The 2022 NBA Draft Thread

[T-Cat]

Orlando Magic needs exciting players and even though he's young with still learning how to play the NBA game, Jalen Suggs would be better off on another team that has an identity to help him in his development!

Orlando Magic took him 5th in last year's draft because he was BPA!

Watch on YouTube

I personally think Ivey would be a better fit for us and he's more NBA ready than Suggs!

Weltman and Hammond can turn this ship around quick...

[zaymon]

Orlando Magic needs exciting players and even though he's young with still learning how to play the NBA game, Jalen Suggs would be better off on another team that has an identity to help him in his development!

Orlando Magic took him 5th in last year's draft because he was BPA!

Watch on YouTube

I personally think Ivey would be a better fit for us and he's more NBA ready than Suggs!

Weltman and Hammond can turn this ship around quick...

Thats extreme hot take. OUR identity right now is to develop player. Before college he was always viewed as ultimate support player, and to be honest that was also his role in Gonzaga. With the ascendence of Franz Wagner i would prefer to build with more defensive oriented guard. Huge number of champions played with oversized rosters and one big combo guard. I think thats our best way to build. I have way more confidence Suggs will start on our next great team not Anthony.
Ivey is kind of similar to Suggs, if you dont like Suggs why you like Ivey ? Both are good defenders, with good frame, athletic, questionable shooters. Suggs was even better defender and passer as a freshman than Ivey as a sophomore.

[LDNMagic90]

Orlando Magic needs exciting players and even though he's young with still learning how to play the NBA game, Jalen Suggs would be better off on another team that has an identity to help him in his development!

Orlando Magic took him 5th in last year's draft because he was BPA!

Watch on YouTube

I personally think Ivey would be a better fit for us and he's more NBA ready than Suggs!

Weltman and Hammond can turn this ship around quick...

This is not a knock on you or anything cause I’m assuming you didn’t make the video, but these kind of videos irritate me. They make these videos claiming x player is this while they are still young. I saw so many takes about Anthony Edwards about him being a bust and well he’s clearly not. Most of these guys do it for clicks… he literally covered all bases in that video from he’s a potential bust without saying he is to oh he could change? Lol.

[T-Cat]

Orlando Magic needs exciting players and even though he's young with still learning how to play the NBA game, Jalen Suggs would be better off on another team that has an identity to help him in his development!

Orlando Magic took him 5th in last year's draft because he was BPA!

Watch on YouTube

I personally think Ivey would be a better fit for us and he's more NBA ready than Suggs!

Weltman and Hammond can turn this ship around quick...

Thats extreme hot take. OUR identity right now is to develop player. Before college he was always viewed as ultimate support player, and to be honest that was also his role in Gonzaga. With the ascendence of Franz Wagner i would prefer to build with more defensive oriented guard. Huge number of champions played with oversized rosters and one big combo guard. I think thats our best way to build. I have way more confidence Suggs will start on our next great team not Anthony.
Ivey is kind of similar to Suggs, if you dont like Suggs why you like Ivey ? Both are good defenders, with good frame, athletic, questionable shooters. Suggs was even better defender and passer as a freshman than Ivey as a sophomore.

I see Ivey as more of an alpha dog with higher basketball IQ than Suggs! With the 5th pick, Orlando Magic needs game changers not solid starters!

The NBA is loaded with 6'3" guards with good frames, athletic and questionable shooters ala Kris Dunn, which is out the league due to lack of basketball IQ and injuries!


Gilbert Arenas was right about Suggs!

[KillMonger]

Naw, that's cap....Suggs will be fine, it's year 1.... there are plenty of All-Star players you would've NEVER in your life thought they would end up being an Allstar if you looked at just their rookie year....it takes time brodie

[basketballRob]

Oh geez.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Rainwater]

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.

We can agree to disagree, I just can't see Jabari as a perimeter player. As you said his dribbling is limited and he is not an iso guy. If he can't do either of those things I don't know if he can be perimeter player in the NBA. Additionally, he is not much of a passer either. The only thing dangerous about him on the perimeter, as you stated is his jumper.

