2019 Draft Discussion

[SWedd523]

Age means nothing to me anymore. For instance I think Cam Johnson from UNC will be one of the better players from this draft in 5 years. Hea "old" by draft standards, but a solid athlete good size and when he shoots he doesn't miss, literally, the guy doesn't miss.

That's kind of the difference.

He's HUGE for his position and has a shot that will absolutely translate to the current style of play. He's going to fit in easily, even if he isn't a star. You don't have to try and force him into the game.

[316Hornets]

Really feel like he's the perfect pick if another team doesn't get him before.

https://www.nba.com/hornets/video/teams/hornets/2019/05/20/2616436/1558373826993-190520-brandonclarke-2616436

[316Hornets]

Age means nothing to me anymore. For instance I think Cam Johnson from UNC will be one of the better players from this draft in 5 years. Hea "old" by draft standards, but a solid athlete good size and when he shoots he doesn't miss, literally, the guy doesn't miss.

That's kind of the difference.

He's HUGE for his position and has a shot that will absolutely translate to the current style of play. He's going to fit in easily, even if he isn't a star. You don't have to try and force him into the game.

Let's say we trade Zeller or Biz and get a stretch 5. We already have Miles and Kemba for points. How many knockdown shooters do you need? Golden State rotates guys like Jordan Bell and it works great. Kemba obviously struggles on defense and it's more important to fix the interior defense so we aren't asking Kemba or anyone to knock down every shot to win the game.

[JDR720]

The problem with Clarke is he is undersized, by both PF and C standards, and those should be the positions he plays. I'd rather move Miles to PF and get a shooting 5 or a SF. He is a 23yr old project on offense, I dont think he'll be more than a shot-blocking specialist. Maybe he can be a Kenneth Faried with shot blocking, thats probably his ceiling.

Like I said previously, I'd get Bol Bol and hope he can be another Myles Turner or even Bruno Fernando. Sounds like he could be a complete player.

Strengths: A high level run jump athlete at the center position ... Explosive finisher and alley-oop target, with great bounce, especially off of two feet ... Very solid touch and shooting ability for a big ... Shows excellent form and touch shooting the ball (a career 75% ft shooter) ... Has become a load on the block ... Has excellent footwork in the post with solid ability to establish position and seal his man for jump hooks and drop steps ... Has a developing turn around hook shot over his left shoulder ... Possesses excellent hands, showing an ability to catch entry passes and make plays with the ball without having to focus any attention to it ... Has learned solid skill on the block, with the ability to seal his man, create a wide base for teammates to find him with passes, and can make plays quickly after establishing advantageous position ... Has developed a bag of tricks in the paint with spin moves and up-and-unders. Does a great job of not predetermining his moves and really gives defenders trouble with his foot work and ball fakes ... His hands appear to be just as good as his feet ... Creates space offensively by bumping his defender off balance ... Finishes well in the paint, whether it be with a dunk or baby hooks ... Ambidextrous, showing the ability to finish well with both his left and dominant right hand ... Very good touch. And an above average FT shooter for a big ... Enjoys contact. Displays great toughness and a willingness to give up his body for rebounds ... Very strong body and should only continue to add to his muscular frame ... While his skill set is more that of a traditional big with a focus on his post game, his size, mobility and touch give him potential as a modern day big, and his ability to move his feet and defend guards on pick and rolls gives him added intrigue ... Has really improved as an offensive player, showing confidence facing the basket from the perimeter and can make plays attacking the basket off the dribble ... He's able to take opponents off the bounce with a quick first step and can get to the rim without drawing charges or turning the ball over. A sign of his coach-ability and dedication to improving his game ... Finishes well on the move ... Also has the ability to one dribble pull up from 10-12 feet if the defense sags off him ... Young man with a lot of maturity and composure. Has a calm, confident demeanor and never seems to lose his cool, or get rattled ... Has a real presence about him, doesn’t shy away from competition or the limelight and shows a steady demeanor and confidence to handle adversity and tough situations ... His feel for the game has shown steady improvement, and he apparently made an excellent decision to return to Maryland for his sophomore year, despite being a likely first rounder as a FR ... Excellent 7-plus foot wingspan gives him good length at 6’10 ...

[KingCat]

I get the feeling that Clarke to the Hornets is inevitable. Only prospect we have shown interest in and is a typical Hornets type of draft pick. Our only hope is Phoenix or Minny reach for him and save us from our selves. I swear to god, I will purchase league pack and make whichever team ahead of us that drafts Clarke one of my teams to watch.

[Najee12]

Sounds like a Shawn Marion type?

