Way too early NBA draft thread 2021

Kukoc-Lauri · Post #761 » by **Kukoc-Lauri** » Sat Mar 13, 2021 8:12 pm

Kawhi,PG, J.O'neal, Mcgrady or recently Siakam,OG, Sabonis,Oladipo,Murray,Trent,Mideltton,Giannis,Graham,Vucevic,Brown,J.Grant. Lot of players improved from being bad/unplayable/bust to just solid to being stars or good players. Most lottery picks is 19 or early 20 yo and need time to develope. In case of Bulls i just dont see White,Carter,Hutchinson,Gafford being impactful players even in their primes.

Brothaman33 · Post #762 » by **Brothaman33** » Sat Mar 13, 2021 8:27 pm

AshyLarrysDiaper wrote:My prisoner-of-the-moment conference championship observations:

- Mobley remains my #1. Felt that way for a couple months but the last two games have more or less sealed it.
- I've liked Cade so much more since I started evaluating him as a high-feel wing rather than a jumbo PG.
- Fading on Wagner.
- I still question the tools but I see what folks mean about Ayo's "it" factor. Seems like he's playing himself into the top 10.
- Let all the Kentucky guys be some other team's problem. Not buying Boston as a late lottery value.
- Suggs' NBA role will be closer to his Gonzaga role than people think: he's the straw that stirs the drink on a deep playoff team. Can't get there with him as a lead initiator. The bar is too high for guys his size.
- Not sure what's going on with him but Ziaire Williams (not playing) is a guy I'd still be thrilled to get after 7 or so.

I like alot of your takes...just a few comments.

- Could not agree more on Mobley, I think he is not being talked about enough. His IQ is what has me super intrigued with his upside. He is also rail thin right now, 2 years in an NBA workout program and eating right, I'd venture to say he has the highest ceiling in the draft. Period. His arms go for miles and he has some put-it-on the floor game as well. It'll take a few years but man does he have serious star potential.

- I'm an Illini junkie and could not love Ayo more, but top 10 is a bit too high. (I do hope he plays himself into the top 10 though lol) I have him in the 15 to 20 range. I see him as a terrific combo guard off the bench who has a 15 year career and everyone loves playing with. He is a killer on the fast break and he is so poised. But I really worry about him keeping up athletically...not even that he's a bad athlete, he is solid, but I don't think he has the lateral and vertical quickness/bounce to propel him into a star at a very deep PG position in the NBA. I pray to God he makes me eat all the crow.

- Agree on Boston...he looks like a kid who thought he could do the same stuff in high school in college. No sir. He can jump though. He should stay another year.

- Suggs looks Conley-ish to me in terms of his impact. 16 and 7 every game and does all the right things but not really the go-to star. He makes all the right passes, never seems rushed and always in control. He seems like one of the more sure fire picks as long as you are not asking him to score 25 a game.

Curious about your thoughts on Franz Wagner and Cade.

I think Cade is going to be great, and at this point people are just sitting around poking holes at him cuz they're bored. IMO playing with NBA talent and a bigger court is going to make him elite at the next level.

LateNight · Post #763 » by **LateNight** » Sat Mar 13, 2021 9:19 pm

Cockburn and Curbelo look good today

TheSuzerain · Post #764 » by **TheSuzerain** » Sat Mar 13, 2021 9:21 pm

Maybe Iowa would have a legit playmaker if they didn't fill 25% of their rotation via nepotism

StunnerKO · Post #765 » by **StunnerKO** » Sat Mar 13, 2021 10:33 pm

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Repeat 3-peat · Post #766 » by **Repeat 3-peat** » Sat Mar 13, 2021 10:53 pm

I like Herb Jones as a round 2 prospect. Long, athletic, great defender,

No-Man · Post #767 » by **No-Man** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 12:45 am

Ayo top what? I wouldn't touch him in the 1st round, top10 is insanity

danzou · Post #768 » by **danzou** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 1:16 am

Fischella wrote:Ayo top what? I wouldn't touch him in the 1st round, top10 is insanity

Sorry but Ayo is most definitely deserving to be a first rounder

TheSuzerain · Post #769 » by **TheSuzerain** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 1:19 am

Curbelo is my guy though. Sorry Ayo.

Threekola · Post #770 » by **Threekola** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 1:30 am

Am I crazy, or would Cockburn have been a top 5 pick 15 years ago? I don’t think he’s a star in the NBA, and not a good fit for us, but I am surprised he’s not at least thought of as a first rounder. I mean, does anybody think he wouldn’t put at least 20 on Wendell?

No-Man · Post #771 » by **No-Man** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 2:22 am

danzou wrote:
Fischella wrote:Ayo top what? I wouldn't touch him in the 1st round, top10 is insanity

Sorry but Ayo is most definitely deserving to be a first rounder

we can agree to disagree but he really isn't, sorry

Post #772 » by **DuckIII** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 2:37 am

TheSuzerain wrote:Curbelo is my guy though. Sorry Ayo.

Me too. So, so entertaining. And he has so much fun doing it, it’s infectious. He’s already one of my top 5 Illini players ever.

