If I was Philly, I would consider taking Cedric Coward at 3

[EMG518]

I don't have a problem with it, at #3. Haven't come up with my rankings yet and gone through everyone but I don't have a problem with it aa it stands.

[Chi town]

Coward looks to be a freak on D with his length, body control, and aggression.

His shot is money but it’s a slow set shot. No movement. He will get looks in the league but it will be low volume until he can learn to shoot off movement.

I agree he’s plug and play and could be in the ROY race if not for Coop.

I could see someone after 8 going for him. I’d take him for my Bulls at 12. We need defense more than anything. Also think he will excel in pace system in the open floor. Lots of dunks.

[Blaze the Nugz]

I would give Coward serious consideration if picking in the 8 - 12 range.

[One_and_Done]

Best defensive player in this draft. While Flagg and Maulach have intriguing potential on that end as well as Sorber, no one is close to NBA ready but him. He does bite too much on laterally movement but his recovery is elite. His ability to adjust to initial jump and shots are elite. He's literally a SG verison of Kawhi Leonard. He can play off the ball, on the ball, in the post, he's actually a way better passer than Leonard at this stage. He can make good post entry passes. He can shoot from every spot from 3. He's not a dynamic finisher but he has good body control in the air and does finish with finesse. The explosiveness he lacks on offense maybe due to hand grip but it doesn't impact him on defense when he's in the air. Hand grip likely plays a role why he's not as dynamic with steals either. He's a lethal post up player and he has tremendous finishing skills and touch with either hand. I don't see much mid range in his game but I believe it could come once he improves his handles to beyond rudimentary levels with more skill development.

I watched Jaylen Wells tape and was like, he looks like a NBA starter but I am not sure. Watching this kid, he looks like a good NBA starter, right now. The feel for the game is exceptional. He just gets it. I actually think his measurements play to the NBA more than college.

In my eyes, I am considering moving him to tier 3. His floor is just that damn high. I understand the idea of Ace Bailey or Edgecombe down the road but they may never be as good as Coward is right now for the NBA.

I haven't watched much film yet, but this guy did jump out at me as well. I probably need to look into him more.

[SeattleJazzFan]

Also fwiw at EW he had 13 dunks. I mean against cupcakes. His teammate Casey Jones who is also 6'6" had 30 and shot a ton of 3s as well. In fact maybe we should be looking at him.

between the lack of dunks and FTA with his length and athleticism - my dude is basically 3 and D at best.

that's okay - but you don't draft a 15 ppg guy out of Eastern Washington who projects as nothing more than 3 and D if he hits his ceiling, in the top 5.

I mean, 13 dunks at less than 3 FTA per game in the Big Sky. yikes. that's like off the charts futility. good heavens.

[King Ken]

Also fwiw at EW he had 13 dunks. I mean against cupcakes. His teammate Casey Jones who is also 6'6" had 30 and shot a ton of 3s as well. In fact maybe we should be looking at him.

between the lack of dunks and FTA with his length and athleticism - my dude is basically 3 and D at best.

that's okay - but you don't draft a 15 ppg guy out of Eastern Washington who projects as nothing more than 3 and D if he hits his ceiling, in the top 5.

I mean, 13 dunks at less than 3 FTA per game in the Big Sky. yikes. that's like off the charts futility. good heavens.

Some of you guys would talk yourself out of a million dollars if it were standing right in front of you.

[SeattleJazzFan]

Also fwiw at EW he had 13 dunks. I mean against cupcakes. His teammate Casey Jones who is also 6'6" had 30 and shot a ton of 3s as well. In fact maybe we should be looking at him.

between the lack of dunks and FTA with his length and athleticism - my dude is basically 3 and D at best.

that's okay - but you don't draft a 15 ppg guy out of Eastern Washington who projects as nothing more than 3 and D if he hits his ceiling, in the top 5.

I mean, 13 dunks at less than 3 FTA per game in the Big Sky. yikes. that's like off the charts futility. good heavens.

Some of you guys would talk yourself out of a million dollars if it were standing right in front of you.

you say that, but i'm a huge Cedric Coward fan. just no need to take a guy in the top 5 you can get at 14. that's just not smart drafting. trade back, get an asset or assets and still get your guy.

[EvanZ]

between the lack of dunks and FTA with his length and athleticism - my dude is basically 3 and D at best.

that's okay - but you don't draft a 15 ppg guy out of Eastern Washington who projects as nothing more than 3 and D if he hits his ceiling, in the top 5.

I mean, 13 dunks at less than 3 FTA per game in the Big Sky. yikes. that's like off the charts futility. good heavens.

Some of you guys would talk yourself out of a million dollars if it were standing right in front of you.

you say that, but i'm a huge Cedric Coward fan. just no need to take a guy in the top 5 you can get at 14. that's just not smart drafting. trade back, get an asset or assets and still get your guy.

Are you saying you would rank him top 5 on your board though? I mean we all can agree I think not to actually draft a guy much higher than he would otherwise go. But our boards should reflect where *we* rank them not where we think consensus would. The latter is really more like a mock.

