It was pointed out that We took Hill at #8 in the 2009 draft, which was a top ten pick within the last 10 years, so it must be mentioned here. He was somebody I didn't even think about in the days proceeding the draft, thinking that we would definitely go PG with MDA as our coach.

Mikal Bridges is the safest pick for me. Proven performer on one of best programs in college. The guy can hit the J, has a good rep as a defender (Can he defend at SG too? ), and played on a team which played as a team. Not too sure about his upside...he will be 22 in August, but with some added freedom, he might be able expand his game and do things they didn't have him doing at Nova.

Kevin Knox is intriguing to me. Played on a good program...is VERY young-pretty much at the same age Frank was when we took him- but much more mature and physically developed at the same age. Sounds like he improved his shooting over the year. Not the shooter Bridges is at this moment...34% from 3, but then again, Mikal shot 30% from 3 his first season in college. I'll be interested to hear about how he is looking at his team workouts, and how he works out for us-the Kentucky kids usually work hard preparing for the draft. Unlike Bridges, I also expect that he can play at the 4 as he matures, which is an added bonus.

Zhaire Smith is the wildcard for me...the potential Donovan Mitchell of the draft. Disappointed that he is not taller than he is, because some thought he could play the 3, but he's a superior athlete, has a good wingspan, is a good defender (fine off the ball shot blocker), and although his shot is not seen as a strength for him right now, he still shot 45% from 3, even though he only took one/game. Doesn't look like a PG on offense right now, but he can guard at the position. Might be a stretch at #9, but I think he fits the Mitchell profile, and is much younger (turns 19 in a few days).

I am not looking for a PG at this time...I'm of the belief that Frank will fill that position. Young might be intriguing because of the Curry comparisons, but I think he will be gone when we pick, and he is god awful on D, with a lack of athleticism as well as a 6'3" wingspan, and probably NO ability to defend a the 2. I would not go crazy, like some did with KP or Frank, if we got him, but I like others in the draft more than him.

Not a big supporter for Sexton... don't see him as being an upgrade for us, though I expect some see him as another Donovan Mitchell type.

If Porter, Carter, or Bomba falls you'd have consider them, of course, especially Porter, but we seem to have a number of solid players to choose from, even if one of these guys doesn't drop.

About 3 weeks to go...will be another interesting draft.

WaltLongmire wrote:During the last 10 years we've had a top ten pick 3 times, and up to this point, I've had a strong feeling for the 3 guys we took, Gallinari(still willing to defend this pick, but not looking to do it now), KP, and Ntilikina, but if Scott Perry calls me for assistance, I'd have to disappoint him and tell him I have no special feeling for any player at this point.

Mikal Bridges is the safest pick for me. Proven performer on one of best programs in college. The guy can hit the J, has a good rep as a defender (Can he defend at SG too? ), and played on a team which played as a team. Not too sure about his upside...he will be 22 in August, but with some added freedom, he might be able expand his game and do things they didn't have him doing at Nova.

Kevin Knox is intriguing to me. Played on a good program...is VERY young-pretty much at the same age Frank was when we took him- but much more mature and physically developed at the same age. Sounds like he improved his shooting over the year. Not the shooter Bridges is at this moment...34% from 3, but then again, Mikal shot 30% from 3 his first season in college. I'll be interested to hear about how he is looking at his team workouts, and how he works out for us-the Kentucky kids usually work hard preparing for the draft. Unlike Bridges, I also expect that he can play at the 4 as he matures, which is an added bonus.

Zhaire Smith is the wildcard for me...the potential Donovan Mitchell of the draft. Disappointed that he is not taller than he is, because some thought he could play the 3, but he's a superior athlete, has a good wingspan, is a good defender (fine off the ball shot blocker), and although his shot is not seen as a strength for him right now, he still shot 45% from 3, even though he only took one/game. Doesn't look like a PG on offense right now, but he can guard at the position. Might be a stretch at #9, but I think he fits the Mitchell profile, and is much younger (turns 19 in a few days).

I am not looking for a PG at this time...I'm of the belief that Frank will fill that position. Young might be intriguing because of the Curry comparisons, but I think he will be gone when we pick, and he is god awful on D, with a lack of athleticism as well as a 6'3" wingspan, and probably NO ability to defend a the 2. I would not go crazy, like some did with KP or Frank, if we got him, but I like others in the draft more than him.

Not a big supporter for Sexton... don't see him as being an upgrade for us, though I expect some see him as another Donovan Mitchell type.

If Porter, Carter, or Bomba falls you'd have consider them, of course, especially Porter, but we seem to have a number of solid players to choose from, even if one of these guys doesn't drop.

About 3 weeks to go...will be another interesting draft.

