Post#828 » by King Ken » Tue Dec 26, 2023 4:32 am
Not in love with this class. Early so I can change but based on what I see.
Right now, no tiers, just raw rankings so far:
1. Reed Sheppard - Combination of Tyler Ulis and Tyler Herro. By far the best player in this draft. Unlike Ulis, his size and athleticism will translate to the NBA. His scoring and shooting definitely will.
2. Ja'Kobe Walter - Ray Allen like scorer but he can actually defend. He's definitely either #1 or #2 in this class.
3. Cody Williams - He's like a 35-pound lighter De'Andre Hunter on defense but offensively, he gives you a lot of Paul George upside. He's probably two years away from being where he will be physically and ability-wise but his upside makes him #3 overall for me.
4. Nikola Topic - I really see him as Ricky Rubio who can shoot within the mid-range and close to the basket. Maybe can't shoot 3s but he can shoot middys. I see a legit starting PG.
5. Ron Holland - After 4, it becomes role player and situational players draft for me. Ron is a taller Latrell Speewell without the polish. Some will compare him to Tari Eason. He doesn't play winning ball at all but he is extremely productive. I think he's too productive to fall out of the lottery but Eason and recently, Cam Whitmore has so teams are really avoiding the prototype of wings who can't play within a scheme with a passion seeing as those players have been either busts or overpaid, and became busts at insane rates.
6. Alex Sarr - Scouts love him for his what if. He can defend all 5 positions. He can shoot a bit. He moves effortlessly. He can create his own basket to a degree. He basically looks like a potential better JJJ with self-offensive creation skills but he isn't good at basketball. He's not good on defense. He's way too light. Doesn't really have a position. He's probably a 4 long-term. He's the player that could just be massively better in 3 years but he could also be the same and just rotten on a bench somewhere. He's not productive at all. JJJ was at this stage. I said avoid Wiseman and I was right. I would avoid Sarr but I do like Sarr chances a lot more than Wiseman. He's extremely talented but I been bit by the extremely talented, non-productive bug before in Cam Reddish. Buyer beware. That said, Sarr doesn't have anywhere near the flaws Cam had. He's just not any good right now.
7. Zaccharie Risacher - Big fan of Risacher as a 3/D wing with NBA athleticism and size. He can be a 2 or 3. He doesn't really have star upside but he could be a 18ppg scorer in an off-ball role. He's probably the one kid that really fits what we are lacking.
8. Kyle Filipowski - He's gotten 10-15 pounds bigger. He's a 5. He's can score with ease although struggles to get an easy basket. Man, this kid can pass his ass off. Sengun like as a passer but better. Superior defender to Sabonis and Sengun. Great basketball mind. Needs a rim protector next to him at the next level but not a liability at all. Best passing center since Jokic. I would be shocked if he fell out of the top 10. Athleticism might be his biggest issue but I like his game enough to where in time, I can see him being a key contributor.
9. Donovan Clingan - What I like about D. Clingan is he's just athletic enough to do what he does in college in the NBA. You are talking about a better-than-Vuc-level offensive player. Shooting will take time but he can play the PnR. Just impossible to guard in the paint, will remind you of Bryant "Big Country" Reeves. He can protect the paint too. Not really the best rim protector though. I love this kid but stamina is an issue. Probably a 26 mpg max player. For a star player, that might not be enough which is why I can see him sliding to the late lottery but he's a sure thing to me. He's one of the best at scoring an easy basket since Zion and likely better as his motor is superior. Stamina is an issue and likely will always be especially in the modern NBA.
10. Ryan Dunn - Best player left on the board. I only seen clips and he's probably going to be in my top 3 when it's all said and done. His athleticism and defensive metrics SCREAM, Shawn Marion. Offensively, not so much.
After 10, it becomes a crapshoot.
11. Collier - He's a really good player but no real strength for now. Some will compare him to Smart but he was a way better defender than Collier.
12. Buzelis - Another what if player who's not close. His talent is real like Collier so I'll keep him here.
13. Wagner - I like Wagner more than Dillingham even though Dillingham is better because Wagner has a lot of athletic traits I like, just like Maxey has plus the size (192). Wagner isn't the same quality of shooter Maxey was and that's where his bread will be buttered but Wagner is already a better PG than Maxey was at that time. Maxey is a better defender than Wagner was so Maxey is a tad better as a prospect over Wagner.
14. Dillingham - He's a way better player than Wagner but he's 174 and plays like Monta Ellis. I don't know if he's more than a high-end 6th man but that worked for Tyler Herro and Rob is better than Herro, just nowhere close to the same level of shooter.
15. Kevin McCullar - Best player left on the board
16. Terrance Shannon Jr. - Best player left on the board
17. Kel'el Ware - 3/D 5 but not much of a paint or rim protector. Good passer. He's a unique prospect.
18. Tyler Smith - Potential. Clear potential. Could move up the board.
The rest are clear as day, G-Leaguers. Some could be a lot more, most won't.
