(Getty Images)
When the Golden State Warriors landed DeMarcus Cousins in free agency, it felt like the basketball world became unglued. Everyone from fans to players were upset that the Warriors landed another superstar. The Warriors already have the most stacked team in the NBA and for them to land perhaps the best big man in the league for just $5.3M felt like highway robbery.
If you follow NBALord.com on social media, you will know that I expressed frustration over the move. So, I don't want to come off as hypocritical when I say people are overreacting to Cousins going to the Warriors. I admit that I contributed to the hysteria and that I overreacted to the news like everybody else.
After thinking about the move for a little while, I've come to the conclusion that this move isn't something to get all up in arms about. What people are forgetting in all of this is the fact that Cousins is coming back from a torn Achilles, an injury that is as serious as they come. If Cousins hadn't suffered a torn Achilles to end his season in New Orleans, the Warriors wouldn't have landed him in the first place. What made him available for just $5.3M is the fact that it is far from certain that he'll ever get back to his regular self again. He might still be able to play at an NBA level, but will he once again put up 25.2 points and 12.9 rebounds per game? That remains to be seen.
I totally understand why everyone reacted the way they did. The Warriors are stacking up on talent and adding Cousins for so little money felt like they were rubbing it in everybody's faces. There's a certain arrogance that this Warriors team possesses that rubs people the wrong way. As one who lives in the Bay Area, I get it. I'm around "Dub Nation" 24/7.
Still, we shouldn't let an overall frustration with the Warriors cloud our judgment over this particular move. The reality is that we are yet to see how strong Cousins bounces back from this injury and until we do, we should reserve judgment about him giving the Warriors a dominant big man. As for the other 29 teams in the NBA that are upset about this move, if they are really so upset, why did none of them offer Cousins a decent contract? The fact that the Warriors are the only team that offered Cousins a deal just shows how uncertain his future really is. If there was good reason to believe he could do some serious damage, another team would have offered him a contract in the neighborhood of $20M or more.
My prediction is DeMarcus Cousins will have a nice year for the Warriors and give them just what they need, which is a sound presence in the paint that can score, rebound, and protect the rim a little bit. However, I do not expect Cousins to produce like he did prior to his injury. A torn Achilles is the most serious injury an athlete can get and for a lot of guys, it might as well be a death wish. With that in mind, I think we should all just step back and wait to see what happens before declaring this move the crime of the century.
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Saturday, August 25, 2018
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Saturday Slam: LeBron James is not afraid to speak his mind and it is awesome
One of the things I feel obligated to address on this blog is the way in which LeBron James is not afraid to speak his mind and stand up for what he believes in. In a recent interview with CNN's Don Lemon, James talked about his I Promise School, his future with the Los Angeles Lakers, and how he feels about the direction of our country as a whole. While some athletes prefer to shy away from topics surrounding politics and social justice, James has embraced his celebrity status to shed light on issues that he finds to be important, regardless of what anyone else thinks.
While I don't think every athlete should feel obligated to speak their mind, I think it is awesome that James has felt this moral responsibility. Millions of Americans look up to him, especially young African Americans. To them, he represents the American Dream and all that it stands for. In a divisive time in our country, James has been a beacon of hope and light, reminding us that goodness and decency can still be found in the United States of America.
What I think is most impressive about James is his long-term vision. He understands that he can do so much more than just win NBA championships. He can build a legacy that truly lasts if he is willing to give back to his community, stand up for what he believes in, and do his part to be an instrument for change.
The I Promise School is just one example of that. With this school, at-risk children in his hometown Akron, Ohio and the surrounding areas will get a chance to get an education that they otherwise wouldn't have gotten. Even though he himself didn't go on to college, James still values the importance of an education. He has talked in the past about how much it meant for him to graduate from high school and he wants to make sure that other children get the same opportunities that he got.
Given that he is on the path to becoming a billionaire, it would be easy for James to forget about his roots and spend his time doing other things. He doesn't have to be doing any of this and yet he recognizes how much of an impact he can have on his community and beyond. When you really step back and think about it, it is amazing what James is doing.
Some argue that James should stick to building schools and other philanthropic projects without weighing in on political matters, but remaining silent about such things would be inconsistent with his larger mission. James isn't just about building schools. He's about molding minds and affecting the social conscious of this country. If he were to remain silent about issues regarding race and social justice, he would be failing to accomplish what he feels is his most important job.
Regardless of who you are, when LeBron James says something, you listen. When he calls out certain people for the way they behave, you listen. You may not like what he says, but you damn sure heard what he said and that is precisely why he's saying it. He's a voice for those who don't have a voice. That's powerful beyond anything that can happen on a basketball court.
Whether you love LeBron James on the court or not, one cannot deny the power of his actions and the force that he is for good off the court. While Michael Jordan will probably go down as the greatest basketball player to ever play the game, LeBron James will undoubtedly go down as having left a bigger legacy. So many guys say they want to prepare themselves for life beyond basketball, but LeBron James is actually doing it. He recognizes the impact he can have as an NBA superstar and is doing all he can to leverage that status for the betterment of society. It is awesome.
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Saturday, August 11, 2018
Saturday Slam: Can Kawhi Leonard lead the Toronto Raptors to the NBA Finals?
Despite having a bizarre finish to his career in San Antonio, Kawhi Leonard found a way to tie things up nicely earlier this week, posting a thoughtful message that thanks both the Spurs fans and organization. Regardless of what may have happened this past season, Leonard still won an NBA championship and NBA Finals MVP while a member of the Spurs. His time there should be remembered well both by the fans and organization, so it's great to see that he was able to post the message that he did.
Kawhi Leonard has released a statement, thanking the city of San Antonio and the entire #Spurs organization. These are his first comments since being traded to the #Raptors. #NBA pic.twitter.com/pUAON0fALw— NBA Lord (@nba_lord) August 10, 2018
Looking ahead to his time in Toronto, Leonard has a lot of pressure on his shoulders. Regardless of whether or not he decides to re-sign with the Raptors in 2019 or look elsewhere, he will want to have a big year and prove that he's not damaged goods after a strange final year in San Antonio. In the 2016-17 season, Leonard averaged 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game, putting himself in the discussion for best player in the NBA. If he can replicate those type of numbers, he will have certainly erased any doubt about his abilities to still produce at an elite level.
