2018 NBA Draft Thread

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Split T
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by Split T »

The Bobster wrote:The bad news is that Dallas, Sacramento, Atlanta and Chicago are all really, really bad.
Ya, I think we're looking at the 5-10 range for our pick. Maybe we'll get lucky and win the lottery.

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TOO
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

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Split T wrote:
The Bobster wrote:The bad news is that Dallas, Sacramento, Atlanta and Chicago are all really, really bad.
Ya, I think we're looking at the 5-10 range for our pick. Maybe we'll get lucky and win the lottery.
That'll be the day.
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specialsauce
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by specialsauce »

Dallas is going to get Doncic and there will be national headlines calling him the next Dirk. It is going to happen. Bulls will get Bagley.

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Mori Chu
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by Mori Chu »

I could def see that Heat pick being around #9-10. For all the crapping on McDo that everybody does lately, he found us a great trade to get us that asset.

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Aztec Sunsfan
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by Aztec Sunsfan »

The Bobster wrote:The bad news is that Dallas, Sacramento, Atlanta and Chicago are all really, really bad.
No problem, we will do well and then will win the lottery for the first time ever. Twice actually, Top overall with our pick, and third overall with either Miami’s or Brooklyn’s.

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O_Gardino
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by O_Gardino »

5 games ago, I wasn't worried about falling out of the top 5, I was worried about being one of the worst teams ever. I'm not mad. I'll take what we can get this year in the draft. Hopefully, one of the top teams wants to gamble.
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carey
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by carey »

I don't know much about this site but it could be a new place for draft information: https://www.thestepien.com/
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In2ition
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

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carey wrote:I don't know much about this site but it could be a new place for draft information: https://www.thestepien.com/
Interesting...Thanks!
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TOO
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

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carey wrote:I don't know much about this site but it could be a new place for draft information: https://www.thestepien.com/
Solid find sir.

Anyone who has Bamba above Ayton is a-ok in my book. :D
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O_Gardino
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by O_Gardino »

carey wrote:I don't know much about this site but it could be a new place for draft information: https://www.thestepien.com/
It's a cool site. We will see how good their insights are.
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Shabazz
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by Shabazz »

Wow - Bagley at #9 and Tier 4.

I've read and listened to some of these guys before. They know their stuff. Cole Zwicker in particular.

I watched the Ayton Highlights from his exhibition game and he looked a little like young Ewing.

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Split T
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by Split T »

http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_ ... -nba-draft

For those with insider. I can post some snippets a bit later on.

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Ring_Wanted
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by Ring_Wanted »

Shabazz wrote:I watched the Ayton Highlights from his exhibition game and he looked a little like young Ewing.
I saw it too and I thought exactly the same.

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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by Superbone »

Split T wrote:http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_ ... -nba-draft

For those with insider. I can post some snippets a bit later on.
Please do.
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Split T
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by Split T »

Split T wrote:http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_ ... -nba-draft

For those with insider. I can post some snippets a bit later on.

Deandre Ayton | Arizona

Physical comparison: Greg Oden, Steven Adams, Brook Lopez

At 7-foot-½, with a shredded, proportionate, 261-pound frame and a 7-foot-5 wingspan, Ayton has some physical similarities to a healthy 19-year-old Greg Oden. Although different athletically, his measurements are also similar to those of Steven Adams and Brook Lopez.

Main intrigue: Franchise center potential

Ayton is the most physically dominant prospect in the class, and his ability to add value across the board makes him a potential franchise-caliber center. Although all of this hinges on his discipline (addressed below), there aren't many 7-footers in the NBA who are physically capable of guarding DeMarcus Cousins on one possession and Anthony Davis the next. He fits in the switch-heavy NBA on defense while showing the potential to pop to 3 on the other end.

He's a tremendous face-up player and a developing passer, and he has the length and explosiveness to space the floor vertically as a lob-catcher. When motivated, Ayton should also be the best rebounder on the floor most nights. Simply put, prospects with Ayton's physical dominance and budding skill don't come around often.

Swing skill: Discipline

Ayton will have to prove to NBA scouts that he can remain disciplined on both ends of the floor under head coach Sean Miller while channeling his outward emotions in a positive manner. Although he isn't overly mopey or sluggish, he often spends too much time floating on the perimeter, settling for flat jumpers and failing to screen, dive or crash when given the opportunity. His discipline also wavers as a rim protector, as he'll opt to leak out in transition rather than anchor the defense.

