2018 Pick - Hope for Ayton

[libermaniac]

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/deandre-ayton

DeAndre Ayton is EXACTLY what the C's need.  I'm a bit worried, however, that NBA free agents might like Nets coach Atkinson's style - wide open offense, lots of 3's, and they might sign a few more players this off-season to take them out of top pick contention.  But, one can only dream, right?

[saltlover]

It's not a great free agent class.  I wouldn't worry.  The top players certainly aren't signing there, and the quality falls off rather quickly.  Expect them to throw large offers at some restricted free agents again, like Otto Porter and KCP.  Maybe they could get Porter if Washington is too cheap to match.  But they're not suddenly going to have an influx in talent.

[knuckleballer]

I don't know much about the guy, but his size is legit.

[mr. dee]

Alot can change during that timespan. Okafor was a #1 ranked recruit in the nation, followed by Myles Turner and Cliff Alexander who went undrafted in the league.

I'll wait and see how these kids do first before making a judgement.

[saltlover]

Alot can change during that timespan. Okafor was a #1 ranked recruit in the nation, followed by Myles Turner and Cliff Alexander who went undrafted in the league.

I'll wait and see how these kids do first before making a judgement.

Well how about Luka Doncic as Plan B, since we know Danny loves guards?  He's only 17, is a 6'7" (or 6'8" depending where you look) combo guard, and is starting for Real Madrid, which is the best team in the best league in Europe.  He's shooting 53/42/90 during Euroleague.  We've currently got the top three guards in our rotation eligible for free agency in the summer of 2018.  Doncic should be ready to immediately step into an NBA rotation given that by then he'll have been starting for three years for Real Madrid.  I don't know how high Doncic' ceiling is (but it can't be low given how good of a shooter he is, and that supposedly he's a better passer than shooter), but his floor has got to be amongst the highest in years.

I know I'm supposed to want the kid who at 17 looks as big as Dwight Howard today, and I do, but Doncic could start for the 76ers or Brooklyn Nets today, and he doesn't turn 18 for two more months.  He could be the most NBA-ready 19 year-old draftee we've seen in more than a decade.

[clevelandceltic]

Have you seen him play/

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/deandre-ayton

DeAndre Ayton is EXACTLY what the C's need.  I'm a bit worried, however, that NBA free agents might like Nets coach Atkinson's style - wide open offense, lots of 3's, and they might sign a few more players this off-season to take them out of top pick contention.  But, one can only dream, right?

[fantankerous]

It's not a great free agent class.  I wouldn't worry.  The top players certainly aren't signing there, and the quality falls off rather quickly.  Expect them to throw large offers at some restricted free agents again, like Otto Porter and KCP.  Maybe they could get Porter if Washington is too cheap to match.  But they're not suddenly going to have an influx in talent.

I imagine that Porter will have better options than the Nets.  Perhaps even the Celtics.

[libermaniac]

Have you seen him play/

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/deandre-ayton

DeAndre Ayton is EXACTLY what the C's need.  I'm a bit worried, however, that NBA free agents might like Nets coach Atkinson's style - wide open offense, lots of 3's, and they might sign a few more players this off-season to take them out of top pick contention.  But, one can only dream, right?

No, I haven't.  But there are a few youtube videos out there, and he definitely looks athletic and aggressive.  He's also not afraid to take the 3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl4v9duu9wE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFnqIFw2PqI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuKNx5glAiU

[libermaniac]

It's not a great free agent class.  I wouldn't worry.  The top players certainly aren't signing there, and the quality falls off rather quickly.  Expect them to throw large offers at some restricted free agents again, like Otto Porter and KCP.  Maybe they could get Porter if Washington is too cheap to match.  But they're not suddenly going to have an influx in talent.

That's good to know.  Would love to be back in this position next year. It's fun having 2 favorite teams ... 1) C's 2) Whoever is playing the Nets.

[ederson]

Well how about Luka Doncic as Plan B, since we know Danny loves guards?  He's only 17, is a 6'7" (or 6'8" depending where you look) combo guard, and is starting for Real Madrid, which is the best team in the best league in Europe.  He's shooting 53/42/90 during Euroleague.  We've currently got the top three guards in our rotation eligible for free agency in the summer of 2018.  Doncic should be ready to immediately step into an NBA rotation given that by then he'll have been starting for three years for Real Madrid.  I don't know how high Doncic' ceiling is (but it can't be low given how good of a shooter he is, and that supposedly he's a better passer than shooter), but his floor has got to be amongst the highest in years.

I know I'm supposed to want the kid who at 17 looks as big as Dwight Howard today, and I do, but Doncic could start for the 76ers or Brooklyn Nets today, and he doesn't turn 18 for two more months.  He could be the most NBA-ready 19 year-old draftee we've seen in more than a decade.

To be honest i don't feel very comfortable drafting euros that high but the kid is really playing good both in spanish league and the euroleague. You don't just happen to play 18-19 mins per game for real madrid!

Off topic i can't help comparing the 17yo  doncic who starts for real to the 17yo bender couldn't crack the roration of the at the time mediocre maccabi.

[GreenShooter]

Ayton is a talent, no doubt. But his motor is not great and he doesn't always hustle back on D, from some clips I've seen. But when he does, watch out! He also got outplayed by Mohamed Bamba, a very athletic big, a couple of weeks ago.

[HomerSapien]

Ayton is a talent, no doubt. But his motor is not great and he doesn't always hustle back on D, from some clips I've seen. But when he does, watch out! He also got outplayed by Mohamed Bamba, a very athletic big, a couple of weeks ago.

These two matchup again on Jan. 14 at the Hoopshall Classic. Its going to be on ESPN.

[nickagneta]

Cant get into worrying about 17 year olds that are two drafts away. Anything can happen in that time.

[RAAAAAAAANDY]

It's not a great free agent class.  I wouldn't worry.  The top players certainly aren't signing there, and the quality falls off rather quickly.  Expect them to throw large offers at some restricted free agents again, like Otto Porter and KCP.  Maybe they could get Porter if Washington is too cheap to match.  But they're not suddenly going to have an influx in talent.

I imagine that Porter will have better options than the Nets.  Perhaps even the Celtics.

He's going to get multiple max offers, I don't see any way he decides to sign in NY unless he has a real desire to get to that market and they tell him he's going to be the guy there.

[libermaniac]

Cant get into worrying about 17 year olds that are two drafts away. Anything can happen in that time.

Not worrying.  Just fun.