The 2022 NBA Draft Thread

[Knightro]

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[RookieStar]

LOL poor UK fans. If Sharpe really will jump to the draft without playing a gane in the ncaa...

Still, this does pose some problems/advantages for us. It widens the pool of players to choose from yet a big risk because while he is/was highly toutes in HS ball, not playong in the Ncaa means we dunno how good or bad he is against bigger strongerbfaster players.

[basketballRob]

LOL poor UK fans. If Sharpe really will jump to the draft without playing a gane in the ncaa...

Still, this does pose some problems/advantages for us. It widens the pool of players to choose from yet a big risk because while he is/was highly toutes in HS ball, not playong in the Ncaa means we dunno how good or bad he is against bigger strongerbfaster players.

Darius Garland only played 4 college games and got picked 6th. Looking back, he should have gone higher.

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[RookieStar]

LOL poor UK fans. If Sharpe really will jump to the draft without playing a gane in the ncaa...

Still, this does pose some problems/advantages for us. It widens the pool of players to choose from yet a big risk because while he is/was highly toutes in HS ball, not playong in the Ncaa means we dunno how good or bad he is against bigger strongerbfaster players.

Darius Garland only played 4 college games and got picked 6th. Looking back, he should have gone higher.

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True enough. You can even add MPJ to that convo as well. Still the difference is, Sharpe is practically drafting a high schooler. Is he even practicing with the UK team?

Still he is intriguing enough to be in the top5 talks even if he doesnt play a single minute of bball game from here to the draft.

[Knightro]

My initial crack at a top 10...

1. Chet Holmgren, C, Gonzaga
2. Jaden Ivey, G, Purdue
3. Paolo Banchero, F, Duke
4. Jabari Smith Jr., F, Auburn
5. Keegan Murray, F, Iowa
6. Bennedict Mathurin, G, Arizona
7. TyTy Washington, G, Kentucky
8. AJ Griffin, F, Duke
9. Tari Eason, F, LSU
10. Mark Williams, C, Duke

-I know most people consider him the No. 3 prospect, but I'm still comfortable with Chet as the top prospect. I understand his frame and weight concerns, but I'm just hard pressed to see many scenarios play out where he's not at the very least a highly impactful defensive player who understands how to play within himself and pick his spots efficiently offensively.

-I'm becoming more and more sold on Ivey as a potential star NBA shooting guard. All the offensive metrics you want to see are all really good. You look at things like PTS/100, PTS/FGA, FTA/FGA, FTA/2PFGA, 3PM/PTS and this kid is the definition of a high end, 3-level scoring prospect. 3PT rate is high, FT rate is high *and* he's really efficient? Throw in the fact he looks at least competent as a passer and defender too? Yes please.

-Banchero has really grown on me after a rough first two weeks at Duke. When I first watched him, he was everything I hoped he *wouldn't* be offensively. A selfish ball stopper who didn't really give you much else. But I tell you, he has made *great* strides as a passer to go along with the size, strength and most importantly the skill as a scorer. I'm not super concerned about the shooting because it's not like he's awful (mid 30s 3PT, high 70s FT) there. The main question I have... can he hold up defensively?

-I still like Smith Jr., but I just like Holmgren, Ivey and Banchero more. If you're looking for a 3&D power forward, Jabari is one of the best ones I've ever seen. I just wonder if there's a lot more in there than that? It's great if he's the modern day Rashard Lewis, but Shard was never a superstar either.

-If my top 5 was based solely on production, Murray would be No. 1. He has a .658 true shooting percentage on a 30.7 USG% and he basically never turns the ball over. It's one of the craziest analytical profiles I've ever seen offensively. Literally off the friggin charts production. Does it all translate? Maybe, maybe not, but until that production starts to slip, I can't in good faith not rank him really high.

Five players I'm HIGHER on than the mock drafts
-Tari Eason
-Mark Williams
-Wendell Moore Jr.
-Jeremy Sochan
-EJ Liddell

Five players I'm LOWER on than the mock drafts
-Jaden Hardy
-Jalen Duren
-Johnny Davis
-Kendal Brown
-Patrick Baldwin Jr.

[Knightro]

I also, in good faith, can't rank Sharpe yet. I would really need to see him play before I'd feel comfortable sticking him in somewhere.

[Petre1978]

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What can you tell me about him?
I don't know him.

[Petre1978]

My initial crack at a top 10...

1. Chet Holmgren, C, Gonzaga
2. Jaden Ivey, G, Purdue
3. Paolo Banchero, F, Duke
4. Jabari Smith Jr., F, Auburn
5. Keegan Murray, F, Iowa
6. Bennedict Mathurin, G, Arizona
7. TyTy Washington, G, Kentucky
8. AJ Griffin, F, Duke
9. Tari Eason, F, LSU
10. Mark Williams, C, Duke

-I know most people consider him the No. 3 prospect, but I'm still comfortable with Chet as the top prospect. I understand his frame and weight concerns, but I'm just hard pressed to see many scenarios play out where he's not at the very least a highly impactful defensive player who understands how to play within himself and pick his spots efficiently offensively.

