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2019 NBA Draft

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To clarify, this is an old post...he didn't actually hit those thresholds

So, Hunter hit the thresholds during the 2017-18 season, but not the 2018-19 season?
 
So, Hunter hit the thresholds during the 2017-18 season, but not the 2018-19 season?

Slipped just below in assists and steals by the end of the 2017-18 season, but was pretty close. Big change in 2018-19 was that he went from a ~20 mpg bench role to a 33 mpg starter role, and was still pretty close to hitting all the thresholds.

The main issue I have with the comparison is that Hunter's just barely at/near the thresholds in all of those categories. The other guys all massively exceed the thresholds in at least a couple of the categories (e.g. Porter cracks 3% in steals and blocks, Simmons hit 27% in assists, Draymond 20% in rebounds). Hunter lacks the defining strength that would make him a great rather than merely good prospect in my book.
 
Not sure about that, I think a guy like Hunter in top 5, while not a home run, is a really solid pick. Getting a good rotational, 12-15 ppg elite wing defender? That's satisfactory when drafting in the top 5. And I'm still not certain that Hunter cannot be more than that in the future.
You were probably a fan of the Cavs taking Harrison Barnes then? Similar player in the way neither have any dynamic ball control and despite having solid defensive capability on the perimeter with good length athletic ability and awareness are positionally limited to the 4 on offense.
Hunter is too old to expect him to become a nba level 3 other than spot minutes.
I'm not averse to taking Hunter if they trade down to 8 and 10 which seems doubtful, but I would rather they took Okeke at 26 who is in many ways a better version of Hunter offensively and neck and neck with him on D.
 
You were probably a fan of the Cavs taking Harrison Barnes then? Similar player in the way neither have any dynamic ball control and despite having solid defensive capability on the perimeter with good length athletic ability and awareness are positionally limited to the 4 on offense.
Hunter is too old to expect him to become a nba level 3 other than spot minutes.
I'm not averse to taking Hunter if they trade down to 8 and 10 which seems doubtful, but I would rather they took Okeke at 26 who is in many ways a better version of Hunter offensively and neck and neck with him on D.

Barnes was never the creator or efficient scorer that De'Andre Hunter has been in his college career. Barnes could not score inside and his ability to drive was extremely weak. Hunter, while he isn't a tricky cover like a LeBron, Durant or others, can beat his man off the dribble and finish through contact.

Hunter is like if Harrison Barnes ever hit his ceiling, IMO. Hunter is a better defender, scorer and smarter than Barnes ever was in college.
 
Barnes was never the creator or efficient scorer that De'Andre Hunter has been in his college career. Barnes could not score inside and his ability to drive was extremely weak. Hunter, while he isn't a tricky cover like a LeBron, Durant or others, can beat his man off the dribble and finish through contact.

Hunter is like if Harrison Barnes ever hit his ceiling, IMO. Hunter is a better defender, scorer and smarter than Barnes ever was in college.

He was also one and done. I think Barnes now is similar to what Hunter projects to be. I do think Hunter is the fiercer competitor and having that fire makes a difference. Maybe Harrison Barnes that was more physical and really wanted it would be an impact player.
 
Barnes was never the creator or efficient scorer that De'Andre Hunter has been in his college career. Barnes could not score inside and his ability to drive was extremely weak. Hunter, while he isn't a tricky cover like a LeBron, Durant or others, can beat his man off the dribble and finish through contact.

Hunter is like if Harrison Barnes ever hit his ceiling, IMO. Hunter is a better defender, scorer and smarter than Barnes ever was in college.
I disagree, Hunter has no dribble drive ability against nba level defenders same as Barnes. Hunters 3pt% is also inflated due to lower attempts mostly taken when left open.
Gauging how good his IQ is given he was never responsible for creating offense is difficult.
When it's said and done I don't trust him with the ball at all as he constantly produced live ball turnovers
here is the best break down on Hunter out there: https://www.thestepien.com/2019/02/15/deandre-hunter-scarcity/
 
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Slipped just below in assists and steals by the end of the 2017-18 season, but was pretty close. Big change in 2018-19 was that he went from a ~20 mpg bench role to a 33 mpg starter role, and was still pretty close to hitting all the thresholds.

The main issue I have with the comparison is that Hunter's just barely at/near the thresholds in all of those categories. The other guys all massively exceed the thresholds in at least a couple of the categories (e.g. Porter cracks 3% in steals and blocks, Simmons hit 27% in assists, Draymond 20% in rebounds). Hunter lacks the defining strength that would make him a great rather than merely good prospect in my book.

