2019-2020 College/Draft thread (Part 4)

[Fat]

Lamelo can't shoot or score anywhere close to the NBA level. This is going to be a vintage NYK circus.

Or vintage NYK missing out on another player

[Mecca]

Lamelo is the worst possible fit next to RJ. Lamelo needs the ball in his hands, he can't shoot and and he plays bad defense.

RJ is a complimentary piece. Not a player you build around.

Neither is LaMelo. He couldn't defend, shoot, or score at the NBL level.

At 18, and he scored better than you think.

[Mecca]

Lamelo can't shoot or score anywhere close to the NBA level. This is going to be a vintage NYK circus.

They said that about Trae Young too regarding his height. The thing is when you have the skills and Iq you will be okay.

Lamelo can’t shoot supposedly but you have to respect it and he will blow by you. He’s super fast. I read somewhere his shot selection has a lot to do with his shooting percentage and is pretty good in the catch and shoot.

That is true.

[youngWizzy]

Hey guys, I just added a new feature to my site that let's you compare two prospects side by side here: https://nbadraftcomp.herokuapp.com/compare

Probably one of the cooler tools I've added.

I also added age as a method for comparing players for per40 and advanced stats which a lot of you requested! You can also choose to add manual measurements on the site as well as pick and choose which measurements you would like to compare physical measurements for players. Also similarity scores for comparisons are on the site as well!

If you don't mind checking it out that'd be amazing!!!!

[NY 567]

RJ is a complimentary piece. Not a player you build around.

Neither is LaMelo. He couldn't defend, shoot, or score at the NBL level.

At 18, and he scored better than you think.

Lamelo shot 37 percent from the field and 25 from 3. That's abysmal. RJ had better percentages as a 19 year old in the NBA than LaMelo did as an 18 year old in the NBL

[NY 567]

Lamelo can't shoot or score anywhere close to the NBA level. This is going to be a vintage NYK circus.

Or vintage NYK missing out on another player

We'd be lucky to miss out on this player. People who think this is another Doncic or even Trae Young are going to be in for a shocking surprise. There are too many things he cant do at an NBA level. I know this isn't the strongest draft, but the hype this kid is getting is flat out bizarre

[HEZI]

Trae Young averaged 27 points on 19 shots a game in college and shot 36% from 3 on over 10 attempts a game

Lamelo Ball averaged 17 points on 17 shots a game and shot 25% from 3 on under 7 attempts a game

Trae also lived at the free throw line and was going to the line over 8 times a game shooting 86%

[knickstape4ever]

If I'm Leon, one of my 1st calls is to the 76ers, they project to be 15.1M—over the luxury tax (assuming uses this year's #'s for 2021, lowering the cap/tax would be even worse for 76ers), to get their 1st rounder in exchange for taking on a contract/lowering their financial burden

at 15.1M over the tax, 76ers get taxed $3.25 for every dollar over the cap; they can lower themselves a tax bracket (to $2.5 tax rate) if they dip under 15M over the cap

Looking at their roster, Mike Scott at 5M (expiring) seems like an expendable piece

If my math/understanding of the cap is correct, at the current tax rate, his 5M contract is = to 16.25M.

-at the $3.25 tax rate, they'd be in-line to pay ~49M in luxury tax.
-by trading Scott—thus moving down a tax bracket—they'd pay ~25M in tax

if this is correct, by trading Soctt, the 76ers would save ~24M

As of right now 76ers are picking 21/22

This is the type of stuff I like to read. Nice work.

thank's. channeling my inner Brock

[Worst_to_First]

Neither is LaMelo. He couldn't defend, shoot, or score at the NBL level.

At 18, and he scored better than you think.

Lamelo shot 37 percent from the field and 25 from 3. That's abysmal. RJ had better percentages as a 19 year old in the NBA than LaMelo did as an 18 year old in the NBL

I was about to say in LaMelo’s defense that RJ had better teammates, but never mind.

