2019 NBA Draft Prep

[Jamaaliver]

We are miles apart on Culver. I don't see anything more than a long term backup role player with similar career impact to Bazemore. You see a perfect wing just needing a fixed jumpshot. We couldn't be further apart.

But Bazemore went undrafted. And scouts/execs see Culver as worthy of a top ten pick. Even in a weak draft, he's clearly projected and valued much higher than Bazemore.

It seems YOU are miles apart on Culver from everyone else.

[King Ken]

I like Culver a ton too. I still don’t see all this Evan Turner talk. Still like Cam better but not mad if Culver.

Jalen Rose is more who he is like. He is not the passer Turner was but he is a much better decision maker. Jalen is who he reminds me of.

Wow really? In what ways?

Ball handling
Feel for the game
Lack of first step
Struggles finishing in traffic v. Better college opponents
Can abuse smaller players
Can't beat anyone off the dribble and they use change of direction to get in position to score
Can't shoot with low release
Both look like their playing weight will be 215 long term which is decent but limits their impact.
While he will be a decent defensive player due to positioning and BBIQ like Jalen was, his lateral quickness will limit his defensive impact.

I hate comparisons like Middleton, much too small and Middleton improvement is unrealistic, we don't have players improving on that level who wasn't system players like that.

I hate LeVert comparison, he was a much much better shooter. But I do think Culver was a better player. But without shooting, it's tough to really see Culver long term impact. I just flat out think he has high bust levels if drafted in the top 10. Drafted around where Jalen was drafted is great. But higher than that, I have issues with that.

[Hazer]

Made up my mind, going with my gut over the past couple of months (and vote in this thread’s poll), sticking with Cam Reddish if we don’t bounce to 1st-3rd pick. Perfect measurables, perfect shooting stroke, perfect scenario/system with the Hawks, tenacious D, made a smart agent choice (IQ), and is a gym rat. Tah-dah!

[King Ken]

We are miles apart on Culver. I don't see anything more than a long term backup role player with similar career impact to Bazemore. You see a perfect wing just needing a fixed jumpshot. We couldn't be further apart.

But Bazemore went undrafted. And scouts/execs see Culver as worthy of a top ten pick. Even in a weak draft, he's clearly projected and valued much higher than Bazemore.

It seems YOU are miles apart on Culver from everyone else.

Which is my problem with him, an undrafted prospect has just as high as a ceiling as a top 10 pick in your eyes. Even in this draft, I think Miye Oni will be a better player long term over Culver.

My issue with Culver is his potential. I don't see it. Even your high end guys aren't favorable. You like comparing him to LeVert who translated better to the NBA. My issue with Culver is how how translate.

He can't shoot
He can't beat defenders off of the dribble
He will struggle finishing in the NBA
He doesn't have great defensive potential.
How is he going to be anymore more than just a backup role player?

I wouldn't be surprised if Marial Shayok is better in three seasons. Translates a lot better than Culver, both played in the Big 12.

[Hazer]

If either Culver or Hunter are still around at 9, don’t wanna but GOTTA take whichever scored higher on your workout/interview. Just can’t pass that up. Then take a flyer on Jontay Porter at C in 2nd round.

[Jamaaliver]

We are miles apart on Culver. I don't see anything more than a long term backup role player with similar career impact to Bazemore. You see a perfect wing just needing a fixed jumpshot. We couldn't be further apart.

But Bazemore went undrafted. And scouts/execs see Culver as worthy of a top ten pick. Even in a weak draft, he's clearly projected and valued much higher than Bazemore.

It seems YOU are miles apart on Culver from everyone else.

Which is my problem with him, an undrafted prospect has just as high as a ceiling as a top 10 pick in your eyes. Even in this draft, I think Miye Oni will be a better player long term over Culver.

My issue with Culver is his potential. I don't see it. Even your high end guys aren't favorable. You like comparing him to LeVert who translated better to the NBA. My issue with Culver is how how translate.

He can't shoot
He can't beat defenders off of the dribble
He will struggle finishing in the NBA
He doesn't have great defensive potential.
How is he going to be anymore more than just a backup role player?

I wouldn't be surprised if Martial Shayok is better in three seasons.

Ummm...what?

Sent from my RC555L using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Spud2nique]

We are miles apart on Culver. I don't see anything more than a long term backup role player with similar career impact to Bazemore. You see a perfect wing just needing a fixed jumpshot. We couldn't be further apart.

But Bazemore went undrafted. And scouts/execs see Culver as worthy of a top ten pick. Even in a weak draft, he's clearly projected and valued much higher than Bazemore.

