2019 Draft Discussion

[Snidely FC]

Mike Gribonov at the Stepien does a good job summing up why I don't want the 12 pick to be Bol Bol:

any sort of sudden change of direction is a painstaking process for Bol. Luka Garza was able to blow by him off the dribble several times in the Iowa matchup, something that should almost never be said about a future NBA player, let alone a lottery pick. Bol totally lacks the ability to make abrupt, twitchy changes of momentum with his body movements, which will make it incredibly difficult to keep him on the court in the modern pick-and-roll heavy and guard oriented NBA. Containing some of the league’s top ball handlers defensively seems like a task that will always haunt Bol’s upside even if he makes significant strides with his overall coordination. When you add up current question marks surrounding his health to the injury history of other players with his sort of size (Porzingis is a comparison I’ve often heard for Bol), drafting him in the first 10 picks becomes an overly risky proposition. It is highly unlikely he will be able to reach the high end of his upside and probably ends up becoming a productive player who is way too often sidelined, whether due to health or matchup incompatibility.

[Bassman]

The reason Clarke is “rated” higher than his likely drafting position is because he is a college player that will get exposed in the NBA. Period. His limitations will be amplified in the league. I do not want this guy.

[KingCat]

I have a feeling Clarke is gonna end up being a more energetic James Michael McAdoo

[Snidely FC]

It's always fun to read about guys and watch highlights, but it can really make a difference, getting a feel for their game, to see some of these guys play instead of just reading about them. I did not watch a ton of college bball but watched a number of UNC, Duke & Tourney games. So, some thoughts on guys I actually saw play in games this year:
Zion: only needed to see him play once to get the WOW factor
RJ Barrett: Alpha dog mentality will insinuate himself via high usage leading to inevitable stardom
De'Andre Hunter: impressive fundamentals and body hard to imagine him being anything less than longtime quality player who impacts winning
Coby White: I posted in this thread way back in early Feb that I am a fan, like his size energy and scoring
Jarrett Culver: outside shooting not very confident but given his size and all around game hard to imagine him not becoming an all-star
Jaxson Hayes - was an absolute menace in early season win over UNC, was the difference in that game, blocking and rebounding everything, offense limited to rim rolls and putbacks, but left an extremely positive impression
Nassir Little: early season didn't seem to be in sync with rest of team, looked like an actual potential difference maker at year end and tourney but consistency esp on outside shot was lacking
Nickeil Alexander-Walker: great size and clearly has skillset but unlike his cousin SGA lacked aggression, totally disappointingly tentative in tourney loss to Duke, suggests role player, more Delon Wright than SGA
Cam Reddish: I know I saw him play several times because I watched a number of Duke games but I literally can't remember seeing him do anything other than make one silky 3 pt shot
Rui Hachimura - he's another one I know I saw play because I watched Gonzaga several times, but all I can remember is Brandon Clarke flying around; Hachimura made no impression
Brandon Clarke - that Baylor tourney game, wow, he was absolutely everywhere in that game; problem is every one of his buckets was a dunk, layup or put back; not a single outside shot; still, hard to imagine he won't influence winning
Keldon Johnson - was impressed with his size on the wing & his all around game, maybe could be more assertive on offense
Tyler Herro - loved his shooting esp 94% from foul line, and impressed with the way he shut down Fletcher McGee in the Wofford game, was really on his bandwagon until he appeared to become tentative and lose confidence turning down open shots in the loss to Auburn
PJ Washington - liked his body and game, was terrific thru the tourney, esp 28 pts v Auburn in loss, expect him to be solid contributor in modern nba
Cameron Johnson - like the shooting, just seems otherwise lacking in dynamism (think Justin Jackson)
Ty Jerome - he's one who made a bigger impression on me watching than reading about; would question his nba fit due to lack of athleticism and lack of lateral mobility, but when you see him play, makes impact play and can really knock down the 3; but is he just too slow?
Kyle Guy - anyone who can shoot 3s like that ... but just so slight (measured only 6'03/4" shoeless at combine) don't know how he stays on the court in nba
Grant Williams - just seemed short for position and slow, maybe he's a bulldog, but left me unexcited
Carsen Edwards - too small for my liking
Aubrey Dawkins - obviously impressive in that game v Duke, good size, pedigree
Ignas Brazdeikis - caught my eye with mobility and versatility for size
Chuma Ukeke - was best player on the floor in UNC tourney win... but that knee injury
Mfiondu Kabengele - impressed with his size, energy during tourney run
Sagaba Konate - memorable for his energy

anybody else see guys who stood out in games you watched?

[Braggins]

If we are talking about a 2019 draft pick, I would think the only player in that lineup that is even slightly relevant is Monk.

This team needs players. I'm not saying Clarke is that guy, but I do think it's pretty obvious that we don't have a specific need we should be drafting for - we need reliable contributors and we should have no problem drafting someone at any position.

Yep, this team needs high end talent wherever it can get it more than any specific positional need.

