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Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread

Moderators: dms269, Jamaaliver, HMFFL

What would you like to see the Hawks do with the #6 pick?

Trade the Pick for a vet
5
17%
Trade into the top 3
8
27%
Trade for later/future picks
4
13%
Draft Best Player Available
4
13%
Draft TYRESE HALIBURTON
3
10%
Draft ONYEKA OKONGWU
3
10%
Draft ISAAC OKORO
0
No votes
Draft KILLIAN HAYES
3
10%
 
Total votes: 30

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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#201 » by tbhawksfan1 » Mon Dec 2, 2019 10:56 am

Jamaaliver wrote:Would Travis have the guts to trade down again from the top-3 to gain more draft picks?

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If he can grab another top 10 pick by trading down two spots for a comparable player, why not.

If not, quality over quantity might be the way to go. Hawks will bring in at least two rookies to add to three sophs and over-all super young team.

TS also has other ways to bring in future picks. Cap space and lots of useful expirings to move; most notably Parker who should be trade bait.
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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#202 » by Jamaaliver » Mon Dec 2, 2019 2:30 pm

This draft's John Collins?

Obi Toppin | PF | Dayton | No. 13

With high-level NBA executives sitting courtside for his games at the Maui Invitational, Toppin crashed the 2020 draft lottery conversation. Over the course of three games, the 21-year-old redshirt sophomore averaged 22.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 33 minutes on high efficiency.

The bouncy, 6-foot-9 big man played with nonstop energy, sprinting the floor, rolling hard to the rim and rotating for blocks all while keeping the ball humming on the perimeter. He's a lob threat rolling to the rim, punishes switches in the post and spaces the floor. Although he finished with only one assist in the tournament, Toppin handled constant double-teams beautifully, dribbling away from pressure and delivering cross-court passes with either hand.

Toppin showed just about everything teams want to see in a modern big man, as he offers a unique blend of skill and run-and-jump athleticism to go with his high shoulders and big reach. Toppin also is in an ideal situation in Dayton, where he'll play in meaningful games in a system that breeds NBA habits.

But Toppin isn't the most graceful mover when he puts the ball on the deck. On top of that, he isn't all that comfortable defending perimeter forwards, yet he doesn't have the sheer bulk to bang with NBA centers. Because he isn't much of a shot-creator or mismatch driver, which we see from a lot of modern NBA forwards, Toppin might be more of an NBA starter than a future star. Even so, he is likely poised for a record-breaking sophomore season that could propel him to be an immediate NBA contributor. -- Mike Schmitz
ESPN Insider
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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#203 » by Jamaaliver » Tue Dec 3, 2019 4:46 pm

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Hampton already is playing professionally against grown men, and is showing his desire to play defense and do the little things to win games. His jump shot will need to continue to improve, though that shouldn't be a huge concern for teams in the draft. Hampton already has shown he has a feel for the game and a willingness to win, which should go a long way.

Hampton and Ball recently battled for the second time in the NBL, and while Ball recorded a triple-double, Hampton scored 12 points, four rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes and was plus-9 in the plus/minus. Ball was minus-13. Hampton was seen diving on the floor and fighting for rebounds as his team won, 91-79.

Hampton, 18, opted to play professionally for the New Zealand Breakers of Australia's NBL instead of going to college. Ball, who also plays in the NBL, gets more attention and puts up bigger numbers, but Hampton has less margin for error and might be a highly underrated prospect.

Through 11 games, Hampton is averaging 10 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 22.6 minutes per game. Per 36 minutes, he's averaging 15.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#204 » by CP War Hawks » Tue Dec 3, 2019 10:36 pm

The Pac 12 is probably the best overall conf and have 3 bigs the Hawks should have interest in: Onyeka Okongwu, Isaiah Stewart, and Zeke Nnaji.



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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#205 » by King Ken » Tue Dec 3, 2019 11:12 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:This draft's John Collins?

Obi Toppin | PF | Dayton | No. 13

With high-level NBA executives sitting courtside for his games at the Maui Invitational, Toppin crashed the 2020 draft lottery conversation. Over the course of three games, the 21-year-old redshirt sophomore averaged 22.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 33 minutes on high efficiency.

The bouncy, 6-foot-9 big man played with nonstop energy, sprinting the floor, rolling hard to the rim and rotating for blocks all while keeping the ball humming on the perimeter. He's a lob threat rolling to the rim, punishes switches in the post and spaces the floor. Although he finished with only one assist in the tournament, Toppin handled constant double-teams beautifully, dribbling away from pressure and delivering cross-court passes with either hand.

