Risers

[Magic Mops]

James Bouknight

CBS Sports Big Board rank: No. 5

Being high on Jalen Green means, by default, I am high on James Bouknight. The two are similar in several ways with Bouknight's leaping ability jumping off the page similar toGreen's.

Bouknight's feel and finesse as a pure bucket-getter also helps separate him as one of the best scorers in this draft. The knock here with him is that his efficiency isn't quite up to snuff: he hit 29.3% from 3 last season, 44.7% from the field and has, for two seasons, had a higher turnover rate than assist rate.

How much of a creator will he be in the NBA? And if his best trait as a prospect is scoring, why are we buying someone who was so inefficient?

There's layers to that onion. Most importantly, we have to keep in mind that those numbers aren't totally representative of his impact on UConn overall. He had an in-season elbow injury that ultimately required surgery.

Then, when he came back, he really wasn't quite 100%. There's also the context to his own situation worth considering; he was UConn's leading scorer and the way in which he scored -- taking tough shots, serving as Chief of Late-Shot-Clock Bail Outs -- was a huge reason why, statistically, his shooting stats aren't quite what you'd want to see from a top-five prospect.

Taking all those factors into account, I think there is so much to like about his game, his skill and his long-term projection that I've moved him to No. 5 on my board.

He turned real heads at his recent pro day in Chicago, particularly with his shot-making. He'll be a sparkplug offensive weapon in the NBA and a really, really good one for a long time.

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Joshua Primo

CBS Sports Big Board rank: No. 17

With Primo officially bypassing his remaining college eligibility -- which up until the Combine was not a certainty -- he now lands comfortably in our first-round projections.

The 6-foot-5 Alabama guard measured with a 6-foot-9 wingspan at the Combine and showed real pizazz at the event with the ball in his hands. He was creating for others and attacking off the bounce, which we rarely saw in his brief stint with the Tide. 

There's a lot of untapped potential here that scouts were hoping to see and indeed did witness.
Whether you buy the upside or not the outside scoring package and youth (he's the youngest player in the draft) is reason to believe in him as a role-player ... and why I'm buying the long-term upside, even if we didn't see it much in college.

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[tiderulz]

Ive given my thoughts on Primo on the #33 pick thread. he has very shaky handles, issue with getting his own shot and doesnt do anything great. not wearing my Bama glasses, he is not worth a 1st round pick.

[skyguy]

CBS likes Barnes.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-mock-draft-2021-scottie-barnes-goes-no-3-based-on-who-is-most-likely-to-have-the-best-nba-career/

[bigdogdylan5]

I love Bouknight I feel like if we like him and Green is gone we shouldn't even hesitate to take him at 5 in order to secure him. Pick Moody or Kispert at 8 and it is an A draft in my book.

[thelead]

CBS likes Barnes.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-mock-draft-2021-scottie-barnes-goes-no-3-based-on-who-is-most-likely-to-have-the-best-nba-career/

oh, how I hope that Green falls to us

[BCS]

CBS likes Barnes.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-mock-draft-2021-scottie-barnes-goes-no-3-based-on-who-is-most-likely-to-have-the-best-nba-career/

oh, how I hope that Green falls to us

I've felt this as a possibility, maybe not that likely but drafts tend to surprise you sometimes.

The reality is that Green is not a great fit for the Raps, Cavs, nor Rockets based on other young players they have now. Green's game imo does not match well with Fred Vanvleet, with Kevin Porter Jr, and to a lesser extent Darius Garland. Now if any of those teams truly thinks that Green is much better than any other player left on the board, you assume they take him and figure it out later.

But they have to do this knowing full well that you are trading Green for extra assets or you might have to move on from the other players for a better fit if Green becomes your guy.

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[tiderulz]

CBS likes Barnes.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-mock-draft-2021-scottie-barnes-goes-no-3-based-on-who-is-most-likely-to-have-the-best-nba-career/

oh, how I hope that Green falls to us

wow, he also has Moody falling to 26, Herb Jones up to 23 and Jalen Johnson down to the 30th pick. pretty bold

[basketballRob]

Draftnet has us getting Kuminga and Moody. Bouknight falling to 13.

https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/

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[thelead]

CBS likes Barnes.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-mock-draft-2021-scottie-barnes-goes-no-3-based-on-who-is-most-likely-to-have-the-best-nba-career/

oh, how I hope that Green falls to us

wow, he also has Moody falling to 26, Herb Jones up to 23 and Jalen Johnson down to the 30th pick. pretty bold

Eh, those types of things happen every draft. Plenty of lotto guys that should have gone late 1st if not 2nd round. I'm not holding my breath though. Green is going #2 or #3. Collin Sexton is on the block for a reason. Cavs are likely targeting Green if Sexton is on the trading block.

[rcklsscognition]

I would be perfectly fine if we took Bouknight with the #5.

[SOUL]

"It's back. My once-a-year mock draft is based not on team needs or team projections, but instead, purely on my forecast of who will become the best pros in this draft class."

Not necessarily a mock, just who he thinks will be the best players. IRL it will obviously go different/people have different opinions.

[tiderulz]

I would be perfectly fine if we took Bouknight with the #5.

if Green is gone, i feel more and more like this. Why not really swing for the fences, Bouknight at 5, Jalen Johnson at 8

[The Effect]

I would be perfectly fine if we took Bouknight with the #5.

if Green is gone, i feel more and more like this. Why not really swing for the fences, Bouknight at 5, Jalen Johnson at 8

Id prefer that, but unfortunately theres no way they are passing on barnes

Not only does he fit WeHams prototype (athletic, long arms, **** shooter), but hes also local (Martins now happy) and everything Mosley said yesterday in his presser yesterday describes barnes
“I want to play with pace, space and I want to play with the pass,”
“Defensively, I want to be a tough, talkative, high-level communication team,”
"“I think there’s an ability that we have with length on this team,” Mosley explained. “There’s a lot of length on the team which in the NBA now is very important"

(no i dont think he was talking about barnes specifically, but if thats what his goal is, im sure hes gonna be drawn to Barnes)

[OrlandoNed]

I would be perfectly fine if we took Bouknight with the #5.

if Green is gone, i feel more and more like this. Why not really swing for the fences, Bouknight at 5, Jalen Johnson at 8

Id prefer that, but unfortunately theres no way they are passing on barnes

Not only does he fit WeHams prototype (athletic, long arms, **** shooter), but hes also local (Martins now happy) and everything Mosley said yesterday in his presser yesterday describes barnes
“I want to play with pace, space and I want to play with the pass,”
“Defensively, I want to be a tough, talkative, high-level communication team,”
"“I think there’s an ability that we have with length on this team,” Mosley explained. “There’s a lot of length on the team which in the NBA now is very important"

(no i dont think he was talking about barnes specifically, but if thats what his goal is, im sure hes gonna be drawn to Barnes)

Here is the 3 point % for all of our important young players:

Okeke 34%
Cole 33%
Bamba 32%
RJ 31%
Fultz 25%
WCJ 24%

The league average is 37%. Every single one of our core young players shoots below league average from 3. That just screams "SPACE" doesn't it? But sure though, lets throw in an even worse shooter like Barnes to run the offense. Then there will be plenty of space on the floor, because while our guys are on the perimeter the 5 defenders on the floor will all have a foot in the paint.

[thelead]

if Green is gone, i feel more and more like this. Why not really swing for the fences, Bouknight at 5, Jalen Johnson at 8

Id prefer that, but unfortunately theres no way they are passing on barnes

Not only does he fit WeHams prototype (athletic, long arms, **** shooter), but hes also local (Martins now happy) and everything Mosley said yesterday in his presser yesterday describes barnes
“I want to play with pace, space and I want to play with the pass,”
“Defensively, I want to be a tough, talkative, high-level communication team,”
"“I think there’s an ability that we have with length on this team,” Mosley explained. “There’s a lot of length on the team which in the NBA now is very important"

(no i dont think he was talking about barnes specifically, but if thats what his goal is, im sure hes gonna be drawn to Barnes)

Here is the 3 point % for all of our important young players:

Okeke 34%
Cole 33%
Bamba 32%
RJ 31%
Fultz 25%
WCJ 24%

The league average is 37%. Every single one of our core young players shoots below league average from 3. That just screams "SPACE" doesn't it? But sure though, lets throw in an even worse shooter like Barnes to run the offense. Then there will be plenty of space on the floor, because while our guys are on the perimeter the 5 defenders on the floor will all have a foot in the paint.

