Following Potential Draftees - 2019 (not kidding)

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I am a huge fan and think he will have a good career. He might not be an all star but with work he has the potential to be a decent starter in the league.

Name me the other NBA rotation players with negative wingspans and well below average athleticism.

I'll wait. The only one I can think of is JJ Redick, and he's an all-time shooter off motion.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Langford was a 35% shooter from 3 during his HS career. I think the thumb injury really hurt him. He isnt as bad at shooting as his % indicates.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

the idea of drafting Langford makes my stomach hurt and hives break out on my butt

That might be herpes

 

[Chargers Jazz Angels]

That might be herpes

that was be Haas

 

[seattlejazzfan]

Langford was a 35% shooter from 3 during his HS career. I think the thumb injury really hurt him. He isnt as bad at shooting as his % indicates.

I wasn't aware of the thumb. I agree if he's there at 23, assuming no red flags that cause a drop in the first place, you take him.

 

[SCS]

Honestly, i think most fans and even nba teams feel the same way about him. Id be scared *****ess to take him top 15. Not a great athlete, he can't shoot with range (at this point) and I've never loved his body language out there.

But there is also something about him that makes me think he has a chance to be pretty special. He has a knack for scoring off the bounce, especially near the hoop. Decent defender, has an nba body and has good length for a 2. Apparently very coachable, soaks it all in.

But i can see complete bust, out of the league in 5 years or i can see all-star in 5 years.

Very much a polarizing prospect.

The thing that I love most about him is his PPP as pick and roll ball handler. He really scores in pnr. He also shows flashes of being a decent passer in pnr too. That should translate. I have many of the same concerns about him though.

 

[zyzz]

Sam Vecenie on The Athletic has a new Mock Draft. I'll post some of the players with a lot of movement or prospects who worked out for the Jazz if there were any interesting tidbits. Let me know if you want to know about certain prospects or where he has someone ranked.

Herro’s first workout this week was with the Celtics, where he just about set the net on fire shooting the ball according to sources. He figures to be in the mix starting around the No. 11 mark, but here he gets all the way to 15

Kabengele from #40 to #17

I’ll be honest: I had Kabengele set for the Nets prior to their move out of No. 17 in the aforementioned Crabbe/Prince trade. There’s no way the Hawks take two centers with these picks. But here’s the thing: I’d be surprised if they end up using all of picks 8, 10, and 17. So I’m going to leave Kabengele here, and just note that around the NBA Kabengele has really risen up draft boards of late. His knees came back clean in terms of health after some NBA teams were worried about their long-term viability due to his consistent wearing of braces this season. From there, he’s taken that momentum and run with it, where he’s been a strong performer in workouts, showing off some skills that he didn’t necessarily get a chance to at Florida State as far as ball-handling and even further shooting acumen.

PJ Washington from #13 to #18

Washington will be in the mix starting as early as No. 9, and I’d consider this something of a floor that I’d be surprised to see him fall beneath. He’ll start his workouts this weekend, so there isn’t a great sense of who exactly loves him after having him into their building and who doesn’t yet.

Samanich from #37 to #19

I’d say that right around here is the start of his range, but he’ll likely be taken somewhere in the first round.

NAW at #20

Alexander-Walker recently worked out with the Celtics and, sources said, performed extremely well in front of their brass. He also fits something of a positional need now in the backcourt with the team potentially losing Kyrie Irving and Terry Rozier in free agency. . . . The big concern here is overall athleticism in regards to potential future star power. Because of that, he profiles best next to a high-level creator. Still, this would be a good value at No. 20 for anyone.

Cameron Johnson still at #23

The Jazz badly need shooting. Johnson is the best shooter in the draft, and would fit well positionally next to the Jazz’ signed core of Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell, and Joe Ingles. Johnson will be the oldest player selected on draft night at 23 years old already, but that fits well with the Jazz’ timeline given that he’ll be expected to come in and compete early. There are some defensive concerns here due to his strength level, but he has reasonable lateral quickness on the perimeter. If he can become even an average defender, Johnson will play in the NBA for a while. His range will start around No. 18 and extend all the way through the first round.

Kevin Porter Jr. from #18 to #25

So this is a bit of a fall for Porter. But there have been some questions that have come up about Porter’s work ethic and coachability. Because NBA teams are risk averse, the word is that Porter is falling on draft night. I think there’s something to the idea that teams are trying to leak information about him so that he falls to their slot, but it is certainly a “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” situation. . . . At this point, I think that there is something to the idea that teams in the teens might pass on him.

Personally, I think that would be a mistake. I have him at No. 14 on my big board, and don’t have the same concerns that NBA teams do if they can foster Porter in the right way. Having done some background work on him myself, the issues strike me as immaturity versus him being a bad person. . . . My bet is that, on draft night, his range is somewhere between No. 13 to No. 26. Cleveland is thought to be a fan.

Bol Bol from #21 to #26

To be honest though, if I’m the team that misses on him, I’m comfortable with my decision. The risk factors associated with selecting him are vast to the point that I’d rather just be comfortable taking a different player.

