Thank Nation! Pre-Lottery: Denver 9th, NY pick 7th (PART 4)

[Kevin Willis]

I'm fairly certain Coach Cal hasn't had one first round draft pick bust out in 7 years. The Harrisons were exposed and went later than the first round if I recall. James Young is still young enough to get it going (drafted 2 seasons ago at 19 and stuck behind one of the most crowded perimeter rotations in the league) but even kids that had some small question marks like Lyles and Booker made their marks quicker than expected. WCS came on late last year. Randle is already shaping up to be what he was projected to be. KAT is better than expected. Noel is what people thought he'd be. MKG is the Gerald Wallace type he was projected to be. Kanter has figured it out. 2Pat is an elite role player. Knight, Bledsoe and Wall kept getting better and became star PGs. Terence Jones is kind of a poor man's Ibaka when not hurt. Heck, even Archie Goodwin looks like a solid pick. Highly recruited kids (Skal was a top 2 recruit) with NBA-level athleticism at their positions who spend time with Coach Cal at Kentucky don't tend to disappoint long-term. He institutes an NBA-friendly system and prepares them for life as pros.

Skal's disappointing freshmen season is literally the blessing in disguise situation you want to have happen when picking where we are. In the past, at 9 you could just gamble on the High School star with upside (McGrady/Amare) and hope for that rapid development but with 1 and dones the kids who deliver quickly go top 5. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R0eFmSoGvU&sns[/youtube] Coach Cal tried to do for Skal what worked for KAT. He tried to develop him in the post more. Unlike KAT (because he isn't a generational freak like KAT), it took longer and he fell back on his strengths as a pick and pop guy and rim protector. Cal probably wants him to stay another season and will sell him on the growth WCS and others had by doing so.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtnyG6TMO4Q&sns[/youtube]

I hope he comes out though and I hope we take the gamble because this team needs some home run attempts and banking on a top 2 high school recruit 6'11 dude with Amare athleticism measurements who moves like Noel and averaged over 4 blocks per 40 while showcasing rare shooting touch at age 19 and having spent time with Coach Cal at Kentucky is about the most exciting gamble at 9 we could make.

There are always exceptions and Skal has the stats to show he can be the exception. Cal gives his players opportunity at some point to shine. Skal is one of those few players he gave opportunity to and didn't shine. Cal gave Murray a hard time, harder than he gave Skal. Murray had more limitations than some of Cal's other PG/SG (Rose/Wall, MKG, Knight, Bledsoe, etc.) but he got better. Skal's numbers aren't even good on a per 40 basis - worse than Check Diallo!! Different players of course but that's not encouraging. Plus Skal is 20 years old, same age as Bruno.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Ryan Anderson potential?

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0E2i_2b13k[/youtube]

I posted about him months ago and no one batted an eyelash. He's not Ryan Anderson at all. He can block shots and get steals. Anderson is pretty much a shooter, but this guy does more. He projects more as a less athletic Terrence Jones.

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[artsncrafts]

When is the lottery ?

[deeps6x]

Another way of thinking about it now that we've all spent more time getting to look at how an elite face up prospect can be integrated on a playoff team. Are you impressed with Myles Turner's mix of face up game and net protection? Do you think Indiana stole him late lotto last year and that he will be much better in the coming years? I'd say that coming out of college Myles Turner had some of the same strengths and perhaps more concerning weaknesses than Skal. Turner was longer and bulkier and had shown more 3 point shooting range but is/was less mobile overall than Skal is and seems to have a lower bball IQ (or used to anyway).

Man I almost fairly certain we and Masai more importantly takes Skal at 9. He gives us a lot of what the starting line up is missing and fits the defensive narrative we want to implement. Probably the best shot blocker in college basketball at 19yrs who is a PF is sitting at 9 and the raps are going to pass on him? No way.

I also think he is not as big of a project as it's being made out to be and probably won't have to play a lot in the 905 this year. We started Powell for several games and have had a rotating door at pf the whole season. Skal can come in here next yr and start for us in the same manner freaking scola started for us. If Skal is able to stay on the floor and not pick up fouls, then he can start for us. We have guys who can throw him lobs and he already has the pick n pop midrange game so our offense suits him.

