All Things 2017 Draft

[Asian Celtic]

I just hope we're in a position to choose whom to pick, not after 1,2 or 3 teams picks first. Just for once let us win the damn lottery.

I dont mind the Suns getting the 2nd overall pick, they're in the west and not a rival. As long as the Fakers lose their pick i'm good. Hopefully they're in 3rd before the draft lottey.

Celtics
Suns
Random team (NBA usually "rewards" teams losing their franchise guy, thinking *Kings*)
Sixers

As long as the Sixers lose out on Fultz, Ball, Jackson it's great, they'll have another top 6 pick too.

Id rather see the lakers get the pick rather than the sixers pick twice in the top 10. They could come out of this draft with fox and Monk and be very happy with themselves. The downside obviously is that the lakers get one of the big 3 but they are so far off from being relevant that idgaf at this point. Philly is turning the corner and I don't like the idea of them drafting their backcourt of the future to go along with Embiid, Holmes, Simmons and Saric

Problem is, by the time they all get good and in sync, contracts will be due. Philly is in BIG trouble because their rookies are on such staggered rookie deals they are hosed. I'm not sure of Minnys situation but I assume it's somewhat similar.

This. Not really that much worried about the suxers because as said above, they can't pay all.Tthey're also having a core of bad foot. I'd rather have the fakers sink to bottom of eternity while magic drafts overhyped busts.

[sully00]

I am talking about his games at Washington specifically in the PAC 12. Monta Ellis has had plenty of seasons in the NBA where he has put up similar numbers to what Fultz has in the PAC 12. If it is as bad a comparison as you have ever seen you should explain yourself because talking about u18 basketball doesn't mean anything. I don't give a **** about the hype train.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/ellismo01.html

Fultz is 6'3.5" in shoes with a freaky long wingspan. He put on a show against non conference teams and then sort of faded in conference play and then went down with a knee injury.

What record did he break?

Monta Ellis is a career 32% shooter from 3. Fultz shot 41% from 3 this year. Fultz is a more natural passer, a better rebounder, projects to be a better slasher to the rim, should be a better defender and is the better shooter.

You're clearly making a comparison by looking at raw PPG-RPG-APG. It's not valid. Fultz projects to be way above Monta as a player.

His averages went down minimally in conference. Stop reaching.

And go find the last freshman to put up 20-5-5 from a major conference.

No I am comparing Monta Ellis in his prime in the NBA with Fultz in the PAC 12. In his prime Ellis shot 34 and 36% from 3 and 45% from the field in the NBA. Fultz shot it at 49% and 38% in conference play and NCAA distance. Monta Ellis didn't suck he is a really good scorer and at his best he was pretty damn good.

As far as other players who went for 20/5/5 as freshman I can think of one.
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/danny-ainge-1.html
But isn't that kind of a raw totals argument? Do you think that Fultz has had a better season than Iverson, Marbury, or Wall did as freshman? Doesn't winning games count for something? Steve Francis goes for 17/4.5/4.5 and wins 28 games.

D'Angelo Russell went for 19/5/5 as a freshman two years ago and 20/6/5 in conference and did it winning 24 games.

[SmartWentCrazy]

I am talking about his games at Washington specifically in the PAC 12. Monta Ellis has had plenty of seasons in the NBA where he has put up similar numbers to what Fultz has in the PAC 12. If it is as bad a comparison as you have ever seen you should explain yourself because talking about u18 basketball doesn't mean anything. I don't give a **** about the hype train.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/ellismo01.html

Fultz is 6'3.5" in shoes with a freaky long wingspan. He put on a show against non conference teams and then sort of faded in conference play and then went down with a knee injury.

What record did he break?

Monta Ellis is a career 32% shooter from 3. Fultz shot 41% from 3 this year. Fultz is a more natural passer, a better rebounder, projects to be a better slasher to the rim, should be a better defender and is the better shooter.

You're clearly making a comparison by looking at raw PPG-RPG-APG. It's not valid. Fultz projects to be way above Monta as a player.

His averages went down minimally in conference. Stop reaching.

And go find the last freshman to put up 20-5-5 from a major conference.

No I am comparing Monta Ellis in his prime in the NBA with Fultz in the PAC 12. In his prime Ellis shot 34 and 36% from 3 and 45% from the field in the NBA. Fultz shot it at 49% and 38% in conference play and NCAA distance. Monta Ellis didn't suck he is a really good scorer and at his best he was pretty damn good.

As far as other players who went for 20/5/5 as freshman I can think of one.
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/danny-ainge-1.html
But isn't that kind of a raw totals argument? Do you think that Fultz has had a better season than Iverson, Marbury, or Wall did as freshman? Doesn't winning games count for something? Steve Francis goes for 17/4.5/4.5 and wins 28 games.

