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

[notagenius]

Imagine getting Thon with Raptors 1st in addition to Masai working his magic with Den pick... fire

Hopefully Masai stays away from Thon.

Wish him all the best but he's a terrible basketball player.

[kidr1211]

I hope taurean prince falls to our pick

[deeps6x]

Except neither Iguodala or Drummond are stars, or ever were stars.

Iguodala has been a good complementary player. Drummond, four years after coming into the league, is basically still a rebounder and dunker. He's a huge liability on offense because he can't shoot free throws.

Drummond could be awesome if he had any BBIQ. But give him a few more years, and where to be and where to go will eventually get drilled into him. Then he will start to look pretty damn good.

Kind of like DD. Except with a better start to his career. DD was pretty bad for the first few seasons. But now, through a ton of hard work and coaching, he has become an all-star. And a decent player. I think he was a decent human being all along.

Oh for sure, it's definitely too early to give up him developing other aspects of his game. There's no doubt he's an elite rebounder. But benches around the league are filled with guys who are good rebounders. Drummond has youth on his side, so we'll have to wait and see.

Yeah, you've gotta have more than rebounding going for you in this league. That kinda makes me wonder about Davis as our potential pick. For a big 6'10" kid who is always at the rim on O and D, he only had one free throw attempt per game, and only shot .605 from the line. Rabb on the other hand had about 5 free throw attempts per game, and made a higher percentage of them .669.

Otherwise they were quite similar.

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

Both would be good picks at #9, but I'd lean towards Rabb based on stats alone - and having to carry Brown on D.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I hope taurean prince falls to our pick

That's not happening, but we can dream.

[Volcano]

Ross, Luwawu, Davis all day. Unless Brown or someone else falls. We have gifted teams drafting 9th Iguodala and Drummond. Time for someone ie. Sacramento to gift wrap us a star.

Except neither Iguodala or Drummond are stars, or ever were stars.

Iguodala has been a good complementary player. Drummond, four years after coming into the league, is basically still a rebounder and dunker. He's a huge liability on offense because he can't shoot free throws.

Iggy was a top 3 perimeter defender the past few years (I think rated #1 one year) and was a decent #2 or 3 option in his prime. He won the finals MVP last season too. Would be awesome if we can get a player like that with #9.

Drummond had sky high trade value in his first couple years and should have been used as trade bait. Could have basically netted an all-star with him or we could have traded him to Detroit for Ross and another pick. I've always been wary of his ability to develop though..especially since so few athletic bigs were able to really transform their game. Those type of players regress as their athleticism goes.

[MEDIC]

Yeah, you've gotta have more than rebounding going for you in this league. That kinda makes me wonder about Davis as our potential pick. For a big 6'10" kid who is always at the rim on O and D, he only had one free throw attempt per game, and only shot .605 from the line. Rabb on the other hand had about 5 free throw attempts per game, and made a higher percentage of them .669.

Otherwise they were quite similar.

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

Both would be good picks at #9, but I'd lean towards Rabb based on stats alone - and having to carry Brown on D.

Quite a massive difference in shot blocking.

[Kevin Willis]

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/patrick-patterson-raptors-toronto-playoffs/

Something to read to get you more hyped for tomorrow!

[MEDIC]

JT is a LLE player at this point and can be replaced/retained easily.

Scola is very replaceable. Healthy Carroll + PPat could soak up him minutes.

So really, it's just Biyombo.

I don't think you understand the point I was trying to make.

If you replace those 3 players with 2 rookies & Bebe, this team gets worse, not better.

Even James Johnson was useful this season when the injury bug hit.

[Dr Positivity]

Imagine getting Thon with Raptors 1st in addition to Masai working his magic with Den pick... fire

I'm a little shocked to see Dr Positivity pumping Thon at #27. Did he really screen that well in your model? Who do you have right in front and behind him?

True, on second thought there are probably players who rate high on my list who'd be available at 27. I just think having Thon Maker would be fun

[deeps6x]

Ross, Luwawu, Davis all day. Unless Brown or someone else falls. We have gifted teams drafting 9th Iguodala and Drummond. Time for someone ie. Sacramento to gift wrap us a star.

