With 34th pick Kings select ....

#1
I have no clue.

While it has been mentioned here and there in the overall draft thread, I think it deserves it's own spot.

College basketball wizards, show your powers!
 
#2
Bam Adebayo from UK.
A few draft boards have him falling to the 2nd round. Though, he has not hired a agent and if he doesn't like what he hears after the combine, he can come back to school.

It isn't the greatest fit but, to me, draft selections early in the 2nd round are purely BPA with a touch of "can he make a roster". (Late 2nd rounders are purely long range potential or draft and stash players).
 
#10
I betcha the Kings staff could find a gem or two in the second round. Be interesting to see what the Kings do with four draft picks. My guess is that one or more are used for trade bait to get a decent vet. I wonder how much time asst. coaches have been spending on player evaluations for the draft. There is a lot of evaluation going on when you have one pick but four you're really looking at at least 60 players.
 
#11
I betcha the Kings staff could find a gem or two in the second round. Be interesting to see what the Kings do with four draft picks. My guess is that one or more are used for trade bait to get a decent vet. I wonder how much time asst. coaches have been spending on player evaluations for the draft. There is a lot of evaluation going on when you have one pick but four you're really looking at at least 60 players.
They have 3 picks right now if they don't lose one of the 1st rounders.
 
#12
If Jawun Evans or Caleb Swanigan drop those would be my picks, in that order.

If not, I'm looking at Dillon Brooks or Devin Robinson. Possibly Edmond Sumner depending on how he looks in workouts.
I really like Swanigan and I think he'd be a really good fit with our current group of bigs. Most places I look has him in the 20s somewhere.
 

hrdboild

Hall of Famer
#13
Somebody projected to go in the first round will still be there at 34 but it's impossible to know who. The mocks are all over the place right now from the 12th pick down. Jawun Evans, Bam Adebayo, Jonathan Motley, and OG Anunoby are on my radar as options for #10 so I'd be thrilled to get any of them in the second round. I don't know much about the international kids though and there are folks here who watch a lot more college ball than me who can identify some lesser known sleepers. The good news is, the last time we had a second round pick this high we got Hassan Whiteside so there's a precedent for elite talent slipping that far.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#14
Somebody projected to go in the first round will still be there at 34 but it's impossible to know who. The mocks are all over the place right now from the 12th pick down. Jawun Evans, Bam Adebayo, Jonathan Motley, and OG Anunoby are on my radar as options for #10 so I'd be thrilled to get any of them in the second round. I don't know much about the international kids though and there are folks here who watch a lot more college ball than me who can identify some lesser known sleepers. The good news is, the last time we had a second round pick this high we got Hassan Whiteside so there's a precedent for elite talent slipping that far.
Isaiah Thomas on line one. ;)
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#22
I think most have covered the players I like. I think Jawun Evans would be a steal if he were to drop to us, and if O.G. Anunoby was sitting there, I'd grab him in a heartbeat. However I doubt that either will drop into the 2nd round. I also like Dwayne Bacon. Another player that I think can play in the NBA, and if your looking at draft boards, would be considered a reach, would be Frank Ramsey. I have no idea why he ranked so low. Yeah, he plays below the rim, but he does it extremely well. I also like Edmond Sumner, Jonathan Motley, Caleb Swanigan, Josh Hart and Tyler Dorsey.
 
#23
If we're looking for draft and stash options a few names to watch are Kaba, Vezenkov or Lessort.
Somebody projected to go in the first round will still be there at 34 but it's impossible to know who. The mocks are all over the place right now from the 12th pick down. Jawun Evans, Bam Adebayo, Jonathan Motley, and OG Anunoby are on my radar as options for #10 so I'd be thrilled to get any of them in the second round. I don't know much about the international kids though and there are folks here who watch a lot more college ball than me who can identify some lesser known sleepers. The good news is, the last time we had a second round pick this high we got Hassan Whiteside so there's a precedent for elite talent slipping that far.
Wow, Evans and Motley at #10? Why are you so high on them? :)
 

hrdboild

Hall of Famer
#24
If we're looking for draft and stash options a few names to watch are Kaba, Vezenkov or Lessort.

Wow, Evans and Motley at #10? Why are you so high on them? :)
I don't think either one is going to last until the second round. For our first pick (assuming it stays at 8 or 9) we should still be able to get one of the elite talents in the draft. At 10 there's probably a chance somebody like Isaac, Smith or Ntilikina slips but more likely we're looking at options like Zach Collins or TJ Leaf who are solid prospects but not necessarily the best players on the board at that position. In reviewing past drafts I've tried to find a pattern linking all the players taken 15 and below who ended up being All-Stars. Usually they're guys who played 2 or 3 years in college who were passed over mostly because they were seen as low-ceiling players who lacked either ideal size or any standout skills.

