Absurdly early 2018 NBA Draft Thread

tbhawksfan1 · Post #1261 » by **tbhawksfan1** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 10:45 am

It's a fact that wings and guards have been dominating the NBA for a while now. I wonder if guys like Embid, KAT, Ayton...ect.. might start to reverse that somewhat.

If the Hawks got the first pick, who do you choose? Doncic or Trae? Guard / wing with high ceilings or Ayton, the new age C?

Too many wins and not enough ping pong ball love will likely eliminate two or three of those guys. So, we'd be looking at Porter, Bagley, Bamba, JJJ. If the above three are gone, then which of these is our pick?

How many of these seven will grow into top 30 players? Looks like a very good draft. I really hope TS is a draft genius, because whether we draft first or fourth, looks like very tough decisions.

CP War Hawks · Post #1262 » by **CP War Hawks** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 12:59 pm

thr3ep01nte4 wrote:The Ayton article by ESPN basically says his problems mainly stem from between the ears. He wants to be a power forward alongside another big man, and doesn't want to give efforts on defense. Well, I hate to say this, but he seems to be a perfect fit for the Kings (on/off the court).

Oldie but goodie.

https://www.theringer.com/2017/12/7/16743900/deandre-ayton-arizona-blocks-nba-draft

“I need to work on my rim protection. Sometimes I’m like, ‘That dude can jump, I don’t know if I can jump with him.’ I’ll second-guess it,” Ayton told me with a smile last year. “I have to be like Mo Bamba. He swats everything.” (For reference, Bamba’s block rate is 16.2 through seven games at Texas.)

TF is that about :nonono:

Post #1263 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 1:31 pm

CP War Hawks wrote:https://www.theringer.com/2017/12/7/16743900/deandre-ayton-arizona-blocks-nba-draft

“I need to work on my rim protection. Sometimes I’m like, ‘That dude can jump, I don’t know if I can jump with him.’ I’ll second-guess it,” Ayton told me with a smile last year.

TF is that about

Yeah, that's enlightening. As are the article's stats on shot-blocking (or lack thereof) translating pretty consistently from college to the pros.

It's a shame too, because his defense is terrible, but his offense is glorious.

Other noteworthy snippets:

When you draft a teenage big man in the lottery, you are signing up for a long and difficult maturation process even in the best of circumstances. If he’s either unable or unwilling to put in the effort on both ends of the floor, that process could stretch on indefinitely.

The other option for the team that drafts Ayton is playing him at power forward next to a more defensive-minded big man at center. Ayton could become a so-called unicorn, a 7-footer who protects the rim and shoots 3s, or he could end up as a guy who needs to play with one to be successful. He has the outlines of a perimeter game on both sides of the ball, so he could potentially share the floor with a rim protector. Ayton moves his feet incredibly well for a 7-foot-1 guy, and he might be further along defensively at the 3-point line than at the rim.

The biggest strength of his game is his ability to score in the paint. Ayton has a great feel for scoring with his back to the basket, he can shoot over the top of almost any defender, and he has a soft touch around the rim. He’s so powerful and skilled that there’s nothing smaller defenders can do to stop him if he gets position down low.

CP War Hawks · Post #1264 » by **CP War Hawks** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 1:53 pm

The article is tad bit dated. Ayton has avg. 2.4 blocks in his past 10 games, including 6 in one game. Bud and staff should be able to extract lemons into sweet nectar from these big time prospects.

thr3ep01nte4 · Post #1265 » by **thr3ep01nte4** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 3:00 pm

If we are talking about a Unicorn big man who plays like a 3-and-D guy, Jaren Jackson Jr. is already that. His jump shot is way better than Ayton’s.

It depends on what type of offense the team wants to build. If we are talking about a post-based offense, then we need a post player who OCCASIONALLY shoots threes, which is Ayton. And put shooters around him to give him space downlow to operate, which is Philly trying to do. If we are talking about the wing-based offense, then we need a 3-D big who shoots threes all the time, which is JJJ to open up driving lanes for your best players (wings).

Post #1266 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 3:17 pm

thr3ep01nte4 wrote:It depends on what type of offense the team wants to build. If we are talking about a post-based offense, then we need a post player who OCCASIONALLY shoots threes, which is Ayton. And put shooters around him to give him space downlow to operate, which is Philly trying to do. If we are talking about the wing-based offense, then we need a 3-D big who shoots threes all the time, which is JJJ to open up driving lanes for your best players (wings).

Yep, this sounds about right.

But if we're trying to build a wing-based offense, seems like the highest Hawks pick in years should actually be spent on a wing player...

macd-gm · Post #1267 » by **macd-gm** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 3:21 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
thr3ep01nte4 wrote:It depends on what type of offense the team wants to build. If we are talking about a post-based offense, then we need a post player who OCCASIONALLY shoots threes, which is Ayton. And put shooters around him to give him space downlow to operate, which is Philly trying to do. If we are talking about the wing-based offense, then we need a 3-D big who shoots threes all the time, which is JJJ to open up driving lanes for your best players (wings).

Yep, this sounds about right.

