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Following Potential Draftees - 2019 (not kidding)

zyzz said:
Sam Vecenie's "final" mock draft (it will be constantly updated as intel comes in)

23 Cameron Johnson - The Jazz badly need shooting. Johnson is the best shooter in the draft, and would fit well positionally next to the Jazz’ signed core of Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell, and Joe Ingles. Johnson will be the oldest player selected on draft night at 23 years old already, but that fits well with the Jazz’ timeline given that he’ll be expected to come in and compete early. There are some defensive concerns here due to his strength level, but he has reasonable lateral quickness on the perimeter. If he can become even an average defender, Johnson will play in the NBA for a while. His range will start around No. 18 and extend all the way through the first round.

This pick is also absolutely out there being discussed in potential trade packages by the Jazz as they look to take the next step in the Western Conference hierarchy. The potential Mike Conley deal obviously is the one that stands out the most, and also the one that makes the most sense to me given his ability to play both on and off ball next to Donovan Mitchell, as well as his two-way play at the lead guard position.

53 Miye Oni - The Jazz like big wings who are tough and long. Oni fits that bill, and has also become a pretty solid shooter. Another role player’s starter kit here that fits perfectly positionally with a potential playoff team.
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Cam Johnson? Yuck.
 
On the Ringer NBA podcast, Chris Vernon said that a few people told him that Cam Johnson is going to get red flagged medically. He had a hip surgery in 2018 for a torn labrum and bone impingement. He also had a torn meniscus a few years ago. I think someone here was wondering which players may have canceled workouts due to injury. Looks like it may have been Cam.

Also, Vernon said a few people told him their "deep sleeper" is Cy's guy Quinndary Weatherspoon.
 
zyzz said:
On the Ringer NBA podcast, Chris Vernon said that a few people told him that Cam Johnson is going to get red flagged medically. He had a hip surgery in 2018 for a torn labrum and bone impingement. He also had a torn meniscus a few years ago. I think someone here was wondering which players may have canceled workouts due to injury. Looks like it may have been Cam.

Also, Vernon said a few people told him their "deep sleeper" is Cy's guy Quinndary Weatherspoon.
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On the RTRS podcast Elan Vinokurov said the same thing about Cam Johnson - he said he's one injury away from never playing again or something like that. Said he's hearing his body is broken and has multiple serious injury concerns.
 
stitches said:
On the RTRS podcast Elan Vinokurov said the same thing about Cam Johnson - he said he's one injury away from never playing again or something like that. Said he's hearing his body is broken and has multiple serious injury concerns.
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Damn. Vernon was kind of hesitant to say it. He made sure to say something like "this isn't reporting...just something a few people have told me." Wonder how far he'll fall.
 
Some of the "Finch" Article from The Athletic.

That’s right, America: He’s baaaack. The smartest, savviest hoop maven is here once again to provide his unvarnished insights into the top prospects in this year’s NBA Draft. Most of the planet knows who Finch is, but for the uninitiated I will explain. He is not a person, per se, but an amalgam of six NBA scouts and front-office executives whom I asked to weigh in on 50 former U.S. collegians hoping to have their name called Thursday night. I promised these men anonymity in exchange for their candor, and as you will see below the tradeoff was worth it. After conducting the interviews, I selected the most insightful and relevant quotes and merged them into one paragraph that reads as if it came from a single person called Finch.
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Finally, a word about the 2019 draft, and I will deliver it Finchian bluntness: It’s pretty awful. All of my guys agreed that once you get past the cream on the surface, the taste is pretty bland, if not downright rancid. “It’s been quite a few years since I’ve seen one this bad,” one scout said. “After you get past the first three or four picks, it’s like falling off a cliff. You could get a guy at 40 who’s just as good as the guy you get at 15.”