It seems YOU are miles apart on Culver from everyone else.

Which is my problem with him, an undrafted prospect has just as high as a ceiling as a top 10 pick in your eyes. Even in this draft, I think Miye Oni will be a better player long term over Culver.

My issue with Culver is his potential. I don't see it. Even your high end guys aren't favorable. You like comparing him to LeVert who translated better to the NBA. My issue with Culver is how how translate.

He can't shoot
He can't beat defenders off of the dribble
He will struggle finishing in the NBA
He doesn't have great defensive potential.
How is he going to be anymore more than just a backup role player?

I wouldn't be surprised if Marial Shayok is better in three seasons. Translates a lot better than Culver, both played in the Big 12.

One thing that I see in Culver’s game that excites me is that midrange game. If Culver executes this shot as smoothly as shown on tape, he would be beautiful in our system. We already got the long ball launchers in Trae and the Hurt. We get a master midranger and it’s game over.


Culver’s midrange is reminiscent of one Rip Hamilton (poor man’s). I’ll never say Rip cuz he used screens and the midrange game on another level but he has that patience in his game.

Cam is like the high school prom queen. He’s got it all but kind of knows how beautiful he is in peoples eyes.

Culver is like the quiet hot girl that has those glasses on in school and working to get through classes and keeping her mind right.

I still have Cam a notch above due to perfect fit but Culver is a situationally understanding ball player with more smarts than Cam.

I love smarts a ton and Culver’s high IQ would fit nice as well.

[King Ken]

But Bazemore went undrafted. And scouts/execs see Culver as worthy of a top ten pick. Even in a weak draft, he's clearly projected and valued much higher than Bazemore.

It seems YOU are miles apart on Culver from everyone else.

Which is my problem with him, an undrafted prospect has just as high as a ceiling as a top 10 pick in your eyes. Even in this draft, I think Miye Oni will be a better player long term over Culver.

My issue with Culver is his potential. I don't see it. Even your high end guys aren't favorable. You like comparing him to LeVert who translated better to the NBA. My issue with Culver is how how translate.

He can't shoot
He can't beat defenders off of the dribble
He will struggle finishing in the NBA
He doesn't have great defensive potential.
How is he going to be anymore more than just a backup role player?

I wouldn't be surprised if Martial Shayok is better in three seasons.

Ummm...what?

Sent from my RC555L using RealGM Forums mobile app

He can't shoot the three, he can shoot the midrange...

He can't beat defenders off of the dribble.

He will struggle to finish in traffic

His lateral quickness and lack of strength will limit his defensive potential long term. He still has the potential to be a pretty good defender long term. Especially when switching due to his BBIQ and positioning abilities. His ++ ability for steals is his best defensive quality.

Who are your NBA comparisons for him JL?

[Spud2nique]

Is Culver the highest IQ top 10 player in this draft? This kid is crazy smart. The race is getting closer for me. I’ll take smarts and work ethics over talent any day. We need a guy who is understanding of our goals as a team and fully onboard and committed.

Culver might be more of that guy than Cam. Just saying.

Every time I say that though I think back to Cam and that stroke.

[King Ken]

But Bazemore went undrafted. And scouts/execs see Culver as worthy of a top ten pick. Even in a weak draft, he's clearly projected and valued much higher than Bazemore.

It seems YOU are miles apart on Culver from everyone else.

Which is my problem with him, an undrafted prospect has just as high as a ceiling as a top 10 pick in your eyes. Even in this draft, I think Miye Oni will be a better player long term over Culver.

My issue with Culver is his potential. I don't see it. Even your high end guys aren't favorable. You like comparing him to LeVert who translated better to the NBA. My issue with Culver is how how translate.

He can't shoot
He can't beat defenders off of the dribble
He will struggle finishing in the NBA
He doesn't have great defensive potential.
How is he going to be anymore more than just a backup role player?

I wouldn't be surprised if Marial Shayok is better in three seasons. Translates a lot better than Culver, both played in the Big 12.

One thing that I see in Culver’s game that excites me is that midrange game. If Culver executes this shot as smoothly as shown on tape, he would be beautiful in our system. We already got the long ball launchers in Trae and the Hurt. We get a master midranger and it’s game over.


Culver’s midrange is reminiscent of one Rip Hamilton (poor man’s). I’ll never say Rip cuz he used screens and the midrange game on another level but he has that patience in his game.

Cam is like the high school prom queen. He’s got it all but kind of knows how beautiful he is in peoples eyes.

Culver is like the quiet hot girl that has those glasses on in school and working to get through classes and keeping her mind right.

