Luka Doncic (pre and post-draft discussion thread)

[Capt. Factorial]

All I have to say is that Doncic would instantly make WCS, Buddy, Giles, and Skal better and more efficient players by getting them the rock on a rope. (Big men and shooters will love him. )

Well, there might be a bit of a "learning-to-love-him" period while they are nursing all the jammed fingers they got when they weren't ready for such bullet passes. "Rock on a rope" looks about right!

 

[hrdboild]

Really hoping we can swing a 10-15th pick somehow and pick up one of the Bridges or even a Knox to fill in that 3 and D wing spot. I shudder at the thought of playing Nigel Hayes in any kind of important role. If we somehow came out of this draft with whoever at 2 and then Miles Bridges in a trade, I'd be ecstatic and I know you would be too.

Absolutely! Miles Bridges or Mikal Bridges would both be great fits next to Luka. I'm less high on Knox but he's certainly very talented too. I don't know how realistic getting another pick in that range is. Are there any realistic trade or free agent targets who would fit?

We can try to entice Portland into trading us Harkless for some expiring contracts. Maybe throw in someone like Justin Jackson. I'm still holding out hope that Stanley Johnson puts it all together and rediscovers his shooting stroke but it's probably just me and a few hundred beleaguered Pistons fans left on that bandwagon. Whoever takes over as GM on the Pistons is going to start cleaning house though so he might be a buy-low candidate. Nemanja Bjelica might be a good stopgap if we can get Minnesota to trade him for one of our deeper bench guys. We could absorb Nic Batum's massive contract and hope for a bounceback. He used to be a good shooter before he got to Charlotte. He's about to turn 30 though and that contract is a backbreaker, so maybe not. Can we afford to overpay Aaron Gordon? Would Orlando match anyway?

 

[ockingsfan]

Well, there might be a bit of a "learning-to-love-him" period while they are nursing all the jammed fingers they got when they weren't ready for such bullet passes. "Rock on a rope" looks about right!

Yeah, these guys will need to be prepared.

I think one of the reasons WCS hasn't blossomed as much is because he needs someone who can lob it to him on a consistent basis. He hasn't had it since Rondo and the Lawson left.

Much like DeAndre Jordan, WCS is at his best going to the rim and slamming it home. "Lob city" would help bring out the best in WCS.

 

[206Fan]

Really hoping we can swing a 10-15th pick somehow and pick up one of the Bridges or even a Knox to fill in that 3 and D wing spot. I shudder at the thought of playing Nigel Hayes in any kind of important role. If we somehow came out of this draft with whoever at 2 and then Miles Bridges in a trade, I'd be ecstatic and I know you would be too.

If the Kings really wanted to, they could probably get #10+Bayless from Philly for Buddy. Not sure how I'd feel about trading Buddy for a Bridge, but they would fit very well defensively. It would allow us to slide Bogdan to bench which would be great for Fox and Doncic. More on-ball action for them.

 

[Jkbiker]

Yeah, these guys will need to be prepared.

I think one of the reasons WCS hasn't blossomed as much is because he needs someone who can lob it to him on a consistent basis. He hasn't had it since Rondo and the Lawson left.

Much like DeAndre Jordan, WCS is at his best going to the rim and slamming it home. "Lob city" would help bring out the best in WCS.

Well if WCS loved all the lobs that Bogdan was feeding him last year, he is gonna LOVE Luka

several posters here do not think Luka is a good fit, I love this fit! We are going to have Fox,Bogs,Luka all setting up each other for easy shots, WCS and Giles running the floor with all three playmakers, getting set up for easy layups and dunks, Ball movement, excellent passing all around
There will be no way to defend against it!

Might be better to switch Buddy and Bogs to get that 3 pt option in the first string, while having bogdan to set up the bench
Mason,Bogdon,JJ,Skal, Kosta - still could use another SF for bench to upgrade JJ

I Love this team!!!!

 

[tyguy]

If the Kings really wanted to, they could probably get #10+Bayless from Philly for Buddy. Not sure how I'd feel about trading Buddy for a Bridge, but they would fit very well defensively. It would allow us to slide Bogdan to bench which would be great for Fox and Doncic. More on-ball action for them.

I'd trade buddy for Bridges in a nanosecond. Mikal is 98 percentile as a spot up shooter (1.33 PPP), 90th percentile in transtion (1.33 PPP), 94th percentile as a cutter (1.5 PPP) and one hell of a wing defender. The only area he ranked below average defensively was against hand offs, but that made up less than 5 % of possessions he defended.

