No predictions on the draft?
NBA 2020-2021
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
LaMelo Ball will be a bust.
What is the upside of a team whose only good young player is SGA? Paul, Gallinari and Adams will not be getting better. You add one piece to that team, especially an older slightly above average but not great player like DeRozan, you go from losing 4-3 in the first round to maybe winning a series. Not any further than this. That is not the goal you should be aiming for.
By trading George for a pick haul and a young player Presti has set a clear direction for OKC as a franchise and that direction is to rebuild over the next 3-5 years and go back to being competitive. At the same time they are doing that while owning a tonne of other teams picks which means it’s not necessary for them to be bad to get good picks in the future. However, with any rehabilitation project they take on - like they’ve done with Paul - the goal should be to acquire more future assets. They’ve done a wonderful job at that. Westbrook who was a negative asset himself has so far got them Rubio, Oubre, three first round picks that look pretty premium and two swaps. Houston will not be able to get anything of value for Westbrook a year later, OKC should get another first round pick for Oubre and if their Rubio reclamation project goes well, maybe another one for him.
Today they got another first round pick for Green because they had the cap space to absorb Horford. Essentially means they’ve traded Schroeder for two first rounders, a second rounder and Horford. Knowing Presti he will get another first rounder for Horford next year.
The crazy thing is that team still remains decent. Rubio, Oubre, Horford and Adams still gets you 30+ wins.
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Think so too. Would be ludicrous if he went 1st. In my eyes he could be a solid 2nd rounder. His shot is abysmal and like with Zo he might not be able to improve it that quickly. But, Ben Simmons also went first, right?
It’s a relatively poor draft towards the top. My guesses:
- Minnesota either trades the pick or take Edwards for fit
- Golden State will take Wiseman
- Charlotte will either trade up to take Ball or down to take Okongwu
- Cole Anthony will go to the Knicks
- Bulls will try to trade up to take Ball
Simmons is crazy athletic though and a great defender. Ball is neither, though his shot isn’t anywhere near as bad and I think he can become a decent shooter eventually. None of the potential top picks are that inspiring - Edwards doesn’t seem that motivated, Wiseman will probably be a decent big but you don’t take them first, anything beyond that looks like decent roster players. I’m sure there will be someone who emerges as a star from this draft, as always, but it’s hard to see who. I would probably prefer to go for higher upside guys if I were a team that sucks, and for some of those serviceable wings that look like they may contribute from the start like Nesmith, Vassell, Okoro or Toppin.
I am completely biased. I saw him play multiple times in high school as my alma mater met them in the state finals or semifinals his last two years. Especially his junior year when we beat chino hills he was an embarrassment. He had Big O (usc kid projected to be top 5 pick this year) as a teammate. So that’s 2 top 5 nba picks vs a team with no player over 6’5’’ and a handful of D1 players. They got smoked, and they got smoked because he was launching 35 footers and playing no defense. He may not be Bennett bad, but he will be Wiggins at best.
I have a feeling that OKC will be using some of their assets to trade-up. But we'll see what happens. Don't really care about the draft itself. Expect LaMelo to go #1 but don't think he'll ever be a franchise player.
Feels like OKC and the Pelicans own every single pick in existence for the next 10 years?
And OKC Just got more from Philly
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Can someone explain what this stuff means for the Rockets. It sounds like they swapped tonight's 16th pick for some future mid first rounder several years from now.
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Tough news for the Warriors, reports coming out that Klay has suffered another potentially serious injury.
Bogdanovic move to Milwaukee is off for now. He will seek offers in restricted free agency, though Kings will have an option to match and trade him to Milwaukee anyways unless the offer is above what Bucks value him at as they may pull the plug then. I wondered about complexity of the deal that was reported on Monday as it is very unusual for teams to agree to sign and trade deals before free agency even opened (this must have been the first time I’ve seen this happen).
So Edwards it is. Expecting Wiseman and Ball to go next. Then Halliburton to Bulls, Avdija to Cavs, Toppin to Hawks, Williams to Pistons and Anthony to Knicks.
Minnesota draft Wiggins again?
Some of the stuff about him does sound worryingly similar to Wiggins.
Getting Wiggins out of this particular draft may not be the end of the world as long as you never give him a $28million per year contract.
Really hope Bulls don’t take Halliburton.
Looks like they're taking Williams (I thought they would take Avdija), his stock has risen massively in recent months.
Wow Williams has gone from a deep first round through mid first to 4th since May.
He may fall deep now. Really can’t see Cleveland taking another point guard and Hawks don’t need him either. Maybe Detroit.
True, but this is Minnesota we're talking about. Making smart decisions isn't typically their specialty.
feck my life
Avdija or Toppin to Cavs is my guess.
Wrong again. Weird draft the last two picks.
3 slightly surprising picks in a row (not sure how it will work with Okongwu and Capela).
The Knicks and Wizard picks seem to be the expected outcomes.
Jalen Smith at 10 is a shocker to me. He was projected much much lower. Second year in a row Suns reach big.
Rubio, 24 and 28 for pick 17 seems like slight over-pay on our end. Probably the first trade in a while that I've felt Presti hasn't got great value.
They'll not resign Baynes. He'll get an offer that the Suns wont be willing to match. He'll get minutes at 4/5, but I think Suns see him as a future 4.
Cam Johnson works out pretty well though. Lets see
Jones doesn't care about trading down, he just drafts the guys he like if he feels they can contribute.
He'll share minutes with Saric as the backup 4/5 this year.
Okay, I'm actually happy with the Malachi Flynn draft pick. He reminds me of Kyle Lowry in his playmaking ability, high basketball IQ, and defensive hustle. The fact that he can come in clutch, too, is a nice bonus for me. With Toronto, he can also become more assertive in his game, and I look forward to watching him.
Malachi being drafted in means that we're probably doing all we can to keep FVV.
Malachi being drafted in means that we're probably doing all we can to keep FVV.
Michael Jordan drafting Ball. Will probably play 1-1 against the kid and school him 
Kid-Gilchrist hated it, losing against a man in his fifties
Kid-Gilchrist hated it, losing against a man in his fifties
Will Saric get re-signed? I would prefer to try and go for Jerami Grant if I were the Suns though not sure if their cap space will be sufficient after Paul trade. Either way I reckon it may be Cam Johnson starting at 4.
Wow Mavs picks seem great. Josh Green will be a solid wing straightaway, Tyrell Terry and Tyler Bey were basically the hipster lottery picks of many NBA writers including KOC.
Kings have also got two players they seemed to have no right of getting drafting where they were. Halliburton at 12 and Ramsey at 43.
Kings have also got two players they seemed to have no right of getting drafting where they were. Halliburton at 12 and Ramsey at 43.
My college following friend is convinced that Tyrese Maxey will become the steal of this draft, but he's a Kentucky fan so not sure how serious I can take that.
Seems like a pretty poor draft overall.
Seems like a pretty poor draft overall.
Maxey is promising. I thought he'd have gone higher but this whole draft had plenty of unexpected players going in unexpected places.
Richardson and no. 36 for Curry is a good deal for Mavs too. I think Richardson is a better player between the two though Curry fits Philadelphia better.