2020 Pre-Draft Discussion

[316Hornets]

I'm getting cold feet about Ball. Too high of a chance he drags the team through the mud if he doesn't realize his potential. I want to trade out with Pistons/Knicks. MJ probably won't do it though. He sees Ball as a prize.

[DY_nasty]

does he? lol

[JMAC3]

Teams that win in current NBA. Superstar players that can score 30 and get 7+ assists.

Ball has that potential.

[LofJ]

Teams that win in current NBA. Superstar players that can score 30 and get 7+ assists.

Ball has that potential.

People are too focused on finding a Lebron clone. The Nuggets, Spurs, Raptors, current Heat, etc. didn't have a player like that and did just fine. What wins in the NBA is a combination of talent, basketball IQ, hard work, and adaptability. You don't have to find a Lebron like player to win in the NBA.

[Rich4114]

I can't get too excited about anyone guy but I am definitely set on us walking away with one of Ball, Wiseman, Edwards. I'd be equally as excited about any of those three guys ending up on this roster. Wiseman fits right in without any disruption to the current roster which is most convenient, but most people peg Ball as the one with the most super-star potential. I'm worried about Edwards after listening to a few reviews (ringer youtube videos mostly). I'd still pick Wiseman #1 if we had the #1. Beyond that it's a toss up between Ball and Edwards for me. Maybe Ball given the playmaking ability.

I highly doubt there is a trade down involving us and trading up is not worth whatever it'll take unless it's adding #32. I wouldn't rule out Minn trying to reduce salary and knowing we end up taking Wiseman out of the West could also be viewed as a + for them.

[James Gatz]

Teams that win in current NBA. Superstar players that can score 30 and get 7+ assists.

Ball has that potential.

People are too focused on finding a Lebron clone. The Nuggets, Spurs, Raptors, current Heat, etc. didn't have a player like that and did just fine. What wins in the NBA is a combination of talent, basketball IQ, hard work, and adaptability. You don't have to find a Lebron like player to win in the NBA.

Nuggets - Murray and Jokic
Spurs - Kawhi
Raptors - Lowry/Kawhi
Heat - Butler

Literally all those teams had dudes who can put up 30 and 7 assists on any given night

[JMAC3]

Teams that win in current NBA. Superstar players that can score 30 and get 7+ assists.

Ball has that potential.

People are too focused on finding a Lebron clone. The Nuggets, Spurs, Raptors, current Heat, etc. didn't have a player like that and did just fine. What wins in the NBA is a combination of talent, basketball IQ, hard work, and adaptability. You don't have to find a Lebron like player to win in the NBA.

Nuggets have two guys that can score 30 and get 7 assists.

Raptors and Spurs had Kawhi lol.

Heat have Butler who plays as a facilitator.


Nobody is winning anything in the next few years because they have a big man who averages 20/20 and shots 60 percent from the field as their best player.

[UNCNYC]

Last thing I wanted to add about my draft selection process but sometimes the players I choose would also include a
pick thrown in.

Take Terry for instance, I would not draft him with pick 3 without trying to trade back and acquiring a future 1st thrown in.

Due to this being a Board I cannot do that so I am left to select Terry at pick 3.

So if Terry was, or was not to work out I would still have a pick thrown in if that player landed in the spot I wanted him drafted in.

I also choose players who imo if given a chance would "show" they are good.

That is almost impossible even if they are due to a GM's often refusal to give them that opportunity due to pressure of having
to play a higher drafted player or a player with a larger contract.

Take Jalen McDaniels, Devonte Graham and Cody Martin for instance.

I was HUGE on Jalen last year and he got to show at the end of the season that he is worthy of every minute he gets and more.

IMO he finished the year as one of our most promising players going forward.

He defied the odds by coming from the G league route to do so.

He almost didn't get that opportunity.

I also had Martin ranked as the number 1 PG for a stint during the year he got drafted.

And I thought Graham would have a good career which so far so good.

I was wrong about the great YuTa Watanabe lol but I still believe in him if he gets a chance...

I try not to be an I told you so type of person because I am not.

I just wanted to give a break down so I don't look like the oddball I can appear to be lol.
(although I LOVE being an oddball) lmao.

Will Terry be good this year?

I do not know but I would have a future pick thrown in so I would take my chances.

I would take them even if I didn't have the pick thrown in because I believe in the young man that much.

[LofJ]

Teams that win in current NBA. Superstar players that can score 30 and get 7+ assists.

Ball has that potential.

People are too focused on finding a Lebron clone. The Nuggets, Spurs, Raptors, current Heat, etc. didn't have a player like that and did just fine. What wins in the NBA is a combination of talent, basketball IQ, hard work, and adaptability. You don't have to find a Lebron like player to win in the NBA.

