Draft Prospects Discussion

[Pelifan]

Don't know what game you were watching but Kris Dunn did not play well at all tonight. Shooting 5-13 continually taking bad shot after bad shot. He seems to have the low BBall IQ this team doesn't need. Plus his injuries are the last team this needs. Has potential but much rather a few other guys over Dunn.

His BBall IQ is fine. Providence was a better team with him in despite a poor shooting night against the zone, which really limits his effectiveness as he's mostly a driving player off the pick and roll in the halfcourt. when he wasn't asked to run the offense, he attacked scrambled defenses off the catch with quick crisp passes and decisive drives. It's hard to argue he doesn't have a high IQ defensively and offensively he's a great passer even in pressure situations. His shooting really needs some work though.

[GuardianAngel25]

His BBall IQ is fine. Providence was a better team with him in despite a poor shooting night against the zone, which really limits his effectiveness as he's mostly a driving player off the pick and roll in the halfcourt. when he wasn't asked to run the offense, he attacked scrambled defenses off the catch with quick crisp passes and decisive drives. It's hard to argue he doesn't have a high IQ defensively and offensively he's a great passer even in pressure situations. His shooting really needs some work though.

He turns the ball over way too much and has very poor shot selection. That is low basketball IQ to me. He puts up the #s and has a lot of potential but that doesn't mean he doesn't have some big flaws. Go watch Murray and Dunn and you will see how the shot selection is on a different level by Murray and he's a freshman not a junior. I don't know what else you would say shows poor basketball IQ but taking bad shots and turning the ball over are big ones IMO. Also his injury concerns are the last thing this organization needs right now. Everyone beats the table how Dell should have some how predicted these guys would have gotten injured. Well this guy you don't have to predict because they are there. Shoulder injuries are no joke especially when a little thing called shooting relies on them.

[JrueDat]

That was a bad shot.

What is up with that coaches hair? Did he lose a bet?

That should have been a foul!

Poeltl is real. Dude is going to put himself in that top 4 pick discussion if he has another game like tonight.

Their coach has a skin condition that causes him to loose hair in spots and can eventually lead to full baldness.

[Silverfoxx]

He turns the ball over way too much and has very poor shot selection. That is low basketball IQ to me. He puts up the #s and has a lot of potential but that doesn't mean he doesn't have some big flaws. Go watch Murray and Dunn and you will see how the shot selection is on a different level by Murray and he's a freshman not a junior. I don't know what else you would say shows poor basketball IQ but taking bad shots and turning the ball over are big ones IMO. Also his injury concerns are the last thing this organization needs right now. Everyone beats the table how Dell should have some how predicted these guys would have gotten injured. Well this guy you don't have to predict because they are there. Shoulder injuries are no joke especially when a little thing called shooting relies on them.

I'm not sure you watch the whole game. He made some bad plays down the stretch, but without his clutch shots for his team they would have never been in position. He clearly over thought the moment when he tried to go for the game winner. Plus their team doesn't really have that much talent on it. I'm ready to see him vs Paige on Saturday.

[HornetGuru]

Their coach has a skin condition that causes him to loose hair in spots and can eventually lead to full baldness.

I believe it's caused by dihydrotestosterone.

[Eman5805]

Don't know what game you were watching but Kris Dunn did not play well at all tonight. Shooting 5-13 continually taking bad shot after bad shot. He seems to have the low BBall IQ this team doesn't need. Plus his injuries are the last team this needs. Has potential but much rather a few other guys over Dunn.

I don't know where the heck you are getting this low IQ thing from. Taking bad shots does not equate.

Watch him on defense. Is he ever out of position? Look at his feet move. Look at how easily he gets into the lane and the way he swings the ball around.

Dude would be excellent in our offense.

This honestly was not the best game he's had. Very true. And he still looked like the best player on the floor. His ceiling is high.

[Silverfoxx]

I don't know where the heck you are getting this low IQ thing from. Taking bad shots does not equate.

Watch him on defense. Is he ever out of position? Look at his feet move. Look at how easily he gets into the lane and the way he swings the ball around.

Dude would be excellent in our offense.

This honestly was not the best game he's had. Very true. And he still looked like the best player on the floor. His ceiling is high.

I watched both this game and Duke vs UNCW and honestly Dunn impacted his game more then Ingram. Dunn bad shots were his "Kobe shots" which were probably bad shots but intended to make his team win. I kept saying that Grayson Allen is Duke closer and heart and soul. He even stepped up in his rookie season so it's no excuse for Ingram. Ingram weakness by scouts is actually being to deferring and not taking over.


The Pelicans current roster does not have ANYONE like a player like Dunn that's willing to "never say die" and put the team on their back. Only AD, but like I said KD and Davis together will be epic.


This draft I'm just not too sold on the official top two draft picks. The more I watch them honestly the more I become a less of a fan
I know potential is a main thing for NBA draft, but with our current team I truly think we should go for the sure thing.

