NBA Draft Prospects Discussion

[wpmiller42]

Two prospects that haven't been talked about much on .net are Jakob Poeltl and Henry Ellenson.
Both seem projected early-mid lottery but seem to have quite limited upside. Can anyone who has watched them a bit more give me their thoughts on them?

I've seen Poeltl quite a bit living in SLC, and I think he's going to be an okay player. I don't think he's going to be a starter, unless he's on a bad team struggling for a center, but I think he's your classic back-to-the-basket big guy. He's got nice footwork, and I think if he's your backup center, he'll give you quality minutes.

But I don't think he's going to play well on an up-tempo team, and he's probably going to struggle against some guys who are quicker/more athletic that he is. The tournament game Utah played against Gonzaga was a prime example of that. He got killed by Sabonis, who I actually think could be a sleeper in this draft.

[Split T]

I don't see any reason to pick a center. There isn't any in this draft that I'd take over Len right now. I'd be ok taking a project like Maker at 28 or 33, but not 12. Here is where I stand right now:

Players I'd love with top pick: Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram
Players I'd love with 12th pick: Denzel Valentine
Players I'd like with top pick: Buddy Hield
Players I'd like with 12th pick: Marqueese Chriss, Damontis Sabonis
Players I'd be ok with top pick: Dragan Bender
Players I'd be disappointed with: Jamaal Murray, Kris Dunn, Henry Ellenson
Players I wouldn't touch: Jaylen Brown, Skal Labissiere, Jakob Poetl
Players I haven't decided on: Ivan Rabb, Timothe Luwawa, Deyonta Davis, Furkan Korkmaz
Sleeper Picks: Dejounte Murray, Ivica Zubac, Ante Zizic, Deandre Bembry, Gary Payton II

[carey]

I don't see any reason to pick a center. There isn't any in this draft that I'd take over Len right now. I'd be ok taking a project like Maker at 28 or 33, but not 12. Here is where I stand right now:

Players I'd love with top pick: Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram
Players I'd love with 12th pick: Denzel Valentine
Players I'd like with top pick: Buddy Hield
Players I'd like with 12th pick: Marqueese Chriss, Damontis Sabonis
Players I'd be ok with top pick: Dragan Bender
Players I'd be disappointed with: Jamaal Murray, Kris Dunn, Henry Ellenson
Players I wouldn't touch: Jaylen Brown, Skal Labissiere, Jakob Poetl
Players I haven't decided on: Ivan Rabb, Timothe Luwawa, Deyonta Davis, Furkan Korkmaz
Sleeper Picks: Dejounte Murray, Ivica Zubac, Ante Zizic, Deandre Bembry, Gary Payton II

I'm with you on most of these. I don't see Henry Ellenson anywhere on your list. Are you not a fan of his game? He is intriguing.

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[Split T]

I'd be a little disappointed with him, but mostly because that means we probably ended up in the 5-7 range. I'd take him over Murray, Dunn, or Brown but I feel like some other 4's are just as good and could be available at 12(Sabonis and Chriss) If we get the 5th or 6th pick and Simmons/Ingram/Hield/Bender are all gone and we can't trade down, I'd pick Ellenson

[Shabazz]

I feel like Ellenson will have a David Lee-type career. 20 and 10 potential with potentially atrocious D. Lee was a lot more athletic. Ellenson has much better size. Lee has much more passing instinct. Ellenson is a better shooter at this stage (vs. Lee out of college).

[TOO]

I feel like Ellenson will have a David Lee-type career. 20 and 10 potential with potentially atrocious D. Lee was a lot more athletic. Ellenson has much better size. Lee has much more passing instinct. Ellenson is a better shooter at this stage (vs. Lee out of college).

So Kevin Love then?

[carey]

I feel like Ellenson will have a David Lee-type career. 20 and 10 potential with potentially atrocious D. Lee was a lot more athletic. Ellenson has much better size. Lee has much more passing instinct. Ellenson is a better shooter at this stage (vs. Lee out of college).

So Kevin Love then?

I hate making lofty comparisons but similar, yes.

