Official 2017 NBA Draft Thread - June 22

Louisville coach Rick Pitino doesn?t like to hear draft analysts downplay 6-foot-3 Donovan Mitchell as an undersized shooting guard. That won?t be his position in the NBA.

?Point guard is his natural position,?? Pitino told The Post. ?But because of Quentin Snider, who?s been around a while as a veteran, I played [Donovan] at the two-guard spot. I see him strictly as a one.?

That versatility, his defensive mindset and character are reasons the Knicks have more than a casual interest in Mitchell ? whether at No. 8 or trading down a few notches to later in the lottery.

The Louisville sophomore has local ties. His father Donovan Mitchell Sr. works for the Mets as director of player relations after a career as a minor-league journeyman who played for Mets manager Terry Collins. The Greenwich, Conn. product, who grew up 25 miles from the Knicks? Tarrytown complex, is projected in most mock drafts as a late-lottery pick.

Pitino said the Chicago combine ? where Mitchell participated in skills/measurements ? helped his stock. Mitchell, 20, measured in at 6-3 with shoes ? 6-1 ? without ? and recorded a healthy 6-10 wingspan.

?I think having that wingspan and being the defensive-minded person that I am will definitely help,? said Mitchell, who played a handful of games at point guard when Snider got hurt. ?Because at Louisville you don?t step on the floor unless you play defense?

Mitchell averaged 15.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists last season. Pitino, the ex-Knicks coach, figured Mitchell would be picked in the middle of the first round after Louisville?s 25-9 season ended in the NCAA Tournament?s second round.

Now he?s thinking grander.
 
I want that franchise guard, but should he fall to us, how would Jonathan Isaac fit with Porzingis (assuming Melo is gone)? Read some stuff online today that implies Isaac is a potential home run pick out of the guys likely to last past the first few picks
 
Of course he did, in front of several different teams watching the workout. Monk is the only player I see with potential slippage to us @8 and that %age is low, like 10% if that

 
htr10 said:
I want that franchise guard, but should he fall to us, how would Jonathan Isaac fit with Porzingis (assuming Melo is gone)? Read some stuff online today that implies Isaac is a potential home run pick out of the guys likely to last past the first few picks
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Tommy Dee was talking about a Rubio for CLee deal if the Wolves pursue DRose. We could address our PG needs via trade or in FA, I would take BPA at 8 and Isaac is may be the best among Frenchie, Smith and even Monk. I would grab him over Frenchie, Monk and Smith. He's got great size for a wing and is a skilled big man, a multi-dimensional player.
 
tiger0330 said:
Tommy Dee was talking about a Rubio for CLee deal if the Wolves pursue DRose. We could address our PG needs via trade or in FA, I would take BPA at 8 and Isaac is may be the best among Frenchie, Smith and even Monk. I would grab him over Frenchie, Monk and Smith. He's got great size for a wing and is a skilled big man, a multi-dimensional player.
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I believe the Scrubio rumors are coming more from Minnesota's end. If they're going to pursue Rose that's another hefty contract added to the books, thus they need to move Scrubio and prep to start paying their young players coming off rookie deals. Every Knick draft related rumor at this point has us tied to drafting a lead guard.
 
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Broadway said:
I believe the Scrubio rumors are coming more from Minnesota's end. If they're going to pursue Rose that's another hefty contract added to the books, thus they need to move Scrubio and prep to start paying their young players coming off rookie deals. Every Knick draft related rumor at this point has us tied to drafting a lead guard.
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Phil said we need guards and wings. For what that's worth. Isaac, depending on where we see him playing, might be an option as a BPA or a Melo replacement. He could be a Lamar Odom type. Help protect the rim and play SF (he hits 3s too, I believe).

Especially if all the guards are gone and Phil doesn't want a French project (or a Rubio trade goes down).
 
mafra said:
Phil said we need guards and wings. For what that's worth. Isaac, depending on where we see him playing, might be an option as a BPA or a Melo replacement. He could be a Lamar Odom type. Help protect the rim and play SF (he hits 3s too, I believe).

Especially if all the guards are gone and Phil doesn't want a French project (or a Rubio trade goes down).
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I don't see any realistic scenario where we don't draft a guard. There are 6 potential Premium guards and 3-4 Premium wings. I doubt 6 guards get drafted in a row nor even 6 of 7

The whole point being linked to Scrubio is because we need a guard(point) on top of Teague...Holiday...Redick see the trend? Also the likelihood we'd get either is sketchy coming well after the draft. Might be more believable if free agency took place first. The rumor once again seems planted by Minny a story presented by one of their beat writers. Minny may be losing Shabazz in FA and Zach tore his ACL, they probably could use Lee.