Nuggets - Murray and Jokic
Spurs - Kawhi
Raptors - Lowry/Kawhi
Heat - Butler

Literally all those teams had dudes who can put up 30 and 7 assists on any given night

And how many of those guys were hyped coming into the NBA? They succeeded because they worked hard and their teams had a plan to make the most of their talents. This team will continue to go nowhere if we're constantly hoping to find a superstar to put things into place for us.

We need to have a plan for each and every player on our roster to make the most of their abilities. We can't sit on our asses and pray that we'll get lucky and find a Lebron to build around.

As a friend of mine says "if you have no plan, then you're planning to fail." Hoping to get lucky and land a superstar isn't a plan.

[JMAC3]

People are too focused on finding a Lebron clone. The Nuggets, Spurs, Raptors, current Heat, etc. didn't have a player like that and did just fine. What wins in the NBA is a combination of talent, basketball IQ, hard work, and adaptability. You don't have to find a Lebron like player to win in the NBA.

Nuggets - Murray and Jokic
Spurs - Kawhi
Raptors - Lowry/Kawhi
Heat - Butler

Literally all those teams had dudes who can put up 30 and 7 assists on any given night

And how many of those guys were hyped coming into the NBA? They succeeded because they worked hard and their teams had a plan to make the most of their talents. This team will continue to go nowhere if we're constantly hoping to find a superstar to put things into place for us.

We need to have a plan for each and every player on our roster to make the most of their abilities. We can't sit on our asses and pray that we'll get lucky and find a Lebron to build around.

Weird pivot here. So we should disregard him because he has too much hype?

You have to try and get players who can be successful in the modern NBA. Drafting a player and then hoping the league suddenly changes into a different style seems like wishful thinking.

[James Gatz]

People are too focused on finding a Lebron clone. The Nuggets, Spurs, Raptors, current Heat, etc. didn't have a player like that and did just fine. What wins in the NBA is a combination of talent, basketball IQ, hard work, and adaptability. You don't have to find a Lebron like player to win in the NBA.

Nuggets - Murray and Jokic
Spurs - Kawhi
Raptors - Lowry/Kawhi
Heat - Butler

Literally all those teams had dudes who can put up 30 and 7 assists on any given night

And how many of those guys were hyped coming into the NBA? They succeeded because they worked hard and their teams had a plan to make the most of their talents. This team will continue to go nowhere if we're constantly hoping to find a superstar to put things into place for us.

We need to have a plan for each and every player on our roster to make the most of their abilities. We can't sit on our asses and pray that we'll get lucky and find a Lebron to build around.

As a friend of mine says "if you have no plan, then you're planning to fail." Hoping to get lucky and land a superstar isn't a plan.

Yeah, you're losing me on your line of thinking. What JMAC was saying is that teams in the modern NBA need a player who can score and be a playmaker for others. You respond saying these teams succeeded without that, but in fact they succeeded with the exact type of player JMAC was mentioning.

Now it seems your saying that none of those mentioned we're top 3 picks shows you that hardwork is what's important? It seems these things are unrelated. By your logic should we trade 3 for 14, 26, 30 and get a bunch of unhyped hard workers?

[LofJ]

Nuggets - Murray and Jokic
Spurs - Kawhi
Raptors - Lowry/Kawhi
Heat - Butler

Literally all those teams had dudes who can put up 30 and 7 assists on any given night

And how many of those guys were hyped coming into the NBA? They succeeded because they worked hard and their teams had a plan to make the most of their talents. This team will continue to go nowhere if we're constantly hoping to find a superstar to put things into place for us.

We need to have a plan for each and every player on our roster to make the most of their abilities. We can't sit on our asses and pray that we'll get lucky and find a Lebron to build around.

As a friend of mine says "if you have no plan, then you're planning to fail." Hoping to get lucky and land a superstar isn't a plan.

Yeah, you're losing me on your line of thinking. What JMAC was saying is that teams in the modern NBA need a player who can score and be a playmaker for others. You respond saying these teams succeeded without that, but in fact they succeeded with the exact type of player JMAC was mentioning.

Now it seems your saying that none of those mentioned we're top 3 picks shows you that hardwork is what's important? It seems these things are unrelated. By your logic should we trade 3 for 14, 26, 30 and get a bunch of unhyped hard workers?

None of those players have ever averaged 30 points and 7 assists. But my point is that even though they can and do get those numbers fairly often, none of them came into the league with those expectations. They became those players through determination and their teams putting them in position to succeed.

To your last point there is something to be said of throwing multiple darts at the board rather than one. Sam Hinkie had this approach (which I agree with), what he got wrong was thinking you had to completely bottom out.

