• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

2019 NBA Draft

Do Not Sell My Personal Information
I hear what you’re saying. But top 10 prospects in the NBA probably shouldn’t be non-factors for long stretches of time, in any college game. Especially an entire half of a championship game.

It's not ideal, but it's certainly not uncommon for top-10 picks to end their college careers on a bad note. Last year Ayton shat the bed in a blowout first round loss to Buffalo. Jaren Jackson had 2 points in just 15 minutes of playing time in his final game. Games like that shouldn't be completely ignored, of course, but they shouldn't completely define a prospect either.
 
It's not ideal, but it's certainly not uncommon for top-10 picks to end their college careers on a bad note. Last year Ayton shat the bed in a blowout first round loss to Buffalo. Jaren Jackson had 2 points in just 15 minutes of playing time in his final game. Games like that shouldn't be completely ignored, of course, but they shouldn't completely define a prospect either.

One game sample vs. four game sample is significantly different though. Four games is a little over 10% of Culver’s games played on the season.

Any good player can have a single bad game at any time.....but it is uncommon for a good player to have four bad games in a short period of time and certainly it would be very uncommon for them all to come in a row during a key stretch.

I don’t view it as disqualifying but I do think it underscores the desire to over value someone in a draft that has had almost the entire mid lottery spectacularly bomb out.

Culver isn’t a bad prospect but he’s not a typical top 5 selection. To me, he’s more of a 9-11 guy in a good draft. More safer, projectable outcome as a secondary off ball scorer who can defend at the NBA level...but a player that just doesn’t blow you away at all.

Hunter can be classified similarly for NBA purposes but I think he’s just a better version of Culver’s most likely outcome (secondary off ball scorer who can defend at the NBA level). That is why I prefer him a bit more. If I’m getting that, give me the bigger, longer, more athletic player, who’s additionally a far better shooter.

The stats weren’t even the thing that was concerning, it was how hard he had to work to get anywhere on the floor. He just lacks the dribble burst necessary to try to be a non shooting scorer at the next level.....and for his size, he’s not a very physical player. Throughout the year, he was able to mask that burst deficiency with his length but as the teams got better and the players bigger, he just started looking more average physically.....and length alone became less and less of an advantage.

To take him in the top 5, you have to believe that his freshman 3PT shooting is more indicative of his shooting projection, which I think is a huge stretch given his mechanics and FT shooting. And without plus shooting, I just really struggle to envision how he consistently scores at the NBA level.
 
One game sample vs. four game sample is significantly different though. Four games is a little over 10% of Culver’s games played on the season.

Any good player can have a single bad game at any time.....but it is uncommon for a good player to have four bad games in a short period of time and certainly it would be very uncommon for them all to come in a row during a key stretch.

I don’t view it as disqualifying but I do think it underscores the desire to over value someone in a draft that has had almost the entire mid lottery spectacularly bomb out.

Culver isn’t a bad prospect but he’s not a typical top 5 selection. To me, he’s more of a 9-11 guy in a good draft. More safer, projectable outcome as a secondary off ball scorer who can defend at the NBA level...but a player that just doesn’t blow you away at all.

Hunter can be classified similarly for NBA purposes but I think he’s just a better version of Culver’s most likely outcome (secondary off ball scorer who can defend at the NBA level). That is why I prefer him a bit more. If I’m getting that, give me the bigger, longer, more athletic player, who’s additionally a far better shooter.

The stats weren’t even the thing that was concerning, it was how hard he had to work to get anywhere on the floor. He just lacks the dribble burst necessary to try to be a non shooting scorer at the next level.....and for his size, he’s not a very physical player. Throughout the year, he was able to mask that burst deficiency with his length but as the teams got better and the players bigger, he just started looking more average physically.....and length alone became less and less of an advantage.

To take him in the top 5, you have to believe that his freshman 3PT shooting is more indicative of his shooting projection, which I think is a huge stretch given his mechanics and FT shooting. And without plus shooting, I just really struggle to envision how he consistently scores at the NBA level.

Trust me, I'm trying as hard as anyone to find 10 guys to put in front of Culver. This draft isn't making it easy :chuckle:
 
until the actual lottery , it's a wash.
outside of the top pick the Cavs could pick 9 different players
 
This thread needs more Ochai Agbaji

I've not had the time to post my thoughts lately, but I have a feeling that there's a decent chance Grant Williams goes back to Tenn. I imagine he's the most divisive player in the draft from NBA team to NBA team besides maybe Brandon Clarke. Based on his social media posts I get the sense he really loves college... plus Rick Barnes just got locked in, Jordan Bone will be back, and they have Josiah James coming in (he's a top 25 recruit ball handler, but I don't expect him to have a huge role next year).

I think with the new draft process that each player who has declared gets a mean ranking from each team just before the withdrawal deadline.

And btw I regret to inform everyone that all of the Goga Bitadze stock was purchased a year ago by myself and Nathan S
 
This thread needs more Ochai Agbaji

I've not had the time to post my thoughts lately, but I have a feeling that there's a decent chance Grant Williams goes back to Tenn. I imagine he's the most divisive player in the draft from NBA team to NBA team besides maybe Brandon Clarke. Based on his social media posts I get the sense he really loves college... plus Rick Barnes just got locked in, Jordan Bone will be back, and they have Josiah James coming in (he's a top 25 recruit ball handler, but I don't expect him to have a huge role next year).

