2019 NBA draft

[Andrew McCeltic]

I don’t think Alexander-Walker lasts to 20, but he’d be my pick.. there’s a story that his team was struggling when their point guard got hurt, and he had to be the primary ball handler - a single film session between Walker and Justin Robinson (the pg) sparked an 8-3 winning run to close the season.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2019/06/09/detroit-pistons-nba-draft-nickeil-alexander-walker/1385343001/

I’m sure his agent was involved in spreading that anecdote, but it’s a good one - AW has a low floor, if he can’t defend - but his year 1 to year 2 improvement and his high basketball IQ (turnovers aside) suggest he could be able to compensate for his limited athleticism - in which case he could in theory defend three positions as a secondary playmaker - I could see growth for him as a ball handler, too, to the point he might be able to break down defenders in the halfcourt. I don’t think he’ll ever be able to finish at the rim, but.. he could be a poor man’s version of this year’s DAR, with less passing but better defense..

[Andrew McCeltic]

I’d take Grant Williams or Horton-Tucker at 22 - Williams is incredibly smart and skilled, a rich man’s college Ryan Gomes - and he looks like he could be an NBA 3/4- he’s strong enough, his feet are quick, and even going up against taller, longer defenders in college, you can see he knows how to play undersized - he isn’t rattled by arms over his head and he doesn’t force anything, and has the ability to back out with the ball or pivot around defenders to find daylight.

Horton-Tucker is just a bet on his age, wingspan, strength, and likely improvement over the next two to three years. If this had been his senior season, I’d say he’d be a very late second with a low ceiling on offense and a high floor on defense.

[Andrew McCeltic]

Keldon Johnson I’m really on the fence about - at times I’ve thought he could be a good pick at 14.. he checks out fine athletically, there’s “raw” talent, but all his motions on-court just look.. jittery.. in a way that’s unusual. Experience/reps could iron that out, I guess

[brackdan70]

I dream of Sekou dropping to 14, unicorn hunting at 20 (Bol) and a playable dude at 22. I Like Miye Oni at 51.

Don’t mind Hero, Goga, Fernando, Johnson, Horton Tucker, and others. Some useful players out there when the Cs pick IMO.

[RickyDizzle]

I dream of Sekou dropping to 14, unicorn hunting at 20 (Bol) and a playable dude at 22. I Like Miye Oni at 51.

Don’t mind Hero, Goga, Fernando, Johnson, Horton Tucker, and others. Some useful players out there when the Cs pick IMO.

A lot of interesting guys in the 2nd Konate, King, Schofield to name a few.

[SmartWentCrazy]

I hope were the team that promised Rui.

[return2glory]

Less than a week away for the draft. Getting exciting.

Get Carsen Edwards with 20 or 22.

Herro might turn out to be an all-star. Have to look at him at 14 if he is still there.

There is usually always one guy that gets taken much earlier than what the mock drafts show. I wonder who that will be this year?

[winsomme2]

Players I like that might be there at one of our picks:

PG/SG

Romeo Langford
Tyler Herro
Ty Jerome

SF/PF

Sekou Doumbouya
Brandon Clarke
Nassir Little
Cam Johnson
Dylan Windler

PF/C

Bruno Fernando
Mfiondu Kabengele


I think every player on this list could be available to us and will be long term players in the NBA who contribute at a high level.

[Andrew McCeltic]

I dream of Sekou dropping to 14, unicorn hunting at 20 (Bol) and a playable dude at 22. I Like Miye Oni at 51.

Don’t mind Hero, Goga, Fernando, Johnson, Horton Tucker, and others. Some useful players out there when the Cs pick IMO.

A lot of interesting guys in the 2nd Konate, King, Schofield to name a few.

Schofield is ok, I think Louis King's floor is probably Rodney Hood, his ceiling is, like, an all-star? There are, I guess, "character" or "maturity" questions.. and I don't know if we'd have a roster spot for him.. but he's more interesting than Bazley because he's shown something at the college level.

[Andrew McCeltic]

I hope were the team that promised Rui.

Hope so too, but since he was originally projected as a top five pick, I'd bet the promise came a little earlier in the lottery.. he'd probably be my pick at 14, he's actually not as "good"/skilled as Grant Williams but I think his scoring is more likely to translate and develop, and for talk about his limited "awareness" I think he's developing fine, given initial language issues.

