2019 NBA Draft Prep

observer1995 · Post #1081 » by **observer1995** » Sun Feb 17, 2019 5:27 pm

RJ Barrett doesn’t do anything for me, for I suppose related reasons as to why I shouldn’t be cool with getting Culver (Barrett is an inefficient scorer). He looks much more like Andrew Wiggins or maybe DeMar DeRozan than Grant Hill or Tracy McGrady. DeRozan as the outcome would be OK eventually but with all the hype about him, I’d just expect more and be disappointed.

But I’ve said my piece on Culver and suppose I’ll say a little again. I’m not looking for a star in drafting him if I do. So, I wouldn’t be disappointed if he doesn’t ever shoot jumpers well…but then why draft him at #5 if you don’t have higher expectations? Shows you how I feel about this draft, outside of the Duke fab 3 and Morant, there may be 2 toolsy prospects that could pan out better than expected (Sekou is one of them) and otherwise I think most players are about the same.

I’m VERY uncertain about drafting Reddish because the shooting #’s are to the point of it being a potential cautionary tale. Yeah yeah, he’s 3rd and sometimes lower in the wheel, but even still the guys that have been drafted with those numbers have been busts and cautionary tales. I won’t rage if he’s the pick, but at the same time, it wouldn’t shock me if Schlenk bypasses him because of those factors if he’s even there. And with Zion’s hype, if Atlanta doesn’t get the luck of the ping pong balls and gets #1, you can forget it on him. There’s no way in hades that anybody will willingly trade that pick without it taking a TON with Zion being hyped up as a Barkley or a not as perimeter oriented LeBron.

pacehawk · Post #1082 » by **pacehawk** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 12:56 am

Is there any chance the Hawks will Draft Bol IF he passes his physicals? Seems to me that his size and defense could be a huge asset to the Hawks IF he can stay healthy!!

observer1995 · Post #1083 » by **observer1995** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 1:29 am

Bol actually is a terrible defender, I initially was a yes on him but I'm a pass now.

Post #1084 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 2:03 am

observer1995 wrote:Bol actually is a terrible defender, I initially was a yes on him but I'm a pass now.

Yes!!!

Great shot blocker, but incredibly low defensive awareness. Terrible at guarding in space. Lacking in strength so he can't bang with stronger players.

He is a terrible defensive player.

Ball4life32 · Post #1085 » by **Ball4life32** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 2:17 am

Bol has a 6.5 DBPM with a 89.1 defensive rating...those are elite defensive numbers. He also is a good defensive rebounder and has a positive defensive win share.

He needs to improve his awareness and put on weight but he can absolutely be a great defender at the next level and we need a shot blocker.

Post #1086 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 3:51 am

Atlhawks09 wrote:Bol has a 6.5 DBPM with a 89.1 defensive rating...those are elite defensive numbers. He also is a good defensive rebounder and has a positive defensive win share.

He misses rotations regularly, doesn’t close out hard, and struggles to read the ball-handler when he’s switched onto the perimeter. Watching Bol neglect to contest when he’s the last man at the rim is incredibly disappointing, given how easy it is for him to actually affect shots when he makes the smallest rotation.

The Step Back

Watch on YouTube

ATLHoops97 · Post #1087 » by **ATLHoops97** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 5:51 am

I'm really not impressed with this draft like I was with last years. I suppose we should probably take Reddish if our pick lands where it is projected, but honeslty nobody is really moving the needle for me. Unfortunate.

Radioblacktive1 · Post #1088 » by **Radioblacktive1** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 7:09 am

I’m still pretty big on Hachimura if we miss on Zion. I like him more and more every time I see him.

Reddish is making me angry because I know if we pass on him because of how booboo he’s playing and the team right after us takes a chance on him and he ends up being great, we can just add that to list of things Hawks fans will never hear the end of.

EazyRoc · Post #1089 » by **EazyRoc** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 1:35 pm

Atlhawks09 wrote:Bol has a 6.5 DBPM with a 89.1 defensive rating...those are elite defensive numbers. He also is a good defensive rebounder and has a positive defensive win share.

