[2018] - DRAFT NIGHT THREAD! Currently #9, #36

[TheGreenArrow]

DraftExpress is releasing all their videos on youtube right now
Here is Knox:

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Thank you!!!!!

[Mecca]

My thing w Knox is that there were reports he looked much improved at the pre draft workouts so that’s what put me IN on him. Givony straight up said it. He was a different player in the workouts.

[Clyde_Style]

SAS on here saying he likes Knox now

Doesn't make sense though. Knox has a skinny ass

[vallen]

MPJr’s talent was always overrated, IMO. If he were a HS SR now, he wouldn’t be top 10 (maybe not even close to it). TBH, he shouldn’t even have been ranked highly in his own class, even without hindsight.

dam really ? if he was there youd take Knox before him ? who do you like at 9 better Mikal or Knox ?

[NBA Fan 1234]

At the very least knox will be a 3/D that can play either sf/pf basically the same sh*t as mikal how does he have a good chance of busting lol

But he’s not a good defender, and he was in the 44th percentile in catch and shoot situations (including only 57th in UNGUARDED situations). Him becoming a 3/D guy is far from certain.

he shot 34% from 3 and has the physical tools to be solid on defense him becoming a 3D is very likely his defense issues come alot from lack of focus and assertiveness not a problem at all fixing.

Everyone wants to trade up for bamba talking about how he can defend and stretch out. he shot 27% from 3

these dudes played one year and are 18 and 19 years old i dont see how its unlikely when your already on the right track but need more grooming.

57th percentile in unguarded situations...meaning, where defense isn't near him. That's not a great sign going forward. It could be him getting more reps, yeah, but it doesn't mean he'll become a knock down three point shooter.

Physical tools mean nothing if the IQ is there. He did not show BBIQ on defense at all last year.

Knox came into college as this versatile scorer with a smooth looking jumper...he did not display that. Bamba came in as a defensive/rebounding force with a limited offensive game. Knox looked subpar relative to where he was expected to be, whereas Bamba showed he was MORE than he was expected to be. Bamba's game improved much more than Knox's did from senior year of HS through the freshman year in college. You're right...people expecting Bamba to come in and knock down threes are probably going to be let down...but...he's on the right trajectory for that with the huge steps he's taken in the last year +.

[Deeeez Knicks]

Dwight about to buy out of his contract. interesting

Curry
Klay
Kd
Draymond
Dwight

Holy ****

I wouldn't touch him if I was GS. I mean if they are running that lineup out there i would just foul Dwight everytime and take my chances

[BLACKFEET 2010]

- The form looks nice, but the percentages weren't there even on OPEN looks. Again, 57th percentile in unguarded situations is bad.
- 55% finishing at the rim in the half court, and no left hand to speak of. His right hand is even poor, with him missing shots either because of poor touch or because he's afraid to get hit. (62nd percentile around basket.) Literally no idea where you're getting this creativity from. He has a nice floater, sure, but he uses it WAY too much. 16% of his possessions in the half court were floaters, vs 18 attacking the rim...that's bad shot IQ. .3 higher PPP attacking the rim with a FTR that is double, but he kept going to the floater.
- 49th percentile in transition was a turnover machine in transition. 19% turnover rate, 23 as lead guy, 13 and 27 on the wings.
- Bad defender with very questionable awareness, but he does fine in isolation situations.
- No handle (especially with his left hand, which is why he would not only SHIELD guys with his right hand, but PUSH OFF... and poor passing feel.

18 tho.

That doesn't mean he'll improve. My point was refuting the things you think he can do, not saying he won't develop it. Is there a chance, sure, but IMO there's an even bigger chance he doesn't come close to that and ends up a worse defending Wilson Chandler or Tim Thomas type.

Got it. I just think he's a great piece of moldable clay. His tools are there and the flaws in his game can be fixed at a pro level.

[NBA Fan 1234]

MPJr’s talent was always overrated, IMO. If he were a HS SR now, he wouldn’t be top 10 (maybe not even close to it). TBH, he shouldn’t even have been ranked highly in his own class, even without hindsight.

dam really ? if he was there youd take Knox before him ? who do you like at 9 better Mikal or Knox ?

If the options were Knox or MPJr, I'd trade down. I'm taking Mikal before both of them and probably Miles as well (definitely before MPJr). MPJr is below Knox though in my mind. Knox has shown he can just fit in (for better and worse) and really play within a team concept. MPJr has never been known to do that, and he's a bad defender with a poor handle and a back/hip injury on top of that.

[fatalogic]

- The form looks nice, but the percentages weren't there even on OPEN looks. Again, 57th percentile in unguarded situations is bad.
- 55% finishing at the rim in the half court, and no left hand to speak of. His right hand is even poor, with him missing shots either because of poor touch or because he's afraid to get hit. (62nd percentile around basket.) Literally no idea where you're getting this creativity from. He has a nice floater, sure, but he uses it WAY too much. 16% of his possessions in the half court were floaters, vs 18 attacking the rim...that's bad shot IQ. .3 higher PPP attacking the rim with a FTR that is double, but he kept going to the floater.
- 49th percentile in transition was a turnover machine in transition. 19% turnover rate, 23 as lead guy, 13 and 27 on the wings.
- Bad defender with very questionable awareness, but he does fine in isolation situations.
- No handle (especially with his left hand, which is why he would not only SHIELD guys with his right hand, but PUSH OFF... and poor passing feel.

