2019 NBA Draft Prep

shakes0 · Post #3101 » by **shakes0** » Fri May 3, 2019 5:55 pm

Only 11 days till the lottery! Or if you want me to put it another way, only 11 days till Stuart stops complaining about daily mock drafts

Post #3102 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri May 3, 2019 6:20 pm

Listed as the top pure Center in this draft?!?

2019 NBA Draft's Top 10 Frontcourt Prospects: Who's Behind Zion Williamson?

3. Goga Bitadze (Georgia, C, 1999)

Watch on YouTube

I'm buying Goga Bitadze's breakout season, which has seen him evolve into a more commanding inside scorer and a threatening shooter.

Concerns over his lateral quickness on defense seem overblown, assuming the 19-year-old can learn to pick up on some nuances. At the least, they shouldn't cloud his offensive development.

It's a rare, impressive feat for a teenager to average 12.1 points (54.8 percent FG) and 2.3 blocks in Euroleague play.

A 6'11" center who's mobile and able to make plays above the rim on both ends, Bitadze improved his hands and footwork this season while showing more finishing versatility around the basket. Going 23-of-60 on three-pointers (Euroleague and Adriatic League combined) has been an equally appealing accomplishment, even if the sample size remains small.

At this stage, he's still more of a post player and roll man. He doesn't project to play or guard any position but center. It wouldn't be surprising if a handful of teams just didn't see enough upside to consider him in the lottery.

But based on his effectiveness against quality competition this year, I'm betting on Bitadze's budding inside-out game to continue blossoming.

Bleacher Report

Spoiler:

jayu70 · Post #3103 » by **jayu70** » Fri May 3, 2019 6:29 pm

Read on Twitter

_s_t_u_r_t_ · Post #3104 » by **_s_t_u_r_t_** » Fri May 3, 2019 6:31 pm

shakes0 wrote:Only 11 days till the lottery! Or if you want me to put it another way, only 11 days till Stuart stops complaining about daily mock drafts

Albeit just for those 24-48 hours immediately after.

I like to think of myself as the poster you can trust to call attention to scams... not unlike your local BBB executive director who pops up on TV or radio every now and then to serve the common good.

Post #3105 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri May 3, 2019 7:21 pm

Spud2nique wrote:Also throw Grant Will in as the obvious Sap type to all.

He has a chance to be an elite off the bench scorer.

Grant Williams (Tennessee, PF, Junior)

The 2018 SEC Player of the Year, Grant Williams took an even bigger step forward to win the award for a second consecutive season and build a solid first-round case for the 2019 draft.

He raised his true shooting percentage from 54.4 to 64.6 percent—the result of improved core skills and conditioning.

Equipped with spin moves and high-elevation fallaways, Williams became one of the nation's most efficient post scorers (1.173 PPP, 97th percentile), finishing 22-of-44 from the left block, 22-of-41 from the right block and 20-of-28 on flashes to the middle. His one-on-one moves inside the arc were also sharper, and he generated 1.129 PPP out of isolation (94th percentile).

His impressive basketball IQ also showed on passes and defense, and that just enhances his role-player potential.

The downside focuses on his older-school, back-to-the-basket game and 6'7" height as a power forward who lacks explosion. His 13.3 total rebounding percentage was a surprisingly low career best this season. And despite his improved shooting touch, he still finished just 7-of-23 on spot-up, non-dribble jumpers.

On the other hand, he's also just 20 years old, making him the same age as most sophomores despite completing his junior season for the Volunteers.

Bleacher Report

Spud2nique · Post #3106 » by **Spud2nique** » Fri May 3, 2019 9:34 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
Spud2nique wrote:Also throw Grant Will in as the obvious Sap type to all.

He has a chance to be an elite off the bench scorer.

Grant Williams (Tennessee, PF, Junior)

The 2018 SEC Player of the Year, Grant Williams took an even bigger step forward to win the award for a second consecutive season and build a solid first-round case for the 2019 draft.

He raised his true shooting percentage from 54.4 to 64.6 percent—the result of improved core skills and conditioning.

Equipped with spin moves and high-elevation fallaways, Williams became one of the nation's most efficient post scorers (1.173 PPP, 97th percentile), finishing 22-of-44 from the left block, 22-of-41 from the right block and 20-of-28 on flashes to the middle. His one-on-one moves inside the arc were also sharper, and he generated 1.129 PPP out of isolation (94th percentile).

His impressive basketball IQ also showed on passes and defense, and that just enhances his role-player potential.

The downside focuses on his older-school, back-to-the-basket game and 6'7" height as a power forward who lacks explosion. His 13.3 total rebounding percentage was a surprisingly low career best this season. And despite his improved shooting touch, he still finished just 7-of-23 on spot-up, non-dribble jumpers.

On the other hand, he's also just 20 years old, making him the same age as most sophomores despite completing his junior season for the Volunteers.
Bleacher Report

Ya ur boy grew on me Jammy. I likem long and slender aka Giannis and KZ Ok style but I appreciate the blue collar bangem up inside style a bit. The future NBA you might need it all so why not someone you can go to on the low block to change the rhythm of transition ball that we run for the starters.

Spud2nique · Post #3107 » by **Spud2nique** » Fri May 3, 2019 9:56 pm

jayu70 wrote:

Read on Twitter

We draft Coby White and we might lose Cap...

Small backcourt... :-?

kerrypack · Post #3108 » by **kerrypack** » Fri May 3, 2019 10:34 pm

Spud2nique wrote:
jayu70 wrote:

Read on Twitter

We draft Coby White and we might lose Cap...

