Merged: The Draft Thread For Stuff About The Draft Including Thoughts About The Draft

I still want us to role the dice on Dennis Smith. Even after watching his 'Weaknesses' video which obviously shows just his bad moves (unlike regular highlight films which show only a player's successful moves) I still think he's the closest thing in this draft to another Russell Westbrook

 

We will not get the chance to pick him because he won't fall to no. 15 and whoever is picking him at 8 or 9 will prefer him over two picks from us 100%, and on top of that it's pointless to trade many assets for a back up guard who won't even see enough minutes here to properly develop.

 

I have to say, I cooled on him a bit.
His highlights are very impressive but watching his highlights through a game, he has faults. He doesn't get his teammates involved enough, his power dunks in the open court when put together are very impressive but he can go through a game without dunking even once.
His numbers are impressive, he gets many points on a good percentage, also several rebounds and assists but he needs the ball in his hands to do so and as I said, he sometimes hogs it too much.
Anyway, here is his highlights from one game, 31 and 9 but his team lost, I'd let you decide

 

Why not? There are multiple players picked at, or after 15, in every draft that end up as starters by the end of their rookie season. True, it's rare for a rookie picked that late to be a full time starter from opening day (Nic Batum and Tony Parker being two notable exceptions), but there are multiple guys picked that late that become starters by the end of their rookie season and continue to be full time starters after that.

With three picks between 15 and 26 in an exceptionally deep draft and a need to upgrade both starting forward spots, if we keep the picks I would hope the goal is to draft at least one player who could be starting for us by the end of his rookie season.

If you think the best you can do is bench player two years down the road, you'd be better off trading the picks for proven bench players. But I don't believe that's the case, especially not in this draft.

BNM

 

It'll be really interesting to see what Indiana can do with the #15, #20, and #26 picks.....

 

Guys I'd be excited about drafting (That might be available to us): Zach Collins, Donovan Mitchell, PJ Dozier, Justin Patton, Frank Jackson, Kadeem Allen, Hamidou Diallo (still undecided)

Happy with drafting (dependent on where we get them): Justin Jackson at #20,#26, Johnathan Motley (in a trade for a 2nd), Jordan Bell (see Motley), TJ Leaf (see Jackson), Anzejs Pasecniks (#26) Jonathan Jeanne (#26), Ike Anigbogou (#26)

And I guess you could add Jonah Bolden to the 2nd list. Although, he riminds me of a 4/3 version of Adreian Payne. Not sure how I feel about that.

 

Here's a review of sleeper big men, includes Jonah Bolden and Chris Boucher.
https://www.si.com/nba/2017/05/24/n...s-chris-boucher-ben-moore-celtics-lakers-suns

 

But not as interesting as it would be to see what we could do with Paul George...

BNM

 

2016:
#15 - Juan Hernangomez
#20 - Caris LeVert
#26 - Furkan Korkmaz

2015:
#15 - Kelly Oubre
#20 - Delon Wright
#26 - Nikola Milutinov

2014:
#15 - Adreian Payne
#20 - Bruno Caboclo
#26 - PJ Hairston

2013:
#15 - Giannis Antetokounmpo
#20 - Tony Snell
#26 - Andre Roberson

2012:
#15 - Maurice Harkless
#20 - Evan Fournier
#26 - Miles Plumlee

2011:
#15 - Kawhi Leonard
#20 - Donatas Motiejunas
#26 - Jordan Hamilton

2010:
#15 - Larry Sanders
#20 - James Anderson
#26 - Quincy Pondexter

2009:
#15 - Austin Daye
#20 -Eric Maynor
#26 - Taj Gibson

2008:
#15 - Robin Lopez
#20 - Alexis Ajinca
#26 - George Hill

2007:
#15 - Rodney Stuckey
#20 - Jason Smith
#26 - Aaron Brooks

The past 10 drafts shows there have been plenty of starters picked (and even a couple superstars). So it's not out of realm of possibility to hit big.

 

They were mirror images of each other. Any rim at all? I only watched once but I didn't see any.

 

Looks like an 80% likelihood of a starting level player at 15....i like the odds

 

What is the point of any Clownzano blurb about NBA prospects, the draft or the NBA in general? Based on his past history, if Clownzano watched a hundred hours of college basketball footage I still wouldn't respect his opinion on the subject. He simply has no clue and has displayed a negative ability to evaluate talent.

 

Hell, even Meyers probably laughed at that.

 

That's why its called his "weaknesses" tape...

 

You can't gauge a player off of just highlights. Hopefully you're starting to understand this...

Why is him not having "power dunks" in some games an evaluation factor for you?

 

Him not being able to go around anyone is more of a concern.

 

As deep as this draft is, if we keep all three picks, I'd be supremely disappointed if we didn't land at least 1 starting level player, and I think 2 is not unreasonable given where we're picking and the quality of the players that will be available..

BNM

 

It's beautiful! I can die happy now.