2019 NBA Draft thread

[retrobro90]

Thybulle gives me a little pause because while I think he's a for sure + on defense at the next level he was put in a defensive role not too dissimilar to Russ' in OKC (difference being that Thybulle is a better defender that gets over screens and prevents switches with regularity, Russ relinquishes the switch too often). Washington ran a lot of 1-4 and 1-2-2 zone and Thybulle would guard the ball and be kind of a free safety in times he was off of it. He's certainly capable of making some highlight level defensive plays (blocks midrangers from behind, long interceptions, loose ball dives etc.) but I wonder if he's put into what would be a Roberson role if he'd be as valuable communicating with the rest of the guys. It's one thing to be a great individual defender but the best skill guys like Roberson/Draymond/Chris Paul have on defense is the IQ to know how plays are going to develop before they do and making sure the rest of your teammates act accordingly. It's an impossible thing to tell pre-draft but worth investigating if you're someone conducting interviews. In a previous post I said I was reluctant mostly because of his fit on our roster. In a vacuum I think Thybulle is a worst case legitimate rotation player.

I know they've promised Cam Payne and Josh Huestis prior to the draft and taken them but they also supposedly promised Frank Jackson as well. I hope they've kept their options open at least.

[Osirus89]

Thybulle gives me a little pause because while I think he's a for sure + on defense at the next level he was put in a defensive role not too dissimilar to Russ' in OKC (difference being that Thybulle is a better defender that gets over screens and prevents switches with regularity, Russ relinquishes the switch too often). Washington ran a lot of 1-4 and 1-2-2 zone and Thybulle would guard the ball and be kind of a free safety in times he was off of it. He's certainly capable of making some highlight level defensive plays (blocks midrangers from behind, long interceptions, loose ball dives etc.) but I wonder if he's put into what would be a Roberson role if he'd be as valuable communicating with the rest of the guys. It's one thing to be a great individual defender but the best skill guys like Roberson/Draymond/Chris Paul have on defense is the IQ to know how plays are going to develop before they do and making sure the rest of your teammates act accordingly. It's an impossible thing to tell pre-draft but worth investigating if you're someone conducting interviews. In a previous post I said I was reluctant mostly because of his fit on our roster. In a vacuum I think Thybulle is a worst case legitimate rotation player.

I know they've promised Cam Payne and Josh Huestis prior to the draft and taken them but they also supposedly promised Frank Jackson as well. I hope they've kept their options open at least.

The thing that makes me ok with thybulle is that I think he possesses that defensive IQ to be a terror in the league like the great defenders have. He’s shorter than Andre is but same wingspan and seemingly more quickness. To do what he’s done in college is crazy even under the perfect conditions. Seems like it will translate over, but we shall see.

[WestbrookGOATed]

I feel that Thybulle will be a perfect fit on our team. Just as good as Roberson defensively and slightly better offensively. With a little more work on his offensive game he could be a really great player. I like Tyler Herro alot too. I'm so glad we finally have a 1st round draft pick again. We desperately need it with the way our cap situation is.

[retrobro90]

I think Kyler just confirmed OKC worked out Jalen Lecque.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I think Kyler just confirmed OKC worked out Jalen Lecque.

Long, athletic PG with shooting problems. Definitely fits the Presti type. I could see the gamble with a 2nd round pick. He really should pull out of the draft and go to college.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I feel that Thybulle will be a perfect fit on our team. Just as good as Roberson defensively and slightly better offensively. With a little more work on his offensive game he could be a really great player. I like Tyler Herro alot too. I'm so glad we finally have a 1st round draft pick again. We desperately need it with the way our cap situation is.

Keep in mind that Thybulle played in the same defensive zone that Syracuse made famous. Washington uses that same zone scheme. How many great defenders actually came from that scheme? Even Melo looked like a decent defender in college playing that zone. The more I watch Thybulle the less I like him.

[kdthunderup]

There is one guy in this draft that I'm very high on who we could get in the 2nd round if we trade for a pick and that is Luka Samanic. He performed extremely well at the Draft Combine and has a well rounded game that significantly help this teams offence. He can shoot, post up and attack off the dribble.

