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.
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Arch Stanton

Being told the Phoenix Suns will select Donte Divencenzo with the 16th pick

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) June 22, 2018

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Jason

That is a good pick. I am gonna be bummed when LA takes a good player with our pick.

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Nate Smith

Didn’t happen.

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Arch Stanton

The Cavs, as expected, are trying to buy into the second round of the draft, per sources

— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) June 22, 2018

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Jason

Assuming we can buy into the second round, anyone like a player?

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buck turgidson

brunson, evans or carter

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buck turgidson

or duval

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Jason

Another PG? I like the players, but we gotta land a wing or a forward/big.

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MikeO

Brunson, if he’s there…for sure…

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Arch Stanton

Khyri Thomas

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Nate Smith

Kind of crappy the tweets are two-three picks ahead of the draft.

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buck turgidson

so, do the cavs do anything else? just sitting with sexton?

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Nate Smith

Trying to buy into second.

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MikeO

I know these are 18/19 year old guys thrown on tv, but I really hate when they say ‘man’ when talking to a woman…a lot of guys do it…

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Nate Smith

Really?
https://youtu.be/ZJL4UGSbeFg

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MikeO

He looks better when he has his cane…

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Nate Smith

comment image

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MikeO

You have to love the “Kobe Mentality”…from a guy who has proven nothing…

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Nate Smith

Gah. I hate the way porter walks to the stage.

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Grover13

Reminds me of Greg Oden

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newnomad

IT ALL DEPENDS WHERE THAT PICK IS –IF IT HAS ANY POTENTIAL VALUE

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Nate Smith

Huge get for Denver. Love the roll of the dice.

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Cory Hughey

Sit him for the year if you have to. They are stuck where they are anyway.

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Excl

#14 is worth the risk. This draft was too deep to take him early.

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EvilGenius

Wonder if Porter will pull a Rosen and say that there were 13 mistakes made tonight? LOL

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Excl

I don’t think he wants a target on his back. He probably doesn’t want any extra weight on his back.

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Arch Stanton

Source: Denver has cleared the way to choose Michael Porter Jr. with the 14h pick.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018

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MikeO

Good bet by Denver, I’d still be scared of that pick…

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Jason

If he is healthy, that team will be so good on offense. They are not a FA destination and are too good for 10 years to have a high lotto pick. Good risk/reward for them.

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MikeO

I’d be VERY tempted by Walker here…

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Excl

So does Porter grab a stick and hobble his way up to the stage when called?

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buck turgidson

no dumping ground available for our toxic waste.?

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Jason

Vardon says we are trying to buy into round 2.

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Arch Stanton

If it’s the 60th pick, then they can reach out to IT for advice 😀

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Charlie E

Yikes. Just please don’t trade a good future pick… We don’t need LBJ to leave and then be stuck with no way to rebuild.

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Jason

You can BUY rd 2 picks for cash.

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Charlie E

Go Dan! Make it rain!

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newnomad

YEAH AM PUTTING MONEY PORTER GOES TO THE NUGGETS——-FEEL KIND OF BAD FOR THE KID —–WELCOME TO REALITY

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buck turgidson

as nate or someone else posted.. “degenerative” is poison in this context..

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MikeO

‘Anonymous’ from earlier will be mystified, but teams aren’t eager to use high picks on guys who may not be able to play…

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believeLAND

Jerome who?

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Jason

Denver has to take Porter.

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MikeO

I think that’s a little high for Robinson, but what do I know…

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Jason

Seriously, at what point would our future 1st (with few protections) be able to garner a 1st.

Gotta be getting close.

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Jason

Clips take two combo guards.

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buck turgidson

so sad that we consider the cavs not doing another bennett as a success..

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JRL

That was an absolute disaster.

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buck turgidson

sexton is not russell, and russell didn’t get past utah with pg.. just sayin

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buck turgidson

and at least other teams have passed on porter, so if he becomes the next kd.. we don’t get all the bad press

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MikeO

Bet Clips take Porter…

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MikeO

Or not…

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believeLAND

Don’t get all this noise for SGA, don’t see the hype

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EvilGenius

Porter dropping like Aaron Rodgers…

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Nate Smith

Miles Bridges is gonna be a terror.

