2019 NBA Draft Prep

[atlantabbq99]

How would Zion fit with John Collins though?

It is not ideal, but Zion's defense would help out Collins alot.

With that said, I would play Zion at SF for 15min and PF for 15min.

I would go back to Budz ball and limit each guy's minutes and not have anybody go over 30mpg.

[atlantabbq99]

I have to admit that Zion is the clear cut best prospect in the draft, especially with Barrett and Reddish under performing in their freshmen year. RJ and Cam have not been able to outshine Zion as the year has progressed and seems like they got worst while Zion has gotten better.

The only real criticism i have for Zion is below...



The way that Zion plays the game, he is a prime candidate for hurting himself seriously, without even being touched.

Another criticism is his longevity, because if you remove his athleticism, he becomes painfully average. Unlike Curry or Duncan, where if you remove their athleticism, Curry will have his shooting and Duncan will always have his height.

[Spud2nique]

Coby White is a smaller Hook Mitchell with way less talent. I don’t wanna take any Tar Heels this year if possible. I don’t believe in the work ethic either of these guys will put forth. Imo.

[fuzzy1]

Here's a quick big board I've got for discussion purposes. I don't know nothing, so keep that in mind. I've had a couple hits (Lonzo, Stanley J) and some big misses (Tatum, C. Zeller) recently. It's divided into tiers, and has a do not draft section. I'll be adding people to the list as I watch more.

1. Zion - kid is legit. I'm not sure he's a #1 option, but his defensive potential, ability to beat switches, handle and passing make him a big time prospect. Worried a little by lack of length.

2a. Hunter - Solid, good looking shot. Like his defensive potential, not in love with his playmaking ability. High level role-player, some potential for more.
2b. Clarke - Underrated feel offensively, fantastic defensive instincts. Needs to learn to shoot. Can he pass? Will his size be an issue?
2c. J. Porter - Health scares the hell out of me, but I like his game a lot. Can pass, shoot, post, maybe defend. Reminds me some of Wendell Carter, less agile but in terms of role.
2d. Reddish - This is a shot in the dark. Has not played well, but a VERY fluid athlete with a nice looking shot. I'll bet on him, we'll see.
2e. Garland - Don't like his playmaking, but can SHOOT. Has a little wiggle to him. Can he play the 2?
2f. Morant - Maybe should be higher, need to watch more. FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, has a loose handle and not a great shot. A willing passer but not transcendant. Finally, not QUITE the athlete to really dominate on pure athleticism. No off ball game. So, to me, seems like a solid player, but not a great player for winning at the highest level.

3a. Culver - Has skill, lacks explosion. Reminds me of a 6'8'' Kyle Anderson. Not in love.
3b. K. Porter - Like his tools, does not know how to play the game. Nice shot. High upside, low floor.


DO NOT DRAFT:
Barrett - Hot take, I know, but what does he do at the NBA level? He's got an OK handle, but lacks wiggle, lacks explosion, bad shooter, OK passer (not great), no offball game, no defense. Closer to Evan Turner than Luka Doncic IMO. Screams bust to me, the kinda player that needs to be a star to be good and I don't see an easy path to stardom at all. If we draft him, I'd love to be wrong.


Huge wall of text! Apologies!

[Nathan2331]

I think I've settled on DeAndre Hunter and Bol Bol. I'm convinced Bol can become a 2-way player in the NBA in a couple years. Just needs to gain some strength to guard the post, his length takes care of everything else. As much as I want to like Reddish, he hasn't produced anything like a lotto pick. If he has a good combine, I'll probably flip back to him, but otherwise I'd like to see us get Hunter. Would allow us to move on from Prince without causing a hole at SF. I'm not a fan of Barrett on the Hawks either. I think he's a good player, just not for us. Huerter has secured the SG spot for me, we need a plus defender first at SF. Zion and Bol would be the dream though, maybe Silver does is a favor.

[King Ken]

How would Zion fit with John Collins though?

