2018 NBA Draft

[hayth.james.g]

Time to start the countdown for the 2018 draft. Last year it was stacked 9 deep with 5 extremely talented PGs.

This year it looks like the tier 1 list is going to be about 5 deep heavily focused on the 4/5 position. Let's find our perfect compliment to DSJ in the 2018 draft and set the core for our next 10 year + run!

[Underdog]

DeAndre Ayton

/thread

[hayth.james.g]

Originally Posted by Underdog

DeAndre Ayton

/thread

Agreed 100%. Before the Porter injury I was 75/25 in favor of Ayton #1. Now its 95%.

Bagley has looked dominate as well.

Then there is Luka Doncic who could be a very interesting compliment to DSJ.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Underdog

DeAndre Ayton

/thread

Especially what he did against Smith Jr's team. Wow.

[hayth.james.g]

Watching the UT vs Duke game now. Bagley reminds me so much of Chris Bosh. Bamba has done fine in this game, but Bagley has dominated. I think his game would pair very nicely with DSJ if we pick 2-3.


Edit: Bamba just had a big time block on Bagley playing off ball. I see him as a Nerlens Noel 2.0 without the personality shortcomings.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by hayth.james.g

Watching the UT vs Duke game now. Bagley reminds me so much of Chris Bosh. Bamba has done fine in this game, but Bagley has dominated. I think his game would pair very nicely with DSJ if we pick 2-3.


Edit: Bamba just had a big time block on Bagley playing off. I see him as a Nerlens Noel 2.0 without the personality shortcomings.

Great game tonight for lotto prospects...

Mo Bamba: 9 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks
Marvin Bagley: 34 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal


Agree about Bamba being a Noel 2.0 without the baggage -- I think he and Ayton are the main reasons why we didn't cave to Noel's demands... And a lot of what he does isn't going to show up in the box score.

And Bagley? Yeah, he could definitely be a Dirk replacement if we ended up drafting him. I can see the comparison to Bosh.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by Underdog

DeAndre Ayton

/thread

Nothing more needs to be said lol.

[EricaLubarsky]

Bagley will be really good. Reminds me of Rasheed/bosh. We could do worse

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Will Bagley be able to play defense at center in the NBA since that is the position he will most likely have to play?

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Will Bagley be able to play defense at center in the NBA since that is the position he will most likely have to play?

I see Bagely more as a PF in the NBA.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by Underdog

I see Bagely more as a PF in the NBA.

Exactly. Bagley is the prototypical PF in the NBA starting with Dirk and Garnett and continuing until now. 6’10”-6’11”, mobile, range, good wingspan and some basic post skills. He could play next to another big for small/fast ball, but he’s more of a Durant/Sheed/Bosh than a center

[rimrocker]

Bamba is raw but I can certainly see some nice upside.
Looks like he could become another Mutombo....hopefully not another Thabeet.

But yeah, Bagley is definitely a can't miss in the NBA and Duval could become a good pick later in the draft.

[Underdog]

Current favorite top-10 for the Mavs (the top 2 are closer than ever before):

1) DeAndre Ayton
2) Marvin Bagley
3) Michael Porter Jr
4) Luka Doncic
5) Mohamed Bamba
6) Miles Bridges
7) Jaren Jackson Jr
8) Robert Williams
9) Wendell Carter
10) Kevin Knox

Still in the hunt, but out of the top-10 mostly because they're not bigs: Trevon Duval, Bruce Brown, Lonnie Walker, Mikal Bridges, Justin Jackson

[Bryan_Wilson]

1) DeAndre Ayton
2) Marvin Bagley
3) Mohamed Bamba
4) Luka Doncic
5) Michael Porter Jr
6) Kevin Knox
7) Jaren Jackson Jr
8) Miles Bridges
9) Robert Williams
10) Mikal Bridges


Honorable mentions- Mitchell Robinson mid-late first. Wendell Carter late lotto.

