2020 NBA Draft Thread

[Darth Celtic]

If Ainge trades Langford and a pick to move up like a few spots he's braindead. Lewis looks amazing, only concern would be that he's pretty frail and would end up being a liability in a playoff series like every other small-ish guard. He has the height and wingspan you want, though. Saddiq Bey would be a safer bet, but Lewis has a way, way higher ceiling.

I really like the middle of draft so don't really see any reason to move up when it's all the same level of player from 1-15. And to give up a high-upside player like Langford? Nah. I would hate to have the first pick in this draft. No one wants it and the guy taken at 15th is likely to be just as good while making 6-8 mil less per season.

This. All of this.

There's nobody that I like from 5-8 much more than the guys who would be available at 14 save 2 prospects: Hayes and Ball. Short of us getting one of them, I'm good with waiting to see what falls to us at 14.

If Weisman falls to 7. Do you change your mind and what would you trade to move up?

[100proof]

If Ainge trades Langford and a pick to move up like a few spots he's braindead. Lewis looks amazing, only concern would be that he's pretty frail and would end up being a liability in a playoff series like every other small-ish guard. He has the height and wingspan you want, though. Saddiq Bey would be a safer bet, but Lewis has a way, way higher ceiling.

I really like the middle of draft so don't really see any reason to move up when it's all the same level of player from 1-15. And to give up a high-upside player like Langford? Nah. I would hate to have the first pick in this draft. No one wants it and the guy taken at 15th is likely to be just as good while making 6-8 mil less per season.

This. All of this.

There's nobody that I like from 5-8 much more than the guys who would be available at 14 save 2 prospects: Hayes and Ball. Short of us getting one of them, I'm good with waiting to see what falls to us at 14.

If Weisman falls to 7. Do you change your mind and what would you trade to move up?

I would hope they would.

[100proof]

had a dream last night we drafted Wiseman. and reshuffled the bench around but went into next season with

Kemba/Smart/Brown/Tatum/Hayward/Theis/Wiseman and brought in IT on a vet min contract to backup kemba as a change of pace guard.

[bucknersrevenge]

If Ainge trades Langford and a pick to move up like a few spots he's braindead. Lewis looks amazing, only concern would be that he's pretty frail and would end up being a liability in a playoff series like every other small-ish guard. He has the height and wingspan you want, though. Saddiq Bey would be a safer bet, but Lewis has a way, way higher ceiling.

I really like the middle of draft so don't really see any reason to move up when it's all the same level of player from 1-15. And to give up a high-upside player like Langford? Nah. I would hate to have the first pick in this draft. No one wants it and the guy taken at 15th is likely to be just as good while making 6-8 mil less per season.

This. All of this.

There's nobody that I like from 5-8 much more than the guys who would be available at 14 save 2 prospects: Hayes and Ball. Short of us getting one of them, I'm good with waiting to see what falls to us at 14.

If Weisman falls to 7. Do you change your mind and what would you trade to move up?

Good question.

Wiseman? No. Not a believer in him nor in using a high pick on a big who can only guard one position IMO and not a generational offensive talent. We all know true bigs take the longest to develop in this league and unless they're a one of a kind (and nothing I've seen from Wiseman says he is), why bother? Plus I'm realistic enough to know that even if I liked him, Brad really doesn't have much use for bigs like him. I want offensive, combustible, firepower or suitable facsimile.

Bigs I like in this draft: Paul Reed, Killian Tillie, Reggie Perry. Otherwise, I would rather stick with the guys we got or go after HGIII in free agency. In fact, believe it or not, I'd take HGIII over any big in this draft right now.

[playa-hater]

This. All of this.

There's nobody that I like from 5-8 much more than the guys who would be available at 14 save 2 prospects: Hayes and Ball. Short of us getting one of them, I'm good with waiting to see what falls to us at 14.

If Weisman falls to 7. Do you change your mind and what would you trade to move up?

Good question.

Wiseman? No. Not a believer in him nor in using a high pick on a big who can only guard one position IMO and not a generational offensive talent. We all know true bigs take the longest to develop in this league and unless they're a one of a kind (and nothing I've seen from Wiseman says he is), why bother? Plus I'm realistic enough to know that even if I liked him, Brad really doesn't have much use for bigs like him. I want offensive, combustible, firepower or suitable facsimile.

Bigs I like in this draft: Paul Reed, Killian Tillie, Reggie Perry. Otherwise, I would rather stick with the guys we got or go after HGIII in free agency. In fact, believe it or not, I'd take HGIII over any big in this draft right now.

Almost exactly my thoughts

[djFan71]

If Weisman falls to 7. Do you change your mind and what would you trade to move up?

Good question.

