College/Draft Thread Part 5 - NCAA Tournament Edition - Knicks #1 Baby!!!

[Fat]

I still have RJ 3rd, although I could see a team already set at PG picking him 2nd or him potentially slipping to 4th if someone really likes Culver, but I don't think that will happen either

I think it will go Zion, morant, rj (unless) cavs or ATL gets the 2nd pick then I can see rj going 2nd

If the Knicks get 2nd their a wild card to take anyone but they probably take RJ here

[SmoothLefty21]

I still have RJ 3rd, although I could see a team already set at PG picking him 2nd or him potentially slipping to 4th if someone really likes Culver, but I don't think that will happen either

I do think we'll see more "fit" drafting vs BPA after Zion this year. If ATL or CLE wins the #2 spot there's no way they're taking Morant. I'd be curious to see what DAL would do if they land the #2 pick.

[HEZI]

I'd be fine with Barrett. He could reach Booker level eventually. As long as we don't take Reddish

Booker? Lol if ever starts shooting like booker he”ll be a top player in the NBA fairly quickly

The tools are there its just some decision making concerns with him but he's not even 19 yet

[Knicksfan1992]

I still have RJ 3rd, although I could see a team already set at PG picking him 2nd or him potentially slipping to 4th if someone really likes Culver, but I don't think that will happen either

I do think we'll see more "fit" drafting vs BPA after Zion this year. If ATL or CLE wins the #2 spot there's no way they're taking Morant. I'd be curious to see what DAL would do if they land the #2 pick.

I don't hate a Sexton/Ja backcourt. It would allow Sexton to be more of a scorer which fits his game a little more. Shooting and size would obviously be the issues there but Ja could help Cleveland's lack of playmaking instantly.

[Knicksfan1992]

I'd be fine with Barrett. He could reach Booker level eventually. As long as we don't take Reddish

Booker? Lol if ever starts shooting like booker he”ll be a top player in the NBA fairly quickly

The tools are there its just some decision making concerns with him but he's not even 19 yet

I don't know if Booker is the best comp. but your overarching point is important. People killing a 19 year old wing sized player for decision making is ridiculous. Does Barrett sometimes make poor decisions? Absolutely, but he's also 19 having to function as a team's primary creator with little actual spacing. He wouldn't have to bear that burden at the NBA level theoretically and he's shown enough flashes as a playmaker to make you believe he can be a legit secondary ball handler in the league... He needs to be drafted to the right fit with a coach that will focus on coaching him up, but the tools are there for sure.

[HEZI]

Booker? Lol if ever starts shooting like booker he”ll be a top player in the NBA fairly quickly

The tools are there its just some decision making concerns with him but he's not even 19 yet

I don't know if Booker is the best comp. but your overarching point is important. People killing a 19 year old wing sized player for decision making is ridiculous. Does Barrett sometimes make poor decisions? Absolutely, but he's also 19 having to function as a team's primary creator with little actual spacing. He wouldn't have to bear that burden at the NBA level theoretically and he's shown enough flashes as a playmaker to make you believe he can be a legit secondary ball handler in the league... He needs to be drafted to the right fit with a coach that will focus on coaching him up, but the tools are there for sure.

I just meant in terms of production he could reach Booker level. High usage scorer with Playmaking ability. Don't see why he couldn't be a 25\7\5 player If he keeps improving. Doubt his work ethic is poor so I believe he can at least get close to that

[Knicksfan1992]

The tools are there its just some decision making concerns with him but he's not even 19 yet

I don't know if Booker is the best comp. but your overarching point is important. People killing a 19 year old wing sized player for decision making is ridiculous. Does Barrett sometimes make poor decisions? Absolutely, but he's also 19 having to function as a team's primary creator with little actual spacing. He wouldn't have to bear that burden at the NBA level theoretically and he's shown enough flashes as a playmaker to make you believe he can be a legit secondary ball handler in the league... He needs to be drafted to the right fit with a coach that will focus on coaching him up, but the tools are there for sure.

I just meant in terms of production he could reach Booker level. High usage scorer with Playmaking ability. Don't see why he couldn't be a 25\7\5 player If he keeps improving. Doubt his work ethic is poor so I believe he can at least get close to that

Yeah I get you. I see what you're saying. By all accounts, RJ is a very hard worker. Been working with Hanlen for a while now I believe.

