2020 Pre-Draft Discussion

[MasterIchiro]

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

Absolutely, add Hayes and Haliburton but I draw the line at Okongwu. It would be hilarious if Okongwu and Wiseman fell to the Cavs. They're paying out 29 million for Drummond at a time when the value of the center is plummeting. The Sixers are built around a center. The Celtics picked up one from the scrap heap. All those #1 pick gifts and the Cavs have a smorgasbord of streaky guards to show for it and Kevin Love's contract

[No-Man]

The pick is going to come down to Edwards or Wiseman, whoever the Warriors don't pick (I'd pick Toppin over both though), I think the Wolves are very obv taking Ball if they don't move out/down (which seems unlikely imo)

In terms of Golden St., I think ownership favours Wiseman and their FO (Dunleavy etc) Edwards, so we will see what they settle on

I don't love Edwards but I like him more than Wiseman, so for Charlotte's sake I hope the Dubs take James

Either way I don't think you are getting a franchise building block sadly

Toppin would be my pick, I think he can be a stud, one that probably limits your team a tad at some levels, but nevertheless

[No-Man]

You guys got it all wrong with Minnesota, Givony is the only one with real sources, also read the tea leaves, research about Rosas and what he is about, read the interviews

It's going to be Ball unless some weird trade happens or he really pushes publicly to no go there

[driveandkick]

You guys got it all wrong with Minnesota, Givony is the only one with real sources, also read the tea leaves, research about Rosas and what he is about, read the interviews

It's going to be Ball unless some weird trade happens or he really pushes publicly to no go there

Does sound more like now Edwards could be the guard that falls, not Ball. I really hope Mitch already has decided to just take whichever of the three is there.

[BlackOutBuzz]

You guys got it all wrong with Minnesota, Givony is the only one with real sources, also read the tea leaves, research about Rosas and what he is about, read the interviews

It's going to be Ball unless some weird trade happens or he really pushes publicly to no go there

As someone who isn't as high on Wiseman, this is my concern. Feels like if Minny were to go Edwards, Dubs may choose Wiseman (or someone else) leaving Ball at 3. But if you're right, I imagine both Ball and Edwards are off the board by our pick.

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[MasterIchiro]

You guys got it all wrong with Minnesota, Givony is the only one with real sources, also read the tea leaves, research about Rosas and what he is about, read the interviews

It's going to be Ball unless some weird trade happens or he really pushes publicly to no go there

Agree Ball won't be there at 3. I'm confident in this. I still think Bilas and J. Williams are right about Edwards being the guy who makes sense.

[MasterIchiro]

You guys got it all wrong with Minnesota, Givony is the only one with real sources, also read the tea leaves, research about Rosas and what he is about, read the interviews

It's going to be Ball unless some weird trade happens or he really pushes publicly to no go there

As someone who isn't as high on Wiseman, this is my concern. Feels like if Minny were to go Edwards, Dubs may choose Wiseman (or someone else) leaving Ball at 3. But if you're right, I imagine both Ball and Edwards are off the board by our pick.

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With the value of centers cratering I consider Wiseman a prime candidate to fall like Vonleh. Athlete, raw skills, size. But man, pick 3 for a center when Drummond was had for a paltry second round pick. We absolutely can't pick Wiseman if he falls. Let him go to the Pistons so they can rebuild around a center again like a bunch of dummies. Kupchak knows how to build a roster and he knows he doesn't need a top 3 pick to get a center like Drummond.

[MasterIchiro]

The pick is going to come down to Edwards or Wiseman, whoever the Warriors don't pick (I'd pick Toppin over both though), I think the Wolves are very obv taking Ball if they don't move out/down (which seems unlikely imo)

In terms of Golden St., I think ownership favours Wiseman and their FO (Dunleavy etc) Edwards, so we will see what they settle on

I don't love Edwards but I like him more than Wiseman, so for Charlotte's sake I hope the Dubs take James

Either way I don't think you are getting a franchise building block sadly

Toppin would be my pick, I think he can be a stud, one that probably limits your team a tad at some levels, but nevertheless

I'm Toppin's number one fan but if Edwards is there (he won't be), yes I take him in a nanosecond and watch Toppin ride off into the sunset. However, an interesting twist would be if the Dubs are deciding between Edwards and Toppin. I'd take the one who falls over Wiseman. I have him a tier below with Avdija, Haliburton and Hayes. But I have Haliburton as the top player in tier two.