I still have Cam a notch above due to perfect fit but Culver is a situationally understanding ball player with more smarts than Cam.

I love smarts a ton and Culver’s high IQ would fit nice as well.

My issue will always be how the game is played today. We are a team who shoots threes and tries to get high percentage points in the paint. Culver while he does have the BBIQ, the more all around game compared to at least Reddish and Nas Little and he does have the mid range potential of Steve Smith and Jalen Rose, does that fit the modern NBA and does that fit our system. Off the bench, he is am obvious fit but as a starter?

There is a lot to like about Culver but when you mention Clarke, Hunter and Reddish. There is a major gap for me. Clarke is a Shawn Marion level athlete who has potential to be a movement 3 in the mold of DMC. We know that works in a system like ours. Hunter fits every system. He might not be a perfect fit for us but he's a fit and that's all that matters. Reddish, easy fit especially long term.

With Culver, he might even be better as a college player than Hunter or Reddish but the NBA is different.

[King Ken]

Is Culver the highest IQ top 10 player in this draft? This kid is crazy smart. The race is getting closer for me. I’ll take smarts and work ethics over talent any day. We need a guy who is understanding of our goals as a team and fully onboard and committed.

Culver might be more of that guy than Cam. Just saying.

Every time I say that though I think back to Cam and that stroke.

Denzel Valentine had elite BBIQ with an elite work ethic, was the most productive player in college in his class and look at his NBA career?

[Spud2nique]

Which is my problem with him, an undrafted prospect has just as high as a ceiling as a top 10 pick in your eyes. Even in this draft, I think Miye Oni will be a better player long term over Culver.

My issue with Culver is his potential. I don't see it. Even your high end guys aren't favorable. You like comparing him to LeVert who translated better to the NBA. My issue with Culver is how how translate.

He can't shoot
He can't beat defenders off of the dribble
He will struggle finishing in the NBA
He doesn't have great defensive potential.
How is he going to be anymore more than just a backup role player?

I wouldn't be surprised if Marial Shayok is better in three seasons. Translates a lot better than Culver, both played in the Big 12.

One thing that I see in Culver’s game that excites me is that midrange game. If Culver executes this shot as smoothly as shown on tape, he would be beautiful in our system. We already got the long ball launchers in Trae and the Hurt. We get a master midranger and it’s game over.


Culver’s midrange is reminiscent of one Rip Hamilton (poor man’s). I’ll never say Rip cuz he used screens and the midrange game on another level but he has that patience in his game.

Cam is like the high school prom queen. He’s got it all but kind of knows how beautiful he is in peoples eyes.

Culver is like the quiet hot girl that has those glasses on in school and working to get through classes and keeping her mind right.

I still have Cam a notch above due to perfect fit but Culver is a situationally understanding ball player with more smarts than Cam.

I love smarts a ton and Culver’s high IQ would fit nice as well.

My issue will always be how the game is played today. We are a team who shoots threes and tries to get high percentage points in the paint. Culver while he does have the BBIQ, the more all around game compared to at least Reddish and Nas Little and he does have the mid range potential of Steve Smith and Jalen Rose, does that fit the modern NBA and does that fit our system. Off the bench, he is am obvious fit but as a starter?

There is a lot to like about Culver but when you mention Clarke, Hunter and Reddish. There is a major gap for me. Clarke is a Shawn Marion level athlete who has potential to be a movement 3 in the mold of DMC. We know that works in a system like ours. Hunter fits every system. He might not be a perfect fit for us but he's a fit and that's all that matters. Reddish, easy fit especially long term.

With Culver, he might even be better as a college player than Hunter or Reddish but the NBA is different.

Good points all around. The nba has taken it to basically a long distance shootout. Clearly, like you stated and we’ve discussed this whole process as far as natural fit it’s Cam and Hunter...but I don’t want to miss on a talent simply because he’s not the best FIT. I’d still go BPA and mold.

That’s why passing on Culver and even Barrett could end up hurting us simply due to the non natural fit.

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

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https://soaringdownsouth.com/2019/04/20/atlanta-hawks-matisse-thybulle-2019-nba-draft/4/

Guest is on a roll.

He's persuaded me again. This guy is worthy of some serious consideration.

And I look at Baze in his last season of this contract as such a nice expiring asset for trade.

Thubulle would represent a potential improvement on Baze all the way around.

[observer1995]

If they think they can make tweaks to help Culver shoot 33-35% from 3 sometime in the future, they likely really like his utility-ness. If he meets high end outcomes it’s going to be a while though. I can see that. Like right now unless you’re using his passing abilities more than the Hawks would, I can see how he’s a 4th/5thoption or 6th man now. But eventually I think he could be a 3rd option, but it’d probably be 2-3 years at least.