Kabengele could be the pick, too - he's another player who's on an encouraging development path, adding a lot of skill quickly - and he's acknowledged his limited passing, says he's planning to work on dribbling with his head up so he can see more on the court.

I think Little could go to MIN at 11 at the latest, although I think he's overhyped now - skill deficits besides his shot, which seems like it's on track to being fixed. It's a gamble if he can build his game on offense, without that he's just a physical 3&D guy.

[SmartWentCrazy]

I hope were the team that promised Rui.

Hope so too, but since he was originally projected as a top five pick, I'd bet the promise came a little earlier in the lottery.. he'd probably be my pick at 14, he's actually not as "good"/skilled as Grant Williams but I think his scoring is more likely to translate and develop, and for talk about his limited "awareness" I think he's developing fine, given initial language issues.

Kabengele could be the pick, too - he's another player who's on an encouraging development path, adding a lot of skill quickly - and he's acknowledged his limited passing, says he's planning to work on dribbling with his head up so he can see more on the court.

I think Little could go to MIN at 11 at the latest, although I think he's overhyped now - skill deficits besides his shot, which seems like it's on track to being fixed. It's a gamble if he can build his game on offense, without that he's just a physical 3&D guy.

I would **** hate it if we took Kabengele at 14

[Andrew McCeltic]

Why? It's also possible Little, Hachimura and Kabengele are all off the board when we pick at 14. You'd have Hayes, Sekou, Keldon Johnson, PJ Washington, Nickeil, and Bitadze in the mix, going by most draft boards, plus lower ranked players who could be there at 20.

[SmartWentCrazy]

Why? It's also possible Little, Hachimura and Kabengele are all off the board when we pick at 14. You'd have Hayes, Sekou, Keldon Johnson, PJ Washington, Nickeil, and Bitadze in the mix, going by most draft boards, plus lower ranked players who could be there at 20.

Very poor finisher for someone his size. Doesnt pass the ball. Not buying him as a shooter. I just dont see how he succeeds in the NBA.

[Andrew McCeltic]

He can pass the ball, he just can’t break out of his move to pass, or break a play if someone else is open. Favorably, you could say “poor court vision”.. in today’s league, though, if he can hit open jumpers and defend, that’s a role he can stay in.

What don’t you like about his shooting?

[SmartWentCrazy]

He can pass the ball, he just can’t break out of his move to pass, or break a play if someone else is open. Favorably, you could say “poor court vision”.. in today’s league, though, if he can hit open jumpers and defend, that’s a role he can stay in.

What don’t you like about his shooting?

He had 21 assists in 71 games. He cant pass.

His 3pt% is biased by a low sample so I wont trust it— his 2pt jumper% is 35.1 which isnt great. His DRB% is similar to Tatum, which is also not what youre looking for with a guy his size.

[Andrew McCeltic]

He can pass the ball, he just can’t break out of his move to pass, or break a play if someone else is open. Favorably, you could say “poor court vision”.. in today’s league, though, if he can hit open jumpers and defend, that’s a role he can stay in.

What don’t you like about his shooting?

He had 21 assists in 71 games. He cant pass.

His 3pt% is biased by a low sample so I wont trust it— his 2pt jumper% is 35.1 which isnt great. His DRB% is similar to Tatum, which is also not what youre looking for with a guy his size.

When you put it that way..

I think the hope is that his shot is for real and will get better - the rebounding and finishing could just be strength issues - and he might become a better passer, I just mean he can physically pass the ball - which is a low bar - and his role was to be a scoring sixth man..

I’m assuming the interest in him is based on workouts and projections of his development.. I thought of him as a late first-rounder initially

[FutureIsGreen]

I hope were the team that promised Rui.

Sounds like it's the Wolves everywhere I go.

[threrf23]

The guy (Kabengele) can rebound and play defense if not anchor a defense, he should be able to continue developing a jump shot, and he's Deke's nephew. I don't know if he is close at all to Deke? But I'm all for any move that could make Deke a Celtics fan or otherwise part of our organization over the next several seasons.

[SmartWentCrazy]

The guy (Kabengele) can rebound and play defense if not anchor a defense, he should be able to continue developing a jump shot, and he's Deke's nephew. I don't know if he is close at all to Deke? But I'm all for any move that could make Deke a Celtics fan or otherwise part of our organization over the next several seasons.

15% TRB% is not good. Al Horford was at 17%, for context.

[Andrew McCeltic]

It’s about as low as you can get for a center short of being unplayable..