2019 NBA Draft

[MD13]

I dont see the facilitating. At all.

He is a good defender though.

Now huge caveat that all of this is extremely early and Reddish has only played one college game...

He might be the best of the three at running the point, he did play it in high school after all. He probably won't get much of an opportunity to show it unless the other two are resting since he's by far the best 3 point shooter of the bunch, so he's the natural off-ball guy.

@Sir'Dom Pointer doesn't he remind you some of Khris Middleton under Budenholzer, where he can be a secondary shot creator and a threat to shoot at any time off the catch or dribble. And when you do chase him off his spot, he can take it to the rim or pull up.

I also think given his frame and athleticism, it's almost a given that he becomes an above average defender with a lot of switching potential.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

I think it's also underrated how much modern NBA strength&conditioning is going to help Zion. Like once they get that dude eating right and doing all the crazy agility and yoga stuff the NBA guys do nowadays? Just, holy fuckin shit man.

I like Barrett enough, but I really think Zion is the only guy so far who I've seen that I can say definitely would have a chance to single-handedly change the course of an NBA franchise if things break right for him. Barrett can be really good,even great, but Zion is the only transcendent talent I see right now.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Now huge caveat that all of this is extremely early and Reddish has only played one college game...

He might be the best of the three at running the point, he did play it in high school after all. He probably won't get much of an opportunity to show it unless the other two are resting since he's by far the best 3 point shooter of the bunch, so he's the natural off-ball guy.

@Sir'Dom Pointer doesn't he remind you some of Khris Middleton under Budenholzer, where he can be a secondary shot creator and a threat to shoot at any time off the catch or dribble. And when you do chase him off his spot, he can take it to the rim or pull up.

I also think given his frame and athleticism, it's almost a given that he becomes an above average defender with a lot of switching potential.

Yes. I wanted to say Middleton, but it's a mix between Middleton and someone else. His smoothness reminds me of an undersized Durant too? Ahh. Lol.

His frame though is much better than Middleton's, so to me his potential is just greater.

 

[CavsFan07]

Zion is mighty impressive. I get the concerns, but he's such an elite athlete with some real skills to where I really think he's going to simply succeed no matter what.The sky really is the limit for him. I think he has to be #1 right now, no?

Barrett is basically a lock at #1. If you're a rebuilding team he has all the tools you're looking for - great scorer, distributor, with an already established outside shot.

Zion-Reddish-Little-Bol-Langford will be the debate all year in terms of who goes 2-6..

 

[CavsFan07]

Yes. I wanted to say Middleton, but it's a mix between Middleton and someone else. His smoothness reminds me of an undersized Durant too? Ahh. Lol.

His frame though is much better than Middleton's, so to me his potential is just greater.

I really like the Middleton comparison, mixed with a little Tatum and a little Rudy Gay (better shooting version).

 

[MD13]

Yes. I wanted to say Middleton, but it's a mix between Middleton and someone else. His smoothness reminds me of an undersized Durant too? Ahh. Lol.

His frame though is much better than Middleton's, so to me his potential is just greater.

Agreed about the frame, he's a flat out better athlete and should be much better on D as a result. But the way he can smoothly pull up or step back into his shot, and attack close outs off that threat, reminds me a lot of Khris.

I dunno, he seems almost fail proof to me. Even if he never develops an alpha dog instinct, he's going to be able to defend 3 positions, pass well, and shoot 3s in the upper 30s. Just seems like something every team needs, and something the Cavs have never had in the LeBron era outside LeBron himself.

 

[Nathan S]

I'm with @InBoobieWeTrust ...hard to justify putting anyone but Zion #1. Took him 23 minutes and 13 shots to do what Barrett did in 32 minutes and 26 shots. What an absurd basketball player.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Agreed about the frame, he's a flat out better athlete and should be much better on D as a result. But the way he can smoothly pull up or step back into his shot, and attack close outs off that threat, reminds me a lot of Khris.

I dunno, he seems almost fail proof to me. Even if he never develops an alpha dog instinct, he's going to be able to defend 3 positions, pass well, and shoot 3s in the upper 30s. Just seems like something every team needs, and something the Cavs have never had in the LeBron era outside LeBron himself.

Yeah, but then again are we looking for fail proof or a next superstar? I'm not saying that he can't be a superstar, I just think that Zion is a specimen that you rarely see, if at all?

Reddish is a player that can play with anyone because of his defense and ability to play on and off the ball just as well, so you are looking at an easier integration with the current team and perhaps even easier time building a team. Because if i'm being quite honest, I can't see RIGHT NOW how you integrate Sexton with the other two in the starting unit?

Honestly, wings that can playmake and switch effectively is the next evolution of basketball (meaning, no undersized PGS), so I would have liked to see the Cavs take a different approach and actually show some kind of foresight in that regard (or any regard lol).

I'm just afraid that even if Sexton becomes a player with good individual stats, he might still be best suited off the bench on a good team. Sorry for bringing Sexton into it, but I thought that we should at some point think about team construction too, but do you do this at this point? do you take Sexton into consideration if he doesn't show us anything by the end of the season? just food for thought, because Zion could be the overwhelming BPA by season's end. And that brings me to the point that we HAVE to put Sexton in the best position to succeed now by starting him and playing him with complementary players because we have to see what we have in him ASAP.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I'm with @InBoobieWeTrust ...hard to justify putting anyone but Zion #1. Took him 23 minutes and 13 shots to do what Barrett did in 32 minutes and 26 shots. What an absurd basketball player.

Lol, didn't realize RJ took 26 shots. Dude...

