2016 NBA Draft thread

[slinslin]

Marquese Chriss could pretty much be the next Amare. Although their foundation is different. Chriss is a great athlete, with perimeter skills already and needs to work on strength, rebounding, maturity while Amare was a brute force athlete already that needed to develop the perimeter skills.

As the scouting report says Chriss is a putback dunk threat on every miss. Best offensive rebounder in the country, he struggles on the defensive boards, fouls too much on defense but is a good shotblocker. His defensive struggles might simply be down to lack of strength and maturity.
Chriss has good form on his jumpshot and range to the threepoint line and he is good at rolling to the basket and finishing with dunks.

Chriss and Ingram are the only NCAA prospects who will still be 18 on draft day.

 

[Phrazbit]

http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2015/04/usa-edged-out-103-101-in-18th-nike-hoop-summit.aspx

Interesting game that featured Simmons, Maker, Labissier, Murray, Ingram, Zhou Qi, Jaylen Brown, Rabb and more.

Maker had a game high 10 rebounds while only playing 14 minutes. He can certainly play with that bunch. He is going to fly up the draft boards. He looks, to me, like he could be drafted ahead of Rabb. McD must be licking his chops right now. There is a whole crew of big men with very versatile games (Simmons, Ingram, Bender, Skal, Maker).

Too bad for Bobby Hurley and ASU. They had the inside track recruiting him.

With the suspicion that he is declaring largely because he has no hope of being accepted to a university his attraction to ASU makes sense. I mean, as a basketball player he'd have to be an idiot to go there?

 

[slinslin]

The idea of drafting Labissiere and Maker is pretty cool though I must admit.

Potentially you develop Labissiere as a PF and Maker as a C. If they pan out you have an athletic long 7' power forward that can shoot and an athletic 7'1 center that also can shoot.

If we land #2 to pick 6'10 SF Brandon Ingram, pick 7' Labissiere at #12 ,7'1 Maker at 28 and 6'5 PG Murray at #33. Then we added a lof of length at each position.

Still I really like PF Marquese Chriss.

And I also really like OG Anunoby another 18 year old project if he declares. 6'8 SF from Indiana with 7'6 wingspan. Physically he is Kawhi.

Simmons, Ingram, Chriss, Anunoby (if he declares),Labissiere, Maker, Murray are certainly in my opinion the most intriguing "high ceiling" prospects.

Scenario A
we pick Simmons, Chriss or Labissiere with our pick
#12 OG Anunoby if he declares
#28 Maker
#33 Dejounte Murray

Scenario B
we pick Ingram first
#12 Chris or Labissiere - one hopefully would drop
#28 Maker
#33 Murray

 

[JCSunsfan]

I am with you on Brice.

I was hot for him a week ago but have cooled. The physical gifts seem perfect but there is just something missing. For sure he does not seem to be able to shoot from the outside, which is a must in today's NBA but he also is not a great finisher in traffic.

A great finisher in the paint with great hands is what I would like to see us get in this draft. Someone with a mean streak. I think Jaylen Brown has shown some of that ability. Unfortunately he is pegged as a potential bust and at the very least a project.

Who best fits that need in this years draft?

That is what disappoints me most about Alex Len. I just want him to go hard to the hole and fight his ass off for rebounds. He does that on occasion but I want that from him every minute he is on the court. On mu nights, he is far too passive for my taste.

If you are not included in the offense, for most it is really then hard to be engaged in the defense. That's Len's problem. When Len is included early, his game is completely different. Cotton and Westphal understood this about big men. They would run plays for Mark West early in the first quarter of games to get him involved, it made a difference on both ends of the court.

That is what is so damaging about Knight. When he waves off an open Len to shoot a contested long two, it complete deflates Len (and the rest of the team), its not just about the poor percentages of that shot. Sad to say, Booker is starting to play like that some too.

You put a Steve Nash or even a Rajon Rondo with Len, and you would have a completely different player.

