Following potential 2015 draftees

[The Midnight]

This draft will always be remembered for how Locke keeps calling Hezonja "H-A-S-A-N-G-A".

 

[stitches]

Anybody has info about any unsigned FAs we will be bringing in for Summer league? Upshaw? Wood? Alexander? There are plenty of good free agents we can bring and try out with the team.

 

[BTP]

6) Lyles
He's really good. Other than length he doesn't bring much of the table, but the things he brings, he utilizes 100%. I think he's smart enough to become an adequate defender on the perimeter and I don't see why he can't extend his range in time. But his best case scenario is below the one of all the guys mentioned before. He's less risky to bust or have his confidence shattered(Turner seems primed for that). He would have been a prototype Georgetown big speaking in cliches. Skinny Greg Monroe with more range is something I'd say is his ceiling.

Trey Lyles somehow reminds me of Taj Gibson in some way. Can't really describe it. It's not their current skillset. But rather I foresee a development in Lyles body and skillset.

Stuff I wrote about Lyles in the past few days.
The main reason I'm kinda disappointed was another young guy though:

3) Devin Booker
Worst case he's going to develop into Kyle Korver at a younger age. I'll take that. His shot is so pure. I don't really see the Klay Thompson comparison other than that both can shoot. Klay's a better athlete at this point. Not saying Devin can't become that, but his frame is limited, his speed is limited and even if he looks slightly overweight now, I don't know if he can become a reliable secondary attacker.
I'll take his shooting, BBIQ, lockerroom influence, and defensive effort though.

I just felt Devin Booker was such a good match.
While other evaluators feel BPA every day all day, when there's talents that are very close in terms of talent and upside, I will factor in stuff like opportunity, long term fit, versatility(e.g. does having this player on the court put a lot of restrictions on a coach's ability to sport innovative lineups)
And I felt Devin Booker's skillset was such an awesome fit, even though there's more wing depth on our roster. You can play Devin in literally every imaginable lineup.
With Trey Lyles, there's going to be a lot of development in areas where he's underdeveloped or less gifted by nature needed for him to become as versatile.
Depending on what they do in free agency(I don't expect much to happen), I think Alec Burks will be given a lot of freedom as a primary ball handler with the 2nd unit.

 

[The Midnight]

Stuff I wrote about Lyles in the past few days.
The main reason I'm kinda disappointed was another young guy though:



I just felt Devin Booker was such a good match.
While other evaluators feel BPA every day all day, when there's talents that are very close in terms of talent and upside, I will factor in stuff like opportunity, long term fit, versatility(e.g. does having this player on the court put a lot of restrictions on a coach's ability to sport innovative lineups)
And I felt Devin Booker's skillset was such an awesome fit, even though there's more wing depth on our roster. You can play Devin in literally every imaginable lineup.
With Trey Lyles, there's going to be a lot of development in areas where he's underdeveloped or less gifted by nature needed for him to become as versatile.
Depending on what they do in free agency(I don't expect much to happen), I think Alec Burks will be given a lot of freedom as a primary ball handler with the 2nd unit.

I don't get the Devin Booker love/fit with our team. He'll be the 3rd SG behind Hood and then Burks who are both long term players.


Sure Lyles will be playing behind Favors and Booker, but Booker is only signed on for 1 more year? After which Lyles hopefully can take over as our future 3rd big. Gobert, Favors and Lyles is a GREAT lineup (provided Lyles can learn to shoot and score at the next level).

 

[Cappy_Smurf]

I don't get the Devin Booker love/fit with our team. He'll be the 3rd SG behind Hood and then Burks who are both long term players.


Sure Lyles will be playing behind Favors and Booker, but Booker is only signed on for 1 more year? After which Lyles hopefully can take over as our future 3rd big. Gobert, Favors and Lyles is a GREAT lineup (provided Lyles can learn to shoot and score at the next level).

Some people would have made the argument that we shouldn't have drafted Rudy because we already had Favors and Kanter. I'm on board with Lyles at this point, but Booker is already a natural shooter, which we could really use. Nothing wrong with collecting assets and waiting for the cream to rise to the top like we did with Rudy. If Utah had avoided the logjam of bigs that some people blame for Kanter not working out, we would have passed on Rudy to avoid the problem with Kanter, which would have been a mistake. Utah took Lyles because they believe he'll be the better player, not because Booker would have been playing behind Hood/Burks.

 

[Cappy_Smurf]

I dunno I just think with his mobility, he is a better fit with Gobert and Favors (who are our long term bigs). Also the passing ability is a plus. I've seen mocks where Lyles is taken by the Jazz with Turner still on the board.. so I don't think it is outside the realm of possibility that they have Lyles > Turner on their big board.

Just trying to look on the bright side, bro. Thought that was what we were doing.

So the Jazz got cash for the 2nd 2nd rounder, right? It's sure hard to be excited as a fan about selling picks for cash.

Good chance a late 2nd never makes the team, anyway. Utah has brought in a lot of players and put a lot of effort into finding a hidden gem that may have been overlooked. I trust them completely if they didn't like anyone with that pick. With the amount of 2nd round picks we have, there's no way we are ever going to use them all. Can't add 3 rookies to the team every year. It's very possible they tried to trade for a future 2nd and couldn't find any takers. Don't see this as a big deal.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Wow! Called two years ago. Color me impressed.

Haha.. Hadn't realized.

 

[The Midnight]

Haha.. Hadn't realized.

You've gotta be smiling from ear to ear with the Lyles pick? Amirite?

 

[Dr. Jones]

Well.. 2015 just may be out last year we have a shot at our own pick being in the lottery. We'll just he too good from there on.

EXTREMELY early projections (these are all guys about to START their senior year of HS ball);

1. Jahlil Okafor (C) - Duke
2. Tyus Jones (PG) - Duke
3. Emannuel Mudiay (PG) - Kentucky
4. Karl Towns Jr (C) - Kentucky (already commited)
5. Myles Turner - ? Kansas maybe?
6. Rashad Vaughn - Kentucky
7. Stanley Johnson (SF) - Kentucky or AZ
8. Justin Jackson - ?
9. Kevin Looney - ?
10. Cliff Alexander (C) - Kansas
11. Kelly Oubre - Kansas
12. Trey Lyles - Kentucky
13. Dwayne Morgan -?
14. Chris McCollough - ?
15. Malik Pope - ?
16. DAniel Hamilton - ?
17. Justise Winslow - Arizona



*screw you Hack*

You've gotta be smiling from ear to ear with the Lyles pick? Amirite?

Nope. Not upset about it either.

 

[The Midnight]

Nope. Not upset about it either.

Are you less excited about his potential than the Jazz FO?

 

[Dr. Jones]

Are you less excited about his potential than the Jazz FO?

I've not had a chance to compare notes with Jazz FO.

His potential is very good. If I had one knock on him (and I do) it's his demeanor is similar to Favors .. and I have always thought Favors is a little soft. Not terribly soft, but lacking the fire necessary to be a true star.
Lyles has the size and physical skills.. I will want to see fire.

 

[The Midnight]

I've not had a chance to compare notes with Jazz FO.

His potential is very good. If I had one knock on him (and I do) it's his demeanor is similar to Favors .. and I have always thought Favors is a little soft. Not terribly soft, but lacking the fire necessary to be a true star.
Lyles has the size and physical skills.. I will want to see fire.

If anyone can encourage that it would have to be Quin who kept saying last season he wanted Hayward to play with 'juice'... and he did. Even Favors started to play with a bit more fire down the stretch.


So I don't think they would have drafted Lyles if DL wasn't confident Quin could bring out that 'fire'.