[Upperclass]

He plays like a Big East all-american from the 90s. Imo he's not super instinctive and is NOT a run/jump athlete..but also not unathletic. He changes directions ok.. but he's not a natural hooper.. he's someone who learned to play basketball and is still learning. Around the hoop he kind of plays like a smaller Giannis.. I like his game and even his slow set shot... it will speed up. He'll be comped to Kawhi but doesnt have that type of explosion.

He's probably a potential top 5-7 player from this draft with potential to also do absolutely nothing due to change in level and talent. I'd take him in the newell/nique clifford range wherever that would be.

[EvanZ]

I haven’t watched him play much tbh but he reminds me a little of Kent Bazemore.

[TravisScott55]

Been hearing his name a lot more recently

[SeattleJazzFan]

Some of you guys would talk yourself out of a million dollars if it were standing right in front of you.

you say that, but i'm a huge Cedric Coward fan. just no need to take a guy in the top 5 you can get at 14. that's just not smart drafting. trade back, get an asset or assets and still get your guy.

Are you saying you would rank him top 5 on your board though? I mean we all can agree I think not to actually draft a guy much higher than he would otherwise go. But our boards should reflect where *we* rank them not where we think consensus would. The latter is really more like a mock.

that's not what the OP said though - he said, if he were philly he'd consider taking Coward at 3. he's not talking big boards, he's talking drafting.


ftr, i have him at about 12-14 range on my board.

[SeattleJazzFan]

also, regarding Coward, again, not that i don't like him as a prospect - i have him in the lottery, but consider. we should maybe settle down with this top 5 talk.

Cedric Coward has played 14 career games against Top-100 Defenses in college.

- 7.4 PPG
- 45.7% from field (37/81)
- 19.2% from three (5/26)
- 18 assists and 20 turnovers

[JMAC3]

also, regarding Coward, again, not that i don't like him as a prospect - i have him in the lottery, but consider. we should maybe settle down with this top 5 talk.

Cedric Coward has played 14 career games against Top-100 Defenses in college.

- 7.4 PPG
- 45.7% from field (37/81)
- 19.2% from three (5/26)
- 18 assists and 20 turnovers

I have him 22nd on my board, really hard to put him over a lot of younger players that are more productive than he is.

[babyjax13]

I've tried to find actual games of his to watch and can't, just lots of highlights. My opinion is just that he plays a bit like a power forward b/c he seems slightly slow to be a 2. But, in the Big Sky he would have been a power forward at 6-6 (I went to Idaho State and was our school paper's sports reporter, so I know the level of competition in that league really well since it has not fundamentally changed since then) so it could just be watching him in his college role and not seeing what he will actually be. I've got him 16 to Orlando on my mock, but that's mainly following the hype. Hopefully I'll find some full games.

[King Ken]

I've tried to find actual games of his to watch and can't, just lots of highlights. My opinion is just that he plays a bit like a power forward b/c he seems slightly slow to be a 2. But, in the Big Sky he would have been a power forward at 6-6 (I went to Idaho State and was our school paper's sports reporter, so I know the level of competition in that league really well since it has not fundamentally changed since then) so it could just be watching him in his college role and not seeing what he will actually be. I've got him 16 to Orlando on my mock, but that's mainly following the hype. Hopefully I'll find some full games.

It's a lot easier to find his full games from Eastern Washington as those were a bunch of national games against superior squads than Washington State on ESPN+. I watched the full Iowa game. It's on Big Ten Network and I have DVR.

Here's a package with the highs and lows from mainly Eastern Washington. Gives you a feel of how far he's come for
[youtube]https://youtu.be/YwPNJ44gzXc?si=jsDdQ2kim2L66vKu[/youtube]

[King Ken]

I am watching just him in what is his bad game against Iowa. He looks amazing even in this game. His movement in particular. He has a lot of work to do in some areas. He's just impressive. He has a nice handle. If there are major quarrels it's explosiveness with the ball and his first step. If he had a first step, its over honestly. We are talking elite of elite prospects but he doesn't have it and that's okay. I was watching Reggie Miller 30 for 30 and the last dance right before this. Body wise, he's giving up 12-14 pounds to MJ and he was at least 6-8 pounds bigger than 19 year old Kobe at the All Star game. His length is at least 3-4 inches longer than MJ. Hands as big, not as wide. All of his shots so far have been misses but the FTs and it's looks smooth. Nothing looks rushed. He just needs more reps. He kinda shooting it like Risacher was for us in the 1st half of the season if he's contested.

When the bad tape is impressive, thats usually when I am 100% sold. He's tier 3 for me and the #3 overall prospect behind tier 1, Flagg and tier 2, Harper.

[HornetJail]

as the team picking 4th, I strongly encourage it

[PhilBlackson]

He reminds me of a smaller, slower Glen Rice offensively.

[CptCrunch]

What's the counter argument with this guy not being scouted for the first 3 years? Because he was playing JUCO + low tier I? All the scouts just failed?

After testing out as a greek god physically and committing to Duke via transfer, he is a top 10 pick now? Which I buy based on his skills and measurables, but sheesh.

Watch on YouTube

This guy interviews well. I am getting really good vibes with this kid and could justify him at #3 really, anywhere after Cooper and Harper.