Toppin showed just about everything teams want to see in a modern big man, as he offers a unique blend of skill and run-and-jump athleticism to go with his high shoulders and big reach. Toppin also is in an ideal situation in Dayton, where he'll play in meaningful games in a system that breeds NBA habits.

But Toppin isn't the most graceful mover when he puts the ball on the deck. On top of that, he isn't all that comfortable defending perimeter forwards, yet he doesn't have the sheer bulk to bang with NBA centers. Because he isn't much of a shot-creator or mismatch driver, which we see from a lot of modern NBA forwards, Toppin might be more of an NBA starter than a future star. Even so, he is likely poised for a record-breaking sophomore season that could propel him to be an immediate NBA contributor. -- Mike Schmitz
ESPN Insider

He is much better than Collins was but he is likely as old as Collins is right now.
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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#206 » by EazyRoc » Wed Dec 4, 2019 7:09 am

https://youtu.be/31WAyqLBjow

Fast forward to 2:30. That may just be one of the prettiest passes I’ve ever seen.
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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#207 » by Jamaaliver » Thu Dec 5, 2019 1:02 pm

Not particularly surprising given our record...

General manager Travis Schlenk is currently in Australia on a scouting trip but took some time to speak with The Athletic over the phone after the team’s game against Brooklyn...
December 5th

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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#208 » by Jamaaliver » Tue Dec 10, 2019 1:16 am

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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#209 » by Jamaaliver » Tue Dec 10, 2019 1:17 am

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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#210 » by Jamaaliver » Tue Dec 10, 2019 12:54 pm

This kid, even more than James Wiseman, should be considered as our Center of the future.

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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#211 » by Jamaaliver » Tue Dec 10, 2019 6:16 pm

Bleacher Report's most recent mock draft has us doubling down on big men this draft.

2020 NBA Mock Draft

5. Atlanta Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu (USC, C, Freshman)

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The Atlanta Hawks could target Onyeka Okongwu for his interior presence, energy and rim protection (3.3 blocks per game) next to John Collins.

He'd give Hawks point guard Trae Young another lob target, as he's currently shooting 62.9 percent on two-point shots and punishing rims. But he's also slotted this high because of his flashes of post moves and touch that point to scoring upside.

Okongwu is averaging 25.5 points per 40 minutes, and he ranks in the 95th percentile of half-court points per possession, per Synergy Sports.

After drafting a pair of forwards last year in De'Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish, the Hawks could use this year's pick on a big like Okongwu to anchor the paint.


19. Atlanta Hawks (via Nets): Vernon Carey Jr. (Duke, C, Freshman)

Carey has been dominant in his old-school ways, averaging 20.9 points and 10.4 rebounds over his last seven games by pounding it inside. A combined 62.7 percent of his offense has come from the post and offensive rebounds, per Synergy Sports. Though he isn't a flashy modern-day big, Carey has been too effective with NBA tools and back-to-the-basket skills, plus improved quickness, which has led to some surprise face-up moves and shot-blocking.


Spoiler:
More on Vernon Carey:

Freshman of the Week: Vernon Carey Jr., Duke

Key stats: 18.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 37.2 PER

There is some solid competition for the honor in this the second week of the Frosh Watch, but Carey gets the nod thanks to his performance in two road games against two power-conference teams.

No other freshman in America can match the stats he put up against the competition he faced. Duke went 2-0 last week, got to No. 7 in the AP Top 25 and improved to 9-1 overall. Against Michigan State and Virginia Tech, Carey averaged 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and shot better than 50% (12-of-23) from the field. What's more, he did that in 40 total minutes. That's highly efficient. Carey was also a solid 13 for 16 from the foul line.

He only averaged two fouls in the pair of road games as well, which is an overlooked but important factor in Carey's value and development. He's fouled out once (vs. Colorado State) and reached four fouls in only one other game (vs. Georgetown). And yet, he's a magnet for the hack on the other end. Carey is drawing 8.9 fouls per 40 minutes, which is the highest rate in college basketball. Carey's averaging 7.6 free throws, which is a great rate for a college player only playing 23.8 minutes per game.
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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#212 » by Jamaaliver » Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:16 pm

Newest Big Board from Sports Illustrated

2020 NBA Draft Big Board

Georgia's Anthony Edwards remains the top overall NBA draft prospect but LaMelo Ball and James Wiseman are not far behind

Georgia’s Anthony Edwards began the year at No. 1 in the mock draft, and remains the top overall prospect, with contenders LaMelo Ball and James Wiseman behind him in that order, and the big picture getting murky rather quickly after that. The general attitude around the league is that the shape of this draft can best be classified as flat—there’s not a whole lot differentiating one prospect from another, and the drop-off in bankable NBA talent takes place relatively quickly in the draft in the minds of most. Once you get past the first couple groups of players at the top of the draft, things get dicey.

