ROUND 1: AJ Johnson - Poll Added

[JayMKE]

Giannis was literally malnutritioned, I wouldn’t count on this guy putting on much weight or getting way stronger

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Short, fro-less shaun Livingston?

[GBPackers47]

I love the pick. It was incredible that he wasn't invited and was still there. There is a similar video from a decade ago that we all watch on repeat to this day. Let's hope we watch this one over and over again.

Giannis and Dame spending an offseason together will make more of an impact on this coming season than a rookie at 23. No one was coming in at 23 and being penciled in as such an impact-maker tomorrow that the Bucks wouldn't still make the same FA and trades they are already planning to eventually make. Some will disagree and throw names like Dunn or Shannon, but the Bucks aren't sitting on their hands finding veterans to help Win Now because they draft these guys. Let's not forget that Doc is still the coach.

In the long term, there's a real possibility Giannis eventually wants out over the next few years and we have to blow this thing up. Johnson is high-risk, high-reward, but the high-reward side would make a "rebuild" not feel like we're the Washington Wizards again.

The kid is 19 and gets to practice and learn from 2 top-75 players of ALL TIME, starting now, in a championship-or-bust environment. If he pans out, but the Bucks realistically aren't going to win (and Giannis wants out), our future is going to look a lot brighter than it would in many other scenarios.

Give me more high-risk, high-reward dudes with long-term All-Star potential and fewer dudes with $8-$15 mil a year, Pat Connoughtan potential.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Giannis was literally malnutritioned, I wouldn’t count on this guy putting on much weight or getting way stronger

Meant to use me as a lowest level of athlete and Giannis as the highest level. My whole point is peak muscle growth is from 18-30 for men. People naturally put on muscles during that time frame. Not going to say a ton of muscle but he you can tell a huge difference from his age 17 hs highlights and age 19 combine highlights. He will be bigger in two years, just don't know by how much.

[FrieAaron]

At this point his biggest asset definitely appears to be his vision. The shot doesn't look broken or anything, but so far he shot poorly overseason (I know, small volume) and at the combine outside of 1 scrimmage.

[chonestown]

Short, fro-less shaun Livingston?

Nah.

The Young God was a savant in terms of court-vision and had it while in HS.

I'm holding off on any sort of prediction until Summer League concludes. There's just not much to go on.

Pulling for the kid, tho.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

At this point his biggest asset definitely appears to be his vision. The shot doesn't look broken or anything, but so far he shot poorly overseason (I know, small volume) and at the combine outside of 1 scrimmage.

Probably goes with vision but hopefully speed translates to the NBA game. Need to keep defenders moving and get Giannis cutting more on fast breaks and off the ball. Maybe a pipedream but key to his long-term sustainability as a top player

[machu46]

Yeah, fair to dismiss the FT stuff with that small of a sample size. I don’t think it’s fair to dismiss how he hasn’t looked like he’s anywhere close to a competent basketball player outside of one scrimmage at the NBA Combine though. Long story short…

The other game, in spite of shooting 2-7, he had 6 assists, 0 TO's, & played good d. So I'd say it was just a good overall combine performance, excellent when you factor in age. And as I had pointed out at the time when talking about evals from the scrimmages, in recent history they have very good efficacy.

The only real knock on the combine performance is that he shot like crap in the combine drills.

[Licensed to Il]

Short, fro-less shaun Livingston?

Nah.

The Young God was a savant in terms of court-vision and had it while in HS.

I'm holding off on any sort of prediction until Summer League concludes. There's just not much to go on.

Pulling for the kid, tho.

Was gonna say the same thing. Livingston had elite vision, anticipation, and set up. People forget his knee cap did a 360 and he thus became more a slasher and wing. When he was in HS and ewrly in LA he was a special player at the point.

[randy84]

Short, fro-less shaun Livingston?

Taller Brandon Jennings?

[SupremeHustle]

We'll see him in Vegas soon

And then China shortly thereafter.

Scrolling this thread looking for gems. Found my first.

[SupremeHustle]

A big part of why we only have 1 title and no wiggle room is due to picks like this. Absolute dog

Yep.

[emunney]

When are we going to stop calling guys unique prospects because they’re 6’7” and can make plays off the dribble?

There's a dozen "generational" players in the NBA right now.

Stay tuned for the launch of "OT: Devaluation of Language" and watch it do numbers.

People using words incorrectly has really decimated the English language.

Irregardless, if this doesn't work out, front office change is eminent.

