[IlladelphParticipant]

Obviously this is wayyyy too early to discuss the 2017 NBA draft as a whole, but for the top spot we usually have a small group of 2 or 3 guys that are the main contenders.  For next year, I’ve been thinking Harris Giles, or Josh Jackson.  Fultz is a top 5 guy but I haven’t thought of him as a #1 pick.  I just checked DX and they have their new 2017 mock out and they have Fultz at #1.  Kinda crazy considering he wasn’t a highly hyped high school player compared to Giles, Jackson, Tatum, Fox, Monk, Smith, Bam, etc…

I’ve never seen him play.  All I have to evaluate him are youtube mixtapes which are not generally helpful for making an informed judgement.  Anyone here have any thoughts on this kid going #1?  Anyone seen him play?  Is he that for real?

[circumlocution75Participant]

 & what their needs are……. I can’t remember a Draft class this Strong…….. There are 6 guards that are just Dynamic! Fultz, Dennis Smith, DeAaron Fox, Frank Ntilikina, Lonzo Ball & Malik Monk (strictly a SG)

But there are also serval Dynamic Forwards: Harry Giles (PF), Josh Jackson (SF), Johnathan Issac (SF/PF), Jayson Tatum (SF)

& there are a handful of other Dynamic players at different positions…… Everyone in the Top 10 is going to get an Impact Piece……

 

 

[Dog_ShammdogParticipant]

this is an exciting draft class. I feel like there’s going to be a lot of movement on the board though with players elevating their stock and others underperforming. I was wondering what you thought about Frank Jackson? Not many ppl have him in the top tier of this draft or even in his position, but I believe that he could find his way into the top ten if everything goes well for him and he continues to develop 

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 I see Harry Giles going 1 Fultz possibly going 2 has a lot of the same physical attributes that d’angelo Russell had coming out. And of course like I’ve said on several different occasions I see Jackson falling.

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

Picking a player first overall with an injury history isn’t a smart move my opinion. I believed Embid had the most potential in his draft, but thought and didn’t think he should have gone first.

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 Torn acl isn’t the injury it use to be. 

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

On both knees and one including a MCL. C’mon on now.

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 Its very possible especially if a team like the Sixers got the 1st pick.

[UncledrewParticipant]

When I look at fultz I see fools gold. An unranked player blowing up in his last season of highschool doesn’t bother me especially considering how young he is, but to say he’s better prospect than Harry Giles, Josh Jackson and the numerous other point guards in the class is very premature. I think everyone has fallen in love with his 6’5 size and athleticism for the point guard position. It’s intriguing ofcourse but when I look at his tape he looks more like a combo guard who could pinch in at the point rather than a true point guard. He’s also a slender 185 pounds and while a decent athlete not a elite athlete by NBA standards. The word is he’s just a gamer who makes plays so will have to see how much of his playmaking ability transfers to the college level. Even if he’s Washington’s best scorer and playmaker I think it’s going to take an exceptional year to show more number 1 potential over guys like Harry Giles, Josh Jackson, or Dennis Smith Jr. They’re on another level.

[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

 I guess Anthony Davis was fool’s gold by that logic. Kids can be late bloomers, that’s sort of a luxury of being a kid. And he blew up in his junior year, not senior.

But I have him going #2 overrall, Jackson at #1. I watch the U18 game over the weekend. He’s not a true point (passes could be a bit more crisp, needs a bit more work on his handles) but he was exceptional at everything else. Jonathan Tjarks compared him as a blend of D’Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay, which I liked. Best of both worlds there. Would’ve had Giles at #1 but two ACL tears is a no-go for me.

 

[UncledrewParticipant]

And for the record no its not the same as Anthony Davis. Anthony was a 6’3 poiny guard a mediocre guard at the National level at the time but after he grew 7 inches in a summer he turned into a super athletic power Forward with guard skills. The type of prospect Davis became is on a whole other stratosphere than markelle fultz. At kentucky anthony Davis averaged 15 and 10 and 4 blocks not even trying on a loaded national championship team. Davis production and potential dwarf fultz at the same age by leaps and bounds please don’t compare anything about there prospects again they don’t belong in the same sentence.