Draymond Green might not agree with you.

Brandon Clarke is neither Shawn Marion nor Draymond Green. I don't see Clarke playing small forward and putting up 18 points and 10 rebounds per game while being among the league leaders in steals and blocks, like Marion in his prime. I don't see a team allowing Clarke to be a primary ball-handler and initiate the offense and switch on different players on defense, like Green. I certainly don't see Clarke having all-NBA potential, like Marion and Green.

Clarke is a 6-foot-8 power forward who plays almost entirely in the paint. As mentioned, he is built more like a small forward or a shooting guard with a short wingspan. To me, Clarke's NBA profile is more like Tim Perry at worst with an upside of Kenyon Martin (power forwards with more of a small forward build) if he maxes out his potential.

The sad thing about it is that Clarke looks like a classic Hornets selection -- low to decent floor, low upside, a finished college player but limited NBA potential with no true place in the modern NBA. Charlotte is never going to be more than a middling team until it stops its approach to drafting limited, college-type players.

[chellis]

Age means nothing to me anymore. For instance I think Cam Johnson from UNC will be one of the better players from this draft in 5 years. Hea "old" by draft standards, but a solid athlete good size and when he shoots he doesn't miss, literally, the guy doesn't miss.

That's kind of the difference.

He's HUGE for his position and has a shot that will absolutely translate to the current style of play. He's going to fit in easily, even if he isn't a star. You don't have to try and force him into the game.

Let's say we trade Zeller or Biz and get a stretch 5. We already have Miles and Kemba for points. How many knockdown shooters do you need? Golden State rotates guys like Jordan Bell and it works great. Kemba obviously struggles on defense and it's more important to fix the interior defense so we aren't asking Kemba or anyone to knock down every shot to win the game.

I hear the point of your post, and yes we do need to fix the interior defense. I won’t refute that. But you can never have enough shooters. Period. When the offense breaks down, you need players who can score. The way our team is constructed I honestly don’t feel you can say one player or need is 100% more important than another. We are broken in so many areas and it’s going to take time to fix it.

[Braggins]

How many 23 year old NBA players couldn't average 17ppg playing in the NCAA?

Just comparing Clarke to Miles really highlights the problems with him as a prospect. Take Miles and give him better lateral quickness but take away virtually all of his offensive skill, make him 1.5" less long and 13 lbs lighter, and add three years of age and you essentially have Brandon Clarke.

I really don't understand the interest in Clarke at all. Miles showed plenty of promise last season for a 20 year old (3 years younger than Clarke will be), but he didn't exactly light it up. Now imagine if he was smaller and couldn't shoot or dribble at all and try to imagine how that would work out.

[SWedd523]

Age means nothing to me anymore. For instance I think Cam Johnson from UNC will be one of the better players from this draft in 5 years. Hea "old" by draft standards, but a solid athlete good size and when he shoots he doesn't miss, literally, the guy doesn't miss.

That's kind of the difference.

He's HUGE for his position and has a shot that will absolutely translate to the current style of play. He's going to fit in easily, even if he isn't a star. You don't have to try and force him into the game.

Let's say we trade Zeller or Biz and get a stretch 5. We already have Miles and Kemba for points. How many knockdown shooters do you need? Golden State rotates guys like Jordan Bell and it works great. Kemba obviously struggles on defense and it's more important to fix the interior defense so we aren't asking Kemba or anyone to knock down every shot to win the game.

It's 2019. You need as many knockdown shooters as you can get.

Not only that, but you have teams averaging close to 120 points a game. The last 4 teams remaining are all among the best offenses in the league and all have multiple guys who can get buckets in high quantities on any given night.

[Lwcasu]

How many 23 year old NBA players couldn't average 17ppg playing in the NCAA?

Just comparing Clarke to Miles really highlights the problems with him as a prospect. Take Miles and give him better lateral quickness but take away virtually all of his offensive skill, make him 1.5" less long and 13 lbs lighter, and add three years of age and you essentially have Brandon Clarke.

I really don't understand the interest in Clarke at all. Miles showed plenty of promise last season for a 20 year old (3 years younger than Clarke will be), but he didn't exactly light it up. Now imagine if he was smaller and couldn't shoot or dribble at all and try to imagine how that would work out.

I know it’s subjective but this is kind of misrepresented. First Clarke is a much better defender. Clarke also has a decent mid range game. And, I’d possibly say Clarke can dribble better than miles (not saying too much). Miles has range, but it’s quite possibly the only thing he does better. Miles is younger. Both can get up. Clarke has a lot more BB IQ.

