[akhan786Participant]

Some of you who have been here a while know that I am a die-hard Duke fan, and I do think that this Duke team is scary when they have their three actual lottery picks in the lineup.

What I don’t agree with is that Grayson Allen should be projected as one of those lottery picks as well…. 

I’ve been quietly in my corner amongst Duke fans for a while thinking that when healthy, he isn’t even one of the top 3 players on our own team. Which admittedly is a very good problem to have, but given his lack of development from last year when I had serious concerns about his effectiveness at getting a shot off in the League….I have to think he might come back for his senior year because this Grayson Allen we saw tonight before the leg injury is going to have a tough time at the next level. He still struggles when he can’t overpower defenders on his straight line drives to the rim and always coughs up an ugly ass layup. This was the exact same critique everyone had of him at the Kentucky game last year.

 I imagine they just gave him preseason-NPOY because they didn’t want to give it to a freshman which makes even less sense because there was no way he would be able to put up the production necessary to garner such an award with the amount of scoring options at Duke.

 

 

I would not touch him with a lottery pick if I was a GM especially in this draft which is where he is projected on this site. If he does bounce this year, I’m hoping he can get picked in the 20-30 range where he can get picked up by a veteran team with less pressure so that he can develop into playmaking role player which is where I see his ceiling being and where I think he can excel. Think this is kind of the case of overhyping a white player that has hops, but he isn’t necessarily using those hops in any positive way in his game so does it really matter?

 Do you guys see something differently? Kid plays his heart out, but I honestly think (on a very small sample this season) that Luke Kennard is far more talented as an actual ball player than Grayson.

[SubZeroParticipant]

Totally agree. I’ve always thought he’d be a good college player since I found out about him when he was in high school, but his game just doesn’t translate to the pro game. If he doesn’t have a 3, he runs in a straight line at the goal and throws up a layup flailing everywhere trying to get a foul. Admittedly he does make some pretty acrobatic finishes and he’s athletic, that stuff won’t cut it in the league. The only thing Kennard has against him that makes me question his NBA capability is his athleticism. Other than that, he can shoot the lights out, he’s creative enough to create his own shot, and he’s got good vision too

[Robb_CParticipant]

I lost all respect for Grayson Allen as an NBA prospect after last years Champion Classic, When Duke played Kentucky.. I’ll never forget how god awful he looked.. I thought for a second he was point shaving he looked that bad..

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

You dont average 20 ppg at duke and not play in the NBA. He probably would have been drafted a lot higher last year given the srrength of the two draft classes. Grayson missed shots last night. But in terms of Kennard being a better player/prospect then Grayson is crazy. Grayson is a bigger, faster, stronger overall athlete. Better playmaker and shooter. Kennard is a hands down 4 year solid duke player but Allen is a projected first round pick. Grayson has a tough time in college finishing at the rim in the halfcourt because college defenses are allowed to have the bigs camp in the paint and protect the rim. The NBA and its spacing will serve much better for Grayson along with the NBA defensive 3 seconds rule as well. The lane is a lot more open, the spacing is much better and in a league where shooting and athleticism are at a premium, Grayson Allen will have a spot on a team and be a good role player. Lottery pick? Maybe not, but just because last year against kentucky he had a bad game and last night he missed shots doesnt sum up Grayson Allens overall game and draft status. NBA scouts and GM’s dont make there decisons based off two games. 

[tblazer_NZParticipant]

Nolan Smith averaged 20.6 / 4.5 / 5.1 as a senior for Duke and was a total bust in Portland over two years there. He did play in the NBA so you aren’t wrong with that, but he only just made it and not for long.

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

 I also think its crazy that because kennard had a big game last night and Grayson had an off game that people will automatically say kennard could be a better pro. Where was that idea at last year when grayson was dropping 20+ every single game being the opposing teams main focus even over Ingram? Kennard is a really nice player, but he isnt better then Allen. If that were the case, you think Coach K would watch Grayson shoot more shots then Kennard? Because i played in college and let me tell you, they are brutally honest at that level. Coaches voice daily in practice who is shooting to much or to little and if kennard was better then grayson then he wouldnt hsave came off that bench most od last year while grayson started every game

[Arc12345Participant]

 I agree with you he’s definitely not a lottery pick. He’s a great athlete but he’s not crafty at all, but I think he could develop that and be a really decent player. Something like a shooting guard/smaller version of Gordon Hayward (although Gordon does play the 2 he’s really a 3).

