[highflyer0Participant]

 In 2011, Kawhi Leonard was a mid-first-round pick.  Six years later he’s the best player from his class.  If you were to go out on a limb, which prospect outside of the top 5 do you think could end up being the best player from the 2017 draft?

Although I think it’s possible he sneaks into the top 5, my pick is Frank Ntilikina.  His scouting report just really impresses me.  The combination of above average athleticism, great physical tools (height, wingspan), defensive tenacity, and basketball IQ is incredibly intriguing.  This is the same combination that resulted in guys like Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler.  I don’t think it would be shocking at all if he ends up better than Fox and Smith Jr.  And his potentially elilte defense could be enough to separate him from Ball as well.  Of course, it’s a long shot that his offensive game would ever surpass that of Fultz, but Kawhi’s overall game has surpassed Kyrie Irving’s (the #1 pick in his draft), so who knows?  There is just something about Ntilikina that makes him seem like a guard version of Leonard, everything from the defensive IQ to the quiet demeanor, to the surprisingly rapid improvement on his jumpshot.  

I probably wouldn’t pick him top 3, but I wouldn’t want to be the GM who passed on him either. Let’s just say, if the Spurs had a top 5 pick, this would be their guy.  

 

  

[Sewok15Participant]

This draft is dominated by guards and I would say it is highly likely that one of the top 3 will remain the top player to come out of this draft. I do however really like the potential of Zach Collins and Jarrett Allen…they are pegged at 10 and 12 on this most recent mock but I could easily see them both being top 5 players from this draft 5 years from now. 

 

 

 

 

[sheltwon3Participant]

 When did he become better than Anthony Davis?

[Sewok15Participant]

 Huh? Who? What?

[tblazer_NZParticipant]

Kyrie’s draft not Anthony Davis’ draft.

Anyway he is a Finals MVP, DPOY and a regular season MVP candidate. Compared to Davis who has done nothing in the playoffs and can’t stay healthy.

 

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

Remember how they cmpared him to Kobe?  I saw flashes of Kobe in Exum’s game too, the way he attacked the rim etc.  Unfortunately, flashes is where it ends.  The hype around exum being at or better than wiggins, parker, embiid, gordon, randle level was all hype.  

That is the only scary part about Nitty.  I think he projects better than Fox too, but we have all seen Fox, the international players its tough to take risks.

Of course the Spurs take him because they can take risks at 25 – 30, in the top 10 i bet the spurs would take Smith jr, his understanding of pacing is isiah thomas like…and he is a great athlete.  

Thats a good question to aks though…if the Spurs were in the top 10 who would they take.  

 

 

  

[ChoppyParticipant]

 Don’t jump off the Exum train too early…

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

lack of quick twitch muscle athleticism for a guard dominated league, puts up a lot of bad shots for a guy that can’t shoot.

His defense is a plus and he plays hard, he plays hard but I don’t think he has the skills to match.

 

 

 

 

  

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 I think guys in the 5-10 range could be the top dogs: if Fox is at 5. Jonathan Isaac is a big, long guy with a nice skill set. Malik Monk is dangerous when flammable. Zach Collins is a good big in a league with sneaky good center depth (the 5 spot matters again). Lauri can score.  Dennis Smith Jr is explosive right?

The depth in this draft is from 5-10. Then the late first/second round has some hidden gems.

My sleepers: Diallo (for upside and athleticism nearly exclusively), Jordan Bell, Frank Mason Jr, Jeanne the tall dude, and Tacko Fall — the really tall dude if he stays in…

I don’t think that Fultz, Ball, Jackson, and Tatum all hit it big… two superstars TOPS would be the best case scenario — and not sure that any of those four will be a top 10 NBA player.

 

[UncledrewParticipant]

Never seen this guy Frank play live only highlights but these scouts love to hype overseas players usually they are under 19 with good size for position. The scouting report says he has good defensive instincts and has a good assist to turnover ratio but who is he playing against? A bunch of guys who probably wouldn’t start for your average NCAA team. Have to stop over rating these foreign guys. I’m a firm believer that if a guy can play it doesn’t matter where he’s from but let’s not disregard the level of competition. Can he run an NBA team or is he just another decent sized 2 masquerading as a point guard. To say he will be better than Ball, fox, Dennis or Fultz is a clear slap in the face. They have all proven to be elite and each of them would be the first selected point guard in a typical draft class with out 4 or 5 top tier level point guards.

[BeastMode716Participant]

 & scratch our heads how Dennis Smith Jr was picked outside the Top 5

It’s a very strange case b/c his Freakish explosiveness is actually Hurting him b/c everyone sees Steve Francis & just assumes that he is a one trick pony

But when I watch the kid he is a Really good point guard playing w/ Unskilled teammates.

Smith Jr has a skill set that is tailor made to excel at the NBA level

For example, DSJ has outstanding patience in the P&R game. I would often see Smith delay or wait that extra second for his Centrer to clear his screen & roll to the basket only to fumble a Perfectly timed pass from DSJ that if passed to an NBA player would be a lay up.

