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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Nate Smith

Here’s the thing. The Cavs are drafting on Sexton’s speed, athleticism, work ethic, and intangibles. These guys are 19 years old. He is not going to be a knock down shooter the minute he comes into the draft, and yes, he needs to work on his shooting and finishing. But by all accounts, he’ll lock himself in the gym, and watch film till he figures it out.

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Anonymous

Mikal Bridges shot 29% from 3 his freshman year. He shot 43% this year. Sexton was a freshman. Shot 33.6%, with a lot of them off the bounce.

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MikeO

Hope he does.

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Arch Stanton

Lue’s advice to Sexton will be ”be aggressive”

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Excl

Wasn’t “Play hard for my replacement”?

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Anonymous

Ty is consistent, that is for sure.

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MikeO

Funny. The annoying guy who used to post his ice cold takes here 100 times over is at FTS saying Sexton sucks because people here like the pick. Whatever works for you, bub.

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EvilGenius

Not a surprise….

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Excl

LOL

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e

MIKE O—–DON’T THINK SEXTON’S SHOT IS THAT BAD —-FEW REFINEMENTS / ALOT OF WORK / REPS—-IT WILL GET BETTER—————-YOU CANNOT TEACH THE KIND OF SPEED HE BRINGS / COMPETIVE DESIRE ——WESTBROOK COULD NOT SHOOT COMING OUT OF COLLEGE —OR LEBRON OR M.J. ……JUST SAYING

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MikeO

He has a lot of stuff he needs to work on, shot included. But I’m not going to get invested until we know whether he’s going to be here next year or not.

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EvilGenius

The Holidays should play the Zellers in Family Feud…

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Arch Stanton

And the Plumlees…

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Nate Smith

Dumbest take on Cavstwitter.
https://twitter.com/MZavagno11/status/1009954258047918085

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MikeO

His numbers finishing at the rim are lousy.

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MikeO

Sure, he can improve. Anyone can. But he will need to.

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Nate Smith

That’s the entire point. The Cavs drafted a guy with a character, work ethic, and competitiveness to improve combined with elite speed and athleticism. This thought that these guys are fully formed is baffling.

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Jason

It is all dumb on FTS.

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Arch Stanton

Whoever the Cavs draft in the 2nd round better have a good comp…

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MikeO

Bates-Diop, comp Clyde Drexler…/s

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Arch Stanton

Khyri Thomas a cross between Kyrie Irving and Isiah Thomas 2.0

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buck turgidson

lakers are going to take robert williams with our pick..so sad

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Arch Stanton

Whose Hutchinsons comp?

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Arch Stanton

Kuzma.

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EvilGenius

I feel like Nick wrote the PS…

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EvilGenius

Wonder if Allen ever tripped Donovan Mitchell when he was at Louisville…

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Excl

Wonder if he trips Adam Silver when he goes in for the hug?

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Arch Stanton

I hope he trips Draymond or kicks him in the balls.

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MikeO

It will be a trip that everyone will celebrate…maybe he can add a ball kick to his repertoire…

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Jason

Grayson Allen to the Jazz.

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Nate Smith

The Jazz make a MAGA pick and get Grayson Allen.

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Arch Stanton

Be must be converting to the LDS now.

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MikeO

GS will be crushed…no Grayson Allen to pair with Bray…

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buck turgidson

the cavs need to do something else.. they are not your average finals team.. re deep and balanced,

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EvilGenius

They have no other assets…

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buck turgidson

draft picks empty as well?

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EvilGenius

Yes… until 2021

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buck turgidson

well, i guess the 1-8 finals record the last 2 years came at a cost..

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buck turgidson

i don’t get the keep love at all costs.. he’s not a difference maker, and i can’t believe LBJ really values his game that much, certainly not enough to warrant re-signing.. so we have an asset.. use it

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buck turgidson

has any finals team ever been as justly ridiculed as the non-LBJ cavs this past year? or are the shelves literally empty?