Those warts will be tested under the defensively focused Miller on a team with Final Four expectations, and if he passes, he figures to garner considerable interest as a potential top pick.

Mohamed Bamba | Texas

Physical comparisons: Rudy Gobert, Hassan Whiteside, Alexis Ajinca

At 7-foot with a 7-foot-9 wingspan and a 9-foot-6 standing reach, Bamba's closest physical comparison is Rudy Gobert. More fluid than Gobert at the same age, Bamba has quite a bit of untapped physical potential. With wide shoulders and long, thin legs, he's likely to fill out impressively in time and gain even more explosiveness as he strengthens his base.

Main intrigue: Franchise center potential

Like Ayton, Bamba has franchise-changing tools and skills, yet he's in a bit of a different mold. Still growing into his frame, Bamba has the defensive range to eventually develop into one of the better rim protectors in the NBA. With impressive fluidity and one of the longest wingspans in the history of the DraftExpress Database, Bamba is what the NBA wants defensively, with his ability to switch and anchor. Bamba's tremendous reach and agility also give him immense potential on the glass.

On top of his Gobert-like defensive potential, Bamba can step out and shoot the ball from college 3, put it down on the dribble and pass with a sound feel for the game. He isn't as demonstrative a personality as Ayton, and the Texas freshman -- who has attended the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference at MIT twice -- is much more calculated in his approach. Like Ayton, Bamba figures to be in the mix at No. 1, as he possesses more physical upside than any other player in the draft.

Swing skill: Consistent energy

Playing hard consistently was the biggest question surrounding Bamba at the prep level, and he'll need to answer that night in and night out for NBA teams to feel comfortable drafting him early. Too often apathetic on the floor, Bamba can ease scouts' concerns by playing with more fire than he has shown in the past while having a regular impact on winning. Besides his motor and lack of physicality at times, there aren't many holes in Bamba's overall scouting file.

2. The smooth power forwards

Although different players in terms of skill set, both Michael Porter Jr. and Marvin Bagley III are fluid, 6-foot-10-plus athletes who figure to spend most of their NBA minutes at the 4. The two will likely always be linked, given their status as the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the 2017 high school class.

Marvin Bagley III | Duke

Physical comparisons: Ben Simmons, taller Marquese Chriss

Although not quite as wide-shouldered and a different style of athlete, Bagley has some physical similarities to Sixers rookie Ben Simmons, who measured 6-10, 240 pounds with a 7-0 wingspan as a 19-year-old. Simmons has bigger hands and a taller reach, but in terms of height, weight and wingspan the two aren't all that far off. At 6-foot-10½ with a 7-foot-½ wingspan, Bagley has nice size, average positional length and a solid yet slender frame for a PF/C. The last measurements we have on the 18-year-old Duke freshman are from the 2016 Nike Academy when Bagley was 17, and the Blue Devils now list him at 6-11, 234 pounds,

Main intrigue: Versatility

An effortless athlete, Bagley's ability to impact the game in a variety of ways at 6-foot-10½ is what makes him so intriguing. He moves like a wing, explodes off the floor with ease and has excellent instincts as a scorer, rebounder and shot blocker. He's smooth pushing in transition, he can straight-line drive going left from different spots on the floor, and he finishes with jump hooks and touch shots in the paint. Although he can improve as a passer and shooter, he has shown enough promise in those areas to spark optimism moving forward.

Defensively, Bagley has the feet and hips to guard multiple positions, and the quick leaping ability to add some value as a rim protector when at the small-ball 5. He gravitates to rebounds on both ends and has the quickness and agility you don't often see from a player his size. We're still learning more about Bagley, but his athletic profile and versatility make him an interesting fit in the modern NBA.

Swing skill: Shooting and physicality

Because he isn't freakishly long or physical, developing into a respectable spot-up 3-point shooter will be the key to unlocking Bagley's offensive game. He can make a standstill 3 with sound mechanics at this stage but has never been a prolific shooter, and he'll be hard-pressed to serve as a go-to scorer without a reliable jumper. If Bagley can make enough shots to force defenders into hard closeouts, he can use his fluidity and handle to attack off the bounce. Bagley can also stand to play with more physicality and vigor on occasion. The game comes so easily to him that it looks like he's floating at times, but he has improved in that area over the years.

