Absurdly early 2018 NBA Draft Thread

[Jamaaliver]

So, apparently Trae Young and M Porter, Jr. played AAU ball together for years. They're really close and considered going to the same college to continue playing together.



This is now the offensive core I'd strongly consider us going after.

Their offensive games are comparable to Steph and Klay.

And a core of Trae Young, Taurean Prince, Michael Porter, Jr and John Collins...could be an elite offensive collection.

[atlantabbq99]

Trae Young reminds me of a poor man's Damian Lillard. He is not worth a lottery pick, but if he falls to #21 or the Wolves' pick, then I would be ok with it, unless another 'John Collins' situation happens and a top 5 prospect ends up dropping to #19.

[kg01]

I'd give Porter a shot even at top 1-3, assuming health check out.

Instead of the Young kid, maybe we can just sign Jimmer from China?

[jayu70]

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.

Oh God, No - that's my worse fear. I don't want us to have to settle for another because we missed out on the top 3. See missing out on Durant for Horford.

I want us in the top spot to have the most choices. So even as Jamaal suggested trading out for a future pick added.

[hawkmanreturns]

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.

Oh God, No - that's my worse fear. I don't want us to have to settle for another because we missed out on the top 3. See missing out on Durant for Horford.

I want us in the top spot to have the most choices. So even as Jamaal suggested trading out for a future pick added.

We were so close. I don't even want to mention Giannis, or even Porzingis.

[CP War Hawks]

We were so close. I don't even want to mention Giannis, or even Porzingis.

I don't see how KP connected to the Hawks, but the Greek Freak should of been had. Ferry was solid in trading and under the radar signings, but his drafting left alot to be desired. He should have leap frogged Milwaukee and selected Giannis. If it came down to it, trade picks 16 and 17 to move up.

Young is moving too high up the board for the Minny pick. I'd look at Duval, Brunson, or the Simons kid that supposedly may declare. For the time being, I'm ready to commit to Luka with the top first rounder. I want Sexton and would trade Dennis for him if Phoenix decides that's what they want.

[Jamaaliver]

For the time being, I'm ready to commit to Luka with the top first rounder. I want Sexton and would trade Dennis for him if Phoenix decides that's what they want.

So does this mean you're in favor of a Luke/Sexton backcourt pairing?

That would be intriguing...

[CP War Hawks]

For the time being, I'm ready to commit to Luka with the top first rounder. I want Sexton and would trade Dennis for him if Phoenix decides that's what they want.

So does this mean you're in favor of a Luke/Sexton backcourt pairing?

That would be intriguing...

Nice sized backcourt for sure, but both are use to being the ball dominant guy on their team... So projecting a bit:

1: Sexton 6-3, 190/Taylor
2: Doncic 6-8, 230/Bazemore
3: Prince 6-8, 220/Bembry
4: Collins 6-10, 235/Cavanaugh

The 5 spot is tricky. This guy will need to be a major defensive anchor, that rebounds, and switches well. Also shoots relatively well from the mid range and ft line... Not too many of these around.

The Hawks should have major money for free agents but need another big year of tanking for the 2019 draft. Add in some nice draft talent from 2019 and a good free agent big; that's a nice squad worthy of the cities attention going forward.

[MaceCase]

We were so close. I don't even want to mention Giannis, or even Porzingis.

I don't see how KP connected to the Hawks, but the Greek Freak should of been had. Ferry was solid in trading and under the radar signings, but his drafting left alot to be desired. He should have leap frogged Milwaukee and selected Giannis. If it came down to it, trade picks 16 and 17 to move up.

Word was that if Porzingis stayed in the 2014 draft that he had a promise from Ferry. KP decided to pull out and try for a higher draft slot the following year. I'd have to find it but there was a tidbit in a thread on the Bucks' board where a beat writer claimed in a radio interview that there was something akin to audible chair and table throwing on the phone when Ferry called about trading up for Giannis. It happens, Ainge tried to trade 6 picks (4 1sts rounders) to move up from 16th to 9th to select Justise Winslow and was soundly rebuffed. Sometimes just having the ammunition doesn't guarantee you hit your target.

