ESPN analyst Jeff Goodman: Skal Labissiere (Boston Celtics Channel)

[slightly biased bias fan]

Jeff Goodman has a very good insight on Skal & surprises by stating that he probably won't be fully ready for 3 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vzRbs_hCNw

[colincb]

Nor will Bender or Chriss or Brown. All are pretty major projects.

[saltlover]

And even when he's "fully ready", what will he be?  A reserve big who can't rebound? I've already ranted about him in another thread, but he's not first-round material, much less top half of the first round where everyone seemingly puts him.

[slightly biased bias fan]

And even when he's "fully ready", what will he be?  A reserve big who can't rebound? I've already ranted about him in another thread, but he's not first-round material, much less top half of the first round where everyone seemingly puts him.

If that is the case imagine the Maker project longevity!? 

[saltlover]

Nor will Bender or Chriss or Brown. All are pretty major projects.

Yeah, but Skal is older than all three, and considerably older than Bender and Chriss.  Skal is already 20.  Bender and Chriss will still be 18 on draft night.  That's a big difference.

[saltlover]

And even when he's "fully ready", what will he be?  A reserve big who can't rebound? I've already ranted about him in another thread, but he's not first-round material, much less top half of the first round where everyone seemingly puts him.

If that is the case imagine the Maker project longevity!? 

At least few are suggesting Maker is a lottery pick.

[crimson_stallion]

I wouldn't put Brown on that list.

Brown could contribute at the NBA level right now.  He's got an NBA body with NBA athleticism, he's a good rebounder, he's a quality defender, and his jumpshot is better then advertised. 

He is pretty much just as NBA ready as Justice Winslow was, except that Brown has a significantly higher ceiling due to his athleticism. 

Realistically Andrew Wiggins was far more raw/limited when he was drafted then Brown is, so I'm confident brown could produce from the star.

And even when he's "fully ready", what will he be?  A reserve big who can't rebound? I've already ranted about him in another thread, but he's not first-round material, much less top half of the first round where everyone seemingly puts him.

He has the talent to be a VERY impressive two-way player one day. 

His athleticism and defensive potential are on Deandre Jordan level, except Skal can shoot and has half decent moves in the paint.  His rebounding is really about the only criticism, otherwise his potential is sky high. 

I think Skal is one of the highest up/down players in the draft in that his floor is  that of a guy who may struggle to make a roster, but his ceiling is that of a future perennial all-star.

I think his upside is FAR higher then Bender's, but his floor is significantly lower - he's a bigger risk. 

When you have a guy with Skal's combination of size, athleticism, inside moves and outside jumpshot - you have a potential future star.  Not sure if he'll ever realise that potential, but it's there in spades. 

[slightly biased bias fan]

And even when he's "fully ready", what will he be?  A reserve big who can't rebound? I've already ranted about him in another thread, but he's not first-round material, much less top half of the first round where everyone seemingly puts him.

If that is the case imagine the Maker project longevity!? 

At least few are suggesting Maker is a lottery pick.

Yes, very true...if this draft could have a title i think it would be 'the upside draft' I'd rather take a punt on Maker in the 2nd round as Skal looks like Channing Frye to me.

[crimson_stallion]

And even when he's "fully ready", what will he be?  A reserve big who can't rebound? I've already ranted about him in another thread, but he's not first-round material, much less top half of the first round where everyone seemingly puts him.

If that is the case imagine the Maker project longevity!? 

At least few are suggesting Maker is a lottery pick.

Yes, very true...if this draft could have a title i think it would be 'the upside draft' I'd rather take a punt on Maker in the 2nd round as Skal looks like Channing Frye to me.

I don't see that.  Frye had nowhere near the defensive potential that Skal has, and from what I recall nowhere near the athleticism.

[loco_91]

If a prospect takes three years before they're ready, they will never be ready. If you're drafting Lab in the lottery, it's because you think he just didn't mesh with Cal's system, and he's got the raw talent to put it together in his first or second year in the NBA. Workouts are super important for him, and it does sound like he killed it at the Combine. So I think he's probably still worth picking somewhere in the teens. That said, this draft is deep through the mid-20's, so it wouldn't be shocking to see him drop to the late 1st.

[Csfan1984]

The steal at 16 I'm hoping for.

[saltlover]

I wouldn't put Brown on that list.

