OFFICIAL Pre-pre-pre Draft Thread

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Justin Anderson SOUNDS like the ideal 3-and-D player that everybody loves these days. So you'd have to wonder why he'd be available at the 23rd pick. Either he won't, or there are some red flags. What is he bad at?

This. I've been on the JA bandwagon - seems like a perfect fit, and he's improved a lot. Maybe some people think his improvement is a fluke? The draftexpress video show that he has drastically changed/improved his mechanics.
 
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Anderson might end up being an average shooter and only above average defender (Allen Crabbe 2.0) but he also could be a Wes Matthews-lite guy. 3 and D guys are hard to peg, but there is a track record of them being underdrafted. (Klay 10th, Carroll 27th, Jimmy Butler 30th, Draymond Green 37th?, Danny Green 46th, Wes Undrafted)
I think this new "two-way player" craze will change scouting, as they are becoming more and more valuable while still the hardest type to figure out.
 
From Chad's bigboard update:

9Myles TurnerCOLLEGE: TexasHT: 6-11WT: 239POS: PF 2014-15 STATSPPG 10.1RPG 6.5BPG 2.6 Turner is another player hoping to have a coming-out party in Las Vegas on Friday. He'll join Porzingis in that big workout in front of a number of top NBA GMs and scouts. Turner has been working on his athleticism and his running technique, and the word from trainer Joe Abunassar is that he's improved significantly. Given Turner's size, skill set and potential, he could be a real draft sleeper. On pure upside, he's a top-five talent. I'm not sure there's a team in the top five that will take him, but the Kings at No. 6, the Nuggets at No. 7, the Pistons at No. 8, the Heat at No. 10 and the Pacers at No. 11 are all taking a close look at Turner. The Jazz at No. 12 or the Suns at No. 13 probably are his floor.
 
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The guy that has come out of nowhere, even moreso than Alpha Kaba, to rise from a projected undrafted to early-second is Arturas Gudaitis -- 6'10" 260 lb PF/C:



His leaping ability is impressive. His style on the block is very Pekovic-esque.

Speaking of Kaba - DX believes he will withdraw very soon. He has only ONE YEAR of organized bball under his belt. He's a good 5 years away from being 5 years away.
 
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Jaiteh, a 6-foot-11 big man, has intrigued the Knicks and is a rising prospect whose workout circuit includes 12 visits in 19 days. He isn’t expected to fall past the mid-second round, and has accelerated within teams’ draft rankings — including the Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers.
 
Jaiteh, a 6-foot-11 big man, has intrigued the Knicks and is a rising prospect whose workout circuit includes 12 visits in 19 days. He isn’t expected to fall past the mid-second round, and has accelerated within teams’ draft rankings — including the Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers.

The knock on him is that he's unmotivated. As if Frenchies didn't have a bad enough rep in certain sections of Portland fandom... Here he is against Hernangomez.
 
I wouldn't mind Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but I don't know that I see him in a starting position right away.

Hollis-Jefferson looks like he could be one of the top defensive wings in the league in a few years. Someone like Trevor Ariza comes to mind when thinking about Hollis-Jefferson, and Trevor Ariza's are the types of players who win big games in the NBA. Hustling, working hard, playing hard. I get that vibe from Hollis-Jefferson.

I do have concerns about his offensive production in the NBA.
 
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Maybe it's just me, and maybe I'm the only person in the overlap of demographics, but Sam Dekker looks like the male clone from Orphan Black:
OB-3.jpg


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Kristaps blew everyone away today during his only pre-draft workout in Vegas.

I think Okafor and Mudiay fall:

KAT
Russell
Kristaps
Okafor
 
The Lakers wined and dined Russell for two days.

Russell cancelled interview/workout with Philly that was scheduled for tomorrow.

The chips are starting to fall into place.
 
Lol if okafor for falls to philly
That'd be interesting, because Philidelphia would again recycle that pick or trade one of their bigs for even more picks! It's like the ultimate cycle of suck. Upper Lottery -> Draft a building block -> trade a building block -> lose -> repeat.
 
Porzingis certainly proved: he can jump and he can shoot. But he's supposed to be pretty passive (in stark contrast to his teammate Hernangomez) and he has frighteningly narrow shoulders. My comparison: some mad scientist merged Shawn Bradley with Andrea Bargnani. I say he has the biggest bust potential of the top 6. Maybe tied with Mudiay.

Mocks are now saying Philly takes him at #3. Seriously? Along with Noel, Embiid AND Saric? When Russell's sitting right there, with "ROY" written all over him? You've got to think Philly's few remaining fans would storm the front office with pitchforks.
 
He's a surprisingly horrible rebounder for as athletic he is, also consider he's 7'2" in shoes.

His jumper is wet. So effortless.
 
The Lakers wined and dined Russell for two days.
Russell cancelled interview/workout with Philly that was scheduled for tomorrow.
The chips are starting to fall into place.

Let's see: he said he was ill. What does he gain by canceling a workout? The way I understand it, when a team USUALLY promises a player, it's a team in about the middle of the first round, and they convince the player that it's the perfect spot for him, and he really wants to be there. But there's a risk he gets taken BEFORE that pick. So to stop teams taking him BEFORE (to repeat) they can take him, they get him to cancel workouts for teams BEFORE (get it?) that pick. Why would Russell cancel a workout for a team AFTER #2? Because he's super lazy? Because he's scared he'd rupture his Achilles in a workout? The Lakers don't give a shit if he works out for Philly, so why not? And to add to it, why lie and say you're sick? That makes you look like a liar. Is that good for the "brand"?
 
Jarrell Martin received a mid-first promise and will likely end remaining workouts.

My guess would be Washington.
 
I try to contain myself with these workout vids.

Anthony Bennett looked like Baby Shaq in pre-draft workout.

Btw, it's awfully quiet on the Blazer front.
 
I hope Philly lands Okafor.

I'd offer anyone outside Lillard for Embiid.
 
Btw, it's awfully quiet on the Blazer front.

I think this draft is so wide open after about the first 6 or 7 picks that there's no point in doing anything ahead of draft day (unless you're actually moving into the top 3, which the Blazers don't have the right pieces to do). I bet this draft is crazy, though. Trades a-plenty.

I really hope front office picks up a second round pick or two, though. But I hope that every year, because I get so caught up in this that I fall in love with minor prospects who, if I'm honest, have a negligible chance of making it.
 
Sam Meyerkopf, Euroleague Adventures
"If you’re a basketball purist, then like me you will love Hernangomez’s game. He’s a high post and low post threat on offense with an array of big man skills usually seen in generations past. He can dish from the elbows, playing high-low with another big. He has great footwork and can maneuver around either block and finishes with a soft touch. And he reads the game beautifully for a big man, constantly making decisions that help the offense run smoothly. There will be questions on what he can do against NBA length and athleticism but Hernangomez is crafty enough to figure out a way to be productive. Defensively he will hopefully be mobile, big, and smart enough to be passable so he can stay on the floor to show off his offensive skills."
 
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