2015 NBA Draft Lottery Thread

[Dr. Fauci]

Sam Hinkie da God

We're taking Russell, whos a better version of MCW who will shoot 40% + from 3, and a better passer...by trading MCW we not only get a potential top 10-15 pick next year (maybe better pending Lakers offseason moves...but if not which will prob be packaged with our other picks to try and move up), but we lost a few extra games which solidified our spot at number 3 and landing Russell

say what you want, but Hinkie and Chip have some of the biggest balls in their sports, and pending health (Bradford, Embiid) may have the start of something great (wait till you see what Bradford does in Chips offense...quote me). Definitely risks, but i respect them going for broke

 

[CantStop]

it CAN go wrong. Randle's days are numbered if Okafor is a Laker. No other ending.

Mitch LOVES Randle. Mitch stays on him hard and stays complimenting him and how much he loves him. We better trade that #2 pick or pick Russell before we trade Randle.

 

[ALonelyDad]

Why are randles days numbered? He can always come off the bench and be that LO type player. He has great handles for a guy his position and might even have a better 3 point shot. Can we atleast let him playing a season or 2 before counting him out. What if Oakafor actually gives a fukk and starts defending?

 

[CarltonJunior]

Because there are still gigantic centers in the league that are 7 feet tall without shoes, or very close.

Eventually there's going to come a center that is a legit 7 footer that has a mean game to go along with the size advantage, and in that instance a 6'10" (in shoes) dude is going to be overmatched. Anthony Davis is basically the same height as Towns & Okafor, but the Pelicans realized playing him at the 5 long term isn't the best idea, same with Aldridge who is actually taller than Towns/Okafor.

But with teams playing small ball and having 6'8/6'9 power forwards, these "PFs" are still centers. There's few teams that have a tall frontcourt that are actually successful, and since Towns and Okafor can rebound there's no way either are natural power forwards. If anything you move them to power forward to accompany a defensive-minded big, but if you're a team like the Lakers you play them at 5. Whoever drafted to Minnesota will be playing PF by default because of Pek though

 

[CarltonJunior]

Why are randles days numbered? He can always come off the bench and be that LO type player. He has great handles for a guy his position and might even have a better 3 point shot. Can we atleast let him playing a season or 2 before counting him out. What if Oakafor actually gives a fukk and starts defending?

I've always thought that when it's all said and done we might be seeing Randle move to the 3 after that jumper starts coming into play. He doesn't play like a big at all, probably the most Barkley-like player we might ever see. Didn't watch much of him but I heard Royce White played like Barkley too now that I think of it

 

[Malta]

But with teams playing small ball and having 6'8/6'9 power forwards, these "PFs" are still centers. There's few teams that have a tall frontcourt that are actually successful, and since Towns and Okafor can rebound there's no way either are natural power forwards. If anything you move them to power forward to accompany a defensive-minded big, but if you're a team like the Lakers you play them at 5. Whoever drafted to Minnesota will be playing PF by default because of Pek though

Actually, Towns is a natural PF, he's in the same mold as Aldridge who is very clearly a PF. Also, teams are playing small ball right now because we've yet to see a dominant two way center come a long, at some point that player will arrive and it will be a joke to try and defend him with a 6'8-6'9" PF. It's the law of averages, a dominant two way 7 footer is going to come around sooner rather than later, and when he does the team he's on will put 4 shooters around him and basically dare you to go small.

 

[CarltonJunior]

By "natural" PF I meant his natural position based on the state of the league. No way either one should be playing PF their entire career. You keep throwing in Aldridge into the convo but he plays away from the basket on offense, and is playing next to hustle defensive-minded bigs so of course he's a PF. Towns has a jumper but he excels when he's close to the hoop, Okafor is a dominant inside scorer, so how are they forwards?

 

[tremonthustler1]

Towns is probably gonna be a C on either LA or Minnesota anyway, at least initially.

 

[WaddupDoe!]

 

[labelplant]

Will he make 3s consistently? Because I don't think he is a good enough athlete,if he doesn't. He's a winner though. I still take him top 5

 

[NkrumahWasRight Is Wrong]

the positional talk is somewhat antiquated

it depends on system and surrounding personnel. the "center" could play the role of the 5 on offense and 4 on defense or vice versa. at this point..unless you have lockdown perimeter/wing defenders youre going to need athleticism and mobility at the 4 and 5 to defend the post man to man or in help d. the teams that start two true bigs or play slow have eliter defenders on the wing so they dont necessarily have to worry as much about being killed on drives to the hoop. portland and memphis are good examples..portland doesnt play overwhelmingly slow but theyre stocked on wing defenders so they can sacrifice a bit of athleticism in the front court...memphis plays slow but they have tony allen and to a lesser extent conley who are plus defenders..san antonio can be lumped in there as well when they play splitter with duncan..then they switch to their "other style" defensively/offensively when they put in diaw for splitter and/or sub out kawhi

 

[labelplant]

Looking ahead to 2016, this Zach Lowe article kind of describes what I envision for ben simmons.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/w...he-nba-post-up-game-to-bring-you-its-rebirth/


A so called, "playmaking 4" in the Diaw/draymond mode but a lot more talented of course...

 

[labelplant]

the positional talk is somewhat antiquated

it depends on system and surrounding personnel. the "center" could play the role of the 5 on offense and 4 on defense or vice versa. at this point..unless you have lockdown perimeter/wing defenders youre going to need athleticism and mobility at the 4 and 5 to defend the post man to man or in help d. the teams that start two true bigs or play slow have eliter defenders on the wing so they dont necessarily have to worry as much about being killed on drives to the hoop. portland and memphis are good examples..portland doesnt play overwhelmingly slow but theyre stocked on wing defenders so they can sacrifice a bit of athleticism in the front court...memphis plays slow but they have tony allen and to a lesser extent conley who are plus defenders..san antonio can be lumped in there as well when they play splitter with duncan..then they switch to their "other style" defensively/offensively when they put in diaw for splitter and/or sub out kawhi

You know what jalen rose would say if you asked him why positions were invented

 

[NkrumahWasRight Is Wrong]

You know what jalen rose would say if you asked him why positions were invented

yeah.

i mean, to me, its common sense. for the majority of nba history, most of the 6'10+ guys were less versatile and mobile while being more brutish than in today's nba...that allowed there to be more distinct positions...now, there is more versatility across the board so that diversifies positional usage on both sides of the court

 

[labelplant]

yeah.

i mean, to me, its common sense. for the majority of nba history, most of the 6'10+ guys were less versatile and mobile while being more brutish than in today's nba...that allowed there to be more distinct positions...now, there is more versatility across the board so that diversifies positional usage on both sides of the court

Swear I'm not affiliated with Grantland but read the article I posted a few posts above. It ties into all this.
because I've been thinking throughout the season and playoffs.. I think Draymond has been one of the 15 best players in the league over the past year. I've been trying to figure out, exactly what it is that makes him so valuable... I mean he averages like 14/9 is a great passer but not like an all time passer. A little overrated as a defender imo, as great as he is, Bogut is clearly the anchor there. Solid shooter but not amazing. But his versatility is what makes him great. It's a good read.