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Jason

Nah.

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MikeO

I’ve watched him a lot, and I don’t see it…I am terrible at this stuff, though…

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believeLAND

Don’t see it.

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Grover13

I agree. Got a full tool set like Draymond/Valentine, plus more athleticism than both

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Mike Podracky

Wow what a drop for Porter !

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EvilGenius

Falling like a stone…

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Excl

Hi back must be jacked. Honestly though, how many athletes have come back from back issues?

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MikeO

Needs to work harder on defense…

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Excl

SGA sitting there in a Hornets hat, while they are announced he’s getting traded to an LA team … that’s got to be good foreshadowing, right?

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Nate Smith

SGA is a gigantic head on a skinny frame.

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Arch Stanton

HEED MOVE NOW!

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Jason

How about this for a swing for the fences move: tade our next 1st (2020?) unprotected to the Clips & take Porter.

If they think Bron is gone, might be worth it.

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Nate Smith

you’re not getting that for a 2020.

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Nate Smith

SGA to the Clips.

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Arch Stanton

SGA to Clips

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MikeO

Being compared to Michael Carter-Williams. Lol. I don’t think he’ll be that bad.

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Cory Hughey

SGA trades to the Clippers. Ehhhhhh

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EvilGenius

Hornets take SGA…

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MikeO

SGA is my bust pick, aside from Porter…

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believeLAND

can’t believe Sixers got Bridges

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EvilGenius

Who else was taking him? Maybe the Knicks…

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believeLAND

True, that’s where he was likely falling to. Just the idea that they add him, crazy

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Cory Hughey

It’s the perfect story and fit.

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Cory Hughey

Kawhi to the Clippers would be great for us.

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Cory Hughey

Charlotte taking SGA lessens a Walker trade right?

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Vintage

I would think so. Nervous they were going to take Porter.

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EvilGenius

Can’t stop watching this…

https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1009957406858776576

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JRL

That kid’s funny.

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Nate Smith

Glen Rice – 2 inches + Defense = Mikal Bridges

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believeLAND

Man, Philly is gonna be crazy

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Jason

As for knick-names, go full James Brown: Sexy, Sexy, Sexton.

Or GET ON UP! Like a Sex (ton) Machine.

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newnomad

“THE BLUR “—–“35—-3 ON 5 “—–” TIDE A WAVE “——–NEED YOUR HELP EVIL

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EvilGenius

I still like Young Bull… which they call him already…

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Grover13

Please no. That’s what they called Waiters.

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Nate Smith

Argh. Mikal to the Sixers. Think he’s going to be a 16 PPG elite shooter for the next 14 years.

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Excl

Quite the Process for them. Good pick. Nice team now.

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Mike Podracky

You still favored Sexson for the Cavs though, right?

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MikeO

Yep. Doomsday pick for the league.

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Excl

Sexson should replace the Point Guard we lost in Kyrie Irving and the hair we lost in Iman Shumpert.

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Cory Hughey

+1

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newnomad

AGREE NATE ——-WHEN YOUR SKILLS FAIL YOU FROM TIME TO TIME —CHARACTER WILL ALWAYS BE PRESENT / CONSISTENT ——AM EXCITED TO WATCH HIM IN THE SUMMER LEAGUE

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Cory Hughey

Seems like a sign that a Walker trade isn’t immenieng, and that the Cavs are keeping Sexton.

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Excl

Damn, They’re going to get even better. Great pick for them

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newnomad

BEFORE THE DRAFT—–THE TALK WAS LEBRONS CAMP SAID HE / THEY REALLY LIKED SEXTON —-MAYBE THAT IS THE ‘NEEDLE MOVER ‘ FOR HIM TO STAY

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JoeyB

Sexton – could be Patrict Beverly or Jordan Clarkson. Please be beverly.

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Arch Stanton

Better than both.

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JoeyB

fingers crossed.

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Jason

Agreed. He will bring PB intensity on D. But can score and create more.

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Grover13

He’s a smaller Dion Waiters. Fail.

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EvilGenius

Uh… NOPE

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