D’Aaron Da Ball (Makes it Bounce): The 2017 Big Board
Posted: August 5th, 2024, 11:26 am
D’Aaron Da Ball (Makes it Bounce): The 2017 Big Board
We are in the 11th hour before the draft, but I just landed back from the west coast so it’s really only the 8th hour on my body block. Let’s hammer out a quick and dirty big board with minimal research before Golden State is on the clock!
1. Jayson Tatum SF 6'8'' 210 19 B- B- C B- C+ A
Not super concerned with whether he has aura or whether he’s corny or whether his championship celebrations are 100% original. Undisputable number 1 pick, good at everything, loves his mom, handsome. Profile-wise, think KD with a little less scoring and a little more strength. Didn’t steal anyone’s Disney Channel movie DVD either.
2. Donovan Mitchell SG 6'3'' 215 21 B+ B- C C+ C- A
Profiles a bit like James Harden without the burden (or benefit?) of playing the 1. Turnovers may be tolerable at the 2, but his high passing could mean they never get into the black on stock to TO. Also - high passing but his Handle rating is C? Slightly concerning. Outrageously high Inside to start for a SG, though there’s no doubt it’s a little inflated with jumping. Still feel like he could get to 30 a game by his prime, with above average defense to boot.
3. Lauri Markkanen PF 7'0'' 240 20 B- B D+ C B- A
Finnish Dirk aka Firk. According to the internet, Finnish people are particularly fond of buckets (this is apparently a real thing - the big board pretty much writes itself), and Mr. Markkanen is no different. You know what there are plenty of? Random wings with mediocre scoring but A or A- defense. You know what there aren’t a lot of? SFs that can get you 25 a game with elite rebounding - I don’t particularly care if he never makes it back over halfcourt when the other team's got the ball.
4. Jonathan Isaac PF 6'10'' 230 20 C+ B- D+ B+ C+ A
I read his notes several times, and I’m just straight up not buying that he’s gonna struggle at the 3. I guess I’ll believe it when I see it - high C+ insight, medium B- outside, great stocks and rebounding and quality physical traits all seem like a pretty solid bag of tricks for a SF to me. Non-zero chance he ends up being AK47-lite and being a total gamewrecker. There’s also a non-zero chance that he struggles at the 3 lol ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
5. Bam Adebayo C 6'9'' 255 20 C+ C C+ B B- A
Ratings look like he’ll be a regular ol’ big butt, but his notes suggest he’s got the chance to become a 2-way star. Kinda reminds me of all of the effective scoring that was hidden in Whiteside’s C+ Inside, and Bam’s got a way better real-life pedigree. Should get to the line at a high rate and make his free throws, probably would thrive in Balanced.
6. Markelle Fultz PG 6'4'' 209 19 C+ C B- B- C A
Reminds me of Ricky Rubio with a little more scoring juice – a decidedly imperfect profile starting with C Outside (and what we assume has to be close to zero 3PT), but he’s also a 19-year-old PG with A potential. I’d wager he’s got something like the Roy stip except its only one kind of injury – that means the odds are more in your favor that he avoids it, but I’d hazard a guess that the penalty for him dislocating his shoulder is a lot more devastating than -10 Quickness. He doesn’t exactly have a ton of Outside to lose, if you know what I mean.
7. De'Aaron Fox PG 6'3'' 185 20 C+ B- B C C- A
The second in a group of 3 decidedly weird-shaped point guards in this lottery group – I would (De’)Aaron the side of caution with the Fantastic Mr. Fox. He’s giving a ton of John Wall energy, and despite Nick’s positively heroic effort to move him, I think it’s safe to say that the jury is still out on whether that guy’s a winning player. I’m also just kinda personally scarred because the last “project” point guard with “upside” who “still needed a lot of work” was Brandon Knight, and I think we all know what a blessing he was to the Celtics organization. All that said, Fox should have scoring volume and great quickness and steals, so with the right TC dice rolls on offense he could be special.
8. Jarrett Allen C 6'11'' 243 19 C C C- B B- A
Love, love, love Allen in this draft. Pretty much Clint Capela with way more hair, but Clint Capela didn’t have the highest scouted potential in his draft file. I’ve learned that if you smell something fishy, there’s a decent chance that scouted potential is a red herring – still, quality base stats to start and his potential probably isn’t lower than 90.
9. Lonzo Ball PG 6'6'' 190 19 C C+ B B C+ A
#3 in our oddball floor general class. This player profile basically never works as described (even Livingston had really high jumpshot, Lonzo’s on the cusp of flat C Outside), but like Fultz, a 19 year old PG with A potential and spicy secret stip should probably earn a spot in the top 10. Hopefully he doesn’t turn his ankle wearing those paper mache BBB shoes.
10. Malik Monk SG 6'3'' 200 19 B- B C+ C C- B
Pretty cool scoring mold and nearly A scouted potential, although both of his scoring ratings are near the bottom of their grade range. Very much in the OJ Mayo build, who would probably be way better regarded if he hadn’t been grossly overpaid in FA and then traded around for peanuts as a result. In real life, one of the best per-36 scorers in the league and I see that carrying over to SLN, especially if he gets that teenager boost.
11. Kyle Kuzma PF 6'9'' 221 22 B- B- C B- C B
Likely a conversion to SF candidate right off the bat to make sure he can get to quality scoring ratings. Good player to take around this spot because he can’t go to the NDL anyways. Not the most exciting collection of abilities, but will almost certainly be playable depth for a while in the league.
12. Derrick White SG 6'4'' 190 23 C B B B- C B
I’m not going to sit here and tell you he’s going to be Jeff McInnis, but there’s a pretty good chance he just ends up being Jeff McInnis. Led the league in blocks among guards, should be a lockdown defender and high jumpshot. Likely will need a handle camp to play the 1, which will be worth it given his relatively high strength and rebounding for that position.
13. Chris Boucher PF 6'9'' 200 25 C+ C+ D+ B C+ B
Swatterboy is giving me big time Birdman vibes. Might shoot a little too much, but should be a 3+ stocks a game type guy, with serviceable to above-average rebounding once he’s done developing. Like him a lot as a reach candidate if someone was set on backcourt and looking to snag a big in the top 10.
14. Dillon Brooks SF 6'6'' 225 22 C+ B C B C B
Literally fuck this guy. Basically the basketball player equivalent of getting diarrhea on an international flight
15. Luke Kornet C 7'2'' 250 22 C+ B C- B- B- B
The opposite of Dillon Brooks. Very tall and lanky and lovable. Doesn’t matter that he’s slow because you don’t need to get out on shooters when you have the Kornet Kontest. Tbh a huge bummer that FBB probably doesn’t have that coded into the game, but you should basically lead the league in o3PT% if you start him.