Also, Smith is a good shooter both at the 3pt stripe & mid-range. Is he a Great 3pt shooter? No, but he was Above 36% from 3pt & that will Improve once he goes pro b/c he won’t be double teamed constasntly. Fox shoots 24% – his shot is broken. Is DSJ as good from 3pt range as Fultz or Ball or Monk? Of course not, but the drop off is Small. Those players are all at about 38 – 41% so Smith is just a tick behind them. 

And finally, DSJ’s Elite athleticism is used properly within the context of the game. He’s not Harold Minor or Steve Francis who basically gave one highlight Dunk per game & then disappeared. 

The 1st thing I look for in a PG is can he run an Offense? Check. Can he run the P&R? Check. Can he penetrate off the dribble & find the open mind or create his own shot by attacking the rim or shooting off the dribble? Check. 

Would I like DSJ to be 2 inches taller? Absolutely. The height is my Only negative, But he is Not short, he is a legit 6’2”& his effortless explosion allows him to make up that height quickly. I also Luv his personality & what I mean by that is he is a Leader. He can play the combo guard role where you can slide him to the #2 spot if need.

 I really believe that Smith Jr is going to be Electric at the NBA level. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mamadouParticipant]

Yessir !!!!

The nba will be easier for him, pace, spacing, teammates, shooters, finishers.

Can he go to the line…check, can he hustle…check.

He was almost coasting at 18+pts 6+assists 4,5 rebs 2 steals, he must have the highest floor of all the prospects IMO.

And when i see Kyle Lowry, all star, career year at age 31(contract year how surprising) or guys like Bledsoe 21-6+-5-1,5.. i’m very optimistic for the kid.

Come on, IT 5’8 is avareging 29 and 6.

Schroder 23yo is averaging 18+ and 6, he’ll improve for another 3-4 years.

Jeff Teague was a 2 time all star.

If he’s bad, he’s jeff teague, reggie jackson that kind of mid tiers, if he’s really bad, injury prone, if he can’t shoot the nba 3’s, if he don’t plays D, and if he’s a poor playmaker,… he’s Derrick Rose Knicks version, lol.

It’s all about FGA, can he commands 15-18 FGA per game ?, can he be a 5-7 FTA player in the nba…i think so.

All star caliber if not all star, 20-23 pts 7-8 assists scoring point for years.

Kemba was an all star last season, a 5 assists, 41% FG PG for his career….

I’m surprised(more than that) when Monk is higher than him in most mocks…

I really want him to succeed(and stay healthy), the east coast needs his talents, i’d be ok if he was ROY with the Kings tho…they missed so many good players since Boogie.

 

[nill650Participant]

 yeah what a prospect is and what he can become are always big question marks, so the highest grade goes to the prospect whos game is already superior to his peers and his sthleticism and size are above average for his position.

When you look at some of these prospects who have elite athleticism and length but thier games are not by any means as good as those ranked ahead of them , it all comes down to work ethic,superior coaching and time.

I think the obvious prospects with a lot to learn to reach that level, but have all of the physical attributes and athleticism to get there are;

Diallo, F Jackson, Adebayo, Allen, Wilson, Annuoby , Motley, Mitchell , Alkins, j Jackson(md),Ferguson and Simmons. 

I also think maybe 2 of them will ever get that good , because they need to be drafted to a team with superior coaching,which unfortunately isn’t many teams. They also need the work ethic and I bet 1 has it that also gets drafted to a team with Superior coaching.

 the players with solid athleticism and size projected much later than thier longterm value would suggest regardless of what coaching they get because of the work ethic already in place are Collins, Hicks, Oliver and Sumner.

The one dark horse with future star potential that wasn’t even invited to the combine is the extremely raw Deng Adel.

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

I personally love the idea of drafting Semi Ojeyele as a SG, SF, PF versatile player and treating it like he is a lotto pick in terms of his development. The guy is 6’7 241 with only 5% body fat! That means only 12 pounds of fat on 240 pound body. Thats ridiculous. That along with his athletisism is great but what really intrigues me about Semi is how physical he is willing to be to go along with his skill. 

Its very rare to draft naturally physical players that want to defend and rebound and these things really stand out in the playoffs. If you can get him to improve his handles, some euro steps, a floater and how to get his shot off in the post I think you have something special.

 Kind of like a bigger more physical Jaylen Brown but with alot less skill. But I mean Jaylen Brown has been bullying people in the NBA his rookie season and these playoffs and hasnt been asked to use his skill much yet you put Ojeyele in the same role and hes got 20 pounds of real muscle on Jaylen and shoots the 3 pointer better. At the very least youve got a valuable rotation player. 

 

 

 

 

[Reptilian MonkParticipant]

 Kawhi be smokin that kush down in San Diego and Riverside representa 

[EspressoParticipant]

Pj Dozier

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