2019 NBA Draft

[Nathan S]

Certainly, on that list, Bol, Reddish and Little are the big dissaponments. Pre-season, they accounted for most people’s top 5, with Barrett and Zion.

Morant has at least emerged to make it more of a 1 player draft with 2 consolation prizes.

But it has been a very strange year for picks 4-14 in the lottery. You could talk me in to just about anyone in that range, within reason.

I'd add Grant Williams to that group (EDIT: to be clear, the "consolation prizes" group including Morant and RJ), personally. He's regularly mentioned as a top Wooden Award contender alongside Zion and RJ, and he doesn't suffer from the same questionmarks about age and athleticism that often prevent top NCAA upperclassmen from going top-5, so I'm not sure what's holding him back on draft boards. He would be a culture-changing guy for the Cavs on both ends of the court.

 

[CavsFan07]

I'd add Grant Williams to that group (EDIT: to be clear, the "consolation prizes" group including Morant and RJ), personally. He's regularly mentioned as a top Wooden Award contender alongside Zion and RJ, and he doesn't suffer from the same questionmarks about age and athleticism that often prevent top NCAA upperclassmen from going top-5, so I'm not sure what's holding him back on draft boards. He would be a culture-changing guy for the Cavs on both ends of the court.

I've watched him twice now... and while I like his game and the fact that he's helped lead his team to a #1 ranking, I don't see a top 5 pick whatsoever. I could argue late lottery at best, but to me he's a 15-25 range guy.

What does he offer that translates immediately to the next level that you like as a top 5?

 

[3 Ball...GOT IT]

I've watched him twice now... and while I like his game and the fact that he's helped lead his team to a #1 ranking, I don't see a top 5 pick whatsoever. I could argue late lottery at best, but to me he's a 15-25 range guy.

What does he offer that translates immediately to the next level that you like as a top 5?

I think he's arguing for Williams as back end of the lottery, not for top 5... though I've seen people consider Williams close to top 5.

To me he's like this year's Zhaire Smith. Doesn't have a clear NBA archetype, but will dominate the advanced #s.

I really don't know what to do with him personally. The lack of size, vertical athleticism, and shooting makes me wonder how you'd use him in the league. But he just does literally everything well lol.

 

[Nathan S]

I've watched him twice now... and while I like his game and the fact that he's helped lead his team to a #1 ranking, I don't see a top 5 pick whatsoever. I could argue late lottery at best, but to me he's a 15-25 range guy.

What does he offer that translates immediately to the next level that you like as a top 5?

I think he's arguing for Williams as back end of the lottery, not for top 5... though I've seen people consider Williams close to top 5.

To me he's like this year's Zhaire Smith. Doesn't have a clear NBA archetype, but will dominate the advanced #s.

I really don't know what to do with him personally. The lack of size, vertical athleticism, and shooting makes me wonder how you'd use him in the league. But he just does literally everything well lol.

To me, he's basically a poor man's Zion as a prospect. He's a year and a half older and more polished, not a freak athlete but still a very good athlete. He's certainly the closest thing to Zion in this draft in his combination of strength and quickness.

I haven't heard anyone knock his vertical athleticism before...again, he's not at the same level as Zion, but he's no stranger to highlight dunks either, and he gets off the ground quickly for blocks (e.g. his key block against Alabama last week).

Like Zion, I think his offensive upside lies primarily in his potential to extend his game to the perimeter, where he would be much more of a matchup nightmare. I'm not sure either of them will fully live up to their potential in this regard...Zion's much harder to project because he's still so young, but Williams has some characteristics like his accurate free throw shooting and solid assist:TO ratio that suggest he could gradually start creating more from the perimeter.

Also like Zion, he really exudes intelligence, confidence, and charisma...he's gonna be a good locker-room guy, and a guy teammates like to share the floor with. He's also one of those guys who was recruited by Ivies out of high school, though I don't put a whole lot of stock in that.

He's in my top-5 at the moment...I have Zion alone in tier 1, and him in tier 2 along with RJ and Morant. There are a few other guys I'd think about in tier 2, but those three are locks at the moment.

