Official Draft Thread 2015-16

[Shamrock]

IMO Skal's the guy you want in this draft. Bender will be up there as well, very good chance Bender is still growing and measures out very well.

[31to6]

this feeling will probably change, but I feel like outsourced tanking is such a smoother emotional ride than in-house tanking. When you watch 82 **** fests in a year and then your card comes out of the envelope as early as it damn can from those grubby little accountant's hands, it's like a slap to your face, your mom's face, and your baby's little face all at the same time. With the Nets, I look forward to playing this game for the next THREE YEARS. It's all gravy, and I'm on the gravy boat, pouring gravy all over myself and pretty much down my pants.

In four months though I'll be frothing at the mouth at us **needing** to get Skal Labissiere, so nm.

[KGboss]

I know I'm in lala land but imagine we somehow get Ben Simmons and Skal Labissiere this year. Have 2 top rookies ever had a chance to start their career in the same town like that?

[31to6]

(#s 2 and 4 in 2001)
(one of them needed to gain weight - and the other one did)

[pfm]

Fortunately, we are going to be able to watch all these top guys this year (I suppose with Bender as the exception, but we can monitor his progress).

Will be interesting to see how these guys rise to the occasion against D1 competition. While that top 5 group may seem a bit blurry at the moment, I'm going to guess that a couple of guys will separate themselves from the rest. And there's always the chance that a guy we aren't is talking about as a top pick, elevates himself to that level.

[165bows]

Fortunately, we are going to be able to watch all these top guys this year (I suppose with Bender as the exception, but we can monitor his progress).

Will be interesting to see how these guys rise to the occasion against D1 competition. While that top 5 group may seem a bit blurry at the moment, I'm going to guess that a couple of guys will separate themselves from the rest. And there's always the chance that a guy we aren't is talking about as a top pick, elevates himself to that level.

Yeah with the total number of picks they have, we can pretty much root for the whole of college basketball this year. The better off everyone does, the better.

[jmr07019]

I like the draft from what I've read. The top 5 all fill a need and then there is the Diallo, Poeltl, Stone trio of defensive bigs. It we could grab one player from each group I'd be happy.

[pfm]

Is worth noting... Both Simmons and Skal could easily be Sophomores age-wise. And there isn't much to be gleaned from these early season games against bad comp. Just too overmatched.

While the age shouldn't sway opinion drastically it is definitely worth noting. With many of these kids still developing physically a year or two can make a big difference. To look at the current "top 5" guys by age (as of today):

Bender - 17.9
Ingram - 18.1
Brown - 19.0
Simmons - 19.3
Labissiere - 19.6

[Banks2Pierce]

Skal kinda reminded me of a mid-30s Marcus Camby in the blue/white scrimmage. And not sure about how he'll rebound(Marcus could rebound.) OK athleticism and zero strength, but able to do some stuff because of the length. Curious to see how he develops over the course of this season. Good draft people seem to like him so I'll proceed with an open mind.

[Slartibartfast]

Is worth noting... Both Simmons and Skal could easily be Sophomores age-wise. And there isn't much to be gleaned from these early season games against bad comp. Just too overmatched.

While the age shouldn't sway opinion drastically it is definitely worth noting. With many of these kids still developing physically a year or two can make a big difference. To look at the current "top 5" guys by age (as of today):

Bender - 17.9
Ingram - 18.1
Brown - 19.0
Simmons - 19.3
Labissiere - 19.6

Age is only relevant if people give them the usual freshman potential pass - they aren't older than their college peers.

Anyhoo, Skal and Bender dominate the advanced name rankings - can't miss AFAIC.

[165bows]

Is worth noting... Both Simmons and Skal could easily be Sophomores age-wise. And there isn't much to be gleaned from these early season games against bad comp. Just too overmatched.

While the age shouldn't sway opinion drastically it is definitely worth noting. With many of these kids still developing physically a year or two can make a big difference. To look at the current "top 5" guys by age (as of today):

Bender - 17.9
Ingram - 18.1
Brown - 19.0
Simmons - 19.3
Labissiere - 19.6

Yeah not terribly old, but old for their year for sure. Both Simmons and Skal are older than say for example... ah, just forget it.

[Edug27]

Skal will be the next great Kentucky PF/C.(Noel, Davis, Cousins). He has looked good in pre season.

Yep... I'd take him over Simmons all day every day. I just don't see where Simmons fits in the league, horrible jumper and questionable demeanor who doesn't bring much on the defensive end. He's a really weird player, is he a 3 or a 4? Idk hopefully he'll prove me wrong but I don't see the hype with Simmons at all.

He has that Lamar Odom feel to him.

- He's big at 6'10
- Fast
- Can jump out the building
- Great at attacking the rim
- Good handle for his size
- Hes a pass first player in a point forward type of role.

But... like you said .. Can he shoot? I think thats the missing piece that makes people nervous. I'm hoping he works on that during the course of the season since he'll need it going forward.

[FlatearthZorro]

Thon Maker, along with Zhou Qi will be 2 bigs that could potentially be there for our 2nd 1st rounder... Both look like they could be a steal.

[bucknersrevenge]

As for Simmons, I haven't done enough recon yet. How are his mechanics? I understand that shooting is the concern but if the mechanics can be worked with, he can improve. I mean Blake couldn't even spell the word jumpshot when he came into the league. Now he's at worst solid from 17 feet. My concern is not his shot but makeup as in most cases. We'll see if he's a real leader out there during this season.

[165bows]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/kevinoconnornba/status/663896752215355392[/tweet]

Kevin O'Connor's early top ten.

Malik Newman is a guy I've only seen in highlights but his D seems much better than the Monta Ellis comps give him credit for.

[2Mas]

(#s 2 and 4 in 2001)
(one of them needed to gain weight - and the other one did)

Well done.


BTW - What's Marcus Fizer up to these days?

[Patsfan1081]

Thon Maker, along with Zhou Qi will be 2 bigs that could potentially be there for our 2nd 1st rounder... Both look like they could be a steal.

Maker is most likely coming out next year, he has a lot to work on and is still very raw. I'm not going to comment where their picks will be but I agree, they have to address the center position in this draft. They would have been in prime position to draft Poelt last year and this year their should be a ton of bigs in the first round.

[FlatearthZorro]

Thon Maker, along with Zhou Qi will be 2 bigs that could potentially be there for our 2nd 1st rounder... Both look like they could be a steal.

Maker is most likely coming out next year, he has a lot to work on and is still very raw. I'm not going to comment where their picks will be but I agree, they have to address the center position in this draft. They would have been in prime position to draft Poelt last year and this year their should be a ton of bigs in the first round.

Sadly I think as of right now, both Maker and Qi are PFs... Zhou is pretty quick for his size, cause he's really thin, same goes for Maker(I still have a feeling maker will come out this year)... I like Qi a lot. Mad shot blocking ability, can shoot, pass, handle the ball a little bit, 7-6 wing span.. He is 19 and his potential is unlimited...

[Celtsfan1980]

Those Ellenson and Kevin Love comparisons, are they legitimate?

[165bows]

Another Louisville guard, Damion Lee.

http://hoopshabit.com/2015/11/12/2016-nba-draft-watch-list-damion-lee/