 

[bajaden]

Not a lot of good
Ben Simmons can't shoot... Why not just call him LeBron in Gordon Haywards body? Problem with that is LeBron in anyone else's body isn't LeBron.... Which is why the body type is so important.

I think he was trying to combine Haywards shooting with Simmons passing, and that composite equals Doncic.

 

[bajaden]

If the Kings really wanted to, they could probably get #10+Bayless from Philly for Buddy. Not sure how I'd feel about trading Buddy for a Bridge, but they would fit very well defensively. It would allow us to slide Bogdan to bench which would be great for Fox and Doncic. More on-ball action for them.

I think the idea was not to remove a core piece, but to add to the core. Like pick up another pick by absorbing a salary. Not by giving up Buddy or any of our core players. Sort of like Denver offering the 15th pick to anyone that will take Faried's contract off their hands.

 

[206Fan]

I think the idea was not to remove a core piece, but to add to the core. Like pick up another pick by absorbing a salary. Not by giving up Buddy or any of our core players. Sort of like Denver offering the 15th pick to anyone that will take Faried's contract off their hands.

oh, yeah..I'm not seeing that. For the Kings to get a chance at one of the Bridges, we'll need to get back in the lotto. Maybe there's a random team out there who really liked Justin Jackson last year and wants him this year? Maybe we can throw in Frank Mason too..

I think we'd need to move Buddy or Bogdan to acquire another 1st round pick.

 

[roasthawg]

I think he was trying to combine Haywards shooting with Simmons passing, and that composite equals Doncic.

Yeah but isn't that LeBron lol

 

[Dime Dropper]

Yeah but isn't that LeBron lol

No, just stop.

You're really going to regret this thread in a couple of years

 

[sactowndog]

No, just stop.

You're really going to regret this thread in a couple of years

We both hope so if the Kings draft him. It’s not personal, it’s just a matter of our projections. Many others feel similarly. If we draft him I will hope I’m wrong.

 

[sactowndog]

Yeah, these guys will need to be prepared.

I think one of the reasons WCS hasn't blossomed as much is because he needs someone who can lob it to him on a consistent basis. He hasn't had it since Rondo and the Lawson left.

Much like DeAndre Jordan, WCS is at his best going to the rim and slamming it home. "Lob city" would help bring out the best in WCS.

How many times to did Bogi lob it to him? Like every play...

the player that will most benefit from Luka would be Bogi who more times than I could count gave up the ball and stood unguarded at the 3 point line. He will have way more uncontested 3’s. Let’s hope between Fox, Bogi and Luca they can guard someone.

 

[roasthawg]

No, just stop.

You're really going to regret this thread in a couple of years

I don't understand what I'm gonna regret lol... If you give Ben Simmons Haywards shooting you have LeBron. That's all I'm saying.

My only point with Luka is what's his upside... It seems like people are so in love with him that they can't admit his upside is limited by his athleticism. If he turns out to be Gordon Hayward that will be great, a good pick no matter where he's drafted.

 

[biltalent]

Absolutely! Miles Bridges or Mikal Bridges would both be great fits next to Luka. I'm less high on Knox but he's certainly very talented too. I don't know how realistic getting another pick in that range is. Are there any realistic trade or free agent targets who would fit?

We can try to entice Portland into trading us Harkless for some expiring contracts. Maybe throw in someone like Justin Jackson. I'm still holding out hope that Stanley Johnson puts it all together and rediscovers his shooting stroke but it's probably just me and a few hundred beleaguered Pistons fans left on that bandwagon. Whoever takes over as GM on the Pistons is going to start cleaning house though so he might be a buy-low candidate. Nemanja Bjelica might be a good stopgap if we can get Minnesota to trade him for one of our deeper bench guys. We could absorb Nic Batum's massive contract and hope for a bounceback. He used to be a good shooter before he got to Charlotte. He's about to turn 30 though and that contract is a backbreaker, so maybe not. Can we afford to overpay Aaron Gordon? Would Orlando match anyway?

If Doncic is the pick I am all for going after Aaron Gordon. I have written a lot about him here, giving a quick breakdown and why I don't think Orlando will match any offer: https://community.kingsfans.com/threads/aaron-gordon.69359/#post-1372896

You already named a few good trade options. I am still with you on Stanley Johnson Island. Harkless is also an iption. Heck, maybe Shump can give es something next year, who knows.