I feel like his bread and butter will have to be in the paint and some spot up shooting early on. And I feel like I am more excited about his athleticism than most. And I do agree he is most definitely all potential and is a project. At the very least i see his floor as an AG (as used in Denver) and his celling as a poor man's KG or an Amar'e in NY, if that makes sense. But we'll see.

But I really don't see a star in this years draft but if the top 3 remains Chet, Paolo, and Jabari. I would chose Jabari, Paolo, than Chet.

[JBSouthpaw]

Kind of going left field here,
what about trading WCJ & Ross for Wiseman, Kuminga and Moody? Money works.
WCJ may be our best player this year, certainly our most dependable, but these last couple games where he's played with no one shows me he can't be more than he is. (which may be fine if our other players were better) I think he'd be perfect in GS.

I'd love to see Franz/JI/Kuminga forward rotation. Kuminga also covers JI for injury.
Wiseman covers Bamba's departure after this year, see what happens when he'd get some freedom playing (ala WCJ)

Close the year with:
Fultz/Cole
Suggs/RJ/Moody/Harris
Franz/Kuminga/MCW
JI/Okeke/Moe W.
Wiseman/Bamba/Lopez

+ plus a top 4 draft pick to start the next season looks pretty good to me.
PF is also the deepest position in the draft this year, if we don't think we have it covered, we can draft there.
Depending on the pick, it could make JI or Fultz a great trade piece in the offseason too.

[RichCollab]

I’m fine with Suggs pick even if he doesn’t reach the hype. He was showing improvement before thumb injury.

His draft class is turning out fantastic. Giddy and Franz are two examples.

Magic do need an alpha scorer. That’s the biggest need. Franz is doing awesome on offense but still see him as a number 2-3 on Championship team.

[tiderulz]

Kind of going left field here,
what about trading WCJ & Ross for Wiseman, Kuminga and Moody? Money works.
WCJ may be our best player this year, certainly our most dependable, but these last couple games where he's played with no one shows me he can't be more than he is. (which may be fine if our other players were better) I think he'd be perfect in GS.

I'd love to see Franz/JI/Kuminga forward rotation. Kuminga also covers JI for injury.
Wiseman covers Bamba's departure after this year, see what happens when he'd get some freedom playing (ala WCJ)

Close the year with:
Fultz/Cole
Suggs/RJ/Moody/Harris
Franz/Kuminga/MCW
JI/Okeke/Moe W.
Wiseman/Bamba/Lopez

+ plus a top 4 draft pick to start the next season looks pretty good to me.
PF is also the deepest position in the draft this year, if we don't think we have it covered, we can draft there.
Depending on the pick, it could make JI or Fultz a great trade piece in the offseason too.

why does GS do that? they would require next years 1st to even consider this? You consider Ross (neutral value) and WCJ equal to two lottery picks? I cant see anyone thinking that

[JBSouthpaw]

Kind of going left field here,
what about trading WCJ & Ross for Wiseman, Kuminga and Moody? Money works.
WCJ may be our best player this year, certainly our most dependable, but these last couple games where he's played with no one shows me he can't be more than he is. (which may be fine if our other players were better) I think he'd be perfect in GS.

I'd love to see Franz/JI/Kuminga forward rotation. Kuminga also covers JI for injury.
Wiseman covers Bamba's departure after this year, see what happens when he'd get some freedom playing (ala WCJ)

Close the year with:
Fultz/Cole
Suggs/RJ/Moody/Harris
Franz/Kuminga/MCW
JI/Okeke/Moe W.
Wiseman/Bamba/Lopez

+ plus a top 4 draft pick to start the next season looks pretty good to me.
PF is also the deepest position in the draft this year, if we don't think we have it covered, we can draft there.
Depending on the pick, it could make JI or Fultz a great trade piece in the offseason too.

why does GS do that? they would require next years 1st to even consider this? You consider Ross (neutral value) and WCJ equal to two lottery picks? I cant see anyone thinking that

fair question. I thought it was leaning our way a bit, not our 1st rd pick this summer. I'd give them our 2nd this summer, and Chi or Den plus our 2023, top 3 protected though. (may be a lot, but you got to spend some capital to get quality back)

1. win now mode.
2. WCJ is probably better for them and is locked up for a few years at a great price, they don't have to worry about re-signing Wiseman
3. Ross comes off the books after this year, tax payer $$ makes it a bigger savings
4. Not only $$ savings, it cleared 1 roster spot now, and another when Ross comes off,

[tiderulz]

Kind of going left field here,
what about trading WCJ & Ross for Wiseman, Kuminga and Moody? Money works.
WCJ may be our best player this year, certainly our most dependable, but these last couple games where he's played with no one shows me he can't be more than he is. (which may be fine if our other players were better) I think he'd be perfect in GS.

