Official 2016 Draft Thread

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'd argue that team defense is much more of a weakness than three-point shooting right now. Yes, we're close to the bottom of the league in 3P-shooting, but I think you can improve upon that with a better offensive system, a coach that promotes 3P shooting and some free agent signings (Bazemore is a guy I'd really like here). Defensively, we just don't even have the personnel. You can't be a good defensive team without a suitable supply of bigs. Towns is going to get there. Dieng is meh. Outside of those two, we don't have anyone.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Let's say we do get lucky and end up with Ben Simmons. It's possible. I'd like to see us use him like the Bucks used Giannis last night. PG and PF duties. Allowing him to operate with the ball off the dribble. It's a nightmare matchup for opposing teams.

[ahughes53 [enjin:6639223]]

Let's say we do get lucky and end up with Ben Simmons. It's possible. I'd like to see us use him like the Bucks used Giannis last night. PG and PF duties. Allowing him to operate with the ball off the dribble. It's a nightmare matchup for opposing teams.

This.

But our luck has definitely been all used up to get Towns. If we somehow, somehow end up with Simmons, we gotta hope that in two years this team is ready to compete because that'll be a hella hard core to hold together.

[Brooklyn_Wolves [enjin:14608167]]

Let's say we do get lucky and end up with Ben Simmons. It's possible. I'd like to see us use him like the Bucks used Giannis last night. PG and PF duties. Allowing him to operate with the ball off the dribble. It's a nightmare matchup for opposing teams.

Giannis is a two-way player, that's his beauty. Simmons seems to miss the defensive part.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Let's say we do get lucky and end up with Ben Simmons. It's possible. I'd like to see us use him like the Bucks used Giannis last night. PG and PF duties. Allowing him to operate with the ball off the dribble. It's a nightmare matchup for opposing teams.

Giannis is a two-way player, that's his beauty. Simmons seems to miss the defensive part.

Simmons is a plus-defender when guarding college 4's. He doesn't have the defensive versatility of Giannis, but he's not bad from what I've seen. His effort wavers because he's the offensive star and takes breaks from possession to possession, but I think he's going to be fine there at the next level.

Also, he gets his hands on the basketball more than you might think. That's not to say that these numbers (1.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG) make him a good defender, but they do show he's at least somewhat active on that end. The rest is eye test.

[Monster]

Let's say we do get lucky and end up with Ben Simmons. It's possible. I'd like to see us use him like the Bucks used Giannis last night. PG and PF duties. Allowing him to operate with the ball off the dribble. It's a nightmare matchup for opposing teams.

Giannis is a two-way player, that's his beauty. Simmons seems to miss the defensive part.

Simmons is a plus-defender when guarding college 4's. He doesn't have the defensive versatility of Giannis, but he's not bad from what I've seen. His effort wavers because he's the offensive star and takes breaks from possession to possession, but I think he's going to be fine there at the next level.

Also, he gets his hands on the basketball more than you might think. That's not to say that these numbers (1.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG) make him a good defender, but they do show he's at least somewhat active on that end. The rest is eye test.

I haven't been watching Simmons but DX seems to be concerned with his effort etc. I know a few weeks ago it sounded like there were problems beyond Simmons with that team also. What are your thought on all that?

[bleedspeed]

Could Denzel Valentine play PG in the NBA?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Could Denzel Valentine play PG in the NBA?

He won't be able to guard a single point guard in the NBA. That's primarily what dictates a player's position. So, I say no. I think he's a SG or undersized SF.

Also, I think this board has been saying his name a little much as of late. No personal digs at anyone. I get that he has some fans of his game and I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I think he's closer to being picked outside the top-10 than he is being in the top-five where we're likely to be picking.

Him and Sabonis are great trade down targets, but that's a little more difficult to project. I say that while acknowledging that I'm a big Sabonis and Valentine fan myself. I just believe that we should have a better choice than either of them if we don't drop in the draft order. Fingers crossed that we stay where we are or improve.

[bleedspeed]

I agree Cam. Not a top 10 pick. I agree he couldn't guard PG's. I wonder if he would be a better backup PG than Tyus Jones. He at least has size going for him where Tyus really has no physical advantages. I could envision him becoming a supersub that could play 1-4 for a team. Maybe he can become a Khris Middleton type player.

I wish there was a good way to trade down in the draft and get both him and Sabonis, but that is a tough thing to do. Are you changing your opinion on who would be best if we got the first pick? Cooling on Ingram or just more impressed with Simmons?

[bleedspeed]

I like Poeltl more than I like Murray, Rabb or Ellenson.

If we stay at 5 I think we will be come down to choosing Poeltl, Ellenson, Dunn or Davis. It looks like Ellenson and Davis are looking to be the second best freshman PF in the draft.

Here is a good article breaking down the freshmen bigs. They left out Ellenson and Simons.

http://upsidemotor.com/2016/01/21/deyonta-davis-michigan-state-spartans-nba-draft-scouting-report/

After reading that feel like Diamond Stone deserves more love here. I think a big part of the decing factor for this team will be fit. Not just skill but how he projects to get along with Towns, LaVine, and Wiggins.