Who will be the steal of the 2021 draft?

[Stillwater]

If Tre Mann and Alperen Sengun look as good at the pro level as they do now, it's one of them.

Sengun is definitely making a case for being a lottery pick in fact I wouldn't be surprised if he goes as high as 10 with a floor at 20.
Not sold Mann goes before late first so if he turns out to be something he will be considered a steal for sure.

[Hal14]

Jalen Johnson has lined himself up for this. Top 5 pure talent in this draft. Could easily fall to ? Late lottery/teens?


Idk what it is, I want to take him 3 or 4 in this draft. But I hope my team somehow selects him in the 20’s

IDK if I'd go as far as picking him top 3-4, but I like Johnson a lot too.

He projects as a perfect stretch 4 in the modern NBA. Similar to John Collins, but Johnson probably has higher ceiling than Collins, given Johnson at age 19 already has the physical tools and skill set of Collins at age 23...and Johnson is already a better passer....all Collins has on him is a little stronger/muscular but Johnson can get there with time..

I'm hoping Johnson falls to my team - we could really use a stretch 4...and we could use a dude with good passing/vision..

[Ball4life32]

Jalen Johnson has lined himself up for this. Top 5 pure talent in this draft. Could easily fall to ? Late lottery/teens?


Idk what it is, I want to take him 3 or 4 in this draft. But I hope my team somehow selects him in the 20’s

IDK if I'd go as far as picking him top 3-4, but I like Johnson a lot too.

He projects as a perfect stretch 4 in the modern NBA. Similar to John Collins, but Johnson probably has higher ceiling than Collins, given Johnson at age 19 already has the physical tools and skill set of Collins at age 23...and Johnson is already a better passer....all Collins has on him is a little stronger/muscular but Johnson can get there with time..

I'm hoping Johnson falls to my team - we could really use a stretch 4...and we could use a dude with good passing/vision..

There is no way this is true. Collins averaged 19/9 at WF at 19 years old and has been a 20/9 guy the last 3 years in the nba but Johnson who averaged a little over 11 ppg again’t college competition(on worse efficiency than Collins has ever had) already has the same skill set? And i don’t even think their games are that similar at all. Johnson is a combo forward and Collins is a combo big.

[clyde21]

if Johnson gets his head straight he will for sure be a steal, monster talent.

[babyjax13]

if Johnson gets his head straight he will for sure be a steal, monster talent.

I have the same doubts, but to be fair, it's entirely based on his team hopping the last couple of seasons. It is entirely possible there is a rational explanation for each case...unless there is other news about his personality, etc.

[Jamaaliver]

My pick for steal of the draft:

Watch on YouTube

[Stillwater]

My pick for steal of the draft:

Watch on YouTube

He wont fall far enough to be considered a steal imo

[clyde21]

if Johnson gets his head straight he will for sure be a steal, monster talent.

I have the same doubts, but to be fair, it's entirely based on his team hopping the last couple of seasons. It is entirely possible there is a rational explanation for each case...unless there is other news about his personality, etc.

it's not just that for me, it's more the body language on the court, can get really frustrated and it shows pretty visibly on him with his body language, I know if I was one of his teammates I'd have said a few words to him

he has some maturing to do for sure, but again, monster talent. people are talking about Banchero as a stud talent, Johnson is kinda like Banchero, but Banchero seems to have a much better head on his shoulders.

but yea, if he falls enough you have to take him at some point, the risk/reward will be well worth it.

[TheBunk]

Agree with everyone saying Springer if he falls out of the lotto. His finishing at the basket is NBA level.

[Hal14]

won't know until we see who's drafted where

i guess just base it off consensus rankings / where guys are projected to go..

I'd say:

EJ Onu
Neemias Queta
Charles Bassey
Isaiah Todd
Malcolm Cazalon
JT Thor
Roko Prkacin
Vrenz Bleijenbergh
Springer (if he falls out of the lotto)
Sengun (if he falls outside the top 15)

[Upperclass]

Josh Christopher if he doesnt go top 10

[EMG518]

Cant know whom is a steal before we see where they are drafted.

[DCasey91]

Anything past 2 Green is a steal for me lol. Crazy take but this has the potential of a Luka wtf why did he go at 3 or 4 on draft night?

Non Lotto:

Outside top 15 Mann and Bouknight for sure outside top 20? would probably be considered as a steal.

