[McHolmesParticipant]

 ESPN recently came out with a report saying that there are rumors that if Pheonix doesn’t select Doncic first overall, then he could fall out of the top 3. With so many rumors and "fake news" going on before draft time, do you guys buy this?

http://www.espn.com/nba/draft/news

On one hand, it could be tough to know exactly when he will be coming over, with guys like Saric and Rubio dragging out their situations and Doncic recently saying he wasn’t sure if he was playing his final games in Euroleague. 

On the other hand, I think the teams drafting at the top of the draft could be kicking themslves if they pass on him. The kid looks ready to come in and contribute in a real way, despite what anyone says about his perceived "ceiling". 

 

[McHolmesParticipant]

 This site has also updated him to being drafted 5th by the Mavs now…

[Evan_MilbergParticipant]

I’m not nearly as high on Doncic as most on this forum, but even I think he’s too good to slip THAT far. That said, I think he has a better chance at early success in Atlanta or Memphis than he does in Phoenix or Sacramento. 

[220Participant]

 Honestly it’s too early to say for sure. Everyone makes it sound like they know exactly how things will go, but that’s rarely the case. If we’re still hearing the same thing the week of the draft then I’ll start to believe it.

 

 

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 I don’t think there is any possible way he slips past Memphis.

[The GoatParticipant]

 Very strongly agree with you.. For once

[earldaniel31Participant]

 Kings need an athletic wing.. wouldn’t be surprised if they trade down to get MPJ

[publius2481Participant]

 I am not entirely surprised this is happening. First, with him not working out for teams, I am sure some teams worry they cannot answer any concerns they have about him. Add in that PHX has the most information about him, I am sure some teams question if he is as good as advertised. Now this is normal draft anxiety and I would expect most teams will eventually talk themselves out of their anxiety. The thing that might cause him to drop is if a couple of the other top prospects have monster workouts, so SAC and ATL begin to believe there are other potential super stars in this draft.

[MopgrassParticipant]

Of the first 7 teams picking, I think only Phoenix has “The Go-To Guy” you need to win games (Booker). I feel like, if you could get that guy at the top of the draft, you do it. Ayton could be that guy, maybe Bagley. I think Doncic will do many things, but won’t be the go-to scorer (I’ve still got him going 3rd). 

The only guy I see as the certain go-to scorer is Porter. To be fair, he might not be 100%. And worse, he might be a Carmelo Anthony black hole for the ball. I still probably take Ayton first (maybe) because Porter and Booker might not provide enough ball to go around. Ayton is a better pairing. But for all those other teams, I’d want Porter. 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

Players move around the mocks a lot and as we hear rumours Aran and co will update the site mock accordingly. The consensus is Ayton is BPA but with such strong links to Phoenix Coach there is a line of thought they might take Doncic.

The Kings have made some “interesting” draft moves over recent years so we cannot really second guess what they might do.

Atlanta have a PG (for now) and a good SF so Doncic isn’t logical for them.

Memphis would certainly consider him but we don’t know their long term planning and they have ball handlers in situ already.

Dallas we know have a smart FO so if Doncic was still there I don’t see them passing on him.

Trae is my other wildcard guy, he’d be a great fit with Cavs but would teams let him slip that far.

Also as regards Doncic if he did slip then watch for trade ups as someone could then be in the range to get him when they weren’t if he went top 3.

[Arc12345Participant]

Doncic is incredibly logical for ATL. 

After Schroder’s harsh comments and speaking of other places he’d want to play, you have to believe he’s gone.

We have no SG and although Taurean Prince is a solid player, that’s no reason not to take Doncic. So essentially we need another wing and we will need a ball handler when Schroder is traded.

The perfect fit sounds like Doncic to me. 

 

 

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 The only way he falls out of the top 3 I think is of there are legitimate questions about whether he will come over right away. If Phoenix and Sacramento both pass on him than I couldn’t really see Atlanta passing on him. 

[HitsterParticipant]

Atlanta is an interesting one as Schroeder, Prince and Collins could be their 3 main building blocks already in situ so their logical drafting points would thus be SG and C. Ayton will almost certainly be off the board when they draft. If Doncic was still there they could possibly use him as an SG but his more natural position is probably SF and if he wasn’t the main ball carrier, could he be effective as an NBA SG I do wonder.

The other guys in their draft range are mainly PFs which they have Collins already making strong claims on already. But as a 24-58 team can they really pass on top guys.

If Doncic was still on board on 3 then it is likely Bagley and certainly Ayton would be off the board. So Hawks would then be looking at JJ, Bamba, Porter etc as an alternate to Doncic at 3.

[IlladelphParticipant]

Doncic is the best player in the draft.  Most of you guys have never seen him play, but he is a great defender, distributor, handler, and yes shooter.  He is 6’8" and moves and handles the ball like he is 6’2".  He has played over 160 games in the last 18 months, and has played a thte highest level of Euro basketball.  He is relied on to carry his team to the point that it is common to hear commentators saying things like "well, it’s time for Doncic to put the team on his back again".  He is the MVP of the Euroleague.  He is 19 years old.  The Euroleague is much harder than US college.  Doncic is defintiely worthy of consideration of the #1 pick. 

