Absurdly early 2018 NBA Draft Thread

[MaceCase]

Allonzo Trier suspended by the NCAA for a 2nd failed PED test. Lets see if this finally forces Miller to make 'Zona go the Deandre way and if Ayton can step up with the increased offensive/defensive attention to close the season and tournament(s). Also how it effects potential late 1st/early 2nd pick Rawle Alkins.

[Spud2nique]

I really hope that Porter is healthy and looks like the top prospect we expect him to be.

It would really benefit us for another player to enter that elite tier of prospects alongside Doncic and Ayton. Right now I have Bamba as my number 3, but he doesn't look like a franchise changer.


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I like this plus Trae Young. I don’t want to miss on a Nash type but then again I don’t want Jimmer.

[thr3ep01nte4]

Guys, why Marvin Williams got selected 2nd overall? And what made him a disappointment? Are there anyone in this draft remind you of him?

[Bob8]

What, you don't like a dad-bod on your 19yo super-prospect that supposed to revolutionize the league?

I guess this is what SpongeBob meant when he said NBA-level strength/conditioning will do the kid wonders. Still though, do a sit-up or something, broseph.

Speaking of SpongeBob, seeing those pics, now I see why we haven't seen him in a while. Can't type one-handed.

No. Just being smart enough not to lose time with nice and full of knowledge people like you.

And about Luka’s body. I guess he doesn’t need doing sit-ups to be the best under 20 player in the world. I still believe it’s easier to lose some weight and gain some muscles, than to suddenly develop basketball skills, but that’s just me.

P.s. He made this tattoo after winning Eurobasket.

[atlantabbq99]

Guys, why Marvin Williams got selected 2nd overall? And what made him a disappointment? Are there anyone in this draft remind you of him?

Marvin was super talented and super athletic and if you read the old scouting reports , they all said that he was better than Chris Paul, but three things led him to being a disappointment.

1. He played behind ball hog Joe Johnson. During the years he should have been developing, he was stuck on the wing just watching Joe go iso. The only thing he could do was work on his defensive game and he did become the Hawks premiere defensive perimeter player. He would also average over 20.0ppg when ever Joe was injured.

2. Marvin doesn't have that alpha dog mentality. Marvin is a great teammate. He never complained about shots or his role on the team. I always wanted Marvin to be more selfish, but he just never did and was content on being a #2 or #3.

3. His spinal injury ended his rise. Year by year, Marvin's ppg and fg% went up, he was a good defender who became a great defender, he became a 15ppg scorer, but after his spinal surgery in 2009, everything in his game started to decline, and would miss 20-30 games year in and year out after that because of back problems.

[Jamaaliver]

Guys, why Marvin Williams got selected 2nd overall? And what made him a disappointment? Are there anyone in this draft remind you of him?

Other issues regarding Marvin: bad coaching and playing out of position.

Marv clearly had the ability to play PF or SF, but he was almost exclusively used at SF here because Josh Smith (and occasionally AL Horford) took up all/most of the power forward minutes.

In addition, despite playing a tremendous amount of time on the wing, he rarely took open three point shots in the early years. A scheme design by our coaches that focused on isolation and inside play above all else.

We've seen him develop an above average 3-pt shot and play well as a small ball PF. Things he never really got to do here.

That's on our coaches: Mike Woodson and Larry Drew.

Also, he was super passive on the basketball court and in the locker room.

[Jamaaliver]

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This is a huge risk for the kid. I don't know if he's coming back:

To improve his NBA stock. (Short-sighted.)

Play a significant role for the home town college team. (Pointless)

or get one last shot at playing beside his brother or under his father, a UM assistant coach. (Admirable)

But it's a gamble I hope works out for the kid.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Michael Porter Jr. Return a Huge Risk with No Clear Reward for NBA Future

...we finally got some good news Thursday afternoon.

Michael Porter Jr. is coming back! (Maybe.)

It's important to note that getting "fully cleared for all basketball activities" doesn't necessarily mean Porter will play again. But he might.

Here's the multimillion dollar question:

Should he?

The risks are astronomical, as many have discussed since the possibility of his return was first floated two weeks ago. Every mock drafter under the sun has kept Porter in his or her projected top 10.

