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

I didn't follow Buck much in NJ ...I'm thinking more Portland era

 

That was my real question: will Bell be a back up, or does he have the offensive potential to be a 2-way starter?

I'm fine with drafting him as a back up, as we need to improve our bench, but I'd also like to see us upgrade both starting toward spots.

BNM

 

But even then Buck was a starter.

BNM

 

I think Bell can develop a respectable outside shot especially with the attention Dame/CJ/Nurk will command. I also think the same of Vonleh. They just need more reps (Bell is almost 8 months older than Vonleh if you can believe that) and confidence instead of just being used as a pick setter and someone who hands the ball off.

Bell can also pass it a little bit and if that could be developed just a bit more, is a guy who could get you a couple of assists per game.

 

I don't call this skinny

 

This is skinny

 

I think bells offensive game is probably as developed as noah's if not more advanced. vonleh's offensive development is still very much a work in progress though we are starting to see rewards. he only averaged 11.6ppg in college, not exactly a stud on offense, and very rudimentary on that side of the ball when he came out of Indiana.

 

Rodman had no offensive game
Buck had little offensive game

 

Like I said, I'm fine taking Bell as a defensive specialist where we're drafting. I'd rather get a player who has a very good chance to be exceptional at half the game than one who is mediocre at everything.

Buck scored over 10,000 points for the Nets and until just over a month ago was the leading scorer in franchise history. He averaged over 18 ppg three times in NJ. In POR he was the 5th option on offense. We really didn't run any plays for him

Funny you mentioned Rodman, I was just going to bring him up in response to the comment that Bell is too skinny. Rodman was super skinny, but that didn't prevent him from being a great defender and the best rebounder in the history of the league.

BNM

 

I'd be happy if our Blazers went with OG Anunoby (SF/PF) and Ike Anigbogu (C) as a way of bringing in more defensive talent. Our team certainly can use it.

 

For those who haven't seen them, Bell's predraft measurements have been posted at DraftExpress. I don't think his size (lack of) surprised anyone. Everyone knew going in he would be a bit undersized for an NBA power forward. His standing reach is also a bit on the low side of average for his position. His leaping ability is very good, but not quite elite (about the same as Noah Vonleh). It's his lane agility and shuttle times that stand out for a big man. This guy can cover some ground and has the motor to go with that speed/quickness.

Draft Express has him projected at 42, but acknowledged that after his measurements and his outstanding 5-on-5 performance at the combine, some teams late in the first round will be seriously considering him. Because this team desperately defense, I'd be fine taking him at 26. With his lateral quickness, in addition to his shot blocking prowess, he has the potential to be a great pick and roll defender.

BNM

 

I think many of us are on the same page here. Other than perhaps at 15, it's unlikely that any surefire great 2-way players are going to be available where we are picking. So, take guys that excel on defense and have great motors and try to develop their offensive games.

We have the highest scoring backcourt in the league and a center that can score 20+ on any given night. While it would be nice to have a great 2-way player at one of the forward spots, defense at those to spots should be a priority. We get 3 chances that one of the guys we take can develop into a 15ppg scorer to go with his high level defensive play.

BNM

 

After #15, as @Boob-No-More mentioned, I'd like defensive minded players that have a motor and at least some potential for an offensive game. Also, I'd like guys with bigger wingspan. Guys like Jeanne and Anigbogu can alter shots just by having their arms up. Johnathan Motley....7'4" wingspan with almost 10 rebounds per game. Hamidou Diallo...6'4" with a 6'11"+ wingspan and a 44" max vertical leap.

Nothing is a guarantee but all of these guys cover more space defensively just based on their build.

 

Hehe

In your dreams. Tell "pizza guy" to get his sources in check, he makes you look dumb.

 

Anigbogu is projected, by Draft Express, to go at 17. Jeanne, at 24. The other two, as well as Jordan Bell are all projected to be available when we pick at 26. If all three of those players are available at 26, which one would you pick? Jeanne and Motely have the length over Bell, but Bell has big advantage in motor, quickness, timing and general athleticism over the others.

Jeanne is freakishly long, but skinny as fuck. I know he can bulk up, but that might slow him down. He's not quite Gobert long, but close. but Gobert was 31 pounds heavier at his predraft combine. Pluse, we already have a very good 22-year old center on our roster.

In any case, at 26, which of these three would you take and why?

For me it's a tough call. You can't teach length, but I also don't think you can teach the intangibles that Bell has (motor, timing, instincts).

BNM

 

It's a tough call. If I compare say just Bell vs Motley, Bell has the better 'motor' but Motley put up much better numbers supposedly without as much of a motor and much more length which he will always have.

 

I really think we are going to try to consolidate these picks after seeing some of this draft combine stuff. Collins looks like he has a Dario Saric or Porzingas type of ceiling from what I saw during the tournament and just around the internet he is going to be a really good player at the next level. I think I've said this before but Sacramento has an overpaid vet at a position of need (Rudy Gay) and a pick in his range #10 and we have 'young talent' making too much money (AC or Turner) and 3 other first rounders.

IT JUST MAKES TOO MUCH SENSE

 

Motely put up "better" offensive numbers and slightly better pace adjusted REB/40, but he looked for his shot a lot more. Bell was more efficient, and since we're focusing more on defense here, Bell blocked twice as many shots (both per game and pace adjusted PER/40). That's where I think Bell's superior motor wins the day. We saw time and time again in the NCAA tournament how Bell's shot blocking completely shut down the paint, how opponents just flat out gave up even trying to score in the paint when he was on the floor. Jonathon Motely has not shown the ability to lock down the paint the way Jordan Bell has.

Of course, that was against college kids. The question then becomes how both players will translate their games to the NBA level. That's the tricky part. Motley will always be longer, but I suspect Bell will always have the superior motor, timing and quickness to block and alter more shots.

Draft Express has them pretty comparable, with Motley projected at 38 and Bell at 42. It will be interesting to see where they actually go.

BNM

 

I think Bell has the potential to be a good pick-and-roll finisher, which is generally an important trait for a big and prevents defenses from ignoring him. He also has the athleticism to switch across the spectrum--you may not want him guarding a backcourt player for long, but he looks like he could survive such a switch long enough to help snuff pick-and-rolls.

If, at the NBA level, he's an excellent rebounder, good switcher on pick-and-roll defense, good at rim defense and a good finisher as a roll man, he'll be solid value even as a mid-first round pick. If he adds another skill like shooting or reliable passing, he could even be a steal. I'd be okay with the team taking him at any of their picks, really.

 

I'd try: 20, 26, 2018 1st, and Turner and Harkless for 10, 34, and Gay. I want to try to trade up to 10 or so and keep 15.

A Z.Collins and J Jackson draft would be awesome.