Absurdly early 2018 NBA Draft Thread

[kg01]

Nobody expects anything from Young in D. And he can’t be guarded much better in Nba than in NCAA, especially if we know that he will play for low end team. But Ayton will have to defend much better players. And if he had problems in NCAA, what will happen in Nba? I would be worried more for Ayton, but gou for sure know more than me.

You must know this is an untrue statement?

Let’s say that he ended in Phoenix/Orlando. Do you really believe someone will make that kind of pressure on Pg of the team with 25 wins?

I tend to think folks will be able to defend him (or at least diminish his effectiveness) without exerting the same type of pressure college teams do. Thusly, the openings he creates will be minimal. That's why I tend to look at his physical tools more so than the stats he's garnering.

Most of the players he's facing aren't NBA-level, none of the coaching/schemes he's facing are NBA-level so I can't just say, "Oh the guy he passes to in the NBA will make that shot." Conversely I kinda think, "Well he got past that ill-conceived, poorly-executed double-team rather easily ... meh, not sure he'll get that window in the NBA."

This feels good, Bob. We're actually having a good exchange of thoughts here.

[macd-gm]

Obviously I'm a fan of Trae but I"m pretty skeptical too. I just think some of his criticisms are unwarranted.

BUT, his lack of quickness (combined with his size) could be the real problem. And could make him not only a huge defensive liability but a so-so PG. That said, you can see that he could be pretty deadly in a PnR game. With a little help to get space he knows what to do and his vision is good. I'm with his Dad though. This season was so up and down that one more could potentially make him not only a better player but i higher pick. Of course, if OK doesn't have any better players in the pipeline it could be another up and down season.

[Jamaaliver]

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College Underclassmen:

Expected to hire agent and stay in draft:
•Rawle Alkins, G, Arizona (sophomore)
•Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona (freshman)
•Leron Black, F, Illinois (junior)
•Dikembe Dixson, F, UIC (sophomore)
•Terry Larrier, F, UConn (junior)
•Matur Maker, F, Mississauga Prep (N/A)
•De’Anthony Melton, G, USC (sophomore)
•Allonzo Trier, G, Arizona (junior)

Testing draft waters without agent:
•Tyler Cook, F, Iowa (sophomore)
•Ethan Happ, F, Wisconsin (junior)
•Josh Okogie, G, Georgia Tech (sophomore)

[macd-gm]

Okogie? Kg whatdaya think?

[Jamaaliver]

Obviously I'm a fan of Trae but I"m pretty skeptical too. I just think some of his criticisms are unwarranted.

BUT, his lack of quickness (combined with his size) could be the real problem. And could make him not only a huge defensive liability but a so-so PG. That said, you can see that he could be pretty deadly in a PnR game. With a little help to get space he knows what to do and his vision is good. I'm with his Dad though. This season was so up and down that one more could potentially make him not only a better player but i higher pick. Of course, if OK doesn't have any better players in the pipeline it could be another up and down season.

All of these are valid concerns. But I think he can be utilized the way Boston used Isaiah Thomas with great effect.

Better shot selection and high level passing will make him productive.

What's terrifying...a lot of Trae's warts are also Luka's warts. Except Trae is at least an elite shooter.

[kg01]

Okogie? Kg whatdaya think?

Right decision for him and us. He's a guy who'll get advice, via the process, about what he needs to work on to become a better player. Probably about 90% to return in which case he'll be a better player for us. Likely leave after next season for which (hopefully) we'll be prepared.

If he decides to stay in the draft, we'll wish him well. Really good kid despite the shenanigans from earlier this year which were the works of a psychopath who was literally arrested again yesterday.

[MaceCase]

What's terrifying...a lot of Trae's warts are also Luka's warts. Except Trae is at least an elite shooter.

Hmm, weren't fooled for a second that ole Bobby Bushay was actually defending Young over Ayton either, huh?

[DirtybirdGA]

Mamba down now, not much going on with these top 10 prospects..

[jayu70]

Scouts and Execs not impressed with young....

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At 6'2", 180 pounds and with short arms, minimal explosiveness and a heavy reliance on threes (10.3 attempts per game, 36.1 percent) and free throws (8.6 attempts per game), Young has size and scoring limitations that concern scouts. 

"I believe only 15 percent of his field-goal attempts are in the mid-range," said the east-coast executive, who pointed out the need to be able to stop and pop inside the arc. "Can he get his shot off versus quality defense?"

[CP War Hawks]

I now want Williams for the Minnesota pick.

[HMFFL]

Michael Porter Jr and Missouri are about to take on Florida State on TBS.
I hope MPJ has a big game.

[HMFFL]

The scout that made the comment below overvalues the draft completely.
Trae Young might not be my choice top three or even top five, but to not pick him in the lottery is a bozo thing to say, and maybe the person that signs the scouts paychecks should keep him under a microscope. Trea Young will produce, his IQ for the game is too great, but time will tell what level of play he takes his game too.