Tremendous defensive fit. It's the offensive fit that needs some time

[CP War Hawks]

It's too deep at sf for a guy like Reddish to be considered for Hawks top pick, even if it's pick 6 or 7. Hell, he may not even be the best Cam in the draft.

Look out for the South Fulton kid Chuma Okeke. Could make his name known during the tournament.

[marco102]

I've been looking at Kevin Porter Jr. I LIKE this kid? If the interviews go well and if the Dallas pick ends up around 8 or 9. I'd take him. I've heard rumors about problems at USC, but if Travis doesn't believe he'll be a locker room problem, pull the trigger. In this scenario, I'd hope to draft Cam because even though his shot isn't falling his defense is what I like. He doesn't slack off too much on that end. The line up with be Trae, Kevin P, Kevin H, Cam, John or bring Kevin P off the bench.

I'm a fan of Bol Bol, but i feel like we can get a young defensive big, Justin Patton, who can pass, defend, and shoot.

What are y'alls thoughts on Kevin Porter Jr?

[Jamaaliver]

It’s Tanking Season, and Zion Williamson Is Worth Tanking For

The Duke Blue Devil is the best college prospect since Anthony Davis, and his imminent arrival in the NBA is forcing teams from Los Angeles to New Orleans and beyond to take a long, hard look at their rosters, and do some pretty wild things as we head down the stretch run



With just under a month left in the regular season, a handful of fan bases are dreaming of a run to the NBA Finals. But for most everyone else, it’s time to throw some salt over the shoulder, pull out the rabbit’s foot, and hope for good luck on May 14.

On that night, a bunch of lottery balls will determine the destiny of Zion Williamson, the Duke phenom whose closest comp is an asteroid hurtling towards Earth.

If you watched Williamson average 27 points on 33-for-43 shooting with 10 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game over Duke’s three-game ACC tournament title run, you’re a believer. Zion is 6-foot-7 and 285 pounds of thicc muscle with the skills to play an assortment of roles at the next level.

There are few players who enter the league with a chance to change the trajectory of an entire franchise. Williamson is one of them. He’s the most talented projected first pick since Anthony Davis in 2012.

This will be a top-heavy draft class because of Zion. After him, it’s a mixed bag: Duke forward R.J. Barrett and Murray State guard Ja Morant have star potential but also come with worrisome flaws, like Barrett’s lack of feel for the game and Morant’s jumper. The draft is filled with good-not-great prospects like Vanderbilt guard Darius Garland, underwhelming elite high school recruits like Duke forward Cam Reddish, projected role players like Tennessee forward Grant Williams, and wild cards like Oregon center Bol Bol.

The Ringer

[Jamaaliver]

Ranking the best NBA draft prospects by stats and scouting

1. Zion Williamson

3. Cam Reddish
Duke | SG |Top 100: No. 4

Stats: No. 14
Consensus: 2.4 WARP

Reddish's projection owes more to his strong 2017 performance as a rising senior in the EYBL, in which he was solidly efficient in a huge role on offense, than his freshman campaign at Duke. Eventually, Reddish is going to have to translate his solid shooting form into more consistent 3-point accuracy, having shot 33 percent this past season. If so, his other skills will make him a valuable wing player.



5. Bol Bol
Oregon | C | Top 100: No. 14

Stats: No. 4
Consensus: 2.4 WARP

Even with an adjustment for the high replacement level at center, Bol is a top-five prospect by my stats-only model because of his prolific shot-blocking and high-percentage finishing, first in the EYBL and then during his nine-game stint at Oregon. Only one player in my database -- Hassan Whiteside -- has had a higher projected block rate than Bol as a freshman.




11. Jarrett Culver
Texas Tech | G/F |Top 100: 7

Stats: No. 37
Consensus: 1.7 WARP

Culver looks the part of an elite wing prospect but doesn't have the statistical profile of one. His projection isn't bad so much as uninspiring. Culver projects in the top 25 percent of NBA-bound wings in only one category: block rate.

