2018 NBA Rookie Predictions

[Grizzlies GM (Royce)]

Let's do it again fellas. I am drinking the summer league kool-aid like everyone else. It was fun to see predictions from last year, thought it'd be cool to do it again.

2018 NBA Rookie Predictions

Your favorite players (pick 5): Luka Doncic, Mo Bamba, Mitchell Robinson, Moritz Wagner, Aaron Holiday

Rookie of the Year: Kevin Knox

Biggest bust:
    Top 5: Marvin Bagley III (I think all of the top 5 guys will be good, but Bagley III will struggle the most)
    Lottery: Jerome Robinson
    Outside of the lottery: Robert Williams

Top 3 players outside of the lottery (in order): Mitchell Robinson, Moritz Wagner, Gary Trent Jr


The Donovan Mitchell award - Best outside top 10: Mitchell Robinson
The Isaiah Thomas award - Best 2nd round pick: Mitchell Robinson
The Manu Ginobili award - Best International Prospect (outside lottery, second round, or undrafted): Issuf Sanon 

The Andrew Wiggins award - Good, but not as good as everyone thought he'd be: Deandre Ayton

Most likely to become an All-Star: Mohamed Bamba
Most likely to make an All-NBA team within 3 years: Mohamed Bamba
Most likely to become a top 10 player in the league: Mohamed Bamba 
Most likely to become "1st Team All Defense! - Tony Allen": Mo Money...MO BAMBA 
Most likely Rookie to make the Rookie/Sophomore game outside of lotto (John Collins last year): Mitchell Robinson


Pick one player you have not listed above that will out do his draft spot after 2 years: Melton

Over/Under
Grayson Allen Technical Fouls this year (5.5): Over
Robert Williams minutes per game this year (18.5): Under
Trae Young 3s this year (149.5): Over
JJJ 3s/game (0.8): Under
Kevin Knox PPG (16.5): Over
Michael Porter Jr Games Player (61.5): Under

MAKE THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS IN REGARDS TO THE 2018 DRAFT CLASS:
- Michael Porter Jr will not be good. He will be the hobo version of Carmelo Anthony.
- Trae Young will lead Atlanta to the playoffs by year 3 (despite never shooting higher than 43%)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doesn't become anything more than a backup guard

Player comparisons:
Ayton vs Bagley vs JJJ vs Bamba vs WCJ (best big man): Bamba
Doncic vs Trae Young vs Sexton vs SGA (best guard): Doncic   
Miles Bridges vs MPJ (who will prove they were picked too low): Bridges
JJJ vs Bamba (who will have most combined steals+blocks rookie year): JJJ
Trae Young vs JJJ (3 point %): Young
Mikal Bridges vs Zhaire Smith: Bridges
Elie Okobo vs Jevon Carter vs Brunson vs Devonte' Graham (best guard): Carter
Trae Young vs (Gary Trent Jr+Sviatoslav) 3s made: Young 
Grayson Allen vs Lonnie Walker vs Aaron Holiday vs Robert Willaims (biggest steal): Aaron Holiday

[Boston Celtics (Brandon)]

2018 NBA Rookie Predictions

Your favorite players (pick 5): Luka Doncic, Kevin Knox, WCJ, Mo Bamba, Jevon Carter

Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic

Biggest bust:
Top 5: JJJ
Lottery: Mikal Bridges
Outside of the lottery: Donte DiVincenzo

Top 3 players outside of the lottery (in order): Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Huerter, Jevon Carter

The Donovan Mitchell award - Best outside top 10: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Also like Lonnie)
The Isaiah Thomas award - Best 2nd round pick: Mitchell Robinson
The Manu Ginobili award - Best International Prospect (outside lottery, second round, or undrafted): Rodions Kurucs

The Andrew Wiggins award - Good, but not as good as everyone thought he'd be: Marvin Bagley

Most likely to become an All-Star: Kevin Knox/Luka Doncic
Most likely to make an All-NBA team within 3 years: Luka Doncic
Most likely to become a top 10 player in the league: Luka Doncic
Most likely to become "1st Team All Defense! - Tony Allen": Mohamed Bamba
Most likely Rookie to make the Rookie/Sophomore game outside of lotto (John Collins last year): Lonnie Walker

Pick one player you have not listed above that will out do his draft spot after 2 years: Gary Trent Jr.