[Danimal]

I feel like Ellenson will have a David Lee-type career. 20 and 10 potential with potentially atrocious D. Lee was a lot more athletic. Ellenson has much better size. Lee has much more passing instinct. Ellenson is a better shooter at this stage (vs. Lee out of college).

So Kevin Love then?

I hate making lofty comparisons but similar, yes.

But lofty comparisons is what the draft is all about

[Danimal]

Just to clarify I didn’t post the list of centres because I thought it was a priority to draft one, just wanted to pool all our knowledge to cover a wide range of prospects. Like how the Suns have brought out a butt load of prospects each year recently to get a full overview of all players available

Which brings us to a position of need – Power forward.
I like the way Split T made his list (below). Well done sir
Players I'd love with top pick:
Players I'd love with:
Players I'd like with top pick:
Players I'd like with 12th pick:
Players I'd be ok with top pick:
Players I'd be disappointed with:
Players I wouldn't touch:
Players I haven't decided on:
Sleeper Picks:

Potential 1st Rounders
Ben Simmons – not really sure where to put this guy. Point forward not a traditional or a stretch PF
Domantas Sabonis PF/C – shot up to number 5 on nbadraft.net!!! Solid prospect, great work rate, safe bet to be a contributor but #5?! The result of some good tournament games or are the other prospects just that raw?
Dragan Bender
Ivan Rabb
Brice Johnson – seems to be getting plenty of love on this board
Skal Labissiere PF/C
Marquese Chriss
Henry Ellenson PF/C
Guerschon Yabusele
Stephen Zimmerman PF/C
Cheick Diallo

Potential 2nd Rounders
Joel Bolomboy
Juan Hernangomez
Nigel Hayes
Ben Bentil
Petr Cornelie PF/C
Dorian Finney-Smith SF/PF
Perry Ellis – has been in college so long will probably have grey hair at draft day
Jarrod Uthoff

[Danimal]

Players I'd love with top pick: Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram
Players I'd love with 12th pick: Denzel Valentine, Damontis Sabonis, Buddy Hield (but like Sabonis he has shot up too much)
Players I'd like with top pick: Buddy Hield (kinda but the guard log jam)
Players I'd like with 12th pick: Brice Johnson
Players I'd be ok with top pick: undecided - need to see more on Dragan Bender
Players I'd be disappointed with: Jamaal Murray
Players I wouldn't touch: Jaylen Brown
Players I haven't decided on: Ivan Rabb and many many others
Sleeper Picks: Gary Payton II, Kay Felder, still deciding

[Ring_Wanted]

Would gladly take Perry Ellis in the second round. And wouldn't be surprised to see some veteran team using a low 1stR as a ready to go glue guy, jack of all trades.

Bring over Bogdanovic and draft and stash Korkmaz (Hayward comps are rich for the NBA, but could end up being similar to Rudy Fernandez).

Look like crazy for a 3D PG. Can Buddy Hield guard PGs? Guess not.

[ShelC]

Not a fan of Perry Ellis. Prefer Joe Abboud.

[Indy]

Not a fan of Perry Ellis. Prefer Joe Abboud.

Pronto Uomo is the way to go. Actually, I am trying to switch to custom, but it is kind of expensive!

[Indy]

And I know a real guy named Merrill Lynch. Seriously. Fucking 'clever' parents...

[Ring_Wanted]

Custom is the dream.

[Superbone]

And I know a real guy named Merrill Lynch. Seriously. Fucking 'clever' parents...

When he talks, does everybody listen?

[Superbone]

Custom is the dream.

What the heck are you guys talking about?!

[Indy]

The draft!

[In2ition]

And I know a real guy named Merrill Lynch. Seriously. Fucking 'clever' parents...

When he talks, does everybody listen?

Isn't that E.F. Hutton?

[Superbone]

And I know a real guy named Merrill Lynch. Seriously. Fucking 'clever' parents...

When he talks, does everybody listen?

Isn't that E.F. Hutton?

Ha! Yep, I wanted to see if anybody caught that and remembered the old E.F. Hutton ads.