The Draft (Postseason Edition): 1/16/31/59 (NEW POLL)

[thamadkant]

Im just glad people are seeing that its not as impossible as people originally thought. Ayton & Doncic is doable (Specially with todays threat to stay in Europe), it just comes down to the price of it all and if McD thinks that these two are as great as we do.

....and i just have to say, after a day and a half.......



209 notifications is CRAZY!

now you know how girls feel on Instagram

[Dr Manute]

No way we pass on Doncic he’ll fit in at SF and Fox played off the ball a lot last year so it won’t be new


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Even if he says he'll never play in a Sacramento Kings uniform?

Yes, but he’s not gonna say that I can’t believe you guys spent so much time discussing getting both players.

There’s literally 0 chance of happening

And Doncic to say no to Vlade/Paja is laughable now add in Bogdan being his friend zone on. Just a writer putting bs out there


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Yes, your right. No way Suns get both. Luka's not even that good. I want Marvin Bagley!!! Now that dude is worthy of #1 pick.

[darealjuice]

Let's do some introspection. Take a step back, and look at our roster and collection of draft picks. Now take Booker, likely Jackson, and maybe the 2021 Miami pick off the table (if McD has learned not to trade unprotected picks). Can you honestly say you would trade our guarantee for one of Ayton and Doncic for any combination of what's remaining? I personally would not, and I can see why the Kings wouldn't either.

[Christine-In-AZ]

The idea that ATL or Memphis might consider trading out of their #3 or #4 spots becomes considerably less far-fetched for me, if either don't drop all the way to #16 in this draft...

What is Philly's thinking as far as this draft? They have #10 and 26. Maybe they're open to moving 10 for possibilities down the road?

In this sure to be month long rosterbation effort to get both Ayton and Dončić to Phoenix, lets try to work in some 3rd team scenarios/assets for suspension of disbelief purposes.

Thanks in advance

I hope this nonsense doesn't go on for another month.

But you know it won't stop

Eh? I think it's fine. Better than just Ayton v Dončić for a month..."why not both"? dream takes are fun. Cook up recipes that'll never come together where McD cashes in a bunch of picks, eats a bad salary and moves a player asset. The ingredients are actually present for pipe dreaming.

At least it's positive banter imo

[saintEscaton]

But some thing the Kings would willingly get taken to the cleaners which will not be the case, Vlade is not that dumb he over-reacted and settled but got a decent haul for a disgruntled superstar who was not as desired as expected. Boogie's agent tanked his trade value by saying he would undoubtedly explore free agency and the Kings had a smaller market than projected and would have only gotten a godfather return if they dealt him back when Karl wanted to.

[saintEscaton]

Josh Okogie might have drawn late lotto considerations with that combine showing. Shai Gilgeous has nearly a 7 foot wingspan , 8'8 standing reach. Melvin Frazier also intriguing. Suns please get one of them

[darealjuice]

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2018/05/17/phoenix-suns-ryan-mcdonough-opens-up-deandre-ayton-luka-doncic/620409002/

Bordow article about Ayton and Doncic, with quotes/mini scouting report from McDonough himself:

Ayton: “A phenomenal physical specimen. He’s everything you look for physically in terms of size, strength, length and athleticism. Obviously, he was tremendously productive this year at the University of Arizona. He rebounds at a high level, his stroke for a young big I think is very good and very developed, the way he can not only score at the rim and above the rim but the way he can make shots away from the basket. I think for his size he moves his feet pretty well on the perimeter. There really aren’t a lot of holes in his game. Obviously like a lot of young players he needs to be a little better defensively, understanding off-ball rotations and concepts and things like that but that usually comes with experience.”

Doncic: “I’ve been in the league since 2003 and he’s the most productive European player I’ve ever seen. What he did last year in the EuroBasket (2017) playing for Igor, what he’s doing for Real Madrid is unprecedented in a couple of decades. Most Americans who haven’t seen Luka play in person will be surprised by just how big he is. … I think his physical measurements are similar to Joe Johnson, and Joe is a big, strong, thick guy. You see Luka on film or see the highlights, you see the skill, the high-level passing, the incredible feel and court vision but then you see him up close and say, ‘God, this is a big, strong guy who has produced at a high level.'”

[Dr Manute]

You know if Luka doesn't want to play for my team - then screw him. Talk about arrogance!! Have fun in Europe!! I'm drafting someone else or maybe I'll just trade the pick.

