NBA Draft and NCAA Basketball

[In2ition]

We can't pass on Doncic if he's there imo. The entire movement towards positionless basketball, and the advantage of having versatile players like Bender and Jackson and Chriss, who can potentially play a few positions, is that we can take the BPA. I agree that a big is probably the better fit, but we need playmaking too, and Doncic is that in spades.

This draft has some good centers later on (guys like Metu will be there potentially with the Milwaukee pick), and the best FA's we could hope to get are centers (Cousins, Capela, even Okafor if we want to take that flier). If we feel one of Ayton or Bagley are going to end up the best player, then we should take them, but we should not be drafting on fit at this point. Doncic is a versatile offensive playmaker. Lucky for us, we can pair him with versatile defenders in Jackson and Bender.

I wish I'm wrong on this, but I think one of Bender or Chriss is gone after this season.

[ATTL]

Call me delusional, but I keep thinking the Suns are going to win the lottery this year, no matter where they fall within the bottom 5-6. Just finally feels like it's their year. Idk, maybe I am delusional.

Cleveland won when local lebron came out.
Chicago won when local rose came out.
Phoenix wins when local Bagley comes out?

[Mulhollanddrive]

Luka Doncic only takes 12 FGA per 30, but he took 21 shots against one of the best teams in Europe and scored 33 points. Very impressed by his shot creation off the dribble and using his length as well.

[RaisingArizona]

Sometimes you have to draft for need if the prospects are close. Doncic for me. PG is our biggest need.

[Mulhollanddrive]

At what point do you take Trae Young seriously?

8 games - 28 points, 8 assists, 2 steals @ 58% / 37% / 88%, or does his limitations just mean he can do anything but not be considered in the top 1-7 in our pick range.

[Kerrsed]

At what point do you take Trae Young seriously?

8 games - 28 points, 8 assists, 2 steals @ 58% / 37% / 88%, or does his limitations just mean he can do anything but not be considered in the top 1-7 in our pick range.

The lack of teams needing a PG are whats keeping his stock down so low. This draft is stocked to the brim with PF's and C's, and thats what a lot of teams are looking for.

Hopefully he is still on the board when the Miami pick rolls around (Current mocks have him anywhere from #13-#25).

I do expect him to rise a bit when they actually play some more major teams (If he can keep his stats up against them).

[Bogyo]

At what point do you take Trae Young seriously?

8 games - 28 points, 8 assists, 2 steals @ 58% / 37% / 88%, or does his limitations just mean he can do anything but not be considered in the top 1-7 in our pick range.

I hope 2 things: we take him dead seriously, and he will stay a bit under the radar so we can snag him with the Miami pick (even if we have to package that with two 2nd rounders to move up a cpl spots).

But it all depends on how draftday will turn out. If we end up 3rd, and Ayton/Bagely are 1-2 then we "have" to take Doncic, no matter what, and we'll take one of the lesser C's with that pick. For example I would be very happy with a Doncic + Robert Williams/Wendell Carter/Kevin Knox draft for us. Those 3 guy are all projected to be in the teens.

Then again, if we get lucky and pick Ayton at 1 or 2, I would be absolutley into having Young as our 2nd pick. Those assists and 3 point shooting would be a major addition.
Young/Booker/JJ/Bender/Ayton
Ulis/Reed/TJ/Chriss/Chandler + Knight and Duds to fill it out with 1-2 end of bench late 2nd rounder/undrafted guys.

[sunskerr]

I know nothing about college ball but from team fit perspective, Trae Young checks literally every box. We are in need of a PG. He likes Nash, Curry and has a good relationship with Booker.

[NTB]

Trae Young has so much hype now so he might go in top 10.

[Damkac]

Can he be at least OK defender? Can he play without the ball?

[No-Man]

Can he be at least OK defender? Can he play without the ball?

He can generate steals, that's about it, maybe press but don't expect him to be physical

He can play without the ball plenty.

[gaspar]

January 27th, Trae vs Sexton on ESPN. That should be fun.

[Qwigglez]

Really don't like Trae. His dribbling is high, doesn't have the best passing ability. His shot reminds me of Lonzo Ball, where he can shoot in college but will struggle in the NBA. He's too slow for the average NBA PG and will easily get beat defensively, offensively I can't see him getting around most PG's. Really don't see the appeal here. Pass, unless we get him with the Bucks pick.

[darealjuice]

Really don't like Trae. His dribbling is high, doesn't have the best passing ability. His shot reminds me of Lonzo Ball, where he can shoot in college but will struggle in the NBA. He's too slow for the average NBA PG and will easily get beat defensively, offensively I can't see him getting around most PG's. Really don't see the appeal here. Pass, unless we get him with the Bucks pick.

