Absurdly early 2018 NBA Draft Thread

[atlantabbq99]

After 20 games into the college season Deandre Ayton has locked himself as the consensus #1 pick in all mock drafts, with no consensus #2.

Ayton as seem to address all his critics about his hustle, work ethic, and shooting. With a big enough sample size, Ayton has shown he is a legit outside shooter for a 7footer, shooting 35% from three. His display of hustle and running the floor as well as show of emotion in the game has addressed questions about his passion for the game. Lastly, Arizona coaches have been immensely impressed with his commitment to weight lifting, working out, and his time in the gym. Ayton is now seen as a player with no flaws.

It now looks like Ayton has turned himself into a Shaq/Duncan level type of generational prospect

[HMFFL]

Deandre Ayton was my #1 before the season started and Marvin Bagley was my #2 after watching his first couple of games at Duke. Deandre Ayton just looks like a man out there that has the potential to be a future hall of fame type of player at the NBA level. He makes the game appear to be easy for him at the College level and he takes so much pressure off of his teammates.

[tbhawksfan1]

Are we going to hear: and with the #1 pick in the draft, the Hawks pick....or, are we going to win a few games too many.

When this rebuild is rebounding, the draft picks during this two, three year period will be the main determinant of the next competitive Hawks potential.

A rebuild is really a 5, 6 year deal. Will the Hawks have the best young talent in the NBA in 4 years?

Trading Dedmon asap, is the first step in doing it right.

[Jamaaliver]

...why didn't any of yall break down the big OK v Bama aka Sexton v Young tilt?

Alabama vs Oklahoma
Trae Young vs Collin Sexton

Trae Young is human

Alabama coach Avery Johnson said he threw seven different looks at the Oklahoma freshman, and estimated six worked in an 80-73 upset of the No. 12 Sooners. Young finished with 17 points -- but had five turnovers, several at crucial points. Question: With every defense targeting Young, how will he hold up down the stretch and into tournament play?

Sportsday Dallas

Collin Sexton is a beast in transition. He's so much stronger, faster, more athletic than anyone else on the court. Defensively, he's great on ball and has the tenacity of a pit bull. And he definitely relished this matchup.

Alabama’s floor general, Collin Sexton, had a strong outing with 18 points on 8-for-14 shooting to pace the Crimson Tide to the home win. Sexton doesn’t get the hype that Young is getting on a national level this season, but he was stellar at times in this one. Defending Young in some instances, Sexton played a solid overall floor game as he was in total control on offense while helping to limit his counterpart.

NBC Sports

Trae Young...actually played well enough. He shot poorly, but he quarterbacked the offense adeptly (for most of the game). He's lowered his usage and OU has been more balanced. The issue, is that Oklahoma is not a good basketball team. No one else is capable of stepping up when teams focus their defense to stop Young.

Alabama used a physical defensive effort to hold Player of the Year favorite Trae Young to below his season averages...Using multiple defenders and face-guarding Young the length of the floor on many possessions, Alabama’s defense wore down the star freshman guard as he finished with 17 points and eight assists — well below his season averages. Looking visibly frustrated at times, Young faced constant double teams and traps from the Crimson Tide defense as the freshman faced a long and athletic defense that made it tough for him to make plays off the dribble.

Young had an “off” game and still finished with 17 and 8 as his team came up short in a hostile road environment against an NCAA-caliber opponent. Sexton finished with 18 points, while getting more help around him.

NBC Sports


Young was hidden defensively from guarding Sexton as OU plays a weird hybrid zone.

the main takeaway is this: Oklahoma has a superstar-caliber threat in Young that makes teams change entire gameplans. Alabama has an all-conference player in Sexton who can lead in stretches if his perimeter jumper is hot.

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[macd-gm]

The NBA isn't going to be able to cheat and throw everything at Trae Young. There isn't much else to beat you on Oklahoma but that kind of attention gets you burned in the NBA. I'm becoming more convinced that he'll be a pretty lethal PG. Not sure where he should fall in the draft order but i'm thinking at least #4. Honestly I'd take him over Bagley though.

[Spud2nique]

The NBA isn't going to be able to cheat and throw everything at Trae Young. There isn't much else to beat you on Oklahoma but that kind of attention gets you burned in the NBA. I'm becoming more convinced that he'll be a pretty lethal PG. Not sure where he should fall in the draft order but i'm thinking at least #4. Honestly I'd take him over Bagley though.

Young is climbing on my board as well but I'm still taking Doncic, Bagley, and Ayton over him. If I had the 4th pick though, well no I'd probably take Porter jr at 4...but 5th pick is all Young.

I wonder what Schlenk thinks about Young since all of these so called eggy eggerspurts are comparing him to Curry.

[Jamaaliver]

As Trae Young develops a floater to help him finish in the lane over shot blockers, another comparison comes to mind:

Tony Parker --> This might be a more realistic ceiling. Capable of leading a top team, or putting up elite numbers for short stretches. But still needs another franchise talent to play off of.

