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Ford Big Board 3.0
« on: February 01, 2017, 10:36:16 AM »

Offline footey

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Biggest riser is Isaac, to number 5.  Also this kid Isaiah Hartenstein from Germany is climbing fast.  7 footer who has a really quick first step, can play inside and outside, very much a Brad Stevens type of kid. 

Per Ford:

The strongest NBA draft in a decade? Yes, according to NBA general managers and scouts.

Freshmen dominate the top of our Big Board rankings, including 14 of the top 15 players.

How have the rankings changed now that we're deep into the college basketball season? Big Board 3.0 has the latest.


1. Markelle Fultz


Previous rank: No. 1
Washington
Freshman
Guard

The Huskies may be struggling to win games, but you can't blame Fultz for that. He has been awesome and continues to be the favorite for the No. 1 pick.

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It's not a slam dunk, though. Several other players on this board have their fans in the league, but Fultz's smooth style and versatility and the fact that he doesn't have a significant weakness in his game all give him the lead in most front offices.

A big matchup this weekend against UCLA looms large. Scouts are drooling at the prospect of Fultz and Lonzo Ball going to head-to-head.

2. Lonzo Ball


Previous rank: No. 2
UCLA
Freshman
Guard

Ball is a sexier prospect than Fultz, and a player with his ceiling -- think Jason Kidd with a jumper -- would be tough to pass up. But he fluctuates more than Fultz. When he's hot, he's the most dangerous player in America. When he gets cold, he can force things.

In a loss against USC last week, he had a season-low four assists and a season-high seven turnovers. The matchup against Fultz will highlight a major contrast in styles. Saturday's game, along with another one in March, could end up being a deciding factor for the No. 1 pick.

3. Josh Jackson


Previous rank: No. 3
Kansas
Freshman
Forward

Jackson had the No. 1 spot at the start of the season and lately has been making a strong case that he should still be in the mix. He had arguably the best game of his career on the road against Kentucky. The place was rocking, but not only was Jackson not fazed by the raucous atmosphere, he seemed to thrive in it.

Jackson has one of the most complete games in the country. He's a potentially elite defender, a major weapon in the open court and a terrific playmaker and passer for a 6-foot-8 wing. That major hitch in his jump shot is what scares teams, but he's shooting 8-for-14 from 3 in his past three games.

4. Dennis Smith


Previous rank: No. 5
NC State
Freshman
Guard

Smith had his coming out party against Duke last week, torching the Blue Devil for 32 points, 6 assists and 4 3-pointers. However, he followed it up with a stinker against Louisville on Sunday, going 3-for-12 from the field and committing five turnovers.

When Smith is on, he's one of the two or three most dangerous guards in the country. But scouts still aren't sure why he (and his team) don't always compete with the same level of intensity. Some teams like him as a potential No. 1 pick, but most feel Fultz and Ball are safer prospects.

5. Jonathan Isaac


Previous rank: No. 8
FSU
Freshman
Forward

Isaac may have the most buzz of anyone in the top 10 right now. He makes his first big leap up the board, moving from No. 8 to No. 5 this week.

2017 NBA draft

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He seems to be finding his stride lately, posting double-doubles in three of his past four games. His length and shooting ability are very attractive to scouts. He had 23 points, 10 boards and 7 blocks against Notre Dame a few weeks ago.

He needs to add a lot of strength, but his upside and recent production have put him in the mix for the No. 1 pick for the first time this year.

6. Malik Monk


Previous rank: No. 4
Kentucky
Freshman
Guard

Monk is the best pure scorer on the board. His deep range and explosive athleticism are a rare combination. But he can be streaky and doesn't always bring enough other strengths to the table to move ahead of the players in front of him.

If he were a couple of inches taller, or a pure point guard, he'd have a strong claim on the No. 1 pick.

7. Jayson Tatum


Previous rank: No. 6
Duke
Freshman
Forward

Tatum is posting strong numbers as a freshman and seems to be taking a bigger role for Duke. He had perhaps his best game of the year on Monday, scoring 19 points and grabbing 14 boards against Notre Dame.