BTW, I hope we return to the less play dominant more efficient Devin Booker next fall.

 

[Mainstreet]

If you are not included in the offense, for most it is really then hard to be engaged in the defense. That's Len's problem. When Len is included early, his game is completely different. Cotton and Westphal understood this about big men. They would run plays for Mark West early in the first quarter of games to get him involved, it made a difference on both ends of the court.

That is what is so damaging about Knight. When he waves off an open Len to shoot a contested long two, it complete deflates Len (and the rest of the team), its not just about the poor percentages of that shot. Sad to say, Booker is starting to play like that some too.

You put a Steve Nash or even a Rajon Rondo with Len, and you would have a completely different player.

BTW, I hope we return to the less play dominant more efficient Devin Booker next fall.

Totally agree. It applies to Chandler as well. Chandler and Len would be much more effective offensively if someone knew how to pass them the ball near the rim.

Getting a player involved offensively often helps to engage them defensively because they become more active in the game.

 

[slinslin]

Len and Chandler are plenty involved in the last 2 months.

Len for whatever reason just can't put it all together.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If you are not included in the offense, for most it is really then hard to be engaged in the defense. That's Len's problem. When Len is included early, his game is completely different. Cotton and Westphal understood this about big men. They would run plays for Mark West early in the first quarter of games to get him involved, it made a difference on both ends of the court.

That is what is so damaging about Knight. When he waves off an open Len to shoot a contested long two, it complete deflates Len (and the rest of the team), its not just about the poor percentages of that shot. Sad to say, Booker is starting to play like that some too.

You put a Steve Nash or even a Rajon Rondo with Len, and you would have a completely different player.

BTW, I hope we return to the less play dominant more efficient Devin Booker next fall.

I'm sorry, I just think your comments about Len are wishful thinking. I can't tell you how many times I've seen us buried in a hole early in a game because our guards tried to get our big men involved offensively the past few years. Eddie even complained about it several times last season and at the start of this one. I don't know what he's said the past few months because I think I've only caught the Suns side of a game maybe twice since the All Star break but Len has been getting plenty of touches and they usually come early.

For awhile he was making them at a decent clip but of late he's been shooting horribly, all on his own merit (or lack of). And he's averaging almost 13 shots a game over his past 22 in his 30 minutes per. That's plenty of touches for Len given that he's shooting just 40% during this stretch.

As for Booker, he's doing what he's been told to do. Watson told him several times to keep being aggressive with his shot even when it's not falling. I prefer the under control Booker too but let's face it, every great scorer has a selfish streak. If you want him to become a great scorer he has to do this also.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'm sorry, I just think your comments about Len are wishful thinking. I can't tell you how many times I've seen us buried in a hole early in a game because our guards tried to get our big men involved offensively the past few years. Eddie even complained about it several times last season and at the start of this one. I don't know what he's said the past few months because I think I've only caught the Suns side of a game maybe twice since the All Star break but Len has been getting plenty of touches and they usually come early.

For awhile he was making them at a decent clip but of late he's been shooting horribly, all on his own merit (or lack of). And he's averaging almost 13 shots a game over his past 22 in his 30 minutes per. That's plenty of touches for Len given that he's shooting just 40% during this stretch.

As for Booker, he's doing what he's been told to do. Watson told him several times to keep being aggressive with his shot even when it's not falling. I prefer the under control Booker too but let's face it, every great scorer has a selfish streak. If you want him to become a great scorer he has to do this also.

That's what someone told Brandon Knight somewhere along the line, and look what we have now. Take the good shot when you have it. Pass to the guy who has a better shot than you. BBall 101. Part of being great is know which shots NOT to take. I think Booker inherently knows this, but he is being pushed to ignore it. That scares me.

 

[AzStevenCal]

That's what someone told Brandon Knight somewhere along the line, and look what we have now. Take the good shot when you have it. Pass to the guy who has a better shot than you. BBall 101. Part of being great is know which shots NOT to take. I think Booker inherently knows this, but he is being pushed to ignore it. That scares me.