[hayth.james.g]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

1) DeAndre Ayton
2) Marvin Bagley
3) Mohamed Bamba
4) Luka Doncic
5) Michael Porter Jr
6) Kevin Knox
7) Jaren Jackson Jr
8) Miles Bridges
9) Robert Williams
10) Mikal Bridges


Honorable mentions- Mitchell Robinson mid-late first. Wendell Carter late lotto.

The Mavs just need to not let us down and get a top 3 pick.

1. Ayton
2. Bagley
3. Doncic
4. Porter Jr
5. Bamba - Not too high on him. He is fine, just not a tier 1 potential all star in my eyes.

[DavidDaMonkey]

So for someone who hasn't really been following and has only briefly watched some youtube highlights, is Ayton what Dwight Powell would be in the Mavs wildest and wettest dreams?

[EricaLubarsky]

Imagine all of the offensive boards he could get on the Mavs. Matthews’ bricks alone could get him a double double

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by DavidDaMonkey

So for someone who hasn't really been following and has only briefly watched some youtube highlights, is Ayton what Dwight Powell would be in the Mavs wildest and wettest dreams?

Not at all... Powell isn't even worthy of being in the same sentence as Ayton unless that sentence is, "DeAndre Ayton shits all over your wildest and wettest dreams of Dwight Powell." Dude looks like a quicker David Robinson, has the potential to turn the clock back on bigs.

[GermanStandard]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Not at all... Powell isn't even worthy of being in the same sentence as Ayton unless that sentence is, "DeAndre Ayton shits all over your wildest and wettest dreams of Dwight Powell." Dude looks like a quicker David Robinson, has the potential to turn the clock back on bigs.

And he Looks like a Player from the 80's too

Ayton is a true 7 Footer with 7,5 ft Wingspan and 9,3 ft Standing Reach.

He Looks like Hakeem the Dream with 3 Point Range.

[hayth.james.g]

Originally Posted by GermanStandard

And he Looks like a Player from the 80's too

Ayton is a true 7 Footer with 7,5 ft Wingspan and 9,3 ft Standing Reach.

He Looks like Hakeem the Dream with 3 Point Range.

I agree with the Hakeem comparison. He has that kind of potential.

[sefant77]

But again: Ayton is a man playing against kids...so im a little bit careful with the hype. The skills are all there but for him its pretty easy right now to look great and pile up stats

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by sefant77

But again: Ayton is a man playing against kids...so im a little bit careful with the hype. The skills are all there but for him its pretty easy right now to look great and pile up stats

That’s certainly true. He has a body that’s already NBA ready and that may skew the data like LeBron— and Oden

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by sefant77

But again: Ayton is a man playing against kids...so im a little bit careful with the hype. The skills are all there but for him its pretty easy right now to look great and pile up stats

Yeah, what comes to mind for me with Ayton is a range somewhere between the big Os.....Olajuwon, Oden and Olowokandi.

I remember all of the hype on Kandi early on way back when.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

Yeah, what comes to mind for me with Ayton is a range somewhere between the big Os.....Olajuwon, Oden and Olowokandi.

I remember all of the hype on Kandi early on way back when.

That's the problem with guys that come into the league looking like they're 30. For every LeBron there is a Greg Oden.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

Yeah, what comes to mind for me with Ayton is a range somewhere between the big Os.....Olajuwon, Oden and Olowokandi.

I remember all of the hype on Kandi early on way back when.

Poor Ayton is already being compared to Olowokandi...sigh.

I think generational players can change the game/rules if they are good enough. But of course, those are hard to find if you ever do. So what you guys are really trying to say is that it's hard to know who will be a star or not. That's every player in the top 10 in a good draft.

In the last 15 years, who did you know for sure would be a superstar coming from the draft? I'd say only Lebron James.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Poor Ayton is already being compared to Olowokandi...sigh.

I think generational players can change the game/rules if they are good enough. But of course, those are hard to find if you ever do. So what you guys are really trying to say is that it's hard to know who will be a star or not. That's every player in the top 10 in a good draft.

