DRAFT: #18 [Green] & #31 [Terry] & trade for #36 [Tyler Bey]

[Playmaker]

Lauri Markkennen, who was a considerably better prospect than Poku coming out, is struggling to find efficient offense and play defense on the NBA level for a terrible lottery team

I think Lauri's struggles are more of a conversaiton of environment and system fit vs. indivudal talent suceeding. 

Lauri showed he can perform in the NBA. He posted solid averages his rookie year with 15ppg and 7.5 rpg on 43/36/84
He then followed that up with a great second year that was cut short from injuries with 19ppg and 9rpg on 43/36/87

It was at that point the Bulls hired Boylen and instantly ruined any chemistry that team had. He instituted an odd offense and set unrealistic expectations for his team (remember the "we can average 35 assists a game" comment?) all the while reducing Lauri's role to nothing more than a spot up shooter on his best nights. 

So we shouldn't be using him as an excuse to put down Poku as a prospect, regardless of Poku's own individual shortcomings. 

That's not to say I think we should pick Poku at 18 or even at 31. I think Poku is going to be as raw of a prospect as they come. His natural measurements make him incredibly intriguing and the tools are there. But I'd rather find a way to pick him mid-late 2nd round if he falls and go with a more established guy at 18 and 31 like Saddiq Bey and Patrick Williams. 

The volatility of this draft could mean that any number of the prospects we're talking about could fall drastically or could go much higher than expected. So as KG said "anything is pooooooossiiibleeeee". If we're going to reach, I'd rather reach on a guy like RJ Hampton.

I believe in Lauris talent.  He is one of the young veteran NBA players the Mavs should target in a trade.  However he was far far far more NBA read than Poku coming out and is still struggling to reach what people were expecting after year one.

If Poku works hard on his body, jumper and passing (a lot to ask) I think present day Lauri is his ceiling.   Thats hardly the super high crazy ceiling (Gannis, Luka) some are dropping in comparisons.

Poku is a poor mans Lauri or a rich mans Nick Fazekas.  

Also I like RJ since he is from Dallas.  I'm rooting for him to succeed but something about him reminds me of Austin Rivers, another highly rated recuit that didn't show out at the next level after highschool.