Absurdly early 2018 NBA Draft Thread

[Jamaaliver]

Potential 2018 No. 1 draft pick Luka Doncic is almost too good to be true

16/7/6? If this kid avg those numbers for his Hawks career, I'd be ecstatic.

IDK man. Those numbers are reserved for the caliber of Prince I'd reckon. Smoove avg 15.5/8/3 in Atlanta.

A top pick in a very good draft I'd want elite level production, especially under the tutelage of Bud. He's listed at 6-8, 230, 18 yo. Probably a guy that could bully his man like Carmelo as his body matures. If he maintains a 220ish level, I can see him display more more athleticism. He may become too big and slow to guard the perimeter oriented players. I'd stick him at the 3, guarding the lesser of 2s and 3s on offense.

1. ^That is very fair.

2. Crazy, out of the box idea I've been sitting on for a few weeks: playing Doncic as a small ball PF in a point forward role. Particularly if he grows another inch or two. He can't guard SGs. But, with more girth and muscle, could be a heckuva mismatch for forwards whilst playing alongside Taurean.

Just...a thought.

3. I think Luka's impact/production game in the NBA might end up being more akin to Al Horford than anything else. (Solid across the board production. But better as a second banana alongside a true #1 scoring option.)

[atlantabbq99]

In 2007 Portland worked out both Oden and Durant. Oden looked good but Durant completely wowed all the scouts and coaches in Portland. Even though Durant had a much better work out than Oden, the Blazers still went with Oden because ultimately he was the consensus #1 and didn't do anything in his work out to loose the spot.

I'm totally all in for Ayton, i think he is the next Robinson, Hakeem, Duncan, but with that said, if Luka has a Durant type of work out with the Hawks, then i'm willing to eat my words and pass on Ayton for Luka if need be.

2007 not only showed how important injury history is, but it also showed how important work outs are.

[King Ken]

In 2007 Portland worked out both Oden and Durant. Oden looked good but Durant completely wowed all the scouts and coaches in Portland. Even though Durant had a much better work out than Oden, the Blazers still went with Oden because ultimately he was the consensus #1 and didn't do anything in his work out to loose the spot.

I'm totally all in for Ayton, i think he is the next Robinson, Hakeem, Duncan, but with that said, if Luka has a Durant type of work out with the Hawks, then i'm willing to eat my words and pass on Ayton for Luka if need be.

2007 not only showed how important injury history is, but it also showed how important work outs are.

Luka isn't physically insane like Durant was. That's what made Durant a no-brainer but at the same age, Durant was nowhere near as good as Doncic. Horford was a better rookie to me. I think Bagley and Doncic has a gap on everyone in this draft, especially Doncic. But for all of that, Luka just isn't what Kevin was physically and the NBA is such a physical based sport. Look at the best players, Westbrook, Giannis and KP. Those weren't skilled polished prospects. Some of the best Basketball players struggled to adjust physically to the NBA.

[atlantabbq99]

In 2007 Portland worked out both Oden and Durant. Oden looked good but Durant completely wowed all the scouts and coaches in Portland. Even though Durant had a much better work out than Oden, the Blazers still went with Oden because ultimately he was the consensus #1 and didn't do anything in his work out to loose the spot.

I'm totally all in for Ayton, i think he is the next Robinson, Hakeem, Duncan, but with that said, if Luka has a Durant type of work out with the Hawks, then i'm willing to eat my words and pass on Ayton for Luka if need be.

2007 not only showed how important injury history is, but it also showed how important work outs are.

Luka isn't physically insane like Durant was. That's what made Durant a no-brainer but at the same age, Durant was nowhere near as good as Doncic. Horford was a better rookie to me. I think Bagley and Doncic has a gap on everyone in this draft, especially Doncic. But for all of that, Luka just isn't what Kevin was physically and the NBA is such a physical based sport. Look at the best players, Westbrook, Giannis and KP. Those weren't skilled polished prospects. Some of the best Basketball players struggled to adjust physically to the NBA.

