2021 Draft Thread

[SAKURABA216]

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor mocked Mitchell at 7 and Chris Duarte at 14 for us.

Can't think of a worse draft for us if it comes down to that.

You simply don't draft a 6'1'' 23-year old, Patrick Beverly-clone PG at the 7, and a 23-year old which played 2 college seasons at the 14.

Swing for the fences, get high-upside players instead of guys who will be 27 by the time their rookie contract ends.

Mitchell at 7 would be a disaster for the reasons you listed.. and also how does that even fit? He'd be sharing a backcourt with either Curry or Poole at any given time, meaning one of them is likely guarding SGs, unless Mitchell has that ability too (an unknown at this point)

Frankly the mocks I see have no reasoning behind them. Hopefully its just that, and not rumblings they hear from the W's. I obviously have a hard time trusting their judgement when it comes to lottery picks right now

Watch on YouTube

Davion did a great job guarding 6'8 Cade Cunningham. I think he would be great on this team and would love for us to draft either Davion or Moody at #7. If we could get 2 of either Davion Mitchell, Moses Moody, or Keon Johnson we would have an awesome defensive backcourt in the 2nd unit.

However, the more I think about it the more I believe the Warriors will want to snatch up a forward with one of the picks and will want either Scottie Barnes or Jalen Johnson if either of them are available. We ran out of bigs at the end of last season and were playing JTA against power forwards so I don't think the front office will want to resort to that again.

[Swift21]

First of all, I also don't agree with his ranking of Giddey, let it be clear.

But I understand his reasoning: at the top of the draft, you look for outlier skills, in hope that the player can, over time, improve other facets of his skillset to a passable level.

However, there are physical limitations to this logic - Giddey has a cap level on some of his weaknesses.

And I like Giddey, he's in the 8-12 range for me ATM.

Wouldnt that basically be what Satoransky is then? A guy who can pass and had little else, became essentially passable.. he's a 20mpg player and not a particularly adept one.

I dont think a passable level cuts it here. I think for a player like Giddey to be drafted in the lottery, there has to be a logical path to him being a starter, and I dont see one. The guys who were listed as successes have another *elite* part of their game to supplement the passing. And even then, arguably, you still might not be much of an impact player (Rubio).

I dont want to draft a player in the lottery with the basis of their success being an elite skill popping up out of nowhere. Thats something you could do in the late 1st and maybe even the 2nd

You definitely changed my thinking on Giddey

Not mine. Giddey's court vision/playmaking and feel for the game is outstanding. I actually don't think he's far behind Lamelo in those areas.

[Onus]

Wouldnt that basically be what Satoransky is then? A guy who can pass and had little else, became essentially passable.. he's a 20mpg player and not a particularly adept one.

I dont think a passable level cuts it here. I think for a player like Giddey to be drafted in the lottery, there has to be a logical path to him being a starter, and I dont see one. The guys who were listed as successes have another *elite* part of their game to supplement the passing. And even then, arguably, you still might not be much of an impact player (Rubio).

I dont want to draft a player in the lottery with the basis of their success being an elite skill popping up out of nowhere. Thats something you could do in the late 1st and maybe even the 2nd

You definitely changed my thinking on Giddey

Not mine. Giddey's court vision/playmaking and feel for the game is outstanding. I actually don't think he's far behind Lamelo in those areas.

Playmaking is great but if you can't score or shoot to supplement that playmaking then you're just a guy. No one wants to run offense constantly through someone who isn't a threat to score. It sounds like a back up 20 mpg. The high end is what Rubio, Rondo? who are good players but they're more like 20 mpg guys than a starter level player.

I'm not really high on Lamelo, but at least Lamelo is more aggressive and has more of a scoring knack than Giddey.

[AdonalFoyle4Prez]

You definitely changed my thinking on Giddey

Not mine. Giddey's court vision/playmaking and feel for the game is outstanding. I actually don't think he's far behind Lamelo in those areas.

Playmaking is great but if you can't score or shoot to supplement that playmaking then you're just a guy. No one wants to run offense constantly through someone who isn't a threat to score. It sounds like a back up 20 mpg. The high end is what Rubio, Rondo? who are good players but they're more like 20 mpg guys than a starter level player.