-I'm becoming more and more sold on Ivey as a potential star NBA shooting guard. All the offensive metrics you want to see are all really good. You look at things like PTS/100, PTS/FGA, FTA/FGA, FTA/2PFGA, 3PM/PTS and this kid is the definition of a high end, 3-level scoring prospect. 3PT rate is high, FT rate is high *and* he's really efficient? Throw in the fact he looks at least competent as a passer and defender too? Yes please.

-Banchero has really grown on me after a rough first two weeks at Duke. When I first watched him, he was everything I hoped he *wouldn't* be offensively. A selfish ball stopper who didn't really give you much else. But I tell you, he has made *great* strides as a passer to go along with the size, strength and most importantly the skill as a scorer. I'm not super concerned about the shooting because it's not like he's awful (mid 30s 3PT, high 70s FT) there. The main question I have... can he hold up defensively?

-I still like Smith Jr., but I just like Holmgren, Ivey and Banchero more. If you're looking for a 3&D power forward, Jabari is one of the best ones I've ever seen. I just wonder if there's a lot more in there than that? It's great if he's the modern day Rashard Lewis, but Shard was never a superstar either.

-If my top 5 was based solely on production, Murray would be No. 1. He has a .658 true shooting percentage on a 30.7 USG% and he basically never turns the ball over. It's one of the craziest analytical profiles I've ever seen offensively. Literally off the friggin charts production. Does it all translate? Maybe, maybe not, but until that production starts to slip, I can't in good faith not rank him really high.

Five players I'm HIGHER on than the mock drafts
-Tari Eason
-Mark Williams
-Wendell Moore Jr.
-Jeremy Sochan
-EJ Liddell

Five players I'm LOWER on than the mock drafts
-Jaden Hardy
-Jalen Duren
-Johnny Davis
-Kendal Brown
-Patrick Baldwin Jr.

Good arguments!
I really like your top 10.
I like Washington,Mathurin and Griffin a lot for the Magic if they get the 4th or 5th pick.
They would give the Magic some much needed perimeter scoring.

Ivey is great but i prefer Davis more.
Ivey has no midrange game.

[Knightro]

Good arguments!
I really like your top 10.
I like Washington,Mathurin and Griffin a lot for the Magic if they get the 4th or 5th pick.
They would give the Magic some much needed perimeter scoring.

Ivey is great but i prefer Davis more.
Ivey has no midrange game.

I agree with you that the in-between is where Ivey's most lacking offensively, but at the same time I question how much a player *really* needs that midrange game if they're able to get to rim and finish and also draw fouls at a high rate.

For me personally, a midrange game is more of a "nice to have" more than a "needs to have" element offensively.

I'd much rather have a play who needs to figure out how to develop a floater than I would a prospect who eschews 3PT shots or shots at the rim in favor of anything in the midrange.

Unless you're an all-time great like Durant or Dirk or CP3 and you can convert at like a 45% or higher clip, they're really just not particularly valuable shots.

[Petre1978]

Good arguments!
I really like your top 10.
I like Washington,Mathurin and Griffin a lot for the Magic if they get the 4th or 5th pick.
They would give the Magic some much needed perimeter scoring.

Ivey is great but i prefer Davis more.
Ivey has no midrange game.

I agree with you that the in-between is where Ivey's most lacking offensively, but at the same time I question how much a player *really* needs that midrange game if they're able to get to rim and finish and also draw fouls at a high rate.

For me personally, a midrange game is more of a "nice to have" more than a "needs to have" element offensively.

I'd much rather have a play who needs to figure out how to develop a floater than I would a prospect who eschews 3PT shots or shots at the rim in favor of anything in the midrange.

Unless you're an all-time great like Durant or Dirk or CP3 and you can convert at like a 45% or higher clip, they're really just not particularly valuable shots.

Which players do you think are high on Weham's draft board?

[Knightro]

Which players do you think are high on Weham's draft board?

The same 5-6 guys as everyone else pretty much.

I don't think they actually have much of an archetype. A lot of people in the media have this idea the Magic value length above all else and that's mostly nonsense.

I think they're going to let the lottery play out and just pick the guy in their draft slot that they think will be the best overall player. With no superstar on the roster, they're not (and shouldn't) going to be drafting with any sort of need in mind.

[DiplomaticMagic]

Shaedon Sharpe sounds like something the Magic could use.

[RichCollab]

All in on Shaedon Sharpe.

[Skin]

My January Top 5 check-in (we won't fall outside of the Top 5)

1. Shaedon Sharpe - Cause why the hell not, I'm not in love with anyone else
2. AJ Griffin - This team is still looking for an identity, I think Griffin could possibly fill that need
3. Jabari Smith - Good, Really Good... but aesthetically unpleasing. lol
4. Benn Mathurin - Silkkky, but does he have that it factor?
5. Paolo Banchero - Reminds me of Carmelo Anthony, so meh

Outside looking in - Jaden Hardy - Can I trust his range to develop? IF so, could sky rocket to #1

[Knightro]

On the same day I have him 2nd on my board, Jaden Ivey with an absolute stinker of a first half against Indiana.

