MagicMatic wrote:I’m interested to know how people rank these guards in our range based on BPA and Orlando’s “need” in skill sets.
Tyrese Maxey
Tyrell Terry
Desmond Bane
Cole Anthony
Kira Lewis Jr
RJ Hampton
Theo Maledon
Leandro Bolmaro
Tre Jones
To me, all of these options make sense as selections, some more than others. I believe most of these players will be available to Orlando if they choose not to move up. Knowing our FO, I’d guess that they choose a guy that isn’t even on this list.
A pick and roll playmaker, that can also shoot, would be ideal. Obviously I think Killian Hayes would be the best choice for those qualities. If Orlando fails to move up, then hopefully they can find that kind of player here on this list.
I'd love to see another year from Terry. He was so underwhelming physically and he hasn't demonstrated much outside of his ability to shoot. Shooting, in general, is really overrated. Perhaps he develops into a facilitator, but he isn't that right now. You are gambling on his ability to develop into something more.
I don't like Hampton. He is athletic and put up big numbers in high school, but he looks like a pretty terrible finisher and a poor shooter on offense. He just looks so raw to me. He struggled in Australia. He looks like MCW to me. If you like his offense more than I do, I suppose I could see the appeal.
I'd be okay with Maxey. I don't like his stat line in college, but he claims that he was asked to play off the ball, but that he is actually a PG. Considering that he is playing at Kentucky, I suppose that's plausible. He is only just adequate in size for a combo guard, but he plays bigger than he is. He can finish in traffic. He competes at both ends. He should be a solid pro. He has to add something to be anything more than a rotation guy though. He isn't good enough at anything meaningful to look like anything more.
Bolmaro is interesting, but he can't shoot. He has solid mobility for his size, but he isn't a good athlete. He plays hard. That's always good. I suppose you could do worse, but he is severely limited as a playmaker by his inability to shoot. You don't have to chase him over screens. That's going to limit his ability to create, even if you give him screens to work with.
I don't like Bane. He is too small to hide at the four and he is way to slow to cover wings. He'll get cleaned up by every screen. He looks like a less-talented version of Michael Redd. He just looks so stiff and awkward in isolations that I don't think he can cover anyone in the NBA. He moves like Toppen. That's not a compliment. That strength is of limited value if he can't stay in front of anybody.
Anthony is precisely the type of prospect I would try to avoid. You can make all sorts of excuses for his performance at UNC, but at this point, he's just holding onto his high school hype. He is a one-and-done freshman that is the age of a college junior. He is a year older than Kira Lewis.
I like Lewis. That speed is a legitimate weapon. He can shoot. He is really smooth at finishing even at full speed, but he isn't good in traffic and his lack of physicality hurts him. He seemed rather aloof in the interview of him that I saw. That's a bit concerning. I just love that he is so young, so accomplished, and has grown so rapidly, even during the season you could see his improvement. I just think that bodes well for his future.
Maledon is kind of meh. He isn't particularly athletic and he isn't skilled enough to overcome that lack of athleticism. I just don't see an avenue for him to become anything of value. He can facilitate with the pick and roll, so I guess that is something.
I haven't looked at Jones.
I'd rank them...
Lewis
Maxey
Hampton (just based on upside)
I kind of don't care after that. There has to be something more appealing available at 15.
I really do want a playmaker or two out of this draft. This draft is stacked with PGs. I'd try to get a couple and let them fight for minutes. There are some other interesting guys. I like Mannion and Flynn. Both guys have the ability to orchestrate an offense. Mannion has more upside. I really like his game. I guess it depends on whether you think he will be able to shoot and defend, but he is a floor general. He can make the reads. He understands spacing. I read somewhere that he isn't a worker. That's a concern. I just like watching him play though.
I'd try to get a pick or two from Boston. They can't use their picks without dumping some guaranteed contracts. They are already into the luxury tax for next year and they have too many contracts. They don't want to use all three of those picks. They might not want to use any. I'd try to facilitate and get some more talent at the PG position.
I don't like Green. He doesn't have the game. He has the physical profile, but that's about it. If he is two inches shorter with two inches less of wingspan, I think he is a four-year college guy that hopes to get a summer league invite. What makes him more appealing than Pietrus or Abdul-Wahad? If he is a better shooter than those two... Francisco Garcia? That's fine. He will be able to defend. I'd rather not use our pick on that though. I'd really prefer to see anther year at Arizona from him before I was forced to make a decision on him.
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