That’s good stuff and jives with what everyone is saying about Hunter (and Culver)- they’re good at a number things, but not great at anything. Harrison Barnes is a good comp for Hunter. Who’s a good comp for Culver? I’m thinking Alec Burks or Courtney Lee with the defensive ability of a Wes Matthews.
 
That’s good stuff and jives with what everyone is saying about Hunter (and Culver)- they’re good at a number things, but not great at anything. Harrison Barnes is a good comp for Hunter. Who’s a good comp for Culver? I’m thinking Alec Burks or Courtney Lee with the defensive ability of a Wes Matthews.

I think a realistic player comparison for Culver is Evan Turner. Good enough handles for college for both to be point forwards, in the NBA their handles get taken down a notch or two.

Their college numbers are similar, Turner is just alittle better on most stats. Turner is alittle taller while Culver has a slightly better wingspan.

There overall game is similar too. Both play slightly ugly and I don't think either are great or bad at anything. Turner might be the better athlete of the two.
 
I think a realistic player comparison for Culver is Evan Turner. Good enough handles for college for both to be point forwards, in the NBA their handles get taken down a notch or two.

Their college numbers are similar, Turner is just alittle better on most stats. Turner is alittle taller while Culver has a slightly better wingspan.

There overall game is similar too. Both play slightly ugly and I don't think either are great or bad at anything. Turner might be the better athlete of the two.

Not a terrible comparison.

The glaring difference to me is that Turner has always had the death knell combination for an NBA wing of not just being a poor shooter, but also an unwilling shooter from distance. Being a non-shooter is worse than being a poor shooter IMO.

You simply can’t be a good NBA player on the wing as a non-shooter unless you’re top of the league good at something else, usually defense.

I said this a couple of weeks ago, but Evan Turner with a willingness to take 4-5 threes a night and hit them at 35% DRAMATICALLY changes his overall ceiling as a player. He's not that bad of a defender, rebounder or passer.

If Culver could become Turner with a willingness to shoot and ability to be a middle of the pack shooter, that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
 
Not a terrible comparison.

The glaring difference to me is that Turner has always had the death knell combination for an NBA wing of not just being a poor shooter, but also an unwilling shooter from distance. Being a non-shooter is worse than being a poor shooter IMO.

You simply can’t be a good NBA player on the wing as a non-shooter unless you’re top of the league good at something else, usually defense.

I said this a couple of weeks ago, but Evan Turner with a willingness to take 4-5 threes a night and hit them at 35% DRAMATICALLY changes his overall ceiling as a player. He's not that bad of a defender, rebounder or passer. If Culver could become Turner with a willingness to shoot and ability to be a middle of the pack shooter, that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

Great points -- Turner's reluctance to shoot was apparent in college as well. He averaged just 1.8 3PA per 40 minutes, whereas Culver shot more than three times that often. Pretty good indicator that Culver isn't going to be a guy for whom the long 2 is a major part of his game.
 
I disagree, Hunter has no dribble drive ability against nba level defenders same as Barnes. Hunters 3pt% is also inflated due to lower attempts mostly taken when left open.
Gauging how good his IQ is given he was never responsible for creating offense is difficult.
When it's said and done I don't trust him with the ball at all as he constantly produced live ball turnovers
here is the best break down on Hunter out there: https://www.thestepien.com/2019/02/15/deandre-hunter-scarcity/

I think you're pigeonholing him with absolutes. Hunter has a way of getting better--now is there more of a ceiling there? Maybe, maybe not. Age is not on his side in that argument of course. I think he certainly could improve. He will never be a #1 option level creator....but I think he's a bit of a cerebral player and I expect him to be able to navigate the Pick&roll well enough to make himself a weapon with the ball in his hands. I question his ability to do it in a meaningful volume, I don't necessarily think it''s impossible but I'd have to see it. I also think his shooting is absolutely for real. Good touch, good form, etc.

I agree with a somewhat limited ceiling but I also think he's a superior player to Barnes on both ends of the floor.
 
Hunter or Culver? Culver or Hunter? If you asked 50 people 25 would say Hunter and the other 25 would say Culver.
I've tried to ingest everything I can on these 2,,Hunter is a lock down defender and good 3 point shooter..not a great creator and older than Culver.
Culver has a better all around skill set and higher upside. I saw a write up the other day that said Culver is the better player now. I had all but decided I liked Culver better and
then I see some comment on one draft site that says Hunter is the closest thing to kawhi Leonard in this draft.
I still think I would roll with Culver.
 

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