Defensively he can hedge out aggressively and switch on to guards and not be on an island. He's too perfect next to val. His vertical game next to Val has me drooling. Teams won't be able to adjust to that or even compensate. Plus he has so much room to grow.

Skal will be a Raptor, i'm quite certain of it.

I looked at Turner as a great potential addition on D. He wasn't a super efficient shooter, but he did have 3 point range. College 3 at least. But he was a great rebounder and shot blocker, and his DRtg was great. BPM was pretty good as well. Davis is kind of the Turner of this draft.

Turner also was a very high motor player. Rabb was the same, which is why I wanted him. Skal and Davis are a step down motor wise.

I've added Turner's college numbers for comparison.

11.8 TRB, N/A 3pt%, .598 FG%, .598 eFG%, 16.1 Pts, 1.6 Ast, 0.6 Stl, 3.9 Blk, .601 TS%, 23.9 PER, ORtg 121.4, DRtg 90.9, BPM 10.8. D Davis

11.9 TRB, N/A 3pt%, .615 FG%, .616 eFG%, 17.5 Pts, 1.3 Ast, 0.7 Stl, 1.7 Blk, .636 TS%, 24.2 PER, ORtg 124.8, DRtg 95.3, BPM 8.7. Ivan Rabb

8.6 TRB, .350 3pt%, .530 FG%, .561 eFG%, 22.1 Pts, 1.2 Ast, 1.5 Stl, 2.2 Blk, .585 TS%, 21.7 PER, ORtg 112.0, DRtg 102.2, BPM 5.9. Chriss

8.9 TRB, .329 3pt%, .462 FG%, .510 eFG%, 25.4 Pts, 1.3 Ast, 1.0 Stl, 1.2 Blk, .567 TS%, 24.7 PER, ORtg 115.6, DRtg 99.8, BPM 6.7. Ben Bentil

11.6 TRB, .288 3pt%, .446 FG%, .480 eFG%, 20.3 Pts, 2.1 Ast, 1.0 Stl, 1.8 Blk, .534 TS%, 20.9 PER, ORtg 106.3, DRtg 98.5, BPM 3.6. Ellenson

8.0 TRB, N/A 3pt%, .516 FG%, .516 eFG%, 16.7 Pts, 0.8 Ast, 0.6 Stl, 4.2 Blk, .540 TS%, 18.5 PER, ORtg 107.8, DRtg 96.9, BPM 5.2. Skal Labissiere

12.7 TRB, .250 3pt%, .566 FG%, .570 eFG%, 19.5 Pts, 2.1 Ast, 0.9 Stl, 4.3 Blk, .627 TS%, 31.4 PER, ORtg 126.8, DRtg 78.1, BPM 17.3. KAT

11.8 TRB, .274 3pt%, .455 FG%, .488 eFG%, 18.3 Pts, 1.1 Ast, 0.5 Stl, 4.7 Blk, .556 TS%, 25.5 PER, ORtg 112.6, DRtg 86.3, BPM 8.7. Myles Turner

When you say you want Skal because he is a shot blocker, you must be ignoring that Davis is right there with Skal for blocks/40. Both are superior to the rest of the draft class. However, Davis is a better shooter, a much better rebounder, a better defender, hell, everything is better except for shot blocking. And Davis is almost a year younger. And not a foul machine.

I just don't see how Masai could take Skal over Davis based on current info. Maybe Skal blows everyone away in the combine/workouts/interviews and gets an edge there, but otherwise... why would we pick him?

[BoyzNTheHood]

I'm fairly certain Coach Cal hasn't had one first round draft pick bust out in 7 years. The Harrisons were exposed and went later than the first round if I recall. James Young is still young enough to get it going (drafted 2 seasons ago at 19 and stuck behind one of the most crowded perimeter rotations in the league) but even kids that had some small question marks like Lyles and Booker made their marks quicker than expected. WCS came on late last year. Randle is already shaping up to be what he was projected to be. KAT is better than expected. Noel is what people thought he'd be. MKG is the Gerald Wallace type he was projected to be. Kanter has figured it out. 2Pat is an elite role player. Knight, Bledsoe and Wall kept getting better and became star PGs. Terence Jones is kind of a poor man's Ibaka when not hurt. Heck, even Archie Goodwin looks like a solid pick. Highly recruited kids (Skal was a top 2 recruit) with NBA-level athleticism at their positions who spend time with Coach Cal at Kentucky don't tend to disappoint long-term. He institutes an NBA-friendly system and prepares them for life as pros.