You forgot Harden

Curry and Klay are also not physically gifted.

[Spud2nique]

Physically gifted?? I'm not sure what we are talking about anymore.....

Durant, Harden weren't ...neither were Curry and Klay?...

[Jamaaliver]

This kid seems like a worthy gamble with one of the later picks. Particularly if he is still available at #30.

Anfernee Simons, potential 2018 NBA Draft prospect, shines in Springfield

Like several prospects over the last few years, IMG Academy guard Anfernee Simons may have a difficult decision to make after this season: Pick a school or bypass college entirely and enter the 2018 NBA Draft.

Simons, like Thon Maker (and several players who opted against the NBA option like Hamidou Diallo and Jonathan Simmons), has technically graduated high school and is currently doing a post-grad year at IMG. Should he enter the draft? And if he does, how NBA-ready is his skill set?

Here are five things we learned from watching him up close.

1. Simons' potential as a pick-and-roll scorer is high.
Simons showed off an advanced handle and good decision-making as a lead guard in the pick-and-roll...As a three-level scorer, Simons can pick defenses apart -- he buried 3-pointers off the dribble and got to the rim with explosive first (and second) steps, finishing floaters and drawing fouls.

2. Simons will be able to play both guard positions.


3. Simons' defense should come with time.


4. How well Simons sees the game will make a big difference.


5. A (much too early) take: Going pro wouldn't be a bad idea.

Mass Live

[kg01]

Physically gifted?? I'm not sure what we are talking about anymore.....

Durant, Harden weren't ...neither were Curry and Klay?...

Being gifted physically still matters. It's part of why a lot of high-production college/int'l guys ultimately end up meh in the NBA. BadonkaDoncic looks great but he does have some apparent limitations from an athleticism standpoint. It's a legit question.

I can still see us taking him but I don't know that he'll set the league on fire like many think.

Considering how the game is being played nowadays, Sexton is probably high on our list. I still hate his attitude at times though.

[Jamaaliver]

This kid is continuing to impress. He dropped 29 points and 10 assists against #3 ranked Wichita State over the weekend. He's now avg 29 and 9 on the season. I want either Trae or Luka in next year's draft. Either player will do.

How Oklahoma's Trae Young has taken over college hoops

[B]ased on what we've seen from Oklahoma's Trae Young thus far, we have to remain open to the possibility that he's going to have the best season of any player in the past 15 years. Seriously.

The OU point guard is combining usage and efficiency in a way that college players are supposed to be incapable of doing, let alone college freshmen.

"I haven't seen a freshman guard that I've coached against that plays at that level," said Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall.

Young would be newsworthy enough even if his shots weren't going in as often as they do and even if he were committing a few more turnovers as a point guard. We've simply never seen a freshman in a major conference carry this heavy a load for his offense in terms of possession usage.

Add in the fact that Young is being incredibly effective on all those possessions, and it's clear that he's off to a start that is truly astonishing.

No, no one saw this coming.

The built-in advantage that Young has, of course, is that he's a point guard. You won't keep the ball out of his hands. Young may not finish the season showing the same insane numbers that he carries now, but, in a way, numbers are beside the point. We now know what he's capable of doing to an opposing defense. It is a capability the likes of which we have seldom seen before.

ESPN

[macd-gm]

If I remember right there was concern that Durant was too skinny and wouldn't be strong enough in the nba. You just never know but I still feel there are more risks with picking a big than wings with elite scoring ability.

[kg01]

EZPass on Trae. Too small, not athletic, no defense .. need I go on?

Don't give me the Curry comps. Never base the plan on the exception.

[Jamaaliver]

Steph Curry? No. But perhaps a Isaiah Thomas(2) knock off.

If we're not sold on Dennis as PG of the future, I'd be in favor of trading up for young Trae.

Read on Twitter

​It’s time to really talk about Trae Young.