[robillionaire]

Trae Young averaged 27 points on 19 shots a game in college and shot 36% from 3 on over 10 attempts a game

Lamelo Ball averaged 17 points on 17 shots a game and shot 25% from 3 on under 7 attempts a game

Trae also lived at the free throw line and was going to the line over 8 times a game shooting 86%

Trae wasn’t playing against adults yet. When he got to the NBA he struggled out of the gate. Trae shot 23.1% in Utah summer league and 12.5% from 3. (3-24) Everyone called him a bust.

Nobody here wanted him. I posted the poll

[robillionaire]

Trae Young started out 5-20 and was shooting 20% from 3 in those first 25 games as a rookie in the nba

Lamelo percentages are a small sample size and he was just getting adjusted. The experts can see past those raw numbers to what he is and that’s why he’s regarded as the most talented prospect in the draft by Givony and Schmitz who are the best in the biz

They knew it before he even had his breakout games

Watch on YouTube

[HEZI]

Trae Young averaged 27 points on 19 shots a game in college and shot 36% from 3 on over 10 attempts a game

Lamelo Ball averaged 17 points on 17 shots a game and shot 25% from 3 on under 7 attempts a game

Trae also lived at the free throw line and was going to the line over 8 times a game shooting 86%

Trae wasn’t playing against adults yet. When he got to the NBA he struggled out of the gate. Trae shot 23.1% in Utah summer league and 12.5% from 3. (3-24) Everyone called him a bust.

Nobody here wanted him. I posted the poll

How does playing against over 30 year old adults who aren't quick or that athletic anymore for the NBA considered a bonus? The NBA is filled with young players. Also, if you are going to give a player credit for playing against more polished and seasoned players then you also have to take some credit away by realizing that they also played with more polished and seasoned players so it just cancels itself out. But for the NBA it's not that relevant anymore, since the NBA isn't a grown man's league anymore, it's essentially become a college environment now.

As far as Lamelo, there are no better numbers for him out there, if you want to see what he did when he went to Lithuania he looked even worse.

[Infinitimind]

Lamelo is the worst possible fit next to RJ. Lamelo needs the ball in his hands, he can't shoot and and he plays bad defense.

Agreed. I think rj should have the ball in hands to be most effective.

[robillionaire]

Trae Young averaged 27 points on 19 shots a game in college and shot 36% from 3 on over 10 attempts a game

Lamelo Ball averaged 17 points on 17 shots a game and shot 25% from 3 on under 7 attempts a game

Trae also lived at the free throw line and was going to the line over 8 times a game shooting 86%

Trae wasn’t playing against adults yet. When he got to the NBA he struggled out of the gate. Trae shot 23.1% in Utah summer league and 12.5% from 3. (3-24) Everyone called him a bust.

Nobody here wanted him. I posted the poll

How does playing against over 30 year old adults who aren't quick or that athletic anymore for the NBA considered a bonus? The NBA is filled with young players. Also, if you are going to give a player credit for playing against more polished and seasoned players then you also have to take some credit away by realizing that they also played with more polished and seasoned players so it just cancels itself out. But for the NBA it's not that relevant anymore, since the NBA isn't a grown man's league anymore, it's essentially become a college environment now.

As far as Lamelo, there are no better numbers for him out there, if you want to see what he did when he went to Lithuania he looked even worse.

Shot 34% from 3 in high school, not that I put a lot of stake in high school stats, but that’s out there

Trae shot 32% from 3 as a rookie on 6 attempts a game after recovering from his abysmal start and that’s not counting the bad summer league numbers

I’m just saying people would have been wrong to write off Trae based on summer league and the first several months of his rookie season, and that was much larger sample size than we have with LaMelo.

It looked to me he was just starting to round into form and like I’ve mentioned his last 6 games he was shooting 32% from 3 on 7.8 attempts a game and he looked like he was starting to get comfortable. He got off to a bad start on a small sample size.

If I am wrong and he can’t shoot he will still be a low end starting franchise PG. If I am right and he becomes even a 32% pt shooter (Trae rookie year, Luka both years) he will be one of the best players in the nba.

[Fat]

Lamelo can't shoot or score anywhere close to the NBA level. This is going to be a vintage NYK circus.