[drew881]

Wish we would have drafted a man. Shannon wpuld have been perfect here.

Or if we are drafting a you guy, Kyshawn George has tons of 3 pt range.

[Ron Swanson]

Ok, optimist viewpoint time. When we talk about a stiff athlete vs. a fluid athlete, kid is definitely the latter based on tape. Looks like a natural ball-handler, can change speeds effortlessly (this is usually a really good indicator) without dribbling the ball off his foot. The vision is solid, not spectacular. He makes some flashy passes which I think makes people overrate his play-making potential a bit, but he's definitely a combo guard that might be able to handle the offense in a pinch.

Motor doesn't seem to be an issue, he tries. Defensive instincts are a complete wildcard. He's shown absolutely nothing there and will only remain a theoretical defensive asset due to the athletic tools until he adds a **** ton of healthy weight/strength and proves otherwise. Shot mechanics are solid, but I don't really agree with the Simons comps at all. Simons was already a lights out shooter as an 18-year old at IMG and that's a pretty lofty projection for a guy who's already gonna be as old as Simons was in his 2nd NBA season. Kinda funny that he's such good friends with Jalen Green, cuz he's built exactly like him (6'4 barefoot with a plus-4 wingspan and light frame). So maybe he's like the less talented, later blooming version of Green?

I don't think you have to squint that hard to see the outline of a really good player. He just needs to add so much physically, mentally, and skill-wise. Like at minimum, 15-20 lbs of weight, get to a respectable level on catch and shoot efficiency, learn how to play team defense, etc. Right now, all he really is, is a skinny, fast-twitch athlete with a tight handle.

[DingleJerry]

I have no idea, hopefully he turns out good but sure seems unlikely he can help next year or the one after. Generally speaking, I'd prefer if they started using their 1st round NBA basketball draft picks on guys who, you know, have played actual basketball recently.

[emunney]

SL starts a week from Monday, will be fun to see him play, along with a hint of whatever progress we might expect from Dre and Dr. Livingston.

[machu46]

Ok, optimist viewpoint time. When we talk about a stiff athlete vs. a fluid athlete, kid is definitely the latter based on tape. Looks like a natural ball-handler, can change speeds effortlessly (this is usually a really good indicator) without dribbling the ball off his foot. The vision is solid, not spectacular. He makes some flashy passes which I think makes people overrate his play-making potential a bit, but he's definitely a combo guard that might be able to handle the offense in a pinch.

Motor doesn't seem to be an issue, he tries. Defensive instincts are a complete wildcard. He's shown absolutely nothing there and will only remain a theoretical defensive asset due to the athletic tools until he adds a **** ton of healthy weight/strength and proves otherwise. Shot mechanics are solid, but I don't really agree with the Simons comps at all. Simons was already a lights out shooter as an 18-year old at IMG and that's a pretty lofty projection for a guy who's already gonna be as old as Simons was in his 2nd NBA season. Kinda funny that he's such good friends with Jalen Green, cuz he's built exactly like him (6'4 barefoot with a plus-4 wingspan and light frame). So maybe he's like the less talented, later blooming version of Green?

I don't think you have to squint that hard to see the outline of a really good player. He just needs to add so much physically, mentally, and skill-wise. Like at minimum, 15-20 lbs of weight, get to a respectable level on catch and shoot efficiency, learn how to play team defense, etc. Right now, all he really is, is a skinny, fast-twitch athlete with a tight handle.

This is definitely true, though should be pointed out Simons was probably playing against dreadful competition. He played for IMG Academy, which is a very strong program, but he was on their post-grad team rather than the high school team that plays against relatively great high schools. Syracuse has recruited a bunch of guys from their post-grad team in recent years so I've watched their games and the level of competition is so laughably bad it's really hard to project anything there. Simons did shoot like 45% from 3 there though lol.

[machu46]

SL starts a week from Monday, will be fun to see him play, along with a hint of whatever progress we might expect from Dre and Dr. Livingston.

Do we think MarJon will return for a 3rd SL campaign? He played last year right?

[SupremeHustle]

Have to admit, he physically reminds me of Ray Allen in this clip. (I’m moving to Supreme’s level 4)

Read on Twitter

?s=61&t=7x9MgP9Kcm4BOX840mYHGQ

I see the potential. I just do. I love playmakers with size. Pre-injury Shawn Livingston was my guy. Jalen Rose. Jiri Welsh.

I'll be rooting for him. Let's go Skinny Hardaway.