2019 NBA draft

[threrf23]

Uh, Redd could shoot. Like really good. Wasn't that athletic.

As a freshman in college, Redd shot 30% from 3 and 62% from the line.

[sully00]

Kabengele is really limited. I'd draft Fernando before as he projects to develop a nice outside shot given the flashes and FT% and on top of that brings you glass dominance and competent passing.

I want Ainge to take Doumbouya at 14 is he's there, even if it comes to the expense of losing Herro. Langford should be considered if he's there at 20 too.

I saw Doumbouya played in France a lot, I just see him as a good role player, nothing more. People want to draft him and hope they have the next Giannis or Siakam because he is long and athletic like them...To me he is close to OG Anunoby.

If when 14 arrives Fernando, Herro, Thybulle and Langford are not there, trade back or out automatically.

No love for Bitadze ? We could stash him.

I don't think there's too much upside in this draft. I'd rather rall the dice on Sekou than, let's say, Bol or KPJ.
Bitadze could definitely be a serviceable big, but I'm not really sure how to project his game translating into the post-season.

This is the challenge with this draft I think there such different draft boards that nobody has any idea who they would want at 14. The mock drafts I looked at have Sekou gone at 7 or 8 and Clarke and even Bol gone before 14. Guys like Little, Langford, Alexander-Walker availble and then you look at someone else Mock and those 3 guys in the top 10.

[Andrew McCeltic]

Bitadze, btw, doesn't look at all like Nurkic to me - he looks like a bouncier Enes Kanter with a three-point shot and a little more post game. Not sure he'll be as dominant a rebounder as Enes, but he doesn't project to be much better defensively. Should be interesting, though.

[BillessuR6]

I like Bitadze, I saw a few games of him this year and he will be an NBA player. I just do not think he will be a star...I would take him in the twenties because I think he will be a rotation big...

Samanic I have seen even more than Bitadze. He played for my team Olimpija this season...he had a bad year but the team was in turmoil the whole time...it was not a great environment for a young player...he certainly has potential but would only pick him in the second round...he does not have one elite skill that would really set him apart...

Samanic has put on 20-25 lbs of muscle since last year, and he's still only 19. If there's a better 6-10 (or taller) outside shooter in this draft, I haven't seen him.

I see that the Celtics are working out Justin Wright-Foreman, the scoring guard from Queens via Hofstra University. I should add him to my list of sleepers at pick #51. He can pass the ball too.

How many games of Samanic have you seen this year? He shot .20 % from three this year in Adriatic league (albeit a very small sample size 5-24), he did shoot better in Championsleague .37 °(7/19). His free throws for the year are around .70 %.

He is a pretty good shooter but he has ways to go...I like the fact that he can do a little bit of everything but we will see if he has the work rate to develop...

[SmartWentCrazy]

If Ainge decided to shift gears and trade up in this draft instead of out, what player would you want him to target and how far up would he have to trade to get that player? Assume that Zion and Ja go 1-2 and #3 is the highest Ainge can get.

Barrett, but I’d hope Ainge doesnt trade up as this draft is pretty flat from 3 to 25 IMO.

I see this a lot. Does that mean you'd be just as happy with PJ Washington as you would with Brandon Clarke?
I get that things level off, but I still think there are guys you want more than other ones.

Yes, in effect. I have preferences, as do most, but I wouldn't be surprised if any of the guys mocked 3 to 25 ended up the third best player in this draft. I would be surprised if anyone in that range was above Morant or Zion.

[djFan71]

Barrett, but I’d hope Ainge doesnt trade up as this draft is pretty flat from 3 to 25 IMO.

I see this a lot. Does that mean you'd be just as happy with PJ Washington as you would with Brandon Clarke?
I get that things level off, but I still think there are guys you want more than other ones.

Yes, in effect. I have preferences, as do most, but I wouldn't be surprised if any of the guys mocked 3 to 25 ended up the third best player in this draft. I would be surprised if anyone in that range was above Morant or Zion.

Fair enough. If you feel that they are in effect the same talent level, than no trade up makes sense. I just can't get my head around 20+ players all being roughly equal value. I get not being able to distinguish the difference yet, but not that they all actually ARE equal.

History says a couple will be at/above Morant. Zion may be a different beast, entirely though.

[Curmudgeon]

I like Bitadze, I saw a few games of him this year and he will be an NBA player. I just do not think he will be a star...I would take him in the twenties because I think he will be a rotation big...

Samanic I have seen even more than Bitadze. He played for my team Olimpija this season...he had a bad year but the team was in turmoil the whole time...it was not a great environment for a young player...he certainly has potential but would only pick him in the second round...he does not have one elite skill that would really set him apart...

Samanic has put on 20-25 lbs of muscle since last year, and he's still only 19. If there's a better 6-10 (or taller) outside shooter in this draft, I haven't seen him.

I see that the Celtics are working out Justin Wright-Foreman, the scoring guard from Queens via Hofstra University. I should add him to my list of sleepers at pick #51. He can pass the ball too.

How many games of Samanic have you seen this year? He shot .20 % from three this year in Adriatic league (albeit a very small sample size 5-24), he did shoot better in Championsleague .37 °(7/19). His free throws for the year are around .70 %.

He is a pretty good shooter but he has ways to go...I like the fact that he can do a little bit of everything but we will see if he has the work rate to develop...

You know how it is with 18 year-olds in Europe.

Check out Kurucs stats with FCB Barcelona. He refused to sign an extension so they barely played him. Then he went to Treviso and showed what he could do. Same thing with Samanic in Chicago.

