Official 2020 Draft Day Thread (Begins at 7PM CST)

[Dejounte]

What happened to the assertion that DeRozan with Bam, Dragic, Nunn, Robinson, & Herro could make it to the finals? That provocative little pool sure dried up fast.

Still stand by it. DeRozan helped lead a Toronto Raptors team to the ECF with a worse supporting cast than that...where he faced LeBron. Imagine if Jimmy faced LeBron before he got to the Finals? Hmm..

And cir stances are also way different since we don't know if it was easier to get to the Finals because they were in the bubble. (No one had to play on the road)

[R. DeMurre]

Still stand by it. DeRozan helped lead a Toronto Raptors team to the ECF with a worse supporting cast than that.

And cir stances are also way different since we don't know if it was easier to get to the Finals because they were in the bubble. (No one had to play on the road)

Ok, I'm happy to agree to disagree. I like the vast majority of your basketball takes, but think you're delusional on this one. I don't think DeRozan gets by Giannis & Milwaukee or Tatum & Boston.

[Dejounte]

Jesus, Pat looks like a different player here. I wish it was him we drafted instead of Devin. Damn.

[TD 21]

This nonsense again from people who clearly don't watch/follow outside of the Spurs.

Lowry + the 2nd unit was always what led the Raptors, not the net negative pseudo star.

In '16, the Raptors got to the ECF on sheer dumb luck. The Hawks and Celtics, the other pseudo contenders in the conference, just so happened to end up in the Cavaliers side of the bracket. Meanwhile, the Raptors eked by mediocre Pacers and Heat teams, outlasting the latter primarily because they had 2 key injuries to their 1.

[Dejounte]

Oh yeah, here comes the "everything happens because of luck" guy.

[Dejounte]

Let's apply some context to why DeMar got to the ECF and none to Jimmy getting to the Finals (Giannis was out for games too) because it supports my view.

That makes ing sense. Not.

[DAF86]

You realize that was the year that the Raptors struggled to beat an injured Warriors team, right?

Still no chance of a DeRozan, Aldridge, Butler team to ring. They fit awfully together.

[TD 21]

Let's apply some context to why DeMar got to the ECF and none to Jimmy getting to the Finals (Giannis was out for games too) because it supports my view.

That makes ing sense. Not.

I didn't say everything, but a lot of it does which is why I always apply context as opposed to spouting results.

The difference is, the Heat were on the verge of being up 3-0 when Antetokounmpo got injured.

I can't stand Butler, but he's long proven he impacts winning at a top 15 level, while DeRozan is perennially a severe net negative.

[Chinook]

Still no chance of a DeRozan, Aldridge, Butler team to ring. They fit awfully together.

They fit better than Butler, Simmons and Embiid did.

[DAF86]

They fit better than Butler, Simmons and Embiid did.

I agree those three aren't a perfect fit either, but that trio is still better than DeRozan, Aldridge, Butler. For starters, the Sixers trio is composed of three excellent defenders.

[Chinook]

I agree those three aren't a perfect fit either, but that trio is still better than DeRozan, Aldridge, Butler. For starters, the Sixers trio is composed of three excellent defenders.

Then you add in Harris and no one else of note. At least the Spurs were likely to have Derrick White (Hadn't broken out yet) and Poeltl. And Simmons can't shoot at all, even free throws, and both he and LMA are at best equal head-cases to LMA and DMDR. Considering how the West actually broke down that year, I think the Spurs make it to the Finals in 16 games or less. It was ripe for the taking.

[DAF86]

Then you add in Harris and no one else of note. At least the Spurs were likely to have Derrick White (Hadn't broken out yet) and Poeltl. And Simmons can't shoot at all, even free throws, and both he and LMA are at best equal head-cases to LMA and DMDR. Considering how the West actually broke down that year, I think the Spurs make it to the Finals in 16 games or less. It was ripe for the taking.

I guess Red isn't anyone of note.

Also Embiid, Simmons >>> Aldridge, DeRozan. Embiid and Simmons were at least positive impact players that season.

You overrate our cancer "stars" like crazy. It's almost as if you don't see them play.

[Chinook]

I guess Red isn't anyone of note.

Also Embiid, Simmons >>> Aldridge, DeRozan. Embiid and Simmons were at least positive impact players that season.

