Following Potential 2018 Draftees

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Simons looks like he is 14 years old.

He kind of plays like it too... seems like he needs a ton of work in a strength and conditioning room. Settles a bit too much for jumpshots... I love his off the dribble creation potential, though... IMO if we draft him, he will spend the first year or two in the GLeague. I still really like him if he's serious in his work and he ends up with a good coaching staff. Depending on who falls in the draft, I wouldn't mind it if we picked him.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

He kind of plays like it too... seems like he needs a ton of work in a strength and conditioning room. Settles a bit too much for jumpshots... I love his off the dribble creation potential, though... IMO if we draft him, he will spend the first year or two in the GLeague. I still really like him if he's serious in his work and he ends up with a good coaching staff. Depending on who falls in the draft, I wouldn't mind it if we picked him.

His measurements will definitely influence how excited/apprehensive I am on his potential. Last time he measured in I think he was 6'3 with a 6'7 wingspan. That's pretty undersized for 2-guard and nothing to really get excited about for a project player.

"Measured 6'1.5" barefoot, 6'3.5" in shoes, 181 lbs, 6'7" wingspan, and 8'2" standing reach by USA Basketball in October of 2017 ... Transferred from Edgewater to play his final year at IMG Academy ... Eligible to declare for the 2018 NBA Draft …"

From NBAdraft.com

Just not inspiring measurements for a 2-guard (and he wore 2'' shoes lol). That's basically average size for the modern PG.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

He kind of plays like it too... seems like he needs a ton of work in a strength and conditioning room. Settles a bit too much for jumpshots... I love his off the dribble creation potential, though... IMO if we draft him, he will spend the first year or two in the GLeague. I still really like him if he's serious in his work and he ends up with a good coaching staff. Depending on who falls in the draft, I wouldn't mind it if we picked him.

I think him and Brunson are the guys I'd be least excited drafting... for opposite reasons.

 

[Archie Moses]

Anyone ever hear of Rodions Kurucs? He's got a crossover, a little bit of handles, a hook shot, athleticism and looks like he has good form on his 3s. Never heard of him until today.

 

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His measurements will definitely influence how excited/apprehensive I am on his potential. Last time he measured in I think he was 6'3 with a 6'7 wingspan. That's pretty undersized for 2-guard and nothing to really get excited about for a project player.

"Measured 6'1.5" barefoot, 6'3.5" in shoes, 181 lbs, 6'7" wingspan, and 8'2" standing reach by USA Basketball in October of 2017 ... Transferred from Edgewater to play his final year at IMG Academy ... Eligible to declare for the 2018 NBA Draft …"

From NBAdraft.com

Just not inspiring measurements for a 2-guard (and he wore 2'' shoes lol). That's basically average size for the modern PG.

Something else that's giving me pause is just how much his handlers are trying to hide him and not put him on the floor with other NBA prospects. He decided to not attend college and play college basketball... then when invited to the Hoop summit and we could have had the chance to see how he looks with and against high level players (forget the game if you think it's a glorified all-star game - the NBA scouts go to the hoop summit for the full week of practices...) so 2 weeks before the game he drops out of the game... it just seems like they are trying hard to hide him. I want to see if they let him play in the 5-on-5s at the combine or if he's going to flee from this one too...

 

[stitches]

Anyone ever hear of Rodions Kurucs? He's got a crossover, a little bit of handles, a hook shot, athleticism and looks like he has good form on his 3s. Never heard of him until today.

I'm not sure if this is a thinly veiled poke at @Catchall (Kurucs is his favorite and been raving about him for 2 years now), but yah... Kurucs has his fans around here. I personally am much more ambivalent on him than most.

 

[Archie Moses]

I'm not sure if this is a thinly veiled poke at @Catchall (Kurucs is his favorite and been raving about him for 2 years now), but yah... Kurucs has his fans around here. I personally am much more ambivalent on him than most.

Haha. I figured someone on here would know and or like him. I don't read this thread that much, but it's good to see others think he looks at least interesting. He's a bit slow, but damn, has some handles for a bigman.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Something else that's giving me pause is just how much his handlers are trying to hide him and not put him on the floor with other NBA prospects. He decided to not attend college and play college basketball... then when invited to the Hoop summit and we could have had the chance to see how he looks with and against high level players (forget the game if you think it's a glorified all-star game - the NBA scouts go to the hoop summit for the full week of practices...) so 2 weeks before the game he drops out of the game... it just seems like they are trying hard to hide him. I want to see if they let him play in the 5-on-5s at the combine or if he's going to flee from this one too...

