2019 NBA Draft Prep

[Jamaaliver]

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Key risers

No. 4 Jaxson Hayes | Texas | Fr | PF | 6-11 | 220
No. 6 Coby White | N. Carolina | Fr | PG | 6-5 | 185
No. 20 Mfiondu Kabengele | Florida St. | Soph | PF | 6-10 | 250

Kabengele played only 21.6 minutes as a sophomore, but he played more than 25 per game in the month of March. Kabengele has the perfect skill set of what you might look for now in a modern-day stretch big man. He averaged 37.7% from 3-point range in two seasons at FSU, and his shot-blocking elevated to 8.7% in conference play in his second season -- ranking sixth in the ACC. His shot-making and rim-protecting ways will be coveted among teams selecting in the late-first round and early-second -- if he stays on the board that long.


Key Fallers

No. 7 Cam Reddish | Duke | Fr | SF | 6-8 | 218
Previous: No. 4

No. 13 Nassir Little | N. Carolina | Fr | SF | 6-6 | 220
Previous: No. 10

No. 19 Romeo Langford | Indiana | Fr | SG | 6-6 | 215
Previous: No. 17

No. 51 Jontay Porter | Missouri | Soph | C | 6-11 | 240
Previous: No. 18

Talent, production and pure skill isn't the question for Porter -- staying on the court is. After tearing his right ACL and MCL prior to the 2018-19 season, Porter again tore his right ACL in March, which will understandably raise some red flags about his durability long-term. Porter is a crafty playmaker and floor-spacer who shot 36.4% from 3-point range as a freshman in 2017-18, showing signs of developing into a do-it-all big man. But no matter his abilities, his lack of availability has his stock falling downward.

[Spud2nique]

How elite is Coby from the perimeter..mid range and threes?

[marco102]

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Key risers

No. 4 Jaxson Hayes | Texas | Fr | PF | 6-11 | 220
No. 6 Coby White | N. Carolina | Fr | PG | 6-5 | 185
No. 20 Mfiondu Kabengele | Florida St. | Soph | PF | 6-10 | 250

Kabengele played only 21.6 minutes as a sophomore, but he played more than 25 per game in the month of March. Kabengele has the perfect skill set of what you might look for now in a modern-day stretch big man. He averaged 37.7% from 3-point range in two seasons at FSU, and his shot-blocking elevated to 8.7% in conference play in his second season -- ranking sixth in the ACC. His shot-making and rim-protecting ways will be coveted among teams selecting in the late-first round and early-second -- if he stays on the board that long.


Key Fallers

No. 7 Cam Reddish | Duke | Fr | SF | 6-8 | 218
Previous: No. 4

No. 13 Nassir Little | N. Carolina | Fr | SF | 6-6 | 220
Previous: No. 10

No. 19 Romeo Langford | Indiana | Fr | SG | 6-6 | 215
Previous: No. 17

No. 51 Jontay Porter | Missouri | Soph | C | 6-11 | 240
Previous: No. 18

Talent, production and pure skill isn't the question for Porter -- staying on the court is. After tearing his right ACL and MCL prior to the 2018-19 season, Porter again tore his right ACL in March, which will understandably raise some red flags about his durability long-term. Porter is a crafty playmaker and floor-spacer who shot 36.4% from 3-point range as a freshman in 2017-18, showing signs of developing into a do-it-all big man. But no matter his abilities, his lack of availability has his stock falling downward.

I'd take Jontay with the first second round pick if I were Travis. That's just too much talent to leave on the board AND we have time for him to rehab. He's also a very good positional defender for his age so there may be more defensive upside there than we may believe. 2nd rounder is worth the risk for a very good potential starter/rotational player.

[Jamaaliver]

How elite is Coby from the perimeter..mid range and threes?

Spud checking out Coby White right in front of Trae like, "Oooooh, baby."

[jayu70]

I'm starting to warm up to a secondary ball handler with the Dallas pick. They make the most difference in a playoff series. Guys like Clarke and Little are minimized in those settings.

You can't rely on Trae to handle the ball 247 cause when he gets hurt or misses games, there is no one on the roster to pick up the slack. The Portland model seems to be finally clicking for them.