[DOT]

This is a terrible argument I know, but RJ's really the only player besides Zion that I see in my mind as making sense as a top 3 pick

It just feels off to me to think of anyone else in this draft and associate them with 2nd or 3rd overall pick status

He has problems for sure, everyone does, but I think he has the highest ceiling after Zion. If he works on his jumper and get him to commit defensively, he's a better DeRozan. If not, he becomes aggressive Andrew Wiggins. Might be best for him to come into an organization that's trying to win right away that won't let him get away with stuff like slacking defensively or ball hogging

He's pretty high risk, but high enough reward to me. Guy like Culver is low risk, but his ceiling is good starter which is fine, just not someone I think of as worth a top 3 pick

I'll support whoever we pick for the month they're on the team before getting shipped off to Nola for AD

[Knicksfan1992]

This is a terrible argument I know, but RJ's really the only player besides Zion that I see in my mind as making sense as a top 3 pick

It just feels off to me to think of anyone else in this draft and associate them with 2nd or 3rd overall pick status

He has problems for sure, everyone does, but I think he has the highest ceiling after Zion. If he works on his jumper and get him to commit defensively, he's a better DeRozan. If not, he becomes aggressive Andrew Wiggins. Might be best for him to come into an organization that's trying to win right away that won't let him get away with stuff like slacking defensively or ball hogging

He's pretty high risk, but high enough reward to me. Guy like Culver is low risk, but his ceiling is good starter which is fine, just not someone I think of as worth a top 3 pick

I'll support whoever we pick for the month they're on the team before getting shipped off to Nola for AD

Yup this sums up pretty much how I feel about it. Good way to put it.

[god shammgod]

finally, the rj is pretty good brigade is here. i was getting lonely.

[SmoothLefty21]

I feel the opposite about Barrett. I think he has the highest floor in the draft but his ceiling isn't great. Player's instincts and feel for the game don't drastically improve; it's one of those innate things that I don't believe can be improved a ton. Culver and Morant both possess superior instincts to Barrett and that's one of the biggest reasons I have both ranked above Barrett. Both play with pace, understand angles and read the defense far better than Barrett does. It does concern me that he's had access to such good training/development in Canada and he's still not all that skilled: he can't shoot, he doesn't have much of a handle--he never breaks guys down or gets them off-balance, he just tries to blow by guys and if that doesn't work it's a real adventure--he doesn't have a secondary/counter move when the D cuts him off besides jumping into the defender and launching an ill-advised shot. Once in a blue moon he'll show us his Eurostep but not early often enough. His first step isn't great; spacing in the NBA will only help so much if you struggle getting past your primary defender. I have said it many times: right now Barrett has LeBron's game without the requisite athletic superiority. It's a big, big concern. You can't play in the NBA like that unless you're bigger, stronger, and faster than everyone and Barrett isn't.

As it stands, I don't see Barrett being good enough to be your primary playmaker and I'm not in love with the idea of having him as a secondary playmaker who can't shoot, isn't a great finisher, and I'm not sold on his PnR chops outside of his enticing ability to pass over the top of defenses in PnRs. His passing/vision is good but not great. He screams "good role player" to me. He's a third or fourth option on a contending team. Him going to a terrible team and being handed the reigns as the primary playmaker has disaster written all over it IMO.

I feel like I've seen this movie before with Barnes and Wiggins. Barrett isn't a similar player to either guy but in terms of hype coming out of HS it feels familiar. The one thing Barrett has going for him is that his motor is much better than either Barnes or Wiggins. He's tougher as well. I can see him being an inefficient 20/7/5 volume guy on a bad team or a 15/5/4 guy on a quality team.

Still, I don't feel great about any of them: none of these guys are ideal Top 3 picks but it's a very weak draft. I think Morant has a higher ceiling. I think Culver will fit into his NBA role better than Barrett will. Both could be massive busts while I think Barrett is a safe pick.

[Capn'O]

finally, the rj is pretty good brigade is here. i was getting lonely.

As a mod, I must refrain from this derailment I started... but...

Marinara filled swimming pools.

[Juco24]

finally, the rj is pretty good brigade is here. i was getting lonely.

As a mod, I must refrain from this derailment I started... but...

Marinara filled swimming pools.

[HEZI]

Question

Who was more talented in college, Paul Pierce or RJ?

[god shammgod]

finally, the rj is pretty good brigade is here. i was getting lonely.

As a mod, I must refrain from this derailment I started... but...

Marinara filled swimming pools.

pineapple & ham do not go on a f*cking pizza. this is madness. there are 4 food groups according to the usda. no god damn singular food item should contain all four at the same f*cking time unless you're trying to throw up because you just accidentally swallowed poison. i actually feel disappointed in you.

p.s. if anyone tells me that a tomato is actually a fruit, i will kick you from here to whatever despicable midwesten pizza place serves this abomination.