Eric Paschall from #35 to #27

Grant Williams at #29

Williams is a tough prospect to peg right now. Some really smart teams don’t have him rated as a first round pick, seriously doubting his ability to shoot it from distance and defend away from the basket due to his mobility. I’m not one of those people. I have Williams at No. 15 on my board because I believe in his work ethic, physical strength, and basketball IQ translating at a high level.

Chuma Okeke from #41 to #31

Okeke is rumored to have a promise somewhere in the second round, but my bet is that someone prioritizes him and takes him early in this stanza.

Carson Edwards from #22 to #32

Terence Davis from unranked to #34

Davis had a good workout with the 76ers earlier this week, and is one of this draft class’s biggest risers. It’s likely he’ll be taken in the top-40, as his blend of strength and size with his athletic explosiveness isn’t quite elite, but it’s just the level below. If he can turn into an above-average jump-shooter, there is a lot of potential here.

Darius Bazley from #55 to #35

He has potential to go late first round, but most executives peg him as coming off the board within the first half of the second round due to his upside athletically. If he can shoot it at all, he has a real chance to stick at the next level.

Talen Horton-Tucker from #28 to #38

Personally, this is higher than I’d take Horton-Tucker, as I’m not entirely clear what he’s able to do while playing for a team on his initial contract. He has legit ball skills, great length with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, and the idea of positional versatility going for him. But he’s a pretty bad defender right now, and he struggles to shoot it from distance. At only 18 years old, he might be a second contract candidate.

Dylan Windler #39

Admiral Schofield #42

Jalen Lecque from unranked to #46

Giving him a shot isn’t the worst idea a team could undertake, although his overall skill level still leaves a lot on the table at this stage of his development.

Miye Oni to the Jazz at #53

The Jazz like big wings who are tough and long. Oni fits that bill, and has also become a pretty solid shooter. Another role player’s starter kit here that fits perfectly positionally with a potential playoff team

Clippers have liked Brian Bowen for a while and they pick #56

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Sam Vecenie on The Athletic has a new Mock Draft. I'll post some of the players with a lot of movement or prospects who worked out for the Jazz if there were any interesting tidbits. Let me know if you want to know about certain prospects or where he has someone ranked.

What is Sam Vecenie saying about Okpala, Terence Davis, Nic Claxton and Keldon Johnson?

 

[zyzz]

What is Sam Vecenie saying about Okpala, Terence Davis, Nic Claxton and Keldon Johnson?

Okpala moved from #25 to #21

Okpala just fits a lot of what the Thunder look for in players. General manager Sam Presti tends to value high level elite level length and athleticism, in addition to high character guys. Okpala fits that mold well. He’s extremely intelligent, a hard worker, and has a lot of upside at just 19 years old after averaging almost 17 points per game for Stanford this season at 6-foot-8 with a 7-2 wingspan on the wing. He’s a lot more confident as a driver than as a shooter at this point, but he can knock down a shot directly off the catch, something that’s critical for the Thunder.

His draft range is pretty wide at this stage, as he’s a bit of a polarizing prospect. Some teams buy into the skills laid out above, whereas others look at him as a project on both ends of the floor due to the still-improving jump shot and defensive instincts that can sometimes push him out of place. How much you buy into his defensive depends on how much you question what he was asked to do on the floor for Stanford, whose goal this season was to sell out to stop the 3-point line. But if you think you can re-teach him on that end instinctually, and then continuing to improve his athleticism with the addition of strength, Okpala has the type of loose, fluid athleticism that could lead to a steal down the road.

Terence Davis from unranked to #34

Davis had a good workout with the 76ers earlier this week, and is one of this draft class’s biggest risers. It’s likely he’ll be taken in the top-40, as his blend of strength and size with his athletic explosiveness isn’t quite elite, but it’s just the level below. If he can turn into an above-average jump-shooter, there is a lot of potential here.

Claxton from #26 to #28

Claxton decided to stick in the draft after a tough decision process, with the feedback being he’d likely be selected somewhere in the top-35. For years, the Warriors have been trying to find the right center to play in their scheme. And yet, following multiple bites at the apple with Kevon Looney, Jordan Bell, and Damian Jones, the team has very little to show for it that is under contract next season. The team will hold Looney’s Bird rights, but he’s an unrestricted free agent free to sign wherever. It also still has Jones under contract and Bell’s restricted free agency rights, but neither player has shown the capacity to hold up in a playoff environment. Claxton’s mobility, ball skills, and high defensive upside are the kind of tools that could allow him to do just that. He’ll need to spend a year in the G League to bulk up and add strength, but Claxton is much more athletic than Looney, has more ball skill than Jones, and has more size than Bell. He’s a perfect scheme fit for what they want to do due to his switchability, rim protection, and ability to potentially shoot it down the road. His range starts around No. 20, but as mentioned above, is unlikely to get past No. 35.