Not to say I wouldn't consider Isaac but he is 6'10"(he's really a stretch 4) we already have one of those...the wings we're linked to in free agency are defense caliber...Tucker...Simmons...Cunningham 6'7-8" type guys

If Jax or Tatum fall yeah I could see that for sure

With our second round picks I believe we'll be wing centric
 
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It's coming back to Orlando and Minnesota every time for me and what they'll do...

Fultz
Fox(Ball)
Ball(Fox)
Tatum
Monk

This is how I think the first 5 picks will go.

The fact Ball and Philly will keep in touch for a face meeting/workout and deliberation of fit-direction invisioning him on the team...tells me Ball's group know they are not a lock at 2 with Lakers.
 
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Broadway said:
I believe the Scrubio rumors are coming more from Minnesota's end. If they're going to pursue Rose that's another hefty contract added to the books, thus they need to move Scrubio and prep to start paying their young players coming off rookie deals. Every Knick draft related rumor at this point has us tied to drafting a lead guard.
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Whatever whatever .. i hope Phil dont bring Rubio to the Knicks .. after 6 seasons in the NBA Rubio performance is still a tier 2 PG in the NBA, a backup PG u give 18 minute per game to. If the young Minny Wolves would have signed Jennings uptempo performance to be their starting PG plus brang Rubio off the bench the Wolves would've made the playoff as 7 or 8 seed.

We need a free-agent starter PG! Especially if we draft a PG with the 8th pick in the draft.
In offseason I would give offer sheets to .... Mr. Chris Paul / Jrue Holiday / Shaun Livingston / Ty Lawson
 
I can't see us passing in either Smith or Monk at 8, and I'm thinking even Ntiliniki is too good to pass on for Phil. And, like you said, it's not like all 6 guards go top 7.... somebody might reach for Isaac, Collins, or C from Ari.

And, if all 6 guards are gone.... then we happily and eagerly scoop up Tatum or Jax.

Still, Isaac has so much potential.... and could be a solid rim protector.... and we could play big with KP, Isaac, WHG. So, say only Frenchie remains.... we might not grab a guard for the sake of grabbing.... you don't know if we decide JI is too good to pass, or if Frenchie too much of a project risk to pass on JI.
 
tiger0330 said:
So Ben Simmons won't be running the point? Man I was looking forward to that, a guy that big with his passing ability, dishing from all over the floor like Lebron.

I doubt Smith goes that high, maybe he goes to the Kings at 5 but if Fox is there at 5 the Kings select him.
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Ben Simmons are a point-forward that will fit great in a ball-movement system that will need Fox or Smith running the point for centers Embiid & Saric dominating the paint on both sides of the court.
I dont know why Philly had a natural uptempo PF Okafor at the center position AGGY
Oh Yeah, Philly TANK last season from the word GO at the start of the 2016-17 season.

I was upset with Philly for giving Mavs owner Cuban a great athletic player in Noel
 
NY Post

French league point guard Frank Ntilikina is not coming to New York just yet.

The 6-foot-5 Ntilikina, a Knicks target with the eighth pick in the June?s NBA draft, saved his best playoff performance for a deciding game.

The 18-year-old put up seven points, two assists, five rebounds and one steal on 3-of-6 shooting in 25 minutes of action to help Strasbourg move on to the French league semifinals with a 72-68 victory over Pau-Lacq-Orthez to win the quarterfinal series 2-1. Strasbourg will face Monaco.

The victory will delay Ntilikina?s arrival in New York where he will do NBA pre-draft workouts. The solidly built point guard has impressed scouts with his two-way play, but struggled in the first two playoff games. Ntilikina tallied a combined five points and four assists.

According to one scout who saw much of the first round, Ntilikina came up big on defense in limiting league MVP D.J. Cooper.

He is pegged as the top international prospect in the draft, but is expected to be on the board for the Knicks at eight. Ntilikina, despite being a reserve, captured the Rising Star Award for the second straight year in LNB Pro A, France?s top league.

ESPN?s international draft guru Fran Fraschilla said at the NBA Draft combine in Chicago that Ntilikina would be a better fit for the triangle offense, because of his high basketball IQ, than some other point-guard prospects, such as Dennis Smith Jr.

One Western Conference executive said Ntilikina?s scoring numbers may not be impressive because of his ?spot minutes,?? but he is mistake-free and has the mentality ?he doesn?t want to get pulled out.?

