2019 NBA Draft Prep

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

One thing I’ve never considered with Sekou is that he could still be growing and could still end up taller. Has anybody heard any commentary on this ?

Sekou Doumbouya | France | SF | 6-9

While Doumbouya won't get the same attention as other college standouts, he's already been playing at the professional level for more than two years. An 18-year-old forward, his biggest selling point is his versatility -- he can guard shooting guards and big men, and is expected to be around 6-10 this summer -- as well as his threat to make outside shots. He can knock down open looks and creates plays with the ball in his hands. When he adds more weight to his still-growing frame, he'll be capable of defending the post with confidence given his sheer length.

CBS Sports

[King Ken]

Let’s not forget that Kawhi wasn’t a world beater as a prospect. Definitely wasn’t as impactful as a college player at SDSU.

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/kawhi-leonard

Hunter athletically is more like Otto Porter Jr. This idea that he is Leonard might be a major reach. Little has more of that Leonard potential.

[CP War Hawks]

KL was 6-6 no shoes, 227 and 5.5% bf. He had elite length for a pf with a 7-3 wingspan and 8-10 so as a wing that makes him a top defender. Those are the specs I look with at for certain prospects.

For example I think Rui will come in at 6-7 no shoes, 230 with 6.5% bf. Along with 7-2 wingspan, 8-11 reach. Just something to consider overall.

Lastly, the Hawks will not pick 5. It's nearly mathematically impossible. NYK and Pho have the overwhelming odds to land the 5 pick with the two worse records. I wish mocks would reflect this. We are either picking top 4 or more likely 7th and then 6th.

[personanongrata]

KL was 6-6 no shoes, 227 and 5.5% bf. He had elite length for a pf with a 7-3 wingspan and 8-10 so as a wing that makes him a top defender. Those are the specs I look with at for certain prospects.

For example I think Rui will come in at 6-7 no shoes, 230 with 6.5% bf. Along with 7-2 wingspan, 8-11 reach. Just something to consider overall.

Lastly, the Hawks will not pick 5. It's nearly mathematically impossible. NYK and Pho have the overwhelming odds to land the 5 pick with the two worse records. I wish mocks would reflect this. We are either picking top 4 or more likely 7th and then 6th.

Thank you for mentioning that about picking 5th. You may need to explain that to others on the board who clearly don't understand the lottery.

[Hazer]

KL was 6-6 no shoes, 227 and 5.5% bf. He had elite length for a pf with a 7-3 wingspan and 8-10 so as a wing that makes him a top defender. Those are the specs I look with at for certain prospects.

For example I think Rui will come in at 6-7 no shoes, 230 with 6.5% bf. Along with 7-2 wingspan, 8-11 reach. Just something to consider overall.

Lastly, the Hawks will not pick 5. It's nearly mathematically impossible. NYK and Pho have the overwhelming odds to land the 5 pick with the two worse records. I wish mocks would reflect this. We are either picking top 4 or more likely 7th and then 6th.

Thank you for mentioning that about picking 5th. You may need to explain that to others on the board who clearly don't understand the lottery.

I believe the odds of the 5th worst team ending up picking 5th is only 2.2%. Much more likely to pick top 4 than staying in 5th.

[CP War Hawks]

KL was 6-6 no shoes, 227 and 5.5% bf. He had elite length for a pf with a 7-3 wingspan and 8-10 so as a wing that makes him a top defender. Those are the specs I look with at for certain prospects.

For example I think Rui will come in at 6-7 no shoes, 230 with 6.5% bf. Along with 7-2 wingspan, 8-11 reach. Just something to consider overall.

Lastly, the Hawks will not pick 5. It's nearly mathematically impossible. NYK and Pho have the overwhelming odds to land the 5 pick with the two worse records. I wish mocks would reflect this. We are either picking top 4 or more likely 7th and then 6th.

Thank you for mentioning that about picking 5th. You may need to explain that to others on the board who clearly don't understand the lottery.

Np, just to simplify it for those out of the loop, it's a coin flip for picking 1-4 or 6-8. I just hope the nba stays true to its new formula.

[pacehawk]

KL was 6-6 no shoes, 227 and 5.5% bf. He had elite length for a pf with a 7-3 wingspan and 8-10 so as a wing that makes him a top defender. Those are the specs I look with at for certain prospects.

For example I think Rui will come in at 6-7 no shoes, 230 with 6.5% bf. Along with 7-2 wingspan, 8-11 reach. Just something to consider overall.

Lastly, the Hawks will not pick 5. It's nearly mathematically impossible. NYK and Pho have the overwhelming odds to land the 5 pick with the two worse records. I wish mocks would reflect this. We are either picking top 4 or more likely 7th and then 6th.