However, producing big numbers isn't the only thing Leonard has to do in order to be a success in Toronto. The real pressure lies in whether or not he can lead the Raptors deep in the playoffs and give them a real shot at winning a championship. The Raptors have had many strong regular season teams, but they've all fallen well short of the ultimate goal. Watching the Raptors choke is becoming an NBA playoffs tradition that we know all too well. We expect them to fail. If Leonard can flip the script and take the Raptors to the NBA Finals, he will have boosted his legacy immensely and made himself a lot of friends north of the border.
In order to get Leonard, the Raptors traded away DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Pöltl, and a protected 2019 first round pick to the Spurs. In addition to getting Leonard, the Raptors also got Danny Green back in the deal, giving Leonard at least one familiar face on his new team. Given the limited amount of pieces that moved in this trade, the Raptors essentially have the same pieces around Leonard that they had around DeRozan. No disrespect to DeRozan, but if Leonard is as good as everyone thinks he is, the Raptors should fair much better in the playoffs.
(Credit: Bob Donnan. USA TODAY Sports)
My honest prediction at this juncture is that the Boston Celtics will come out of the Eastern Conference, but if there's one team that they should fear, it is the Raptors. Unlike the Philadelphia 76ers, the Raptors are led by a guy who knows what it takes to a win championship. Even with all the possible baggage that comes with Kawhi Leonard, one cannot take away his championship and NBA Finals MVP. He's got that under his belt and as a result the Raptors have to go into this season feeling like they have much better odds at winning a championship than ever before.
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Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Tomahawk Tuesday: Can Carmelo Anthony help the Houston Rockets get over the hump?
(Getty Images)
Earlier today, Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports confirmed that Carmelo Anthony has officially agreed to sign with the Houston Rockets. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski added that Anthony's deal is expected to be a one-year, $2.4M deal.
Anthony has had a bit of an up and down career. While being known as one of the league's best pure scorers, he has failed to live up to his own expectations of leading an NBA team to a championship. While he himself will never lead a team to a championship, he is presented with the next best thing, which is the chance to help a championship contender get over the hump.
Last season, the Rockets were one healthy Chris Paul hamstring away from winning an NBA championship and with Anthony now on board, the hope is that he'll give them just enough of a boost to get over the hump and supplant the Golden State Warriors as the best team in the league.
A lot of people are understandably skeptical of Anthony's ability to make a difference on this Rockets team. Since he has failed to win a championship everywhere he goes, it stands to reason that his time in Houston will likewise produce no championship jewelry.
What I want to do in this blog post is give you all a few reasons to believe that Anthony might just be the missing piece to a Houston Rockets championship recipe. You are certainly free to disagree with my reasons, but I still want to put this out there given all the negative posts about Anthony and his lack of championship success.
The first reason to think Anthony's addition to the Rockets could result in a championship is the simple fact that the Rockets were really close last year. The Rockets lost to the Warriors in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals and as I said earlier, if it weren't for Chris Paul's hamstring injury, the Rockets probably would have won that series. Given how close the Rockets were last year, it's not like they need a whole lot more help to reach the promised land. If Melo can give them a little bit of help and take some of the scoring pressure off the backs of Paul and James Harden, that should be enough to make the difference.
Secondly, it isn't like Anthony sucked last year. With the Thunder, he averaged 16.2 points per game on 40.4% shooting from the field, 35.7% shooting from 3-point range, and 76.7% shooting from the foul line. He can still get buckets and in Houston, he won't need to be the volume shooter that he was asked to be in seasons past. He can come off the bench and provide sound spot minutes that make a real difference in terms of keeping the offense in a good rhythm.
Third, we've seen Anthony thrive in this type of role before. Anthony has played his best basketball in the Olympics, helping Team USA win multiple gold medals. As much as he likes to be a first option kind of guy, he's actually played his best basketball when he is more like the third or fourth option. If he can play like "Olympic Melo" as opposed to "New York Melo", the Rockets should really like their chances of giving the Warriors a serious run.
Given these reasons above, I actually think the Rockets should be excited about adding Carmelo Anthony. He comes in with plenty of experience, an ability to shoot the basketball, and a winning attitude. Unlike previous stops, Anthony is now in the twilight years of his career and more than anything he just wants to win a championship. While there are concerns about his willingness to play off the bench, I personally think Anthony is the type of player that will do whatever is asked of him in order to win a championship. If he wasn't, he wouldn't be coming to Houston in the first place.
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Earlier today, Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports confirmed that Carmelo Anthony has officially agreed to sign with the Houston Rockets. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski added that Anthony's deal is expected to be a one-year, $2.4M deal.
Carmelo Anthony has verbally agreed to sign with the Houston Rockets, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 7, 2018
Carmelo Anthony passes through waivers at 5 PM ET, clearing way for him to inform Houston that he will sign a one-year, $2.4M deal with Rockets.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 1, 2018
Anthony has had a bit of an up and down career. While being known as one of the league's best pure scorers, he has failed to live up to his own expectations of leading an NBA team to a championship. While he himself will never lead a team to a championship, he is presented with the next best thing, which is the chance to help a championship contender get over the hump.
Last season, the Rockets were one healthy Chris Paul hamstring away from winning an NBA championship and with Anthony now on board, the hope is that he'll give them just enough of a boost to get over the hump and supplant the Golden State Warriors as the best team in the league.
A lot of people are understandably skeptical of Anthony's ability to make a difference on this Rockets team. Since he has failed to win a championship everywhere he goes, it stands to reason that his time in Houston will likewise produce no championship jewelry.
What I want to do in this blog post is give you all a few reasons to believe that Anthony might just be the missing piece to a Houston Rockets championship recipe. You are certainly free to disagree with my reasons, but I still want to put this out there given all the negative posts about Anthony and his lack of championship success.
The first reason to think Anthony's addition to the Rockets could result in a championship is the simple fact that the Rockets were really close last year. The Rockets lost to the Warriors in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals and as I said earlier, if it weren't for Chris Paul's hamstring injury, the Rockets probably would have won that series. Given how close the Rockets were last year, it's not like they need a whole lot more help to reach the promised land. If Melo can give them a little bit of help and take some of the scoring pressure off the backs of Paul and James Harden, that should be enough to make the difference.