Wiseman? No. Not a believer in him nor in using a high pick on a big who can only guard one position IMO and not a generational offensive talent. We all know true bigs take the longest to develop in this league and unless they're a one of a kind (and nothing I've seen from Wiseman says he is), why bother? Plus I'm realistic enough to know that even if I liked him, Brad really doesn't have much use for bigs like him. I want offensive, combustible, firepower or suitable facsimile.

Bigs I like in this draft: Paul Reed, Killian Tillie, Reggie Perry. Otherwise, I would rather stick with the guys we got or go after HGIII in free agency. In fact, believe it or not, I'd take HGIII over any big in this draft right now.

Almost exactly my thoughts

Would Okongwu interest either of you in a trade up scenario? For cost-sake, pretend it's 14, 26, 47. So we only get Okongwu & 30.

EDIT: I agree with that as well, Reed's my binkie. But, I am strongly Okongwu lusty as well.

[bucknersrevenge]

Good question.

Wiseman? No. Not a believer in him nor in using a high pick on a big who can only guard one position IMO and not a generational offensive talent. We all know true bigs take the longest to develop in this league and unless they're a one of a kind (and nothing I've seen from Wiseman says he is), why bother? Plus I'm realistic enough to know that even if I liked him, Brad really doesn't have much use for bigs like him. I want offensive, combustible, firepower or suitable facsimile.

Bigs I like in this draft: Paul Reed, Killian Tillie, Reggie Perry. Otherwise, I would rather stick with the guys we got or go after HGIII in free agency. In fact, believe it or not, I'd take HGIII over any big in this draft right now.

Almost exactly my thoughts

Would Okongwu interest either of you in a trade up scenario? For cost-sake, pretend it's 14, 26, 47. So we only get Okongwu & 30.

EDIT: I agree with that as well, Reed's my binkie. But, I am strongly Okongwu lusty as well.

For me it's gonna be a no dawg.

Yeah I'm gonna defer back to my previous comments.

[Captain_Caveman]

Celts like the idea of trading up for Okongwu, Okoro, or Vassell?

Just going to quote myself a minute here, lol.

[djFan71]

Almost exactly my thoughts

Would Okongwu interest either of you in a trade up scenario? For cost-sake, pretend it's 14, 26, 47. So we only get Okongwu & 30.

EDIT: I agree with that as well, Reed's my binkie. But, I am strongly Okongwu lusty as well.

For me it's gonna be a no dawg.

Yeah I'm gonna defer back to my previous comments.

I'm with you on Wiseman. For Okongwu, I might change my tune.

[captain green]

I don't have Reed as a 1st round draft pick maybe at 30 at the highest. I'd be ok with him at 30 depends who falls though.

[leper-con]

Celts like the idea of trading up for Okongwu, Okoro, or Vassell?

Just going to quote myself a minute here, lol.

are these "a little birdie" whispers?

[bucknersrevenge]

I don't have Reed as a 1st round draft pick maybe at 30 at the highest. I'd be ok with him at 30 depends who falls though.

I'd take Reed at 26 and not think twice. He's like everything Brad wants in a player his size.

[Captain_Caveman]

Celts like the idea of trading up for Okongwu, Okoro, or Vassell?

Just going to quote myself a minute here, lol.

are these "a little birdie" whispers?

I dunno. Just something to keep on eye on in the 6-8 range, I guess.

[leper-con]

I like what I’ve been reading on Okongwu
Seems like that Collins fellow from Atlanta which would solve a real area of weakness on this team.

[Spin Move]

FT percentage is a better indicator of NBA shooting then 3 point percentage

This might or might not make good sense in theory, but it doesn't tend to check out IMO. Great three point shooters are often also good or great free throw shooters, but it doesn't work that well the other way around.

I pointed out just the other day, as freshmen in college, Paul Pierce shot 61%, Steve Kerr shot 69%, Jason Richardson shot 55%, Jason Kapono shot 68%, Robert Horry shot 64%, Reggie Miller shot 64%. Joe Harris shot 64% as a senior. Oh, and Ray Allen, as a sophomore, shot 72.7% from the line, a tiny bit lower than Bey's percentage the past two years. I'm sure the list goes on a lot longer.

By comparison, Marvin Williams, Francisco Garcia, Ben McLemore, Robbie Hummel, Salim Stoudamire, Melo Trimble, and hundreds of other fringe prospects and guys you never heard of shot better than 85%. Shammond Williams shot 91%.

Hitting a free throw is like hitting a shot in practice, but come game time, there is much more going on. There are added mental components and even physical components.