I'm not really high on Lamelo, but at least Lamelo is more aggressive and has more of a scoring knack than Giddey.

Don't think he's known to be an elite defender, either. So, right now, he just possesses the playmaking ability. He'll suffer in other areas and will take time for him to adjust to the pace of the league (If he can).

[FNQ]

Wouldnt that basically be what Satoransky is then? A guy who can pass and had little else, became essentially passable.. he's a 20mpg player and not a particularly adept one.

I dont think a passable level cuts it here. I think for a player like Giddey to be drafted in the lottery, there has to be a logical path to him being a starter, and I dont see one. The guys who were listed as successes have another *elite* part of their game to supplement the passing. And even then, arguably, you still might not be much of an impact player (Rubio).

I dont want to draft a player in the lottery with the basis of their success being an elite skill popping up out of nowhere. Thats something you could do in the late 1st and maybe even the 2nd

You definitely changed my thinking on Giddey

Not mine. Giddey's court vision/playmaking and feel for the game is outstanding. I actually don't think he's far behind Lamelo in those areas.

Where is he in scoring and defense? LaMelo's defense wasnt great but what makes his upside tantalizing is that he's able to score as well. If he put up 10 ppg instead of 16 on far worse shooting numbers, he wouldn't be ROY and there would be great concern on whether or not he could be a winning player.

Again, Ricky Rubio has outstanding vision/playmaking, and he's also a borderline elite defender. Was he a good lotto selection? What about Elfrid Payton?

What is Giddey also going to be elite at that would make him a viable NBA starter? Rajon Rondo couldn't shoot, but he was an elite defender and got to the rim at will, and he was *still* questionable as a starter the second he left a stacked team.

No one in the league is considered a great player simply by virtue of playmaking. It has to be supplemented, and sometimes even elite defense isn't enough.

[KevinMcreynolds]

after 15 minutes of youtube scouting, the pick is in...

with the 7th pick of 2021 NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors select...Moses Moody, SG, Arkansas

LESGO

[Quazza]

You definitely changed my thinking on Giddey

Not mine. Giddey's court vision/playmaking and feel for the game is outstanding. I actually don't think he's far behind Lamelo in those areas.

Where is he in scoring and defense? LaMelo's defense wasnt great but what makes his upside tantalizing is that he's able to score as well. If he put up 10 ppg instead of 16 on far worse shooting numbers, he wouldn't be ROY and there would be great concern on whether or not he could be a winning player.

Again, Ricky Rubio has outstanding vision/playmaking, and he's also a borderline elite defender. Was he a good lotto selection? What about Elfrid Payton?

What is Giddey also going to be elite at that would make him a viable NBA starter? Rajon Rondo couldn't shoot, but he was an elite defender and got to the rim at will, and he was *still* questionable as a starter the second he left a stacked team.

No one in the league is considered a great player simply by virtue of playmaking. It has to be supplemented, and sometimes even elite defense isn't enough.

You pretty obviously haven't Seen a game of his hey ? Which is completely fine by the way given he played here

But you keep saying he has no other elite skills other than playmaking/passing which simply isn't true. Eg he was 6th in the entire league in rebounding which is insane for an 18 year old PG playing against men

I've seen him a ton - he has an incredible feel for the game

[Jester_]

The top heaviness of this draft class has been dramatically overstated

Outside of Mobley, picks 2-8 might all be in a similar tier

Reminds me more and more of the Barnes/Lillard/AD draft

[Mob Byers]

Looking at RaiQuan Gray (more skilled EP?), Herbet Jones, DJ Stewart, Trey Murphy, and JT Thor in the late 1st/early second round or maybe even undrafted

I feel like every mock is so drastically different than past year.

[FNQ]

Not mine. Giddey's court vision/playmaking and feel for the game is outstanding. I actually don't think he's far behind Lamelo in those areas.

Where is he in scoring and defense? LaMelo's defense wasnt great but what makes his upside tantalizing is that he's able to score as well. If he put up 10 ppg instead of 16 on far worse shooting numbers, he wouldn't be ROY and there would be great concern on whether or not he could be a winning player.

Again, Ricky Rubio has outstanding vision/playmaking, and he's also a borderline elite defender. Was he a good lotto selection? What about Elfrid Payton?