[jayu70]

We were so close. I don't even want to mention Giannis, or even Porzingis.

I don't see how KP connected to the Hawks.....

He withdrew from the draft the previous year. The hawks were targeting him.

[CP War Hawks]

We were so close. I don't even want to mention Giannis, or even Porzingis.

I don't see how KP connected to the Hawks, but the Greek Freak should of been had. Ferry was solid in trading and under the radar signings, but his drafting left alot to be desired. He should have leap frogged Milwaukee and selected Giannis. If it came down to it, trade picks 16 and 17 to move up.

Word was that if Porzingis stayed in the 2014 draft that he had a promise from Ferry. KP decided to pull out and try for a higher draft slot the following year. I'd have to find it but there was a tidbit in a thread on the Bucks' board where a beat writer claimed in a radio interview that there was something akin to audible chair and table throwing on the phone when Ferry called about trading up for Giannis. It happens, Ainge tried to trade 6 picks (4 1sts rounders) to move up from 16th to 9th to select Justise Winslow and was soundly rebuffed. Sometimes just having the ammunition doesn't guarantee you hit your target.

I get it, but then again I don't. Were people expecting KP to fall out the lotto in a relatively weak 2014 draft. I have to think it's an easy yes for Boston or Minny for their pick with the Hawks pick 16 and 17.

Any other GM accepts the Boston offer except the Bobcats. They are horrifically bad with their evals. Ferry also passed up on Rudy for Lucas. Granted most teams fell asleep on him, but still.

[Spud2nique]

I honestly think the NBA owes us a top 3 pick. Sadly if we are out of the top 3 picks, there's a super low chance of trading into it..nobody wants to be the team that gives up an Ayton, Bagley or Doncic.

[MaceCase]

I don't see how KP connected to the Hawks, but the Greek Freak should of been had. Ferry was solid in trading and under the radar signings, but his drafting left alot to be desired. He should have leap frogged Milwaukee and selected Giannis. If it came down to it, trade picks 16 and 17 to move up.

Word was that if Porzingis stayed in the 2014 draft that he had a promise from Ferry. KP decided to pull out and try for a higher draft slot the following year. I'd have to find it but there was a tidbit in a thread on the Bucks' board where a beat writer claimed in a radio interview that there was something akin to audible chair and table throwing on the phone when Ferry called about trading up for Giannis. It happens, Ainge tried to trade 6 picks (4 1sts rounders) to move up from 16th to 9th to select Justise Winslow and was soundly rebuffed. Sometimes just having the ammunition doesn't guarantee you hit your target.

I get it, but then again I don't. Were people expecting KP to fall out the lotto in a relatively weak 2014 draft. I have to think it's an easy yes for Boston or Minny for their pick with the Hawks pick 16 and 17.

Any other GM accepts the Boston offer except the Bobcats. They are horrifically bad with their evals. Ferry also passed up on Rudy for Lucas. Granted most teams fell asleep on him, but still.

Porzingis was projected as far down as #23, later mocks had him in the #15 area but not going past #21. He was not a well regarded prospect in 2014 and it was a surprise that he even initially entered in the first place before he withdrew. Then there's the fact that in 2013 Atlanta got the #16 in the first place in a trade with Boston and Minnesota originally had #9. There were also 8 other teams ahead of the Hornets including Miami at ultimately #10 in 2015 so unless Ainge only negotiated with Charlotte I'd have to imagine that they too turned down that deal.

[atlantabbq99]

I think the team with the worst record in the league is guaranteed a pick no lower than #3, even with the new rules.

[MaceCase]

I think the team with the worst record in the league is guaranteed a pick no lower than #3, even with the new rules.

Nope, rules are currently guaranteed no lower than 4th. The new rules guarantee no lower than 5th.

