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

You like what you see?

 

How do we make this a reality?!

 

COLLINS TO PORTLAND CONFIRMED.

 

Does Giles have any game? He was clanging every mid-range shot during the news segment of today's workout. At least he's got his health...

 

That none of the 15 mock drafts had Kennard to the Blazers? Yes.

 

I'm pretty sure he never had any mid-range game. He is mostly about post play, rebounding and defense. With training he could perhaps develop a mildly respectable mid-range but he will never extend his game to a 3-point line or become a frequent mid-range scorer.

 

In some ways I am happy about that. Even Dwight Howard just recently said he is going to work on his 3 point shot to try to extend his career by taking less of a pounding in the post. I mean, Dwight Howard taking 3's? Get out of here!

 

I'm pretty high on Patton at 15 right now. He seems to have a great attitude, has a great 3pt shot (on small sample size), has nice handles and seems to have very good passing ability. I think his rebounding will come along and his shot blocking is sufficient. He could come in as backup 4/5 with the hope that he could possibly start at the 4 down the road, given he is almost exactly the same build as LMA when he was drafted.

Follow that up with 2K at 20 and Bell at 26?

 

The link below is for the interesting “unvarnished opinions” from 5 NBA scouts on 50 potential draft picks.

Seth Davis has melded his interviews with the 5 NBA scouts into one scouting report, with the promise of keeping the scouts anonymous.

https://sethsdrafthouse.com/finch-returns-to-dish-on-nba-prospects-fa57b7c494ef
This should keep the kids busy for awhile.

 

Posting here because one could be traded near the draft.

 

Here's what I wrote about Patton back in February...

• One of the only bigs in this draft with starter upside (Feel and IQ on both ends are advanced for a 19 year old)
• Will take a year or two to develop (still growing into his body)
• Has a chance to be both an elite finisher and also a pnp threat out to 3pt range
• Building up lower body strength is going to be big for him, currently struggles to hold his position on both ends
• Still learning to go hard for long stretches (needs to continue to get in better shape)
• Doesn't project to be elite defensively, but already guards the pnr at an advanced level and has the reach to be a solid rim protector
• Late growth spurt ala Towns and AD so he's still getting used to playing big. Tries to do a little too much at times as he does try and flash his guard skills. Still figuring out who he is as a player.

Although I think the roster fit wouldn't be ideal and I'm not sure how much he'll be able to contribute right away, I wouldn't mind the pick. I don't really like him much at the 4 but his feet, shooting and passing might allow for it in certain situations and would actually help hide his frame/strength/physicality issues that's he's going to have to work through as he develops.

 

I don't think we are going to use all 3 picks and I change my mind on a weekly basis (since I am still evaluating) but if I was drafting for the team right now, I would take:

15. Justin Jackson (Zach Collins if he drops - I don't believe he will but some mocks have him as low as 14)
20. Justin Patton
26. Semi Ojeleye/Jordan Bell

Of course no guarantee any of those guys are available in the slot we are picking (especially the first two).

I would prefer to trade all the picks for George or Butler or trade 2 of the picks (and a player) up to get Tatum or Issac first though. And if those don't work I also would be fine trading our late first for two second rounders. Don't see a difference between guys mocked to go 24-36.

 

By the way, the 76ers have 4 second round picks and they have come out and said that they will trade at least one of them.

 

If they can't get PG, then I think it they may actually keep the three picks, or at least the first two and maybe trade 26 for a couple in the second round. If you don't get PG then you want to start building up value, and getting rid of low value. If you keep the picks you could easily find some eventual replacements for Leonar_, Crabbe, Turner, Davis and Harkless. And the biggest needs they have are easily represented in this space (PF, backup C, defensive wings). This is a great year to have picks. Some of these guys in the 15-30 range would be in the 5-12 range in a different year. Many in the second round would normally be in the 15-30 range. This is a year to keep your picks, unless you can get real value in a trade.

 

Scouts are really tough evaluators; I don't think there is one guy in the draft where they were all-positive. Guys they seemed to like more were Josh Jackson, Tatum, Isaac, Donovan Mitchell and Jordan Bell. Maybe Zach Collins.

Here is their squib on Bell: “He’s one of my favorite players in the draft. He could be a switch monster because of his ability to defend multiple positions. He’s probably a better shooter than we saw at Oregon. He’s a hot name. He’s undersized four, but he’s just such a ridiculous athlete.”

And on John Collins: “Great finisher at the rim. Better shooter than he showed at Wake. Defensively is where he really struggles. I didn’t see a lot of effort from him on that end. But he’ll be able to score at an elite level in our league. Can be a little silly at times. Has to become more focused, more mature. He can’t dribble and he can’t pass, but you cannot leave him alone. He’s just so damn efficient. He doesn’t pass at all but he shoots 65 percent from the field. He had a hard time staying out of foul trouble.”

 

Scouts:
Justin Patton, 6’11” freshman center, Creighton
“I love his game but he has to get stronger. There are some questions about his work ethic and his commitment to basketball. No question he has huge upside. He’s a futures bet. Runs really well, shoots pretty well. He’s not just young, he’s mentally young. You’re going to have to watch him and nurture him. He needs to be able to make shots because he’s so slight, the things he did in college will be difficult in the pros. He’s a big baby, in a good way. I thought his rebounding should have been better than it was. He’s not a great free throw shooter. He doesn’t have a strong inside game but I think with body development that will get better.”

 

Harry Giles, 6’10” freshman forward, Duke
“Which Harry are you getting? Are you getting pre-knee injuries or the one we saw at Duke? At the end of the day, it comes down to your medical staff. He has great size for an NBA power forward. I’d say mid to late first round. I wouldn’t touch him. He’s too big a gamble. I saw him at a workout and it looks like his legs are getting better. Until he lands on his left leg, I don’t know what to tell you. He was cleared medically at Duke. He just couldn’t get over the injuries mentally. Has there ever been a case where a guy blew out his knee twice before being drafted? Leon Powe, maybe? He would be a top five pick if he didn’t get hurt.”

Ike Anigbogu, 6’10” freshman center, UCLA
“Great frame, great size, but very raw as far as his post play and footwork. He’s nowhere near ready to compete on an NBA floor. He’s only 18. He has a chance to be a DeAndre Jordan type. He’s so new to the game, he doesn’t understand a lot of the nuances, but he’s very powerful and can block shots. He had a meniscus tear and some knee issues so he’s not working out for anybody. I thought he was one of the best interviews we did in Chicago. Soft spoken, smart kid.”

 

Anigbogu is a deandre type you say? Who drafted deandre again?

 

Fully agree. That's why I hate the idea of attaching 2 or 3 picks to Leonard to remove his contract, or even one pick, because it could end up being a very good player and we'll look like fools. Rookies are also very cheap for 3-4 years, so if we could have Crabbe, Turner and Leonard on terrible deals for the next 3 years but also have three good rookies at $2M a year or so, it sort of evens things out.