He's athletic, strong and a skilled scorer, but his 29 percent 3-point shooting is a major red flag.

8. Harry Giles


Previous rank: No. 7
Duke
Freshman
Forward

It's still nearly impossible to place Giles on this list. He's 11 games into his college career and has played 15 minutes or more in only four of those games. Scouts believe they haven't seen the real Giles yet and may not at all this season.

Based on what they saw from him in high school and his limited playing time at Duke, Giles still has a lot of fans among NBA front offices. If he really gets it going in February or March and tests out OK with his physical at the draft combine, he could easily be back in the top five.

9. Lauri Markkanen


Previous rank: No. 11
Arizona
Freshman
Forward

With his play, Markkanen keeps making the case that he's the best big man in this draft.

His versatility and basketball IQ are great, but it's that 50 percent shooting from 3 that really has scouts coveting him.

10. De'Aaron Fox


Previous rank: No. 9
Kentucky
Freshman
Guard

Fox has also been rising with his recent play.

He's the quickest point guard in the draft and excels in the open court. He's an excellent passer and defender, but he's still trying to figure out his jump shot. That 17 percent mark from 3 is a real issue.

11. Frank Ntilikina


Previous rank: No. 12
France
Age: 18
Guard

Ntilikina won MVP honors at the European under-18 championships, scoring 31 points in the title game against Lithuania and making 17 of his 29 3s in the tournament.

He's big, aggressive and tough, with a high basketball IQ. There are a few teams that have him in their top five. His being outside our top 10 merely shows how deep this draft is.

12. Miles Bridges


Previous rank: No. 10
Michigan State
Freshman
Forward

Bridges played the best game of his career last Tuesday, scoring 33 points and hitting five 3s against Purdue. He's big, athletic and a skilled playmaker who is shooting an impressive 41 percent from deep.

The turnovers are coming down, and his confidence is contagious. He's another prospect who would likely be a top-five pick in most drafts.

13. Justin Patton


Previous rank: N/A
Creighton
Freshman
Center

Patton debuts on our Big Board at No. 13.

He's the most efficient player in college basketball, shooting 71 percent from the field, 83 percent at the rim (per Hoop-Math.com) and 45 percent from 3 -- and he really only seems to be scratching the surface.

This hasn't appeared to be a great draft to get a center, but Patton's strong play lately could change that. There are a number of GMs predicting he could end up in the top 10 on draft night.

14. Robert Williams


Previous rank: No. 15
Texas A&M
Freshman
Forward/center

Williams' combination of athleticism, motor and defensive instincts has a lot of teams excited about what he can become in the NBA.

His skills are still raw, especially when he gets too far from the basket. But the talent to become more than just a bouncy athletic defender is there.

15. T.J. Leaf


Previous rank: No. 14
UCLA
Freshman
Forward

Leaf is one of the more gifted offensive players in the country. He can score from anywhere on the floor and looks for the opportunity whenever he can.

Teams are troubled by his lack of strength and defensive commitment but excited about a player his size who can do so much offensive damage everywhere on the floor.

16. Ivan Rabb


Previous rank: No. 16
Cal
Sophomore
Forward

Rabb is the first player on the board who's not a freshman or 18 (he turns 20 this week). He's had a very good season, averaging a double-double. He's showing improvement as a shooter -- more than 60 percent of his shots are jumpers, and he's shooting around 40 percent facing the basket, per Hoop-Math.com.

While scouts don't see a future superstar with Rabb, they do project a potential starter or solid rotation player who should be in the league a long time.

17. OG Anunoby


Previous rank: No. 13
Indiana
Sophomore
Forward

Anunoby injured his knee in a game against Penn State on Jan. 18 and had surgery Tuesday.

While the Hoosiers haven't yet released info on the extent of Anuoby's injury, coach Tom Crean made it sound like it was pretty serious.

"It's going to be a rehab process for him that will be long and grueling, but we look forward to doing everything we can to help him," Crean said on his radio show.

