My take on the top 15

[Denis998]

bender and murray should change spots.

[walker834]

I'd put Murray and Brown over guys like Ellenson and maybe even sabonis.  I think Bender, Simmons, Ingram and Hield are the cream of this draft though.  Sabonis is the best big man.  Poeltl I watched a bit today.  Hard worker and could out do Sabonis if Sabonis gets starry eyed, but he's not as talented.  Poeltl has some red flags.

I don't think we need another guard is why i have murray and brown so low.  I think they are solid upper echelon talents  but not enough to move up that much.

I think Kris Dunn is a better player right now too.

[walker834]

Brown and Murray are somewhat sleepers in my outlook though.  They are good players.

[The One]

If not top two...take Skal, he dominated HS and struggled as a freshman. Just like Avery did.  His upside is very huge.

With the Dallas pick, I take Thon.  I like what he can do as a 7 footer. I think he can QB a defense.

[walker834]

I'm taking Bender with the #1 pick right now.  I'll take the flack if he busts, but I think we can afford to gamble a bit with all the picks we have.  We can still make trades.

I think he and Simmons have the most superstar potential.  I like Benders style better. Ingram and Hield are the best scorers.  Ones a scorer and ones a shooter though. I would lean Hield there maybe but not sure.  I have Ingram rated higher and might just stick with my guns.

I like how i ranked this.  Makes sense to me.

[walker834]

jaylen Brown is the one guy who might make it in the top 5 once we get out of the top 4.  I might take him at 5 over all those guys.  I  might even take him higher if i just feel like i dont want to build with certain players.

I think Brown with Smart and Isaiah and behind Crowder.  We could play him.  It would muck things up a bit with bradley and turner and maybe trade someone but I really like him as a player.

Hield is getting a lot of hype but Brown is a darkhorse.  I like players like that.  Bender rose and Brown is kind of the same for me.

[hwangjini_1]

I guess my concern is, if Bender is so good why has he played so poorly in Europe? His potential is high, but what about results?

There aren't results.

I would not touch Bender.

i am curious and really dont know. compared with pozingas, how did their european stats stack up?

[Tr1boy]

While I'd take Ingram first - I don't like the passive way Simmons plays, reminds me of Olynyk: His refusal to play aggressively cost LSU games this season. True stars don't defer to anyone - I largely agree. We don't need any more rookies.

It is time to trade the picks.

I agree with this.  Too many times he looked like a #2. But that is also not a bad thing

For example Pippen could of gone #1 overall in several drafts

I'm a little worried about Ingram and his body. Movements are not fluid.  He was also didn't produce good rebounding #s.  Maybe with added strength it will get better. But at times he shyed away from contact. Hard to tell if it was bc of lack of strength or..


the two prospects i like but many think are "dull" are Murray and Sabonis.  These two imo get "it" .  Maybe bc they lack that "explosiveness" "length"  they have found other ways to get the job done.  Have excellent strength, good BBIQ and have high motors.   Ready to play out of the box

[walker834]

The weird thing is I like Sabonis.  I don't think he is dull at all.  I think he is going to take a bit though. Bender I think  is more ready than people give him credit for just because of his talent level.  He isn't a guy who is going to rely on his size.  He will take time to reach his ceiling though.  I think it's higher than Sabonis though.

I think Bender when i listen to him is more grounded than Sabonis in ways.  Sabonis could let his ego get the best of him a bit.  kind of like austin rivers.  Never thought austin rivers was dull either. 

[walker834]

size meaning bulk.  I think Sabonis needs to mature a bit. So does Bender but I dont think Bender is going to be a guy who is going to rely on bulk.  Sabonis either really. I just think Sabonis is more a center and less rangy than Bender. Doesnt move off the ball like him either. He's more 15 feet and in moving around where bender plays all over the court. Bender is a 7 footer who plays like a guard to me.  He's the roger federer of basketball.

[Tr1boy]

The weird thing is I like Sabonis.  I don't think he is dull at all.  I think he is going to take a bit though. Bender I think  is more ready than people give him credit for just because of his talent level.  He isn't a guy who is going to rely on his size.  He will take time to reach his ceiling though.  I think it's higher than Sabonis though.

I think Sabonis is more focused than Sabonis in ways.  Sabonis could let his ego get the best of him a bit.  kind of like austin rivers.  Never thought austin rivers was dull either.

Is it a "ghost" ceiling though??  He has the tools to be an A rebounder.  But will he ever become one??  Even with added strength and experience. Right now he is a C +, B -

Sabonis on the other hand is at least a A minus. One of the best rebounder out of all  2016  prospects.  It should translate at the NBA level.  Maybe not 10 plus but I can see consistently pulling down 9 with. Several 15 plus rebound games. . Better than sully as he is considered nearly as strong, is taller by 3-4 inches . quicker off the ground

Sabonis also has top post skills.  I haven't seen post skills like that since big AL.   

It will be interesting to see what happens when bender meets Sabonis eventually

In two years of college ball, Sabonis rarely got beatup/outplayed by the man he was guarding (the opposite actually).   He did a heck of a job guarding Okafor last year(on several occasions , last year MM semis) if anyone remembers.  He was 50 pounds lighter and 6'10 vs 7'4 wingspan.  Just a tough customer that knows how to play

[walker834]

Sabonis is real good. I think he's going to be an upper echelon center.  I'm with you on him.  I more see a Brad Miller level talent though. 

Or even his father.  His father was one of the best centers in the NBA. just injuries derailed him.  Sabonis was one of the best centers of all time as far as talent level.  I dont see that so much with his son but he's up there potentially.

[walker834]

Brad Miller was not dull...   I think Sabonis is a fiery competitor. he isn't on the talent level of his father though.  If Arvydis is Peyton Manning, his son is Eli here.

[Tr1boy]

Sabonis is real good. I think he's going to be an upper echelon center.  I'm with you on him.  I more see a Brad Miller level talent though. 

Or even his father.  His father was one of the best centers in the NBA. just injuries derailed him.  Sabonis was one of the best centers of all time as far as talent level.  I dont see that so much with his son but he's up there potentially.

The best man.  He killed you with two bum knees. So strong. Like facing shaq

I think I read somewhere his wingspan length matched his height. But he was a giant at 7'2-7'3 so it was not a disadvantage

His son is lighter on his feet.  Def better in transition ball.   
Really strong for his age (lithuanian strength) and embraces physical play. He has said he likes it when refs drop the whistle and lets physical play be allowed.  He has an old school mentality

[walker834]

more comparisons

Bender - The Roger Federer of basketball.  If he gets fat he's darko
Simmons - a taller john wall. if he gets fat he's derrick coleman.   Wall has the same issues where he is so much faster than everyone else but if you slow him down he gets passive and doesnt know what to do.
Ingram - still think he's a poor man's george gervin
Sabonis - Brad Miller/Eli Manning
jamal murray - david wesley.  Still looking for a better comparison. he's better than david wesley. he's like a cross between majerle and hornecek.