Michael Porter Jr. | Missouri

Physical comparisons: Kyle Kuzma, Jared Jeffries

Porter has excellent size and reach for a perimeter-oriented, modern 4 at 6-10 with a 9-0 standing reach. While thin in the lower body (weighing 216 pounds), Porter's upper body should fill out nicely in time. The 19-year-old has average length relative to his height with a 7-0 wingspan but makes up for it with his extension and leaping ability. While further ahead at the same stage, Porter has similar dimensions to a 21-year-old Kyle Kuzma, who bloomed late and measured 6-9½, 223 pounds with a 7-0 wingspan and a 8-11½ standing reach at the 2017 combine.

Main intrigue: Scoring ability at 6-foot-10

Porter's scoring versatility at 6-foot-10 makes him a great fit in today's NBA. He can space the floor to 3 with soft touch, attack a closeout in space, rise up over smaller defenders in midpost spots and even catch lobs as a roller when motivated. He's a very good athlete who, like Bagley, can push the break and finish above the rim explosively. Although he doesn't always play the most efficient game, Porter's ability to get to his jump shot at will gives him potential as a three-level scorer.

In addition to averaging 33.2 points per 40 minutes over 49 games in the DraftExpress Database, Porter has potential on the glass and as a defender given his tools. He was an excellent rebounder at the EYBL level and should be able to switch onto guards comfortably. He's arguably the most offensively gifted and accomplished prep player in the draft.

Swing skill: Toughness and feel

Porter's ability to play in traffic and think the game on the move remain two of the biggest questions about the Missouri star. He's best suited at the 4 offensively but has had his ups and downs defending stronger players and rebounding in traffic in the past. Porter, who plays the game a bit too tall, also gets knocked off-balance on his way to the rim quite often. Improving his ability to punish switches, finish drives, rebound in a crowd and defend stronger bigs would certainly make scouts more comfortable with him as a potential No. 1 overall pick. Often settling for off-balance jump shots, Porter can sharpen his decision-making by becoming a more instinctual passer and shot-taker in the half court.

3. The lob-catching shot-blocker

Robert Williams | Texas A&M

Williams is arguably the most explosive athlete of the bunch and the most likely to make an impact as a rim runner, finisher and shot-blocker.

Physical comparisons: Bismack Biyombo

If the measurements provided to us by Texas A&M's coaching staff are accurate, Williams has elite physical tools for an NBA center at 6-foot-10, 240 pounds with a 7-foot-5½ wingspan and a 9-foot-4 standing reach. In 2015 as a 17-year-old, Williams measured 6-foot-8½, 208 pounds with a 7-foot-4 wingspan. Watching him this summer at Adidas Nations, it was clear that he has made strides physically even since last season, so it isn't out of the question that he could compare favorably to a physical specimen such as Biyombo.

Main intrigue: Rim protection and lob-catching

Williams' initial NBA value will come as a rim protector and lob-catcher. He can switch ball screens, he covers ground fluidly, and he's incredibly quick off of his feet. Among returning players in the DraftExpress Top 100, Williams finished second in blocks per 40 minutes with 3.8. Offensively, he's at his best when he's diving hard and finishing lobs thanks to his massive catch radius.

According to Synergy Sports, Williams scored 1.44 points per possession at the rim in the half court last season, 30th in the NCAA among players with at least 125 attempts, ahead of 2017 first-rounders John Collins and Jarrett Allen. Williams is an excellent offensive rebounder who could turn into an elite glass-cleaner on both ends with improved discipline.

Swing Skill: Discipline

A late-bloomer, Williams lacks a degree of discipline offensively and defensively. He can be erratic in his decision-making, trying to prove he's a skill big rather than sticking to his strengths as a long, energetic athlete. Williams has made great strides as a passer, which will serve him well in short roll situations, but he is no stranger to risky deliveries or contested jump shots early in the clock. He finished in the bottom 25 in the NCAA in jump shot efficiency last season, with an effective field goal percentage of 21.3 on 47 attempts. His tools are tremendous, but he's a bit jumpy defensively and can do a better job of finding a man on the defensive glass.

4. The throwback

Wendell Carter Jr. | Duke

Carter Jr. is the old-school big of the group, doing most of his damage from inside 15 feet and on the offensive glass.

Physical comparisons: Carlos Boozer, Emeka Okafor, Al Jefferson

At 6-foot-10 in shoes with a developed 257-pound frame and a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Carter has some physical similarities to a 21-year-old Emeka Okafor, though not quite as long.