Secondly, it isn't like Anthony sucked last year. With the Thunder, he averaged 16.2 points per game on 40.4% shooting from the field, 35.7% shooting from 3-point range, and 76.7% shooting from the foul line. He can still get buckets and in Houston, he won't need to be the volume shooter that he was asked to be in seasons past. He can come off the bench and provide sound spot minutes that make a real difference in terms of keeping the offense in a good rhythm.
Third, we've seen Anthony thrive in this type of role before. Anthony has played his best basketball in the Olympics, helping Team USA win multiple gold medals. As much as he likes to be a first option kind of guy, he's actually played his best basketball when he is more like the third or fourth option. If he can play like "Olympic Melo" as opposed to "New York Melo", the Rockets should really like their chances of giving the Warriors a serious run.
Given these reasons above, I actually think the Rockets should be excited about adding Carmelo Anthony. He comes in with plenty of experience, an ability to shoot the basketball, and a winning attitude. Unlike previous stops, Anthony is now in the twilight years of his career and more than anything he just wants to win a championship. While there are concerns about his willingness to play off the bench, I personally think Anthony is the type of player that will do whatever is asked of him in order to win a championship. If he wasn't, he wouldn't be coming to Houston in the first place.
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Saturday, July 7, 2018
Saturday Slam: Can LeBron James deliver a title to Los Angeles?
Like every summer, NBA free agency has been wild. Lots of unexpected moves have happened and I aim to address many of these moves in the coming weeks. If there's one move that I need to first address, it's LeBron James' decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year, $154M deal. Joining James in Los Angeles will be former adversary Lance Stephenson and journeyman point guard Rajon Rondo, who both agreed to free agent deals with the Lakers shortly after James.
James' decision to leave Cleveland for Los Angeles could produce the most interesting chapter of his career, but only if he wins a championship. James cannot finish his career in Los Angeles without winning a ring if he wants any hope of improving his legacy. He knows this and seems up to the challenge.
The biggest hurdle standing in James' way is the Golden State Warriors, who appear poised to win the NBA championship for the next three years. The Warriors have a proven championship formula in place while the Lakers have a lot of question marks outside of James. Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson are both curious additions to say the least. While both guys are talented, I could easily see them not producing the desired results that James hopes they will. They both have a history of creating some friction in NBA locker rooms and have only really found success in one environment, Rondo in Boston and Stephenson in Indiana. While adding both Rondo and Stephenson, the Lakers lost Julius Randle to the New Orleans Pelicans, a guy who many felt had the chance to be a key piece for the franchise going forward.
(David Richard-USA TODAY Sports)
Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram are both talented pieces who should promise to get better over the coming seasons. While there are rumors of the Lakers possibly moving Ingram and/or Ball in order to get Kawhi Leonard, I personally think it would be wise for them to keep both of those guys around. They shouldn't make the mistake the Cleveland Cavaliers made, which was to trade a young promising player (Andrew Wiggins) for a more established veteran (Kevin Love). With those two guys learning from James, the Lakers can be assured that they'll be in good hands after his departure.
While there are still a lot of pieces that need to fall into place, I personally believe LeBron James can deliver a title to Los Angeles. As we saw in Cleveland, he doesn't need much around him to make things competitive and with a better cast around him, it would be foolish to rule out his chances. He's too talented to dismiss and given that he has four years to make it happen, I think there are good odds he'll strike it rich at least once.
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Saturday, June 23, 2018
Saturday Slam: Winners, losers, and surprises from 2018 NBA Draft
(Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)
The 2018 NBA Draft took place on Thursday night. The Phoenix Suns selected Deandre Ayton with the #1 overall pick while the Sacramento Kings took Marvin Bagley III with the #2 overall pick. Like every draft, it was an exciting event with some winners, losers, and surprises. For complete draft results, check out the results on NBADraft.net here. For more detailed analysis on each prospect, check out the NBALord.com mock draft here.
Winners
Phoenix Suns stock up on talent: Like most teams that pick number one, the Phoenix Suns were the big winners of the NBA Draft. Deandre Ayton projects to be a cornerstone piece for them to build around for the next decade, giving them a chance to finally make some noise in the NBA playoffs. In addition to Ayton, the Suns also added some other quality players like Mikal Bridges, Elie Okobo, and George King. The Suns should feel very optimistic about their future after this draft.
Denver Nuggets snag Michael Porter, Jr: Michael Porter, Jr. has the potential to be the best prospect in this draft if he stays healthy. However, due to concerns over his health, mainly his back, he fell right into the Denver Nuggets' lap at #14. If you are the Nuggets, you have to be thrilled with this pick. To get perhaps the best prospect in the draft at #14 is huge. Even if Porter doesn't pan out, drafting him is still worth the gamble.
Sacramento Kings draft a franchise big man: While Deandre Ayton deserved to go #1, it's not like the gap between him and Marvin Bagley III is huge. Bagley is a fantastic prospect and has just as good of a chance to become an elite NBA player. The Kings need a franchise centerpiece and Bagley projects to be just that. After wallowing in the wilderness for a few years, the Kings appear to finally have something to point them in the right direction.
Dallas Mavericks snag Luka Doncic: Lots of NBA scouts feel Luka Doncic is the best prospect in this entire draft. The Dallas Mavericks have to feel excited to get Doncic, especially since they came into the draft picking 5th. They were able to move up to the 3rd spot to get him, a move that was definitely worth it.
Atlanta Hawks swoop up Trae Young: The Hawks dealt the 3rd pick to the Mavericks for the 5th overall pick and a future first round pick. This was a shrewd move since Trae Young was the guy they wanted all along. Trae Young gets compared to Stephen Curry for his lights out shooting and sensational ball handling. If Young can be anything close to Curry, the Hawks should be competitive for a long time.
College seniors: Duke senior Grayson Allen went #21 to Utah, Boise State senior Chandler Hutchison went #22 to Chicago, West Virginia senior Jevon Carter went #32 to Memphis, Kansas senior Devonte Graham went #34 to Atlanta, Kansas senior Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk went #47 to the Los Angeles Lakers, Missouri State senior Alize Johnson went #50 to Indiana, Purdue senior Vince Edwards went #52 to Houston, Virginia senior Devon Hall went #53 to Oklahoma City, Texas Arlington senior Kevin Hervey went #57 to Oklahoma City, UCLA senior Thomas Welsh went #58 to Denver, and Colorado senior George King went #59 to Phoenix. You hear that if you want to make it to the NBA, you better play one or two years of college basketball or else you'll be considered too old. These dudes all showed that if you work on your game for four years and keep getting better, there's a home for you in the NBA.