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EvilGenius

Give it a rest dude…

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Nate Smith

*yawn*

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Jason

I think they are going to start building a roster of guys who are smart, competitive, and can help in at least two facets, if not more (shoot, score, defend, rebound, pass, playmake, rim protect) and who are high charcter, high IQ, and will work hard & improve. Sexton, Cedi, Nance, & Zizic all fit in that category. Not giving up on Clarkson & Hood yet. Love is a legit all-star. Bron is Bron. Hill, Korver, & TT are limited but can still contribute in more limited roles. So can JR, but I am not sure he recovers from Game… Read more »

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buck turgidson

LBJ is not going to re-up with that roster.. i find that to be as close to certainty as it can get.. asymptotic at 100%.. recognizing that you never really hit 100%.. it’s an upper limit..

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Nate Smith

That was a GREAT John Starks commercial. One of the all time gamers. Toughest player in the history of the NBA.

http://articles.latimes.com/2001/apr/26/sports/sp-55946

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MikeO

Realy disliked Starks as a player…thanks for reminding me…

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e

ROBERT WILLIAMS / A&M —PROJECTED LOTTERY PICK—STILL ON THE BOARD —–

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MikeO

He needs to improve his shot, or he won’t make it…he should be working on that tonight…

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Nate Smith

For that volume, that’s not a terrible percentage. I have no doubts he’ll get there.

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Arch Stanton

Sexton watched the Cavs' Game 4 Finals loss at The Q, and then had maybe his best pre-draft workout Saturday in Independence, he said https://t.co/ifIYTuNZhV

— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) June 22, 2018

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Nate Smith

Aaron Holiday looks like a Jrue clone.

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EvilGenius

Hawks gonna be annoying to play…

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e

SOME NAMES FOR 2ND ROUND —WAGNER / MICH……SPELLMAN VILLANOVA…….MILTON/ SMU………….BATES -DIOP/ OSU……………….ROBINSON/ 7’0 PROJECT–ATHLETIC POST…………METU/ USC…………TRENT / DUKE

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Jason

Anyone lije Diop early in round 2 if we buy in?

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Arch Stanton

Lasagna Flop?

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Nate Smith

For sure. Another high character guy.

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MikeO

Yes.

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Arch Stanton

Heurter’s comparison is Kill A Mime It’s Miller Time!

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EvilGenius

I miss typing that…

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Nate Smith

It’s an odd comp for sure.

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Nate Smith

Huerter is the best shooter in the draft.

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MikeO

Trae Young is.

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Nate Smith

Disagree. Young gets his shots off the dribble. Huerter can catch and shoot, come off screens, and shoot off dribble.

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Arch Stanton

It looks like he has the best form.

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MikeO

Young’s catch and shoot numbers are freaking ridiculous, he was just rarely in position to take them. He had to take so many terrible shots.

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Excl

Trying to replace the hole Kyle Korver left?

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EvilGenius

Red Mamba!

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Arch Stanton

Lonnie sounds like Bron… It’s about the youth… I’m just a kid from Reading.

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MikeO

Possible new age Splash Brothers…

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EvilGenius

Good call…

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Nate Smith

OK, the kismet is getting weird.

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Nate Smith

Good call.

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Excl

Yeah, great point.

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MikeO

Walker can be a Kawhi replacement in a couple of years…not the defensive presence, but could be terrific offensively…

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Nate Smith

Nice thought, but no.

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MikeO

I haven’t seen him a lot, but people who have compare him to Donovan Mitchell…(not his rookie year)

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Nate Smith

DWade, not. People forget how freaking good Wade’s handle was when he came in the league.

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buck turgidson

i am a little surprised ainge hasn’t yet spent any of his capital in this draft

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EvilGenius

That’s a joke, right?

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buck turgidson

yes.. lonnie walker.. the spurs have another mid-level winner.. the cavs.. 00000

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Nate Smith

?