Brown could contribute at the NBA level right now.  He's got an NBA body with NBA athleticism, he's a good rebounder, he's a quality defender, and his jumpshot is better then advertised. 

He is pretty much just as NBA ready as Justice Winslow was, except that Brown has a significantly higher ceiling due to his athleticism. 

Realistically Andrew Wiggins was far more raw/limited when he was drafted then Brown is, so I'm confident brown could produce from the star.

And even when he's "fully ready", what will he be?  A reserve big who can't rebound? I've already ranted about him in another thread, but he's not first-round material, much less top half of the first round where everyone seemingly puts him.

He has the talent to be a VERY impressive two-way player one day. 

His athleticism and defensive potential are on Deandre Jordan level, except Skal can shoot and has half decent moves in the paint.  His rebounding is really about the only criticism, otherwise his potential is sky high. 

I think Skal is one of the highest up/down players in the draft in that his floor is  that of a guy who may struggle to make a roster, but his ceiling is that of a future perennial all-star.

I think his upside is FAR higher then Bender's, but his floor is significantly lower - he's a bigger risk. 

When you have a guy with Skal's combination of size, athleticism, inside moves and outside jumpshot - you have a potential future star.  Not sure if he'll ever realise that potential, but it's there in spades.

DeAndre Jordan had 35 pounds on him and 8 inches of reach at their respective combines.  Jordan is huge in a way that Skal isn't, and never will be.  Jordan also demonstrated some rebounding skill at college.  And Jordan was a second-round pick to boot.

Skal has a nice looking jumper from 12 feet, but so does Tyler Zeller.  He gets some blocks, but at the rate he fouls, he won't be able to stay on the court.  He's a liability on the boards.  He's not strong enough or skilled enough to play in the post.  He's not DeAndre Jordan.  He does not have that upside.  He's this year's Fab Melo.  I hope we don't make the same mistake twice.

[alldaboston]

I wouldn't put Brown on that list.

Brown could contribute at the NBA level right now.  He's got an NBA body with NBA athleticism, he's a good rebounder, he's a quality defender, and his jumpshot is better then advertised. 

He is pretty much just as NBA ready as Justice Winslow was, except that Brown has a significantly higher ceiling due to his athleticism. 

Realistically Andrew Wiggins was far more raw/limited when he was drafted then Brown is, so I'm confident brown could produce from the star.

And even when he's "fully ready", what will he be?  A reserve big who can't rebound? I've already ranted about him in another thread, but he's not first-round material, much less top half of the first round where everyone seemingly puts him.

He has the talent to be a VERY impressive two-way player one day. 

His athleticism and defensive potential are on Deandre Jordan level, except Skal can shoot and has half decent moves in the paint.  His rebounding is really about the only criticism, otherwise his potential is sky high. 

I think Skal is one of the highest up/down players in the draft in that his floor is  that of a guy who may struggle to make a roster, but his ceiling is that of a future perennial all-star.

I think his upside is FAR higher then Bender's, but his floor is significantly lower - he's a bigger risk. 

When you have a guy with Skal's combination of size, athleticism, inside moves and outside jumpshot - you have a potential future star.  Not sure if he'll ever realise that potential, but it's there in spades.

I agree with this assessment of Brown. I've been very critical of him, but is it THAT far fetched to see Jaylen as a worse, SF version of Russell Westbrook?

Overall, my opinion of him is changing.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

This is one of the problems with guys entering the NBA after only one year of college: There are probably going to be several players each year who will be pretty good 3 or 4 years down the road, so some teams feel like they need to draft them now so they don't miss out on them later, but in the meantime they contribute virtually nothing while taking up a roster spot.

[BDeCosta26]

This is one of the problems with guys entering the NBA after only one year of college: There are probably going to be several players each year who will be pretty good 3 or 4 years down the road, so some teams feel like they need to draft them now so they don't miss out on them later, but in the meantime they contribute virtually nothing while taking up a roster spot.

And that's where the D-League comes in, at least in the NBA's mind if it ever fully develops into a legit minor league system.

To me, they either have to fully invest in the NBDL, allow guys to be drafted out of HS, and develop properly that way, or do what the NfL does and make guys stay for at least 3/4 years so the majority get the development they need.

IMO, supporting the sham that is college sports is the worse way to go but either way, they have to pick one or the other because what they have now is just bad for the majority in both directions.