ESPN Insider

[observer1995]

I've been looking at Kevin Porter Jr. I LIKE this kid? If the interviews go well and if the Dallas pick ends up around 8 or 9. I'd take him. I've heard rumors about problems at USC, but if Travis doesn't believe he'll be a locker room problem, pull the trigger. In this scenario, I'd hope to draft Cam because even though his shot isn't falling his defense is what I like. He doesn't slack off too much on that end. The line up with be Trae, Kevin P, Kevin H, Cam, John or bring Kevin P off the bench.

I'm a fan of Bol Bol, but i feel like we can get a young defensive big, Justin Patton, who can pass, defend, and shoot.

What are y'alls thoughts on Kevin Porter Jr?

Maybe, but I feel like if you take him, you cannot take Cam. Even if you think he'll be fine in the locker room, BOTH are highly risky prospects that I'd put at 50% or higher to bust at this point of time and I'd honestly also say both would likely have to mainly be in the G league for the season. Pair Porter Jr with a safer prospect and I would take the pairing.

I'm honestly at the point in which I feel like Cam is not only highly likely to bust, but he will bust unless you put him in the G league to rebuild his confidence. I don't think he can do what Trae did and come out surviving it mentally.

To add, Porter Jr might not come out as well.

[Jamaaliver]

From Peachtree Hoops:

An Atlanta Hawks draft guide to the 2019 NCAA Tournament

The madness is coming



The World’s Most Obvious List

At this juncture, the Hawks don’t know where they will be selecting in the first round of the draft but, in general, the team’s own pick projects to be somewhere in the top eight and, if a second pick conveys from the Dallas Mavericks, that is also likely to be a top ten selection. With that in mind, here is an alphabetical list of players (we’ll have more on these guys later) taking part in March Madness that could be in play with either of those choices.

• RJ Barrett, Duke
  Spoiler:

  After entering the season at No. 1 on a lot of draft boards, Barrett isn’t the best prospect on his own team. That isn’t a slight on its own (we’ll get to Zion momentarily) but there is some reason to believe that Barrett’s playing style isn’t conducive to ultra-high upside when translating to the NBA. He’s still a top-five pick in this class but fit may be an issue.
  
  
• Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech
  
  Spoiler:

  Culver isn’t a nuclear athlete and, if you want to penalize him for that, I understand it. What he is, though, is a prospect that does a ton of things well and that complete package is worthy of a top-eight pick in this class. He’s very good.
  
  
• Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga
  
  Spoiler:

  Hachimura will probably be the first Gonzaga player taken in the draft and, from a raw production standpoint, I’d understand that. Clarke is the better player right now and, for me, the better prospect, largely because defense still matters. Still, Hachimura is a lottery talent if he can figure out the defensive end. That is a big “if” but there’s still time.
  
  
• De’Andre Hunter, Virginia
  
  Spoiler:

  Hunter might be the only first round pick in this entire region, which is kind of wild. He is a no-doubt top 10 guy for me, though, with defensive versatility, a good face-up game and the ability to make threes. He’s a role player, no doubt, but a high-level one that fits the modern game.
  
  
• Keldon Johnson, Kentucky
  
  Spoiler:

  This is a weird evaluation. Almost no one sees stardom in Johnson’s future, but almost everyone agrees he’s a lottery pick. It’s about floor and the fact that he plays a valuable (and crucial) position in the NBA, but it’s difficult to get overly excited. I understand that.
  
  
• Nassir Little, North Carolina
  
  Spoiler:

  Little has been on the radar for quite some time but, at North Carolina, he’s been a pure supporting piece behind Cam Johnson and Luke Maye. As a result, many are skeptical of the freshman, simply because he didn’t play all that much and wasn’t insanely productive. I still maintain that he has real two-way upside, though, and he’s a lottery pick given the tools.
  
  
• Ja Morant, Murray State
  
  Spoiler:

  At this point, there is a growing consensus that Morant could be the No. 2 pick overall and, at the very least, he’s a no-doubt top-five pick in June. He wouldn’t be a fit in Atlanta with his position (point guard) and defensive questions, but take advantage of Morant’s time in the tournament. It might be short, but it’ll be fun.
  
