Someone other than the top two...

[Quetzalcoatl]

We aren't this team that needs shooting and somehow we are going to be a championship team is what I'm saying. Drafting Hield or Murray is pointless for us that way.  We aren't at that point where we draft for need and roleplayers. Hield wins us nothing.

You take the best talent period. Trade Crowder or Isaiah if we need to. Or even the player we draft.

Some dude just posted this on Reddit:

Fun Jamal Murray Stat:
Top four freshman in NCAA history by points scored, limited to those who shot 50% from two and 40% from three.
1) Kevin Durant 2) Stephen Curry 3) Jamal Murray 4) James Harden

So yeah he's not pointless to draft. 

[walker834]

I'm more concerned we are going to cap out regardless.  You have to just keep trying to add the best talent you can.

You end up like Phoenix or Orlando taking guys like Hield or Murray.

I think people put way too much stock in college stats. I think you gamble on the best talent period. 

[PaulP34]

Isaiah is the one borderline star we have right now.  Our team is somewhat overrated that way.  I even think Isaiah is somewhat overrated.  I think it's somewhat of a myth that he is pierce here and we are going to get Paul George or Durant or whoever to go with him. Stevens did a good job with this team and is maximizing our assets. That's why it's important not to tank.

We have the nets picks the next 3 years. We can either trade and build around Isaiah or through the draft.

You have to gamble in the draft though when you are this high. You don't take Buddy hield unless it's to trade him.

How can u sit here n say Heilds upside isn't that great ? I don't understand your theory. The kid is the best shooter in the draft. I say his upside has Stephen Curry potential. Bender is no better then Kelly Olynyk. Picking Bender at #3 would be a wasted pick. N if that happens, Ainge officially lost my respect as a GM as far as drafting talent goes. So far, he's drafted bums like Smart and Dozier in the first rounds and str8 missed on talent. This has got to be his comeback draft to get it right. Bender is not getting it right.

[walker834]

Kevin Garnett had no college stats.  Neither did Kristaps.  The argument can be made the other way too and can be twisted to fit agendas period is what I'm saying.

You take the best talent period is all I'm saying.  If hield is it so be it. I don't see it that way but if he is I'm all for it.

If someone can convince me that hield is a better talent by all means.

[PhoSita]

We aren't this team that needs shooting and somehow we are going to be a championship team is what I'm saying. Drafting Hield or Murray is pointless for us that way.  We aren't at that point where we draft for need and roleplayers. Hield wins us nothing.

You take the best talent period. Trade Crowder or Isaiah if we need to. Or even the player we draft.

Some dude just posted this on Reddit:

Fun Jamal Murray Stat:
Top four freshman in NCAA history by points scored, limited to those who shot 50% from two and 40% from three.
1) Kevin Durant 2) Stephen Curry 3) Jamal Murray 4) James Harden

So yeah he's not pointless to draft.

Kevin Durant

FTA: 7.3
STL: 1.9


Steph Curry

APG: 2.8
STL: 1.8

James Harden

APG: 3.2
STL: 2.1
FTA: 6.6


Jamal Murray

FTA: 4.2
APG: 2.2
STL: 1.0




My point being that the question marks with Murray surround his ability to get inside, defend, and create for others.

He's an excellent shooter, without a doubt.  Can he turn the corner on defenders?  Can he run a pick and roll?  Can he drive and kick?  Can he get to the rim and generate free throws?

[cltc5]

Isaiah is the one borderline star we have right now.  Our team is somewhat overrated that way.  I even think Isaiah is somewhat overrated.  I think it's somewhat of a myth that he is pierce here and we are going to get Paul George or Durant or whoever to go with him. Stevens did a good job with this team and is maximizing our assets. That's why it's important not to tank.

We have the nets picks the next 3 years. We can either trade and build around Isaiah or through the draft.

You have to gamble in the draft though when you are this high. You don't take Buddy hield unless it's to trade him.

How can u sit here n say Heilds upside isn't that great ? I don't understand your theory. The kid is the best shooter in the draft. I say his upside has Stephen Curry potential. Bender is no better then Kelly Olynyk. Picking Bender at #3 would be a wasted pick. N if that happens, Ainge officially lost my respect as a GM as far as drafting talent goes. So far, he's drafted bums like Smart and Dozier in the first rounds and str8 missed on talent. This has got to be his comeback draft to get it right. Bender is not getting it right.

Agree except about smart but if we get hield smart needs to go or roZier or both

[walker834]

Kevin Durant was a freshman.  Hield is a 4  year college player.  people are putting way too much stock in college stats. Look at the talent.  I'm not saying Hield isn't good but I'd rather look at the talent level.

If Durant never played college I would have drafted him #1 because of his talent.

[walker834]

Paul George struggled in college. I was all over him because I didn't care.  I was looking at his talent.

Hield is a good player.  I'm not saying he doesn't have talent either. I like him.  I think this draft like i said is pretty negligable and has a lot of very good to good players from 1-10 or so.

