2019 NBA draft

[SmartWentCrazy]

I don't know, I guess Hachimura if he's there at 14 and we're picking for ourselves, but a) I'm an idiot; and b) so much roster uncertainty I don't really have strong feelings. I'll say I don't think I like Porter Jr. but I don't even remember why. Does he have an attitude reputation or something?

Curmudgeon is right, of course. But having it laid out like this makes my brain feel better and seems less scattered. We all know reality can vary greatly from these mocks.

You're no more of an idiot than the rest of us. I worry about strength of competition and BBIQ with Hachimura but agree he's got good size/length and appears to be a solid shooter. If we do end up using the pick I hope we have tentative trades in place to move up and grab either Garland or Hunter if they drop into the 6-9 range.

I also like Hachimura's strength, athletic ability. The guy plays mean and isn't afraid of contact. If he's there I wouldn't mind him at #14.

Im really warming up to him. Has great touch around the hoop and shot ~45% on two point jumpers— I’m pretty optimistic he’ll stretch out his range to three.

He’s admitted he struggled his freshman year because he didnt speak much English and had trouble understanding his coaching. He’s still incredibly raw and I do believe he has quite a bit of upside left in him. If anyone is the ‘Giannis’ of this draft, where the player could grow immensely with NBA coaching, I think I’d bet on it being Rui. I’m down with picking him at 14.

[Wes-J]

Little won't be there @14.

Cam Johnson is ready to go, I'd love to have him on the squad. Better version of Hood.

Despite having Bob I'd be lying if I said I wasn't really intrigued by Clarke.

As for the rest of the guards, meh, just pick one.

I really, really like Cam Johnson outside the lotto. Not to be reductive but I think Danny Green is a very realistic outcome for him.

On Clarke, I haven't seen enough from Timelord to believe we should avoid looking at bigs. Clarke may also very well turn into a wing if he continues to improve his shooting.

Yeah sums up my feelings. I really love Cam at 20/22. After witnessing what happened vs Milwaukee I don't know how anybody can ignore what he brings.

I just think Clarke is one of those types of players that Brad can get the most out of, energy stretch off the bench.

[Wes-J]

You're no more of an idiot than the rest of us. I worry about strength of competition and BBIQ with Hachimura but agree he's got good size/length and appears to be a solid shooter. If we do end up using the pick I hope we have tentative trades in place to move up and grab either Garland or Hunter if they drop into the 6-9 range.

I also like Hachimura's strength, athletic ability. The guy plays mean and isn't afraid of contact. If he's there I wouldn't mind him at #14.

Im really warming up to him. Has great touch around the hoop and shot ~45% on two point jumpers— I’m pretty optimistic he’ll stretch out his range to three.

He’s admitted he struggled his freshman year because he didnt speak much English and had trouble understanding his coaching. He’s still incredibly raw and I do believe he has quite a bit of upside left in him. If anyone is the ‘Giannis’ of this draft, where the player could grow immensely with NBA coaching, I think I’d bet on it being Rui. I’m down with picking him at 14.

No issue with Hachimura at all. I really like his game, and he's just scratching the surface. Just have a hard to believing he'll fall to 14.

[SmartWentCrazy]

I also like Hachimura's strength, athletic ability. The guy plays mean and isn't afraid of contact. If he's there I wouldn't mind him at #14.

Im really warming up to him. Has great touch around the hoop and shot ~45% on two point jumpers— I’m pretty optimistic he’ll stretch out his range to three.

He’s admitted he struggled his freshman year because he didnt speak much English and had trouble understanding his coaching. He’s still incredibly raw and I do believe he has quite a bit of upside left in him. If anyone is the ‘Giannis’ of this draft, where the player could grow immensely with NBA coaching, I think I’d bet on it being Rui. I’m down with picking him at 14.

No issue with Hachimura at all. I really like his game, and he's just scratching the surface. Just have a hard to believing he'll fall to 14.

I think he’s more likely to fall to 20 than he is to go before 14.

[Wes-J]

Im really warming up to him. Has great touch around the hoop and shot ~45% on two point jumpers— I’m pretty optimistic he’ll stretch out his range to three.

He’s admitted he struggled his freshman year because he didnt speak much English and had trouble understanding his coaching. He’s still incredibly raw and I do believe he has quite a bit of upside left in him. If anyone is the ‘Giannis’ of this draft, where the player could grow immensely with NBA coaching, I think I’d bet on it being Rui. I’m down with picking him at 14.

No issue with Hachimura at all. I really like his game, and he's just scratching the surface. Just have a hard to believing he'll fall to 14.

I think he’s more likely to fall to 20 than he is to go before 14.

