Absurdly early 2018 NBA Draft Thread

[MaceCase]

Ayton is a certified beast. Here's to 0-16 for the rest of this season or a GM dumb enough to take someone else #1.

Honestly do hope the Grizzlies go all in on Bagley. Marc Gasol is the type of Center he makes most sense to next to.

Ya...I wouldn’t be mad at getting Ayton

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I tried turning off the game but couldn't stop watching. Felt my cold heart going pitter patter, can't grow any attachment to any of these prospects till Nosferatu, I mean Silver stands up at the podium shaking someone's hand.

[Spud2nique]

Ayton is a certified beast. Here's to 0-16 for the rest of this season or a GM dumb enough to take someone else #1.

Honestly do hope the Grizzlies go all in on Bagley. Marc Gasol is the type of Center he makes most sense to next to.

Ya...I wouldn’t be mad at getting Ayton

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I tried turning off the game but couldn't stop watching. Felt my cold heart going pitter patter, can't grow any attachment to any of these prospects till Nosferatu, I mean Silver stands up at the podium shaking someone's hand.

Seriously every night I’m fallin in love with another...it’s like 97 all over again


Seriously Mace, whatever you did or ate for that Eagles Super Bowl victory and the process before that to shape everything, can you do that for us?

I’ll take Ayton, Doncic, Porter, Young... lets just get to building it! May 15th and late June can’t come soon enough.

[ATL Boy]

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I would LOVE to see Memphis take Bagley number 1. Would almost feel like we were picking ahead of them if they come out of the draft without Ayton or Doncic.

[MaceCase]

Seriously Mace, whatever you did or ate for that Eagles Super Bowl victory and the process before that to shape everything, can you do that for us?

Aye, I was a novice when I first started out in 2015, gotten better over time, but if I keep at it the FBI is going to be on to me and send out one of their mindhunters or Shemar Moore after me.

[thr3ep01nte4]

Grizzlies and Suns have firmly established their positions as suckers among suckers.

[tbhawksfan1]

Been thinking about the changes that the G-league and higher number of contracts (two way) will produce and I think going forward 2nd round picks should become more of an asset. Would you rather stock the G-league with UDFA or a couple of drafted players.

I would also really like to see the G-league keep drafted players in the states intead of playing them in Europe.

In any case with the recent rule changes, it will be interesting to see how better GMs exploit this potential.

I would love to see the NBA expand the draft to three or four rounds and develop the g-league with more players under team control. Great remedy for the under-developped players that need more time to be NBA ready.

I put this in the draft thread cause I think there is a strategy to implement next draft by exploiting the potential that alot of GMs are not very interested in accumulating seconds.

[jayu70]

Been thinking about the changes that the G-league and higher number of contracts (two way) will produce and I think going forward 2nd round picks should become more of an asset. Would you rather stock the G-league with UDFA or a couple of drafted players.

I would also really like to see the G-league keep drafted players in the states intead of playing them in Europe.

In any case with the recent rule changes, it will be interesting to see how better GMs exploit this potential.

I would love to see the NBA expand the draft to three or four rounds and develop the g-league with more players under team control. Great remedy for the under-developped players that need more time to be NBA ready.

I put this in the draft thread cause I think there is a strategy to implement next draft by exploiting the potential that alot of GMs are not very interested in accumulating seconds.

At present a team can only have 2 players on a 2 way GL contract that no other team can sign.
GL can't decide to just keep the players (2nd rounders), they decide where they want to play. They generally make more money overseas. When a player goes overseas, the Hawks still own their drafted rights.

Until each team has their own GL affiliate its hard to expand the draft do to as u suggested.
I also think with the college turmoil, the expansion and changes to GL will be to accomodate one and dones or those that prefer not to go to college at all.

[tbhawksfan1]

Apparently; changes are coming. I would be happy for the NCAA to get out of the sports business and let the NBA develop a true minor league.

[Jamaaliver]

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To truly understand how good Ayton was against the Bruins, just look at the fact that he had the game’s best offensive rating (160) and its best defensive rating (85). When he was on the floor, there was just nothing UCLA could do.

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[Jamaaliver]

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This kid seems worth some consideration with the Minny pick.

He'd work well beside Doncic or Trey.

[atlantabbq99]

Michael Porter returns against UGA. He looked very rusty and didn't show much athletic explosiveness, but it seems like everybody is happy he can just walk again.

Maten had another good game, who is UGA's only legit NBA prospect. I hope the Hawks look at him as a 2nd round pick.

Jontay Porter looked very impressive. He has been lights out from three for the last month. His frame and shooting stroke reminds me of Dirk. He could be a steal as a late 1st round pick.

