2017-2018 Draft Prospects watch.

[Chaplin]

This is, as they say, a nothingburger.

 

[Raindog]

This is just about my take on Doncic, though not even sure that I see his ceiling as high as this. My gut feeling is when all is said and done, he probably ends up as a better Doug McDermott and that's about it.

http://beta.nydailynews.com/sports/...st-not-overhype-luka-doncic-article-1.3954919

 

[Cheesebeef]

This is just about my take on Doncic, though not even sure that I see his ceiling as high as this. My gut feeling is when all is said and done, he probably ends up as a better Doug McDermott and that's about it.

http://beta.nydailynews.com/sports/...st-not-overhype-luka-doncic-article-1.3954919

Oh, I think he can be better than that. I think he could be a better Boris Diaw. A 17/5/5 guy.

 

[Cheesebeef]

One thing I will say for Doncic, he is not sitting out games in Euro League as some college players have done in the U.S. trying to preserve their draft stock.

Doncic is not afraid to let scouts pick a part his game.

The college players sitting out happens in the NFL and usually to preserve themselves for injury. Not because they’re afraid of scouts.

And who are you talking about in basketball? I can’t think of any one in college who sat because they were afraid of scouts or just sits out without injury concerns pre-draft in the NBA. Maybe Fultz, but he actually DID have injury problems and if you remember, a lot of people here knocked him for quitting on his college team.

 

[Cheesebeef]

What bothers me some is that Doncic didn't have announce he wouldn't work out. As long as his team is playing in the tournament no one would expect him to come over for a workout but were his team to get knocked out, then they'd certainly expect it. Maybe he's so sure his team will be in it until the end, he didn't think he was closing off any reasonable expectations. If they do get knocked out and he still won't come over for some workouts then it's reasonable or hold it against him - and even suspect he is hiding something.
As it is fairly likely Real Madrid will be there to the end, we ought to send a scout or two over to watch him live - assuming we do have a serious interest in drafting him.

Frankly the only circumstance in which I'd be happy to draft Doncic is if we hired Igor K, and he was adamant about it - with reasons.

Exactly.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Oh, I think he can be better than that. I think he could be a better Boris Diaw. A 17/5/5 guy.

Yes. I think maybe this. Maybe even better. I could see him as a Gordon Hayward. But I want something better than that with a top 3 pick in this draft.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Yes. I think maybe this. Maybe even better. I could see him as a Gordon Hayward. But I want something better than that with a top 3 pick in this draft.

He’s not the shooter or athlete that Hayward is. Better passer and handles though.

 

[JCSunsfan]

He’s not the shooter or athlete that Hayward is. Better passer and handles though.

Yeah. Kinda that level of player is what I was thinking.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Yeah. Kinda that level of player is what I was thinking.

Yeah. Hayward seems like the ceiling to me.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

But apparently he’s already ruled it out without knowing if he’ll actually be unavailable.

I mean, they are the best team in the league. I dont think hes going to say, "Well, if we lose a round early I will conduct workouts."

 

[Mr. Boldin]

This is just about my take on Doncic, though not even sure that I see his ceiling as high as this. My gut feeling is when all is said and done, he probably ends up as a better Doug McDermott and that's about it.

http://beta.nydailynews.com/sports/...st-not-overhype-luka-doncic-article-1.3954919

Have you ever seen Doug McDermott dribble? They are nothing alike.

A better passing version of Hayward (less athletic) would be really, really valuable. I compared him to a smaller mix between Lamar Odom and Hedo Turkoglu. A bit less athletic/long than Lamar, and not as good a shooter as Hedo. However, hes much, much better in the PNR than Lamar or Hedo.

 

[JCSunsfan]

OK. Here is what I do know. If there is anyone who knows whether Doncic is a top pick in this draft, its Kokoskov. The guy is smart and he coached him. He was with him and his team in the locker room. If Gambo was right, and Doncic is a prima donna, Koko will know. Koko is also a shooting coach and expert on shooting. So, while I do not think this necessarily means we will be drafting Doncic, if we do, I will be more comfortable with the idea.

 

[Raindog]

I mean, have you ever seen Doug McDermott dribble? They are nothing alike.

They don't have to be anything alike to have the same impact. I think Doncic will end up as a middling small forward who puts up okay (not great, but slightly better than DM) numbers and bounces around the league with two or three teams before heading back to Europe in five or six years. All of which pertains to McDermott, except for maybe the Europe part.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

They don't have to be anything alike to have the same impact. I think Doncic will end up as a middling small forward who puts up okay (not great, but slightly better than DM) numbers and bounces around the league with two or three teams before heading back to Europe in five or six years. All of which pertains to McDermott, except for maybe the Europe part.

McDermott literally provides nothing outside of floor spacing. If that is all Doncic can do, hes a bigger bust than Anthony Bennett.