But if we're trying to build a wing-based offense, seems like the highest Hawks pick in years should actually be spent on a wing player...

Hell yes. And what evidence is there that either Bud or Travis wants a post-based offense? None.

Post #1268 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 3:26 pm

macd-gm wrote:...what evidence is there that either Bud or Travis wants a post-based offense? None.

So help me, mac....

If I could figure out how to cut a d@mn GIF, I'd be throwing some serious shade right now.

:cry:

macd-gm · Post #1269 » by **macd-gm** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 3:33 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
macd-gm wrote:...what evidence is there that either Bud or Travis wants a post-based offense? None.

So help me, mac....

If I could figure out how to cut a d@mn GIF, I'd be throwing some serious shade right now.

What'd I do? Just dropping truth bombs over here.

Post #1270 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 3:33 pm

Read on Twitter

macd-gm · Post #1271 » by **macd-gm** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 3:45 pm

I like Ayton because he can shoot. And not just 3s but face up mid range jumpers. His passing seems pretty good.

But that ASU game? How was it even that close. The size advantage Ayton had was ridiculous. He probably should have had 40.

Post #1272 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 3:49 pm

macd-gm wrote:But that ASU game? How was it even that close. The size advantage Ayton had was ridiculous. He probably should have had 40.

YES!!!

Ayton seems like he could easily be dominating the college game.

Yet Arizona has only been occasionally impressive.

That's a red flag.

macd-gm wrote:I like Ayton because he can shoot. And not just 3s but face up mid range jumpers. His passing seems pretty good.

His mid range game has been good.

His three point range has been just okay but the potential is intriguing.

His inside play has been damn near dominant.

#PlayToTheYoungMansStrengths

kg01 · Post #1273 » by **kg01** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 3:53 pm

macd-gm wrote:I like Ayton because he can shoot. And not just 3s but face up mid range jumpers. His passing seems pretty good.

But that ASU game? How was it even that close. The size advantage Ayton had was ridiculous. He probably should have had 40.

Because Miller is an awful coach.

And yes, Ayton is the consensus #1 now. Funny how much Frashilla was praising him last night and kept putting his, "And I'mma fan o' Doncic" or "And I know all about the international guys ..." disclaimer whenever he did. Probably trying to stem off the Luka-tics. :crazy:

ETA: @jammmmmm, blame AZ's coaches for why they don't succeed commensurate to the level of talent they always have over folks. That's a Miller red-flag, not an Ayton red-flag.

Post #1274 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 4:26 pm

Read on Twitter

macd-gm · Post #1275 » by **macd-gm** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 6:36 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:

Read on Twitter

Only one conclusion to draw from that. Travis wants Trae! :lol:

Spud2nique · Post #1276 » by **Spud2nique** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 7:01 pm

macd-gm wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:

Read on Twitter

Only one conclusion to draw from that. Travis wants Trae!

Honestly he talks too much about Draymond just because he got lucky in drafting him and he obviously loves Curry n Klay...I’m also looking at those guys clones in this draft...and Curry and Trae perfect example...

Is Mikal Bridges the Klay Thompson of this draft?

Post #1277 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 7:10 pm

Spud2nique wrote:Is Mikal Bridges the Klay Thompson of this draft?

Either Mikal or Michael Porter Jr.

Spud2nique · Post #1278 » by **Spud2nique** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 10:55 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
Spud2nique wrote:Is Mikal Bridges the Klay Thompson of this draft?

Either Mikal or Michael Porter Jr.

Does Michael Porter jr. D up well?

jayu70 · Post #1279 » by **jayu70** » Sat Feb 17, 2018 12:42 am

So...Steve Koonin was on 92.9 the game earlier, he was asked what kind of player they are looking at in the draft, he said:
1. Someone who will make all the players around them better, said it twice.
2. Mumble, mumble ...was all about the 5 spot previously, now. if you look at a team like GS, they are at their best when their C is the 6'-7" guy.

Happy was John Co. in Rising stars and glad TP was added. It'll be a great experience for them.

On another note, regarding the ASG coming to ATL anytime soon, not in the cards - GWCC and All the hotels are booked up until 2021 for 50,000 screaming cheerleaders around the same time for the Cheerleading convention.

Post #1280 » by **HMFFL** » Sat Feb 17, 2018 3:52 am

jayu70 wrote:So...Steve Koonin was on 92.9 the game earlier, he was asked what kind of player they are looking at in the draft, he said:
1. Someone who will make all the players around them better, said it twice.
2. Mumble, mumble ...was all about the 5 spot previously, now. if you look at a team like GS, they are at their best when their C is the 6'-7" guy.

Happy was John Co. in Rising stars and glad TP was added. It'll be a great experience for them.

On another note, regarding the ASG coming to ATL anytime soon, not in the cards - GWCC and All the hotels are booked up until 2021 for 50,000 screaming cheerleaders around the same time for the Cheerleading convention.

Thank you for providing us with the information.

I doubt we have a shot at the All-Star game anytime soon anyway. I look forward to the upcoming draft any support his selection but I pray the player becomes a cornerstone to our organization.

Are you happy with the draft?