[GBeeParticipant]

 He didn’t blow up in one season.  His rise has been a multi year process that started with a growth spurt. He grew 5 inches in the span of 2 years so that certainly helped his game.  If he stayed as a 6′ guard then he probably would’ve remained lowly ranked, but I saw him last year during his HS and AAU seasons and came away thinking that he was the best PG in his class.  He was the most well-rounded and looked like he had the game that was the most translatable to the NBA game. His size/length is fantastic, his frame is good, athleticism is sneaky good, he had the handle, footwork, body control, poise, defensive chops, vision, anticipation, shot-creation, creativity and coming from DeMatha, I just knew he was well-coached.  Those boys in that program already execute like a college team, which is a far cry from the type of play you usually see at the HS level (ahem, Lonzo Ball). The biggest glaring weakness in his game, his 3 ball, he’s shown improvement upon.  Among the top prospects in his class, he has shown the greatest rate of improvement and has shown well at every event he has attended the past couple of years.

DX could be victims of the moment yet again.  He performed extremely well at the u18 Americas while other candidates aren’t visible at this time.  Skal being ranked #1 was mentioned in last class after a couple of good out of season performances.  They did the same with Tatum in this class.  This wouldn’t be the first time they did that, but he is a legit candidate for the #1 spot.  I’d personally still have Jackson over him, but I can see why someone would prefer Fultz over him.  Fultz is over a year younger, he has more potential on the ball,  I think he has the slightly better frame and his biggest weaknesses is not as glaring as Jackson’s (shooting).  Either way, those 2 are the most complete perimeter players in the class IMO.  I don’t think you could go wrong with either.

He’s definitely not just a gamer though.  His skill is legit.  His footwork and body control are immaculate, B.Roy-esque imo.  He’s very slippery.  He can handle point duties, plays at PnR pace, he’s a creative passer who anticipates passing lanes (can be a bit loose with his passes tho).  He seamlessy blends scoring with playmaking. Because his game is so footwork intensive and herky jerky people might be under the impression that he’s just an average to below athlete but he’s not.  Kid can explode off of 1 foot and that combined with his length, big hands and touch makes him a good prospect as a finisher.  Then there’s the defensive end where he digs in (again, well-schooled at DeMatha), has a 6’10 wingspan with active hands while knowing how to read passing lanes.  He can gamble a little too much for my liking, but he’s disruptive on that end.

 I do however wish he would’ve picked a better program and coach to play for.  Playing under Romar with so much responsiblity at a program that isn’t returning much could highlight the warts in his game.

 

[HitsterParticipant]

First of all I’ll admit I haven’t seen a lot of Fultz, a HS Snr Mixtape isn’t enough for me to judge him on. But if Aran and put him at 3 on their mocks he must be a fairly good prospect. There is a glut of guards in the top 10 of next year’s early mocks, a lot of them are PGs, so any team looking for one of them will have a lovely choice. Teams with that position filled may look elsewhere or move out of draft.

Fultz being a combo guard gives more options than a pure PG and he has lovely size for his position and only turns 19 a month prior to the draft.

Like most guys, his draft position will be determined by how well he performs next season. Also where he goes will depend on team needs too after the draft lottery.

He can be a one and done, he could also wait another year if his game doesn’t develop as much as he’d like. I’d assume he’d be looking to be a one and done.

I’m a Josh Jackson fan but I could see Fultz having a shot at going first.

[holefillers1Participant]

 (clear throat).. SKAL…(cough, cough)

[steviechillzParticipant]

Fultz keeps proving me wrong…something that has definitely risen his stock is his ability to make his jump shots. He didn’t have that a year ago, but he has worked on it and is now a legit threat to go #1. My money would probably be on Josh Jackson though…Just because he will be the unquestioned #1 option on Kansas and will probably get more national exposure than Fultz(Washington)

[CDPHParticipant]

Fultz looks like he’s the real deal, but Jackson, Giles, Tatum, Smith and some others look like potential stars too.  This is going to be a fun year and a tremendous draft.  

Then we have a couple of down years until the 2019 high class is eligible (which could be remarkable).

DEEP(ish) Thoughts

 

 

  

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 Fultz is a late bloomer. Really good prospect. My top 5 is Giles, Tatum, Fultz, Josh Jackson and Bacon but it could change. I think it depends on what team picks first to get Fultz. Like Brooklyn or Sixers could use Fultz or one of the scoring forwards

[MopgrassParticipant]

 I like Jackson, Giles, Fultz, and Monk as a top 4. I’m only convinced Jackson is #1. I don’t know about the other 3. I’m open to Tatum joining in too. Giles seems like a player that will be heavily debated all year. But if he doesn’t go 2, he’ll go 3. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Can Josh Jackson play the 2?  IS he a 2?