What is Giddey also going to be elite at that would make him a viable NBA starter? Rajon Rondo couldn't shoot, but he was an elite defender and got to the rim at will, and he was *still* questionable as a starter the second he left a stacked team.

No one in the league is considered a great player simply by virtue of playmaking. It has to be supplemented, and sometimes even elite defense isn't enough.

You pretty obviously haven't Seen a game of his hey ? Which is completely fine by the way given he played here

But you keep saying he has no other elite skills other than playmaking/passing which simply isn't true. Eg he was 6th in the entire league in rebounding which is insane for an 18 year old PG playing against men

I've seen him a ton - he has an incredible feel for the game

Rebounding from a G/SF spot isn't gonna do it either. He's not an elite rebounder in the NBA, he might be good for his position, but that's barely a needle mover. Yea he's got great feel for the game, its basically a carbon copy of the draft profile from Ricky Rubio except Rubio had a borderline elite skill in defense stepping in as well, and that actually can translate to the NBA. What's Giddey's rebounding translate to in the NBA if he's a starter - 5, 6 rpg maybe?

How many great ballhandlers that cant play defense, cant shoot well, and arent bigs) are good starters in the NBA?

What good is Russ' "elite" rebounding from the guard position? How much does it really matter in the grand scheme of things? I can tell you with 100% certainty that Giddey wont be an elite rebounder in the NBA, so really what does it matter?

[Onus]

I think if Ben Simmons and Giannis had done better in the playoffs Barnes would be a lot higher and I could see him going above in the top 5, I know Giannis is actually producing unlike Ben but his major flaw is showing which is a similar flaw of Barnes.

[Jester_]

I think if Ben Simmons and Giannis had done better in the playoffs Barnes would be a lot higher and I could see him going above in the top 5, I know Giannis is actually producing unlike Ben but his major flaw is showing which is a similar flaw of Barnes.

Ben I get, but what's the Giannis comp to Barnes? Giannis problem is he has no skill, he's all freak athlete. That's not Barnes at all.

[whatisacenter]

Not mine. Giddey's court vision/playmaking and feel for the game is outstanding. I actually don't think he's far behind Lamelo in those areas.

Where is he in scoring and defense? LaMelo's defense wasnt great but what makes his upside tantalizing is that he's able to score as well. If he put up 10 ppg instead of 16 on far worse shooting numbers, he wouldn't be ROY and there would be great concern on whether or not he could be a winning player.

Again, Ricky Rubio has outstanding vision/playmaking, and he's also a borderline elite defender. Was he a good lotto selection? What about Elfrid Payton?

What is Giddey also going to be elite at that would make him a viable NBA starter? Rajon Rondo couldn't shoot, but he was an elite defender and got to the rim at will, and he was *still* questionable as a starter the second he left a stacked team.

No one in the league is considered a great player simply by virtue of playmaking. It has to be supplemented, and sometimes even elite defense isn't enough.

You pretty obviously haven't Seen a game of his hey ? Which is completely fine by the way given he played here

But you keep saying he has no other elite skills other than playmaking/passing which simply isn't true. Eg he was 6th in the entire league in rebounding which is insane for an 18 year old PG playing against men

I've seen him a ton - he has an incredible feel for the game

I love that we have boots on the ground to give us their opinion! I look forward to seeing how Giddey does in the NBA.

[mos_def]

I think if Ben Simmons and Giannis had done better in the playoffs Barnes would be a lot higher and I could see him going above in the top 5, I know Giannis is actually producing unlike Ben but his major flaw is showing which is a similar flaw of Barnes.

Ben I get, but what's the Giannis comp to Barnes? Giannis problem is he has no skill, he's all freak athlete. That's not Barnes at all.

If I may jump in this, Ben is secondary to embiid but giannis gets the shots. As a nonfirst option player then that shot better be legit. I think Barnes is a good prospect but his traits are too similar to draymond. He's a high iq player, which we lacked too last year. Also, the last two prospects that have come through the program have both been high defensive players in Issac and Pat Williams.
Barnes doesn't fit the Myers comment of now instead of development tho. If it is Barnes, we know that 14 is going to be a shooter

[Onus]

I think if Ben Simmons and Giannis had done better in the playoffs Barnes would be a lot higher and I could see him going above in the top 5, I know Giannis is actually producing unlike Ben but his major flaw is showing which is a similar flaw of Barnes.

