2019 NBA Draft Prep

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

In Schlenk I trust. On draft day, anyhow.

Plausibly, even including Zion, there is NO player in this draft with a higher ceiling than Cam.

If Schlenk picks him, that in itself will tell me that there's good reason to ignore the appearance of an ugly floor.

And the converse is also true.

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

This kid had a disappointing freshman season, but I'd consider him for a spot in the 2nd round. Coming out of HS, he was a projected top-10 pick. There's a chance he just didn't fit in on that Kansas ball team.

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[Jamaaliver]

Ja Morant is equal parts Westbrook and Strickland, and should be considered for the No. 1 pick

According to a scout, via NBC Sports Washington's Chris Miller, Morant plays with Russell Westbrook-like athleticism and the ball-handling skills of former Wizard, Rod Strickland.

"If that's the case", said Hayes, "then he has to be considered for the No. 1 pick."

Westbrook has been regarded as a top athlete for his speed, power and overall skill set.

On being compared to Rod Strickland, Haynes noted that "without Strickland, you would not have Kyrie Irving." Strickland had a certain control over the ball that made him a great point guard. He ranks 12th on the NBA all-time assist leaders.

The All-American sophomore led the NCAA in assists last season with 10.0 assists per game. This made him the first player to average double-digit assists since 1994-95. Is that more impressive at a mid-major school like Murray State? Kind of.

If Morant is drafted anywhere in the top three, as expected, he will become the first sophomore to do so since 2013. Who holds the 2013 honor? None other than former Wizard, Otto Porter Jr. This will also make him the first player from a mid-major university since Derrick Rose in 2008.

Haynes admits that "there are a few teams going back and forth between him and Zion."

NBC -- DC Sports

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

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I don't get the theory that if a player has a "promise" from some team to draft them, that would on its own serve as rationale to not show for the combine.

Thybulle is on my shopping list. He's generally been seen as a guy who could go back 15 in the 1st or first ten in the 2nd. Surely there's another shoe that's going to drop, and it would seem more reasonable to think maybe he's had some surgery since the end of the season.

[Spud2nique]

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Thybulle or Jerome if you had to pick one?

[EazyRoc]

Jerome

[Spud2nique]

Jerome

Interesting. I guess it would offense vs defense really. Korver/Thabo situation. I do like both prospects very much myself. With the new NBA and all the shooting perhaps Jerome would be better suited to our offense.

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

That's a great question.

I think I'd have to go with Jerome, too, but it's such a close call. Please don't make me choose, Travis.

[Jamaaliver]

Thybulle or Jerome if you had to pick one?

Ooooooh.


Probably Thybulle. He has a chance to be an elite defensive weapon.

Ty Jerome is just a really solid rotation guy. There's a couple dozen guys in the NBA who can give you what Ty does at that position...at that size.


Matisse could be the wing version of Brandon Clarke.

[Jamaaliver]

Nickeil Alexander-Walker NBA Draft 2019 profile: Stats, bio, video of the Virginia Tech guard

THE NICKEIL ALEXANDER-WALKER FILE

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Height: 6-foot-5

Weight: 205 pounds

NBA comparison: Jordan Clarkson

2018-19 stats: 16.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 47.4 field-goal percentage, 37.4 percent shooting on 3s and 77.8 percent free-throw shooting in 34.3 minutes per game.

"His greatly increased on-ball duties have done wonders for his draft stock, as he looks much more dynamic on the move. Most importantly, he has shown the vision and ambidextrous live-dribble passing that should allow him to play on the ball some in the NBA," according to an ESPN pre-draft analysis.

“He’s a guy who can make quick decisions,” NBA consultant Chris Ekstrand told The Roanoke Times. “He can take the ball to the basket. He can make a shot on the perimeter. And he’s also the kind of player that because of his athletic ability, when he does get to the rim, he can get to the free-throw line.”

Cleveland.com

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

Thybulle or Jerome if you had to pick one?

Ooooooh.


Probably Thybulle. He has a chance to be an elite defensive weapon.

Ty Jerome is just a really solid rotation guy. There's a couple dozen guys in the NBA who can give you what Ty does at that position...at that size.


Matisse could be the wing version of Brandon Clarke.

Granted.

But is Thybulle's success in college, being as it was in the context of primarily a zone defense which granted him some luxury to free lance, going to translate to the NBA?

I almost know that Jerome's hoops IQ is going to translate.

So, it's the quintessential high ceiling (Thybulle) versus high floor (Jerome) question, from where I sit.

[Geaux_Hawks]

Thybulle or Jerome if you had to pick one?

Ooooooh.


Probably Thybulle. He has a chance to be an elite defensive weapon.

