2019 NBA draft

[BillessuR6]

I like Bitadze, I saw a few games of him this year and he will be an NBA player. I just do not think he will be a star...I would take him in the twenties because I think he will be a rotation big...

Samanic I have seen even more than Bitadze. He played for my team Olimpija this season...he had a bad year but the team was in turmoil the whole time...it was not a great environment for a young player...he certainly has potential but would only pick him in the second round...he does not have one elite skill that would really set him apart...

[Disinformation]

If Ainge decided to shift gears and trade up in this draft instead of out, what player would you want him to target and how far up would he have to trade to get that player? Assume that Zion and Ja go 1-2 and #3 is the highest Ainge can get.

[robdog_5]

Barrett and then after the I dont see a large change in talent. So I wouldnt want to move up that much. I feel at 14 we can get a role player of some sort

[Curmudgeon]

I like Bitadze, I saw a few games of him this year and he will be an NBA player. I just do not think he will be a star...I would take him in the twenties because I think he will be a rotation big...

Samanic I have seen even more than Bitadze. He played for my team Olimpija this season...he had a bad year but the team was in turmoil the whole time...it was not a great environment for a young player...he certainly has potential but would only pick him in the second round...he does not have one elite skill that would really set him apart...

Samanic has put on 20-25 lbs of muscle since last year, and he's still only 19. If there's a better 6-10 (or taller) outside shooter in this draft, I haven't seen him.

I see that the Celtics are working out Justin Wright-Foreman, the scoring guard from Queens via Hofstra University. I should add him to my list of sleepers at pick #51. He can pass the ball too.

[big-shot-ROB]

Kabengele is really limited. I'd draft Fernando before as he projects to develop a nice outside shot given the flashes and FT% and on top of that brings you glass dominance and competent passing.

I want Ainge to take Doumbouya at 14 is he's there, even if it comes to the expense of losing Herro. Langford should be considered if he's there at 20 too.

I saw Doumbouya played in France a lot, I just see him as a good role player, nothing more. People want to draft him and hope they have the next Giannis or Siakam because he is long and athletic like them...To me he is close to OG Anunoby.

If when 14 arrives Fernando, Herro, Thybulle and Langford are not there, trade back or out automatically.

No love for Bitadze ? We could stash him.

I don't think there's too much upside in this draft. I'd rather rall the dice on Sekou than, let's say, Bol or KPJ.
Bitadze could definitely be a serviceable big, but I'm not really sure how to project his game translating into the post-season.

[SmartWentCrazy]

If Ainge decided to shift gears and trade up in this draft instead of out, what player would you want him to target and how far up would he have to trade to get that player? Assume that Zion and Ja go 1-2 and #3 is the highest Ainge can get.

Barrett, but I’d hope Ainge doesnt trade up as this draft is pretty flat from 3 to 25 IMO.

[Darth Celtic]

If Ainge decided to shift gears and trade up in this draft instead of out, what player would you want him to target and how far up would he have to trade to get that player? Assume that Zion and Ja go 1-2 and #3 is the highest Ainge can get.

Barrett, but I’d hope Ainge doesnt trade up as this draft is pretty flat from 3 to 25 IMO.

And what does Barrett do that is an improvement over JB/JT? I just don't see it either. This draft makes no sense to trade up unless Garland falls a bit and Danny things he's Lillard 2.0. Which I don't. But if that's the case and he's there at 5 and the cavs are set at young pg, maybe you give 14, 20, 22 for 5 and take him.

[SmartWentCrazy]

If Ainge decided to shift gears and trade up in this draft instead of out, what player would you want him to target and how far up would he have to trade to get that player? Assume that Zion and Ja go 1-2 and #3 is the highest Ainge can get.

Barrett, but I’d hope Ainge doesnt trade up as this draft is pretty flat from 3 to 25 IMO.

And what does Barrett do that is an improvement over JB/JT? I just don't see it either. This draft makes no sense to trade up unless Garland falls a bit and Danny things he's Lillard 2.0. Which I don't. But if that's the case and he's there at 5 and the cavs are set at young pg, maybe you give 14, 20, 22 for 5 and take him.

Long term replacement for GH

[Darth Celtic]

Barrett, but I’d hope Ainge doesnt trade up as this draft is pretty flat from 3 to 25 IMO.

And what does Barrett do that is an improvement over JB/JT? I just don't see it either. This draft makes no sense to trade up unless Garland falls a bit and Danny things he's Lillard 2.0. Which I don't. But if that's the case and he's there at 5 and the cavs are set at young pg, maybe you give 14, 20, 22 for 5 and take him.

Long term replacement for GH

Maybe. What would the Knicks take to get 3? I'm guessing they would want 14 and the Griz pick. No deal for me.

[SmartWentCrazy]

And what does Barrett do that is an improvement over JB/JT? I just don't see it either. This draft makes no sense to trade up unless Garland falls a bit and Danny things he's Lillard 2.0. Which I don't. But if that's the case and he's there at 5 and the cavs are set at young pg, maybe you give 14, 20, 22 for 5 and take him.

Long term replacement for GH

Maybe. What would the Knicks take to get 3? I'm guessing they would want 14 and the Griz pick. No deal for me.

Agreed fully— haha was just answering the hypothetical

[djFan71]

If Ainge decided to shift gears and trade up in this draft instead of out, what player would you want him to target and how far up would he have to trade to get that player? Assume that Zion and Ja go 1-2 and #3 is the highest Ainge can get.

Barrett, but I’d hope Ainge doesnt trade up as this draft is pretty flat from 3 to 25 IMO.