1. Anthony Edwards, G, Georgia | Freshman

Height: 6’5” | Weight: 225 | Age: 18
Spoiler:
Edwards began to fully stake claim to the No. 1 spot at the Maui Invitational, where a 33-point second half in a loss to Michigan State and buzzer-beater to down Chaminade put him squarely on the national map. Granted, Georgia is not a particularly good team, and Edwards sits at a notably nascent stage of his development. His ability to create shots for himself and others is potentially star-caliber, and his balance and plus athletic tools grant him real upside on the defensive end. Right now, he settles for far too many jumpers, and has had some issues attacking the rim and finishing. There are times where he’s obviously in attack mode, and times where he fades into the background entirely. Still, Edwards has made considerable progress already, and by cultivating better fundamental habit and impacting play more consistently, he may have the best case for the top pick come spring.

2. LaMelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks
Spoiler:
Height: 6’6” | Weight: 180 | Age: 18

Ball’s recent foot injury is set to keep him out a month, cutting short a stretch of strong performances that had bolstered his case as the top prospect. He boasts off-the-charts size for a point guard, remarkable vision, and a crafty handle. Right now, there’s a whole lot of trepidation in league circles surrounding his unspectacular shooting splits—it’s simply hard to take a guy 1 overall who's shooting 40% or worse from the field. Ball is an average athlete and struggles to get easy baskets in the paint, and while his counting stats are gaudy, his team isn’t actually winning many games. He needs to take care of the ball better, and he may just not be a good shooter, which of course, takes the shine off when put frankly. He can also be mistake prone and overly freewheeling, and struggles defensively on the perimeter. That said, it’s hard to ignore what Ball is doing at such a young age against professional competition, and on a good day he looks like the type of offensive maestro you can construct a team around. He’s an enticing, if flawed, proposition atop the draft.

8. Jaden McDaniels, F, Washington | Freshman
Spoiler:
Height: 6’9” | Weight: 200 | Age: 19

McDaniels has begun to shoot it more consistenly and his upside remains a tantalizing, abstract concept that should make him a first-round pick in spite of his struggles. He’s long and can cover a good deal of ground on the defensive end, but has a narrow build and lacks ideal physical strength, particularly for a forward with his profile. McDaniels’s struggles dealing with contact are connected to his frame (not his mentality), but how much he’ll really develop physically is tricky to project, and long-term position may be on the wing. If he’s able to add functional strength and puts in continued work on his jump shot, there’s upside given the way he can innately handle and pass. If not, it’s hard to see him being able to punish defensive switches and truly create a mismatch. McDaniels’ upside as a scoring wing is tangible, but there’s also real risk involved.

9. Deni Avdija, G/F, Maccabi Tel Aviv
Spoiler:
Height: 6’8” | Weight: 210 | Age: 18

After building up some hype by leading Israel to a title at the U20 European Championship, Avdija has fallen back into a supporting role at Maccabi, where he’s contributed primarily in Israeli League play and been unable to get a major foothold on minutes in EuroLeague competition. He’s had some productive games and contributes across the board statistically, but hasn’t been deployed in his preferred point-forward role and has been asked to fit into the scheme. Avdija’s skill level and general wherewithal at his age coupled with a serious approach to improvement would seem to have him ticketed for a lottery selection, statistical case aside. Scouts are still figuring out how he’ll best fit into the NBA, and his poor free throw shooting casts some doubt on whether he’ll end up being able to space the floor reliably. He’s versatile, but only to a point, and a lack of elite athleticism has also contributed to concerns.

13. Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn | Freshman
Spoiler:
Height: 6’6” | Weight: 225 | Age: 18

Entering the season, it was no secret Okoro would be Auburn’s best prospect, but he’s also been the Tigers’ best player upon arrival, and one of the most impressive freshmen nationally. Gifted with grown-man strength and unusually light on his feet, Okoro combines elite-level defensive versatility with a strong feel for the game, rarely going beyond his means and consistently making smart decisions on both end of the floor. He’s a quality finisher and solid in the open floor, and relies on long, powerful strides to attack the rim. Okoro’s jumper is the only glaring hole in his profile, and it’s very much a work in progress. Turning himself into just an average three-point shooter would be a serious boon for his long-term profile, and he brings so much else to the table that fixing the shot will be a welcome project for his future team. Okoro is firmly part of the one-and-done conversation, and one of the more appealing wings in this class.

14. Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC | Freshman
Spoiler:
Height: 6’8” | Weight: 235 | Age: 19

Although Okongwu flew somewhat under the radar as a one-and-done caliber prospect, he’s been one of the most productive players anywhere over the first month of the season, and has a relatively readymade path to contributing as a solid rotational NBA big. He’s an excellent multiple-jump athlete who routinely makes plays on his second and third efforts, whether it’s altering shots in the paint or grabbing defensive rebounds and putbacks. He‘s not the most versatile defender yet and lacks ideal height for a center, but his length, instincts and motor help split the difference. Okongwu neatly fits the rim-running, vertical-spacing role that’s earned a lot of players solid paychecks in recent years, and he’ll be an attractive option for teams in need of interior help. He’s a fairly safe bet to have a productive career in some capacity.
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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#213 » by Jamaaliver » Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:23 pm

^cont.

15. Isaiah Stewart, C, Washington | Freshman
Spoiler:
Height: 6’9” | Weight: 250 | Age: 18

There’s a good chance Stewart ends up being a long-term NBA contributor, and that floor is the central part of his appeal. He competes, he’s got great length, and has worked hard to keep weight off and revamp his frame. He’s active in the paint, will rebound and do the dirty work to help his team win, and has been immediately productive for the Huskies, as expected. However, Stewart’s ceiling is somewhat limited as a big who operates primarily beneath the rim and lacks range on his shot—it’s much easier to survive as a non-shooting five in the NBA if you’re an elite athlete, and it’s somewhat concerning that Stewart checks neither of those boxes. For now, he profiles primarily as a screener and energy guy who can punish smaller defenders on the block when opposing teams switch. He should add value somewhere, but he makes more sense in the mid-to-late first than as a lottery pick. The fact Stewart is a big who actually likes doing big-man stuff is rarer than you think in this era.

16. Obi Toppin, F/C, Dayton | Sophomore
Spoiler:
Height: 6’9” | Weight: 220 | Age: 21

Toppin has been a bit of a revelation to start the season, building buzz from where he left off at the Nike Skills Academy in August and solidifying his status as an obvious first-round talent. A powerful athlete who supplies legitimate role versatility on the offensive end, Toppin is comfortable rolling to the rim and pounding on the interior as well as catching and shooting from outside. While he doesn’t deal with contact as well as you’d think for a guy with his body type, his feel and skill level give him a clear pathway to a useful frontcourt role. He comes with some concerns defensively, as he’s on the smaller end of the spectrum for a center and may also have issues sticking with quicker forwards. But the way the league has shifted to favor speed and skill over sheer size is going to work in his favor. It’s worth noting he will turn 22 in March.

19. Zeke Nnaji, C, Arizona | Freshman
Spoiler:
Height: 6’11” | Weight: 240 | Age: 19

The late-blooming Nnaji has been a breath of fresh air in a draft class relatively thin on bigs, bolstering Arizona with his relentless energy and soft touch around the rim and shooting an absurd 74% on two-point shots. He certainly doesn’t look like he needs much more time in college, and most scouts who have caught glimpses of him agree a first-round selection seems the likely outcome. Nnaji has been extraordinarily efficient around the basket and flashed some ability as a jump shooter, although he’s not taking threes within the Arizona offense. He’s a good rebounder who also offers above-average mobility on the defensive end, although he doesn’t make a massive impact as a rim protector. With his production and approach, Nnaji has put himself in good position to turn pro.

20. Amar Sylla, F/C, Oostende
Spoiler:
Height: 6’9” | Weight: 190 | Age: 18

After moving from Real Madrid to find more playing time in Belgium, Sylla has begun to play much better over the past few weeks. He’s a uniquely gifted defensive prospect, with great length and mobility and a natural capacity to block shots. The game has yet to totally slow down for him, but his athletic ability and instincts are strong, and as his frame matures, there’s ample upside here. The simple fact that he’s logging heavy minutes on a team allowing him double-digit shots per game is great for his development. Sylla’s upside makes him an appealing, if somewhat raw prospect, and the chance to develop him should be an intriguing option, particularly given the way this draft class is shaping up.

