2022 NBA Draft Talk: Never too soon

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[Note30]

Read on Twitter

We already have McDaniels, do we need the European version?

[Dewey]

Read on Twitter

We already have McDaniels, do we need the European version?

Stickman is not in position to to dictate draft options… and who knows, maybe he has good trade value. I’d like to keep him and add, but no one seems to have a feel for his upside potential

[wolves_89]

Read on Twitter

Out of over 15 mock drafts from major sports reporting organizations I've seen in the last couple of weeks, only one mock had Jovic going earlier than 19. Unless he really impresses in individual workouts, I'm guessing he'll be on the board when the Wolves pick. My current best guess is that Wolves pick one of Washington/Jovic/Liddell if they stay at 19.

[Mamba4Goat]

If the Wolves plan to solve their forward issue through other means, I wouldn’t hate Dalen Terry, Blake Wesley, or MarJon Beauchamp.

[Domejandro]

The best draft comparison for Nikola Jović is probably Rashard Lewis. Obviously not a prediction on how he does in the NBA, but that is roughly the archetype of player that he is.

[Mattya]

Eason seems like the perfect fit for our core. He brings rebounding, defense, and has enough ability to slash and cut off the ball while having at least some spot up shooting potential.

I think Jalen Williams underrated. Reminds me of KPJ without the attitude issues. Big wingspan for his height, has good handle to drive and attack the paint, can run some pick and roll, and has some nice passing instincts. Him being another player who can put the ball on the floor to compliment KAT and Ant would be nice.

Roddy would be a solid back up plan for a do a bit of everything SF in the second round.

Also think Jaylin Williams is underrated player. Kind of worrisome he struggled with his FG% but he has a feel for passing, and defense. Doesn’t seem like his jumper is broken beyond fixing either.

I feel like people are picking apart Jovic a little too much. Seems to have potential as a shooter and passer as a forward. Doesn’t need to be a freak athlete as a 6’11” SF. He has a solid foundation of skills to build on.

Not much of a fan of any of the PGs in this draft. Would rather just keep developing Wright.

[Devilzsidewalk]

^ I really liked the videos of Jalen Williams, the track record just scares me a bit because of how abrupt his ascent was. But it might make sense as he looks like he's grown a ton in college, and came in as a 6'2" PG. He's probably still adjusting to his new physicality. I think his defense and passing are already on point, and that's a really good start.

[Krapinsky]

Guys I like as potential trade up targets should they fall into the late lottery:

Mathurin -- prototypical wing scorer with plus length. He'll be a 10 plus year starter in the league with all-star upside.
Duren -- I see him as one of the higher upside players in the draft if he can put it all together. Robert Williams is my comp for him.

Guys I like at 19 if we stand put in order of preference:

Jaylen Williams - might be out of our reach post combine since his advanced skill set stood out in that setting. Feels like he's destined to be a Spur.
Kennedy Chandler - I think he's underrated and i'm not sure why. Reminds me of Darius Garland a bit with perhaps a lesser bag of tricks. He's probably the guy we should pick given our current roster construction.
Jaden Hardy - he would be stuck in Ant's shadow and not a great fit, but if he's around in the late first his upside is probably too good to pass up that late int he draft. Reminds me of Eric Gordon.
Nikola Jovic - i'm not entirely sold on him. I think offensively he is more of a face up 3 and defensively he probably needs to be a 4. If he was more of a passer I would be more excited. I can't help but see Kyle Kuzma as his ceiling, but at 19 in the draft that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

Guys I like in the second round:

Wendell Moore -- has good size and a well rounded game for a wing. Doesn't try to do too much like some of the score first wings that populate this draft pool. He can fit on any team and seems like a rare second rounder that could crack a rotation early on.

Iverson Molinar -- not sure what happened to his 3 point shot last year, but if he can revert back to the mean then I like him as a back up point guard with the potential to be a fill-in starter.

Dereon Seabron -- this guy excites me as much as any player in the draft. His fatal flaw is he can't shoot a lick but he fills up the box score and attacks the rim as well as anyone in the draft. I can't help but see flashes of Ja Morant in his game. Worst case scenario he is a microwave scorer off the bench that can play make and rebound.

I like Shangrila's addition of "Guys I am out on"

TyTy Washington - I'm 100% out. He's a very old freshman at age 20 1/2 (less than 4 months younger than Ant by comparison). Don't like the body. Don't think he's great at any one thing. He's a house hold name because he played at Kentucky, but if he played at a lesser school I wonder if he'd be in the first round conversation. Ryan Rollins is a year and half younger and seems to do everything Washington does and more, yet he's mocked 20-30 picks later. Go figure.

EJ Liddle - His standing reach is a bit concerning to the extent it limits his ceiling (pun intended). But the main reason I am out is because i don't like his fit on a team with KAT and D-Lo. Just feels like with those two we have two guys that already have slow feet and we can't afford anymore. Perhaps he succeeds somewhere else, but don't think he succeeds here.

Patrick Baldwin Jr - somewhat skilled for a big, but looks to be a low % ball stopper with below average athleticism. If i'm throwing darts I'd rather land elsewhere.

