The 2018 NBA Draft

nighthob

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For anyone interested you should look at the NBA's draft measurements page before they correct it. The data entry person completely mucked up the Jevon/Wendell Carter entries, and not consistently, which is what makes it so hilarious. Apparently the 6'1" 251 lb Jevon Carter has a standing reach of 9'1", while the 6'10" 196lb Wendell Carter has a standing reach of 7'11". But with a 7'4.5" wingspan.
 

BaseballJones

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Thinking about the Celtics at #27. Guys I'd consider (given the Smart/Rozier possible situation)...

Jalen Brunson, Villanova
Devonte Graham, Kansas
Grayson Allen, Duke (hate him but he's good)
Bruce Brown, Miami

Would look to fill a guard position knowing that they'll likely lose Smart or Rozier (or both) in the next year or two.
 

finnVT

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Thinking about the Celtics at #27. Guys I'd consider (given the Smart/Rozier possible situation)...

Jalen Brunson, Villanova
Devonte Graham, Kansas
Grayson Allen, Duke (hate him but he's good)
Bruce Brown, Miami

Would look to fill a guard position knowing that they'll likely lose Smart or Rozier (or both) in the next year or two.
It's interesting... I take kind of the opposite position. I suspect they retain one of Smart/Rozier (probably Smart) to backup Kyrie (and play a bit alongside him). With Brown & Hayward able to play there too, it seems like that should be ok for a while. On the other hand, are they really going to want to keep paying Baynes? They probably need another big alongside Horford/Theis, especially when matching up against bigger lineups.

Based on that, Jontay Porter is an interesting option, though he may need to fall from where some people are projecting him. Not yet consistent offensively, but has a decent outside shot, can distribute... seems like he could work his way into a Baynes-like role, where he's not being counted on offensively, and Horford would be a great player for him to model his game after longer-term. Defensive ability and intensity are probably reasonable concerns.
 

DannyDarwinism

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Thinking about the Celtics at #27. Guys I'd consider (given the Smart/Rozier possible situation)...

Grayson Allen, Duke (hate him but he's good)


Would look to fill a guard position knowing that they'll likely lose Smart or Rozier (or both) in the next year or two.
At the moment, he's apparently putting up some great combine numbers- 40+ vertical, then this:



He's athletic, strong and skilled, plus he plays hard, but honestly, I just hate him too much. He's dirtier than Draymond and he looks like Ted Cruz. Plus he's terrible on D, and just the type of player we've seen teams go hunting for in the playoffs. If you're looking for a combo guard, there's a bunch of interesting guys that could be available at 27. Give me any of: Troy Brown, Jacob Evans, De'Anthony Melton, Shake Milton, Kevin Huerter, Bruce Brown, Josh Okogie, Landry Shamet or Jevon Carter.

Also, if they do keep Smart, which I hope they do, I cannot imagine a world in which he does not pummel Grayson Allen in practice. Hmmm... on second thought, maybe there is some upside to picking him.

@finnVT - I think Jontay Porter's a no-brainer if he's there. There's a lot to like if he can get his strength and conditioning up to par. It'd be a pretty big surprise if he fell to #27 based on what I've seen.
 
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Big John

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Bill Duffy isn't a beginner. He will do whatever he can to get his client out of Sacramento if that is what Doncic wants. Arne Tellum did the same thing for Kobe Bryant.
 

Cellar-Door

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So I'm sure Ainge just takes BPA on draft night (if he even stays at 27) but some interesting guys in terms of fit to me are:
Moritz Wagner, will be interesting to see his agility scores, reminds me of Olynyk, question is if he can switch.
Jontay Porter- lacks athleticism but could fill some of the Baynes role? shot the 3 decently in college
Melvin Frazier- nobody ever has too many 3/D wings
Rodion Kurucs- interesting stash candidate, great size for a wing
 

LondonSox

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Mo Bamba measured 7-10 wingspan at Combine today! I expect him to do well on the lane agility drills too. Love this kid as a Capela +.