21. Jahmi’us Ramsey, SG, Texas Tech | Freshman
Spoiler:
Height: 6’4” | Weight: 185 | Age: 18

Ramsey has been a terrific fit for Texas Tech after Jarrett Culver’s departure to the pros, filling a critical scoring role out of the gate. He’s missed the past week or so with a hamstring injury, but was feasting against soft competition beforehand and showcased his ability to score at all three levels of the floor. He’s been particularly impressive catching and shooting, and his body type and athletic tools are appealing from an NBA perspective. On the flipside, he still has to prove his worth defensively, and he doesn’t contribute much playmaking despite being relied upon to handle the ball and create offense. Ramsey’s productivity and capacity to score have put him in the first-round mix early on, but he has more to prove as conference play approaches to solidify that status.

22. Joel Ayayi, G, Gonzaga | Sophomore
Spoiler:
Height: 6’5” | Weight: 180 | Age: 19

After breaking out for France at the U19 world championships over the summer, Ayayi continues to trend upward and has established himself as Gonzaga’s top prospect, and one of the more intriguing sleepers in college basketball. His creativity off the dribble, passing vision and shooting range are all impressive, and his size and skill set as a true combo guard is extremely appealing. Getting downhill and attacking more often is the next step for him, and he’s earned a significant portion of Gonzaga’s backcourt minutes. He redshirted upon arrival and is still just 19 years old, which helps create a good deal of optimism with his current trajectory. Ayayi might be Gonzaga’s most important player, and he’s building a strong case to test the waters this spring.

24. Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke | Freshman
Spoiler:
Height: 6’10” | Weight: 270 | Age: 18

Unsurprisingly, Carey has been the most college-ready of Duke’s freshmen, flashing a much-improved motor in the earlygoing and doing a good job playing physically in the paint and finishing with touch. His continued productivity is essential to his draft case, as his skill set doesn’t project as cleanly at the NBA level, and he’s not an elite run-jump athlete who will be able to dominate with his physical tools in the pros. Carey has pretty good feet and has provided more defensive resistance than expected, but he’s not quite the type of physical presence or natural shot-blocker that dissuades opposition from attacking the rim by simply being present. He’s not a natural jump shooter, but any improvement in that area would go a long way. Credit Carey for working into good shape and being consistently effective, but he’s got more to do to solidify first-round status.
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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#214 » by Jamaaliver » Thu Dec 12, 2019 3:48 pm

A candidate for that Brooklyn pick, this kid has caught my eye as a front court partner for J Collins.

Zeke Nnaji, PF, Arizona
6'11" 240 pounds

Nnaji has been one of the biggest stock risers of the freshman class and even though he has somewhat come down to earth after a dominant start to the season, there is a lot to like about him as a prospect. He has terrific hands and feet, soft touch as a low post scorer, excellent efficiency as a midrange shooter, the stroke to eventually expand his range to the perimeter, a respectable feel as a rebounder and an improving motor. There is plenty of room for Nnaji to grow into his relatively still physically immature frame and he should only improve athletically and production wise as he gets stronger.
24/7 Sports

Zeke Nnaji (Arizona, C, Freshman)

Shooting 71.8 percent, Nnaji has quickly put himself on the NBA radar by executing off post moves, second-chance opportunities, transition and timely cuts. Teams will want to see more flashes of shooting, but his 81.5 percent free-throw mark has been encouraging.
Bleacher Report - Dec 10th

Zeke Nnaji (Arizona, C, Freshman)

Scouts who've traveled to Arizona for Nico Mannion and Josh Green should now have Nnaji on their radar. The 6'11" freshman is averaging 19.5 points in 25.3 minutes per game and shooting 82.1 percent inside the arc. He doesn't wow with athleticism or skill versatility, but no defense has had any answers for Nnaji's mix of size, footwork, hands, motor and mid-range touch.
Bleacher Report - Nov 28
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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#215 » by Jamaaliver » Fri Dec 13, 2019 12:54 pm

Something to keep in mind when sorting through all these freshmen...

