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Post by Admin on Aug 16, 2017 22:13:17 GMT -5
Bagley is projected to be the #1 draft pick in 2018 now and guess who is projected as picking 1st? Gary Parrish's 2018 NBA Mock Draft1 CelticsVIA TRADE WITH NETS Marvin Bagley (Duke) There's a difference between a great prospect and a great player. Not everybody qualifies as both. But Bagley definitely does. It won't take him long to adjust to college basketball as a freshman. It won't take him long to adjust to the NBA as a rookie. Truth be told, the only things that could possibly prevent stardom are injuries and off-the-court issues, for which there are no red flags. 2 MagicMichael Porter Jr. (Missouri) Porter is a combo forward with unlimited potential and enough good pieces around him to lead Missouri to the NCAA Tournament. He's worthy of being the No. 1 pick in most drafts. But Bagley's reclassification makes him more likely to go second next year, at least in my opinion. 3 SunsMohamed Bamba (Texas) Bamba is the prize of Shaka Smart's top-10 recruiting class. He's a 7-foot forward with a 7-9 wingspan who could be a terror on the defensive end for many years to come and a great addition to the rebuilding Suns. 4 BullsDeAndre Ayton (Arizona) Ayton could become the first player since Anthony Davis in 2012 to win a national title and then be the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. I'm not predicting it, obviously. I'm just saying it's a realistic possibility for the super-talented big who has reportedly been terrific in offseason workouts at Arizona. 5 PacersLuka Doncic (Slovenia) Doncic, who has grown to 6-8, shot 37.1 percent from 3-point range for Real Madrid last season. He was voted the Spanish League's "Best Young Player.' And he should, next year, become the first top-five pick from Slovenia in NBA Draft history. www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-mock-draft-2018-marvin-bagley-joins-draft-pool-and-is-taken-by-celtics-at-no-1/
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Post by Admin on Aug 17, 2017 16:43:21 GMT -5
Celtics Should Hold Onto Their Picksby Adam MillerGetty ImagesWell, it happened. Marvin Bagley III has officially passed through NCCA and will forgo his senior year of high school. The 2017-18 season will see him suiting up for the Duke Blue Devils.If you haven’t watched Bagley III you may be asking yourself, “why is this a big deal?” To those people I would simply say look at his highlights. He may be the most hyped prospect since LeBron James. At 6’10, Bagley possesses top-tier athleticism, ball-handling and long-range shooting for his size. Bagley is a once-in-a-lifetime talent that may turn the tides for a struggling NBA franchise. Or, maybe he will join a budding powerhouse. As of now the Celtics are set with two possible top-5 picks in the 2018 NBA draft. On draft day, Bagley III may be the consensus #1 pick at just 18 years of age. If the opportunity presents itself, Boston would be overjoyed to select the big man. However, one should not look passed the other prospects. The players projected to go early in the 2018 draft are phenomenal. I would go as far to argue that any of the projected top-5 players in the upcoming draft would be selected first in the 2017 draft. Luka Doncic is the best foreign prospect since Ricky Rubio. At the age of 16, Doncic made his season debut for Real Madrid. For those who don’t know, Real Madrid is the best team in Europe, and at 16 Doncic is the youngest player to ever suit up for them. He’s another elite talent that has been compared to the likes of Danilo Gallinari and LeBron James. DeAndre Ayton and Mohamed Bamba are the two modern day centers. They can shoot from deep, defend the perimeter and protect the rim. They offer a raw skill-set that if sharpened, could become deadly. Just to give you an idea of how high expectations are for these big men, look at this article by Scott Phillips of BleacherReport. In it Phillips compares the two to the likes of DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis. Then there’s Michael Porter Jr.. Of all of the players mentioned so far, Porter is the most pro ready. He even practices with professionals. Recently he was seen at Steph Curry’s basketball camp, learning from the former league MVP. Porter has the most complete offensive skill set since Kevin Durant. Don’t be surprised if he has a similar rise to stardom. If you haven’t noticed, this class is loaded with top-end talent. The crazy thing is, there are other players who may emerge as high-lottery talent. I know many fans want Danny Ainge to finally pull the trigger and make a move for an established star, but they shouldn’t. Unless it’s a bonafide superstar *cough, cough — Anthony Davis — cough, cough*, then it’s not worth it. I realize a lot is being left to chance, but with this amount of superstar talent, it’s worth it. If you want a deeper look into year of these players check out my 2018 NBA draft article. hardwoodhoudini.com/2017/08/17/celtics-should-hold-onto-their-picks/
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