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

I'm just gonna step out on a limb and say

JAYSON TATUM IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THIS DRAFT.

 

The only thing I really care about in the NBA lottery is the Lakers ending up outside the top-three.

 

So could Nurkic, but with Nurkic, it's not just about his scoring. He makes the team so much better in so many ways. He sets better screens AND the opposing defense has to respect him rolling to the basket. He's a great passer, but in a much different way than Plumlee. Plumlee got most of his assists from the top of the key either in transition or in the half court, usually with players cutting to the basket. That's nice, but Plumlee's assists rarely led to a 3-pointer.

Because Nukric is such a load in the low post, it collapses defenses. He does a great job of recognizing this and locating the open teammate at the 3-point line. As a 3-point shooter the best pass you can receive is one that comes from under the basket. You catch the ball with your feet set, your shoulders square and your eyes on your target. Although he didn't make a single 3-pointer, the addition of Jusuf Nurkic IMMEDIATELY improved this team's 3-point shooting.

I'm highlighting this paragraph for the tldr crowd. If you ignore everything else I write, read this:

In the 55 games prior to the trade, the Blazers longest streak of consecutive games of 3FG% => than .400 was 2 games. After the trade the team immediately went on a streak of 7 games of shooting .400 or better from 3-point range. In 55 games with Plumlee, the team shot => .400 from 3-point range just 14 times (14/55 = 25.4%). In 20 games with Nurkic, the team also shot better than .400 from 3-point range 14 times (14/20 - 70%). We went from a team that shot .400 or better from 3-point range once every 4 games to one who did so 7 out of every 10 games.

That's a huge impact that goes beyond Nurk's scoring. His picks, the defensive attention he commands in the low post and his passing all helped make this team a much better 3-point shooting team and much more efficient on offense.

He had a similar impact on the defensive end. Sure, he blocked and altered a lot of shots, but his impact was greater than that. He's a wide body that takes up a lot of space and defends the pick and roll well. With him in the game, it makes it much more difficult for opposing guards to blow by the screen and get to the rim for a layup. Nurk's large presence prevents that and allows our guards time to recover from the screen.

And, he's also an elite level rebounder. He dramatically improved our team on both end of the court. That's how you go from being a 23-32 (.418) team to a 14-6 (.700) team.

I don't think the jump from 10-15 is all that great. We'll just have to agree to disagree on that, but the jump from no-Nurk to Nurk was HUGE. He addressed so many of this team's weaknesses (low post scoring, rim protection and pick and roll defense, team 3-point shooting and overall offensive and defensive efficiency). Plus we also got that 20th pick to improve our odds of getting another quality player, either through the draft or by trading picks.

So again, I'll take Nurk + 15 and 20 over no Nurk + 10.

BNM

 

Well no one knows who going to bust in this draft. If you got a good scouting team you are less likely to miss on any of your players in the draft. Look at the Spurs there accomplishment in the late rounds. There teams have been in the lottory for years has the lottery been helpful for those team no. So getting in the lottery don't mean your going to excel as team and get in the playoffs the next year. There not one player in this draft going to turn a franchise around.

 

agreed, that kid have the potential to be a PG13 type of guy

 

Exactly! SAS got Kawhi by trading for the 15th pick. SAC has had 8 top 8 picks in 8 years and never even sniffed the playoffs (never won more than 33 games). I know picking earlier gives you more options, but having good scouting and talent evaluation teams is the most important factor, no matter where you're picking.

BNM

 

Yeah, it's not out of the realm of possibility. He probably has the highest offensive upside among the top 10 other than Fultz and Smith Jr. while offering the most defensive upside of the 3 based simply on being a SF w/some positional versatility.

 

Plus if they lose their pick this year they ALSO lose their pick in 2019.

Needless to say Lakers talk radio was enjoyable today while listening to how stressed the homers are. Hopefully Wednesday is even more entertaining......

 

Hmm do I want the lakers to miss out on their pick, or draft Lonzo?

Tough call.

 

2017 Mock Draft 2.0 - May 15th:

 

Absolute baller.

 

School affiliation shouldn't mean anything these days when 80% of the players are 1 and done anyways.

 

Right





First video the 2:45 mark.

Second video the :25 second mark


Two post moves that Leonard could only dream of.

 

Who can we poach off Boston when they make room for Fultz???

Bradley and Olynyk please.

 

Mick.... I'll make you a deal. If the Blazers take Bell and Collins. Then I'll go to the UP Gonzaga game next year wearing full Gonzaga gear.

 

That would be a home run draft.

 

Manu Ginobili.

BNM

 

With the way the NBA is, I would just about mortgage my house that the Lakers get a top-3 pick. NO WAY the NBA doesn't want the Lakers and the Celtics to get top picks.

 

Draymond Green comes to mind.

 

Shades of that David Stern, that little fucking weasel.