Thank you for mentioning that about picking 5th. You may need to explain that to others on the board who clearly don't understand the lottery.

Np, just to simplify it for those out of the loop, it's a coin flip for picking 1-4 or 6-8. I just hope the nba stays true to its new formula.

I am guilty!!! I thought I understood the new lottery system but now I am more confused than ever!

[EazyRoc]

KL was 6-6 no shoes, 227 and 5.5% bf. He had elite length for a pf with a 7-3 wingspan and 8-10 so as a wing that makes him a top defender. Those are the specs I look with at for certain prospects.

For example I think Rui will come in at 6-7 no shoes, 230 with 6.5% bf. Along with 7-2 wingspan, 8-11 reach. Just something to consider overall.

Lastly, the Hawks will not pick 5. It's nearly mathematically impossible. NYK and Pho have the overwhelming odds to land the 5 pick with the two worse records. I wish mocks would reflect this. We are either picking top 4 or more likely 7th and then 6th.

Hunter is a reported 6’7” 225 with a 7’2” wingspan FWIW.

[EazyRoc]

Thank you for mentioning that about picking 5th. You may need to explain that to others on the board who clearly don't understand the lottery.

Np, just to simplify it for those out of the loop, it's a coin flip for picking 1-4 or 6-8. I just hope the nba stays true to its new formula.

I am guilty!!! I thought I understood the new lottery system but now I am more confused than ever!

me too lol

[EazyRoc]

Let’s not forget that Kawhi wasn’t a world beater as a prospect. Definitely wasn’t as impactful as a college player at SDSU.

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/kawhi-leonard

Hunter athletically is more like Otto Porter Jr. This idea that he is Leonard might be a major reach. Little has more of that Leonard potential.

Best case is Kawhi. Worst case I think is what we expected from TP. Reality is probably somewhere in the middle as a 15 ppg as a very high level defender.

[King Ken]

Let’s not forget that Kawhi wasn’t a world beater as a prospect. Definitely wasn’t as impactful as a college player at SDSU.

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/kawhi-leonard

Hunter athletically is more like Otto Porter Jr. This idea that he is Leonard might be a major reach. Little has more of that Leonard potential.

Best case is Kawhi. Worst case I think is what we expected from TP. Reality is probably somewhere in the middle as a 15 ppg as a very high level defender.

I think he is better than TP just off the fact that he is already a good 3/D player, not just prospect. I just question if he had ELITE 3/D potential. That's where I am with Hunter. I also don't think he can be as good a scorer as TP but we will see. Hunter has so much talent and he is so smart BBIQ wise.

[Spud2nique]

Hunter athletically is more like Otto Porter Jr. This idea that he is Leonard might be a major reach. Little has more of that Leonard potential.

Best case is Kawhi. Worst case I think is what we expected from TP. Reality is probably somewhere in the middle as a 15 ppg as a very high level defender.

I think he is better than TP just off the fact that he is already a good 3/D player, not just prospect. I just question if he had ELITE 3/D potential. That's where I am with Hunter. I also don't think he can be as good a scorer as TP but we will see. Hunter has so much talent and he is so smart BBIQ wise.

He raised his 3 point percentage by a ton and is shooting 47% this year up from 38% last year. This kid is pretty rock solid. He doesn’t seem to have a ton of holes in his game. We need a solid kid like him. I wouldn’t mind at all.

[King Ken]

Best case is Kawhi. Worst case I think is what we expected from TP. Reality is probably somewhere in the middle as a 15 ppg as a very high level defender.

I think he is better than TP just off the fact that he is already a good 3/D player, not just prospect. I just question if he had ELITE 3/D potential. That's where I am with Hunter. I also don't think he can be as good a scorer as TP but we will see. Hunter has so much talent and he is so smart BBIQ wise.

He raised his 3 point percentage by a ton and is shooting 47% this year up from 38% last year. This kid is pretty rock solid. He doesn’t seem to have a ton of holes in his game. We need a solid kid like him. I wouldn’t mind at all.

He barely shoots the three. His volume just is not high enough to say that this is legit if he added volume to it. It's just more likely he is DMC from three than PG13 with his lack of volume at this stage. He could greatly improve, we seen two other UVa guys like Joe Harris and Malcolm Brodgon improve from three and do it with volume.

[atlantabbq99]

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Hunter looks very solid, but also I don't see anything special about him. But then, the same could be said for Khris Middleton when he was a rookie. He reminds me of Hood or Jonathan Isaac, but you never know if he could have an insane work ethic and become another Jimmy Butler or Kawhi?

