Okay, so this is following on from the other thread. The idea behind drafting Culver is he's a better fit next to KD and Kemba as he's less ball dominant and is a better defender (who knows about his shooting- his 3PT went from 38% last year to 30% this year). Also the idea of taking him is that you trade down with the Cavs and maybe pick up their 2020 (if they can get it back from the Hawks- it's top 10 protected then converts to 2 second rounders, so that might not be impossible). That 2020 pick would likely be high and in a deeper draft, plus would add to our box of assets.

the Stepien have him ranked 2nd in this draft, in tier 2 (RJ is 32d, and then Morant isn't until 4th in tier 3)

https://www.thestepien.com

Last year I didn't really agree with their judgements, but looking at their rankings, they turned out to be pretty much bang on:

https://www.thestepien.com/2018-draft-rankings/

They had:

Tier 1
1. Luka

Tier 2
2. Jaren jackson

Tier 3
3. Trae Young
4. Carter
5. Ayton

I could see the two trade rumors out there merging and us ending up trading Frank and RJ to the Cavs for Culver, the 26th Pick and next years 2020 first rounder (if they can get it back from the cavs). Not saying I'd do it, but RJ's fit does make me pause for thought. With this mindset, In retrospect maybe we should have drafted Mikal Bridges instead of Knox.

smackeddog wrote:

Okay, so this is following on from the other thread. The idea behind drafting Culver is he's a better fit next to KD and Kemba as he's less ball dominant and is a better defender (who knows about his shooting- his 3PT went from 38% last year to 30% this year). Also the idea of taking him is that you trade down with the Cavs and maybe pick up their 2020 (if they can get it back from the Hawks- it's top 10 protected then converts to 2 second rounders, so that might not be impossible). That 2020 pick would likely be high and in a deeper draft, plus would add to our box of assets.

the Stepien have him ranked 2nd in this draft, in tier 2 (RJ is 32d, and then Morant isn't until 4th in tier 3)

https://www.thestepien.com

Last year I didn't really agree with their judgements, but looking at their rankings, they turned out to be pretty much bang on:

https://www.thestepien.com/2018-draft-rankings/

They had:

Tier 1
1. Luka

Tier 2
2. Jaren jackson

Tier 3
3. Trae Young
4. Carter
5. Ayton

I could see the two trade rumors out there merging and us ending up trading Frank and RJ to the Cavs for Culver, the 26th Pick and next years 2020 first rounder (if they can get it back from the cavs). Not saying I'd do it, but RJ's fit does make me pause for thought. With this mindset, In retrospect maybe we should have drafted Mikal Bridges instead of Knox.

I'm just not sure this guy is athletic enough and I don't think he shoots well enough to compensate. I see a more athletic Jared Dudley type. I mean prime, Pheonix Suns Jared Dudley, not the out of shape guy who plays for the Nets. I've seen Carissa Levert comps, but I feel Levert was a better creator in college.

having said that, if we sign fancy FAs it is highly likely this will be the last high draft pick in a long time and the chance to get him on rookie contract and all the other fancy CBA stuff

trading down from a superstar category 1-3 does not make sense to me.

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/jarrett-culver

Strengths: After playing a supportive role at Texas Tech as a freshman, Jarrett Culver has quickly shot up draft boards as a sophomore by displaying a great all around floor game ... At 6'6'' Culver displays the size to play both the two and three spots at the next level, and with solid athletic ability and length ... Offensively he's paced the Red Raiders all season with 18.5 points per game (which is 25.3% of TTU's offensive output) as well as acted as primary distributor and ball handler ... Throw in his 3.6 assists per game, and he's directly involved in over 35% of Texas Tech's scoring plays ... His all around offensive game makes him a multi-dimensional scorer as he has a fundamentally sound high arching shot in which he needs to be respected from beyond the arc, as well as being able to pull up from the mid-range ... Culver's footwork and hesitation moves on the perimeter are terrific as well, and will directly translate to the next level ... He's great at drawing his defenders off balance, and has a great array of moves once he gets in the lane ... Jarrett also displays a high basketball IQ, and the ability to make a play when his team needs one the most ... Playing in such a defensive oriented system in college, Culver has great defensive instincts, quick hands, and displays good effort ... He's an above average rebounder for a 6'6'' guard (6.3 rebounds per game) and off a defensive miss or a steal, he's a tough matchup in fast break situations due to his good passing ability ... He projects as a plus defender in the NBA.

Weaknesses: Culver's weaknesses are mostly things that can be improved with continued growth as a player ... Right now his 3 point shot is worth keeping his defender honest at the college level, but he's going to need to continue to hit the gym to become a high level long range shooter in the NBA ... Can also stand to tighten his handle as he makes the leap to the next level ... He'll also need to continue to work on his body ... Culver's 195 pound frame will get pushed around by larger NBA two guards and small forwards, though he does have solid legs as a base ... He doesn't have the elite run/jump ability to make up for this at this point either ... At 6'6'' his height is good for a swingman being considered at the top of the draft, but not elite ... He just needs to continue to develop at the same pace he's done from his freshman to sophomore years ... Jarrett has a very NBA translatable offensive game, and a lot of his weaknesses can be improved upon in the gym.

Overall: Jarrett Culver's well balanced floor game, and array of hesitation moves and elite footwork make him a very intriguing player in the mid-lottery this year ... He's been asked to do a tremendous amount for his team this year on both ends of the floor, and has delivered, producing at an excellent level ... His scoring and passing will only shine more in a faster paced NBA system, and his knack for drawing fouls will be a great asset as well ... Culver may not dazzle you with elite athletic ability, but from a skill standpoint, he's got a great foundation in which to build.

https://theknickswall.com/rj-barrett-vs-jarrett-culver-draft-knicks-debate/

"R.J., on the other hand, often looks lost in the woods when he gets into the paint, and it feels like he decides whether he’s going to pass or shoot before he starts his drives. "

" The thing that stands out most to me about Culver is his basketball I.Q. and feel for the game. It shows itself in almost everything he does on the floor, and there are tons of evidence with how much he played on-ball as the primary initiator for Texas Tech this season. It’s also one of the starkest differences between his game and R.J.’s."

"R.J., on the other hand, often looks lost in the woods when he gets into the paint, and it feels like he decides whether he’s going to pass or shoot before he starts his drives."

"Harley: Barrett will have more options at the next level for sure, and he has made some good reads this year (mostly out of a standstill and rarely on his drives), but he misses very basic opportunities to get better shots—multiple times per game—when he puts his head down."

"But when the game is on the line, things seem to slow down for Culver. Per @dribblehandoff: “Since the start of conference play, Culver has shot 56% from the field in clutch time (two-possession game and under five minutes). He accounts for 25% of Texas Tech’s overall points, yet 47% (!) of the Red Raiders’ points in clutch time.”

"Harley: Defense and I.Q. are the areas where the largest gaps between the two prospects lie for me. R.J. straight up does not try on defense. Almost not at all. It’s astonishing how little he seems to care on that end. Below is one clip from a thread of five plays from one SINGLE game in which Barrett gives up on a play the exact moment he gets beat. It’s really alarming."

Why do so many people on this board not appreciate high iq players and fall for the flashy athletic guys? I don't get it.