Ben I get, but what's the Giannis comp to Barnes? Giannis problem is he has no skill, he's all freak athlete. That's not Barnes at all.

I mean Ben gets comp'd to Giannis and if Barnes is getting comp'd to Ben that seems like a pretty easy connection. I mean the goal is to let those guys beat their guys off the dribble and then make plays for other or finish at the rim.

But really the similarities are that he's a big freak athlete who can dribble and make some plays. Barnes is a better passer than Giannis but really his strengths on offense come from his ability of being a stronger and a better athlete than his competition. Giannis is obviously longer which makes up for some of his lack of skills but he can still dribble drive and be a better athlete. Barnes doesn't really have a lot of offensive skills other than playmaking and getting to the rim. His scoring bag is pretty limited and his jumper needs a lot of work.

[Scoots1994]

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor mocked Mitchell at 7 and Chris Duarte at 14 for us.

Can't think of a worse draft for us if it comes down to that.

You simply don't draft a 6'1'' 23-year old, Patrick Beverly-clone PG at the 7, and a 23-year old which played 2 college seasons at the 14.

Swing for the fences, get high-upside players instead of guys who will be 27 by the time their rookie contract ends.

Mitchell at 7 would be a disaster for the reasons you listed.. and also how does that even fit? He'd be sharing a backcourt with either Curry or Poole at any given time, meaning one of them is likely guarding SGs, unless Mitchell has that ability too (an unknown at this point)

Frankly the mocks I see have no reasoning behind them. Hopefully its just that, and not rumblings they hear from the W's. I obviously have a hard time trusting their judgement when it comes to lottery picks right now

Watch on YouTube

Davion did a great job guarding 6'8 Cade Cunningham. I think he would be great on this team and would love for us to draft either Davion or Moody at #7. If we could get 2 of either Davion Mitchell, Moses Moody, or Keon Johnson we would have an awesome defensive backcourt in the 2nd unit.

However, the more I think about it the more I believe the Warriors will want to snatch up a forward with one of the picks and will want either Scottie Barnes or Jalen Johnson if either of them are available. We ran out of bigs at the end of last season and were playing JTA against power forwards so I don't think the front office will want to resort to that again.

Mitchell is a good player, but he's old, small, and has limited tape so I understand the knocks on him. If the Warriors are looking for a player ready to go at #7 Moody and Mitchell are the two names.

[The-Power]

I think if Ben Simmons and Giannis had done better in the playoffs Barnes would be a lot higher and I could see him going above in the top 5, I know Giannis is actually producing unlike Ben but his major flaw is showing which is a similar flaw of Barnes.

Ben I get, but what's the Giannis comp to Barnes? Giannis problem is he has no skill, he's all freak athlete. That's not Barnes at all.

Just because he can't shoot doesn't mean he has no skills. His ball handling for his size is elite, he has good hands and he can definitely pass the ball well for a big man. He also has some finesse moves going to the basket and around the rim when he can't dunk. Giannis is a freak athlete but he wouldn't be nearly as good as he is if he didn't have any skills or else we would have seen more freak athletes without skills approach his level.

[mos_def]

I think if Ben Simmons and Giannis had done better in the playoffs Barnes would be a lot higher and I could see him going above in the top 5, I know Giannis is actually producing unlike Ben but his major flaw is showing which is a similar flaw of Barnes.

Ben I get, but what's the Giannis comp to Barnes? Giannis problem is he has no skill, he's all freak athlete. That's not Barnes at all.

Just because he can't shoot doesn't mean he has no skills. His ball handling for his size is elite, he has good hands and he can definitely pass the ball well for a big man. He also has some finesse moves going to the basket and around the rim when he can't dunk. Giannis is a freak athlete but he wouldn't be nearly as good as he is if he didn't have any skills or else we would have seen more freak athletes without skills approach his level.

Don't forget he seems to have high IQ. This isn't Anthony Randolph here

[Mob Byers]

I'm hanging off the Mitchell train, just didn't realize he was nearly an NBA midget

Mookie 2.0?

[mos_def]

Just stating that I dont think Barnes will be there at 7 tho