How Great is the 2017 draft class?

[DWKB]

Last game Jackson did not make a single jumpshot.

But he went 6-8 from the charity stripe. Small sample sizes can go both ways.

(He also had 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 steals which is where his contribution really comes into play)

 

[slinslin]

I am not arguing that Jackson is not a good player or is not a top 5 prospect. I am just saying that he is a bad shooter.

I would take Tatum over Jackson however. Over a year younger and does all the things Jackson does except worse team player (not passer, Tatum is a decent passer) but good shooter.

I am not even sure the ball-stopper complaints about Tatum are all that justified. He is a good scorer and can score in isos. It's not like Jackson immediately scores or passes every ball.

Tatum reminds me a lot of Devin Booker offensively and nobody is calling Devin Booker a ball-stopper.

 

[Russ Smith]

So all BS that rumor.

He played last night, looked great in the first half didn't see the 2nd.

It's great that he played.

 

[Russ Smith]

If you are talking about the dip that he does right after he catches it, than there is nothing wrong with that. Most good shooters dip the ball to around waist level right after the catch.

Yeah he dips a bit and then he has a "hold" on the way back up which is what they teach but there are times, especially wide open, where it just looks really awkward. There are other times he just rises and shoots and it looks great. I love Jackson, favorite non UCLA player in the country but he does IMO have a bit of a hitch.

But again his shot is not broken at all, I'd take him over Tatum, who I also like quite a bit.

the thing with Jackson is for a kid who was teh #1 kid in the class played at a made up prep team etc, he plays hungry all the time. He's not a prima donna, he's not soft, he doesn't play like a pampered product of AAU ball he plays like a kid you find on a playgrouns who knows if he loses he won't get to play again for 30 minutes. He plays hard all the time, just a great motor. I love kids who play with that chip.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I am wondering about Fultz. Seems to me that a future NBA star should be able to take out ASU almost single-handedly.

 

[slinslin]

He almost did, he can't play the whole game.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

He almost did, he can't play the whole game.

I'll admit I didn't watch the game, but looking at the box score (which albeit isn't the best indicator) he looked like the fifth best player on the court, behind two of his own teammates.

 

[slinslin]

His teammates are horrid, even top oppoents double and even triple team Fultz. Congratulation to Carlos Johnson finally having a decent stat line

Against UCLA defenders in the proximity of Fultz pretty much always cheated on their man to help out on Fultz.

 

[AzStevenCal]

His teammates are horrid, even top oppoents double and even triple team Fultz. Congratulation to Carlos Johnson finally having a decent stat line

Against UCLA defenders in the proximity of Fultz pretty much always cheated on their man to help out on Fultz.

I've watched most of his conference games and I just don't see all this double and triple teaming you're talking about. And I don't buy the "horrid teammates" either, in fact I'm surprised at times how effective they are when Fultz doesn't play. That isn't a good team but it's nothing special as far as weaker teams go and a truly great player ought to be able to make them at least a decent team. There are a lot of winning college teams that don't have a single player destined for an NBA roster.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Fultz was inches away from hitting a turnaround game-winner from beyond half-court in this game. Personally, I prefer Ball, but Fultz is definitely a unique talent.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Fultz was inches away from hitting a turnaround game-winner from beyond half-court in this game. Personally, I prefer Ball, but Fultz is definitely a unique talent.

As I've said several times, I have no doubt he'll be a very good player in the NBA. Right now, Ball would be my pick too but I want to see how Lonzo performs in tournament play against better scouting and stronger defenses than he typically faces. We almost definitely won't get that same opportunity with Fultz but it's clear his skills will translate to the next level.

 

[Russ Smith]

His teammates are horrid, even top oppoents double and even triple team Fultz. Congratulation to Carlos Johnson finally having a decent stat line

Against UCLA defenders in the proximity of Fultz pretty much always cheated on their man to help out on Fultz.

UCLA certainly knew where he was but I think you're confusing UCLA's habit of essentially switching everything, with them doubling Fultz. Since Fultz has the ball for most possessions, and he's moving with it, in a given possession he'd go from having Lonzo to having I Ham or Bryce or Holiday on him. The Bryce thing was where people started to rip Fultz because several times in the first half Bryce switched on him and every UCLA fan held their breath waiting for UW to attack because most of the pac 12 schemes to attack Bryce on defense. And Fultz just calmly passed the ball off.