Over the course of the last month, Oklahoma’s freshman standout has taken college basketball by storm, seized control of the National Player of the Year discussion and put himself on a path to shake up the draft. His 29-point, 10-assist showing on the road against a tough, defensive-minded Wichita State team over the weekend tied a neat bow around his case as a lottery pick.

When it comes to smallish point guards putting up massive early-season numbers, it’s normal to proceed with some air of skepticism. Young’s (28.8 PPG, 8.9 APG, 3.6 RPG) historically productive pace has elevated him from curiosity to champ in a matter of weeks. Deep threes, pinpoint passes and the constant threat posed by Young’s penchant for the unexpected make him one of the most difficult covers in college hoops. And while it’s still fair to wonder exactly to what degree his strengths will carry over in full, with each game it becomes more difficult to doubt him.

The amount of responsibility Young is shouldering, coupled with his efficiency, plus the fact he’s a 19-year-old freshman who’s elevated the Sooners to an 8–1 record? You can pick the adjectives you want to use here.

KenPom spits out five quality statistical points of comparison for what Young is doing, in this order:

Kyrie Irving’s freshman year at Duke,
D’Angelo Russell’s year at Ohio State,
Cameron Payne’s first season at Murray State,
Dennis Smith at Ohio State and
John Wall at Kentucky.

That’s great company, given all five were lottery picks, two went No. 1, and four have enjoyed some degrees of success (it’s still early to crown Smith, but he looks the part). Young lacks Wall and Smith’s explosiveness, Russell’s size and Irving’s burst into the paint, but the fact his early-season feats can be placed in the context of those players surely doesn’t hurt.

The comparison already being made on television broadcasts, social media and the like is Stephen Curry. This is almost certainly unfair.

[Jamaaliver]

Player to watch

• Jalen Hudson, Florida: A junior transfer from Virginia Tech, Hudson has put up big scoring numbers for the Gators all season, turning heads at the PK80 and keeping up his strong output nearly a month later. He’s averaging 19.5 points and shooting a high-quality 44% from deep. I caught Florida in action against Cincinnati about a week ago and took note of Hudson’s ability to score in spurts and provide bursts of offense. His Synergy shot-type data also profiles well: he’s scored nearly all his points in transition, spotting up or using a ball screen. He looks comfortable shooting off the dribble and the catch. I’d be curious to see him run off more screens without the ball, but Hudson seems to know what he is, and that could certainly make him a viable specialist. All in all, he’s likely created a nice opportunity for himself when this year’s draft process comes around.

SI.com


Good size, translatable skill set, older, proven collegiate.

But are we in position to be drafting role players?
Should we instead be gambling on potential stars with every pick?

[kg01]

Steph Curry? No. But perhaps a Isaiah Thomas(2) knock off.

No. Again, don't make the exeption the basis for your plan.

Plus, it took a perfect storm to make Thomas what he was. He'll never reach that mountain top again.

[Jamaaliver]

^Makes sense.

But with 5 more first round picks coming in the next 18 months...I'm willing to make a low-cost high-reward gamble on the right guy.

[Jamaaliver]

2018 NBA Mock Draft: Alabama's Collin Sexton jumps into top 5

The Crimson Tide point guard has been impressive so far and joins the top tier of prospects

Welcome to the top tier, Collin Sexton.

Conventional wisdom leading into this basketball season said there were five players worth tanking for. Well, it's time to make that a top tier of six.

Alabama's Collin Sexton has been an absolute revelation in the first month of the season for Avery Johnson's team. Sexton is averaging 20.8 points, 3.5 assists and four rebounds. Collin Sexton is ready for his moment.

So put Sexton's name into that top tier. I don't see an enormous amount of separation between any of these players, to be honest. All six of these dudes are absolutely great, and reason enough to make Chicago Bulls fans and Atlanta Hawks fans excited for the future.

