-clippers

[NatP4]

Tough to even think about this pick now that we could trade down but Lonnie Walker is starting to grow on me. Never loved him at Miami but I think that's because of the hair. He looks goofy but he's got a bit of a Dwyane Wade build with long arms and powerful body. He can develop into a combo guard. He's also very smart so IQ may outweigh the lack of production he had at the U.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/6/19/17477536/lonnie-walker-iv-draft-feature

I like Walkers potential as well, but here’s a stat:

FG%:

February: 39% (8 games)
March: 37% (3 games)

ACC conference play: 41%

Conference tournament: 28%

NCAA tournament: 41%

And the IQ doesn’t really transfer over to the defensive side of the ball where he posted a 1.3 DWS and an awful 1.6 DBPM, he’s a better athlete than that.

Donovan Mitchell didn’t shoot well in college either, but his box plus minus figures were 8.0 and 11.6. His win shares per 40 just destroys Walker’s.

So the question, why are his numbers all trash?

He's 19 years old. That's why. He can get better. He's long, athletic, powerful. Smart off the court. Upside is very good. If he was perfect, he wouldn't drop to 15. And he's not Donovan Mitchell. Nobody in this draft is.

I like the scouting report below. I think his biggest improvement is not his shot but handle. Once he improves that, he'll get to the line more and score more at the rim.
https://www.clipsnation.com/2018/6/6/17432752/2018-nba-draft-profile-lonnie-walker-iv-would-be-a-massive-gamble-for-the-clippers

All of the prospects are 18-19ish, most NBA shooting guards had better BPM+win share numbers in college.

Freshman BPM:
Devin Booker: 8.9
Gary Harris: 8.3
Donovan Mitchell: 8.0
Bradley Beal: 8.6
Victor Oladipo: 6.6
Andre Roberson: 9.7
Caldwell-Pope: 6.3
Jeremy Lamb: 8.2
Reggie Bullock: 6.1
Buddy Hield: 5.8
Luke Kennard: 6.3
Glen Robinson: 9.9
Jamal Murray: 9.1

Exceptions:
Norm Powell: 1.1
CJ McCollum 4.6 as a sophomore (BPM not recorded when he was a freshman)
Jaylen Brown: 3.6

Busts:
Rashad Vaughn: 1.1
Malachi Richardson: 3.0
Cam Payne: 2.0
Rodney Hood 3.5


Lonnie Walker: 4.8

[NatP4]

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[80sballboy]

I like Walkers potential as well, but here’s a stat:

FG%:

February: 39% (8 games)
March: 37% (3 games)

ACC conference play: 41%

Conference tournament: 28%

NCAA tournament: 41%

And the IQ doesn’t really transfer over to the defensive side of the ball where he posted a 1.3 DWS and an awful 1.6 DBPM, he’s a better athlete than that.

Donovan Mitchell didn’t shoot well in college either, but his box plus minus figures were 8.0 and 11.6. His win shares per 40 just destroys Walker’s.

So the question, why are his numbers all trash?

He's 19 years old. That's why. He can get better. He's long, athletic, powerful. Smart off the court. Upside is very good. If he was perfect, he wouldn't drop to 15. And he's not Donovan Mitchell. Nobody in this draft is.

I like the scouting report below. I think his biggest improvement is not his shot but handle. Once he improves that, he'll get to the line more and score more at the rim.
https://www.clipsnation.com/2018/6/6/17432752/2018-nba-draft-profile-lonnie-walker-iv-would-be-a-massive-gamble-for-the-clippers

All of the prospects are 18-19ish, most NBA shooting guards had better BPM+win share numbers in college.