 

[JrRD35]

Put Jordan and Shaq in one body= Zion!! Barrett reminds me of T mac! nothing really new.
Zion is one of the most unique athlete we have ever seen. People will buy ticket and they will be sold out to see Zion.Good for business!

 

[MD13]

Yeah, but then again are we looking for fail proof or a next superstar? I'm not saying that he can't be a superstar, I just think that Zion is a specimen that you rarely see, if at all?

Reddish is a player that can play with anyone because of his defense and ability to play on and off the ball just as well, so you are looking at an easier integration with the current team and perhaps even easier time building a team. Because if i'm being quite honest, I can't see RIGHT NOW how you integrate Sexton with the other two in the starting unit?

Honestly, wings that can playmake and switch effectively is the next evolution of basketball (meaning, no undersized PGS), so I would have liked to see the Cavs take a different approach and actually show some kind of foresight in that regard (or any regard lol).

I'm just afraid that even if Sexton becomes a player with good individual stats, he might still be best suited off the bench on a good team. Sorry for bringing Sexton into it, but I thought that we should at some point think about team construction too, but do you do this at this point? do you take Sexton into consideration if he doesn't show us anything by the end of the season? just food for thought, because Zion could be the overwhelming BPA by season's end. And that brings me to the point that we HAVE to put Sexton in the best position to succeed now by starting him and playing him with complementary players because we have to see what we have in him ASAP.

Yeah, I think we see this the same way. One of my biggest frustrations with the way the Cavs have built the team over the last 15+ years is the way we have never put a premium on shooting + size/athleticism, we always seem to take one or the other. Good teams try to stack as many together as they can. And realistically in today's game you can get away with one average to below average shooter (not including the roll man) tops, then it starts to muck up your offense. Reddish will fit in just about any team composition without a doubt.

Also, could Zion give you something close to LBJ on drives (60+% on drives, 70+% from the restricted area, high FTR) through sheer athletic advantages? Because I think that's his clear roadmap to becoming an elite offensive force which would allay some of the valid concerns @priceFTW laid out.

 

[I'mWithDan]

Yes. I wanted to say Middleton, but it's a mix between Middleton and someone else. His smoothness reminds me of an undersized Durant too? Ahh. Lol.

His frame though is much better than Middleton's, so to me his potential is just greater.

I think people are asking a lot of Reddish if it is a plus version of Middleton.

Khris was a 20/5/5 guy last year. If Reddish is that, he's a top 5 pick in a good draft. If he's more than that, he's possibly a player in the top 6 through 10 range in the entire league. I just don't see that high of a ceiling for him.

I think it's also underrated how much modern NBA strength&conditioning is going to help Zion. Like once they get that dude eating right and doing all the crazy agility and yoga stuff the NBA guys do nowadays? Just, holy fuckin shit man.

I like Barrett enough, but I really think Zion is the only guy so far who I've seen that I can say definitely would have a chance to single-handedly change the course of an NBA franchise if things break right for him. Barrett can be really good,even great, but Zion is the only transcendent talent I see right now.

I like Zion but I'm just not sure how you can watch him and Barrett and want Williamson. I'm not sure how people are on that corner. Barrett is 6'7'', can handle, create, defend and has much better than advertised shooting mechanics. He also has a defined position. He is just hands down the #1 pick to me.

Zion is efficient, yes but he is very "stumbly" with the ball off the dribble. He's great at straight line drives (using his strength to fend off contact) but if he has to change course at all, he nearly falls down. Saw it a few times last night where he was initially cut off and he almost fell backwards and turned it over. I think, at the NBA level, you'll see it even more with the bigger / stronger guys he will play against......and if you watch Barrett, his ability to react and change course is what makes him special. He can be cut off, react, euro or switch directions on a dime and finish. You just cannot learn Barrett's finishing diversity, if at 18-19, you don't have it.

A lot of that is nitpicking but that's where you go when assessing #1 overall. I like Zion and I think he's a nice potential consolation prize but there is just not a universe where I take him over Barrett. At his size, he will have to be really effective off the bounce and unless you think he can simply blow by everyone with straight line drives, it's tough for me to envision him being an elite offensive player. I think he will be a good NBA player but I'm not taking him over a player like Barrett, who is as advanced as he is with the ball in his hands. You watch him play and it's easy to envision him succeeding as a #1 option on offense.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Also, could Zion give you something close to LBJ on drives (60+% on drives, 70+% from the restricted area, high FTR) through sheer athletic advantages? Because I think that's his clear roadmap to becoming an elite offensive force which would allay some of the valid concerns @priceFTW laid out.

Frankly I don't see how anyone is going to stop him.

The only person who can stop Zion is himself, by eating his way out of the league.

So if the Cavs get #1, and Zion continues on this path, they better really do their due dilegence and not get duped like they with with Bennett. But Bennett was always much more of a finesse tweener with average athleticism and a good jumper that fell off a cliff after college. Totally different player. But if Zion's character/motor/work ethic gets the thumbs up from the people it needs to get the thumbs up from, I don't see why you would even consider anyone else. That athleticism plus body frame/type is just so rare and so special...

I love Barrett, don't get me wrong...but I don't project him as a potential transformative star.... Is his ceiling high? Yeah...maybe could be the 10th best player in the league? Maybe the 8th?

But he just doesn't scream "FREAK" to me.....Zion does.

 

[I'mWithDan]

Lol, didn't realize RJ took 26 shots. Dude...

He shot 50% from the field and 43% from 3.

Should he have taken less shots?

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

He shot 50% from the field and 43% from 3.

Should he have taken less shots?

No, it's just that it's a ridiculous amount of shots for a player to take in college, let alone when he shares the ball with two ridiculous prospects. Could be a bad thing or a good thing...depends how you look at it.