So Long Jordan Clarkson ( aka Chucky McJumperson)

[cabs]

Not really one hip injury doesn't make somebody fragile. If he comes back and gets hurt right away I could see a possible argument to be made.

Its a good comparison. Both 6'5, very similar play style (maybe RJ a touch better shooter), both skinny builds under 90kg in draft year. He will have also displayed no durability when his name gets called out. I've seen comparisons to Mudiay and NAW + others but these players were much bigger frames, had more muscle at draft age.

 

[NMCav]

Its a good comparison. Both 6'5, very similar play style (maybe RJ a touch better shooter), both skinny builds under 90kg in draft year. He will have also displayed no durability when his name gets called out. I've seen comparisons to Mudiay and NAW + others but these players were much bigger frames, had more muscle at draft age.

He showed something. Exum did nothing for 8 months before getting picked. Hampton is at least playing. Coming out Exum wasn't a good shooter and still isn't. Hampton profiles at least serviceable as a shooter. Exum was an enigma draft night and still is to this day because of injuries.

Hampton will have film and him injuring his hip isn't concerning nor does it mean he will always have a new injury like Exum. Exum never got a chance to develop so anyone getting compared to him is meanginless. Exum as a prospect was a unknown. Exum in the NBA is a unknown because of injuries never letting him develop. For what its worth SGA who some people on this board love weighs less then Hampton currently does at the same height.

 

[cabs]

He showed something. Exum did nothing for 8 months before getting picked. Hampton is at least playing. Coming out Exum wasn't a good shooter and still isn't. Hampton profiles at least serviceable as a shooter. Exum was an enigma draft night and still is to this day because of injuries.

Hampton will have film and him injuring his hip isn't concerning nor does it mean he will always have a new injury like Exum. Exum never got a chance to develop so anyone getting compared to him is meanginless. Exum as a prospect was a unknown. Exum in the NBA is a unknown because of injuries never letting him develop. For what its worth SGA who some people on this board love weighs less then Hampton currently does at the same height.

There is like an entire 82 game season of 22 mins per game pre ACL injury to compare to RJ Hampton lol

 

[NMCav]

There is like an entire 82 game season of 22 mins per game pre ACL injury to compare to RJ Hampton lol

Exum was already in the NBA at that point. Comparing them as draft prospects is impossible because Exum literally did nothing as a prospect leading up the draft. Saying hes like Exum because hes 6-5 skinny athetlic and not a shooter is just lazy.

I'm not saying Hampton will be good but when people make comparisons its projection based. Exum never got the chance to improve there is no projection. Comparing him to Exum is projecting him to be a fragile player that never sees the court.

 

[cabs]

Exum was already in the NBA at that point. Comparing them as draft prospects is impossible because Exum literally did nothing as a prospect leading up the draft. Saying hes like Exum because hes 6-5 skinny athetlic and not a shooter is just lazy.

I'm not saying Hampton will be good but when people make comparisons its projection based. Exum never got the chance to improve there is no projection. Comparing him to Exum is projecting him to be a fragile player that never sees the court.

Well I have seen both play live with my own two eyes before both were even drafted... to me they are very similar but granted Exum was against a league a step below NBL. But yes I get what you mean now I think in regards to long term future being completely different, at the same ages they are very similar.
Sidenote: Exum also played a lot for Australia before getting drafted so he should have some tape

 

[NMCav]

Well I have seen both play live with my own two eyes before both were even drafted... to me they are very similar but granted Exum was against a league a step below NBL. But yes I get what you mean now I think in regards to long term future being completely different, at the same ages they are very similar.
Sidenote: Exum also played a lot for Australia before getting drafted so he should have some tape

Some guys who are 6-5 and athletic rely on that way too much and don't develop until they reach the NBA and realize it won't cut it anymore. That could have been what Exum did and what Hampton is figuring out in the NBL.

I was viewing long term projections because when I think of player comps I assume its what they are projected to become not what they currently are. So to me the comparison to Exum was out there because Exum sadly never got the chance to expand his game injuries completely destroyed him.

 

[cabs]

Some guys who are 6-5 and athletic rely on that way too much and don't develop until they reach the NBA and realize it won't cut it anymore. That could have been what Exum did and what Hampton is figuring out in the NBL.

I was viewing long term projections because when I think of player comps I assume its what they are projected to become not what they currently are. So to me the comparison to Exum was out there because Exum sadly never got the chance to expand his game injuries completely destroyed him.