I see this a lot. Does that mean you'd be just as happy with PJ Washington as you would with Brandon Clarke?
I get that things level off, but I still think there are guys you want more than other ones.

[TheOGJabroni]

If Ainge decided to shift gears and trade up in this draft instead of out, what player would you want him to target and how far up would he have to trade to get that player? Assume that Zion and Ja go 1-2 and #3 is the highest Ainge can get.

I'm going to assume Barrett at 3 too. After that,

Darius Garland
Coby White
Sekou Doumbouya

I would target any of those three guys that will probably be gone before we pick.

[Andrew McCeltic]

Yeah, that's not good...

Read on Twitter

Supposedly we liked Juan Hernangomez and saw him go to Denver at 15.. Yabu was a stash pick because we didn't have room on the roster for three rookies. And Levert was a gamble because of his injuries (hey, isn't he hurt again right now?), the Nets were in a position to take it because they were rebuilding. Zizic also had a lot of fans at the time - his "athleticism" was partly an artifact of the relative speed of European basketball - I have the same concern about Bitadze, especially his "explosiveness."

Don't forget that sometimes good draft picks are part luck, too - we would have taken Robert Swift over Al Jefferson. It's entirely possible the Bucks would have taken Zizic over Brogdon if he'd been on the board.

[Darth Celtic]

If Ainge decided to shift gears and trade up in this draft instead of out, what player would you want him to target and how far up would he have to trade to get that player? Assume that Zion and Ja go 1-2 and #3 is the highest Ainge can get.

Barrett, but I’d hope Ainge doesnt trade up as this draft is pretty flat from 3 to 25 IMO.

I see this a lot. Does that mean you'd be just as happy with PJ Washington as you would with Brandon Clarke?
I get that things level off, but I still think there are guys you want more than other ones.

Well, Lets just go with Clarke, i've seen 3 different sites mock draft, and different versions of them over the last Month. I've seen him go as high as 6, and low as 26. So that should pretty much explain it right there. Usually the top 5-6 are near the same, after 6, who knows.

[threrf23]

Samanic has put on 20-25 lbs of muscle since last year, and he's still only 19. If there's a better 6-10 (or taller) outside shooter in this draft, I haven't seen him.

In the Adriatic league, Samanic shot 5-24 from 3 last year. I'm sure he has a decent looking stroke and what not, but am I missing something?

Also, the scouts say his motor is inconsistent and his focus questionable. I'm going with Donatas Motiejunas as a comp.

[Andrew McCeltic]

I don't think we can get up to 3, but Barrett has more offensive skill than Jaylen Brown did at the same age, and maybe more than he does now.

[threrf23]

I don't think we can get up to 3, but Barrett has more offensive skill than Jaylen Brown did at the same age, and maybe more than he does now.

That and every major scouting outlet had Barrett ranked number one in his HS class, above Zion.

Just reading and watching him, I'm not absolutely confident that he will be better than Michael Redd. But Redd is his floor and his ceiling is probably much higher.

[Darth Celtic]

Yeah, that's not good...

Read on Twitter

Supposedly we liked Juan Hernangomez and saw him go to Denver at 15.. Yabu was a stash pick because we didn't have room on the roster for three rookies. And Levert was a gamble because of his injuries (hey, isn't he hurt again right now?), the Nets were in a position to take it because they were rebuilding. Zizic also had a lot of fans at the time - his "athleticism" was partly an artifact of the relative speed of European basketball - I have the same concern about Bitadze, especially his "explosiveness."

Don't forget that sometimes good draft picks are part luck, too - we would have taken Robert Swift over Al Jefferson. It's entirely possible the Bucks would have taken Zizic over Brogdon if he'd been on the board.

Zizic wasn't bad. Age 22 he averaged 8pts and 5 rebounds in 18mpg and a per over 16.

Wish they took yabs over Zizic in the trade.

[Darth Celtic]

I don't think we can get up to 3, but Barrett has more offensive skill than Jaylen Brown did at the same age, and maybe more than he does now.

That and every major scouting outlet had Barrett ranked number one in his HS class, above Zion.

Just reading and watching him, I'm not absolutely confident that he will be better than Michael Redd. But Redd is his floor and his ceiling is probably much higher.

Uh, Redd could shoot. Like really good. Wasn't that athletic.

[djFan71]

Barrett, but I’d hope Ainge doesnt trade up as this draft is pretty flat from 3 to 25 IMO.

I see this a lot. Does that mean you'd be just as happy with PJ Washington as you would with Brandon Clarke?
I get that things level off, but I still think there are guys you want more than other ones.

Well, Lets just go with Clarke, i've seen 3 different sites mock draft, and different versions of them over the last Month. I've seen him go as high as 6, and low as 26. So that should pretty much explain it right there. Usually the top 5-6 are near the same, after 6, who knows.

I get that, but that's random guys on the internet boards with varying levels of knowledge. Danny & staff assumedly have a single combined board they researched, discussed and ordered that they want to go off. It probably also has what they feel is the likelihood of targets being available at different picks. If they value Clarke a lot more than PJ, and in their estimation he won't last til 14, why not trade up and grab him if possible? Obviously, the cost of trading up would have to be right. But, I don't feel like you can flat out rule out trading up.

And, I just don't buy the flat 3-25 thing. Sure, people may not agree on who will be better out of that group, but after a couple of years in the league, those 23 guys aren't going to have the same value. Plus, there is general consensus within that range. Most have Little going before Keldon Johnson. Almost all have the top 8 roughly the same, etc.