You don't have to do that, what you need is an eye for talent and a plan to develop it and mold that talent into a team. That's what the Spurs, Raptors, Heat, Nuggets, Jazz, and Pacers consistently do. It's why they win year after year and we don't.

[DY_nasty]

that's a stretch...

he's saying you shouldn't swing for the fences on a guy that *could* be amazing when there's plenty of sense in taking guys that can be built up with less hassle. guys who don't have horrendous mechanics at a horrible percentage then say their shot doesn't need fixing leading up to the draft.

the raptors and miami both did this. GS did it. etc. the last championship team who didn't had lebron...

[JMAC3]

that's a stretch...

he's saying you shouldn't swing for the fences on a guy that *could* be amazing when there's plenty of sense in taking guys that can be built up with less hassle. guys who don't have horrendous mechanics at a horrible percentage then say their shot doesn't need fixing leading up to the draft.

the raptors and miami both did this. GS did it. etc. the last championship team who didn't had lebron...

Who is saying we won’t throw multiple darts? We aren’t talking about trading up or putting all our assets into Ball. What I’m saying is that we should at least be drafting guys who we can see being that type of player.

Do you ever see Wiseman or Okongwu or Haliburton as the best player on a finals team?

[DY_nasty]

Do you ever see Wiseman or Okongwu or Haliburton as the best player on a finals team?

Do they need to be?

I think the biggest problem this year is that people are thinking its a very talented draft when its been extremely clear for over a year that this year's class isn't anywhere close to that level. This year's late lottery would be another's 2nd round.

The question needs to be if these guys can be critical in a playoff run and if they've got the drive/tools to improve far more than their limitations indicate. When Ball was asked if he wanted to improve his shot, dude flatly said no. I don't know why that didn't tank him altogether.

[Hornet Mania]

I hope the rumors about the Wolves picking Edwards #1 are true, I think that would be an ideal position for us. At that point we either get Wiseman or a decent package for Ball.

[JMAC3]

Do you ever see Wiseman or Okongwu or Haliburton as the best player on a finals team?

Do they need to be?

I think the biggest problem this year is that people are thinking its a very talented draft when its been extremely clear for over a year that this year's class isn't anywhere close to that level. This year's late lottery would be another's 2nd round.

The question needs to be if these guys can be critical in a playoff run and if they've got the drive/tools to improve far more than their limitations indicate. When Ball was asked if he wanted to improve his shot, dude flatly said no. I don't know why that didn't tank him altogether.

Aren’t you the same guy who wants to trade Miles Bridges for being a solid starter at pick 12? You really good taking this level of player at 3?

[DY_nasty]

Do you ever see Wiseman or Okongwu or Haliburton as the best player on a finals team?

Do they need to be?

I think the biggest problem this year is that people are thinking its a very talented draft when its been extremely clear for over a year that this year's class isn't anywhere close to that level. This year's late lottery would be another's 2nd round.

The question needs to be if these guys can be critical in a playoff run and if they've got the drive/tools to improve far more than their limitations indicate. When Ball was asked if he wanted to improve his shot, dude flatly said no. I don't know why that didn't tank him altogether.

Aren’t you the same guy who wants to trade Miles Bridges for being a solid starter at pick 12? You really good taking this level of player at 3?

Yeah because Miles isn't a solid starter by any metric and we're getting to the point where we should sell high on the guy.

[JMAC3]

Do they need to be?

I think the biggest problem this year is that people are thinking its a very talented draft when its been extremely clear for over a year that this year's class isn't anywhere close to that level. This year's late lottery would be another's 2nd round.

The question needs to be if these guys can be critical in a playoff run and if they've got the drive/tools to improve far more than their limitations indicate. When Ball was asked if he wanted to improve his shot, dude flatly said no. I don't know why that didn't tank him altogether.

Aren’t you the same guy who wants to trade Miles Bridges for being a solid starter at pick 12? You really good taking this level of player at 3?

Yeah because Miles isn't a solid starter by any metric and we're getting to the point where we should sell high on the guy.

I’m lost bro.

You hate Harden, Bridges sucks, You don’t want to take a chance on Ball....

What do you believe in? What do you want the team to do?

[DY_nasty]

Aren’t you the same guy who wants to trade Miles Bridges for being a solid starter at pick 12? You really good taking this level of player at 3?

Yeah because Miles isn't a solid starter by any metric and we're getting to the point where we should sell high on the guy.

I’m lost bro.

You hate Harden, Bridges sucks, You don’t want to take a chance on Ball....

What do you believe in? What do you want the team to do?

Not cut our long term plans towards cap freedom short for a guy that plateaued years ago, and continue to develop players who show real progress and are receptive to coaching?

absolute madness i guess