2020 Pre-Draft Discussion

Vanderbilt_Grad · Post #721 » by **Vanderbilt_Grad** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:23 pm

So I wasted some time looking at several draft sites today. This class really doesn't have a consensus set of picks. Anyway based on average rankings

1. LaMelo Ball - no site had him ranked worse than the 4th best player in the draft. 3 sites ranked him 1st.
2. Anthony Edwards - Tankanthon hated him (7th) but 4 sites had him ranked as the best player in the draft.
3. Killian Hayes - Ringer, Fansided, and CBS loved him. Bigger sites like ESPN, Yahoo, and the Atlantic weren't high on him.
4. Onyeka Okongwu - Both Dean on Draft and Tankathon had him highly ranked, while the Atlantic and Yahoo weren't enamored.
5. James Wiseman - Strongly impacted by Fansided ranking him 14th. ESPN and Dean on Draft like him much better.
6. Deni Avdija - Lots of 8th place rankings, but ESPN and Yahoo seem to like him around 4th or 5th.
7. Tyrese Haliburton - CBS and Yahoo like him, Ringer and Tankathon reasonably high on him.
8. Isaac Okoro - Why is he in our conversation again?

BlackOutBuzz · Post #722 » by **BlackOutBuzz** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:32 pm

^ I imagine Obi generally goes before Okoro as well. Felt like Okoro was in the mix should we move back, I've seen him as high as 4 (not recently) but I don't see it at 3.

Kinda funny there's still about 8 guys we're talking about, Slam even made threads of the same top 8 that I had should we have stood pat.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

UNCNYC · Post #723 » by **UNCNYC** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 1:04 am

The best case scenerio for us if a few slid in the draft imo would be

If we pick Hayes with the first pick if we are lucky we can get one of these players to fall to us at 2. The only one who I think is almost guaranteed to be there at 2 is Hughes which aint bad at all

PICK 2 CHOICES IF WE ARE LUCKY -

PG -
Devon Dotson
Tyrell Terry

SG -
Leandro Balmoro
Elijah Hughes

SF -
Tyler Bey
Josh Green
Elijah Hughes

PF -
JaDen McDaniels
Saddiq Bey

C -
Zeke Nnaji
Jalen Smith
Daniel Oturu

-------------------------------------
This is for pick 3. We can take best available.

I hope the final pick is either Karim Mane, Tyshon Alexander, LaMar Stevens, Jay Scrubb or CJ Elleby

PG - Malachi Flynn, Skylar Mays, Yam Mador, Kira Lewis Jr., Myles Powell
SG - Karin Mane, Ty'shon Alexander, Immanuel Quickley, Mason Jones, Nate Hinton
SF - CJ Elleby, Abdoulaye Ndoye, Jay Scrubb, Isaiah Mike
PF - LaMar Stevens,
C - Kaleb Wesson, Reggie Perry,

MasterIchiro · Post #724 » by **MasterIchiro** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 1:22 am

There will never be consensus over players selected 1 and 2 so it's impossible to zero in on any given player at 3.

My thinking is Ball has the most superstar potential in this draft but I actually believe it's more likely he is traded due to the teams slotted for him not wanting a major project. He could be traded at any slot 1, 2 or 3 depending on the offers. I don't think he pairs well with Russell or on a win-now team like GS. I think it's more likely the Wolves or Warriors draft him so that they can turn him into an established player via trade. He's a project. His defense. His shot. He's not gonna waltz in and be Ben Simmons in year 1 or 2.

I'm gonna go ahead and eliminate him from position 3 as I don't think he survives 2 teams willing to cash in, especially the Warriors where the stakes are higher. And I believe there is a strong demand for a top shelf PG in this draft. Pistons. Knicks. Bulls. Suns. Multiple teams means high demand and higher probability one will offer a win now player plus pick(s) to Warriors and/or Wolves.

I agree with ESPN Jay Bilas and Jay Williams. Edwards is a great fit in Minny. They're a young team without their own first in the next draft. They will have room for one more big salary win-now player but they should focus on making the playoffs first. They're not quite there.

Edwards will not be there for the Warriors. Yeesh. Ball doesn't fit at all (and is a project) so do the Warriors take Wiseman or accept an offer for Ball.

