2017 NBA DRAFT Part 3

[Rockmaninoff]

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Since Bam is in for a workout today, I decided to watch some film on him. His offensive game is a lot more polished than I realized. It was interesting when I watched an interview with him, they asked where he was most comfortable on defense and his answer was the 3 or 4 position. I always assumed he was more of a 5 from everything I've seen or read.

What do you guys think his best position will be? He's got good size at 6'10 with a 7'2 wingspan. I liked Anigbogu for his 7'6 wingspan, but his offensive game is very raw. Adebayo seems head and shoulders above in that department. As the draft nears, the guy I want us to take changes by day.

Adebayo's best position should be 5, which is why his idea that he's a 3 or 4 is so concerning.

He's big enough and athletic as hell for a 5, but if he doesn't want to be physical on game by game basis, what's the point? I wouldn't want to draft him for like his perimeter skill or the idea that he'll develop a bunch more of it.

[ReasonablySober]

Bam's another big apparently showing more skill in these workouts than he did at Kentucky. Grain, salt, and all that...

[Matches Malone]

Here is the video of where Bam said he is most comfortable on defense at the 3 and 4 position. It's at about the 2 minute mark.

Watch on YouTube

;t=126s

[Matches Malone]

Bam's another big apparently showing more skill in these workouts than he did at Kentucky. Grain, salt, and all that...

Yeah, just from the limited video I've seen of his workouts, his ball handling skills are impressive for his size and his jumper looks pretty smooth. When I checked his measurable's, he's lost some weight since Kentucky. Wonder if he really wants to play out on the wing or if he ends up getting to a team and they tell him he has to play the 5 and bulks him up. I also wonder how much of those skill sets he can translate to actual game action. If I were the GM, I'd probably be drafting him as a center who can play some 4. Not sure I want him guarding out on the wing or playing on offense behind the 3 point line all game. I suppose it doesn't hurt to have a big that can do a little of that, but not all the time.

[mlloyd10]

YES TO BAM

[SirChurros]

Does anyone feel like he may be saying that because that's what he thinks teams want to hear?

I mean the guy showed absolutely zero ability to play the 3 in college, let alone at the NBA level. I think a Giannis/Bam PNR scenario would be pretty awesome, though.

[chonestown]

Ringer updated their board. [spoiler: it's garbage]

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/

Includes this gem on Zach Collins:

A skilled two-way center who easily projects as a good role player and could reach much higher levels as a scorer.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Jason Smith

[ReasonablySober]

Given the context I see what he was saying with regards to threes and fours and how he can check 'em.

Jumper does look really smooth.

[M-C-G]

Does anyone feel like he may be saying that because that's what he thinks teams want to hear?

I mean the guy showed absolutely zero ability to play the 3 in college, let alone at the NBA level. I think a Giannis/Bam PNR scenario would be pretty awesome, though.

Seems to me every year center prospects like BAM, Henson, or Zellers or Kaminsky, say they are best suited as a 4 in the pros. I'm not sure who is buying what they are selling but it is seems like a standard thing to say in case you can fool one GM into believing you.

[M-C-G]

Ringer updated their board. [spoiler: it's garbage]

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/

Includes this gem on Zach Collins:

A skilled two-way center who easily projects as a good role player and could reach much higher levels as a scorer.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Jason Smith

Looking through most of the comparisons, it seems like they mostly (but not always) comp guys in order of best case, likely case, worst case. Which is somewhat confusing, but seems to be the way they do it, like High, Medium, Low

[Matches Malone]

Ringer updated their board. [spoiler: it's garbage]

You weren't kidding.

I miss Grantland.

[DingleJerry]

Just ran through that list. They have 12 of the 30 guys listed as bigs. And I counted 3 more 6'10 / 6'11 types who could also be counted as bigs, so 50% of the guys. For 1 or maybe 2 positions which continue to be used less and less in the modern nba, so I'm not sure how this makes sense.

So, obviously it's a mock but the guys they list generally line up somewhat with most mocks but when do GMs actually start figuring out to quit chasing bigs so much and hoping they massively develop instead of getting skilled players? Gamble on bigs in the 2nd. Essentially this has been going on for years already and the whole league is littered with 7'0ish stiffs that can't get on the floor, and many saddled with big contracts so they can't be traded. When will they figure this out? And for the Bucks, we have Giannis and Thon already so...

[SupremeHustle]

Ringer updated their board. [spoiler: it's garbage]

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/

Includes this gem on Zach Collins:

A skilled two-way center who easily projects as a good role player and could reach much higher levels as a scorer.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Jason Smith

I hope at least 16 teams think Z Collins is Jason Smith and the Bucks think he's Chris Bosh-lite.

[M-C-G]

On the trade board, someone mentioned that Isaac isn't working out for anyone below the 4th pick, sounds like a promise. Some of these guards are going to fall

[Fotis St]

My God... so we are going to draft a volleyball player

He just doesn't pass my attitude test.