[KGdaBom]

Read on Twitter

We already have McDaniels, do we need the European version?

Other than being tall and skinny I don't think they have much in common.

[KGdaBom]

Tankathon has us picking TyTy with Hardy, Jovic, Liddell and Jalen Williams on the board. No thank you.

[Note30]

Read on Twitter

We already have McDaniels, do we need the European version?

Other than being tall and skinny I don't think they have much in common.

Tall and skinny can only play a specific type of defense.

[Devilzsidewalk]

a little of the ol' In/Out/In/Out, I like it

OUT:
Liddell: I don't see a PF, I see a mobile stretch five. I can see some of the positives having him w/ KAT where both can play down low or space on the perimeter, but I didn't see enough blow-by/off-the-dribble stuff from him to get too excited.

Agbaji: too old, too limited off the dribble. We don't need another Beasley. I'm actually kinda surprised how highly he's being mocked because he looks like a typical late 1st draft pick. I guess the athleticism gives him an extra potential gear.

Keels: Looks out of shape. One dimensional shooter who shot poorly. Should be an UDFA imo.

Minott: too much work to do on offense. I don't want to wait 5 years to reap the benefits.

IN:
Jalen (not Jaylin) Williams: I like guys that came up as a PG then grew a bunch, and now they have that PG vision and handles with size. That's as scientific as I can be.

Koloko: He plays stronger than his frame would suggest, and he has room to get stronger. I think with good coaching and a little physical development, he can be one of the top defensive centers in the NBA. Just not sure of the fit b/c you could never play him with Vanderbilt.

Duren: I think he could be insane. Will immediately be one of the very best athletes at center, and could soon be the very best. I'd take him straight up over Ayton. He's gonna be dominate on the glass and as a finisher. And with his athleticism and 7'5" wingspan, has huge defensive potential. Agile too.

Cockburn: I mean, for a mid 2nd rounder, you can get somebody who will always be the strongest guy on the court. He's like Pekovic with 30% more athleticism. He has some decent post footwork too. But on the glass and around the rim, he's almost undeniable. I think he has a decent enough potential as a drop big too with his size and agility. Obviously needs coaching in a lot of basics pretty much across the board, but again, mid 2nd rounder? I'm down. As the old adage goes: you can't teach 7 feet 300 lbs of lean muscle.

David Roddy: Cant help but love the idea of Roddy and Edwards out there next to each other as the strongest wing combo in history. Or next to McDaniels as a forward duo at complete opposite ends of the physical spectrum. Really nice athleticism and agility for how big he is. 3 point shot looking nice. Handles looks decent. Seems like a worker. I can picture him out there doing Jae Crowder stuff. Seems strong on the glass. In the 2nd round, he's on my short list.

DUNNO:

Daniels: I really want to like him. Nice athleticism, nice touch on short shots, looks good in the open court, seems smart...but his shooting looks so bad sometimes and his handle is loose. It'd be a lot of hope and projection, because if he can clean that up, he's like Lonzo Ball-ish.

[jpatrick]

a little of the ol' In/Out/In/Out, I like it

OUT:
Liddell: I don't see a PF, I see a mobile stretch five. I can see some of the positives having him w/ KAT where both can play down low or space on the perimeter, but I didn't see enough blow-by/off-the-dribble stuff from him to get too excited.

Agbaji: too old, too limited off the dribble. We don't need another Beasley. I'm actually kinda surprised how highly he's being mocked because he looks like a typical late 1st draft pick. I guess the athleticism gives him an extra potential gear.

Keels: Looks out of shape. One dimensional shooter who shot poorly. Should be an UDFA imo.

Minott: too much work to do on offense. I don't want to wait 5 years to reap the benefits.

IN:
Jalen (not Jaylin) Williams: I like guys that came up as a PG then grew a bunch, and now they have that PG vision and handles with size. That's as scientific as I can be.

Koloko: He plays stronger than his frame would suggest, and he has room to get stronger. I think with good coaching and a little physical development, he can be one of the top defensive centers in the NBA. Just not sure of the fit b/c you could never play him with Vanderbilt.

Duren: I think he could be insane. Will immediately be one of the very best athletes at center, and could soon be the very best. I'd take him straight up over Ayton. He's gonna be dominate on the glass and as a finisher. And with his athleticism and 7'5" wingspan, has huge defensive potential. Agile too.

Cockburn: I mean, for a mid 2nd rounder, you can get somebody who will always be the strongest guy on the court. He's like Pekovic with 30% more athleticism. He has some decent post footwork too. But on the glass and around the rim, he's almost undeniable. I think he has a decent enough potential as a drop big too with his size and agility. Obviously needs coaching in a lot of basics pretty much across the board, but again, mid 2nd rounder? I'm down. As the old adage goes: you can't teach 7 feet 300 lbs of lean muscle.