 

[3 Ball...GOT IT]

To me, he's basically a poor man's Zion as a prospect. He's a year and a half older and more polished, not a freak athlete but still a very good athlete. He's certainly the closest thing to Zion in this draft in his combination of strength and quickness.

I haven't heard anyone knock his vertical athleticism before...again, he's not at the same level as Zion, but he's no stranger to highlight dunks either, and he gets off the ground quickly for blocks (e.g. his key block against Alabama last week).

Like Zion, I think his offensive upside lies primarily in his potential to extend his game to the perimeter, where he would be much more of a matchup nightmare. I'm not sure either of them will fully live up to their potential in this regard...Zion's much harder to project because he's still so young, but Williams has some characteristics like his accurate free throw shooting and solid assist:TO ratio that suggest he could gradually start creating more from the perimeter.

Also like Zion, he really exudes intelligence, confidence, and charisma...he's gonna be a good locker-room guy, and a guy teammates like to share the floor with. He's also one of those guys who was recruited by Ivies out of high school, though I don't put a whole lot of stock in that.

He's in my top-5 at the moment...I have Zion alone in tier 1, and him in tier 2 along with RJ and Morant. There are a few other guys I'd think about in tier 2, but those three are locks at the moment.

Yeah he's not in the same stratosphere as Zion athletically, but who is lol.

He's not a total athlete, but from what I've seen he's strictly a two-foot leaper with space. That's not all that funcationable on the offensive end imo.

I agree, so much of his offensive projection to me is reliant on his shooting which I'm not sure I really buy from the NBA line. I'd weigh heavily how he looks in workouts from a further distance... I should probably check out his shot chart, but in the games that I've seen any 3PT attempts he has are right on the line, nothing further. Also the low attempt rate and poor shooting last year have me seriously question the % this year. The FT #s and the midrangers he hits are encouraging though.

Also, I don't buy that he is his listed 6'7".

 

[Nathan S]

Yeah he's not in the same stratosphere as Zion athletically, but who is lol.

He's not a total athlete, but from what I've seen he's strictly a two-foot leaper with space. That's not all that funcationable on the offensive end imo.

I agree, so much of his offensive projection to me is reliant on his shooting which I'm not sure I really buy from the NBA line. I'd weigh heavily how he looks in workouts from a further distance... I should probably check out his shot chart, but in the games that I've seen any 3PT attempts he has are right on the line, nothing further. Also the low attempt rate and poor shooting last year have me seriously question the % this year. The FT #s and the midrangers he hits are encouraging though.

Also, I don't buy that he is his listed 6'7".

When you watch Zion in the halfcourt, though, it's his strength, quickness, and willingness to seek out contact that stand out more than his leaping ability. He only actually uses his freakish eyes-at-rim-level vertical athleticism a couple times per game; you could take away those plays and he'd still be putting up ridiculous numbers.

Also don't see why it's a bad thing to be a two-foot leaper...Morant's a two-foot leaper and no one has a problem with his athleticism.

I'm no expert at judging height at a glance, but he looks pretty much exactly the same size as Zion to me, just ~25 pounds lighter. Like Zion, he's excellent at using his low center of gravity to his advantage.

 

[3 Ball...GOT IT]

When you watch Zion in the halfcourt, though, it's his strength, quickness, and willingness to seek out contact that stand out more than his leaping ability. He only actually uses his freakish eyes-at-rim-level vertical athleticism a couple times per game; you could take away those plays and he'd still be putting up ridiculous numbers.

Also don't see why it's a bad thing to be a two-foot leaper...Morant's a two-foot leaper and no one has a problem with his athleticism.

I'm no expert at judging height at a glance, but he looks pretty much exactly the same size as Zion to me, just ~25 pounds lighter. Like Zion, he's excellent at using his low center of gravity to his advantage.

I have a problem with Morant's athleticism... It rarely shows up in the halfcourt on either end. That's the case for pretty much every guy that lacks one foot pop in the half court. Main guy I can think of that's overcome that issue is Donovan Mitchell, who had to completely overhaul his finishing package.