Or vintage NYK missing out on another player

We'd be lucky to miss out on this player. People who think this is another Doncic or even Trae Young are going to be in for a shocking surprise. There are too many things he cant do at an NBA level. I know this isn't the strongest draft, but the hype this kid is getting is flat out bizarre

The same Trae young the board swore was to small to make a impact? While hyping up mo bamba and Mikal Bridges?


Lamelo has elite NBA handles and Elite level nba playmaking both of which the Knicks could use right now. Even if he’s not a great shooter he’s got the potential to be a good enough scorer in the NBA and isn’t hesitant to take the shots.

The only point guard in the draft you can really even put close to lamelo is Hayes who’s pretty good all around but 29% from 3 with a slower dribble package is nothing to really flex about either.


Cole nor hailburton are as skilled as either guy but I do feel these are safer pickS For the Knicks.

[robillionaire]

Lamelo is the worst possible fit next to RJ. Lamelo needs the ball in his hands, he can't shoot and and he plays bad defense.

Agreed. I think rj should have the ball in hands to be most effective.

Agreed but I think he’s better as a secondary ball handler. Ideally you have primary and secondary out there

[HEZI]

Trae wasn’t playing against adults yet. When he got to the NBA he struggled out of the gate. Trae shot 23.1% in Utah summer league and 12.5% from 3. (3-24) Everyone called him a bust.

Nobody here wanted him. I posted the poll

How does playing against over 30 year old adults who aren't quick or that athletic anymore for the NBA considered a bonus? The NBA is filled with young players. Also, if you are going to give a player credit for playing against more polished and seasoned players then you also have to take some credit away by realizing that they also played with more polished and seasoned players so it just cancels itself out. But for the NBA it's not that relevant anymore, since the NBA isn't a grown man's league anymore, it's essentially become a college environment now.

As far as Lamelo, there are no better numbers for him out there, if you want to see what he did when he went to Lithuania he looked even worse.

Shot 34% from 3 in high school, not that I put a lot of stake in high school stats, but that’s out there

Trae shot 32% from 3 as a rookie on 6 attempts a game after recovering from his abysmal start and that’s not counting the bad summer league numbers

I’m just saying people would have been wrong to write off Trae based on summer league and the first several months of his rookie season, and that was much larger sample size than we have with LaMelo.

It looked to me he was just starting to round into form and like I’ve mentioned his last 6 games he was shooting 32% from 3 on 7.8 attempts a game and he looked like he was starting to get comfortable. He got off to a bad start on a small sample size.

If I am wrong and he can’t shoot he will still be a low end starting franchise PG. If I am right and he becomes even a 32% pt shooter (Trae rookie year, Luka both years) he will be one of the best players in the nba.

You see Lamelo as a 30 point scorer in the NBA?

Also if we are going to be trading assets to move up for a player then he better be worth it. Trae Young's summer league stats aren't relevant when there was a lot more evidence of him being a much better player than whatever that small sample size in SL showed. Like I said, there isn't anything like that out there for Lamelo, you had to pick his last 6 games and even then he still doesn't even come close to what Trae was doing or showing in college. I don't think we are talking about the same level of player here.

Liking Lamelo Ball is one thing and wanting him if we are in position to do so is ok but is he worth giving up assets for and trading up for? I don't think its worth it. We should be looking to keep assets for a trade that actually is worth it. Lamelo Ball just isn't that good of a player

[robillionaire]

How does playing against over 30 year old adults who aren't quick or that athletic anymore for the NBA considered a bonus? The NBA is filled with young players. Also, if you are going to give a player credit for playing against more polished and seasoned players then you also have to take some credit away by realizing that they also played with more polished and seasoned players so it just cancels itself out. But for the NBA it's not that relevant anymore, since the NBA isn't a grown man's league anymore, it's essentially become a college environment now.

As far as Lamelo, there are no better numbers for him out there, if you want to see what he did when he went to Lithuania he looked even worse.

