Absurdly early 2018 NBA Draft Thread

[Brauer]

Ayton + Quavo tag team ftw

[Jamaaliver]

I’ll add in Mikal Bridges to this in my group as I love that kid.

I'm so conflicted on this kid.

At worst he's Khris Middleton and worthy of All Star selections most years.

At best he's Paul George and worthy of All Star selections every year.

Trae + Mikal (+ Taurean) might be a perfect combination of wing players.

But there are other kids with higher ceilings worth gambling on....I really like the kid and will root for him regardless of where he ends up.

[Spud2nique]

I’ll add in Mikal Bridges to this in my group as I love that kid.

I'm so conflicted on this kid.

At worst he's Khris Middleton and worthy of All Star selections most years.

At best he's Paul George and worthy of All Star selections every year.

Trae + Mikal (+ Taurean) might be a perfect combination of wing players.

But there are other kids with higher ceilings worth gambling on....I really like the kid and will root for him regardless of where he ends up.

If I had to wager a guess I’d say that Mikal will be close to Paul George than Kate Middleton because of attitude alone. Some guys have a pitbull mentality and others don’t. As much as I love Middleton’s demeanor and the way he carries himself as a basketball player, I don’t think he has the pitbull in him. From what I’ve seen, Mikal has it...or at least more of it than Kate. (Call me Kate again..-Jimmy Rome).


Agree with Trae, Taurean and Mikal..wow. I also wouldn’t mind the combination you spoke of before with Trae and Wendell..that might be the best pairing of top 10 picks if we were to somehow land there.

Pg Trae
Sg FA or stop gap vet for 2018-19...then Klay in 19
Sf Prince
Pf Collins
C Wendell Carter

Obviously Dennis and possible Baze and other assets would be involved in getting both Trae and Carter but that right there is a smart, efficient and unselfish bunch. This lineup+ Bud’s ability to develop talent would be a nice start.

[Jamaaliver]

Agree with Trae, Taurean and Mikal..wow. I also wouldn’t mind the combination you spoke of before with Trae and Wendell..that might be the best pairing of top 10 picks if we were to somehow land there.

Pg Trae
Sg FA or stop gap vet for 2018-19...then Klay in 19
Sf Prince
Pf Collins
C Wendell Carter

Trae Young and John Collins could be the most lethal duo in the Pick n Roll should they end up on the same team.

Trae's jump shooting + Collins finishing ability = beautiful basketball

[Spud2nique]

Agree with Trae, Taurean and Mikal..wow. I also wouldn’t mind the combination you spoke of before with Trae and Wendell..that might be the best pairing of top 10 picks if we were to somehow land there.

Pg Trae
Sg FA or stop gap vet for 2018-19...then Klay in 19
Sf Prince
Pf Collins
C Wendell Carter

Trae Young and John Collins could be the most lethal duo in the Pick n Roll should they end up on the same team.

Trae's jump shooting + Collins finishing ability = beautiful basketball

Add Wendell’s ability to pass from the 5 position...ya this would work for me.

[Jamaaliver]

Scout weighs in on 10 NBA Draft prospects in NCAA Tournament

we spoke with a league scout about 10 potential draftees facing a most important March...

Michael Porter Jr., F, Missouri
Scout's take: “The only danger would be getting hurt again, but he’s been cleared by all the doctors, so he should not worry about that. I don’t think he would pay a price if he came back and struggled a little — if anything, he will get points for trying to go out there and contribute. It’s like Kyrie Irving’s situation (in 2011). Kyrie had his ups and downs when he came back, but he still went No. 1.”
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jaren Jackson Jr., F, Michigan State
Jackson might wind up the best player in this draft. He’s only 18, but is already 6-11 with a 7-4 wingspan and a raft of NBA potential on both ends of the floor. He is, though, unpolished, a rarity among players coached by Tom Izzo, even ones as young as Jackson. But if he hits his stride in the tournament, he will firm up his name in the debate over whom should be the No. 1 pick.

