The 2018 NBA Draft

Eddie Jurak

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I don't really get the comedy from everyone on the trade.
I like zhaire, much higher ceiling much lower floor.
I'd rather have Bridges, but he's overrated defensively esp on ball and I didn't buy any real upside from here.

An unprotected first?!
Look if zhaire doesn't shoot that sucks and is a major issue, but he's a better defender than Bridges is three years younger is more althetic and has a better first step.

He's the most althetic player on the team, and good cutter. So he's gonna get dunks.
He's also switchable 1-4

I would bet on him developing his handle, his first step is elite but yeah he has to shoot for a home run.

Edit also 2021 is the year one and done is probably done so extra juice that year? Two years of talent
It's easy to dunk on the Sixers here because the picked up another questionable shooter. But at least one of the draft gurus (KOC) had him rated above Bridges. And the first, and save a bit of cap space. At worst, it isn't a bad deal.
Here's one impressive scouting report on Williams, and something I imagine Stevens can do a lot with:

"There are NBA bigs who have size and can defend on the perimeter. There are NBA bigs who have size and and can protect the rim. But, even in the NBA game, it is rare to find a big who can both defend on the perimeter and provide rim protection. Williams can do both."
Yes, exactly. I think the big question on him will be shooting, which could limit his future role. But, in a role, the Celtics can put him on the floor with shooters.
 

snowmanny

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Dec 8, 2005
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I don't really get the comedy from everyone on the trade.
I like zhaire, much higher ceiling much lower floor.
I'd rather have Bridges, but he's overrated defensively esp on ball and I didn't buy any real upside from here.

An unprotected first?!
Look if zhaire doesn't shoot that sucks and is a major issue, but he's a better defender than Bridges is three years younger is more althetic and has a better first step.

He's the most althetic player on the team, and good cutter. So he's gonna get dunks.
He's also switchable 1-4

I would bet on him developing his handle, his first step is elite but yeah he has to shoot for a home run.

Edit also 2021 is the year one and done is probably done so extra juice that year? Two years of talent
Yeah most people think the trade was good given the pick coming back and the salary drop and the likelihood that anyone in that range is more likely to miss than hit anyway. Bridges might be a solid player but maybe Philly was hoping someone else would slide. The jokes were more about Zhaire than the trade - at least mine was - so I'll stipulate that 1) the trade was probably good; 2) I have no idea how good either Markelle or Zhaire will be this year as they compete with each other for minutes.
 

Marbleheader

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Imagine how heads would have exploded if the Lakers pick ended up #6 with Bamba there and it went to Philly because Danny put a top 5 protection on it.
 

Big John

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Dec 9, 2016
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He's been drinkin since the river took Emmy Lou.
Just jet lagged. Feel free to fire away.
Williams may have been the best pure rebounder in the draft-- and one of the worst shooters-- but I'm confident that Stevens will figure out how to make him successful. I also see the pick as an indication that Ainge will do his best to retain Smart instead of replacing him with someone like Jacob Evans or Bruce Brown.
 

Big John

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Dec 9, 2016
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Quite a few undrafted players have reportedly signed NBA deals (mostly 2-way) e.g. Kendrick Nunn (GS), Angel Delgado (LAC), Alonzo Trier (NYK), Malik Newman (LAL), Rawle Atkins (TOR) and Joel Berry II (LAL).

I've seen nothing on Billy Preston or Brandon McCoy, just to name two. It will be interesting to see how Ainge fills out his Summer league roster and then the Red Claws roster.
 
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DannyDarwinism

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Quite a few undrafted players have reportedly signed NBA deals (mostly 2-way) e.g. Kendrick Nunn (GS), Angel Delgado (LAC), Alonzo Trier (NYK), Malik Newman (LAL), Rawle Atkins (TOR) and Joel Berry II (LAL).

I've seen nothing on Billy Preston or Braqndon McCoy, just to name two. It will be interesting to see how Ainge fills out his Summer league roster and then the Red Claws roster.
I'd like to see New Bedford's Own Bonzie Colson get a shot. Really undersized for a PF, but productive as hell at Notre Dame. Could have a Chuck Hayes type career if given a chance (or two or three) but he's a weird-ass player who's probably destined for a career abroad.
 

Big John

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Dec 9, 2016
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I read that. I suspect the league will come down harder on the networks.
Why not come down hard on teams that leak their picks ahead of the draft? It's the media's job to report what they are told by their sources, isn't it?