The biggest specific needs are a true 2nd scoring option, a playmaking guard/wing that can share the court with Kemba/Monk, and a center upgrade. There are actually some players that could be BPA at 12 that fit those needs, but the front office should only take that into consideration if they are deciding between multiple guys they have rated similarly as BPA.

[316Hornets]

It's always fun to read about guys and watch highlights, but it can really make a difference, getting a feel for their game, to see some of these guys play instead of just reading about them. I did not watch a ton of college bball but watched a number of UNC, Duke & Tourney games. So, some thoughts on guys I actually saw play in games this year:
Zion: only needed to see him play once to get the WOW factor
RJ Barrett: Alpha dog mentality will insinuate himself via high usage leading to inevitable stardom
De'Andre Hunter: impressive fundamentals and body hard to imagine him being anything less than longtime quality player who impacts winning
Coby White: I posted in this thread way back in early Feb that I am a fan, like his size energy and scoring
Jarrett Culver: outside shooting not very confident but given his size and all around game hard to imagine him not becoming an all-star
Jaxson Hayes - was an absolute menace in early season win over UNC, was the difference in that game, blocking and rebounding everything, offense limited to rim rolls and putbacks, but left an extremely positive impression
Nassir Little: early season didn't seem to be in sync with rest of team, looked like an actual potential difference maker at year end and tourney but consistency esp on outside shot was lacking
Nickeil Alexander-Walker: great size and clearly has skillset but unlike his cousin SGA lacked aggression, totally disappointingly tentative in tourney loss to Duke, suggests role player, more Delon Wright than SGA
Cam Reddish: I know I saw him play several times because I watched a number of Duke games but I literally can't remember seeing him do anything other than make one silky 3 pt shot
Rui Hachimura - he's another one I know I saw play because I watched Gonzaga several times, but all I can remember is Brandon Clarke flying around; Hachimura made no impression
Brandon Clarke - that Baylor tourney game, wow, he was absolutely everywhere in that game; problem is every one of his buckets was a dunk, layup or put back; not a single outside shot; still, hard to imagine he won't influence winning
Keldon Johnson - was impressed with his size on the wing & his all around game, maybe could be more assertive on offense
Tyler Herro - loved his shooting esp 94% from foul line, and impressed with the way he shut down Fletcher McGee in the Wofford game, was really on his bandwagon until he appeared to become tentative and lose confidence turning down open shots in the loss to Auburn
PJ Washington - liked his body and game, was terrific thru the tourney, esp 28 pts v Auburn in loss, expect him to be solid contributor in modern nba
Cameron Johnson - like the shooting, just seems otherwise lacking in dynamism (think Justin Jackson)
Ty Jerome - he's one who made a bigger impression on me watching than reading about; would question his nba fit due to lack of athleticism and lack of lateral mobility, but when you see him play, makes impact play and can really knock down the 3; but is he just too slow?
Kyle Guy - anyone who can shoot 3s like that ... but just so slight (measured only 6'03/4" shoeless at combine) don't know how he stays on the court in nba
Grant Williams - just seemed short for position and slow, maybe he's a bulldog, but left me unexcited
Carsen Edwards - too small for my liking
Aubrey Dawkins - obviously impressive in that game v Duke, good size, pedigree
Ignas Brazdeikis - caught my eye with mobility and versatility for size
Chuma Ukeke - was best player on the floor in UNC tourney win... but that knee injury
Mfiondu Kabengele - impressed with his size, energy during tourney run
Sagaba Konate - memorable for his energy

anybody else see guys who stood out in games you watched?

I agree with a lot of this from what I've seen. I watched some tape on Bol Bol. He's an interesting prospect that could be one of those unicorn guys if he can stay on the court. Shooting from all over the court, wingspan to battle for rebounds, just very slow methodic movements could make him an easy target for pick and rolls.

I'm a little more positive on Alexander-Walker. Good shooting fundamentals, able to score a lot.

[Braggins]

People who want a center should check out Goga Bitazde. 6'11"+ with a a 7'2" wingspan and mobility + fluid athleticism. He runs the floor, protects the rim, and can shoot.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[UNCNYC]

People who want a center should check out Goga Bitazde. 6'11"+ with a a 7'2" wingspan with mobility. Runs the floor, protects the rim and can shoot.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

I know the black guy in the video passing him the ball. I went to school with him.

[JGib23]

Wasn’t expecting that. A hybrid between Frank and Cody?

[Radu_Hornets]

Wasn’t expecting that. A hybrid between Frank and Cody?

We definitely trading up for him!

I guess 12 + monk + biz could get us the 11 pick to draft him.

[Braggins]

Goga might be the best center in the draft, but he could be the 2nd or 3rd drafted because hes a Euro big with little hype and not an especially sexy game, so we might actually have a chance at him.

[countryboi]

Watch on YouTube

Goga Bitadze 2018 Scouting Video

a little gem I found on youtube, it's a year old but mostly still valid.

[SWedd523]

It says he's from Georgia, so why are people saying he's a foreigner?

[Liver_Pooty]

It says he's from Georgia, so why are people saying he's a foreigner?

Im assuming hes from the country of Georgia.

