2016 NBA Draft mega thread

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Great attitude. I really liked what he had to say.

Is he coming out this year though?
 
I think the Rabb comparison to Bosh is pretty valid. That's why I like this draft, especially if he and Labissiere stay in. You could get a difference maker as far down as the fifth, sixth or seventh picks, and I mean a guy that can be a decent contributor in his first two years.

And everytime I see Poeltl I get the same impressions: Really good college player who I don't think has the combination of size and athleticism to be more than a solid rotation big in the NBA.
 
The player I am looking at is sabonis great foot work around the basket and can make 16 footer. High I Q the weakest he doesn't have a great wing span.
 
Sabonis is an intangibles guy. Super strong and smart. He'll still go top-10ish, even with his lack of length.
 
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I might try to go watch Sabonis play against Loyola Marymount (my alma mater) when they're there on Feb 4th. Gonna rock my Sabas jersey though, my Blazer fandom supercedes my allegiance to my alma mater. Plus if Aryvydas is there, that would be fucking awesome.
 
Sabonis would be our version of Draymond. Sorta.

I think we can rest easy about the draft pick. UTA has that 8th spot locked up. Figure we'll end up somewhere between 6-11 in picks. Curious about Bender again. His stats in Europe are absolute trash, but they have the whole seniority bias ion his team where they don't play young guys as much. But in his videos, he looks sooooo skilled.
 
This is so cool! Can't believe I missed this story.

"He lived directly across the street from me when I was in the ninth or 10th grade," Lillard said. "I was outside hooping on my court and across the street would be two little, small, short kids and there was one that was way bigger than them outside playing tag and messing around.


"I was like, 'Why is this big ol' kid playing with these little boys?' But [Rabb] was the same age and just way taller. I met him when the ball would bounce over there and they would throw it back."

Didn't have much interest in Rabb til now.
 
Sabonis would be our version of Draymond. Sorta.

I think we can rest easy about the draft pick. UTA has that 8th spot locked up. Figure we'll end up somewhere between 6-11 in picks. Curious about Bender again. His stats in Europe are absolute trash, but they have the whole seniority bias ion his team where they don't play young guys as much. But in his videos, he looks sooooo skilled.

Is Utah good enough to have the 8th spot wrapped up? If we beat them Wednesday at home we will be even in the win column. (3 down in the loss column) Lot of games to be played yet.
 
Is Utah good enough to have the 8th spot wrapped up? If we beat them Wednesday at home we will be even in the win column. (3 down in the loss column) Lot of games to be played yet.
I believe so. They're getting healthier by the day.
 
Givony's comments about Skal are valid. He's not ready for this stage, but his skill is undeniable. Thinks he will have less pressure in the NBA than at Kentucky and will get drafted in the lotto.

Buuut one thing he mentioned (kinda in passing) that sticks out to me and have me absolutely against drafting him: Skal had a stress fracture in his back in HS. A 7 footer with even an acute back issue before age of 18 -- don't touch with a ten foot pole. He's off my big board.
 
Givony's comments about Skal are valid. He's not ready for this stage, but his skill is undeniable. Thinks he will have less pressure in the NBA than at Kentucky and will get drafted in the lotto.

Buuut one thing he mentioned (kinda in passing) that sticks out to me and have me absolutely against drafting him: Skal had a stress fracture in his back in HS. A 7 footer with even an acute back issue before age of 18 -- don't touch with a ten foot pole. He's off my big board.
Agreed - don't even consider him.
 
I would really like Sabonis but it sounds like the Blazers are committed on making the playoffs this year. I understand though, Every year there are guys coming out of the draft that would look good playing on your favorite team. You just can't get them all.
 
I would really like Sabonis but it sounds like the Blazers are committed on making the playoffs this year. I understand though, Every year there are guys coming out of the draft that would look good playing on your favorite team. You just can't get them all.

Right now he is listed #27 on draft express' mock. That we could trade for......

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2016/
 
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Just a random exercise, a look at with big men (mostly C or guys who play close to the basket) drafted early in the lotto, just looking at top 6.

