NBA Draft and NCAA Basketball

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Will this hurt his stock?

[darealjuice]

I'd assume so, not that it was particularly high. Kind of hard to give him the benefit of the doubt considering it seems like it's the same substance from last time when he claimed it was unknowingly ingested.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Assuming they let him play I expect Porter to be a little rusty. I'm not too concerned if he struggles with is shot or anything like that just want to see him move well and take a little contact. It's a really good sign that he's cleared already; by the time draft workouts kick off he should be back in form.

If he looks healthy he's top 3 for me based on his star upside.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Ayton just watches layups go in when he could contest maybe he plays the 4 on defense as he looks better defending the perimeter (Bender would rim protect).

[bwgood77]

Ayton just watches layups go in when he could contest maybe he plays the 4 on defense as he looks better defending the perimeter (Bender would rim protect).

I really sucks because he seems like he has the tools but just doesn't want to do it. It just doesn't seem like you should take a C #1 if the guy doesn't want to protect the rim or stop people from driving in for layups. I mean how many good teams play a good offensive scoring C from the inside who doesn't play D?

[bwgood77]

Assuming they let him play I expect Porter to be a little rusty. I'm not too concerned if he struggles with is shot or anything like that just want to see him move well and take a little contact. It's a really good sign that he's cleared already; by the time draft workouts kick off he should be back in form.

If he looks healthy he's top 3 for me based on his star upside.

If he plays and especially if he looks good he's probably #2 for me. I mean he is the type of player that thrives today. Of course had he been playing maybe we could have been picking apart his game all season like all the other guys.

[kennydorglas]

ok MPJr. Now you have my attention.

[Mjee]

I would absolutely love MPjr if Ayton is off the board !!!!!

[Wilber85]

So you guys want a college player in MPJ who hasn't really played and just had back surgery?

Over Ayton, Doncic, Bagley, Young, JJJ?

[Mjee]

So you guys want a college player in MPJ who hasn't really played and just had back surgery?

Over Ayton, Doncic, Bagley, Young, JJJ?

If he is healthy and cleared by our medical staff...

Over Ayton !???? No
Over Bagley !?? Probably not
Over Donic !? 50-50
Over Bamba, JJJ, Young..... hell yes

[Christine-In-AZ]

Got an early feeling we might be looking back at this approaching draft class in a few years and say- "what were we thinking?..there was nobody special"...there were like 6 or 7, tier two type prospects.

emphasis on my *early feeling

This could be McD's draft to cash in with a (possible) over-valued top pick, plus the other Suns pick stash.

Early yet.
Of course I'm still watching.
Large NBA talent might be in trade play this summer.
Devin is already weighing his options...there is no loyalty, only winning.

[bwgood77]

Got an early feeling we might be looking back at this approaching draft class in a few years and say- "what were we thinking?..there was nobody special"...there were like 6 or 7, tier two type prospects.

emphasis on my *early feeling

This could be McD's draft to cash in with a (possible) over-valued top pick, plus the other Suns pick stash.

Early yet.
Of course I'm still watching.
Large NBA talent might be in trade play this summer.
Devin is already weighing his options...there is no loyalty, only winning.

I'm pretty sure Devin's going to sign that fat extension the moment it gets offered. And then he will still have a year on his rookie contract after that before the extension kicks in.

If Kawhi is on the block, and he is healthy, then yes, our pick should be in play. If you knew he would re-sign, he's worth JJ and the pick...though I'd hate to give up Doncic if we had the first, because he could be really special. Bigs only do so much anymore, unless they are great defensively or extremely versatile. So yeah, there are question marks with these guys.

[Jarlaxle0204]

This is the first draft in awhile where I don't know who I want. I worry about all these guys and I could also see any of the top 7 flourishing as well. I don't think I really care if we pick first or sixth. Bamba could wind up being what we truly need. I just don't feel confident about any of these guys. I'd hate to pick first, draft Ayton and he can't even defend in the middle and doesn't draw defenders out.

[Mulhollanddrive]

There hasn't been more than 3 of the top 7 make All-Star since the 2003 LeBron James draft.

I think people get carried away with expectations when every pick except 1 is an outsider to become an All-Star.

[darealjuice]

I really think this draft is the real deal. Obviously it's not going to be 7/7 of the typical Top 7 being All Stars, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if 4 ended up there. I'm not against trading out if the right trade presents itself, but this class has been historically productive.

Marvin Bagley is the most efficient scorer of the 4 freshmen in NCAA history to average 20/10, with DeAndre Ayton being .3 points on his scoring average away from joining that group and taking the title from him. Luka Doncic blows the production of any draft prospect of his age in Euroleague history out of the water, and has shown he can do it against NBA talent by winning Eurobasket this Summer. Trae Young has the highest OBPM for a freshman since the stat has been calculated for NCAA by over 3 points even with his recent shooting slump. Jaren Jackson Jr and Wendell Carter Jr are both in the top 5 for freshman BPM with AD, KAT, and Embiid. Bamba is a walking 15/10/5 in Big 12 play. That's not even including MPJ, who was projected as one of the top prospects before his back injury and still has a chance to prove himself. I think we're just getting to the point where we've seen and talked so much about their weaknesses that it's easy to overlook how good this class is at its strengths.

