2019 NBA Draft Prep

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

I have a nickname if he doesn't already have it...

SUUUUUUUUUUUUPEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!

Catchy, no?

And hey, I got dibs on that trademark.

[Night Traen]

I have a nickname if he doesn't already have it...

SUUUUUUUUUUUUPEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!

Catchy, no?

And hey, I got dibs on that trademark.

You have 10 too many Ls, but otherwise I like it.

[Night Traen]

double post

[ATL Boy]

I'd roll the dice on Bol Bol with the Mavs pick if it conveys. I've voiced some concerns about his foot in this very thread but with the 9th or 10th pick it could be worthwhile to gamble on his incredible ceiling. The offense will be special with defensive concerns, but the 7'8 wingspan should at least give him the tools to be a good rim protector and to at least grow into an average defender.

[Indyhawks26]

I'd take a chance on Bol Bol boom or bust pick.Very few of these players will be significant contributors in their careers.Most will be jags which you can find in free agency.If Bol plays to his potential few teams have anybody who could matchup.Not sure if he he'll be available for the predraft camps.A number of players could boost their stock or lower it during those camps.Reddish,Bol and many others.

[CP War Hawks]

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Tuesday, April 29 (Day one)

Kyle Allman, Jr. (Cal State Fullerton) – Guard – 6-3, 175

Jordan Caroline (Nevada) – Forward – 6-7, 230

Donta Hall (Alabama) – Forward – 6-9, 230

Markell Johnson (North Carolina State) – Guard – 6-1, 175

Chris Silva (South Carolina) – Forward – 6-9, 234

Tre’Shawn Thurman (Nevada) – Forward – 6-8, 225

Judging by the crop of prospects I expect to stay, these guys for me wouldn't be in contention even with the last 2 picks. Jaylen Adams better watch out, there are a plethora of 2nd round guys this draft that could take his spot easily.

[King Ken]

You can like Bol talent but you have to build around him not with him. That's where the Bol issue is massive.

[Jamaaliver]

More...click bait.

Jaxson Hayes is no longer projected to be available at the #9 pick. Meaning we'd have to choose between him or one of the 3 stud wings we've been clamoring for all season. (Reddish, Culver, Hunter)

...or trade back up for them.

NBA Mock Draft 2019:

5. Hawks - Jaxson Hayes, C, Texas

The Hawks need a big guy to pair with John Collins, and Hayes might be ideal. Hayes averaged 2.2 blocks in 23.3 minutes with the Longhorns, making him the kind of defensive presence who can make up for some of Collins' flaws. But Hayes also has good footwork and the ability to handle the ball despite being just 18 years old.


9. Hawks (via Mavericks) - Romeo Langford, SG, Indiana

Langford was a disappointment as a shooter this year - just 27.2 percent from the 3-point line - but he has an ideal build for a big guard and is versatile enough to guard at least three positions. Expect him to impress in workouts and land in the top 10.

Sporting News

2019 NBA Mock Draft:

5. Hawks -- De'Andre Hunter | Virginia | Soph | SF | 6-7

Trae Young is Atlanta's building block after a stellar rookie campaign, but he's not alone: Kevin Huerter and John Collins figure to be huge pieces moving forward, too. The Hawks could add to that emerging treasure trove of young assets by grabbing Hunter, one of the more ready-made prospects in this class. Hunter would excellently complement what is in place currently and could provide defensive versatility and floor-spacing from the forward position. He's perhaps not a second star to place next to Young, but his talents suggest he'll be a solid role player for years to come.


9. Hawks -- Brandon Clarke | Gonzaga | Jr | PF | 6-8

Pick acquired via trade with Dallas

At 6-foot-8, Clarke's ideal position in the NBA is likely at power forward. But at Gonzaga, he was a rim-protecting force playing primarily at center, where he led the NCAA in total blocks. Size be damned, the combination of John Collins and Clarke for the Hawks could be one that packs a serious punch. Play Clarke at the center and Collins at power forward, and let the duo wreck NBA frontcourts at the rim.

CBS Sports

[Jamaaliver]

I'm not nearly as enamored with this kid as many of you are, but if we could snag him outside of the lottery...it would be a real value selection.