1.Mo Bamba (7'10)
2. Udoka Azubuike (7'7)
3. Jaren Jackson (7'5.25)
T-4. Isaac Haas / Austin Wiley (7'5)
6. Ray Spalding (7'4.75)
7. Wendell Carter (7'4.5)
8. Bruno Fernando (7'4.25)
9. Kevin Hervey (7'3.5)
10. Keita Bates-Diop (7'3.25)
Someone is going to get a hell of a defensive prospect with some upside in the 5-10 range.

Last year I think ended up being deeper even than it looked, it may be because I haven't done enough scouting and reading of the rip prospects apart stage but shit man this draft has a lot of really fun players.

Right now I'm
Tier 1
Doncic
Tier 1 or 2
JJJ
Tier 3
Trae
Ayton
Bamba
Carter
Tier 3 or 4
Porter
Bagley
Tier 4
Bridges (both)
Tier 5
Sexton
Robert Williams
Zhaire Smith
Shai

And I'm totally confused on Knox
And there are sleepers too. The big talent is pretty great and the wings aren't trash.
Trae is the biggest I have no freaking idea where he goes guy I could see 3 and I could see 10
 

chilidawg

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I just don't get the Carter over Bagley love, and you're not the only one who seems to think that way. Just look at Bagley's production in the same system, for a young guy. With Bagley you're betting that the jump shot develops, but it looks way better than Jaylen Brown's did at Cal. The athleticism, motor and length just seems a perfect fit for today's NBA.
 

LondonSox

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So I think some of Jabari Parker's failures got transposed onto Tatum. I wonder if there is a bit of that for Bagley.

I am super skeptical he can defend wings, and he's not big enough to play center, so you have to think he's gonna out althetic NBA fours. I'm just not seeing that as something I want to bet on over some of these other guys.
In a worse draft he would be doing better, but if I want a big all the others vs Carter seem better bets at the next level.

It could be he's just got a great nose for the basket and board and his high energy just pests him vs bigger guys and his motor let's him bully smaller.

I see a super raw guy without an NBA role. I'm not remotely shocked if you disagree here, I am not super confident in this.
But I would bet on all the other guys first.

Carter I think, and so seemingly does everyone, has the Al Horford mold. More confident he can shoot, and more confident he can defend, and more confident he can pass.
I'd wager the ceiling would normally say Bagley but then everyone is watching Al in the playoffs, and kill it.
 

Jeff Van GULLY

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I don't think he'll be there but Jerome Robinson would be my guy with the Celtics pick. He is going to be a solid pro.
 

Kliq

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Milton is my pick; big combo guard that can play D, shoot from outside and create for others. His game matches the way this team is playing right now.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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I’m not even going to try to guess who or what kind of player Ainge will pick. They have so much ammo to move up if they want. Or just sit back and try to do the GS/SA thing and grab a guy who just fits and everyone immediately goes “oh shit we all just missed him didn’t we?”
 

Manzivino

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My prediction for the Cs is one of Khyri Thomas, Jalen Brunson or Jacob Evans. Not the highest ceilings, but all 3 of those guys can be contributors early and are great bets to be rotation guys on their rookie deal which is what the Cs need more than any specific position. Plus they have the Kings/Grizzlies picks to find Horford’s heir over the next few years.
 

HomeRunBaker

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So I think some of Jabari Parker's failures got transposed onto Tatum. I wonder if there is a bit of that for Bagley.

I am super skeptical he can defend wings, and he's not big enough to play center, so you have to think he's gonna out althetic NBA fours. I'm just not seeing that as something I want to bet on over some of these other guys.
In a worse draft he would be doing better, but if I want a big all the others vs Carter seem better bets at the next level.

It could be he's just got a great nose for the basket and board and his high energy just pests him vs bigger guys and his motor let's him bully smaller.

