2018 NBA Draft Thread

[Split T]

Trae Young vs Collin Sexton today. Might be a good chance to see what Trae looks like against an NBA PG with length and athleticism, who plays hard on D. 1215 on ESPN

[The Bobster]

As of today, the simulation on Basketball-Reference.com has the Suns likely to pick #2 behind Sacramento, #16 with Milwaukee's pick and #19 with Miami's pick.

The simulation on TheFiveThirtyEight.com has the Suns and Magic tied for the #3 and #4 picks behind Sacramento and Atlanta and at #20 with Miami's pick, with Milwaukee keeping their pick at #17.

[Superbone]

Trae Young vs Collin Sexton today. Might be a good chance to see what Trae looks like against an NBA PG with length and athleticism, who plays hard on D. 1215 on ESPN

Thanks for the heads up.

[Superbone]

As of today, the simulation on Basketball-Reference.com has the Suns likely to pick #2 behind Sacramento, #16 with Milwaukee's pick and #19 with Miami's pick.

The simulation on TheFiveThirtyEight.com has the Suns and Magic tied for the #3 and #4 picks behind Sacramento and Atlanta and at #20 with Miami's pick, with Milwaukee keeping their pick at #17.

Oh, man. Please Basketball-Reference be right!

[Split T]

Trae struggling a bit. Alabama is smothering him on defense. They've got a couple quick long defenders in sexton and Herbert Young. Bama up at halftime.

[Split T]

Mo Bamba playing right now too. First actual game I've watched him play. He's quite the specimen physically. Especially when he jumps and extends those arms. Shot looks pretty good today. Haven't really seen him challenge many shots. He also gets pushed around too easy on the boards. Looks a little too benderish in that department. He still gets a lot though because he's so huge.

[Split T]

Trae looking better in 2nd half. I still think I'd have a hard time taking him over Bagley or JJJ. We'll see

[Split T]

Bamba starting to heat up too. Couple blocks. Caught the ball in transition, made a move and hit a shooter in the corner. The shooter missed but Bamba got the board and threw it down. Just got fouled shooting a 3 and hit all 3 free throws. 9/9 for the game.

[Split T]

Trae looking better in 2nd half. I still think I'd have a hard time taking him over Bagley or JJJ. We'll see

I like him over Sexton though. I don't think I'd draft Sexton. He's a great athlete and I think he'll defend at the 1, but I think he'll be just an average shooter and he's not really a PG right now.

[Split T]

Bama wins it.

Trae with 17/8
Sexton with 18/3/2

Duke looses to Virgina.

Bagley with 30/14
Carter with 14/15/4/4/1

Texas wins

Bamba with 25/15/4 went 6/8 from field, 12/13 from line, 1/1 from 3

[Split T]

I really like this draft. 9 guys I love/really like. And 10/11 are good players. Sexton and Miles Bridges. Really would have loved the Miami pick to land 8-11

[specialsauce]

Bamba starting to heat up too. Couple blocks. Caught the ball in transition, made a move and hit a shooter in the corner. The shooter missed but Bamba got the board and threw it down. Just got fouled shooting a 3 and hit all 3 free throws. 9/9 for the game.

FT shooting is very encouraging for a big man

[specialsauce]

62% on the year though, hopefully that is on its way up

[Split T]

Ya, both his free throw and 3 point shooting are trending the right way. 77% and 37% in January

[JCSunsfan]

Bama wins it.

Trae with 17/8
Sexton with 18/3/2

Duke looses to Virgina.

Bagley with 30/14
Carter with 14/15/4/4/1

Texas wins

Bamba with 25/15/4 went 6/8 from field, 12/13 from line, 1/1 from 3

Oh wow. Players sliding up and down within that top 7. I am convinced about Bamba. He is going to be a very good pro. The question is whether others will be better.

[JCSunsfan]

I really like this draft. 9 guys I love/really like. And 10/11 are good players. Sexton and Miles Bridges. Really would have loved the Miami pick to land 8-11

Let's say we put together a package of Chriss or Bender, Miami pick, Milwaukee pick, 2019 unprotected Suns pick.

What pick can that net in this draft? Can it get us into the top 7?

[Split T]

Probably depends on where the Miami pick lands. But a team in that 7-10 range that doesn't love any prospects and has lots of holes, might be willing to drop down for more picks/prospects.

[O_Gardino]

I really like this draft. 9 guys I love/really like. And 10/11 are good players. Sexton and Miles Bridges. Really would have loved the Miami pick to land 8-11

Let's say we put together a package of Chriss or Bender, Miami pick, Milwaukee pick, 2019 unprotected Suns pick.

What pick can that net in this draft? Can it get us into the top 7?

Hey, maybe the Lakers will be dumb enough to dump their pick for ... oh wait.

It might be that nobody wants out of the top 7, but someone might want in bad enough to give up a genuine star.

[Split T]

How does everyone rank the non lotto PG prospects? There seems to be quite a few.

DeAnthony Melton
Trevon Duvall
Landry Shamet
Shake Milton
Bruce Brown
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Troy Brown
Jevon Carter

Am I missing anyone?

I want shooting, defense, and passing out of our PG.
I'm not sure who my favorite is yet, there seems to be quite a few intriguing options that for what we want next to Booker. I'm getting intrigued by Shake Milton right now.

[Split T]

Per 40 numbers:

Shake Milton 19.8 points, 5.2 boards, 4.8 assists with .45/.43/.85 splits.

Landry Shamet 19.2 points, 4.1 boards, 6.9 assists with .50/.45/.83 splits.

SGA - 15.3 points, 4.9 boards, 5.7 assists with .47/.41/.80 splits

Jevon Carter - 20.7 points, 6.1 boards, 7.7 assists with .41/.41/.86 splits

Troy Brown - 15.1 points, 8.9 boards, 4.2 assists with .45/.29/.79 splits

Bruce Brown - 13.5 points, 8.4 boards, 4.8 assists with .42/.27/.63 splits

Trevon Duvall - 15.2 points, 2.8 boards, 8.2 assists with .46/.26/.58 splits

NAW - 18.1 points, 6.5 boards, 2.7 assists with .46/.37/.76 splits

Carter and Shamet are seniors. Milton a junior, Bruce Brown a sophomore and the rest are freshman. Melton is a sophomore but he hasn't played this year.

Andrew Jones is another guy, but he was recently diagnosed with leukemia and I'm not sure what his health status is.