I think with the new draft process that each player who has declared gets a mean ranking from each team just before the withdrawal deadline.

And btw I regret to inform everyone that all of the Goga Bitadze stock was purchased a year ago by myself and Nathan S

Pretty huge that Buducnost advanced to the Adriatic League finals. Not only are these enormously high-leverage games (chance for Buducnost to retain Euroleague status another year), but now that March Madness is over a lot of scouts should be making the trip to get a first-hand look at him. Red Star has a lot of options in the frontcourt, including 7'1" 304lb monster Michael Ojo who's been playing some of the best basketball of his career lately.
 
Last edited:
I probably overrate basketball IQ, but I do like Hunter if Cavs slip back in that 5-7 range. I don't think he'll bust out, but he may never break out either.

The thing is: there is almost always 5-9 good NBA players in the draft (starter to All star) and they are chosen up and down the board. Some teams are historically good at finding them (Spurs, Jazz, Celtics to some degree come to mind) others need to be drafting #1 overall with a no-brainer pick (I'm not naming names, I'm just saying this Anthony Bennett jersey isn't going to wear itself).

Let's hope Altman and his team really have their shit together!
 
I probably overrate basketball IQ, but I do like Hunter if Cavs slip back in that 5-7 range. I don't think he'll bust out, but he may never break out either.

The thing is: there is almost always 5-9 good NBA players in the draft (starter to All star) and they are chosen up and down the board. Some teams are historically good at finding them (Spurs, Jazz, Celtics to some degree come to mind) others need to be drafting #1 overall with a no-brainer pick (I'm not naming names, I'm just saying this Anthony Bennett jersey isn't going to wear itself).

Let's hope Altman and his team really have their shit together!
Those teams have coaches in place that are very good at developing talent and helping players reach their potential. It's not only about being able to find talent but maximizing that talent. IMO this is why they should handle the coaching situation ASAP! as in before the draft. Also, a lot of times players just fit the system that the coaches have in place, take I.T and Crowder for example.
 
Those teams have coaches in place that are very good at developing talent and helping players reach their potential. It's not only about being able to find talent but maximizing that talent. IMO this is why they should handle the coaching situation ASAP! as in before the draft. Also, a lot of times players just fit the system that the coaches have in place, take I.T and Crowder for example.

Pop rarely takes a guy with an ego he can't get along with. The look for ego-less players with solid fundamentals
 
Pop rarely takes a guy with an ego he can't get along with. The look for ego-less players with solid fundamentals
which goes back to my other thought on Hunter as the pick if you fall into the 4-7 range.
 
Just ran across another guy that might be 2nd round material. I really like a lot of the players that look like 2nd rounders and some are not even in any mocks.

John Konchar a 6'5" senior guard Purdue-Fort Wayne, similar competition to Murray State. His numbers look great across the board.

Another guy that may not be drafted is Justin Wright-Foreman from Hofstra, 6'2" guard, just a great scorer. I got to see a couple of their games this year and this guy reminds me so much of Irving in how he scores around the basket. Not saying he's as good just his mannerisms and how he shoots and the craftiness and creativity nearer the rim.
 
Updated my big board...I've tried my best to limit it to guys who're at least moderately likely to enter the draft; if anyone on here has said for sure that they're returning definitely let me know. As always, ordering within tiers is not completely arbitrary, but is fairly loose. I've bolded the players who I think would be particularly good fits on the Cavs.

1. Zion


2.2. Morant
2.3. Bitadze
2.4. Williams
2.5. Barrett

3.6. Bol
3.7. Culver

3.8. Horton-Tucker
3.9. Garland
3.10. Claxton

4.11. Jerome

4.12. Winston
4.13. Hunter
4.14. White
4.15. Ponds
4.16. Tillman
4.18. Clarke
4.19. Washington
4.20. Okeke

4.21. Hayes
4.22. Langford
4.23. Alexander-Walker

5.24. Thybulle
5.25. Little
5.26. Jontay Porter

5.27. Teske
5.28. Diallo
5.29. Gafford
5.30. Reddish
5.31. Obiesie

5.32. Fernando
5.33. Jalen Smith
5.34. Robinson
5.35. Konate
5.36. Tillie
5.37. Herro
5.38. Norvell
5.39. Hachimura
5.40. Servidis
5.41. Blackshear
5.42. Massinburg
5.43. Doumbouya
5.44. Morgan
5.45. Lawson
5.46. Brazdeikis
5.47. Keldon Johnson
5.48. Zoosman
5.49. Kevin Porter
5.50. Bassey
5.51. Cameron Johnson
5.52. Konchar
5.53. Samanic
5.54. Wieskamp
5.55. Poole
5.56. Roby
5.57. Edwards
5.58. Happ
5.59. Dort
5.60. Okpala
 
which goes back to my other thought on Hunter as the pick if you fall into the 4-7 range.

I'd take him in a second in that range. He is 10 year starter IMO . Everything he does looks like an NBA guy. I know he is older, but is smooth and I think he will be a very solid NBA player.
 

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-13: "Backup Bash Brothers"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:11: "Clipping Bucks."
Top