CrushAlot wrote:Awesome. I try not to check in on Wojo during the draft because he is constantly tweeting things before they officially happen. It almost ruins it but it is hard not to follow him. I will probably go with the traditional broadcast and check in on the stream.

Fair. But the insight that he and Givonny can give would be gold. Don't know enough about Shams.

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/745046972122423297

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/NBADraftWass/status/745057427792531457

BOSTON -- The days leading up to the NBA Draft just wouldn’t feel right if there wasn’t some highly regarded player being red-flagged for a potential pre-existing injury that results in their stock falling a bit.

The first signs of trouble often scare off teams. But the Boston Celtics certainly aren’t one of them.

We've seen the slide of some players in past drafts due to medical concerns play into the Celtics’ hands, and that may happen again on Thursday.

An MRI of the right knee of Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine during last month’s pre-draft combine in Chicago has led to concerns from NBA teams about its long-term durability. That could result in a potential lottery pick -- he had been considered a top-14 player prior to those reports -- becoming available for the Celtics with the No. 16 or 23 pick.

In addition, Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis reportedly has a hip issue that might result in him falling to the latter stages of the first round or potentially into the second.

reub wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/NBADraftWass/status/745057427792531457

You've got to watch his YouTube highlights. Whitehead would be a great pickup!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrgkkWaSr7Y

If you go back in nba history it's rare to even find a decent nba player who shot less than 40% from 2 point range in college. I don't know if the Knicks need another pg with shooting issues

1. Team- Philadelphia 76ers
Strengths – cap space (relative to other teams; approx $60mil), youth, size and frontcourt
Needs – guard play, outside shooting, experience
Draft Prediction – Ben Simmons (PF): best player available. PF body with PG skills/Weakness = CAN’T SHOOT
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2. Team-Los Angeles Lakers
Strengths-young back court (Clarkson, Russell), cap space, LA Franchise
Needs-shooting, front court, defense
Draft Prediction- Brandon Ingram (SF): wing shooter with height/Weakness = skinny, not explosive
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3. Team-Boston Celtics (after 1 & 2 this is where the real draft starts)
Strengths-Coach Stevens, defense, perimeter defense, cap space
Needs-interior defense (amir johnson won’t be resigned), shooting, big man depth (sullinger gone too)
Draft Prediction-either trade down (to get a vet AND draft Buddy or Murray) or Dragon Bender(C): 7ft big man with excellent passing, defense and could develop more offensive skills/Weaks = raw; 2 yrs away
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4. Team-Phoenix Suns
Strengths-guard play (Bledsoe, Booker, Knight), youth
Needs-power forward, rebounding, overall defense
Draft Prediction-Marquisse Chriss (PF): excellent face up 4; Uptempo style fits his play/Weaks = doesn’t rebound or play defense. Can be hidden with Tyson chandler.
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5. Team-Minnesota Timberwolves
Strengths-talented starting 5 (Rubio, Lavine, Dieng, Wiggins, KAT)
Needs-shooting, vet leadership, develop bench
Draft Prediction-Kris Dunn (PG): def PG that Thibs will be love/Weaks = streaky shooter, turnover prone
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6. Team-New Orleans Pelicans
Strengths-Unibrow Davis, size
Needs-shooting, wings, may need to replace Evans/Holiday eventually, Gordon and Anderson are gone
Draft Prediction-Buddy Hield (SG): one dimensional shooter – great shooter/Weaks= doesn’t do much else
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7. Team-Denver Nuggets
Strengths-Mudiay and Jokic (might’ve been the 3rd best rookie), size (Nokie, Lauvergne, Jurkic)
Needs-Shooting, wing depth (harris, barton and chandler are off the bench; Gallo is injury prone)
Draft Prediction-Jamal Murray (SG): 2nd best shooter/could play some PG/Weaks = slow defender
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8. Team-Sacramento Kings
Strengths-Demarcus Cousins
Needs-backcourt, might lose a lot of players to free agency
Draft Prediction-Jaylen Brown (F): best physical talent, def/Weaks=can’t dribble, create or shoot
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9. Team-Toronto Raptors
Strengths-backcourt (lowry and derozen – I think they’ll OVERPAY to keep him),
Needs-solid team that will likely lose biyombo
Draft Prediction-either trade pick for a vet or Deyonta Davis (PF): defensive and mobile big man/Weaks=limited offensive skills
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10. Team-Milwaukee Bucks
Strengths-Giannis, Parker, Middleton trio
Needs-upgrade in front court (plumlee isn’t enough, Monroe may need to go)
Draft Prediction-Henry Ellenson (PF)-stretch 4 big man from Milwaukee/Weaks=slow footed
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11. Team-Orlando Magic
Strengths-talented players (Oladipo, Gordon, Herzonja, Fournier), new coach,
Needs-defensive big men (that’s what Vogel likes, that’s what Vucevic isn’t), shooting, PG play
Draft Prediction-Skal Labessiere (C)– raw big man with already good def instincts/Weaks= still learning
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12. Team-Utah Jazz
Strengths-young lineup (Favors, Gobert, Hayward, Hood, Exum, Lyles)
Needs-depth (backup for Exum), shooting
Draft Prediction-Wade Baldwin (PG) – smart PG who can shoot and defend/Weaks=not the quickest, doesnt finish well
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13. Team-Phoenix Suns
Strengths-guard play (Bledsoe, Booker, Knight), youth
Needs-power forward, rebounding, overall defense
Draft Prediction-Domantas Sabonis (C)- excellent passing big with a motor/Weaks=athleticism
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14. Team-Chicago Bulls
Strengths-back court (rose, Butler) and Mirotic
Needs-needs front line help (Gasol and Noah may be gone)
Draft Prediction-Jakob Poetl (C) – traditional low post big man/Weaks = modern NBA fit?
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After the lottery, the draft is up for grabs. I expect a lot of international draft and stashes. A lot of unpredictable moves: drafting seniors, international players, trades, etc. I'm not sure anyone can predict what will happen next
Some Notables to watch:
- Dejonte Murray (PG) – streaky PG with quicks; horrible shot selection
- Malachi Richardson (SG)– streaky SG with length, lots of potential despite up and down fresh yr (Memphis has guaranteed to draft him)
- Denzel Valentine (SF)-Jack of all trade wing that has the IQ to make up for his lack of athleticism (injured knees?)
- Thon Maker (C)– 7fter with SG skills/ still learning the game- makes lots of mistakes
- Malik Beasley (SG)– talented streaky shooter - still learning how to create his own shot
- Patrick McGraw (SG)- excellent defender, streaky shooter, needs to gain some muscle mass
- Timothe Lawawu (SF) - athletic 3&D player; draft and stash candidate
- Demetrius Jackson (PG) – excellent traditional PG; small streaky shooter
- Damian Jones (C)- nice defensive big man like Ezeli from Vanderbilt
- Ben Bentil (PF) – my sleeper of the draft. Talented inside and out
- Taurean Prince (SF) – athletic 3&D player
- Diamond Stone (C)- classic low post big man
- AJ Hammons (C) – another defensive big man who has developed a jumper

Pick 3 for Okafor. I think that is a good trade for both teams. Hope is doesn't happen.

Udfa

1 Georges Niang
2. Bryn Forbes
3 Josh Adams

I know many of us were worried about KP and his weight, but he put on weight leading up to the draft, and seems to be continuing with a gradual weight gain.

Would this be a concern for folks, or will Ingram be able to be an NBA SG and not have to worry about the added weight because his length will help him against most SGs?