[hawkmanreturns]

The NBA isn't going to be able to cheat and throw everything at Trae Young. There isn't much else to beat you on Oklahoma but that kind of attention gets you burned in the NBA. I'm becoming more convinced that he'll be a pretty lethal PG. Not sure where he should fall in the draft order but i'm thinking at least #4. Honestly I'd take him over Bagley though.

I agree with this 100%. College teams can solely focus on Young because there's no one else who can really handle the ball or create offense on OK. He makes the right passes out of traps and double teams but guys are bricking wide open jumpers or blowing layups way too often to make opponents pay. That won't happen in the NBA. Now he does have some issues but I think his shot selection and turnovers are correctable with decent coaching. The kid is special and is #2 under Ayton for me right now. If we didn't already have Dennis, he would be #1. If we end up picking #4 or below, I'd pick him even with Dennis on the roster.

[Jamaaliver]

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Player of the Month

Luka Doncic (99', 6-7, PG/SG, Slovenia, Real Madrid)

He had his ups and downs. At one moment all this pressure looked like it caught up with him since he was ejected early in a EuroLeague game. An then he had a near triple-double against the (EuroLeague Champions) Fenerbahce in a road game. There is no denying that fatigue is an issue for Luka Doncic. Still, he remains by far the best prospect in Europe and the player everybody has an eye on. And for good reason, since he proved this past month that even in his bad days can find a way to be productive and useful.

Rising

Isaac Bonga (99', 6-9, PG/SG, Germany, Fraport Frankfurt)

As the season progresses, the same applies for Bonga. The German prospect had his best month of the season. His playing time has increased and he is involved more in the game for his team. He is still raw and has a lot to work on, starting with his shooting. But he can fill a stat sheet like a few players his age in Europe and can become a player with the rare ability to control a game without scoring much. At the end of the day though, he still needs to improve on the offensive end if he wants to become a contributor at the NBA level.

[thr3ep01nte4]

Bamba looks more and more like a casual Anthony Davis. Anthony Davis played with a higher motor and attempted less threes. Their stats are quite comparable.
Bamba: (30.3mpg) 13.1ppg/10.9rpg(3.4o+7.6d)/4.3bpg, 2pt: 61.6%(4.5/7.3), ft: 67.1%(2.6/3.8)
Davis: (32.0mpg) 14.2ppg/10.4rpg(3.0o+7.4d)/4.7bpg, 2pt: 65.3%(5.2/7.9), ft: 70.9%(3.6/5.1)

[ATL Boy]

Read on Twitter

Look at the intensity on this man's face. The look of someone I'd love to go to battle with.

[atlantabbq99]

Are we going to hear: and with the #1 pick in the draft, the Hawks pick....or, are we going to win a few games too many.

When this rebuild is rebounding, the draft picks during this two, three year period will be the main determinant of the next competitive Hawks potential.

A rebuild is really a 5, 6 year deal. Will the Hawks have the best young talent in the NBA in 4 years?

Trading Dedmon asap, is the first step in doing it right.

What scares me is that Orlando is now vying for a top five pick, and we all know who the NBA is bias towards giving Orlando multiple #1 picks in their short history.

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

Look at the intensity on this man's face. The look of someone I'd love to go to battle with.

Yeah. I want Ayton as a cornerstone.

But I really want to watch and root for Luka for the next decade. He just seems like fun.

Luka in a Budenholzer system could be really special.

[Jamaaliver]

Mid-Major Prospects You Can't Ignore Ahead of 2018 NBA Draft

Alize Johnson (Missouri State, PF, Senior)

One of five players in the country averaging a double-double and a three-point make per game, Alize Johnson stands out for his offensive versatility.

Johnson, now 6'9", does most of his damage in the post, where he averages .889 points per possession. But it's the flashes of ball-handling, the rebounding motor and shooting that create intrigue from an NBA perspective.

He fits the description of a modern-day 4 who can stretch the floor (1.3 threes per game) and grab and go off a defensive board (1.037 PPP as transition ball-handler). Even his 2.2 assists per game represent a selling point for passing and playmaking ability.

His efficiency has taken a hit this season with more responsibility, but between his pair of 20-point, 20-rebound games and the valued boxes he continues to check, Johnson will be drawing NBA attention—possibly from teams in the 20s who may buy into his particular strengths and fit.

Bleacher Report

He's a Draymond Clone who'd pair well with Ayton (or even Collins)?

[Jamaaliver]

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Beyond the box score, the matchup cast light on the intriguing dichotomy between their games. Sexton is a physical downhill scorer who prefers to attack the paint and seek contact. Young has proven a prolific perimeter shooter and playmaker, reliant on the threat of his jumper more than his own athleticism to open up space for the rest of his floor game.

Sexton generates easy baskets like these simply by being able to outrun defenders with a full head of steam. He’ll advance the ball and push it himself if he has to, rather than look to advance with the pass. He’s able to use both hands around the rim capably, and being able to keep up in the open court is more valuable than ever.