[ATL Boy]

Didn't we have a trade in place to get Milwaukee's 2013 first round pick for Josh Smith at the trade deadline that year? iirc everything was in place (The Bucks even traded Tobias Harris for JJ Redick to really kickstart their "run" expecting Josh Smith to completely their core along with Jennings and Ellis) but Ferry changed his mind at the last minute.

[Jamaaliver]

This kid is special:

Read on Twitter

Young sets Big 12 record with 22 assists in Oklahoma win

Freshman Trae Young had 26 points and a Big 12 Conference-record 22 assists as No. 17 Oklahoma rolled past Northwestern State 105-68 on Tuesday night in the Sooners' first game since moving into the Top 25.

ESPN

[Jamaaliver]

Didn't we have a trade in place to get Milwaukee's 2013 first round pick for Josh Smith at the trade deadline that year?

...but Ferry changed his mind at the last minute.

Spoiler:

Josh Smith trade: Hawks turn down Bucks offer at last minute, according to report

The Bucks and Hawks were reportedly on the verge of a last-minute deal for Josh Smith, but GM Danny Ferry backed out in the final minutes before the deadline.

The Atlanta Hawks pulled out of a final-hour trade that would have sent Josh Smith to the Bucks in exchange for three role players and a protected No. 1 pick, reports Ric Bucher. The Bucks and Hawks were said to be in "serious" talks as the 3 p.m. ET deadline approached. But shortly after the deadline hit, news quickly surfaced that the Hawks had cut off trade talks and were holding onto Smith.

In the end, however, that package of role players and a pick was not enough for Danny Ferry to move Smith and his expiring contract.

Feb 2013



This should have been the season we missed the playoffs, rebuilt the roster. We'd have acquired a third first round pick and gotten worse in the process.

But Danny Ferry was more focused on cap space and rebuilding through Free Agency instead.

[Jamaaliver]

Prospect Status Update: Does Marvin Bagley III Have a Position in the “Positionless” NBA?

The Duke freshman could be a special talent at the next level, but the strengths and weaknesses he’s shown under Coach K have established a unique wrinkle to the age-old “tweener” conundrum

Marvin Bagley III doesn’t fit neatly into any one category when projecting him to the NBA. The Duke freshman is averaging 21.3 points and 11.3 rebounds a game this season on 61.1 percent shooting, but his game has fallen out of fashion at the next level. No one in the NBA plays quite like him. At 6-foot-11 and 234 pounds, he is a supersized forward who does most of his damage in the paint, and he hasn’t shown the ability to spread the floor like a power forward or protect the rim like a center.

There’s no place for a traditional power forward who scores in the post. Those players either have to move out to the 3-point line and space the floor, or move to center and become a defensive anchor. NBA offenses don’t want anyone in the spots on the court where Bagley operates best.

Bagley is practically unguardable in the NCAA, but his position doesn’t really exist anymore at the next level.

...there are many front-office people who are skeptical about his ability to play power forward in the NBA. I talked to one Eastern Conference executive who was blunt in his assessment. “Bagley is a 5 in today’s NBA,” he told me. “Trying to make him a 4 will be an exercise in failure.”

The issue with playing Bagley at the 5 is on defense. He is rarely in the right position to make a play, and he doesn’t have the length to make up for it. He has only a 7-foot wingspan, which would give him one of the shortest reaches of any starting center in the NBA. Interior defense is one of the hardest things to learn to do at the next level, and Bagley doesn’t have the instincts for it, much less the physical tools.

The things Bagley does best just aren’t done anymore in the NBA; it’s a big gamble to take with a top-three pick.

The Ringer

[Spud2nique]

Just playing devils advocate here...

I love Bagley. I think he's gonna be a stud. But sometimes when I watch him I see a very very rich man's Michael Beasley. If Bagley busts, could he bust as bad as Beas? Beasley went #2 in 2008 after D Rose.

I honestly think none of the top 3 projected picks of 2018 will bust but just thought about this a tiny bit.