Absurdly early 2018 NBA Draft Thread

[kg01]

I gotta see more Trae Young. I'm not getting the knocks on him. Scores like crazy, lots of assists. Criticized for 'too many heat checks'' in a game he scored 39? That doesn't even make sense. Give me a guy who can take over a game with the ball in his hands.

My fear on Ayton is that he is just feasting on smaller, slower college players.

I mean, name a guy at that size who was doing this at the college level and had that translate to NBA success for anyone other than himself (i.e. 6th man scoring type).

You think he's going to revolutionize the league? For him to be successful, it would have to be the first time in the history of the league for something like that to happen basically.

Or, you can believe that he's an ultra-scoring guard beasting on college level competition. That something we see every few years. Certainly not at the level he's doing it but I'm just not willing to take a chance that he's not just a rich man's Jimmer or Eddie House.

I'm definitely taking it to an extreme (mainly to mess with our guy Jamaaaaaaaaliver) but I don't think I'm that far off.

[Jamaaliver]

I gotta see more Trae Young...

I mean, name a guy at that size who was doing this at the college level and had that translate to NBA success for anyone other than himself (i.e. 6th man scoring type).

...I'm just not willing to take a chance that he's not just a rich man's Jimmer or Eddie House.

Fair points. I will say this seems different because...we've largely NEVER seen this type of production from a freshman.

He's passed every challenge thus far, alleviating a number of concerns along the way.

This weekend's matchup vs West Virginia and defensive dynamo Jevon Carter will go a long way towards alleviating what concerns I have left.

But, if Trae is on the court with other top offensive options, he's proven he can put the ball in the hoop consistently.

[macd-gm]

I gotta see more Trae Young. I'm not getting the knocks on him. Scores like crazy, lots of assists. Criticized for 'too many heat checks'' in a game he scored 39? That doesn't even make sense. Give me a guy who can take over a game with the ball in his hands.

My fear on Ayton is that he is just feasting on smaller, slower college players.

I mean, name a guy at that size who was doing this at the college level and had that translate to NBA success for anyone other than himself (i.e. 6th man scoring type).

You think he's going to revolutionize the league? For him to be successful, it would have to be the first time in the history of the league for something like that to happen basically.

Or, you can believe that he's an ultra-scoring guard beasting on college level competition. That something we see every few years. Certainly not at the level he's doing it but I'm just not willing to take a chance that he's not just a rich man's Jimmer or Eddie House.

I'm definitely taking it to an extreme (mainly to mess with our guy Jamaaaaaaaaliver) but I don't think I'm that far off.

The guy's 6'2". He isn't I.T. size. I'm not talking about revolutionizing the league. I'm talking about scoring. When's the last time we had a scorer. I don't understand what you mean that it would be the first time in the history of the league that a 6'2" guy came in and was a great scorer? There's a bunch in the league right now.

Here's a question. Who was the last big man to come in and revolutionize the league? Or even lead a team to contention.

[kg01]

I gotta see more Trae Young. I'm not getting the knocks on him. Scores like crazy, lots of assists. Criticized for 'too many heat checks'' in a game he scored 39? That doesn't even make sense. Give me a guy who can take over a game with the ball in his hands.

My fear on Ayton is that he is just feasting on smaller, slower college players.

I mean, name a guy at that size who was doing this at the college level and had that translate to NBA success for anyone other than himself (i.e. 6th man scoring type).

You think he's going to revolutionize the league? For him to be successful, it would have to be the first time in the history of the league for something like that to happen basically.

Or, you can believe that he's an ultra-scoring guard beasting on college level competition. That something we see every few years. Certainly not at the level he's doing it but I'm just not willing to take a chance that he's not just a rich man's Jimmer or Eddie House.

I'm definitely taking it to an extreme (mainly to mess with our guy Jamaaaaaaaaliver) but I don't think I'm that far off.

The guy's 6'2". He isn't I.T. size. I'm not talking about revolutionizing the league. I'm talking about scoring. When's the last time we had a scorer. I don't understand what you mean that it would be the first time in the history of the league that a 6'2" guy came in and was a great scorer? There's a bunch in the league right now.

Here's a question. Who was the last big man to come in and revolutionize the league? Or even lead a team to contention.

You can't answer my hair-brain question with a hair-brain question of your own. That ... that's like a quadruple-negative. That doesn't work.

Guy is 6'2" and lacks athleticism, linth and girth. You know what happens to 6'2" college scorers who lack athleticism, linth and girth? They become 6th man scoring punches off the bench because they can't score enough to make up for the fact that they can't guard anybody.

I'm not saying we should take a big either. I'm more anti-Young than pro-anyone else.

[macd-gm]

I havent seen enough of Young to judge. It he really lacks athleticism and more importantly quickness then I could see that as a problem. But it seems like he is creating scoring opportunities for himself (and others) which bodes well for the nba.

[jayu70]

Trae Young - Is he a guy to take as the #1 pick? Is he your KEYSTONE FRANCHISE player?

[Jamaaliver]

^Substitute Isaiah Thomas (2) or Steve Nash into that question and you have your answer.

Those guys seem like his logical ceiling. Productive guys who can be considered MVP-caliber at their very best--but can't singlehandedly carry a team into contention.

[macd-gm]

^Substitute Isaiah Thomas (2) or Steve Nash into that question and you have your answer.

