2020 NBA Draft

[blommen]

I'm still firmly in the camp where I would go for the more perimeter oriented big provided he isn't trending towards being a complete disaster under the rim. Those players are obviously rare, but I just don't feel good about spending top lottery picks on a center who doesn't show any indications of being a passable on the perimeter D, especially when the promise of rim protection is highly questionable. It seems like an Ayton pick, which I still think is the wrong way to build your roster.

 

[Nathan S]

Yes, I really don't know how useful the data is, if at all.......but almost all of it is elite in what amounts to a 7-9% sample size of a college season. It more was just pointing out that his initial analytic blip was about as good as it could be.

I still think this is an oversimplification. First two games? Sure. Last game, vs. Oregon? Certainly not "as good as it could be." Not bad either, mind you, just pretty average.

I like more of what I have seen out of Edwards but I really get scared seeing his FT/3PT percentage combinations. He's just a really average FT shooter.......and I start to wonder exactly what he is at the NBA level with a lot of good but not great skills?

Part of Wiseman, that I think helps him, is his physical tools + the unknown. I'm almost more willing to gamble on him hitting a defensive ceiling than I am on someone like Edwards, who doesn't have any 1 specific standout skill, developing one. Maybe I'm being too harsh on Edwards but he profiles, through about half a college season here, as just a generic 1st round wing. This is potentially where you need to set some of the data aside and pair it evenly with traditional scouting methods......because my eyes tend to like him more than any of the numbers I see.

I'm definitely struggling with the fact that there's no obvious alternative to Wiseman at #1. Really surprised at the type of player Edwards is, which maybe is my fault for not doing my homework preseason. He has just 1 offensive rebound and 8 free throws over his last 5 games, and he hasn't even hit the tough part of his schedule yet. I really like big guards with ballhandling/passing upside, but while he fits that description, he's just not as effective attacking the rim as you'd expect him to be with his frame.

 

[Fábio Martins]

What do you guys think about the European Guy Deni Avdija?

Is still yet to be seen what way we go with TT, Henson and Love. We got to focus on our young core and i wouldn't mind at all if we went Wisemen with all that shotblocking and lob threat or Obi with all the spacing that he would be able to provide for DG to create. If we choose to go with Wisemen, that would be a Lob City Treat with Garland at the point, opening up some space for DG himself.

I find also intriguing the McDaniels at 6'11 and being so fast and capable to handle the rock (comparing to the other 6'11 that we are used to see). I could see him being useful if he was able to capitalize on missmatches.

 

[LackOfSkill]

What do you guys think about the European Guy Deni Avdija?

Is still yet to be seen what way we go with TT, Henson and Love. We got to focus on our young core and i wouldn't mind at all if we went Wisemen with all that shotblocking and lob threat or Obi with all the spacing that he would be able to provide for DG to create. If we choose to go with Wisemen, that would be a Lob City Treat with Garland at the point, opening up some space for DG himself.

I find also intriguing the McDaniels at 6'11 and being so fast and capable to handle the rock (comparing to the other 6'11 that we are used to see). I could see him being useful if he was able to capitalize on missmatches.

I've watched about 5-6 of Avdija's games this year. I truthfully feel that he has benefitted more than anyone from the disappointing seasons in the NCAA. I don't think many have actually watched his film from this season, as pretty much everyone has him ranked in the same 5-8 range with no variation whatsoever.

I've truthfully been disappointed with Avdija as well, specifically on the defensive end. I see many tout him as a plus defender, but I don't see him as that even for Maccabi, where there's a much lesser athleticism gap of course. He is extremely foul prone, and not in a way that he's flying around and contesting shots. He just doesn't have a great sense of where his body is I don't think. He undercuts players regularly, and moves into guys driving on him 1 on 1. I've not been wowed by his instincts either, which I've seen touted as well. He's been average at best off ball in the games I've watched. He's not too much of a deterrence at the rim either, despite the size. I just don't really know who he defends in the NBA at an above average level.

Offensively I think I'm more optimistic on his jumper than his numbers indicate. His role with Maccabi really puts him at a disadvantage on this end. He essentially spots up in the corner all game and crashes the boards. But you can definitely see the passing ability in grab & go situations. The question is how useful is that skill at his size if he doesn't shoot it? In the halfcourt, can he break down the defense in any way in order to create the opportunity to show off his passing ability? That to me is the biggest question, but I doubt I'll feel comfortable with an answer to that come draft time.

Also he gets credit for the confidence/energy he plays with. There is at least one instance per game where he shows negative emotions in one way or another - whether frustrated with officiating, teammates, himself, etc. I'm not reading too much into it right now, but I still think it's worth pointing out.

