#nba draft 2016

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Jaylen Brown— Green Blood

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NBA Draft 2016: Gary Harris, The Most Underrated Player? Gary Harris may not be an underrated NBA player after all. The Denver Nuggets guard was selected for the 2016 USA Men’s Select Team along with a fellow former Michigan State basketball player Denzel Valentine of Chicago Bulls. The USA Men’s Select Team will practice alongside the U.S. Men’s Olymp... http://www.healthaim.com/nba-draft-2016-gary-harris-underrated-player/60561

NBA Draft 2016: Gary Harris, The Most Underrated Player? - http://www.healthaim.com/nba-draft-2016-gary-harris-underrated-player/60561

Gary Harris may not be an underrated NBA player after all. The Denver Nuggets guard was selected for the 2016 USA Men’s Select Team along with a fellow former Michigan State basketball player Denzel Valentine of Chicago Bulls. The USA Men’s Select Team will practice alongside the U.S. Men’s Olymp...

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NBA Draft 2016: Kris Dunn The Next Rookie Of The Year? Kris Dunn might be your next rookie of the year as sports analysts predict success for Dunn and other rookies such as Henry Ellenson and Isaiah Whitehead. Dunn sealed the deal with Minnesota Timberwolves following the NBA Draft 2016 as the fifth overall first-round draft pick. Dunn can be in a... http://www.healthaim.com/nba-draft-2016-kris-dunn-the-next-rookie-of-the-year/60527

NBA Draft 2016: Kris Dunn The Next Rookie Of The Year? - http://www.healthaim.com/nba-draft-2016-kris-dunn-the-next-rookie-of-the-year/60527

Kris Dunn might be your next rookie of the year as sports analysts predict success for Dunn and other rookies such as Henry Ellenson and Isaiah Whitehead. Dunn sealed the deal with Minnesota Timberwolves following the NBA Draft 2016 as the fifth overall first-round draft pick. Dunn can be in a...

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Ben Simmons Looks as Good as Advertised

Ben Simmons Looks Like a Superstar in Just Two Summer League Games

It’s been some time since Philadelphia, or the NBA for that matter, has seen anyone like Ben Simmons. For someone who is close to seven feet tall, he shouldn’t be able to do things like this:

or this:

G…

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Initial Post Draft Reactions and Grades

Chicago Plays it Safe with Valentine, Misses out on fiery Baldwin: B-

With Chicago’s recent controversial front office decision making, General Manager Gar Forman and Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson have to be very careful with how they proceed with the 2016 offseason. Making very clear the are not in rebuild mode but are “retooling”, according to Forman, the Bulls chose MSU’s Denzel Valentine at No. 14. Averaging 19.2 points per game, 7.8 assists, 7.2 rebounds, and shooting at a 44% clip from deep, Valentine’s talent is unquestionable. He is a decent perimeter defender at the pro level at around 6′6″, with a 6′10″ wingspan, he has developed his passing and offensive I.Q. after four years at Michigan State, and should be able to spread the floor with his NBA range at the next level. The only problem with this pick for the Bulls is his fit with their current personnel. With the crowded group of wing shooters the Bulls have at their disposal as of now, mostly composed of Doug McDermott, Tony Snell, and last year’s breakout Spaniard forward Nikola Mirotic, finding a shooter shouldn’t have been their first priority going into the draft.

After the Derrick Rose trade to the Knicks, the Bulls’ point guard spot has suddenly become very expensive for being the team’s biggest weakness (next to not having a Center on the roster). The point guards available in this summer’s free agency aren’t very appealing for Chicago’s current situation, so Vanderbilt’s Wade Baldwin IV would’ve been a wise selection at No. 14 as well. Baldwin was known for being an athletic, score first point guard at Vandy, but he is a lot more than just that. Baldwin only averaged around 14 points with Vanderbilt’s jammed roster this past season, but he also managed to dish more than five assists a game and got to the free throw line a ridiculous amount, while also making 80% of his free throws this year. At 6′4″, with a mind-boggling 6′11″ wingspan, the Grizzlies will be very lucky to have the 20 year old freak of nature after picking him at No. 17, whether or not Mike Conley returns this offseason or not.

We will see if the Bulls’ front office can pull a trick out of their sleeve to boost their current roster-hole at point guard. If not, Chicago is going to have a very tough time making the playoffs this upcoming season with Jose Calderon running Fred Hoiberg’s high paced, shooter oriented offense.

Bucks Bank Early on Maker’s Potential: B+

Ideally, it seemed that the Milwaukee Bucks were going to go with an immediate impact perimeter player like MSU Sr. Denzel Valentine or Vandy’s athletic point Wade Baldwin IV to strengthen a perimeter spot. Instead, the Bucks banked on nineteen-year-old Thon Maker, straight out of Orangeville Academy at the No. 10 pick. Listed at 7′1″ (but only weighing around 215 lbs), Maker has crazy length for an potential NBA combo forward. To go along with his impressive physicals, he has a guard’s skill set, a clean mid range jumper, and quick feet on both ends of the floor. His fit with what the Bucks have right now is solid, and it shouldn’t take too long before Maker find a way to crack the rotation as a perimeter or post player. However, he is a project and will be treated as such by the organization, so don’t expect Make to log big minutes for the Bucks until they feel he is ready to be successful in their current system.