Scout’s take: “He is so talented, but still a wildcard. He has a lot of natural skill, with his size, his fluidity, the way he runs the floor, his athleticism, his defensive instincts. But you’d like to see him dominate at the college level the way some of his classmates have done.”
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Wendell Carter Jr., C, Duke
Carter is overshadowed by fellow Blue Devil big man Marvin Bagley III, and while he might not register as prominently with fans, he has made his impression among scouts. He is smooth for his size (6-10), runs the floor, is a very good passer and has the ability to set screens as well as step back and shoot. Carter also gets points for playing with intelligence.

But the question is: Has Carter sacrificed his own game to help his other freshman phenoms succeed, or can he be too passive as a player?

Scout’s take: “There are times when he really controls the boards and where they run their offense through him. But that does not always happen and he can be the first one to get lost in the shuffle with all their front-end talent. That’s not his fault, but you’d like to see him be more assertive as the games get more important.”
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Lonnie Walker, G, Miami

Scouts loved Walker’s physical assets coming into the season, which makes sense for a long, 6-4 point guard with speed, agility and a natural scoring knack. But Walker seemed cowed by the big stage in the first half of Miami’s season, mostly coming off the bench and averaging 8.1 points on 42.3 percent shooting (31.4 on 3s) in the first 15 games. That had his stock in question, and some scouts wondered if he should go back for his sophomore year.

Walker has turned that around in the last 15 games, though, especially with fellow draft hopeful Bruce Brown out with a stress fracture. Walker has started 14 of his last 15 games, averaging 15.1 points on 42.0 percent shooting, making 38.0 percent of his 3s.

Scout’s take: “He has been much more comfortable and much more like the player we all saw before he went to Miami. He has such physical gifts, but he also has some ground to make up.”

Sporting News

[dms269]

Currently we are tied for the 3rd pick (tied with Mavs and Nets). Grizz and Suns have the top 2. Also have the 23rd and 30th pick.

[kg01]

Read on Twitter

[Spud2nique]

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

^Kinda makes me like the kid even more.
_________________________________________________________________________

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[jayu70]

I think the Minny pick is around "21 right now.

[Spud2nique]

I think the Minny pick is around "21 right now.

Hoping we get around an 18th pick or 19th..I don’t wanna get too close and miss it altogether lol

[ATL Boy]

I'd be fine with ending up with the 3rd pick in the draft. I mean obviously having number 1 would be ideal, but my tier 1 (assuming Porter's health) notes 3 guys (Porter, Ayton, Doncic), any one of whom I'd love to have in a Hawks uni next season.

The problem is that finishing with the 3rd worst record gives you less than a 50% chance of picking top 3 in the lottery. The difference between 3rd and 4th is pretty substantial IMO, unless someone in the top 3 opts to take Young or Bagley.


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[Jamaaliver]

If I had to wager a guess I’d say that Mikal will be close to Paul George than Kate Middleton because of attitude alone.

Even better?

Introducing CBB Breakout Star Mikal Bridges, the Kawhi Leonard Clone



Bridges has morphed into not just a shutdown defender, smothering an opponent's best player for 94 feet, but an efficient offensive player, too. Heading into the Big East tournament, he is averaging 17.6 points and 5.5 boards a game on 51.1 percent shooting for No. 2 Villanova (27-4).

"He's the kind of player many teams would love to have in that wing role of three-and-D," a Western Conference NBA scout says. "He's a guy that can be a 10-year-plus pro with his style of play."

[In High School], little things Bridges largely went unnoticed, like the way he cut and moved without the ball, and how he could dominate without needing touches. Bridges knew the precise second to cheat over for defensive help, and he hustled for offensive boards. He was athletic yet controlled; confident yet humble; assertive yet coachable.

Bridges is still a work in progress, even as he's posting up and dunking over players for the first time in his career. I ask Villanova Head Coach Jay Wright if he sees some elements of Kawhi Leonard in Bridges: the length, the hustle, the two-way skill set.

"Definitely. If you pick an NBA player, that would definitely be the guy," Wright tells me, though he doesn't like comparing his players to NBA players. "I think [Mikal] could develop into that kind of player, maybe a little more offensive-oriented when he comes in. … He has to continue to build his body to be as effective as Kawhi was defensively and in rebounding. Very, very similar."

Not every leader is a star and not every star is a leader. Bridges morphed into both and expected to be neither.

