ddb wrote:Andrew McCeltic wrote:ddb wrote:talked to a scout friend of mine earlier today down in FL. Asked him about Fultz (I'm sure he was anticipating the question from me!)...He said Fultz could be the best PG in the league in 5 years. Said he'd be ready to be a key contributor right away as a rookie. Said his offense is very mature for his age. Said he's dynamic in that he can score & play make from all over the floor.
Said he's not getting enough credit for his athleticism...he said people talk about how smooth he is often, but forget how explosive he is as well.
I asked for a comp. He said, "I don't want to say Harden, because I think Fultz will be a good defender. but if you can imagine a right handed, more athletic James Harden that will defend"
I asked him if the celtics should be considering anyone else at #1... he said, "absolutely not. Fultz is their guy if they keep the pick"
Okay, so I'm sold. Very excited about this draft.
I also asked if he could think of any possible trade partners for the #1 pick. He wasn't ready to answer that question yet. He said that stuff usually heats up as the draft approaches and after teams are working various players out.
I'd trade the pick for AD, too. That's it.
Also wondering - when's the last time a prospect has been as uniformly hyped as Fultz and then underachieved? Pervis Ellison? John Wall took awhile to reach the superstar level he's approaching now.
I feel like I have some doubts only because PG's are a dime a dozen these days. So I'm scared **** that Fultz will be good, but we'll dread the day we took him over a Josh Jackson who ends up being the next Kawhi. Know what I mean? Especially, when we already have really good guards.
But I've been researching Fultz dating back to last year, and I've talked to many hoop folks who say he is a sure thing and has the ability to be THE BEST PG. So that comforts me a bit
we shall see. exciting times.
I cooled on Jackson when I heard he beat up somebody's car. A light red flag, but probably impacted my perspective on his skills more than it should have. Jackson will need at least a couple of years if he's going to be Kawhi, or mini-Giannis. His offensive aggressiveness as the year went on was fools' gold - lots of cheese moves and high behind the back dribbles that won't fly in the NBA.
Isaac could end up really good, but it's a gamble. At least one of the points being overlooked - Smith or Fox or Ntilikina - is likely to be a star, just because of the margin of error in all these evals. Remember Westbrook, in 2008, was picked after Beasley and OJ Mayo. 2009? Blake, Thabeet, Harden, Tyreke, Rubio, Jonny Flynn, Steph Curry.
Still waiting, though, for a unanimously hyped bust - like, with Derrick Coleman (1 in 1990) it was his head/heart, not his talent. Glenn Robinson was only ever a scorer - that could be the worst-case with Fultz. Joe Smith in 1995 was a bust - can't remember if he was hyped and heralded. Olowokandi, obviously. But he was a late riser and kind of a hype-drunk pick. Kwame Brown. Darko. Jay Williams went 2, think he could've been a star if he hadn't gotten hurt. The 2013 draft was a disaster, but everyone knew that in advance and couldn't agree on who deserved to go 1. Wiggins is a disappointment, but only because he was overrated - I think he's underrated now.
So yeah, that's going back to 1990.
Kwame Brown had small hands, no one noticed - and he got psychologically sh*tkicked into oblivion by Michael Jordan - wouldn't have happened in a different organization.
Kandi seems to be the only worry - everyone at the time thought he was a Joel Embiid type. So there's a small chance Fultz is that - but consensus no. 1 picks usually end up good.
