NBA Mock Drafts

[lyonhawk]

So to pass the time until Thursday, I figured this was a good time to check the latest NBA mocks. The few I checked have Tatum top 5-ish, Giles slipping all the way into the teens, and then a mixed bag on the rest of our roster. Some still have Kennard and/or Allen in the first round this season, but none have Bolden in this draft and none have Frank Jackson in this draft.

As little as a month ago, I thought Tatum/Bolden/Giles were all gone for sure, Grayson was probably 80/20 gone, Luke was 50/50 and Jackson would only go if something drastically changed. Now, I still think Tatum is gone for sure, but the rest I'm not so sure about. I won't believe Bolden or Giles are coming back until the deadline passes and they haven't declared, but I can see a scenario where only Tatum goes pro at the end of the season.

 

[nets on nets on nets]

Predictions (assuming we play great down the stretch and win #6):
Tatum: Top 5 pick, probably not in the debate for top 2 (Fultz and Ball) but right after them.
Giles: Late lottery, picks 10-14 depending on who is willing to roll the dice.
Grayson: A huge reason why we win #6 and he jumps back into late first round.

Luke comes back to work on his on the ball defense.
Frank comes back to sharpen his point guard skills.
Marques comes back to be the Duke starting center next season.

 

[jnastasi]

Tatum: gone
Giles: gone (too risky not to leave)
Bolden: transfer
Jackson/Allen/Kennard: back

 

[lyonhawk]

I think Bolden transferring is the least likely scenario. He'd have to sit out a year.

 

[pisgah101]

Tatum gone outside of that I really don't know. Giles needs to prove he can play IMO and if he doesn't show anything idk why he'd leave and slip more. Bolden stays along with the guards.

 

[spike05rk]

Tatum, Giles, Bolden gone.
Allen probably.
Kennard and Jeter questionable.
Jackson stays.

 

[QC Dukie]

Tatum, Giles, Bolden gone.
Allen probably.
Kennard and Jeter questionable.
Jackson stays.

Where do you think Jeter would go?

OFC

 

[adm015]

Would love to see Jackson, Bolden, and Kennard stay.

 

[MyDudeG_rivals]

No way Giles comes back next season. Another serious injury and his pro prospects may take a hit that he can't come back from. I still think Bolden goes. He may not be a definitive first rounder like many thought he would be this season, but the NBA still drafts on potential. He'll get picked somewhere and with Giles/Tatum gone, I don't think he comes back to a team in which he's gotten limited playing time and where he no longer has his best friends there anymore.

 

[QC Dukie]

Would love to see Jackson, Bolden, and Kennard stay.

I think they will stay. I also think Grayson returns for his senior season.

OFC

 

[MyDudeG_rivals]

I'm also guessing that Jeter may transfer as well. He was a top recruit that continuously keeps getting recruited over. That's understandable of the program because he hasn't shown the capability to produce on a consistent basis at this point in his career. Seems like a great kid though so I hope he sticks with it.

 

[dukiejay]

There isn't a scenario I can envision where Tatum and Giles aren't gone. Tatum for obvious reasons and Giles just because it makes sense.

A month ago I kind of assumed Bolden would be gone too....now I'm not completely sure. I'd still say there's a 75% chance he's gone.

Grayson will go forward with his plan and leave, imo. There's a chance he could return, I suppose, but I think it's pretty minute.

Frank is likely to be back. He'll have an opportunity to explode next season.

At the start of the season I would have said 'very slim' to the prospects of Luke leaving. Now I think it's 50/50 and probably trending in the wrong direction. He loves Duke a great deal, but I think it may be hard to say no to what's in front of him. We'll see.

Honestly, everything is a guess right now (with the exception of Tatum and Giles) because there's still a lot of basketball to be played. I hate sounding like broken record, but enjoy these guys.

Lastly....the national championship game is only eight weeks from tonight. Wrap your head around that one.

 

[spike05rk]

QCDukie I know the word transfer is taboo here but I think it would cross Jeter's mind. And I did say questionable.

 

[sheyduke]

Tatum and Giles gone

Bolden 60/40, like stated I don't see him transferring when a good show at the columbine gets him into the first round.

Luke and Allen, 50/50 depends on what they hear from scouts. I'd lean toward atleast Luke leaving and Grayson coming back.

Jackson comes back he hasn't shown enough to handle being an NBA combo guard and his size limits him to pg. he'll go next year though.

Jeter, I can see transferring back to the west coast. Either UNLV or USC with Thornton. His biggest thing to get over is his self. Either he gains the confidence that he will get plenty of minutes at Duke next season or he feels that he'd rather sit out a year and start fresh some where else. Either way he has the decision and it's all on him. Imo, he transfers and impart because he sees hisself just riding the bench another year.
Duke wins it all, Tatum, Giles, Bolden, Luke, Grayson and maybe even Jackson all gone!

 

[timo0402]

There isn't a scenario I can envision where Tatum and Giles aren't gone. Tatum for obvious reasons and Giles just because it makes sense.

