Live Thread: 2018 NBA Draft (#DoYouFeelIt?)

Live Thread: 2018 NBA Draft (#DoYouFeelIt?)

2018-06-21 Off By EvilGenius

I’ll admit it… my heart’s just not in this draft. Not because there aren’t a ton of terrific young prospects to choose from, even at the 8th spot where the Cavaliers find themselves… but because I’m finding it hard to enjoy it with the ever-present spectre of another LeBron James “decision” looming over it. With such a disparate group of players potentially available (from bigs to smalls to every swing man in between), the wrinkle that makes it even harder to evaluate who best suits this team… is the uncertainty of whether or not the pick in question will be sharing the court with the King. Do they complement his style… or will they suddenly have the weight of a franchise foisted upon their young shoulders. Hard to say.

Fortunately for me (and for the rest of you) we have a terrific staff here at C:tB who have been breaking down the potential candidates over the last week or two. The three remaining have generated some fairly polarizing views.

Apologies in advance, but I’m going to crib from the ESPN strengths and weaknesses since I have limited time before the draft starts…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB8uoq7Kq9A

Trae Young

Is he the next Steph? Or, is he the next Shabazz Napier? No college prospect moves the needle more between boom and bust for most NBA experts.

Strengths (courtesy of ESPN)

  • Deadly pull-up shooter with deep range. Loves transition quick hitters. Kills pick-and-roll under coverages.
  • Shifty ball handler who has it on a string. Uses his pull-up threat to set up the rest of his game. Has a knack for drawing fouls despite his size.
  • Excellent passer (9.8 assists per 40 with a not-so-inspiring supporting cast). Should look even better with NBA spacing and talent around him.

Weaknesses (courtesy of ESPN)

  • Underwhelming physical profile for a starting NBA point guard. How much will he be able to fill out? Lack of elite physical tools along with uninspiring effort lead to serious questions about who he’ll be able to defend at the NBA level. While partially due to role, he showed a lack of toughness defensively at Oklahoma.
  • Struggles to finish in traffic against length and athleticism. Relied heavily on getting to the free throw line at the collegiate level — 9.7 times per 40 — but his efficiency took a dive when the whistles dried up.
  • Brilliant court vision but can be careless with the ball, especially in a crowd. Lack of elite size limits his ability to see over the top of the defense. Gets bumped off his spots. Turned the ball over on 20.6 percent of pick-and-roll possessions.

My Take

If LeBron sticks around, Young could develop into something special, and probably wouldn’t be any worse than what the Cavs have had defensively at the point over the last couple of years. If LeBron bolts, Young does not exactly seem like the kind of cornerstone talent the team can build around. I hope they steer clear, but I could totally see the Cavs believing in Young as a sort of hail mary/Shabazz Napier kind of play. His ceiling also could be valuable in potential trades regardless of what LeBron decides.

Wendell Carter, Jr.

Is he the next Al Horford? Or, the next Al Jefferson? WCJ is a very large dude with a nice offensive touch, who doesn’t really do anything all that remarkable on the floor.

Strengths (courtesy of ESPN)

  • Strong physical profile. Powerful and explosive off two feet. Uses verticality to protect the rim.
  • Polished, versatile, intelligent player on both ends of the floor. Has soft hands to go along with strong footwork and touch. Good shooting mechanics; made 19 of 46 3s (41 percent) to go along with 74 percent of his free throws. Good passer and rebounder.
  • Lauded for his outstanding intangibles as a worker and teammate. Has a very high floor.

Weaknesses (courtesy of ESPN)

  • Not as explosive as some of his peers. Floor is high, but ceiling is also lower.
  • Looks heavy-footed at times trying to defend in space. Might struggle to step out in pick-and-roll situations. Has good instincts, but will need to continue to hone his technique.
  • Doesn’t always play with the type of physicality and confidence you might hope, especially in pressure-packed situations. Comfortable blending in.

My Take

Unless the Cavs go against what they’ve said publicly about wanting to hang onto Kevin Love, whether LeBron decides to leave or not, WCJ seems more like a redundancy of skills the Cavs already possess.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Is he the next Shaun Livingston (pre-injury)? Or, the next Michael Carter Williams? SGA is a tall, lanky and sneaky good finisher from the PG position, but is he a reach at #8?

Strengths (courtesy of ESPN)

  • Elite size and length for a lead guard. Slithery athlete who gets to spots on the floor with long strides. Impressive side-to-side agility.
  • Polished ball-screen player. Splits screens instinctually. Good pace as a facilitator. Can pass or finish with either hand. Crafty around the rim. Improved standstill shooter.
  • Tools to become a multi-positional defender in time. Good instincts.