#TeamBagley

[thamadkant]

I watched first-hand Hakeem developing at University of Houston, under Guy Lewis. I saw him work during the summers at Fonde Rec center in Houston (Moses Malone's) playground. I can say that, without a doubt, Ayton is further along at age 19 than Hakeem was. Hakeem was 19 as a freshman on the U of H roster and he was not a starter of a key reserve. Akeem, as he was known then, had few offensive skills, but had great footwork and was incredibly athletic. He was not very strong and had difficulties getting a contested shots. He blocked a lot of shots. Hakeem took a significant step up in the middle of his sophomore year and then became a beast his junior year, which was when he left. Ayton has many of the same qualities. The Suns would be foolish to pass on him.

I think this is the guy that we all wanted to see against these small ball lineups. A true big that will be an offensive force. Someone who cannot be run off the floor or guarded one on one by Draymond Green.

I spent a night looking at the stats of college big men greats..

Duncan, Robinson, Ewing, Mourning, Hakeem, Davis, Cousins etc. I posted (cherry picked) college season stats that I felt was similar to Ayton/JJJ/Bamba/Bagley in regards to minutes played, age or whether its their first college year or not.


Duncan, Robinson as examples didnt put up Unanimous Pick 1 big men numbers in their first college years. They did EXPLODE in years 2 or 3 as they got more adjusted or minutes.
Back then, college players actually paid their dues in college and PLAYER development was KEY... so it was normal for college players to be READY when they enter the league and Duncan and Robinson both were 20/10 and elite defenders as Rookies. Complete BIGs.

Now looking at Davis, Cousins, Towns etc. I feel that TODAY, because of the 1-year "stop" over in college, the players already know if they're going number 1 or not so the college time is just formalities until draft night.

Davis is a special case, that he's a legit SKILLED big man because he was 6'2 point guard until he grew 8 inches in a couple of years. He is also an evolution of Kevin Garnett, where he grew up having someone to "copy" and mimic and hone is game towards. Given that Davis is an elite ball handler for someone his size due to his background... he also has all the intangibles that Point Guards tend to have as players.... what I'm getting at is... Davis is a Wing player that is wide and tall and he had wing skills as his base.... but he added big men type moves onto his repertoire... Hence why Davis is a better front face player than he is an inside player.

Compare Davis to Robinson, Duncan, Ewing, Hakeem etc... Davis is actually a "meh" inside player, he gets by due to his wing skills and size and athleticism obviously. Also why someone like Draymond Green can bother him because Davis thinks like a wing player.... But with that said, Davis has improved throughout the years and he is the best big man both sides of the court today.

Cousins is similar... but he's always been a big man since he was young so he doesnt have the wing-mentality that Davis has.

Basically, a lot of big men Post-Kevin Garnett followed his style.... Duncan?.... well you have players like Okafor, Embiid, etc. who had to base their game on Duncan... Embiid luckily was exposed to the future of big men as he was developing so he adopted 3pt shooting and drawing fouls (he's learnt that from Harden for sure).

Duncan's game is boring compared to KG so its rare these days to copy Duncan. Would Duncan dominate today? Absolutely. Because he has a post game that small ball bigs wont stop... nor all star bigs could either.... and he had great IQ and defensive awareness.

ALSO he was lucky in a sense that he was drafted by Spurs, a team with experience in having a franchise big man (admiral)..... under Popovic lead FO... where they saw a trend happening, they saw the importance ball movement from the INSIDE to OUT and having a disciplined defensive structure AT ALL times...

Anyways, my point is Ayton is NO WAY near done developing. If he simply copies the trend of front face big men... then he'll just be one of them.
But what he has shown is that he is truly a BIG man and his base skill set is that of a BIG man with elite athleticism and foot work.

The coaching staff needs to build a system that ensures his skills are maximized rather than compromised.
Not saying he should stop developing his 3pt shot or front face shot... he needs those to be truly unstoppable.. But the Suns need to incorporate post game and think about using Ayton (if they draft him) as first guy to touch the ball in every play... check if he could score easily... if not kick it out. INSIDE - OUT approach rather than the OUTSIDE then hopefully a big man is open for a dunk approach.
Not saying they should do that the whole game either, they need to adjust and be unpredictable vary the tactics accordingly.

I would HATE to see Suns draft Ayton and just use him as a lob finisher.... he needs take advantage inside.




Defensively, he will improve but its all attitude in that end IMO.... he needs to want to block or challenge a shot first and foremost, most of the time in college he just couldnt be bothered.


And watching the replays of Ayton made me realize how slow Ristic is... man that guy is so slow.

[Jstock12]

You know if Luka doesn't want to play for my team - then screw him. Talk about arrogance!! Have fun in Europe!! I'm drafting someone else or maybe I'll just trade the pick.

#TeamBagley

Wow. Melodramatic much?