Main intrigue: Interior scoring and rebounding

Carter is the most polished interior scorer of the bunch. He has soft hands and is at his best operating with his back to the basket or in midpost face-up situations, usually looking for a right-shoulder fallaway. He carves out space with his 257-pound frame, dropping in jump hooks with either hand. Carter, who considered attending Harvard, is a smart passer out of the post who can also pick and pop to midrange comfortably. He also adds tremendous value on the glass when fully motivated, using his strength, length and deceptive athleticism to beat opponents to the ball, especially on the offensive end. Based on the 61-game sample in the DraftExpress Database, Carter averaged an impressive 15.8 rebounds per 40 minutes.

Swing skill: 3-point shooting and consistency

Because he doesn't project as a regular lob-catcher and post scoring is taking a back seat in the NBA, becoming a more consistent threat from 3 will be important for Carter. Like Al Horford has done, Carter should be able to develop into an NBA 3-point shooter in time as he possesses nice touch and mechanics in midrange spots. Becoming more consistent with his energy is also a priority for Carter. Not a vocal defender, Carter has his peaks and valleys in terms of engagement, looking uninterested at times. He's long with sound shot-blocking instincts and deceptive quickness for his size but doesn't have the elite range to coast on that end of the floor and remain effective.

5. The top-10 sleeper

Jaren Jackson Jr. | Michigan State

It's hard to call a potential top-10 pick on a Final Four contender a sleeper, but Jackson was a late-riser at the high school level, and he has the tools, agility and skill set to work his way into the top half of this list.

Physical comparison: Myles Turner, Dewayne Dedmon

At 6-foot-11 with a 240-pound frame and a 7-foot-4 wingspan, Jackson has some similarities to Myles Turner. Jackson, who turned 18 on Sept. 15, is more fluid than Turner and further along strength-wise at the same age.

Main intrigue: Agility, length and touch

Jackson broke out at the 2017 Nike Hoop Summit and wowed NBA scouts as one of the top prospects at the Nike Academy in Los Angeles this summer. He's an excellent fit in the modern NBA, as he can protect the rim and switch on defense while spacing the floor and straight-line driving on offense. He has touch with either hand in the paint and stretch potential, despite a low-release push shot with limited rotation.

Jackson could have a Myles Turner-like shooting trajectory, killing the midrange in the NCAA and eventually becoming a more consistent threat from NBA 3 down the line. He's still a bit of a blank canvas, but NBA scouts are sure to fall in love with his combination of tools, fluidity and budding skill.

Swing skills: Toughness and feel

Although he has made great strides physically, Jackson lacks a degree of toughness you'd like to see in a big who will play a lot of 5 in the NBA. With a rebounds-per-40 average of 10.2 over 32 games in the DraftExpress Database, Jackson has had his struggles on the defensive glass. His feel for the game on both ends is a work in progress. Although fairly skilled, he doesn't provide much in the playmaking department and will have to be able to play read-and-react basketball if he wants to operate more on the perimeter. That said, Jackson is in an excellent position to improve in these areas under the tutelage of Tom Izzo.

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Split T
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by Split T »

25/10 for Bagley tonight

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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by Flagrant Fowl »

Split T wrote:25/10 for Bagley tonight
I'd be more impressed if you could tell me where in the hell Elon is located.
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TOO
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by TOO »

Flagrant Fowl wrote:
Split T wrote:25/10 for Bagley tonight
I'd be more impressed if you could tell me where in the hell Elon is located.
Pretty sure its in North Carolina. I'm like 75% sure.
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In2ition
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by In2ition »

Last year Duke was without Tatum, Bolden, and Giles, with injuries, from their game with Elon and were down at halftime. Elon is a pretty good team that returned almost their entire roster.
This year, Bolden was out because of Strep throat. Also, Carter got in foul trouble quickly, but Duke was up by 20 by halftime.
Outside of 5 ft, Bagley shoots worse than Jackson so far. He also seems to be entirely left hand dominate when driving to the basket. Elon's free throw defense was amazing, as I know Duke started off 1-8 from the line.
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Re: 2018 NBA Draft Thread

Post by JCSunsfan »

Shabazz wrote:Wow - Bagley at #9 and Tier 4.

I've read and listened to some of these guys before. They know their stuff. Cole Zwicker in particular.

I watched the Ayton Highlights from his exhibition game and he looked a little like young Ewing.
Their thoughts on Bagley are interesting. He is not clearly a 4 or 5 and doesn't have the skill set to excel in either. At least that is what they said. This site does provide interesting info and gives you things to look for when you watch these players through the year.

The article on Doncic is good.

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