SI.com Mock Draft 5 - Chriss all the way up to 4

[Evantime34]

Three names I'm liking more and more --

Baldwin, Luwawu, Onuaku


Not in the top 3, but I'd be happy to get any of them at 16 or 23.

Would also be happy to see Ainge consolidate some of the later picks to move up and select Poeltl or Davis along with whoever is taken at #3.

After reading Kevin O'Conner had Onuaku at 22 and Dean on the draft put him at 7 on his big board I'm really interested in Onuaku. At 23 or 31 I would be happy to get a rim protecting athletic center like him.

[Evantime34]

This mock isn't bad. I would be happy with Bender at 3 and absolutely love Valentine at 16. Zizic is a bad pick because he reportedly is coming straight to the NBA and won't be a draft and stash.

[86MaxwellSmart]

This mock isn't bad. I would be happy with Bender at 3 and absolutely love Valentine at 16. Zizic is a bad pick because he reportedly is coming straight to the NBA and won't be a draft and stash.

Not if we're letting Zeller and Sully go.

[Evantime34]

This mock isn't bad. I would be happy with Bender at 3 and absolutely love Valentine at 16. Zizic is a bad pick because he reportedly is coming straight to the NBA and won't be a draft and stash.

Not if we're letting Zeller and Sully go.

If we aren't going draft and stash at 23 I'd rather have Maker, Diallo or Bembry than Zizic who is going to probably play in the d league all year.

I'd rather sign a veteran big man to replace Sully than count on a guy like Zizic.

[vjcsmoke]

I see Maker as a 2nd round pick.  Too raw to go in the 1st imo.
He's worth the risk in the 2nd though as we have a ton of picks there.

There's no way we take Chriss in the top 5, I think that would be a mistake.
He's very athletic PF but lacks basketball skills and BBIQ.

I'd be ok with Chriss in the 8-12 range with some kind of tradeup, or I'd rather prefer Deyonta Davis or Poetl as a rim protector at the 5.

[chilidawg]

Can Chriss become a small forward?

He seems like he could be versatile enough to play the 3 or the 4. Or, if your glass is 1/2 empty, he could be a tweener.

[chilidawg]

This mock isn't bad. I would be happy with Bender at 3 and absolutely love Valentine at 16. Zizic is a bad pick because he reportedly is coming straight to the NBA and won't be a draft and stash.

Not if we're letting Zeller and Sully go.

If we aren't going draft and stash at 23 I'd rather have Maker, Diallo or Bembry than Zizic who is going to probably play in the d league all year.

I'd rather sign a veteran big man to replace Sully than count on a guy like Zizic.

You don't think Maker and Diallo are going to spend the year in the D-League?

[chilidawg]

Three names I'm liking more and more --

Baldwin, Luwawu, Onuaku


Not in the top 3, but I'd be happy to get any of them at 16 or 23.

Would also be happy to see Ainge consolidate some of the later picks to move up and select Poeltl or Davis along with whoever is taken at #3.

Yeah, to me it feels like there's a consensus group at 3-8. Then, a next group roughly 9-15 including Poeltl, Luwawu, Davis, Korkmaz, Ellenson and maybe Baldwin and Damian Jones. Then, another dropoff.

I fear that 16 and 23 will be from a pool weaker than those guys, and it seems like having your pick of them at #10 or so might really increase the chances of getting a star.

The thing is, the situation was similar last year and the asking price for moving from #16 to #9 was astronomical for exactly that reason.

Suppose the deal was #16, #23, #35 and the 2019 MEM pick for #11. Would you do that?

I see the group above 16 being deep from 9-13 and then dropping off.  Luwawu, Korkmaz, Labissiere, and Davis would all be fine picks, but I think they're all gone by 16.  I think the 3 and 16 (or 23) for 4 and 13 swap with Phoenix makes a lot of sense.

To me your swap idea is way too much for 11.   We need the Memphis pick so we have a high lottery pick in 2019 too.