Draft Thread 2018: LA Has The #25 & #47 Overall Picks... And #39 Now

ESPN has a special mock draft show starting in 1 hour and another nba draft something afterwards if anyone is interested or wants to set it to record. I have to run some errands but will watch it later tonight.

 

just want to make sure you had also seen and used The Ringer's Draft Guide. One of the best ones I can remember ever seeing:

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/

 

Per SI:

25. LAKERS: KEITA BATES-DIOP, F, OHIO STATE
Height: 6’8” | Weight: 225 | Age: 22 | Last: 31
Stats: 19.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 35.9% 3FG

Given the Lakers could be in for a busy summer, adding a player with some shooting and a level of versatility makes sense if they hang onto this pick. Los Angeles is thought by other teams to have promised this spot to Kevin Huerter, but they’ll likely have to move up if they want to acquire him. Bates-Diop’s shooting ability and length are traits teams can latch onto, and although he’s not a great athlete nor is he a perfect fit as a small-ball four, he might be a player who’s easy to plug into lineups given his ability to make jumpers and rebound. Bates-Diop could end up falling to the early second round, and his game is an acquired taste to a lot of scouts, but the fit makes sense here.

 

Bates-Diop would be a solid pick at that spot. He profiles probably more like a PF than a SF, but his length and versatility is right up the Lakers' alley. You ready for this comp?

Keita Bates-Diop NBA comparison: Luol Deng



Pros:
- KBD has tremendous size and length for a wing. He measured in at 6'8.5" in his shoes with a tremendous 7'3.25" wingspan; good for 10th among all participants in the draft and easily the longest of any wing. The next closest was Melvin Frasier at 17 with 7'1.75".

- A really solid shot blocker. He averaged just a hair under 2 blocks per40 as a wing which is solid. He uses his length really well to get to balls that other wings just can't prepare for. In fact only three players in college ball last year averaged more than 19 points and more than 1.5 blocks per game: DeAndre Ayton, Keita Bates-Diop, and Bonzie Colson.

- He turned himself into a respectable shooter. He took a career high 5.4 threes per game and made them 35.9% of the time. When he's open, he typically gives you a solid shot. He'll need time probably to adjust to the NBA three, but there's potential there for sure.

- He's a good shot maker with a career TS% over 56% in college. He'll often use his height and length to fire over smaller defenders with ease along the lines of (and don't take this the wrong way) Durant. That's not to say he's a prolific scorer, but his combination of height, length, and length and great focus lets him punish teams for putting a smaller defender on him. He has solid footwork to get himself open looks, especially off one or two bounces.

- He showed tremendous versatility offensively at Ohio State. They put him on the block, out at the three point line as a spacer, he created off the bounce, and attacked the glass. He showed aptitude on all fronts.

- Solid rebounder, especially for his size. They often played him at PF due to his size and versatility.

- Has the tools to defend from 2-4, maybe even 5 given today's NBA. He can get stronger, but does a decent job of holding his own against contact defensively.

- Wants to win. Is willing to take the big shot, make the big play.

Cons:
- Ohio State played at a much different pace than we will. They were a more a methodical team. Can he play uptempo? Can he run the floor with energy?

- He's not the quickest, nor the fastest guy putting in average marks on both fronts for a wing at the Combine. He makes up for his lack of quick twitch with his length and height, but that could cap his switchability in the pros.

- He's not typically an above-the-rim guy. He can dunk easily and turned in a respectable 35" vertical for his size and length, but he's not really a "put you on a poster" type of kid or hasn't really shown that in college.

- He's an okay passer, but not great. His assist to turnover ratio in college is about even. It's possible he's a better passer than the numbers/film show given his role.

- He needs to get stronger offensively and continue to work on his footwork. Some of the shots he hits over college defenders either wont exist in the pros or will get sent back.

- Not an NBA level ball handler in terms of creating looks for others or driving to the rim, more of a straight line driver.

Overall: he'd make a solid pick. We're not exactly deep at that backup wing spot. He has a lot of room to grow, but provides the kind of versatility that the Lakers really value in this system. I know the comp will scare people, but think more Luol Deng in Chicago or Miami than LA.

 

Here he is putting 32 and 7 on top 5 pick Jaren Jackson Jr. while Michigan St. was ranked 1st in rhe nation.



He was also one of the first players we gave a workout to this summer.

 

Miami Deng was heavier and they played him at the 3/4 spot for the mismatch. I think that's the solid comparison.

Bates-Diop already tested faster and quicker than Deng did when Deng was entering the league so it's not like he's far behind him in athleticism. He might be far behind him in effort, but that's up to the coaching staff to figure out.

Deng's measurements:
height- 6'8"
standing reach- 9'0.5"
wingspan- 7'0.5"
body fat- 6.7%
weight- 220 lbs
lane agility: 11.4 sec
shuttle run: n/a
3/4 sprint: 3.34 sec
standing vertical: 27.5"
max vertical: 31.5"
bench press: 5 reps

Bates-Diop's measurements:
height- 6'8.5"
standing reach- 8'10.5"
wingspan- 7'3.25"
body fat- 5.35%
weight- 223.8 lbs
hand width/length- 9"/8.5"
lane agility- 11.2 sec
shuttle run- 3.28 sec
3/4 sprint- 3.17 sec
standing vertical- 30.5"
max vertical- 35"
bench press- 11 reps

Very comparable.

 

Remember when Looney didn't get drafted until the end of the 1st round? How brutal and unexpected that was? Invitees are generally gone by the time our #25 pick comes up.

Notable names who will be there: Ayton, Bagley, Jaren Jackson Jr., Bamba, Sexton, Young, Carter Jr., Porter Jr., Mikal Bridges, Miles Bridges, Gilgeous-Alexander, Knox, Robert Williams, Lonnie Walker, DiVincenzo, Zhaire Smith, Jerome Robinson, Chandler Hutchison, and Aaron Holiday.