2019 Draft Discussion

[yosemiteben]

Why has this thread devolved into a dumb argument about a dumb joke? Man this board has seen better days.

FWIW, I do a fair amount of work with refugees, and between that and the current political environment I feel like making fun of "non-standard" names of foreign players is a bad look worth addressing.

[BigSlam]

Why has this thread devolved into a dumb argument about a dumb joke? Man this board has seen better days.

FWIW, I do a fair amount of work with refugees, and between that and the current political environment I feel like making fun of "non-standard" names of foreign players is a bad look worth addressing.

Agreed - but I think it's important to note that Swedd is dating (or maybe even married to now?) someone who is not of American decent. I'm not suggesting that anyone is saying he is racist, but if anyone was not a racist I would imagine due to who he loves he would be pretty close to the top of that list.

That said, enough derailing.

Can we talk a little more about Bruno's hair? Play's been wondering where Kid has been hiding? He's been found. That flattop is a thing of beauty.

Who can tell me about this Nickeil Alexander-Walker kid? I was reading a little about him on the weekend. Seemed like a good Batum replacement. Someone who can move the ball and create for others but isn't afraid of being a secondary or third level scorer?

[SWedd523]

Why has this thread devolved into a dumb argument about a dumb joke? Man this board has seen better days.

FWIW, I do a fair amount of work with refugees, and between that and the current political environment I feel like making fun of "non-standard" names of foreign players is a bad look worth addressing.

Exactly the wrong and overtly SJW hot take I expected you of all people to have.

Let it the **** go dude, you're embarrassing yourself and derailing a thread. That's a bad look.

[SWedd523]

Lol yes, sorry Slam poor timing on the rebuttal. But I'm in an interracial relationship of 11 years (5 married) now with one mixed kid and another on the way. Half of my wife's family were refugees and most of them speak little to no English.

"I'm socially conscious" is a super weird flex, but okay.

That saaaaaaaidddd,

Im coming around on Nickeil Alexander-Walker (crazy name alert, but we do need a new hyphen to replace MKG).

No idea where he's projected, but boy has some fantastic offensive potential.

6'5 with a 6'9 wingspan, 205lb at a low body fat, averaged 16/4/4 as an off guard (4apg being especially telling for his playmaking potential), 2 steals per game, and shot over 37% from deep.

I'm cool with that.

[Lwcasu]

Why is Bruno Fernando not ranked higher? Honestly after watching him and Jaxson Hayes, and hearing people call Jaxson Hayes the next Capella; why can’t Fernando be the next Stevan Adams? I guess Hayes is one year younger? Fernando has a lot more muscle on him. May be one of the stronger dudes once he gets to the NBA. Really reminds me of some 90s centers when he blocks shots and finishes at the rim. The anti-thesis to soft.

[Benjamin Linus]

I still have a lot of research to do on these players but Goga's name is popping up everywhere. At first glance, what makes him a better prospect than Willy or Frank? We've got seven footers than can shoot and do a little bit of passing. How's his defense? If he's like Frank with plus defense than I'm cool with that at 12

[BigSlam]

Why is Bruno Fernando not ranked higher? Honestly after watching him and Jaxson Hayes, and hearing people call Jaxson Hayes the next Capella; why can’t Fernando be the next Stevan Adams? I guess Hayes is one year younger? Fernando has a lot more muscle on him. May be one of the stronger dudes once he gets to the NBA. Really reminds me of some 90s centers when he blocks shots and finishes at the rim. The anti-thesis to soft.

I kinda feel the same way (re: him being a bit of a throw back player - in a good way).

Fernando seems to play with an aggression this team could use. There's some grit and sandpaper to him. I like that he yells and flexes and pounds his chest at times. I love that he goes up strong and powers through contact.

He seems to have some nice footwork as well.

I wonder if he could be a slightly slower but bigger (thicker) version of Siakam?

[Snidely FC]

Why is Bruno Fernando not ranked higher? Really reminds me of some 90s centers when he blocks shots and finishes at the rim.

