I think there is a good chance that Josh Jackson will end up being the best player in this draft ... only question is whether the Lakers or Boston get him ...I also think that there's a benefit of getting future picks from Philly
Can we make this the Game of Thrones bored until the NBA starts back up next June?
Fultz is the surest bet in my opinion. No way he's not a 20+ scorer. Fox is good. Just a question if he will ever have a reliable jumper. 1. Fultz 2. Jackson3. Ball4. FoxRest of the guys are kind of whatever to me. I don't know a lot about Dennis Smith. Same for the Florida State guy. Monk will be a good player. Tatum isn't anything special. I like Markannan's game, but he won't be able to defend well enough.
I think there is a good chance that Josh Jackson will end up being the best player in this draft ... only question is whether the Lakers or Boston get him ...I also think that there's a benefit of getting future picks from Philly Makes far too much sense for boston to go down a couple picks and possibly take the sixers pick from the upcoming year(s). I like fultz b/c he's a husky, but anyone who said simmons was a ? when he couldn't get his team to the ncaa as the #1 player in the nba draft, should have serious questions about how fultz only could get 9 wins at the college level. I'm aware he can't do everything on the court, but his leadership was questionable and that doesn't make me want to run to him or simmons after watching their respective teams in college. Ainge would be smart to get whomever is left at #3 and get the sixers first pick next year b/c we all know it will be in the lottery(if not top 5 again).
I think there is a good chance that Josh Jackson will end up being the best player in this draft ... only question is whether the Lakers or Boston get him ...I also think that there's a benefit of getting future picks from Philly Makes far too much sense for boston to go down a couple picks and possibly take the sixers pick from the upcoming year(s). I like fultz b/c he's a husky, but anyone who said simmons was a ? when he couldn't get his team to the ncaa as the #1 player in the nba draft, should have serious questions about how fultz only could get 9 wins at the college level. I'm aware he can't do everything on the court, but his leadership was questionable and that doesn't make me want to run to him or simmons after watching their respective teams in college. Ainge would be smart to get whomever is left at #3 and get the sixers first pick next year b/c we all know it will be in the lottery(if not top 5 again). From what I've heard Ainge probably isn't getting any of the Sixers native picks, probably getting next year's unprotected Lakers pick or the 2019 Sacramento pick.I think Fultz and Simmons together would be fascinating for exactly the reasons you described. Would be really chinteresting to see how they do teamed up given the nature of those criticisms.
I think there is a good chance that Josh Jackson will end up being the best player in this draft ... only question is whether the Lakers or Boston get him ...I also think that there's a benefit of getting future picks from Philly Makes far too much sense for boston to go down a couple picks and possibly take the sixers pick from the upcoming year(s). I like fultz b/c he's a husky, but anyone who said simmons was a ? when he couldn't get his team to the ncaa as the #1 player in the nba draft, should have serious questions about how fultz only could get 9 wins at the college level. I'm aware he can't do everything on the court, but his leadership was questionable and that doesn't make me want to run to him or simmons after watching their respective teams in college. Ainge would be smart to get whomever is left at #3 and get the sixers first pick next year b/c we all know it will be in the lottery(if not top 5 again). From what I've heard Ainge probably isn't getting any of the Sixers native picks, probably getting next year's unprotected Lakers pick or the 2019 Sacramento pick.I think Fultz and Simmons together would be fascinating for exactly the reasons you described. Would be really chinteresting to see how they do teamed up given the nature of those criticisms. If I was Boston I would prefer to have either the Lakers pick next year or Sacramento's 2019 pick versus Philly's as I could see Philly being a playoff team sooner than later.I get the impression that Boston's trying to leverage the Brooklyn pick into getting a franchise caliber player ... and I'm not sure that there's one in this draft. You could definitely argue that there's at least one in next year's draft.