Watch on YouTube

;t=372s

I wouldn't even be disappointed if we stretched for him with the #21 pick.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I could see Luka ending up in the late 1st round, but buying an early 2nd to get him would be nice. Here's an idea trade 21 to Philly for 24 and 33 then draft Bitadze and Luka and I'd be happy.

[Osirus89]

Read on Twitter

It's hard to tell whats real and whats fake at this time of the year. Smokescreens all over the place. I could totally see OKC taking Thybulle, but they are almost never this telegraphed about who they have eyes on. They could want everyone to think they want Thybulle and end up drafting Herro or one of the Euro bigs.

I could see Luka ending up in the late 1st round, but buying an early 2nd to get him would be nice. Here's an idea trade 21 to Philly for 24 and 33 then draft Bitadze and Luka and I'd be happy.

Goga looks like he could be very good. I like him a lot in this draft. Same with Samanic. Presti has gone for wings mostly for the last few years, but he did love Sabonis.
Either one would be good especially with Noel probably leaving.

[Pillendreher]

I still firmly believe that there is no way the Thunder actually keep that pick.

[mr570]

I still firmly believe that there is no way the Thunder actually keep that pick.

So draft day trade and then pick up a second somehow? There's lots of value in the second. I wouldn't mind Bazley, Lecque, etc.

[ThunderBolt]

Thoughts on Cameron Johnson? He’s older but maybe the best shooter in the draft.

[Pillendreher]

Thoughts on Cameron Johnson? He’s older but maybe the best shooter in the draft.

That's not how we do things here. Next.

[ThunderBolt]

Thoughts on Cameron Johnson? He’s older but maybe the best shooter in the draft.

That's not how we do things here. Next.

I made my post mainly out of pity for our dying forum.

[acheema0]

Thoughts on Cameron Johnson? He’s older but maybe the best shooter in the draft.

He'd be great. Probably the most ready to contribute guy available around our draft slot. He is a bit skinny so he would need to pack on the pounds, but he's a very good team defender and great shooter. Improved as a rebounder too. Decent at making plays off the bounce as well. Really doubt we pick him though just bc of his age and he isn't a super-athlete.

[Andre Roberstan]

Anyone seen much on Talen Horton-Tucker?

[Funcrusher]

Anyone seen much on Talen Horton-Tucker?

yes. whatcha wanna know?

[Andre Roberstan]

Anyone seen much on Talen Horton-Tucker?

yes. whatcha wanna know?

I don't know anything about him but he's one of the prospects people have been talking up that could be in our range.

I'm not a college ball guy and DX went the way of the dodo so there's less easy-to-find draft stuff out there.

[Funcrusher]

Anyone seen much on Talen Horton-Tucker?

yes. whatcha wanna know?

I don't know anything about him but he's one of the prospects people have been talking up that could be in our range.

I'm not a college ball guy and DX went the way of the dodo so there's less easy-to-find draft stuff out there.

Well i'm pretty high on him and honestly who i'm hoping the Thunder snag. His physical profile is probably the thing that stands out the most about him. 6'4, 6'2.5 without shoes with a 7'1 wingspan. 235 lbs, a big bruiser for an off guard/wing, and uses every bit of his size and length functionally on drives. As far as skill level, he's got great handles, he's a great finisher (probably the best non Zion finisher in the country), and has pretty advanced wiggle/shotmaking ability off the dribble at this stage (can generate Harden-esque space on stepbacks).

As an athlete he's pretty meh, not a lot of vertical pop, not amazing first step or burst off the dribble (though I wouldn't say it's non-existent, his first step is above average just not elite), not a quick twitch athlete, his best athletic trait is probably his body control and agility on drives (low center of gravity + length/size make him a really effective slasher). There's potential for athletic improvement if he slims down a bit, he's extremely young as a prospect and his body isn't really developed at this point, he's still got a lot of baby fat on him that he can shred if he makes a commitment to getting in shape.

