Countdown to NBA Draft: Prospect Talk

[Marty McFly]

Best thing about having the worst record is you get a Crack at the top 4, and I'm probably even all across the board, with a slight favoring of Lil god and mudiay. Towns has a lot of work to do but he's got the most potential and makes the least sense with melo. Johnson might end up being what some thought Iman could have been.

[Retired_Doc]

Let's not leave Frank Kaminsky out of the mix. A 7 footer who can rebound, score, defend, and shoot the three? Hmmmm.....

[Jmonty580]

I've been wanting Towns for years now (since seeing him play team USA in 2012) and I've been Towns > Jah-Rule for a minute but Jahlil is a monster and I've changed my mind. He doesn't really remind me of someone like Al Jefferson because Al is less athletic and smaller (Al has PF size and Jah is just as big as Demarcus Cousins) or Eddy Curry (he's way more in shape than Eddy who was 300 coming out of high school) but he does remind me of Bynum when he was 21/22 years old.

And that's as a 18 year old college student with no NBA experience.

I think Jahlil could average 16/8 or 18/10 next year (I'm never going to expect a 19 year old to average 20/10 - hasn't happened yet and won't any time soon) while showing the potential to be the best offensive bigman in the game one day.

I can't think of anyone I've ever seen his age with the touch he has around the rim and the footwork. The last big I saw that was this good at scoring was Demarcus and he's averaging 24 ppg now.

Props for being able to keep an open mind and being able to have your opinion changed by actually watching games. I definitely see the appear with Towns no doubt, but after just watching a few UK games I'm just extremely underwhelmed. Could be the system he is in and not being features because who can really be featured in that offense, but at the end of the day I'm just more impressed with the actual game play I'm seeing from Okafor.

[siar617]

With this pick being so important you have to do what is best long term and that's Towns. We have cap space for the rest.

[EricAnderson]

Okafor is by far the #1 pick and it's not close..

Its bizarre the people who kill Okafor but love Towns..Towns looks pedestrian so far all I hear about is his potential but the two things you knock Okafor for lack of athleticism and defense Towns doesn't jump off the charts in either category..

In fact Okafor is more athletic and agile then Towns

[Bklyn&company]

Let's not leave Frank Kaminsky out of the mix. A 7 footer who can rebound, score, defend, and shoot the three? Hmmmm.....

I like Kaminsky, he's in my top ten. Very versatile big.. a smart true big that I see producing in the NBA right away... played Okafor really well and got him into early foul trouble. Also hit two big three's on Okafor forcing Okafor to start playing some defense ...

Wish we could get two first..

[DOLPHIN2020]

The hype around Towns reminds me a lot like the Anthony Randolph hype...

[DaGawd]

The hype around Towns reminds me a lot like the Anthony Randolph hype...

Lol... this dude actually came to my mind when I was thinking about who to compare him to the other day..

[NBA Fan 1234]

The hype around Towns reminds me a lot like the Anthony Randolph hype...

Significantly stronger, better frame, and actually knows his position / can play within himself -- unlike Magic, who wanted to be a point forward, was stick thin, and wasn't very smart. He can also shoot the ball and isn't perimeter oriented, although he can 100% step out and hit the jumper.

Basically, I don't see any comparison between the two.

[Manhattan Project]

The hype about Randolph was that he was a tall person who can handle the basketball and some projected him as an elite defender due to his speed/wingspan. That's essentially all there was to him. I mean honestly how many times have we seen Randolph cry? What grown ass man cries in basketball... Odom made him cry, Thomas made him cry.

[ibraheim718]

The hype around Towns reminds me a lot like the Anthony Randolph hype...

Not even a little bit.

[Jheri Curl]

can anyone tell me more about this d'angelo russell kid

He's one of my favorite players in D1 right now. About 6'4/6'5, very good passer, has the ability to score, can handle the ball. Basically he's a PG/SG right now leaning more towards SG. He would be great in the Triangle with his skill set. He's an average athlete, has been a deadeye from three so far (44.6%) and gets to the line. He's like a smaller James Harden. Pretty much a 1 and done guy at this point. If we had an extra lotto pick I would use it on him with no hesitation.

[dakomish23]

May 19th can't come fast enough. 126 days left

[E-Balla]

can anyone tell me more about this d'angelo russell kid

He's one of my favorite players in D1 right now. About 6'4/6'5, very good passer, has the ability to score, can handle the ball. Basically he's a PG/SG right now leaning more towards SG. He would be great in the Triangle with his skill set. He's an average athlete, has been a deadeye from three so far (44.6%) and gets to the line. He's like a smaller James Harden. Pretty much a 1 and done guy at this point. If we had an extra lotto pick I would use it on him with no hesitation.

Smaller James Harden? He can't get to the line nearly as well as Harden because he lacks the craftiness and he plays way too smooth. I'd say he's more like a weak Brandon Roy or a weaker Eric Gordon (pre-injury) with his ability to be passive and laid-back while still taking over games. If we end up out of the top 3 Russell and Kevon Looney are great picks and fits in the triangle.