[No-Man]

You guys got it all wrong with Minnesota, Givony is the only one with real sources, also read the tea leaves, research about Rosas and what he is about, read the interviews

It's going to be Ball unless some weird trade happens or he really pushes publicly to no go there

Agree Ball won't be there at 3. I'm confident in this. I still think Bilas and J. Williams are right about Edwards being the guy who makes sense.

They really aren't but no surprise both of those guys are pretty clueless when it comes to what NBA teams value and what the draft is about

Ball is the runaway nº1 pick esp for a team like the Wolves and even though some tinkering will be needed, he is a better fit there than Edwards

[MasterIchiro]

You guys got it all wrong with Minnesota, Givony is the only one with real sources, also read the tea leaves, research about Rosas and what he is about, read the interviews

It's going to be Ball unless some weird trade happens or he really pushes publicly to no go there

Agree Ball won't be there at 3. I'm confident in this. I still think Bilas and J. Williams are right about Edwards being the guy who makes sense.

They really aren't but no surprise both of those guys are pretty clueless when it comes to what NBA teams value and what the draft is about

Ball is the runaway nº1 pick esp for a team like the Wolves and even though some tinkering will be needed, he is a better fit there than Edwards

I'm biased because I like Edwards more than Ball. While Ball has a higher upside, Edwards appears to be more NBA-ready to me and has a much higher floor. Just my opinion, but I can see the Wolves taking a HR swing at Ball because they have to compete in the wild west. Cuban just gave up the farm for Doncic. It panned out but it was a HR swing. And now the Mavs are relevant. The Dubs just rested their top two players, tanked, picked up pick #2 and added a first from Minnesota while the Wolves are restarting. At any rate, I agree Wiseman will be there 3. Toppin over Wiseman all day any day.

[No-Man]

Edwards is going to be a huge negative for a couple years I really don't understand why in the world anyone thinks he is more NBA ready, he has no clue about playing basketball, his floor is also obviously lower, he could def bust completely

But hey, you think going up for Doncic was a swing when he was the most obvious nº1 pick since LeBron and a surefire NBA stud since he was like 17 basically, so... I guess I get it

I disagree I think Wiseman goes #2 in the end, he shouldn't but he will, I think Charlotte ends up with Edwards, and yeah, I'd take Toppin too, over all of them but LaMelo

[316Hornets]

Edwards is going to be a huge negative for a couple years I really don't understand why in the world anyone thinks he is more NBA ready, he has no clue about playing basketball, his floor is also obviously lower, he could def bust completely

But hey, you think going up for Doncic was a swing when he was the most obvious nº1 pick since LeBron and a surefire NBA stud since he was like 17 basically, so... I guess I get it

I disagree I think Wiseman goes #2 in the end, he shouldn't but he will, I think Charlotte ends up with Edwards, and yeah, I'd take Toppin too, over all of them but LaMelo

Edwards is the most NBA ready prospect in the draft. I'm pretty certain Minnesota will take him at #1. The guy knows how to get his shot and won't have a problem against NBA defenses. He has solid size and will finish through contact.

No clue about playing basketball? That's weird.....

Watch on YouTube

[No-Man]

Edwards is def ready for being a big net negative player in the NBA as a rookie yes, just because he is more develop physically it doesn't mean that he is NBA ready

Ant is a good prospect (I have him 5th) but he is def nowhere near NBA ready

Everyone thinking that Minnesota is taking him doesn't really know how that FO works and what Gersson Rosas is about

[BigSlam]

But hey, you think going up for Doncic was a swing when he was the most obvious nº1 pick since LeBron and a surefire NBA stud since he was like 17 basically, so... I guess I get it

This is such a tiring viewpoint.

Sure, it’s SO easy to chest beat now about a prospect now they have proven to be awesome like Doncic - but the same thing was said about guys like Rubio and Mayo and Barnes etc. Alllllllllll sure fire future NBA studs at the age of 16/17.

This “sure thing” take and “expert” 20/20 hindsight is exhausting.