Skal's disappointing freshmen season is literally the blessing in disguise situation you want to have happen when picking where we are. In the past, at 9 you could just gamble on the High School star with upside (McGrady/Amare) and hope for that rapid development but with 1 and dones the kids who deliver quickly go top 5. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R0eFmSoGvU&sns[/youtube] Coach Cal tried to do for Skal what worked for KAT. He tried to develop him in the post more. Unlike KAT (because he isn't a generational freak like KAT), it took longer and he fell back on his strengths as a pick and pop guy and rim protector. Cal probably wants him to stay another season and will sell him on the growth WCS and others had by doing so.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtnyG6TMO4Q&sns[/youtube]

I hope he comes out though and I hope we take the gamble because this team needs some home run attempts and banking on a top 2 high school recruit 6'11 dude with Amare athleticism measurements who moves like Noel and averaged over 4 blocks per 40 while showcasing rare shooting touch at age 19 and having spent time with Coach Cal at Kentucky is about the most exciting gamble at 9 we could make.

He won't bust like people think. He'll be better than people think. In the NBA he'll have a chance to properly develop and show his skills. I'm willing to go out on a limb and bet that he has a better rookie year than WCS.

Cal didn't use him effectively at UK but if he can get some run in the D-League and the NBA like Norm has he'll show what he can do. This is not your average kid. He's been through more than anyone else in this draft could dream of. Basketball can't do anything worse than what happened to him in Haiti.

Also, as a side note, I've seen him trying out that Dirk high leg fade away which could become VERY interesting when paired with his jump hook and already soft touch on his jump shot.

If he's there and we pass on him we'll be sorry.

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[zilby]

Yes, thread title should be updated with date of lottery!

Now that Rabb's out, my guess is the attention shifts to Skal and Sabonis. Unless Masai's plan is to trade Terrence Ross, I have zero doubts we're taking a PF in this draft.

[DreamTeam09]

Another way of thinking about it now that we've all spent more time getting to look at how an elite face up prospect can be integrated on a playoff team. Are you impressed with Myles Turner's mix of face up game and net protection? Do you think Indiana stole him late lotto last year and that he will be much better in the coming years? I'd say that coming out of college Myles Turner had some of the same strengths and perhaps more concerning weaknesses than Skal. Turner was longer and bulkier and had shown more 3 point shooting range but is/was less mobile overall than Skal is and seems to have a lower bball IQ (or used to anyway).

Man I almost fairly certain we and Masai more importantly takes Skal at 9. He gives us a lot of what the starting line up is missing and fits the defensive narrative we want to implement. Probably the best shot blocker in college basketball at 19yrs who is a PF is sitting at 9 and the raps are going to pass on him? No way.

I also think he is not as big of a project as it's being made out to be and probably won't have to play a lot in the 905 this year. We started Powell for several games and have had a rotating door at pf the whole season. Skal can come in here next yr and start for us in the same manner freaking scola started for us. If Skal is able to stay on the floor and not pick up fouls, then he can start for us. We have guys who can throw him lobs and he already has the pick n pop midrange game so our offense suits him.

Defensively he can hedge out aggressively and switch on to guards and not be on an island. He's too perfect next to val. His vertical game next to Val has me drooling. Teams won't be able to adjust to that or even compensate. Plus he has so much room to grow.

Skal will be a Raptor, i'm quite certain of it.

I looked at Turner as a great potential addition on D. He wasn't a super efficient shooter, but he did have 3 point range. College 3 at least. But he was a great rebounder and shot blocker, and his DRtg was great. BPM was pretty good as well. Davis is kind of the Turner of this draft.

Turner also was a very high motor player. Rabb was the same, which is why I wanted him. Skal and Davis are a step down motor wise.

I've added Turner's college numbers for comparison.