[Juco24]

Question

Who was more talented in college, Paul Pierce or RJ?

Pierce was a beast @ Kansas... but didn't really follow him as a Freshman. are you making Pierce a comparison for RJ?

[god shammgod]

there are limits to the combination of foods. like these idiots who put burgers inside a doughnut because they wondered what it would be like to eat their dinner and their desert at the same exact time. go f*ck yourself.

[Capn'O]

finally, the rj is pretty good brigade is here. i was getting lonely.

As a mod, I must refrain from this derailment I started... but...

Marinara filled swimming pools.

pineapple & ham do not go on a f*cking pizza. this is madness. there are 4 food groups according to the usda. no god damn singular food item should contain all four at the same f*cking time unless you're trying to throw up because you just accidentally swallowed poison. i actually feel disappointed in you.

p.s. if anyone tells me that a tomato is actually a fruit, i will kick you from here to whatever despicable midwesten pizza place serves this abomination.

It is YOU who has been poisoned by NY rigidity. Free your mind, sham

That said, 9 out of 10 spots out here are Papa Johns knockoff toppings joints that happen to have pizza underneath and 3/4 of that 10% still have no clue what they're doing so they throw "New York Style! Really! We Mean It!!!!" into the name of their establishment like it's not cardboard with store bought marinara sauce on it. It's a dangerous gambit ordering pizza out here.

[HEZI]

Question

Who was more talented in college, Paul Pierce or RJ?

Pierce was a beast @ Kansas... but didn't really follow him as a Freshman. are you making Pierce a comparison for RJ?

No I was curious because I don't remember Pierce in college. How much his skills got better in the league?

[Capn'O]

I feel the opposite about Barrett. I think he has the highest floor in the draft but his ceiling isn't great. Player's instincts and feel for the game don't drastically improve; it's one of those innate things that I don't believe can be improved a ton. Culver and Morant both possess superior instincts to Barrett and that's one of the biggest reasons I have both ranked above Barrett. Both play with pace, understand angles and read the defense far better than Barrett does. It does concern me that he's had access to such good training/development in Canada and he's still not all that skilled: he can't shoot, he doesn't have much of a handle--he never breaks guys down or gets them off-balance, he just tries to blow by guys and if that doesn't work it's a real adventure--he doesn't have a secondary/counter move when the D cuts him off besides jumping into the defender and launching an ill-advised shot. Once in a blue moon he'll show us his Eurostep but not early often enough. His first step isn't great; spacing in the NBA will only help so much if you struggle getting past your primary defender. I have said it many times: right now Barrett has LeBron's game without the requisite athletic superiority. It's a big, big concern. You can't play in the NBA like that unless you're bigger, stronger, and faster than everyone and Barrett isn't.

As it stands, I don't see Barrett being good enough to be your primary playmaker and I'm not in love with the idea of having him as a secondary playmaker who can't shoot, isn't a great finisher, and I'm not sold on his PnR chops outside of his enticing ability to pass over the top of defenses in PnRs. His passing/vision is good but not great. He screams "good role player" to me. He's a third or fourth option on a contending team. Him going to a terrible team and being handed the reigns as the primary playmaker has disaster written all over it IMO.

I feel like I've seen this movie before with Barnes and Wiggins. Barrett isn't a similar player to either guy but in terms of hype coming out of HS it feels familiar. The one thing Barrett has going for him is that his motor is much better than either Barnes or Wiggins. He's tougher as well. I can see him being an inefficient 20/7/5 volume guy on a bad team or a 15/5/4 guy on a quality team.

Still, I don't feel great about any of them: none of these guys are ideal Top 3 picks but it's a very weak draft. I think Morant has a higher ceiling. I think Culver will fit into his NBA role better than Barrett will. Both could be massive busts while I think Barrett is a safe pick.

This is the long form version of what I think of him. He's good but not good enough to be a dominant #1 option and then where else can he fall? Duke4life put the shorthand version on the GB a moment ago:

The thing with RJ is, what happens if he isn't your #1 option? Everything about his game is centered around dominating the ball. But say it becomes clear he isn't good enough to be a true #1 option. I don't see any value he brings as a secondary option.

Culver, you can plug in on just about any team for positive value. Ja will make the players around him better as a primary ball handler. RJ - it's just tough to build a great team with him as the focal point. Mayyyyybe the Ginobili role?