The 2022 NBA Draft Thread

[Petre1978]

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The Magic could acquire another pick to grab him.
He would be a nice replacement for Bamba.

[Bensational]

I'm still slowly moving all my chips towards Ivey:

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The play that starts at 0:35....

I’m loving what I’m seeing from Ivey and would be stoked to land him. I saw this video and it got me wondering how much he’s advantaged by playing alongside the most dominant big man in college ball?

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Zach Edey is quietly having a phenomenally efficient season purely because he’s so big compared to the competition. He won’t have that advantage in the pros, but he seems to have the smarts to know how to use his body. He gets great positioning on post pin downs from setting early screens (which help free up Ivey) and then he can feed off an open basket when the ball gets thrown over the top.

If we took Ivey I think we could really benefit by trying to grab Edey as well. Partnering players with good rapport and habits will help speed up the rebuild.

[KillMonger]

or we could get holmgren to pair with Suggs

[Rainwater]

It seems like the top 3 guys right now are Paolo, Smith, and Chet. If that remains the same and the magic remain 1st or 2nd pick I wonder were that leaves Issac. I honestly would love a Franz and Smith paring.

[zaymon]

It seems like the top 3 guys right now are Paolo, Smith, and Chet. If that remains the same and the magic remain 1st or 2nd pick I wonder were that leaves Issac. I honestly would love a Franz and Smith paring.

I would prefer to pair Franz with better rim protector, Isaac or Holmgren. Smith projected role seems too similar to Wagner.

[Petre1978]

It seems like the top 3 guys right now are Paolo, Smith, and Chet. If that remains the same and the magic remain 1st or 2nd pick I wonder were that leaves Issac. I honestly would love a Franz and Smith paring.

I would prefer to pair Franz with better rim protector, Isaac or Holmgren. Smith projected role seems too similar to Wagner.

Smith plays the 4.
Wagner the 3.
These 2 would be a good scoring duo.

Although i understand the appeal of Holmgren.
Great shotblocking instincts.

[Petre1978]

It seems like the top 3 guys right now are Paolo, Smith, and Chet. If that remains the same and the magic remain 1st or 2nd pick I wonder were that leaves Issac. I honestly would love a Franz and Smith paring.

Jabari Smith Jr and Franz Wagner would be a nice scoring punch.

[Skybox]

I'm still slowly moving all my chips towards Ivey:

Watch on YouTube

The play that starts at 0:35....

I’m loving what I’m seeing from Ivey and would be stoked to land him. I saw this video and it got me wondering how much he’s advantaged by playing alongside the most dominant big man in college ball?

Watch on YouTube

Zach Edey is quietly having a phenomenally efficient season purely because he’s so big compared to the competition. He won’t have that advantage in the pros, but he seems to have the smarts to know how to use his body. He gets great positioning on post pin downs from setting early screens (which help free up Ivey) and then he can feed off an open basket when the ball gets thrown over the top.

If we took Ivey I think we could really benefit by trying to grab Edey as well. Partnering players with good rapport and habits will help speed up the rebuild.

Is Nicholls the Washington Generals of the NCAA...they seem to keep showing up on top prospects highlight reels

[zaymon]

It seems like the top 3 guys right now are Paolo, Smith, and Chet. If that remains the same and the magic remain 1st or 2nd pick I wonder were that leaves Issac. I honestly would love a Franz and Smith paring.

I would prefer to pair Franz with better rim protector, Isaac or Holmgren. Smith projected role seems too similar to Wagner.

Smith plays the 4.
Wagner the 3.
These 2 would be a good scoring duo.

Although i understand the appeal of Holmgren.
Great shotblocking instincts.

I get the appeal but it doesnt answer any of our biggest weaknesses. We need to cover different roles for different situations. When you dont do this you end up with Tatum/Brown who just seem to bother each other.
I think Wagner is smarter and better passer than both but what about rim protection, rebounding, what about lead ball handler, what about athletic point of attack forward defender ? Smith is mostly scorer, Wagner is more versatile but still his best trait is scoring. There is one ball.

[Petre1978]

I would prefer to pair Franz with better rim protector, Isaac or Holmgren. Smith projected role seems too similar to Wagner.

Smith plays the 4.
Wagner the 3.
These 2 would be a good scoring duo.

Although i understand the appeal of Holmgren.
Great shotblocking instincts.

I get the appeal but it doesnt answer any of our biggest weaknesses. We need to cover different roles for different situations. When you dont do this you end up with Tatum/Brown who just seem to bother each other.
I think Wagner is smarter and better passer than both but what about rim protection, rebounding, what about lead ball handler, what about athletic point of attack forward defender ? Smith is mostly scorer, Wagner is more versatile but still his best trait is scoring. There is one ball.

Good argumentation.
Anyway i think that Holmgren is at the top of the Magic draftboard followed by Ivey and Smith Jr.

[Petre1978]

https://www.basketballnews.com/draft

Watch out for Mathurin.
He is rising.

[BCS]

My board is Smith and then Mathurin/Ivey. I really like what Mathurin brings to the table for us but Ivey skills are elite so still flip flopping there. I actually would stay away from Paolo and Chet. I can live with either, especially a Chet selection but I am just not confident in either, I prefer a trade down in that case.