He needs to improve his awareness and put on weight but he can absolutely be a great defender at the next level and we need a shot blocker.

You need to watch Bol Bol. He’s got great length as a defender but that is IT. Nothing else defensively.

Not to mention foot injuries are kryptonite to guys his size. Guess why he’s not playing basketball right now ?

Post #1090 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 1:37 pm

if YOU WANNA SEE SOME IMPRESSIVE Perimeter DEFENSE:

Read on Twitter

Spoiler:

Post #1091 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 1:43 pm

Some red flags on Morant:

Read on Twitter

EazyRoc · Post #1092 » by **EazyRoc** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 1:45 pm

At this point, I’m convinced people still talk about Reddish because he plays on a team with 3 other NBA players.

I think Cam Reddish is much closer to Tre Jones as far as impact than he is to RJ Barrett. I swear to god I don’t think Ive seen a top draft pick do LESS and still be considered a lottery pick. Marvin Williams was a better player at the same stage.He literally does nothing all that well. If he was 2 inches shorter, dude probably wouldn’t even be drafted.

Ball4life32 · Post #1093 » by **Ball4life32** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 1:48 pm

EazyRoc wrote:
Atlhawks09 wrote:Bol has a 6.5 DBPM with a 89.1 defensive rating...those are elite defensive numbers. He also is a good defensive rebounder and has a positive defensive win share.

He needs to improve his awareness and put on weight but he can absolutely be a great defender at the next level and we need a shot blocker.

You need to watch Bol Bol. He’s got great length as a defender but that is IT. Nothing else defensively.

Not to mention foot injuries are kryptonite to guys his size. Guess why he’s not playing basketball right now ?

I’ve already watched Bol multiple times...

His foot injury absolutely scares me but he’s absolutely a risk I would take with the Mavs pick. (As long as the doctors ok)

Ball4life32 · Post #1094 » by **Ball4life32** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 1:53 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
Atlhawks09 wrote:Bol has a 6.5 DBPM with a 89.1 defensive rating...those are elite defensive numbers. He also is a good defensive rebounder and has a positive defensive win share.

He misses rotations regularly, doesn’t close out hard, and struggles to read the ball-handler when he’s switched onto the perimeter. Watching Bol neglect to contest when he’s the last man at the rim is incredibly disappointing, given how easy it is for him to actually affect shots when he makes the smallest rotation.
The Step Back

Watch on YouTube

I clearly said he needs to improve his strength / awareness but I still think he can be a good defender at the next level. He just turned 19....

Post #1095 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 2:23 pm

This is a bad mock draft...

New York Knicks: 2019 NBA Mock Draft, All-Star break edition

5. Cam Reddish | F | Duke

Watch on YouTube

Rounding out the top five, the Atlanta Hawks can add to their group that’s headlined by Trae Young and Kevin Huerter. Omari Spellman is in place, and Taurean Prince has flashed upside, but they need more to rise from the Eastern Conference cellar.

This draft class has a “best five,” for now. And with the first four already off the board, that leaves Cameron Reddish as the best player available.

Reddish is the third guy behind Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett. What kind of impact it has on stats, he shoots just 35.6 percent from the field, but a staggering 7.8 of his 12.2 attempts per game come from behind the arc. That will tank anyone’s shooting percentage, but he’s also just 40-for-104 on two-pointers.

Will teams ignore this? Reddish is playing a specific role on college basketball’s most talented squad. NBA franchises could assume that, and with defensive upside as an athletic wing, this is a player anyone can plug into the middle of their lineup. He’ll be even more useful if the Hawks continue to shred their roster.

Reddish is realistic for the New York Knicks if they fall past second or third. This is someone to stick next to Dennis Smith Jr. in the backcourt or between the shooting guard and Kevin Knox.

9. Charles Bassey | C | Western Kentucky

The Atlanta Hawks could have not one but two picks in the 2019 NBA Draft. This stems via draft night in 2018, when the Dallas Mavericks traded up two spots for Luka Doncic, leaving the Hawks with a protected (top five) 2019 first-round pick. In this scenario, it conveys.

With Duke’s Cam Reddish added to the middle of the lineup, this selection can go towards the frontcourt where the Hawks don’t have a long-term man in the middle. Charles Bassey, at this point, is the best big man available.

