Thank Nation! Pre-Lottery: Denver 9th, NY pick 7th (PART 4)

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I'd take Davis over Skal in a heartbeat.

[DreamTeam09]

I have no beef with skal if MU takes him. Him and Val would definitely add an element that most teams just can`t compensate for. The length would be crazy.

[UnderdogRaptors]

I have no beef with skal if MU takes him. Him and Val would definitely add an element that most teams just can`t compensate for. The length would be crazy.

Skal and thon pls

[BoyzNTheHood]

Skal was supposed to be a candidate for a No. 1 pick and then he didn't play well. He reminds me of Drummond but Drummond didn't play with great teammates like Skal did. I mean he could be great in the NBA like Drummond but Drummond was a manchild. Skal has to grow into his body and also grow his game. Which means he's just not going to be ready for awhile. This might not be the right team for him.

He'll probably have to develop on the 905 just like Norman and Delon had to. But I keep telling people that Skal performed when he had minutes. Cal treated this kid worse than Casey treats Jonas.

Tomorrow is a crucial day

Also skal isn't good to be picked that high

I disagree.

Here are Davis highlights. He is not as polished offensively as Rabb but he's defensively solid for someone so young. Davis has more bounce too. I think Rabb is a better prospect but Davis is still legitimate with a blue collar game.


[Spoiler]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pw_bc95O2c&nohtml5=False[/Spoiler]

I honestly wouldn't mind taking either of these two. I'd say Rabb has the higher floor, and Davis has the higher ceiling.

I'm probably in the minority, but I'd still take Skal over both of them.

[YouTube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF_cWYmUZVw&nohtml5=False[/YouTube]

I agree, it's hard to pass up on a someone who is as talented as Skal. Compliments JV so well.

My draft board in our range:
1) If one of Hield, Bender, Brown or Murray drop (draft one of them and run)
2) Skal
3) Rabb
4) Luwawu

I can get with that draft board. The only guy who can throw me off is OG if he declares.

I have no beef with skal if MU takes him. Him and Val would definitely add an element that most teams just can`t compensate for. The length would be crazy.

I can imagine Skal covering for JV and spacing the floor in time. They fit together like a glove.

[CoachJReturns]

Some stats for the Rabb is Ed Davis talk. He is not Ed. He us definitely not Bosh. He is not quite Aldridge. He seems to be somewhere in between Aldridge and Ed really. That's a very good starter and he is quite young so he could take some big steps still. For now here are the numbers for these 3 in college:

Ed Davishttp://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/ed-davis-1.html
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/lamarcus-aldridge-1.htmlLamarcus Aldridge

Ivan Rabbhttp://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/ivan-rabb-1.html

Obviously numbers don't tell us everything. LA was a better shooter. Rabb may be a better finisher with his off hand. Davis is clearly a better shot blocker than either. Simple point I'm making is Rabb looks like a solid player. Will he be a star? Odds are around 40 percent as that seems about average in our slot.

I'm all for any of Rabb, Luwawu and I'm coming around on Davis for a more explosive guy.

[LoveBall04]

IT COULD HAPPEN.

I just ran a simulator 20 or 30 times to get this...

[GP2]

IT COULD HAPPEN.

I just ran a simulator 20 or 30 times to get this...

Now keep doing it until we get 2nd.

[LoveBall04]

IT COULD HAPPEN.

I just ran a simulator 20 or 30 times to get this...

Now keep doing it until we get 2nd.

I'll let the actual draft do that.

[UneducatedFan86]

Some Rabb highlights. He has some very nice footwork and finishes well with either hand. He's just a very fundamentally sound player for someone so young. Him and Davis are polar opposites. Davis makes all these huge highlights and Rabb is like the quiet workhorse. I'd be happy with either.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fAllJbEv3lk

Here are Davis highlights. He is not as polished offensively as Rabb but he's defensively solid for someone so young. Davis has more bounce too. I think Rabb is a better prospect but Davis is still legitimate with a blue collar game.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pw_bc95O2c&nohtml5=False

I honestly wouldn't mind taking either of these two. I'd say Rabb has the higher floor, and Davis has the higher ceiling.

I'm probably in the minority, but I'd still take Skal over both of them.