He is not ranked higher BECAUSE he would have looked better in the 90s. His range on offense is like 2 ft. Watch a Bruno highlight vid do you see him take a single shot that's not a dunk? (Don't be fooled by the 1 on 0 video of him shooting this week - he attempted 13 three pt shots total in 2 college seasons). The modern game - and especially our relatively barren roster - demands versatility, or at the very least bigs who can set screens and alertly defend the pnr, both of which are weaknesses for Bruno.

Bruno lacks some fundamentals, setting moving screens often, can be easily bothered by pressure, and he tends to bring the ball down after an offensive rebound before going back up for dunks.

All of these things lead to a high turnover rate of 23.6% which means that on almost a fourth of his possessions he turned the ball over.

Bruno also occasionally seems unaware on defense, being out of position, especially in PnR and in help defense positions.

Being out of position cost him often as he commits 3.6 fouls per 40 minutes.

I mean if we can nab the guy at 36 great but I fail to see the logic at 12

[BigSlam]

Im coming around on Nickeil Alexander-Walker (crazy name alert, but we do need a new hyphen to replace MKG).

He's also Canadian - which means which ever team drafts him will likely have to put up with Raptors fans posting on their board.

So he's got that going against him.

6'5 with a 6'9 wingspan, 205lb at a low body fat, averaged 16/4/4 as an off guard (4apg being especially telling for his playmaking potential), 2 steals per game, and shot over 37% from deep.

His size the assists and the 3pt shooting certainly stood out to me as well.

[BigSlam]

He is not ranked higher BECAUSE he would have looked better in the 90s. His range on offense is like 2 ft.

That's still 1 ft and 11 inches more range than Hayes though?

[BigSlam]

I also think scouting reports, especially weaknesses, need to be taken with a grain of salt:

The question begs to be asked whether he can stay on the floor for a lengthy NBA career. Shot is somewhat flat with awkward release position from the side of his head. Jumper is flat, needs more arch. Struggles to shoot from the perimeter in rhythm. Can get a little out of control at times, needs perimeter game to develop to be less predictable. Poor effort defensively at times and does not always get in a low stance. Loses focus defensively at times, gambles for blocks and steals. Not always in great position, at times late on rotations.

I mean, who'd want to draft this guy ^

Spoiler:

P.S. It's Zion's "weaknesses"

[Lwcasu]

He is not ranked higher BECAUSE he would have looked better in the 90s. His range on offense is like 2 ft.

That's still 1 ft and 11 inches more range than Hayes though?

Exactly. I’m wondering why he’s not ranked higher relative to Hayes. I can’t understand how someone can really say one is lotto and other is somewhere between mid 1st to 2nd round.

Maybe that’s why scouts get paid, but to me I almost see more upside in Fernando. He could end up with a really good back to his basket offensive game. And just has a type of ferocity you’d see from Dikembe or Zo in the 90s. It’s interesting watching him get position and call for the ball. He easily moves everyone. Reminds me of a lesser version of Shaq doing the same or about on par with Zion (lesser moving people). Sure in the NBA he’s not gonna do that consistently. Maybe Hayes is gonna be better against the pick and roll? And, in reference to fouls I feel like 95% of young centers struggle with fouls.

[Lwcasu]

Also, no way he gets past the Warriors so I don’t really see how people say he’s a possible 2nd rounder. A lot of bigs slip and turn out good.

Capela -25th
Whiteside- 2nd Rd
Jarrett Allen - 22nd
Gobert -27th
Siakam- 27th
Deandre Jordan -2nd rd
John Collins 19th
Jok- 2nd rd
Nurkic - 16th

I guess my point is, if you’re a GM and you’re at the back end of the lottery, your scout has a late 1st round grade on a big but you’re not sure if he’ll make it to the late first (to trade down). And, you’re pretty sure he’s gonna turn out somewhere along the lines of the guys I posted above, then why not just take him early if you like him.

[JMAC3]

I don’t think that any of the bigs in this draft are worth a lottery pick. I would be perfectly fine addressing a dunking center at 36, should be 2 or 3 on the board there and we can take whoever falls.