18 tho.

That doesn't mean he'll improve. My point was refuting the things you think he can do, not saying he won't develop it. Is there a chance, sure, but IMO there's an even bigger chance he doesn't come close to that and ends up a worse defending Wilson Chandler or Tim Thomas type.

After listening to the draft Express guys they seem pretty high on his ability to improve. They have been watching him since his early high school days so they seems to be projecting what he has added since then. They also see him more as a small ball 4 than a true 3 which I think makes sense. I'm not sold on him but I wouldn't be mad if he was picked, I just think he is raw as hell especially after watching/reading your stuff.

[DOT]

My thing w Knox is that there were reports he looked much improved at the pre draft workouts so that’s what put me IN on him. Givony straight up said it. He was a different player in the workouts.

That could mean a few things though

Either he has been working on his game and is improved, we didn't really get to see his whole repertoire at Kentucky cause of Cal, he performs better in drills and 3 on 3s, the guys he was going up against weren't really trying on defense, etc

I don't put a lot of weight into what comes out of workouts, but I am fine with us taking Knox. Just not over Mikal

[F N 11]

Cant believe people dont see the upside in Knox. Smh. Dude is a demon in transition too. Not shy to put it on the floor.

[Fury]

Maybe Kevin Knox grows an inch, you're looking at a 6'10 forward with some shooting. I mean, there's potential. He needs to keep focus and continue to develop that mindset to dominate.

[Mecca]

The MPJ infatuation is crazy to me. I don’t see this athleticsm or ability off the dribble that everyone else is seeing.

[HEZI]

Gonna be fun watching Knox abuse Mikrail over the years

[mpharris36]

My thing w Knox is that there were reports he looked much improved at the pre draft workouts so that’s what put me IN on him. Givony straight up said it. He was a different player in the workouts.

your not Leary to fall in love with workouts which don't resemble actual game action? I am always concerned about the "workout warrior". Sure they look good but does the tape match it?

I mean its possible he could have improved immensely from the time he was in kentucky but he also could have had a really good week of tryouts as well. I'm just not sure what he does really well.

[Mecca]

My thing w Knox is that there were reports he looked much improved at the pre draft workouts so that’s what put me IN on him. Givony straight up said it. He was a different player in the workouts.

That could mean a few things though

Either he has been working on his game and is improved, we didn't really get to see his whole repertoire at Kentucky cause of Cal, he performs better in drills and 3 on 3s, the guys he was going up against weren't really trying on defense, etc

I don't put a lot of weight into what comes out of workouts, but I am fine with us taking Knox. Just not over Mikal

I prefer Mikal as well, it’s just that after hearing the glowing praise from Givony of how much he dominated those workouts means that something is up with 2K. I think that Kentucky team was so poorly put together, it didn’t help him.

[NBA Fan 1234]

18 tho.

That doesn't mean he'll improve. My point was refuting the things you think he can do, not saying he won't develop it. Is there a chance, sure, but IMO there's an even bigger chance he doesn't come close to that and ends up a worse defending Wilson Chandler or Tim Thomas type.

After listening to the draft Express guys they seem pretty high on his ability to improve. They have been watching him since his early high school days so they seems to be projecting what he has added since then. They also see him more as a small ball 4 than a true 3 which I think makes sense. I'm not sold on him but I wouldn't be mad if he was picked, I just think he is raw as hell especially after watching/reading your stuff.

They definitely have had the inside look on the workouts so I'm not going to argue with that, but literally everyone can improve. People say Mikal is a finished product and is done improving because he's 21, but they're the same ones who are saying Knox will definitely improve just because he's younger? Can't have it both ways (not saying you are like this).

I don't think he's a small ball 4 either. He plays small. Best case, he gets stronger and is able to float between positions.

[KnickLeDime]

If Porter drops, I'm taking Porter....

...to New York-Presbyterian's operating room.

[fatalogic]

The MPJ infatuation is crazy to me. I don’t see this athleticsm or ability off the dribble that everyone else is seeing.

I just feel like there is not enough tape on him to make these declarations people are making. All his college tape is terrible and AAU tape is pretty useless imo.

[Mecca]

My thing w Knox is that there were reports he looked much improved at the pre draft workouts so that’s what put me IN on him. Givony straight up said it. He was a different player in the workouts.

your not Leary to fall in love with workouts which don't resemble actual game action? I am always concerned about the "workout warrior". Sure they look good but does the tape match it?

I mean its possible he could have improved immensely from the time he was in kentucky but he also could have had a really good week of tryouts as well. I'm just not sure what he does really well.

See my post w K-DOT