2019 Draft Megathread

BigMike

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Sep 26, 2000
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Wasn't Bol projected to be a top 5 pick in this draft during the preseason?
Well he was considered a top 5 HS prospect coming into the NCAA. So yeah some people may have just listed him the same in NBA mock drafts, but he was always a guy who had HUGE question marks as an NBA player
 

BigMike

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Sep 26, 2000
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I don’t get how a guy like Edwards is there at 33. Seems like he has real potential the way the league is now.
Well he is 6'1 and had more turnovers than assists last year (3.1 to 2.9 in 35 min a game). So while he might be able to be an offensive sparkplug type off the bench, there are serious questions as to whether he can be a PG at the NBA level
 

HomeRunBaker

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Jan 15, 2004
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Yeah, despite not liking the pick my post was defending him as better than Keldon. Though we disagree on shooting being the easiest skill to improve. I think it's defense by a mile.
Which has the better chance of success......pre-injury Isaiah Thomas being a good defender or a guy like Romeo becoming a good shooter? Without the physical tools to defend you can't really improve much whereas shooting is all about repetitions so a guy like Bruce Bowen who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn as a rookie can be a dangerous 3-point weapon.
 

Cellar-Door

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Aug 1, 2006
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Which has the better chance of success......pre-injury Isaiah Thomas being a good defender or a guy like Romeo becoming a good shooter? Without the physical tools to defend you can't really improve much whereas shooting is all about repetitions so a guy like Bruce Bowen who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn as a rookie can be a dangerous 3-point weapon.
I guess. To me more guys become better defenders than become better shooters, usually with shooting it's taking guys who can shoot and extending their range. Obviously someone like IT because of his size is a freak and can't defend, but overall most size appropriate players improve on D, shooting less so, like a Lonzo Ball, he's trash as a shooter and likely always will be, same with almost all guys who couldn't shoot FTs in college/ early career.

Like Romeo for example. I bet he ends up a solid defender, good size, solid athleticism, at that point it's all about learning the system. He could become a good shooter too, and his underlying FT% numbers suggest he should be okay.
 

luckiestman

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Jul 15, 2005
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Silver has to be leaning on someone to take Bol Bol, right? This is embarrassing for the kid.
 

ManicCompression

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May 14, 2015
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Ainge has two types that drive me nuts: guards who can't shoot and unathletic bigs.

That said, it's pretty clear that he has a plan when he goes into the draft. He usually mixes upside, athletic, pedigree guys with proven college performers that may not have the athletic markers of a breakout nba player. That way, if Langford doesn't become next Donovan Mitchell, at least Grant Williams and Carsen Edwards can hypothetically become useful rotation players so we have something to show for the draft.

We all want all-stars and the next Giannis, but those are big bets to make if you have expectations to compete on a nightly basis. If Brandon Clarke never figures out how to shoot, he could be Tyrus Thomas. Mattise Thybulle could be Andre Roberson. Do we need Andre Roberson if we already have Marcus Smart?

I don't love this draft, but I see a theory behind it in the sense that it's a series of diversified gambles and we walk away with an extra first rounder next year.

Pelicans, even outside of Zion, are doing a great job of collecting talent.
 

cheech13

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Jan 5, 2006
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The Suns turned TJ Warren, #6 and #32 into Cam Johnson and Dario Saric? That's, uhh... not good.
 

Cellar-Door

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Aug 1, 2006
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The Suns turned TJ Warren, #6 and #32 into Cam Johnson and Dario Saric? That's, uhh... not good.
Yep. And then they filled some or all of the cap space they saved with the deal by trading MIL 2020 for Ty Jerome and the right to pay Aron Baynes a buyout
 

luckiestman

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Jul 15, 2005
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Riles is a fucking gentleman.

Edit: Denver? NBA needs to figure this proposed trade bs out
 

Cellar-Door

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Aug 1, 2006
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Waters seems bound for the G-League. Good on offense, would guess he's too small to defend at the NBA level. Phl Pressey-like maybe?
 

GoDa

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Sep 25, 2017
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Did this guy just wander in off the street? It's like he was out on a date and decided to stop by the draft.
 

DannyDarwinism

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Jul 7, 2007
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Ainge really seeming to prioritize mentality. Williams, Edwards and Waters are all gamers and smart, if undersized.
 

bowiac

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Dec 18, 2003
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I wouldn't let Edwards impact drafting Waters. Neither is likely to be in the rotation, so they don't really impact each other.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
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I’m very in on summer league.
One thing the NBA absolutely nails is Summer Leauge and its proximity to the draft. You barely have to wait until you get to see some of these guys play in organized games, even if it has been nerfed a bit over the years with the lottery picks playing fewer minutes and sitting out games.
 

Cellar-Door

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Aug 1, 2006
34,460
Who the hell is going to guard Embiid or Giannis?

Ainge is going to Ainge.
Umm.... who in this draft do you think could guard either of those guys? You can't exactly replace one of the best and most versatile defenders in the NBA with a draft pick.
 

Statman

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Jul 23, 2005
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Los Angeles, CA
Umm.... who in this draft do you think could guard either of those guys? You can't exactly replace one of the best and most versatile defenders in the NBA with a draft pick.
You still have to throw a body on them but Ainge drafted two guys who stacked on top of each other is the same size as Embiid. I just don’t don’t understand what Ainge has against bigs especially when mobile bigs light us.