2018 Draft Thread #6

[GDRO10]

I think Knox is the Oubre of this draft... it will take year 3 before there is any contribution.

Mikal is a starter day one.

Miles is a Val type of role player for at least 1 season maybe 2.

Knox has solid mechanics with his shot and is a long athletic scoring forward with the potential to guard 4 and even 5 positions. He has nothing to do with Oubre.

Mikal is a great role player for a good team, but his ceiling is not that high because he's just a 3&D type of player. Unless what you want out of this draft is a Robert Covington, we should stay away from him. Has questionable mechanics too. He's been consistent as a shooter this season from college range, but is it going to translate in the NBA? Even if it does i'd only consider him with the Pels pick, if it falls in the lottery.

Miles is a freak athlete. Great defender from 1-4, good spot up shooter and makes athletic plays, but he's not good with the ball in his hands yet. So again, terrible comparison. The only thing Miles and Valentine have in common is that they both played in MSU.

I’m talking contribution timeline. You need to read the article on Mikal at the Stepien... highlights how Mikal is NOT Covington at all because of his ball skills and how if he continues to grow his handles he could be elite.

Knox is young and raw. That’s the Oubre comparison. It’s going to take awhile. Knox and Oubre are both raw and good athletes.

Bridges needs the ball. Much like Val. I don’t see the defense like you do. If he was a strong defender he’d be going top 5 IMO. Maybe he blows up in the tourney and he does go that high. I like him but don’t know about his fit here because he needs the ball.

I don't disagree with the ''contribution timeline'' factor. Mikal can play right away. My point is, i'll take a player who i think has the potential to be a great player (which i believe about Knox) over a guy who can just be a coplimentary player. Mikal is never going to become a star, but Knox has the tools.

Knox is not raw. A little bit inconsistent yes, but he's a good scorer, he just can't create for his teammates with the ball in his hands at this point.

Miles does not need the ball at all, cause he's not good at playmaking or creating his own shot. He's a spot up/cutting/inside scoring player in college right now.

[islanders11040]

3/3/2018

12 pm

Texas vs West Virginia (ESPN)
Mo Bamba

Kentucky vs Florida (CBS)
Kevin Knox
SGA
Diallo

Virginia Tech vs Miami (ESPN2)
Lonnie Walker

2 PM

Michigan vs Michigan St (CBS)
Miles Bridges
Jaren Jackson jr

Alabama vs Texas A&M (ESPN2)
Robert Williams
Collin Sexton

5 PM

Georgetown vs Villanova (FOX)
Mikal Bridges

8:15 PM

North Carolina vs Duke (ESPN)
Marvin Bagley
Wendell Carder Jr
Gary Trent jr

[Grodoboldo]

I don't mean to be a downer, but there's no way any team trades down for Valentine, Holiday or Portis.
As a throw in with NO's pick or our own 19' pick? Sure, but I don't see anyone in that range seeing them as real added value to a trade.

[Chi town]

I see us trading Val to move up and get a wing from our Pels pick if we can snag JJJ or Bamba w our pick.

Where are all the Mins going to come from for Val next season?
Lavine 32 Nwaba 16
Holiday 24 Nwaba 8 Pick 16

I don’t see the Bulls trading Holiday either.

I guess a guy like Knox could play some small ball 4.

Id love to trade Holiday over Val. Valentine is on a cheap contract for another 2 years after this year. Way better 3 shooter, and a better play maker overall. Try to trade Holiday to a playoff team that has a trade exception. Then get a protected 2nd back. Saves money and you can hope to find a steal. Then lets say draft one of the bridges, Knox, etc.

Lavine--Nawba
Rookie--Valentine

Also, cut Payne and Grant, and Valentine could play 2ndary pg to lavine if Dunn is on the bench or something like that.

Fred has said Val is not a PG.

Chuck Holiday is a better team player and defender than Val. Val has a better 3pt %. Val obviously has more upside.

[Chi town]

I don't mean to be a downer, but there's no way any team trades down for Valentine, Holiday or Portis.
As a throw in with NO's pick or our own 19' pick? Sure, but I don't see anyone in that range seeing them as real added value to a trade.

In the teens? Taking on salary?

I’d beg to differ.

[Chi town]

Knox has solid mechanics with his shot and is a long athletic scoring forward with the potential to guard 4 and even 5 positions. He has nothing to do with Oubre.

Mikal is a great role player for a good team, but his ceiling is not that high because he's just a 3&D type of player. Unless what you want out of this draft is a Robert Covington, we should stay away from him. Has questionable mechanics too. He's been consistent as a shooter this season from college range, but is it going to translate in the NBA? Even if it does i'd only consider him with the Pels pick, if it falls in the lottery.