[Jamaaliver]

Prospects for the Hou pick:

Shamet seems like a great complementary piece should we draft Doncic.

Landry Shamet

Guard, Wichita State Shockers


Age: 20 (3/13/1997)
Height & Weight: 6’4″ & 180 pounds
Slash Line: .500/.459/.825
Season Averages: 31.6 MPG, 15.0 PPG, 5.1 APG, 3.2 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 2.7 3PM

With the third of three first-round draft picks, the Hawks address the need to space the floor and give those players room to operate.

There’s still a question about if Landry Shamet is a point guard or a shooting guard, but a combo guard scenario would actually be beneficial to the Hawks. He’s a 6’4″ guard with a high release on his jump shot and two seasons of evidence that he’s a legitimate sharpshooter.

Shamet is also an improved playmaker...he’s become a better shooter, facilitator, and finisher at the rim since 2016-17, and it stands to reason that he still has room to grow.

If Mike Budenholzer handles this situation properly, he could have a Sixth Man of the Year candidate or even a potential starter in Shamet.

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Omer seems like a perfect complement to John Collins at PF.

Omer Yurtseven

Center, North Carolina State Wolfpack


Age: 19 (6/19/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’11.75″, 248 pounds, 7’1″
Slash Line: .576/.512/.613
Season Averages: 24.1 MPG, 13.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.8 ORPG, 1.9 BPG, 0.7 3PM

Omer Yurtseven is still figuring out what to do with his skill set, but there’s no way around the fact that he can play. He needs to improve defensively, but he’s a near 7’0″ center with a solid wingspan, a wide frame, and a modern offensive skill set that should translate well to the NBA.

Yurtseven is a 7’0″ center who can shoot the three-ball with efficiency and protect the rim with consistency. He’s also an excellent offensive rebounder who continues to grow into his body and, in turn, improve his overall level of play.

Ranked in the top 65 in the country in both offensive rebound percentage and block percentage, Yurtseven has translatable value to the next level.

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[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

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Spoiler:

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With the No. 3 overall pick, the Hawks tabbed Michigan State freshman big man Jaren Jackson Jr.

The youngest prospect in the draft, Jackson may have the highest ceiling of anyone in this class in terms of his ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor. He has enviable physical tools, including a 7-4 wingspan and tremendous mobility. Jackson’s ability to space the floor (40 percent from 3, 80 percent from the line), block shots (5.7 per 40 minutes), switch on every screen and, increasingly, put the ball on the floor from the perimeter make him an ideal fit for the modern NBA.

It’s easy to see Jackson manning the center position for Atlanta or pairing with exciting rookie big man John Collins in an athletic frontcourt.

ESPN Insider





Elsewhere, the Hawks rounded out their trio of picks with two additional players from Power 5 (i.e. major conference) squads. With the No. 22 pick (via Minnesota), the Hawks added Ohio State forward Keita Bates-Diop and, at No. 30 overall, Atlanta picks up Duke guard Grayson Allen.

The ESPN mock indicates that “Bates-Diop has increased his stock dramatically with a breakout season” and that is undoubtedly true for a player that few saw joining the first round conversation. Atlanta has been woefully short on true combo forward options in the recent past and, even if Bates-Diop isn’t overly sexy, his utility could prove to be useful. Peachtree Hoops
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^I'm not a fan of any of those selections. All would have solid roles in the league, but none are potential, franchise-altering players.

[thr3ep01nte4]

I'm not a fan of any of those selections. All would have solid roles in the league, but none are potential, franchise-altering players.

Agreed. Bleacher Report compares JJJ to Serge Ibaka. I think Michael Porter Jr. might be a better pick at 3, if Ayton and Doncic are gone. Shooting for the highest upside. My biggest concern with MPJ is that his arms are so short, so when he dribbles, the ball is too far away from the floor, which makes it easy for defenders to steal it. Other than that, he is perfect for Bud's system.

[Spud2nique]

Is Bates Diop related to DeSagana? Just curious, I doubt it though.

[MaceCase]

Is Bates Diop related to DeSagana? Just curious, I doubt it though.

1) That’s racist.

2) Diop is like the Senegalese ‘Smith’ but could be

[Spud2nique]

Is Bates Diop related to DeSagana? Just curious, I doubt it though.

1) That’s racist.

2) Diop is like the Senegalese ‘Smith’ but could be

Oh yes that’s right...kinda like 15000 Mexicans crowding the soccer arena...

Didn’t mean for that at all... it’s just Diop isn’t like Williams or Johnson.

#semiOG4life

[Spud2nique]

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[Spud2nique]

Conspiracy theory #221

Adam Silver will lend a hand in the Hawks getting a top 2 pick because he and Schlenk are Jewish brothers from another mother.