Rookie season Exum is the same age as Hampton is now. Exum should never have gone as high as Pick 5 and imo Hampton shouldn’t either, he won’t have the chance to display an improved shot before the draft

 

[NMCav]

Rookie season Exum is the same age as Hampton is now. Exum should never have gone as high as Pick 5 and imo Hampton shouldn’t either, he won’t have the chance to display an improved shot before the draft

I never said Hampton should go top 5. He should be picked in the 11 to 20 range. He has upside that most other prospects don't. But he also has flaws that create a boom or out of the league in 5 years prospect. He could end up a top 5 player from this draft but he could also be out of the league and playing in China in 5 years.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

I asked who plays center next year if TT signs elsewhere and got one response: Henson and Okongwu.

Henson is a skinny forward. Even if we sign him, and I hope we do, he lacks the bulk to play center. Beilein was quoted as saying he needs to get stronger.

Okongwu is a 6'9", 220 pound power forward according to the draft site I'm looking at. NBADraftRoom.com mocks him to the Hornets at #13. His NBA comp is Tristan Thompson. By the way, Thompson is listed at 254 pounds so I'm not seeing it. Maybe he's Canadian and can't shoot from beyond five feet.

They have the Cavs picking #4 and taking Obi Toppin, another 220-pound power forward. Here's the comment:

"This draft has two stars at the top and then a bunch of exciting but flawed prospects. Obi is probably the safest of the second tier guys and benefits from a lack of PF/C talent at the top of this draft."

Toppin's comp is Otto Porter, who isn't a center from what I recall. Here's their mock:

2020 NBA Mock Draft - NBA Draft Room

Full 2020 NBA Mock Draft, 2 rounds. Edwards goes 1 to the Wolves, LaMelo 3 to the Hornets, Wiseman is a trade target for a team trading up

www.nbadraftroom.com

This is why I'm pushing for Whiteside, if he would even consider signing with the Cavs. After seeing the impact of Henson's rim protection just for a few games I'd love to get an even better inside defender who is averaging 3.6 blocks per game not to mention 17 points and 15 boards. I don't know what happened with him in Miami but he's doing really well in Portland.

As for Wiseman, they have him going #1. At this point the Cavs have an 8-5 record against below .500 teams. If this continues they won't be in the top five and even the top eight could be a problem. I expect Kobe to trade Thompson to make sure this doesn't happen, and maybe Henson and Love as well. I don't see the Cavs in a position to get Wiseman unless Kobe can clean the decks pretty quick and even then it will take a friendly ping pong ball.

The Cavaliers rank 29th in opponents' points in the paint per game. They need a lot more interior defense and I don't think they can get it from next year's draft.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

The Bucks lead the East with three teams either 4.0 or 4.5 games out. It's looking like it's Milwaukee all the way unless something happens to Giannis or one of their other key guys. The Celtics have played four fewer games than the Bucks and if they win them all they would only be 2.0 games out.

The West is a little tighter with the Lakers on top and four teams between 2.5 and 4.0 games out. So there are nine teams who are either leading or within 4.5 games. Not as many as I hoped, but enough that there should be some interest in Thompson, Love, and Henson.

The Jazz are 5.5 games out with the 29th ranked bench so they made a move to get Clarkson. Maybe that will be the first domino.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

FWIW, here's the guy I like if we can't draft Wiseman or sign a free agent center to replace Thompson.

N'Faly Dante, Notre Dame.

"HT: 7-0 - WT: 249 - WING: 7-5 1/2 - FROM: Oregon (Mali) - Fr.

Dante is back on the court and making an immediate impact. He's got elite length, great mobility and surprising quickness for his size. He has a chance to be a special defender who also has some upside on the offensive end."

"He's got a special combination of size and athleticism and these physical tools alone will make him a first round pick. Big men can take a while to develop and there's a chance he'll need a few years in the NBA before making his mark but if you look at the history of players like Clint Capela or Rudy Gobert you see that it can make sense to draft centers early and spend the time developing. The pay off down the road can be well worth it."

 

[CleveRocks]

Who plays center next year if Thompson leaves in free agency and we can't get the #2 overall pick to draft James Wiseman?

Bagley

 

[NMCav]

I asked who plays center next year if TT signs elsewhere and got one response: Henson and Okongwu.

Henson is a skinny forward. Even if we sign him, and I hope we do, he lacks the bulk to play center. Beilein was quoted as saying he needs to get stronger.

