Revisiting the 2020 Draft

[Monster]

I would have Patrick Williams no lower than 8, I feel like he is being held back offensively with all of their weapons. Man I thought Vassell was going to be one of the top 4 players in the draft, especially after Popovich drafted him. Ball is probably number 1 but it's so close that I'm cool with Ant at 1.

Seems like the Spurs have lost a bit of their magic in hitting doubles, triples, and home runs with their picks. They still manage to turn most of their draft picks into solid players (and I think Vassell will eventually be pretty good), but they haven't been able to draft and develop any all-star or borderline all-star caliber players since they drafted Murray in 2016.

I agree that the Spurs have dropped off a bit in that regard. I'll note that Chip Engelland is heading to OKC.

Derrick White was picked in 2017 a year after Murray. He may not be an all star but he was clearly pretty valuable around the league so for an end of the first round guy that's a pretty good success even for the Spurs lofty goals.

Keldon Johnson is a pretty good player for a guy at the end of the first round.

Even if Tre Jones never is able to take and make 3's he might still be a reasonably valuable player in the league for a while for a 2nd rounder. This is a solid pick for a regular franchise so far. It feels like with our usual expectations we would have already seen signs of them fixing his shot. lol he did seem to take a legit step last season towards being a good player and he is still fairly young.

[Monster]

I still can't figure out how Halliburton dropped so low in this draft. I hope Sabonis and the other guys they have assembled now works out for the Kings.

[Wolvesfan21]

I still can't figure out how Halliburton dropped so low in this draft. I hope Sabonis and the other guys they have assembled now works out for the Kings.

He's been very solid. What I find interesting is number 1 overall picks. Here is a list over twenty years I quickly found on ESPN. Over 50% are HOF players with many rings between them. Will Ant and KAT make the list???

1968 Elvin Hayes, F, San Diego: Ranks ninth all-time in the NBA in points (27,313) and fourth in rebounds (16,279). All-Star for 12 consecutive seasons (1969 through 1980). Won NBA championship with Bullets in 1978.

1969 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C, Milwaukee: First all-time in points (38,387) and third in rebounds (17,440 ). One NBA championship with Bucks and five with the Lakers.

1970 Bob Lanier, C, Detroit: Ranks 47th in the NBA in all-time points (19,248) and 38th in rebounds (9,698). Eight-time NBA All-Star. Pistons' all-time leader in scoring average at 22.7 points per game.

1974 Bill Walton, C, Portland: NBA Finals MVP in 1977 after leading Trail Blazers to their only championship. Regular-season MVP in 1978 as the Trail Blazers were 50-10 before he was sidelined for remainder of regular season. Won NBA championship in 1986 with Celtics.

1975 David Thompson, G/F, Atlanta: All-NBA First-Team in 1977 and 1978 with the Nuggets. Four-time NBA All-Star and selected an ABA All-Star once. Scored 73 points in 1978 regular-season finale as he finished second in the scoring race.

1979 Magic Johnson, G, Los Angeles Lakers: Retired as NBA's all-time assists leader (10,141). As a rookie, was voted MVP of the 1980 NBA Finals. Was a 12-time All-Star and nine-time NBA First-Team selection.

1982 James Worthy, F, Los Angeles Lakers: Won NBA title three times in seven trips to the Finals. Made All-Star Game seven consecutive seasons (1986 to 1992). MVP of Finals in 1988.

1983 Ralph Sampson, C, Houston Rockets: Rookie of the Year in 1984. Four-time All-Star (1984 through 1987). Finished in top 10 in rebounding in three seasons.

1984 Hakeem Olajuwon, C, Houston Rockets: Voted NBA Finals MVP both years in leading Rockets to back-to-back championships (1994 and 1995). Selected to 12 All-Star Games and was 1994 regular-season MVP. The only NBA player with more than 3,000 blocked shots and 2,000 steals, he ranks 10th in points (26,946) and 13th in rebounds (13,748).

1985 Patrick Ewing, C, New York Knicks:Ranks 21st all-time in the NBA with 24,815 points and 24th with 11,607 rebounds. Led Knicks to NBA Finals twice.

1987 David Robinson, C, San Antonio: Won two NBA titles and was a 10-time All-Star. Led NBA in scoring in 1994 with a 71-point game in finale. Defensive Player of the Year in 1992.

[Monster]

I still can't figure out how Halliburton dropped so low in this draft. I hope Sabonis and the other guys they have assembled now works out for the Kings.

He's been very solid. What I find interesting is number 1 overall picks. Here is a list over twenty years I quickly found on ESPN. Over 50% are HOF players with many rings between them. Will Ant and KAT make the list???