BA Draft: Bol Bol will be the biggest steal from the 2019 class

With the expectation that he will drop late in the first-round, Bol Bol could be the steal of the 2019 NBA Draft

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One player that not many are talking about is Bol Bol who also has star potential, but probably will not be drafted as high as those three. Because of that, Bol could very well become the steal of this year’s draft class. Bol is a great 3-point shooter, connecting on 52 percent of his shots from deep last season, with many of them being contested. He has the ability to rise up and over the defender, making it nearly impossible to block his jump shot.

Along with his jumper, Bol has a good post game. He has a soft touch around the basket and is efficient with his hook shots. Bol can fade away from both shoulders, and his height enables him to shoot right over the defender.

Due to his impressive jump shot, Bol is great in the pick-and-pop. He isn’t the best screen setter but can knock down shots when fading to the 3-point line or mid-range area.

Bol also has spectacular ball handling skills. He can put the ball on the floor and drive into the paint, or just create more space for himself to rise up for a jumper. Most big men are poor ball handlers in the halfcourt and fullcourt, but Bol is exceptional in both situations.

Bol also makes a tremendous impact on defense. He is an elite shot blocker and averaged 2.7 blocks per game in college. Foul trouble isn’t an issue for Bol, as he only averaged 1.7 fouls per game.

Bol is not currently a switchy defender, which could be a problem in the NBA. However, due to his above average speed and agility for the center position, combined with his wingspan, Bol has lots of room to improve in that area.

If Bol can get past his foot injury and utilize his pure talent on the basketball court, then he could easily become the steal of the 2019 NBA Draft.

Sir Charles in Charge

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

Rival Team rankings of the (non-Zion) big men in this draft:

I, similarly, have Jaxson as the lowest of these four bigs.


NOTE: If Collins wasn't already on board, I'd draft Brandon Clarke at #9 without hesitation.

8. Sekou Doumbouya, F, France

The way Doumbouya moves is incredible. He undeniably needs a lot of work—he essentially needs someone to teach him how to play NBA basketball—but there’s something about his fluidity, feel and footwork that just makes me believe that in the right place (that’s key) he’ll figure it out. He’s only 18 years old.


9. Goga Bitadze, C, Georgia (Europe)

Bitadze is slow, which could be an issue, but outside of that the way he plays makes me very happy. Jusuf Nurkic’s screen-and-roll success should be a blueprint for Bitadze, whose size, strength and finishing ability combined with his shot-blocking on defense should help him grow into a very successful center.


10. Brandon Clarke, F/C, Gonzaga

I like guys who play hard and make good decisions. Clarke fits that bill and with his defensive and rebounding ability, I have a feeling that he’ll put some of the concerns about his size and ideal position to rest. Lineups get weird when you get into the bench and I see Clarke as an ideal second-unit big.


11. Jaxson Hayes, C, Texas

Hayes will be a classic example of how big men take longer to develop in the NBA, but his ceiling is high. He plays above the rim on both ends of the floor, blocks shots and runs well. He is the definition of a raw prospect but the physical tools are more than there.

NBA.com

[EazyRoc]

These mocks are starting to look like I’m making them Hayes, Langford, & Hunter. Those are my favorite players at our projected draft spots.

[Spud2nique]

These mocks are starting to look like I’m making them Hayes, Langford, & Hunter. Those are my favorite players at our projected draft spots.

they totally are...

Who r u?????

I know you’ve been on Langford for sure as well as the other couple guys.

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

Oh great... look... another mock draft... two of em even(!)... so much has changed, no doubt about it, since the last ones these same guys did... ie, they cashed their last paycheck, and their employer needs some money to pay them again...

[Jamaaliver]

Important Questions Before the 2019 NBA Draft

Who are the international prospects I need to know about?

There’s a decided lack of buzz surrounding this year’s international class, and it’s not exactly a Luka Doncic hangover, either. As it stands, we only project two first-round picks coming from leagues overseas. French forward Sekou Doumbouya and Georgian center Goga Bitadze could both be lottery picks and are quality prospects in their own right, but after that, the picture is a bit murkier.

Doumbouya has been hyped dating back to the 2018 Basketball Without Borders Global Camp, where he was the top prospect in attendance. He’s an NBA-caliber athlete with a projectable body type, and continues to develop into what scouts hope will be a versatile, modern power forward. Doumbouya will be a project for whoever drafts him, but noting the underwhelming nature of the lottery prospects, he could hear his name called early.

