2017 NBA Draft

[McCaffrey Dude]

The only draft I am watching Thursday is either my beer or the wind coming through my window screen.

 

[Shadowlight]

JC-- a member who is a blast from the past--Luka Samanic is a PF from the NBA class of 2019 which might mean his college class is 2018 although I am not exactly sure on that college point. Boris Simanic is the player who pulled out of the draft. It is easy to get these euro guys mixed up though, I often do. I also would like to see more top end Euro prospects play in college.

 

[Shadowlight]

Nice surprise as the draft begins Thursday night. The consensus "athletic white stiff" Luke Kennard registered a 38.5 vertical at the Lakers workout. Most every report cited his lack of athletic ability but at least he has some for crying out loud. And he is coordinated. He is also climbing the draft boards. Will he be better than say a Kyle Korver ? I would put my money on Kennard because he is more versatile. He is not a jet but that vertical should calm some fears about his perceived lack of athletic ability. And he can shoot the rock.

 

[celticdb15]

Nice job Luke! Like to see him go Top 10, he has a very underrated but deadly all around game. More Gordan Hayward in him than say Korver for a comparison.,

 

[Shadowlight]

I don't get paid for my "scouting services" but I did make a passing reference to Luke Kennard's verticality earlier. Yet not one scout or basketball expert acknowledged his jumping ability including caste sniffer head Jay Bilas. The experts with the '' caste glow.''

 

[Shadowlight]

Potential wild draft night. Newest rumors are the Knicks are thinking of trading Porzingis. On the surface that seems crazy. He probably has as much upside of any player in the NBA and his physical profile is off the charts. But does Porzingis, who I like a lot by the way, have what it takes from the neck up? There have been scores of guys with immense physical ability and skills who lack the proper mind set needed for winning basketball. He has not shown a great understanding of the game but some of that could be due to his youth and his team. He has also picked up the bad habit so many other NBA players have of being petulant by refusing to meet with the Knicks at the end of the season.
If this surprising trade took place another rumor has the Knicks picking Markkanen. Markkanen does not have the physical profile of Porzingis but after one year at Arizona he has shown a better grasp of the concept of winning basketball. Not to mention he is a great shooter. Perhaps a Dirk "lite" or better type of player.
I root as hard as anyone for the white players to succeed but I am not going to tippy toe around their weaknesses either because at the end of the day I desperately want to see them flourish and if a guy as talented as Porzingis can clean up his faults the sky is the limit.
On another note if Tyler Lydon slips to the 2nd round then you have to wonder who the hell was advicing him. Here is a SF/PF who was a possible lottery pick if he stayed in school one more season but in his haste for fame and money he might be costing himself. I hope he does get picked in the first round of course but it is not set in stone.

 

[icsept]

Jimmy Butler traded to the Twolves for Kris Dunn, Zach Lavine and No. 7 pick (Markannen). Great news for Ricky Rubio as the TWolves get rid of the 2 guards that were competing with him for playing time. Based on the 2nd half of last season, I expect Rubio to be an allstar next season under Coach Thibodeau.

 

[white lightning]

Luke Kennard to the Detroit Pistions. Happy he went at the 12 pick after only his sophmore year. Good decision to come out early. They never mentioned his expolosive vertical. Of course not. Why would they?

 

[Jack Lambert]

I was watching the draft, and on the bottom, they have the ticker. Well, for the Pacers, their "team need" was athleticism, as they were the 5th slowest team in the NBA last year. I've got a question, how can that be? They were all-black, with nary a white man on the court for them all season. You'd think with all those super athletes, they'd at least be fast. No wonder the Pacers are such a dumpster fire; their black players aren't even athletic!

Edit: Just as I type this, TJ Leaf goes to the Pacers. Don't like him being the only white guy on the team.

 

[white lightning]

I was watching the draft, and on the bottom, they have the ticker. Well, for the Pacers, their "team need" was athleticism, as they were the 5th slowest team in the NBA last year. I've got a question, how can that be? They were all-black, with nary a white man on the court for them all season. You'd think with all those super athletes, they'd at least be fast. No wonder the Pacers are such a dumpster fire; their black players aren't even athletic!

Edit: Just as I type this, TJ Leaf goes to the Pacers. Don't like him being the only white guy on the team.

There is a bright side. It's a high probability that Paul George is traded. TJ leaf could possibly become a starter on an nba
team after only 1 year in college. This kid can flat out play. Very athletic, talented and fearless!

 

[Leonardfan]

Potential wild draft night. Newest rumors are the Knicks are thinking of trading Porzingis. On the surface that seems crazy. He probably has as much upside of any player in the NBA and his physical profile is off the charts. But does Porzingis, who I like a lot by the way, have what it takes from the neck up? There have been scores of guys with immense physical ability and skills who lack the proper mind set needed for winning basketball. He has not shown a great understanding of the game but some of that could be due to his youth and his team. He has also picked up the bad habit so many other NBA players have of being petulant by refusing to meet with the Knicks at the end of the season.
If this surprising trade took place another rumor has the Knicks picking Markkanen. Markkanen does not have the physical profile of Porzingis but after one year at Arizona he has shown a better grasp of the concept of winning basketball. Not to mention he is a great shooter. Perhaps a Dirk "lite" or better type of player.
I root as hard as anyone for the white players to succeed but I am not going to tippy toe around their weaknesses either because at the end of the day I desperately want to see them flourish and if a guy as talented as Porzingis can clean up his faults the sky is the limit.
On another note if Tyler Lydon slips to the 2nd round then you have to wonder who the hell was advicing him. Here is a SF/PF who was a possible lottery pick if he stayed in school one more season but in his haste for fame and money he might be costing himself. I hope he does get picked in the first round of course but it is not set in stone.

Why don't the knicks dump carmelo anthony - he is the one who sucks. He has some of the best black privilege protection I have ever witnessed.

 

[Freethinker]

6 Whites in the 1st round.
5 in the 2nd.

11 players out of 60 which amounts to 18%. Pretty dismal stuff but par for the course in the NBA.

 

[white is right]

Why don't the knicks dump carmelo anthony - he is the one who sucks. He has some of the best black privilege protection I have ever witnessed.

He has a max contract and is a known ball hog and malcontent. What team would want this potential locker room grenade, plus he isn't really interested in winning.

The "Melo Man" is only interested in furthering his brand name.

 

[Shadowlight]

All things considered a decent draft. No sure fire bona fide white superstars but a fairly solid, if green group of players. I was happy to see Lydon get drafted in the first round and see Frank Jackson slip to the second. I think they all landed on pretty good teams in terms of playing time opportunities. I happen to feel all of the white guys taken in the first round have good foundations and I would be surprised if any of them are busts. They seem a touch underrated too. Both Markkanen and Kennard should be able to score in the NBA and Lydon and Leaf were two of my favorite college players and I see them surprising a lot of people. Collins landed at Portland and that seems a good fit. Pasecniks is not another Porzingis and is very raw but he is a big man who can run and provide athletic energy. Nice to see him slip into the first round.
As for the second round picks Peters and Avezenkov are skilled but their lack of athleticism could prevent them from blossoming. Cancar to Denver should work out. He is a combo forward with solid athletic ability. They might store him away for two years since he is only 20. Ognjen Jaramaz is a swift 6"4" PG Serb who gained traction late and got chosen by the Knicks.
But I wouldn't get your hopes up too high. The history of late second round picks, especially Euros, is patchy and the Knicks picked a PG in the first round as well. They might store him in Europe for two years but we can hope for the best. It would be nice to see some speedy white PG's get back on board in the NBA.
Next year might provide a similar type of NBA draft where some white players nail the first round ( we hope) and keep in mind a few of the Euro white players made a wise choice by dropping out this year so hopefully they reemerge next draft in better position.
So I give the draft a B-. Almost a B. Perhaps this one and done deal could end . I hope so. Coach K feels HS players should be able to get drafted ( I agree) and that if a player chooses college they must stay at least two years. I prefer the baseball rule where they are required to stay three years and or until they turn 21 but I could live with the two years. Anything is better than the one and done. I think Coach K feels the three years might be too daunting and too many HS prospects would prefer playing in the lower level pro leagues and that is a valid point. But this one year charade the NBA instituted ( not the schools) in my opinion is hurting college basketball.

 

[SneakyFast]

He has a max contract and is a known ball hog and malcontent. What team would want this potential locker room grenade, plus he isn't really interested in winning.

The "Melo Man" is only interested in furthering his brand name.

He should have been a craftworker, his brick laying technique is exquisite.

 

[celticdb15]

Koenig signed with Milwaukee! Best shooter in this class.

**So much for diversity. Koenig is Native/White mix.NBA could have had their1st Native American Star but failed to capitalize on it as it is in love with ghetto ball. Obvious what the sports caste system sees him as. He won114 games as Wisconsin PG helped take down Kentucky and he goes undrafted. Far too typical.

 

[celticdb15]

Pistons have been very white friendly last few years. Perhaps trying to appeal to the white suburbs bringing their much needed money and civility to the city?

 

[white lightning]

Here is a nice video interview with Luke Kennards dad. Very interesting. Have a look guys.


http://www.nba.com/video/2017/07/04/20170704-nba-orlando-summer-league-feature

 

[Shadowlight]

The summer League just ended for two teams today which featured Leaf and Kennard. Leaf showed flashes but was off and on and sat out the final game. Kennard really shined. He scored with ease and pumped in 24 today. He has some stuff to work on like defense and it is way too early to project these things but he could become a star. Remember he surprised people with a 38 plus inch vertical.

 

[icsept]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...-basketball-star-nba-first-round-pick-dies-25

Died of “natural causes” at age 25? Sudden Adult Death Syndrome? Strange times, indeed.

 

[white is right]

His various photos had a guy who looked buttery and soft, but even with that physique you should live until 45 or so at minimum. Maybe he had a defective heart which is quite common with men in that height range.

 

[Bucky]

I'm thinking drugs or the clot shot..