Ty Jerome is just a really solid rotation guy. There's a couple dozen guys in the NBA who can give you what Ty does at that position...at that size.


Matisse could be the wing version of Brandon Clarke.

Jerome has a higher ceiling than you think. He's not going to be a for sure starter, but he's capable of being one as a PG. That in itself should put him in a role to where he can be the lead guard off the bench and control your offense once your primary ball handlers are on the bench, and still maintain performance of your offense. He's more of a floor general with deceptive offense. A poor mans Manu would be fitting as a comp. He's not going to beat you with great athletic traits, but he's crafty enough to make you respect him while he is on floor.

Thybulle is going to have one job, and that's guard the best wing on the floor all night and knock down 3's consistently. Now he may be able to guard at an elite level, and that's going to be place him as a premium player for doing so, but that's all you're going to get. At least with Jerome, he's a capable defender using his high IQ, and if his shot isn't falling, he can still get others involved. Again, Matisse won't be giving you that as an option. You're really looking at a better shooting Tony Allen or Thabo Sefolosha. That could put you in a position where you're going 4v5 on offense.

[EazyRoc]

Thybulle or Jerome if you had to pick one?

Ooooooh.


Probably Thybulle. He has a chance to be an elite defensive weapon.

Ty Jerome is just a really solid rotation guy. There's a couple dozen guys in the NBA who can give you what Ty does at that position...at that size.


Matisse could be the wing version of Brandon Clarke.

I forgot who they were playing but I remember another lottery wing TORCHING his team offensively and couldn’t help but sour on him at that point. Granted I haven’t watched a lot of him though. (Talking about Thybulle)

[EazyRoc]

Jerome

Interesting. I guess it would offense vs defense really. Korver/Thabo situation. I do like both prospects very much myself. With the new NBA and all the shooting perhaps Jerome would be better suited to our offense.

I still look at Jerome like a lite version of Brogdon or a Heinrich clone due to the fact that I think he can play both guard spots, is a capable playmaker, and should be a solid defender. He could fight immediately for backup PG minutes

[Spud2nique]

Jerome

Interesting. I guess it would offense vs defense really. Korver/Thabo situation. I do like both prospects very much myself. With the new NBA and all the shooting perhaps Jerome would be better suited to our offense.

I still look at Jerome like a lite version of Brogdon or a Heinrich clone due to the fact that I think he can play both guard spots, is a capable playmaker, and should be a solid defender. He could fight immediately for backup PG minutes

As jamalo says.. noted

[King Ken]

Guy Jerome could be a better shooting, slightly worse defending version of Kurt Hinrich

[Jamaaliver]

Matisse Thybulle NBA Draft 2019 profile

THE MATISSE THYBULLE FILE

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Height: 6-foot-5

Weight: 195 pounds

2018-19 stats: 9.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.5 steals, 41.5 field-goal percentage, 30.5 percent shooting on 3s and 85.1 percent free-throw shooting in 31.1 minutes per game.

NBA comparison: Andre Roberson

Thybulle is a two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. He also earned All-Pac-12 first-team honors as a senior.

Wrote Jeremy Woo of SI.com, "If Thybulle ends up on a team that doesn’t ask much of him offensively, it’s hard to see how he won’t make a difference on defense. He flies around the floor, has terrific instincts making plays on the ball, and many are bullish on his success translating beyond the Huskies’ zone. He can’t be a total zero offensively and survive, but the fact he can knock down open shots helps a lot."

"A player such as Thybulle, arguably the best perimeter defender in college basketball, could fit well (with Philadelphia), especially since he's a willing ball mover who will have no issue deferring to the team's plethora of stars," wrote ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony.

Cleveland.com

[Jamaaliver]

Wizards 2019 NBA Draft prospect profile: De'Andre Hunter

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Small forward | Age: 21
Height: 6-7
Weight: 225
Wingspan: 7-2

2018/19 stats: 15.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.6 bpg, 52.0 FG% (5.4/10.4), 43.8 3PT% (1.2/2.8), 78.3 FT%

Player comparison: Jimmy Butler, Robert Covington

• Defense is Hunter's calling card. He was the ACC defensive player of the year and has the tools to guard multiple positions. He has the potential to be an All-Defensive team player.
  
• Hunter is also a proficient three-point shooter. He shot nearly 44 percent in his last year with the Cavaliers, though on only 2.8 attempts per game. He will need to diversify his outside shooting as a pro by adding shots off the dribble.
  
• Hunter's defense will probably translate to the NBA, but there are questions about his ceiling offensively.
  
• Though he left school after his sophomore year, Hunter is on the older end for a prospect. He's 21 and will turn 22 in December, midway through his rookie season.

NBC Sports -- Washington