Losers
Mikal Bridges' mom doesn't get her wish: When Villanova junior Mikal Bridges was picked 10th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers, it seemed too good to be true. He's a Philly native and his mom works for the 76ers organization. Well, it turns out it was in fact too good to be true. Bridges was shortly shipped to the Suns in exchange for the #16 overall pick Zhaire Smith and a future first round pick.
Michael Porter, Jr. falls to #14: While the Nuggets are major winners, Michael Porter, Jr. is a loser for falling all the way to #14. Few people saw him slipping past the #9 overall pick, making his fall to #14 all the more surprising and unfortunate. The only way there's a happy ending here is if he lives up to the hype and proves all the teams that passed on him to be foolish.
Brandon McCoy goes undrafted: Brandon McCoy was a McDonald's All-American in 2017 and a consensus 5-star recruit, choosing UNLV over several Pac-12 schools. The 7'1", 250 pound big man has all the pieces to have a really good NBA career, making it all the more disappointing that he failed to get drafted. He has since signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, so he too will get a chance to prove his doubters wrong.
Surprises
Michael Porter, Jr. falls to #14: As I said above, few people saw Michael Porter, Jr. slipping past the #9 overall pick. Him falling to Denver at #14 was definitely the big surprise of the night.
Grayson Allen worked his way into the first round: Despite all of his antics and controversies at Duke, Grayson Allen found a way to get drafted in the first round, going #21 overall to the Utah Jazz. Most had him getting drafted in the first round come draft day, but a month ago, he was projected to be a second round pick. Him convincing a team that he can control himself on the court and be a good locker room guy was definitely a surprise. Especially since that team was the Utah Jazz, a team that is known for placing a premium on character.
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The 2018 NBA Draft took place on Thursday night. The Phoenix Suns selected Deandre Ayton with the #1 overall pick while the Sacramento Kings took Marvin Bagley III with the #2 overall pick. Like every draft, it was an exciting event with some winners, losers, and surprises. For complete draft results, check out the results on NBADraft.net here. For more detailed analysis on each prospect, check out the NBALord.com mock draft here.
Winners
Phoenix Suns stock up on talent: Like most teams that pick number one, the Phoenix Suns were the big winners of the NBA Draft. Deandre Ayton projects to be a cornerstone piece for them to build around for the next decade, giving them a chance to finally make some noise in the NBA playoffs. In addition to Ayton, the Suns also added some other quality players like Mikal Bridges, Elie Okobo, and George King. The Suns should feel very optimistic about their future after this draft.
Denver Nuggets snag Michael Porter, Jr: Michael Porter, Jr. has the potential to be the best prospect in this draft if he stays healthy. However, due to concerns over his health, mainly his back, he fell right into the Denver Nuggets' lap at #14. If you are the Nuggets, you have to be thrilled with this pick. To get perhaps the best prospect in the draft at #14 is huge. Even if Porter doesn't pan out, drafting him is still worth the gamble.
Sacramento Kings draft a franchise big man: While Deandre Ayton deserved to go #1, it's not like the gap between him and Marvin Bagley III is huge. Bagley is a fantastic prospect and has just as good of a chance to become an elite NBA player. The Kings need a franchise centerpiece and Bagley projects to be just that. After wallowing in the wilderness for a few years, the Kings appear to finally have something to point them in the right direction.
Dallas Mavericks snag Luka Doncic: Lots of NBA scouts feel Luka Doncic is the best prospect in this entire draft. The Dallas Mavericks have to feel excited to get Doncic, especially since they came into the draft picking 5th. They were able to move up to the 3rd spot to get him, a move that was definitely worth it.
Atlanta Hawks swoop up Trae Young: The Hawks dealt the 3rd pick to the Mavericks for the 5th overall pick and a future first round pick. This was a shrewd move since Trae Young was the guy they wanted all along. Trae Young gets compared to Stephen Curry for his lights out shooting and sensational ball handling. If Young can be anything close to Curry, the Hawks should be competitive for a long time.
College seniors: Duke senior Grayson Allen went #21 to Utah, Boise State senior Chandler Hutchison went #22 to Chicago, West Virginia senior Jevon Carter went #32 to Memphis, Kansas senior Devonte Graham went #34 to Atlanta, Kansas senior Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk went #47 to the Los Angeles Lakers, Missouri State senior Alize Johnson went #50 to Indiana, Purdue senior Vince Edwards went #52 to Houston, Virginia senior Devon Hall went #53 to Oklahoma City, Texas Arlington senior Kevin Hervey went #57 to Oklahoma City, UCLA senior Thomas Welsh went #58 to Denver, and Colorado senior George King went #59 to Phoenix. You hear that if you want to make it to the NBA, you better play one or two years of college basketball or else you'll be considered too old. These dudes all showed that if you work on your game for four years and keep getting better, there's a home for you in the NBA.
Losers
Mikal Bridges' mom doesn't get her wish: When Villanova junior Mikal Bridges was picked 10th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers, it seemed too good to be true. He's a Philly native and his mom works for the 76ers organization. Well, it turns out it was in fact too good to be true. Bridges was shortly shipped to the Suns in exchange for the #16 overall pick Zhaire Smith and a future first round pick.
Michael Porter, Jr. falls to #14: While the Nuggets are major winners, Michael Porter, Jr. is a loser for falling all the way to #14. Few people saw him slipping past the #9 overall pick, making his fall to #14 all the more surprising and unfortunate. The only way there's a happy ending here is if he lives up to the hype and proves all the teams that passed on him to be foolish.
Brandon McCoy goes undrafted: Brandon McCoy was a McDonald's All-American in 2017 and a consensus 5-star recruit, choosing UNLV over several Pac-12 schools. The 7'1", 250 pound big man has all the pieces to have a really good NBA career, making it all the more disappointing that he failed to get drafted. He has since signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, so he too will get a chance to prove his doubters wrong.
