2 minutes reading time
(318 words)
June 24th, 2016
The NBA draft is in the books and as usual, it is all about potential, potential, potential. It takes time to evaluate winners and losers, and you also see guys taken in the second round making a difference like a Draymond Green.
No surprise to see Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram going 1-2, but the Celtics surprised some by taking California's Jaylen Brown third. He is versatile and could be a plus at small forward for Boston. I liked Demetrius Jackson of Notre Dame and Ben Bentil of Providence too, so the Celtics had a decent night.
How many guys will make an immediate impact in the league? Not too many. The bottom line is many players picked will make rosters next season and will have bright futures down the line. It will take some time to have the opportunity to shine.
Some of my thoughts on the draft:
I loved New Orleans getting Buddy Hield. Teaming up with Anthony Davis will be exciting. Hield can shoot outside and having an inside-outside presence like Davis should be special for the Pelicans. New Orleans also added Cheick Diallo, who fell from the first round. He has potential, but he is a project for now.
The Bulls got a versatile PTP'ers in Denzel Valentine. This could be a case of another Spartan, a la Draymond Green, that is better than experts believe.
Minnesota made a super pick at number five, landing Kris Dunn of Providence. New coach Tom Thibodeau will love his defensive tenacity
I was surprised that Baylor's Taurean Waller-Prince was picked as high as number 12. I had him rated a bit lower.
Several freshmen fell out of the first round. I felt for Deyonta Davis of Michigan State, though going to Memphis early in round two could work out. Skal Labissiere and Dejonte Murray slipped to late in the first round.
Time will tell how teams fared.
No surprise to see Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram going 1-2, but the Celtics surprised some by taking California's Jaylen Brown third. He is versatile and could be a plus at small forward for Boston. I liked Demetrius Jackson of Notre Dame and Ben Bentil of Providence too, so the Celtics had a decent night.
How many guys will make an immediate impact in the league? Not too many. The bottom line is many players picked will make rosters next season and will have bright futures down the line. It will take some time to have the opportunity to shine.
Some of my thoughts on the draft:
I loved New Orleans getting Buddy Hield. Teaming up with Anthony Davis will be exciting. Hield can shoot outside and having an inside-outside presence like Davis should be special for the Pelicans. New Orleans also added Cheick Diallo, who fell from the first round. He has potential, but he is a project for now.
The Bulls got a versatile PTP'ers in Denzel Valentine. This could be a case of another Spartan, a la Draymond Green, that is better than experts believe.
Minnesota made a super pick at number five, landing Kris Dunn of Providence. New coach Tom Thibodeau will love his defensive tenacity
I was surprised that Baylor's Taurean Waller-Prince was picked as high as number 12. I had him rated a bit lower.
Several freshmen fell out of the first round. I felt for Deyonta Davis of Michigan State, though going to Memphis early in round two could work out. Skal Labissiere and Dejonte Murray slipped to late in the first round.
Time will tell how teams fared.