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[yosemiteben]

"I'm socially conscious" is a super weird flex, but okay.

Not a flex, was explaining my sensitivity to the topic. I'm admittedly sensitive because part of my job is helping refugees and I've witnessed situations where they are mocked / humiliated publicly because of their names. Admittedly not exactly the same as dudes that are about to make millions playing a game, but just explaining the context for my reaction. Had nothing to do with assumptions made about Swedd or his own personal situation.

Anyway, moving on...

[gundysmullet]

Lol yes, sorry Slam poor timing on the rebuttal. But I'm in an interracial relationship of 11 years (5 married) now with one mixed kid and another on the way. Half of my wife's family were refugees and most of them speak little to no English.

"I'm socially conscious" is a super weird flex, but okay.

That saaaaaaaidddd,

Im coming around on Nickeil Alexander-Walker (crazy name alert, but we do need a new hyphen to replace MKG).

No idea where he's projected, but boy has some fantastic offensive potential.

6'5 with a 6'9 wingspan, 205lb at a low body fat, averaged 16/4/4 as an off guard (4apg being especially telling for his playmaking potential), 2 steals per game, and shot over 37% from deep.

I'm cool with that.

I too am in a mixed race marriage and like you hate this new "I have the right to not be offended" mentality that has permeated our society. All people are people at the end of the day and your skin color should not dictate how you're treated, everyone should be treated the same. Black and brown people aren't helpless victims that need woke people to rescue them; that's insulting and condescending. Ok, derailment over. Back to thread topic.

[taj2133]

Read on Twitter

https://nba.nbcsports.com/2019/05/27/rumor-coby-white-has-top-six-promise-in-draft/
Vanderbilt’s Darius Garland was rumored to get promised he’ll get drafted by a certain team.

He might not be the only point guard with a high-lottery promise.

North Carolina’s Coby White has also generated plenty of speculation.

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:

After meeting the media and interviewing with select teams, White left the combine with widespread speculation that he, too, has received a draft promise. Two league executives who spoke with the Tribune believe White’s promise is from a team that picks before the Bulls.

The Bulls have the No. 7 pick, so reviewing the six teams picking higher:

1. Pelicans

Zion Williamson is the obvious pick.

2. Grizzlies

They’re reportedly set on Ja Morant.

3. Knicks

This seems too high, with R.J. Barrett the consensus No. 3 prospect. I’d be open to picking White ahead of Barrett, but I definitely wouldn’t promise to do so this early in the process.

4. Lakers

The draft opens way up at this point. Count White among the viable prospects. But with Lonzo Ball already in Los Angeles, would the Lakers really lock into White this early?

5. Cavaliers

The Cavs already have Collin Sexton, who shouldn’t preclude them from drafting another point guard. But he probably does. He should at least make Cleveland less likely to promise White.

6. Suns

The Suns reportedly didn’t promise Garland. That makes them a prime suspect for the White promise. Phoenix badly needs a point guard.

One more theory: The Bulls promised White, and – especially with this report coming from Chicago – this is a smokescreen. They definitely could use another point guard.

[BigSlam]

If we ended up with Bruno we could go back to running that Henderson baseline inbound alley oop play again!!

Watch on YouTube

Check 21 sec mark
Check 4:01 sec mark
Check 4:08 sec mark

And what he did at 4:23 was just plain nasty (which we, as a team, need).

Could he be a bigger, more coordinated Biz with good hands?

[JMAC3]

For those who are Bruno fans, would you rather have him or Bam Adebayo?


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[KingCat]

Anyone else feel that Clarke to the Hornets is inevitable? Only player we’ve shown interest in so far and is a very “Hornets” type pick.

I’d say my big three right now in no order is NAW,Okpala, and Bitadze. Sekou was my number one but I’ve come to terms with the fact that he won’t be there at 12 (think the Wizards will nab him at 9). Think it is crazy how many people are sleeping on Okpala. I think his measurements and game is perfect for today’s game. Could be a Paul George like steal.