Absurdly early 2018 NBA Draft Thread

[ATL Boy]

I'm warming up to the idea of taking Bamba if we miss out on a top two pick. Dude looks like he would completely solidify the interior of a team's defense.

[Spud2nique]

I'm warming up to the idea of taking Bamba if we miss out on a top two pick. Dude looks like he would completely solidify the interior of a team's defense.

I’m watching too...good game here between a couple prospects we might be looking at in Trae and Mo!


Agreed on MOtumbo!

[HMFFL]

I'm warming up to the idea of taking Bamba if we miss out on a top two pick. Dude looks like he would completely solidify the interior of a team's defense.

I like that about him but if that's all he's offering as a top two pick I think we should pass.
We have seen many defensive minded big men become just that.

[CP War Hawks]

I'm warming up to the idea of taking Bamba if we miss out on a top two pick. Dude looks like he would completely solidify the interior of a team's defense.

I like that about him but if that's all he's offering as a top two pick I think we should pass.
We have seen many defensive minded big men become just that.

Nah he's more than that. He's the defensive equilavent of gobert and Whiteside with consideribly higher offensive upside. Perhaps a porzingis offensive ceiling.

With that, I want to trade back for Bamba and acquire another 1st.

[thr3ep01nte4]

It’s probably inappropriate to mention KP’s offense and Bamba‘s together. KP’s shooting, especially off-the-dribble shooting ability, is insane for a guy that big. Bamba’s shooting ability is nowhere near that. I will be quite happy if Bamba can consistently knock down open shots in a catch-and-shoot scenario.

Shooting in general and big man defense probably are the two most important skills in today’s league. I’m a huge fan of Nikola Jokic. However, his pick and roll defense in space and rim protection are probably the worst, which hurts his team a lot. If Bamba can provide dominant defense on a consistent basis, he will be an excellent choice. However, he may need a year to work on his body to be effective.

[CP War Hawks]

Meh, Dedmon has developed a seemingly solid 3 point shot under the coaching staff in what, half a season. If you catcha young guy like MB who has some prerequisite offensive skills like shooting, dribbling, face up, drive either direction, his ceiling on offense with the staff is nearly unimaginable. PERHAPS not KP high, but the tools are there.

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

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[Jamaaliver]

Does Michael Porter jr. D up well?

Ummm...MPJ has good mobility for his size and has solid defensive instincts. (He's a coach's kid.)

But, that was pre-injury and at the HS level.

So, it's hard to say at this point.

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

Since Jan. 16, Young’s Oklahoma team is just 2-7, losers of four straight. In the four-game losing streak, Young has shot 7-for-41 from downtown. It’s been a mix of poor shooting and carelessness with the ball. Young has 66 turnovers in his last 10 games.

[T]he Big 12 is the best conference in college. Young is no longer a mystery, so teams are doubling, pressuring and getting after him more than ever. In addition, Oklahoma doesn’t have the ball-handlers to pick up the slack and let him rest.

What this stretch has revealed is that Young’s decision-making and passing still need improvement. Yet for a player averaging over nine assists and assisting on 51 percent of baskets when he’s on the floor, the overall picture could be a lot worse.

Young is still an incredibly gifted passer who is likely succumbing to fatigue and a lack of help. That’s affecting him more than just becoming a worse decision-maker as the year’s gone on.

In the NBA, he’ll have more space and extra ball-handlers. He won’t see the 90 feet of pressure and double-teams as much as he does now. The turnovers are high; he needs to bulk up and show he can finish better at the rim. He has warts like almost every prospect ever in the NBA discussion. But this is a player still worth taking in the top five.

[Spud2nique]

This draft is ridiculous. I’m in love with like 7 players...it’s gonna be hard to decide on a guy imo. This Trae Young kid might be the steal. I’m not worried about the volume of shots he is taking I’m just loving the fact that he simply makes things a ton easier for everybody else.

I think Schlenk loves Trae and will blow smoke screens around not selecting him all year lol. He’s the next coming of Dell’s rugrat.

[kg01]

This draft is ridiculous. I’m in love with like 7 players...it’s gonna be hard to decide on a guy imo. This Trae Young kid might be the steal. I’m not worried about the volume of shots he is taking I’m just loving the fact that he simply makes things a ton easier for everybody else.

I think Schlenk loves Trae and will blow smoke screens around not selecting him all year lol. He’s the next coming of Dell’s rugrat.

Oh no ... they've finally gotten to spud2! Snap out of it, spud2. Somebody get a medic! @spud, don'tchu head towards that light. Stay with us, @spud! Noooo!

Honestly, my top5 runs counter to my having accepted that it's a guard-driven league now. Come to think of it, you're Trae-love runs counter to your theory of the bigman making a comeback. Odd. I still see Sexton as being more successful at the next level than Young though.

[Jamaaliver]

Mock draft roundup: Jaren Jackson Jr. enters picture for Hawks

Here’s a look at which players some recent mock drafts predict the Hawks will select:

Nbadraft.net

“6’10 athletic big man with great length (7’4 wingspan and 9’1 standing reach) ... Good athleticism, energy, and activity . . . Great defensive potential. . . Fits the mold for ideal big man in today’s NBA ... Young for his class (born Sept. 15, 1999) . . . Low release on his shot, could use more arc . . . Post game is raw. Lacks technique around the basket . . . Would be more dominant if he were to develop more of a mean streak, and play with a little more emotion.”




Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated

“Doncic’s talent is no secret, and he’d be able to take over the offense right away. With his ability to read the floor and see over defenses, he’ll be able to make others better and benefit from additional space to operate. The question is whether you see Doncic as your franchise player long-term, or project him more as your second or third-best guy. His ceiling will be tied to his individual shot creation (and whether he can shoulder a superstar’s workload), or if he’s best-suited playing off a star teammate at the NBA level.”




Sporting News

“Although Duke’s Marvin Bagley III rates out as the top frontcourt player on our current big board, Arizona’s Ayton may be a slightly better fit for the Hawks, and given the slight talent difference between the two bigs, he gets the nod here. The 19-year-old is physically ready to compete in the NBA right now, and his offensive game featuring pick-and-pops and post-ups could develop into a nice focal point for Atlanta.”

myAJC

[kg01]

Who's everybody's 'heyul nawl' pick? This Jackson kid is mine. If we pick him, I'll be mildly upset. Latest in a long line of tantalizing, tall/long, under-skilled, pogo sticks masquerading as would-be NBA players. May as well dig up the corpse of Hasheem Thabeet or Stromile Swift.

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

[Spud2nique]

This draft is ridiculous. I’m in love with like 7 players...it’s gonna be hard to decide on a guy imo. This Trae Young kid might be the steal. I’m not worried about the volume of shots he is taking I’m just loving the fact that he simply makes things a ton easier for everybody else.

I think Schlenk loves Trae and will blow smoke screens around not selecting him all year lol. He’s the next coming of Dell’s rugrat.

Oh no ... they've finally gotten to spud2! Snap out of it, spud2. Somebody get a medic! @spud, don'tchu head towards that light. Stay with us, @spud! Noooo!

Honestly, my top5 runs counter to my having accepted that it's a guard-driven league now. Come to think of it, you're Trae-love runs counter to your theory of the bigman making a comeback. Odd. I still see Sexton as being more successful at the next level than Young though.

I’m really losing it. I don’t know what the heck I want, return of MOBAtumbo or a facilitating natural point guard which we haven’t had since ..Mookie I guess..or a killer scorer like Porter who could be our best shot at another Nique...

I dunno but I do know that the nba better not screw us...if we get the 2nd worst record and end up with the 5th pick that would be..expected I guess lol

[Spud2nique]

Who's everybody's 'heyul nawl' pick? This Jackson kid is mine. If we pick him, I'll be mildly upset. Latest in a long line of tantalizing, tall/long, under-skilled, pogo sticks masquerading as would-be NBA players. May as well dig up the corpse of Hasheem Thabeet or Stromile Swift.

SAME! He’s another Marvin..he looks the part. I don’t know about his numbers but watching him climb up the draft board scares me..

I thinks he’s the only one for me...and

Sexton...I think we disagree here. I don’t want my point guard to have an nfl body..yes I know Lebron and Bledsoe and a few others do, but something scares me off with this guy.

Do not draft for me:

JJJ
Sexton

[kg01]

Who's everybody's 'heyul nawl' pick? This Jackson kid is mine. If we pick him, I'll be mildly upset. Latest in a long line of tantalizing, tall/long, under-skilled, pogo sticks masquerading as would-be NBA players. May as well dig up the corpse of Hasheem Thabeet or Stromile Swift.

SAME! He’s another Marvin..he looks the part. I don’t know about his numbers but watching him climb up the draft board scares me..

I thinks he’s the only one for me...and

Sexton...I think we disagree here. I don’t want my point guard to have an nfl body..yes I know Lebron and Bledsoe and a few others do, but something scares me off with this guy.

Do not draft for me:

JJJ
Sexton

Sex(y)ton is Harden 2.0 to me so I'm more concerned about his game than his bod.

I'm also totally off the bandwagon for MichSt players for some reason. Do they ever have success in the league? Name 2 that have lately.

[Jamaaliver]

Gary Harris?

Draymond?

There haven't been a ton drafted since then...

[kg01]

Gary Harris?

Draymond?

There haven't been a ton drafted since then...

Thanks. I do like Harris. Green ... eh, system guy. Anywhere else, we'd be a lot less enamored IMHO.

To me, MichSt = Duke (pre-acceptance of 1-and-done's) in terms of guys who end up NBA successes despite all the UNCAA-level wins.

[Spud2nique]

Who's everybody's 'heyul nawl' pick? This Jackson kid is mine. If we pick him, I'll be mildly upset. Latest in a long line of tantalizing, tall/long, under-skilled, pogo sticks masquerading as would-be NBA players. May as well dig up the corpse of Hasheem Thabeet or Stromile Swift.

SAME! He’s another Marvin..he looks the part. I don’t know about his numbers but watching him climb up the draft board scares me..

I thinks he’s the only one for me...and

Sexton...I think we disagree here. I don’t want my point guard to have an nfl body..yes I know Lebron and Bledsoe and a few others do, but something scares me off with this guy.

Do not draft for me:

JJJ
Sexton

Sex(y)ton is Harden 2.0 to me so I'm more concerned about his game than his bod.

I'm also totally off the bandwagon for MichSt players for some reason. Do they ever have success in the league? Name 2 that have lately.

Shawn Respert was supposed to be the pre Mo Pete...and then there’s...Mo Pete...and Mateen Cleaves..the next Isiah in the eyes of Magic...


Oh God Calgon take me awayyyyy...(80’s bit and still relatable today..)