I can be cynical about the draft, including the conspiracy theory that media sources are fed disinformation so that certain players rise and other fall, not too dissimilar to what people do in stock market or "normal" business. Helps explain why some teams are consistently at the bottom -- too dumb to separate wheat from chafe and buying or being influenced by someone else's "analysis"

For example, Mikal does seem safe but should we really be thinking about a SF who seems to have no handle or shot-creation ability at 9 (by way of comparison Demarr Derozan's slot IIRC); Or are we selling or slot short by going safe because we're more worried we'll flub it up big time (Sweetney)

Knox seems loooong but at times awkward. When they say he's a young is that just a sales tactic to overlook his flaws and hope they improve?

If I were on the selection committee I would definitely be trying to zone in on competitive, perhaps hyper-competitive players with a bit of insecurity about themselves -- enough so that they continue to focus on improving their game

Six months ago people were saying how any of the top 10 could have been top 3 in other drafts and now we're finding flaws in everyone's game or their fit in modern NBA

nixluva wrote:I have some concerns about Knox. His intensity isn’t consistent but he clearly has a lot of talent and higher upside than Mikal. Mikal is a very safe pick. You know you’re getting a guy who is efficient and already plug n play at the NBA Level. Zhaire Smith is a guy I’m not interested in.

Yeah...his motor intensity/consistency is what you hear about a lot with him. You would be looking at upside with him...yup.

Depends on what Perry sees and how Knox interviews.

Still picking Smith as my dark-horse Donovan Mitchell player. There is a lot of fire in the guy, especially on the defensive end, where he reminds you of D. Wade as a shot blocker. I don't think he's on our radar, though, but I'm one of the guys who didn't look closely enough at Mitchell last year, and Smith has some of the same traits.

Still feel we take Mikal, though.

Marv wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:No love for Miles on here? I was big on Mikal and still am but i'm really coming around on Miles and love that he can do more for a team then Mikal can. I also really like K.Thomas and L.Walker.

i’m feeling a lot of the same about miles.

blkexec wrote:I would like to draft mikal.....trade Lee and get a pick to select jalen....mikals PG.

I was thinking the same thing, and if Jalen wasn't there, I would be ok with jevon carter to form a seriously defense first trio. If perry manages to flip Lee into something useful in the front court, he's done a great job, but its more likely Lee will be more attractive going into his final year.

Jmpasq wrote:

Chandler wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:During the last 10 years we've had a top ten pick 3 times, and up to this point, I've had a strong feeling for the 3 guys we took, Gallinari(still willing to defend this pick, but not looking to do it now), KP, and Ntilikina, but if Scott Perry calls me for assistance, I'd have to disappoint him and tell him I have no special feeling for any player at this point.

Mikal Bridges is the safest pick for me. Proven performer on one of best programs in college. The guy can hit the J, has a good rep as a defender (Can he defend at SG too? ), and played on a team which played as a team. Not too sure about his upside...he will be 22 in August, but with some added freedom, he might be able expand his game and do things they didn't have him doing at Nova.

Kevin Knox is intriguing to me. Played on a good program...is VERY young-pretty much at the same age Frank was when we took him- but much more mature and physically developed at the same age. Sounds like he improved his shooting over the year. Not the shooter Bridges is at this moment...34% from 3, but then again, Mikal shot 30% from 3 his first season in college. I'll be interested to hear about how he is looking at his team workouts, and how he works out for us-the Kentucky kids usually work hard preparing for the draft. Unlike Bridges, I also expect that he can play at the 4 as he matures, which is an added bonus.

Zhaire Smith is the wildcard for me...the potential Donovan Mitchell of the draft. Disappointed that he is not taller than he is, because some thought he could play the 3, but he's a superior athlete, has a good wingspan, is a good defender (fine off the ball shot blocker), and although his shot is not seen as a strength for him right now, he still shot 45% from 3, even though he only took one/game. Doesn't look like a PG on offense right now, but he can guard at the position. Might be a stretch at #9, but I think he fits the Mitchell profile, and is much younger (turns 19 in a few days).

I am not looking for a PG at this time...I'm of the belief that Frank will fill that position. Young might be intriguing because of the Curry comparisons, but I think he will be gone when we pick, and he is god awful on D, with a lack of athleticism as well as a 6'3" wingspan, and probably NO ability to defend a the 2. I would not go crazy, like some did with KP or Frank, if we got him, but I like others in the draft more than him.

Not a big supporter for Sexton... don't see him as being an upgrade for us, though I expect some see him as another Donovan Mitchell type.

If Porter, Carter, or Bomba falls you'd have consider them, of course, especially Porter, but we seem to have a number of solid players to choose from, even if one of these guys doesn't drop.