[bwgood77]

I really think this draft is the real deal. Obviously it's not going to be 7/7 of the typical Top 7 being All Stars, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if 4 ended up there. I'm not against trading out if the right trade presents itself, but this class has been historically productive.

Marvin Bagley is the most efficient scorer of the 4 freshmen in NCAA history to average 20/10, with DeAndre Ayton being .3 points on his scoring average away from joining that group and taking the title from him. Luka Doncic blows the production of any draft prospect of his age in Euroleague history out of the water, and has shown he can do it against NBA talent by winning Eurobasket this Summer. Trae Young has the highest OBPM for a freshman since the stat has been calculated for NCAA by over 3 points even with his recent shooting slump. Jaren Jackson Jr and Wendell Carter Jr are both in the top 5 for freshman BPM with AD, KAT, and Embiid. Bamba is a walking 15/10/5 in Big 12 play. That's not even including MPJ, who was projected as one of the top prospects before his back injury and still has a chance to prove himself. I think we're just getting to the point where we've seen and talked so much about their weaknesses that it's easy to overlook how good this class is at its strengths.

Good stuff. I agree, and I wouldn't be surprised if McD is thinking "I'd almost be as happy with the 5th pick as the 1st because there are fewer options to choose the wrong guy. Not sure if that makes sense, but if there is less pressure and you might end up getting the guy that is better even though he theoretically shouldn't have been taken #1 based what everyone thought and what the pressure was.

[darealjuice]

Good stuff. I agree, and I wouldn't be surprised if McD is thinking "I'd almost rather have the 5th pick than the 1st because there is there are fewer options to choose the wrong guy. Not sure if that makes sense, but if there is less pressure and you might end up getting the guy that is better even though he theoretically shouldn't have been taken #1 based what everyone thought and what the pressure was.

I get where you're coming from, although I'd think a GM that's confident in their scouting team would always want their pick of the field. I think his thought process is more that our schedule keeps us in good shape to stay in the top 5 of a strong draft, and the negative of potentially losing a few lottery balls is outweighed by the positive of potentially locking down a long-term option at point guard in Elf. Not sure I agree with it completely, but that's how I interpret McD making the Payton move at the deadline.

The good thing is that Elf's probably not doing too much damage to our draft position if he's not a long-term starting option, so it's a pretty low-risk, high-reward move. Plus if he looks like the real deal, then dropping to the 4th pick and moving forward with a core like Payton/Booker/JJ/MPJ/Bender with Knight/Daniels/Warren/Quese/Chandler/Dudley as bench players, expiring contracts, and trade bait to upgrade with the Miami or Milwaukee picks would still leave us in a really good position.

[Saberestar]

So you guys want a college player in MPJ who hasn't really played and just had back surgery?

Over Ayton, Doncic, Bagley, Young, JJJ?

If he is healthy he is better than all of them IMO.
He is not the clear number #1 because his injurie.

[bwgood77]

Good stuff. I agree, and I wouldn't be surprised if McD is thinking "I'd almost rather have the 5th pick than the 1st because there is there are fewer options to choose the wrong guy. Not sure if that makes sense, but if there is less pressure and you might end up getting the guy that is better even though he theoretically shouldn't have been taken #1 based what everyone thought and what the pressure was.

I get where you're coming from, although I'd think a GM that's confident in their scouting team would always want their pick of the field. I think his thought process is more that our schedule keeps us in good shape to stay in the top 5 of a strong draft, and the negative of potentially losing a few lottery balls is outweighed by the positive of potentially locking down a long-term option at point guard in Elf. Not sure I agree with it completely, but that's how I interpret McD making the Payton move at the deadline.

The good thing is that Elf's probably not doing too much damage to our draft position if he's not a long-term starting option, so it's a pretty low-risk, high-reward move. Plus if he looks like the real deal, then dropping to the 4th pick and moving forward with a core like Payton/Booker/JJ/MPJ/Bender with Knight/Daniels/Warren/Quese/Chandler/Dudley as bench players, expiring contracts, and trade bait to upgrade with the Miami or Milwaukee picks would still leave us in a really good position.

What is your general feel of the draft ranges of these players?

I figure Doncic and Ayton are 1-3. Bagley 1-6. Porter 3-7.

And then the others in the 4-7 range. Young is a wildcard though and I won't be that surprised wherever he goes.

[Mulhollanddrive]

This is just for fun but last time there was a top 7 was the 2013 draft:

Bagley - Bennett
Doncic - Oladipo
Porter - Porter
Ayton - Zeller
Jackson - Len
Bamba - Noel
Young - McLemore