[YouTube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF_cWYmUZVw&nohtml5=False[/YouTube]

I've said it before, but I'm not really too enamored with any of the projected PFs at our likely spot. But I'm with you in the Skal camp. If we are going to go for a PF, and they are the best player available, then Skal is my choice. In this league, you can't just be fundamentally sound and be drafted as high as 9th. That's why I'm not a huge fan of Rabb. Yeah he's a sound player but nothing really jumps out. Davis has a bit more tenacity to his game and looks like someone who can be a solid defensive player. But it's Skal that seems like the more overall package.

For me, it's about going for the BPA (aka the player that drops) or the player with the most upside/dynamic talent. Don't play it safe with a lottery pick. You can go safe with our pick, but aim high with the lottery pic. That's why I'd rather look at some of the guards/SF in our range. I think we can get a high-upside talent and someone who can really help us both in the present and the future. Skal would be the closest thing that matches those requirements in the PF group that is likely there, though.

[S.W.A.N]

It really is a blessing having the 905. We have so many more options for player development now. If we did take a raw talent like a Skal or Thon we know they aren't going to sit on the bench and stagnate.

Even a nba ready player can go down for half a year and get lots of mins playing the same system we use. Such a good tool for player development for a win now team.

[zilby]

Might actually be a good thing we set our matchup with Indiana in stone tonight. Gives them no incentive to try tomorrow against Milwaukee, who could win, since we need them to. Not expecting Sacramento to win, but if Portland can snag one against Denver, we'll have a tie for 8th and coin flip, finishing 9th at worst. I can live with it. Again, this is all for Andrea Bargnani.

Can't wait for the thread where we vote who gets to represent us at the lottery! I vote Grunwald or one of Camby/Q-Rich/Novak.

[notsla refar]

I'm definitely liking the idea of Skal at our pick if he's there. Great athlete. Got a fellow Wildcat on the roster in Patterson too.

[Micrew18]

Seriously asking, anybody watch interviews of Skal? Why is his mental makeup seen as a negative? Just from those highlight videos I can see he can be immature and loves to celebrate his dunks and blocks, but nothing much more than Biyombo would, right? Why is he not seen as a higher level prospect?

[deeps6x]

Some stats for the Rabb is Ed Davis talk. He is not Ed. He us definitely not Bosh. He is not quite Aldridge. He seems to be somewhere in between Aldridge and Ed really. That's a very good starter and he is quite young so he could take some big steps still. For now here are the numbers for these 3 in college:

Ed Davishttp://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/ed-davis-1.html
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/lamarcus-aldridge-1.htmlLamarcus Aldridge

Ivan Rabbhttp://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/ivan-rabb-1.html

Obviously numbers don't tell us everything. LA was a better shooter. Rabb may be a better finisher with his off hand. Davis is clearly a better shot blocker than either. Simple point I'm making is Rabb looks like a solid player. Will he be a star? Odds are around 40 percent as that seems about average in our slot.

I'm all for any of Rabb, Luwawu and I'm coming around on Davis for a more explosive guy.

Yes, if Masai wants to use the first pick on a PF, it has to be Rabb or Davis. Davis is slightly better on D, Rabb slightly better on O. Identical rebounding ability, Davis with the big lead on blocks.

If it is up to me, I'd lead towards Rabb because I just don't know how much of the excellent D Davis gets credit for was from him personally, or from playing with Costello and Valentine. The Spartans got credit for having great team D, but Forbes and Harris were undersized and sucked on D. Anyone who actually watched their games knows that great D was from Costello, Davis and Valentine alone. The stats prove this as well. I really liked Davis, but Rabb, well, he was good on D all on his own. Edge to Rabb.

I really can't say who has the higher ceiling or higher floor between the two. Both would be great picks at #9. I leave it up to Masai to evaluate them after the combine, workouts and interviews to see which of the two would be the better fit.

Happy with either one of them.