Other than that I think it depends on what you want. If you want a bigger wing defender next to him, Kings could look at:
Jerami Grant (RFA)
Trevor Ariza
James Ennis
Glenn Robinson III (RFA?)

If you want a stretch 4, some names to consider are:
Nemanja Bjelica
Davis Bertans (RFA)
Luke Babbit
Ersan Ilyasova
Mike Scott

 

[Joshoua]

 

[Mass]

Luka is my pick. There’s no questions here for me. Ayton will go first, so Luka will be there.

His lack of athleticism is way overblown around here. He’s not a freak of nature, but according to someone it seems we are talking about an 80 year old man who can barely walk.
It seems athletic abilities are all that matters. I will take the high skilled guy, the one with the best basketball IQ, the one with that special feeling for the game and a winning mentality, every day of the week. This guy is Doncic. Vlade don’t mess with this pick, not this time please!!!

 

[roasthawg]

Luka is my pick. There’s no questions here for me. Ayton will go first, so Luka will be there.

His lack of athleticism is way overblown around here. He’s not a freak of nature, but according to someone it seems we are talking about an 80 year old man who can barely walk.
It seems athletic abilities are all that matters. I will take the high skilled guy, the one with the best basketball IQ, the one with that special feeling for the game and a winning mentality, every day of the week. This guy is Doncic. Vlade don’t mess with this pick, not this time please!!!

No one here is comparing him to an 80yr old man. He lacks high level NBA athleticism which puts a lid on his ceiling imo. If he can end up shooting and playing like Hayward then great. If he's hedo turkoglu it's not the end of the world but I'd much rather have jjj or Bamba in that case. No one gives any legit comparisons for him. I'm saying upside is hayward, floor is hedo. For jjj I'm saying upside peak Ibaka, floor Myles Turner. You also have bamba with his Gobert comp. It's close, not the no brainer Doncic fans are acting like it is.

 

[Dime Dropper]

I don't understand what I'm gonna regret lol... If you give Ben Simmons Haywards shooting you have LeBron. That's all I'm saying.

My only point with Luka is what's his upside... It seems like people are so in love with him that they can't admit his upside is limited by his athleticism. If he turns out to be Gordon Hayward that will be great, a good pick no matter where he's drafted.

What do you get if you give Hayward, Simmon's passing? Is it LeBron? You're either intentionally being obtuse or... The alternative is worse.

 

[ockingsfan]

It's always a good sign when the "Strengths" video is more than double the length of the "Weakness" video!

 

[The Effort Police]

You know what's interesting is that every year in the Top 10 it seems we've got the questionable athlete with a complete game turning out to be the better pro than the guy with complete athleticism or physical attributes but a questionable skillset.

Curry and Harden over Thabeet and Flynn.
Cousins and Hayward over Wes Johnson
Kyrie over Williams, Vesely, and Biyombo.
Beal over MKG and TRob.
Hield and Ingram over Chriss
Tatum and Markkanen over Isaac and Monk (early returns)
Can't find a good example from 2013-15, but in those years you've still got athletes busting everywhere. Noel, McLemore, Exum, Hezonja, Mudiay.

Then of course you've got your athletes with a skillset to match (Ayton), but history would indicate that at least one of the bigman trio of Bagley, Bamba, and JJJ is gonna bust. You've got your examples of players washing out because they couldn't keep up physically (Jimmer, Papagiannis), but they are all far far less numerous than the project athlete, and Jimmer and Papagiannis didn't have much of a great skillset anyway.

 

[SLAB]

It's always a good sign when the "Strengths" video is more than double the length of the "Weakness" video!

Based on this thread I figured his weakness video would be a 7 hour thesis on lack of athleticism, limited upside, and a bad body.

 

[Gguod]

Yeah, these guys will need to be prepared.

I think one of the reasons WCS hasn't blossomed as much is because he needs someone who can lob it to him on a consistent basis. He hasn't had it since Rondo and the Lawson left.

Much like DeAndre Jordan, WCS is at his best going to the rim and slamming it home. "Lob city" would help bring out the best in WCS.

Its more about the offense we have ran. Wcs has the potential to be a great rim running center. Hard to blossom in pick n roll situations when there are either zbo sitting in the elbow or Kosta clogging the lane. Hard to evaluate him at all offensively because of our horrible system

 

[roasthawg]

What do you get if you give Hayward, Simmon's passing? Is it LeBron? You're either intentionally being obtuse or... The alternative is worse.

