NBA Draft Day thread

[YouKay]

Please post all your dumb/brilliant opinions, predictions, rumors, tweets, etc.

My prediction: The Boston Celtics will trade two or all three of their first round picks today. I don't think they planned to, but they need to replace Al Horford ASAP and I think they want to trade for a veteran center. Also seeing some buzz that if they keep their picks they will take PJ Washington if he is still on the board at #14.

 

[Flipflopsandsocks]

Ja Morant is the safest pick.

Zion Williamson is a 6'6 power forward, RJ Barrett is a young Andrew Wiggins, and Darius Garland played 5 games.

Tayshaun is getting off to a strong start in Memphis.

 

[akaukswoosh]

nd Darius Garland played 5 games.

Sure doesn't seem to be hurting his stock.

 

[JamesLee]

Predictions for our guys...

PJ goes #14 to Boston
Herro goes #16 to Orlando
Keldon goes #23 to Memphis

 

[YouKay]

Ja Morant is the safest pick.

Zion Williamson is a 6'6 power forward, RJ Barrett is a young Andrew Wiggins, and Darius Garland played 5 games.

Tayshaun is getting off to a strong start in Memphis.

I am concerned that Garland is gonna be the Markelle Fultz of this draft. Someone is gonna be real sorry they used a high pick or even worse, traded up to get him.

Love the Memphis trade of Mike Conley and expected draft of Morant. Trade was a win-win for both teams.

Zion is a unicorn. Don't care what he measures, he plays much bigger and the only concern I would have as a GM or coach is keeping his weight under control.

 

[akaukswoosh]

 

[YouKay]

Predictions for our guys...

PJ goes #14 to Boston
Herro goes #16 to Orlando
Keldon goes #23 to Memphis

Great spots for all three. Plenty of playing time available and good surrounding cast. PJ could be a star in Boston. They don't have a true PF if they let Marcus Morris walk (which I expect they will). I think Miami may take him at 13 though.

 

[hotelblue]

barrett is going to be a star in the nba imo. the knicks should take him if available. herro and washington are steals wherever they go. i am that high on both.

 

[Schwagg]

It will be a travesty if the Great Dean Wade does not go top 10

 

[GonzoCat90]

The Hawks will be busy tonight and are going in the right direction. If they can land Hunter and Hayes, that's a terrific foundation.

I think Hayes and Bitadze will both be very, very good.

Coby White feels like a guy that we'll look back on and either wonder why he wasn't drafted higher or wonder why he was drafted so high.

If Claxton isn't a first rounder, someone got a steal. That kid is going to be good.

I hope the Lakers buy several second round picks. If we can add guys like Edwards, Windler, Schofield, and Bowman, I'll feel a lot better about rolling with three max guys.

 

[BlueBomb]

Usually, college kids' bodies continue to fill out for years after their college days. They, of course, continue to put on weight and muscle as they mature physically. Just look at AD. Or compare Lebron now to his rookie season.

I bring it up only because the thought of Zion putting on more weight makes me laugh. One day he might make the Round Mound of Rebound look slim.

 

[Poetax]

Sure doesn't seem to be hurting his stock.

Strange isn’t it?

 

[YouKay]

Celtics have made Aron Baynes available for trade to clear cap space. Definitely something cooking up there. Guessing they are going to make a run at Nikola Vucevic.

 

[YouKay]

Usually, college kids' bodies continue to fill out for years after their college days. They, of course, continue to put on weight and muscle as they mature physically. Just look at AD. Or compare Lebron now to his rookie season.

I bring it up only because the thought of Zion putting on more weight makes me laugh. One day he might make the Round Mound of Rebound look slim.

NBA players actually have much less time to work out than college players do. Their schedules are hectic with many travel days where they are just sitting in cars and planes. Game days are usually filled with film, going over game plans, shootarounds, etc. And of course they eat like kings. It is gonna be a real challenge for Zion to keep from ballooning once the season starts.

 

[TFCat11]

Predictions: I’m usually wrong in regards to the Draft.
PJ- 13-16 range
Herro- 21-25 range
KJ- 24-29 range
I hope all 3 go higher obviously.

 

[hotelblue]

NBA players actually have much less time to work out than college players do. Their schedules are hectic with many travel days where they are just sitting in cars and planes. Game days are usually filled with film, going over game plans, shootarounds, etc. And of course they eat like kings. It is gonna be a real challenge for Zion to keep from ballooning once the season starts.

yeah it’s usually takes a couple of nba off seasons for guys to bulk up. but zion doesn’t need help in that department. the 82 games will be tough in terms of conditioning maybe.

 

[YouKay]

Sports Illustrated reporting that Boston hosted 6 players TODAY for last minute workouts:

Jordan Bone - PG
Tremont Waters - PG
Jalen Lecque - CG
Jared Harper - PG
Chris Clemons - PG (nation's leading scorer last year)
Darius Bazley - SF

 

[qwesley]

Sure doesn't seem to be hurting his stock.

Also says what the scouts think of picks 4 on.

 

[MWes11]

 

[BlueCat43]

I am concerned that Garland is gonna be the Markelle Fultz of this draft. Someone is gonna be real sorry they used a high pick or even worse, traded up to get him.

Love the Memphis trade of Mike Conley and expected draft of Morant. Trade was a win-win for both teams.