?In France, a young player, you make a mistake and you get pulled,?? the executive said. ?He doesn?t have that AAU mentality or college mentality where you?re allowed to turn it over. He makes the right pass and doesn?t over-drive.??
 
Barring a surprise in front of us, Ntilikina will be our selection. Only hiccup may be if another team takes him over Smith.

I'm actually excited for him.... Is he just a Charlie Ward? Or so much more.... Looking forward to a real PG, who makes the right pass and plays defense.

Frenchie and Latvian and Spaniard may turn NY into an international version of SA!
 
Yeah I've been of the mindset to prepare for Frank's name to be called since the tourney and I'll be okay with it. I'll also be very honest here...I do not think he'll be the best player from this draft, probably not even Top 5 but I think he'll make us proud drafting him with his refreshing brand of play.

The team he could end up on are the Kings, may come down to his workouts. Read a blip yesterday we also like Justin Jackson a lot.
 
Agree with Tweet no surprise




The main thing I'll be curious of, if he shuts down workouts after visiting these 2 teams. Will there be any prior too? Have to believe it's only these 2 teams, the draft is the 22nd. I have him going to either team. I think once Magic sees this kid up close and his infectious smile, he'll be wearing purple and gold
 
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tiger0330 said:
So you guys would pick Frank over Isaac if they're both there at 8?
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Real tough call.... without being able to interview them and breaking down tape with experts, I don't think I could make that call. Does seem like Isaac has more HR potential and that Ntikilina will take longer to groom.... but this organization has been G starved for so long....

It's almost that something would have to jump out at me to pass on Ntikilina or Smith..... OR I would just be WOWed by JI that I couldn't pass on him.

Anyway.... there's also something to be said to trade down for 2 picks in the teens (to grab Justin Jax and PG from Louisville).
 
I found this on a DEN blog....
Say a player we like, like Justin Jax slips to 13..... would we do a deal like this:

DEN targets JI in a trade:

For starters, he?s an outside/inside player that stands 6-feet, 11-inches tall - taller than Danilo Gallinari and as tall (or possibly slightly taller) than Nikola Jokic. He?s also got a 7?1? wingspan and a standing reach over 9?. He shot a respectable 35% from behind the arc in his lone season at Florida State and 78% from the free throw line.

He?s a great rebounder, hauling in 12 rebounds per 40 minutes and has a lot of promise as a shot-blocker from the power forward position. He?s more mobile defensively around the perimeter than anyone in the draft his height and might be a defensive juggernaut in the making. Lastly, my favorite trait of all is that he?s pretty good about playing within himself.

The New York Knicks
The deal: Emmanuel Mudiay, Wilson Chandler, the 13th pick and the 49th pick for the 8th pick and Lance Thomas.

The framework of this deal is similar to all of the others but the Nuggets get to hold on to Beasley. Wilson has a nice skill set to play inside or outside within the triangle and would be a replacement go-to scorer if the Knicks do indeed move on from Carmelo Anthony as they have said they are hoping to do. Mudiay is a project for them but his size and post-up game are strengths that could get highlighted in that system. The Knicks would also land another 2nd round pick which would give them a total of three second rounders this year. That?s a lot to take on but the Knicks might be willing to spread a wide net in search of talent to develop abroad or through the D-league.

Lance Thomas isn?t a huge get for the Nuggets but he?s probably needed in order to clear cap-room and bench room for all of their incoming picks. He also shot 45% on catch-and-shoot three pointers last season and should see a healthy increase in those types of shots if he plays alongside Jokic. Still, he?d be owed $21 million over the next three seasons and that is a bit long to take on a guy that might be the 7th or 8th best player on the Nuggets right out of the gate. Unfortunately, the Knicks don?t have a lot of options for trade pieces. Their best players are on rookie deals and probably not available (you?re not getting Kristaps Porzingis) and their most expensive players are all highly undesirable for the Nuggets. Thomas is the least bad option of the group.

Of course this entire deal is predicated on Isaac still being available at #8 which might be unlikely.
 
So, this is suggesting (as others have) that JI is the. Kay likely player to crack the top 7.... with, I believe, Monk or Smith being the most likely to fall....

This means it's possible that we do trade down if JI slips, b/c he's probably the lone talent a team will trade up for at 8...

The draft questions are:

- Take Issac or Ntikilina?

- Smith or Ntikilina?

- Trafe down? And this may be predicated on us taking Isaac and dealing him only if the player we want is taken by our potential trade partner.

Still, the key is getting defensive orientated pieces and both Isaac and Ntikilina are that....

Monk is best shooter and Smith has dynamic scorer potential....

So, what would you do? What direction do you go?
 
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