I see a super raw guy without an NBA role. I'm not remotely shocked if you disagree here, I am not super confident in this.
But I would bet on all the other guys first.

Carter I think, and so seemingly does everyone, has the Al Horford mold. More confident he can shoot, and more confident he can defend, and more confident he can pass.
I'd wager the ceiling would normally say Bagley but then everyone is watching Al in the playoffs, and kill it.
I love Bagley, he's my #1 with Bamba close behind. His perimeter shooting is being severely underrated and watching him switch to defend 1's and 2's last year made me a true believer in his game. I really like Carter as a solid Juwan Howard, Otis Thorpe, Al Horford-type. The more I see the NBA game changing the more I dislike Ayton and I'd been touting him for 4 years now. I also don't have Doncic in that top tier due to his lack of explosiveness which could really prevent him from living up to his hype.

I'll post my full mock once I've looked at my Combine DVR's. I fell in love with Khris Middleton and Rudy Gobert from these workouts so I place significant value in this week.
 

Sox Puppet

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Milton is my pick; big combo guard that can play D, shoot from outside and create for others. His game matches the way this team is playing right now.
As a plus, he could join the pantheon of Boston athletes named after towns in the greater metropolis (Tim Wakefield, Carl Everett, Fred Lynn, etc.). :)
 

DannyDarwinism

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I love Bagley, he's my #1 with Bamba close behind. His perimeter shooting is being severely underrated and watching him switch to defend 1's and 2's last year made me a true believer in his game. I really like Carter as a solid Juwan Howard, Otis Thorpe, Al Horford-type. The more I see the NBA game changing the more I dislike Ayton and I'd been touting him for 4 years now. I also don't have Doncic in that top tier due to his lack of explosiveness which could really prevent him from living up to his hype.

I'll post my full mock once I've looked at my Combine DVR's. I fell in love with Khris Middleton and Rudy Gobert from these workouts so I place significant value in this week.
My general sense is that this draft is short on bigs and point guards, but pretty deep for wings. I'm with @Kliq in liking Shake Milton, what he lacks in athleticism he makes up for in savvy and positional size. But Troy Brown, Melton, Josh Okogie, Bates-Diop and Bruce Brown fit the Ainge archetype of athleticism, strong frame and defensive switchability. Then there's the offensive guys like Huerter, Shamet (reminds me of a rich man's RJ Hunter) and DiVincenzo. That said, given Ainge's recent draft history and the team's developmental success, I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt for whoever they go with.
 

DJnVa

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Mannix on Grayson Allen: https://sports.yahoo.com/can-grayson-allen-biggest-riddle-nba-draft-combine-flourish-league-072106881.html

Who is Grayson Allen? Is he JJ Redick, the comparably sized fellow Duke alum who Allen often gets asked about? “I don’t think JJ jumped 40 inches,” Allen said, smiling, a nod to the 40 ½-inch vertical leap he registered at the NBA draft combine on Thursday. Added a team personnel executive: “They were both villains. But JJ was a two guard. I really think Grayson can play the point.”
 

tims4wins

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There are a ton of differences between the two. The only similarities IMO are:
1) They are both white
2) They both played at Duke for four years
3) They were both hated in college

JJ is/was a better shooter. Grayson is/was a far better athlete and significantly taller. While both were villains, JJ played it up and relished the role, whereas Grayson doesn't embrace it at all.

While I like Grayson's game and think he will have a spot in the NBA, I don't find him to be particularly mentally tough, which is why I think Ainge passes despite his love of Dukies.
 

the moops

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JJ is/was a better shooter. Grayson is/was a far better athlete and significantly taller. While both were villains, JJ played it up and relished the role, whereas Grayson doesn't embrace it at all.
.
Grayson measured 6' 3" (without shoes).
Redick measured 6'4" (without shoes)
 

Kliq

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Redick is also one of the best CBB players of the last 20 years and Allen had a good career, but I also don't think that he's going in anyone's HoF.
 