Bitadze has probably been underhyped on some level after an extremely impressive year as a 19-year-old, playing real, productive Euroleague minutes and dominating the Adriatic League. The 6’11” center is more athletic than he’s given credit for, shot 62.3% across competitions, and posted a stellar PER of 23.36 and averaging 12.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 13 Euroleague games—no small feat for a player of any age. While the bar is certainly high right now for centers hoping to stick in the NBA, Bitadze is the type of established talent that teams tend to prioritize.

SI.com

[Jamaaliver]

This is a guy I really like. I no longer believe he has true star potential, but he strikes me as the same style/caliber of player as Kevin Huerter. His 1st cousin is SGA of the Clippers, and he has comparable size/athleticism.

He strikes me as a cross between Huerter and Gilgeous-Alexander...

Nickeil Alexander-Walker | Virginia Tech | Soph | SG | 6-5

Alexander-Walker validated preseason hype when, as a sophomore last season at Virginia Tech, he made a huge leap, averaging 16.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, all markedly better than his first season on campus. He has everything you want in an NBA shooting guard: Length, mobility, 3-point shooting. He can even handle the ball, though last season his decision-making was sometimes hit or miss. He won't solve the Magic's point guard position, but he's a phenomenal perimeter player Orlando could build with.

CBS Sports

[shakes0]

You can like Bol talent but you have to build around him not with him. That's where the Bol issue is massive.

Ken, you keep saying that. Please explain what you mean?


You don't think Bol could slide into Dedmon's role eventually?


I personally have no idea since he only played a few college games. I only got to see him one time very early in the season. I hear all the questions about his durability and his desire, but I'm curious as to why you don't think he could be a complimentary player on this team?

[shakes0]

This is a guy I really like. I no longer believe he has true star potential, but he strikes me as the same style/caliber of player as Kevin Huerter. His 1st cousin is SGA of the Clippers, and he has comparable size/athleticism.

He strikes me as a cross between Huerter and Gilgeous-Alexander...

Nickeil Alexander-Walker | Virginia Tech | Soph | SG | 6-5

Alexander-Walker validated preseason hype when, as a sophomore last season at Virginia Tech, he made a huge leap, averaging 16.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, all markedly better than his first season on campus. He has everything you want in an NBA shooting guard: Length, mobility, 3-point shooting. He can even handle the ball, though last season his decision-making was sometimes hit or miss. He won't solve the Magic's point guard position, but he's a phenomenal perimeter player Orlando could build with.

CBS Sports

I liked him a lot, but his play noticeably fell off once the ACC season started. He started the year looking like the team's best player and by the end he was clearly behind both Blackshear and Robinson.

[King Ken]

You can like Bol talent but you have to build around him not with him. That's where the Bol issue is massive.

Ken, you keep saying that. Please explain what you mean?


You don't think Bol could slide into Dedmon's role eventually?


I personally have no idea since he only played a few college games. I only got to see him one time very early in the season. I hear all the questions about his durability and his desire, but I'm curious as to why you don't think he could be a complimentary player on this team?

Its what we did with Trae Young.

We built our system on both ends of the court to benefit Trae in hope that building around him will give up the best chance to get the most of out him and it will benefit others as well who play with him.

For Bol, you have to play zone and do a lot of drop coverage that teams like Portland, Utah, Milwaukee and Philly does.

You have to play at a slow to low end tempo in terms of pace.

You have to protect him on both ends of the court.

On offense due to his lack of size, you want to use him like Brook Lopez is currently being use.

The issue with that is Bol can be ran off the floor. That's a major issue if you are a good team. For Bol to work, you need to build around him. He is not a build with piece.

That's not including work ethic, interviews, motivation, and the intangibles

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

As far as I've seen, Bol is only a center in the sense that he's really tall, and he's very much able to blocks shots like dad did. But whoever gets him is going to have to think extensively about how to use him most effectively because he doesn't fit traditional ways of using tall players.

How interesting that we really have the same thing when it comes to Zion.... he doesn't really fit the traditional ways you use a 6-7 player... and how much more interesting if the two ended up on the same team, eh?

I concur with a lot of what Supes said above. But I see a really high reward if someone gets it right with how they build around Super Bol.