Official 2017 Draft Thread - Something Positive To Look Forward To

[Burnie Riley]

I watched the FSU game I posted yesterday and moved Isaac ahead of Josh Jackson on my board. He's got elite size, made some nice passes (he's not a bad dribbler but Jackson has him beat in that area), hustles on D, can shoot. He's got a HIGH ceiling. He might move to number one for me if I don't get to see some film of Fultz, although Fultz seems like the safer bet.
For those who don't have time to watch the whole game:

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

If the Heat are going to keep winning games they aren't supposed to, we're going to need guys like Adebayo to sneak in for teams that need a big and Giles needs to hurry the hell up and ease some teams' fears.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[Rich2Hassan]

I think we end up with the 11-16th pick. We keep winning these meaningless games and before you know it we will creep up on 34-35 wins. #Nomansland

[DayofMourning]

You really think that? Can you explain why you believe that to be? & is it really that much of a diference that you would even say Its no contest?

I am also leaning towards Jakson but only cause he has such great timing on his blacks, & his potential at that end, but i see him very raw still on defense.

Ball for someone thats none for his offense plays has pretty good on the ball presser defense. Better then what i expected. But i still need to see way more.

Markelle is the one that i have seen the least, so if anyone wishes to comment on his defense, please do. Thank you

I've been following this draft class for a while and have seen a lot of Josh Jackson games. To fully appreciate a player that means you have to watch full games, not just highlight reels. That'd be my advice before forming a full opinion on any of those three guys.

Having said that, I've watch JJ completely shut people down on many occasions. He really relishes the defensive side of the game. Its a challenge that he's always up to. Its not just the steals and the highlight blocks, its the man defense where he doesn't over commit and forces his man into a bad shot. He has nice size and length for his position and gets his chest into the offensive player. Match those traits with his aggressive mentality, and you've got quite the performer.

I've watched plenty of Fultz and am catching up on Ball at the moment. They both are playmakers and competitors, so they have some nice results on defense, but when comparing those two to Josh, there's a gap. Josh outclasses them physically, and has the capability of guarding one through three very effectively. You can't expect that positional coverage by either Fultz or Ball, they just aren't physically capable of it. I'd rather compare apples to apples, and that isn't the case when comparing a lengthy small forward to a couple combo guards. That doesn't diminish their defensive potential, it just says more about JJ's abilities.

[DayofMourning]

Duke on right now.
DSJ on at 4.
Fultz at 1030.

[DayofMourning]

Watch on YouTube

like this kid mang'.

Got consistent role player in his swag. We could teach him to dfense if that's a prob

I like his offensive awareness. He really gets it on that end of the floor. He knows his role and doesn't try to do too much.

Another shooting guard I liked a lot and wanted to see play for Arizona this year was Terrance Ferguson. I don't even know where he's at or what he's doing at the moment. Crazy shot and athleticism, with some swagger to his game.

[leoshes]

You really think that? Can you explain why you believe that to be? & is it really that much of a diference that you would even say Its no contest?

I am also leaning towards Jakson but only cause he has such great timing on his blacks, & his potential at that end, but i see him very raw still on defense.

Ball for someone thats none for his offense plays has pretty good on the ball presser defense. Better then what i expected. But i still need to see way more.

Markelle is the one that i have seen the least, so if anyone wishes to comment on his defense, please do. Thank you

I've been following this draft class for a while and have seen a lot of Josh Jackson games. To fully appreciate a player that means you have to watch full games, not just highlight reels. That'd be my advice before forming a full opinion on any of those three guys.

Having said that, I've watch JJ completely shut people down on many occasions. He really relishes the defensive side of the game. Its a challenge that he's always up to. Its not just the steals and the highlight blocks, its the man defense where he doesn't over commit and forces his man into a bad shot. He has nice size and length for his position and gets his chest into the offensive player. Match those traits with his aggressive mentality, and you've got quite the performer.

I've watched plenty of Fultz and am catching up on Ball at the moment. They both are playmakers and competitors, so they have some nice results on defense, but when comparing those two to Josh, there's a gap. Josh outclasses them physically, and has the capability of guarding one through three very effectively. You can't expect that positional coverage by either Fultz or Ball, they just aren't physically capable of it. I'd rather compare apples to apples, and that isn't the case when comparing a lengthy small forward to a couple combo guards. That doesn't diminish their defensive potential, it just says more about JJ's abilities.

Ive had the chance to watch 2 full games of JJ, & 3 of Fultz, & Ball, but i love getting others opinion to see if i missed something.

So you have JJ as the best all around defender, ok cool, now who do you think is the best defender of their own position, & who do you think is 2nd?

Thanks in advance.

[leoshes]

If we get the 1st pick, & pick JJ, do you guys see us trading Winslow, Josh, or TJ (or some combination) for an extra pick on draft night?