Keldon Johnson from #20 to #22 (Boston owns both picks)

Danny Ainge loves guys who are tough and have an aggressive mindset. Johnson fits that billing. He’s not great at any one aspect of the game yet, but he’s really good at a lot of them. At 6-6 with solid length and a great standing reach, he has positional versatility that should allow him to play next to all of Boston’s perimeter weapons. At this stage, he’s a good shooter, a solid straight line driver due to his strength and physicality, an average athlete in terms of explosiveness, and an average defender due to his tenacity. At lower levels, he showed some ability to pass it, but that didn’t happen as much at Kentucky in terms of advanced reads. As long as the shooting translates –which feels likely given that he’s a good worker — Johnson has potential to be a versatile player who can provide a lot of value all over the place.

 

[zyzz]

Vecenie also says

While [the Hawks/Nets trade] may have been the first trade of the offseason, do not expect it to be the last in the two weeks leading up to the draft. Not by a long shot. Heck, it might not even be the last trade involving either of these teams. Sources around the NBA have noted throughout the playoffs that they expect plenty of movement involving draft picks both before and after the draft.

Why? Well, just look at the draft order.

The Pelicans will be involved in moving Anthony Davis. The Knicks want Anthony Davis and will be willing to use the No. 3 pick to get him. The same can be said of the Lakers and the No. 4 pick, except you can expect them to be even more aggressive pursuing deals on the market. At No. 6, the Suns want to get better this year and will be in the market for veteran guards — likely in free agency, but it’s not impossible that they listen on deals at No. 6. At Nos. 8, 10, and 17 now, the Hawks have more draft capital than anyone. At No. 9, the Wizards have to make a call on Bradley Beal. Potential deals and teams looking to move around are littered throughout the top-10.

One thing throwing all of this for a loop, though? The distance on the calendar between the end of the finals, the draft and free agency. This year, if the NBA Finals go seven games, the series won’t end until June 16. The draft is scheduled for June 20, meaning it’ll be extremely difficult for any of the teams in the races for Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, or Klay Thompson in free agency to have any sense of clarity about their decisions. They might have a feeling or an inkling on something, but I doubt that anyone will know for sure what’s going to happen, and thus allow for the freedom of movement NBA teams would like to undertake this summer to try and position themselves to be the next team after the Warriors. In free agency time and on the NBA clock, 10 days might as well be an eternity for decision makers.

So with that being said, there will be plenty of movement within this mock draft over the next 13 days, if only because I don’t think the order will be staying the same. There’s an arms race going on across the NBA right now, and that race involves front office executives trying to gather as much intel as possible that could give them any sort of edge heading into free agency.

 

[LoPo]

Nobody is talking about this guy. Is he the next Siakim or Giannis?

Sekou Doumbouya

Worth trading up for?

Sent from my VS995 using JazzFanz mobile app

 

[NUMBERICA]

Name me the other NBA rotation players with negative wingspans and well below average athleticism.

I'll wait. The only one I can think of is JJ Redick, and he's an all-time shooter off motion.

Rodney Hood.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Name me the other NBA rotation players with negative wingspans and well below average athleticism.

I'll wait. The only one I can think of is JJ Redick, and he's an all-time shooter off motion.

Gordon Hayward.

 

[Udidthizz]

Nobody is talking about this guy. Is he the next Siakim or Giannis?

Sekou Doumbouya

Worth trading up for?

Sent from my VS995 using JazzFanz mobile app

He’s getting quite a bit of attention. Probably has something to do with the fact that nobody wants to miss out on the next Siakam.

 

[kabenac]

The draft is only 10 days away. I'm confident someone will be there at 23. I like Samanic, Langford, Keldon Johnson, Washington.

Hoping for Wilkes in the second round.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Rodney Hood.

Not a negative wingspan and an average NBA athlete.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Gordon Hayward.

Cmon, if you really think Hayward is a below average athlete then you're just trolling

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Vecenie also says

That's why Utah has Zanick and Morway as GMs. Both former agents with a lot of connections.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Sam Vecenie on The Athletic has a new Mock Draft. I'll post some of the players with a lot of movement or prospects who worked out for the Jazz if there were any interesting tidbits. Let me know if you want to know about certain prospects or where he has someone ranked.



Kabengele from #40 to #17


PJ Washington from #13 to #18


Samanich from #37 to #19


NAW at #20


Cameron Johnson still at #23


Kevin Porter Jr. from #18 to #25


Bol Bol from #21 to #26


Eric Paschall from #35 to #27

Grant Williams at #29


Chuma Okeke from #41 to #31


Carson Edwards from #22 to #32

Terence Davis from unranked to #34


Darius Bazley from #55 to #35


Talen Horton-Tucker from #28 to #38


Dylan Windler #39

Admiral Schofield #42

Jalen Lecque from unranked to #46


Miye Oni to the Jazz at #53


Clippers have liked Brian Bowen for a while and they pick #56

Anything about Q Weatherspoon?

 

[NUMBERICA]

Cmon, if you really think Hayward is a below average athlete then you're just trolling

Am I? Feel free to peruse the athletic testing from the combine, the footage, or how pathetic he was for most of his first season.

Your concerns about Jerome were my concerns about Hayward.