That means things will be especially unpredictable, which should make for a fascinating draft night. So without further ado, I present to you the Finch Report for the 2019 NBA Draft. Be prepared for some serious straight talk.
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Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 6-6 guard, Virginia Tech, 20 years old. “I like him probably more than most. His size will compensate some for him not being a great athlete. He’ll have a hard time adjusting to the athleticism he’s going to face in the NBA. He takes too long to get his shot off. I’m not convinced he’s a lights-out shooter. He’s got a funky release. Might not have the biggest upside but he can dribble, pass and shoot, and he knows how to play a couple of positions. He’s more of a combo guard than a pure point.”
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Bol Bol, 7-3 center, Oregon, 19. “Freak of the draft. He is as talented as anybody. He can dribble, he can pass, he can shoot it, he blocks shots, he can rebound. He’s skinny, but he’s not soft at all. The big question is his health. I think he’s brittle. I worry about guys who have a tough time getting in a defensive stance. He bends at the waist. He lost more than 20 pounds from the end of the season to the combine, which is kind of scary. I’ve heard he’s not the hardest worker but that could change. I also question his maturity. Does he love the game? When he was in high school he was a pain to be around. I don’t think he has a great work ethic. He’s not a malicious kid, he’s just really immature. There’s no one in his life telling him what to do. I could see a team saying let’s roll the dice on this kid. If it ever clicks with him, he’s an all-star.”
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Jordan Bone, 6-3 guard, Tennessee, 21. “Freak athlete. He was one or two in every combine testing. He’s going to surprise some people. Great upside. Rick Barnes is really tough on his point guards, and this kid got through it and survived and got better. It wouldn’t shock me if he goes late first round. His feel and decision-making and knowing the position will take some time. He needs to continue to improve as a shooter. I think toward the end of the season he was playing more for the NBA than for his team. He wasn’t looking for people as much.”
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Brandon Clarke, 6-8 forward, Gonzaga, 22. “I like him, but I’m not over the moon about him like some people. He can block shots and dribble and pass, but he’s little. He’s got some holes in his game. Couldn’t shoot well during the season, but I’ve heard in workouts he’s looking better. Terrific attacking off the bounce in the high post. My question is if he can’t play off the ball, how does he impact the game? He’s a terrific weak-side shot blocker but that doesn’t necessarily translate to being a good NBA defender. There’s not as much upside when a guy is 22. That’s just the mentality of our league. I worry about his feel. I don’t think he’s a great defender, he’s a defensive playmaker. It’s hard for me to see him doing what he did at Gonzaga in the NBA. His height is never going to change. Can he survive as an undersized 5?”
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Nic Claxton, 6-11 center, Georgia, 20. “Huge upside play. His dad was a really good player so I like his lineage. He can’t score to save his life, but he’ll make it in the NBA because he’s versatile defensively. Very good ballhandler and driver but doesn’t shoot the ball well. I’m hearing he will go between 25 and 35. I’ve heard the Warriors are looking at him hard in the first round. I can see why people are intrigued by him. He doesn’t always play hard. He surprised me at the combine. He can run, he can jump, he blocks shots, he’s active. Has to put on more weight. Needs to improve his game around the rim when it’s not a dunk.”
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Luguentz Dort, 6-4 guard, Arizona State, 20. “I thought he should have gone back to Arizona State. Every time I saw him in person he was awful. He goes to the basket hard but falls down a lot because he has poor core strength and balance. People say he’s gotta be Marcus Smart, but I don’t think he’s tenacious as a defender. He’s supposed to be this athletic finisher, but he doesn’t do it all that well. I worry about guys who can’t make a shot. With the way the game is played, it’s hard to hide those guys. That’s where he’s going to have to hang his hat.”
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Jarrett Culver, 6-6 forward, Texas Tech, 20. “He’s a good player, but when he’s talked about being in the lottery, that tells you how weak this draft is.
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Carsen Edwards, 6-1 guard, Purdue, 21. “I love that kid. He’ll have a place in the NBA because he can score. If you’re looking for him to do more than that you’re going to be disappointed. His size will be problematic. Can he be a Fred VanVleet? I don’t think you can play him at the point. He can’t run a team. At Purdue they ran him off a hundred screens and let him play and not have to think. Is he Isaiah Thomas? Is he Eddie House? He’ll be picked on defensively.”
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Bruno Fernando, 6-10 forward, Maryland, 20. “I’m more of a Bruno Fernando guy than most of our staff. He measured a little smaller than I thought, but I think over time he’s going to become a more than capable shooter. He rebounds, runs the floor, plays with energy. His basketball IQ has to come up a little bit, but he’s a willing passer. He’s a sneaky good shooter from 15, 17 feet. He can finish lobs and has a decent midpost game. He should be Montrezl Harrell, but I don’t think he has a motor like that. I think the game could get easier for him at the NBA level because people won’t make him post up.”
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Daniel Gafford, 6-11 center, Arkansas, 20. “He’s a decent finisher who runs the floor well and plays hard, but he has to get stronger. Thin lower body. He’s a nice kid, but his issue is going to be his maturity off the court. Kind of a dinosaur because he can’t score, but he’s really, really athletic. Blocks shots but he doesn’t rebound. I’m always concerned about his effort. He should go be DeAndre Jordan and rebound and block every shot. I thought Arkansas didn’t play him the right way. They tried to throw it to him in the post which is not his game.”
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Darius Garland, 6-2 guard, Vanderbilt, 19. “Big-time leader. Terrific passer. Much improved jump shot. He’s just a great basketball player. He changes speeds, has great balance and vision. If he’s not top five I’ll be shocked. Only played four games but everyone saw him at the big events and saw him practice at Vanderbilt. I guess you compare it to Kyrie Irving, who only played nine games. He’s Jeff Teague-ish, maybe better. He’s not going to be a great athlete or great defender but I could see him being a 15- to 20-point scorer just because he can make shots. The background check comes out great.”
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Rui Hachimura, 6-8 forward, Gonzaga, 21. “I’m just not a fan. I don’t know what he does. He doesn’t shoot it well enough. He’s a straight 4 who can’t play the 3. I like that he’s a big, good athlete who handles it, but in our league, if you’re going to be a stretch 4, you gotta make shots. He doesn’t have a great feel for the game. I thought it was interesting when they lost to Saint Mary’s, they ran nothing for him the last few minutes, almost like they didn’t want the ball in his hands. He can guard multiple positions, he can score inside and outside. He needs to improve his range. He’s got that line-drive shot. Seems like he’s a good worker with a high motor. I wish he was a better rebounder. I wish he knew how to use his strength a little better.”
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Ty Jerome, 6-6 guard, Virginia, 21. “I’m a huge fan, but I can’t convince our staff. An absolute winner. Smart, tough, confident player. The biggest concern with him is defensively being able to stay in front of the ball. His arms are really short by NBA standards. He can’t run, can’t jump, but he wins every game. He reminds me of Greivis Vasquez. You’re going to count him out every time, but he’ll come back and prove you wrong. Has a ton of physical and mental toughness. That usually means you figure it out.”
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Cameron Johnson, 6-9 forward, North Carolina, 23. “Boy, I tell you what, he’s growing on me. He’s tall and he can really shoot. Those guys usually play in our league. My concern is when you make him put it on the floor, can he be anything other than a straight-line driver? Not the toughest dude but a first-rounder, no doubt. Why hasn’t his body gotten better after five years of college?”
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Keldon Johnson, 6-5 forward, Kentucky, 19. “He’s kind of vanilla, but I like him. The games I saw, he did nothing. People say he’s a 3-point shooter, but I don’t see it. He measured bigger than we thought. Solid athlete but not great. If you get him late first round you’re happy, but if the team in front of you takes him that’s OK too. He could be like a Gary Harris, a solid role guy who gets better with work ethic. Not an elite athlete but he’s good enough. Never going to be great, but a good, solid player. Probably mid-first-round pick.”
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Mfiondu Kabengele, 6-10 center, Florida State, 21. “Definitely a riser in the draft. I don’t understand why Leonard Hamilton didn’t start him. Big question is whether he can guard in space. He could end up being a stretch 5. You wonder about his knees. He wears those braces. He’s long and he can really score. Not a great 3-point shooter but made 77 percent at the foul line. He has one of the lowest assist rates of any player in the country. He never passes.”
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Romeo Langford, 6-6 guard, Indiana, 19. “His shot is fixable, but he has to want to get after it and be enthusiastic, and I haven’t seen that so far. I expected more, but I know he played all year with a bad thumb. He can become better as a shooter, but I don’t know if he’ll ever be great at it. His shooting isn’t broken, it just needs work. He played with one hand all year and still scored 17 a game. He’s got that calm demeanor that leaves you wanting more, but you can’t argue with the production. We didn’t really find out until after the season how bad the hand was. He had surgery on his right thumb.”
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Chuma Okeke, 6-8 forward, Auburn, 20. “A big question is obviously how does he come back from that knee injury. High basketball IQ. Average athlete but has a nose for the ball. His shooting got better. He’s not a great athlete, but he rebounds it well. He was chubby as a freshman, but now he’s carved up. I’m not sure what his position is, but somebody will grab him in the second round. I love guys like him that are high energy. I thought Auburn would have won it all if he was healthy. He’s just a basketball player who can make shots, defend a couple of positions, he rebounds the heck out of it. He’s going to be a solid role player for a long time.”
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K.Z. Okpala, 6-10 forward, Stanford, 20. “I don’t know, man. He’s got the physical tools, he’s long, but I don’t know what he does. He’s got to get a lot stronger. He was so wildly inconsistent, I don’t know if I can trust him. They had a really disappointing season. Pretty good athlete but he can’t shoot the 3 right now. He struggles to finish around the rim. Versatile defender but not sure he has that dog mentality to shut someone down. I don’t know what happened to Stanford this year. He’s young so he has good upside. A first-round pick because of his size and skill.”