Over/Under:
Grayson Allen Technical Fouls this year (5.5): Under
Robert Williams minutes per game this year (18.5): Under
Trae Young 3s this year (149.5): Over
JJJ 3s/game (0.8): Under
Kevin Knox PPG (16.5): Over
Michael Porter Jr Games Player (61.5): Under


MAKE THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS IN REGARDS TO THE 2018 DRAFT CLASS:

1. Luka Doncic becomes a superstar, becomes the next Dirk for Maverick fans.
2. Devonte Graham becomes an above average starting PG in the NBA
3. After Beverly/Milos get traded/hurt SGA will put on a late push for ROY.

Player comparisons:
Ayton vs Bagley vs JJJ vs Bamba vs WCJ (best big man): 1. Ayton 2. WCJ 3. Bamba
Doncic vs Trae Young vs Sexton vs SGA (best guard):  1. Doncic 2. SGA
Miles Bridges vs MPJ (who will prove they were picked too low): MPJ
JJJ vs Bamba (who will have most combined steals+blocks rookie year): Bamba
Trae Young vs JJJ (3 point %): Trae Young
Mikal Bridges vs Zhaire Smith: Zhaire, but it'll take time
Elie Okobo vs Jevon Carter vs Brunson vs Devonte' Graham (best guard): Devonte/Jevonnn
Trae Young vs (Gary Trent Jr+Sviatoslav) 3s made: Trae Young
Grayson Allen vs Lonnie Walker vs Aaron Holiday vs Robert Willaims (biggest steal): Lonnie Walker

[San Antonio Spurs (Chris)]

don't know that it's really appropriate to be doing this when the draft is still ongoing... note that Wagner and Mitchell Robinson were both picked, quite early, after this post was started. it's fun, i love it and will participate, just think we should wait, people are too easily influenced.

[Josh]

To be fair, they've both had some nice SL performances and are both in good situations (Lakers having no good center (Javale???) and Knicks with only Kanter ahead).

[Grizzlies GM (Royce)]

Jul 12, 2018 13:12:16 GMT -5 San Antonio Spurs (Chris) said:

don't know that it's really appropriate to be doing this when the draft is still ongoing... note that Wagner and Mitchell Robinson were both picked, quite early, after this post was started. it's fun, i love it and will participate, just think we should wait, people are too easily influenced.

You’re right, sorry everyone I didn’t mean to do that.

We’ll do it after next time. Obviously I liked both those guys too.

[Chicago Bulls (Charlie)]

royce fuckin it up as usual smh

[San Antonio Spurs (Chris)]

2018 NBA Rookie Predictions

Your favorite players (pick 5): Mo Bamba, Luka Doncic, Colin Sexton, Wendell Carter, Josh Okogie; also really like De'Anthony Melton but can't see him getting relevant minutes for a while

Rookie of the Year: DeAndre Ayton, though it should be Doncic

Biggest bust:
    Top 5: Marvin Bagley
    Lottery: Miles Bridges
    Outside of the lottery: Grayson Allen
Top 3 players outside of the lottery (in order): Robert Williams (it'll take time, though, especially when i can't see him getting significant minutes for a while), Josh Okogie, Khyri Thomas


The Donovan Mitchell award - Best outside top 10: Josh Okogie
The Isaiah Thomas award - Best 2nd round pick: Khyri Thomas now, Melton later
The Manu Ginobili award - Best International Prospect (outside lottery, second round, or undrafted): Elie Okobo (hopefully PHX doesn't fuck him up too much; also, not sure which players qualify for this one, wording is kinda weird) 

The Andrew Wiggins award - Good, but not as good as everyone thought he'd be: Deandre Ayton (like a significantly lesser version of KAT, who's vastly overrated himself)

Most likely to become an All-Star: Mo Bamba
Most likely to make an All-NBA team within 3 years: Mo Bamba
Most likely to become a top 10 player in the league: Mo Bamba 
Most likely to become "1st Team All Defense! - Tony Allen": Mo Bamba 
Most likely Rookie to make the Rookie/Sophomore game outside of lotto (John Collins last year): Aaron Holiday


Pick one player you have not listed above that will out do his draft spot after 2 years: De'Anthony Melton