Except neither Iguodala or Drummond are stars, or ever were stars.

Iguodala has been a good complementary player. Drummond, four years after coming into the league, is basically still a rebounder and dunker. He's a huge liability on offense because he can't shoot free throws.

Iggy was a top 3 perimeter defender the past few years (I think rated #1 one year) and was a decent #2 or 3 option in his prime. He won the finals MVP last season too. Would be awesome if we can get a player like that with #9.

Drummond had sky high trade value in his first couple years and should have been used as trade bait. Could have basically netted an all-star with him or we could have traded him to Detroit for Ross and another pick. I've always been wary of his ability to develop though..especially since so few athletic bigs were able to really transform their game. Those type of players regress as their athleticism goes.

Agreed. The pick should have been Drummond. I was so happy when he fell to us - for about 3 minutes.

Hmmm, who was that other big we had around then and let go for nothing. Oh yeah, Whiteside. (facepalm)

[kidr1211]

nbadraftnet has luwawu going in the 2nd round wtf

[deeps6x]

Imagine getting Thon with Raptors 1st in addition to Masai working his magic with Den pick... fire

I'm a little shocked to see Dr Positivity pumping Thon at #27. Did he really screen that well in your model? Who do you have right in front and behind him?

True, on second thought there are probably players who rate high on my list who'd be available at 27. I just think having Thon Maker would be fun

It might be fun. Dreaming about the kids 'potential'. But how long do you sit on that potential? Is it just nice to have potential on the 905? Bruno style. 3-4 years of potential? (I'm sounding too sarcastic, I know)

I actually really respect your methods and am interested in who you see as potential good picks around #27.

Personally, I like Brice Johnson (great rebounder, high energy big), Cordinier (fantastic shooting stats, 6'5" SG, but don't know much about him), Benj Bentil (another high energy PF but with a bit of a 3 point shot - like Chriss).

Maybe we go for a backup C if Masai doesn't think we can bring Biyombo back and doesn't have enough confidence in Bebe going forward. If so, Zubac, Zizic and Qi all look like interesting late firsts. They could probably be stashed for a year or two as well - if roster spots are really a concern.

Your thoughts Dr?

[Mark_83]

Been watching videos of Luwawu, and the way he avoids contact on offense is very Rossish

You must have missed the vid where he comes slashing in at high speed and crushes some guy with surprisingly no call either way. I had no sense whatsoever that when crashing towards the hoop he was avoiding contact.

To be fair to mademan Luwawu himself says on his DX report that he avoids contact, and it's clear that he does this more often than just from watching him on several occasions.

[free]

Yeah, you've gotta have more than rebounding going for you in this league. That kinda makes me wonder about Davis as our potential pick. For a big 6'10" kid who is always at the rim on O and D, he only had one free throw attempt per game, and only shot .605 from the line. Rabb on the other hand had about 5 free throw attempts per game, and made a higher percentage of them .669.

Otherwise they were quite similar.

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

Both would be good picks at #9, but I'd lean towards Rabb based on stats alone - and having to carry Brown on D.

Quite a massive difference in shot blocking.

Yeah, it's so weird how Rabb contests so many less shots than Deyonta.

Not sure if it's a product of the UCLA system or something.

Davis has a 10% block rate vs Rabb 4%.

Rabb projects as a better shooter though.

I'm going back and forth on these two. Can't separate them!

[andyo]

I hope taurean prince falls to our pick

He seems like a role player at best with limited upside + no first step to speak of, I guess that's what you want at our pick but I'd aim higher especially because we got Powell + 905'ers now.

[Dr Positivity]

I'm a little shocked to see Dr Positivity pumping Thon at #27. Did he really screen that well in your model? Who do you have right in front and behind him?