Interesting take I'd like for you to elaborate on why you feel so.

I'm kinda biased because I'm of half Japanese descent too but I feel legit talent is there. I can totally relate to what he's had to go through to adjust to American culture coming from Japan. Was born there but raised in the US although I had experienced a 4yr stint of living near Tokyo.

I've tossed a few scenarios around already but would be very pleased with Hachimura/Clarke/Cam.

[SmartWentCrazy]

No issue with Hachimura at all. I really like his game, and he's just scratching the surface. Just have a hard to believing he'll fall to 14.

I think he’s more likely to fall to 20 than he is to go before 14.

Interesting take I'd like for you to elaborate on why you feel so.

I'm kinda biased because I'm of half Japanese descent too but I feel legit talent is there. I can totally relate to what he's had to go through to adjust to American culture coming from Japan. Was born there but raised in the US although I had experienced a 4yr stint of living near Tokyo.

I've tossed a few scenarios around already but would be very pleased with Hachimura/Clarke/Cam.

Its a mix— a lot mocks show him with a wide range [ https://www.nba.com/draft/2019/consensus-mock-draft#/ ] and wasnt invited to the combine. Generally this forebodes a risky prospect and people drafting that high typically avoid risk. Basically, a situation that could closely mirror what Giannis went through.

[rookie23]

No issue with Hachimura at all. I really like his game, and he's just scratching the surface. Just have a hard to believing he'll fall to 14.

I think he’s more likely to fall to 20 than he is to go before 14.

Interesting take I'd like for you to elaborate on why you feel so.

I'm kinda biased because I'm of half Japanese descent too but I feel legit talent is there. I can totally relate to what he's had to go through to adjust to American culture coming from Japan. Was born there but raised in the US although I had experienced a 4yr stint of living near Tokyo.

I've tossed a few scenarios around already but would be very pleased with Hachimura/Clarke/Cam.

Rui has been sliding recently in mocks I've seen and is seen to be picked in late teens-early 20's... 6-8 230 and 21 yrs old with a good game right now but not much of a shooter - 41% but only took 36 all year and 73% FT. Was very impressed with his performances vs good teams, such as Duke, Washington, and Tenn. Great physical tools and can be a mismatch scorer a la Morris twins and Jabari Parker in mid range/high post since he is kind of in between a 3 and 4. He has the tools to be a versatile defender however his defense was pretty poor this past year at Gonzaga. Again, could just be because he adjusted from Japan but nevertheless a real question mark.

Doesn't have a great feel for the game and is pretty slow making offensive reads as a decision maker. In college just powered through guys but when facing tougher competition had a harder time finishing through contact and getting to his spots. He also is a huge liability in pick and roll which is surprising considering his physical tools and needs to improve his rebounding. I think he's really just a "tweener" who needs to get a really nice consistent jumper to excel on next level but has potential to be a Marcus Morris for the Celtics if his defense improves. He has the potential to be a very versatile offensive player but I just don't think he has a very high ceiling tbh. Would be happy with him at 20 but want someone with higher potential at 14 imo.

Admittedly I haven't done much research on his pre-draft workouts and such and haven't seen news of him wowing teams or what not but I think he's just a safe pick.

[SmartWentCrazy]

I think he’s more likely to fall to 20 than he is to go before 14.

Interesting take I'd like for you to elaborate on why you feel so.

I'm kinda biased because I'm of half Japanese descent too but I feel legit talent is there. I can totally relate to what he's had to go through to adjust to American culture coming from Japan. Was born there but raised in the US although I had experienced a 4yr stint of living near Tokyo.

I've tossed a few scenarios around already but would be very pleased with Hachimura/Clarke/Cam.

Its a mix— a lot mocks show him with a wide range [ https://www.nba.com/draft/2019/consensus-mock-draft#/ ] and wasnt invited to the combine. Generally this forebodes a risky prospect and people drafting that high typically avoid risk. Basically, a situation that could closely mirror what Giannis went through.

To add, he follows a very outlier path and can easily slip through the cracks— limited high level BBall experience, no range, relatively old. I think he’s very talented and worth the risk at 14 and that theres a decent chance he keeps developing like Siakam did.

[rookie23]

I think he’s more likely to fall to 20 than he is to go before 14.

Interesting take I'd like for you to elaborate on why you feel so.

I'm kinda biased because I'm of half Japanese descent too but I feel legit talent is there. I can totally relate to what he's had to go through to adjust to American culture coming from Japan. Was born there but raised in the US although I had experienced a 4yr stint of living near Tokyo.

I've tossed a few scenarios around already but would be very pleased with Hachimura/Clarke/Cam.