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buck turgidson

high value prospect in the mid-lo range of the draft.. cavs have been lucky with the #1s (most quite obvious).. not so smart with the “lesser” picks.. walker is a stud.. he’ll be a great player.. far beyond his #18 level

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EvilGenius

Lonnie Walker taking the hair crown from Shump…

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Excl

Or Elf Payton

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EvilGenius

True…

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Nate Smith

Monster get here for the Spurs.

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Nate Smith

Lonnie Walker is a great pick here.

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Jason

Wonder if we can sneak in to the Hawks pick at 34? Hawks have 3 picks in the first and already added one first from Dallas.

That is a lot of picks.

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MikeO

Great pick for them…figures…

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MikeO

Spurs will take Lonnie Walker…my guess…

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EvilGenius

Really bad form…

https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1009970233350742016

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Excl

Yeah, they got another first rounder out of that, but still it’s just a really questionable move for them. Trade away the hometown boy that can actually shoot from the outside.

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Nate Smith

Like Donte. Really smooth player.

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newnomad

WHO DO YOU THINK THE CAVS ARE “TRAGETING ” IF THEY TRADE INTO THE 2ND ROUND

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newnomad

YEAH AM SURE THE 76ERS WILL TAKE “SOME HEAT ” FOR THAT

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Nate Smith

That was awful. Well played.

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Mr Green in Library with Jrs Laid Pipe

Excited for the hustle next season with sexton and cedi

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MikeO

Bucks get potential huge upgrade there…love this dude…

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Jason

Me too. Coach Bud will help them a ton as well.

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EvilGenius

Should free up Delly…

https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1009969506536615936

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Excl

LOL, was going to say the same thing. Does this mean the Bucks make Delly available?

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EvilGenius

There were rumors earlier today…

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buck turgidson

anyone like robert williams texas a&m?

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Arch Stanton

Next the Cavs trade Clarkson and JR for PG. ⛄️

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Arch Stanton

/s

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MikeO

Who says no?

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EvilGenius

Philly shoulda hired a GM… this is what can happen…

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buck turgidson

suns looking like an interesting league pass play to me..

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MikeO

If I am the Spurs, I am taking Lonnie Walker /HubieBrown

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buck turgidson

do we have anything in the bank or have we blown our full wad on our garbage in-garbage out conveyor system?

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EvilGenius

Not until 2021…

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Arch Stanton

Not sure why Philly traded Bridges?

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EvilGenius

Nor are they…

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Jason

Got a first round pick out of it. Smith a better athlete. Bridges a better basketball player.

Another non-shooter in Philly.

Looks stupid to Bron, I hope.

Down to us & LA if Houston is out.

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Nate Smith

Zhaire is a big boom or bust guy. But the sixers don’t need boom or bust guys.

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Nate Smith

What a dumb trade by the Sixers. That’s a crappy thing to do to the kid, frankly.

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EvilGenius

And his mom… she should quit and go work for the Suns…

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newnomad

BRIDGES AND MOM HAVE TO BE DEVESTATED IF THE TRADE RUMORS ARE CORRECT

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EvilGenius

Feel good moment with Bridges and his mom who works for the Sixers… ruined…

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Nate Smith

Wow. 6ers way to do Mikal dirty.

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MikeO

Wow, I think Sixers should have kept Bridges…

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Jason

Mee too. Though a future first is hard to pass up. Booker, Ayton, Bridges is 3/5ths of a good team. Suns likely go PG at 31.

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Nate Smith

Woj douching it up tonight by scooping-not-scooping the draft.
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1009967087308169216

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Nate Smith

Wow. Awesome job for the Suns.

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EvilGenius

Except they ship another first rounder to Philly in the process…

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Jason

PG (w 31) + Booker + Bridges + Jackson + Ayton. Gonna be fun.

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Nate Smith

Man Zhaire to the Suns with the 16th pick. Great pick.

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