Yeah, there still needs to be some balance. But I rarely see Booker take the kind of cringe-worthy shot that Knight so often takes.

 

[Russ Smith]

I don't think he can. If he could why didn't he do it in 4 years of college?

Too busy with his rigorous academics at UNC?

 

[FArting]

Skal Labissiere and Jamal Murray going Pro.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Skal Labissiere and Jamal Murray going Pro.

Skal should stay in school.

 

[GatorAZ]

Skal should stay in school.

Why? He'll learn more about the NBA at the NBA level. This one and rule is so dumb.

 

[slinslin]

Skal-a-Thon

Shall be the nickname of our twin towers libeup in 3 years.

 

[elindholm]

Skal-a-Thon

Why not a triple-tower lineup, SkalLenThon?

 

[AzStevenCal]

Why? He'll learn more about the NBA at the NBA level. This one and rule is so dumb.

Agreed. He'd probably learn more about the NBA in China than he will in college. The 1 and done rule clearly hurts the college game but I don't think it helps the NBA game all that much either.

 

[slinslin]

Yes and with Kentuckys recruiting classes you might just end up like Poythress if you stay.

Skal will benefit a lot more from full-time access to NBA practice facilities, strength and conditioning trainers as well as practicing against better players.

Talent is not the issue with Skal obviously. He is a 7' with a decet wingspan, good hops and agility, instinct for shotblocking and a shooting touch.
His upside is one of the highest in the entire draft and honestly may be higher than Simmons and Ingram.

Labissiere, Chriss, Dejounte Murray, Thon Maker are boom or bust prospects much like Zach Lavine was. Though Chriss and Murray have shown pretty decent college production and high peak play performances.

 

[slinslin]

Chad Ford mockdraft.

#3 Bender
#13 Korkmaz
#28 Jeanne

Ford has us taking 3 Euros, 2 of them stash, 1 of them a SG when we have Booker, Bogdan, Jenkins, Goodwin and Knight.

This would be a pretty horrific draft imo. Not a fan of the stash, I think it is better for player development to be 3rd stringers in the NBA. Also players that are still developmental players in Europe can't be stashed so easy because no decent team would pick up Jeanne and develop him for you. Bogdan could be stashed because he was a productive player already.

Furkan Korkmaz also is not much of a contributor yet.

It is actually funny considering he ranks Zizic #22 on his big board and Jeanne #27. Yet in his mockdraft he slots Jeanne for us and Zizic one place later claiming that we pick Jeanne because he is a draft and stash candidate and major work in progress while saying that Zizic is already productive and the Spurs being great at finding talent, weird, seems like Spurs bias.

https://imgur.com/PQBl1h6

Now as far as the guys I like are concerned

Marquese Chriss ranked #8
Skal Labissiere ranked #16
Dejounte Murray ranked #21
Thon Maker ranked #20
(all 4 are destined to rise their value through the workout process though)

(Valentine 16, Sabonis 17, Luwawu 19, Zizic 29, Zimmermann 30)

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

From Steve Kyler, President of Insider Sports:

"Looks like NBA out for Dragan Bender could be pretty manageable. Had one team say they believed it was the $650k teams allowed to pay."

Not sure how reputable that source is, but it's interesting nonetheless.

I agree that Korkmaz would be an odd choice for the Suns. They would have to like him a lot more than the other prospects in that range for him to make sense, and there are a lot of prospects to like in that range.

I actually love the Jeanne pick. He's got as good a chance as anyone in the draft to be a bust, but his potential is immense, so why not take a shot? He's already taller than Gobert at 18 years old, and he has many of the same strengths and weaknesses (as I understand it) of Maker.

 

[slinslin]

Steve Kyler I think does not know anything, he was on hoopsworld I think, he just forwards information leaked elsewhere.