As for the 2nd rd there might be some solid players as well. I am assuming this is the year we keep at least 1 of those picks. Moore from Duke, Agbaji from Kansas, Kessler from Auburn, etc...it depends who we get with our top pick.

And Smith and Wagner can play together, I do not see how they are similar players.

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[Petre1978]

My board is Smith and then Mathurin/Ivey. I really like what Mathurin brings to the table for us but Ivey skills are elite so still flip flopping there. I actually would stay away from Paolo and Chet. I can live with either, especially a Chet selection but I am just not confident in either, I prefer a trade down in that case.

As for the 2nd rd there might be some solid players as well. I am assuming this is the year we keep at least 1 of those picks. Moore from Duke, Agbaji from Kansas, Kessler from Auburn, etc...it depends who we get with our top pick.

And Smith and Wagner can play together, I do not see how they are similar players.

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Great post Sir.

I hope also the Magic use one their 2nd round picks.

Some interesting prospects there.
The ones you mentioned.

Matthew Mayer from Baylor
Julian Champagnie from St.Johns
Jaime Jacquez from UCLA.

[Rainwater]

It seems like the top 3 guys right now are Paolo, Smith, and Chet. If that remains the same and the magic remain 1st or 2nd pick I wonder were that leaves Issac. I honestly would love a Franz and Smith paring.

I would prefer to pair Franz with better rim protector, Isaac or Holmgren. Smith projected role seems too similar to Wagner.

Maybe I need to watch more of Smith but from highlights I think he is completely different from Franz. Franz is a 3 and Jabari seems to be more of a 4. Franz is a far better all around player, better ball handler and shooter imparticular, in comparison to Jabari who seems more of an athlete. He is in the mode of KG, Amar'e, and Blake with a better jumper coming into the league.

[basketballRob]

If they picked Ivey they could have SG and SF locked up for the next 10 years with him and Franz.

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[Xatticus]

It seems like the top 3 guys right now are Paolo, Smith, and Chet. If that remains the same and the magic remain 1st or 2nd pick I wonder were that leaves Issac. I honestly would love a Franz and Smith paring.

I would prefer to pair Franz with better rim protector, Isaac or Holmgren. Smith projected role seems too similar to Wagner.

Maybe I need to watch more of Smith but from highlights I think he is completely different from Franz. Franz is a 3 and Jabari seems to be more of a 4. Franz is a far better all around player, better ball handler and shooter imparticular, in comparison to Jabari who seems more of an athlete. He is in the mode of KG, Amar'e, and Blake with a better jumper coming into the league.

Negative.

Smith is a perimeter player. He has decent athleticism, potentially a bit better, but he isn't a natural athlete. He lacks fluidity. He is an elite shooter. There is no comparison between him and Franz in this regard. I haven't seen much movement shooting from him, but everything else is there. The shot looks gorgeous. He can pull up off the bounce and he doesn't need much space to get his shot off. He won't hesitate to fire. Mostly he is a catch-and-shoot ball mover or pick-and-pop guy out on the perimeter. There are signs that his offensive game is burgeoning elsewhere, but there is nothing that you can really count on at this point. He handles the ball alright, but it is still limited. I like how he gets low. It keeps his dribble relatively low. He isn't functionally physical, so he tends to settle for some awkward jump shots. That's dragging down his FG%. He doesn't get many cheap buckets.

He is engaged all the time and he is constantly reading the floor. He is wired to play organized ball. This is a big deal to me. He isn't an iso guy. He looks like a plus defender on the perimeter. He has solid off-ball instincts, but he isn't very effectual as a help defender. He's just a bit too awkward physically. He is a bit jumpy, but that can go away with experience. He gets down, gets big, and moves his feet well. This makes him imposing to try to create against with the dribble.

I don't think there is an NBA roster that he can't slot right into and give you good minutes right away. I don't know that there is a lead guy there, but he can be really good.

[T-Cat]

If they picked Ivey they could have SG and SF locked up for the next 10 years with him and Franz.

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This is an difficult decision for the Magic! I like Chet and Jabari but the guy with the most superstar potential right now from a high level two prospective is Jaden Ivey!

Hopefully Orlando can draft Ivey and find a way to snag another high lotto pick to draft Chet/Jabari... which we would have to part with one of our important pieces like WCJ,Cole Anthony, and or Suggs plus picks!

Only player that's currently untouchable is Franz Wagner, assuming JI and Fultz have no trade value due to rehabilitation from injury!

[jezzerinho]

If AGJ continues to impress and earns more minutes, he's pushing himself into the equation. He'd be a fit, i do have doubts about his longevity - not so much because of his history as his play style, which looks very hard on the joints.

[Petre1978]

If AGJ continues to impress and earns more minutes, he's pushing himself into the equation. He'd be a fit, i do have doubts about his longevity - not so much because of his history as his play style, which looks very hard on the joints.

Yes Griffin is an interesting prospect.
But his injury history is worrisome.

[Petre1978]

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Another dominant game by Ismael Kamagate.
He improves every week.

Option for the second round.