I'd love to see Franz/JI/Kuminga forward rotation. Kuminga also covers JI for injury.
Wiseman covers Bamba's departure after this year, see what happens when he'd get some freedom playing (ala WCJ)

Close the year with:
Fultz/Cole
Suggs/RJ/Moody/Harris
Franz/Kuminga/MCW
JI/Okeke/Moe W.
Wiseman/Bamba/Lopez

+ plus a top 4 draft pick to start the next season looks pretty good to me.
PF is also the deepest position in the draft this year, if we don't think we have it covered, we can draft there.
Depending on the pick, it could make JI or Fultz a great trade piece in the offseason too.

why does GS do that? they would require next years 1st to even consider this? You consider Ross (neutral value) and WCJ equal to two lottery picks? I cant see anyone thinking that

fair question. I thought it was leaning our way a bit, not our 1st rd pick this summer. I'd give them our 2nd this summer, and Chi or Den plus our 2023, top 3 protected though. (may be a lot, but you got to spend some capital to get quality back)

1. win now mode.
2. WCJ is probably better for them and is locked up for a few years at a great price, they don't have to worry about re-signing Wiseman
3. Ross comes off the books after this year, tax payer $$ makes it a bigger savings
4. Not only $$ savings, it cleared 1 roster spot now, and another when Ross comes off,

so they are in win now mode. But a GM also has to look at the future. Ross isnt a future piece. WCJ is young, but unproven and major injury risk/history. Wiseman only in his 2nd year, Moody and Kuminga rookies. This would be bad asset management for GS. GS with their current team is #1 in the league, while they are developing their rookies. and Klay about to come back

[JBSouthpaw]

why does GS do that? they would require next years 1st to even consider this? You consider Ross (neutral value) and WCJ equal to two lottery picks? I cant see anyone thinking that

fair question. I thought it was leaning our way a bit, not our 1st rd pick this summer. I'd give them our 2nd this summer, and Chi or Den plus our 2023, top 3 protected though. (may be a lot, but you got to spend some capital to get quality back)

1. win now mode.
2. WCJ is probably better for them and is locked up for a few years at a great price, they don't have to worry about re-signing Wiseman
3. Ross comes off the books after this year, tax payer $$ makes it a bigger savings
4. Not only $$ savings, it cleared 1 roster spot now, and another when Ross comes off,

so they are in win now mode. But a GM also has to look at the future. Ross isnt a future piece. WCJ is young, but unproven and major injury risk/history. Wiseman only in his 2nd year, Moody and Kuminga rookies. This would be bad asset management for GS. GS with their current team is #1 in the league, while they are developing their rookies. and Klay about to come back

I get the GM role of future planning. But having these guys all due paydays will for sure still paying Curry and possibly Klay most likely won't happen.
So, as GM you have to plan on rebuild when Curry/Klay leave, not now.
the picks we could give them in 23, 24 & 25 would line up better with that rebuild.
WCJ hasn't had major injury issues, He's had injury issues in his 1st 2 years, but they weren't Magic level player issues.
WCJ's contract has to be considered one of the best in the NBA, his 2025-26 year(, he'll be 27 making only $10M.

Anyway, this was more of a thought about using WCJ as maybe our best trade chip.

