Official Draft Thread 2015-16

[Duke4life831]

Is Skal worth trading up for?

For a team like you guys that have a ton of assets, I think hes worth to trade up for if hes still there at the end of the lottery. I think if hes still sitting there at 14 and you guys dont have to give up any 17 picks he will be worth the risk.

[sportfan6197]

Even if Skal doesn't have another game like that this year, I think he's defitantly gone by our 2nd pick. The draft is weak and someone who isn't on the hot seat will bite on the ceiling. Similar situation to Drummond. I wouldn't be shocked to see the Raps nab him at 8 even. Pistons, Denver make sense too.

Honestly what separates Bender from Skal? Both are super raw, looking passive, and not ready to contribute. Their both poor rebounders, and not very good defensively. Skal has more rim protection potential given his frame. Good shooting touch, but Skal's jumper looks like it could be elite. Bender is probably the better passer and a year younger and they both seem very coachable despite coming from other countries

I do't think Skal should be a top 3-4 pick like Bender projects, but I will be surprised to not see him go in the lotto, if not top 10.

[No-Man]

Is Skal worth trading up for?

For a team like you guys that have a ton of assets, I think hes worth to trade up for if hes still there at the end of the lottery. I think if hes still sitting there at 14 and you guys dont have to give up any 17 picks he will be worth the risk.

He could easily fall to Dallas pick anyway I mean he can go anywhere from 10 to 20.

[Cornbread]

Is Skal worth trading up for?

For a team like you guys that have a ton of assets, I think hes worth to trade up for if hes still there at the end of the lottery. I think if hes still sitting there at 14 and you guys dont have to give up any 17 picks he will be worth the risk.

He could easily fall to Dallas pick anyway I mean he can go anywhere from 10 to 20.

True, but if he's the guy the team is targeting this is the year to use some of those extra picks to move up and get him. Something like the Olynyk trade from a few years ago.

[Gomes3PC]

If we are going to try to take a draft sliding big man with upside, I think I'd rather have Diallo. Has a bit of a mean streak whenever I saw him in HS, much better rebounder than Skal, has a bigger wingspan and I think his frame to develop into a center looks a bit better.

[Wes-J]

If we are going to try to take a draft sliding big man with upside, I think I'd rather have Diallo. Has a bit of a mean streak whenever I saw him in HS, much better rebounder than Skal, has a bigger wingspan and I think his frame to develop into a center looks a bit better.

I like Diallo, just wish Self would get this kid more prepared for tournament time. Not sure if he declares but has considerable upside.

[No-Man]

If we are going to try to take a draft sliding big man with upside, I think I'd rather have Diallo. Has a bit of a mean streak whenever I saw him in HS, much better rebounder than Skal, has a bigger wingspan and I think his frame to develop into a center looks a bit better.

Highly doubt he declares and he is a small, really thin C with no shooting ability, I will have my doubts with him honestly.
He is going back to KU, most of their bigs are Seniors, he will start next year.

[Gomes3PC]

If we are going to try to take a draft sliding big man with upside, I think I'd rather have Diallo. Has a bit of a mean streak whenever I saw him in HS, much better rebounder than Skal, has a bigger wingspan and I think his frame to develop into a center looks a bit better.

Highly doubt he declares and he is a small, really thin C with no shooting ability, I will have my doubts with him honestly.
He is going back to KU, most of their bigs are Seniors, he will start next year.

Yeah very little chance he declares I would say, but I just see more fire in him. Skal's ability to shoot makes him a lot more intriguing, just wonder how much his heart is in the game. You need your bigs to have an edge to them.

[Wes-J]

Would love to get Skal with Mavs pick assuming Hield is off the board, but let's be honest here... IF I told you guys before the season we would get Skal with the Nets pick, 90% of us would be doing cartwheels.

[return2glory]

Diamond Stone is moving up my board. I need to watch more of his games. But he can be a sleeper. He might slide into the top 10.

why exactly? he is a big with not much of a face-up game as of now that can't defend in space.

He had a very strong game vs Purdue and their center Hammond. I did mention I had to watch him a few more times before I got excited about his game.

Well I watched him against Illinois and he was a non factor. I'm watching him now against Indiana and this is the 2nd straight game where he hasn't been too impressive.

He isn't much of a rebounder for his size. He doesn't change or block many shots. He does however finish well around the basket, can score in the post with either hand and he shots about 77% from the line. He can benefit from another year in school.

