Who I think could be the best two players in the draft and it's not Zion

[Monkhouse]

Don't get me wrong. Zion is an absolute freak of nature. I'm just not convinced he will end up being the best player.

Where people see generational talent or franchise caliber, I honestly don't see it. People talk about his video game like dunks and stats, and his PER. But his body is huge and his legs are like tree trunks.. What I'm saying is, I think its presumptuous to think he can become any kind of LeBron like talent, unless he addresses his weaknesses.

I think Ja Morant will be the best player. Hes averaging over a ridiculous 9 APG, his defense is solid, and his athleticism, while not on par with Zion; is still incredibly jaw dropping.

Picture Morant as a CP3/Davis hybrid.

Next up, I got Cam Reddish as possibly 2nd best player with Nasir Little as a possible dark horse.

I know he didn't do well, and definitely coasted and deferred at times. But he was the 3rd option, who was more of a shooting 3 & D specialist.

But I see him as similar to Paul George. And his awareness on the defensive side will certainly earn him a few All Defense Team honors in his career. I think he needs the right coach to push him.

What are your thoughts? Do you think Barrett, Morant, Culver, or others will be the best player. Or do you have Zion pegged already?

[Roy H.]

Picture Morant as a CP3/Davis hybrid.

Which Davis?

I'm with you on Morant.  I'm not as sure on Reddish.

[RPGenerate]

Picture Morant as a CP3/Davis hybrid.

Which Davis?

I'm with you on Culver.  I'm not as sure on Reddish.

I think Reddish is the biggest boom/bust player in the draft. He was dealt a really bad hand at Duke where he is was smothered by having Zion and RJ on the same team.

[nickagneta]

Picture Morant as a CP3/Davis hybrid.

Which Davis?

I'm with you on Culver.  I'm not as sure on Reddish.

Baron Davis?

[jambr380]

Picture Morant as a CP3/Davis hybrid.

Which Davis?

I'm with you on Culver.  I'm not as sure on Reddish.

Baron Davis?

He obviously means Dale Davis - the comparison to CP3 is uncanny!

But, yeah, I could see Morant as the best player. I am just hoping it takes him a couple of years to figure it out...that is if we still have the MEM pick. If he is gone in AD trade, he is free to lead the Grizz to the Finals next year.

[gouki88]

Picture Morant as a CP3/Davis hybrid.

Which Davis?

I'm with you on Culver.  I'm not as sure on Reddish.

Baron Davis?

Yeah, gotta be Baron.

Picturing a 6'11" CP3 running around is quite scary though

[liam]

It's going to be Zion.

[Monkhouse]

Picture Morant as a CP3/Davis hybrid.

Which Davis?

I'm with you on Morant.  I'm not as sure on Reddish.

Baron Davis.

I know people soured on Reddish, but he wasn't never used correctly, they rarely set plays. He seems like a fluid/smooth player, I think he just needs the right coach to push him.

It's going to be Zion.

Eh, Zion has a lot of question marks surrounding what most people call 'unanimous,' 1st round pick. So I guess we will see when it is all said and done.

[Csfan1984]

I wouldn't sleep on Brandon Clarke. Sure he doesn't have a great wingspan but his athletic ability looks very good for a PF. He might be a poor man's Draymond Green right now.

I like potential of Garland and Bassey.

[SHAQATTACK]

no way zion is not picked first .  No GM would risk not taking him , and make history as the dummy that passed on Zion.....it just an't happening.

[Monkhouse]

no way zion is not picked first .  No GM would risk not taking him , and make history as the dummy that passed on Zion.....it just an't happening.

Zion is going #1, no question about it. I just don't see his game being 100% dominant as his collegiate career.

I wouldn't sleep on Brandon Clarke. Sure he doesn't have a great wingspan but his athletic ability looks very good for a PF. He might be a poor man's Draymond Green right now.

I like potential of Garland and Bassey.

Clarke seems like a nice pick, but best player in draft? Bassey seems way too raw, but his future could be very promising.

[johnnygreen]

Zion and Morant are the two best players in this draft. I do wonder if New Orleans will feel obligated to choose Zion, but secretly prefer Morant. Danny didn’t succumb to the pressure to choose Fultz. Although, I do think Memphis likes the position that they’re in and will be happy to pick either guy.

I will agree that Coach K totally mishandled Cam Reddish. It almost seemed like Coach K made a promise to someone that he would force feed RJ Barrett. Reddish did not seem afraid of any big moment and seemed like a clutch type of player. I thought he was Duke’s second best player, but was forced to take a backseat to Barrett by the coaching staff.

[Csfan1984]

link=topic=100062.msg2675286#msg2675286 date=1558102426]

I wouldn't sleep on Brandon Clarke. Sure he doesn't have a great wingspan but his athletic ability looks very good for a PF. He might be a poor man's Draymond Green right now.

I like potential of Garland and Bassey.

Clarke seems like a nice pick, but best player in draft? Bassey seems way too raw, but his future could be very promising.

I see a lot of Draymond Green in Clarke.
I see a lot of Irving in Garland.
And I see a lot of Horford in Bassey.

[Fafnir]

I don't like the Draymond comparisons for Clarke because of his short arms. Draymond has great length, which enables him to protect the paint against NBA athletes.

[footey]

Zion and Morant are the two best players in this draft. I do wonder if New Orleans will feel obligated to choose Zion, but secretly prefer Morant. Danny didn’t succumb to the pressure to choose Fultz. Although, I do think Memphis likes the position that they’re in and will be happy to pick either guy.

I will agree that Coach K totally mishandled Cam Reddish. It almost seemed like Coach K made a promise to someone that he would force feed RJ Barrett. Reddish did not seem afraid of any big moment and seemed like a clutch type of player. I thought he was Duke’s second best player, but was forced to take a backseat to Barrett by the coaching staff.

This reminds me of the 2006 draft, where Chicago drafted Aldridge at 2, even though they wanted Tyrus Thomas, and traded with Portland at 4 plus additional pick. I think McHale did the same with Portland and Randy Foye, drafting Brandon Roy, and then swapping with Portland for the pick they got from Boston in exchange for Telfair, plus an extra pick.  Same strategy Ainge employed ltwo years ago with Philly, only difference being that Ainge did it well before the draft, while those pick swaps occurred on draft night.

This will never happen, but:  Memphis seems to really want Morant more than anyone, including Zion (who would be a bad fit with JJJ IMO).  NO could threaten to take Morant at 1, and Memphis would offer them an extra pick or asset if they did not.  Thinking out loud here, I imagine several teams would line up to offer the farm to Memphis to then get the 2nd pick (e.g., the Knicks for sure).

I separately wonder if teams like the Knicks or Lakers could offer a really nice package (their 3rd or 4th pick plus another player) to Memphis to trade up and get the 2nd pick. Then they could use that to sell to NOP for Davis.  I would think Griffin would love to end up with both Zion and Morant, that would be a really cool core to build around.