If Porter so much as winces too much or doesn't play quite at the same level as he did in High School, it'll get everyone wondering (more than they already are) just how healthy he actually is.

Even if he does get hurt, there's no chance Porter falls out of the first round. He was too good in high school for that to happen.

But it's conceivable he could drop out of the lottery, which would literally cost him millions.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

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4. Atlanta Hawks – Jaren Jackson Jr. (C/PF, Michigan State)

Jackson Jr. has skyrocketed on draft boards and it is very easy to see why. He is, by far, the most polished defensive prospect in this draft and his block rate is, frankly, preposterous. There are questions about the freshman big man’s offensive upside but Jackson Jr. can already shoot from the perimeter and he fits the perfect mold as an elite (and highly valuable) role player.

24. Atlanta Hawks (via Minnesota) – Shake Milton (SG/PG, SMU)

Milton would seemingly be a snug fit in Atlanta, especially with Jaren Jackson Jr. as the team’s first pick in this scenario. He has great size at 6’6 and can adequately play both backcourt spots with the ability to stretch the floor as a shooter. Everything could change in Atlanta’s backcourt but the beauty of Milton is his versatility.

29. Atlanta Hawks (via Houston) – Landry Shamet (PG/SG, Wichita State)

Shamet and Shake Milton (who landed with ATL earlier) would be a fun pairing and this absolutely feels like a Hawks pick. He can really shoot and pass, with enough ball-handling to operate an offense as the primary facilitator when needed.

[kg01]

Y'all are being way too generous with these Marv Williams assessments. He had all the tools to be great but lacked aggressiveness and desire to be great. Y'all can blame JoeJohn. You can blame the coaches but it ultimately fell on Marvin and Marvin alone.

I take y'all back to his 3rd year. We were in Seattle and he had brought a bunch of family to the game (since he's from that area). Dude goes out and drops a 30-burger. He looked fantastic. We all thought that was the moment. The moment where he turns the corner.

He was interviewed after the game and the reporter asked STTE: "Gee Marvin, what was it like to score 30 points in front of your hometown fans."

Marvin said STTE: "Man, I don't see how them guys like Kobe do it. Geez, I'm tired. It takes too much energy to put up that many shots. I don't know if I'll be doing that much any time soon."

I'm paraphrasing but that was the gist of his quote. When I saw that the next day I was mortified. It was then that I knew he'd never amount to anything meaningful.

The only reason he lasted in the league was playing next to a guy like Joe Johnson who hid Marvin's passiveness. The coaches didn't play him at "his natural position" because he was to sawft to play power forward.

Marvin failed because of Marvin, no one else.

He's the shining example of why I don't ever advocate drafting a player who doesn't start in college. Never. An example I'm watching (to support that theory) is the Collins kid from Gonzaga who IIUC has never started. Not in high school, not in AAU, not in college. Why in the ever loving heyul would you draft that guy in the lottery?

[Jamaaliver]

Y'all are being way too generous with these Marv Williams assessments.

Marvin failed because of Marvin, no one else.

This seems a bit harsh for a dude who's still in the league 13 years later.

As a starter.

He never made it to star status, but he's been a pretty productive player for most of his career.

At age 31, he likely has 2-4 more years of basketball before he's done.

I wouldn't call that a failure; I think he was drafted too highly.

[jayu70]

Hawks are looking for and NEED more than a productive player with a top pick.

[kg01]

Y'all are being way too generous with these Marv Williams assessments.

Marvin failed because of Marvin, no one else.

This seems a bit harsh for a dude who's still in the league 13 years later.

As a starter.

He never made it to star status, but he's been a pretty productive player for most of his career.

At age 31, he likely has 2-4 more years of basketball before he's done.

I wouldn't call that a failure; I think he was drafted too highly.

You are purposefully misunderstanding what I'm saying.

I think we all agree any lengthy career in the NBA is a success story. That goes without saying. The fact that Marvin has been able to be a semi-productive, passable NBA starter is great.

You don't draft a guy at #2 to get a semi-productive, passable NBA starter. You draft a guy at #2 to (hopefully) get an all-star. If you draft a guy at #2 and he never even sniffs an all-star berth, that is a failed pick.