D'Angelo Russell went for 19/5/5 as a freshman two years ago and 20/6/5 in conference and did it winning 24 games.

What are you talking about? He had one season shooting 34.1% and one shooting 36.1%. He's been around a 30% shooter besides that and has never been a reliable option from 3.

You're also arbitrarily removing the impact of half of his college games, for no real reason. A sample of 25 games carries a lot more of an impact than a sample of 13 games.

And yes-- I do think Fultz had a better year than Wall. If you add Bledsoe and Cousins on this team, I guarantee you they win a ton of games. Name another player on Washington that even has a chance of getting drafted. He plays on the least talented team I've ever seen, right up there with BC from last year. It's not his fault his team is dirt.

[sully00]

That isn't anyone's fault Fultz only played 13 games since 1/1/17 and 4 games since 2/1/17.

If your job is to cover college basketball/NBA/the Draft, you should probably watch some tape of the projected number 1 pick in the draft if you're going to be discussing this stuff on TV. Especially when you're gonna diss him on TV for his team not being good/in the tournament. Anyone who even watched a little bit of Washington this year could tell you he was playing with little to no talent.

I said this back in Jan that conference games are what matter. People want to see you up against conference opponents that have broken down film of your game and can game plan against you, to see you against the best talent in the conference and the best talent in the country. How you did against some directional school in Nov. isn't going to mean as much as that conference slate and same goes for the tournament when you don't have the same ability to game plan and the schedule is hectic. Fultz was kind blah in conference and the games missed to injury are going to have their impact as other guys excel.

I understand people feeling like he is still the guy if you do you do, but we have people acting like those that don't buy into the kid as the #1 pick are missing the obvious that he is this transcendent player, he seems like one of 4 or 5 to me at least.

[return2glory]

I feel Markkanen might move up to top 3 based on his size, shooting and potential. His defense has improved over the last month. His one knock is his lack of rebounding but he just had a 11 rebound game the other day.

Fultz, Jackson, Ball, and Tatum should be top 5 along with Markkanen. TJ Leaf is another guy to keep an eye out for.

[sully00]

Monta Ellis is a career 32% shooter from 3. Fultz shot 41% from 3 this year. Fultz is a more natural passer, a better rebounder, projects to be a better slasher to the rim, should be a better defender and is the better shooter.

You're clearly making a comparison by looking at raw PPG-RPG-APG. It's not valid. Fultz projects to be way above Monta as a player.

His averages went down minimally in conference. Stop reaching.

And go find the last freshman to put up 20-5-5 from a major conference.

No I am comparing Monta Ellis in his prime in the NBA with Fultz in the PAC 12. In his prime Ellis shot 34 and 36% from 3 and 45% from the field in the NBA. Fultz shot it at 49% and 38% in conference play and NCAA distance. Monta Ellis didn't suck he is a really good scorer and at his best he was pretty damn good.

As far as other players who went for 20/5/5 as freshman I can think of one.
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/danny-ainge-1.html
But isn't that kind of a raw totals argument? Do you think that Fultz has had a better season than Iverson, Marbury, or Wall did as freshman? Doesn't winning games count for something? Steve Francis goes for 17/4.5/4.5 and wins 28 games.

D'Angelo Russell went for 19/5/5 as a freshman two years ago and 20/6/5 in conference and did it winning 24 games.

What are you talking about? He had one season shooting 34.1% and one shooting 36.1%. He's been around a 30% shooter besides that and has never been a reliable option from 3.

You're also arbitrarily removing the impact of half of his college games, for no real reason. A sample of 25 games carries a lot more of an impact than a sample of 13 games.

And yes-- I do think Fultz had a better year than Wall. If you add Bledsoe and Cousins on this team, I guarantee you they win a ton of games. Name another player on Washington that even has a chance of getting drafted. He plays on the least talented team I've ever seen, right up there with BC from last year. It's not his fault his team is dirt.

It isn't his fault that the team is bad, besides choosing to go there. But doesn't it also inflate his stats that he plays on such a bad team? He has some empty numbers I watched the games. Futz is nothing like Wall was the kid was tour de force that season, he was on a team with Bledsoe, Cousins, Patterson and there was no doubt who the best player in the country was.

[SmartWentCrazy]

That isn't anyone's fault Fultz only played 13 games since 1/1/17 and 4 games since 2/1/17.

If your job is to cover college basketball/NBA/the Draft, you should probably watch some tape of the projected number 1 pick in the draft if you're going to be discussing this stuff on TV. Especially when you're gonna diss him on TV for his team not being good/in the tournament. Anyone who even watched a little bit of Washington this year could tell you he was playing with little to no talent.