I see a lot of very good players in this draft but I'm not sure if I see a single player that I look at as the top player on a championship team. How low will you have to go in the draft before you get a player picked that was on a Final Four team this year?Guys I Like in this Draft:Josh Jackson - safest pick to me to have a long-term career that is at a multiple All Star team level ... I could see him turning into a poor man's Kawhi ... I love how hard he plays and if his offensive game advances he'll be a tremendous player.De'Arron Fox - he's got that little bit of "fuck you" in his game when it comes to competing ... that will serve him well in the NBA ... his floor to me is being a slightly more aggressive Rondo with the same broken ass jumper ... his ceiling to me is being the kind of in your face lead guard in the Gary Payton mold (who also couldn't shoot early in his career).Bam Adebayo - his offensive game is still a bit raw but I love his energy and he's got a lot of defensive compete in him ... he's a big that can move and play in today's game and when I saw him in person he reminded me a lot of Dwight Howard with potentially not the shit head in him ... given where he'll be taken there's a good chance that he'll go to a pretty good team and will massively outperform his pick.Josh Hart - the devalued assets in the draft now are guys that go through their entire college career ... Hart competes hard but he'll get knocked down because he's a senior. He's not going to be a difference maker from the standpoint of being a top 2-3 player on a championship team. But if he's a rotational member of a championship caliber team, he'll make that team better. He's exactly the kind of player that the Spurs, Warriors, etc. would gladly plug into their rotation.JaWun Evans - he'll be the 5th or 6th PG likely taken in the draft but he'll outperform at least a couple of the guys drafted ahead of him. He can play.Guys I Don't Like in this Draft:Dennis Smith - NC State went massively belly up this year ... and from what I'm hearing, I don't get the sense that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I get the impression that he's a talented player that will find himself on losing rosters for the balance of his career.Luke Kennard - I get it that he can shoot and he's a good offensive player ... but he doesn't strike me as a guy that can defend his position at the NBA level. I see him very similar to Doug McDermott (except McDermott was a far better offensive player in college). He'll I'm sure be a find role player in his career but given that he'll be taken by a lottery team somewhere around the Top 10 they won't be expecting him to be a role player. Jonathan Issac - I get that he's lanky and fits the bill as to where the game is going ... I just have a feeling that he's going to be more of a bust than a star as I get the sense that he has some disappear in his game.Could Go Either Way Guys:Malik Monk - as good of a shooter as any that I've seen in college in a while ... when he gets going watch out. What I'm not sure of is whether he can/will develop the other parts of his game. IF he does he'll end up being one of the 2-3 best players in this draft down the line. IF he doesn't he'll end up being a shooting specialist that will fail to live up to his draft stock.Lauri Markannen - I actually like him a lot and think that he has the ability to have a long career ... I see a poor man's version of Pau Gasol in him but he's going to have to get stronger, a little quicker, and a little more aggressive (particularly offensively on the interior). He may not have the high end upside of a lot of other guys in the draft, but to me he's a safe bet for an above average 10-12 year run before his downside comes.Lonzo Ball - his dad is doing him no favors as he's put a massive target on Lonzo's back ... the true measure of him won't be whether he fixes his shot or not but how he will deal with what should be a very difficult rookie year as guys keep punching him in the mouth over and over. He'll need to fix his shot eventually but he's either going to be very good or he'll be out of the league in 5-8 years ... I don't see much in between. I'm getting the sense that Magic isn't liking the compete fiber in him and considering move on because he knows soft players don't win.
I think there is a good chance that Josh Jackson will end up being the best player in this draft ... only question is whether the Lakers or Boston get him ...I also think that there's a benefit of getting future picks from Philly Makes far too much sense for boston to go down a couple picks and possibly take the sixers pick from the upcoming year(s). I like fultz b/c he's a husky, but anyone who said simmons was a ? when he couldn't get his team to the ncaa as the #1 player in the nba draft, should have serious questions about how fultz only could get 9 wins at the college level. I'm aware he can't do everything on the court, but his leadership was questionable and that doesn't make me want to run to him or simmons after watching their respective teams in college. Ainge would be smart to get whomever is left at #3 and get the sixers first pick next year b/c we all know it will be in the lottery(if not top 5 again). From what I've heard Ainge probably isn't getting any of the Sixers native picks, probably getting next year's unprotected Lakers pick or the 2019 Sacramento pick.I think Fultz and Simmons together would be fascinating for exactly the reasons you described. Would be really chinteresting to see how they do teamed up given the nature of those criticisms. If I was Boston I would prefer to have either the Lakers pick next year or Sacramento's 2019 pick versus Philly's as I could see Philly being a playoff team sooner than later.I get the impression that Boston's trying to leverage the Brooklyn pick into getting a franchise caliber player ... and I'm not sure that there's one in this draft. You could definitely argue that there's at least one in next year's draft. Except all the experts seem to agree there are at least two in this draft and possibly four or five. This is suposed to be arguably the best top 10 since 2003.Ainge loves collecting assets and if he likes Jackson as much as Fultz this makes a lot of sense. But they're not getting a better player with next year's Brooklyn pick than he could with this year's.Agree I'd rather have one of the non native Philly picks.