If he doesn't believe he can guard the 5


Where is Hartenstein ? Maybe he has a promise.

Bam looks like a Kidd pick ... like he orders "Hey, Zanik draft me a Biyombo."

Somehow we resist to look how modern basketball is progressing .... we rarely shoot 3s and we workout "bigs" with zero mid range game...

This "volleyball players" are what teams have overpaid and want to dump somewhere.

Save us
Karnisovas

Oops ... that is a nice nickname ... Karni-save-us

[LuessiT]

My God... so we are going to draft a volleyball player

He just doesn't pass my attitude test.

If he doesn't believe he can guard the 5


Where is Hartenstein ? Maybe he has a promise.

Bam looks like a Kidd pick ... like he orders "Hey, Zanik draft me a Biyombo."

Somehow we resist to look how modern basketball is progressing .... we rarely shoot 3s and we workout "bigs" with zero mid range game...

This "volleyball players" are what teams have overpaid and want to dump somewhere.

Save us
Karnisovas

Oops ... that is a nice nickname ... Karni-save-us

Hartenstein is still playing in europe, same goes for Ntilikina. Ntilikina might not get to do tryouts.

[ReasonablySober]

Ford:

Tier 1 (Potential superstars)

Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington

Tier 2 (All-Star potential)

De'Aaron Fox, PG, Fr., Kentucky
Jonathan Isaac, F, Fr., Florida State
Josh Jackson, G/F, Fr., Kansas
Lauri Markkanen, PF, Fr., Arizona
Malik Monk, G, Fr., Kentucky
Frank Ntilikina, PG, France
Dennis Smith, PG, Fr., North Carolina State
Jayson Tatum, F, Fr., Duke

This is the largest tier 2 we've ever had.

Tier 3 (NBA starters)

OG Anunoby, F, So., Indiana
Zach Collins, F/C, Fr., Gonzaga
Harry Giles, PF, Fr., Duke
Luke Kennard, G, So., Duke
Donovan Mitchell, G, So., Louisville

Based on sheer talent, virtually every scout and front office executive had Giles as either a tier 1 or tier 2 prospect. And all but one had Anunoby as a tier 2 guy. If they get healthy, they're steals in tier 3. But their previous injuries put a cloud over their draft stock.

Tier 4 (Starters, high-level rotation players)

Jarrett Allen, C, Fr., Texas
Ike Anigbogu, C, Fr., UCLA
John Collins, PF, So., Wake Forest
Justin Patton, C, Fr., Creighton

Tier 5 (Rotation players)

Edrice Adebayo, PF, Fr., Kentucky
Tony Bradley, C, Fr., North Carolina
Terrance Ferguson, SG, Australia
Frank Jackson, G, Fr., Duke
Justin Jackson, SF, Jr., North Carolina
TJ Leaf, PF, Fr., UCLA
Anzejs Pasecniks, C, Latvia
Ivan Rabb, PF, Fr., Cal
Caleb Swanigan, PF, So. Purdue
D.J. Wilson, PF, Jr., Michigan

Tier 6 (potential first-rounders)

Jordan Bell, PF, Jr., Oregon
Jonah Bolden, SF, Australia
Thomas Bryant, F/C, So. Indiana
Jawun Evans, PG, So., Oklahoma State
Josh Hart, SG, Sr., Villanova
Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, Germany
Tyler Lydon, SF, So., Syracuse
Semi Ojeleye, F, Jr., SMU
Alec Peters, F, Sr., Valpariso
Monte Morris, PG, Sr., Iowa State
Devin Robinson, SF, Jr., Florida
Derrick White, PG, Jr., Colorado

[The Wet Whistle]

Really hoping Zach Collins or Donovan Mitchell falls. Otherwise I'm going Giles or Frank Jackson

[chonestown]

Ringer updated their board. [spoiler: it's garbage]

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/

Includes this gem on Zach Collins:

A skilled two-way center who easily projects as a good role player and could reach much higher levels as a scorer.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Jason Smith

Looking through most of the comparisons, it seems like they mostly (but not always) comp guys in order of best case, likely case, worst case. Which is somewhat confusing, but seems to be the way they do it, like High, Medium, Low

I read it as best case because it literally says "best case." Not inclined to give The Ringer the benefit of doubt here.

[M-C-G]

Ringer updated their board. [spoiler: it's garbage]

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/

Includes this gem on Zach Collins:

Looking through most of the comparisons, it seems like they mostly (but not always) comp guys in order of best case, likely case, worst case. Which is somewhat confusing, but seems to be the way they do it, like High, Medium, Low

I read it as best case because it literally says "best case." Not inclined to give The Ringer the benefit of doubt here.

Yeah, it is confusing, but like I said, it seems to be a range of "best case" scenarios for each prospect.