I said this back in Jan that conference games are what matter. People want to see you up against conference opponents that have broken down film of your game and can game plan against you, to see you against the best talent in the conference and the best talent in the country. How you did against some directional school in Nov. isn't going to mean as much as that conference slate and same goes for the tournament when you don't have the same ability to game plan and the schedule is hectic. Fultz was kind blah in conference and the games missed to injury are going to have their impact as other guys excel.

I understand people feeling like he is still the guy if you do you do, but we have people acting like those that don't buy into the kid as the #1 pick are missing the obvious that he is this transcendent player, he seems like one of 4 or 5 to me at least.

I agree with the bolded. He's not 100% going #1, and is very close with Ball and Jackson. It's a lot closer than people on this board are painting.

[SmartWentCrazy]

No I am comparing Monta Ellis in his prime in the NBA with Fultz in the PAC 12. In his prime Ellis shot 34 and 36% from 3 and 45% from the field in the NBA. Fultz shot it at 49% and 38% in conference play and NCAA distance. Monta Ellis didn't suck he is a really good scorer and at his best he was pretty damn good.

As far as other players who went for 20/5/5 as freshman I can think of one.
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/danny-ainge-1.html
But isn't that kind of a raw totals argument? Do you think that Fultz has had a better season than Iverson, Marbury, or Wall did as freshman? Doesn't winning games count for something? Steve Francis goes for 17/4.5/4.5 and wins 28 games.

D'Angelo Russell went for 19/5/5 as a freshman two years ago and 20/6/5 in conference and did it winning 24 games.

What are you talking about? He had one season shooting 34.1% and one shooting 36.1%. He's been around a 30% shooter besides that and has never been a reliable option from 3.

You're also arbitrarily removing the impact of half of his college games, for no real reason. A sample of 25 games carries a lot more of an impact than a sample of 13 games.

And yes-- I do think Fultz had a better year than Wall. If you add Bledsoe and Cousins on this team, I guarantee you they win a ton of games. Name another player on Washington that even has a chance of getting drafted. He plays on the least talented team I've ever seen, right up there with BC from last year. It's not his fault his team is dirt.

It isn't his fault that the team is bad, besides choosing to go there. But doesn't it also inflate his stats that he plays on such a bad team? He has some empty numbers I watched the games. Futz is nothing like Wall was the kid was tour de force that season, he was on a team with Bledsoe, Cousins, Patterson and there was no doubt who the best player in the country was.

It's very tough to discern, honestly. I see both sides of the coin. On the one hand, he could pump his stats and had every look he wanted. On the other, he was the sole focus of the defense, often double teamed and played on a team with no spacing. I try to look more at what I see than what I read with him, because I have no idea with what and how it'll translate.

[Homerclease]

I feel Markkanen might move up to top 3 based on his size, shooting and potential. His defense has improved over the last month. His one knock is his lack of rebounding but he just had a 11 rebound game the other day.

Fultz, Jackson, Ball, and Tatum should be top 5 along with Markkanen. TJ Leaf is another guy to keep an eye out for.

Woof. I'm not sure I have him in the top 10 tbh

[sully00]

If your job is to cover college basketball/NBA/the Draft, you should probably watch some tape of the projected number 1 pick in the draft if you're going to be discussing this stuff on TV. Especially when you're gonna diss him on TV for his team not being good/in the tournament. Anyone who even watched a little bit of Washington this year could tell you he was playing with little to no talent.

I said this back in Jan that conference games are what matter. People want to see you up against conference opponents that have broken down film of your game and can game plan against you, to see you against the best talent in the conference and the best talent in the country. How you did against some directional school in Nov. isn't going to mean as much as that conference slate and same goes for the tournament when you don't have the same ability to game plan and the schedule is hectic. Fultz was kind blah in conference and the games missed to injury are going to have their impact as other guys excel.

I understand people feeling like he is still the guy if you do you do, but we have people acting like those that don't buy into the kid as the #1 pick are missing the obvious that he is this transcendent player, he seems like one of 4 or 5 to me at least.

I agree with the bolded. He's not 100% going #1, and is very close with Ball and Jackson. It's a lot closer than people on this board are painting.

I am more negative on the Futlz is #1 hands down than I am on him. If Ainge says he is the guy then so be it I am just not that impressed with this season. How he approaches the draft process will tell a lot, but again with the knee and the presumptive #1 status why would he have an aggressive approach towards the draft?

[Homerclease]

I said this back in Jan that conference games are what matter. People want to see you up against conference opponents that have broken down film of your game and can game plan against you, to see you against the best talent in the conference and the best talent in the country. How you did against some directional school in Nov. isn't going to mean as much as that conference slate and same goes for the tournament when you don't have the same ability to game plan and the schedule is hectic. Fultz was kind blah in conference and the games missed to injury are going to have their impact as other guys excel.