Miles is a freak athlete. Great defender from 1-4, good spot up shooter and makes athletic plays, but he's not good with the ball in his hands yet. So again, terrible comparison. The only thing Miles and Valentine have in common is that they both played in MSU.

I’m talking contribution timeline. You need to read the article on Mikal at the Stepien... highlights how Mikal is NOT Covington at all because of his ball skills and how if he continues to grow his handles he could be elite.

Knox is young and raw. That’s the Oubre comparison. It’s going to take awhile. Knox and Oubre are both raw and good athletes.

Bridges needs the ball. Much like Val. I don’t see the defense like you do. If he was a strong defender he’d be going top 5 IMO. Maybe he blows up in the tourney and he does go that high. I like him but don’t know about his fit here because he needs the ball.

I don't disagree with the ''contribution timeline'' factor. Mikal can play right away. My point is, i'll take a player who i think has the potential to be a great player (which i believe about Knox) over a guy who can just be a coplimentary player. Mikal is never going to become a star, but Knox has the tools.

Knox is not raw. A little bit inconsistent yes, but he's a good scorer, he just can't create for his teammates with the ball in his hands at this point.

Miles does not need the ball at all, cause he's not good at playmaking or creating his own shot. He's a spot up/cutting/inside scoring player in college right now.

I was high on Knox and I’ve cooled due to him being raw. You call it inconsistent. He’s only played ball since 8th grade. He has great size and length but he doesn’t have great athleticism. It’s good not great. I see him being a “tease” at the next level. He also just doesn’t see to be tough and gritty like both Bridges.

[realEAST]

If we finish, as it looks we will, at 8-9 spot, I'd take Mile Bridges there - I see him primary and exclusively as SF, and think he has good size and great athleticism for position. He refined his skill set this year, improving ball handling, pull up game and his playmaking ability, becoming much more perimeter oriented player. He has winning mentality and good work ethic. If he keeps his steady development he could become pretty good all round two way wing imo - to some degree he reminds me of Jimmy Butler.

Huh? Improved ball handling? He literally can not dribble! Even an announcer earlier this year pointed it out that Miles is a one dribble player meaning he can only take one dribble before he has to either pull up for a jumper or bail himself out with a pass off. He can't beat any college defenders off the dribble. How is he going to play the wing in the NBA if he literally can not dribble a basketball? I think he has sure thing bust written all over him. I wouldn't be surprised if he drops out of the lottery and into the deep teens of the first round.

Last few games of his I watched he looked just fine off dribble, certainly much improved in comparison to last year and the beginning of this season. He can certainly take guys off dribble, I suggest watching at least highlights of last two games. His pull up game is pretty good too, really surprised me with strides he made there, since he wasn't able to pull up for a jumper, let alone hit it last year, and is pretty strong part of his game. And has shown consistent improvement so far, if he keeps adding to his game, he could become a good and versatile offensive player.

In comparison to other wing prospects in range - his handles are on another plane in comparison to Knox, and are quite comparable to Mikal's, with Miles being two years younger. At his best he looked like a decent creator, if he could translate that to NBA level in time, he could be a nice surprise of the draft.

You seeing him as a sure bust is pretty definitive position that doesn't allow for too much discussion, I am afraid.

[DanTown8587]

No ones floor is “ten year starter” and then doesn’t go top 3 or even top five in this draft. In fact, there’s no way a guy like Bridges (low recruit, big upperclassman year) has a floor that high.

Ariza was a far better athlete at that age so him being a good defender was more likely. And that’s not to say the comparison between the two (especially current Ariza value v Bridges value) isn’t a good one but it’s just not his floor.

Ariza has really only been a quality starter for six years. He's bounced around a lot.

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He started games in the 08-09 for the Lakers and sans a few games in Washington, has been a starter since 09. He was 24 when he became a starter.

[NADROJ]

I don't mean to be a downer, but there's no way any team trades down for Valentine, Holiday or Portis.
As a throw in with NO's pick or our own 19' pick? Sure, but I don't see anyone in that range seeing them as real added value to a trade.

I assume you're referring to the lottery?

If so, you're probably right with Cleveland being the lone exception. If Cleveland ends up somewhere, say 3rd-5th, and has heard from LeBron that he's coming back, I could see them trading back. For instance:

Bulls get: #5, salary fillers
Cavs get: #8 and Portis, perhaps the NOP pick (though I'm not sure they'd want another 1st round salary)

With the 8th pick they could take a relatively NBA ready Mikal Bridges who could help LeBron immediately and also get a solid rotation piece in Portis.

It's completely possible the Cavs would still prefer one of the higher ceiling prospects, but the above seems to be a logical alternative.