I think they're more likely to grab an offer for Ball from the team offering the top win-now player from the group of bidders. Wiseman is far from a finished product and I doubt the Warriors go into the playoffs with a rookie. They're one piece away and might get him for Ball.

I think Wiseman will be there at 3. So Kupchak will decide between Wiseman, Toppin and Avdija.

Every one of us probably has a different group available at 3. But for me I'm focused on this group.

amcoolio · Post #725 » by **amcoolio** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 1:30 am

Ball is destined to be a Piston or Knick. I can't see him on any other team.

Wonder if they are desperate enough to take
7/Sekou
or
8/Robinson
should the Warriors just pick Wiseman and figure it out later. I would take Halliburton/Sekou over Ball.

driveandkick · Post #726 » by **driveandkick** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 1:33 am

I would have traded this pick in a nanosecond for Ben Simmons before that injury

amcoolio · Post #727 » by **amcoolio** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 1:38 am

I would still trade it for Simmons, hes very young and has been horribly coached yet still a multiple time all-star

If Philly is that stupid I would give what they want besides Graham and Washington

MasterIchiro · Post #728 » by **MasterIchiro** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 1:41 am

I think Ball has the most trade value of the top 3, the most demand for his position and the worst fit with the top 2 teams. I think he will be dealt. Someone further down will dream on him.

He won't be there at 3.

LofJ · Post #729 » by **LofJ** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 1:47 am

MasterIchiro wrote:I think Ball has the most trade value of the top 3, the most demand for his position and the worst fit with the top 2 teams. I think he will be dealt. Someone further down will dream on him.

He won't be there at 3.

I think you're right, the most in demand trade up target will be Ball. I think one of Edwards or Wiseman will be there at 3.

MasterIchiro · Post #730 » by **MasterIchiro** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 1:53 am

LofJ wrote:
MasterIchiro wrote:I think Ball has the most trade value of the top 3, the most demand for his position and the worst fit with the top 2 teams. I think he will be dealt. Someone further down will dream on him.

He won't be there at 3.

I think you're right, the most in demand trade up target will be Ball. I think one of Edwards or Wiseman will be there at 3.

Yup and because Edwards really fits with Minny I think it's Wiseman who will be there at 3. He's no Joel Embiid. He's no Anthony Davis. He might be Mitchell Robinson. Kupchak picking Robinson at 3? I don't see it. Andre Drummond at 3?

I think Wiseman is your falling chainsaw. He's your Noah Vonleh.

driveandkick · Post #731 » by **driveandkick** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 2:18 am

amcoolio wrote:I would still trade it for Simmons, hes very young and has been horribly coached yet still a multiple time all-star

If Philly is that stupid I would give what they want besides Graham and Washington

Yeah I was definitely figuring it was implied that any hypothetical deal would include more than just #3.

wilson115 · Post #732 » by **wilson115** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 2:21 am

If teams want Ball that bad, Minny's pick probably comes down to what they expect to net in a trade. Would anyone offer a future first, assuming Minny isn't interested in veterans? Minny's 2021 first goes to the Warriors unless it's top 3.

Vanderbilt_Grad · Post #733 » by **Vanderbilt_Grad** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 2:37 am

The T-Wolves are always a draft wildcard. I do think that Edwards is the logical pick if they are looking at Edwards/Ball/Wiseman. I just don't trust them to do logical.

And who knows what the Warriors will do too. If they keep the pick everyone seems to think that they pick Wiseman, but IDK.

I also expect both of those teams to look at trades.

316Hornets · Post #734 » by **316Hornets** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 2:51 am

I wonder if we could get any teams in 8-11 to trade us their pick and a couple future 1st rounders to move up. This draft definitely seems like the big 3 and everybody else. Wouldn't mind to double dip in the double draft and pick up Vassell this year.

driveandkick · Post #735 » by **driveandkick** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 3:08 am

MasterIchiro wrote:There will never be consensus over players selected 1 and 2 so it's impossible to zero in on any given player at 3.

