Way too early NBA draft thread 2021

[Am2626]

2021 NBA Draft Order Reportedly to Be Decided by Tiebreaker Coin Flips Tuesday

According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, the league will conduct coin flips as tiebreakers for the NBA draft order at some point in the early afternoon (ET). The Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder are tied for the fourth-best lottery odds, and the Orlando Magic (via the Chicago Bulls), New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings are tied for the eighth-best odds

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10002931-2021-nba-draft-order-reportedly-to-be-decided-by-tiebreaker-coin-flips-tuesday

Winning the tiebreaker really means nothing for the Bulls. It would only matter if they completely had their draft pick. If anything losing the tiebreaker gives Orlando a worse pick if the Bulls don’t get in the top 4. All 3 teams have the same 20% odds of jumping into the top 4.

[fleet]

2021 NBA Draft Order Reportedly to Be Decided by Tiebreaker Coin Flips Tuesday

According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, the league will conduct coin flips as tiebreakers for the NBA draft order at some point in the early afternoon (ET). The Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder are tied for the fourth-best lottery odds, and the Orlando Magic (via the Chicago Bulls), New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings are tied for the eighth-best odds

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10002931-2021-nba-draft-order-reportedly-to-be-decided-by-tiebreaker-coin-flips-tuesday

Poorly written. The Magic don't have it yet. That's still the Bulls lotto spot until it's not..

[Michael Jackson]

2021 NBA Draft Order Reportedly to Be Decided by Tiebreaker Coin Flips Tuesday

According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, the league will conduct coin flips as tiebreakers for the NBA draft order at some point in the early afternoon (ET). The Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder are tied for the fourth-best lottery odds, and the Orlando Magic (via the Chicago Bulls), New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings are tied for the eighth-best odds

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10002931-2021-nba-draft-order-reportedly-to-be-decided-by-tiebreaker-coin-flips-tuesday

Winning the tiebreaker really means nothing for the Bulls. It would only matter if they completely had their draft pick. If anything losing the tiebreaker gives Orlando a worse pick if the Bulls don’t get in the top 4. All 3 teams have the same 20% odds of jumping into the top 4.

Yes, really only Orlando has anything at stake with the coin flip. Bulls either are in the top 4 and the odds are the same or who cares...

[gardenofsound]

Honest question: if the Bulls jump in the lotto, do you think AK would trade the pick in a package for a third star-type player?

[Almost Retired]

Honest question: if the Bulls jump in the lotto, do you think AK would trade the pick in a package for a third star-type player?

No. I think AK would keep the pick because you need contributing players at rookie salary scale. Or you end up filling out your roster with guys that should be playing at the nearest YMCA. If we got a top 4 pick I think it's certain he'd take one of the Big 5 consensus picks.

[DuckIII]

Honest question: if the Bulls jump in the lotto, do you think AK would trade the pick in a package for a third star-type player?

Absolutely yes. The first thing he’d do is shop that pick. Doesn’t mean he’d end up trading it, but it would be his Plan A no doubt.

[Am2626]

Honest question: if the Bulls jump in the lotto, do you think AK would trade the pick in a package for a third star-type player?

Absolutely yes. The first thing he’d do is shop that pick. Doesn’t mean he’d end up trading it, but it would be his Plan A no doubt.

That would be a huge mistake. Unless the return is a top 5 player in his prime it is better to keep the pick. In all likelihood the potential of this pick will be more valuable than the return from a trade. This isn’t just about the next 2 years. You have to look at what is the best long term decision for this organization.

[Am2626]

Honest question: if the Bulls jump in the lotto, do you think AK would trade the pick in a package for a third star-type player?

No. I think AK would keep the pick because you need contributing players at rookie salary scale. Or you end up filling out your roster with guys that should be playing at the nearest YMCA. If we got a top 4 pick I think it's certain he'd take one of the Big 5 consensus picks.

Any one of these 5 guys has the potential to be a franchise changing player that the Bulls can build around. To your point the pick’s rookie salary will allow the team to fill out the roster in the short term while providing an additional player that the team can build the team around in the long term. This pick will also improve the team in the short term as a supporting player at a minimum. The combination of this pick with a free agent and or trade will help with improving the team immensely next year.

[jump]

I don't think all of the top 4 picks is guaranteed enough to be a franchise changing player. Maybe Cunningham. Not sure about the rest of them. Wouldn't you be happy with SGA from the Thunder instead?

[GoBlue72391]

Honest question: if the Bulls jump in the lotto, do you think AK would trade the pick in a package for a third star-type player?

Absolutely yes. The first thing he’d do is shop that pick. Doesn’t mean he’d end up trading it, but it would be his Plan A no doubt.

I wouldn't mind them floating it out there to get feelers on what they could get in return, but the prospect of having an elite young talent on a cheap, team controlled contract for 4 years will be hard to beat. I really don't want to mortgage our future more than we already have for more short term win-now gains. Even with a 3rd star we're not going to be good enough to win a championship, then in a few years we'll be left with a washed Vuch, Zach approaching 30, and those two plus the hypothetical 3rd star taking up a major chunk of our cap space for a team that isn't good enough to win it all.

[jump]

If we traded for SGA, I believe we would be an excellent team.

Vuc, Vet, Simonvic
Theis, Thad
PWill, Brown, Temple
Zach, Coby, Green
SGA, Coby, 2nd Round pick

This team would be loaded with young talent and good solid veterans. Go for a Center to develop in the 2022 draft and we are in good shape for a long time.

[Am2626]

I don't think all of the top 4 picks is guaranteed enough to be a franchise changing player. Maybe Cunningham. Not sure about the rest of them. Wouldn't you be happy with SGA from the Thunder instead?