Post #773 » by **DuckIII** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 2:38 am

Fischella wrote:
danzou wrote:
Fischella wrote:Ayo top what? I wouldn't touch him in the 1st round, top10 is insanity

Sorry but Ayo is most definitely deserving to be a first rounder

we can agree to disagree but he really isn't, sorry

You’ll end up super wrong about this, but we all do that with some draft prospects.

Post #774 » by **DuckIII** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 2:42 am

Threekola wrote:Am I crazy, or would Cockburn have been a top 5 pick 15 years ago? I don’t think he’s a star in the NBA, and not a good fit for us, but I am surprised he’s not at least thought of as a first rounder. I mean, does anybody think he wouldn’t put at least 20 on Wendell?

I graduated undergrad in 1996. If Kofi graduated that year he’d have gone in the top 10.

I do think he’s playing his way into the early second round though, and a possible rookie contract. Before this season I had him undrafted and heading overseas. And the overseas part might still be his fate. But his defense has improved significantly, especially with his mobility. And his footwork and ability to finish with either hand around the rim are NBA level. But he’s still only going to score from 7 ft and closer and the NBA just doesn’t care about guys like that anymore.

Kukoc-Lauri · Post #775 » by **Kukoc-Lauri** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 4:27 am

Threekola wrote:Am I crazy, or would Cockburn have been a top 5 pick 15 years ago? I don’t think he’s a star in the NBA, and not a good fit for us, but I am surprised he’s not at least thought of as a first rounder. I mean, does anybody think he wouldn’t put at least 20 on Wendell?

I saw that guy only watching Donsumu tape, but if Tony Bradley and Chris Silva
can tortched Wendell zero doubts that Koffi can do the same. He is got size and athlethicism over WCJ for sure

DroseReturnChi · Post #776 » by **DroseReturnChi** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 4:44 am

Fischella wrote:
danzou wrote:
Fischella wrote:Ayo top what? I wouldn't touch him in the 1st round, top10 is insanity

Sorry but Ayo is most definitely deserving to be a first rounder

we can agree to disagree but he really isn't, sorry

yeah keep posting nonsense in bulls board. you dont even watch illini.
if a top 5 seed best player doesnt deserve first round, dont even know what to say.

Post #777 » by **DuckIII** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 4:56 am

DroseReturnChi wrote:
Fischella wrote:
danzou wrote:
Sorry but Ayo is most definitely deserving to be a first rounder

we can agree to disagree but he really isn't, sorry

yeah keep posting nonsense in bulls board. you dont even watch illini.
if a top 5 seed best player doesnt deserve first round, dont even know what to say.

Ayo is not a top 5 prospect in this draft. And Luka Garza is the favorite to win the Wooden Award and might not even get drafted at all.

But Fischella is still wrong.

Jo Jo English · Post #778 » by **Jo Jo English** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 5:01 am

LateNight wrote:Cockburn and Curbelo look good today

I really hope Curbelo develops a better than average NBA three point shot. There is so much to like about him. Just something about that kid.

No matter what it is going to be fun to watch him in Champaign next season.

::Edit::

And just to chime in about Ayo and and Kofi, because why the heck not?

Ayo will VERY likely be a first rounder this year. I'm not crazy about the form on his jumper, but he is a tough kid, has good size and a well-rounded game. He can drive, shoot, and slash. Also a decent defender. A team that needs backcourt depth could do a lot worse than Ayo in the second half of the first round. (To be fair to Ayo, maybe higher than that. I haven't really been following mock drafts.)

I don't know what to make of Kofi's NBA prospects. I guess I am still caught up in the NBA of the '90s. To me he has the look of a first rounder, potentially a lottery pick, but times have changed.

No-Man · Post #779 » by **No-Man** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 1:49 pm

Oh Ayo probably is a 1st rounder by the NBA I am just saying that he shouldn't be

He is just not athletic enough for his game to translate

Almost Retired · Post #780 » by **Almost Retired** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 4:13 pm

Threekola wrote:Am I crazy, or would Cockburn have been a top 5 pick 15 years ago? I don’t think he’s a star in the NBA, and not a good fit for us, but I am surprised he’s not at least thought of as a first rounder. I mean, does anybody think he wouldn’t put at least 20 on Wendell?

Why not a good fit as a bench Center? He would provide everything Carter is lacking: size, rebounding and interior defense. He's huge and while he's not a switchable player able to defend the perimeter Billy D could scheme a defense that utilizes the talents he has. And on the offensive end his offense would be limited to offensive rebound putbacks, but he's not a stiff physically. He could learn some basic moves to make him a threat inside. I think in time he'd be a nightmare for most bench centers to contend with, and even a few starting Centers. I would wager that Billy could insert him in the lineup tomorrow and he wouldn't be clubbed like a baby seal by 2nd and 3rd team Centers like they are doing to Wendell and our other so called Centers. And there one or two Mocks that have him going in the late First, but most have him as a second Rounder. If we could pick up two of the Pelican's second Rounders I''d take Cockburn to help off the bench right away, Hukporti as our Center of the future after stashing him in Europe for 2 more years, and Isaiah Todd.

If we manage to get 3rd pick who do you draft?