2018 NBA Mock Drafts

[Shoxcity]

Shaq comparisons to James Johnson/Derrick Williams and CF playing in the Association....we all, collectively, must be more credible.

Can we at least agree he is a step above a Kyle O'Quinn?

[another shocker]

He does finish well, but lacked explosiveness late in the year.

well, he could finish better. he needs to soften up, less stiffen up.

he's a warrior, though. 'can't have enough of them.

[Shockersarelife]

I'm not sure what you meant here. I know that FVV and Ron got a league minimum of money (they were undrafted).

Here is my point said another way.

Briscoe (Kentucky) and P.J. Dozier (South Carolina) who were 5* recruits out of high school, just entered the NBA draft (this spring) 2 years early, weren't drafted the other day and at best will receive a chance to make an NBA team, and a league minimum. Even though they left college after their Sophomore years, at best, they are no better off than FVV and Ron, and at worst may not even make a roster (or league minimum). On the other hand, FVV and Ron used up their eligibility and made an NBA roster.

IMO, this is a warning to Landry and Markis to not worry too much about their future in the NBA. If they are not a sure 1st Round Draft Choice, they need to be patient and they will for sure get an opportunity to make it to the NBA as did Ron and FVV.

Sorry for the confusion on my part I was focused on the going to school on their own dime comment. Just thinking that going to school with 450 k in the bank sounds pretty good.

[shockmonster]

Sorry for the confusion on my part I was focused on the going to school on their own dime comment. Just thinking that going to school with 450 k in the bank sounds pretty good.

They aren't given the league yearly minimum (500 k) until they make the team and pass the mid-year point (January or close to that). Until then they receive a monthly pro-rated amount and can be cut at any time. Not guaranteed a lot of money.

[homegrownshocker]

Markis could also afford to add more slashing to his game. His handles have been a little too loose to be effective slashing to the basket. Everybody has holes in their game, we are just more aware of his because we see him play every night.

Both Shamet & McDuffie are my guys and are excellent players with great potential. It is just so hard to make an NBA roster with the talent/skill level it takes. Agree with the handles comment and want to add that you should dominate the college game before you leave to be a pro. McDuffie was good last year but not dominate. I know they are both well rounded overall with skills, but can be better and get more seasoning. Nothing wrong with working on your game and maturing your body for the grind. Playing overseas is good, but these two should be shooting for the show. I think a lot of the young players picked will struggle next season with the physicality of the game. A lot of programs do not put the emphasis on the weights like we do with ours.

[WSUwatcher]

He does finish well, but lacked explosiveness late in the year.

Also, one more thing -- if a 36 game college season wore on McDuffie a bit (one possible explanation for why he might have lost explosiveness later in the season), how do you suppose he'll fare in an 82 game (plus playoffs, hopefully) NBA schedule against bigger and more physical players and with much more demanding travel requirements?

He'll have to make the transition at some point, but the more he's able to develop physically, mentally, and in terms of his skills before it happens, the better.

[ShockCrazy]

Who down plays his skills? He is one of our best two players but he has playing weaknesses that will show up in the NBA, and you shouldn't down play his weaknesses. Last year, while he was one of our best 2 players, he wasn't good enough to carry our team on his back. Now, we don't want to depend on one player too much, but against Kentucky, when we needed a bucket at the end of the game, Gregg gave him the green light and he passed the ball to Landry. An NBA lottery pick should look to score in that situation.

There are a lot of people here who do seem to down play Markis. He certainly has weaknesses, he needs to work on his handle and he needs to explode off the floor better in traffic. Holding that play against McDuffie is silly, a lottery pick doesn't look to score, a lottery pick looks to make the best play. There is nothing heroic or ability proving about forcing a play when offensively you are struggling, instead he gave it to the player who was on fire down the stretch. Seems to make sense to me.

[mini-shock]

There are a lot of people here who do seem to down play Markis. He certainly has weaknesses, he needs to work on his handle and he needs to explode off the floor better in traffic. Holding that play against McDuffie is silly, a lottery pick doesn't look to score, a lottery pick looks to make the best play. There is nothing heroic or ability proving about forcing a play when offensively you are struggling, instead he gave it to the player who was on fire down the stretch. Seems to make sense to me.

I find it odd that given a certain scene, SN can be very critical of certain players. I am honestly shocked so many on here haven't been held to the flame for merely suggesting that MM isn't ready for the NBA. I think the ability to have a realistic and critical eye is important, so I kind of enjoy seeing this debate. In regards to your comment about making the right play, I will stick to what others have said. You have to be a star in college to make it to the NBA. This forum-sourced analysis of MM to me, seems spot on.

[ShockCrazy]

I find it odd that given a certain scene, SN can be very critical of certain players. I am honestly shocked so many on here haven't been held to the flame for merely suggesting that MM isn't ready for the NBA. I think the ability to have a realistic and critical eye is important, so I kind of enjoy seeing this debate. In regards to your comment about making the right play, I will stick to what others have said. You have to be a star in college to make it to the NBA. This forum-sourced analysis of MM to me, seems spot on.

This season's likely NBA MVP wasn't a star in college.

[mini-shock]

This season's likely NBA MVP wasn't a star in college.

Who, Kawhi? Yeah he was.
Who, Westbrook? Yes he was.
Who, Harden? Yes he was.
Who, Durant? Yes he was.
Who, Steph? Yes he was.
Who?

[ShockCrazy]

Who, Kawhi? Yeah he was.
Who, Westbrook? Yes he was.
Who, Harden? Yes he was.
Who, Durant? Yes he was.
Who, Steph? Yes he was.
Who?