I’m not that huge on him either yet, but he’s definitely looked like the best passer in the draft so far (not saying much since Sexton is more of a scorer and Duval has been a bit underwhelming for me). I worry more about if his craftiness would translate his game to the NBA when he has such a slight frame and isn’t all that athletic. Defense has me worried too, I don’t see much intensity on that end from him there. Hard to deny the productivity though, averaging nearly 29/9 on 64 TS% is nuts, and he does have the highest OBPM and BPM in college basketball history by a good margin this far into the season.

What makes you say he’ll shoot like Lonzo Ball has though? It’s not like he has bad shooting form, is only taking wide-open shots/the same step back over and over, or is a terrible FT shooter?

[Qwigglez]

Really don't like Trae. His dribbling is high, doesn't have the best passing ability. His shot reminds me of Lonzo Ball, where he can shoot in college but will struggle in the NBA. He's too slow for the average NBA PG and will easily get beat defensively, offensively I can't see him getting around most PG's. Really don't see the appeal here. Pass, unless we get him with the Bucks pick.

I’m not that huge on him either yet, but he’s definitely looked like the best passer in the draft so far (not saying much since Sexton is more of a scorer and Duval has been a bit underwhelming for me). I worry more about if his craftiness would translate his game to the NBA when he has such a slight frame and isn’t all that athletic. Defense has me worried too, I don’t see much intensity on that end from him there. Hard to deny the productivity though, averaging nearly 29/9 on 64 TS% is nuts, and he does have the highest OBPM and BPM in college basketball history by a good margin this far into the season.

What makes you say he’ll shoot like Lonzo Ball has though? It’s not like he has bad shooting form, is only taking wide-open shots/the same step back over and over, or is a terrible FT shooter?

His shot just appears to have a low release point with average speed, which reminds me of Ball. I don't like his mechanics at all. His athleticism is far below NBA standards IMO and I just can't see him getting to the rim or even utilize that floater with relative ease. I'm not sure if he is playing against top tier talent in college as I don't really watch college ball but it sure doesn't look like it watching his highlights.

The guy I like the most in this draft who seems to have the IT-factor is Michael Porter. I am praying he drops down to us.

[Bogyo]

I get the criticism of Young's shot and athletic abilites, and yes, we'll have to see him against top tier NCAA talent.
BUT: his shot is nowhere near as funky as Ball's is, plus he would only be taking open shots, since he is a good distributer, and he will have Booker, TJ, JJ and one of Chris or Bender to feed with the occasional Tyson lob, plus our own first pick this year. So in any case he would be only be 3rd or more likely 4th scoring option, and he is more than capable of that imho.

[Djedefre]

Really don't like Trae. His dribbling is high, doesn't have the best passing ability. His shot reminds me of Lonzo Ball, where he can shoot in college but will struggle in the NBA. He's too slow for the average NBA PG and will easily get beat defensively, offensively I can't see him getting around most PG's. Really don't see the appeal here. Pass, unless we get him with the Bucks pick.

IDK what are you talking about. Have you even watched his games?

Dude is lightning fast, like 10 times faster than Lonzo, doesn’t have a hitch in his shot, can pull-up from both sides, has super long range and shows that he’s very comfortable pulling from way deep. His burst is amazing, very good portion of his offense comes from impressive ability to shift gears instantly. He can storm by any guard in the NCAA 1on1 and even demonstrates great finishing ability so far (that touch around the rim is just sweet).

His dribble is also pretty decent, he’s constantly making separation for himslelf at this level - open court, small space in the paint/corners...

Passing ability is almost outstanding, there is no one better at that in this draft class. Setting bigs off p’n’r, feeding teammates in transition, druve&kick, skip passes... Practically, he showed it everything so far.

[darealjuice]

His shot just appears to have a low release point with average speed, which reminds me of Ball. I don't like his mechanics at all. His athleticism is far below NBA standards IMO and I just can't see him getting to the rim or even utilize that floater with relative ease. I'm not sure if he is playing against top tier talent in college as I don't really watch college ball but it sure doesn't look like it watching his highlights.

The guy I like the most in this draft who seems to have the IT-factor is Michael Porter. I am praying he drops down to us.

Yeah I can see his release being a bit low, I honestly thought his release was pretty quick though haha he's definitely a one motion shooter. I can't say I see his athleticism as far below NBA standards though, for instance I don't see him as any less athletic than someone like Ricky Rubio, who plenty of people here seem to like. He hasn't gone against a lot of NBA talent yet, but really no one has unless they were in a top pre-season tournament.

How have you seen anything to suggest an it factor from Porter though? He was impressive in high school, but every top prospect coming into college is. It's a little weird to me to be so low on a guy that's shown to be so productive while being so high on a guy that hurt his back and played 2 minutes of college basketball? Not trying to be a dick or anything, I'm just wondering if there's some good tape out there against actual competition.

[Bogyo]

Bagely and Carter looking good so far tonite... I wonder if Bagely is taking too much light off of Carter

[bwgood77]