1968 Elvin Hayes, F, San Diego: Ranks ninth all-time in the NBA in points (27,313) and fourth in rebounds (16,279). All-Star for 12 consecutive seasons (1969 through 1980). Won NBA championship with Bullets in 1978.

1969 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C, Milwaukee: First all-time in points (38,387) and third in rebounds (17,440 ). One NBA championship with Bucks and five with the Lakers.

1970 Bob Lanier, C, Detroit: Ranks 47th in the NBA in all-time points (19,248) and 38th in rebounds (9,698). Eight-time NBA All-Star. Pistons' all-time leader in scoring average at 22.7 points per game.

1974 Bill Walton, C, Portland: NBA Finals MVP in 1977 after leading Trail Blazers to their only championship. Regular-season MVP in 1978 as the Trail Blazers were 50-10 before he was sidelined for remainder of regular season. Won NBA championship in 1986 with Celtics.

1975 David Thompson, G/F, Atlanta: All-NBA First-Team in 1977 and 1978 with the Nuggets. Four-time NBA All-Star and selected an ABA All-Star once. Scored 73 points in 1978 regular-season finale as he finished second in the scoring race.

1979 Magic Johnson, G, Los Angeles Lakers: Retired as NBA's all-time assists leader (10,141). As a rookie, was voted MVP of the 1980 NBA Finals. Was a 12-time All-Star and nine-time NBA First-Team selection.

1982 James Worthy, F, Los Angeles Lakers: Won NBA title three times in seven trips to the Finals. Made All-Star Game seven consecutive seasons (1986 to 1992). MVP of Finals in 1988.

1983 Ralph Sampson, C, Houston Rockets: Rookie of the Year in 1984. Four-time All-Star (1984 through 1987). Finished in top 10 in rebounding in three seasons.

1984 Hakeem Olajuwon, C, Houston Rockets: Voted NBA Finals MVP both years in leading Rockets to back-to-back championships (1994 and 1995). Selected to 12 All-Star Games and was 1994 regular-season MVP. The only NBA player with more than 3,000 blocked shots and 2,000 steals, he ranks 10th in points (26,946) and 13th in rebounds (13,748).

1985 Patrick Ewing, C, New York Knicks:Ranks 21st all-time in the NBA with 24,815 points and 24th with 11,607 rebounds. Led Knicks to NBA Finals twice.

1987 David Robinson, C, San Antonio: Won two NBA titles and was a 10-time All-Star. Led NBA in scoring in 1994 with a 71-point game in finale. Defensive Player of the Year in 1992.

Interesting stuff you have here.

Back to Halliburton for a minutes Idk how you want to view his stats from 26 games with the Pacers but if that's an indication of what he is or will become that's a pretty good player. His efficiency for a rookie PG was really good.

[BloopOracle]

I'm surprised some of you are still placing Lamelo above Edwards! Edwards is a better on ball scorer, off ball scorer, defender, came into the NBA with a NBA body that lamelo likely won't ever touch even with 10 years in the weight room, and Edwards didn't shrink in the play in game. I think the Ant-Man is the clear number one right now and in the future of the 2020 draft.

[Monster]

I'm surprised some of you are still placing Lamelo above Edwards! Edwards is a better on ball scorer, off ball scorer, defender, came into the NBA with a NBA body that lamelo likely won't ever touch even with 10 years in the weight room, and Edwards didn't shrink in the play in game. I think the Ant-Man is the clear number one right now and in the future of the 2020 draft.

I personally thing it's debatable which player is first right now. I'm guessing most Hornets fans are beyond thrilled to have Lamelo at this point. He is an except playmaker way above Edwards. Do I think Edwards has a higher ceiling? Yes. Lamelo is a heck of a player though and his length at PG is going to be an asset for him for years.

[Q-is-here]

I'm surprised some of you are still placing Lamelo above Edwards! Edwards is a better on ball scorer, off ball scorer, defender, came into the NBA with a NBA body that lamelo likely won't ever touch even with 10 years in the weight room, and Edwards didn't shrink in the play in game. I think the Ant-Man is the clear number one right now and in the future of the 2020 draft.

Lamelo is the better all-around player right now - better rebounder, better passer, better 3-point shooter. In fact, for all of Ant's amazing strength and athleticism, his rebounding is rather anemic - and we could have used the help last year in that category! Meanwhile, 'Melo is pulling down 7 boards a game with his much skinnier frame!

The reality is that Ant still drifts at times. His awareness and hustle button is not always switched in the on position. I think 'Melo has feel for the game and nose for the ball that Ant doesn't quite have yet.

Now we're all hoping Ant ascends to heights that potentially Lamelo can't reach because of his athletic limitations, but right now I have to give the nod to 'Melo.