In general, the biggest thing that Maker needs to work on is getting stronger physically and increasing his weight for pro competition. Both are very feasible goals for the young prospect, and Maker should fit in to what Jason Kidd’s scheme is given the right amount of time and training. What Milwaukee is probably deciding now is if Maker would be better utilized as a small forward with his perimeter skills and quickness off the dribble, or if his length and constant mismatch in the post would be better utilized as a power forward or center. However, the beauty of this Thon Maker pick is that he doesn’t necessarily need to be pinned to a certain position for his whole career, or even within a single game. He can be moved around the floor for what is working better for him, and/or for what team’s strengths at the time. Versatile, “positionless” players are something the Bucks won big with Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2013, as he has become an absolute stud already. Milwaukee will be hoping to duplicate this type of success with their soon-to-be-rookie Thon Maker.

Denver Swings for the Fences: A-

One of the biggest surprises on draft night was that the Denver Nuggets didn’t panic after their picture perfect fit in California forward Jaylen Brown got snagged by Danny Ainge at the No. 3 pick. The team has been at the bottom of the Western Conference ever since Carmelo went to the Big Apple, and it has been a hard mountain to climb back on ever since (that mountain being the playoffs). However, their keen decision making and balance between fit and potential may help them achieve postseason contention sooner than many might think. The backcourt draft combo of Kentucky’s shot creator Jamal Murray and FSU’s slasher Malik Beasley are both great alone, but Denver also snagged Spaniard forward Juan Hernangomez at the No. 15 pick, making this draft classes for the Nuggets one of the more impressive ones post draft night.

At 6'4", combo guard Jamal Murray is a unique offensive talent, giving the Nuggets an excellent shot creator with the No. 7 pick. Also as an additional playmaker, Murray can play behind or most likely with Denver’s lottery pick made last year in Emmanuel Mudiay. Murray comes from a Kentucky program known for producing perimeter scoring machines, and like many of the one’s who have come before him, Murray is an NBA ready talent who is bound to make an impact right away on October 25 for the Nuggets. Beasley is a freak athlete who has also some very intriguing long range sniper potential. His defensive upside showed sparks of greatness at FSU and Denver should be very focused on developing that for a player like Beasley who’s playing style is very reminiscent of Jimmy Butler. Beasley’s potential on both ends of the floor makes him a threat now, and his motor and unending work ethic will allow him to be a great three-and-D prospect for the future. Finally, forward Juan Hernangomez is an interesting international prospect with tons of versatility offensively, absolutely excellent leaping ability, and a jump shot to spread the floor. Everything considered, an excellent draft night for Denver and hopefully good things to come for them in the future.

The Kings Turn Their Draft Day Sour, Boogie Cousins on the Way Out?: C-

The Sacramento Kings went into the draft with their youngest players being Kansas SG Ben McLemore at age 23, and big men DeMarcus Cousins and Willie Cauley-Stein, ages 25 and 22 respectively. The two Kentucky centers are one of the most underrated young duos in the league, especially defensively. Per 36 minutes, seasoned veteran Boogie and rookie Willie averaged 3.2 blocks and 2.8 steals last season, and also combined for 21 rebounds and shot 51.5% inside the arc. The Kings were absolutely set with these two centers down low as rim protectors and lob finishers for years to come, no questions asked. Ben McLemore had rough season stat-wise compared to the season before. However, his turnovers went down, he increased his steals Per 36 minutes, and his long range efficiency went up playing less minutes and starting half the games compared to the season prior. This ability to come off the bench cold and improve in these categories is not something to be overlooked. McLemore is still very young player and is progressing more and more into an impressive three-and-D player and explosive finisher everyone saw at Kansas. Having said all that, the Kings started draft night with the No. 8 pick AND the No. 22 pick after trading the aging Marco Belenelli. All seemed to be looking up for a crumbling organization, and after picking athletic Washington Power Forward Marquese Chriss at No. 8, who slipped from the projected top five, the Kings seemed to be running away with a really good situation heading into free agency.

Then, as if they noticed their success and decided to ruin their great draft day, they traded Chriss, who averaged 13.8 points, 5.4 boards, 1.6 blocks a game, while putting up a .568 FG% only playing 25 minutes a game, for three late first round picks and rights to the Serbian guard Bogdan Bogdanovic. The Kings then proceeded to take 7′3″ Greek Center Georgios Papagiannis at No. 13, Syracuse shooter Malachi Richardson at No. 21, and 7′0″ big man Skal Labissiere at the No. 28 pick. Now with five centers on the roster that do more-or-less the same thing, only trades can fix the predicament the Kings have put themselves in. 

Boogie Cousins took to Twitter to share his thoughts about the initial trade and the picks made by the Kings afterwards:

It will take a lot more than that to swing this organization around…

- James DiBiasi 

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Last night at the NBA Draft

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Dragan Bender selected as fourth pick as LSU's Ben Simmons leads 2016 NBA Draft class

Dragan Bender selected as fourth pick as LSU's Ben Simmons leads 2016 NBA Draft class - http://www.talkbasket.net/20929-dragan-bender-selected-as-fourth-pick-as-lsus-ben-simmons-leads-2016-nba-draft-class.html

Croatian prodigy Dragan Bender has been selected by the Phoenix Suns as the fourth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, highlighting this year’s European class. The 18-year-old, 7-footer comes from Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv where he saw limited minutes, but that isn’t a huge cause for concern,...

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NBA draft tracker: Live analysis and grades . . .

NBA draft tracker: Live analysis and grades . . .

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