Surprises
Michael Porter, Jr. falls to #14: As I said above, few people saw Michael Porter, Jr. slipping past the #9 overall pick. Him falling to Denver at #14 was definitely the big surprise of the night.
Grayson Allen worked his way into the first round: Despite all of his antics and controversies at Duke, Grayson Allen found a way to get drafted in the first round, going #21 overall to the Utah Jazz. Most had him getting drafted in the first round come draft day, but a month ago, he was projected to be a second round pick. Him convincing a team that he can control himself on the court and be a good locker room guy was definitely a surprise. Especially since that team was the Utah Jazz, a team that is known for placing a premium on character.
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Wednesday, June 20, 2018
2018 NBA Mock Draft
The 2018 NBA Draft will commence on Thursday, June 21st
at 7:00 PM EST on ESPN. Below is the NBALord.com mock draft with analysis
provided for each pick. Enjoy!
1. Phoenix Suns –Arizona freshman PF DeAndre Ayton: Listed at 7’1”, 250 pounds, DeAndre Ayton has a killer physical
profile and is very skilled for a player of his size and stage of development,
averaging 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game during his time
with the Wildcats. Given he played college ball down the road in Tucson and has
so much upside, the Suns would be crazy not to take him. Click here to check
out my analysis of Ayton on NBADraft.net.
2. Sacramento Kings-Real Madrid SF Luka Doncic: Listed at 6’8”, 225 pounds, Luka Doncic has a very polished game
for being only 19 years of age. He’s sort of your classic European prospect in
that he has a really nice shot, can handle the ball, and has good court vision.
Given that the Kings have Vlade Divac
and Peja Stojakovic calling the
shots in the front office, it’s hard to see them passing on a Euro player with
so much upside. They would have no problem connecting with Doncic and selling
him on the Sacramento Kings experience.
3. Atlanta Hawks-Duke freshman PF Marvin Bagley III: Marvin Bagley III has numbers very similar to DeAndre Ayton,
averaging 21.0 points, 11.1 rebounds, and almost 1 block per game. On top of
that he too won player of the year honors in his conference. The Hawks need a
guy to build their franchise around and Marvin Bagley III definitely has the
potential to be that kind of guy for them.
4. Memphis Grizzlies –Texas freshman C Mohamed Bamba: At 6’11”, 225 pounds, Mohamed Bamba averaged 12.9 points,
10.5 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game during his freshman year. Bamba is a
freak athlete that has the potential to be an excellent rim protector in the
NBA. The Grizzlies could use a rim protector and a big man to follow in the
footsteps of Marc Gasol, making
Bamba a logical pick for them.
5. Dallas Mavericks-Michigan State freshman PF Jaren Jackson, Jr.: At 6’11”, 242
pounds, Jaren Jackson, Jr. has tons
of upside, averaging 10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game during
his freshman year. His athleticism is what has the NBA scouts salivating over
him. As an added bonus, he’s the son of former NBA player Jaren Jackson, so
he’s definitely got the bloodlines. The Mavericks will look for best player
available at this stage, making Jaren Jackson, Jr. the right pick for them.
6. Orlando Magic-Oklahoma freshman point guard Trae Young: During his freshman year,
Trae Young averaged 27.4 points per
game on 36.0% shooting from 3-point range, 42.2% shooting from the field, and
86.1% shooting from the foul line. Due to his 6’2”, 180 pound build and ability
to “get buckets”, Young is drawing comparisons to Stephen Curry. If he lives up to that hype, one could argue he’s
the top prospect in the draft. If he’s available at #6, the Orlando Magic will
definitely take him.
7. Chicago Bulls-Missouri freshman small forward Michael Porter, Jr.: Due to a back
injury, Michael Porter, Jr. missed
all of the regular season during his lone year at Missouri and only saw a
little bit of postseason action in the NCAA Tournament. When he committed to
Missouri, there was a ton of buzz around him given that he was a 5-star recruit
and a McDonald’s All-American. The big question is how far will he fall as a
result of his back injury? The talent to be the #1 or #2 pick in the draft is
definitely there, which is why I have a hard time seeing him fall past the
Bulls at #7. If he’s still on the board at this point, they’ll take him without
a doubt.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers –Alabama freshman point guard Collin Sexton:
Regardless of whether or not LeBron
James sticks around, the Cavaliers need another playmaker on offense. Collin Sexton would provide the
Cavaliers with such a playmaker, averaging 19.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.6
assists per game last season for the Crimson Tide. He’s got the potential to
fill the void left by Kyrie Irving.
9. New York Knicks –Texas Tech freshman shooting guard Zhaire Smith: At 6’5”, 195
pounds, Zhaire Smith has tremendous
upside due to his explosive athleticism. He averaged 11.3 points and 5.0
rebounds per game last season for the Red Raiders. If he can continue to polish
his game and hone his craft, he could be an absolute steal at this point of the
draft. The Knicks need an elite playmaker at the wing, making Smith a logical
choice for them.
10. Philadelphia 76ers –Villanova junior small forward Mikal Bridges: Mikal Bridges really burst
onto the scene in his junior year, averaging 17.7 points per game after
averaging 9.8 points per game in his sophomore year. He’s a really good
shooter, shooting 43.5% from 3-point range, 51.4% from the field, and 85.1%
from the foul line last season. He already comes in as a guy who can make an
impact from day one and on top of that there’s good reason to think he’ll
continue to get better. He’d be a nice fit for a Philly team that is looking to
make an even deeper run in the playoffs next season.
11. Charlotte Hornets –Duke freshman center Wendell Carter, Jr.: Listed at 6’10”, 259
pounds, Wendell Carter, Jr. is a
very talented big man, who possesses nice moves in the post and the ability to
bang inside (9.1 rebounds per game). He averaged 13.5 points per game in his
freshman year and shot 41.3% from 3-point range on 1.2 attempts per game. On
top of that, he’s a stellar defender (2.1 blocks) and a high IQ player,
considering Harvard before eventually deciding to go to Duke. He’d give the
Hornets a post presence that they sorely need.
12. Los Angeles Clippers-Kentucky freshman power forward Kevin Knox:
There’s a lot to like about Kevin Knox.
He averaged 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in his freshman year on 34.1%
shooting from 3-point range and 77.4% shooting from the foul line. At 6’9”, 215
pounds, he has prototypical power forward size and possesses both the
athleticism and quickness to play small forward if needed. He’d be a fun player
to watch in a Clippers uniform.