Statistically its a true statment, this is one of the early Daryl Morey things, its been documented numerous times there are exceptions to every rule, For example in citing your steve kerr example, as a freshman he hardly ever got to the line he took 52 free throws, however if you look overall at his college carrer he shot 81.5% The problem with freshman free throw percentage for non stars is an extremely limited sample size, both the players we are talking about are not effected by it. https://medium.com/push-the-pace/fact-or-fiction-is-college-free-throw-percentage-better-than-college-three-point-percentage-at-8c77a7e3f09a

[captain green]

I don't have Reed as a 1st round draft pick maybe at 30 at the highest. I'd be ok with him at 30 depends who falls though.

I'd take Reed at 26 and not think twice. He's like everything Brad wants in a player his size.

Depaul, 22 years old, every shot looks weird and broken. Wild player if contained or convinced not to flail around or push his shots than maybe a low level thadius at 26( could do worse) I feel we can get more stable player. He is # 50 on b/r bgi board 34th on nbadraft read an article dudes has him at 25th that I highest I've seen so far. Not think twice means your pretty sure on him, I can't share that opinion but if he hits on all cylinders I won't be mad about it. Lot of ifs for my liking at 26 nope but 30 is my limit depending on who is left.

[Spin Move]

Don't love anyone who will likley be there at 14, we need to trade up or out of the spot unless someone takes a big drop, if Jalen smith is really going to be gone by 16 or 17 I guess him, but not in love with anyone there, I would bundle all 3 to move up if possible.

Nesmith seems like the best rotation player, if Gordo drops out he fills in as a 3 and D wing,

1. Nesmith, really good shooter, ready made nba skill, solid size...small chance to become a star but possible
2. Precious, great athlete and elite rebounding rate, can 7'2 wingspan, but a bad shooter, same age as Azabukie even though he has been around forever. Not really a true freshman not clear if he can ever be an average 3 point shooter as he shot 59% from the line
of those 5, could be an eventual Thies replacement given his speed size and switchability averaged a combined 3 blocks/steals per game, that combo tends to be predictive of NBA success and that is a really good number for it. He is a switchable modern big, the issue will be scoring.

Lewis is only 170lbs he will get murdered by bigger players on switches. Bey is not athletic enough to be a really good perimeter defender in the nba, Williams is a good project....for another team not so close to winning. I like Jalen smith more then those 3, not sure either Nesmith or Anchiwa will be available at 14.

I personally think Detroit is open to trading their pick if they aren't sold on Killian hayes or the Knicks if they can't trade up, and I'm a big believer in Nesmith. How does Romeo, #14 and #30 plus semi sound (my eyes overpay but worth for high-end bench player or solid rotation to fill Gordon's role with the passing falling to tatum)

If we are trading up to 7 I would want Wisman or Okungwo, we could probably move up a couple spots to say 11 or 12 with 1 pick and get Nesmith Consensus mock has him at #18, nba draft.net has him at 13, we don't need to get to 7 to get him, 10 at the highest.

[100proof]

Paul reed?

6foot9 220 pound paul reed with no shooting touch or form at all?

Pf paul reed?

Better than Wiseman?

Am i high right now?

Ill be shocked if reed ends up a top 25 player in this draft. Shocked.

[threrf23]

Statistically its a true statment, this is one of the early Daryl Morey things, its been documented numerous times there are exceptions to every rule, For example in citing your steve kerr example, as a freshman he hardly ever got to the line he took 52 free throws, however if you look overall at his college carrer he shot 81.5% The problem with freshman free throw percentage for non stars is an extremely limited sample size, both the players we are talking about are not effected by it. https://medium.com/push-the-pace/fact-or-fiction-is-college-free-throw-percentage-better-than-college-three-point-percentage-at-8c77a7e3f09a

I just don't buy it. I am sure that FT% tends to be correlated with three point shooting performance; that does not mean it is an indicator of a good three point shooter. And it certainly does not mean that it is a better indicator than actual three point shooting.

I'm not saying Steve Kerr was a bad three point shooter (edit - FT shooter). And I mean, Steve Novak was an historically elite three throw (edit - free throw) shooter, Kyle Korver was elite, Steph Curry was/is an excellent free throw shooter. But if you needed to look at their FT% to know those guys were great three point shooters, you had issues. It figures that these guys would be great FT shooters, it doesn't figure that Brad Wanamaker would turn into Steph Curry if he shot more, just because he shoots a great FT%.

Now, on a grand scale, glancing at FT% might work better than glancing at 3PT% in terms of predicting a player's shooting ability, in part because FT% is theoretically much less affected by age and development curve and spacing and defense. Therefore there is less context to analyze incorrectly or overlook.

btw, Markus Howard projects as a Steph Curry caliber shooter by almost any measure, I'd love for us to walk away with him.

[TheMartian]

Is there a knockdown shooter like Herro in this draft? Is Nesmith that guy?