LondonSox

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I am pretty shocked at these reported combine numbers for him, 40+ inch and lateral quickness.

I f ing hate scouting Duke players.
Which probably means Bagley is the man.
 

nighthob

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Edit: looking it up, apparently JJ's wingspan was only 6'3 1/4 vs. Allen's 6'7 1/4. Huge difference there.
Yeah, but his standing reach is only 8'1", meaning that a lot of the wingspan is shoulder width and not usable length.
 

tims4wins

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Yeah, but his standing reach is only 8'1", meaning that a lot of the wingspan is shoulder width and not usable length.
True, great point, it is actually smaller than JJ's 8'1.5"

I do agree with some of the commentary that Grayson could actually play point, unlike JJ
 

nighthob

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That's the real key with GA. The athletic testing is eye-opening, but really it isn't his game, so I'm not sure how much of it you really see on the floor. I don't think there are going to be a lot of great options at 27, so if they go Grayson I'll just sort of shrug.
 

Devizier

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Redick is also one of the best CBB players of the last 20 years and Allen had a good career, but I also don't think that he's going in anyone's HoF.
Well, that's why Redick was a lottery pick (albeit in a terrible draft) and Allen is not
 

EL Jeffe

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Allen sort of reminds me of a poor man's Jamal Murray (who I loved coming out). I think Allen can score from all three levels and can handle well enough to play point in a pinch. I don't think Allen does anything as well as Murray though, but he's probably a serviceable bench player. He's going to have to cut the sh*t at the NBA level though, because the tripping crap isn't going to play there. Diallo strikes me more of a Celtics pick at that range though, just based on the high school pedigree and defensive versatility upside.
 

Big John

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I would not be disappointed if the rumored promise to Chandler Hutchison were from Ainge.
 

Sam Ray Not

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I'm gonna steal all your guys's great ideas for my Warriors wish list at #28. Gotta figure Myers/Kerr and Ainge/Stevens will covet the same type of player (defensively active and versatile, high character and hoops IQ, etc.)

I love that we leapfrogged the Raptors, btw. This'll be our highest draft pick since Harry Barnes at #7 in 2012!
 

Big John

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NBAdraft.net is reporting that the Bulls promised Chandler Hutchison at #22 and the Lakers promised Mitchell Robinson at #25. The website's next four picks after #25 are three guys from Villanova (Spellman, DiVincenzo, Brunson) and Jerome Robinson from BC.
 

chilidawg

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Am I the only one who hadn't heard of Bruno Fernando? Maryland freshman, currently #2 on the Nbadraft.net (yeah, I know) 2019 mock, but thinking of entering this years draft. Why is there no buzz about him? Seems like if he was #2 next year he'd at least be in the lottery discussion.
 

Big John

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I haven't really heard of him either, and I try to follow NBA draft stuff. I knew about Kevn Huerter, but not Fernando. I see that in 20 games last year Fernando had 21 assists and 53 turnovers. Turnovers are never a good sign.
 

brunansky

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As a plus, he could join the pantheon of Boston athletes named after towns in the greater metropolis (Tim Wakefield, Carl Everett, Fred Lynn, etc.). :)
Let us not forget the great Mike Lowell. And, though he never played here, Bob Tewksbury.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Am I the only one who hadn't heard of Bruno Fernando? Maryland freshman, currently #2 on the Nbadraft.net (yeah, I know) 2019 mock, but thinking of entering this years draft. Why is there no buzz about him? Seems like if he was #2 next year he'd at least be in the lottery discussion.
He's Angola's best player FWIW.

He's a great athlete, has a great motor, and can shoot a bit but I believe he hasn't been playing basketball long. He's really raw. His Per-36 numbers are 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks at 57.8% (fg) and 74% (ft).

He'll probably get a first round promise from someone who falls in love with his potential but he'd really be much better off in college working on his game. There are so many of these "prospects" who sit on the bench their rookie year and so few of them that ever reach their potential but who knows?
 