I rate bender and brown ahead of hield and murray though.  But this draft is pretty negligable. Even Simmons and Ingram. They are rated higher but I don't think any of those guys is Durant.  Simmons has some of that ability.  Bender has pretty high upside too imo.  Ingram and Hield are good.  I'm not knocking them. I think Brown has upside though.

[droopdog7]

One thing I keep reading that I want to dispute is the idea that this (or any team) should draft on needs.  If it's a tie, then I guess.

But the hell with needs; you pick the best player always.  Doesn't matter if we need shooting or size or anything else.  If could always reshuffle and move guys around after the fact. 

You pick the best player.

[walker834]

plaeyrs like Pierce and Dirk and George slide because of the logic you are stating is all i'm saying.  Even Kevin Garnett wasn't the #1 guy because people are silly.  Arguments can be made  both ways.  Durant was a freshman.  His talent was clear. Stats are meaningless that way.

People were underrating Curry too and I loved him.  He was that good. Hield is not that good. He is good though.

Curry was undersized etc. Wasn't athletic enough.  Blah, blah.  Draymond Green same thing. The arguments can be made both ways.

Hield is a very good college player and put up big numbers in a weak college year.  He did not have a Curry like year.  He is a good player though.

[walker834]

Tom brady fell to the 6th round didn't have the physical talent or stats and didn't even play and look how he turned out.   

Bender looks pretty good to me that way.

I don't like hype.  I'd rather go with my gut.  I bet my friend emmitt smith would be the all time rusher when he was drafted and would outrush barry sanders in his career and he thought i was nuts. He still owes me 500 dollars.  Another friend of mine yankees fan bet me george brett never hit .390.   I've been right before.

George Brett wasn't the most physically skilled guy.  Couldnt play defense. He turned out alright.

people thought oden was the second coming of christ.  I still remember a game i was sitting in the crowd at the fleet and people were chanting for oden and pierce was having a great game. I was watching that and thought it was disrespectful and Durant was better anyways.  People loved Al J and i thought they were nuts to not trade him for KG.  I thought Al j was soft. Perk was a better fit and more physical.

[Ilikesports17]

Tom brady fell to the 6th round didn't have the physical talent or stats and didn't even play and look how he turned out.   

Bender looks pretty good to me that way.

This is not a good comparison.

Tom started like 15 games in the Big 10 and put up numbers and wins against teams like Alabama.

[walker834]

Hield is good I'm not knocking him.  Bender is a skinny kid and I just like him. Could be totally wrong.  I've been wrong before.  Who knows. I'm usually more right than wrong though.

I like Hield.  If someone can convince me that his upside is better I'm all for it.  I just don't see it that way here.  I am more in the  bender camp. That is what my gut says this time.

I just think potential wise he has higher upside can do more things. We need shooting but Bender can do that. I dont think getting hield makes us a contender. Maybe he is that good and I'm wrong.

This draft is pretty negligable that way. Bender can shoot, block shots.  Is 7 feet.  He can pass too.  He is a better talent than Hield. 

Curry is a great pg and sh ooter.  He is an enigma that way but even he has his weaknesses.  I don't see Hield on that level.  If we put great bigs around him and let him shoot sure.

[walker834]

Hield is primarily a shooter.  Bender can't shoot he is still 7 feet and can pass and block shots and do other things. Bender to me is a better talent. He is also younger.

Hield does have all the shots though. He can shoot in a variety of ways.  He is like rip hamilton with range that way or Ben Gordon but better. He isn't as athletic or as big as Ray.  He isn't the distributer Curry is.

He is also underrated as a cerebral worker.  He has some toughness to his game. He is better than Ben Gordon that way.  Gordon always got hurt and was not a tough player. Hield has more to his game than that.  He has a bit of Pierce to him and toughness to his game.  He's like an undersized pierce to me without the other stuff.

I mainly like  Hield that way because of that extra stuff people overlook.  He is a hard worker. He is an undersized Pierce.

[walker834]

I would take Hield over Murray. I think Murray is a good player but I am not that high on him.  He doesn't do much for me at all.  He is not the type of player I like.   Good player though.

I would rather gamble on Hield or Bender because of intangibles.  Murray is a good player.  He just does not do anything for me that way.

Murray does a lot of good things.  He is a good offensive player and an underrated defender.  He does nothing that stands out to me though.  Smart does.  Bender does.  Hield does. Murray doesnt.  Jaylen brown does with his finishes. 

Wow factor -

Bender - length, versatility and mindset. Also is very fluid.  High iq.  underrated toughness and tenacity.   That is his calling card actually.  Has a chance to be special
Brown - athleticism and slashing and finishing ability and physicality. Should be a very solid cog with a lot of wow factor due to his athletic ability
Hield -shooting and intangibles. Underrated. Actually overrated but underrated to me. Could overcome a lot with his drive but could also be mediocre
Murray - just a good all around player. Particularly offensively. Underrated defensively.  Jeff Hornecek.