Bouknight at 5, Kuminga or Barnes at 8

[basketballRob]

I am also a Springer fan. Liked him early. Definitely like him more than Keon J and probably Bouknight too. I wouldn't be mad if they "reached" for him at 8 and i would be excited.

We could nickname Springer, Jerry. Then we could use the Jerry Jerry Jerry chant at the Amway.

Read on Twitter

?s=19

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[jayrehme]

Springer's an interesting prospect, but his offensive game looks like it'd be less affective against NBA size and athleticism

[Xatticus]

Springer's an interesting prospect, but his offensive game looks like it'd be less affective against NBA size and athleticism

He's a 2-dimensional athlete. That's not a criticism. He is strong and he gets up easy, but he is always moving in the x or y planes as opposed to xyz. This is because he always has his feet under him. He keeps his center of gravity low.

He's solid. He's intriguing. He's young.

He doesn't trust his shot right now. The shooting line is good, but his shot selection from the perimeter is tight. He opts to put the ball on the floor to attack the paint, with mixed results. He keeps his head up and tries to read the floor, but he gets himself into tight spots. If he can get better at reading the second level of the defense and/or if he opens up his shot selection from the perimeter, he could be a nice offensive player.

I think he'll be fine defensively. He isn't toolsy enough to expect a lot of value there, but he won't be a problem. His measurements came in a bit smaller than I'd hoped. He is similar to a less savvy version of Jalen Suggs to me. You don't want to project strengths that aren't there simply because he is young, but he is solid at so many things that he isn't far away from being a nice prospect. You just hope that he develops a standout skill.

[Cammo101]

I don't get the Bouknight love on this board. He is not a top 6 player in this draft. Also, in this scenario, it's unlikely either Barnes or Kuminga makes it to #8. I like him fine at #8, but I wouldn't be looking at him with the #5.

IT'S A GHOST!!!

Where have you been?

I'm still around, popping in from time to time. Super busy making movies. How've you been?

[Cammo101]

Hopefully Suggs is there at #5 and we rush the card in for him. I'm really torn at pick #8 assuming the top 6 guys are off the board. Sungun would probably be my top rated guy there, but we don't need a center.

[Rainwater]

I wouldn't say they're not difference makers.. more than half of those guys are valuable to their team/would be valuable on a contender if they're on a bad team.

At 8 I would love to get someone that can turn into any of those names.. starters or bench guys that can give you 20-30 minutes and good shooting? Sign me up.

The whole "superstar or bust" on every pick is a weird stance to take. Obviously #5 I want us to take a swing for someone who can be a truly elite player (if they exist - history says they will) .. but yeah

I think finding the 20-30 min guys has been the easy part for the Magic through the years with guys like AG, Evan, and Harkless. The hard part has been finding the stars hence why many have the "superstar or bust" mentally.

[Bensational]

Look at previous drafts.
Arhythype of 6'2-6'5 guards who "can shoot" every year makes around 1/4th of all draft picks ( sometimes even 1/3 ) and yet very few of them actually make any difference.

You gotta separate “can shoot” from “can create and make a shot”, though. And within that, then analyse how they achieve that and how it might crossover to the pros.

A lot of the names you mentioned were spot shooters and off ball guys.

Being 6’4-6’5 is arbitrary when the top 3 scorers this season were Curry, Beal and Lillard. LaVine and Kyrie in top 10. Mitchell, Booker, Young, Fox, Sexton, SGA, CJ, Westbrook we’re all in the top 30 scorers in the league. 13/30 being 6’5 or under.

Amongst the other top scorers were elite bigs (Embiid and Jokic) and Vuc, physical exceptions like Giannis, Durant and Zion, and ‘prototypical big wings’ like Luka, Tatum, Kawhi, LeBron, Brown, Harden, George.

Height doesn’t matter. It’s the difference between “can shoot” and “can create and make a shot” which counts.