[Diop]

It says he's from Georgia, so why are people saying he's a foreigner?

Im assuming hes from the country of Georgia.

Don't mean to be a prick, but this made me lol

[SWedd523]

It says he's from Georgia, so why are people saying he's a foreigner?

Im assuming hes from the country of Georgia.

That's the joke lol

Next you're gonna tell me Turkey isn't just a bird

I've actually worked with some Georgians before in a very limited capacity

[Liver_Pooty]

It says he's from Georgia, so why are people saying he's a foreigner?

Im assuming hes from the country of Georgia.

That's the joke lol

Next you're gonna tell me Turkey isn't just a bird

I've actually worked with some Georgians before in a very limited capacity

Lol.

[Diop]

Caught me, hook Line and sinker

[Snidely FC]

People who want a center should check out Goga Bitazde. 6'11"+ with a a 7'2" wingspan and mobility + fluid athleticism. He runs the floor, protects the rim, and can shoot.

I'm glad you brought Goga up, because from what I've read I'd be very okay with him being the pick at 12 (USA Today has BKN taking him at 18, and Stepien ranks him 11 so not a reach). Im a fan of Jokic and Nurkic, and see Goga in their lineage. Highlights from a few profiles of Goga:

The 19 year-old big man has made massive strides this season playing first with Mega Bemax in the Adriatic League and recently with Buducnost where he has started to earn major Euroleague minutes (in addition to playing in the Adriatic League). The 6-foot-11.25, 251-pound Bitadze has been remarkably productive this season splitting time between the Adriatic League and Euroleague, posting 16.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1 assist per game across 25.8 minutes a night on a 65.9 true shooting percentage.

Bitadze has flashed signs of a much higher ceiling on both ends of the floor. His most notable area of progress has been his greatly improved mobility on both ends. No longer does Bitadze look plodding trying to defend pick-and-rolls on the perimeter. JZ mentioned that Bitadze rarely left the paint last season, but this year he looks much more comfortable venturing out the perimeter and hedging and recovering against pick-and-rolls. He has slimmed down and looks much more nimble moving on the perimeter on defense.

Bitadze’s improved fluidity extends to the offensive end of the court as well, where he has flashed comfort putting the ball on the floor and attacking from the perimeter as seen in the clip above. This is a particularly interesting development; having dribble-attack upside significantly raises Bitadze’s offensive ceiling especially if he reaches the upper end of his potential shooting outcome range

Bitadze relishes contact on both ends, and the next two clips feature his propensity for going into the bodies of defenders and finishing through them. This makes him a useful asset as a roll man, as does his elite screen-setting, which in my opinion is best of all the bigs in this class. His combination of pure size, coordination, and strength is pretty rare and it goes a long way in terms of unlocking high-end below-rim finishing.

The most interesting part of Bitadze’s offensive profile is his outside shooting ability. As the two clips above show, he shoots an easy ball from 3 with soft touch and highly projectable mechanics. He’s hit 15 of his 37 3-point attempts in 23 games this year while knocking down 67.3 percent of his shots from the free throw line. Few 6-foot-11 19 year-olds are as developed from 3-point range as he is, and the ones who are usually are shooting specialists

https://www.thestepien.com/2019/01/30/why-goga-bitadze-is-one-of-2019s-top-bigs/#

Much like his Adriatic league predecessors (Jokic, and Nurkic), Bitadze is a positive passer. He is a quick decision maker, that makes high IQ reads. He has shown the ability to pass off the dribble where he leverages his finishing, and handle to suck defenses in and hit open shooters.

Bitadze is an amazing screen setter, no doubt a product of his professional upbringing.

His behemoth strength, coordination, fluidity all come together to allow him to be a positive finisher through contact where he does not shy away but rather embraces contact.

Defensively, Bitadze is a team defending extraordinaire. He rotates extremely well and always puts himself in the position to help without over committing

https://basketballsocietyonline.com/goga-bitadze-scouting-report
If half of this is true guy ticks a lot of boxes for Hornets needs

[Braggins]

I just made my 1st attempt at a lottery mock and I could actually see a scenario where Goga falls to 12 and I think Samanic will very likely be there. A lot rides on where exactly teams have Bol Bol ranked.

Zion/Ja/RJ are a lock to go 1-3.

LA and Cleveland could both theoretically pick a center at 4/5, but I think they are both more likely to be looking at guys like Garland/Sekou/Reddish who are likely going to be higher than Goga on most boards and if they do go for a center it could very likely be Bol Bol.

Phoenix and Chicago at 6/7 definitely aren't taking a center unless they plan on trading them. Phoenix just drafted Ayton and Chicago just drafted Wendel Carter and Markkanen. Both really need a PG and Chicago could also use another wing. I see them reaching for a PG (wont be a reach if Garland is there), settling for the best wing available, or looking to trade.

Atlanta and Washington at 8 + 10 and 9 are the first teams that really seem likely to draft a center (unless one of the previous teams is just in love with Bol Bol), but Goga could very easily be behind both Bol and Hayes on their big boards.

Minnesota at 11 also needs guards and wings way more than a center.