If so, then I think he is the guy to look at, unless some other guy REALLY blows away the field (especially if you are Philly at 1).

Odds are, Philly doesn’t pick at 1.

The East is relatively weaker than the West although the West is more top heavy now.

I don’t see Philly being in the Josh Jackson sweepstakes.  Maybe not the Harry Giles Lottery either.  

So, from there it will be BPA OR TRADE.

Philly outside the top 3 or 5 means that I would think backwards.  Go after Hart from Villanova in the 2nd round, Grayson Allen in the mid to late first, then go BPA (preferrably a 2, a combo guard or a point guard) with their highest pick.

Preferably you get a guy who can be the fifth guy in this lineup: Ben Simmons and Saric as perimeter guys, with two of these three in the big man spots: Embiid, Okafor, Noel.  So, preferably a guy who can really shoot, defend a perimeter spot, then be a solid scorer.  Not sure who the alpha scorer will be on this Sixers squad, especially on the perimter, so that might be what Philly goes after — an alpha scorer who can play some 2 or some 3 (in smaller lineups) or handle the ball a bit, and hopefully guard at least one position well.

I think Grayson Allen might be the guy there.  He is a classic (if a bit undersized 2) ESPECIALLY if he gets to be a knockdown perimeter shooter.  He can score — and more importantly has a scoring mentality, and he has a knack for getting to the line.  Grayson at the 2 gives you some options at the 3, 4, and 5 with either Ben Simmons or TJ McConnell at point.  Or, a change of pace point guard.

Kentucky has a guard that was part of last year’s class.  Maybe he gets into the mix.  What do people think of Isiah Briscoe?  If Philly picks in that 5-10 range, there could be a lot of guys in that mix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 Ofc he’s a 2. That’s his best defensive position. I don’t see how being a 2 gives him the edge over his comp.

I don’t see why the 6ers wouldn’t be in the running for the top pick either.  They’re gonna suck hardcore again this upcoming year.  Maybe not 10 wins bad, but they’re gonna be awful.

 

[r377Participant]

What is the obsession with Markelle Fultz ? this isn’t the first topic/post stating he will be the number 1 pick….

I am just not that impressed with him to go as the number 1 pick, what is everyone seeing that I am not ? What links/games are you all watching to make you say he will be the number 1 pick ?

[GBeeParticipant]

 Most recently was his performance at the u18 Americas where he was tourney MVP, dropping 23/5/5 3 stls and 3 3’s on 10/16 from the floor while playing only half the championship game (was in foul trouble).  You can catch those full games on FIBA’s youtube channel archives.  That was likely the impetus for sites like DX putting him #1 overall, but they’ve also been able to witness events that the regular joe has no access to like the hoop summit practices, team usa training camp and the steph curry camp, all of which reportedly he was one of the most impressive players at. 

Me personally I was already sold on him being the best PG in his class after watching him last summer on the UA circuit (AAU games are being streamed/archived now more than ever), but I was also able to watch him live a couple of times both at the Chicago Elite Classic vs Lebron’s old school and at the stacked LSI tourney out in Portland vs top 5 school Garfield where he dropped a triple double en route to tourney MVP.  I’m pretty sure the SVSM game can still be found on thecube archives.  I’m not sure if the LSI games were televised, but it would not have surprised me given some of the programs involved (Oak Hill, DeMatha, Garfield).  ESPNU/3 usually airs holiday tourneys like that but I’m not sure.  I know for a fact however that DeMatha’s CRC game vs Montverde was aired on ESPNU/3. Fultz single handedly kept his team in the game, dropping 31 on the #1 team in the nation and taking them to the brink, only to lose in the final seconds. The point is, there is plenty of footage out there outside of mixtapes.  You just have to look.

 

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 Has a new article on Fultz play this summer with the USA sqaud. check it out. Draft.net isnt letting me post the article. 

[markfitz14Participant]

The guys does everything well. Mixtapes definetely hard, a little tougher than game tape. But he looks like an all around player. Athletic, Size, Nice shot, energy. Looks like a legit PG. I like Fultz a lot. He looks like the early #1 

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

 Damn, so many negs in this thread, I am afraid to comment lol, other than saying can Boston finally win the damn lottery? 

[r377Participant]

 BUMP – as stated before all the hype I was never that impressed with Markelle Fultz

[Author]

Posts