[UD4MVP]

Even with the really ugly release point, lonzo gets it off quickly with good rotation and with range too. His free throw percentage has always been good too and thats a good indicator of jump shooting ability. Josh apparently had a bad free throw percentage in HS and it's carried over. The more I watch of Lonzo the more I buy into his hype.

[Feel_the_Heat15]

If we get the 1st pick, & pick JJ, do you guys see us trading Winslow, Josh, or TJ (or some combination) for an extra pick on draft night?

Trading a young player for an even younger player seems a bit redundant so no. But I wouldn't worry about us being put in a situation like that. We're more like a team who will be picking 8th or 9th than 2nd or 3rd.

[leoshes]

If we get the 1st pick, & pick JJ, do you guys see us trading Winslow, Josh, or TJ (or some combination) for an extra pick on draft night?

Trading a young player for an even younger player seems a bit redundant so no. But I wouldn't worry about us being put in a situation like that. We're more like a team who will be picking 8th or 9th than 2nd or 3rd.

I have to disagree. I see us getting a top 3 pick. I expect Dragic to be gone by FEB, as well as a few others.

[Flash4thewin]

If we get the 1st pick, & pick JJ, do you guys see us trading Winslow, Josh, or TJ (or some combination) for an extra pick on draft night?

Trading a young player for an even younger player seems a bit redundant so no. But I wouldn't worry about us being put in a situation like that. We're more like a team who will be picking 8th or 9th than 2nd or 3rd.

I have to disagree. I see us getting a top 3 pick. I expect Dragic to be gone by FEB, as well as a few others.

Who do you see us trading Dragic for?

[leoshes]

Trading a young player for an even younger player seems a bit redundant so no. But I wouldn't worry about us being put in a situation like that. We're more like a team who will be picking 8th or 9th than 2nd or 3rd.

I have to disagree. I see us getting a top 3 pick. I expect Dragic to be gone by FEB, as well as a few others.

Who do you see us trading Dragic for?

That i cant tell you. Time has to pass, & people need to get hurt. + i have no where the vision that Pat, & his staff has. Just give them time to see what we have, & what shakes out in the NBA world.

[DayofMourning]

So you have JJ as the best all around defender, ok cool, now who do you think is the best defender of their own position, & who do you think is 2nd?

Thanks in advance.

JJ is my favorite defensive player in this draft regardless of position.

As for guards, I'd say Fox tops the list. Really pesky on that side and stays on his man. Has a nice wingspan and is able to pick the ball from crazy angles.

Fox doesn't get a lot of hype on here yet, but once his shot gets consistent he's got it all. Great personality too.

[leoshes]

Speaking of that, i cant wait to see that Kentucky vs UCLA game Sat, Dec 3 at 12:30 PM on CBS. Seeing Ball, go up against Fox will be very informative.

[Feel_the_Heat15]

If we get the 1st pick, & pick JJ, do you guys see us trading Winslow, Josh, or TJ (or some combination) for an extra pick on draft night?

Trading a young player for an even younger player seems a bit redundant so no. But I wouldn't worry about us being put in a situation like that. We're more like a team who will be picking 8th or 9th than 2nd or 3rd.

I have to disagree. I see us getting a top 3 pick. I expect Dragic to be gone by FEB, as well as a few others.

As bad as we've been, they're teams who look much worse than us. The 76ers, Magic and Mavericks are all teams I can say are worst than us right now. After that 76ers loss I thought they were better than us but it was just a road loss against a team who's not much worse than us. Even if we decide to trade Dragic and other players, who's to say we're not going to get productive players back along with picks? Too early in the season to tell where the picks will be landing but us getting a top 3 pick is far from being set in stone. We're talking sub-20 win territory here and it looks like we're on pace to surpass that right now.

[UD4MVP]

I just don't wanna see Philly and Minnesota keep hogging up on these top lotto picks. Ugh I don't wanna see Dallas get a top pick either. Honestly if we ended up picking from like 6-14 that would depress me like crazy. I'm completely fine with being one of the 2 worst teams in the league if it means we have a better shot at draft a superstar.

[DayofMourning]

I just don't wanna see Philly and Minnesota keep hogging up on these top lotto picks. Ugh I don't wanna see Dallas get a top pick either. Honestly if we ended up picking from like 6-14 that would depress me like crazy. I'm completely fine with being one of the 2 worst teams in the league if it means we have a better shot at draft a superstar.

I predicted us to be pretty bad, and assumed wed stay that way via a trade of one of our productive assets. I think Riley might be open to some interesting trades after he's gotten the cold shoulder from the higher profile free agents over the past few years.

It doesn't take a genius to see that good drafting teams run by savvy front offices have had pretty good returns via the draft recently. Cheap way to build a team and build a culture from the ground up.

[DayofMourning]

DSJ having quite a game at the moment for NCSU.

[DayofMourning]

Dennis Smith Jr finished with 30 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.

[DayofMourning]

Fultz court press on right now. Slow start though.