Bleacher Report

[kg01]

Read on Twitter

Save me some popcorn, Mike. Wait. Why's the bowl in yer lap, bro? Heeey ... that's not popcorn!

Back on topic though, has anyone seen what's happened to the Sooners this season. Were a top 5 team as late as January but may not even make the tournament. That's almost unheardof. Unprecedented snap-back. Not an indictment on Young totally but ... it's not nothin'. Strangely, AzSt has been worse. Top 2 in January and may not make it.

And just so no one writes that off as my standard anti-Trae Young thing, 'Bama has had a similar snap-back so I have no choice but to cool on Sexton as well.

New kg-brand top 5:

Ayton
Porter

Bamba


Doncic
Mik. Bridges

[Jamaaliver]

And just so no one writes that off as my standard anti-Trae Young thing, 'Bama has had a similar snap-back so I have no choice but to cool on Sexton as well.

Yeah, I'm disappointed for that team that they got hot early, cooled late and might miss out on the tourney despite exceeding all expectations for the season.

I watched the first 10 minutes of that game...

Oklahoma's team is terrible. Just so bad. Trae was hitting guys in stride for easy layups, wide open jumpers and the other guys on that team couldn't convert anything.


Trae Young bears some blame, he has to improve his shot selection.

But that team is really bad.

NOTE: I really wish Trae would stay one more season at OK.

[Spud2nique]

Read on Twitter

Save me some popcorn, Mike. Wait. Why's the bowl in yer lap, bro? Heeey ... that's not popcorn!

Back on topic though, has anyone seen what's happened to the Sooners this season. Were a top 5 team as late as January but may not even make the tournament. That's almost unheardof. Unprecedented snap-back. Not an indictment on Young totally but ... it's not nothin'. Strangely, AzSt has been worse. Top 2 in January and may not make it.

And just so no one writes that off as my standard anti-Trae Young thing, 'Bama has had a similar snap-back so I have no choice but to cool on Sexton as well.

New kg-brand top 5:

Ayton
Porter

Bamba


Doncic
Mik. Bridges

Ok first off... ewwww... Secondly, I do like your list as I see you’ve included Mikal..well it’s ok cuz Michael Porter and I did a Starbucks run yesterday soooooo...yea...I mean it’s fair riiiiiighht (teen girl fight..) I kid I kid. Seriously strong list right there...it’s hard to knock that at all.


I’d have a couple of tough choice personally..

If we had #1...do we take Ayton or Doncic? That’s a real tough one.

If we have #3 or #4 pick and Ayton Doncic and Bamba are gone...do we go with Porter or Young or just pull a shocker and take Mikal at 3...(we don’t have those cahones)...

In any event, we are getting a talent soon. A big talent.

[kg01]

Save me some popcorn, Mike. Wait. Why's the bowl in yer lap, bro? Heeey ... that's not popcorn!

Back on topic though, has anyone seen what's happened to the Sooners this season. Were a top 5 team as late as January but may not even make the tournament. That's almost unheardof. Unprecedented snap-back. Not an indictment on Young totally but ... it's not nothin'. Strangely, AzSt has been worse. Top 2 in January and may not make it.

And just so no one writes that off as my standard anti-Trae Young thing, 'Bama has had a similar snap-back so I have no choice but to cool on Sexton as well.

New kg-brand top 5:

Ayton
Porter

Bamba


Doncic
Mik. Bridges

Ok first off... ewwww... Secondly, I do like your list as I see you’ve included Mikal..well it’s ok cuz Michael Porter and I did a Starbucks run yesterday soooooo...yea...I mean it’s fair riiiiiighht (teen girl fight..) I kid I kid. Seriously strong list right there...it’s hard to knock that at all.


I’d have a couple of tough choice personally..

If we had #1...do we take Ayton or Doncic? That’s a real tough one.

If we have #3 or #4 pick and Ayton Doncic and Bamba are gone...do we go with Porter or Young or just pull a shocker and take Mikal at 3...(we don’t have those cahones)...

In any event, we are getting a talent soon. A big talent.

Oh uh, me and Mik were jus' ... uh, hangin' out.

