Absurdly early 2018 NBA Draft Thread

[jayu70]

Let's try this again.

Curtain of DISTRACTION!!!

you got me, I'm distracted. Good thing I wasn't eating or drinking, you'd owe me a new laptop.

[jayu70]

P.s. I see some people here have fun, nice because I change my mind I won’t leave.

[Bob8]

P.s. I see some people here have fun, nice because I change my mind I won’t leave.

Yes, **** happens all the time.

[Jamaaliver]

Bleacher Report predicts ALL Star Status for Ayton within his first 5 seasons:

Deandre Ayton

Current Team: Arizona Wildcats

Current Per-Game Stats: 19.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.8 blocks

Age in 2023: 24

Deandre Ayton's size, length, power and athleticism have registered under the NBA's scouting lens for years. But his skill level has continuously evolved, and he's now averaging 19.5 points on 60.4 percent shooting as a freshman at Arizona, scoring in translatable ways that have helped create a case for Ayton as college basketball's No. 1 prospect.

Physically, he mirrors Karl-Anthony Towns (7'0", 248 pounds). But at 7'1" and 250 pounds with a 7'5 ½" wingspan, Ayton is longer and far more chiseled than Towns was at the same age.

He's been dominant offensively inside, shooting 72.1 percent at the basket with 29 putbacks through 26 games. His blossoming skills are what point to future NBA All-Star appearances, though. Ayton is averaging 1.08 points per possession on 60.0 percent shooting on post-ups, and he's putting up 1.11 points per possession in isolation.

He's shooting 47.9 percent on jump shots inside the arc, and he has flashed enough range (10 three-pointers) to suggest his three-ball will eventually be an every-game weapon.

Even if he never develops into an elite rim protector, Ayton could wind up generating similar All-Star numbers as Towns by his third NBA season.

Man, I want this kid as my cornerstone for the next decade. I'm okay if we go 0-24 for the rest of the season to ensure it.

[kg01]

Bleacher Report predicts ALL Star Status for Ayton within his first 5 seasons:

Deandre Ayton

Current Team: Arizona Wildcats

Current Per-Game Stats: 19.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.8 blocks

Age in 2023: 24

Deandre Ayton's size, length, power and athleticism have registered under the NBA's scouting lens for years. But his skill level has continuously evolved, and he's now averaging 19.5 points on 60.4 percent shooting as a freshman at Arizona, scoring in translatable ways that have helped create a case for Ayton as college basketball's No. 1 prospect.

Physically, he mirrors Karl-Anthony Towns (7'0", 248 pounds). But at 7'1" and 250 pounds with a 7'5 ½" wingspan, Ayton is longer and far more chiseled than Towns was at the same age.

He's been dominant offensively inside, shooting 72.1 percent at the basket with 29 putbacks through 26 games. His blossoming skills are what point to future NBA All-Star appearances, though. Ayton is averaging 1.08 points per possession on 60.0 percent shooting on post-ups, and he's putting up 1.11 points per possession in isolation.

He's shooting 47.9 percent on jump shots inside the arc, and he has flashed enough range (10 three-pointers) to suggest his three-ball will eventually be an every-game weapon.

Even if he never develops into an elite rim protector, Ayton could wind up generating similar All-Star numbers as Towns by his third NBA season.

Man, I want this kid as my cornerstone for the next decade. I'm okay if we go 0-24 for the rest of the season to ensure it.

He's at the top of my board. Hope he bucks the trend of AZ busts. He'll need work but I can see him going through a progression similar to Towns who also came in with some DBBIQ concerns but who's now starting to improve.

Towns has done it without a good developmental program so (at the risk of sounding like others who've painted Budz as a magician) hopefully we'll be able to ultra-develop the guy.

[hawkmanreturns]

^^^I don't see any scenario where Ayton isn't in a Hawks hat on Draft night if we have the #1 pick. A healthy Porter Jr is the ONLY player I would consider besides Ayton at #1.

[Jamaaliver]

He'll need work but I can see him going through a progression similar to Towns who also came in with some DBBIQ concerns but who's now starting to improve.

Towns has done it without a good developmental program so (at the risk of sounding like others who've painted Budz as a magician) hopefully we'll be able to ultra-develop the guy.

To be fair, I do completely trust Bud and his staff to develop Ayton on the defensive end...

We've consistently been a solid to elite defensive team under Bud's tutelage. And the 5-spot has often played an integral role there.

[Bob8]

Are there any other prospects in this Bleacher Report?

[Jamaaliver]

^In an effort to keep the peace, I'll let you look that up yourself.

The link is included in my post above.

[jayu70]

Bleacher Report predicts ALL Star Status for Ayton within his first 5 seasons:

Deandre Ayton

Current Team: Arizona Wildcats

Current Per-Game Stats: 19.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.8 blocks

Age in 2023: 24

Deandre Ayton's size, length, power and athleticism have registered under the NBA's scouting lens for years. But his skill level has continuously evolved, and he's now averaging 19.5 points on 60.4 percent shooting as a freshman at Arizona, scoring in translatable ways that have helped create a case for Ayton as college basketball's No. 1 prospect.