PJ Washington may be the better prospect for us, just because he has a more defined position. That’s my only real knock on Clarke is he basically is going to play the 4 or small ball 5 on offense (but is limited when he can play those positions). He can pretty much guard 2-4 and 5 based on matchups. It would be hard to watch a line up offensively in a scenario where Kemba leaves with Miles and Clarke both in the game at the same time until one of both develop more.

[Rich4114]

We had no interior game last season and I don’t see us adding any free agents that solve that problem. If the team drafts another guy undersized for his position, it is committing to another long season of giving up rebounds, no blocks and getting owned in the paint. We do not need to be conservative here. I really hope they add high ceiling big man prospects. I’d be ecstatic to get Bol Bol for instance. I don’t know a lot about this years prospects outside of the top 3, but that guy has a lot of endorsements from other big men who’ve played the game before and comes from an nba family. Swing for the fences!

[BigSlam]

Is Charlotte not one of the very few teams in the league still holding on to the vestiges of early 2000's basketball?

I wouldn't have thought so.

Last season Borrego had long stretches of games where he played Marv at the 5 spot.

He also used (not as much) Bats and Miles there as well.

If anything I felt he went "small ball" way too often, at inappropriate times and for too long a stretches.

[BigSlam]

That's kind of the difference.

He's HUGE for his position and has a shot that will absolutely translate to the current style of play. He's going to fit in easily, even if he isn't a star. You don't have to try and force him into the game.

Let's say we trade Zeller or Biz and get a stretch 5. We already have Miles and Kemba for points. How many knockdown shooters do you need? Golden State rotates guys like Jordan Bell and it works great. Kemba obviously struggles on defense and it's more important to fix the interior defense so we aren't asking Kemba or anyone to knock down every shot to win the game.

It's 2019. You need as many knockdown shooters as you can get.

Not only that, but you have teams averaging close to 120 points a game. The last 4 teams remaining are all among the best offenses in the league and all have multiple guys who can get buckets in high quantities on any given night.

We avarged 111 points per game during the regular season (which I think ranks us in the middle half of the pack) and I wouldn't classify us as a team with knock down shooters?

[JMAC3]

Right now I think the three guys I like are Nas Little, PJ Washington, and KZ Okpala.

All three have big wingspans, big hands, can guard multiple positions and switch on screens and should eventually be average NBA three point shooters.




Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[remi_222]

Watch on YouTube

;t=407s&frags=pl%2Cwn

Nobody really talk about Sekou, but lots of mock draft puts him n°12 ! What do you guys think abt him ?

[JMAC3]

I’m anti French players


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[BigSlam]

Apart from Zion, there is literally no one in this draft I want - but I also have invested very little time in learning about the draft class so that's a factor.

I'm not sure I've ever been as indifferent heading into a draft.

It's soothing.

[fatlever]

Sounds like a Shawn Marion type?

Draymond Green might not agree with you.

Brandon Clarke is neither Shawn Marion nor Draymond Green. I don't see Clarke playing small forward and putting up 18 points and 10 rebounds per game while being among the league leaders in steals and blocks, like Marion in his prime. I don't see a team allowing Clarke to be a primary ball-handler and initiate the offense and switch on different players on defense, like Green. I certainly don't see Clarke having all-NBA potential, like Marion and Green.

Clarke is a 6-foot-8 power forward who plays almost entirely in the paint. As mentioned, he is built more like a small forward or a shooting guard with a short wingspan. To me, Clarke's NBA profile is more like Tim Perry at worst with an upside of Kenyon Martin (power forwards with more of a small forward build) if he maxes out his potential.

The sad thing about it is that Clarke looks like a classic Hornets selection -- low to decent floor, low upside, a finished college player but limited NBA potential with no true place in the modern NBA. Charlotte is never going to be more than a middling team until it stops its approach to drafting limited, college-type players.

I don't know much at all about him outside of the few things I've read on the internet this week, but this sums up my first impressions of him. Can we for once not pick the player who has T-Rex arms and one-dimensional offensive game?

Sent from my SM-G920V using RealGM mobile app

[Liver_Pooty]

Watch on YouTube

;t=407s&frags=pl%2Cwn

Nobody really talk about Sekou, but lots of mock draft puts him n°12 ! What do you guys think abt him ?

Just did some research on him. I think he has a chance to be really special, but its up to Mitch and Jordan to see if they want to wait 2 plus years on him to develop.

[MPM]

Just swing away, please. No more bunting.

Bol, Doumbouya, Porter Jr. - size with big upside, por favor.

I could live with any of the above busting before I could with a solid but limited/unspectacular role player.