If we get #1 we take Ayton without much hesitation, IMEO.

Also agree that, even if we fall a bit, we still good.

[Spud2nique]

Save me some popcorn, Mike. Wait. Why's the bowl in yer lap, bro? Heeey ... that's not popcorn!

Back on topic though, has anyone seen what's happened to the Sooners this season. Were a top 5 team as late as January but may not even make the tournament. That's almost unheardof. Unprecedented snap-back. Not an indictment on Young totally but ... it's not nothin'. Strangely, AzSt has been worse. Top 2 in January and may not make it.

And just so no one writes that off as my standard anti-Trae Young thing, 'Bama has had a similar snap-back so I have no choice but to cool on Sexton as well.

New kg-brand top 5:

Ayton
Porter

Bamba


Doncic
Mik. Bridges

Ok first off... ewwww... Secondly, I do like your list as I see you’ve included Mikal..well it’s ok cuz Michael Porter and I did a Starbucks run yesterday soooooo...yea...I mean it’s fair riiiiiighht (teen girl fight..) I kid I kid. Seriously strong list right there...it’s hard to knock that at all.


I’d have a couple of tough choice personally..

If we had #1...do we take Ayton or Doncic? That’s a real tough one.

If we have #3 or #4 pick and Ayton Doncic and Bamba are gone...do we go with Porter or Young or just pull a shocker and take Mikal at 3...(we don’t have those cahones)...

In any event, we are getting a talent soon. A big talent.

Oh uh, me and Mik were jus' ... uh, hangin' out.

If we get #1 we take Ayton without much hesitation, IMEO.

Also agree that, even if we fall a bit, we still good.

Ya I don’t think any team can not take Ayton #1...it would be scrutinized to death.

Also, much like you cooling off on Sexton, I’m starting to heat up on a prospect that I initially disliked and that’s JJJ. Is he starting to grow on anyone else.

I mean initially I saw a Marvin Williams clone but I think he’s a bit more than that and much much stronger despite having essentially the same frame or body type.

Again, I have 6 guys ahead of him but if our position in the draft dictates us taking him, I’m not mad at all. Would be a nice frontcourt start..

C- JJJ
PF- Collins
SF- Prince

Or

C- Collins
PF- JJJ
SF- Prince

Lean and mean up front.

Any of you guys change your minds on JJJ or liked him as a prospect from the beginning?


Watch closely, he’s no duck.

[kg01]

Ok first off... ewwww... Secondly, I do like your list as I see you’ve included Mikal..well it’s ok cuz Michael Porter and I did a Starbucks run yesterday soooooo...yea...I mean it’s fair riiiiiighht (teen girl fight..) I kid I kid. Seriously strong list right there...it’s hard to knock that at all.


I’d have a couple of tough choice personally..

If we had #1...do we take Ayton or Doncic? That’s a real tough one.

If we have #3 or #4 pick and Ayton Doncic and Bamba are gone...do we go with Porter or Young or just pull a shocker and take Mikal at 3...(we don’t have those cahones)...

In any event, we are getting a talent soon. A big talent.

Oh uh, me and Mik were jus' ... uh, hangin' out.

If we get #1 we take Ayton without much hesitation, IMEO.

Also agree that, even if we fall a bit, we still good.

Ya I don’t think any team can not take Ayton #1...it would be scrutinized to death.

Also, much like you cooling off on Sexton, I’m starting to heat up on a prospect that I initially disliked and that’s JJJ. Is he starting to grow on anyone else.

I mean initially I saw a Marvin Williams clone but I think he’s a bit more than that and much much stronger despite having essentially the same frame or body type.

Again, I have 6 guys ahead of him but if our position in the draft dictates us taking him, I’m not mad at all. Would be a nice frontcourt start..

C- JJJ
PF- Collins
SF- Prince

Or

C- Collins
PF- JJJ
SF- Prince

Lean and mean up front.

Any of you guys change your minds on JJJ or liked him as a prospect from the beginning?


Watch closely, he’s no duck.

Well, I never saw Marvo in JJJ. I saw yet another pogo stick out-athleting guys. *yawn* May as well just sign Brendan Wright for cheap (who? exactly).