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2017 Draft Prospects

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BimboColesHair

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College basketball season has started, and the Cavs actually have a 1st round pick this year which can't be traded until draft night, if they decide to trade it. So let's talk prospects.

For the Cavs, my guess is they look for a versatile big or hybrid wing, which was what they were targeting last time they had a 1st round pick (Justin Anderson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Bobby Portis)...if they actually make the pick.

My #1 guy is Miles Bridges, but I think its a long shot at this point he makes it to one of the last 3-5 picks in the 1st round. Reminds me a lot of RHJ (though less polished defensively), who I was very bullish on before the 2015 draft.

Some other guys I'll be watching are Jaron Blossomgame, Thomas Bryant, Omer Yurtseven, VJ Beachem, Luke Kornet, and even an OSU guy in Keita Bates-Diop.

I also think with the expected arrival of Cedi Osman next season, should they keep him and not trade him, we may look for a PG in the frame of Delly (big guy who can play both guard spots).

Edmond Sumner from Xavier is the guy I am going to watch the closest in that regard, though I think he may be a fast riser.

Some other guys I'm going to keep my eye on are Frank Jackson, Monte Morris, and Melo Trimble.


My "Draymond Green" mold random Big 10 PF/SF who will carve out a weird role in the NBA is Nigel Hayes.

My favorite prospect overall is Lonzo Ball.
 
First time watching Josh Jackson on a college stage, and I was really impressed with his handles and driving ability. I thought Jackson would be more of a Wiggins with elite athletic ability and mediocre ball handling, but glad to see that isn't the case. I'm not a fan of his shot, he has a prolonged gather in his shooting motion, but I already knew that before.

Miles Bridges had a horrible game, but he's absolutely a top level NBA athlete. Still looks really raw, but I'd be surprised if he isn't a lottery pick by the end of the season with all his tools.
 
First time watching Josh Jackson on a college stage, and I was really impressed with his handles and driving ability. I thought Jackson would be more of a Wiggins with elite athletic ability and mediocre ball handling, but glad to see that isn't the case. I'm not a fan of his shot, he has a prolonged gather in his shooting motion, but I already knew that before.

Miles Bridges had a horrible game, but he's absolutely a top level NBA athlete. Still looks really raw, but I'd be surprised if he isn't a lottery pick by the end of the season with all his tools.

One thing I've noticed early on this year is there are a lot of freshman with weird looking jump shot mechanics.

I said Lonzo Ball is my favorite prospect in this draft, but his jumper concerns me cause it looks like he shoots it from below his chest...it is so low on his release, and he dips way down before he brings it up too...that won't play in the NBA.

Making me wonder whats been going on in youth basketball/AAU ball that these kids are developing such weird shooting forms.

And Bridges athleticism is other-worldly. Not sure I remember the last time I saw an athlete like that in college...maybe KJ McDaniels, but I'd put Bridges a step up from KJ, and he was a freak in his own right. But I'm really hoping how raw he is overall scares off some teams and he has more games like this one...but I don't think that'll happen.
 
Jaron Blossomgame or bust... I hink he is going to be picked before the Cavs have a shot at him.
I don't see any interesting big where he Cavs pick either so.. :/
 
One thing I've noticed early on this year is there are a lot of freshman with weird looking jump shot mechanics.

I said Lonzo Ball is my favorite prospect in this draft, but his jumper concerns me cause it looks like he shoots it from below his chest...it is so low on his release, and he dips way down before he brings it up too...that won't play in the NBA.

Making me wonder whats been going on in youth basketball/AAU ball that these kids are developing such weird shooting forms.

And Bridges athleticism is other-worldly. Not sure I remember the last time I saw an athlete like that in college...maybe KJ McDaniels, but I'd put Bridges a step up from KJ, and he was a freak in his own right. But I'm really hoping how raw he is overall scares off some teams and he has more games like this one...but I don't think that'll happen.

Love Lonzo Ball as well, but he definitely has that Kevin Martin motion where he has a bit of a semicircle motion, bringing it out to the side before coming back in. The good thing about Lonzo Ball is that he's very used to taking long 3's (there was a Ringer article about how his dad coached them in HS) and my only real question about him is if he can get to the rim and finish in a half court situation. Josh Jackson has a straight up and down motion that starts at the hip, but a guy like Shump would have a field day stripping it.

This is probably an insane pipe dream as well, but I'm hoping Terance Ferguson maybe drops a bit because he plays in Australia. The guy is a tailor made 3&D player in the NBA, I remember watching him go on a barrage at the Nike Hoops Summit and his stroke is as good as anyone's in this draft.