Weaknesses (courtesy of ESPN)

  • Not overly explosive or physical. Gets by on skill and craft. PG skills could still use some polish.
  • How will he score in the half court? Slow, flat-footed pull-up that’s easy to contest.
  • Not always the defender he could be. Reaches rather than contains. Level of toughness is inconsistent.

My Take

While I’m a fan of tall point guards (especially ones with seven foot wingspans), I’m also a fan of point guards who can shoot. SGA is not going to impress many with his current ability to put the ball in the hole, except on layups… at least at the moment. While he could develop into a solid two-way PG, he’s not the kind of three point gunner that LeBron will have patience for if he stays. SGA could be a decent choice for a rebuilding team, but I’d prefer Collin Sexton’s game and motor over his.

So, there you have the last three candidates who might be available to the Cavs when they pick tonight. Of course, they could always move up or down the draft board with a trade tonight (as high as maybe Memphis at 4 if they want to take on Chandler Parson’s albatross contract… or down to 11 if they want to try to snag Kemba Walker and Nic Batum with a salary/pick swap with Charlotte).

We’ll do our best to keep this thread updated with all of tonight’s picks as they’re announced, or trades along the way. So please, hang out and follow along… no matter if your heart’s in it or not.

The Phoenix Suns are on the clock…

https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1009971633484951552

And, that concludes Round 1!

Feel free to hang out to see if the Cavs trade/buy back into Round 2…

 

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CategoryFeatured Live Thread
TagsKevin Love Lebron James Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Trae Young Wendell Carter Jr.
745 Comments
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Charlie E

Seriously — Colin F.ing Sexton!

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Arch Stanton

I’d rather the Cavs trade the pick then select Porter.

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believeLAND

I don’t understand Orlando’s roster

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Simmo

Neither do they, no biggie.

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Cory Hughey

Carter to the Bulls!!!!

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Jason

Bamba to Magic.

Bulls up.

Hate to say it, I gamble on Porter if the Bulls do not. The last of the homeruns.

Again, fine with Sexton, Carter, or Bridges.

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Mike Podracky

I hope the Cavs learned that drafting or trading for an injured player with big question marks is not smart. Right?

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MikeO

Wrong.

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JoeyB

Drafting Embiid would not have been dumb.

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MikeO

Cavs will take Porter. It is written.

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Simmo

Yup

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Charlie E

I feel this is true

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Arch Stanton

So Chicago is passing on Porter, and they saw the medicals.

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Arch Stanton

Bulls will select Wendell Carter Jr. at No. 7, per source.

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) June 22, 2018

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Charlie E

I fear Bamba will be lost in Orlando

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Nate Smith

Unless someone is trading up to 7. Sexton is gonna be there for the Cavs. I’m terrified they’re gonna screw this up.

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MikeO

They will.

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JMKP

Aaand the Cavs draft…Anthony Bennett!

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Nate Smith

Good for Atlanta. Got their guy. Has a chance to be special.

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Jason

Bamba to Orlando. Bulls up. Porter in play here. They got the closest look at his medicals.

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EvilGenius

Bet they take Carter…

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Cory Hughey

The Bulls taking Carter would be perfect. The guys we feared the Cavs to take would be gone.

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Nate Smith

Three way deal to get Vujevic fom Orlando if they take Bamba?

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Arch Stanton

I have a bad feeling the Cavs are taking Porter.

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Simmo

“When was the last time you felt good about anything”….Tom Hanks/SPR

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MikeO

Excellent reference…

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buck turgidson

windy saying porter is the type of guy they were dreaming about when kyrie was traded..

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MikeO

A guy with a bad back who may never play 40 games? Some dream…

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EvilGenius

He was probably going number one before the injury…

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MikeO

Well, depending on the college season he never had…the history of ‘best HS players’ the last 15 years is not encouraging…and that’s the ones without back problems…

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MikeO

I knew that ‘Trae Young may drop to 12th’ stuff was complete nonsense…

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Nate Smith

Me: Jaren Jackson Jr.’s dad won a ring with the Spurs in 1999.
Wife: What’s his name?
Me: Jaren Jackson.

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believeLAND

Awwww, the Jacksons seem like a very nice family

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Jason

Magic could do anything. I think Porter is in play. Sexton. Alexander. Bamba. Carter.

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Arch Stanton

I don’t think Chicago takes Sexton, when they have Dunn.