The jumper is a little shaky, his free throw/3pt percentages are bad, and his midrange numbers in particular are abysmal, though the shooting can in large part be contributed to really bad shot selection (I think in general his catch and shoot numbers were much better than his off the dribble stuff). The shot selection is concerning, but not damning considering his age and the fact that there wasn't much of a system at Iowa State to reign him in, lot of chuckers on that team that pretty much did whatever they wanted. Overall I'm pretty high on him offensively as a secondary ballhandler/initiator type.

Defensively there are more question marks. In theory with his length and frame you would envision him as a switch guy and POA defender, but right now he's not the most fleet of foot moving laterally (and not really a guy that can switch onto bigger players in the post yet). A big problem for him on both ends is that he plays flat footed, which is another reason why you want him to lose weight. And at this point he's just very raw and undisciplined defensively, which is somewhat excusable considering his age (he won't be 19 until this November). I'm optimistic he can become at least an average defender, but he's probably not going to provide high level value on that end given athletic limitations and lack of high level instincts/anticipation.

Overall he's a project, and, at this point, Thunder fans may not want to draft that type of archetype again, but he IMO has the highest upside of anyone in our range. To me his comp is a longer, bulkier but less athletic D-Mitchell.

Watch on YouTube

[ThunderBolt]

Spoiler:

yes. whatcha wanna know?

I don't know anything about him but he's one of the prospects people have been talking up that could be in our range.

I'm not a college ball guy and DX went the way of the dodo so there's less easy-to-find draft stuff out there.

Well i'm pretty high on him and honestly who i'm hoping the Thunder snag. His physical profile is probably the thing that stands out the most about him. 6'4, 6'2.5 without shoes with a 7'1 wingspan. 235 lbs, a big bruiser for an off guard/wing, and uses every bit of his size and length functionally on drives. As far as skill level, he's got great handles, he's a great finisher (probably the best non Zion finisher in the country), and has pretty advanced wiggle/shotmaking ability off the dribble at this stage (can generate Harden-esque space on stepbacks).

As an athlete he's pretty meh, not a lot of vertical pop, not amazing first step or burst off the dribble (though I wouldn't say it's non-existent, his first step is above average just not elite), not a quick twitch athlete, his best athletic trait is probably his body control and agility on drives (low center of gravity + length/size make him a really effective slasher). There's potential for athletic improvement if he slims down a bit, he's extremely young as a prospect and his body isn't really developed at this point, he's still got a lot of baby fat on him that he can shred if he makes a commitment to getting in shape.

The jumper is a little shaky, his free throw/3pt percentages are bad, and his midrange numbers in particular are abysmal, though the shooting can in large part be contributed to really bad shot selection (I think in general his catch and shoot numbers were much better than his off the dribble stuff). The shot selection is concerning, but not damning considering his age and the fact that there wasn't much of a system at Iowa State to reign him in, lot of chuckers on that team that pretty much did whatever they wanted. Overall I'm pretty high on him offensively as a secondary ballhandler/initiator type.

Defensively there are more question marks. In theory with his length and frame you would envision him as a switch guy and POA defender, but right now he's not the most fleet of foot moving laterally (and not really a guy that can switch onto bigger players in the post yet). A big problem for him on both ends is that he plays flat footed, which is another reason why you want him to lose weight. And at this point he's just very raw and undisciplined defensively, which is somewhat excusable considering his age (he won't be 19 until this November). I'm optimistic he can become at least an average defender, but he's probably not going to provide high level value on that end given athletic limitations and lack of high level instincts/anticipation.

Overall he's a project, and, at this point, Thunder fans may not want to draft that type of archetype again, but he IMO has the highest upside of anyone in our range. To me his comp is a longer, bulkier but less athletic D-Mitchell.

Watch on YouTube

Your assessment is a little different than what TI had yesterday. They said his handles suck. I don’t watch enough college basketball to know.
https://thunderousintentions.com/2019/05/28/talen-horton-tucker-prospect-okc-thunder/