I honestly don’t think it’s going to matter though. They’ll bring in Reddish, he’ll blow them away in the gym because that’s where he excels, and he’ll be the pick. And if they think Clarke will eventually shoot, he’ll be picked with the Dallas pick if it conveys.

There is a lot of “if it’s another draft this guy would be picked lower” in general past the first 3 imo. I like Hunter and would love picking him but he’s a mid-first round pick in a better draft. Culver is probably 8-12 in a better draft, and in this draft, he’s going to go somewhere between 4-6. I really think Chicago probably will pick him if the lottery doesn’t really shake up and they stay ahead of Atlanta. He really fits what they need alongside LaVine.

[King Ken]

One thing that I see in Culver’s game that excites me is that midrange game. If Culver executes this shot as smoothly as shown on tape, he would be beautiful in our system. We already got the long ball launchers in Trae and the Hurt. We get a master midranger and it’s game over.


Culver’s midrange is reminiscent of one Rip Hamilton (poor man’s). I’ll never say Rip cuz he used screens and the midrange game on another level but he has that patience in his game.

Cam is like the high school prom queen. He’s got it all but kind of knows how beautiful he is in peoples eyes.

Culver is like the quiet hot girl that has those glasses on in school and working to get through classes and keeping her mind right.

I still have Cam a notch above due to perfect fit but Culver is a situationally understanding ball player with more smarts than Cam.

I love smarts a ton and Culver’s high IQ would fit nice as well.

My issue will always be how the game is played today. We are a team who shoots threes and tries to get high percentage points in the paint. Culver while he does have the BBIQ, the more all around game compared to at least Reddish and Nas Little and he does have the mid range potential of Steve Smith and Jalen Rose, does that fit the modern NBA and does that fit our system. Off the bench, he is am obvious fit but as a starter?

There is a lot to like about Culver but when you mention Clarke, Hunter and Reddish. There is a major gap for me. Clarke is a Shawn Marion level athlete who has potential to be a movement 3 in the mold of DMC. We know that works in a system like ours. Hunter fits every system. He might not be a perfect fit for us but he's a fit and that's all that matters. Reddish, easy fit especially long term.

With Culver, he might even be better as a college player than Hunter or Reddish but the NBA is different.

Good points all around. The nba has taken it to basically a long distance shootout. Clearly, like you stated and we’ve discussed this whole process as far as natural fit it’s Cam and Hunter...but I don’t want to miss on a talent simply because he’s not the best FIT. I’d still go BPA and mold.

That’s why passing on Culver and even Barrett could end up hurting us simply due to the non natural fit.

Barrett got the ability to draw constant double teams, draw fouls and get to scoring spots not to mention great PnR vision. Barrett has the skill and talent to be a ++ scorer and passer even if he may never be all that efficient. Efficiency and effectiveness will be the question for Barrett for any team.

For Culver, the question is impact and what's his NBA role for a team like us? If he is going to he a the primary ball handler, he clearly won't start for us

[Jamaaliver]

Second Round Draft Options:

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[_s_t_u_r_t_]

Second Round Draft Options:

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This guy's on my list, but I want to stash him... because if I'm GM, we're just going to run out of anywhere to put him on the roster.

[Jamaaliver]

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Bitadze, the No. 19 prospect in the ESPN Top 100, is having an outstanding season in the Euroleague for Buducnost, averaging 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 24 minutes while shooting 60 percent from inside the arc, something that's never been accomplished by a teenager in Euroleague history. He is the runaway favorite to win the prestigious Euroleague Rising Star award which will be announced at the final four in May. He posted the highest PER in Euroleague history for a teenager, exceeding that of Luka Doncic's last season.

The 7-foot, 250 pound Bitadze has a case to be considered the top center prospect in the draft thanks to excellent size, girth, and versatile skill level offensively, as he's equally comfortable operating inside the post, on the perimeter or as a finisher in pick and roll situations. His limitations as a defender and overall declining value of big men in today's NBA may hold those aspirations back some, but there are a number of teams that consider him a lottery-caliber prospect nonetheless.

[Jamaaliver]

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[shakes0]

After Zion, best player in draft is Ja Morant, even the great Jerry West thinks so.

West believes Morant will be the greatest player in the history of the game. Last week he said Morant is the best player in the draft. This week he said passing on Zion would be akin to passing on Michael Jordan. Do the math = Ja Morant is better than Michael Jordan.