Physically, he mirrors Karl-Anthony Towns (7'0", 248 pounds). But at 7'1" and 250 pounds with a 7'5 ½" wingspan, Ayton is longer and far more chiseled than Towns was at the same age.

He's been dominant offensively inside, shooting 72.1 percent at the basket with 29 putbacks through 26 games. His blossoming skills are what point to future NBA All-Star appearances, though. Ayton is averaging 1.08 points per possession on 60.0 percent shooting on post-ups, and he's putting up 1.11 points per possession in isolation.

He's shooting 47.9 percent on jump shots inside the arc, and he has flashed enough range (10 three-pointers) to suggest his three-ball will eventually be an every-game weapon.

Even if he never develops into an elite rim protector, Ayton could wind up generating similar All-Star numbers as Towns by his third NBA season.

Man, I want this kid as my cornerstone for the next decade. I'm okay if we go 0-24 for the rest of the season to ensure it.

He's at the top of my board. Hope he bucks the trend of AZ busts. He'll need work but I can see him going through a progression similar to Towns who also came in with some DBBIQ concerns but who's now starting to improve.

Towns has done it without a good developmental program so (at the risk of sounding like others who've painted Budz as a magician) hopefully we'll be able to ultra-develop the guy.

I guess I should find the time to watch some college bball?
When's his next game?

[Bob8]

^In an effort to keep the peace, I'll let you look that up yourself.

The link is included in my post above.

I see, the favorite for the 2018-19 Rookie of the Year award is there too.

[Spud2nique]

Bleacher Report predicts ALL Star Status for Ayton within his first 5 seasons:





Man, I want this kid as my cornerstone for the next decade. I'm okay if we go 0-24 for the rest of the season to ensure it.

He's at the top of my board. Hope he bucks the trend of AZ busts. He'll need work but I can see him going through a progression similar to Towns who also came in with some DBBIQ concerns but who's now starting to improve.

Towns has done it without a good developmental program so (at the risk of sounding like others who've painted Budz as a magician) hopefully we'll be able to ultra-develop the guy.

I guess I should find the time to watch some college bball?
When's his next game?

He’s no Kawhi but enjoy anyways Bird! They play like every other day.

[jayu70]

What's up with the Kentucky team this year? Calipari didn't pay enough?

[thr3ep01nte4]

Doncic homer invasion.


Also can’t believe JJJ has 30 pounds on Bamba.

[ATL Boy]

Now I see why the Hawks aren't talked about as much as they should be on 92.9: because noone on that radio station other than Mike Conti and Steve Holman know jack shiz about basketball.

The consensus from almost every one of the radio hosts has been that the Hawks need to draft Trae Young number 1 overall. That's not what I have an issue with. As long as you explain why you would take _______ with some competent reasoning I'll hear you out. The basis of their reasoning, however, is that we should draft Young because he's the most exciting prospect and will bring in the most fans. Give me a break, no successful team spends a top 3 pick on someone just because they're exciting. We won't win as much with Young as we would if we got Ayton or Doncic, but hey he shoots a lot of 3s!!

Carl Dukes even went so far as to question Luka Doncic's heart because he's European. He talked about how heart is very important for a prospect then rattled off an insignificant list of former European players who had no heart indicating that this is a risk in taking Doncic. He concluded his ear bleeding monologue by saying that he'd have no problem taking Luka 29th (LOL) but not 1st.

Sorry for the rant. I've been listening to this kind of garbage commentary for days and just needed to let it off my chest

[Bob8]

I hear all the time Gms should draft BPA or draft by need. Imho there is one more aspect. GMs should draft earlier more rare players, players you can’t get in next drafts or as FA. Imho in this draft rare players are 3. Bamba, freak of the nature. Ayton incredible athletic C and Doncic, 6.8, 230 Point Forward, who can play on many positions. I believe teams, who will take this 3, can’t miss much. Nobody can predict, if they will develop in superstars, but they will be at least very useful and hard to get players.

[CP War Hawks]

I hear all the time Gms should draft BPA or draft by need. Imho there is one more aspect. GMs should draft earlier more rare players, players you can’t get in next drafts or as FA. Imho in this draft rare players are 3. Bamba, freak of the nature. Ayton incredible athletic C and Doncic, 6.8, 230 Point Forward, who can play on many positions. I believe teams, who will take this 3, can’t miss much. Nobody can predict, if they will develop in superstars, but they will be at least very useful and hard to get players.

Those 3 are the real unicorns of the draft. I'd be happy with any of them. Porter is the wildcard. If he's a taller, more explosive Kuzma, that's an intriguing prospect.

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

Amidst his slump, some perspective on Trae Young:

Pouring in 29.9 points per game, Young has carved up defenses using nifty ball-handling and change of speed paired with deep shooting range (4.2 three-pointers per game) and one of the best floaters (24 of 45) in the country.

He hogs the controls at Oklahoma, making almost every decision, but his playmaking and vision have been equally as impressive as his shot-making. A number of his teammates are registering career-high field-goal percentages thanks to Young's ability to create easy looks for them in transition, out of pick-and-rolls and off penetration.

He's generating offense at a historic level, and despite a lack of length and explosiveness, we've seen many NBA ball-handlers experience major success without them.

Bleacher Report

[Bob8]

http://insider2text.xyz/articles/ed0284740d8774cd