As for the Celtics, I'd like to see Bonzie Colson as well. He led the ACC in rebounding at 6-4. Washburn is reporting that in addition to the usual suspects (Bird, Allen, Ojeleye, Williams, etc.) the Celtics are adding Jarell Eddie and Justin Bibbs. Jarrod Uthoff is also rumored to be on the radar. I know nothing about Bibbs, but I liked Uthoff coming out of Iowa.
 

djbayko

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Jul 18, 2005
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Why not come down hard on teams that leak their picks ahead of the draft? It's the media's job to report what they are told by their sources, isn't it?

As for the Celtics, I'd like to see Bonzie Colson as well. He led the ACC in rebounding at 6-4. Washburn is reporting that in addition to the usual suspects (Bird, Allen, Ojeleye, Williams, etc.) the Celtics are adding Jarell Eddie and Justin Bibbs. Jarrod Uthoff is also rumored to be on the radar. I know nothing about Bibbs, but I liked Uthoff coming out of Iowa.
Why not "who cares"? You also have to consider that some information is bad. It's all part of the game. Just let it happen. I don't see how it's hurting the product at all.
 

Big John

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Dec 9, 2016
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I certainly don't care, and I'm fine with the status quo. But if the league is going to come down on someone, it ought to be on the leakers, not the media.
 

chilidawg

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Jan 22, 2015
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Just jet lagged. Feel free to fire away.
Williams may have been the best pure rebounder in the draft-- and one of the worst shooters-- but I'm confident that Stevens will figure out how to make him successful. I also see the pick as an indication that Ainge will do his best to retain Smart instead of replacing him with someone like Jacob Evans or Bruce Brown.
Sorry, that line comes into my head everytime I see your name pop up. Crazy Horse fan too.
 

Swedgin

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Jun 27, 2013
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Yeah most people think the trade was good given the pick coming back and the salary drop and the likelihood that anyone in that range is more likely to miss than hit anyway. Bridges might be a solid player but maybe Philly was hoping someone else would slide. The jokes were more about Zhaire than the trade - at least mine was - so I'll stipulate that 1) the trade was probably good; 2) I have no idea how good either Markelle or Zhaire will be this year as they compete with each other for minutes.
Zach Lowe made a great point on this pod which I have not seen or heard elsewhere regarding the trade.

Phoenix traded the Lakers pick (which they had acquired as part of the Nash trade) to Philly as part of the MCW/Brandon Knight deal with Philly/Bucks deal. Phoenix then traded Goran Dragic for two Miami number ones (2018 and 2021). The Lakers pick conveyed this year and Philly used it to select Bridges. The Suns then re-aqcuired the Lakers pick (Bridges) by sending both of the Miami picks (2018 #16 and the unprotected 2021) in the Miami deal to Philly.

So in effect the Suns traded Goran Dragic and two first round picks for Brandon Knight and a pick they already had (Miles Bridges). As Zach said "Not great Bob"
 

LondonSox

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Jul 15, 2005
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Sixers start the early recruiting of Giannis, love the long game.
Sixers had already traded that pick to the mavs btw.

Really pretty happy with the sixers draft
Picked up an unprotected first from a team with no cap space and eh talent.
Picked up three (someone said 4 but I think 3) future seconds, essentially rolling 3 picks

Picked up arguably the most althletic player in the draft, with good BbIQ and good POA defender (which they lacked). One reason I'm high on Zhaire is that he can play now and not hurt you, he sets screens, defends, rebounds and cuts well. He's not going to kill you on the floor while he learns.

For a projectable althlete often iq and defense are problems.
The shot, honestly I have no idea. It looks fine and FT% of 70+ as an 18 year old true fresh isn't... BAD
But that is the big question.

His upside is huge, two way player, shooter and or secondary creator. His floor is a defensive player who people play off, but not TOOO much as his althletic ability is tricky to recover to.
I was not sure about him 10th, I was on the fence. But less money, a pick yeah.

They also took two shooters I hadn't scouted much.
Landry Shamet can shoot from all three levels and seems a not awful defender.
Shake Milton is an interesting 3&d guy late. Can shoot and has 7 ft wingspan on his 6'5" frame.

Shamet can pass and create a bit, Milton can do better than many 3&d types as he played phone at times in college.
Both are shooters with other skills. Given the roster unclear how much they will see of the court