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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#216 » by D21 » Fri Dec 13, 2019 1:39 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
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Don't know if he shots always like that, but he seems a bit late on his release, already in descending phase, which is OK near the basket, but not on 3pt shots
Now, the shot failed being short, which is linked, and it may be better to see it short on such a shot than see him hitting basket with that shot ;-)
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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#217 » by Jamaaliver » Fri Dec 13, 2019 1:50 pm

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Spoiler:
Myles Powell, SG, Seton Hall | Senior

Height: 6’1” | Weight: 200 | Age: 22

Although his size and frame aren’t ideal, particularly for a catch-and-shoot specialist, Powell has worked hard on his game and turned himself into one of college basketball’s top scorers. While that doesn’t mean much in terms of long-term job security, his ability to get shots off cleanly in a variety of situations and force defenses to account for him is significant, and will earn him a chance to prove he can do it against better competition. He has to be better scoring around the rim and doesn’t offer much shot-creation off the dribble, but the potentially elite perimeter shooting has a chance to play up. He’s on the second-round radar.
SI.com

Myles Powell, Seton Hall

Measurables: 5-11, 195

Current rank: No 20 | Previous rank: NR

After measuring at 5-11 at the G League Elite Camp last spring, concerns were inevitably raised about Powell's viability as an NBA Draft prospect. Still, it's impossible to simply dismiss his production -- particularly as a scorer -- at the college level. He rates in the 98th percentile as an off-screen shooter, according to Synergy, and this season he's shooting a career-best 39.8% from the 3-point line. It's unlikely he'll be drafted as a long-term No. 1 option as lead guard, but his bankable skill as a deadeye shooter is enough to earn him first-round looks.
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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#218 » by Jamaaliver » Fri Dec 13, 2019 2:04 pm

Anyone know much about this kid? He seems like a solid combo guard option to develop off the bench behind Trae. He could be a solid backup for Trae.


Theo Maledon, PG, ASVEL Basket

Height: 6’4” | Weight: 175 | Age: 18

Maledon is arguably the top international-born player in this draft class, coming off a successful 2018-19 season with ASVEL in which he averaged 14.5 points, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals per 36 minutes and shot 38% from three-point range on 4.3 attempts per game. Those totals are made all the more impressive given he played the entire season as a 17-year-old. Maledon’s size and natural, fluid athleticism coupled with a disciplined approach has helped set him apart at a young age, and he may end up perceived as one of the players with the highest floors in this class. Stylistically, he’s more of a straight-line attacker and ball-screen distributor than someone who’s going to go get a bucket. But coupled with his ability to catch and shoot from outside, multi-positional defensive potential and nice intangibles, Maledon’s all-around game and fast-tracked learning curve all bode well long-term. He’s already part of the French senior national program, and his club team is owned by Tony Parker, who has helped groom him over the past couple of years.

He’s not overly flashy, but there’s a lot to like. Maledon’s defensive potential and size makes him a viable fit [in Atlanta].
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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#219 » by Jamaaliver » Fri Dec 13, 2019 8:18 pm

2020 NBA Draft Big Board: Biggest risers and fallers in updated pro prospect rankings

Georgia's Anthony Edwards take the top spot, but he's not the only player whose NBA Draft stock is soaring

Stock rising

Obi Toppin | Dayton

Measurables: 6-9, 220

Current rank: No. 5 | Previous rank: No. 23

Killer versatility and athleticism was Obi Toppin's game as a freshman, and now as a sophomore it's all of those ingredients thrown into a blender with some extra zest. He's taking more 3-pointers this season, making 41.7% of them, and doing so all while improving as a rim protector and rebounder for a top-15 college basketball team. Toppin's detractors may argue his lackluster measurables or his lack of skill as a ball-handler, but he's dynamic in transition with a huge ceiling as a floor-spacer and shot-maker. You can't leave him open without paying for it. When you add his burgeoning potential as an offensive player with his athletic prowess and switchability on defense, you have a guy who could easily work his way into the lottery if he keeps it up.


Onyeka Okongwu | USC

Measurables: 6-9, 245

Current rank: No 10 | Previous rank: NR

Less than a dozen college basketball players this season have recorded seven or more blocks in a single game. USC freshman Onyeka Okongwu is the only one to have achieved that mark twice -- once with an eight-block outing against Florida A&M, and then again with a seven-block swat-show last week against TCU. His timing as a shot-blocker is brilliant for any player, but especially a true freshman. He's been a huge factor on offense as well, with a great feel as a transition player and offense-generator out of the post. By next summer, we will be talking about Okongwu as one of the top two big prospects in this class.
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Re: Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread 

Post#220 » by Jamaaliver » Mon Dec 16, 2019 12:27 pm

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