This so much, we have enough guys who pretend to try to be that like, cough - Baze, Bembry, Prince.

[King Ken]

6 out of 7 #1 overall recruiting classes for Duke in the last 7 years

[kerrypack]

How elite is Coby from the perimeter..mid range and threes?

Spud checking out Coby White right in front of Trae like, "Oooooh, baby."

He is not automatic, but is a great scorer. Coby was hot and cold, but when he was on he took and made some long 3's, similar to Trae. Seemed like he shot better than 35% from 3 later in the season, but just looked and doesn't look like it. I think it would be difficult to have him play next to trae.

[EazyRoc]

I don’t see a problem with drafting RJ at 2

I could get behind RJ at 2, but he really needs to work on going right, and improving his shot overall.

He does have a lot to work on, but I like his potential especially going to a team that already has a real primary playmaker. This year was more of a showcase year than a developmental one. I would love to see him playing more off the ball and of course he’s got a long way to go with his shot. Long term, he will be a player good enough to give Trae more opportunities to play off the ball and a bonafide ISO scorer in half court situations.

[Night Traen]

I don’t see a problem with drafting RJ at 2

I could get behind RJ at 2, but he really needs to work on going right, and improving his shot overall.

He does have a lot to work on, but I like his potential especially going to a team that already has a real primary playmaker. This year was more of a showcase year than a developmental one. I would love to see him playing more off the ball and of course he’s got a long way to go with his shot. Long term, he will be a player good enough to give Trae more opportunities to play off the ball and a bonafide ISO scorer in half court situations.

Not only did RJ play for Duke, HE IS DUKE!

Bill Duke:

[Spud2nique]

How elite is Coby from the perimeter..mid range and threes?

Spud checking out Coby White right in front of Trae like, "Oooooh, baby."

that’s pretty good Jamaal!

[Spud2nique]

How elite is Coby from the perimeter..mid range and threes?

Spud checking out Coby White right in front of Trae like, "Oooooh, baby."

There’s actually two guys in the draft that I don’t like their faces...they have nonchalant faces.

Coby White
Ja Morant

I need better effort faces.

[Night Traen]

Haha, look at me. I'm one of 7 people who post here regularly in a fake universe, on a fake message board, for a fake basketball team. But hey, at least none of the other 6 realize RJ is Bill Duke! YESSSS!!!!!!!!

[Jamaaliver]

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[Night Traen]

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Haha, Zion Williamson is good? Who knew?

[kerrypack]

How elite is Coby from the perimeter..mid range and threes?

Spud checking out Coby White right in front of Trae like, "Oooooh, baby."

There’s actually two guys in the draft that I don’t like their faces...they have nonchalant faces.

Coby White
Ja Morant

I need better effort faces.

coby plays hard, maybe too hard and out of control. Per my niece, coby is always hiding his teeth, so he is more insecure.

[Jamaaliver]

Coby plays hard, maybe too hard and out of control. Per my niece, coby is always hiding his teeth, so he is more insecure.

[EazyRoc]

Coby will struggle around the basket in the pros. That’s his real major wart. His downhill style will be harder to pull off against bigger wings too.

[Jamaaliver]

SEKOU -- #45

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[Jamaaliver]

I suspect this guy gets snatched up by Brooklyn at the end of the 1st round. (#27)

But he'd make a solid target in the 2nd round, otherwise. Particularly if he agrees to stay overseas for another season.

2019 draft prospect Luka Samanic

Croatian-born power forward Luka Samanic has declared for the 2019 NBA Draft. He is a highly decorated player who in 2017 won MVP and took home gold at the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship B. The following season at the A level, he shot 47.4 percent from three-point range and averaged 17.0 points per game.

"I want to guard the best player on the team, it’s my mission before the game. I think I can switch onto any player on the court. I am pretty fast with good lateral movement. I’m not like most 6-foot-11 guys. I can move pretty good," said Samanic.

"I like to think of myself as a defender who can guard anyone and I can block shots. On offense, I can run and spread the floor because I am a good shooter. I can play low in the post, too. I can pass, too, if they need it. I can adjust my game for anyone."

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Hoopshype

[Spud2nique]

SEKOU -- #45

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The pass at :16 is a sweet underhander which he makes look easy. I dig.