Zion is a unicorn. Don't care what he measures, he plays much bigger and the only concern I would have as a GM or coach is keeping his weight under control.

I just have to wonder about his knees, feet, and back a la Shaq. I know they are not the same but both were big bodies and athletic. Can Zion's body hold up to the long season of abuse?

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

No

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I am concerned that Garland is gonna be the Markelle Fultz of this draft. Someone is gonna be real sorry they used a high pick or even worse, traded up to get him.

Love the Memphis trade of Mike Conley and expected draft of Morant. Trade was a win-win for both teams.

Zion is a unicorn. Don't care what he measures, he plays much bigger and the only concern I would have as a GM or coach is keeping his weight under control.

I agree. There's something unsettling about a guy who only played 5 college games, against low-majors. We didn't get to see 1. teams start scouting him. 2. what a long season can do to you. or 3. his abilities against better teams. or 4. How he plays from behind/losing and in hostile environments.

Playing against Morehead and such, might actually be worse competition than the AAU leagues over the summer. You could make the argument that playing just 5 or so games against lower schools, is the perfect scenario to be drafted as high as possible.

I mean the guy shot 58% from the 3.. pretty clear he has some inflated statistics around him.

 

[YouKay]

Surprised to see nothing but a few rumors at this point. Does appear that New Orleans is shopping the #4 pick.

 

[BoulderCat_rivals187983]

I am concerned that Garland is gonna be the Markelle Fultz of this draft. Someone is gonna be real sorry they used a high pick or even worse, traded up to get him.

Love the Memphis trade of Mike Conley and expected draft of Morant. Trade was a win-win for both teams.

Zion is a unicorn. Don't care what he measures, he plays much bigger and the only concern I would have as a GM or coach is keeping his weight under control.

I’ve thought and posted the same. Should be easy for him to hire a personal trainer and dietician, or even home chef. I read just today Okafor has lost weight and gotten himself back in shape. Has also been seeing a therapist. Apparently getting paid millions to play basketball can be depressing.

My prediction is UK has 3 guys drafted in the first round. That’s about as far out on a limb I willing to go.

 

[Dead Cat Bounce]

(Nobody asked me, but I can’t see how Zion’s knees will hold up for a log-term NBA career.)

 

[RoyKent]

Tyler's watch....WOWOWOW

 

[Crawfords Corner]

RJ Barrett will be the best player from this class.

Zion will not balloon. He plays harder than everyone else on the court. He's relentless. Charles Barkley wasn't the tallest or skinniest, but he outworked dudes. We all know how his career turned out. I'm not saying Zion will be a HOF, but Im not going to bet against him either.

I think we see 2 major trades tonight. No team in this draft becomes a world-beater by drafting 5 or 6 rookies.

UK will have 1 lottery pick and 2 players go top 20. PJ, Tyler, and KJ. KJ will end up being the best pro of the 3.


Outside of our UK guys the thing I'm most anxious to see is where fellow Moeller alum Jaxson Hayes goes. Good luck to all the players.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

RJ Barrett will be the best player from this class.

Zion will not balloon. He plays harder than everyone else on the court. He's relentless. Charles Barkley wasn't the tallest or skinniest, but he outworked dudes. We all know how his career turned out. I'm not saying Zion will be a HOF, but Im not going to bet against him either.

I think we see 2 major trades tonight. No team in this draft becomes a world-beater by drafting 5 or 6 rookies.

UK will have 1 lottery pick and 2 players go top 20. PJ, Tyler, and KJ. KJ will end up being the best pro of the 3.


Outside of our UK guys the thing I'm most anxious to see is where fellow Moeller alum Jaxson Hayes goes. Good luck to all the players.

I think Zion could gain weight if he has injuries on and off. He seems like the kind of player that can't take time off, and if he does, someone needs to watch him.

 

[Gassy_Knowls]

Guessing they are going to make a run at Nikola Vucevic.

Yikes i hope not!

 

[mcwildcats04]

Surprised to see nothing but a few rumors at this point. Does appear that New Orleans is shopping the #4 pick.

Seems silly for Memphis to pass up taking Morant at #2. Very unlikely he would fall to them at #4.

 

[UKCat67]

 

[akaukswoosh]

Also says what the scouts think of picks 4 on.

True.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Tyler's watch....WOWOWOW

Herro hit three friggin’ 3-pointers in four NCAA games and he’s splurging on shiny objects? I wish him luck.

 

[KentuckyCat420]

I pray it happens, those two will lose 50-60 games their rookie year and the ESPN hype machine will explode in their faces.

 

[YouKay]

Big trade by Hawks/Pelicans!

Timberwolves have also traded up to #6 with Phoenix trading down to #11. Wolves look to get Darius Garland at 6. Watch for Suns possibly picking PJ at 11!

 

[somethingalways1]

Wasn't this always on TNT? Or was it always on ESPN and I have that alzheimers crap.

 

[Crawfords Corner]

Im liking this so far. 2 huge trades already. Going to be a fun night of watching for those of us who like watching drafts.

 

[Schwagg]

Herro will flameout like Doron Lamb & won’t have that watch very long cause he will need to pawn it for quick cash.

 

[TortElvisII]

Biggest night of the year.....

Congratulations to our guys.

No Sacramento and no Phoenix....

 

[rick64]

So is tonight the greatest night in the history of Duke basketball? :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: