2023 NBA Draft Thread 3

[basketballRob]

Sure you can, right now i think I am leaning chalk with Whitmore or ausar at 6 and a shooter at 11. But I think you’re missing my point I like Wallace just like I like Suggs. Our guard rotation is really tight I don’t want two guys who are going to be league average shooters and excellent defenders who have the same ceiling of Jrue Holliday. Doesn’t make sense since we have other needs.

i think that’s what the FO does barring a trade.

Neither of those players really solves anything except for depth. Whitmore makes more sense but I don’t think he gets past Detroit. Thompson twins are every athletic trope prospect over the past 5-8 draft cycles. Kuminga was the last guy talked about similarly.

I’ve actually resigned myself from even caring about the #6 pick. They will take BPA and it will likely be forward depth based on who is projected. It’s doubtful they take Ausar and another guy that can actually shoot the ball at #11.

If Cason is on the board at 11 I’d take him.

How many 6'7, 7'0 W/S, athletic tropes with guard skills have there been exactly? None, right? None. Kuminga is a combo forward.

Reddish

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[KillMonger]

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[drsd]

Some really probing questions. Interesting interview.

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[RookieStar]

You know.... i guess based on experience but every time there is a player somewhat in our draft range AND they suddenly drop out of workouts/interviews/etc.. its likely because of a promise.

What with Franz and our extra pick... i sometimes think any draftee dropping out right now is a player we made a promise. Lol

[Bensational]

I’ve watched enough Whitmore and Ausar now to feel comfortable if we drafted either. I can see both finding a role with the team early on, and future versatility from both.

Wallace is ‘my guy’. I think he’ll prove to be a steal of this draft class. I don’t think Ainge lets him slip past Utah but if he does and he makes it to 11, absolute steal.

Hendricks, George, Black and Walker probably all get a sniff from WeHam too. I’d be happy with any of these names.

At 11, I’m feeling Rupert or GG, unless Hendricks or Walker slide for some reason. I think they’ll want a big wing.

[pepe1991]

I’d be a lot more interested in a guard if I was confident the Magic were willing to make a tough decision on some of their incumbent guards.

But I’m not sure they’re ready to make those tough decisions.

I’m really not all that interested in drafting someone at 6 who has no clear path to minutes or will have to play out of position just to get on the floor.

Fingers crossed this will be the Magic’s last opportunity to land potentially high end talent in the draft lottery for quite a while, ya know? Gotta make it count.

There is a great chance that, regardless of which position the draftees play, the #6 and #11 picks will be coming off the bench.

If JI gets healthy and is actually ready, even a guy like Hendricks will find it tough to find minutes.

We need to draft BPA and then figure out what to do with the ‘problem’ later.

It's easier say than actually do and pull it up.
Who is even BPA in your mind?

is there any reasons to belive some Taylor Hendricks is much better than Black or Ausar Thompson?

Imo, this draft, especially in 3-12 range, has incredible amount of tweeners that will struggle to play positions scouts project them to be playing in nba.

[KillMonger]

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[drsd]

There was a 54.15% chance the Magic's pick would be worse than 6.
There was a 9.4% chance the Chicago pick would be lost AND then a 13.0% chance the pick wold have been worse that 11.

The Magic had a ~36% chance to land at these lottery spots, or better. That is, it was 2X more likely the draft would have been worse for Orlando than the actual outcome.

Orlando "won" the lottery: not a pick-6 win, but this is a very good outcome for this team.

[Petre1978]

The gap between Wallace and Henderson is not that big. Wallace also has a 6'9" wingspan, is a better shooter, and plays better defense. They are also the same age.



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I agree with this.

I don't believe Wallace is actually 8-10 spots lesser in value as a prospect. He's underrated right now. It wouldn't surprise me to see him rise in the rankings the closer we get to the draft.

Agreed.
He will climb up draftboards with Interviews and workouts.

[Petre1978]

Is he? He shot 1% better than Suggs from 3 in college and shot 6% overall less from the field. He did turn it over less but he still averaged 2 a game. Suggs was at 2.8 in college. I just don’t think he is better than Suggs just newer. His passing is not as good as Suggs and his pick and roll playmaking is rudimentary right now. Also I think the Kentucky thing and them having good pros is overrating him

Who do you like in the draft then? I’m pretty sure I can find flaws in every prospect from 4 on.

Sure you can, right now i think I am leaning chalk with Whitmore or ausar at 6 and a shooter at 11. But I think you’re missing my point I like Wallace just like I like Suggs. Our guard rotation is really tight I don’t want two guys who are going to be league average shooters and excellent defenders who have the same ceiling of Jrue Holliday. Doesn’t make sense since we have other needs.

Everybody has his favorite prospects

[Petre1978]

Suggs is the compliment. Paolo and Franz are going to be the scoring punch on this team unless we get a star. Can't hope for a random home run pick scorer unless we trade for them.

We eventually need to just find the right PG though, if Fultz doesn't improve more than what he is (which a lot of people doubt), then I think the market every year is turbulent enough to make moves.

I agree on Suggs. He should continue to be developed and given playing time.

What I suspect will happen is that WeHam will carefully balance talent with fit. They'll draft the BPA but with a mind to chemistry and culture.

What this translates to in practice is that we draft guards. It adds up. Franz, Paolo, and Suggs are the rookie scale players that qualify as rising stars, and that is being generous with Suggs.

Suggs is a guard, Franz and Paolo are wings.

There are no high ceiling centers. There are a plethora of high ceiling guards. There are some high ceiling wings and forwards.

Odds are BPA and fit will align on guard selections. This can happen without threatening Suggs as long as Suggs is better than Fultz and Cole.

Drafting a wing or a forward is not putting that pick on a clear path to a starting role and is limiting their development from the get go. It just doesn't make sense.

The Magic should draft a guard.
Cason Wallace.

[Petre1978]

Keyonte and Dereck Lively and call it a draft.

Lively is what Bamba should have been.

[Petre1978]

I’ve watched enough Whitmore and Ausar now to feel comfortable if we drafted either. I can see both finding a role with the team early on, and future versatility from both.

Wallace is ‘my guy’. I think he’ll prove to be a steal of this draft class. I don’t think Ainge lets him slip past Utah but if he does and he makes it to 11, absolute steal.

Hendricks, George, Black and Walker probably all get a sniff from WeHam too. I’d be happy with any of these names.

At 11, I’m feeling Rupert or GG, unless Hendricks or Walker slide for some reason. I think they’ll want a big wing.

Wallace is also my guy.
At 11 i can see them select Bufkin or Coulibaly.

[Petre1978]

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I like really what i see from George

[Skybox]

There was a 54.15% chance the Magic's pick would be worse than 6.
There was a 9.4% chance the Chicago pick would be lost AND then a 13.0% chance the pick wold have been worse that 11.

The Magic had a ~36% chance to land at these lottery spots, or better. That is, it was 2X more likely the draft would have been worse for Orlando than the actual outcome.

Orlando "won" the lottery: not a pick-6 win, but this is a very good outcome for this team.

I feel like we “won” the last two drafts (I guess Chet + Jaylin will ultimately decide that). But we have more weapons at hand to crush this summer…I trust Weltman and, as a fan, I hope he’s looking at this summer as more than “staying the course”. I hope he continues to draft wisely, but gets aggressive in the trade/FA market at the same time…that’s a lot of assets in a brief period.

[Skybox]

Who’s the next Jamal Murray? There’s a bunch of guys in this draft that might run the inside/out game with Paolo and put up more in the NBA than they did in college…and they’re all in our range.

Keyonte
Wallace
Nick Smith
Bufkin
Podzmieski(?)

…who’s the steal of the draft, probably at 11, but maybe even at 6 if Weltman sees something in their eyes he likes?

[Knightro]

There is a great chance that, regardless of which position the draftees play, the #6 and #11 picks will be coming off the bench.

If JI gets healthy and is actually ready, even a guy like Hendricks will find it tough to find minutes.

We need to draft BPA and then figure out what to do with the ‘problem’ later.

If the Magic pick someone at 6 and that player can't get on the floor as a rookie because they're blocked by "veterans" from a 34 win team, then they were the wrong pick.

This isn't a 60 win team with championship aspirations, ya know?

Whoever they draft at 6 should at the very least be in the rotation from day 1.

I just can't in good faith support the Magic drafting someone who's natural position is point guard if they're unwilling to move on from Fultz or Anthony.

I don't want Anthony Black or Amen Thompson playing SG/SF. I want them on the ball getting those developmental reps they need.

Basically I just don't have a lot of faith in Weltman and Hammond making the kind of roster balancing trades and free agency moves they need to make if they want to insist on a pure BPA draft strategy (which I'm in favor of).

[KillMonger]

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[Magic_Kingdom]

Based on his highlight videos, I don’t get Ausar Thompson.

If there’s not much difference between this batch of players, I would draft the Kentucky guard at 6 because Kentucky guards always seem to outplay their draft position.

[bigdogdylan5]

Wallace is also my guy.
At 11 i can see them select Bufkin or Coulibaly.

Under this scenario are you trading Suggs because i think you have to?