Although he gives something up on defense, with the ball in his hands, Young’s remarkable change of direction and deceptive handle combine to make him an extremely difficult cover. Young has consistently demonstrated the body control and touch to hit floaters, which is an essential checklist item for any guard who thrives on skill and smarts and hopes to become an elite player (Kyrie Irving and Tony Parker are among the best at this).

Collin gets the best of Trae:


Trae gets the best of Collin:

Young’s elite perimeter skills may give him an edge when it comes to starry upside in the modern league, but there will be some difference of opinion as point guard-needy teams process each player’s situation and decide what they value. The greatest challenge in decision-making is placing each player’s successes and failures into context.

[Jamaaliver]

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This could be big. Brown is a defensive minded combo guard who was predicted to go in the late lottery. After a so-so season, he was bumped down to the early 20s. This could bump him even lower, making him a steal with one of our later picks.

This also opens the door for Lonnie Walker IV to get more burn. He is the best SG prospect in the draft. But is having an awful freshman year coming off knee surgery.

L Walker's draft stock should increase as he gets more opportunities to lead a competitive Miami team into the ACC tourney.

Most Recent Scouting Report:

Spoiler:

Bruce Brown Jr. (Miami, SG, Sophomore)

Brown checks enough boxes, which buys him time as a shooter. He's only 12-of-46 from three so far, but he's also averaging 7.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals, playing the role of two-way playmaker and transition weapon. He'll look to improve his half-court scoring and shooting or stick as a jack-of-all-trades.



Lonnie Walker IV (Miami, SG, Freshman)

Walker hasn't been involved enough, having finished with single digits in scoring during six of Miami's last eight games. He's still a first-round talent based on his tools, athleticism and jumper, but he'll have a better chance to showcase everything next year, when Ja'Quan Newton and (presumably) Bruce Brown Jr. will have left. Bleacher Report

[kg01]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

This could be big. Brown is a defensive minded combo guard who was predicted to go in the late lottery. After a so-so season, he was bumped down to the early 20s. This could bump him even lower, making him a steal with one of our later picks.

This also opens the door for Lonnie Walker IV to get more burn. He is the best SG prospect in the draft. But is having an awful freshman year coming off knee surgery.

L Walker's draft stock should increase as he gets more opportunities to lead a competitive Miami team into the ACC tourney.

Most Recent Scouting Report:

Spoiler:

Bruce Brown Jr. (Miami, SG, Sophomore)

Brown checks enough boxes, which buys him time as a shooter. He's only 12-of-46 from three so far, but he's also averaging 7.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals, playing the role of two-way playmaker and transition weapon. He'll look to improve his half-court scoring and shooting or stick as a jack-of-all-trades.



Lonnie Walker IV (Miami, SG, Freshman)

Walker hasn't been involved enough, having finished with single digits in scoring during six of Miami's last eight games. He's still a first-round talent based on his tools, athleticism and jumper, but he'll have a better chance to showcase everything next year, when Ja'Quan Newton and (presumably) Bruce Brown Jr. will have left. Bleacher Report

L Walker is the kind of young player you'd probably hate. All athlete, much less basketball player. He was flatout awful vs us a few weeks ago and that's saying something considering we're pretty bad.

[Jamaaliver]

L Walker is the kind of young player you'd probably hate. All athlete, much less basketball player. He was flatout awful vs us a few weeks ago and that's saying something considering we're pretty bad.

NOTED!!!

I appreciate the insight and acknowledge he's clearly a couple of years away.

Bradley Beal was tossed around last year as a future comparison...that is intriguing.

Another recent scouting blurb:

Lonnie Walker IV (Freshman, Miami, Wing)

Walker got off to a little bit of a slow start after suffering a meniscus injury before the season, but NBA teams are still high on him due to his length and defensive ability. He’s been inconsistent but he’s improved his 3-point shooting to 37% on the year now. He can guard multiple positions and is starting to figure it out offensively as he’s scored 20+ in the last two games. Barstool Sports

[kg01]

L Walker is the kind of young player you'd probably hate. All athlete, much less basketball player. He was flatout awful vs us a few weeks ago and that's saying something considering we're pretty bad.

NOTED!!!

I appreciate the insight and acknowledge he's clearly a couple of years away.

Bradley Beal was tossed around last year as a future comparison...that is intriguing.

Another recent scouting blurb:

Lonnie Walker IV (Freshman, Miami, Wing)

Walker got off to a little bit of a slow start after suffering a meniscus injury before the season, but NBA teams are still high on him due to his length and defensive ability. He’s been inconsistent but he’s improved his 3-point shooting to 37% on the year now. He can guard multiple positions and is starting to figure it out offensively as he’s scored 20+ in the last two games. Barstool Sports

Dude can't shoot. Like, at all. He'll likely come out this year based off hype and will quickly be GLeague fodder. Poor man's Malachi Richardson (who? eggsactly).

[Jamaaliver]

Dude can't shoot. Like, at all. He'll likely come out this year based off hype and will quickly be GLeague fodder. Poor man's Malachi Richardson (who? eggsactly).

So you're ready to write off his entire NBA career at age 19? Before he's ever played a game?

Noted...