2023 NBA Draft Thread 4

[Black and Blue]

I just don’t see it with Black. I’ve watched quite a few of his full games and I just don’t see this amazing passer/player. I see a solid player but I don’t see anything that suggests he’s a guy I’m taking at 6 or I guy that’s going to come in, make a team trade their PG’s and have him starting because he makes your team that good.

I think he has great court vision, is tall, and is a hustler on defense…but you’d hope there would be more there to spend a high lottery pick on. -Especially if the team has a lot of giant holes like make high lottery teams do.

He very well could be good long term, but it’s going to take a lot to get him there. The thing that worries me most is as cerebral as Black is he isn’t explosive or quick. If you aren’t fast in the nba you need to be shifty, and I’m not seeing that either. It may be the exhausted magic fan in me but I don’t want a super long term project when Paolo and Franz could use help now.

[Husky1]

I keep coming back to Nick Smith Jr. I reckon he will blow up in NBA, injuries def hurt his stock. Trade back with Utah to grab him maybe. Lively fits us like a glove, would love him at 11. Happy with Dick also. You would argue Dick / Lively are two fits from day 1. I’m a huge Smith Jr fan though.

[SOUL]

If you aren’t fast in the nba you need to be shifty, and I’m not seeing that either. It may be the exhausted magic fan in me but I don’t want a super long term project when Paolo and Franz could use help now.

I don't ever look at the draft for help now though, that's where I turn to free agency or trades. If we're truly unsure about minutes or ability to help in the next few years, then we're more likely to move a pick, I think.

You do have exceptions, but even Paolo was very ineffective as far as advanced metrics and a lot of those win now guys are usually late 1st round picks who are older and can easily transition to defined roles like Desmond Bane (as a shooter) or Herb Jones (as a defender) or something.

[IllMagic04]

There are so many ways we can go.... You can make an argument for whatever prospect.... Also though if we plan to get a shooter via free agency that might change how we view things draft wise.... For example if we go after Gary Trent no need for gradey and maybe lively could be a nice pivot.... Or we could just trade out of the draft completely... Don't see it happening but we got so many options

Sent from the phone in my hands

I personally dont like this draft for us and I'd prefer to just trade out completely. Most years I have a strong opinion on the draft. This year is just meh to me. Way different from last year. I was sold 100% sold on Paolo after the Texas Tech game in the tournament. Im not 100% sold on anyone except Wemby this year. Im def curious on what both picks could net us in a trade.

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[IllMagic04]

If we do take Black ( which Im against) who gets moved? You cant have that many bricklayers in the backcourt.

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[NothingButMagic]

When me and Knightro did our podcast I predicted Barnes going earlier (3 I think) and us getting Suggs at 5

If you're still doing a podcast, what's it called? I'm always looking for a good listen.

[89Magicfan]

I just don’t see it with Black. I’ve watched quite a few of his full games and I just don’t see this amazing passer/player. I see a solid player but I don’t see anything that suggests he’s a guy I’m taking at 6 or I guy that’s going to come in, make a team trade their PG’s and have him starting because he makes your team that good.

I think he has great court vision, is tall, and is a hustler on defense…but you’d hope there would be more there to spend a high lottery pick on. -Especially if the team has a lot of giant holes like make high lottery teams do.

He very well could be good long term, but it’s going to take a lot to get him there. The thing that worries me most is as cerebral as Black is he isn’t explosive or quick. If you aren’t fast in the nba you need to be shifty, and I’m not seeing that either. It may be the exhausted magic fan in me but I don’t want a super long term project when Paolo and Franz could use help now.

I don’t even see that. I mean he’s better than average but I don’t see Josh Giddy at all.

[89Magicfan]

There are so many ways we can go.... You can make an argument for whatever prospect.... Also though if we plan to get a shooter via free agency that might change how we view things draft wise.... For example if we go after Gary Trent no need for gradey and maybe lively could be a nice pivot.... Or we could just trade out of the draft completely... Don't see it happening but we got so many options

Sent from the phone in my hands

I personally dont like this draft for us and I'd prefer to just trade out completely. Most years I have a strong opinion on the draft. This year is just meh to me. Way different from last year. I was sold 100% sold on Paolo after the Texas Tech game in the tournament. Im not 100% sold on anyone except Wemby this year. Im def curious on what both picks could net us in a trade.

Sent from my SM-G970U using RealGM mobile app

I’m pretty sold on Scoot.

