2023 NBA Draft Thread 3

[basketballRob]

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).

The problem is that if the Magic pick up the options on Harris and Fultz, there is a waiting period before you can trade them.

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[bigdogdylan5]

Keyonte and Dereck Lively and call it a draft.

Starting to really think about lively. Obviously shooting is a huge need but I think for better or worse I think the team thinks the shooting will get better as the players work on it. A really close second need is rebounding and Lively would really help that and solidify that especially if Isaac can’t get on the floor

[basketballRob]

Amen and Ausar are older than Paolo. I was wondering what their shooting stats were in 21-22 for OTE? I think I saw Amen was 53% FT and 20% 3-pt. That was in a league that had no future pros, and I think 1 borderline G-league player. The whole league revolved around, making the Thompson twins look good.

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[eyriq]

Keyonte and Dereck Lively and call it a draft.

Starting to really think about lively. Obviously shooting is a huge need but I think for better or worse I think the team thinks the shooting will get better as the players work on it. A really close second need is rebounding and Lively would really help that and solidify that especially if Isaac can’t get on the floor

He could be the Kessler of this draft. Looks like a really good rim protector.

[KillMonger]

Amen and Ausar are older than Paolo. I was wondering what their shooting stats were in 21-22 for OTE? I think I saw Amen was 53% FT and 20% 3-pt. That was in a league that had no future pros, and I think 1 borderline G-league player. The whole league revolved around, making the Thompson twins look good.

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all that and yet almost every reputable scout with a mock have them both top 10 and amen consistently top 5....must be something going on idk....me personally i see what the stats say and i know what my eyes tell me.....they deserve to be where they are at, i've seen them against pros...like real pros....colin sexton, ant edwards....they've held their own....idk i guess we will see....people are trying so hard to downplay them when it's not far fetched that one of them could be the selection....they both are pretty much potential picks but they aren't just athletes and if anyone thinks that they haven't watched enough film....me personally i prefer cam but i would be thrilled with either twin as a homerun swing....if it's going to effectively be the last time we're picking high in the lottery i'd want to swing for the fences with our pick....gradey will be there at #11 since apparently he didn't test well

[eyriq]

Amen and Ausar are older than Paolo. I was wondering what their shooting stats were in 21-22 for OTE? I think I saw Amen was 53% FT and 20% 3-pt. That was in a league that had no future pros, and I think 1 borderline G-league player. The whole league revolved around, making the Thompson twins look good.

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all that and yet almost every reputable scout with a mock have them both top 10 and amen consistently top 5....must be something going on idk....me personally i see what the stats say and i know what my eyes tell me.....they deserve to be where they are at, i've seen them against pros...like real pros....colin sexton, ant edwards....they've held their own....idk i guess we will see....people are trying so hard to downplay them when it's not far fetched that one of them could be the selection....they both are pretty much potential picks but they aren't just athletes and if anyone thinks that they haven't watched enough film....me personally i prefer cam but i would be thrilled with either twin as a homerun swing....if it's going to effectively be the last time we're picking high in the lottery i'd want to swing for the fences with our pick....gradey will be there at #11 since apparently he didn't test well

Great point about people just focusing on their athleticism. These guys are super skilled.

[zaymon]

Amen and Ausar are older than Paolo. I was wondering what their shooting stats were in 21-22 for OTE? I think I saw Amen was 53% FT and 20% 3-pt. That was in a league that had no future pros, and I think 1 borderline G-league player. The whole league revolved around, making the Thompson twins look good.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

all that and yet almost every reputable scout with a mock have them both top 10 and amen consistently top 5....must be something going on idk....me personally i see what the stats say and i know what my eyes tell me.....they deserve to be where they are at, i've seen them against pros...like real pros....colin sexton, ant edwards....they've held their own....idk i guess we will see....people are trying so hard to downplay them when it's not far fetched that one of them could be the selection....they both are pretty much potential picks but they aren't just athletes and if anyone thinks that they haven't watched enough film....me personally i prefer cam but i would be thrilled with either twin as a homerun swing....if it's going to effectively be the last time we're picking high in the lottery i'd want to swing for the fences with our pick....gradey will be there at #11 since apparently he didn't test well

Thompsons are the biggest piece of the puzzle this year. Who solves them will have much easier decisions at the draft. Personally i would try to avoid them same as Gradey who is looking more like Duncan Robinson than impactful two way player like Danny Green for example.