[thelead]

Springer's an interesting prospect, but his offensive game looks like it'd be less affective against NBA size and athleticism

He's a 2-dimensional athlete. That's not a criticism. He is strong and he gets up easy, but he is always moving in the x or y planes as opposed to xyz. This is because he always has his feet under him. He keeps his center of gravity low.

He's solid. He's intriguing. He's young.

He doesn't trust his shot right now. The shooting line is good, but his shot selection from the perimeter is tight. He opts to put the ball on the floor to attack the paint, with mixed results. He keeps his head up and tries to read the floor, but he gets himself into tight spots. If he can get better at reading the second level of the defense and/or if he opens up his shot selection from the perimeter, he could be a nice offensive player.

I think he'll be fine defensively. He isn't toolsy enough to expect a lot of value there, but he won't be a problem. His measurements came in a bit smaller than I'd hoped. He is similar to a less savvy version of Jalen Suggs to me. You don't want to project strengths that aren't there simply because he is young, but he is solid at so many things that he isn't far away from being a nice prospect. You just hope that he develops a standout skill.

I agree. Like I said, I don't think he'll be a star but he can definitely be a better version of Courtney Lee who was a solid role player for years.

[Magic Mops]

I am also a Springer fan. Liked him early. Definitely like him more than Keon J and probably Bouknight too. I wouldn't be mad if they "reached" for him at 8 and i would be excited.

Springer is fairly underrated.
Very fundamental player.

[tiderulz]

Hopefully Suggs is there at #5 and we rush the card in for him. I'm really torn at pick #8 assuming the top 6 guys are off the board. Sungun would probably be my top rated guy there, but we don't need a center.

6’9 slow center with no defense. No thanks

[AdamTheGreek]

Not touching Springer. Lack of size is an issue, but more importantly is he’s not a proven shooter (very few 3-point attempts per game).

[pepe1991]

Look at previous drafts.
Arhythype of 6'2-6'5 guards who "can shoot" every year makes around 1/4th of all draft picks ( sometimes even 1/3 ) and yet very few of them actually make any difference.

You gotta separate “can shoot” from “can create and make a shot”, though. And within that, then analyse how they achieve that and how it might crossover to the pros.

A lot of the names you mentioned were spot shooters and off ball guys.

Being 6’4-6’5 is arbitrary when the top 3 scorers this season were Curry, Beal and Lillard. LaVine and Kyrie in top 10. Mitchell, Booker, Young, Fox, Sexton, SGA, CJ, Westbrook we’re all in the top 30 scorers in the league. 13/30 being 6’5 or under.

Amongst the other top scorers were elite bigs (Embiid and Jokic) and Vuc, physical exceptions like Giannis, Durant and Zion, and ‘prototypical big wings’ like Luka, Tatum, Kawhi, LeBron, Brown, Harden, George.

Height doesn’t matter. It’s the difference between “can shoot” and “can create and make a shot” which counts.

Does "can create shots for himself" counts guys like Cole Anthony ? Guys who are propped from media as "shot creators" despite being putrid at it?
I mean, every player "can" create shot for himself, but some players have green light to be terrible at it, some don't.

Westbrook "can" create shot for himselfs, he just happends to shoot 45% TS from isolations.
Lebron is " one of greatest" and this year his self- shot creation was pathetic.
Jayson Tatum is painted as next big superstar, that crafty ballhandler that can go anywhere on the floor and score, do you know his FG% from isolation plays ?

Spoiler:

34% FG

3 of top scorers who are guards all have same things in common: missed playoffs, missed playoffs, lost in first round. Last best guard -led team that won championship is arguablly , Spurs - Tony Parker 2007 ?
Guards almost awlays get dwarfed in playoffs. That's why it took Chris Paul almost 2 decades to pass second round of playoffs. Despite being one of best to ever do it. Being smallest player , or among smallest, in sport where target hangs in air, will always be dissadventage.

[thelead]

Not touching Springer. Lack of size is an issue, but more importantly is he’s not a proven shooter (very few 3-point attempts per game).

I wouldn’t either… at 5 or 8.