[SOUL]

When me and Knightro did our podcast I predicted Barnes going earlier (3 I think) and us getting Suggs at 5

If you're still doing a podcast, what's it called? I'm always looking for a good listen.

It's been so long I forgot lmao. But I will make a thread when it's recorded again. It's far from a daily thing but will try to see how often me and Knightro (or other guests too) can do it.

[SOUL]

I actually really like this draft. I think it'll be full of solid players. The big issue is that past 2, but even 2-3 have some concerns, the top 8 or so in the lottery all have very specific strengths/weaknesses that will either propel them in the right situation or hinder them in the wrong one.

I think it's very deep though.

[IllMagic04]

There are so many ways we can go.... You can make an argument for whatever prospect.... Also though if we plan to get a shooter via free agency that might change how we view things draft wise.... For example if we go after Gary Trent no need for gradey and maybe lively could be a nice pivot.... Or we could just trade out of the draft completely... Don't see it happening but we got so many options

Sent from the phone in my hands

I personally dont like this draft for us and I'd prefer to just trade out completely. Most years I have a strong opinion on the draft. This year is just meh to me. Way different from last year. I was sold 100% sold on Paolo after the Texas Tech game in the tournament. Im not 100% sold on anyone except Wemby this year. Im def curious on what both picks could net us in a trade.

Sent from my SM-G970U using RealGM mobile app

I’m pretty sold on Scoot.

Im not. I've watched a bunch of film and I just can't get there. I personally like Brandon Miller better. And Im not sold on him either.

I do like some of the guys in the 11th pick range. Dick, Hawkings and Wallace are interesting.

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[eyriq]

Oh and Keyonte George at 26.. yikes.. eyriq wouldn't be happy lol

I cried a little. Keyonte stock is crashing

[Rainwater]

I just don’t see it with Black. I’ve watched quite a few of his full games and I just don’t see this amazing passer/player. I see a solid player but I don’t see anything that suggests he’s a guy I’m taking at 6 or I guy that’s going to come in, make a team trade their PG’s and have him starting because he makes your team that good.

I used to love Black but I don't see it either.

[Rainwater]

Oh and Keyonte George at 26.. yikes.. eyriq wouldn't be happy lol

I cried a little. Keyonte stock is crashing

Yeah, Keyonte is another guy I used to love but have fallen out of favor with. Honestly, after the 3rd pick this draft is a tossup. I really don't see any sure things.

[drsd]

When me and Knightro did our podcast I predicted Barnes going earlier (3 I think) and us getting Suggs at 5

I’m going to need another modcast mock draft.

After 3, the big-board and the mocks could not be more misaligned. This might be the most radical draft in living memory where "upside" is being valued over "skill" for some many, many players.

Why this makes me happy as that there will be skilful players available at 11 because of this near-certain fact.

[drsd]

The only player I really want right this second is Cason Wallace. Dude will be in the league for a long time.

Second in the SEC in assists and fourth in steals. ~36% from 3. Seems like a guy all playoff teams need and want.

Dick at 6 and Wallace at 11 is a good draft outcome. They both fit immediate bench needs for the 2023.24 season, and both have a role to grow into the roster over the coming years.

[drsd]

I personally dont like this draft for us and I'd prefer to just trade out completely.

It would be a nice outcome to get Simons for G-Harris, the 6 and the 2025 Denver FRP pick. The 11 can be used for bench depth. (in part I hope the Magic keep the 11 just so we can see how bad the Bulls trade becomes for Chicago ).

..

[drsd]

Oh and Keyonte George at 26.. yikes.. eyriq wouldn't be happy lol

I cried a little. Keyonte stock is crashing

Yeah, Keyonte is another guy I used to love but have fallen out of favor with. Honestly, after the 3rd pick this draft is a tossup. I really don't see any sure things.

These players are basically going to be drafted randomly:

Anthony Black
Taylor Hendricks
Gradey Dick
Ausar Thompson
Amen Thompson
Cam Whitmore
Nick Smith
Jarace Walker
Cason Wallace

That means that draft slots 4-12 are essentially a buyer-choice.

Also: Keyonte George, GG Jackson, Jordan Hawkins, Leonard Miller, and Dereck Lively can all catch a teams interst to go in the 8-16 range, all way above the mocks for them.

This is such a chaotic draft!

[Petre1978]

Was man hier wieder für Sachen liest.......

[eyriq]

NBA big board with some Keyonte love today on his podcast