Womp womp.

[Knightro]

On the same day I have him 2nd on my board, Jaden Ivey with an absolute stinker of a first half against Indiana.

Womp womp.

He's turned it around

Awesome 2nd half so far.

[Knightro]

This Shaedon Sharpe situation is very interesting.

If he is eligible and decides to enter the 2022 draft, he's going to be the closest thing we've seen to an American high schooler in the draft in over 15 years.

I really didn't expect him to be in this draft at all, so I haven't really thought about it or him until today.

But if he's really in on the same level as Anthony Edwards and Jalen Green as a prospect then he almost has to be in consideration even if he doesn't play at all for Kentucky.

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[pepe1991]

Every player looks good in highlights. Drafting guy straight from highschool, with basically zero any serious basketball in his life ( U16 fiba Copa America tournament from 2019 as last reliable data? ) and frying top 5 pick on him would be simply too risky.

From few highlights, 6'5- 185, hard shots taker, not some uber athlete, not point guard. Basically best case is Jalen Green.

He was top 10 on espn's list of top 100 recruit. Fine. Nico Mannion was 6th, RJ Hampton was 4th i think, Cole was second. Nico lasted 1 years in nba, RJ Hampton will probably probably around 5, Cole will stick longer but non of them are "stars" because of list.

Key reason why one year college rule was added to nba was to save poor franchsies from stupidity of their GMs and drafting next Kawme, Eddy Curry and Darius Miles within top 5.

btw Calipari 2 weeks ago or so pretty much said he is nowhere near ready to play and he has no intentions to play him, but if they get killed by injuries, he might reconsider giving him 7 min a game


https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/john-calipari-doesnt-expect-shaedon-sharpe-to-play-this-year-hes-a-ways-away/

full interview.

Look, if Orlando is sitting allstar who is injuried, if Suggs was doing fantastic or at least good enough where you are confident he is your PG of future than sure, take a bigger gamble and go on upside of 6'6 shooting guard over well scouted others. But Magic are far away from it. They need to nail this pick or this rebuild is ***ed.

[Knightro]

Every player looks good in highlights. Drafting guy straight from highschool, with basically zero any serious basketball in his life ( U16 fiba Copa America tournament from 2019 as last reliable data? ) and frying top 5 pick on him would be simply too risky.

From few highlights, 6'5- 185, hard shots taker, not some uber athlete, not point guard. Basically best case is Jalen Green.

He was top 10 on espn's list of top 100 recruit. Fine. Nico Mannion was 6th, RJ Hampton was 4th i think, Cole was second. Nico lasted 1 years in nba, RJ Hampton will probably probably around 5, Cole will stick longer but non of them are "stars" because of list.

Key reason why one year college rule was added to nba was to save poor franchsies from stupidity of their GMs and drafting next Kawme, Eddy Curry and Darius Miles within top 5.

btw Calipari 2 weeks ago or so pretty much said he is nowhere near ready to play and he has no intentions to play him, but if they get killed by injuries, he might reconsider giving him 7 min a game


https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/john-calipari-doesnt-expect-shaedon-sharpe-to-play-this-year-hes-a-ways-away/

full interview.

Look, if Orlando is sitting allstar who is injuried, if Suggs was doing fantastic or at least good enough where you are confident he is your PG of future than sure, take a bigger gamble and go on upside of 6'6 shooting guard over well scouted others. But Magic are far away from it. They need to nail this pick or this rebuild is ***ed.

I mean his situation is pretty unique since he graduated high school 8 months earlier than he was normally would have and enrolled in college 6 months earlier than he normally would have.

Under normal circumstances he'd still be playing high school ball for the another 2-3 months, then he'd enroll at Kentucky in the summer and spend the next four months doing nothing but practicing and training before making his college debut in November.

He literally only just got to Kentucky like two weeks ago and hasn't had the opportunity to do any of the training and practicing that all the other guys on Kentucky have gotten to do. His entire timeline basically got jolted forward by 6-8 months.

A guy like TyTy Washington has only played 18 college games, but he's been on Kentucky's campus for 7 months and gotten to train and lift weights and practice that entire time. Of course Sharpe isn't ready compared to a guy like that.

And as far as recruiting rankings go... nothing is ever perfect, but there's plenty of all-stars and other multi-year solid pros all throughout the top 5 of these recruiting rankings. As many or more hits than complete misses that's for sure.

[Knightro]

Normally there's about 8 months between a player's final high school game and their first college game with at least 4 of those months involving training, weight lifting, conditioning, practice etc.

Sharpe just stopped playing high school and has only been on campus like 2 weeks. I don't even think he's even had a full practice yet.

I totally understand if he's too risky for the Magic to make an investment in, but it's a little unfair to hold his circumstances against him when he should be playing high school games right now.