2023 NBA Draft Thread

[DSN1423]

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dope....however if i'm a coach i wonder if a would want my center doing that on the perimeter in the nba

You would if you had Paolo on your team who can operate from the elbows/block/short corners and has shown that is his strength on offense.

Would complement each other nicely!

[pepe1991]

Victor is very good prospect and probably worth sucking for ( hence, multi billion dollars teams are doing it now) however hype got out of hands.

Guy made decision to avoid playing against any better competition to not get exposed and put that draft stock in joperty.

He transfered from Euroleague team to team that won't be playing any serious competition but French league, who, itself, isn't very good and already gave birth to couple of lottery busts in past such are Ntikilina and Killian Hayes.

Last year in Euroleague he was complete no factor.
He had games where he played 20 min and had 4 points, 5 rebounds or just horrid games where he shot 1-8 or 1-4 with no tengable impact on game.

But ofc not this year, this year he plays exibition games against basically nobodies and Franch league where he gets all the freedom and benefits from officiating.

Even if you look that video posted, it's boneheaded play. 7'4 guy does dribbling over guy who is 3 heads shorter than him, than , wih 5 sec on the clock he pulls one leg running floater -3 point shot. It went in and he is celebrated for making everything wrong.

And let's not get it twisted, his 3 point shot still isn't all that funcional as internet hype wants you to think. He shot 26% for 3 last year , 32% this year.

Where you want to see VW is high pick&Roll action , getting ball and rolling with dunks. Where you don't want to see VW is camping at 3 point line doing bull**** dribbling and shooting over people that are 1 foot shorter. If you want that, might as well trade for Porzingis. Or keep playing Bamba.

[Husky1]

Who would you take him or scoot Pepe? Scoot is the obv fit for this roster. I think they’re both franchise changers

[pepe1991]

Who would you take him or scoot Pepe? Scoot is the obv fit for this roster. I think they’re both franchise changers

Victor, i think Victor is amazing, amazing talent. But much like it was first year or Embiid, early "PorzinGod", hell, pre draft hype of Mo Bamba , Thon Maker, Bol , majority of things internet celebrates him for, look cool, but have no pratical usage on winning basketball team on game to game bases.




Anyway, on winning basketball team there is apsolute need for defined roles. This doesn't mean your center can't shoot open 3s ( case and point, Brook Lopez) but you still want your center to do basic, traditional things, like set screen, roll, be involved in off ball screens, box out, hold own in switches.

This isn't Victor today. In French league at one point, this season, ( 7 days ago) , he shot under 30% for 3 ,under 70% FTs and had epic 16 assists to 46 turnovers rate.
But again, internet will never tell you that. You will see him making single sucessfull crossover 3 point shot and they will never show you his crossover attemp that bounce off his foot because it's not very funcinal nor natural to have 7'4 guy trying those things. It's all about "showcasing " what he can do, rather what player at his position ,size and frame should be doing.

And again,my by far biggeset issue today with him is that he took easy way out. Why would you avoid playing against best competition? Luka would never be Luka if he spent last year in Europe squashing 16 years old boys in Slovenian league. Luka turned into - today's Luka- top 5 player in nba execlly because he had opportunity to face Westbrook at age of 17, to play against top 500 nba players at age of 18.

I think for VW development this ,current season, is complete waste of time.


Most of his hype comes from novelty and scouts and internet obsession with tall players that play like guards.
In 1980s everybody wanted new Kareem. In 1990s everybody wanted "perfect" 6'6 athletic guard ( Jordan), in 2000s everybody wanted 6'7 & 6'8 athletic marvels ( Kobe, Lebron, Carter, T Mac), in 2010s everybody started searching for new Curry, and now last several years there is growing obsession for "Gobert with 3 point shot" or/and Giannis.


VW is great prospect, non less. But depending who lands him, first couple of seasons could be painful learning experience & unintentional tanking for team who gets him, if they want to get best of him later.

[jezzerinho]

This is one of the most guard-heavy drafts in years.

We need guards.

We have two picks. Let's see what the year brings regarding the evolution of these players but right now I'd be pencilling Cam Whitmore plus a guard like Black, Smith or Amen.

Too early to say too much and we don't know where the picks will land. But the presence of so many guards is a help.

Nothing beats getting vet players so I'd be happy to push both picks into the trade pot.

[MoMM]

If we get #1 pick, what's your opinion of making a trade ala Webber/Penny? To sum up, Wemba for Scoot + lots of FRPs.

[drsd]

If we get #1 pick, what's your opinion of making a trade ala Webber/Penny? To sum up, Wemba for Scoot + lots of FRPs.

I love this idea in principal. But not for Henderson. I would much rather it be a swap for a Desmond Bane or a Dejounte Murray.

..

[bigshawn]

This is 1992/1993 all over again exactly 30 years later. 2022 we got number 1 pick Paolo (Shaq). 2023 we will get number one pick again regardless of our record. We will get our Penny, (probably Victor but could very well be Scoot via trade).

[fendilim]

Who would you take him or scoot Pepe? Scoot is the obv fit for this roster. I think they’re both franchise changers

I’m sorry but this can’t even be a serious question.

There’s no way you pass up on VW despite him hiding in the french league.

The potential of the guy is unreal.

Scoot may possibly win more games and a more sure fire thing, but VW can be generational.

[basketballRob]

Scoot is like a thicker, stronger Morant.

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[KillMonger]

Thoughts on Brandon Miller?

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[pepe1991]

Thoughts on Brandon Miller?

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Shot sub 28% for 3 at Nike EYBL. 6'9 versitale defender. Sounds like Weltman's early favorite. Long. Check. Can't shoot .Check.

[CarraT]

So who is the best shooter at Guard in the lottery? I want that guy, as i dont believe we will have a Top 2 pick.

[Petre1978]

So who is the best shooter at Guard in the lottery? I want that guy, as i dont believe we will have a Top 2 pick.

Nick Smith Jr or Keyonte George would be a great addition to the Magic.

[Knightro]

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[zaymon]

So who is the best shooter at Guard in the lottery? I want that guy, as i dont believe we will have a Top 2 pick.

Nick Smith Jr or Keyonte George would be a great addition to the Magic.

Definetly not Scoot.

[tooler]

I'm no expert on shooting mechanics but he looks a little high strung when he takes a jump shot. Definitely not smooth and silky.

[KillMonger]

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[Message Boar]

So, it's early, but let's say we get unlucky on lottery night and pick like around the eighth pick. Who might be available that fits with our core/addresses our needs? And ditto for the Bulls pick (probably around #15-20, or better). I think I read somewhere that it's looking like a good guard draft(?).

[lt175]

This is a great year for the Magic to do a solid tank job.
Lot of good wing options and the top of the draft is stacked. I´m not the biggest fan of Scoot Henderson to be honest but hell of a prospect still. If the Magic have he second pick I guess you should take him but then what happens with Suggs and Fultz?

As for VW, he choosed to play for Boulogne Levallois because he wanted to play in a team built around him. He wanted to be the focal point of the offense, make mistakes, learn. That´s the first time in his pro career he has this role. There was also the fact that the Mets are coached by Vincent Collet, the France National Team Coach.
Playing in Euroleague is overrated for a young NBA prospect to be honest. At 18, you should play period not being burried on a bench because you missed a defensive rotation. Giannis, Jokic, Markkanen never played in Euroleague and not even in another European Competition. Same for Dirk.
If you can do a Luka good for you but at the end of the day he´s the exception not the rule.
And the French League is a pretty good league. Really physical. It´s clearly better than NCAA for example.

I feel the Magic are one good draft away to be a really tough team to beat. Paolo Banchero is amazing.