I would bet the house he is much more impactful than McDemott the day he steps on the floor. Game 1.

 

[hsandhu]

Gambo just said the hiring won't effect who suns draft. Unfortunafely, you now have someone in the draft room not only pushing doncic but pushing now he is the perfect fit for his system...etc.

Every hint mc d had been dropping was they were going ayton if they got 1 (talked about leaning more towards centers a month ago). Do us anti doncic people need to root against suns getting 1 now?

If they get 1 and pass on the center that's the ultimate kick to the nuts, hopefully the fan pressure will be so high to take ayto n if they get 1.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

OK. Here is what I do know. If there is anyone who knows whether Doncic is a top pick in this draft, its Kokoskov. The guy is smart and he coached him. He was with him and his team in the locker room. If Gambo was right, and Doncic is a prima donna, Koko will know. Koko is also a shooting coach and expert on shooting. So, while I do not think this necessarily means we will be drafting Doncic, if we do, I will be more comfortable with the idea.

Getting someone to build Doncic's shot is going to be crucial. I said it before, but he would play really, really well next to a guy like Booker. Not to mention another G who can create. If hes a knockdown shooter off the ball, kid is going to be a stud when you add in his his elite passing, vision, and PNR ability.

 

[Errntknght]

Yeah. Hayward seems like the ceiling to me.

I would say his ceiling is higher than Hayward but then Hayward's ceiling is also higher than Hayward-to-date. We really can't peg Gordon until we see him in the playoffs.

 

[Mainstreet]

The college players sitting out happens in the NFL and usually to preserve themselves for injury. Not because they’re afraid of scouts.

And who are you talking about in basketball? I can’t think of any one in college who sat because they were afraid of scouts or just sits out without injury concerns pre-draft in the NBA. Maybe Fultz, but he actually DID have injury problems and if you remember, a lot of people here knocked him for quitting on his college team.

I'm not going to get into the injury status of Fultz before the draft.

There was this USC player sitting out the NIT.

However, the point I was trying to make, Doncic has been on full display in Euro League for a long time. He has been thoroughly scouted.

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/...-to-sit-out-nit-opener-against-unc-asheville/

 

[Cheesebeef]

Gambo just said the hiring won't effect who suns draft. Unfortunafely, you now have someone in the draft room not only pushing doncic but pushing now he is the perfect fit for his system...etc.

Every hint mc d had been dropping was they were going ayton if they got 1 (talked about leaning more towards centers a month ago). Do us anti doncic people need to root against suns getting 1 now?

If they get 1 and pass on the center that's the ultimate kick to the nuts, hopefully the fan pressure will be so high to take ayto n if they get 1.

I'm now hoping for 1 or 3.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If they get 1 and pass on the center that's the ultimate kick to the nuts, hopefully the fan pressure will be so high to take ayto n if they get 1.

I can't think of a better way to screw up a draft. Take Ayton if we're convinced he's the best player, who cares if a bunch of uninformed fans want him. And that's what most fans are, uninformed (or misinformed). If Igor is convinced that Doncic is the right choice, most of my concerns about Luka go out the window.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I can't think of a better way to screw up a draft. Take Ayton if we're convinced he's the best player, who cares if a bunch of uninformed fans want him. And that's what most fans are, uninformed (or misinformed). If Igor is convinced that Doncic is the right choice, most of my concerns about Luka go out the window.

I am kinda here too. I don't think Igor will favor Ayton over Doncic unless he has really good reasons.

 

[hsandhu]

I'm now hoping for 1 or 3.

It does take some of the pressure off lottery night

 

[hsandhu]

I can't think of a better way to screw up a draft. Take Ayton if we're convinced he's the best player, who cares if a bunch of uninformed fans want him. And that's what most fans are, uninformed (or misinformed). If Igor is convinced that Doncic is the right choice, most of my concerns about Luka go out the window.

Nba coaches get cycled out how quick? What is the chances this hire is more than 4-5 years?

Making a pick for the next 15 years based on what someone who sure as hell won't be here for half that time wants, is idiotic.

Take who you as a front office have evaluated as the best player. The coaches job is to make it work

 

[AzStevenCal]

Nba coaches get cycled out how quick? What is the chances this hire is more than 4-5 years?

Making a pick for the next 15 years based on what someone who sure as hell won't be here for half that time wants, is idiotic.

Take who you as a front office have evaluated as the best player. The coaches job is to make it work

Nah, you missed my point. Igor will have a much better understanding of Luka's NBA viability than any of us have. More than any scout too IMO. I think it's just as likely we won't pursue Doncic because Igor knows Luka's limitations.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Nah, you missed my point. Igor will have a much better understanding of Luka's NBA viability than any of us have. More than any scout too IMO. I think it's just as likely we won't pursue Doncic because Igor knows Luka's limitations.

Yup.