About 3 weeks to go...will be another interesting draft.

I can be cynical about the draft, including the conspiracy theory that media sources are fed disinformation so that certain players rise and other fall, not too dissimilar to what people do in stock market or "normal" business. Helps explain why some teams are consistently at the bottom -- too dumb to separate wheat from chafe and buying or being influenced by someone else's "analysis"

For example, Mikal does seem safe but should we really be thinking about a SF who seems to have no handle or shot-creation ability at 9 (by way of comparison Demarr Derozan's slot IIRC); Or are we selling or slot short by going safe because we're more worried we'll flub it up big time (Sweetney)

Knox seems loooong but at times awkward. When they say he's a young is that just a sales tactic to overlook his flaws and hope they improve?

If I were on the selection committee I would definitely be trying to zone in on competitive, perhaps hyper-competitive players with a bit of insecurity about themselves -- enough so that they continue to focus on improving their game

Six months ago people were saying how any of the top 10 could have been top 3 in other drafts and now we're finding flaws in everyone's game or their fit in modern NBA

Did anyone here think Sweetney was going to be good" and WTF was the Knicks obsession with undersized crappy PF's back then. I mean we literally were collecting them.

Jmpasq wrote:

Chandler wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:During the last 10 years we've had a top ten pick 3 times, and up to this point, I've had a strong feeling for the 3 guys we took, Gallinari(still willing to defend this pick, but not looking to do it now), KP, and Ntilikina, but if Scott Perry calls me for assistance, I'd have to disappoint him and tell him I have no special feeling for any player at this point.

Mikal Bridges is the safest pick for me. Proven performer on one of best programs in college. The guy can hit the J, has a good rep as a defender (Can he defend at SG too? ), and played on a team which played as a team. Not too sure about his upside...he will be 22 in August, but with some added freedom, he might be able expand his game and do things they didn't have him doing at Nova.

Kevin Knox is intriguing to me. Played on a good program...is VERY young-pretty much at the same age Frank was when we took him- but much more mature and physically developed at the same age. Sounds like he improved his shooting over the year. Not the shooter Bridges is at this moment...34% from 3, but then again, Mikal shot 30% from 3 his first season in college. I'll be interested to hear about how he is looking at his team workouts, and how he works out for us-the Kentucky kids usually work hard preparing for the draft. Unlike Bridges, I also expect that he can play at the 4 as he matures, which is an added bonus.

Zhaire Smith is the wildcard for me...the potential Donovan Mitchell of the draft. Disappointed that he is not taller than he is, because some thought he could play the 3, but he's a superior athlete, has a good wingspan, is a good defender (fine off the ball shot blocker), and although his shot is not seen as a strength for him right now, he still shot 45% from 3, even though he only took one/game. Doesn't look like a PG on offense right now, but he can guard at the position. Might be a stretch at #9, but I think he fits the Mitchell profile, and is much younger (turns 19 in a few days).

I am not looking for a PG at this time...I'm of the belief that Frank will fill that position. Young might be intriguing because of the Curry comparisons, but I think he will be gone when we pick, and he is god awful on D, with a lack of athleticism as well as a 6'3" wingspan, and probably NO ability to defend a the 2. I would not go crazy, like some did with KP or Frank, if we got him, but I like others in the draft more than him.

Not a big supporter for Sexton... don't see him as being an upgrade for us, though I expect some see him as another Donovan Mitchell type.

If Porter, Carter, or Bomba falls you'd have consider them, of course, especially Porter, but we seem to have a number of solid players to choose from, even if one of these guys doesn't drop.

About 3 weeks to go...will be another interesting draft.

I can be cynical about the draft, including the conspiracy theory that media sources are fed disinformation so that certain players rise and other fall, not too dissimilar to what people do in stock market or "normal" business. Helps explain why some teams are consistently at the bottom -- too dumb to separate wheat from chafe and buying or being influenced by someone else's "analysis"

For example, Mikal does seem safe but should we really be thinking about a SF who seems to have no handle or shot-creation ability at 9 (by way of comparison Demarr Derozan's slot IIRC); Or are we selling or slot short by going safe because we're more worried we'll flub it up big time (Sweetney)

Knox seems loooong but at times awkward. When they say he's a young is that just a sales tactic to overlook his flaws and hope they improve?

If I were on the selection committee I would definitely be trying to zone in on competitive, perhaps hyper-competitive players with a bit of insecurity about themselves -- enough so that they continue to focus on improving their game

Six months ago people were saying how any of the top 10 could have been top 3 in other drafts and now we're finding flaws in everyone's game or their fit in modern NBA

Did anyone here think Sweetney was going to be good" and WTF was the Knicks obsession with undersized crappy PF's back then. I mean we literally were collecting them.