Jeanne is much rawer than Gobert, Jeanne has very little pro experience. Gobert was more mature.
Anyway he is not a stash candidate. I can't imagine what team would be willing to develop such a raw project for you. European teams are trying to win, not to develop young players for the NBA that do not help them win.

Jeanne is 7'2 with a 7'7 wingspan. Gobert is 7'2 with a 7'9 wingspan.

Jeanne is very weak, very thin, has very long legs which is not very good for balance, shys away from contact, does not rebound well. That is a guy who is 5 years away from contributing anything.

That small forward project Anunoby from Indiana is 6'8 with a 7'6 wingspan.

https://twitter.com/IAmDPick/status/717716673105625088

This guy is a reliable Euroleague insider.

Bender would have to pay part of his buyout himself.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Jeanne is much rawer than Gobert, Jeanne has very little pro experience. Gobert was more mature.
Anyway he is not a stash candidate. I can't imagine what team would be willing to develop such a raw project for you. European teams are trying to win, not to develop young players for the NBA that do not help them win.

Jeanne is 7'2 with a 7'7 wingspan. Gobert is 7'2 with a 7'9 wingspan.

Jeanne is very weak, very thin, has very long legs which is not very good for balance, shys away from contact, does not rebound well. That is a guy who is 5 years away from contributing anything.

That small forward project Anunoby from Indiana is 6'8 with a 7'6 wingspan.

Definitely not saying Jeanne is Gobert, just that he is taller, based on the picture in that article on the Le Mans trio of 7-footers.

I agree with his weaknesses, but the kid is not available at 28 without those weaknesses (I've seen many mocks with him as high as the late lottery, though I think he might not even declare) and he is still 18 years old. There is plenty of time for him to improve his skills and his body. You run the risk of him not developing, but most picks at #28 don't develop into anything. You might as well shoot for the stars.

OG intrigues me as well, but I think there is a better chance than not he returns to Indiana.

If Bender is available to come over right away, I think he's basically a lock for the third spot, for better or worse.

 

[slinslin]

I think Thon is more intriguing than Jeanne. Even if he is "just" 7'1 with a 7'3 wingspan.

I am really starting to dig the idea of drafting Labissiere and Maker, swing for the fences. I'd hope that they would develop greatly by being drafted together. Lock them in the gym for 2 years.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

I like that idea as well, but there's a better chance than not that Maker doesn't make it to 28. If you can get Skal and Thon at 12 and 28, I love it. If not, Jeanne is another swing for the fences option.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think Thon is more intriguing than Jeanne. Even if he is "just" 7'1 with a 7'3 wingspan.

I am really starting to dig the idea of drafting Labissiere and Maker, swing for the fences. I'd hope that they would develop greatly by being drafted together. Lock them in the gym for 2 years.

I really like the idea of going for the high potential long shots but I don't expect Sarver to allow it. I think we go all out to make the playoffs next season. If they aren't going to be patient, I just hope their idea of "all out" is to draft wisely (safely) and add a solid free agent. The worst thing we could do would be to cash in our draft picks now for a player that isn't going to take us further than borderline playoff team.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Steve Kyler I think does not know anything, he was on hoopsworld I think, he just forwards information leaked elsewhere.

Jeanne is much rawer than Gobert, Jeanne has very little pro experience. Gobert was more mature.
Anyway he is not a stash candidate. I can't imagine what team would be willing to develop such a raw project for you. European teams are trying to win, not to develop young players for the NBA that do not help them win.

Jeanne is 7'2 with a 7'7 wingspan. Gobert is 7'2 with a 7'9 wingspan.

Jeanne is very weak, very thin, has very long legs which is not very good for balance, shys away from contact, does not rebound well. That is a guy who is 5 years away from contributing anything.

That small forward project Anunoby from Indiana is 6'8 with a 7'6 wingspan.

https://twitter.com/IAmDPick/status/717716673105625088

This guy is a reliable Euroleague insider.

Bender would have to pay part of his buyout himself.

I don't doubt it. Its frustrating when you are buried on the bench of a bad team.