I believe the comparison was the other way around. Plus Hayward is already a good passer... I'd say you pretty much get Gordon Hayward. What Hayward is missing is the length and athleticism, that's the point and why he's a great comp for luka

 

[Dime Dropper]

No one here is comparing him to an 80yr old man. He lacks high level NBA athleticism which puts a lid on his ceiling imo. If he can end up shooting and playing like Hayward then great. If he's hedo turkoglu it's not the end of the world but I'd much rather have jjj or Bamba in that case. No one gives any legit comparisons for him. I'm saying upside is hayward, floor is hedo. For jjj I'm saying upside peak Ibaka, floor Myles Turner. You also have bamba with his Gobert comp. It's close, not the no brainer Doncic fans are acting like it is.

Is this seriously what you're hanging your hat on? I can think of very few past examples that actually ended up accurate, they're basically all nonsense. No two players in the NBA are the same, and nobody is going to come in and be the same. You would have passed on Dirk with your logic and been wrong. Comparisons are literally the worst and most misleading things about evaluating players.

 

[roasthawg]

Is this seriously what you're hanging your hat on? I can think of very few past examples that actually ended up accurate, they're basically all nonsense. No two players in the NBA are the same, and nobody is going to come in and be the same. You would have passed on Dirk with your logic and been wrong. Comparisons are literally the worst and most misleading things about evaluating players.

I guess I just disagree with you. Every year I build my own little board with comps in mind and a focus on weaknesses that might hurt a player at the NBA level. Works well for me, I was the only guy in this thread with Tatum in the top three and Mitchell in the top ten. https://community.kingsfans.com/threads/your-top-ten.67632/

To each his own, I like Doncic but it's close at #2 for me. In this thread if you have any concerns about Doncic there's problems apparently.

 

[Blob]

He´s sneaky good rim protector , great timing and good enough length..

https://twitter.com/x/status/1003983432425398272

Okay lets be real, on this play Luka made a poor telegraphed entry pass that was easily picked. He blocked the shot on a guy 2-3 inches shorter that would have had a lay-up or and-one if the opponent used his left hand on the drive to shield Luka. Sneaky good rim protector? Meh, he made up for his mistake on one end against a shorter player who made a fundamental mistake. I am not anti-Luka, just calling like it is. The second block was nice against a vertically challenged opponent.

 

[funkykingston]

Is this seriously what you're hanging your hat on? I can think of very few past examples that actually ended up accurate, they're basically all nonsense. No two players in the NBA are the same, and nobody is going to come in and be the same. You would have passed on Dirk with your logic and been wrong. Comparisons are literally the worst and most misleading things about evaluating players.

Yep.

Nbadraft.net currently has Shareef Abdur-Rahim as the comp for Jaren Jackson which makes zero sense.

In the past they've also compared Westbrook to Rondo and Mudiay to John Wall.

Comparisons are an easy way to describe a player but they vary wildly depending on who makes them and they are more often than not totally wrong.

I could call Doncic a Peja/JWill hybrid and it would probably make him more enticing but it's no more accurate than a better passing Hayward, or a bigger slower James Harden, or a Rubio/Mike Miller combo, Ben Simmons, Toni Kukoc, Hedo, Drazen Petrovic or any of the other comparisons I've seen for Doncic.

 

[ockingsfan]

You know what's interesting is that every year in the Top 10 it seems we've got the questionable athlete with a complete game turning out to be the better pro than the guy with complete athleticism or physical attributes but a questionable skillset.

Totally agree.

I would much rather have the guy with the skillset to put the ball in the basket (or help others put the ball in the basket) than the guy who can jump out of the gym. Last I checked, you don't get points for jumping over the gym!

 

[Sac.Kings]

Yep.

Nbadraft.net currently has Shareef Abdur-Rahim as the comp for Jaren Jackson which makes zero sense.

In the past they've also compared Westbrook to Rondo and Mudiay to John Wall.

Comparisons are an easy way to describe a player but they vary wildly depending on who makes them and they are more often than not totally wrong.

I could call Doncic a Peja/JWill hybrid and it would probably make him more enticing but it's no more accurate than a better passing Hayward, or a bigger slower James Harden, or a Rubio/Mike Miller combo, Ben Simmons, Toni Kukoc, Hedo, Drazen Petrovic or any of the other comparisons I've seen for Doncic.

The comparisons for Dončić alone paint a pretty good picture. A lot of those names are very familiar and well known.