Its a mix— a lot mocks show him with a wide range [ https://www.nba.com/draft/2019/consensus-mock-draft#/ ] and wasnt invited to the combine. Generally this forebodes a risky prospect and people drafting that high typically avoid risk. Basically, a situation that could closely mirror what Giannis went through.

Agreed and sorry to nitpick but he was in fact invited to the combine he just decided to skip it...

[sully00]

There are no potential Giannis’ in this draft. There are some guys with rare tool kits but they also have massive flaws that are not easily correctable.

Were better off drafting a guy like NAW and hoping he continues to grow than drafting a guy like Bol Bol, who weighs as less than Tatum and cant move defensively.

Look at what Toronto has done with Poeltl, Siakam, Powell, OG et al— take the young player with the established floor and hope that he’s a strong worker and will break through his perceived ceiling. Worse case scenario: you can always flip them for a better player as everyone loves young cheap role players.

That is the problem though Giannis was that player in 2013. He was really tall and talented but with huge flaws in his game that there is no way to project him being able to fix at the NBA level. He was too skinny to play and defend the PF and didn't even have the range in his game to play PF at the time. To some extent his flaws helped with his development MIL had to his lumps playing as a big guard and then put on the muscle at 23-24 years old.

The injury concerns with Bol are legit and how exactly a guy with his size and skill set still fits into the NBA but I think your nuts worrying about his mobility his length is game changing is he a very skilled offensive player in the post you just don't see that in young players. I think if he was healthy all year he and continued to play close to what he showed he is a top 5 pick. If healthy I could see him being a somewhere between Brook Lopez and Joel Embid.

But if your the Celtics and you want to run an offense the features your bigs shooting 3's how do you not take a chance on this? He walked on the NCAA floor and was shooting 3's at 50%. Guys get drafted in the lottery for that skill alone.

He weighs less than Tatum and cannot defend a soul laterally and gets pushed off the block like Yi’s chair due to his high center of gravity. There are also many reports that he’s pretty ambivalent towards basketball in general.

Brook Lopez works because he’s a house who wont get moved off the block and hes quick enough in short distances to wall off the hoop. Bol isnt strong nor quick enough to do either— players will go around and through him.

Also, he shot 25 3’s in total. Hes a good shooter but lets not ignore that when touting the 50% figure.

You want to crack his success as a small sample size but your concluding he can't do all of these things defensively that there is little to no evidence of based on that same small sample size. I watched him destroy guys defensively and sure he needs to put on some weight most 19 year olds do. There is nothing about his game that we saw in the handful of games that he played that should scare you off. The injury and whether there is a place for an aircraft carrier in the Celltics game anymore is what you have to focus on.

[rookie23]

That is the problem though Giannis was that player in 2013. He was really tall and talented but with huge flaws in his game that there is no way to project him being able to fix at the NBA level. He was too skinny to play and defend the PF and didn't even have the range in his game to play PF at the time. To some extent his flaws helped with his development MIL had to his lumps playing as a big guard and then put on the muscle at 23-24 years old.

The injury concerns with Bol are legit and how exactly a guy with his size and skill set still fits into the NBA but I think your nuts worrying about his mobility his length is game changing is he a very skilled offensive player in the post you just don't see that in young players. I think if he was healthy all year he and continued to play close to what he showed he is a top 5 pick. If healthy I could see him being a somewhere between Brook Lopez and Joel Embid.

But if your the Celtics and you want to run an offense the features your bigs shooting 3's how do you not take a chance on this? He walked on the NCAA floor and was shooting 3's at 50%. Guys get drafted in the lottery for that skill alone.

He weighs less than Tatum and cannot defend a soul laterally and gets pushed off the block like Yi’s chair due to his high center of gravity. There are also many reports that he’s pretty ambivalent towards basketball in general.

Brook Lopez works because he’s a house who wont get moved off the block and hes quick enough in short distances to wall off the hoop. Bol isnt strong nor quick enough to do either— players will go around and through him.

Also, he shot 25 3’s in total. Hes a good shooter but lets not ignore that when touting the 50% figure.

You want to crack his success as a small sample size but your concluding he can't do all of these things defensively that there is little to no evidence of based on that same small sample size. I watched him destroy guys defensively and sure he needs to put on some weight most 19 year olds do. There is nothing about his game that we saw in the handful of games that he played that should scare you off. The injury and whether there is a place for an aircraft carrier in the Celltics game anymore is what you have to focus on.