13. Los
Angeles Clippers –Kentucky freshman
point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: The Clippers have back-to-back picks
in the first round. After using their first pick on an athletic power forward,
I see them using their next pick on a talented young point guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. At 6’6”, 180
pounds, he has great size for the point guard position and knows how to get
others involved (14.4 points and 5.1 assists per game). He’d be a great guy to
pair with Kevin Knox.
14. Denver Nuggets –Michigan State sophomore small forward Miles Bridges: At 6’7”, 230
pounds, Miles Bridges is an
explosive athlete that knows how to throw it down in traffic. Due to his
freakish athleticism and strength, he’s able to play the power forward position
if needed. He averaged 17.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in his sophomore
year, doing a good job of leading the Spartans. With Kenneth Faried no longer
what he used to be, Bridges would be a welcomed addition in Denver.
15. Washington Wizards- Villanova sophomore shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo: Donte DiVincenzo had the game of his
life in the national championship game, scoring 31 points to lead Villanova
past Michigan. In that game, DiVincenzo boosted his draft stock up by a ton,
putting himself in the mix to be a lottery pick. The Wizards could use a guy
who can shoot from deep, making DiVincenzo a good guy for them to roll the dice
on.
16. Phoenix Suns-Boston College junior shooting guard Jerome Robinson: At 6’7”, 181
pounds, Jerome Robinson has the
ability to shoot the leather off the ball, averaging 20.7 points per game last
season on 40.9% shooting from 3-point range and 83.0% from the foul line. The
Suns need more guys who can put the ball in the hole. It can’t just be Devin Booker carrying the load. With a
guy like Robinson by his side, Booker would feel less pressure and be allowed
to play more freely.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- USA center Mitchell Robinson: Mitchell Robinson is a bit of a mystery player given that he was
committed to Western Kentucky and then was dismissed from the team for a
violation of team rules. That whole incident could scare some teams away, but
there’s just too much talent here for Mitchell to fall too far. At 7’1”, 225
pounds, Robinson has really good shot blocking instincts and is an all around
freak athlete. Adding Robinson to the Bucks would make them even more athletic than
they already are, which is a frightening thought.
18. San
Antonio Spurs-Miami freshman shooting
guard Lonnie Walker: If you are looking for a guy who could be this draft’s
Donovan Mitchell, Lonnie Walker could be your guy. He’s
got a similar frame at 6’4”, 192 pounds and has a similar mentality. He loves
to attack the rim and isn’t afraid to take the big shot. He’d be a fantastic
addition to a Spurs team that is in sore need of some new blood.
19. Atlanta Hawks-Texas A&M sophomore power forward Robert Williams: At 6’9”, 240
pounds, Robert Williams has great
physical tools to work with, sporting a wingspan close to 7’6”. He needs to
polish his offensive game, but his rebounding (9.2 rebounds) and rim protecting
(2.6 blocks) make him a guy who adds instant value. He’d be a nice guy to have
paired with Marvin Bagley III down on the block.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves-Oregon freshman small forward Troy Brown,
Jr.: Thanks to my job covering Cal basketball for Rivals.com, I was able to
cover Troy Brown, Jr. during his high
school career. He was always really nice to me and very professional. Great
kid. As far as his basketball skills go, Brown has a really intriguing package
to work with. He’s listed at 6’7”, 215 pounds and has the potential to evolve
into a point guard down the line given that’s the position he identified with
in high school. For the time being, he’ll have to play as a wing and he’s well
suited to do that, averaging 11.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per
game with the Ducks.
21. Utah Jazz –Maryland sophomore shooting guard Kevin Huerter: At 6’7”, 190
pounds, Kevin Huerter knows how to
score (14.8 points) and rebound (5.0 rebounds), shooting 41.7% from 3-point
range and 75.8% from the foul line in his sophomore campaign. With Gordon
Hayward gone, the Jazz could use another playmaker at the small forward
spot, making Huerter a good fit for them.
22. Chicago Bulls-Duke freshman shooting guard Gary Trent, Jr.: Playing with Marvin
Bagley III and Wendell Carter, Jr. helped make Gary Trent, Jr. a better player. At the same time, it made him get
less attention than he would have gotten at other programs. Trent had a very
solid freshman year for the Blue Devils, averaging 14.5 points per game on
40.2% shooting from 3-point range and 87.6% from the foul line. The Bulls need
a shooting guard who can actually shoot, making Trent a no brainer pick for
them at this juncture.
23. Indiana Pacers –USA PG Anfernee Simmons: At 6’3”, 185 pounds, Anfernee Simmons has the potential to evolve into a really good
point guard in the NBA. The key will be for a team to be patient with him and
let him develop. Picking him in the first round might be a bit of a gamble, but
it’s a gamble worth taking if you are a team like the Pacers, who already has a
playoff ready roster in place.
24. Portland Trail Blazers-Villanova freshman power forward Omari
Spellman: Omari Spellman is a
6’9”, 260 pound dude who can shoot from 3-point range (43.3%) and rebound (8.0
rebounds). He’d be a really nice fit in Portland, giving them another shooter
and rebounder inside. They could kill two birds with one stone by drafting him.
25. Los Angeles Lakers –Boise State senior shooting guard Chandler Hutchison: It took him
four years of college, but now that he’s in the NBA Draft, Chandler Hutchison is catching the attention of NBA teams due to
his ability to score (20.0 points) and rebound (7.7 rebounds) as a 6’7”, 190
pound guard. Originally from Mission Viejo, going to the Lakers would be a
homecoming of sorts for Hutchinson.
26. Philadelphia 76ers –UCLA junior point guard Aaron Holiday: At 6’1”, 185 pounds, Aaron Holiday is one of the most NBA
ready players in this draft. His older brothers Jrue and Justin both are
holding their own in the league, so the pedigree is definitely there. He
has the ability to both run an offense and create his own shot. He’s also a
solid defender. Click here to check out my analysis of Holiday on NBADraft.net.
27. Boston Celtics-France point guard Elie Okobo: The Celtics would benefit from
having a backup point guard of sorts that could give Terry Rozier and Kyrie
Irving a bit of a break. At 6’2”, 180 pounds, Elie Okobo is pretty athletic and has the potential to be a solid
playmaker in the league. He’d be a pretty safe pick for the Celtics.
