Who is your top pick at #17?

[Mattya]

I'm still convinced that Clayton Jr will be a Top 5 player from this Draft when the dust settles.

Can you elaborate why? Watching his highlights I get strong Jimmer Fredette vibes

It's a fair question, Minimus, and it's very hard for me to put into basketball terms. His game reminds me of what DeAngelo Russell was supposed to be coming out of college, but more athletic and driven.

When I watch him play, he lets the game come to him, gives his teammates room to shine and he has a "winner" gene that won't show up in his measurables at the Combine.

He's far from being an elite defender which I know is very important to you as a fan. He's also not a pure PG nor does he fill an obvious need for a backup big man.

What he can do is shoot, distribute the ball, rebound well for his position and make others on his team better.

And he wins.

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Yea I don't get this stuff about him not being a point guard. Damian Lillard had a nearly identical assist to turnover ration coming out of Weber St that Clayton has coming out of Florida.

Jimmer Freddette was able to dominate college because he could dominate at that skill level and size below the rim. He has nowhere near the athleticism or speed Clayton has.

here is the best Jimmer dunk I could find on youtube

Watch on YouTube

now here is Walter Clayton

Watch on YouTube

[Mattya]

Watch on YouTube

From last year

[Slim Tubby]

Watch on YouTube

From last year

Where do you believe Clayton Jr would go in this Draft if he was 19 instead of 22?

Personally, being slightly older doesn't downgrade him as a prospect in the slightest. If a team can get two (2) contracts worth of productivity (8-10 years) from any drafted player, they hit a home run with their pick.

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[Mattya]

Watch on YouTube

From last year

Where do you believe Clayton Jr would go in this Draft if he was 19 instead of 22?

Personally, being slightly older doesn't downgrade him as a prospect in the slightest. If a team can get two (2) contracts worth of productivity (8-10 years) from any drafted player, they hit a home run with their pick.

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Probably higher than Fears. I just don't have the question marks with Clayton as I do with other PGs. I know at the very least Clayton can run PG enough to throw lobs to bigs, makes 3s off catch and shoot, can slash off of rotations, and from watching it looks like he has quick hands.

Now if his off the dribble shooting translates, then watch out.

[Slim Tubby]

Watch on YouTube

From last year

Where do you believe Clayton Jr would go in this Draft if he was 19 instead of 22?

Personally, being slightly older doesn't downgrade him as a prospect in the slightest. If a team can get two (2) contracts worth of productivity (8-10 years) from any drafted player, they hit a home run with their pick.

Sent from my N152DL using RealGM mobile app

Probably higher than Fears. I just don't have the question marks with Clayton as I do with other PGs. I know at the very least Clayton can run PG enough to throw lobs to bigs, makes 3s off catch and shoot, can slash off of rotations, and from watching it looks like he has quick hands.

Now if his off the dribble shooting translates, then watch out.

I'm right there with ya, brother.

With our luck, OKC will draft Clayton Jr right before us....

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[KGdaBom]

Watch on YouTube

From last year

Where do you believe Clayton Jr would go in this Draft if he was 19 instead of 22?

Personally, being slightly older doesn't downgrade him as a prospect in the slightest. If a team can get two (2) contracts worth of productivity (8-10 years) from any drafted player, they hit a home run with their pick.

Sent from my N152DL using RealGM mobile app

It's not the years. It's younger players have a greater chance to improve greatly. Terrence Shannon Jr, isn't likely to make huge strides over the next 4 years like Ant did in his first 4 years. He seems too good to be true at 31, but might be a reach at 17.

[KGdaBom]

Can you elaborate why? Watching his highlights I get strong Jimmer Fredette vibes

It's a fair question, Minimus, and it's very hard for me to put into basketball terms. His game reminds me of what DeAngelo Russell was supposed to be coming out of college, but more athletic and driven.

When I watch him play, he lets the game come to him, gives his teammates room to shine and he has a "winner" gene that won't show up in his measurables at the Combine.

He's far from being an elite defender which I know is very important to you as a fan. He's also not a pure PG nor does he fill an obvious need for a backup big man.

What he can do is shoot, distribute the ball, rebound well for his position and make others on his team better.

And he wins.

Sent from my N152DL using RealGM mobile app

Yea I don't get this stuff about him not being a point guard. Damian Lillard had a nearly identical assist to turnover ration coming out of Weber St that Clayton has coming out of Florida.

Jimmer Freddette was able to dominate college because he could dominate at that skill level and size below the rim. He has nowhere near the athleticism or speed Clayton has.

here is the best Jimmer dunk I could find on youtube

Watch on YouTube

now here is Walter Clayton

Watch on YouTube

That is a very impressive dunk. I'm coming around on him.

[moss_is_1]

Watching Clayton he continues to impress me. I'd take him at 17. He moves well without the ball and is obviously very good with it and getting better. It looks like he watches guys play and uses their game. I see some Brunson, Curry, Lillard, Murray in the way he moves and comes off actions.

[Krapinsky]

I think the depth of the draft is bigs. The guards are a thin group and projected higher than they should be because of position scarcity.

I see the appeal of Clayton. He has an NBA ready skill in his shooting, he’s fearless, and a proven winner. However, the player that people project as his best case scenario -Jamal Murray- was more productive as a freshman than Clayton was as a Senior, which makes me think it’s not an apt comparison to make. Taking into consideration his age, I think someone like Ryan Rollins may be more of a likely scenario for him. At #17, I’d probably look elsewhere for a player with more upside and/or a higher floor.

[Slim Tubby]

I think the depth of the draft is bigs. The guards are a thin group and projected higher than they should be because of position scarcity.

I see the appeal of Clayton. He has an NBA ready skill in his shooting, he’s fearless, and a proven winner. However, the player that people project as his best case scenario -Jamal Murray- was more productive as a freshman than Clayton was as a Senior, which makes me think it’s not an apt comparison to make. Taking into consideration his age, I think someone like Ryan Rollins may be more of a likely scenario for him. At #17, I’d probably look elsewhere for a player with more upside and/or a higher floor.

Good assessment. For me, I'd rather take a more proven prospect like Clayton Jr at 17 and then take a flyer on a high upside big guy at 31.

Like others have mentioned, I think there's a strong chance that one or both picks get moved. If Queen drops past 12, package up both picks and Miller to go up and grab him.

Queen is challenged defensively and raw overall but his offensive upside is crazy good.

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[TheZachAttack]

I like Clayton — I think the Jamal Murray comp is a good one. We need initiation, shotmaking, ball handling, and creation.

I agree with taking the athletic big with tools as a backup C at 31.

If Queen falls, I’d take him and bet on the talent. I think in that world hopefully you’d either be able to trade Randle or let him move on. As we saw with Randle, having a big that can rebound and push in transition, operate in the middle of the floor, make tough shots in those spaces, and find shooters/cutters is a really important playoff skill set.