[Jamaaliver]

You are purposefully misunderstanding what I'm saying.

You don't draft a guy at #2 to get a semi-productive, passable NBA starter. If you draft a guy at #2 and he never even sniffs an all-star berth, that is a failed pick.

I...guess.

The initial question by 3 pointer asked about him being a disappointment.

and...I don't think was purposefully misunderstanding.

[kg01]

Guys, why Marvin Williams got selected 2nd overall? And what made him a disappointment? Are there anyone in this draft remind you of him?

In college, he played enough to entice NBA GM's with his tools/potential. That year, the consensus top 2 were Bogut and Williams and there was a discernible gap between them and the others. That's why I don't really give our GM too much grief for picking him over Paul and others. Obviously it didn't work out, but no other team was picking anyone else in the top 2 that year.

He was a disappointment because he never became a game-changing player. Drafting that high, the pick can't just be a 'guy'. Marvin was just a 'guy'.

None of the '18 guys remind me of him game-wise but I do expect Wendell Carter to entice teams in a similar way but end up being a middling NBA player.

I had to take a break from yelling at @jammmmmaliver so I figured I'd answer your original question rather than go back/forth with him.

I mean, I am considered the eggspert here.

[Spud2nique]

Y'all are being way too generous with these Marv Williams assessments. He had all the tools to be great but lacked aggressiveness and desire to be great. Y'all can blame JoeJohn. You can blame the coaches but it ultimately fell on Marvin and Marvin alone.

I take y'all back to his 3rd year. We were in Seattle and he had brought a bunch of family to the game (since he's from that area). Dude goes out and drops a 30-burger. He looked fantastic. We all thought that was the moment. The moment where he turns the corner.

He was interviewed after the game and the reporter asked STTE: "Gee Marvin, what was it like to score 30 points in front of your hometown fans."

Marvin said STTE: "Man, I don't see how them guys like Kobe do it. Geez, I'm tired. It takes too much energy to put up that many shots. I don't know if I'll be doing that much any time soon."

I'm paraphrasing but that was the gist of his quote. When I saw that the next day I was mortified. It was then that I knew he'd never amount to anything meaningful.

The only reason he lasted in the league was playing next to a guy like Joe Johnson who hid Marvin's passiveness. The coaches didn't play him at "his natural position" because he was to sawft to play power forward.

Marvin failed because of Marvin, no one else.

He's the shining example of why I don't ever advocate drafting a player who doesn't start in college. Never. An example I'm watching (to support that theory) is the Collins kid from Gonzaga who IIUC has never started. Not in high school, not in AAU, not in college. Why in the ever loving heyul would you draft that guy in the lottery?

I honestly didn’t know who they were talking about...I don’t think it was the coaches fault or joe Johnson’s fault. I think Marvin was overhyped and selected waaaayy too high. The guy was a 6th man on his college team..I will admit I prematurely bought 2 Marvin jerseys thinking he might be the next James Worthy..oops.


Ps I remember hearing that Marvin had not watched an nba game in his life before and that concerned me. I guess they said that his dad didn’t want his shooting form to be compromised by watching film.

Pps I really need to sell those Marvin jerseys..just having to look at them everyday gets me down.

[Spud2nique]

If he walks like a duck, and acts like a duck..golly..


Marv never had a chance in hell.. from the git go he was a bust. With hard work though, he’s carved a nice role for himself in the league.

[thr3ep01nte4]

Thanks guys. I think wanting to be great is as important as being talented.

[kg01]

Anybody else seeing/hearing rumors that Bagley isn't actually injured but is being held out due to eligibility concerns from the FBI stuff?

Not that it matters from a draft standpoint 'cause I don't want us to take him either way. Just figured I'd query a different set of fans. My GT guys are hearing that rumor.

[Spud2nique]

Anybody else seeing/hearing rumors that Bagley isn't actually injured but is being held out due to eligibility concerns from the FBI stuff?

Not that it matters from a draft standpoint 'cause I don't want us to take him either way. Just figured I'd query a different set of fans. My GT guys are hearing that rumor.

Wtf..FBI? What did international man of mystery (local bodega) Bagley do?