[Edug27]

Would love to get Skal with Mavs pick assuming Hield is off the board, but let's be honest here... IF I told you guys before the season we would get Skal with the Nets pick, 90% of us would be doing cartwheels.

Because of the hype around him. The hype simmered once we all got to see him play.

[31to6]

Would love to get Skal with Mavs pick assuming Hield is off the board, but let's be honest here... IF I told you guys before the season we would get Skal with the Nets pick, 90% of us would be doing cartwheels.

Because of the hype around him. The hype simmered once we all got to see him play.

True - but he's young enough there's still plenty of potential there. Glad he's emerged from the grave as a prospect.

[Celtsfan1980]

I expect they'll try to trade up into the top 10, probably with the Memphis pick as well. If Skal can continue playing well I expect him to go top 10. I'd prefer Poeltl personally, but if not I'll trust Danny knows what he's doing. Definitely should look at a big.

[Cornbread]

I expect they'll try to trade up into the top 10, probably with the Memphis pick as well. If Skal can continue playing well I expect him to go top 10. I'd prefer Poeltl personally, but if not I'll trust Danny knows what he's doing. Definitely should look at a big.

I agree that moving up into the back-half of the lottery is one of the more likely scenarios, but I think Ainge tries to hold onto the Memphis pick to do it. If he can string together the right combination of trades, the DAL pick, the BOS pick, and the two early seconds have roughly the value of the 9-11 pick.

Of course, that requires the right buyers, which as we saw last year isn't guaranteed.

[ddb]

Even after a miserable freshman season, it still wont take long for Skal to shoot right back up the draft boards. If he can string together a few quality games in a row, he is Top 10 based on upside alone.

[Gomes3PC]

He's just put up back to back good games against quality competition. If he plays 4-5 more games like that in the SEC tourney / NCAA tourney, he'll go top-10.

[Gomes3PC]

Just saw Malcolm Brogdon win conference POY for the ACC. He's not a sexy name, but has a good frame for a "wing" in Stevens' system, is the best wing defender in this draft, and his pace-adjusted per-40 stats look great:

24.8 PPG, 47/41/88 shooting, 5.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.2 SPG

Very similar to Denzel Valentine, who is not the same caliber defender IMO (stats below pace-adjusted per-40):

24.5 PPG, 47/45/84, 9.3 RPG, 9.3 APG, 1.3 SPG

Valentine is the better playmaker, but I suspect that someone will take Brogdon between 30-45 and wind up with a 20 MPG bench player who will stick around the league for a decade.

[Duke4life831]

Just saw Malcolm Brogdon win conference POY for the ACC. He's not a sexy name, but has a good frame for a "wing" in Stevens' system, is the best wing defender in this draft, and his pace-adjusted per-40 stats look great:

24.8 PPG, 47/41/88 shooting, 5.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.2 SPG

Very similar to Denzel Valentine, who is not the same caliber defender IMO (stats below pace-adjusted per-40):

24.5 PPG, 47/45/84, 9.3 RPG, 9.3 APG, 1.3 SPG

Valentine is the better playmaker, but I suspect that someone will take Brogdon between 30-45 and wind up with a 20 MPG bench player who will stick around the league for a decade.

Wont be surprised if Pop, Kerr or Stevens takes him in the 2nd round. Hes the type of player that the smart coaches really love and they seem to dont mind taking a chance on them. Brogdon definitely wont be a star but I can easily see him being a solid rotation player on a good team

[31to6]

I expect they'll try to trade up into the top 10, probably with the Memphis pick as well. If Skal can continue playing well I expect him to go top 10. I'd prefer Poeltl personally, but if not I'll trust Danny knows what he's doing. Definitely should look at a big.

Oooh don't touch that MEM pick; that's our fodder for when the Netz pikz are finally gone, right? (*don't remember the exact protections; want to be wildly optimistic).

[Cornbread]

I expect they'll try to trade up into the top 10, probably with the Memphis pick as well. If Skal can continue playing well I expect him to go top 10. I'd prefer Poeltl personally, but if not I'll trust Danny knows what he's doing. Definitely should look at a big.

Oooh don't touch that MEM pick; that's our fodder for when the Netz pikz are finally gone, right? (*don't remember the exact protections; want to be wildly optimistic).

Memphis pick protections:
2019: top 8
2020: top 6
2021: unprotected

Gasol will be 34.
Randolph will be long gone.
Connolly may be long gone.

You don't use that pick to move up. If you need to include it as part of a larger trade for a star than fine, but not in a smaller move.