[504ByrdGang]

I watched both this game and Duke vs UNCW and honestly Dunn impacted his game more then Ingram. Dunn bad shots were his "Kobe shots" which were probably bad shots but intended to make his team win. I kept saying that Grayson Allen is Duke closer and heart and soul. He even stepped up in his rookie season so it's no excuse for Ingram. Ingram weakness by scouts is actually being to deferring and not taking over.


The Pelicans current roster does not have ANYONE like a player like Dunn that's willing to "never say die" and put the team on their back. Only AD, but like I said KD and Davis together will be epic.


This draft I'm just not too sold on the official top two draft picks. The more I watch them honestly the more I become a less of a fan
I know potential is a main thing for NBA draft, but with our current team I truly think we should go for the sure thing.

Tyreke is that guy but he's just not good at making those shots.you're logic of thinking is terrible. Taking a safe bet gives you Anthony Bennet and Thomas Robinson over Andre Drummond and Giannis.

[Caffeinedisastr]

This is how I see this draft, where we pick and what we need.
It will all fall into place.

[JrueDat]

Jaylan Brown has not been impressive so far this game. A lot of brain neutral plays travels etc. ala Aminu.

[504ByrdGang]

Jaylan Brown has not been impressive so far this game. A lot of brain neutral plays travels etc. ala Aminu.

He has Aminu written all over him but has ceiling of Jimmy Butler and would be too hard to pass up.

[504ByrdGang]

This is how I see this draft, where we pick and what we need.
It will all fall into place.

Simmions, Ingram, Brown, or Luwawu just give me one.

[GuardianAngel25]

I watched both this game and Duke vs UNCW and honestly Dunn impacted his game more then Ingram. Dunn bad shots were his "Kobe shots" which were probably bad shots but intended to make his team win. I kept saying that Grayson Allen is Duke closer and heart and soul. He even stepped up in his rookie season so it's no excuse for Ingram. Ingram weakness by scouts is actually being to deferring and not taking over.


The Pelicans current roster does not have ANYONE like a player like Dunn that's willing to "never say die" and put the team on their back. Only AD, but like I said KD and Davis together will be epic.


This draft I'm just not too sold on the official top two draft picks. The more I watch them honestly the more I become a less of a fan
I know potential is a main thing for NBA draft, but with our current team I truly think we should go for the sure thing.

Lol I'll take those evaluations with a lot of bias being thrown in. You love to beat the table about Ingram yet you are basically the only person out there that thinks this. Go read anything about Ingram and it seems not one person agrees with you. What I said about Dunn I am definitely not the only one. Act like Kobe shots are a good thing and we need that lol. Oh yea another thing Dunn is a senior and Ingram is a freshman. Go tell me who Dunn was as a freshman... I'll wait...

[GuardianAngel25]

I don't know where the heck you are getting this low IQ thing from. Taking bad shots does not equate.

Watch him on defense. Is he ever out of position? Look at his feet move. Look at how easily he gets into the lane and the way he swings the ball around.

Dude would be excellent in our offense.

This honestly was not the best game he's had. Very true. And he still looked like the best player on the floor. His ceiling is high.

Being a good defender does not count for good BBall IQ on offense. This is not the first game he has played that way. Turning the ball over at an extremely high rate and takin bad shots is poor BBall IQ. If that's not what counts as poor BBall IQ then please tell me what does?

[GuardianAngel25]

Simmions, Ingram, Brown, or Luwawu just give me one.

Yea we need a wing badly. I will take my chances on Brown if he's there with our pick.

[Pelifan]

He turns the ball over way too much and has very poor shot selection. That is low basketball IQ to me. He puts up the #s and has a lot of potential but that doesn't mean he doesn't have some big flaws. Go watch Murray and Dunn and you will see how the shot selection is on a different level by Murray and he's a freshman not a junior. I don't know what else you would say shows poor basketball IQ but taking bad shots and turning the ball over are big ones IMO. Also his injury concerns are the last thing this organization needs right now. Everyone beats the table how Dell should have some how predicted these guys would have gotten injured. Well this guy you don't have to predict because they are there. Shoulder injuries are no joke especially when a little thing called shooting relies on them.

He's been healthy for 2 seasons now. And shooting is the easiest NBA skill to improve. Murray is a better shooter so more shots he takes will go in. Murray never plays out of control, but that's mainly because he's slow. I'll take Dunn who looks to me like a pass first Reggie Jackson with better defense over a guy whom I believe tops out as a 15ppg shooter with average ability to create for himself.

I think you are really underestimating how much quickness matters for NBA guards. Dunn projects as a guy who has great to elite size, athleticism, and quickness for his position and unless you think Murray is a point guard he is average to below average in those three categories.

[504ByrdGang]

Yea we need a wing badly. I will take my chances on Brown if he's there with our pick.

