Official 2021 NBA Draft Thread

[Ducklett]

Why do we need Suggs? We have Fultz and Cole. Suggs is another PG for the team. I like Green or Kuminga and quite surprisingly, I think Kuminga needs to play 2 guard

Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony can't factor into a single long-term decision for this team. Right now, neither has shown to be starting-level NBA players. Especially not above-average ones. With their deficiencies, I don't see it happening either.

We need to be actively trying to upgrade at the point guard spot. Suggs would be an obvious attempt at doing that.

People need to be fired then.

[Knightro]

People need to be fired then.

People need to be fired, but Fultz and Anthony not being locked in as starting caliber PGs is way down the list of reasons why

[Hogified05]

Havent watched much college hoops...would Cade finally get this shipped turned around if we got the 1st pick? Like is he a franchise star? I'd just like to see us have some excitement again...even if we are so-so.

[basketballRob]

Man, I would love to see Scottie Barnes with a 40% 3pt shot from NBA range and over 80% from the line.

I want to know what THAT player looks like.

With that size and handle, I could see him being the best player out of this draft.

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[drsd]

The eight worst teams all have a L as their most recent outcome. The Tank-fest is in full force now.

[Knightro]

Havent watched much college hoops...would Cade finally get this shipped turned around if we got the 1st pick? Like is he a franchise star? I'd just like to see us have some excitement again...even if we are so-so.

Personally, I do not think Cade is on the Luka, LeBron megastar level of making any team he’s on very competitive just by existing.

I think he’s a cut below those two guys and more in the Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Gordon Hayward range. Still a valuable player capable of making multiple all-star games as a two-way, playmaking wing, but not a mega star.

[MagicFan101]

Man, I would love to see Scottie Barnes with a 40% 3pt shot from NBA range and over 80% from the line.

I want to know what THAT player looks like.

With that size and handle, I could see him being the best player out of this draft.

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If we drop out of the top 3 I could absolutely see WeHam taking Barnes in their never ending quest for Giannis 2.0.

[Knightro]

If we drop out of the top 3 I could absolutely see WeHam taking Barnes in their never ending quest for Giannis 2.0.

Let's play the hypothetical game there...

Magic end up 5th and take Barnes. Where does he play and what's the next move?

Seems like they would 100% have to flip Gordon for a SG to replace Fournier.

G: Fultz, Anthony
G: Trade, MCW
F: Barnes, Ross
F: Isaac, Okeke
C: Vucevic, Bamba

Not a lot of shooting in that starting lineup unless Gordon brings back a sharpshooter. Barnes + Isaac would be pretty fun defensively.

[MagicFan101]

If we drop out of the top 3 I could absolutely see WeHam taking Barnes in their never ending quest for Giannis 2.0.

Let's play the hypothetical game there...

Magic end up 5th and take Barnes. Where does he play and what's the next move?

Seems like they would 100% have to flip Gordon for a SG to replace Fournier.

G: Fultz, Anthony
G: Trade, MCW
F: Barnes, Ross
F: Isaac, Okeke
C: Vucevic, Bamba

Not a lot of shooting in that starting lineup unless Gordon brings back a sharpshooter. Barnes + Isaac would be pretty fun defensively.

... they would probably resign Evan.

Buddy ball for life while Isaac and Barnes do their thing on defense.

[Knightro]

... they would probably resign Evan.

Buddy ball for life while Isaac and Barnes do their thing on defense.

I'm really hard pressed to see a scenario where Fournier is back unless A. he's taking a significant pay cut or B. something unexpected happens like Aminu opts out or the Magic unload Gordon or Bamba for straight up expiring contracts at this year's deadline.

There's no way to avoid the luxury tax if they sign Evan to a normal market value contract.

[Def Swami]

Barnes is Ben Simmons, right? Big, super athletic, defensive monster, good handle, and good playmaker. But, can't shoot. I watched all of FSU's games in the ACC Tournament, and I might have undersold him. Not sure how far you can go with a player that can't shoot, but if his comp is Simmons out the gate, then that's not as bad a consolation prize. I think Kuminga vs Barnes is an interesting conversation.

[Magicfanatic82]

The rosters lack of shooting should not stop us from taking the BPA. The fact that it factors in our conversation so much shows how glaring the weakness is on the roster.

[PrimeThyme]

Simmons is the comp I've been making for Barnes all season. Let's not forget that Simmons is a 3-time all-star and perennial all-defensive team type player. Barnes is the far more interesting prospect over Kuminga in my estimation. He's much less of a project. I see a skillset and intangibles that will transfer from day 1.

Kuminga is shooting 38% from the field, 24% from 3, && 62% from the FT line in the G-league this season. Barnes shooting numbers from 3 and the FT line aren't much better, but he's at least over 50% from the field and has been an excellent playmaker who can guard all 5 positions.