Do you think Bridges can play a small 4 a la Draymond in the NBA? He looks a few inches too small in height and length for me to do it, I see him more as a 3 that can downsize to the 4 when you're playing small rather than a 4 that can play some 5.
 
Malik Monk's jumper...

Mercy.
 
Love Lonzo Ball as well, but he definitely has that Kevin Martin motion where he has a bit of a semicircle motion, bringing it out to the side before coming back in. The good thing about Lonzo Ball is that he's very used to taking long 3's (there was a Ringer article about how his dad coached them in HS) and my only real question about him is if he can get to the rim and finish in a half court situation. Josh Jackson has a straight up and down motion that starts at the hip, but a guy like Shump would have a field day stripping it.

This is probably an insane pipe dream as well, but I'm hoping Terance Ferguson maybe drops a bit because he plays in Australia. The guy is a tailor made 3&D player in the NBA, I remember watching him go on a barrage at the Nike Hoops Summit and his stroke is as good as anyone's in this draft.

Do you think Bridges can play a small 4 a la Draymond in the NBA? He looks a few inches too small in height and length for me to do it, I see him more as a 3 that can downsize to the 4 when you're playing small rather than a 4 that can play some 5.

Everything Ball does just flashes to me. His feel for the game as a teen PG is crazy. He's older than most Freshman which I think will knock him a bit, but I keep watching him (seen maybe 15 games, between college, All-Star game circuits, and High School) and I come away impressed every time...I'm not sure I remember seeing a young PG understand how to run a team like he does. He reminds me a lot of D'Angelo Russell, but with more PG skills than D'Angelo, while D'Angelo had more scoring/SG skills than Ball.

For 3 and D guys...VJ Beachem intrigues me a ton, has since last year. He played really well off of Demetrius Jackson in that role last year...will be curious to see how he plays as a focal point on his team this year and out of that straight 3 and D role he played last year. Might force him to rise if he succeeds in showing hes more than a role player.

As for Bridges as a PF...I have no clue yet, but its hard not to see him being able to guard them eventually when you look at his body combined with his athleticism, which makes up for his lack of length. He carries a ton of good weight for a Freshman who has barely been on a college campus...can only imagine what he'd look like with an NBA training staff. But that, combined with his play style, makes me a bit cautious about how the bones in his feet and knees are going to hold up, as we've seen with other guys who carry a lot of weight too young.
 
Jaron Blossomgame or bust... I hink he is going to be picked before the Cavs have a shot at him.
I don't see any interesting big where he Cavs pick either so.. :/

Meh...Blossomgame's age is going to kill him. He'll be 24 before the NBA season starts next year. That alone will force him to drop very close to the Cavs pick, without even looking at his shortcomings as a player.

And there most certainly are interesting bigs currently projected around the Cavs pick...
 
Meh...Blossomgame's age is going to kill him. He'll be 24 before the NBA season starts next year. That alone will force him to drop very close to the Cavs pick, without even looking at his shortcomings as a player.

And there most certainly are interesting bigs currently projected around the Cavs pick...

That play defense? like who? and by Big I mean Center.
 
Everything Ball does just flashes to me. His feel for the game as a teen PG is crazy. He's older than most Freshman which I think will knock him a bit, but I keep watching him (seen maybe 15 games, between college, All-Star game circuits, and High School) and I come away impressed every time...I'm not sure I remember seeing a young PG understand how to run a team like he does. He reminds me a lot of D'Angelo Russell, but with more PG skills than D'Angelo, while D'Angelo had more scoring/SG skills than Ball.

For 3 and D guys...VJ Beachem intrigues me a ton, has since last year. He played really well off of Demetrius Jackson in that role last year...will be curious to see how he plays as a focal point on his team this year and out of that straight 3 and D role he played last year. Might force him to rise if he succeeds in showing hes more than a role player.

As for Bridges as a PF...I have no clue yet, but its hard not to see him being able to guard them eventually when you look at his body combined with his athleticism, which makes up for his lack of length. He carries a ton of good weight for a Freshman who has barely been on a college campus...can only imagine what he'd look like with an NBA training staff. But that, combined with his play style, makes me a bit cautious about how the bones in his feet and knees are going to hold up, as we've seen with other guys who carry a lot of weight too young.

It's such a shame that Lonzo Ball has that weird shooting motion, since his height should make his pull-up jumper over shorter PGs a weapon (like Livingston's). I just can't see him getting that off comfortably in the NBA unless it's on an unguarded catch and shoot.