I don't see UA getting a legit wing anytime soon in FA or trade. Batum will go to a playoff taeam, Barnes suck, Parsons will stay with the Mavs. Next year Hayward is going to stay with the Jazz, Hallo is injury prone, Dre is old, and pass on Gay. I want to draft one of those guys and sign Loul Deng. He's thriving as a 4 in Miami and could train our young Wing player and bring the Vet leadership we need from a guy who actually plays. We can start Jrue/Reke/Deng/AD/Asik with our finishing 5 as Jrue/Reke/Q/Deng/Ad that's a damn good defensive line up.

This is Deng since moving to power forward. He would solve our sf hole and of back role until our rookie develops.

[Eman5805]

Being a good defender does not count for good BBall IQ on offense. This is not the first game he has played that way. Turning the ball over at an extremely high rate and takin bad shots is poor BBall IQ. If that's not what counts as poor BBall IQ then please tell me what does?

Everything. Else.

Situational awareness.
Floor spacing.
Making the second pass.
Finding open spots on the floor.
Setting up teammates by drawing attention.

Turning over the ball because you're overaggressive or you made an ill-advised pass? I can live with that. You can always ask for less from a player. Hard to get him to give more sometimes.

Dunn wants to take those late shots and be in those big moments.

He's my guy.

[GuardianAngel25]

Taking bad shots and turning the ball over would count under situational awareness because he does it throughout the game. He doesn't space the floor very well. Finds open spots on the floor at times but again forcing bad shots with defenders all over you would go under not finding open spots. Drawing attention has nothing to do with IQ but more that you are the best player on Providence having teams concentrate on you. He can be your guy all you want but taking bad shots and turning over the ball absolutely goes on the poor basketball IQ category. Plus being injury prone with shoulder surgeries on both shoulders. Yea that's the last thing this team needs. He's a junior and not fixing some of his problems is a little concerning. As a freshman sure but not as a junior.

[Silverfoxx]

Lol I'll take those evaluations with a lot of bias being thrown in. You love to beat the table about Ingram yet you are basically the only person out there that thinks this. Go read anything about Ingram and it seems not one person agrees with you. What I said about Dunn I am definitely not the only one. Act like Kobe shots are a good thing and we need that lol. Oh yea another thing Dunn is a senior and Ingram is a freshman. Go tell me who Dunn was as a freshman... I'll wait...

Trust me, there are alot of folks not sold on Ingram or Simmons.

[Eman5805]

Hield just looks like a young NBA player who went back to school to play again.

[504ByrdGang]

Hield just looks like a young NBA player who went back to school to play again.

Exactly he's a great shooter that's it. His handles are weak and the only reason he gets to the rim now more than the past because hes stronger and more mature than most college players.

[Silverfoxx]

My God, biggest upset ever.

[fullcourtpress]

If we keep all of our 2nd round picks,Dorian Finney Smith, from Florida, would be a nice option in our quest for a 3-D small forward
He has great size for the SF spot. I don't see him as a starter but Taurean Prince will probably be off the board by then

15.1 ppg 8.2 rebs 2.3 assists All SEC honors

shot 43% and 37% from the arc the last two years

can defend several positions

Defensively is where NBA teams might be the most intrigued by Finney-Smith's long-term potential. At 6-8, with a chiseled frame, he's big and strong enough to contain most power forwards he'll encounter, but also has the length, quickness and agility needed to step outside and guard perimeter players as well. His multi-positional versatility defensively is reflected in the 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks he averages, making him one of only a dozen or so returning draft prospects to post that combination. On top of that, he's hauled in a career 10.2 rebounds per-40 minutes on average, which is a very nice added bonus.

Standing 6'8 with a 6'11 wingspan, Finney-Smith's size for the small forward position has long been one of his most appealing assets as a prospect. A consensus top-25 player in the high school class of 2011 coming out of I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, Finney-Smith is also a fluid athlete possessing good speed and leaping ability to go along with a 220-pound frame...

Finney-Smith possesses very solid physical tools for a small forward at the NBA level and even the potential to play the four in smaller lineups just as he does for the Gators.

adept at moving without the ball, whether he is getting up the floor and spotting up, taking the ball to the rim using simple crossovers and step-throughs in transition, or cutting to the rim when his defender goes to help in the half court, he does a nice job staying active. An unselfish passer who can make the simple play, Finney-Smith does a bit of everything offensively which should help him blend in nicely at the next level.

Aside from his ability to score, Finney-Smith makes his biggest impact crashing the boards. Averaging 10.6 rebounds per-40 minutes pace adjusted to rank 5th among the prospects in our top-100 that stand under 6'9, the fifth year senior does an very good job pursuing the ball off the rim on both ends for a small forward, using his length and timing to his advantage.

[Caffeinedisastr]

My God, biggest upset ever.

Will this hurt Valentine in the draft?