While this clearly affects Anunoby's draft stock, it doesn't hurt him as much as you might think. A quick poll of NBA GMs had him dropping anywhere from five to 10 spots. We've dropped him just five, in part because there's a pretty big drop-off in the draft after Rabb.

18. Isaiah Hartenstein

Previous rank: No. 28
Germany
Age: 18
Forward

Hartenstein impressed scouts with a strong showing at the FIBA under-18 European championships, averaging 14.7 PPG, 9.5 RPG and 3.5 APG in around 25 MPG. Most NBA scouts said he was the second-best prospect there, after Ntilikina.

He's got that coveted combination of athleticism and size. He can score from anywhere on the floor, and he rebounds and defends well.

He can be a bit volatile and his game is still a major work in progress, but several scouts that went to the tournament came away feeling he could end up in the 13 to 20 range on draft night.

19. Jarrett Allen


Previous rank: No. 19
Texas
Freshman
Center

Allen is quietly putting together a strong season for Texas. He had the best game of his career versus Kansas a couple weeks ago, scoring 22 points, grabbing 19 rebounds and blocking 3 shots.

He can be inconsistent and turnover prone and he needs to work on his body, but scouts love his long-term potential. In a draft without a lot of great center prospects, he should crack the top 20.

20. Terrance Ferguson


Previous rank: No. 17
Australia
Age: 19
Guard

Ferguson isn't putting up big numbers in Australia, averaging just 5 PPG and shooting just 31 percent from 3 for Adelaide. However, scouts don't seem too discouraged by his lack of production.

He's getting meaningful minutes on a pro team and that seems to be enough to encourage most of the NBA scouts I spoke with, who have him projected as a mid-to-late first-round pick.

21. Zach Collins


Previous rank: N/A
Gonzaga
Freshman
Center

Collins has been moving up boards around the league thanks to a strong freshman season coming off the bench for the Zags.

He fits the definition of a model NBA 5. He's big and versatile, and he plays on the perimeter and finishes above the rim. He's also a good athlete who can guard both 4s and 5s.

He needs to add strength, but teams love his upside.

22. Tyler Lydon


Previous rank: No. 23
Syracuse
Sophomore
Forward

Athletic big men who can stretch the floor are the rage in the NBA and Lydon continues to hold steady in the early 20s thanks to some terrific shooting and promising defensive abilities.

He's hitting 44 percent from 3 this season and averaging 8 RPG and 1.5 BPG. He lacks ideal strength to be an NBA 4, but he held his own against Florida State on Saturday with 14 points, 11 boards and 6 blocks.

23. Rodions Kurucs


Previous rank: No. 27
Latvia
Age: 18
Forward

Kurucs has moved into the starting lineup for FC Barcelona B, averaging 16 PPG and 4 RPG while shooting 41 percent from 3.

That combination of shooting, length and athleticism should get him drafted somewhere in the mid-to-late first now that his production has picked up.

24. John Collins


Previous rank: N/A
Wake Forest
Sophomore
Forward

Collins has been really strong in ACC play, averaging 23 PPG and 9 RPG while shooting a ridiculous 72 percent from the field.

While Collins is a sophomore, he's younger than some of the freshmen on our board. He won't turn 20 until late September.

25. Andrew Jones


Previous rank: N/A
Texas
Freshman
Guard

Jones makes our top 30 for the first time after a string of strong performances in Big 12 play. He's coming off the bench, but he's arguably been Texas' most complete player lately, averaging 16 PPG, 5 RPG, 4 APG and 2 SPG and shooting 45 percent from 3 in his last five games.

He's an elite athlete who can play both the 1 and the 2 and he's been showing more consistency from 3-point range. He has all the physical tools scouts look for in a guard. While he still doesn't look ready for the NBA yet, the long-term potential is there.

26. Donovan Mitchell


Previous rank: N/A
Louisville
Sophomore
Guard

Mitchell is the biggest mover on our board. He's rocketed up the rankings after a series of big games in the ACC.

He just dropped 29 points on Pitt and followed it up with a 28-point performance against NC State on Saturday. In those two games he shot 12-for-20 from 3.