Later picks:

Butler
Duarte (Though I completely understand him going abit lower then others due to age).
Prkacin
Murphy
Petrusev
Christopher

These are my favorites. All have that realistic transferable aspect to them in terms of role/position/game etc.

[Roger Murdock]

if Johnson gets his head straight he will for sure be a steal, monster talent.

I have the same doubts, but to be fair, it's entirely based on his team hopping the last couple of seasons. It is entirely possible there is a rational explanation for each case...unless there is other news about his personality, etc.

it's not just that for me, it's more the body language on the court, can get really frustrated and it shows pretty visibly on him with his body language, I know if I was one of his teammates I'd have said a few words to him

he has some maturing to do for sure, but again, monster talent. people are talking about Banchero as a stud talent, Johnson is kinda like Banchero, but Banchero seems to have a much better head on his shoulders.

but yea, if he falls enough you have to take him at some point, the risk/reward will be well worth it.

I like his talent a lot but I'd rather be the second or third NBA team that picks him up than the first.

[CP War Hawks]

My personal barometer is guys that fall into the 20s and will outplay that position. Trey Murphy and Cam Thomas.

Murphy needs to add size and strength. If he does that, he can be a Siakam 2.0 version except with much greater range and more defensive versatility. One is 230, and the other is 200 but the upside is there if he can get that size.

Thomas is more or less Hardaway. If he falls to the right team, he will get those certain looks and potentially close the game with his shooting from anywhere ability.

[DCasey91]

I get a little OG vibes from Murphy, but with him you are getting one of the safest floors in the whole draft non lotto wise. 3+D wing size that does both is always welcome to any team at any time.

[Stillwater]

I get a little OG vibes from Murphy, but with him you are getting one of the safest floors in the whole draft non lotto wise. 3+D wing size that does both is always welcome to any team at any time.

needs to get a lot stronger though and wont maybe so there is that

[DCasey91]

I get a little OG vibes from Murphy, but with him you are getting one of the safest floors in the whole draft non lotto wise. 3+D wing size that does both is always welcome to any team at any time.

needs to get a lot stronger though and wont maybe so there is that

Players get naturally stronger over time. Thing I like he’s definitely a wing size proposition that does what he does very well.

[Stillwater]

I get a little OG vibes from Murphy, but with him you are getting one of the safest floors in the whole draft non lotto wise. 3+D wing size that does both is always welcome to any team at any time.

needs to get a lot stronger though and wont maybe so there is that

Players get naturally stronger over time. Thing I like he’s definitely a wing size proposition that does what he does very well.

Maybe but he probably can't bench his own weight right now. I like the athleticism and looks like decent length etc but outside of catch and shoot what is he for the duration of his first contract? I don't think he goes in the first but you never know those % are pretty impressive

[DCasey91]

needs to get a lot stronger though and wont maybe so there is that

Players get naturally stronger over time. Thing I like he’s definitely a wing size proposition that does what he does very well.

Maybe but he probably can't bench his own weight right now. I like the athleticism and looks like decent length etc but outside of catch and shoot what is he for the duration of his first contract? I don't think he goes in the first but you never know those % are pretty impressive

He certainly has defensive capabilities that’s 100% for sure.

Watching him closely his foot speed isn’t the greatest and can be late on rotations

But here’s the kicker which makes me not concerned about it, his awareness of actually where he needs to be is sound even if it’s late (awareness and focus mostly not where wtf do I need to go) once he gets there his actual body position is great, deep, solid and contests well on the outer. But that slow rotation happens on occasions not for the most part. Positionally he’s very good for young players.
Laments terms he knows where to be and what to do it isn’t a learning curve thing for him. It’s there

Some nba players today once they get lost haven’t got a clue on where they need to be. And these are NBA players that have played for years. It isn’t playing without effort simply they don’t know where to be when there is a mess of screening/pnr/transition fast moving parts going around.

Face up he’s very good once again it’s the wing size and the fundamentals that is transferable.

A high lvl 3 ball specialist + perimeter/man on man defense is always of value in the NBA. That already puts you at pick 30 and higher in any draft.

Like he is as advertised which already gives you a very safe floor to work even if his development won’t be sky high. A 40% 3 ball who is a smart cutter and a plus defender you are going to spend years in the NBA. The strength may not be A one but for a wing you don’t have to have incredible strength.

The bonus gravy parts are his one or two dribble pull up. You don’t him in a creative role but being such a great shooter that’s the next step of transferability. Hopefully NBA team development coaches see that. That’s just a really nice value add.