Those guys seem like his logical ceiling. Productive guys who can be considered MVP-caliber at their very best--but can't singlehandedly carry a team into contention.

But who in this draft can be considered a guy that can singlehandedly carry a team to contention? If there isn't one then i'd gladly take a guy with MVP consideration as a ceiling.

[Jamaaliver]

A timely article on the subject...

Trae Young and the Most Entertaining NBA Draft Debate in Years

Trae Young is a freshman point guard at Oklahoma who's currently averaging 29.4 points, 10.6 assists, and 3.9 rebounds for the 12–1 Sooners.

I assumed this was some kind of fluke...when he began raining down buckets on every team he played, I told friends that this must be some kind of Jimmer Freddette situation. At best, he was Buddy Hield. Trae Young was not someone to take seriously next to the best prospects in the country.

But did you see the TCU game last weekend? Young had 39 and 11 and beat the No. 10 team in the country on the road.

I'm not saying he's Steph Curry, but Young is the first NBA prospect we've ever seen who evokes not-entirely-crazy comparisons to the player who's spent the past four years turning the entire NBA upside down. At least so far, Young's college numbers are slightly better.

I'm beginning to think Young should be the No. 1 pick. At the very least, after the past two months it's clear that he belongs in the conversation.

SI.com

[Jamaaliver]

^Substitute Isaiah Thomas (2) or Steve Nash into that question and you have your answer.

Those guys seem like his logical ceiling. Productive guys who can be considered MVP-caliber at their very best--but can't singlehandedly carry a team into contention.

But who in this draft can be considered a guy that can singlehandedly carry a team to contention? If there isn't one then i'd gladly take a guy with MVP consideration as a ceiling.

I think Ayton is the closest.

A healthy MIchael Porter, Jr. or more polished Collin Sexton could in a few years also.

[CP War Hawks]

Young has demonstrated nearly unlimited range. I think that's where the majority of the intrigue is. He essentially has the same range as Curry, if not more.

He can't be any worse than Shrewd on defense. He just about had a TD which shows he has other skills than just shooting. This draft just get weirder by the day.

I wouldn't mind trading down depending on which team is desperate enough to get the Ainge special.

[ATL Boy]

If we end up taking Trae Young with a top 3 pick I'll immediately lose faith in the front office.


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[kg01]

If we end up taking Trae Young with a top 3 pick I'll immediately lose faith in the front office.


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I'm with you. People speak of him as if Curry is his floor. Think about that.

This is a guy you step outta the way and let a team like PHX or SAC take. Then 4 years later you're like, "Hyuk, look what them dudes did in the '18 draft. They thought he was gonna be Curry! HaLOL! Thas like picking Harold Miner top3 thinking he's the next Jordan! HahaLOL!"

[Spud2nique]

You guys can talk about Trae Young and his 8 year old shot release or Ayton and his lack of desire to be the best he can be or if he can lead the comeback of the bigs....well you really need to put all your eggs in one basket.



LUKA DONCIC!!!

[Spud2nique]

Young has demonstrated nearly unlimited range. I think that's where the majority of the intrigue is. He essentially has the same range as Curry, if not more.

He can't be any worse than Shrewd on defense. He just about had a TD which shows he has other skills than just shooting. This draft just get weirder by the day.

I wouldn't mind trading down depending on which team is desperate enough to get the Ainge special.

The trade down has me intrigued. I wouldn't mind ending up with the Bridges boys. We can find time for them somewhere I'm sure.

[jayu70]

If we end up taking Trae Young with a top 3 pick I'll immediately lose faith in the front office.


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I'm with you. People speak of him as if Curry is his floor. Think about that.

This is a guy you step outta the way and let a team like PHX or SAC take. Then 4 years later you're like, "Hyuk, look what them dudes did in the '18 draft. They thought he was gonna be Curry! HaLOL! Thas like picking Harold Miner top3 thinking he's the next Jordan! HahaLOL!"

College Guys hardly ever live up to their NBA comp. It's always some random guy that pops up out if nowhere.
The 'next' so and so hardly ever materializes as the one who everyone projects it to be.
It's like who's the next Harden, who's the next Kawhi, Draymond, Giannis, it won't be who the pundits project.

[HMFFL]

DeAndre Ayton or Marvin Bagley III will make me very happy.

[atlantabbq99]

I have Ayton as the clear #1 by a mile. I have Bags, Trae, Luka, and Wendell fighting in that second tier, and I have Sexton, Mikal, McCoy, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in that third tier.

[thr3ep01nte4]

I don’t think Bagley is as good as Ayton/Doncic. His standing reach is only one inch higher than Doncic’s. From a post on Peachtree Hoops, Bagley is way too similar to John Collins. That pairing is too worrisome on both ends.
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2018/1/2/16839514/luka-doncic-2018-nba-draft-prospects-atlanta-hawks-deandre-ayton

[Spud2nique]

As of today for me..

1. Luka
2. Bagley
3. Ayton

I dunno what it is but I seem to like the way Bagley moves on the court much better than Ayton. Also, Bagley seems to play with an edge, yes they both have moments where they are yelling for motivation but deep down inside, I feel Bagley might have a better NBA future despite not having a clear cut position.

Again, this is today. Tomorrow, who knows.