CBS Sports

4. |Hawks| Michael Porter Jr., SF, Missouri

The biggest bummer of the first month of college basketball was Porter's back injury, which sent him into a surgery that might sideline him for the entire collegiate season. Back injuries in near-seven-footers are worrisome, which is the reason -- the only reason, really -- Porter should no longer be considered in contention for the No. 1 pick. And that's only because the three people ahead of him feel like such locks as NBA players. But Porter's game is exquisite. Imagine if you could take the collegiate Jayson Tatum and make him a little bit better at everything: a little bit taller, a little bit bigger, a little bit better shooter and a little bit better athlete. If the back is 100 percent going forward, Porter has one of the highest ceilings in this draft, if not the highest ceiling of them all.

[Spud2nique]

Physically gifted?? I'm not sure what we are talking about anymore.....

Durant, Harden weren't ...neither were Curry and Klay?...

Being gifted physically still matters. It's part of why a lot of high-production college/int'l guys ultimately end up meh in the NBA. BadonkaDoncic looks great but he does have some apparent limitations from an athleticism standpoint. It's a legit question.

I can still see us taking him but I don't know that he'll set the league on fire like many think.

Considering how the game is being played nowadays, Sexton is probably high on our list. I still hate his attitude at times though.

Yes...thank you...I was kind of actually being a bit facetious...none of the rooks are ever physically gifted anymore...they all come in pretty weak because they are teenagers...I guess the only one coming in that has a READY to go body is big Deandre Ayton.

[Jamaaliver]

Top SG prospect in the draft:

Here's a list of college basketball's most exciting players.

Lonnie Walker IV, Miami Hurricanes

A summer knee injury ruined his offseason and bled into the regular season. The five-star prospect limped into 2017-18. But his burst is back, as proven in last week's 26-point outing during a win over Boston University. He drove into traffic and scored. He moved well in space. It was his second consecutive double-digit performance. He entered the season surrounded by one-and-done hype. Now he is beginning to put on the show most anticipated when he signed with the Hurricanes.

ESPN


Scouting report:

9. Lonnie Walker IV (Miami, SG, Freshman)

After seven games, we finally got to see Lonnie Walker IV in a spotlight role with Bruce Brown Jr. out of the lineup. Walker capitalized in 28 minutes against Boston, scoring 26 points on five three-point makes.

He's seen the majority of his possessions (29.7 percent) out of spot-up situations, where he's been effective shooting and driving right or straight. Walker hasn't shown as much as a shot-creator or playmaker, though he's had some encouraging flashes as a pick-and-roll ball-handling scorer.

Athleticism, a projectable jumper (41.9 percent 3PT) and defensive tools remain the major selling points for Miami's key freshman.

Bleacher Report

[ATL Boy]

Sexton's emergence is indeed pleasing as far as the Hawks are concerned in the draft. In the off chance that we don't end up with a top 3 pick (be it because of a fluke surge or a crooked lottery), that second tier of Porter, Sexton, Bamba will be a nice consolation prize after missing out on Doncic, Bagley, Ayton.

[atlantabbq99]

^ For me, if the Hawks end up out of range for Ayton, Bags, or Luka, I would rather target Wendell Carter, Brandon McCoy, Mikal Bridges

Wendell is a good, big all around center that seems to fit perfectly with Collins.

McCoy is not a new age center but he could develop into Andre Drummond who can shoot free throws.

Bridges is a stretch and not a sure thing, but he is a solid all around player with really no weaknesses, and could be on the same level as Kuzma or Donovan Mitchell

[Jamaaliver]

...In the off chance that we don't end up with a top 3 pick (be it because of a fluke surge or a crooked lottery), that second tier of Porter, Sexton, Bamba will be a nice consolation prize after missing out on Doncic, Bagley, Ayton.

Agreed. That second tier of players is fairly strong.

Unpopular line of thinking: If Hawks do end up with the #1 pick, I'd be okay if we traded back Ainge-style for a later lottery selection plus extra lottery pick(s) down the line.

(Example: If PHX gets #4 and really wants Ayton to build around, I'd trade them Ayton for #4 plus the MIL and MIAMI picks.)