Sample size at Oregon was pretty small but he did I believe shoot 40% 3PT in AAU and HS so clearly wasn't just an aberration. Durability is certainly a concern and his frame but offensively has potential to be Embiid-esque and deadly in pick and pop. Would love to grab him at 14 and believe if he was healthy all year he'd be a top 5 pick.

[Gomes3PC]

Meyers Leonard can also shoot from 3 and is tall. That does not make him (or Bol) a good NBA player.

[sully00]

Meyers Leonard can also shoot from 3 and is tall. That does not make him (or Bol) a good NBA player.

Bol also grabbed 86 rebounds in first 9 games (Zion 82)
Blocked 24 shots (Zion 19) He finished 15th in PAC-10 and only played 9 games.

I can understand the reservations about the guy but this idea that he can't play is more than a bit of stretch. Assuming he checks out physically (a big assumption) I am way more excited on rolling the dice on a guy who has shown some awesome productivity then have to ignore the lack of production from Little or Reddish and just assume that hype and perceived ability will overcome it.

[Bill Lumbergh]

Here go mines:

14. Rui - Was considered, and mocked, top 10 most of the season. Not even sure why he has fallen in so many mocks. He's very talented.

20. Thybulle - Best wing defender in the class. Shot does not look broken to me. If he can develop a solid 3, can be good value here.
(I'd probably take Herro or Langford here, but think they'll likely go somewhere between our 14 and 20 picks).

22. Windler - One of the best shooters in the draft, and we could sorely use one.

Probably take a swing at Lecque if he's there at 51. Guessing someone else will take that swing long before 51, though.

[Gomes3PC]

Meyers Leonard can also shoot from 3 and is tall. That does not make him (or Bol) a good NBA player.

Bol also grabbed 86 rebounds in first 9 games (Zion 82)
Blocked 24 shots (Zion 19) He finished 15th in PAC-10 and only played 9 games.

I can understand the reservations about the guy but this idea that he can't play is more than a bit of stretch. Assuming he checks out physically (a big assumption) I am way more excited on rolling the dice on a guy who has shown some awesome productivity then have to ignore the lack of production from Little or Reddish and just assume that hype and perceived ability will overcome it.

I'd really recommend you watch the tape of him defensively.

Also, just because I don't want Bol doesn't mean I want Reddish or Little. There's plenty of guys who had good tape, good measurables and good production out there at 14.

[Darth Celtic]

Meyers Leonard can also shoot from 3 and is tall. That does not make him (or Bol) a good NBA player.

Bol also grabbed 86 rebounds in first 9 games (Zion 82)
Blocked 24 shots (Zion 19) He finished 15th in PAC-10 and only played 9 games.

I can understand the reservations about the guy but this idea that he can't play is more than a bit of stretch. Assuming he checks out physically (a big assumption) I am way more excited on rolling the dice on a guy who has shown some awesome productivity then have to ignore the lack of production from Little or Reddish and just assume that hype and perceived ability will overcome it.

If you don't trade for AD, you kind of have to take a risk. he's like the only boom/bust guy out there it seems this year.

[Bill Lumbergh]

I woudn't touch Bol. He'll get destroyed on pick and rolls. Can't move his feet. Will get manhandled in the post. Hard pass.

[Darth Celtic]

I woudn't touch Bol. He'll get destroyed on pick and rolls. Can't move his feet. Will get manhandled in the post. Hard pass.

The few defensive highlights in college where he had to switch and play man to man and work the pick and roll he was deceptively fast for his size. He seemed fluid, not awkward when running. Most the time even though he might have been beat, he blocked the shot anyway which is actually a bonus. Should reduce silly body touch fouls.

[FlatearthZorro]

Meyers Leonard can also shoot from 3 and is tall. That does not make him (or Bol) a good NBA player.

Bol also grabbed 86 rebounds in first 9 games (Zion 82)
Blocked 24 shots (Zion 19) He finished 15th in PAC-10 and only played 9 games.

I can understand the reservations about the guy but this idea that he can't play is more than a bit of stretch. Assuming he checks out physically (a big assumption) I am way more excited on rolling the dice on a guy who has shown some awesome productivity then have to ignore the lack of production from Little or Reddish and just assume that hype and perceived ability will overcome it.

He definitely seems like he can play and has a feel for the game. I absolutely don't expect him to spend more than 10 years in the league with his build. His bones and joints wont hold up. I hope I'm wrong tho.

[Wes-J]

They knocked KD for being so frail. My only issue are the injuries but nobody is a fortune teller.

Bol can play in today's NBA. No reason why he can't put on some weight and add strength. I'm pretty ***** sure if scrubs like mirotic and Lopez can camp at the line and jack 3's then why can't Bol? Would be shocked if he can't find a place in the league.