I think Jawun Evans has flown under the radar because he's a little bit smaller and never had a ton of draft hype around him for whatever reason but he was one of my favorite players this season. I think he's the best PG option after the top 5 guys everyone talks about, and might end up being better than some of them. I see him being mocked in the second round but he's not going to last until 34. Looking at his production this year, he matches up with anyone in college basketball. He's jet quick, has ridiculous handles, and he's got that bulldog "won't back down from anyone" personality about him that I really like. Maybe he'll get exploited on defense at his size but guys like Chris Paul and Kemba Walker make up for their lack of size with tenacity and craftiness and I see some of that in Evans too. There's nobody mocked in the 10-15 range that I really like at #10 (now that Bridges is officially out) so I'm tempted to say "screw it" and just take a player I do like there, even if his draft value is lower right now. Maybe he ends up being a Draymond Green type steal. Even at #10 that would be worthwhile.

With Jonathan Motley I see a big PF (the 7'3" wingspan helps him play up) who put up monster scoring and rebounding numbers against good competition. He's starting to develop his outside jumper already though it's not NBA ready yet. He's particularly strong on the offensive glass and he gets to the line. He added an extra wrinkle this year by almost doubling his assist rate which is a good sign for his overall offensive development. Maybe he'll give some people Thomas Robinson flashbacks but revisionist history aside, Thomas Robinson was a great prospect coming out of Kansas he just didn't work out. That doesn't mean everyone who resembles him in size or play style will be a bust too. Motley has a more diverse array of scoring moves at least, it's not all power dunks and bulldozing straight-line drives, though he's not as strong playing through contact either. He isn't one of my favorites at #10 but I like to cast as wide a net as possible this early in the process and I don't think he'll last to #34 either so I think he should be under consideration at least as a high energy big man with good two-way potential. As I'm writing this I just realized that he tore his MCL in their last tournament game and is rehabbing right now and will probably skip the combine. That would probably push him down to the second round so he's a good 'wait and see' candidate.
 
#25
I don't think either one is going to last until the second round. For our first pick (assuming it stays at 8 or 9) we should still be able to get one of the elite talents in the draft. At 10 there's probably a chance somebody like Isaac, Smith or Ntilikina slips but more likely we're looking at options like Zach Collins or TJ Leaf who are solid prospects but not necessarily the best players on the board at that position. In reviewing past drafts I've tried to find a pattern linking all the players taken 15 and below who ended up being All-Stars. Usually they're guys who played 2 or 3 years in college who were passed over mostly because they were seen as low-ceiling players who lacked either ideal size or any standout skills.

I think Jawun Evans has flown under the radar because he's a little bit smaller and never had a ton of draft hype around him for whatever reason but he was one of my favorite players this season. I think he's the best PG option after the top 5 guys everyone talks about, and might end up being better than some of them. I see him being mocked in the second round but he's not going to last until 34. Looking at his production this year, he matches up with anyone in college basketball. He's jet quick, has ridiculous handles, and he's got that bulldog "won't back down from anyone" personality about him that I really like. Maybe he'll get exploited on defense at his size but guys like Chris Paul and Kemba Walker make up for their lack of size with tenacity and craftiness and I see some of that in Evans too. There's nobody mocked in the 10-15 range that I really like at #10 (now that Bridges is officially out) so I'm tempted to say "screw it" and just take a player I do like there, even if his draft value is lower right now. Maybe he ends up being a Draymond Green type steal. Even at #10 that would be worthwhile.

With Jonathan Motley I see a big PF (the 7'3" wingspan helps him play up) who put up monster scoring and rebounding numbers against good competition. He's starting to develop his outside jumper already though it's not NBA ready yet. He's particularly strong on the offensive glass and he gets to the line. He added an extra wrinkle this year by almost doubling his assist rate which is a good sign for his overall offensive development. Maybe he'll give some people Thomas Robinson flashbacks but revisionist history aside, Thomas Robinson was a great prospect coming out of Kansas he just didn't work out. That doesn't mean everyone who resembles him in size or play style will be a bust too. Motley has a more diverse array of scoring moves at least, it's not all power dunks and bulldozing straight-line drives, though he's not as strong playing through contact either. He isn't one of my favorites at #10 but I like to cast as wide a net as possible this early in the process and I don't think he'll last to #34 either so I think he should be under consideration at least as a high energy big man with good two-way potential. As I'm writing this I just realized that he tore his MCL in their last tournament game and is rehabbing right now and will probably skip the combine. That would probably push him down to the second round so he's a good 'wait and see' candidate.
Agree with you on Evans. He is definitely worth more than a secound round pick. I have him at #18 right now but he could rise a few spots once we learn more about the other prospects, for example that Anunobys knees are shot after the injury. An option I'd like is to trade from 10 down a couple of sports, acquire a future asset and then take Evans.
Motley I don't like as much, but that is just based on quickly scanning through highlight vids, so I could be missing out on some things.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#28
I don't think either one is going to last until the second round. For our first pick (assuming it stays at 8 or 9) we should still be able to get one of the elite talents in the draft. At 10 there's probably a chance somebody like Isaac, Smith or Ntilikina slips but more likely we're looking at options like Zach Collins or TJ Leaf who are solid prospects but not necessarily the best players on the board at that position. In reviewing past drafts I've tried to find a pattern linking all the players taken 15 and below who ended up being All-Stars. Usually they're guys who played 2 or 3 years in college who were passed over mostly because they were seen as low-ceiling players who lacked either ideal size or any standout skills.