28. Golden State Warriors Creighton junior shooting guard Khyri Thomas:
The Warriors could use more depth at the wing spot and they are expected to
take the best shooting guard available. In my mock, the best wing available is Khyri Thomas, a 6’4”, 200-pound guard
out of Creighton. Thomas averaged 15.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last
season on 41.1% shooting from 3-point range and 78.8% from the foul line. He’d
give the Warriors another wing that can shoot the rock, capable of providing
relief for Klay Thompson and Stephen
Curry in stretches.
29. Brooklyn Nets Cincinnati junior shooting guard Jacob Evans: At 6’6”, 210 pounds,
Jacob Evans has good size for the
wing position and knows how to defend, averaging 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per
game last season with the Bearcats. On
top of his defense, he has potential on the offensive end as well, averaging
13.0 points per game on 42.7% shooting from the field, 37.0% shooting from
3-point range, and 75.4% shooting from the foul line.
30. Atlanta Hawks-Villanova senior point guard Jalen Brunson: Jalen Brunson took home Big East Player of the Year, AP Player of
the Year, and several other honors last season, leading Villanova to another
national championship. As a two-time national champion, Brunson has plenty of
experience playing in pressure moments. Having a guy with that type of
experience would do wonders for the Hawks.
31. Phoenix Suns-Wichita State junior shooting guard Landry Shamet: Landry Shamet has a nice blend of
scoring and facilitating, averaging 14.9 points and 5.2 assists per game last
season. Such versatility would be welcomed in the Suns’ backcourt.
32. Memphis Grizzlies-Ohio State senior forward Keita Bates-Diop: As a 6’7”, 190 pound
forward, Keita Bates-Diop has
tremendous physical tools to work with, drawing comparisons to Luc Mbah a Moute. He really came out of
his shell in his senior year, averaging 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game
on 35.9% shooting from 3-point range and 79.4% shooting from the foul line. He
has first round talent, so he’d be an absolute steal for the Grizzlies in the
early second round.
33. Dallas Mavericks –Michigan junior power forward Moritz Wagner: If the Dallas
Mavericks are looking for a guy who could be their next Dirk Nowitzki, Moritz Wagner
wouldn’t be a bad rock for them to turn over. At 6’10”, 210 pounds, the player
out of Germany averaged 14.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game during his junior
year with the Wolverines on 39.4% shooting from 3-point range. Wagner has first
round talent as well, making him another gem of a find in the second round.
34. Atlanta Hawks –Georgia Tech sophomore shooting guard Josh Okogie: The Hawks
should feel really happy if they can land Josh
Okogie in the second round. At 6’4”, 207 pounds, he is a bit undersized for
a shooting guard, but he proved he could score in college, averaging 18.2
points per game last season. On top of his scoring, he can rebound and defend,
averaging 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1 block per game. He’s a pretty
versatile dude that could help the Hawks out in a lot of ways.
35. Orlando Magic –Louisville junior power forward Raymond Spalding: At 6’10”, 210
pounds, Raymond Spalding is a bit of
a late bloomer, increasing his scoring average from 5.9 points per game in his
sophomore year to 12.3 points per game in his junior year. If he can make
similar strides in his rookie year, he could be a major steal in this draft.
There’s a lot to like about him given his rebounding (8.7 rebounds per game)
and shot blocking (1.7 blocks per game) to go along with his scoring around the
rim.
36. Sacramento Kings-Tulane junior shooting guard Melvin Frazier: At 6’6”, 200 pounds, Melvin Frazier can jump out of the gym,
possessing tremendous athleticism. He improved his scoring average to 15.9
points per game and is finally starting to figure things out. Given his
physical gifts, he’s a very safe pick at this point in the draft.
37. New York Knicks –Duke freshman point guard Trevon Duval: Trevon Duval had a disappointing freshman season, averaging 10.3
points and 5.6 assists per game last season. That said, he’s still a former
5-star recruit with tons of potential. If he figures things out next year, the
Knicks could be looking at getting a first round pick for the price of a second
rounder.
38. Philadelphia 76ers-USC junior power forward Chimezie Metu: At 6’11”, 215 pounds, Chimezie Metu has tons of upside. He’s
extremely athletic, can run the floor, and is capable of scoring from beyond
the arc. He averaged 15.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game last
season. He’s a first round talent that is falling into the second round because
of concerns regarding his personality. If can overcome his character concerns,
he’d be an absolute steal at this point of the draft. Click here to check out
my analysis of Metu on NBADraft.net.
39. Philadelphia 76ers –Bosnia & Herzegovina small forward Dzanan Musa: Dzanan Musa is a 6’9”, 195-pound
European dude who can shoot the rock. He’s only 19 years old, so he’s a
possible draft and stash guy. Philly likes these kind of guys. I think they
take him if he’s available.
40. Brooklyn Nets-UNLV freshman center Brandon McCoy: Brandon McCoy is the second player I’ve gotten to know a bit in
this draft. I interviewed him once when Cal was looking at him. At 7’1”, 250
pounds, McCoy has great physical tools to work with, averaging 16.9 points and
10.3 rebounds per game in his freshman year. There are some concerns about his
maturity and ability to be a professional, which is why his stock is falling.
If he can shake that reputation and prove that he’s mentally ready for the NBA,
he’ll be a guy we’ll look back on and ask how he didn’t go in the first round. Click here to check out my analysis of McCoy on NBADraft.net
41. Orlando Magic-Kansas senior shooting guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk is your classic
college veteran with a polished game that doesn’t have much “upside.” Sometimes
those dudes do alright. Especially if they shoot 44.4% from 3-point range and
80.4% from the foul line.
42. Detroit Pistons –Germany power forward Isaac Bonga: At 6’9”, 200 pounds, Isaac Bonga has an NBA body on him and
has the athleticism to hang with NBA players. On top of that, he can put the
ball on the floor, attack the rim, and score from beyond the arc. He’s one of
these guys that could have been a first round pick had he had more visibility.
European guys have to really wow scouts to garner first round attention.