He won’t play... he’d get smoked.

Even Dante played Hoops Summitt. I would take him in the second but unless he had a DM type workout no way would I take him in the first. I wonder if they will put him head to head with anyone good in workouts.

There are lots of potential wings and combo forwards and I’d rather take a shot there. I’d rather have Jontay Porter and I’m very much in the don’t draft a center camp.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Something else that's giving me pause is just how much his handlers are trying to hide him and not put him on the floor with other NBA prospects. He decided to not attend college and play college basketball... then when invited to the Hoop summit and we could have had the chance to see how he looks with and against high level players (forget the game if you think it's a glorified all-star game - the NBA scouts go to the hoop summit for the full week of practices...) so 2 weeks before the game he drops out of the game... it just seems like they are trying hard to hide him. I want to see if they let him play in the 5-on-5s at the combine or if he's going to flee from this one too...

No, he isnt playing 5 on 5. I doubt any projected 1st are.

 

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No, he isnt playing 5 on 5. I doubt any projected 1st are.

Well that sucks. For as intriguing as he is, I wanted to see at least one full game of his and I never managed to find any. I have to only go by what the Stepien wrote on him and what DX is saying about him... + the highlight videos.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Well that sucks. For as intriguing as he is, I wanted to see at least one full game of his and I never managed to find any. I have to only go by what the Stepien wrote on him and what DX is saying about him... + the highlight videos.

I can't even remember who the highest projected to player to do 5 on 5 last year was.

 

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I can't even remember who the highest projected to player to do 5 on 5 last year was.

Kuzma and Frank Jackson both playerd and killed it.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Kuzma and Frank Jackson both playerd and killed it.

Yeah, but Kuzma was projected late 2nd round to undrafted before the combine so he had nothing to lose. Frank might have been the highest ranked pre-combine to do it.

 

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Yeah, but Kuzma was projected late 2nd round to undrafted before the combine so he had nothing to lose. Frank might have been the highest ranked pre-combine to do it.

 

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Semi Ojeleye, Rawle Alkins, Johnathan Jeanne. Jordan Bell...

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Anyone ever hear of Rodions Kurucs? He's got a crossover, a little bit of handles, a hook shot, athleticism and looks like he has good form on his 3s. Never heard of him until today.

I liked Kurucs last year when the Jazz were drafting #24. He's grown and gotten stronger in the past year. He should measure out at 6'10" and close to 230 lbs. He's also stayed healthy for the most part. He's got a rough relationship with his Barcelona club and has not gotten much playing time with the senior team. He also has a buyout that hurts his ability to come to the states this year. He's likely to get drafted in the 2nd round this year.

 

[NCJazz]

Haha. I figured someone on here would know and or like him. I don't read this thread that much, but it's good to see others think he looks at least interesting. He's a bit slow, but damn, has some handles for a bigman.

Barcelona hid him a lot this year. Tried to keep scouts from watching him. Scouts gave up trying to watch him since it was so unpredictable when he would play. Played mostly for the Barca B team. Seems like he has good potential. Definitely would take a flyer on him in the second round.

oops did not get to Catchall's post before I posted this, but good to see we are on the same page.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Semi Ojeleye, Rawle Alkins, Johnathan Jeanne. Jordan Bell...

I think Jeanne was the only projected first out of that group. Pretty sure Frank was the highest.

And I'm not sure any of them actually helped themselves outside of Kuzma and Jackson. And they both got insanely hot in a game then didnt play the next day. I think you have to pretty much dominate to help yourself.

From what I've read, if you arent in the top 30 of the combine list, you have to compete in the 5 on 5. So those who arent in 5 on 5 are considered to be the aggregate top 30 by NBA teams.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I liked Kurucs last year when the Jazz were drafting #24. He's grown and gotten stronger in the past year. He should measure out at 6'10" and close to 230 lbs. He's also stayed healthy for the most part. He's got a rough relationship with his Barcelona club and has not gotten much playing time with the senior team. He also has a buyout that hurts his ability to come to the states this year. He's likely to get drafted in the 2nd round this year.

This was his pro day last year. He has the potential to be a Dario Saric-type of versatile forward. I think he's a bit more athletic and vertically explosive than Saric, but maybe not as crafty handling and passing. Hard to say.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I have questions about Anfernee Simons. He's got a physical build and budding offensive game that's reminiscent of a young Jamal Crawford. He's got a slight frame and needs to add strength to defend. The question is whether he's really a combo-guard or strictly a 2-guard, and whether he's undersized to guard on the wing. Offensive instincts and talent are real though.