A month ago I kind of assumed Bolden would be gone too....now I'm not completely sure. I'd still say there's a 75% chance he's gone.

Grayson will go forward with his plan and leave, imo. There's a chance he could return, I suppose, but I think it's pretty minute.

Frank is likely to be back. He'll have an opportunity to explode next season.

At the start of the season I would have said 'very slim' to the prospects of Luke leaving. Now I think it's 50/50 and probably trending in the wrong direction. He loves Duke a great deal, but I think it may be hard to say no to what's in front of him. We'll see.

Honestly, everything is a guess right now (with the exception of Tatum and Giles) because there's still a lot of basketball to be played. I hate sounding like broken record, but enjoy these guys.

Lastly....the national championship game is only eight weeks from tonight. Wrap your head around that one.

There is so much time left to go in this season but I tend to agree with you on your guesses as to what happens as of now. I'd say if we have a big finish to the year it will only help the stock of Grayson and Luke. I think both are gone.

Bolden is really the mysterious one to me. He 10000% needs another year at least in college. He also needs to heed the advice of K when he says that you need to run your own race. Just because Tatum and Giles are going doesn't mean you have to also. He could have a big year next year next to Carter and get himself right back into the front half of the draft.

 

[nets on nets on nets]

Count me in the group that believes there is zero chance Jeter transfers. He seems to love Duke and everything associated with the program. Whether he's getting minutes or a DNP, seems to be enjoying himself.

Now I'm sure he does have a competitive side to him, hopefully that fight and desire turns into positive things his JR and SR years.

 

[QC Dukie]

QCDukie I know the word transfer is taboo here but I think it would cross Jeter's mind. And I did say questionable.

Nah, I was just asking if you meant transfer or what? I hope he stays. We will need him in the paint next year.

OFC

 

[WI#1Dukie22]

Jeter will has his time ahead of him, I think he realizes that. It does surprise me the short leash he has, seems like a high energy, positive kid K would seem to give some run. Injury really took him out of the mix this season. I'm sure the thought going into the season is we would be so good and smooth that these guys would get more minutes, or at least many clean up minutes. Hasn't played out that way.

 

[pisgah101]

I like jeter a lot

 

[WI#1Dukie22]

Bolden, Allen, Jackson and Kennard all should stay at this point. I don't want to think about another transfer!

 

[Jake1985]

Gone: Tatum (lottery), Giles (late lottery), Matt & Amile (completed eligibility), Grayson (graduates), Bolden (based on potential) and Luke (can't turn down the $)

That's 7 guys

Duke brings in:
Carter- 5/4
Trent- 2/3
Alex- 2/3

Still on the trail
Bamba (I wouldn't hold my breath)
Knox (gutt tells me UNC or FSU)
Duval (I think it's 50/50 Duke/Kansas)

Would like to keep the thought going on the PG from Yale although unlikely

That roster is thin

 

[HeLooks2MuchLikeDave]

We're gonna be fine at the center spot. Big guys take longer to develop and Jeter as an upperclassman or Bolden as a focal point are both good options to have. One or both will be here next year. What we are going to need is leadership. With all the junk he has dealt with this year, there is no way that Grayson returns... even if he is projected as a 2nd rounder. He's gone and I don't blame him one bit.

That means we aren't going to have a senior starter for the first time since the '06-'07 debacle of a season. Heck, we aren't even going to have a senior on the roster. It also means we probably aren't going to be very good...UNLESS...Kennard comes back. We need Luke for his instant offense and spacing just as much as we need him for his leadership. I can't remember the last time Duke was without an upperclassman guard?

We are going to be young and inexperienced. We need guys like DeLaurier, Vrank, White, et al. to be the backbone of our program and eventually turn into leaders and contributors as seniors and juniors.

 

[OHballer]

Totally just a guess but here is what I think: Tatum is obviously gone. Giles is gone because too much to risk coming back and getting injured again. Both of those two are 100% gone. I think the next most likely to be gone is Grayson at 75% but a lot of that depends on how he finishes out the rest of this season and what it does to his stock. Something tells me though that he's sick and tired of all the negative attention that college basketball media and fans have poured on him and if he gets drafted he's gone. I have Luke at a true 50/50. I think he absolutely loves playing at Duke but his stock may never get higher than it is right now as one mock I saw today had him at 16. If that is truly what scouts think of him it would be hard to turn down that kind of money/opportunity, although coming back pretty much locks him in to a lottery pick in 2018 unless he were to digress or become injured. I hate to say it but if Kennard continues his offensive efficiency the rest of this season it becomes more likely he is gone. Really tough call on Luke....could go either way. Bolden I have at 60% gone. I think he hates Duke, regrets choosing Duke and since he has size and youth somebody will snag him in the second round and he will take it and move on. The only other player to consider for the NBA is Jackson and I think his likelihood of leaving is currently at 5%. Thing with him though is that he is a really, really good player and if he does come back expect him to take a major jump in 2017/2018. Thats my take, be interesting to see how it all shakes out in a few months.