[bucknersrevenge]

Claxton does not look uncomfortable defending out on the perimeter on screen/roll switches:

Watch on YouTube

[SmartWentCrazy]

I see this a lot. Does that mean you'd be just as happy with PJ Washington as you would with Brandon Clarke?
I get that things level off, but I still think there are guys you want more than other ones.

Yes, in effect. I have preferences, as do most, but I wouldn't be surprised if any of the guys mocked 3 to 25 ended up the third best player in this draft. I would be surprised if anyone in that range was above Morant or Zion.

Fair enough. If you feel that they are in effect the same talent level, than no trade up makes sense. I just can't get my head around 20+ players all being roughly equal value. I get not being able to distinguish the difference yet, but not that they all actually ARE equal.

History says a couple will be at/above Morant. Zion may be a different beast, entirely though.

Its a simplification to state that the top end talent is missing in this class, but the back end talent is full.

To state it differently: why is Goga going to be worse than RJ? Or why is KPJ going to be worse than Sekou? Or why is Culver going to be better than Rui?

I could give you an answer on all of those, but I could probably also argue the inverse as well and I wouldnt be confident in my answers. Because of that, I’m more comfortable just grouping them all.

[djFan71]

Claxton does not look uncomfortable defending out on the perimeter on screen/roll switches:

Watch on YouTube

Man, I kinda want him at 14 at this point.... Get who's left of Clarke/PJ/other big at 20. Remaining shooter at 22.

[brackdan70]

Claxton does not look uncomfortable defending out on the perimeter on screen/roll switches:

Watch on YouTube

Yeah really interested in this guy. Only a couple guys on this draft that I would do theBill simmons first pump for. Claxton is one.

[djFan71]

Forgetting trifling details like offense, actually understanding team defense, not being pushed out of position, getting rebounds, etc.... this lineup would be super fun on D:

Smart, Jaylen, Tatum, Claxton, Williams

[Andrew McCeltic]

I’m old enough to remember when this board hyped Cauley-Stein (some of these guys need to change their last names, like actors, to be easier to say/type)- because he’d be able to guard out to the perimeter, amazing defensive impact etc.

Also be careful with guys like Samanic (and Claxton) - playing lights out at the right moment can boost your stock above its real value..

[scootch]

Claxton is for sure a developmental prospect. Giving him big minutes in the G-league and time to fill out will be great for him. Not so bad for the Celtics, too.

[brackdan70]

Forgetting trifling details like offense, actually understanding team defense, not being pushed out of position, getting rebounds, etc.... this lineup would be super fun on D:

Smart, Jaylen, Tatum, Claxton, Williams

Smart can handle trifling details no?

[djFan71]

Forgetting trifling details like offense, actually understanding team defense, not being pushed out of position, getting rebounds, etc.... this lineup would be super fun on D:

Smart, Jaylen, Tatum, Claxton, Williams

Smart can handle trifling details no?

Not for all 5 of them.... was just tongue in cheek in that I know that lineup would need some serious development.

[djFan71]

I’m old enough to remember when this board hyped Cauley-Stein (some of these guys need to change their last names, like actors, to be easier to say/type)- because he’d be able to guard out to the perimeter, amazing defensive impact etc.

Also be careful with guys like Samanic (and Claxton) - playing lights out at the right moment can boost your stock above its real value..

Absolutely. WCS never had the offensive skills Claxton could, though. And I'd take WCS this summer if we had a means to get him.

[Andrew McCeltic]

Could be an MLE get - or less - he doesn’t seem to have a ton of admirers

[BillessuR6]

Samanic has put on 20-25 lbs of muscle since last year, and he's still only 19. If there's a better 6-10 (or taller) outside shooter in this draft, I haven't seen him.

I see that the Celtics are working out Justin Wright-Foreman, the scoring guard from Queens via Hofstra University. I should add him to my list of sleepers at pick #51. He can pass the ball too.

How many games of Samanic have you seen this year? He shot .20 % from three this year in Adriatic league (albeit a very small sample size 5-24), he did shoot better in Championsleague .37 °(7/19). His free throws for the year are around .70 %.

He is a pretty good shooter but he has ways to go...I like the fact that he can do a little bit of everything but we will see if he has the work rate to develop...

You know how it is with 18 year-olds in Europe.

Check out Kurucs stats with FCB Barcelona. He refused to sign an extension so they barely played him. Then he went to Treviso and showed what he could do. Same thing with Samanic in Chicago.

Its one thing to play for a big club like Barcelona where there is huge pressure to win, Samanic did not have such pressure on him this year...if he actually delivered he would have played a huge role...still he has good potential its up to him if he will make it work...

[FlatearthZorro]

I’m old enough to remember when this board hyped Cauley-Stein (some of these guys need to change their last names, like actors, to be easier to say/type)- because he’d be able to guard out to the perimeter, amazing defensive impact etc.

Also be careful with guys like Samanic (and Claxton) - playing lights out at the right moment can boost your stock above its real value..

Absolutely. WCS never had the offensive skills Claxton could, though. And I'd take WCS this summer if we had a means to get him.

We might if Horfie restructes, Morris leaves, Irving leaves, before signing Rozier, we could offer WCS something depending on how the draft goes.

As for Bitadze I think he could be as good of a rebounder as Kanter, and a better defender cause he's quicker and much younger and if he wants to he can develop his body, get leaner which should help his career projectile as well.

Sekou is still the dream scenario for me, with Langford or Herro/Thybulle(or the kid Danny was scouting with the french name) slipping to #22.