I want to cry looking at those numbers... and then I remember we have a top 5 pick... and then I remember that we're choosing between Kuminga and Barnes...

[Bensational]

I haven’t heard much talk of him climbing mock drafts but Trey Murphy seems like he has the game to do so. From the Pels onwards he has a game which is ready to help a team from day 1. Length and good use on defense and contesting shots, and a gorgeous 3pt shot. I love how much height and arc he gets on his shots.

Mikal Bridges might be making the case for him this post season, too.

[SOUL]

Here is the 3 point % for all of our important young players:

Okeke 34%
Cole 33%
Bamba 32%
RJ 31%
Fultz 25%
WCJ 24%

The league average is 37%. Every single one of our core young players shoots below league average from 3. That just screams "SPACE" doesn't it? But sure though, lets throw in an even worse shooter like Barnes to run the offense. Then there will be plenty of space on the floor, because while our guys are on the perimeter the 5 defenders on the floor will all have a foot in the paint.

It's of concern, but I'd like to see the average of players under 23 or 24. It's one thing if they're all in their primes and veterans and shooting under league average, but 3 of them played their first season this year. I think 3-4 of these guys can turn into league average shooters as they mature and get used to the NBA.

[penny_nz]

if Green is gone, i feel more and more like this. Why not really swing for the fences, Bouknight at 5, Jalen Johnson at 8

Id prefer that, but unfortunately theres no way they are passing on barnes

Not only does he fit WeHams prototype (athletic, long arms, **** shooter), but hes also local (Martins now happy) and everything Mosley said yesterday in his presser yesterday describes barnes
“I want to play with pace, space and I want to play with the pass,”
“Defensively, I want to be a tough, talkative, high-level communication team,”
"“I think there’s an ability that we have with length on this team,” Mosley explained. “There’s a lot of length on the team which in the NBA now is very important"

(no i dont think he was talking about barnes specifically, but if thats what his goal is, im sure hes gonna be drawn to Barnes)

Here is the 3 point % for all of our important young players:

Okeke 34%
Cole 33%
Bamba 32%
RJ 31%
Fultz 25%
WCJ 24%

The league average is 37%. Every single one of our core young players shoots below league average from 3. That just screams "SPACE" doesn't it? But sure though, lets throw in an even worse shooter like Barnes to run the offense. Then there will be plenty of space on the floor, because while our guys are on the perimeter the 5 defenders on the floor will all have a foot in the paint.

We really do need consistent perimeter shooting in the worst way

[J the Drafter]

And if the Magic make up for below-average 3-point shooting with above-average defense, that isn’t a trade-off people would consider?

[Xatticus]

And if the Magic make up for below-average 3-point shooting with above-average defense, that isn’t a trade-off people would consider?

3-point shooting is really overrated at this point. It's obviously important in the modern NBA, but at the same time, the best offenses in the 80's would still be really good offenses in the modern game and they managed it without the benefit of the 3-point shot. There is a lot of 'monkey see, monkey do' in the game. Someone stumbles onto something that works and everyone copies it without a great deal of consideration for its application. You can miss a lot of value by trying to imitate those that you envy.

For example: You can try to mimic what worked for the Warriors, but if you don't have Steph, Klay, and KD, then you are just putting out an inferior version of what they did. At the same time, the best ORtg the Warriors ever posted was 115.9 while launching 2824 3-point field goal attempts. The Showtime Lakers posted a 115.6 ORtg while attempting a grand total of 447 3-point field goal attempts. My point is just that there is still more than one way to excel if you are open-minded enough to seek it out.

So... Yes. I don't really care what form it takes. I just want to see our organization chase value. You have to wonder if Giannis wouldn't go quite a bit lower if he entered the draft this year given the current 3-point shooting fetish.