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Eric Paschall, 6-7 forward, Villanova, 22. “His best shot in the NBA is as an undersized 5. Very strong body. He will bang against bigger players. I don’t like his offensive versatility. He’s an all-or-nothing guy from 3. His size will be a problem with him when he plays against length. He took a ton of free throws this year. I think he can do a lot of switching defensively, which is important in our league. He may not go first round but he won’t go past 35. He’s a poor man’s Draymond Green. He was a critical piece of that championship team (in 2018). Just a junkyard dog who can space the floor. If he goes to a good team with good players, he’ll fit in right away.
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Kevin Porter Jr., 6-6 forward, USC, 19. “As talented a scorer as there is in this draft. The question is going to be the intel. He showed questionable judgment off the court. He had a lot of problems with Andy Enfield. Not a freak, but he’s a James Harden type who can score. If it were just a matter of talent he should go in the lottery. He had a tough background growing up in Seattle. Funky looking shot but he can make ’em. He has NBA explosiveness. He needs to be in the right place with the right staff. He does things that only a handful of guys in this draft can do.”
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Admiral Schofield, 6-5 forward, Tennessee, 22. “I love that kid. Old, strong, tough. I like winners. Excellent midrange scorer but he needs to improve his 3-point shot. He also needs to improve as a passer. I don’t think he’s as good a perimeter defender as some other people. Got to Tennessee as a little fat guy and now he’s ripped up. He’s gotta be Jae Crowder or P.J. Tucker. He’s got no game with the ball in his hands. Physicality, leadership, he has those boxes checked. Can’t really create for others or himself. I think he goes second round and makes a team.”
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Matisse Thybulle, 6-6 forward, Washington, 22. “I know he’s supposed to be this great defender, but it’s hard to really tell when he’s in that zone all the time. He’s great at anticipating but that doesn’t mean he can guard his man. Offensively, when I saw him he shot it well in warmups but he was awful in the game. Not sure what he hangs his hat on offensively. He needs to become a three-and-D guy. How many first-round picks averaged nine points a game? You have to wonder why his shooting got worse in school.”
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PJ Washington, 6-7 forward, Kentucky, 20. “Very mature, businesslike guy. He can really move his feet and guard off the dribble. He’s going to be a David West type who will be rock solid. No problems off the court. To his credit, his body really changed this year. He measured bigger than I thought. He’s not as good as Draymond Green, but he has some of those tendencies. He can’t make free throws, which is a concern, but he’s a first-round stone lock. Very impressive the way he improved after going back to school. Love his motor. I thought he was the guts of their team.”
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Grant Williams, 6-6 forward, Tennessee, 20. “Great basketball IQ, solid in the mid-range. Give him the ball at the elbow and he’ll be a very good scorer and passer. I wouldn’t trust him to post him up because he definitely has trouble scoring over length. He needs to be in a system. He did not look good in Chicago, which is more of a freelance situation. He did a pro day and for some reason they had him standing and doing perimeter jumpers, which is not his strong suit. He’s going to be a great culture guy. Even if he doesn’t get a lot of minutes, he’ll make your practices more competitive. I just don’t know what he did in college that translates to our league. Very smart. Very tough. You’re going to have to live with him making ugly plays because he’s not a great athlete. For a guy to go from one SEC offer to a two-time player of the year in that league is amazing. He always seems to figure it out.”
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Avery said:
Maybe they will buy a pick from another team. That’s really the only excitement possible.
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Exactly, which is why it makes it more interesting now. If not, so be it. Just enjoy the draft and our 2nd rd pick selection. Who knows, something good might happen too.
 
Catchall said:
What would be exciting would be someone taking Tony Bradley and #53 and giving us a pick in the late 30s.
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If the last two years are any indication, you can get up into the mid 30’s with two future second round picks and/or just cash outright. Jazz absolutely should still be active in the draft. Hoping for a Gobert caliber trade up for someone.
 
jom2003 said:
Can DL work his magic and buy us another late first rounder this time?
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This ^

I still believe there will be a number of players that will come out of the later part of this draft and be solid rotation guys.

Still really like the upside guys like Samanic, Bazley and Lecque.
 
So... lost in the beauty of this trade we still have a draft.

I'm the GM of the Jazz in a mock draft with fellow draft nuts tonight. Suggestions on what I should maybe do? I only have pick 53 right now obvs. I've made it known that I would like to make a move for a late first/early second round pick. The goal being to target an athletic 3&D wing or 3&D PF. Good approach?
 
I would be very happy to get any of the 3 Tennessee guys (Bone, Admiral, Williams). And this is weird considering I'm a massive Alabama guy.
 
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