My thinking is Ball has the most superstar potential in this draft but I actually believe it's more likely he is traded due to the teams slotted for him not wanting a major project. He could be traded at any slot 1, 2 or 3 depending on the offers. I don't think he pairs well with Russell or on a win-now team like GS. I think it's more likely the Wolves or Warriors draft him so that they can turn him into an established player via trade. He's a project. His defense. His shot. He's not gonna waltz in and be Ben Simmons in year 1 or 2.

I'm gonna go ahead and eliminate him from position 3 as I don't think he survives 2 teams willing to cash in, especially the Warriors where the stakes are higher. And I believe there is a strong demand for a top shelf PG in this draft. Pistons. Knicks. Bulls. Suns. Multiple teams means high demand and higher probability one will offer a win now player plus pick(s) to Warriors and/or Wolves.

I agree with ESPN Jay Bilas and Jay Williams. Edwards is a great fit in Minny. They're a young team without their own first in the next draft. They will have room for one more big salary win-now player but they should focus on making the playoffs first. They're not quite there.

Edwards will not be there for the Warriors. Yeesh. Ball doesn't fit at all (and is a project) so do the Warriors take Wiseman or accept an offer for Ball.

I think they're more likely to grab an offer for Ball from the team offering the top win-now player from the group of bidders. Wiseman is far from a finished product and I doubt the Warriors go into the playoffs with a rookie. They're one piece away and might get him for Ball.

I think Wiseman will be there at 3. So Kupchak will decide between Wiseman, Toppin and Avdija.

Every one of us probably has a different group available at 3. But for me I'm focused on this group.

This is a great and well thought out post, but I will vomit if we choose Toppin or Avdija over Hayes and Haliburton. Not as high on Wiseman as some but I'd at least obviously understand it

driveandkick · Post #736 » by **driveandkick** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 3:39 am

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2905180-2020-nba-draft-lottery-buzz-the-mystery-begins-right-at-the-top

sorry if this has been posted but it seems decently well thought out. Sounds like Avdija is a lock for top five, so we should at least keep our eye on him being in play at 3

316Hornets · Post #737 » by **316Hornets** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 4:07 am

driveandkick wrote:https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2905180-2020-nba-draft-lottery-buzz-the-mystery-begins-right-at-the-top

sorry if this has been posted but it seems decently well thought out. Sounds like Avdija is a lock for top five, so we should at least keep our eye on him being in play at 3

I give it a 1% chance we take Avdija. Jordan is going to want people in seats and taking big name player like Lamelo or Wiseman, Edwards, who both grew up a few hundred miles away, are going to be a lot more relevant to fan engagement. Avdija would have to be rated extremely higher than any of those dudes for us to take him.

316Hornets · Post #738 » by **316Hornets** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 4:17 am

I have no doubt that this draft is the big 3. Wiseman, Edwards, and Ball. Anybody telling you otherwise is selling clicks. Things are quiet because the season was cut short. Wiseman isn't getting a lot of respect because people don't have the game tape, but I guarantee you guys in front offices see him as a guy with #1 Center NBA ceiling. Ball is going to bring so much marketing money to any team that it's almost impossible for him to go lower than #2. Edwards is the guy who is NBA ready, don't let the doubters tell you otherwise. He is the most Zion-like of this draft.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2888503-2020-nba-draft-projected-floor-and-ceiling-for-lamelo-ball-and-top-prospects

KingCat · Post #739 » by **KingCat** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 7:36 am

Most HornCats pick: Obi

Least HornCat pick: Avdija, Ball

Im not getting too hyped for this draft cause I am like 70% sure we are picking Obi (MJ can't walk away from his college alpha, NBA beta prospects)

Braggins · Post #740 » by **Braggins** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 9:33 am

There were reports a little while back that there will probably be some teams looking to sell decent 1st round picks for cash and cap space because there are so many teams in horrible cap situations and there is so much uncertainty about the salary cap and revenues going forward due to covid. There was also a wiretap article in the last week that I think quoted Mitch saying they were going to be looking to sell their cap for assets, so this seems like a perfect situation to trade for extra picks.

The team could have a lot of flexibility to either simply add more picks or make an offer to move up if they fall in love with a guy like Wiseman and they end up not being available at #3. They also have the Cleveland 2nd, which is almost as good as a late 1st. This draft has the potential to be huge for this franchise and it should be exciting.