Appropriately early 2020 NBA Draft Thread

[Jamaaliver]

Sylla reminds me of Siakam. I love to see the kid waiting a year before going pro to improve his stock. Though with the double draft coming in 2021, he could be waiting a while...similar to Siakam.

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[Jamaaliver]

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Spoiler:

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[HMFFL]

Tulane guard Teshaun Hightower charged with murder in Georgia


Hightower, a native of Lithonia, Georgia, transferred to Tulane last year after playing two seasons at Georgia. He announced April 18 that he was entering the NBA draft but still had one season of eligibility remaining.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/29101453/tulane-guard-teshaun-hightower-charged-murder-georgia%3fplatform=amp

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[Jamaaliver]

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[kg01]

Tulane guard Teshaun Hightower charged with murder in Georgia


Hightower, a native of Lithonia, Georgia, transferred to Tulane last year after playing two seasons at Georgia. He announced April 18 that he was entering the NBA draft but still had one season of eligibility remaining.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/29101453/tulane-guard-teshaun-hightower-charged-murder-georgia%3fplatform=amp

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Man that's pretty dumb. If he had just stayed in the house for a few weeks, he would've been pretty well on his way to playing a game for the rest of his life. Now ...

The biggest loser is his brother who, it seems, is the active participant in this case. You couldn't have left your brother at home while you go do your dirt (allegedly)?

[HMFFL]

Tulane guard Teshaun Hightower charged with murder in Georgia


Hightower, a native of Lithonia, Georgia, transferred to Tulane last year after playing two seasons at Georgia. He announced April 18 that he was entering the NBA draft but still had one season of eligibility remaining.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/29101453/tulane-guard-teshaun-hightower-charged-murder-georgia%3fplatform=amp

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Man that's pretty dumb. If he had just stayed in the house for a few weeks, he would've been pretty well on his way to playing a game for the rest of his life. Now ...

The biggest loser is his brother who, it seems, is the active participant in this case. You couldn't have left your brother at home while you go do your dirt (allegedly)?

I need to read more about it. I haven't looked anything up since posting that.

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[HMFFL]

The NBA has indefinitely postponed its NBA Draft Lottery and Draft Combine.

This news was expected for weeks and it's official on the first day of May. It's obviously not possible to even do the draft lottery when we don't have final standings for the season yet. Additionally, unlike the NFL Draft with NFL teams able to go to the NFL Combine to get some info on prospects, the NBA will have some new challenges when it comes to scouting for their 2020 draft picks. The NBA may have to cancel the combine this year, and they will likely have to approach the draft lottery differently, as well.

SOURCE: Shams Charania on Twitter

May 1, 2020, 4:41 PM ET



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[Jamaaliver]

[Jamaaliver]

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Tyrese Haliburton | 6-foot-5 | G | Iowa State



It’s no secret Trae Young needs help. The Hawks brought in two wings in the 2019 class, but neither particularly profile as an offensive juggernaut. The ups and downs of Kevin Huerter have created question marks as to if he’s the backcourt mate of the future with Young. Haliburton represents a complementary guard with high IQ and shot-making ability. He fits with what GM Travis Schlenk likes in a backcourt player.

[birdlives_ma]

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Tyrese Haliburton | 6-foot-5 | G | Iowa State



It’s no secret Trae Young needs help. The Hawks brought in two wings in the 2019 class, but neither particularly profile as an offensive juggernaut. The ups and downs of Kevin Huerter have created question marks as to if he’s the backcourt mate of the future with Young. Haliburton represents a complementary guard with high IQ and shot-making ability. He fits with what GM Travis Schlenk likes in a backcourt player.

Now THAT's what I'm talking about. Tyrese would be so great to have. Could start next to Trae, or back up both guard positions. Heady offensive and defensive guy. Forget Lamelo, for me this dude is the best passer in the draft. Imagine him and Trae slinging darts to cutters all game...

[Jamaaliver]

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[HMFFL]

4. Atlanta Hawks: Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn

Height: 6-foot-6 Weight: 225 pounds Age: 19

Team Needs 
The Hawks can score and their brand of basketball is at least somewhat entertaining. They have the number one option in Trae Young and John Collins is a nice secondary scorer. Adding Clint Capella and Dewayne Dedmon at the deadline added depth to the front line and they have some promising young scorers in Kevin Huerter, Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter. They could use depth at wing and power forward, plus someone who plays defense. 

Why Okoro?  
The Hawks need a player that doesn’t need the ball in his hands to impact a game. This might seem high for Okoro, but he is a winner and a tremendous defender. If he can improve even modestly as a 3-point shooter, Okoro could be the type of player to lead Atlanta back into the postseason conversation. 