While he's a bit of a tweener, his elite athleticism and defensive abilities could make him a dangerous weapon coming off the bench in the NBA.

27. Edrice Adebayo


Previous rank: No. 18
Kentucky
Freshman
Forward

"Bam" continues to be solid for Kentucky, but his draft stock has been slipping in recent weeks.

He's strong, bouncy and a fierce dunker. However, his inconsistency and so-so rebounding give scouts pause. One NBA exec compared him to Florida's Patric Young; he looks the part, but doesn't always play the part.

28. Luke Kennard


Previous rank: No. 30
Duke
Sophomore
Guard

Duke has been a major disappointment this year, but you can't say the same about Kennard. He's been Duke's most consistent scorer, a lethal 3-point shooter who has shown both toughness and versatility.

In a draft without a lot of elite shooters, he should be able to crack the first round.

29. Marques Bolden


Previous rank: No. 20
Duke
Freshman
Center


Bolden's play has been pretty disappointing, but the raw potential is there. When he gets minutes as he did against Miami, that talent really shines through.

While he's far from ready for the NBA, don't be surprised to see a team gamble on him late in the first round.

30. Tony Bradley


Previous rank: No. 22
UNC
Freshman
Center

Bradley plays a limited role off the bench at Carolina, but his length, rebounding ability and overall feel for the game make him a very solid big man prospect for down the road.

He's another draft-and-stash (in the D-League) prospect.


Re: Ford Big Board 3.0
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2017, 11:25:26 AM »

Offline oldtype

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Wish we had another mid first round pick in this draft. Lots of players I'd like to take a swing on.


Great words from a great man

Re: Ford Big Board 3.0
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2017, 11:31:56 AM »

Offline perks-a-beast

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I wonder what we could dangle to get a late lottery pick. I like a lot of players in that range. Rabb, Williams, Patton, and mainly Bridges intrigue me.


Coming out of this draft with Josh Jackson, Miles Bridges, and Caleb Swanigan is the ideal outcome.
« Last Edit: February 01, 2017, 11:37:06 AM by perks-a-beast »

Re: Ford Big Board 3.0
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2017, 11:44:56 AM »

Offline GreenShooter

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2. Lonzo Ball


Previous rank: No. 2
UCLA
Freshman
Guard

Ball is a sexier prospect than Fultz, and a player with his ceiling -- think Jason Kidd with a jumper -- would be tough to pass up. But he fluctuates more than Fultz. When he's hot, he's the most dangerous player in America. When he gets cold, he can force things.

In a loss against USC last week, he had a season-low four assists and a season-high seven turnovers. The matchup against Fultz will highlight a major contrast in styles. Saturday's game, along with another one in March, could end up being a deciding factor for the No. 1 pick.

When I think jumper, I think a pull-up, not just behind the arc. He's talking about an outside the 3 point line "jumper". Ball doesn't really have a pull-up jumper (12-17 feet out). I'm still surprised how efficient he's been hitting the 3.

I don't disagree at all with this list. Like I said in the past, I'd love another pick in the top 13 to at least get someone like Patton, Bridges, Giles. What are some feasible trades we can make to ensure we get another pick just inside the lottery? I just don't see many trade partners unless we give up more than we'd prefer.

Re: Ford Big Board 3.0
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2017, 11:48:20 AM »

Offline Evantime34

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I'll be upset if we somehow don't get one of Fultz, Jackson or Ball.
DKC:  Rockets
CB Draft: Memphis Grizz
Players: Klay Thompson, Jabari Parker, Aaron Gordon
Next 3 picks: 4.14, 4.15, 4.19

Re: Ford Big Board 3.0
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2017, 11:55:51 AM »

Offline oldtype

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2. Lonzo Ball


Previous rank: No. 2
UCLA
Freshman
Guard

Ball is a sexier prospect than Fultz, and a player with his ceiling -- think Jason Kidd with a jumper -- would be tough to pass up. But he fluctuates more than Fultz. When he's hot, he's the most dangerous player in America. When he gets cold, he can force things.