In the last 15 years, who did you know for sure would be a superstar coming from the draft? I'd say only Lebron James.

Yeah it's only Lebron. Nobody else had that kind of absolute can't miss stuff. Even Lebron though I don't think you could say 100% would be a superstar. Because there are still those stories of guys like Beasley who just didn't have the work ethic, Guys like Kwame Brown who may or may not have been ruined by Michael jordan's ego. Guys like Petrovic who was on the rise and was taken in a terrible accident, he wasn't drafted high but the example was more for just how off the field things can take a career as well. Jay Williams as well with the motorcycle accident. A guy like Petrovic in today's nba would be a top 10 player IMO no question. He was ahead of his time shooting 45% from 3 and 50% from the floor before the 3pt era truly took off.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

The big question with Ayton is whether he can keep making threes. His fts seem to be ok, but if he can develop that three a little more...watch out.

What's funny is David Robinson just recently compared Bagley to Tim Duncan, and I think Ayton looks like David Robinson.

So yeah, ya know, potential of Robinson and Duncan going 1 and 2 in this draft. No biggie.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Poor Ayton is already being compared to Olowokandi...sigh.

LOL....not comparing to anyone. Just adding to sefant77's point about hype and the range that a player could end up in.

I remember reading/hearing comments in the media how Kandi was a "can't miss" and that was in the days when his position was more relevant.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

LOL....not comparing to anyone. Just adding to sefant77's point about hype and the range that a player could end up in.

I remember reading/hearing comments in the media how Kandi was a "can't miss" and that was in the days when his position was more relevant.

And who can forget Bargnani, the next Dirk. Some former scouts are prolly still tellin those stories while they talk about those free floor mats while selling used cars.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

And who can forget Bargnani, the next Dirk. Some former scouts are prolly still tellin those stories while they talk about those free floor mats while selling used cars.

The comparisons to Dirk for the past 15 or so years with virtually no one coming even close indicates just how unique and special he is. Portzingis and and Markkanen are about the only ones who have a chance in this NBA imo.

It comes down to what is between the ears with some of these players in the draft and I think with Rick that is doubly important.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

The comparisons to Dirk for the past 15 or so years with virtually no one coming even close indicates just how unique and special he is. Portzingis and and Markkanen are about the only ones who have a chance in this NBA imo.

It comes down to what is between the ears with some of these players in the draft and I think with Rick that is doubly important.

Nobody is ever going to be the "next Dirk" -- not Porzingis, not Markkanen. It will never happen... At best, those guys will define themselves individually, the same way that Kobe never really became the "next Jordan" -- he became Kobe.

Some players are just too damn unique to emulate, no matter how hard you imitate.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by sefant77

But again: Ayton is a man playing against kids...so im a little bit careful with the hype. The skills are all there but for him its pretty easy right now to look great and pile up stats

You keep saying he's a "man playing against kids," but he only LOOKS like a man -- dude is just 19, it's not like he's going to be a 27-year-old rookie like Bernard James or something... He'll continue to develop his mind, game, and body before he gets into the NBA -- no reason to expect any sort of drop off when he starts facing equal competition... You can't overhype his stats when he passes the eye test.

[BPo001]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Nobody is ever going to be the "next Dirk" -- not Porzingis, not Markkanen. It will never happen... At best, those guys will define themselves individually, the same way that Kobe never really became the "next Jordan" -- he became Kobe.

Some players are just too damn unique to emulate, no matter how hard you imitate.

Bingo. There are so many things that made Dirk unique that we will never see another like him. Others might have similar traits, but will never have the same effect on the game that Dirk did.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by Underdog

You keep saying he's a "man playing against kids," but he only LOOKS like a man -- dude is just 19, it's not like he's going to be a 27-year-old rookie like Bernard James or something... He'll continue to develop his mind, game, and body before he gets into the NBA -- no reason to expect any sort of drop off when he starts facing equal competition... You can't overhype his stats when he passes the eye test.