[ucfmay2000]

Seem like the luck is always with the Spurs. They tanked purposely in 1997 to draft Tim. They did again this year and about to draft Wembanyama. They did their parts then combine with the luck. That is how a great organization about.

[Nyce_1]

What's the vibe around Dariq Whitehead? Ranked low because of an injury-filled season but coming out of high school, ranked top-5. Can shoot, defend, pass, high IQ, good size, but slow start and just couldn't ever find his footing.

Can be 3&D with the potential to do more on offense. If he is drafted by us, it allows us to not rush him back from his latest surgery and figure out some things with other guys while bringing him along slowly. Played at Montverde with other nba guys.

[VFX]

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?

No. You’d trade Fultz and avoid paying him ridiculous money within a year to not shoot the basketball or run an offense.

[JBSouthpaw]

Looking for articles, results, goings on from the combine, can people post stuff here?

I think measurements are here: https://www.nba.com/stats/draft/combine-anthro?SeasonYear=2023

[Petre1978]

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?

No Fultz is the man out.

[KillMonger]

got a draft thread already

[Hoopslife]

Amen and Ausar are older than Paolo. I was wondering what their shooting stats were in 21-22 for OTE? I think I saw Amen was 53% FT and 20% 3-pt. That was in a league that had no future pros, and I think 1 borderline G-league player. The whole league revolved around, making the Thompson twins look good.

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Paolo was born in 2002. The Thompson twins in 2003. Paolo is a few months older.

[Petre1978]

Amen and Ausar are older than Paolo. I was wondering what their shooting stats were in 21-22 for OTE? I think I saw Amen was 53% FT and 20% 3-pt. That was in a league that had no future pros, and I think 1 borderline G-league player. The whole league revolved around, making the Thompson twins look good.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

all that and yet almost every reputable scout with a mock have them both top 10 and amen consistently top 5....must be something going on idk....me personally i see what the stats say and i know what my eyes tell me.....they deserve to be where they are at, i've seen them against pros...like real pros....colin sexton, ant edwards....they've held their own....idk i guess we will see....people are trying so hard to downplay them when it's not far fetched that one of them could be the selection....they both are pretty much potential picks but they aren't just athletes and if anyone thinks that they haven't watched enough film....me personally i prefer cam but i would be thrilled with either twin as a homerun swing....if it's going to effectively be the last time we're picking high in the lottery i'd want to swing for the fences with our pick....gradey will be there at #11 since apparently he didn't test well

Great point about people just focusing on their athleticism. These guys are super skilled.

Agreed.
They are skilled and if their shots become better they will be Allstars.

[flying_mollusk]

What's the vibe around Dariq Whitehead? Ranked low because of an injury-filled season but coming out of high school, ranked top-5. Can shoot, defend, pass, high IQ, good size, but slow start and just couldn't ever find his footing.

Can be 3&D with the potential to do more on offense. If he is drafted by us, it allows us to not rush him back from his latest surgery and figure out some things with other guys while bringing him along slowly. Played at Montverde with other nba guys.

I’d definitely draft him at 11. How close is his game to Paolo’s? Can we slot him as a future SG?

[KillMonger]

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[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?

No Fultz is the man out.

So your long term lineup is Suggs and Cason Wallace as your guys both probably should be two guards. I just don’t see it too much overlapping skill set. What if they’re both Marcus Smart?

[drsd]

Interesting that "best fit" is mentioned as the path forward in the draft.

Also, sounds like Coach Mosley is not really part of the selection process.

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[Knightro]

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This is absolutely a real thing that prospects do btw.

Keon Johnson and Shaedon Sharpe both did it the last couple of years.