I think there is a good chance that Josh Jackson will end up being the best player in this draft ... only question is whether the Lakers or Boston get him ...I also think that there's a benefit of getting future picks from Philly Makes far too much sense for boston to go down a couple picks and possibly take the sixers pick from the upcoming year(s). I like fultz b/c he's a husky, but anyone who said simmons was a ? when he couldn't get his team to the ncaa as the #1 player in the nba draft, should have serious questions about how fultz only could get 9 wins at the college level. I'm aware he can't do everything on the court, but his leadership was questionable and that doesn't make me want to run to him or simmons after watching their respective teams in college. Ainge would be smart to get whomever is left at #3 and get the sixers first pick next year b/c we all know it will be in the lottery(if not top 5 again). From what I've heard Ainge probably isn't getting any of the Sixers native picks, probably getting next year's unprotected Lakers pick or the 2019 Sacramento pick.I think Fultz and Simmons together would be fascinating for exactly the reasons you described. Would be really chinteresting to see how they do teamed up given the nature of those criticisms. If I was Boston I would prefer to have either the Lakers pick next year or Sacramento's 2019 pick versus Philly's as I could see Philly being a playoff team sooner than later.I get the impression that Boston's trying to leverage the Brooklyn pick into getting a franchise caliber player ... and I'm not sure that there's one in this draft. You could definitely argue that there's at least one in next year's draft. Except all the experts seem to agree there are at least two in this draft and possibly four or five. This is suposed to be arguably the best top 10 since 2003.Ainge loves collecting assets and if he likes Jackson as much as Fultz this makes a lot of sense. But they're not getting a better player with next year's Brooklyn pick than he could with this year's.Agree I'd rather have one of the non native Philly picks. The risk with this is Jackson going #2. Interesting strategy for the Celtics. When are they going to finally use all these picks in a trade for George/Butler, etc?
I see a lot of very good players in this draft but I'm not sure if I see a single player that I look at as the top player on a championship team. How low will you have to go in the draft before you get a player picked that was on a Final Four team this year?Guys I Like in this Draft:Josh Jackson - safest pick to me to have a long-term career that is at a multiple All Star team level ... I could see him turning into a poor man's Kawhi ... I love how hard he plays and if his offensive game advances he'll be a tremendous player.De'Arron Fox - he's got that little bit of "fuck you" in his game when it comes to competing ... that will serve him well in the NBA ... his floor to me is being a slightly more aggressive Rondo with the same broken ass jumper ... his ceiling to me is being the kind of in your face lead guard in the Gary Payton mold (who also couldn't shoot early in his career).Bam Adebayo - his offensive game is still a bit raw but I love his energy and he's got a lot of defensive compete in him ... he's a big that can move and play in today's game and when I saw him in person he reminded me a lot of Dwight Howard with potentially not the shit head in him ... given where he'll be taken there's a good chance that he'll go to a pretty good team and will massively outperform his pick.Josh Hart - the devalued assets in the draft now are guys that go through their entire college career ... Hart competes hard but he'll get knocked down because he's a senior. He's not going to be a difference maker from the standpoint of being a top 2-3 player on a championship team. But if he's a rotational member of a championship caliber team, he'll make that team better. He's exactly the kind of player that the Spurs, Warriors, etc. would gladly plug into their rotation.JaWun Evans - he'll be the 5th or 6th PG likely taken in the draft but he'll outperform at least a couple of the guys drafted ahead of him. He can play.Guys I Don't Like in this Draft:Dennis Smith - NC State went massively belly up this year ... and from what I'm hearing, I don't get the sense that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I get the impression that he's a talented player that will find himself on losing rosters for the balance of his career.Luke Kennard - I get it that he can shoot and he's a good offensive player ... but he doesn't strike me as a guy that can defend his position at the NBA level. I see him very similar to Doug McDermott (except McDermott was a far better offensive player in college). He'll I'm sure be a find role player in his career but given that he'll be taken by a lottery team somewhere around the Top 10 they won't be expecting him to be a role player. Jonathan Issac - I get that he's lanky and fits the bill as to where the game is going ... I just have a feeling that he's going to be more of a bust than a star as I get the sense that he has some disappear in his game.Could Go Either Way Guys:Malik Monk - as good of a shooter as any that I've seen in college in a while ... when he gets going watch out. What I'm not sure of is whether he can/will develop the other parts of his game. IF he does he'll end up being one of the 2-3 best players in this draft down the line. IF he doesn't he'll end up being a shooting specialist that will fail to live up to his draft stock.Lauri Markannen - I actually like him a lot and think that he has the ability to have a long career ... I see a poor man's version of Pau Gasol in him but he's going to have to get stronger, a little quicker, and a little more aggressive (particularly offensively on the interior). He may not have the high end upside of a lot of other guys in the draft, but to me he's a safe bet for an above average 10-12 year run before his downside comes.Lonzo Ball - his dad is doing him no favors as he's put a massive target on Lonzo's back ... the true measure of him won't be whether he fixes his shot or not but how he will deal with what should be a very difficult rookie year as guys keep punching him in the mouth over and over. He'll need to fix his shot eventually but he's either going to be very good or he'll be out of the league in 5-8 years ... I don't see much in between. I'm getting the sense that Magic isn't liking the compete fiber in him and considering move on because he knows soft players don't win. YOU MUST HAVE A PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLEIntroductory Rate of $24.95 for 3 months, includes NCAA and NFL PREVIEW
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