11.8 TRB, N/A 3pt%, .598 FG%, .598 eFG%, 16.1 Pts, 1.6 Ast, 0.6 Stl, 3.9 Blk, .601 TS%, 23.9 PER, ORtg 121.4, DRtg 90.9, BPM 10.8. D Davis

11.9 TRB, N/A 3pt%, .615 FG%, .616 eFG%, 17.5 Pts, 1.3 Ast, 0.7 Stl, 1.7 Blk, .636 TS%, 24.2 PER, ORtg 124.8, DRtg 95.3, BPM 8.7. Ivan Rabb

8.6 TRB, .350 3pt%, .530 FG%, .561 eFG%, 22.1 Pts, 1.2 Ast, 1.5 Stl, 2.2 Blk, .585 TS%, 21.7 PER, ORtg 112.0, DRtg 102.2, BPM 5.9. Chriss

8.9 TRB, .329 3pt%, .462 FG%, .510 eFG%, 25.4 Pts, 1.3 Ast, 1.0 Stl, 1.2 Blk, .567 TS%, 24.7 PER, ORtg 115.6, DRtg 99.8, BPM 6.7. Ben Bentil

11.6 TRB, .288 3pt%, .446 FG%, .480 eFG%, 20.3 Pts, 2.1 Ast, 1.0 Stl, 1.8 Blk, .534 TS%, 20.9 PER, ORtg 106.3, DRtg 98.5, BPM 3.6. Ellenson

8.0 TRB, N/A 3pt%, .516 FG%, .516 eFG%, 16.7 Pts, 0.8 Ast, 0.6 Stl, 4.2 Blk, .540 TS%, 18.5 PER, ORtg 107.8, DRtg 96.9, BPM 5.2. Skal Labissiere

12.7 TRB, .250 3pt%, .566 FG%, .570 eFG%, 19.5 Pts, 2.1 Ast, 0.9 Stl, 4.3 Blk, .627 TS%, 31.4 PER, ORtg 126.8, DRtg 78.1, BPM 17.3. KAT

11.8 TRB, .274 3pt%, .455 FG%, .488 eFG%, 18.3 Pts, 1.1 Ast, 0.5 Stl, 4.7 Blk, .556 TS%, 25.5 PER, ORtg 112.6, DRtg 86.3, BPM 8.7. Myles Turner

When you say you want Skal because he is a shot blocker, you must be ignoring that Davis is right there with Skal for blocks/40. Both are superior to the rest of the draft class. However, Davis is a better shooter, a much better rebounder, a better defender, hell, everything is better except for shot blocking. And Davis is almost a year younger. And not a foul machine.

I just don't see how Masai could take Skal over Davis based on current info. Maybe Skal blows everyone away in the combine/workouts/interviews and gets an edge there, but otherwise... why would we pick him?

Haven't really payed attention to Davis because I too get the Amir vibe from him. I take Skal over Davis on the length alone if they're both great shot blockers. What I really like about Skal besides the length is his ability to hedge and switch onto smaller players. How's Davis at those things? I really could be sleeping on Davis tho, I even like Chriss more than him.

[Treadmill_Team]

we literally have the worst chances in the history of the lotto to get a top 3 pick. No point of watching the lottery. We are picking 9 or 10.

[artsncrafts]

we literally have the worst chances in the history of the lotto to get a top 3 pick. No point of watching the lottery. We are picking 9 or 10.

[LJKO]

Luwawa or Skal are my picks; Damn Rabb why go back

[deeps6x]

Man I almost fairly certain we and Masai more importantly takes Skal at 9. He gives us a lot of what the starting line up is missing and fits the defensive narrative we want to implement. Probably the best shot blocker in college basketball at 19yrs who is a PF is sitting at 9 and the raps are going to pass on him? No way.

I also think he is not as big of a project as it's being made out to be and probably won't have to play a lot in the 905 this year. We started Powell for several games and have had a rotating door at pf the whole season. Skal can come in here next yr and start for us in the same manner freaking scola started for us. If Skal is able to stay on the floor and not pick up fouls, then he can start for us. We have guys who can throw him lobs and he already has the pick n pop midrange game so our offense suits him.

Defensively he can hedge out aggressively and switch on to guards and not be on an island. He's too perfect next to val. His vertical game next to Val has me drooling. Teams won't be able to adjust to that or even compensate. Plus he has so much room to grow.

Skal will be a Raptor, i'm quite certain of it.

I looked at Turner as a great potential addition on D. He wasn't a super efficient shooter, but he did have 3 point range. College 3 at least. But he was a great rebounder and shot blocker, and his DRtg was great. BPM was pretty good as well. Davis is kind of the Turner of this draft.

Turner also was a very high motor player. Rabb was the same, which is why I wanted him. Skal and Davis are a step down motor wise.

I've added Turner's college numbers for comparison.

11.8 TRB, N/A 3pt%, .598 FG%, .598 eFG%, 16.1 Pts, 1.6 Ast, 0.6 Stl, 3.9 Blk, .601 TS%, 23.9 PER, ORtg 121.4, DRtg 90.9, BPM 10.8. D Davis

11.9 TRB, N/A 3pt%, .615 FG%, .616 eFG%, 17.5 Pts, 1.3 Ast, 0.7 Stl, 1.7 Blk, .636 TS%, 24.2 PER, ORtg 124.8, DRtg 95.3, BPM 8.7. Ivan Rabb

8.6 TRB, .350 3pt%, .530 FG%, .561 eFG%, 22.1 Pts, 1.2 Ast, 1.5 Stl, 2.2 Blk, .585 TS%, 21.7 PER, ORtg 112.0, DRtg 102.2, BPM 5.9. Chriss

8.9 TRB, .329 3pt%, .462 FG%, .510 eFG%, 25.4 Pts, 1.3 Ast, 1.0 Stl, 1.2 Blk, .567 TS%, 24.7 PER, ORtg 115.6, DRtg 99.8, BPM 6.7. Ben Bentil

11.6 TRB, .288 3pt%, .446 FG%, .480 eFG%, 20.3 Pts, 2.1 Ast, 1.0 Stl, 1.8 Blk, .534 TS%, 20.9 PER, ORtg 106.3, DRtg 98.5, BPM 3.6. Ellenson

8.0 TRB, N/A 3pt%, .516 FG%, .516 eFG%, 16.7 Pts, 0.8 Ast, 0.6 Stl, 4.2 Blk, .540 TS%, 18.5 PER, ORtg 107.8, DRtg 96.9, BPM 5.2. Skal Labissiere

12.7 TRB, .250 3pt%, .566 FG%, .570 eFG%, 19.5 Pts, 2.1 Ast, 0.9 Stl, 4.3 Blk, .627 TS%, 31.4 PER, ORtg 126.8, DRtg 78.1, BPM 17.3. KAT

11.8 TRB, .274 3pt%, .455 FG%, .488 eFG%, 18.3 Pts, 1.1 Ast, 0.5 Stl, 4.7 Blk, .556 TS%, 25.5 PER, ORtg 112.6, DRtg 86.3, BPM 8.7. Myles Turner

When you say you want Skal because he is a shot blocker, you must be ignoring that Davis is right there with Skal for blocks/40. Both are superior to the rest of the draft class. However, Davis is a better shooter, a much better rebounder, a better defender, hell, everything is better except for shot blocking. And Davis is almost a year younger. And not a foul machine.

I just don't see how Masai could take Skal over Davis based on current info. Maybe Skal blows everyone away in the combine/workouts/interviews and gets an edge there, but otherwise... why would we pick him?

Haven't really payed attention to Davis because I too get the Amir vibe from him. I take Skal over Davis on the length alone if they're both great shot blockers. What I really like about Skal besides the length is his ability to hedge and switch onto smaller players. How's Davis at those things? I really could be sleeping on Davis tho, I even like Chriss more than him.

Davis is very good at those things. Very good.

Looking forward to the draft combine measurements. From what I can tell, Skal and Davis have the same wingspan.

I just read Chad Ford's write up on Davis:
"Labrisiere's ability to stretch the floor out past the 3 point line gives him the slight edge among some scouts. But Davis is a more explosive athlete and shot blocker"

Chad must have been watching Skal shoot 3s in practice or something cuz he didn't make any in the regular season.

[CoachJReturns]

Another way of thinking about it now that we've all spent more time getting to look at how an elite face up prospect can be integrated on a playoff team. Are you impressed with Myles Turner's mix of face up game and net protection? Do you think Indiana stole him late lotto last year and that he will be much better in the coming years? I'd say that coming out of college Myles Turner had some of the same strengths and perhaps more concerning weaknesses than Skal. Turner was longer and bulkier and had shown more 3 point shooting range but is/was less mobile overall than Skal is and seems to have a lower bball IQ (or used to anyway).

Man I almost fairly certain we and Masai more importantly takes Skal at 9. He gives us a lot of what the starting line up is missing and fits the defensive narrative we want to implement. Probably the best shot blocker in college basketball at 19yrs who is a PF is sitting at 9 and the raps are going to pass on him? No way.

I also think he is not as big of a project as it's being made out to be and probably won't have to play a lot in the 905 this year. We started Powell for several games and have had a rotating door at pf the whole season. Skal can come in here next yr and start for us in the same manner freaking scola started for us. If Skal is able to stay on the floor and not pick up fouls, then he can start for us. We have guys who can throw him lobs and he already has the pick n pop midrange game so our offense suits him.

Defensively he can hedge out aggressively and switch on to guards and not be on an island. He's too perfect next to val. His vertical game next to Val has me drooling. Teams won't be able to adjust to that or even compensate. Plus he has so much room to grow.

Skal will be a Raptor, i'm quite certain of it.

Powell needed time to work on his shot, but physically was ready from day 1. Skal's body is nowhere near ready to play in the NBA. He will be with the 905 if Masai picks him, as will just about any other prospect.

[Smalltown]

I'm all over Skal if we don't move up. Too much potential there to ignore. Another reason i think it's Skal or Luwawu is because they're french. The Raptors want to keep expanding on their "Canada's team" image and having a player who can do interviews and promos in french is huge within the Quebec Market.

Now you don't draft them because they're french. But it is another "pro" that i'm sure the Raptors brass is not overlooking.

[Dalek]

Yes, thread title should be updated with date of lottery!

Now that Rabb's out, my guess is the attention shifts to Skal and Sabonis. Unless Masai's plan is to trade Terrence Ross, I have zero doubts we're taking a PF in this draft.

Honestly, I think we will go draft and stash in Europe. The guy I have been following quite a bit is Ante Zizic. He is only 19 and playing in the Adriatic League averaging 13 and 8 with 1.4 blocks. At this stage is a rim runner on offense and a decent screener and high energy defender. I mean the guy is so young, and with the right support he could extend his game.

At 6-11, 240 he could evolve into a PF because of his mobility but he will have to add to his game more. He is a 70% freethrow shooter, so he has some pick and pop potential. I like his long-term upside. I kind of think of him as a potential Nikola Jokic, who I think was well-underrated in his draftclass.

Jokic at 19 also played in the Adriactic League
15 PPG 9 Rebs and .9 Blocks

Zizic
13 PPG 8 Rebs and 1.4 Blocks

Difference is that Jokic shot 34% on threes so he can stretch defenses more. I could see Zizic topping out as a more of an Alex Len type, but that is just fine. Long-term is a good asset to have and he doesn't cost us capspace this year if he stays overseas.

[sule]

we literally have the worst chances in the history of the lotto to get a top 3 pick. No point of watching the lottery. We are picking 9 or 10.

The Andrew Wiggins draft and the Derrick Rose draft both had the pre-lottery 9th team winning. The 7th or 8th place Clippers also won for the Blake Griffin draft.

That's like 3x in the last 9 years. Now, while previous years statistically have no bearing on the outcome this year, it does provide a more optimistic outlook than the doom and gloom you're moping around about. Literally, the only way this draft lottery could be a disaster would be if two teams below us jumped ahead taking us out of the top 10. And even then, this was never our pick to begin with, so everything about it is gravy.

Cheer up, it's sunny outside.

[artsncrafts]

we literally have the worst chances in the history of the lotto to get a top 3 pick. No point of watching the lottery. We are picking 9 or 10.

The Andrew Wiggins draft and the Derrick Rose draft both had the pre-lottery 9th team winning. The 7th or 8th place Clippers also won for the Blake Griffin draft.

That's like 3x in the last 9 years. Now, while previous years statistically have no bearing on the outcome this year, it does provide a more optimistic outlook than the doom and gloom you're moping around about. Literally, the only way this draft lottery could be a disaster would be if two teams below us jumped ahead taking us out of the top 10. And even then, this was never our pick to begin with, so everything about it is gravy.

