DX Latest Mock

[RedClaw33]

If we draft Chriss I'm going to be really disappointed.  I really question his basketball IQ and for some reason he just screams bust to me.  (His highlight real is impressive....but they don't do highlights of fouling out of games...something he did regularly the first half of the season.

[tankcity!]

If we go Chriss at 3 and Malachi at 16 I might put a piece of furniture through my tv.

Also, I see Valentine going in the 20's in mocks but I don't understand it at all. He's a great shooter at a time when shooting is at a premium. I don't think he's much worse than Buddy.

Chriss and malachi could turn into really valuable players, or be a couple of James Young type busts. Two guys that wow with the eye test but look horrible by the numbers.

I suppose I'm in favor of swinging for the fences, but yeah, that'd set my teeth on edge.

What exactly wowed you about James Young when we drafted him? He had no handles, not really athletic. All we were expecting was him to be able to shoot when we drafted him. So I really don't get the wow comparison since Young wasn't much to look at visually. Also, he was pretty slow in college. Most raw player we have drafted with the exception of Fab Melo.

[chiken Green]

Does anybody like Brice Johnson?

[Geo123]

Does anybody like Brice Johnson?

Yes, but he needs 20  to 30 pounds to compete in the NBA...

[mef730]

I, too, would put a piece of furniture through Evantime34's TV, after picking Richardson. Sorry buddy, but I already destroyed mine after we picked Chriss.

Mike

[jpotter33]

I can't believe so many are down on Chriss. I think he'd be an absolute perfect fit for us at the 4. Sure, he's riskier than some of the older picks, but his ceiling might possibly be as high if not higher than Simmons' and Ingram's ceilings. If we can't trade the pick, he's my pick at three if need be, though I'd certainly love to get him a few picks later while picking up some other assets.

Perhaps it's because I'm not very excited about any of the other prospects that I like Chris's so much. I actually like Hield l, but I think he'll end up more JJ Reddick than anything, which is still good just not enough for the third pick.

[tankcity!]

I can't believe so many are down on Chriss. I think he'd be an absolute perfect fit for us at the 4. Sure, he's riskier than some of the older picks, but his ceiling might possibly be as high if not higher than Simmons' and Ingram's ceilings. If we can't trade the pick, he's my pick at three if need be, though I'd certainly love to get him a few picks later while picking up some other assets.

Perhaps it's because I'm not very excited about any of the other prospects that I like Chris's so much. I actually like Hield l, but I think he'll end up more JJ Reddick than anything, which is still good just not enough for the third pick.

It's because they would rather have a tall stiff benchwarming Euro no one has enough tape on and can't provide concrete statistical evidence that he can shoot. I mean we all know Chriss is too risky, but Bender, no way. He's not risky at all.

[Beat LA]

I, too, would put a piece of furniture through Evantime34's TV, after picking Richardson. Sorry buddy, but I already destroyed mine after we picked Chriss.

Mike

Lol, TP .

[RedClaw33]

I can't believe so many are down on Chriss. I think he'd be an absolute perfect fit for us at the 4. Sure, he's riskier than some of the older picks, but his ceiling might possibly be as high if not higher than Simmons' and Ingram's ceilings. If we can't trade the pick, he's my pick at three if need be, though I'd certainly love to get him a few picks later while picking up some other assets.

Perhaps it's because I'm not very excited about any of the other prospects that I like Chris's so much. I actually like Hield l, but I think he'll end up more JJ Reddick than anything, which is still good just not enough for the third pick.

It's because they would rather have a tall stiff benchwarming Euro no one has enough tape on and can't provide concrete statistical evidence that he can shoot. I mean we all know Chriss is too risky, but Bender, no way. He's not risky at all.

I think people who support drafting Bender would acknowledge that he is a risky pick, after all, if there wasn't so much risk we would hear about him going #2 or at least in the conversation.  It's foolish to think there is less knowledge of Bender than Chriss though.  Dragan has been a top prospect for several years and a projected top 5 pick for the last two years.  Their is plenty of knowledge of what he can do...the draft has just changed to selecting for potential instead current ability.

[hpantazo]

How's Jamal Murray's basketball IQ? From what I read, he's been playing since he was very young, so I would expect his bball IQ to be pretty high, but I never see any comments about it. His scoring looks exceptional. If he has the right mindset and instincts, then I think he can overcome his weakness on defense, but if his basketball IQ and instincts are mediocre, then no.

[max215]

Also, I see Valentine going in the 20's in mocks but I don't understand it at all. He's a great shooter at a time when shooting is at a premium. I don't think he's much worse than Buddy.

The experts say he's a legitimately bad defender with below average athleticism and question how effective his can be without the ball in his hands.

Mike

And the latest reports are that he has a bad knee issue.

[max215]

How's Jamal Murray's basketball IQ? From what I read, he's been playing since he was very young, so I would expect his bball IQ to be pretty high, but I never see any comments about it. His scoring looks exceptional. If he has the right mindset and instincts, then I think he can overcome his weakness on defense, but if his basketball IQ and instincts are mediocre, then no.

He's smart and aggressive, and scouts seem to agree that his Bball IQ is high.

[hpantazo]

How's Jamal Murray's basketball IQ? From what I read, he's been playing since he was very young, so I would expect his bball IQ to be pretty high, but I never see any comments about it. His scoring looks exceptional. If he has the right mindset and instincts, then I think he can overcome his weakness on defense, but if his basketball IQ and instincts are mediocre, then no.

He's smart and aggressive, and scouts seem to agree that his Bball IQ is high.

Thanks for the info. That sounds very promising then, I can see him becoming a multiple time all-star if that's the case.

[TwinTower14]

Also, I see Valentine going in the 20's in mocks but I don't understand it at all. He's a great shooter at a time when shooting is at a premium. I don't think he's much worse than Buddy.

The experts say he's a legitimately bad defender with below average athleticism and question how effective his can be without the ball in his hands.

Mike

And the latest reports are that he has a bad knee issue.

He played off the ball all year at Kentucky. Uliss ran the show and Murray was good.

[Evantime34]

I agree with all your points. Chriss is a player that has risen fast, but that rebounding scares the hell out of me. That's a skill that translates, so if he struggled (to put it mildly) in college, how bad is he going to do on the next level? This screams of a lack of instincts, timing, motor, and/or positional strength. A lot of times you have these athletic players rise (see Swift, Ty Thomas, etc.) and bomb at  the next level. He could be next.

So I hadn't watched Washington much but I heard something on a podcast that helped explain his poor rebounding production. Apparently UW's switch pick and roll so he ended up defending the ball handler on the perimeter more than he was around the hoop to get a rebound. His rebounding numbers are still terrible, but maybe if they ran a different defense he would be a below average rebounder instead of a historically awful one.

The experts say he's a legitimately bad defender with below average athleticism and question how effective his can be without the ball in his hands.

Mike

The defense obviously isn't good but I'm a firm believer that players who exhibit high basketball IQ on offense can eventually do so in team defense. I think he will become a good enough eventually to at least not kill his team.

As to not being effective without the ball, he's a great shooter off the ball and often scored running off screens for MSU, so I don't agree with that.

His shooting, rebounding and passing will make him an absolute steal if he goes in the 20's. Despite where he is being mocked, he has 3 workouts scheduled with the Bulls, Bucks and Magic all who pick in the back half of the lottery so I would be surprised if he slips as far as DX does.