[tiderulz]

fair question. I thought it was leaning our way a bit, not our 1st rd pick this summer. I'd give them our 2nd this summer, and Chi or Den plus our 2023, top 3 protected though. (may be a lot, but you got to spend some capital to get quality back)

1. win now mode.
2. WCJ is probably better for them and is locked up for a few years at a great price, they don't have to worry about re-signing Wiseman
3. Ross comes off the books after this year, tax payer $$ makes it a bigger savings
4. Not only $$ savings, it cleared 1 roster spot now, and another when Ross comes off,

so they are in win now mode. But a GM also has to look at the future. Ross isnt a future piece. WCJ is young, but unproven and major injury risk/history. Wiseman only in his 2nd year, Moody and Kuminga rookies. This would be bad asset management for GS. GS with their current team is #1 in the league, while they are developing their rookies. and Klay about to come back

I get the GM role of future planning. But having these guys all due paydays will for sure still paying Curry and possibly Klay most likely won't happen.
So, as GM you have to plan on rebuild when Curry/Klay leave, not now.
the picks we could give them in 23, 24 & 25 would line up better with that rebuild.
WCJ hasn't had major injury issues, He's had injury issues in his 1st 2 years, but they weren't Magic level player issues.
WCJ's contract has to be considered one of the best in the NBA, his 2025-26 year(, he'll be 27 making only $10M.

Anyway, this was more of a thought about using WCJ as maybe our best trade chip.

Wendall has gotten injured and missed games every year he has been in the NBA. As for his contract, i will call it a decent one, but not calling it one of the best right now. It could be, but he also seems to be a decent offensive but subpar defensive center.

not meaning to derail this thread. I just thought it was very slanted towards us.

[JBSouthpaw]

so they are in win now mode. But a GM also has to look at the future. Ross isnt a future piece. WCJ is young, but unproven and major injury risk/history. Wiseman only in his 2nd year, Moody and Kuminga rookies. This would be bad asset management for GS. GS with their current team is #1 in the league, while they are developing their rookies. and Klay about to come back

I get the GM role of future planning. But having these guys all due paydays will for sure still paying Curry and possibly Klay most likely won't happen.
So, as GM you have to plan on rebuild when Curry/Klay leave, not now.
the picks we could give them in 23, 24 & 25 would line up better with that rebuild.
WCJ hasn't had major injury issues, He's had injury issues in his 1st 2 years, but they weren't Magic level player issues.
WCJ's contract has to be considered one of the best in the NBA, his 2025-26 year(, he'll be 27 making only $10M.

Anyway, this was more of a thought about using WCJ as maybe our best trade chip.

Wendall has gotten injured and missed games every year he has been in the NBA. As for his contract, i will call it a decent one, but not calling it one of the best right now. It could be, but he also seems to be a decent offensive but subpar defensive center.

not meaning to derail this thread. I just thought it was very slanted towards us.

Missing games isn't major injury. JI, Bamba I would classify Major injury.

All good, appreciate your opinion.

[tiderulz]

I get the GM role of future planning. But having these guys all due paydays will for sure still paying Curry and possibly Klay most likely won't happen.
So, as GM you have to plan on rebuild when Curry/Klay leave, not now.
the picks we could give them in 23, 24 & 25 would line up better with that rebuild.
WCJ hasn't had major injury issues, He's had injury issues in his 1st 2 years, but they weren't Magic level player issues.
WCJ's contract has to be considered one of the best in the NBA, his 2025-26 year(, he'll be 27 making only $10M.

Anyway, this was more of a thought about using WCJ as maybe our best trade chip.

Wendall has gotten injured and missed games every year he has been in the NBA. As for his contract, i will call it a decent one, but not calling it one of the best right now. It could be, but he also seems to be a decent offensive but subpar defensive center.

not meaning to derail this thread. I just thought it was very slanted towards us.

Missing games isn't major injury. JI, Bamba I would classify Major injury.

All good, appreciate your opinion.

well, i said injury risk/history. getting injured every year in his career is both an injury risk and injury history in my opinion.

and I agree, JI is major injury risk/history

[JBSouthpaw]

why does GS do that? they would require next years 1st to even consider this? You consider Ross (neutral value) and WCJ equal to two lottery picks? I cant see anyone thinking that

fair question. I thought it was leaning our way a bit, not our 1st rd pick this summer. I'd give them our 2nd this summer, and Chi or Den plus our 2023, top 3 protected though. (may be a lot, but you got to spend some capital to get quality back)

1. win now mode.
2. WCJ is probably better for them and is locked up for a few years at a great price, they don't have to worry about re-signing Wiseman
3. Ross comes off the books after this year, tax payer $$ makes it a bigger savings
4. Not only $$ savings, it cleared 1 roster spot now, and another when Ross comes off,

so they are in win now mode. But a GM also has to look at the future. Ross isnt a future piece. WCJ is young, but unproven and major injury risk/history. Wiseman only in his 2nd year, Moody and Kuminga rookies. This would be bad asset management for GS. GS with their current team is #1 in the league, while they are developing their rookies. and Klay about to come back

Here is where you say MAJOR.

