martin and admins...i vote to make a sticky for the upcoming draft.
anyways, here goes mine:
1. Team- Philadelphia 76ers
Strengths – cap space (relative to other teams; approx $60mil), youth, size and frontcourt
Needs – guard play, outside shooting, experience
Draft Prediction – Ben Simmons (PF): best player available. PF body with PG skills/Weakness = CAN’T SHOOT
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2. Team-Los Angeles Lakers
Strengths-young back court (Clarkson, Russell), cap space, LA Franchise
Needs-shooting, front court, defense
Draft Prediction- Brandon Ingram (SF): wing shooter with height/Weakness = skinny, not explosive
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3. Team-Boston Celtics (after 1 & 2 this is where the real draft starts)
Strengths-Coach Stevens, defense, perimeter defense, cap space
Needs-interior defense (amir johnson won’t be resigned), shooting, big man depth (sullinger gone too)
Draft Prediction-either trade down (to get a vet AND draft Buddy or Murray) or Dragon Bender(C): 7ft big man with excellent passing, defense and could develop more offensive skills/Weaks = raw; 2 yrs away
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4. Team-Phoenix Suns
Strengths-guard play (Bledsoe, Booker, Knight), youth
Needs-power forward, rebounding, overall defense
Draft Prediction-Marquisse Chriss (PF): excellent face up 4; Uptempo style fits his play/Weaks = doesn’t rebound or play defense. Can be hidden with Tyson chandler.
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5. Team-Minnesota Timberwolves
Strengths-talented starting 5 (Rubio, Lavine, Dieng, Wiggins, KAT)
Needs-shooting, vet leadership, develop bench
Draft Prediction-Kris Dunn (PG): def PG that Thibs will be love/Weaks = streaky shooter, turnover prone
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6. Team-New Orleans Pelicans
Strengths-Unibrow Davis, size
Needs-shooting, wings, may need to replace Evans/Holiday eventually, Gordon and Anderson are gone
Draft Prediction-Buddy Hield (SG): one dimensional shooter – great shooter/Weaks= doesn’t do much else
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7. Team-Denver Nuggets
Strengths-Mudiay and Jokic (might’ve been the 3rd best rookie), size (Nokie, Lauvergne, Jurkic)
Needs-Shooting, wing depth (harris, barton and chandler are off the bench; Gallo is injury prone)
Draft Prediction-Jamal Murray (SG): 2nd best shooter/could play some PG/Weaks = slow defender
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8. Team-Sacramento Kings
Strengths-Demarcus Cousins
Needs-backcourt, might lose a lot of players to free agency
Draft Prediction-Jaylen Brown (F): best physical talent, def/Weaks=can’t dribble, create or shoot
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9. Team-Toronto Raptors
Strengths-backcourt (lowry and derozen – I think they’ll OVERPAY to keep him),
Needs-solid team that will likely lose biyombo
Draft Prediction-either trade pick for a vet or Deyonta Davis (PF): defensive and mobile big man/Weaks=limited offensive skills
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10. Team-Milwaukee Bucks
Strengths-Giannis, Parker, Middleton trio
Needs-upgrade in front court (plumlee isn’t enough, Monroe may need to go)
Draft Prediction-Henry Ellenson (PF)-stretch 4 big man from Milwaukee/Weaks=slow footed
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11. Team-Orlando Magic
Strengths-talented players (Oladipo, Gordon, Herzonja, Fournier), new coach,
Needs-defensive big men (that’s what Vogel likes, that’s what Vucevic isn’t), shooting, PG play
Draft Prediction-Skal Labessiere (C)– raw big man with already good def instincts/Weaks= still learning
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12. Team-Utah Jazz
Strengths-young lineup (Favors, Gobert, Hayward, Hood, Exum, Lyles)
Needs-depth (backup for Exum), shooting
Draft Prediction-Wade Baldwin (PG) – smart PG who can shoot and defend/Weaks=not the quickest, doesnt finish well
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13. Team-Phoenix Suns
Strengths-guard play (Bledsoe, Booker, Knight), youth
Needs-power forward, rebounding, overall defense
Draft Prediction-Domantas Sabonis (C)- excellent passing big with a motor/Weaks=athleticism
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14. Team-Chicago Bulls
Strengths-back court (rose, Butler) and Mirotic
Needs-needs front line help (Gasol and Noah may be gone)
Draft Prediction-Jakob Poetl (C) – traditional low post big man/Weaks = modern NBA fit?
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After the lottery, the draft is up for grabs. I expect a lot of international draft and stashes. A lot of unpredictable moves: drafting seniors, international players, trades, etc. I'm not sure anyone can predict what will happen next
Some Notables to watch:
- Dejonte Murray (PG) – streaky PG with quicks; horrible shot selection
- Malachi Richardson (SG)– streaky SG with length, lots of potential despite up and down fresh yr (Memphis has guaranteed to draft him)
- Denzel Valentine (SF)-Jack of all trade wing that has the IQ to make up for his lack of athleticism (injured knees?)
- Thon Maker (C)– 7fter with SG skills/ still learning the game- makes lots of mistakes
- Malik Beasley (SG)– talented streaky shooter - still learning how to create his own shot
- Patrick McGraw (SG)- excellent defender, streaky shooter, needs to gain some muscle mass
- Timothe Lawawu (SF) - athletic 3&D player; draft and stash candidate
- Demetrius Jackson (PG) – excellent traditional PG; small streaky shooter
- Damian Jones (C)- nice defensive big man like Ezeli from Vanderbilt
- Ben Bentil (PF) – my sleeper of the draft. Talented inside and out
- Taurean Prince (SF) – athletic 3&D player
- Diamond Stone (C)- classic low post big man
- AJ Hammons (C) – another defensive big man who has developed a jumper