So are we talking about fit now, or did you move on?

[DAF86]

So are we talking about fit now, or did you move on?

Fit, talent level, impact. Everything. Also, just because the Sixers lost in 7 games on the second round of the EC it doesn't mean the Spurs would have made it out of the West, tbh.

[Chinook]

Fit, talent level, impact. Everything. Also, just because the Sixers lost in 7 games on the second round of the EC it doesn't mean the Spurs would have made it out of the West, tbh.

You can think they wouldn't. But your initial reasoning was fit, which was shown to be false. If it's talent now, we can talk about that instead, though I think it's pretty unambiguous that they'd be at least compe ive with the conference in terms of star power.

[DAF86]

You can think they wouldn't. But your initial reasoning was fit, which was shown to be false. If it's talent now, we can talk about that instead, though I think it's pretty unambiguous that they'd be at least compe ive with the conference in terms of star power.

How it proved to be false? Because the Sixers lost in the 2nd round of the EC?

[R. DeMurre]

This debate started with Butler being called an overrated 2nd rate star, and now it has morphed into Butler on the Spurs leads them to the finals, and wins a le.

[Chinook]

How it proved to be false? Because the Sixers lost in the 2nd round of the EC?

No, duh. The fit was much more awkward in Philly, and it worked just fine. If it didn't work out in SA wouldn't be because of fit; it would be because of talent and scheming. Clearly three guys who's games down synergize can still overcome that if they are talented enough.

[Chinook]

This debate started with Butler being called an overrated 2nd rate star, and now it has morphed into Butler on the Spurs leads them to the finals, and wins a le.

There was a long-running thread about it at the time. Pretty sure DAF was all for it just like I was. I can't imagine that a) He couldn't see the fit issues then and b) that he was advocating for the Spurs to trade picks and prospects if he didn't think they could've won the le.

[R. DeMurre]

There was a long-running thread about it at the time. Pretty sure DAF was all for it just like I was. I can't imagine that a) He couldn't see the fit issues then and b) that he was advocating for the Spurs to trade picks and prospects if he didn't think they could've won the le.

Feels like deflection to me. What do say about the original opinion that DeRozan, Bam, Dragic, etc go just as far in the playoffs this year as Butler, Bam, Dragic, etc?

[Chinook]

Feels like deflection to me. What do say about the original opinion that DeRozan, Bam, Dragic, etc go just as far in the playoffs this year as Butler, Bam, Dragic, etc?

Deflection? I never said anything about that opinion. I don't think he was a top-five or maybe even top-10 player, but he's basically a shonen protagonist in how he can up his game when backed into a corner against a superior foe. They used to say Tebow would "out-compete" anyone. I always thought that was a stupid term outside of like biology. But I can see that with Butler. Dude has an iron will. DMDR and LMA either would've crumbled or he would've brought out their A-games.

[DAF86]

No, duh. The fit was much more awkward in Philly, andit worked just fine. If it didn't work out in SA wouldn't be because of fit; it would be because of talent and scheming. Clearly three guys who's games down synergize can still overcome that if they are talented enough.

Strongly disagree, tbh.

[DAF86]

There was a long-running thread about it at the time. Pretty sure DAF was all for it just like I was. I can't imagine that a) He couldn't see the fit issues then and b) that he was advocating for the Spurs to trade picks and prospects if he didn't think they could've won the le.

I was in favour of getting Butler for DeRozan. Never wanted to pair them, tbh.

[Chinook]

Strongly disagree, tbh.

It definitely was though. Simmons won't shoot at all, and he can't make free throws. It's really hard to have spacing with that in front of you. Again, talent is a different argument, but Simmons' fit with Embiid just by itself is bad. Add in another non-shooter like Jimmy, and it just gets worse.

[DAF86]

It definitely was though. Simmons won't shoot at all, and he can't make free throws. It's really hard to have spacing with that in front of you. Again, talent is a different argument, but Simmons' fit with Embiid just by itself is bad. Add in another non-shooter like Jimmy, and it just gets worse.

Simmons is a pass first PG, unlike DeRozan who is a shoot first Wing (same as Butler). Simmons is also a much better defender than DeRozan. That makes a of a difference. On the other hand, Embiid > Aldridge. He also takes more 3's than 2019 LaMarcus.