Brandon Ingram Will Be a Bust...

[droopdog7]

I have a eerily weird gut feeling that we will hear something negative about Ingram in the coming days (health related) that will lead to widespread speculation that he will drop on draft night.

Dude, I've been getting that feeling too. The fact that he only put on 1 lonely pound during that bulking regimen where most players put on 10+ felt strange and I wonder if he has some condition- that would explain the talk of the lakers picking hield and Ainge meeting with Ingrams agent.

There are a lot of people that are thin.  My in laws are this way.  My brother in law hasn't gained a pound since high school and that was over 20 years ago.

That's not a condition.

[kraidstar]

he's too skilled to be a bust. but that frame really is worrying, he's 30 pounds lighter than durant was at the same age (and we see sometimes how a mature durant seems hesitant to go into traffic). he could really struggle on the glass and defense  against stronger guys. this might limit his ceiling a little bit.

[dreamgreen]

What makes me sick is the thought the player I want the most will go to the Fakers. But for some reason they don't take him, I will be drinking champagne!!!

[loco_91]

Why would you expect Ingram of all guys to bust? He has the complete skill package. It's not as though he has to add new things to his game or improve drastically in any area to become great. He's the most likely player in the draft to become an above average starter.

[Vermont Green]

No more likely a bust than Bender, Brown, Heild, Chriss, ........

This is drafting after all.

[wiley]

Thrilled if we get him.  Just don't expect first year greatness.  A few down the road he'll start to really show his stuff.  Brad Stevens and Celtics organization perfect spot for him.

[meangreenmachine]

If we get him, hopefully I am wrong. Some of you have made me feel better about the prospect of him falling, but I am still concerned. I think it mostly comes down to how stick-thin he is and how he carries himself. It just concerns me whether he can handle the burden of being a top draft pick in the NBA.

[crimson_stallion]

Why would you expect Ingram of all guys to bust? He has the complete skill package. It's not as though he has to add new things to his game or improve drastically in any area to become great. He's the most likely player in the draft to become an above average starter.

I strongly disagree with all of the above.

Honestly, Ingram does not have a single elite skill.  The biggest reasons why he's ranked so high is because of:

a) His age
b) His size/length at the wing position

He's a very good shooter which is probably his most impressive talent, but:

1) He's not an elite athletic (above average, but not elite)
2) He's not as good a ball handler / passer as advertised
3) He's now a standout defensive player (though potential is there)
4) He's a solid but not great rebounder
5) He's not en elite scorer right now, but has the potential to become one
6) There's serious question marks about whether he's got a star's mentality

These are all very valid question marks even BEFORE you get to the concerns over his physical build.

Ingram is a far riskier prospect then people are acknowledging.  The upside is certainly there, but so is the risk of him bombing out.

Simmons has far less risk of being a bust since we already know he's going to rebound at an NBA level, we know he's going to be able to use his size and explosiveness to score in the P&R, and we know he'd going to be able to score in transition.  Simmons' has an almost Lebron-like combination of speed and strength, so on the fast break he's going to be like a freight train - he'll be next to unstoppable.  He's going to be able to muscle his way against small forwards, and he's going to be able to blow past PF's and C's with his ball handling and quickness.

At the very least, Simmons will be a 14/10 guy at a bare minimum.  If/when he develops a passable jumper and a quality  better post game, he'll be completely unstoppable. If that never happens, he'll still be a comfortable 14/10 guy at a minimum.

Really, the only defense plan that can be used against Simmons will be to sag off him and let him shoot.  There's really nothing else you can do.  If he develops even just a passable jumper, there will be little to no answer against him.

[saltlover]

Brandon Ingram sounds a lot like Paul George coming out of college, except he's longer and younger.  Recall George was mostly a 6'8" 3-and-D 2-guard his first two seasons in the NBA.  Maybe Ingram is a little less strong, but George was 16 months older.  Coming out of high school George weighed 190 as well.

[slightly biased bias fan]

Brandon Ingram sounds a lot like Paul George coming out of college, except he's longer and younger.  Recall George was mostly a 6'8" 3-and-D 2-guard his first two seasons in the NBA.  Maybe Ingram is a little less strong, but George was 16 months older.  Coming out of high school George weighed 190 as well.

I know its just hearsay but Ingram could still be growing and this may be the reason he can't put on weight.