David Roddy: Cant help but love the idea of Roddy and Edwards out there next to each other as the strongest wing combo in history. Or next to McDaniels as a forward duo at complete opposite ends of the physical spectrum. Really nice athleticism and agility for how big he is. 3 point shot looking nice. Handles looks decent. Seems like a worker. I can picture him out there doing Jae Crowder stuff. Seems strong on the glass. In the 2nd round, he's on my short list.

DUNNO:

Daniels: I really want to like him. Nice athleticism, nice touch on short shots, looks good in the open court, seems smart...but his shooting looks so bad sometimes and his handle is loose. It'd be a lot of hope and projection, because if he can clean that up, he's like Lonzo Ball-ish.

Come to the light on Daniels! His shot looked pure by the end of the g league season and be shot lights out during his workout. His handle is a bit loose. He can’t be the primary initiator. But I see him as Halliburton with better defense. Maybe Lonzo. Maybe some Jrue Holiday. A star? No. A perfect #3 on this roster? Yes. I’d move DLo and a future protected pick to move up for him. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be nearly enough to get into that 6-8 range.

I’d also love Souchan. Elite elite defense. Great BBIQ. Can handle and pass a little. Shot? Meh. But might come around. Too bad it sounds like he’s probably going top 10 now. He’s a very lite version of Draymond imo.

I want to like Eason. That BBIQ scares the heck out of me. His physical profile is great though.

[Krapinsky]

a little of the ol' In/Out/In/Out, I like it

Keels: Looks out of shape. One dimensional shooter who shot poorly. Should be an UDFA imo.

Keels is a guy I'm more in on than out, especially given where he is currently being mocked (i.e. second round).

I get Lu Dort vibes. Maybe a little Lance Stephenson. He's thick and quick. He can pass. He's aggressive. He's young-- one of the youngest players in the draft. I like him as a compliment, just not someone you want driving the bus for you.

[thinktank]

Read on Twitter

Out of over 15 mock drafts from major sports reporting organizations I've seen in the last couple of weeks, only one mock had Jovic going earlier than 19. Unless he really impresses in individual workouts, I'm guessing he'll be on the board when the Wolves pick. My current best guess is that Wolves pick one of Washington/Jovic/Liddell if they stay at 19.

My gut says he doesn’t make it to 19.

His combination of height, handles, and touch are too rare.

[Klomp]

Not many will be surprised to hear I'm 'in' on far more guys than I'm 'out' on.

IN
Eason: For Minnesota fans, think a cross between Jarred Vanderbilt and Corey Brewer.
Branham: I think he has major sleeper star potential. One of my favorites.
Agbaji: OK maybe not the same high-end, but about as safe as they come.
Liddell: Not flashy or sexy, but feels very safe at a position of need.
LaRavia: Something about him just appeals to me.
Wesley: In terms of 'home run swings' like Flip once took with LaVine, Wesley will be at the top of the list in our range.
Jal. Williams: One of my favorites. Good blend of safety and upside.
Terry: Newer on my radar, but appealing.

OUT
Washington: Despite being from Kentucky, something about his profile just feels off and not trustworthy.
Kessler: I don't think he's the right type of big to pair with Towns.
Brown: Wish he was bigger, because that's the main thing holding me back.
Beauchamp: Just haven't been able to get behind him.
Moore: Feels unspectacular. How many prospects at Duke passed him by?

[shangrila]

a little of the ol' In/Out/In/Out, I like it

Keels: Looks out of shape. One dimensional shooter who shot poorly. Should be an UDFA imo.

Keels is a guy I'm more in on than out, especially given where he is currently being mocked (i.e. second round).

I get Lu Dort vibes. Maybe a little Lance Stephenson. He's thick and quick. He can pass. He's aggressive. He's young-- one of the youngest players in the draft. I like him as a compliment, just not someone you want driving the bus for you.

He's not the athlete Dort was/is which is going to limit him on the defensive end. In the Virginia game early in the season for example, he was getting consistently isolated and blown by by the Virginia guards (who are no names, no offence to them). Add that to some serious finishing concerns and I'm not surprised he's been dropping down boards for most of the season.

If he's there at 40 I wouldn't mind taking him. He's got some interesting secondary playmaking and shooting potential but defensively I think he's more of a 2/3 guy than a 1/2, which might not be a good thing given his average height and wingspan. Though credit to his strength, that could be a big factor for him on both ends.

[Mattya]

I feel like the biggest thing with Eason is that in college his offensive role asks him to creat offense in the half court when he doesn’t have the skill to do it. Make his role what Wiggins role with GS is, and he will look a lot more refined in offense.

[wolves_89]

Read on Twitter

Out of over 15 mock drafts from major sports reporting organizations I've seen in the last couple of weeks, only one mock had Jovic going earlier than 19. Unless he really impresses in individual workouts, I'm guessing he'll be on the board when the Wolves pick. My current best guess is that Wolves pick one of Washington/Jovic/Liddell if they stay at 19.

My gut says he doesn’t make it to 19.

His combination of height, handles, and touch are too rare.

Since I'm not a fan of Jovic, I really hope you're right. If Jovic goes before 19 it means a guy I like a lot more probably falls to the Wolves.