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[BigSlam]

Everyone thinking that Minnesota is taking him doesn't really know how that FO works and what Gersson Rosas is about

Nor do you big wheels.


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[No-Man]

But hey, you think going up for Doncic was a swing when he was the most obvious nº1 pick since LeBron and a surefire NBA stud since he was like 17 basically, so... I guess I get it

This is such a tiring viewpoint.

Sure, it’s SO easy to chest beat now about a prospect now they have proven to be awesome like Doncic - but the same thing was said about guys like Rubio and Mayo and Barnes etc. Alllllllllll sure fire future NBA studs at the age of 16/17.

This “sure thing” take and “expert” 20/20 hindsight is exhausting.


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I follow the draft very close, I have seen Luka live since he was 15-16, I called Doncic's draft the Luka draft by the time he was 17, it is not a tiring viewpoint, everything was obvious in HIS case, not all of them, all the stats (future WAR etc) and the tape

Tiring or not, it was reality, calling it a swing it's just dumb, it was a surefire move

Luka's case is not comparable at all to Rubio, Mayo, Barnes, like at all

[BigSlam]

But hey, you think going up for Doncic was a swing when he was the most obvious nº1 pick since LeBron and a surefire NBA stud since he was like 17 basically, so... I guess I get it

This is such a tiring viewpoint.

Sure, it’s SO easy to chest beat now about a prospect now they have proven to be awesome like Doncic - but the same thing was said about guys like Rubio and Mayo and Barnes etc. Alllllllllll sure fire future NBA studs at the age of 16/17.

This “sure thing” take and “expert” 20/20 hindsight is exhausting.


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I follow the draft very close, I have seen Luka live since he was 15-16, I called Doncic's draft the Luka draft by the time he was 17, it is not a tiring viewpoint, everything was obvious in HIS case, not all of them, all the stats (future WAR etc) and the tape

Tiring or not, it was reality, calling it a swing it's just dumb, it was a surefire move

Luka's case is not comparable at all to Rubio, Mayo, Barnes, like at all

So you’re smarter and more tuned in than every other owner/GM/front office in the entire NBA other than the Mavs.

Nice work. Hope you got your medal.


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[316Hornets]

Edwards is def ready for being a big net negative player in the NBA as a rookie yes, just because he is more develop physically it doesn't mean that he is NBA ready

Ant is a good prospect (I have him 5th) but he is def nowhere near NBA ready

Everyone thinking that Minnesota is taking him doesn't really know how that FO works and what Gersson Rosas is about

I feel like if Edwards played on a team like Duke, people would call him the next Zion. You have to realize that a player of Edward's caliber, taking inefficient shots sometimes is the best possible decision when playing on a team with little talent.

If Edwards ends up on a team like ours, I expect him to struggle a little bit as he'll have to be a primary scorer. If he goes to a team like the Timberwolves? He will have great opportunity to shine because teams have to respect D'Angelo and KAT.

[316Hornets]

Anybody think this is the year we might actually get a gem because Jordan doesn't have the NCAA Tournament hero to drool over? Most drafts, it seems like Jordan always wants the guy who shines in the Tournament and it turns into a massive flop.

[No-Man]

This is such a tiring viewpoint.

Sure, it’s SO easy to chest beat now about a prospect now they have proven to be awesome like Doncic - but the same thing was said about guys like Rubio and Mayo and Barnes etc. Alllllllllll sure fire future NBA studs at the age of 16/17.

This “sure thing” take and “expert” 20/20 hindsight is exhausting.


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I follow the draft very close, I have seen Luka live since he was 15-16, I called Doncic's draft the Luka draft by the time he was 17, it is not a tiring viewpoint, everything was obvious in HIS case, not all of them, all the stats (future WAR etc) and the tape

Tiring or not, it was reality, calling it a swing it's just dumb, it was a surefire move

Luka's case is not comparable at all to Rubio, Mayo, Barnes, like at all

So you’re smarter and more tuned in than every other owner/GM/front office in the entire NBA other than the Mavs.

Nice work. Hope you got your medal.


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No man, I am just smarter than Vlade Divac, the Phoenix Suns and Travis Schlenk that have all proven to be very dumb and bad at this over the years