I think Jawun Evans has flown under the radar because he's a little bit smaller and never had a ton of draft hype around him for whatever reason but he was one of my favorite players this season. I think he's the best PG option after the top 5 guys everyone talks about, and might end up being better than some of them. I see him being mocked in the second round but he's not going to last until 34. Looking at his production this year, he matches up with anyone in college basketball. He's jet quick, has ridiculous handles, and he's got that bulldog "won't back down from anyone" personality about him that I really like. Maybe he'll get exploited on defense at his size but guys like Chris Paul and Kemba Walker make up for their lack of size with tenacity and craftiness and I see some of that in Evans too. There's nobody mocked in the 10-15 range that I really like at #10 (now that Bridges is officially out) so I'm tempted to say "screw it" and just take a player I do like there, even if his draft value is lower right now. Maybe he ends up being a Draymond Green type steal. Even at #10 that would be worthwhile.

With Jonathan Motley I see a big PF (the 7'3" wingspan helps him play up) who put up monster scoring and rebounding numbers against good competition. He's starting to develop his outside jumper already though it's not NBA ready yet. He's particularly strong on the offensive glass and he gets to the line. He added an extra wrinkle this year by almost doubling his assist rate which is a good sign for his overall offensive development. Maybe he'll give some people Thomas Robinson flashbacks but revisionist history aside, Thomas Robinson was a great prospect coming out of Kansas he just didn't work out. That doesn't mean everyone who resembles him in size or play style will be a bust too. Motley has a more diverse array of scoring moves at least, it's not all power dunks and bulldozing straight-line drives, though he's not as strong playing through contact either. He isn't one of my favorites at #10 but I like to cast as wide a net as possible this early in the process and I don't think he'll last to #34 either so I think he should be under consideration at least as a high energy big man with good two-way potential. As I'm writing this I just realized that he tore his MCL in their last tournament game and is rehabbing right now and will probably skip the combine. That would probably push him down to the second round so he's a good 'wait and see' candidate.
I agree with you that its unlikely that Evans lasts till the 34th pick in the draft. I see him going at the bottom of the first round, and frankly, I think he shoule be going mid first round. He's that talented. I disagree on your comparison of Leaf and Zach Collins. To me, there is no comparison. Collins is the far superior player and the best center in this draft. When you compare their minutes, and what they accomplished, Collins is the winner. He's taller at seven foot. He's a better athlete, and he's just as skilled with more tools in his tool box. Such as being a very good shotblocker and a better rebounder. Colliins is the better shooter from the three. To me, Collins is a top ten player, and Leaf, who I like, is a mid to late round player.

I like Motley, and defensively he shows a lot of potential, but if I had the choice between Motley and Jarrett Allen, I would go with Allen. Motley does have some offensive skills, but he''s a year or two away from being able to play significant minutes in the NBA offensively. So I look at him as a long term project that could be worth the effort. But not at 10. Evans would definitely be a reach at 10, but you could plug him in almost right away at the backup position. Motley would spend the entire year in the D-League. Excuse me, the G-League.

By the way, I don't see any comparison between Motley and Robinson. So I agree with there. For one thing, I think Motley has legit size where Robinson was undersized at the PF position. Robinson relied almost totally on his athleticism in college, and then struggled in the NBA. Motley is more skilled overall than Robinson, although while a good athlete, not as athletic as Robinson. So Motley does have an offensive foundation to start with. Robinson was more of a blank check, that unfortunately remains somewhat blank years later.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#30
If were looking for a long term project with a lot of potential, we should consider Semi Ojeleye, the 6'7" PF/SF from SMU. He's a player that you draft, and then stick in the G-League for at least a year. Athletically he has all the tools, including very good lateral quickness to be able to play the SF position. However his instincts and skill set don't measure up. Thus the year in the G-League. He was originally recruited by Duke, didn't get many minutes his freshman year, so he sat out a year and transferred to SMU.

SMU basically played him at PF where he averaged just under 19 pts a game while shooting 52.9% overall, and 42.4% from the three. Considering that he averaged 5 three point shots a game, that's a pretty reliable number. He also averaged just under 7 rebounds a game. All that sounds wonderful until you watch him play. Offensively and defensively he has a ton of improvement to do. He passes up open shots to drive into traffic and either throws up a wild shot off the wrong foot, or simply turns the ball over. He has no left hand at all, and his handles don't match his ambition.

Defensively he has everything necessary to be a good defender at the SF position, except what's between his ears. He either has poor instincts, or is used to relying on his athleticism. Either way, he has a lot of work to do on his fundamentals on both sides of the ball. I know I've painted a pretty ugly picture of him, but I'm concentrating on what he needs to improve on. Make no mistake, he's a long team project that is a couple of years away from being an NBA player. But if your looking for a diamond in the rough, he fits the bill. He already has an NBA body and Gerald Wallace like athleticism. Well, almost. Gerald could jump out of the building.