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Following Potential 2018 Draftees

SCS said:
Anyone else concerned of a player like Zhaire Smith or Lonnie Walker ending up in San Antonio?
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I don't think Lonnie Walker will drop that far. I think his floor is probably 15. Zhaire Smith could be around at #18. It doesn't bother me if San Antonio gets one of those guys. Their bigs are getting pretty ancient. Tony and Manu are done. Who knows what's happening with Kawhi. The rest of their talent is pretty middling.
 
Catchall said:
I don't think Lonnie Walker will drop that far. I think his floor is probably 15. Zhaire Smith could be around at #18. It doesn't bother me if San Antonio gets one of those guys. Their bigs are getting pretty ancient. Tony and Manu are done. Who knows what's happening with Kawhi. The rest of their talent is pretty middling.
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I could see Zhaire dropping pretty far.
 
Bodhi said:
Guys, Bradley isn’t that good and probably won’t ever be.

If you have hopes of him positively impacting this roster near or long term, you might want to temper those.
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This, and since we are comparing players, most of the comparisons I’ve read are crap. If anything, he’s another Jaren Collins. Collins brought nothing more then fundamentally sound basketball, while doing basically nothing well.
 
Bradley is a quick jumper unlike the Collins twins. He rebounds well and does block shots. He has a go to move on offense. His jump push shot is money. He just can't jump high. He also has a nice touch on his jump shot. I am very excited about what he can become.
 
Kevin Huerter

What I’m buying (after watching some [limited] game action, as opposed to just highlights):

  • Feet. Very active. Good at getting back in the play even if beaten initially.
  • Awareness/BBIQ – both offensively and defensively, both stationary and on the move
  • Drive game – somewhat more on the scoring than the dribbling, though I think the dribbling can come around. Good floater/runner game.
  • Secondary playmaker – no guarantees, and I doubt he can handle a heavy load, but I can imagine a 20% usage guy. Can both create threat of own shot and pass well out of that action.
  • Size/athleticism – short arms and thin build will keep him primarily in the backcourt and in matchups against small 3s, but athleticism adequate to that task. Will have some advantages as a tall guard. Probably can switch up in a pinch
  • Motor

What I’m not buying:

  • Korver/K. Thompson-level shooter. I think he can be a very good shooter, but that high level is unlikely. Not yet as ready to fire it up at any time.
  • Bulking up into a Hayward-type build. I think he’s just too thinly built, similar to Burks.
 
Keita Bates-Diop

What I’m buying:

  • Length – legitimate for a 4. Will erase some of his shortcomings.
  • (Own) shot creator – if he fails here, I can’t see him having much NBA success. But I think he’ll be able to get his own shots as a 4. Impressed with the variety of ways he scored, despite not having great dribbling skills or a great first step.
  • Switchability. I don’t see him as a great defender at any single position, but his switchability should make him a useful part of a good team defense.

What I’m not buying:

  • Strength – he should be stronger than most everyone else as a 22-year old, but I see average at best.
  • Toughness
  • Motor – not terrible, but not a strength
  • Combo-forward – defensively, sure, at times. But offensively he better have the role of a small-ball 4.
  • Feet – seem heavy, even if his length bails him out at times.
  • Playmaking – don’t expect much more than meh.
  • Athleticism – probably enough to get by (esp. with length), but it won’t be a strength in the NBA.
 
Troy Brown

What I’m buying:

  • Passing – despite some turnovers, a real strength that should easily translate to NBA
  • Playmaking – I’m not quite as high as on the passing, though he’s a very good dribbler, and might become very good at playmaking in time. He should be able to at least handle a secondary playmaking role with time.
  • BBIQ & awareness
  • Motor
  • Defense & switchability – I wavered on this with his lack of athleticism, but think he’s a little more likely than not to be solid enough.

What I’m not buying:

  • Shot – it will take a lot of work. He might get there eventually, but I’m not sure I’d bet on the likelihood.
  • Athleticism – it will likely always be a weakness for him (though I don’t quite buy the too-unathletic-to-contribute argument)
  • Scorer
  • Size – he’s almost exactly Evan Turner in height (a little lighter, though at a younger age), and with a bit better reach. But with lack of athleticism, I don’t expect him to work as a small-ball 4 any time early in his career. He’ll need to wait until he gains old-man strength. He almost has to be a 3 for the first several years of his career (though hopefully a switchable 3).
 
Melvin Frazier

What I’m buying:

  • Hands & feet. I didn’t always like his habits, but his hands and feet give him a very positive start on defense.
  • Length – legit reach for a 3.
  • Slasher/finisher potential. It’s not fully developed yet, and he’s already somewhat old, but I could see it working.
  • Defender. More likely than not to be good, though there are some habits to improve and he doesn’t appear to be a very physical defender.

What I’m not buying:

  • Shot – decent numbers this year, but I don’t really trust the shot to easily transfer to the NBA level
  • Ball handling – has a long way to go before he can create on an NBA level. Unlikely to be a playmaker for others.
  • Motor – probably good enough to stay in the league for a few years, with other skills, but needs improvement to be a strong rotation player
  • Above the rim – I’m sure he can operate there once in a while, but I don’t think it’s going to be a defining part of his game
  • Strength – maybe it will get there. But right now it looks like he has the length/skills of a (not overly skilled) 3 with the strength/defensive feet of a 2.
 
Khryi Thomas

What I’m buying:

  • Length – more than an inch taller than DM, a bit longer wingspan, as well. Will have less to overcome than Donte D. here.
  • Defense – very disciplined, enough athleticism to handle many small guards as well
  • Strength – he’ll need strength to survive as a 2 at his height, and I think it’s there (though he’s already 22).
  • Shot – haven’t seen him take deep 3s, but shot looks very good at this point.
  • BBIQ – likely not a secondary playmaker, but should be able to function well within a smart system
  • Finisher – just enough combined athleticism, length, touch, smarts may give him more at-rim skills than many people expect
  • Motor

What I’m not buying:

  • Playmaker – I just don’t see many one-on-one possibilities here. While an adequate passer, nothing especially creative.
  • Scorer – hard to see him as above-average-usage player.
 
Donte DiVincenzo

What I’m buying:

  • Functional athleticism – can expect some highlight reel stuff from him on occasion.
  • Team player/BBIQ – should function well within a system, passing should be a plus overall
  • Deep range – could be a sniper in NBA
  • Motor
  • Adequate defense

What I’m not buying:

  • Length – Likely to be a problem. May prevent him from becoming an above average defender
  • Secondary creator. Has a bit of a dribble game, and can pass a bit. But not much of a threat to create for himself or others on the move (unless pulling up for a long 3 or taking it all the way for a jam if space opens up).
  • True combo guard. Creation skills are simply not high enough, though may get by well enough alongside DM or Dante.
  • Secondary scorer – likely peaks as 4th/5th option. Maybe 3rd if all goes well.
 
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