[Red Larrivee]

No ones floor is “ten year starter” and then doesn’t go top 3 or even top five in this draft. In fact, there’s no way a guy like Bridges (low recruit, big upperclassman year) has a floor that high.

Ariza was a far better athlete at that age so him being a good defender was more likely. And that’s not to say the comparison between the two (especially current Ariza value v Bridges value) isn’t a good one but it’s just not his floor.

Ariza has really only been a quality starter for six years. He's bounced around a lot.

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He started games in the 08-09 for the Lakers and sans a few games in Washington, has been a starter since 09. He was 24 when he became a starter.

He didn't become a full-time starter until after that season, but wasn't good until landing in Washington in 2012. He's very much a late bloomer and journeyman.

Granted, each player doesn't experience the same development, but I'd be surprised if Bridges took as long to be a quality starter as Ariza.

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[Lexluthor]

Why are always the Bulls are always rumored to draft Mediocre role players in just about every draft Mikal Bridges/Justin Jackson Denzel Valentine / Shane Battier . I feel they should draft the best player available regardless position

[Dan Z]

Anyone think this trade is a possibility at the draft: Bulls 2 picks this year unconditionally next year and Bobby Portis to move in the 2 and selecting or acquiring Ayton or Doncic.

I think it's possible, especially after what happened last draft. But I wouldn't give up that much to get Doncic or Ayton.

[Benedict Miller]

Mikal Bridges rebounding needs to be better than what it is to be solid at the 3. I'm looking for more of a boom prospect at our current draft position.

[Moosegary]

If the Bulls finished in this position and they have the 8thpick, with the information out, I would take Mikal Bridges. (Assuming that Ayton, Bagley, JJJ, Doncic, Porter, Young and Bamba are gone) Really his only negative is his age. I see him as a classic late bloomer. He showed up as this 17 year old skinny kid to Villanova on a loaded team and has really developed over the last four years. I know a perceived weakness is his 1/1 ability but I’ve seen improvement in this area. He also has developed a post up game that is rare in college basketball.

[bigworld2017]

I'm really starting to believe that Kevin Knox is our guy.

I don't know. I watched the Kentucky v Florida game. I was underwhelmed by Knox and almost the entire Kentucky team. Knox has good physical measurables. But there is something missing in his game, especially offensively. I don't see an NBA starter in him at this stage. If I were him I'd stay another year in college, develop a more "alpha" presence and work on his 3 point shooting. It would help him a lot more than riding an NBA bench or bussing around in the "G" league. He is nowhere near being a starting level SF in the NBA in my opinion.

[Chi town]

Knox’s forehead is def next level awesome. Improves his stock IMO ))

[Dresden]

I'm really starting to believe that Kevin Knox is our guy.

I don't know. I watched the Kentucky v Florida game. I was underwhelmed by Knox and almost the entire Kentucky team. Knox has good physical measurables. But there is something missing in his game, especially offensively. I don't see an NBA starter in him at this stage. If I were him I'd stay another year in college, develop a more "alpha" presence and work on his 3 point shooting. It would help him a lot more than riding an NBA bench or bussing around in the "G" league. He is nowhere near being a starting level SF in the NBA in my opinion.

That's how I see him as well. High bust potential. Could develop into a Tobias Harris type down the line, but he just doesn't do enough things well to make me want to pick him.

[Chi town]

JJJ Lauri would be incredible.

JJJ has the best defensive instincts in the draft. He always makes the right play and pass on offense too.

[johnnyvann840]

Watching college hoops all day makes it really hard to watch an NBA game after. The intensity, passion and excitement in this Michigan vs. Michigan St. game is great.

I can't wait until this stupid tank crap is over and done and we can watch some NBA playoff basketball. This has been the worst regular season as far as not being entertaining in my entire life of watching the NBA. Just a horrible product overall right now with the tanking state of the league. Reading the game threads is like something out of a sci-fi novel. All these teams and fans cheering for losing. Not for me.

[Chi town]

Watching college hoops all day makes it really hard to watch an NBA game after. The intensity, passion and excitement in this Michigan vs. Michigan St. game is great.

I can't wait until this stupid tank crap is over and done and we can watch some NBA playoff basketball. This has been the worst regular season as far as not being entertaining in my entire life of watching the NBA. Just a horrible product overall right now with the tanking state of the league. Reading the game threads is like something out of a sci-fi novel. All these teams and fans cheering for losing. Not for me.

This is what analytics has done to the game. Silver needs to eliminate the tired lottery completely. Every non playoff team gets the same odds.

I’m having a really hard time watching too. March Madness couldn’t have come at a better time. There are tons of scrubby college ball players though.