True, on second thought there are probably players who rate high on my list who'd be available at 27. I just think having Thon Maker would be fun

It might be fun. Dreaming about the kids 'potential'. But how long do you sit on that potential? Is it just nice to have potential on the 905? Bruno style. 3-4 years of potential? (I'm sounding too sarcastic, I know)

I actually really respect your methods and am interested in who you see as potential good picks around #27.

Personally, I like Brice Johnson (great rebounder, high energy big), Cordinier (fantastic shooting stats, 6'5" SG, but don't know much about him), Benj Bentil (another high energy PF but with a bit of a 3 point shot - like Chriss).

Maybe we go for a backup C if Masai doesn't think we can bring Biyombo back and doesn't have enough confidence in Bebe going forward. If so, Zubac, Zizic and Qi all look like interesting late firsts. They could probably be stashed for a year or two as well - if roster spots are really a concern.

Your thoughts Dr?

My only issue with Brice is (based on a small sample size), I think having any mental make-up flag lowers a player's chances of being good. Brice is not Royce White but I think being a hothead/immature is a thing with him.

Some players I like at 27

Chinanu Onuaku - 19 year old C who's one of the best statistical players in the draft for me with a strong combination of blocks/steals, rebounds, assists, efficiency. A banger skill wise, but is a good passer and has size and athleticism.

Ron Baker - has some quality stats in stl, blk, reb, ast. Has 6'9 wingspan and 220 pounds so the measurables in addition to the defensive stats are good. A good not great shooter, has potential to be a 3pt shooter in the NBA.

Daniel Ochefu - good combination of shotblocking, rebounding, efficiency, assists, looks to have a pretty nice combination of length and strength for a C. Not the most skilled player but can be a role player

Malcolm Brogdon - this isn't even a player who shows up well in my #s. But using a Nylon Calculus shooting formula taking into account 3pt volume and FT% he rated as a top 5 shooter in the draft behind Hield, Valentine, Murray, and David Walker. He is a SG with 6'10 wingspan and 220 pounds. So going outside the numbers, that he looks to have potential to be a deadeye shooter with defensive tools, looks good. I think he's a lot closer to Hield and Valentine, also seniors with weak #s in my ratings, than his draft position justifies

Zhou Qi - I'm not sure what to make of CBA stats but his stats are good there at 16/10/3/.67 TS% and is like 18th in PER in the CBA. His numbers are better than Mudiay's were for example. When added to how he doesn't look like that different a version of pre draft Porzingis (crazy length, 3pt shooting, skinny) talent wise I think he may be worth the gamble for someone so long as he's not committed to staying in China his whole career or something

[UnderdogRaptors]

Thon and sabonis and I'm happy

[WWSRD]

JT is a LLE player at this point and can be replaced/retained easily.

Scola is very replaceable. Healthy Carroll + PPat could soak up him minutes.

So really, it's just Biyombo.

I don't think you understand the point I was trying to make.

If you replace those 3 players with 2 rookies & Bebe, this team gets worse, not better.

Even James Johnson was useful this season when the injury bug hit.

Fair enough. But Scola is wandering into addition by subtraction category.

[MEDIC]

Fair enough. But Scola is wandering into addition by subtraction category.

I agree. I don't think he will be on the roster next season........not as a player anyhow.

This team has to try to decide what it wants to be. Do they want to stay the same? Take a step forward? Take a step back?

I don't think you can have a rookie backing up Patterson & expect to take a step forward.

I also don't think Bebe taking the backup C position over Bismack is a step forward.

I guess these playoffs will dictate a lot of things in regards to direction.

[WWSRD]

Fair enough. But Scola is wandering into addition by subtraction category.

I agree. I don't think he will be on the roster next season........not as a player anyhow.

This team has to try to decide what it wants to be. Do they want to stay the same? Take a step forward? Take a step back?

I don't think you can have a rookie backing up Patterson & expect to take a step forward.

I also don't think Bebe taking the backup C position over Bismack is a step forward.

I guess these playoffs will dictate a lot of things in regards to direction.

Assets are there. Some success in the playoff will cement their worth.

A lot of teams could use guys like Delon Wright and Ross. People will be calling Masai and I really think a trade will materialize.