And the early #1's first game highlights:

 
That play defense? like who? and by Big I mean Center.

Yes...

Luke Kornet is an interesting one to me. No Damian Jones and no Wade Baldwin this year means he has to be their Frank Kaminsky type player on offense this year, so I'm interested to see how he does playing a much larger role. And Damian Jones not being there means he has to be their anchor this year...he made big strides protecting the rim last year playing off Jones, now he has to do it in Jones' role. I really want to see how he fares against Adebayo and Kentucky in SEC play.

I'm really hoping Thomas Bryant's lack of polish, athleticism, and how raw he is scares teams off, but I can see him rising enough to go a few picks ahead of the Cavs.

But the big one I'll be watching is Omer Yurtseven. He is ineligible to play in NC State's first 9 or 10 games, so he will be thrown into the fire early in conference play, which I think will hurt him. But he isn't exactly a good defender right now, but I think it's because he hasn't been coached enough to be that. Guys that fluid and that good of an athlete at that size should be able to be plus defenders, but he doesn't know how to use it properly still (him cutting his teeth in the Euro League did that to him IMO).

And then there is always someone like Amida Brimah, if all you care about is defense...but I'd rather find someone with a lot of flexibility for this team, especially on offense since it will require a unique skill set to fit in on this offense right now.
 
Yes...

Luke Kornet is an interesting one to me. No Damian James and no Wade Baldwin this year means he has to be their Frank Kaminsky type player on offense this year, so I'm interested to see how he does playing a much larger role. And Damian James not being there means he has to be their anchor this year...he made big strides protecting the rim last year playing off James, now he has to do it in James' role. I really want to see how he fares against Adebayo and Kentucky in SEC play.

I'm really hoping Thomas Bryant's lack of polish, athleticism, and how raw he is scares teams off, but I can see him rising enough to go a few picks ahead of the Cavs.

But the big one I'll be watching is Omer Yurtseven. He is ineligible to play in NC State's first 9 or 10 games, so he will be thrown into the fire early in conference play, which I think will hurt him. But he isn't exactly a good defender right now, but I think it's because he hasn't been coached enough to be that. Guys that fluid and that good of an athlete at that size should be able to be plus defenders, but he doesn't know how to use it properly still (him cutting his teeth in the Euro League did that to him IMO).

And then there is always someone like Amida Brimah, if all you care about is defense...but I'd rather find someone with a lot of flexibility for this team, especially on offense since it will require a unique skill set to fit in on this offense right now.

I like Abida Brimah but you can't pick him with a 1st round pick.. I wouldn't mind Alpha Kaba either and give him a chance but you can't take them with your 1st round pick.
I think going with a European Center is the way to go.. that's how you get the most bang for your buck. They are often badly scouted and you can really score if you do your homework or get lucky.
If Thomas Bryant falls to the Cavs then sure, i'll take it.
 
I like Abida Brimah but you can't pick him with a 1st round pick.. I wouldn't mind Alpha Kaba either and give him a chance but you can't take them with your 1st round pick.
I think going with a European Center is the way to go.. that's how you get the most bang for your buck. They are often badly scouted and you can really score if you do your homework or get lucky.
If Thomas Bryant falls to the Cavs then sure, i'll take it.

I know you don't take Amida Brimah in the 1st...

But like I said, if all you care about is a "big that plays defense", he is the best college defender big out there IMO...but he is worse than Tristan offensively right now, which is a shame because it looked like he was developing a nice pick and pop game during their National Championship run.

I don't think Alpha Kaba is a C, he is a PF...I definitely wouldn't call him a good defender right now either. Certainly wouldn't take him in the 1st, not with some of the things I have heard about him...

And if we draft a Euro, we will be waiting for a few years for them to come over again, which I don't think we do with so many roster spots appearing to be available on our team next year.
 
I know you don't take Amida Brimah in the 1st...

But like I said, if all you care about is a "big that plays defense", he is the best college defender big out there IMO...but he is worse than Tristan offensively right now, which is a shame because it looked like he was developing a nice pick and pop game during their National Championship run.

I don't think Alpha Kaba is a C, he is a PF. Certainly wouldn't take him in the 1st, not with some of the things I have heard about him...

And if we draft a Euro, we will be waiting for a few years for them to come over again, which I don't think we do with so many roster spots appearing to be available on our team next year.

Do you take Jonathan Jeane if he falls to us? It's probably going to take him a few years but he is intriguing.
Cavs biggest need is a C but I don't see anyone that helps the Cavs in his first year so I think I rather take BPA.
 

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