Official Draft Thread 2015-16

[No-Man]

I think he could have some issues defending inside, is all learning but I get what are you coming from, still, I think the issues will be bigger offensively, like he might have problems with some bigs, but essentially he will create more problems offensively than the ones that he will get defensively.
Like, unless his outside shot improves a ton, I see him having a lot of trouble to create as a SF against faster defenders.

[pfm]

It's a pretty uninformed opinion since mainly from scouting videos, written reports and watching (some of) the Nike game. He just seemed more into, and better at, guarding the perimeter than the interior. Like that head to head matchup out there with him and Rabb, who seemed to school him inside. Plus reported weakness on the boards. I could easily be way off but that's my initial impression.

And I remember you being high on Mickey, I had no idea who he was at that point. Hope you turn out right on that call.

I get what you're saying here, but I think the point of my initial post (about his size) was to say that he has legit PF size. Depending on how his shooting develops, I think he can play both the 3 and the 4, but ultimately I like him best as a playmaking PF. He just seems like a major mismatch at that position, especially if he can develop some kind of a shot.

I agree defensively that he probably translates best as a SF, but the ability to switch out onto the perimeter and cover PnR will still be valuable as a PF. However, questionable on the boards as you mentioned and one would assume not a massive shot blocking threat.

I'm really glad he decided to play college ball because we will all get a chance to watch him a ton this year. I imagine he will play a lot as a PF at LSU so we can all see how he translates in those questionable areas against D1 competition and also how he develops as a shooter. Fun stuff.

[bucknersrevenge]

Had an open question to draftniks out there just for comparison's sake. Let's say the the Brooklyn picks turns out to be around 4,5, or 6. Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram territory potentially. And then GSW makes Harrison Barnes available because they don't want to resign him. Which of those 3 would you prefer?

[No-Man]

He is going to play similarly to Jabari at Duke, PF/C, LSU rotation should be something like,

Quarterman-Gray
Blakeney-Patterson
Hornsby-Sampson
Simmons-Epps/Bridgewater
Victor-Malone/Robinson

Craig Victor will be eligible in December I believe, he should have Mickey's role.

[No-Man]

Had an open question to draftniks out there just for comparison's sake. Let's say the the Brooklyn picks turns out to be around 4,5, or 6. Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram territory potentially. And then GSW makes Harrison Barnes available because they don't want to resign him. Which of those 3 would you prefer?

trading a high pick for Barnes in a new massive deal makes 0 sense.

[bucknersrevenge]

Had an open question to draftniks out there just for comparison's sake. Let's say the the Brooklyn picks turns out to be around 4,5, or 6. Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram territory potentially. And then GSW makes Harrison Barnes available because they don't want to resign him. Which of those 3 would you prefer?

trading a high pick for Barnes in a new massive deal makes 0 sense.

Fair enough. Just curious on what people thought of the differing talents. I'd be inclined to just draft a guy myself but I was interested in opinions on the matter.

[Falstaff]

Had an open question to draftniks out there just for comparison's sake. Let's say the the Brooklyn picks turns out to be around 4,5, or 6. Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram territory potentially. And then GSW makes Harrison Barnes available because they don't want to resign him. Which of those 3 would you prefer?

I've advocated trading for Barnes recently, but I wouldn't give up a pick nearly this high for him simply because his contract will be huge and a rookie will be on a controlled deal. Both are a gamble on potential paying off, so better to take a chance on the rookie with the smaller deal.

[ddb]

Unless BK surprises us all, they will be pretty bad this season. I don't want to jinx it but I'm thinking that pick could be Top 5. I have dreams about Ben Simmons in Boston.

Smart-Hunter-Simmons have skill-sets that IMO would fit perfectly together.

[KJandHondo35]

Unless BK surprises us all, they will be pretty bad this season. I don't want to jinx it but I'm thinking that pick could be Top 5. I have dreams about Ben Simmons in Boston.

Smart-Hunter-Simmons have skill-sets that IMO would fit perfectly together.

So you're not turned off at all by Simmons willingness to completely not give any effort defensively in big spots? For me it's hard to look past when this team is for the most part about leaving it all out there on that end. Not everybody on this team are great defensively but they all try (maybe minus Sullinger), there's just so many times I've seen Simmons just not give a f***.

[ddb]

Unless BK surprises us all, they will be pretty bad this season. I don't want to jinx it but I'm thinking that pick could be Top 5. I have dreams about Ben Simmons in Boston.

Smart-Hunter-Simmons have skill-sets that IMO would fit perfectly together.

So you're not turned off at all by Simmons willingness to completely not give any effort defensively in big spots? For me it's hard to look past when this team is for the most part about leaving it all out there on that end. Not everybody on this team are great defensively but they all try (maybe minus Sullinger), there's just so many times I've seen Simmons just not give a f***.

Well, I would hardly consider any of the "spots" he's been in to be big. Let's see how he does this season.

[BfB]

Unless BK surprises us all, they will be pretty bad this season. I don't want to jinx it but I'm thinking that pick could be Top 5. I have dreams about Ben Simmons in Boston.

Smart-Hunter-Simmons have skill-sets that IMO would fit perfectly together.

So you're not turned off at all by Simmons willingness to completely not give any effort defensively in big spots? For me it's hard to look past when this team is for the most part about leaving it all out there on that end. Not everybody on this team are great defensively but they all try (maybe minus Sullinger), there's just so many times I've seen Simmons just not give a f***.

Simmons doesn't do it for me at this point. Seems like he buys his own hype too much. Doesn't play with enough intensity for someone who cannot shoot a lick.

Don't see him scoring big-time on the next level right now and he absolutely needs to have the rock in his hands to do anything - no off the ball skills whatsoever.

You surround him with shooters at every other position and let him playmake - thats his best role right now. But his shot is completely **** broken - he cannot shoot the basketball - and I don't know a single big time scorer who doesn't hit 3's to soften the D for his drives.

[mwhis21]

I'm very interested in watching Damian Jones, the C out of Vandy...by all accounts he improved from Freshman to Sophomore year, and is very athletically gifted. But he's Raw. Offensive needs to get much better, and needs to show a better understanding of the game. But he has the size and athletic ability.

The C's have passed on high upside bigs over the years: See DeAndre Jordan. Jones could be an interesting pick depending on where he falls.

[jmr07019]

I don't know a single big time scorer who doesn't hit 3's to soften the D for his drives.

Blake Griffin, LMA. Duncan and Howard when they were in their primes. Wade and LeBron hit 3's but neither are great shooters.

[KJandHondo35]

Unless BK surprises us all, they will be pretty bad this season. I don't want to jinx it but I'm thinking that pick could be Top 5. I have dreams about Ben Simmons in Boston.

Smart-Hunter-Simmons have skill-sets that IMO would fit perfectly together.

So you're not turned off at all by Simmons willingness to completely not give any effort defensively in big spots? For me it's hard to look past when this team is for the most part about leaving it all out there on that end. Not everybody on this team are great defensively but they all try (maybe minus Sullinger), there's just so many times I've seen Simmons just not give a f***.

Well, I would hardly consider any of the "spots" he's been in to be big. Let's see how he does this season.

100% I'm open to see how it goes but at this point it's a red flag.

[ddb]

So you're not turned off at all by Simmons willingness to completely not give any effort defensively in big spots? For me it's hard to look past when this team is for the most part about leaving it all out there on that end. Not everybody on this team are great defensively but they all try (maybe minus Sullinger), there's just so many times I've seen Simmons just not give a f***.

Well, I would hardly consider any of the "spots" he's been in to be big. Let's see how he does this season.

100% I'm open to see how it goes but at this point it's a red flag.

Another thing to consider is the Celts wouldn't necessarily need Ben Simmons to be an above average defender with guys like Smart, Bradley, Crowder around him. Simmons fits in very well into a Brad Stevens system where he prefers versatile players. Simmons can play 1-4. He'd essentially play point forward. He isn't LeBron James or Magic Johnson, but he's pretty damn good and could fit that role as primary facilitator once he's matured as an NBA player.

[MotownMadness]

Lucky asses, you get to try for the playoffs and have a possible top 5 pick. What I mess Brooklyn is.

[bucknersrevenge]

Well, I would hardly consider any of the "spots" he's been in to be big. Let's see how he does this season.

100% I'm open to see how it goes but at this point it's a red flag.

Another thing to consider is the Celts wouldn't necessarily need Ben Simmons to be an above average defender with guys like Smart, Bradley, Crowder around him. Simmons fits in very well into a Brad Stevens system where he prefers versatile players. Simmons can play 1-4. He'd essentially play point forward. He isn't LeBron James or Magic Johnson, but he's pretty damn good and could fit that role as primary facilitator once he's matured as an NBA player.

This is a fair point actually. How would you like to have a more athletic David Lee to go with these young players. Or Blake Griffin if you choose to believe. Even if he never becomes consistent from 3 his ability to make plays would serve him well in the high post out of this offense. Add those 4 defenders to Mickey and probably Amir who would stick around at least one more year and you could cover for him while he learns. I'm also a fan of Jaylen Brown who is a more complete player I think but if either are available it's time to start consolidating all these picks and a bunch of this talent to make sure this happens.

[Murta]

Lucky asses, you get to try for the playoffs and have a possible top 5 pick. What I mess Brooklyn is.

The last team to have been in this situation is yours and we all know how that worked out.

But I agree Cs are incredibly lucky to be in this situation and need to seize the opportunity to make a 10-years contending team. If they don't, all can easily go south.

[ConstableGeneva]

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[165bows]

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Taurean Prince scouting blurb.