cl2117 wrote:If Lively is too out of reach, I think Bona is a really solid consolation prize. I've seen him be directly compared to Robert Williams and I think it's a pretty apt one.
The difference between the two for me is that Lively seems much more likely to be able to do something for you in the near-term whereas Bona seems more like a project, but I guess that's where the acquisition cost comes in. You'd get the same advantages in terms of development opportunities with Bona though. He'd get plenty of minutes during the regular season and if it starts clicking earlier rather than later you've done really well for yourselves.
Agreed. There's definitely some similarities with Bona and Rob. Probably the 2 most common comparisons you will see for Bona would be Rob and Clint Capela. You get a guy like that at 33 or 35, it's a great pick.
Rob is much better than Bona in terms of passing and being an offensive hub at the high post where you can run DHO's with him and stuff. Which is why Capela is probably a better comp for Bona.
But Bona is still very young (just turned 20) so he can develop those skills over time. On the bright side, Bona has already shown some intriguing flashes of being able to take the ball from the perimeter and drive in straight lines to the rim.
I do have Lively ranked a little higher. Lively and Bona are similar in terms of their strengths and weaknesses and stuff (bigs who move well, strong, athletic, have been very highly ranked players for their age for the past couple years now but mainly just lob threat, rim runner, rim protector bigs). But Lively is 2-3 inches taller, a year younger and perhaps a little more polished / less raw on both ends of the floor.
Lively showed flashes of being able to shoot 3's in HS and in AAU. Whereas Bona has shown flashes of facing up from the perimeter and driving it to the rim. Lively will probably go in the 15-25 range. So again, could be good value to snag Bona at 33 or 35.
cl2117 wrote:Clowney I'm less keen on in terms of fit. I don't see him as being a solution for us in terms of needing depth at the 5. He seems built more like a 4 to me but he's so young that if he bulks out he could be a good tweener. If he's still available at 33/35 that feels like a steal given his physical profile, even if it's not the perfect fit.
I really think Clowney does have the potential to play the 4 or the 5. He's kind of skinny, but similar build to Claxton, who has always been a 5 in the NBA. Clowney plays tough, physical. He's pretty strong. Posted good rebound and blocks % in college. And will keep getting stronger as he fills out his frame, as he's still only 18.
You don't see many guys in the league who legitimately can play either the 4 or the 5, who you could play as a 5 alongside pretty much any 4 - or you could play him at the 4, alongside pretty much any 5. I really think Clowney has the potential to eventually be that guy - one of the main reasons why I'm high on him.
I actually feel like if anything, Clowney projects as more of a 5 than a 4. But think he can play the 4 as well - especially if he keeps working on his ball skills.
cl2117 wrote:TJD gives me shades of Ben Simmons, is that too out pocket? It's just how paint bound he is offensively, but on the positive side he seems like a really smart passer (hence Simmons). Not sure how he'd fit in with our schemes without being able to extend his range at all.
I don't really see that comp. Simmons is a 6'10" PG. TJD is a 6'9" center. I guess they're kind of similar in size and the way they move out there and how they're not good shooters but that's where any similarities end.
TJD would fit our schemes, similar to how Time Lord and Kornet aren't shooters. But like Time Lord and Kornet, TJD is a very good passer. And like Horford, TJD is a good ball handler for a big man, can lead the break, grab and go. Can face up from the mid post and take his man off the dribble.
TJD is a lob threat, a rim protector. He'd do everything we need except he can't shoot. If TJD could shoot, he'd be a top 20 pick. Being a non-shooter is what makes it so we could possibly snag him at 33 or 35. He's got a nice combination of ball handling + passing + lob threat/roll man/rim runner + rim protector + toughness/physicality + moves to get to the rim off the dribble/post moves near the rim/finishing ability at the rim + athleticism/mobility. Only down side is that he's a non-shooter, only 6'9" which is a little smaller for a center and he's old (23) but that's why he may fall to the 33-35 range. TJD has even shown some flashes of switchability out on the perimeter
cl2117 wrote:Seems like there could be some solid value in the 30's though. If we can't use Pritchard to trade up, I'd be fine trying to snag another early 30's pick for him and doubling down in that range. Come away with Bona and Coulibaly and I'm a really happy camper.
Getting Bona and Coulibaly would be a great draft. Both guys with some really good upside. Coulibaly seems to be getting more and more buzz - seems like a good chance he could go in the top 25 picks at this rate, though..