Over/Under
Grayson Allen Technical Fouls this year (5.5): Over
Robert Williams minutes per game this year (18.5): Under
Trae Young 3s this year (149.5): Over
JJJ 3s/game (0.8): Over
Kevin Knox PPG (16.5): Over
Michael Porter Jr Games Played (61.5): Under

MAKE THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS IN REGARDS TO THE 2018 DRAFT CLASS:
- Michael Porter Jr will never stay healthy enough to make an impact (is that considered bold?)
- Bamba will be much better than Ayton
- Five years from now, neither Young nor Holiday will be considered top-3 PG from this draft class (behind Sexton, SGA, Melton, maybe Thomas)

Player comparisons:
Ayton vs Bagley vs JJJ vs Bamba vs WCJ (best big man): Bamba
Doncic vs Trae Young vs Sexton vs SGA (best guard): Doncic   
Miles Bridges vs MPJ (who will prove they were picked too low): Bridges I guess, don't like either of them
JJJ vs Bamba (who will have most combined steals+blocks rookie year): JJJ
Trae Young vs JJJ (3 point %): Young
Mikal Bridges vs Zhaire Smith: same as Miles vs Porter
Elie Okobo vs Jevon Carter vs Brunson vs Devonte' Graham (best guard): Carter now, Okobo later
Trae Young vs (Gary Trent Jr+Sviatoslav) 3s made: Young 
Grayson Allen vs Lonnie Walker vs Aaron Holiday vs Robert Willaims (biggest steal): Robert Williams[/font][/quote]


Sent from my Pixel using proboards

[Orlando Magic (Perry)]

2018 NBA Rookie Predictions

Your favorite players (pick 5): Mo Bamba, Mitchell Robinson, Wendell Carter, Kevin Knox, Troy Brown

Rookie of the Year: Doncic

Biggest bust:
Top 5: Marvin Bagley III
Lottery: Sexton
Outside of the lottery: Josh Okogie

Top 3 players outside of the lottery (in order): Troy Brown, Zhaire Smith, Mitchell Robinson


The Donovan Mitchell award - Best outside top 10: Miles Bridges
The Isaiah Thomas award - Best 2nd round pick: Mitchell Robinson
The Manu Ginobili award - Best International Prospect (outside lottery, second round, or undrafted): Issuf Sanon

The Andrew Wiggins award - Good, but not as good as everyone thought he'd be: Deandre Ayton

Most likely to become an All-Star: Mohamed Bamba
Most likely to make an All-NBA team within 3 years: Mohamed Bamba
Most likely to become a top 10 player in the league: Mohamed Bamba
Most likely to become "1st Team All Defense! - Tony Allen": Mohamed Bamba
Most likely Rookie to make the Rookie/Sophomore game outside of lotto (John Collins last year): Grayson Allen

Pick one player you have not listed above that will out do his draft spot after 2 years: Khyri Thomas

Over/Under
Grayson Allen Technical Fouls this year (5.5): Over
Robert Williams minutes per game this year (18.5): Under
Trae Young 3s this year (149.5): Over
JJJ 3s/game (0.8): Over
Kevin Knox PPG (16.5): Under
Michael Porter Jr Games Player (61.5): Way under

MAKE THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS IN REGARDS TO THE 2018 DRAFT CLASS:
- Ayton will make at most 2 All Star games
- The Spurs will trade Lonnie Walker before re-signing him
- Luka Doncic makes at most 1 All Star game

Player comparisons:
Ayton vs Bagley vs JJJ vs Bamba vs WCJ (best big man): Bamba
Doncic vs Trae Young vs Sexton vs SGA (best guard): Doncic
Miles Bridges vs MPJ (who will prove they were picked too low): Bridges
JJJ vs Bamba (who will have most combined steals+blocks rookie year): Bamba
Trae Young vs JJJ (3 point %): Young
Mikal Bridges vs Zhaire Smith: Smith
Elie Okobo vs Jevon Carter vs Brunson vs Devonte' Graham (best guard): Carter
Trae Young vs (Gary Trent Jr+Sviatoslav) 3s made: Young
Grayson Allen vs Lonnie Walker vs Aaron Holiday vs Robert Willaims (biggest steal): Grayson Allen

Not super original but I did what I could