He's number 4 on my board. I'm much higher on him than I was Williams last year. Barnes ceiling is just higher offensively.

[VFX]

Simmons is the comp I've been making for Barnes all season. Let's not forget that Simmons is a 3-time all-star and perennial all-defensive team type player. Barnes is the far more interesting prospect over Kuminga in my estimation. He's much less of a project. I see a skillset and intangibles that will transfer from day 1.

Kuminga is shooting 38% from the field, 24% from 3, && 62% from the FT line in the G-league this season. Barnes shooting numbers from 3 and the FT line aren't much better, but he's at least over 50% from the field and has been an excellent playmaker who can guard all 5 positions.

He's number 4 on my board. I'm much higher on him than I was Williams last year. Barnes ceiling is just higher offensively.

Barnes is the Simmons-esque point forward that a team without a primary offense engine would want.

The problem is that if he’s not capable of stretching the floor, with Isaac and Fultz in a starting lineup, it becomes the antithesis of modern basketball on offense. That’s not to say I don’t also feel the same way about Kuminga even though I see their value on paper.

[MagicFan101]

Yeah, if we are on the clock looking at a draft board where Cade, Suggs and Green are gone ... how deeply pissed off would people truly be if we took Barnes?

The more I think about it, I wonder if that is the choice we have to make. Mobley is a great talent to consider as well but Barnes vs Kuminga is becoming cloudy.

Also, I really feel Barnes is the legit #6 talent if not higher.

... we probably need to move on from Fultz, make Barnes the point-forward and let Cole be the scoring point. Then try to find a 3&D SG.

[RookieStar]

You guys make an interesting comparison.. what really differentiates Barnes and Kuminga. Both are suppoaedly wings butnin reality are PFs.. at the same time, what really differentiates Green from bouknight and moody?

[MagicFan101]

You guys make an interesting comparison.. what really differentiates Barnes and Kuminga. Both are suppoaedly wings butnin reality are PFs.. at the same time, what really differentiates Green from bouknight and moody?

I need to watch more of Bouknight, so I’ll skip him for now.

As a few others pointed out, the knock of Moody which is glaring once you know to look for it is that he doesn’t really create for himself. He doesn’t have much of an off the dribble game. Can he expand to a lead scorer at the NBA level? Moody is a great shooter which will translate but we need a super star and he can’t be that if he can’t create for himself.

Green is much more explosive and an all around threat. True, he is also more erratic. That gives him more bust potential. The super star potential however is real with him. Moody lacks it entirely.

[pepe1991]

Fultz and isaac are nowhere near good or durable enough to be bothered finding people that fit them.
FUltz simply isn't that talented player in general. He is playmaker without advanced passing chops and without jumpshot. Every smart team would look for long term PG after last season.

Isaac is simply made of glass. Guy in 4 years played 136 out of 318 games

[VFX]

Fultz and isaac are nowhere near good or durable enough to be bothered finding people that fit them.
FUltz simply isn't that talented player in general. He is playmaker without advanced passing chops and without jumpshot. Every smart team would look for long term PG after last season.

Isaac is simply made of glass. Guy in 4 years played 136 out of 318 games

It doesn’t matter if fans feel that way. Does the FO feel that way? Their money says differently.

[jonbob17]

Havent watched much college hoops...would Cade finally get this shipped turned around if we got the 1st pick? Like is he a franchise star? I'd just like to see us have some excitement again...even if we are so-so.

Personally, I do not think Cade is on the Luka, LeBron megastar level of making any team he’s on very competitive just by existing.

I think he’s a cut below those two guys and more in the Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Gordon Hayward range. Still a valuable player capable of making multiple all-star games as a two-way, playmaking wing, but not a mega star.

I mean Luka wasn't even on the megastar level prospect. I thought he was easily the best player in that draft, but I never imagined he would be this good, particularly this fast. I remember when Lebron was coming up, and all the hype, I just couldn't even wrap my head round what he was going to become.

I certainly don't think Cade is in the Lebron/Doncic class, but even if he's more Paul George or Jimmy Butler, what are we talking about top 15/20 player. Borderline best player on a championship team. I think the passing and vision can be better than those two. What is Jimmy Butler if he shot 3s at 38%, he's probably top 5, and I am not saying Cade will be better at all the things Butler is great at. He won't.

I think the path for Cade to be a top 20 player is easier to see than any of the other guys in this draft. 6'7" with good vision and passing is why. Look at Lamelo, and he's probably 6'6, that's why he was the number one prospect last year, even with all the question marks. Ball's passing is much better, at least flashier, than Cade, but Cade excels in other areas over Ball.

I'd say he is a tier or half tier below Doncic coming in, but knowing that Doncic has clearly exceeded expectations on that tier since coming into the league.