Someone was telling me Jahlil is improving during the season and they sent me these numbers:

First 5 games: 15.8 ppg, 36/60 (60.0%), 60.1 TS%, 22.4 pp40
Next 5 games: 19.0 ppg, 39/55 (70.9%), 67.9 TS%, 26.9 pp40
Last 5 games: 22.8 ppg, 42/56 (75.0%), 74.3 TS%, 28.7 pp40

Talk now is that Jahlil is the best college C since Anthony Davis and possibly Tim Duncan if he can do this or similar against good competition like Texas and Kentucky since the few times he's played NBA level bigs Coach K leaned more on Tyus and the backcourt only giving Jahlil shots when everything else fell through.

[moocow007]

can anyone tell me more about this d'angelo russell kid

He's one of my favorite players in D1 right now. About 6'4/6'5, very good passer, has the ability to score, can handle the ball. Basically he's a PG/SG right now leaning more towards SG. He would be great in the Triangle with his skill set. He's an average athlete, has been a deadeye from three so far (44.6%) and gets to the line. He's like a smaller James Harden. Pretty much a 1 and done guy at this point. If we had an extra lotto pick I would use it on him with no hesitation.

Smaller James Harden? He can't get to the line nearly as well as Harden because he lacks the craftiness and he plays way too smooth. I'd say he's more like a weak Brandon Roy or a weaker Eric Gordon (pre-injury) with his ability to be passive and laid-back while still taking over games. If we end up out of the top 3 Russell and Kevon Looney are great picks and fits in the triangle.

Someone was telling me Jahlil is improving during the season and they sent me these numbers:

First 5 games: 15.8 ppg, 36/60 (60.0%), 60.1 TS%, 22.4 pp40
Next 5 games: 19.0 ppg, 39/55 (70.9%), 67.9 TS%, 26.9 pp40
Last 5 games: 22.8 ppg, 42/56 (75.0%), 74.3 TS%, 28.7 pp40

Talk now is that Jahlil is the best college C since Anthony Davis and possibly Tim Duncan if he can do this or similar against good competition like Texas and Kentucky since the few times he's played NBA level bigs Coach K leaned more on Tyus and the backcourt only giving Jahlil shots when everything else fell through.

JR? Is that you?

[E-Balla]

He's one of my favorite players in D1 right now. About 6'4/6'5, very good passer, has the ability to score, can handle the ball. Basically he's a PG/SG right now leaning more towards SG. He would be great in the Triangle with his skill set. He's an average athlete, has been a deadeye from three so far (44.6%) and gets to the line. He's like a smaller James Harden. Pretty much a 1 and done guy at this point. If we had an extra lotto pick I would use it on him with no hesitation.

Smaller James Harden? He can't get to the line nearly as well as Harden because he lacks the craftiness and he plays way too smooth. I'd say he's more like a weak Brandon Roy or a weaker Eric Gordon (pre-injury) with his ability to be passive and laid-back while still taking over games. If we end up out of the top 3 Russell and Kevon Looney are great picks and fits in the triangle.

Someone was telling me Jahlil is improving during the season and they sent me these numbers:

First 5 games: 15.8 ppg, 36/60 (60.0%), 60.1 TS%, 22.4 pp40
Next 5 games: 19.0 ppg, 39/55 (70.9%), 67.9 TS%, 26.9 pp40
Last 5 games: 22.8 ppg, 42/56 (75.0%), 74.3 TS%, 28.7 pp40

Talk now is that Jahlil is the best college C since Anthony Davis and possibly Tim Duncan if he can do this or similar against good competition like Texas and Kentucky since the few times he's played NBA level bigs Coach K leaned more on Tyus and the backcourt only giving Jahlil shots when everything else fell through.

JR? Is that you?

Never saw that one. I gotta say watching him takeover is fun. He really reminds me of Eric Gordon at Indiana pre-injury.

[moocow007]

Smaller James Harden? He can't get to the line nearly as well as Harden because he lacks the craftiness and he plays way too smooth. I'd say he's more like a weak Brandon Roy or a weaker Eric Gordon (pre-injury) with his ability to be passive and laid-back while still taking over games. If we end up out of the top 3 Russell and Kevon Looney are great picks and fits in the triangle.

Someone was telling me Jahlil is improving during the season and they sent me these numbers:

First 5 games: 15.8 ppg, 36/60 (60.0%), 60.1 TS%, 22.4 pp40
Next 5 games: 19.0 ppg, 39/55 (70.9%), 67.9 TS%, 26.9 pp40
Last 5 games: 22.8 ppg, 42/56 (75.0%), 74.3 TS%, 28.7 pp40

Talk now is that Jahlil is the best college C since Anthony Davis and possibly Tim Duncan if he can do this or similar against good competition like Texas and Kentucky since the few times he's played NBA level bigs Coach K leaned more on Tyus and the backcourt only giving Jahlil shots when everything else fell through.

JR? Is that you?

Never saw that one. I gotta say watching him takeover is fun. He really reminds me of Eric Gordon at Indiana pre-injury.

Yeah he definitely is a very talented player, that's for sure.

[dakomish23]

do not want winslow.

He had a bad game. Just a freshman. Kid is a stud in the making imo.

Jimmy Butler / Leonard mold. Would love this kid here to develop in an actual system

[Marty McFly]

russell is top 5 for me.

[Johnny Hoops]

Haven't watched Russell yet -- only caught a few mins this weekend.

Would anyone compare him to an at UCONN Jeremy Lamb? I know he's lefty but long body reminded me of Lamb a bit.