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Nate Smith

The only way SGA is a good pick is if it’s to trade Lowry to Toronto.

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JoeyB

It’s a good spite pick. I’m always a fan of those.

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Arch Stanton

I just Porter Jr. doesn’t split into pieces as he walks up the stage.

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Arch Stanton

Just hope

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Charlie E

Jaron Jackson seems like a great pick.

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NickNevers

Jaren Jackson comparison to Joakim Noah is incredibly dumb.

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Jason

One guy can shoot & the other can pass.

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believeLAND

lmaooo

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Arch Stanton

The Mavericks will now draft Trae Young for Atlanta and nudge Orlando in the direction of Mo Bamba at No. 6

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 21, 2018

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buck turgidson

everyone have their bags next to them?

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buck turgidson

tell me this isn’t going to be gum drop 2

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JoeyB

Everyone has to say who’d they take when we’re on the clock, then we will pull up this thread in three years and rip each other. :)

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Nate Smith

So bummed about young going that early. Sexton a lock for Orlando now.

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JoeyB

That was a very poor take by JBilas

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Arch Stanton

Maybe Orlando will do us a favor and select Porter Jr. 🙏

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MikeO

Pleasepleaseplease…

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EvilGenius

I think Marc Stein is scooping Woj by just a smidge tonight… impressive!

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believeLAND

really like Jaren Jackson, will be one of the best from this draft

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JoeyB

Agree

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Jason

Memphis won’t take Young with Conley there. Spoiler has to be a trade.

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JoeyB

Memphis could do it to get in on the trade. Have Dallas take whoever they would’ve taken at 4.

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JoeyB

They might should do it just to squeeze something out of Dallas, who’ll throw them a bone to complete the doncic trade.

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Nate Smith

Happy for Dallas.

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Jason

I am big on Doncic. Best player in my book. Right now without a doubt.

He & Young were the guys who MIGHT be able to move the needle for Bron. Bamba, Sexton, or Porter (if healthy) perhaps.

I just do not see how we can take the unhealthy guy again.

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believeLAND

Mavs have drafted well over the years

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Mike Podracky

Virtually everyone thought the Nets pick would be top 5 except the Nets of course had no reason to tank. In this draft, going from top 5 to 8 hurts,

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Nate Smith

Gotta think Schroder’s available now…

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MikeO

He’d look great in a Celtic uni…

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Jason

Interesting what Memphis does at #4.

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Nate Smith

Love to see someone jump to four to screw up this trade.

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JoeyB

Better not be us.

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Jason

Nate will be happy. I thought Young was one of 5 possible home runs: Ayton, Doncic, Young, Bamba, & Porter.

I would take one of those guys if available.

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MikeO

Cuban must be pumped…

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JoeyB

Dallas nailed it.

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MikeO

Doncic’s mom was a model, not too surprising she’s pretty…

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Arch Stanton

I think Orlando takes Sexton now

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Arch Stanton

Cavs may be able to get Bamba, if Chicago doesn’t grab him.

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Jason

If we end up with Bamba or a healthy Porter, I will be ecstatic.

Sexton, Carter, or Mikal Bridges are all solid for me as well.

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Jason

Hawks likely moving back to take Young. Mavs want Doncic.

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believeLAND

Bagley, meh- horrible pick

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Nate Smith

Feel bad for Bagley having to go to the Kings. He’s gonna be an absolute beast.

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Arch Stanton

So then 3-5 will be

Doncic
Jackson
Young

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MikeO

Sucks, great move for Mavs, though…

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JoeyB

WTF is Atlanta doing asking for Young. Don’t they already have a crappy PG that doesn’t play defense under contract for the next four years?

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EvilGenius

They hate Schroder…

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MikeO

I also hate him…I’d take Young’s future over Schroeder’s…

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JoeyB

They’re going to hate Young.

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Mike Podracky

Stein scoops Woj on Dallas trade for Doncic?

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Phil Hubbard

Woj’s superpowers are gone with no more early tipping of picks

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Frogdog

I want Bagley’s suit.

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JoeyB

If we had beaten Brooklyn in a “meaningless” regular season game we’d be on the clock now.

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MikeO

Yep…still ticks me off…

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Nate Smith

Why aren’t we seeing more clips? More clips. Less blah blah blah.

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MikeO

Wow…

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EvilGenius

The Bag Man…

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Arch Stanton

The Hawks are going to be drafting for Dallas at No. 3, league sources say

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 21, 2018

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MikeO

Bagley?? Bagley!!!

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believeLAND

Phoenix has a strong core now

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