2020 NBA Draft

[Randolphkeys]

We have to have some Dayton Flyers supporters on here. Can Obi Toppin play on the perimeter at the next level? Can he defend multiple skill sets? He is one of the highest risers in the past month.

 

[cabs]

How cool that you're involved in the scene! Good luck to your kid, hope he makes the league and has fun.

Yeah I like Okongwu, just I'm so weary of 6'9 guys with no exceptional wingspan not translating their blocking skills to the NBA ever since weve seen it first hand with Tristan. But I understand O is a little different with better instincts and bigger hands. And of course there is always the Big Ben outlier.

I like Evan Mobley too. Haven't seen a ton of him yet, but a very interesting prospect for sure. I hope he can add the strength though because I'm always afraid be will break something any time I see him.

Wasn’t Brandon Clarke’s wingspan average for a 6’8 shot blocker? Interesting to see how his season progresses

Thought I heard Mobley is meant to be a generational talent, or maybe that just gets thrown around a lot

 

[blommen]

Wasn’t Brandon Clarke’s wingspan average for a 6’8 shot blocker? Interesting to see how his season progresses

Thought I heard Mobley is meant to be a generational talent, or maybe that just gets thrown around a lot

It wasn’t just average, it was Below average. He has a 6’8” wingspan, which is awful for a rim protector, but the reason it works for Clarke is that he’s a monster athlete with absurd bounce first of all. Secondly, and this is the crucial part, Clarke is an incredibly smart defender who has a great understanding of that side of the Ball, and that is a huge reason why he’s able to compensate for his poor length.

 

[ajz20]

We have to have some Dayton Flyers supporters on here. Can Obi Toppin play on the perimeter at the next level? Can he defend multiple skill sets? He is one of the highest risers in the past month.

He caught my attention during the pre Thanksgiving tourneys. He is very skilled ( great jumper and great hands) but he does seem to lack top end athleticism that would allow him to be a great defender. He reminds me a bit of Washington out of Kentucky last year, but even a bit taller with more range. I think he is a really nice role player in the NBA but I don’t think the Amare comparisons some were giving on Twitter work. That said, I could see a really nice nba career as a starting nba forward who is very a great shooter, solid rebounder for the pf position. I did no see any indication he was going to be a good shot blocker, or anything special on defense .

I just looked up Washington’s stats since I see the two as comparable. 12 and 5 and shooting 42 percent from 3 as a rookie so far.

 

[Muffinalt]

Wasn’t Brandon Clarke’s wingspan average for a 6’8 shot blocker? Interesting to see how his season progresses

Thought I heard Mobley is meant to be a generational talent, or maybe that just gets thrown around a lot

Agree with what blommen said. But I also don't think Clarke is a legit rim protector, more like a spot small ball five or a help side blocker (both good things).

I'm more wondering about legit centers that can play the majority of the game at the 5 and be average to good rim protectors. Seems like the shorter ones are mostly coming off the bench or somewhat liabilities like TT.

 

[Nathan S]

Avdija with just 20 points in 120 minutes of Euroleague play, a scoring rate of 6 points per 36. I'm not sure I've seen such a low number for any prospect in any league, let alone a potential lottery pick.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Avdija with just 20 points in 120 minutes of Euroleague play, a scoring rate of 6 points per 36. I'm not sure I've seen such a low number for any prospect in any league, let alone a potential lottery pick.

Means nothing.

 

[Nathan S]

Means nothing.

How so? I think it's telling that he's the 5th option offensively every meaningful minute he plays. He has no strengths as a scorer. If you're happy with a player who will probably max out as a 8-12 ppg glue guy, then sure, go for it. But that's not a great outcome for a mid/high lottery pick.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

How so? I think it's telling that he's the 5th option offensively every meaningful minute he plays. He has no strengths as a scorer. If you're happy with a player who will probably max out as a 8-12 ppg glue guy, then sure, go for it. But that's not a great outcome for a mid/high lottery pick.

I'm on the phone, but your assessment is wrong. Have you seen him play?
Euroleague, the team construction, 3 second rule limit him greatly.
He has all the tools.

Floor is packed and he barely touches the ball.