Now, there are criticisms of him that some teams apparently have.  First, he has been hyped up too much.  If Doncic does not play like Lebron James every time out, then scouts are like "what’s the big deal with this kid"?  Also, he has gained some weight and there are whispers that he likes to party.  Although he is only 19 years old, and that’s what 19 year-olds do, most 19 year-olds are not being considered for the #1 pick of the NBA draft.  He and his handlers need to take care of getting his nutrition and rest right.  Could be he needs a vacation and a rest.

Also, he has stated that he is unsure if he will come over tot he NBA this year.  Some teams probably want to draft a player who they can use right away.  And if teams aren’t 100% sold on his greatness then they will pass.  This has hurt his draft stock no doubt.  You don’t draft a player at #1 (or #2, or #3 for that matter) and then have him effectively stashed away in Euroland for as long as he wants.

Finally, I have no idea how he comes off in person and in interviews with NBA types.  We’ve seen guys drop before based on bad interviews.  So this could be a minor factor as well.

At any rate, I think that in the NBA he would have the needed nutritional/infrastructure support to be able to max his game out.  I couuld see him average a double double his rookie year.  And when he gets his body tuned up, a triple double.  He’s that good.  It will be really weird to see hime drop to #5 or below.  But it seems like this could happen.

 

 

 

[mowestenParticipant]

Man, there are lots of guys in the NBA that like to party and have a good time. Roll through Miami Beach in the offseason if you doubt me.

I’m not sure that really becomes a problem unless a player can’t manage having fun and enjoying life a little, and putting in the work required to get better and perform. There have been some guys who enjoyed partying more than basketball, and those guys rarely live up to their potential.

 

However, the NBA is a place full of alpha males and big personalities. To be honest an introvert would raise bigger red flags to me than a 19 year old kid who likes to have a good time. The research I would be doing if I was a team is does the kid really love basketball and will he continue working on his game without needing to be dragged into the gym? If so, the love of basketball will win out and the partying will eventually fade as he matures and gets it out of his system.

 

I think his falling in the draft has a lot to do with the uncertainty about when he comes over more than anything. I agree with the premise that a team doesn’t really want to pass on Michael Porter, Ayton, Bagley, etc., for a kid that might spend a year or two playing somewhere else. There’s too much talent at the top of this draft to play games with a kid who might not want to be here. 

 

Just my opinion.

 

 

 

 

 

[crossyboy82Participant]

 Reports were saying that post lottery, Memphis were looking to trade their pick, as they were now too low to get Doncic.

 

If he does slip, there’s no way they’re passing.

 

 

[theEDGEParticipant]

 Phoenix has Booker who does play like him and I would go for Ayrton for them.

Kings have Hield at SG, Justin Jackson at SF and Bogdanovic who could play both spots and I think that they need a Impact big more like Bagley or even Bamaba, maybe even Porter.

Atlanta good fit next to Schröder, Prince and Collins.

Hawks should select a big with one of their other first rounders then like Robinson.

Grizzlies are Conley, Gasol and maybe Brooks, so I could see a fit for him there.

Still we don’t know if the Grizzlies will blow it up.

Mavs could use him also and after them I don’t see him falling any lower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mowestenParticipant]

 I’m usually in favor of teams that stink just drafting whoever they think has the best chance at being a star, not trying to draft around a roster that isn’t any good anyway.

However, there is zero chance Memphis passes on both Porter and Doncic to draft Bamba — as this site suggests — unless they plan on trading Gasol. I think this site usually does a good job, or I wouldn’t be here, but that prediction doesn’t make any sense to me.

 

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

"More and more teams are going to question why they passed on Doncic in the long run." Wouldn’t Kings be included in those teams as well if they pass on him? Kings would be more apt to select him because of Vlade being in their management. So, Doncic may not come over right away but the Kings will still be grateful they got him regardless of the year he actually does come over. In the meantime they can use Bogdanovic. So what’s the big deal if he doesn’t come over this year? Will he ever come over? No, I think he will next year or the year after that. They have someone else to play the 3 in the meantime, and they have a good, improving and young PG in Fox, as well as a good, young and improving SG in Hield (those are the other two positions Doncic can play) so I don’t see the problem in the Kings selecting him even though he might not come over for until 2020 at the latest. (I mean he’s not another Fran Vasquez, he will come over soon just maybe not right away)

[HitsterParticipant]

The Kings don’t have their own first rounder next year so if they drafted Doncic and he didn’t come over then it could be more an issue than for other teams.

Also in what is considered a fairly deep draft if Doncic didn’t come over and other teams had say Ayton, Bagley etc doing well then the pressure could mount.

Ricky Rubio was considered a likely top 3 pick in his draft year but he fell to 5th as he was not going to come over right away.

I’d think that if Doncic is declaring he’d be likely to come over as there is no need for him to declare until he was as his draft stock would surely remain high or even improve.

 

 

 

 

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