In what sense?

I felt the same way at that time when the thread was made. That was before Bagley entered this class and NOBODY knew T.Young was a bonafide stud. Doncic just keeps looking better and better. Ayton delivered as well. Porter hasnt even played and alot of people were saying he could of been the top pick coming in. Thats 5 guys who in a standard year would be number 1 pick caliber right there. Then you stil got a dude like Bamba who has some absurd defensive potential.

Sick class man

Hyperbole

But seriously this guy is leading the league in points AND assists when each opponent scouts the **** out of him.

Edit: I can't wait for a #DeanOnDraft article about him.

would be pretty shocked if ayton goes 5 lol - 3 seems like his floor to me

Don’t see how Porter justifies a top-5 in this class, sight unseen.

Doncic/Ayton/Bagley/Trae/Mo all seem comfortably better.

I haven't watched much Ayton. What's a good comp for him? Seems kinda like a Dwight Howard type on defense without quite having Dwight's athleticism, but doesn't seem to sit in the post as much as Dwight on offense.

Ayton will be so much better freed from Sean Miller (who has no clue what to do with him).

He’s still figuring out defense, but he can switch on guards comfortably. He’s a freak athletically and can shoot. Hard to think of a comp, but he should be the rare rookie who is a plus on both O and D right away. Has very high ceilings in both too.

On O: he’s a boss in the low post and o-glass, but Miller keeps him on high post a lot (he shoots well, 33% three; 73% ft; more comfortable in the 15-17 foot range) b/c of all the zone AZ sees and his skill at operating there as a triple threat.

I can't ever recall seeing someone as built and athletic as Ayton being as good a shooter as him. He's like a DAJ/Howard/Shaq hybrid that can also shoot.

ayton is like something between howard and KAT on offense, not quite as mobile or fluid as KAT based on my eye-test but definitely pretty skilled. problem is the post game is pretty mediocre in the NBA. he'll be a good PnR player on offense for sure but its not clear to me how much of an improvement he is over a player like steven adams or clint capela as far as rolling to the hoop, and hes not an elite shooter like a gasol / horford / porzingis as far as spreading the floor off the PnR / dribble hand-off.

on the other side, question remains whether he can actually translate his size and athleticism to defense. according to kenpom, arizona is the 70th or so best D in the country, not a great look.

(edit to add: still think its crazy if he goes after bagley)

Ayton is miles more athletically gifted than KAT.

Finally thought of a comp: bigger/better pre-injury Amare Stoudamire.

maybe. i havent seen anything that leads me to believe he has that level of fluidity at the NBA level. id take bamba over him right now.

I love Bamba but that’s ridiculous spew imo.

Bamba is very likely going to be very reliant on great guards to be non-negative on O.

bamba has a reasonable chance to develop a real 3pt shot and hes huge so he can dunk. thats enough for a guy that could end up being the best defensive player in the league, imo.

having a skillset that is immediately elite within the flow of the modern NBA game is more important than just being an athletic beast.

If you think bamba has a reasonable chance to develop that shot then Ayton has as good a chance. Hes a better shooter RIGHT NOW. Only thing bamba has over him is length/reach and maybe defensive instincts

Porter gonna end up a massive steal apparently

Jaren Jackson JR stuff

This draft just keeps getting deeper and deeper.

I'm McLovin' it!

I know we all love are mock drafts around here. Sad that D.Express isnt around for us to look at anymore. Just seen the ringers updated one from the 10th.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/1...-draft-january

They got:
1.Doncic
2.Young
3.Bagley
4.Ayton
5.Bamba
6.MPJR
7.Jaren Jackson

You can read the article if you want to go beyond this point. I kind of feel like its Doncic/Young/Bagley/Ayton drop off Bama/Porter drop off to Jackson/Sexton currently but im sure theres some other guys that are going to be good in there. Porter hasnt even done anything to go down from when he was considered a top player coming into the season just him not playing and everybody else looking so beastful makes it hard to take him earlier then other guys.

I feel Jaren Jackson JR is a superior prospect to Marvin Bagley and I dont think its all that scorching of a take. JJJ is one of the better american college defensive prospects in some time. Up there with WCS in that regard. 8 blocks per 100.

Switches on to guards and swallows them up.

Why pick Doncic over Trae young? Doncic 3pt shot isn't there yet, both guys are like 6/10 athletes in terms of speed & quickness & both can pass & are solid playmakers. The shooting of Young makes him better, no?

Doncic is athletic, white-athletic maybe, but still he has a real NBA body at 18 6"7 220 lbs. If Trae young is a 6/10 Doncic is a 9/10

The 3 point shot is ok, he was at 40% this season before going 3/21 in the last 4 games, and he's the guy that take most of the end of possession contested 3 pointers

Maybe Trae Young is so sick that he really become Steph 2.0, but Doncic is still the number 1 pick

im in on chandler hutchison

Bagley has a motor thats once in a lifetime. I've never seen a top rated prospect that has that kind of try hard every single possession. Hes a weird prospect sure, but hes got some special traits.Hes not going to fall outside of the top 4.

Jacksons a nice player as well but id still have him behind the other bigs as of today. Think he could top out as the 6 pick but if someone wants a defensive style center their going to go Bamba first(8.5blocker per 100). Though we do know things change with big tourney runs, combine workouts, and random stuff happening so if Jackson is considered that close now maybe people fall in love with his defensive +shooting numbers(if he keeps them up) and he goes a bit higher.

One guys 6'8 the other is 6'3. History shows its hard to be a top 10 nba great at 6'3. Still could see Young going 1 esp if he goes far into the ncaa tourney. That stuff will be on owners and gms minds. Might be the weird spot where you want to be picking 2 so you dont have to choose when its all said in done.

Small JJJ clip. JJJ shooting 45% from 3 on nearly 3 attempts per game

Pistons are on their way to picking up Jackson currently.2-8 over the last 10. Hes the perfect fit next to Drummond. Obv Doncic or Young would be nice too but im trying to be realistic here!