I watched the last 10 minutes of the first half last night that's it, I think he had about 10 poins in that time, I think he had 14 at the half something like that, finished with 19 so not much in the 2nd half. During the big run to get them from down 15 to ahead at the half, he was the key, he was huge in that run. My guess is ASU took him away more in the 2nd half or he got tired having sat out and not apparently been practicing.

he looked quite good in the bit I saw, althoguh the best move he made was one that should have been a carry. A spectacular crossover and pull up jumper where he turned the ball over in his hand, read the writing on it, checked the air pressure and then continued his dribble. I could not believe they didn't call that carrying.

 

[GatorAZ]

JJ recovered nicely in the 2nd half. Certified stud he's going #3 at worst.

 

[AzStevenCal]

JJ recovered nicely in the 2nd half. Certified stud he's going #3 at worst.

He's sure going to create a lot of turnovers at the next level. He's incredible at anticipating and interfering with the simple act of passing. You get casual for even a second and that ball's getting tipped or stolen outright.

 

[GatorAZ]

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=18716731&ex_cid=espntw

Went from funny to asinine real fast.

 

[AzStevenCal]

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=18716731&ex_cid=espntw

Went from funny to asinine real fast.

I thought it was pretty mild compared to his other interviews. But I could certainly see a team or twelve backing away from him just so they didn't have to live with a decade plus of the fallout that will surely come from having him connected to the team.

 

[Russ Smith]

I thought it was pretty mild compared to his other interviews. But I could certainly see a team or twelve backing away from him just so they didn't have to live with a decade plus of the fallout that will surely come from having him connected to the team.

I think the dad is a promoter, and once his kid has an NBA salary and endorsement deals Big Baller Apparel will either flourish or not.

I look at him the same way I see the dad of the Williams' sisters, he chose tennis, LaVar chose hoops.

 

[sunsfan88]

I thought it was pretty mild compared to his other interviews. But I could certainly see a team or twelve backing away from him just so they didn't have to live with a decade plus of the fallout that will surely come from having him connected to the team.

I think the Suns should maybe be one of those teams.

Can you imagine if the team's doing bad record wise and he goes off saying "Oh my kid doesn't get any recognition cause he plays for such a bad team, he would get MVP if he was on so and so team!!" or if he didn't get minutes or something like that?

I'm not sure its worth the risk when there are so many great candidates besides Ball in this draft.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm officially moving off the draft Ball campaign. I still think he's got the best chance at superstar from this class but, as always, it's not a sure thing and now that he's repeated his "my boy will be a Laker" claim, I'd start looking elsewhere. If he leads UCLA deep into the tourny and we beat out the Lakers for the chance to draft him, I'd love nothing more than to trade him to LA for multiple number ones.

 

[slinslin]

If Ball busts which I think is very possible given his shooting mechanics, lack of in- between game, lack of pick and roll game and skinny lanky physique then the fathers comments will come back to haunt them.

Plus his father is probably going to be a distraction one way or another. If Ball sucks he is going to blame the team I assume and if he is good he will be all over the media and gloat how good he is which is probably not going to go well with teammates.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Well Magic is in full tank mode. Just traded Lou Williams away. It will be tough to finish with a worse record than them.

We really have to trade PJ.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Are you guys really willing to pass on a potential star simply because his father likes to hype him up? Doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[Russ Smith]

Are you guys really willing to pass on a potential star simply because his father likes to hype him up? Doesn't make much sense to me.

It does surprise me, the reaction, given so many of these people are Cards fans. Would they have not drafted Fitz because his dad is so outspoken?

 

[Finito]

It does surprise me, the reaction, given so many of these people are Cards fans. Would they have not drafted Fitz because his dad is so outspoken?

Fitzgeralds dad is/was a very credible sports writer for a major paper up there. Him and Balls dad are two different things not even close

 

[slinslin]

Are you guys really willing to pass on a potential star simply because his father likes to hype him up? Doesn't make much sense to me.

We are not passing on a potential star. Ball is not more of a potential star and imo more risky than Fultz, Smith, Jackson or Tatum.