2023 NBA Draft

[EvanZ]

Comparing Ausar to Iggy kind of makes sense. But the comp makes no sense at all for Amen. Saying stuff like this makes it seem like you haven't watched the twins play very much.

You can see what they are in 5 minutes of watching. You should stop listening to YouTubers.

The fact is they are basically the same player anyone who thinks they are substantially different (except for Ausar being a better shooter) is just reading way too much social media and not doing your own evaluation.

I did my own evaluation.

I watched a lot more than 5 minutes.

After watching a sufficient amount and doing a thorough evaluation, Amen and Ausar are very different players. Ausar is kind of like Iggy, while Amen is nothing like him.

If all you watch is 5 mins and you base your whole evaluation on that, then you don't know sh&t.

Totally different players with exactly the same stats down to the decimal. Sure, sure, sure. Veryyyyyyyy different.

[EvanZ]

Also btw, for either of them to actually be anything like Iggy, they have to improve a ton on defense. I don't know how anyone watches more than 5 minutes of OTE and thinks either is a solid defender right now. That league is trash, and they both get beat off the dribble a ton. Just not fundamentally sound players.

[Hal14]

You can see what they are in 5 minutes of watching. You should stop listening to YouTubers.

The fact is they are basically the same player anyone who thinks they are substantially different (except for Ausar being a better shooter) is just reading way too much social media and not doing your own evaluation.

I did my own evaluation.

I watched a lot more than 5 minutes.

After watching a sufficient amount and doing a thorough evaluation, Amen and Ausar are very different players. Ausar is kind of like Iggy, while Amen is nothing like him.

If all you watch is 5 mins and you base your whole evaluation on that, then you don't know sh&t.

Totally different players with exactly the same stats down to the decimal. Sure, sure, sure. Veryyyyyyyy different.

You gotta actually watch them play for more than 5 minutes.

Just looking at a stat sheet or watching for 5 mins is lazy.

[EvanZ]

If you can't tell a guy is a point guard in 5 minutes I don't know what you're watching tbh.

[EvanZ]

Also, Hal, when did you get the time to watch more than 5 minutes? I thought you just watch that Spinella guy?

[CptCrunch]

Also btw, for either of them to actually be anything like Iggy, they have to improve a ton on defense. I don't know how anyone watches more than 5 minutes of OTE and thinks either is a solid defender right now. That league is trash, and they both get beat off the dribble a ton. Just not fundamentally sound players.

This;

Andrew Wiggins is the poster child of could be Iggy isn't Iggy. This applies to all the toosly NBA SF types that can supposedly guard 1-4.

Wiggins started his career as a trash defender, bottom 10 percentile in the league, despite having tools possibly better than the Thompson twins. Late career after being humbled into a 3rd option role player, he has become a plus defender at the wing.

Same can be said for the Thompson twins. They have the tools. Do they have the will? Desire? Worth ethic? And commitment to basketball after getting that second contract to improve every off season? No one knows the answer to these questions for any prospect really.

But I hard agree that OTE defense (and offense) tapes mean absolutely jack ****. This is like someone trying to compare a 2 ppg NBA bench 14th man's NBA stats against the guy's high school stats (I can guarantee you that player was a baller in high school).

I can also pretty much guarantee that the Thompsons won't be plus defenders in their first years. The Mobley and Scottie Barnes are super rare, and it is incredible that we saw two of them in one year. Most young players are absolutely ass at defense even with tools and fundamentals.

[DOT]

I do see Amen having better point guard skills than Ausar

But it's not by a ton, and he's certainly not good enough to be a PG in the NBA

And yeah, both have the tools to be great defenders, but neither are

If you want to nitpick comparisons, I'd say Amen is more Iggy and Ausar is more Wiggins if they both hit their ceilings.

[clyde21]

post combine rankings - likely final rankings at this point

1 Victor Wembanyama

2 Scoot Henderson
3 Anthony Black

4 Keyonte George
5 Cam Whitmore
6 Taylor Hendricks
7 Jarace Walker
8 Brandon Miller
9 Ausar Thompson
10 Julian Phillips
11 Gradey Dick
12 Amen Thompson
13 Jalen Hood-Schifino
14 Jordan Hawkins

15 Leonard Miller
16 Dariq Whitehead
17 Cason Wallace
18 Dereck Lively
19 Andre Jackson Jr.
20 Trey Alexander
21 Noah Clowney
22 Bilal Coulibaly
23 Kobe Bufkin
24 Brandin Podziemski
25 Judah Mintz
26 Mouhamed Gueye
27 GG Jackson
28 Trayce Jackson-Davis
29 Nick Smith Jr.
30 Jett Howard

[Pokuokic]

Nikola Djurisic being ranked deep in the 2nd round is pure insanity he's a top 20 pick at worst.