Freshman BPM:
Devin Booker: 8.9
Gary Harris: 8.3
Donovan Mitchell: 8.0
Bradley Beal: 8.6
Victor Oladipo: 6.6
Andre Roberson: 9.7
Caldwell-Pope: 6.3
Jeremy Lamb: 8.2
Reggie Bullock: 6.1
Buddy Hield: 5.8
Luke Kennard: 6.3
Glen Robinson: 9.9
Jamal Murray: 9.1

Exceptions:
Norm Powell: 1.1
CJ McCollum 4.6 as a sophomore (BPM not recorded when he was a freshman)
Jaylen Brown: 3.6

Busts:
Rashad Vaughn: 1.1
Malachi Richardson: 3.0
Cam Payne: 2.0
Rodney Hood 3.5


Lonnie Walker: 4.8

I would never not take a guy due to college numbers or take a guy due to metrics. Film first. I never said he was great and I wasn't immediately into him as a player but only after watching the NBATV special, I was intrigued by his potential and his smarts. I don't care about what other guys do. I think there is potential there after one season. He's a risk. So is Robert Williams, Zhaire Smith, pretty much everybody at 15. Miles Bridges is more of a tweener. But I think he's that position-less guy that is now the new NBA favorite term. Walker is probably the riskiest pick if he's available and it might take him a year or two to get acclimated, similar to Oubre (but is more advanced).

[closg00]

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It’s just a matter of to what degree Ernie will do something stupid tomorrow

[NatP4]

He's 19 years old. That's why. He can get better. He's long, athletic, powerful. Smart off the court. Upside is very good. If he was perfect, he wouldn't drop to 15. And he's not Donovan Mitchell. Nobody in this draft is.

I like the scouting report below. I think his biggest improvement is not his shot but handle. Once he improves that, he'll get to the line more and score more at the rim.
https://www.clipsnation.com/2018/6/6/17432752/2018-nba-draft-profile-lonnie-walker-iv-would-be-a-massive-gamble-for-the-clippers

All of the prospects are 18-19ish, most NBA shooting guards had better BPM+win share numbers in college.

Freshman BPM:
Devin Booker: 8.9
Gary Harris: 8.3
Donovan Mitchell: 8.0
Bradley Beal: 8.6
Victor Oladipo: 6.6
Andre Roberson: 9.7
Caldwell-Pope: 6.3
Jeremy Lamb: 8.2
Reggie Bullock: 6.1
Buddy Hield: 5.8
Luke Kennard: 6.3
Glen Robinson: 9.9
Jamal Murray: 9.1

Exceptions:
Norm Powell: 1.1
CJ McCollum 4.6 as a sophomore (BPM not recorded when he was a freshman)
Jaylen Brown: 3.6

Busts:
Rashad Vaughn: 1.1
Malachi Richardson: 3.0
Cam Payne: 2.0
Rodney Hood 3.5


Lonnie Walker: 4.8

I would never not take a guy due to college numbers or take a guy due to metrics. Film first. I never said he was great and I wasn't immediately into him as a player but only after watching the NBATV special, I was intrigued by his potential and his smarts. I don't care about what other guys do. I think there is potential there after one season. He's a risk. So is Robert Williams, Zhaire Smith, pretty much everybody at 15. Miles Bridges is more of a tweener. But I think he's that position-less guy that is now the new NBA favorite term. Walker is probably the riskiest pick if he's available and it might take him a year or two to get acclimated, similar to Oubre (but is more advanced).

Just for reference, Oubre’s freshman BPM: 8.6, 21.1 PER, .555 TS%. Walker was just straight up bad as a freshman.

You always do this, just because people use stats doesn’t mean they haven’t watched a player. Obviously the eye test is the first step.

When I watch Walker footage, I’m impressed, the dude is ripped, has elite athleticism, can shoot off the dribble, and his shot form looks good actually. He seems like a smart dude in interviews...... but his defensive motor and IQ is awful, and his ball handling is so bad he’s reduced to straight line drives like any other player.

But his numbers are awful. What is “advanced” about him shooting 41% against college competition? He shot the ball 318 times and it went in 132 times.

I’d take all of Williams, Smith, Divincenzo, SGA, Bridges ahead of him personally.

[FAH1223]

Miles Bridges being the pick is my feeling now

[NatP4]

Miles Bridges being the pick is my feeling now

Nuggets won’t let it happen. That’s exactly who they want IMO.