  
• Cameron Reddish, Duke
  Spoiler:

  We’ve discussed Reddish quite a bit in this space. In short, he’s an exceptionally talented forward prospect with great tools and the potential for two-way impact. He’s also someone that struggled mightily at times during his freshman season and red flags appear when the production is as underwhelming as it was for Reddish. He’s still a top-10 guy, to be sure, but there is fluidity in that range.
  
  
• PJ Washington, Kentucky
  Spoiler:

  Washington has been insanely productive this year and you have to love his motor and rebounding. I’m a little bit skeptical of his offensive upside but, with where he’s likely to be drafted, the talented power forward doesn’t really have to bring all that much offensively. He won’t be available in Atlanta’s range but there is a lot to like.
  
  
• Zion Williamson, Duke
  Spoiler:

  We don’t need to waste much time here. He’s the best player in this class by a lot and should be the No. 1 pick no matter which team wins the draft lottery. Done and done.

[Jamaaliver]

NBA Mock Draft: Cameron Reddish, Jarrett Culver land with Atlanta Hawks



Sam Vecenie of The Athletic($) put together a new mock draft that went live on Monday and the Atlanta Hawks came away with an intriguing haul. With their own pick at No. 5, the Hawks would tab Reddish in this hypothetical scenario and that goes along with a ton of buzz at this (very) early juncture.

Both NBA and college sources believe that the Hawks are fans of Reddish at this stage of the process. It’s easy to see why. He’d fit their roster perfectly. He’s something of a point forward type who has the ability to knock down shots from distance, defend both big and small, and play at the 3 or the 4. It’s easy to envision super big lineups with he and 6-foot-7 Kevin Huerter on the wing, or smaller lineups with Reddish and John Collins across the front line.


The questions with Reddish certainly exist. He hasn’t finished well around the basket this season. He’s not a remarkably explosive vertical athlete. His handle isn’t as tight as it could be yet. But there is a ton of athletic fluidity for a kid that is 6-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. His ability to space the floor will really help open things up for Trae Young. Reddish makes a lot of sense across the board for the Hawks

Peachtree Hoops

[Jamaaliver]

I'm conflicted on this. But either way, best of luck to this kid:

Read on Twitter

[jayu70]

I'm conflicted on this. But either way, best of luck to this kid:

Read on Twitter

From 16th pick to now a 2nd rounder. I can see why he's foregoing the NIT. It can only get worse for him if he doesn't perform well.

[King Ken]

I'm conflicted on this. But either way, best of luck to this kid:

Read on Twitter

He is my top target in the 2nd round. I want him bad as a developmental big

[CP War Hawks]

Gafford falling off is James Forrest esque. He could hit at the end of the 1st, especially the teams with multiple picks. The 2nd round prospects are starting to look better and better.

[Jamaaliver]

He is my top target in the 2nd round. I want him bad as a developmental big

I get why he slipped from the lottery, but falling out of the 1st round altogether?

That's insane.

He's too good for that. That'd be incredible value.

[kg01]

He is my top target in the 2nd round. I want him bad as a developmental big

I get why he slipped from the lottery, but falling out of the 1st round altogether?

That's insane.

He's too good for that. That'd be incredible value.

Totally agree. I see him as the next DAJ, in a good way. I'd love to grab this guy but it's gonna take a late 1st to do it. If we can get to the mythical #19 again ... *gasp*.

Why were you "conflicted" about him announcing, btw? Wasn't it pretty much assured that he'd be gone. Or do you feel he's walking out on his team? Yeah, knowing my guy @jamaall like I know I do, I'd bet that's it. I thought he was injured though.

[King Ken]

He is my top target in the 2nd round. I want him bad as a developmental big

I get why he slipped from the lottery, but falling out of the 1st round altogether?

That's insane.

He's too good for that. That'd be incredible value.

You seen my board. This is one of the deepest classes we have seen in nearly a decade in terms of role playing potential prospects. This may be the best 2nd round in ages.