[Dr Manute]

You know if Luka doesn't want to play for my team - then screw him. Talk about arrogance!! Have fun in Europe!! I'm drafting someone else or maybe I'll just trade the pick.

#TeamBagley

Wow. Melodramatic much?

Just trying to help you out Kings fan.

[thamadkant]

Luca IMO is a less explosive/athletic Drazen Petrovic with the craftiness/BBIQ of Brandon Roy with flashier playmaking. But shooting 30% from the shortened FIBA 3pt line is quite concerning and I don't think he projects to be a marksman or off the bounce dynamo at the next level. He's not quite like Harden other than the stepback move because he doesn't possess the first step, devastating change of direction/elite deceleration where he can break defenders down 1v1 and take it to the hole at will but he has room to grow into his body

I think he's a Point Forward... similar to how Lebron, Simmons, Hayward etc are used

and potential to be a hybrid small ball "Power Forward" if he continues to get stronger or bigger....

[kennydorglas]

Read on Twitter

This combine coverage sucks! I want to see it, not watch a 5 minute interview with Julius Randle. Cut to the workouts for 1 minute, then oh hey look! Its an interview with Coach Fiz and the Knicks GM! This is dumb! I hope the coverage they are re-airing tomorrow on NBA TV is better and actually showing the participants in the Combine and not this bs!

DBook did the Lane Agility Drill in 10.27s... bigger and taller than Grayson.
It's so weird when people says he aint athletic.

[Jstock12]

You know if Luka doesn't want to play for my team - then screw him. Talk about arrogance!! Have fun in Europe!! I'm drafting someone else or maybe I'll just trade the pick.

#TeamBagley

Wow. Melodramatic much?

Just trying to help you out Kings fan.

Sorry, Raptors fan here. I don't really have a horse in this race so I'd like to think I'm pretty objective. Just found it funny that you took his thoughts about potentially staying in Europe for an additional year so personally.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Read on Twitter

This combine coverage sucks! I want to see it, not watch a 5 minute interview with Julius Randle. Cut to the workouts for 1 minute, then oh hey look! Its an interview with Coach Fiz and the Knicks GM! This is dumb! I hope the coverage they are re-airing tomorrow on NBA TV is better and actually showing the participants in the Combine and not this bs!

DBook did the Lane Agility Drill in 10.27s... bigger and taller than Grayson.
It's so weird when people says he aint athletic.

Booker is plenty athletic and this agility gave me hope he would be a decent/good defender in the NBA. I just think he has a poor feel for the game on that end... its this exact thing that scares the hell out of me with Ayton.

[Gorilla Warfare]

If you could have your choice of player in the 6-10 range through a trade to pair with Ayton or Doncic who would it be?

[Waylay13]

If you could have your choice of player in the 6-10 range through a trade to pair with Ayton or Doncic who would it be?

I would have a hard time not picking Mikal Bridges.

[kennydorglas]

Read on Twitter

This combine coverage sucks! I want to see it, not watch a 5 minute interview with Julius Randle. Cut to the workouts for 1 minute, then oh hey look! Its an interview with Coach Fiz and the Knicks GM! This is dumb! I hope the coverage they are re-airing tomorrow on NBA TV is better and actually showing the participants in the Combine and not this bs!

DBook did the Lane Agility Drill in 10.27s... bigger and taller than Grayson.
It's so weird when people says he aint athletic.

Booker is plenty athletic and this agility gave me hope he would be a decent/good defender in the NBA. I just think he has a poor feel for the game on that end... its this exact thing that scares the hell out of me with Ayton.

Yeah, both are super polished offensively but seems clueless on defense.
Every time Booker try to close out a shooter with a middle stance, I puke.

Weird that both came from super defensive coaches but they didnt pick up a thing.

[Dr Manute]

Wow. Melodramatic much?

Just trying to help you out Kings fan.

Sorry, Raptors fan here. I don't really have a horse in this race so I'd like to think I'm pretty objective. Just found it funny that you took his thoughts about potentially staying in Europe for an additional year so personally.

It's ok. All is good!!

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

This combine coverage sucks! I want to see it, not watch a 5 minute interview with Julius Randle. Cut to the workouts for 1 minute, then oh hey look! Its an interview with Coach Fiz and the Knicks GM! This is dumb! I hope the coverage they are re-airing tomorrow on NBA TV is better and actually showing the participants in the Combine and not this bs!

DBook did the Lane Agility Drill in 10.27s... bigger and taller than Grayson.
It's so weird when people says he aint athletic.

It's more weird to me to hear that Booker and Grayson Alllen have two of the five fastest times in history.