Basketball fans may not be as familiar with Bassey, who plays at Western Kentucky, but he entered the 2018-19 season as one of the highest-regarded big men. Standing 6-foot-10, so far, he’s lived up to the hype, at 14.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.

This is the center to anchor a team with Reddish, Trae Young and Kevin Huerter on the outside. Suddenly, it’s an interesting core that could stick for the next five years and become interesting in short order.

Bassey is still raw, as NBADraft.net notes. There’s a long way to go in his development, but there’s enough to like as a rim-protector or an agile big next to a taller player.

It’s a luxury pick for Atlanta in this draft. Two top-ten picks will push forward their rebuild and make them one of this conference’s most interesting teams, something the New York Knicks will face for years to come.

EazyRoc · Post #1096 » by **EazyRoc** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 2:32 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:if YOU WANNA SEE SOME IMPRESSIVE Perimeter DEFENSE:

Read on Twitter

Spoiler:
De'Andre Hunter, Virginia: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

Hunter is the prototypical 3-and-D small forward prospect. He has great length, strong hands, and is capable of guarding bigger players in the post and holding his own against smaller/faster players on the perimeter. And on offense Hunter is a knockdown shooter who has improved as a playmaker as well. So far in the 2018-19 season, Hunter is shooting a hyper efficient 45.1 percent from the 3-point line and 53.3 percent from the field. In Virginia's win over Notre Dame on Saturday, Hunter came up big time with a 20-point, 10-rebound double double.

Read on Twitter

His overall steal and block rates have dropped from his (also great) freshman season but make no mistake, he is still the best defender on one of the toughest defensive squads in the nation (that currently ranks third in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency per Kenpom.com).

He’s becoming one of my favorite players in this draft. I think 5 years from now we will be talking about him as a Top 3 player out of this class. The guy knows how to play defensive both individually and as a team. He’s a clear NBA athlete and even isn’t an offensive liability. Has some room for growth offensively. I think he shoots up boards from now until June though. He’s being talked about in the 8-12 range right now. I’m pretty sure he gets drafted top 5 when I think about it.

hawkmanreturns · Post #1097 » by **hawkmanreturns** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 2:32 pm

^^^ Bassey isn't terrible but I'd rather have Bruno Fernando at that spot.

EazyRoc · Post #1098 » by **EazyRoc** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 2:50 pm

hawkmanreturns wrote:^^^ Bassey isn't terrible but I'd rather have Bruno Fernando at that spot.

I was just thinking the same thing. Similar profiles but Bruno is proven longer and against better competition. That was a lazy ass article pieced together by looking at nbadraft.net and looking at our current draft picks. This **** isn’t journalism! I should start fashioning myself as a Hawks beat writer or a “draft expert” XD

personanongrata · Post #1099 » by **personanongrata** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 3:18 pm

EazyRoc wrote:At this point, I’m convinced people still talk about Reddish because he plays on a team with 3 other NBA players.

I think Cam Reddish is much closer to Tre Jones as far as impact than he is to RJ Barrett. I swear to god I don’t think Ive seen a top draft pick do LESS and still be considered a lottery pick. Marvin Williams was a better player at the same stage.He literally does nothing all that well. If he was 2 inches shorter, dude probably wouldn’t even be drafted.

If I'm a GM, I'm going strictly by college tape and pre-draft workouts. Why should being the best youth player in the country at age 16 even matter? That was then, this is now.

Spud2nique · Post #1100 » by **Spud2nique** » Mon Feb 18, 2019 3:18 pm

EazyRoc wrote:
hawkmanreturns wrote:^^^ Bassey isn't terrible but I'd rather have Bruno Fernando at that spot.

I was just thinking the same thing. Similar profiles but Bruno is proven longer and against better competition. That was a lazy ass article pieced together by looking at nbadraft.net and looking at our current draft picks. This **** isn’t journalism! I should start fashioning myself as a Hawks beat writer or a “draft expert” XD

You know what’s a lazy comparison? Cam to Marv...stop it.

What direction should Hawks go with their lottery picks?