DannyDarwinism

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He's big, strong, and athletic with a good motor and signs of a decent touch, but that's really about it as of now. From what I've read, Fernando is closer to declaring than returning, even though he's no sure thing to go in the first. He's already interviewed with a bunch of teams, but not the Celtics as far as I know. Here's a good recent write-up on him:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/terrapins-insider/wp/2018/05/17/at-nba-combine-marylands-bruno-fernando-tries-to-measure-up-and-keep-it-simple/?utm_term=.ec9cff43ba83

There's no chance he goes #2 next year if he stays though. NBAdraft.net's mock drafts are always head scratchers.
 

MillarTime

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I want DeVincinzo bad at 27. I think he’s going to be a really good combo guard / energy type guy in the league.
This. This. This. I am biased, but if he stays in the draft he will be a steal for someone in the late first. I was kind of hoping he'd head back to Nova, but he is reportedly ripping up the combine...

 

Kliq

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I think the best value guy right now in the draft is Keita Bates-Diop. He’s absurdly long; athletic, vacuums up rebounds and shoots well from the outside. To me, he has Kawhi-like potential and I’m surprised he isn’t really a lottery pick at this point.
 

Big John

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I'm sticking with Jalen Brunson as the best player likely to be available with #27. He may have been the best H.S. guard ever to come out of Illinois. He won the state championship, then two national championships at Villanova. His father played for the Celtics (briefly). What more do you want?
 

BigSoxFan

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I'm sticking with Jalen Brunson as the best player likely to be available with #27. He may have been the best H.S. guard ever to come out of Illinois. He won the state championship, then two national championships at Villanova. His father played for the Celtics (briefly). What more do you want?
He doesn’t spell his first name right. Do not want. In all seriousness, I’d take him if we end up trading Rozier. He or Donte’s Inferno would be a solid bench piece on next year’s team.
 

Devizier

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Any chance the Celtics could trade back? Philadelphia has four second rounders, Orlando has two. Celtics will probably need some cheap players to fill their rotation, particularly bigs and maybe a guard.
 

the moops

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Any chance the Celtics could trade back? Philadelphia has four second rounders, Orlando has two. Celtics will probably need some cheap players to fill their rotation, particularly bigs and maybe a guard.
They have 13 guys under contract next year assuming they match whatever Smart gets offered. They will sign a veteran big to fill Baynes spot. And I would imagine a veteran PG to fill the Larkin role. Plus whoever they draft at # 27. If they really want a 2nd rounder, they can probably just buy one, so there isn't a necessity to trade down to get an extra pick, IMO.
 

Big John

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He doesn’t spell his first name right. Do not want. In all seriousness, I’d take him if we end up trading Rozier. He or Donte’s Inferno would be a solid bench piece on next year’s team.
I see him as a Larkin replacement who might turn out to be a shorter version of Malcolm Brogdon. Nova won a championship without Josh Hart (another guy I liked) but Brunson was there for both of them. He was a starter on their 2016 championship team as a freshman.

I see that nbadraft.net has Chandler Hutchison back at #32 so maybe his promise was not from the Bulls. He's another guy I really like at #27.
 

MillarTime

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He doesn’t spell his first name right. Do not want. In all seriousness, I’d take him if we end up trading Rozier. He or Donte’s Inferno would be a solid bench piece on next year’s team.
Having watched 80% of the Nova games that Jalen and Donte have played in, I would take Divincenzo and not look back. Jalen is going to be a good pro but I think Donte has so much upside and he plays with max effort 100% of the time.
 

BigSoxFan

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Having watched 80% of the Nova games that Jalen and Donte have played in, I would take Divincenzo and not look back. Jalen is going to be a good pro but I think Donte has so much upside and he plays with max effort 100% of the time.
Sounds like a Danny kind of guy. His shooting would be useful off the bench next year. Definitely one of the guys I’ll be hoping slides to us.