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/kings/2020-nba-mock-draft-60-first-round-draft-pick-predictions-analysis#slide-4

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[Jamaaliver]

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[youngWizzy]

Hello everybody,

Tool: https://nbadraftcomp.herokuapp.com

I recently developed an NBA Draft Comparison tool that has gained a good amount of popularity on Twitter by several draft analysts

The tool retrieves similar physical, statistical (per40), and advanced stat comparisons for any player dating back to the 2000 NBA Draft based on their position

Note: Advanced stats only go back to the 2011 Draft and there are currently only limited physical comparisons for some of the 2020 prospects as the combine hasn't reported official measurements. Additionally, if you cannot find a player in the stats, visuals, or advanced pages you can enter their sports-reference url and the site will generate the comparisons then.

If you end up seeing this, any feedback/comments/suggestions that you have or would like me to add a feature to the website is something that I'd appreciate a whole lot. You can dm me here but preferable on twitter:youngwizzydfs and I will respond asap.

The experience is a lot better on desktop/laptop than mobile which is something I am working on right now

If you don't mind sharing the tool with your friends and people that would mean a whole lot as it could lead to potential donations to my site that will help keep it up! Been working on this for a few years now so it's been one hell of a roller coaster ride!

Per 40 stat comparison can be found here: https://nbadraftcomp.herokuapp.com/stats




Advanced stat comparisons can be found here: https://nbadraftcomp.herokuapp.com/advanced



​
Physical comparisons can be found here: https://nbadraftcomp.herokuapp.com/measurements




​A visualizations page which visualizes how a player compares to their position can be found here: https://nbadraftcomp.herokuapp.com/visuals




​

[HMFFL]

This is 2021 related if he decides to enter the NBA draft.
_________________

Alex Antetokounmpo intends to turn pro in Europe

Alex Antetokounmpo, the 2001-born brother of Giannis Antetokounmpo, has graduated from the Dominican High School where he showcased his talent and despite getting notable offers from the NCAA, he is considering European basketball the best way to prepare for the NBA.

“I am examining my options, I have a few choices from the States, but I have decided to play in Europe”, Alex Antetokounmpo explains to Eurohoops. “I want to become a pro as soon as possible. I was born and raised in Europe, I know European basketball and the best thing for me would be to sign a contract with a European club. I will have to train and compete against grown men, I will experience strong competition and pressure and I will evolve on every level”.

European basketball can be a real test for any NBA prospect and has produced some of the top talents of the NBA in recent years. Alex embraces the challenge to be the next big prospect coming out from Europe: “I believe in myself and I also know that I can greatly improve basketball-wise on every level. I am sure that my decision to play in Europe is the best choice. It will really help me in my plan to prepare myself in the best possible way. So, when I feel ready to take the next step, I will be totally prepared for the NBA”.

It will be interesting to watch in which country and in which club Alex Antetokounmpo will have the chance to compete next season, on his path to prepare for the NBA, and become the fourth brother of the Antetokounmpo family to play in the best league of the world.



https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/1057967/alex-antetokounmpo-intends-to-turn-pro-in-europe/

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[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

This kid could be a nice gamble for a team in the 2nd round.

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[Jamaaliver]

Knock-down shooter Aaron Nesmith has potential to be strong complementary piece

Vanderbilt’s Aaron Nesmith is perhaps the top prospect in terms of pure shooting ability in the entire draft. As a sophomore at Vanderbilt, the 6-foot-6 sophomore shot an astonishing 52.2% from 3-point range on 8.2 attempts. He only played in 14 games because of a right foot injury. Maintaining that mark over the entire season would have been admittedly difficult. But there’s no denying Nesmith’s stroke.

Strengths

Not only is Nesmith able to make shots standing still. He is also adept at zooming around screens and cutting to open space, receiving a pass and firing. He can make shots going toward his left or right. He is even proficient off the dribble. Nesmith averaged 23 points per game on a 68.5 true-shooting percentage — an extremely efficient mark. And he was hardly a liability on the defensive end. Nesmith averaged 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. His 6-foot-11 wingspan and understanding of positioning helped him be a disruptive force.

Weaknesses

While Nesmith is a weapon, his overall offensive game needs polishing. He is still developing his ball-handling ability and is not a threat as a playmaker. He averaged 0.9 assists compared to 1.7 turnovers.

Nesmith struggles to consistently beat defenders off the dribble. It was not uncommon to see him dribbling the ball off his foot. He attacks almost exclusively in straight lines, and when can struggle when he’s forced to change directions. He is not especially quick nor more of a leaper. He gets his shot blocked inside fairly frequently. How successful he is in the NBA might depend on how much he's asked to create.

NOLA.com