Shot 34% from 3 in high school, not that I put a lot of stake in high school stats, but that’s out there

Trae shot 32% from 3 as a rookie on 6 attempts a game after recovering from his abysmal start and that’s not counting the bad summer league numbers

I’m just saying people would have been wrong to write off Trae based on summer league and the first several months of his rookie season, and that was much larger sample size than we have with LaMelo.

It looked to me he was just starting to round into form and like I’ve mentioned his last 6 games he was shooting 32% from 3 on 7.8 attempts a game and he looked like he was starting to get comfortable. He got off to a bad start on a small sample size.

If I am wrong and he can’t shoot he will still be a low end starting franchise PG. If I am right and he becomes even a 32% pt shooter (Trae rookie year, Luka both years) he will be one of the best players in the nba.

You see Lamelo as a 30 point scorer in the NBA?

Also if we are going to be trading assets to move up for a player then he better be worth it. Trae Young's summer league stats aren't relevant when there was a lot more evidence of him being a much better player than whatever that small sample size in SL showed. Like I said, there isn't anything like that out there for Lamelo, you had to pick his last 6 games and even then he still doesn't even come close to what Trae was doing or showing in college. I don't think we are talking about the same level of player here.

Liking Lamelo Ball is one thing and wanting him if we are in position to do so is ok but is he worth giving up assets for and trading up for? I don't think its worth it. We should be looking to keep assets for a trade that actually is worth it. Lamelo Ball just isn't that good of a player

You mention I only picked his last 6 games but the 25 percent stat everyone is winging around to discredit him is based on 12 games, so if we can use 12 game sample sizes we shouldn’t have a problem pointing out he was on an upward trajectory in the last half of those

I understand people not wanting to trade assets for him. I still would, but I understand not wanting to

As far as being a 30 point scorer, he definitely won’t as a rookie so I wouldn’t be expecting that. I feel comfortable saying he will eventually be a 20 point scorer with high assists and rebounds. He averaged 22 9 and 9 at spire and I could see him putting up similar numbers. Best case scenario mid to high 20s worst case scenario in the teens and still a walking triple double because the assists and rebounds are a foregone conclusion

Now you predict his prime stat line and we will relitigate this in 10 years

[thebuzzardman]

I like hearing LaMelo might not be that good.

Better chance he falls to 3 or lower.
It might take very little in terms of assets to pick swap if the Knicks are anywhere from 4-6.

Sure, I'd rather see the Knicks GAIN assets, but if all it took was a future or current pick in the 20's to do that swap, then I'm for it.

Then again, I like Halliburton and Hayes and even Edwards if the Knicks go "no Pg this draft" route, so I wouldn't lose sleep over not getting LaMelo.

[NY 567]

Or vintage NYK missing out on another player

We'd be lucky to miss out on this player. People who think this is another Doncic or even Trae Young are going to be in for a shocking surprise. There are too many things he cant do at an NBA level. I know this isn't the strongest draft, but the hype this kid is getting is flat out bizarre

The same Trae young the board swore was to small to make a impact? While hyping up mo bamba and Mikal Bridges?


Lamelo has elite NBA handles and Elite level nba playmaking both of which the Knicks could use right now. Even if he’s not a great shooter he’s got the potential to be a good enough scorer in the NBA and isn’t hesitant to take the shots.

The only point guard in the draft you can really even put close to lamelo is Hayes who’s pretty good all around but 29% from 3 with a slower dribble package is nothing to really flex about either.


Cole nor hailburton are as skilled as either guy but I do feel these are safer pickS For the Knicks.

There were doubts about Trae but I don't think anyone questioned the fact that he had potential as a big time offensive player. Lamelo has stellar playmaking and size but that's all the kid has. He has huge red flags in three categories, three of the biggest categories in the sport. A guy who can't shoot, score, or defend isn't a lottery pick regardless of position and regardless of the caliber of draft. A guy who is a sub 40/30 shooter who can't defend anyone in a league that is frankly a very weak pro league in the NBL. If he was having problems shooting, scoring, and defending as an 18 year old in the Euroleague then I'd get it. If he had problems even in some of the more middling European pro leagues, then I'd still give him the benefit of the doubt. But the NBL? Nah, that's not a good look.