2018 NBA Mock Drafts

[mini-shock]

None of that indicates college star.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/862129-college-basketball-12-unheralded-freshmen-who-became-stars

[mini-shock]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/8...o-became-stars

http://grantland.com/features/career-arc-russell-westbrook/

As a sophomore, he molded himself into a weird hybrid of lockdown defense and highlight-reel dunking. This was the Bruins’ third consecutive Final Four team, the one that matched Kevin Love, in his breakout freshman season, with a Westbrook–Darren Collison backcourt and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Russ, mostly playing as a 2-guard, put up 12.7 and more than four assists per game; he also got featured in a New York Times piece on the rising popularity of players wearing the number zero, probably his first national-media exposure as a fashion presence. “You go with the zero when you’ve been through something and you are looking to get a new beginning,” he said. “It helps you get the swag back.”

[mini-shock]

None of that indicates college star.

Russ was, and the three he listed are outliers for things MM doesn't have...high athleticism, great shooting, physique, upside.

[Dan]

There are a lot of guys drafted on potential that really reach their peak in the NBA. Some guys have to prove themselves in college while others are drafted on potential if the NBA think they see an upside. You can squabble all you want about guys like Westbrook, Harden, etc. For all the guys that are better NBA than college players, there are just as many, if not more, that were great college players and terrible in the NBA.

[ShockCrazy]

Russ was, and the three he listed are outliers for things MM doesn't have...high athleticism, great shooting, physique, upside.

I am cherry picking nothing. Again, if you wanna go with stats Markis is doing more than alright. I am pointing out that no matter what arbitrary criteria you want to choose "makes" an NBA player, Markis meets it already, despite your claims to the contrary. Will he be a lottery pick next year? Doubtful, but it's within the realm of possibility he plays himself into it.

Wait... Wut? You realize Markis shot better than Russ did his sophomore year right? Higher E-FG and True Shooting. Also calling MM not athletic is also dumb, maybe not as explosive as Russ, but plenty athletic enough. And upside, MM is nothing if not oozing upside give his age, MM with handles is a scary thought.

Also you want to list DPoY for Russ as a qualifier for being a star, then would you be surprised to learn that MM was 12th NATIONALLY in D-rating(admittedly not a perfect statistic, but also a good indicator) among qualifiers(60% minutes played).

Man sometimes this board makes me feel like I'm some sort of MM fanboy and the reality is I really enjoy him but he's maybe not in the top 5 favorite players on this team but I can see the abilities he brings to the table without getting lost in anecdotal moments.

[shockmonster]

I hope MM improves a lot this year. I'm very high on him and thinks he has a real high ceiling and he could lead us to the Promised land. However, he doesn't need to get a couple of people in his ear who tell him how much greener the grass will be in the NBA, and how much money he will make, only to enter the draft next spring and fall to undrafted. He is on the young side, and he will get his opportunity to make money in the NBA whether he uses up his eligibility or not. Patience and listening to the right people will be the key. Gregg, parents, Asst. coaches, should be who he listens to. Not agents and bros back home.

[mini-shock]

Man sometimes this board makes me feel like I'm some sort of MM fanboy and the reality is I really enjoy him but he's maybe not in the top 5 favorite players on this team but I can see the abilities he brings to the table without getting lost in anecdotal moments.

I see your facts about shooting percentage and MM's defense. I don't share your opinion and that's ok. Even though we are taking apple and comparing them to oranges, I would still take Landry, Russ, Levine, and Kyle's college days over MM right now. They are two different positions. You can look to handling ability as a key indicate in most of those listed. MM struggle's to drive to the rim because he can't dribble well enough, That's a tough sell for a guy who's supposed to be a 3-4 combo in the NBA.

[ShockCrazy]

I see your facts about shooting percentage and MM's defense. I don't share your opinion and that's ok. Even though we are taking apple and comparing them to oranges, I would still take Landry, Russ, Levine, and Kyle's college days over MM right now. They are two different positions. You can look to handling ability as a key indicate in most of those listed. MM struggle's to drive to the rim because he can't dribble well enough, That's a tough sell for a guy who's supposed to be a 3-4 combo in the NBA.

My point wasn't that he was ready for the NBA, my point was you provided an arbitrary silly criteria on what it would take objectively in order to make it to the NBA, which was being a college star, I've proved that point false. The criteria for MM making the NBA has nothing to do with stats(although his are admittedly very good), awards(again good), or being a star. For MM to make it and succeed in the NBA it depends on him being able to handle the ball as a tertiary handler, full stop. Other wise I believe the other skills necessary are there.

[ShockdaWorld]

I'm not going to argue with anyone about Markis' readiness for the NBA, as I believe any extra time spent with 3G and his staff will unquestionably make a player better as a player and a person and will help propel them on to whatever the next step in their career/life will be. That being said, Markis' father said that he had 4 different NBA teams that asked him to stay in the draft before he decided against it. That obviously doesn't say anything about where he would've been drafted or how his career would've played out, but it does say that there were obviously some teams out there that think quite highly of his potential as an NBA player.