Small backcourt...

Didn't know anything about Bruno Fernando but was hoping he was a 7'5 320 lb Italian bruiser. you a go a inna da painta you a gonna getta hurt. Soda popinski still out there? That is what the team needs.

_s_t_u_r_t_ · Post #3109 » by **_s_t_u_r_t_** » Fri May 3, 2019 11:25 pm

He *is* a bruiser. And his wing span and his vertical are elite. Bruno will hurt ya.

Geaux_Hawks · Post #3110 » by **Geaux_Hawks** » Fri May 3, 2019 11:57 pm

Goga Bitadze is growing on me more and more. If we can't acquire Jaxson Hayes, I wouldn't be made if we picked him up with our #9 pick or traded up for him. Goga seems perfect as a potential stretch 5 with the ability to play around the rim. He's a mobile big man, and has good size on him. Wouldn't be a bad fit next to Collins really.

kerrypack · Post #3111 » by **kerrypack** » Sat May 4, 2019 1:43 am

_s_t_u_r_t_ wrote:He *is* a bruiser. And his wing span and his vertical are elite. Bruno will hurt ya.

I was joking. I hadn't seen him play until a few weeks ago. He is bouncy and strong. The thing with basketball is you never know if the players have the iq and desire... unless you really follow them.

Spud2nique · Post #3112 » by **Spud2nique** » Sat May 4, 2019 2:00 am

_s_t_u_r_t_ wrote:He *is* a bruiser. And his wing span and his vertical are elite. Bruno will hurt ya.

Yawn.

Post #3113 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sat May 4, 2019 3:22 am

Read on Twitter

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kerrypack · Post #3114 » by **kerrypack** » Sat May 4, 2019 11:37 am

Jamaaliver wrote:

Read on Twitter

Sent from my RC555L using RealGM mobile app

I think that is his opinion on the best players, as a fan. In two weeks we'll know a lot more, that is when it starts to get interesting.

_s_t_u_r_t_ · Post #3115 » by **_s_t_u_r_t_** » Sat May 4, 2019 2:45 pm

Count me as one of those who do not believe Schlenk's words hold any actual predictive meaning where the draft is concerned, though with the partial exception that I do think he made the "5 rookies" statement in an effort to make it clear from the git-go that he's going to be open for business where trade proposals are concerned.

jayu70 · Post #3116 » by **jayu70** » Sat May 4, 2019 2:50 pm

Read on Twitter

As for where Schlenk plans to go with those picks, he says the team still wants to go with the best player available in each spot, rather than choosing based on the positional needs of the team.

“We’re still in a development stage,” Schlenk noted. “We feel good about the development we’ve made this year, but I think it’s important not to jump steps. We’re still going to take the best players we can. You look at the playoffs now, position-less basketball is really what’s out there. We’re going to keep getting the best talent we can and add them to the mix, then we’ll figure out how to blend them all together on the back end.”

Spud2nique · Post #3117 » by **Spud2nique** » Sat May 4, 2019 3:10 pm

jayu70 wrote:

Read on Twitter

As for where Schlenk plans to go with those picks, he says the team still wants to go with the best player available in each spot, rather than choosing based on the positional needs of the team.

“We’re still in a development stage,” Schlenk noted. “We feel good about the development we’ve made this year, but I think it’s important not to jump steps. We’re still going to take the best players we can. You look at the playoffs now, position-less basketball is really what’s out there. We’re going to keep getting the best talent we can and add them to the mix, then we’ll figure out how to blend them all together on the back end.”

He was a Nellie disciple, BPA always...

89 Timmy
90 Ty Hill
92 Spree

Trae and Ja tho.. if you want position less basketball, this might be a hard to handle for the opposition.

Wang away tho...there r some solid ones in the draft.

observer1995 · Post #3118 » by **observer1995** » Sat May 4, 2019 3:12 pm

I think you can trade down to 15 for Goga. I wouldn’t mind doing it either with the Dallas pick if you can weasel out a quality asset. It'd all depend on who is still there at that spot if whether I'd like to trade down or not.

King Ken · Post #3119 » by **King Ken** » Sat May 4, 2019 3:16 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:

Read on Twitter

Sent from my RC555L using RealGM mobile app

This one is night and day better than his other one for the Hawks

_s_t_u_r_t_ · Post #3120 » by **_s_t_u_r_t_** » Sat May 4, 2019 3:50 pm

As for where Schlenk plans to go with those picks, he says the team still wants to go with the best player available in each spot, rather than choosing based on the positional needs of the team.

“We’re still in a development stage,” Schlenk noted. “We feel good about the development we’ve made this year, but I think it’s important not to jump steps. We’re still going to take the best players we can. You look at the playoffs now, position-less basketball is really what’s out there. We’re going to keep getting the best talent we can and add them to the mix, then we’ll figure out how to blend them all together on the back end.”

What possible incentive does Schlenk have to NOT say those words?

Iow, can you think of ANY way it is helpful to his purposes to say, "We probably won't take a point guard?"

That's really the bottom line here. (And of course the answer is no, it doesn't serve his purposes to openly rule out Morant or for that matter any other PG thought to possibly go in the top 10.)

We'll have a much clearer picture of what Travis Schlenk really thinks about his roster following the draft. Just saying "we're still in the development stage" is hardly news. How could one possibly argue otherwise?

Good to see Schlenk keeping cards to his chest. Have to do that.

What direction should Hawks go with their lottery picks?