In a loss against USC last week, he had a season-low four assists and a season-high seven turnovers. The matchup against Fultz will highlight a major contrast in styles. Saturday's game, along with another one in March, could end up being a deciding factor for the No. 1 pick.

When I think jumper, I think a pull-up, not just behind the arc. He's talking about an outside the 3 point line "jumper". Ball doesn't really have a pull-up jumper (12-17 feet out). I'm still surprised how efficient he's been hitting the 3.

He has no midrange game, catch-and shoot or pull-up, but he has a very, very good pull-up three game.


Great words from a great man

Re: Ford Big Board 3.0
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2017, 12:14:45 PM »

Offline Tr1boy

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Smith should be lower than 4th

How is Miles Bridges not in the top 10?

Re: Ford Big Board 3.0
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2017, 12:23:20 PM »

Offline KG Living Legend

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Smith should be lower than 4th

How is Miles Bridges not in the top 10?



 I like just talent level TB, but he's an undersized PF. He's shooting well from three but only 2 attempts per game.

 Overall it just shows the strength of this draft.

Re: Ford Big Board 3.0
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2017, 01:01:57 PM »

Offline clevelandceltic

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Oh how I wish I could find some of his Big Boards from last year. I always find it interesting to see what red flags are mentioned and which ones arent.

Re: Ford Big Board 3.0
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2017, 01:03:02 PM »

Offline clevelandceltic

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Smith should be lower than 4th

How is Miles Bridges not in the top 10?

I have been asking the same question for 3 years. What is Bridges on the next level?

Re: Ford Big Board 3.0
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2017, 01:16:06 PM »

Offline GreenShooter

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Smith should be lower than 4th

How is Miles Bridges not in the top 10?

I have been asking the same question for 3 years. What is Bridges on the next level?
A bigger, more athletic version of Jae Crowder.

Re: Ford Big Board 3.0
« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2017, 01:32:29 PM »

Offline A Future of Stevens

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Smith should be lower than 4th

How is Miles Bridges not in the top 10?

I have been asking the same question for 3 years. What is Bridges on the next level?
A bigger, more athletic version of Jae Crowder.

I know a lot of draftniks are down on his defensive potential at the next level. Something about effort and short arms on some reports. Jae was viewed as a player that due to effort and physicality could at least hold his own one day defensively.

But I like the kid a lot.
#JKJB

Re: Ford Big Board 3.0
« Reply #12 on: February 01, 2017, 01:35:17 PM »

Offline GratefulCs

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2. Lonzo Ball


Previous rank: No. 2
UCLA
Freshman
Guard

Ball is a sexier prospect than Fultz, and a player with his ceiling -- think Jason Kidd with a jumper -- would be tough to pass up. But he fluctuates more than Fultz. When he's hot, he's the most dangerous player in America. When he gets cold, he can force things.

In a loss against USC last week, he had a season-low four assists and a season-high seven turnovers. The matchup against Fultz will highlight a major contrast in styles. Saturday's game, along with another one in March, could end up being a deciding factor for the No. 1 pick.

When I think jumper, I think a pull-up, not just behind the arc. He's talking about an outside the 3 point line "jumper". Ball doesn't really have a pull-up jumper (12-17 feet out). I'm still surprised how efficient he's been hitting the 3.

He has no midrange game, catch-and shoot or pull-up, but he has a very, very good pull-up three game.
which seems to be the way the league is moving

I trust Danny Ainge

Re: Ford Big Board 3.0
« Reply #13 on: February 01, 2017, 01:49:15 PM »

Offline csfansince60s

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I'll be upset if we somehow don't get one of Fultz, Jackson or Ball.

I'm hoping so too, but Isaac would be a great consolation prize at #4. He's a stronger Brandon Ingram +20 lbs.

Huge upside.

Re: Ford Big Board 3.0
« Reply #14 on: February 01, 2017, 01:58:47 PM »

Offline Boris Badenov

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Given that other article saying that Zizic would be a lottery pick this year, and that Yab is generating some buzz as well, if there's someone Danny loves in that 8-15 range it seems entirely possible we could get him.