Russ was not a COLLEGE star. He averaged less than 10 for his career, his final season he averaged about 12 and 4 and was the 3 or 4th best player on his team. And let me continue on, Zach Lavine, Deandre Jordan, Kyle Lowry all NBA STARS who weren't stars in college.

[mini-shock]

Russ was not a COLLEGE star. He averaged less than 10 for his career, his final season he averaged about 12 and 4 and was the 3 or 4th best player on his team. And let me continue on, Zach Lavine, Deandre Jordan, Kyle Lowry all NBA STARS who weren't stars in college.

Westbrook: In his freshman year, he played as a back up to Darren Collison and was primarily used as a defender and energy player off the bench. Westbrook averaged 3.4 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists on the year. The next season, Collison was injured and Westbrook was named the starter. He finished the season averaging 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.6 steals. At the end of the year, he was named All-Pac-10 Third Team and won the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.

So, yeah, he didn't start at UCLA, mostly because he was playing behind another PRO. But when he did, he thrived. As for the other names, ask yourself why they were drafted if not college stars?

Jordan: Prior to the draft, draftexpress.com, a third party NBA draft website, listed Jordan's strengths and weaknesses. A few strengths include "incredible physical specimen", "defensive potential", "incredible upside", and "freakish athlete".

Lavine: Great shooter and highly athletic.

Kyle Lowry:In his freshman season at Villanova, Lowry was named to the Big East All-Rookie team and was tabbed Philadelphia Big Five Rookie of the Year. In 24 games (3 starts), he averaged 7.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game.^[3][4] In his sophomore season, he was named to the All Big East Second Team, as well as the First Team All-Big 5. In 33 games (31 starts), he averaged 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

Being highly athletic, great shooters, great defenders. About the closest comparison here is Kyle Lowry. MM doesn't even get close to passing the eye test on that comparison.


*Wikipedia.

[ShockCrazy]

Westbrook: In his freshman year, he played as a back up to Darren Collison and was primarily used as a defender and energy player off the bench. Westbrook averaged 3.4 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists on the year. The next season, Collison was injured and Westbrook was named the starter. He finished the season averaging 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.6 steals. At the end of the year, he was named All-Pac-10 Third Team and won the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.

So, yeah, he didn't start at UCLA, mostly because he was playing behind another PRO. But when he did, he thrived. As for the other names, ask yourself why they were drafted if not college stars?

Jordan: Prior to the draft, draftexpress.com, a third party NBA draft website, listed Jordan's strengths and weaknesses. A few strengths include "incredible physical specimen", "defensive potential", "incredible upside", and "freakish athlete".

Lavine: Great shooter and highly athletic.

Kyle Lowry:In his freshman season at Villanova, Lowry was named to the Big East All-Rookie team and was tabbed Philadelphia Big Five Rookie of the Year. In 24 games (3 starts), he averaged 7.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game.^[3][4] In his sophomore season, he was named to the All Big East Second Team, as well as the First Team All-Big 5. In 33 games (31 starts), he averaged 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

Being highly athletic, great shooters, great defenders. About the closest comparison here is Kyle Lowry. MM doesn't even get close to passing the eye test on that comparison.


*Wikipedia.

Listing skills does not make them college stars. Jordan was a 2nd round pick who averaged like 5 and 5 in college. Seriously man, you have no clue what you are talking about. Russ was 3rd team ALL CONFERENCE, that does not make him a star, if that is the criteria then Markis is already a star and your point is irrelevant given that Markis as 2016 FoY, 2017 1st team all conference and finished 2nd in PoY.

[bighouse]

Westbrook: In his freshman year, he played as a back up to Darren Collison and was primarily used as a defender and energy player off the bench. Westbrook averaged 3.4 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists on the year. The next season, Collison was injured and Westbrook was named the starter. He finished the season averaging 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.6 steals. At the end of the year, he was named All-Pac-10 Third Team and won the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.

So, yeah, he didn't start at UCLA, mostly because he was playing behind another PRO. But when he did, he thrived. As for the other names, ask yourself why they were drafted if not college stars?

Jordan: Prior to the draft, draftexpress.com, a third party NBA draft website, listed Jordan's strengths and weaknesses. A few strengths include "incredible physical specimen", "defensive potential", "incredible upside", and "freakish athlete".

Lavine: Great shooter and highly athletic.

Kyle Lowry:In his freshman season at Villanova, Lowry was named to the Big East All-Rookie team and was tabbed Philadelphia Big Five Rookie of the Year. In 24 games (3 starts), he averaged 7.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game.^[3][4] In his sophomore season, he was named to the All Big East Second Team, as well as the First Team All-Big 5. In 33 games (31 starts), he averaged 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

Being highly athletic, great shooters, great defenders. About the closest comparison here is Kyle Lowry. MM doesn't even get close to passing the eye test on that comparison.


*Wikipedia.

None of that indicates college star.

[mini-shock]

Listing skills does not make them college stars. Jordan was a 2nd round pick who averaged like 5 and 5 in college. Seriously man, you have no clue what you are talking about. Russ was 3rd team ALL CONFERENCE, that does not make him a star, if that is the criteria then Markis is already a star and your point is irrelevant given that Markis as 2016 FoY, 2017 1st team all conference and finished 2nd in PoY.

I'm not quite sure you read my post, particularly the part about why those who weren't stars, and what was a factor. Also, you are cherry-picking.
Clearly me and you have two different versions of Star. You can't see Defensive MVP, and 13,4,5,1.5 stat line as star? By the way the Pac 10 had plenty of defense to choose from.... OJ Mayo, Kevin Love, Brook Lopez to name a few.