2007: Oden (1), Horford (3)
2008: none
2009: Thabeet (2)
2010: Cousins (5), Udoh (6)
2011: Kanter (3), Tristan Thompson (4), Valanciunas (5), Vesely (6), and for good measure, Biyombo (7)
2012: Davis(1), TRob (5)
2013: Cody Zeller (4), Len (5), Noel (6)
2014: Embiid (3)
2015: KAT (1), Okafor (3), Porzingis (4), Cauley-Stein (6)

Some definite talent here, but a LOT of busts. What this is telling me is that if you're looking for a big man in the draft, don't draft one early in the draft unless he is a can't miss prospect who has a clear injury history. 2015 might be the best of that lot.

Rabb, Bender, Poeltl, Skal... hmm, just beware.
 
Some definite talent here, but a LOT of busts. What this is telling me is that if you're looking for a big man in the draft, don't draft one early in the draft unless he is a can't miss prospect who has a clear injury history.
I think I've come to the conclusion that unless the player is an obvious, can't miss, easy transition to the NBA that I'm against drafting PFs altogether. It's the easiest position in the NBA to fill, and you can just sign a journeyman to an MLE contract rather than spending a lottery pick and several years to develop them. PFs should be signed as free agents or traded for, but rarely drafted.
Cs are still tricky, because a dominant C in the right system can change the landscape of the NBA.
SGs and SFs are where effort should be focused. Obviously we're looking pretty nice as SG right now, so SF is the biggest need. But I certainly wouldn't pass over a SG if Neil thought he was going to be dynamite!
 
Just a random exercise, a look at with big men (mostly C or guys who play close to the basket) drafted early in the lotto, just looking at top 6.

2007: Oden (1), Horford (3)
2008: none
2009: Thabeet (2)
2010: Cousins (5), Udoh (6)
2011: Kanter (3), Tristan Thompson (4), Valanciunas (5), Vesely (6), and for good measure, Biyombo (7)
2012: Davis(1), TRob (5)
2013: Cody Zeller (4), Len (5), Noel (6)
2014: Embiid (3)
2015: KAT (1), Okafor (3), Porzingis (4), Cauley-Stein (6)

Some definite talent here, but a LOT of busts. What this is telling me is that if you're looking for a big man in the draft, don't draft one early in the draft unless he is a can't miss prospect who has a clear injury history. 2015 might be the best of that lot.

Rabb, Bender, Poeltl, Skal... hmm, just beware.

It's so difficult to predict how a big guy will adapt to the NBA. They go from being guarded by a bunch of short white guys to being guarded by guys like Gobert, Jordan, etc. It's a big adjustment.
 
What do you guys think of Valentine out of Michigan State? He is like the 2-3 version of Draymond. Obviously not a guy you take in the top 6-14, but would be worth drafting late teens or early 20s if we can get a pick off of someone's salary dump.
 
It's so difficult to predict how a big guy will adapt to the NBA. They go from being guarded by a bunch of short white guys to being guarded by guys like Gobert, Jordan, etc. It's a big adjustment.

It was a big adjustment for Gobert and DJordan just to become serviceable NBA players...
 
It was a big adjustment for Gobert and DJordan just to become serviceable NBA players...

How many centers even walk in and are NBA ready right away? Yao? Shaq? David Robinson? Patrick Ewing? It usually takes a while for them to adapt to the physical style of play and to how the refs call the game.
 
How many centers even walk in and are NBA ready right away? Yao? Shaq? David Robinson? Patrick Ewing? It usually takes a while for them to adapt to the physical style of play and to how the refs call the game.

It's rare, for sure. I'm just saying, it's ironic that the two you picked as examples were considered extra raw coming in. It just goes to show how hard it is to project the center position. You can't teach size, and you can't project it, either.
 
Is a center going to get us to the next level? I mean the whole idea of tanking is to get that missing piece. Is a center really in the discussion? Hopefully we are not stuck with that dilemma. I say focus on the wings. Centers are for after the lottery. You can find a serviceable Euro somewhere.
 

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