11.9 TRB, N/A 3pt%, .615 FG%, .616 eFG%, 17.5 Pts, 1.3 Ast, 0.7 Stl, 1.7 Blk, .636 TS%, 24.2 PER, ORtg 124.8, DRtg 95.3, BPM 8.7. Ivan Rabb

11.8 TRB, N/A 3pt%, .598 FG%, .598 eFG%, 16.1 Pts, 1.6 Ast, 0.6 Stl, 3.9 Blk, .601 TS%, 23.9 PER, ORtg 121.4, DRtg 90.9, BPM 10.8. D Davis

14.4 TRB, .250 3pt%, .561 FG%, .564 eFG%, 18.7 Pts, 2.3 Ast, 1.1 Stl, 2.1 Blk, .599 TS%, 27.8 PER, ORtg 127.6, DRtg 89.9, BPM 11.5. Matt Costello

9.1 TRB, .444 3pt%, .462 FG%, .579 eFG%, 23.3 Pts, 9.4 Ast, 1.3 Stl, 0.3 Blk, .608 TS%, 29.7 PER, ORtg 127.2, DRtg 94.0, BPM 16.5. Valentine

[OAKLEY_2]

I'd take Davis over Skal in a heartbeat.

So would I but I wouldn't take Davis over Luwawu or Rabb.

[cdel00]

Sabonis has my vote even in the lotto. For a sophomore he shows a fantastic feel for the game.
We need a rookie who simply gets it and requires minimal grooming in my opinion.

Per 29.3
TS% 67.5
Reb 11.8
Ast 1.8
points 17.6
TOV 2.6
WS/40 .260
ORtg 124.6
DRtg 91.2

[super_balls]

Skal was supposed to be a candidate for a No. 1 pick and then he didn't play well. He reminds me of Drummond but Drummond didn't play with great teammates like Skal did. I mean he could be great in the NBA like Drummond but Drummond was a manchild. Skal has to grow into his body and also grow his game. Which means he's just not going to be ready for awhile. This might not be the right team for him.

He'll probably have to develop on the 905 just like Norman and Delon had to. But I keep telling people that Skal performed when he had minutes. Cal treated this kid worse than Casey treats Jonas.

Tomorrow is a crucial day

Also skal isn't good to be picked that high

I disagree.

I honestly wouldn't mind taking either of these two. I'd say Rabb has the higher floor, and Davis has the higher ceiling.

I'm probably in the minority, but I'd still take Skal over both of them.

[YouTube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF_cWYmUZVw&nohtml5=False[/YouTube]

I agree, it's hard to pass up on a someone who is as talented as Skal. Compliments JV so well.

My draft board in our range:
1) If one of Hield, Bender, Brown or Murray drop (draft one of them and run)
2) Skal
3) Rabb
4) Luwawu

I can get with that draft board. The only guy who can throw me off is OG if he declares.

I have no beef with skal if MU takes him. Him and Val would definitely add an element that most teams just can`t compensate for. The length would be crazy.

I can imagine Skal covering for JV and spacing the floor in time. They fit together like a glove.

I also love OG a lot. I will crazy if we end up with Skal+OG or Skal+Prince. It's almost a perfect scenario.

[DreamTeam09]

I'm on the skal Bandwagon. His jumper spaces the game and his length on both ends of the floor will be impact full. Reminds me of noah, better jumper worse passer

[MEDIC]

Skal is growing on me a little. You can definitely see top 5 level talent. I see some Aldridge there.

It was all depend on how Casey & Masai view him in terms of defensive potential & if they view him as a guy who will work hard & fit what we are trying to do here. I'd be fine if they picked him because I think they look for the right characteristics in a player psychologically.

I like Davis & Skal better than Rabb.

[CoachJReturns]

I think I'm firmly against Skal at this point. In terms of what he is supposed to excel at, shooting, quickness to defend multiple positions and shot blocking ability he seems the ideal frontcourt mate for JV. But he was lackluster in college. Perhaps he'll make me look foolish in the future, but he seems like this year's Anthony Randolph,
I think part of what informs everyone's propsect preference is what they actually expect from this pick. If they want someone with crazy fast twitch muscles who at least looks like a superstar in certain highlights then a guy like Skal or Davis is more appealing. I get that.
Personally, I look at this team and our draft position and what I want is someone who on the surface appears less likely to be a dominant force, but much more likely to not bust. In short, an above average starter. A guy who could one day become a star, but will almost certainly be a very useful player and maybe a 2nd or 3rd option on a great team.
We aren't drafting someone to win us a championship next year, but we also probably aren't drafting the guy to be our Duncan/Lebron/Durant etc. a few years from now. I think the goal should be to draft a guy who could be a great complimentary player to the NEXT superstar we draft whenever this team has to blow it up several years from now. To me that's probably Rabb, or maybe Luwawu.
But I've been wrong about so many drafts that I could just be talking a lot of **** right now. lol.