Mamba4Goat wrote:I’ve grown curious over how the team approaches guards this draft. They’ve basically already got two waiting (Clark+Spagnolo). They also have Nix as an RFA although I can’t imagine they’re too invested in him.
They should be heavily scouting the PG pool this year. Spagnolo is highly unlikely to ever play in the NBA, Clarke is more of a 2/3 guy offensively (and unlikely to get NBA minutes next year) and while I do see what they like in Nix as you say they're unlikely to be heavily invested in him (nor has he shown that he deserves more NBA minutes at this time). Moore is also in this mix though he looks like a complete bust for us. I'm personally still high on Trevor Keels too but he's more of a 2way next year.
I'd be interested to see their draft philosophy here too. In a general sense this team has had success with positional size+length and defensive effort/IQ, with Conley being the only exception to the first part. Assuming they draft for need, if that philosophy continues into the draft then they'll be looking at bigger PGs (think Wendell Moore, at least physically). The huge issue there is 2-fold:
1. Everyone is looking for players like that
2. The prospects that fit this mold where we're drafting often have significant drawbacks or red flags
For example, let's look at some of the guys that might fit that mold that are available around where we're picking (according to recent mocks):
Tyrese Proctor, Duke - Early consensus top 10 pick that's fallen off a cliff. Good measurables, great AST:TO ratio, decent shooting %s. Doesn't get steals or blocks, doesn't get to the line, doesn't rebound, tape shows him struggling to beat guys off the dribble. Just an overall underwhelming performance this season and seems a bit "muted" while he's playing. Too much has to change with this guy for him to be a good NBA role player, let alone anything higher.
Carlton Carrington, Pitt - Exploded onto the scene but has largely come crashing down. I really like him and would easily pick him in the 1st but he's got plenty of red flags at the moment. Can't shoot, doesn't get to the line, no steals. The tape looks far better than the numbers which is why I'm keen on him but this also means that, to me, he won't actually be available when we pick.
Ajay Mitchell, UCSB - Explosive scorer, not much of a PG nor much of a 3pt shooter. Personally he looks a step slow while I watch him and that's especially concerning given his competition. Numbers look amazing though, at least offensively.
Trey Alexander, Creighton - More of a combo guard in past years, he worked on his playmaking and it's improved a lot. Not to the point that he's a PG but I've got more confidence in him handling the ball than NAW. This season though his shot has left him completely, which was his elite, draftable skill in past years. It's tough to get a read on him as a player at this point which is why he's fallen from the mid-1st for most scouts.
If you take height out of the equation though there's a number of skilled guys that are interesting. Tyler Kolek, Judah Mintz, Kylan Boswell, Juan Nunez, Tamin Lipsey, even DJ Wagner if you wanted to be kind and class him as a PG. But the question for them is then can they bring it defensively and, if not, do they bring enough on the other end to justify that? That's the ultimate difference between Conley and McLaughlin.