What did you think of SGA when he was coming out of Kentucky? Probably a lot different than what you think of him now. Yes there are no guarantees but the potential is there for all of these guys. It’s not worth selling a draft pick for a return that won’t be good enough.

[Am2626]

If we traded for SGA, I believe we would be an excellent team.

Vuc, Vet, Simonvic
Theis, Thad
PWill, Brown, Temple
Zach, Coby, Green
SGA, Coby, 2nd Round pick

This team would be loaded with young talent and good solid veterans. Go for a Center to develop in the 2022 draft and we are in good shape for a long time.

While SGA had a great season he didn’t do anything to help OKC win games. Being the clear number 1 option on a bad team may have also inflated his numbers. You can draft either Cade or Suggs and still feel good about this team’s chances next year. This team is not winning a championship either way.

[Almost Retired]

I don't think all of the top 4 picks is guaranteed enough to be a franchise changing player. Maybe Cunningham. Not sure about the rest of them. Wouldn't you be happy with SGA from the Thunder instead?

I like SGA. But OKC isn't going to trade him. And I read that the Thunder are bringing over Vasilijie Micic from Europe for next season. The Thunder are positioning for returning to a Playoff bound lock with astute drafting and trades with the long term in mind. Theo Maledon was the steal of the Draft last year and he's still only 19 years old. We could possibly pry the rights to Micic away from them. If they get lotto lucky and get a top 4 pick I suspect they's lean toward Cunningham or Mobley. To top it off the Thunder have a ridiculous number of extra First and Second Round picks stretching out to 2027. The Thunder also have only $55 Million committed for next season. Lots of up and coming talent on that squad already. Lu Dort, Ty Jerome, Moses Brown, Darius Bazley, Tony Bradley, and Alex Poku.... Seems like half their roster is 6-8* - 7-0" and young. They have the brightest future in the League in my opinion.

[jump]

SGA is just an example of the type of player we could target with a top 4 pick.

[jump]

I don't think all of the top 4 picks is guaranteed enough to be a franchise changing player. Maybe Cunningham. Not sure about the rest of them. Wouldn't you be happy with SGA from the Thunder instead?

I like SGA. But OKC isn't going to trade him. And I read that the Thunder are bringing over Vasilijie Micic from Europe for next season. The Thunder are positioning for returning to a Playoff bound lock with astute drafting and trades with the long term in mind. Theo Maledon was the steal of the Draft last year and he's still only 19 years old. We could possibly pry the rights to Micic away from them. If they get lotto lucky and get a top 4 pick I suspect they's lean toward Cunningham or Mobley. To top it off the Thunder have a ridiculous number of extra First and Second Round picks stretching out to 2027. The Thunder also have only $55 Million committed for next season. Lots of up and coming talent on that squad already. Lu Dort, Ty Jerome, Moses Brown, Darius Bazley, Tony Bradley, and Alex Poku.... Seems like half their roster is 6-8* - 7-0" and young. They have the brightest future in the League in my opinion.

Your well detailed account of OKC’s assets convinces me even more that AK will be shopping the pick. If Donovan wanted to rebuild a young team with a great future, he would have stayed there. AK and management surely promised that we would make quicker moves to contending than that.

[GoBlue72391]

2021 NBA Draft Order Reportedly to Be Decided by Tiebreaker Coin Flips Tuesday

According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, the league will conduct coin flips as tiebreakers for the NBA draft order at some point in the early afternoon (ET). The Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder are tied for the fourth-best lottery odds, and the Orlando Magic (via the Chicago Bulls), New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings are tied for the eighth-best odds

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10002931-2021-nba-draft-order-reportedly-to-be-decided-by-tiebreaker-coin-flips-tuesday

Poorly written. The Magic don't have it yet. That's still the Bulls lotto spot until it's not..

A poorly written article by Bleacher Report? What? No! Impossible! /s

[Leslie Forman]

SGA is just an example of the type of player we could target with a top 4 pick.

He is also an example of the type of player that would absolutely never get traded right now for just a top 4 pick.

[Am2626]

SGA is just an example of the type of player we could target with a top 4 pick.

He is ex also an example of the type of player that would absolutely never get traded right now for just a top 4 pick.

Yeah the trade doesn’t make sense for either side. If the Bulls get a top 4 pick Cade and Suggs both have very good upside and the Bulls wouldn’t have to give up additional assets. The rookie contract gives the Bulls more flexibility to round out their roster better. Trading a top 4 pick is the worst possible thing the Bulls can do at this point. They made enough trades using their draft capital. They don’t need to mortgage more of their future when what they would get back still wouldn’t make them a championship contender.

[Ayman78]

SGA is just an example of the type of player we could target with a top 4 pick.

He is ex also an example of the type of player that would absolutely never get traded right now for just a top 4 pick.

Yeah, the trade doesn’t make sense for either side. If the Bulls get a top 4 pick Cade and Suggs both have very good upside and the Bulls wouldn’t have to give up additional assets. The rookie contract gives the Bulls more flexibility to round out their roster better. Trading a top 4 pick is the worst possible thing the Bulls can do at this point. They made enough trades using their draft capital. They don’t need to mortgage more of their future when what they would get back still wouldn’t make them a championship contender.

I don't disagree with your logic. However, I can see a few scenarios where AK might move a top 4 pick. If things breakdown in Philadelphia and Ben Simmons becomes available or a Da'Aaron Foxx becomes available. In either case I could see AK and ME doubling down on their belief that Vuch and Zach along with a third elite player puts the team in title contention.