I think you're mostly right. Dude is (probably) 19, even though he looks 30 just like LeBron and Oden before getting drafted. If he can stay healthy, then there's absolutely no reason to believe that he won't improve as much or more than the average player does. He has less to do to get his physical tools to an NBA level and there's no reason to believe that he won't get the rest with time just like Smith Jr.

I really like his passion. There are talented players that don't seem to care. Dude gets fired up and I like that. Even though Mejri isn't consistent, I just love that he cares and plays with passion.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Nobody is ever going to be the "next Dirk" -- not Porzingis, not Markkanen. It will never happen... At best, those guys will define themselves individually, the same way that Kobe never really became the "next Jordan" -- he became Kobe.

Some players are just too damn unique to emulate, no matter how hard you imitate.

My point is more about the success and impact of that type of player more than becoming the exact player. You can say that about every player because no two players will ever be the exact same.
Dirk had a lot of Bird in him and I'm sure many will see a lot of Dirk in Portzingis and Markkanen. My point is that will be high praise for those guys as Dirk has set the bar high. The mere fact people want to find the next Dirk makes him one of the most unique players and the best at the style in his time.

You rarely hear "he's the next Bird" now because now they are saying "he's the next Dirk".
Until someone takes that to another level for that style (if that is even possible), Dirk will always be the one to compare to.

I do agree there will never be another like him.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

Dirk had a lot of Bird in him

I watched Larry Bird, Dirk is no Larry Bird -- the biggest thing they have in common is the color of their skin... Kevin Garnett played more like Bird than Dirk ever did.

Porzingis and Markkanaen are both white, European jump-shooters -- that's about the beginning and end of how they'll ever really compare to Dirk. Hell, Markkanen looks way more like Bosh to me, but skin color, so Dirk... And Porzingis has nice range, but he's way more active in the paint, especially on defense -- Dirk never averaged 2 blocks per game at any point in his career... I just think most of the comparisons to Dirk are shallow as shit.

Dirk popularized the stretch-4 and taught players how to create space with the high-release step back...So most NBA players have "a little Dirk" in them at this point -- he's part of the league's DNA -- but nobody is going to be the next Dirk... Just like you don't get to be the next Kareem by shooting hook shots or be the next Dr. J by throwing down high-flying dunks. Some players just stand apart.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Underdog

I watched Larry Bird, Dirk is no Larry Bird -- the biggest thing they have in common is the color of their skin... Kevin Garnett played more like Bird than Dirk ever did.

Porzingis and Markkanaen are both white, European jump-shooters -- that's about the beginning and end of how they'll ever really compare to Dirk. Hell, Markkanen looks way more like Bosh to me, but skin color, so Dirk... And Porzingis has nice range, but he's way more active in the paint, especially on defense -- Dirk never averaged 2 blocks per game at any point in his career... I just think most of the comparisons to Dirk are shallow as shit.

Dirk popularized the stretch-4 and taught players how to create space with the high-release step back...So most NBA players have "a little Dirk" in them at this point -- he's part of the league's DNA -- but nobody is going to be the next Dirk... Just like you don't get to be the next Kareem by shooting hook shots or be the next Dr. J by throwing down high-flying dunks. Some players just stand apart.

You are absolutely right...my bad.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

You are absolutely right...my bad.

LOL, hope I didn't offend -- we've all fallen prey to the narrative, myself included. It's easy to generalize, but you have to paint with REALLY broad strokes to compare Dirk to Bird, or Porzingis to Dirk... And after 20 years of evidence, it's about time for all the proven-wrong narratives about Dirk to die.

[Underdog]

It's looking less & less like the Mavs are going to land in the top-5... How are we feeling about those 6-10 picks?

[sefant77]

Originally Posted by Underdog

It's looking less & less like the Mavs are going to land in the top-5... How are we feeling about those 6-10 picks?

#SAD