I Don't See It': NBA Scouts, Execs Doubting Trae Young After NCAA Tourney Exit

NBA scouting departments are turning on Oklahoma's Trae Young, whose historic freshman season ended with an 83-78 overtime loss to Rhode Island in the NCAA tournament.

"I would not take him in the lottery," one scout responded after the game.

[atlantabbq99]

I'm not a big Trae fan, but if you look at the scout's evaluation of weaknesses they have on Trae, its practically identical to the scout's evaluation of weaknesses of Steph Curry out of Davidson.

[Jamaaliver]

Ugly game by MPJ. But he's a gamer and has heart. This solidifies his status as a top-3 selection for me...so long as the medical report checks out.

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[Jamaaliver]

Super excited for Miles Bridges doing big things in his (likely) final NCAA Tourney.

An innovative coach who knows what he's doing should be able to find a niche for this kid in the pros. I still like him best as a mismatch at PF. But he can play on the wing if necessary, also.

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[Bob8]

Ugly game by MPJ. But he's a gamer and has heart. This solidifies his status as a top-3 selection for me...so long as the medical report checks out.

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What about MPJ I cannot see? I can understand he misses shots and looks rusty. But if we dismiss that, his legs, body won’t never be LeBron’s. He was always stiff. He’s between 3 and 4. He will be stretch 4 in Nba. He have no creation. He’s handles very basic. He’s defense awareness bad. And if you look, how he played preparation game before injury. He looked very similar than yesterday. Mikal B. looks much better player than him. Imho MPJ is Fata Morgana people want to see, but he doesn’t exist and I don’t believe that kind of MPJ ever existed. Being great against 6’0 schools kids, who played basketball only in the school is hardly enough to have great Nba career.

[Jamaaliver]

What about MPJ I cannot see? I can understand he misses shots and looks rusty. But if we dismiss that, his legs, body won’t never be LeBron’s. He was always stiff. He’s between 3 and 4. He will be stretch 4 in Nba. He have no creation. He’s handles very basic. He’s defense awareness bad. And if you look, how he played preparation game before injury. He looked very similar than yesterday. Mikal B. looks much better player than him. Imho MPJ is Fata Morgana people want to see, but he doesn’t exist and I don’t believe that kind of MPJ ever existed. Being great against 6’0 schools kids, who played basketball only in the school is hardly enough to have great Nba career.

you're not wrong...

But MPJ is an elite shooter/scorer. Budenholzer's scheme generates and tremendous number of open jumpers, yet our team has never featured top shooters capable of capitalizing on it.

MPJ fixes that issue as a kid who can score from all over the court.

He's probably more Brandon Ingram than Kevin Durant. But he should be a 20+ per game scorer for most of his career.

[Bob8]

What about MPJ I cannot see? I can understand he misses shots and looks rusty. But if we dismiss that, his legs, body won’t never be LeBron’s. He was always stiff. He’s between 3 and 4. He will be stretch 4 in Nba. He have no creation. He’s handles very basic. He’s defense awareness bad. And if you look, how he played preparation game before injury. He looked very similar than yesterday. Mikal B. looks much better player than him. Imho MPJ is Fata Morgana people want to see, but he doesn’t exist and I don’t believe that kind of MPJ ever existed. Being great against 6’0 schools kids, who played basketball only in the school is hardly enough to have great Nba career.

you're not wrong...

But MPJ is an elite shooter/scorer. Budenholzer's scheme generates and tremendous number of open jumpers, yet our team has never featured top shooters capable of capitalizing on it.

MPJ fixes that issue as a kid who can score from all over the court.

He's probably more Brandon Ingram than Kevin Durant. But he should be a 20+ per game scorer for most of his career.

Forget fabricated image of great Porter. And tell me why he will be 20+ scorer? Does his shot look really that good? In international tournaments he had 3s in low 30%. And visually doesn’t look that perfect. Will he be able to create shots for himself? His handle is bad. And what about his body. How he will be able to play Pf? Porter is one of the less Nba ready prospects. He will struggle incredible in first years of Nba. Maybe the best would be if he doesn’t declare this year. But there is a risk for new injury and he can forget Nba. So probably that isn’t an option.

[Jamaaliver]

^Yeah, I'm not gonna do that.

I'll simply say that this kid has been on NBA scouts radar for years. AAU, All Star, HS ball -- he's been elite scorer thanks to both his size and jumper.

Those same assets should translate to the next level as long as his health checks out.

There is no reason he can't do all the things Jayson Tatum is doing...but with more consistent range on his jumper.

[Spud2nique]

Kg, come defend your pretty boy Porter. Lol.

Ps I like the guy top 5.