Flight

I'm not seeing this comparison at all. JJJ is more like a young Serge Ibaka imo.

It would definitely be one of the least exciting scenarios to come out with. Feels like we'd be getting only solid role players and no real leader. I'm not that low on Simons. The high school thing hurts but for a second round pick you really just want to draft someone with some potential to surprise folks and with some time he can be that.

So the updated ESPN Mock has us taking JJJ, Aaron Holiday, Jacob Evans and Anfernee Simons. Y'all happy with that?

I definitely felt where you were coming from until you said Dennis isn't far from being top 10 himself... smh lol (In no particular order) Curry, Westbrook, CP3, Wall, Lillard, Kyrie, Conley, Kemba, Lowry, Holiday, Rubio.. He's pretty far and that's not counting Harden, Ben Simmons and some others that may be regarded higher right now (I.E. Rondo)

Most view Bagley as a positionless player. He's not someone that really fits any specific position but I haven't heard anyone say he can't space the floor. He definitely needs to develop his shot more (As every prospect does) but he shot at a good clip from outside at Duke.

That's just the nature of the draft though, it's a constant battle between judging a player from what they've accomplished vs what they can become. In honesty there's not really a sure thing either way you go. It's kind of what makes it interesting to follow, even though there are a ton of factors that play into them panning out that we don't see of course.

I can agree with that, Curry had a lot more experience due to playing SG for a number of years but what Trae is already capable of doing at his age and level of experience speaks volumes of his ability to learn and develop skills. I'm really interested to see what he can do with that offense that has players more talented than OU did.

What's he going to do against players much larger and physical than him? He's got exceptional passing ability, but without the threat of getting to the rim, it's not that effective. He's not explosive enough to make teams worry about switches. Who's worried about Trae Young getting to the rim? I don't think he's like Curry, but if he's gonna be successful he's going to have to become craftier around the rim and as a ball handler otherwise he's too easy to shut down. Similar things were said about Steve Nash. Some players just have the intelligence to figure it out, I wouldn't be surprised if in the right system Trae Young does as well.

I'd venture to say even high school Trae Young had better passing instincts than Dennis does right now honestly. lol

I'd love Bagley but don't really want Zion.

I'm pretty much happy with anyone we'd be getting at 3. Playing field seems even for right now, I think some players would make bigger impacts early on though. (Trae, Bagley, Porter, MAYBE Bamba)

I understand what you're getting at but I think you're underrating Bagley significantly lol

That’s like saying to appease fans that want Patrick Ewing, we should sign Neil Patrick Harris.

I really hope we take a look at Jarred Vanderbilt from Kentucky, I know his injury history is a concern but his rebounding and ability to control the ball makes me feel like he could be a big steal for us at 30 or in the second round

I do like Jaren Jackson but it is tough seeing true star potential in a freshman that was the 5th highest scorer on his team. Can't even blame the minutes since Nick Ward was playing less than he was an still had better scoring and rebounding numbers..

It doesn't sound like you have at all. Also from Stepien's write up on him:

Have you ever watched him play? lol You act like have a left hand as a dominant hand will hinder him as a player haha. It's not like he only has two ways he can score. Dude has a solid offensive skillset around the basket and he's just flat out more active than most of his opposition. He's a lot more consistent and smoother dribbling the ball with either hand than JJJ is. At the BARE Minimum of what he can do would put him at the level of scoring the way John Collins did last year. That's 10 a game off his rebounding, activity and athleticism alone. He's been talking so much about Jaren Jackson that he's begun to get their skill sets confused for one another. lol

Coming from someone that's followed Julius Randle closely and seen him play in person, that's definitely not a good comparison. I see why you'd say it but it doesn't work. If you're saying the players are what they are at this point and to draft them for that, I'm definitely taking the ACC Player of the Year in Marvin Bagley. JJJ hasn't produced anything on the offensive end. Obviously JJJ is closer to being the Marvin Williams of this draft than Bagley. Offensively JJJ's strengths are pretty much what Marvin does. He's not gonna create for himself and his shots are going to have to come from others creating them for him. Bagley can create on his own and can improvise better than any big in this draft I've seen. JJJ isn't bad but I highly doubt he'll be jumping into the league and being a beast on defense if he could barely stay on the court in college.

Per40 have to be the most misleading stats to look at honestly lol

My problem is that you're comparing ages rather than the years of experience. Then you're not even comparing the actual numbers, you're putting up per 40 averages. The fact is Marvin's freshman year was better than John's Sophomore year. If you compare their freshman years Marvin blows him out of the water. You could say that John was shooting a (slightly) better percentage from the field but it's also because he took ZERO threes. While Bagley shoot 40% from there. He was the ACC Player of the Year for a reason.

You are not slick at all lol putting the Per 40 averages and true shooting percentages rather than just posting up the actual numbers they put up. Even the fact it's John Collins sophomore year versus Marvin Bagley's freshman is deceptive. If you aren't going to tell the whole story don't just tell the side that supports your argument.

Honestly Duke pretty much makes all their players look like terrible defenders if we're being honest.

The thing about it is, he doesn’t have to be lol. He just has to be in a situation that allows him to be the best Trae Young he can be. And I’m fine if that’s here. His passing is elite and he can run an offense in a way we haven’t had a pg able to in lord knows how many years.

You’re saying this about literal most important player to their team and the main reason their team even got to the point they are today. If Trae Young accomplished half of what Steph did he’d arguably be the greatest Hawk PG of all time lol

When has it ever mattered how tall a player is without shoes?