 

[Nathan S]

I have a problem with Morant's athleticism... It rarely shows up in the halfcourt on either end. That's the case for pretty much every guy that lacks one foot pop in the half court. Main guy I can think of that's overcome that issue is Donovan Mitchell, who had to completely overhaul his finishing package.

Well, beggars can't be choosers...Williams and Morant aren't perfect athletes, but they're as good as you're going to see in this draft (other than Zion), at least if you filter to guys who have a reasonable amount of basketball skill to go along with it.

 

[3 Ball...GOT IT]

Well, beggars can't be choosers...Williams and Morant aren't perfect athletes, but they're as good as you're going to see in this draft (other than Zion), at least if you filter to guys who have a reasonable amount of basketball skill to go along with it.

If he's in your top 5 you're not a beggar though haha.

I like Williams and he's a tough eval for me.. I'll have to watch him more.

 

[Nathan S]

If he's in your top 5 you're not a beggar though haha.

I like Williams and he's a tough eval for me.. I'll have to watch him more.

What can I say...it's a weird draft. I wouldn't have Morant or even RJ as clear top-5 guys in many drafts. Who's in your top-5 these days? Culver and Hunter are the closest things to conventional-looking top-5 prospects as far as I can tell, but they've gone lukewarm recently.

 

[Lee]

I just want to point out that our very own Cam Payne was compared to Lillard coming from Murray State. 3 years later we are thinking he might be an ok 3rd string pg to help Delly recover from lingering injuries.

https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/chicago-bulls/cameron-payne-wants-be-nbas-next-stephen-curry

Steph was drafted from a weak school in a weak conference and who are the other guys that have done what he did without having a pro dad who taught him to think basketball at an NBA level?

I'd be very very wary of drafting him in the top 5. He should go somewhere around where Sexton went at best.

Scottie Pippen had an ok career.

 

[CavsFan07]

What can I say...it's a weird draft. I wouldn't have Morant or even RJ as clear top-5 guys in many drafts. Who's in your top-5 these days? Culver and Hunter are the closest things to conventional-looking top-5 prospects as far as I can tell, but they've gone lukewarm recently.

My top 5 today goes

1.) Zion
2.) RJ
3.) Morant
4.) Keldon Johnson
5.) Reddish

I know 4-5 take pretty good sized hits, but I'm taking guys with the most potential since we're clearly years away from competing. Both Reddish and Johnson are young, good athletes, and plenty of potential.

As I've said for quite awhile, Bol was in my top 5 forever. He probably would be 4th currently if not for the injury. I still would gamble on him in the 10-14 range if we can somehow acquire another late lottery.

 

[Cavatt]

Scottie Pippen had an ok career.

Kind of illustrates how rare it is actually.

I am skeptical. I guess he could be the next guy, but as Nathan pointed out, Collin had a better year at a better school at a younger age. Morant is more of a high flyer, but I am not sure his ceiling is even higher. I think there are a lot of wings in the same tier as Morant, and I would take one of those, personally.

 

[Nathan S]

My top 5 today goes

1.) Zion
2.) RJ
3.) Morant
4.) Keldon Johnson
5.) Reddish

I know 4-5 take pretty good sized hits, but I'm taking guys with the most potential since we're clearly years away from competing. Both Reddish and Johnson are young, good athletes, and plenty of potential.

As I've said for quite awhile, Bol was in my top 5 forever. He probably would be 4th currently if not for the injury. I still would gamble on him in the 10-14 range if we can somehow acquire another late lottery.

Don't necessarily agree with your picks, but the point here anyway is that there's no clear hierarchy in this draft outside of the top few picks. You could make the case for a dozen or more different guys to go in the top-5, and it'd be hard to argue with.

 

[Cavatt]

What can I say...it's a weird draft. I wouldn't have Morant or even RJ as clear top-5 guys in many drafts. Who's in your top-5 these days? Culver and Hunter are the closest things to conventional-looking top-5 prospects as far as I can tell, but they've gone lukewarm recently.

Hunter looks like an NBA player to me. Everything he does tells me it will translate. I don't see an allstar there, but like Thad Young type of guy.