[King Ken]

The bet on Hunter is we already know he is an elite defender in college and likely like top tier one as a rookie.

Offense is what we are less sure of. He is insanely efficient and versatile but he doesn't have a standout skill on offense and he doesn't have great volume. Also, can he adjust to our elite pace and volume system for his low pace and low volume system. That said, he would be the most NBA ready guy in the draft outside of Zion and R.J.

[EazyRoc]

Hunter athletically is more like Otto Porter Jr. This idea that he is Leonard might be a major reach. Little has more of that Leonard potential.

Best case is Kawhi. Worst case I think is what we expected from TP. Reality is probably somewhere in the middle as a 15 ppg as a very high level defender.

I think he is better than TP just off the fact that he is already a good 3/D player, not just prospect. I just question if he had ELITE 3/D potential. That's where I am with Hunter. I also don't think he can be as good a scorer as TP but we will see. Hunter has so much talent and he is so smart BBIQ wise.

TP is actually VERY limited as a scorer. Early on when he was dropping big scoring numbers..a lot of that was due to hitting really tough shots and that isn’t sustainable. Those step back, fade-aways really weren’t high % shots.

The last sentence is why I’m so high on Hunter though. Most times when guys have great BBIQ they are below average athletes. He has no gaping holes in his game with room to improve still. He’s also an above average NBA (IMO) with the measurables and skills to match.

Hunter needs polish offensively and understanding on how to put everything he does well together to make him more effective than just 3/D. I think it’s a safe bet that he will be a very good perimeter defender (likely our best if we draft him) while being a 36%+ shooter from three.

Another thing is that Virginia guys, lately, have developed into much better individual players as pros. Put it like this...I think he will be a better player than Malcolm Brogdon.

Interestingly enough he and Joe Harris (Brooklyn’s 3pt sniper and one of the best shooters in the league) have very similar shooting numbers in their college careers.

[kg01]

I'm not super high on Hunter. Seems really solid. Safe. He'd be the type of guy that'd be perfect for our Millsap-Teague teams I presume we're looking for more high-ceiling guys at the moment. Could we trade down to like 10-12 for him?

[Jamaaliver]

Assessing Duke's Other NBA Draft Prospects After Zion Williamson's Injury



After Williamson’s knee sprain in a blowout loss to Carolina, Duke took 48 hours to prepare and bounced back on Saturday night at Syracuse, led by 30 points from Barrett. While it’s unclear how much longer Williamson will be out, the two-game sample with him off the floor did shed some additional light on Duke’s individual strengths and weaknesses. Let’s take the opportunity to re-assess.

R.J. Barrett

Totaling 63 points while logging every minute of the last two games, Barrett’s recent play has reinforced what we’ve come to understand about his game. He’s an aggressive, effective downhill player with the agility to navigate tight spaces and create looks for himself around the basket. Barrett leads Duke and the ACC in scoring despite a streaky three-point shot, and has really come into his own as a passer over the past month, which is a critical development. He’s also done well impacting the game on the glass and helping Duke get into transition, where his strength and ability to finish with his left hand shine.

Spoiler:

With the knowledge that Barrett at his core is an alpha scorer, and that even the best NBA players tend to revert to their long-held tendencies in pressure situations, the big question projecting forward is whether a fully-realized version of what he is now is a player you can run a winning, efficient offense through. His evolution as a playmaker is promising, and the more willing he is to share the ball the closer he’ll come to realizing his potential



Cam Reddish

At this point, it’s probably time to reframe the long-term expectations for Reddish, who remains as mercurial a prospect as there is in college basketball. The general thought was that without Williamson, Reddish would have a strong opportunity to step up and make his case (as he did against Florida State in January when Williamson was poked in the eye). But even when putting up big numbers, he’s been less than convincing.

Reddish was again a mixed bag in the loss to North Carolina, with 27 points on 23 attempts, zero assists and four turnovers in a game Duke lost by 16. While he made a few impressive jumpers that highlighted his NBA potential as a perimeter scorer, it’s his ongoing struggles scoring in the paint that have become something of a yellow flag.

Making matters worse is how unpredictable he’s been night to night. Reddish played all 40 minutes in the win over Syracuse, but finished with just five points on 2-of-11 shooting, making just one of eight three-point attempts against the Orange’s zone defense and never once going to the foul line.

SI.com

[Jamaaliver]

I'm not super high on Hunter. Seems really solid. Safe. He'd be the type of guy that'd be perfect for our Millsap-Teague teams I presume we're looking for more high-ceiling guys at the moment. Could we trade down to like 10-12 for him?

I'm with you there.

In most mocks I've seen, he falls between 5-10. I think could nab him with the Mavs pick...should that convey.