2018 NBA Draft

[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.

[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.

[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.