[WargamesX]

I think Detroit should go Whitmore. I think he's a reasonably good fit with their guards and Duren. Otherwise Hendricks.

I would add Jarace Walker to potential picks, but I am pretty sure they take Whitmore if he is there. He could be a good fit as the wing next to Ivey and Cade.

[basketballRob]

post combine rankings - likely final rankings at this point

1 Victor Wembanyama

2 Scoot Henderson
3 Anthony Black

4 Keyonte George
5 Cam Whitmore
6 Taylor Hendricks
7 Jarace Walker
8 Brandon Miller
9 Ausar Thompson
10 Julian Phillips
11 Gradey Dick
12 Amen Thompson
13 Jalen Hood-Schifino
14 Jordan Hawkins

15 Leonard Miller
16 Dariq Whitehead
17 Cason Wallace
18 Dereck Lively
19 Andre Jackson Jr.
20 Trey Alexander
21 Noah Clowney
22 Bilal Coulibaly
23 Kobe Bufkin
24 Brandin Podziemski
25 Judah Mintz
26 Mouhamed Gueye
27 GG Jackson
28 Trayce Jackson-Davis
29 Nick Smith Jr.
30 Jett Howard

Wow, Keyonte George is going 4th?

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[babyjax13]

post combine rankings - likely final rankings at this point

1 Victor Wembanyama

2 Scoot Henderson
3 Anthony Black

4 Keyonte George
5 Cam Whitmore
6 Taylor Hendricks
7 Jarace Walker
8 Brandon Miller
9 Ausar Thompson
10 Julian Phillips
11 Gradey Dick
12 Amen Thompson
13 Jalen Hood-Schifino
14 Jordan Hawkins

15 Leonard Miller
16 Dariq Whitehead
17 Cason Wallace
18 Dereck Lively
19 Andre Jackson Jr.
20 Trey Alexander
21 Noah Clowney
22 Bilal Coulibaly
23 Kobe Bufkin
24 Brandin Podziemski
25 Judah Mintz
26 Mouhamed Gueye
27 GG Jackson
28 Trayce Jackson-Davis
29 Nick Smith Jr.
30 Jett Howard

Glad I'm not the only one high on George, haha

[spree8]

im a big Mikal Bridges fan, had him top 4 in that draft, but scoring is not just raw ppg, it's about how they get buckets, and Murray is just a much more sophisticated scorer coming out, come on.

Yeah. I'm was and am high on Mikal as it gets – also had him in my top 5 – but Keegan is clearly a more potent scorer. Mikal has other advantages which allow him to be a perfect role player (long and athletic, great hands, as smart on the court as they come, great floor spacer, excellent off the ball) but he's definitely not a go-to scorer – first or second option type – in the way Keegan could be.

I love Keegan’s game, but he’s not going to be a first or second option on an NBA team. Bookmark this and come talk to me next season.

Figured I’d make good on this and post the receipts… told y’all Mikal had more in his bag than you all thought.

Still scratching my head on that Jabari-Tatum comp clyde

[azcatz11]

im a big Mikal Bridges fan, had him top 4 in that draft, but scoring is not just raw ppg, it's about how they get buckets, and Murray is just a much more sophisticated scorer coming out, come on.

Yeah. I'm was and am high on Mikal as it gets – also had him in my top 5 – but Keegan is clearly a more potent scorer. Mikal has other advantages which allow him to be a perfect role player (long and athletic, great hands, as smart on the court as they come, great floor spacer, excellent off the ball) but he's definitely not a go-to scorer – first or second option type – in the way Keegan could be.

I love Keegan’s game, but he’s not going to be a first or second option on an NBA team. Bookmark this and come talk to me next season.

Figured I’d make good on this and post the receipts… told y’all Mikal had more in his bag than you all thought.

Still scratching my head on that Jabari-Tatum comp clyde

What you posted really doesn’t prove anything

[spree8]

im a big Mikal Bridges fan, had him top 4 in that draft, but scoring is not just raw ppg, it's about how they get buckets, and Murray is just a much more sophisticated scorer coming out, come on.

Yeah. I'm was and am high on Mikal as it gets – also had him in my top 5 – but Keegan is clearly a more potent scorer. Mikal has other advantages which allow him to be a perfect role player (long and athletic, great hands, as smart on the court as they come, great floor spacer, excellent off the ball) but he's definitely not a go-to scorer – first or second option type – in the way Keegan could be.

I love Keegan’s game, but he’s not going to be a first or second option on an NBA team. Bookmark this and come talk to me next season.

Figured I’d make good on this and post the receipts… told y’all Mikal had more in his bag than you all thought.

Still scratching my head on that Jabari-Tatum comp clyde

What you posted really doesn’t prove anything

It absolutely does.