[Xatticus]

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.

We can agree to disagree, I just can't see Jabari as a perimeter player. As you said his dribbling is limited and he is not an iso guy. If he can't do either of those things I don't know if he can be perimeter player in the NBA. Additionally, he is not much of a passer either. The only thing dangerous about him on the perimeter, as you stated is his jumper.

I feel like his bread and butter will have to be in the paint and some spot up shooting early on. And I feel like I am more excited about his athleticism than most. And I do agree he is most definitely all potential and is a project. At the very least i see his floor as an AG (as used in Denver) and his celling as a poor man's KG or an Amar'e in NY, if that makes sense. But we'll see.

But I really don't see a star in this years draft but if the top 3 remains Chet, Paolo, and Jabari. I would chose Jabari, Paolo, than Chet.

You may not see him that way, but that's what he is.

20% of Jabari Smith's field goal attempts have been layups, dunks, or put backs. That's an exceptionally low number. Contrast that with Keegan Murray (59%), Ben Mathurin (39%), or Jaden Ivey (41%). Hell... compare it to anybody else. It's just a really low number.

With Smith, the shooting, the awareness, and the perimeter defense are there. Everything else is a work in progress. They've tried to feed him in the post a bit. It hasn't worked. There is a foundation to build off of, but he is a 3nD guy right now. The 3 and the D look very good right now though.

[Skybox]

fair question. I thought it was leaning our way a bit, not our 1st rd pick this summer. I'd give them our 2nd this summer, and Chi or Den plus our 2023, top 3 protected though. (may be a lot, but you got to spend some capital to get quality back)

1. win now mode.
2. WCJ is probably better for them and is locked up for a few years at a great price, they don't have to worry about re-signing Wiseman
3. Ross comes off the books after this year, tax payer $$ makes it a bigger savings
4. Not only $$ savings, it cleared 1 roster spot now, and another when Ross comes off,

so they are in win now mode. But a GM also has to look at the future. Ross isnt a future piece. WCJ is young, but unproven and major injury risk/history. Wiseman only in his 2nd year, Moody and Kuminga rookies. This would be bad asset management for GS. GS with their current team is #1 in the league, while they are developing their rookies. and Klay about to come back

I get the GM role of future planning. But having these guys all due paydays will for sure still paying Curry and possibly Klay most likely won't happen.
So, as GM you have to plan on rebuild when Curry/Klay leave, not now.
the picks we could give them in 23, 24 & 25 would line up better with that rebuild.
WCJ hasn't had major injury issues, He's had injury issues in his 1st 2 years, but they weren't Magic level player issues.
WCJ's contract has to be considered one of the best in the NBA, his 2025-26 year(, he'll be 27 making only $10M.

Anyway, this was more of a thought about using WCJ as maybe our best trade chip.

I think your financial analysis has some real merit and WCJ is the kind of guy they could use TODAY (there aren't many-they are awesome) and tomorrow. I think Kuminga still has tremendous value/upside and Wiseman might already be a negative (I'm really not sure about him). Moody can't get on the court...GSW has to consider those pending paydays without compromising the 2 or 3 year window that is WIDE open right now. I'd say they are favorites to win it all, but not overwhelmingly so...your trade would help but it's really hard to say how they value Kuminga, Moody, and, especially Wiseman. No question that we'd have to add at least one of our traded-for picks, maybe more and, at that point, it gets dicey for us. I'd do it, but I wouldn't include our own '22 or '23 frp...I don't know if GSW would...some tricky evaluations in this one, but that's why they get the big bucks (or fired ). Personally, I'm high on Kuminga and not too excited about this draft class, so I'm listening at the very least.

[drsd]

I still cannot believe the Magic loses a winnable game at the same moment as Detroit wins a losable game.