Factoring in the defensive concerns that I have and the lack of shooting right now, I am definitely lower on him than that 5-8 range. It's still a small sample size, so my opinion could still change quite a bit.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I've watched about 5-6 of Avdija's games this year. I truthfully feel that he has benefitted more than anyone from the disappointing seasons in the NCAA. I don't think many have actually watched his film from this season, as pretty much everyone has him ranked in the same 5-8 range with no variation whatsoever.

I've truthfully been disappointed with Avdija as well, specifically on the defensive end. I see many tout him as a plus defender, but I don't see him as that even for Maccabi, where there's a much lesser athleticism gap of course. He is extremely foul prone, and not in a way that he's flying around and contesting shots. He just doesn't have a great sense of where his body is I don't think. He undercuts players regularly, and moves into guys driving on him 1 on 1. I've not been wowed by his instincts either, which I've seen touted as well. He's been average at best off ball in the games I've watched. He's not too much of a deterrence at the rim either, despite the size. I just don't really know who he defends in the NBA at an above average level.

Offensively I think I'm more optimistic on his jumper than his numbers indicate. His role with Maccabi really puts him at a disadvantage on this end. He essentially spots up in the corner all game and crashes the boards. But you can definitely see the passing ability in grab & go situations. The question is how useful is that skill at his size if he doesn't shoot it? In the halfcourt, can he break down the defense in any way in order to create the opportunity to show off his passing ability? That to me is the biggest question, but I doubt I'll feel comfortable with an answer to that come draft time.

Also he gets credit for the confidence/energy he plays with. There is at least one instance per game where he shows negative emotions in one way or another - whether frustrated with officiating, teammates, himself, etc. I'm not reading too much into it right now, but I still think it's worth pointing out.

Factoring in the defensive concerns that I have and the lack of shooting right now, I am definitely lower on him than that 5-8 range. It's still a small sample size, so my opinion could still change quite a bit.

I don't disagree much with this take. However, Maccabi gets called for some ridiculous fouls compared to other EL teams. Avdija is no exception.
Like you said, he is being misused on offense. And well, he can do much more with better spacing at the NBA level when you consider how willing and good passer he is for his position and size. His spot up shooting has improved, specifically from the corners.
He is good pushing the ball on the break and shows good decision making running the break as well as finishing from the wings. He is a good leaper off 1 leg.

However, he does not look like great defensively when you compare him to U20 tournament.

 

[LackOfSkill]

I don't disagree much with this take. However, Maccabi gets called for some ridiculous fouls compared to other EL teams. Avdija is no exception.
Like you said, he is being misused on offense. And well, he can do much more with better spacing at the NBA level when you consider how willing and good passer he is for his position and size. His spot up shooting has improved, specifically from the corners.
He is good pushing the ball on the break and shows good decision making running the break as well as finishing from the wings. He is a good leaper off 1 leg.

However, he does not look like great defensively when you compare him to U20 tournament.

Sounds like I see him just about the same way you do offensively. A point forward is a difficult role to project in my opinion, and the fact that he doesn't really have the role for Maccabi makes it even more of a challenge. Truthfully, it wouldn't surprise me if the team that drafted him ended up just having him as a spot up guy in the same role as Maccabi - which would be a poor decision.

I definitely think he's earning his foul calls, though.

 

[MD13]

https://twitter.com/zachmilner13/status/1214109993647190016?s=21

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Tyrese haliburton is the best player in the draft

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Obi Toppin is nasty.
I just wish he blocked more shots.

 

[cabs]

Opinions on Daniel Oturu?

 

[Nathan S]

Deni canned back-to-back 3's on his way to 8 first quarter points. Valuable shot in the arm for Maccabi as they look to avoid a third straight loss. After a cold start, Deni's a respectable 16/30 from the field and 5/15 from 3 over his last 8 Euroleague games.

 

[Cavatt]

Tyrese haliburton is the best player in the draft

More people are saying this. I can't help but think he fits with Garland either to shore up playmaking. You can't make that pick unless you give up on KPJ and trade Sexton.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

More people are saying this. I can't help but think he fits with Garland either to shore up playmaking. You can't make that pick unless you give up on KPJ and trade Sexton.

Cant kpj be long term SF?

 

[Cavatt]

I watched Wiseman's game she was available for and I just don't see anything except one thing. He is really big and moves effortlessly like a guy much smaller than him.

His skills scare me. He bumbles the ball a lot. His highlight plays are just him wide open dunking. That never translates.

 

[Cavatt]

Cant kpj be long term SF?

Yeah maybe. He is a big 6'5" like Iggy. Taking another guard really sucks as I am sure you know. Porter could be a 6th man too who knows