I understand people feeling like he is still the guy if you do you do, but we have people acting like those that don't buy into the kid as the #1 pick are missing the obvious that he is this transcendent player, he seems like one of 4 or 5 to me at least.

I agree with the bolded. He's not 100% going #1, and is very close with Ball and Jackson. It's a lot closer than people on this board are painting.

I am more negative on the Futlz is #1 hands down than I am on him. If Ainge says he is the guy then so be it I am just not that impressed with this season. How he approaches the draft process will tell a lot, but again with the knee and the presumptive #1 status why would he have an aggressive approach towards the draft?

A few reasons. Jackson and Ball have been having a great tournament. Also for the sake of conversation let's say the Celtics do win the top pick. If you're Fultz, would you rather join a 50 win team, or the Suns?

[jfs1000d]

Ball and Jackson will be stars. Fultz,haven;t seen enough.

I don't get how a guy who is supposed to be a superstar can't get his team to the NCAAs. You need one player in basketball. That's one concern with the guy. I have same reservations about Simmons.

[Bar Fight]

That isn't anyone's fault Fultz only played 13 games since 1/1/17 and 4 games since 2/1/17.

If your job is to cover college basketball/NBA/the Draft, you should probably watch some tape of the projected number 1 pick in the draft if you're going to be discussing this stuff on TV. Especially when you're gonna diss him on TV for his team not being good/in the tournament. Anyone who even watched a little bit of Washington this year could tell you he was playing with little to no talent.

I said this back in Jan that conference games are what matter. People want to see you up against conference opponents that have broken down film of your game and can game plan against you, to see you against the best talent in the conference and the best talent in the country. How you did against some directional school in Nov. isn't going to mean as much as that conference slate and same goes for the tournament when you don't have the same ability to game plan and the schedule is hectic. Fultz was kind blah in conference and the games missed to injury are going to have their impact as other guys excel.

I understand people feeling like he is still the guy if you do you do, but we have people acting like those that don't buy into the kid as the #1 pick are missing the obvious that he is this transcendent player, he seems like one of 4 or 5 to me at least.

He's played well all season. Even in conference play. His team got destroyed by the best teams in the Pac 12 because they suck and those teams are really good. Even with the defenses completely keyed in on him (because everyone else on his team completely sucks) teams couldn't really stop him. His numbers were 24/6/5 on 45% from the field and 38% from three. This is with most of his shots being heavily contested all season. Dude rarely ever had any room to operate or space to do anything, he had to create it all for himself all year. Put on him a team with some talent and shooting and his efficiency probably goes up.

If his injury has any long term concerns it probably hurts his draft standing. That's something we'll find out during the draft process. Until then, he's the clear number 1 to me and has been all season.

[Bar Fight]

Ball and Jackson will be stars. Fultz,haven;t seen enough.

I don't get how a guy who is supposed to be a superstar can't get his team to the NCAAs. You need one player in basketball. That's one concern with the guy. I have same reservations about Simmons.

Not if you have complete garbage surrounding you with no shooting and bad coaching. Good teams win in college, not talented players (especially if you only have one of these).

[Wes-J]

For my money Fultz has the least amount of questions regarding his ability and has been that way for virtually all the collegiate season. Physical profile, skills, athletic ability, and IQ are all elite. People that want to nitpick will point to impact on a team in which he expected Chriss and Murray as teammates. Instead the FRESHMAN is left to be the one leading the team all under duress every game with a garbage roster and a third rate coach. Well you can't complain he wasn't assertive enough! I don't give a **** about empty numbers, I know what my eyes see. He was the consensus top guy to begin the season and still is till someone takes it from him.

Having said that, it doesn't mean it's a slamdunk that he goes #1 in the draft. Lots of great prospects in the draft. All it takes is a team like us to fall in love with the unique abilities that Ball possesses. It's probably safe to say 2-3 players will vie for that spot.

[AlCelticFan]

This is the most exciting draft for me in my entire tenure being a Celtics fan!!! It feels like I'm a kid again waiting for Christmas.

[LarryBirdsFingr]

Yeah this is pretty exciting

[brackdan70]

can we stop talking about Markkanen. We will have a top 4 pick. not 7-10. role player time is over. we are looking for a star.

[threrf23]

Markkanen? Did I read top 3? 7-10? Guy's a 7 footer who posts next to zero steals or blocks playing in the NCAA. Being a 7 footer who can shoot threes shouldn't in and of itself make someone a top 10 pick.

[reload141]

Yeah definitely not picking Lauri. Let's just stick with Fultz/Ball/Jackson hype thanksssss

Unless the Lakers overtake Brooklyn.

In which case.

Panic.