[clyde21]

Figured I’d make good on this and post the receipts… told y’all Mikal had more in his bag than you all thought.

Still scratching my head on that Jabari-Tatum comp clyde

What you posted really doesn’t prove anything

It absolutely does.

i really don't understand what point you're making and barely even remember this convo but if you're looking for a small W on a monday go for it chief

[SeattleJazzFan]

im a big Mikal Bridges fan, had him top 4 in that draft, but scoring is not just raw ppg, it's about how they get buckets, and Murray is just a much more sophisticated scorer coming out, come on.

Yeah. I'm was and am high on Mikal as it gets – also had him in my top 5 – but Keegan is clearly a more potent scorer. Mikal has other advantages which allow him to be a perfect role player (long and athletic, great hands, as smart on the court as they come, great floor spacer, excellent off the ball) but he's definitely not a go-to scorer – first or second option type – in the way Keegan could be.

I love Keegan’s game, but he’s not going to be a first or second option on an NBA team. Bookmark this and come talk to me next season.

Figured I’d make good on this and post the receipts… told y’all Mikal had more in his bag than you all thought.

Still scratching my head on that Jabari-Tatum comp clyde

funny, we're talking about two guys who were my favorite non OAD prospects in their respective draft classes. Mikal is one of my favorite players of the last 10 years. just love that dude and trusted him as an elite 3 and D guy from day one - that was basically his floor. I think i had him at #4 overall.

And I absolutely loved Keegan - had him at #4 as well, iirc.

not sure i understand the receipts comment, however. If you are just saying you were right about Mikal, well done. but if you are implying anything about Keegan, you are way off base. Offensively, Keegan is well ahead of where Bridges was after each of their respective rookie seasons - there is no reason to think that after 5 or 6 years in the league he can't take a leap similar to that of Mikal.

[spree8]

What you posted really doesn’t prove anything

It absolutely does.

i really don't understand what point you're making and barely even remember this convo but if you're looking for a small W on a monday go for it chief

What’s so hard to understand? Murray isn’t “a more sophisticated scorer” as you put it with your “come on” to boot, and as the other guy wrote “he’s not a go-to scorer the way Keegan could be”… I told you he was and it was obvious from watching him in college that he had the ability just not the opportunity.

[clyde21]

It absolutely does.

i really don't understand what point you're making and barely even remember this convo but if you're looking for a small W on a monday go for it chief

What’s so hard to understand? Murray isn’t “a more sophisticated scorer” as you put it with your “come on” to boot, and as the other guy wrote “he’s not a go-to scorer the way Keegan could be”… I told you he was and it was obvious from watching him in college that he had the ability just not the opportunity.

are you having trouble comprehending basic English sentences? read my entire quote. "Mikal is not a more sophisticated scorer than Murray COMING OUT". and this is coming from someone who was big on Mikal and small on Murray.

this is an indisputable fact, but again if you're trying to finesse a small win on a monday to start your week go off my man.

[spree8]

im a big Mikal Bridges fan, had him top 4 in that draft, but scoring is not just raw ppg, it's about how they get buckets, and Murray is just a much more sophisticated scorer coming out, come on.

Yeah. I'm was and am high on Mikal as it gets – also had him in my top 5 – but Keegan is clearly a more potent scorer. Mikal has other advantages which allow him to be a perfect role player (long and athletic, great hands, as smart on the court as they come, great floor spacer, excellent off the ball) but he's definitely not a go-to scorer – first or second option type – in the way Keegan could be.

I love Keegan’s game, but he’s not going to be a first or second option on an NBA team. Bookmark this and come talk to me next season.

Figured I’d make good on this and post the receipts… told y’all Mikal had more in his bag than you all thought.

Still scratching my head on that Jabari-Tatum comp clyde

funny, we're talking about two guys who were my favorite non OAD prospects in their respective draft classes. Mikal is one of my favorite players of the last 10 years. just love that dude and trusted him as an elite 3 and D guy from day one - that was basically his floor. I think i had him at #4 overall.

And I absolutely loved Keegan - had him at #4 as well, iirc.

not sure i understand the receipts comment, however. If you are just saying you were right about Mikal, well done. but if you are implying anything about Keegan, you are way off base. Keegan is well ahead of where Bridges was after each of their respective rookie seasons - there is no reason to think that after 5 or 6 years in the league he can't take a leap similar to that of Mikal.

I’m not saying anything about Keegan. I’m saying Mikal could’ve been doing this earlier on with the opportunity.

Initially I said Keegan looks like a pf version of Mikal because I knew Mikal had the arsenal in his bag, but didn’t have the opportunity Keegan had to show it. That’s all. I was met with the quotes you see there about how he’s not as gifted as Keegan offensively.