43. Denver Nuggets-Kentucky freshman small forward Jarred Vanderbilt: At 6’9”, 215
pounds, Jarred Vanderbilt has great
physical tools to work with. He was a killer rebounder at Kentucky (18.5
rebounds per 40 minutes) and showed a lot of promise. Injuries have held him
back and could prevent him from having an NBA career. Given his upside, he’s
worth a gamble at this stage of the draft.
44. Washington Wizards-Missouri State senior power forward Alize Johnson: Alize Johnson averaged a double double
during his junior and senior seasons at Missouri State (14.9 points and 11.1
rebounds). Guys who average double-doubles in college usually have pretty good
track records for success. Paul Millsap
anyone?
45. Charlotte Hornets (Pick originally
belonging to Brooklyn Nets)-USC
sophomore shooting guard De’Anthony Melton: De’Anthony Melton would be a huge gamble in the first round, but at
this point of the draft, he’d be a smart guy to take. At 6’4”, 190 pounds,
Melton has great size for a combo guard and he has the potential to be a really
good defender (1.9 steals and 1 block per game). If he can get his assists
numbers to improve from 3.5 per game, he’s got the chance to stick in the NBA.
Click here to check out my analysis of Melton on NBADraft.net.
46. Houston Rockets –Latvia small forward Rodions Kurucs: At 6’9”, 220 pounds, Rodions Kurucs is a really good athlete
that is praised for his versatility. The Rockets like guys who are versatile
and capable of playing multiple positions, making Kurucs a logical pick for
them.
47. Los Angeles Lakers-Arizona sophomore shooting guard Rawle Alkins: At 6’5”, 220
pounds, Rawle Alkins has great size
for an NBA guard. He attacks the rim well and projects to be a good defender in
the NBA (1.3 steals per game). Given that the Lakers want to run a fast tempo
system, Alkins would fit right in. Click here to check out my analysis of Alkins on
NBADraft.net.
48. Minnesota Timberwolves-Miami sophomore shooting guard Bruce Brown:
At 6’5”, 195 pounds, Bruce Brown
rebounds really well for a guard (7.1 rebounds per game) and knows how to score
(11.7 points per game) despite poor shooting percentages. If he can learn how
to shoot, he’s got the chance to find a home in the NBA.
49. San Antonio Spurs-Texas Tech senior shooting guard Keenan Evans: Another really good
four-year college player, who may not have much “upside” or room for growth. Keenan
Evans averaged 17.6 points per game last season, showing he can score. The big
concern is he’s only 6’3”. He’ll have to show he’s not a shooting guard trapped
in a point guard’s body if he wants to stick in the NBA. The main thing he has
going for him is experience and the ability to come in right away and help out
a team.
50. Indiana Pacers-SMU junior shooting guard Shake Milton: Shake Milton has good size for an NBA guard at 6’5” and 195 pounds.
He can score (18.0 points) and defend (1.4 steals). Not a bad guy to take at
this stage of the draft.
51. New Orleans Pelicans –Duke senior shooting guard Grayson Allen:
Grayson Allen has the pieces to have
a quality NBA career from a skill set standpoint. He’s 6’4”, 195 pounds and has
played in plenty of big games. The big question with him is whether or not he
can keep his head straight and not be a headache for a team. His personality is what could cause him to sink in this draft.
52. Utah Jazz –Illinois-Chicago junior small forward Dikembe Dixson: At 6’7”, 190
pounds, Dikembe Dixson is very
athletic and was a pretty solid scorer in college, averaging 17.4 points per
game for his career. If he can improve his 3-point percentage from 31.5%, he’s
got a chance to maybe find a home in the NBA.
53. Oklahoma City Thunder –Xavier senior shooting guard JP Macura:
JP Macura comes into the draft as an
82.1% foul shooter on top of being a 37.7% shooter from beyond the arc. His
12.9 points per game didn’t light the world on fire, but he did it on a
competitive Xavier team. At this point of the draft, he would be worth a
training camp invite.
54. Dallas Mavericks-Texas Arlington senior power forward Kevin Hervey: At 6’7”, 210
pounds, Kevin Hervey averaged 20.5
points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season, earning Sun Belt Player of the
Year honors. Given he competed in a small conference, many are skeptical if his
dominance can translate to the NBA. We’ve seen guys from small conferences
exceed expectations before, so I wouldn’t be shocked if he exceeds his current
projections.
55. Charlotte Hornets-West Virginia senior point guard Jevon Carter: Jevon Carter can ball. The young man
averaged 17.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.6 assists last season. There’s a lot
to like about his game. His size (6’2”, 185 pounds) is the major question mark.
At this point in the draft, he’s worth rolling the dice on.
56. Philadelphia 76ers-Kentucky freshman shooting guard Hamidou Diallo: Rarely do you see
a Kentucky freshman projected this low. Hamidou
Diallo may have been wise to come back for another year or transfer. He’s
got a lot of talent, but I’m not sure he’s NBA ready. He might be drafted, but
if he is, it’ll be late.
57. Oklahoma City Thunder-Penn State sophomore point guard Tony Carr:
Tony Carr had a really impressive
sophomore year, averaging 19.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game.
At 6’5”, 205 pounds, he’s got a good NBA body on him and can shoot it from deep
(43.3%). Very safe pick at this stage.
58. Denver Nuggets-Former Kansas freshman center Billy Preston: I will be the first
to admit this one is a reach. Billy Preston
has slipped off the radar after being ruled ineligible to play at Kansas. What
makes me think he gets drafted is he’s a 6’10”, 222 pound 2017 McDonald’s
All-American. At this point of the draft, why not roll the dice on a kid like
this? The Nuggets would have nothing to lose drafting him at this stage. Nothing
from nothing leaves nothing, ya know?
59. Phoenix Suns-Arizona junior shooting guard Allonzo Trier: Allonzo Trier can score the ball as a 6’4”, 190 pound guard,
averaging 18.1 points per game last season. The big question is whether or not
he’s too much of a defensive liability. Click here to check out my analysis of Trier on
NBADraft.net.
60. Philadelphia 76ers –Maryland sophomore small forward Justin Jackson: If Justin Jackson hadn’t missed most of
his sophomore campaign with a shoulder injury, he’d likely be a mid second
round pick or perhaps even a late first round pick. At 6’7”, 230 pounds, he has
the physical gifts to play in the NBA. It’s just a question of whether or not
his shoulder injury will get in the way.
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