Okongwu is a 6'9", 220 pound power forward according to the draft site I'm looking at. NBADraftRoom.com mocks him to the Hornets at #13. His NBA comp is Tristan Thompson. By the way, Thompson is listed at 254 pounds so I'm not seeing it. Maybe he's Canadian and can't shoot from beyond five feet.

They have the Cavs picking #4 and taking Obi Toppin, another 220-pound power forward. Here's the comment:

"This draft has two stars at the top and then a bunch of exciting but flawed prospects. Obi is probably the safest of the second tier guys and benefits from a lack of PF/C talent at the top of this draft."

Toppin's comp is Otto Porter, who isn't a center from what I recall. Here's their mock:

2020 NBA Mock Draft - NBA Draft Room

Full 2020 NBA Mock Draft, 2 rounds. Edwards goes 1 to the Wolves, LaMelo 3 to the Hornets, Wiseman is a trade target for a team trading up

www.nbadraftroom.com

This is why I'm pushing for Whiteside, if he would even consider signing with the Cavs. After seeing the impact of Henson's rim protection just for a few games I'd love to get an even better inside defender who is averaging 3.6 blocks per game not to mention 17 points and 15 boards. I don't know what happened with him in Miami but he's doing really well in Portland.

As for Wiseman, they have him going #1. At this point the Cavs have an 8-5 record against below .500 teams. If this continues they won't be in the top five and even the top eight could be a problem. I expect Kobe to trade Thompson to make sure this doesn't happen, and maybe Henson and Love as well. I don't see the Cavs in a position to get Wiseman unless Kobe can clean the decks pretty quick and even then it will take a friendly ping pong ball.

The Cavaliers rank 29th in opponents' points in the paint per game. They need a lot more interior defense and I don't think they can get it from next year's draft.

You do realize Whiteside is a lockerroom cancer and is already over 30. Whiteside is a talent I doubt anyone would disagree but he's also someone I wouldn't want near the kids we have on the roster.

 

[Douglar]

You do realize Whiteside is a lockerroom cancer and is already over 30. Whiteside is a talent I doubt anyone would disagree but he's also someone I wouldn't want near the kids we have on the roster.

It would be as bad as putting Andrew Bynum in a locker room with a bunch of kids.

Thank goodness Jordan Clarkson is gone. He seems like he was a nice guy, but he never met a shot he didn't like. Took a long time to get rid of him.

 

[FrontPageNews]

I asked who plays center next year if TT signs elsewhere and got one response: Henson and Okongwu.

Henson is a skinny forward. Even if we sign him, and I hope we do, he lacks the bulk to play center. Beilein was quoted as saying he needs to get stronger.

Okongwu is a 6'9", 220 pound power forward according to the draft site I'm looking at. NBADraftRoom.com mocks him to the Hornets at #13. His NBA comp is Tristan Thompson. By the way, Thompson is listed at 254 pounds so I'm not seeing it. Maybe he's Canadian and can't shoot from beyond five feet.

They have the Cavs picking #4 and taking Obi Toppin, another 220-pound power forward. Here's the comment:

"This draft has two stars at the top and then a bunch of exciting but flawed prospects. Obi is probably the safest of the second tier guys and benefits from a lack of PF/C talent at the top of this draft."

Toppin's comp is Otto Porter, who isn't a center from what I recall. Here's their mock:

2020 NBA Mock Draft - NBA Draft Room

Full 2020 NBA Mock Draft, 2 rounds. Edwards goes 1 to the Wolves, LaMelo 3 to the Hornets, Wiseman is a trade target for a team trading up

www.nbadraftroom.com

This is why I'm pushing for Whiteside, if he would even consider signing with the Cavs. After seeing the impact of Henson's rim protection just for a few games I'd love to get an even better inside defender who is averaging 3.6 blocks per game not to mention 17 points and 15 boards. I don't know what happened with him in Miami but he's doing really well in Portland.

As for Wiseman, they have him going #1. At this point the Cavs have an 8-5 record against below .500 teams. If this continues they won't be in the top five and even the top eight could be a problem. I expect Kobe to trade Thompson to make sure this doesn't happen, and maybe Henson and Love as well. I don't see the Cavs in a position to get Wiseman unless Kobe can clean the decks pretty quick and even then it will take a friendly ping pong ball.

The Cavaliers rank 29th in opponents' points in the paint per game. They need a lot more interior defense and I don't think they can get it from next year's draft.

Henson is a forward? Is this 2002?