In regards to Kennard, do I think he has more skills with the basketball? Absolutely. However, I have a hard time seeing him succeeding more in the NBA than Allen. Allen has a nice wingspan at almost 6’7 and Kennard’s is almost 6’5. Kennard is a bit taller, and wingspan isn’t the end all be all but short arms tends to scare many people away. He’s a decent athlete, but he’s also not pulling a Pat Connaughton vertical out of his @$$ which Grayson Allen probably will.

If Kennard had a 6’8 wingspan, and was just a slightly better athlete (not even to Allen’s level), I would definitely rate him the better prospect for his far better ball skills. Someone who really strikes me as an incredibly average athlete and is thriving in the NBA is Devin Booker, so you never know.

 

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

Allen is extremely crafty at drawing fouls. People cant forget last year because they saw last night. He has an incredible knack for drawing shooting fouls, getting his shooting arms underneath his defenders and creating that "I cant raise my arms to shoot" look that Harden kills with. Allen can ball. Allen doesnt need to be crafty with the ball. Nobody in the nba is gonna toss him the ball and say "we need a bucket" in the nba. He will be a role player, not a star. 

[Arc12345Participant]

 In my opinion, if you’re drafting role players in the lottery, you’re doing it wrong. No future role player has any business being taken in the lottery. Clear All Star level talents should be taken in the lottery. Role players should be taken in the late first and early second round.

Now, does it always work out this way? Not at all, but that’s a successful team’s mindset. Allen does not belong in the lottery unless you feel he’s going to be an All Star. 

 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 This makes no sense.  You realize there has never been a draft class to produce 14 all stars.

Outside of the top 5-7 you are hoping to get lucky, and draft a starter or a rotational player.

 

[Arc12345Participant]

I suppose if you can get a sure fire solid starter that’s always good. Bust do happen. But I think you have to be looking at all star level talent not starter level talent.

[akhan786Participant]

 Just to clarify…

Didn’t mention anything about Kennard’s prospects at the next level. Was simply commenting on him being a better ball player which he is.

Also think Kennard’s lack of athleticism will hinder him in the League.

 

 

 

 

[binetParticipant]

 Lottery seem very high indeed. He is clearly not a better prospect than what Kyle Singler was several years ago as a Duke wing. He probably has a slightly better athleticism but still clearly subpar by NBA standards, and he does not possess the size of Singler.

Eventually, Singler did perform quite well compared to other second rounders so we can say he should have been taken higher, what should apply to Allen, but I think that just like Singler, he is not the type of player you look for in the lottery. Not the guy you expect to ever be a starter on your team.He probably should fall in the 25-35 range.

NBA-caliber athletes with high profiles like Terrance Ferguson should eventually be drafted over him, unless their season’s is underwhelming.

 

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 Kennard is a stud. Flat out

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

 Grayson Allen thrives off people absolutely despising him.  I honestly have not seen a guy in college play harder than him in a long time.  Perhaps maybe Tyler Hansbrough.  He’s a good college player.  He can stroke the three and really thrives on creating body contact and getting to the line where he rarely misses.  He’s a good athlete, but will be about average for NBA standards.  He doesn’t have a great handle and he really doesn’t possess great quickness.  He can run pretty fast in a straight line but he has no change of pace to his game really.  His tripping incidents last year were really inexcusable.  I don’t think Grayson is a bad guy, maybe he lets his emotions get the best of him, but listening to people make excuses for him playing so dirty last year was sickening.  He’s definitely not close to being a lottery pick.  He’ll have a place in the league because he can shoot and could possibly be an average defender with some effort although he doesn’t really play much D now.  

[holefillers1Participant]

 His size and game are similar to Stauskas.  Sauce went top ten.  

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

 Kennard is not a better player then Allen, period. And i love kennards game

[Hype Machine]

Miami Freshman Dejan Vasiljevic has lived up to my billing as best shooter in the NCAA. 

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 Man those Aussies sure are pros

[LazarusMunozParticipant]

 best shooter in the ncaa??   james blackmon would like to have a conversation with you

[Hype Machine]

 Lets reopen this conversation at a later date.

[theballerwayParticipant]

new and improved Nolan Smith 2.0 , he averaged around 20 at duke right

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