You dont predict career nba production based on euroleague numbers of a 18 yo player on a potential top 5 el championship contender.

 

[Nathan S]

I'm on the phone, but your assessment is wrong. Have you seen him play?
Euroleague, the team construction, 3 second rule limit him greatly.
He has all the tools.

Floor is packed and he barely touches the ball.

You dont predict career nba production based on euroleague numbers of a 18 yo player on a potential top 5 el championship contender.

Can't blame it on Euroleague or his team...he's last on his team and like bottom-5 in the entire league in scoring rate. If we're going to ignore that, what measurable production are we going to use to predict his NBA future? His numbers against worthless Israeli League teams that Maccabi beats by 20-40 points every single game? He's just not a scorer, and probably never will be.

 

[NorthCoastBias]

Can’t wait to see what massive turd we waste our next high draft pick on next.

 

[LackOfSkill]

Some thoughts post-Thanksgiving tournaments

- Jaden McDaniels: He has quietly improved his efficiency over the last five games, averaging 17.2 per game on .533/.400/.727. Still a safe bet to finish with an AST/TOV that will tank his statistical profile, but the flash plays are as impressive as anyone. If the shooting maintains, I'd strongly consider him over many of the top PGs in this draft.

- Josh Green: He's pretty well known at this point. I've caught him on some of his better shooting games, which likely skews my opinion of him as that's a major swing skill for him, but he's just such a solid defender with NBA ready strength. Above average passer for a wing as well. Certainly the type of player whose role will likely determine his success at the NBA level. The Cavs already have quite a bit of an investment in 2/3s, so he's not an ideal roster fit, but I do think he'll be a value play in the 20s or higher if they're able to pick up another first.

- Aaron Henry: A very similar player to Josh Green imo, though a better shooter. Plays lackadaisical at times and disappears from games often. That can partially be a product of his role, but another guy that will contribute to winning much more than others taken ahead of him I'd expect.

- Killian Hayes: Based on some of the boards I've seen, I definitely think he's getting overlooked at this point with the NCAA season. He's having a terrific passing season and shooting well from inside the arc. The jumper is a question, but I still feel he does enough offensively to have quality creator potential. He's better defensively than some of the other top guards ahead of him on most boards as well. He may be a top 5 guy for me right now, though it's super early.

- Also would keep an eye on Makur Maker and Aleksej Pokusevski... two bigs with a ton of mobility at their size. Could just see them having strong pre-drafts and jumping up drafts, especially with the lack of bigs projected in the lottery.

I don't like being negative on players, but I definitely think Zeke Nnaji is getting a bit over-hyped at this point. His defensive awareness has stuck out as one of the worst skills I've seen so far for legit prospects. Ridiculous rebounder, but not a guy I'd be interested in where he may be picked.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Can't blame it on Euroleague or his team...he's last on his team and like bottom-5 in the entire league in scoring rate. If we're going to ignore that, what measurable production are we going to use to predict his NBA future? His numbers against worthless Israeli League teams that Maccabi beats by 20-40 points every single game? He's just not a scorer, and probably never will be.

He barely touches the ball. He is frozen out.
He is a 6'8-6'9 athletic, high iq playmaker with a good step and hopefully a good jump shot in time. His form is improved, although his FT% sucks ass.
I know for a fact that his skills are much more translatable to the NBA.
Don't know how good he will be, but judging him as a prospect by his EL numbers is very wrong. He proved to be a multi faceted scorer in the U20 competition.

 

[Nathan S]

He barely touches the ball. He is frozen out.
He is a 6'8-6'9 athletic, high iq playmaker with a good step and hopefully a good jump shot in time. His form is improved, although his FT% sucks ass.
I know for a fact that his skills are much more translatable to the NBA.
Don't know how good he will be, but judging him as a prospect by his EL numbers is very wrong. He proved to be a multi faceted scorer in the U20 competition.

I buy that he's a high-IQ playmaker. I just don't buy that he's a threatening enough scorer to really leverage that playmaking ability in the NBA. I see him as a safe, low-ish ceiling guy I'd draft in the late lottery or teens, though the dearth of elite prospects this year might let him creep into my top-10.

 

[CleveRocks]

who is the best SF in this crop and who is the best big?