Cheer up, it's sunny outside.

But we need both 7th and 9th seed to move to 1 and 2. Possible, just unlikely. I am with you, I will watch for the awkwardness of the ping pong balls.

[Clutch0z24]

If Skal is on the board at 9 Masai will most likely pick him....He does 2 things "elite" and has 2 NBA skills already in his arsenal.
His Jumpshot (Midrange pick and pop)
Blocking shots...
Sure he needs to learn things but what Rookie doesnt at just 20...He has all the skills in the world and believe it or not having trust with the coaches is a big part in the success the player might have...We see it with Powell...

I am fully confident that Skal/JV would be a frontcourt that would dominate in the future..

[sule]

we literally have the worst chances in the history of the lotto to get a top 3 pick. No point of watching the lottery. We are picking 9 or 10.

The Andrew Wiggins draft and the Derrick Rose draft both had the pre-lottery 9th team winning. The 7th or 8th place Clippers also won for the Blake Griffin draft.

That's like 3x in the last 9 years. Now, while previous years statistically have no bearing on the outcome this year, it does provide a more optimistic outlook than the doom and gloom you're moping around about. Literally, the only way this draft lottery could be a disaster would be if two teams below us jumped ahead taking us out of the top 10. And even then, this was never our pick to begin with, so everything about it is gravy.

Cheer up, it's sunny outside.

But we need both 7th and 9th seed to move to 1 and 2. Possible, just unlikely. I am with you, I will watch for the awkwardness of the ping pong balls.

Yeah, i have no doubt that Denver takes the first if we just happen to win the lottery. Even moving up to 7th would be a great steal for us. Just as long as we move up one way or another. And if not, like i already said...who cares. Ideally we'd be able to get someone as good as Myles Turner or Justice Winslow (10th/11th last year) - it would make the schadenfreude toward the Knicks worth that much more.

[CunningLinguist]

So he's not worth taking because he's 22 and he can't improve from here? Tell that to Norman Powell. Also, he may have shot 33% from 3 his junior year but he shot 42% in both his freshman and sophomore years.

Honestly I wasn't too high on him, but with Rabb going back to college I'm having to re-evealuate. Skal is such a big project that his bust potential is too high for where we're picking. Luwawu should be fine, but his handle is mediocre at best and that slow release of his isn't great. Davis is an explosive leaper, but I'd prefer someone with a better balance of offense and defense. Chriss is interesting, but I don't know if I want another 4 year project like Bruno and I say that as someone who typically doesn't mind long term prospects, but only if I think they are worth the wait. I'm not sure Chriss will be worth it.
That leaves Jackson, who doesn't look like a star, but seems competitive enough to be unlikely to bust.
I suppose we could talk about Sabonis, but the combination of him and JV would be terrible defensively. Just the most unathletic frontcourt possible. Of course, I'm hoping someone like Murray or Brown slides, but I doubt it. Ideally, Masai trades up, however, that's unlikely.

Are we planning on trading Lowry this summer and letting DD walk? I just can't see us drafting Jackson with three good PGs already in the system, and 2 of them still being so young. Plus, I see Jackson as a future player that will only be as good as players like CoJo and Wright. I don't see him as the next star PG for us. Some do though, so maybe I'm just missing something. I didn't watch him very much this season.

I wanted Rabb at #9, so him going back sucks. Skal could be a future star. He has the frame for it. But right now, all I see is bust if we pick him at #9. I'm not 100% sold on Luwawu. He has good size, length, hands, but still a small sample size against questionable opposition. Maybe he looks great in the combine/workouts/interviews, maybe not. Davis is the D player, Chriss is the O player. But there just isn't another KAT that combines great O and D. Sabonis looks like a Luwawu kind of pick. We can all see some good things in him, but the flaws, .. are they fixable?

Damn, I'd love to trade up for Murray. Or Bender or Simmons or Ingram. Outside of those 4, I'm not loving anyone.

Chriss has the tools to be a good defender. He just needs experience and commitment on that end of the floor. It's not uncommon for an 18 year old to put in more effort on offense.

[Clutch0z24]

If we moved up from 9th to 2nd in the draft and denver gets 1....We get Simmons or Ingram...We would become legit contenders for years to come.