Sam Presti Calls The Top of 2022 draft "Special."

[SelfishPlayer]

At the beginning of this video Sam Presti calls the top of the 2022 draft "special, " and that drafts are improving in comparison to 5-6 years ago. I have called this draft class before any players pulled out, the most talented one that I have ever seen. Many people have stated the opposite. People are saying this draft lacked superstar top tier talent at the top. Now know that when you say that, your opinion is in direct conflict with that of a professional.

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[Duke4life831]

Presti must not have seen the video of Paolo being blocked by some no named guy who probably barely made a collete roster. I mean how can you call it a special draft when that happened to the #1 pick...

[clyde21]

not a special class at all but there was some brutal ones half a decade ago

[Big J]

I really question Presti's evaluation skills if he actually believes this.

[baldur]

They picked three players from almost top 10. This is what he would say.

[ThunderBolt]

Sam often goes back and forth from tempering premature expectations on young guys to keeping the casual fans interested and hopeful of their development. I wouldn’t over analyze this.

[Alonzo_Morning]

I have the 'top' of the draft gong to 5

[Devilanche]

Probably meant nothing .

Special in what sense ? More unicorn ? Lesser bust chances ? More pros than usual ?

[TheDraftGuy]

He is absolutely correct. This draft is a deep one that will produce a multitude of All-Star caliber players. I think 7 guys will make the All-Star game and 2-3 extra will be considered borderline All-Star (18+ ppg on bad/mediocre teams).

One major reason is that you had a few talented high schoolers graduate early and shortcut themselves through college.

Also, regarding drafts getting deeper, I noticed it around the time Luka and Jokic came in. Mid-2010s. Around then is when I'd say Europe reached a point where it now produces talent at a rate akin to the 60s and 70s US. This means, relative to the number of people there who shows interest in basketball, you're going to get more All-stars and starters at a higher rate than in the past (one All-Star every year and a half).

Meanwhile, another factor is that today's game is heavily guard oriented. More three point shooting, less shot clock time, and zone defense means guards and wings just need to hoist up shots. Naturally, this leads to more points and therefore, you can call your draft pick a success.

[EMG518]

He is absolutely correct. This draft is a deep one that will produce a multitude of All-Star caliber players. I think 7 guys will make the All-Star game and 2-3 extra will be considered borderline All-Star (18+ ppg on bad/mediocre teams).

One major reason is that you had a few talented high schoolers graduate early and shortcut themselves through college.

Also, regarding drafts getting deeper, I noticed it around the time Luka and Jokic came in. Mid-2010s. Around then is when I'd say Europe reached a point where it now produces talent at a rate akin to the 60s and 70s US. This means, relative to the number of people there who shows interest in basketball, you're going to get more All-stars and starters at a higher rate than in the past (one All-Star every year and a half).

Meanwhile, another factor is that today's game is heavily guard oriented. More three point shooting, less shot clock time, and zone defense means guards and wings just need to hoist up shots. Naturally, this leads to more points and therefore, you can call your draft pick a success.

I have been banging the drums for a while now saying that this was a good draft when everyone was saying average, slightly below average but we don't get 7 all stars in drafts practically ever, let alone another 2-3 borderline all stars on top of that. It doesn't happen. Would you care to post the drafts we have had that many all stars.

[BostonCouchGM]

He is absolutely correct. This draft is a deep one that will produce a multitude of All-Star caliber players. I think 7 guys will make the All-Star game and 2-3 extra will be considered borderline All-Star (18+ ppg on bad/mediocre teams).

One major reason is that you had a few talented high schoolers graduate early and shortcut themselves through college.

Also, regarding drafts getting deeper, I noticed it around the time Luka and Jokic came in. Mid-2010s. Around then is when I'd say Europe reached a point where it now produces talent at a rate akin to the 60s and 70s US. This means, relative to the number of people there who shows interest in basketball, you're going to get more All-stars and starters at a higher rate than in the past (one All-Star every year and a half).

Meanwhile, another factor is that today's game is heavily guard oriented. More three point shooting, less shot clock time, and zone defense means guards and wings just need to hoist up shots. Naturally, this leads to more points and therefore, you can call your draft pick a success.

I have been banging the drums for a while now saying that this was a good draft when everyone was saying average, slightly below average but we don't get 7 all stars in drafts practically ever, let alone another 2-3 borderline all stars on top of that. It doesn't happen. Would you care to post the drafts we have had that many all stars.

there's been a couple dozen in NBA history. And some of these loaded classes recently have a chance to join the ranks once aging stars retired.

Since 1950:

1950
1953
1954
1962
1964
1965
1966
1967
1970
1971
1974
1977
1978
1979
1981
1984
1985
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1993
1996
1999
2001
2003
2008
2011

[EMG518]

He is absolutely correct. This draft is a deep one that will produce a multitude of All-Star caliber players. I think 7 guys will make the All-Star game and 2-3 extra will be considered borderline All-Star (18+ ppg on bad/mediocre teams).

One major reason is that you had a few talented high schoolers graduate early and shortcut themselves through college.

Also, regarding drafts getting deeper, I noticed it around the time Luka and Jokic came in. Mid-2010s. Around then is when I'd say Europe reached a point where it now produces talent at a rate akin to the 60s and 70s US. This means, relative to the number of people there who shows interest in basketball, you're going to get more All-stars and starters at a higher rate than in the past (one All-Star every year and a half).

Meanwhile, another factor is that today's game is heavily guard oriented. More three point shooting, less shot clock time, and zone defense means guards and wings just need to hoist up shots. Naturally, this leads to more points and therefore, you can call your draft pick a success.

I have been banging the drums for a while now saying that this was a good draft when everyone was saying average, slightly below average but we don't get 7 all stars in drafts practically ever, let alone another 2-3 borderline all stars on top of that. It doesn't happen. Would you care to post the drafts we have had that many all stars.

there's been a couple dozen in NBA history. And some of these loaded classes recently have a chance to join the ranks once aging stars retired.

Since 1950:

1950
1953
1954
1962
1964
1965
1966
1967
1970
1971
1974
1977
1978
1979
1981
1984
1985
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1993
1996
1999
2001
2003
2008
2011

I think it's telling that we haven't had one since 2011. There are more teams and more talent now spread across the league. It's hard to make an All star team.

[mattao313]

Presti must not have seen the video of Paolo being blocked by some no named guy who probably barely made a collete roster. I mean how can you call it a special draft when that happened to the #1 pick...

Lmao good one selfish player probably didn't sent him the clip yet.

Sent from my 5087Z using RealGM mobile app

[SelfishPlayer]

I have been banging the drums for a while now saying that this was a good draft when everyone was saying average, slightly below average but we don't get 7 all stars in drafts practically ever, let alone another 2-3 borderline all stars on top of that. It doesn't happen. Would you care to post the drafts we have had that many all stars.

there's been a couple dozen in NBA history. And some of these loaded classes recently have a chance to join the ranks once aging stars retired.

Since 1950:

1950
1953
1954
1962
1964
1965
1966
1967
1970
1971
1974
1977
1978
1979
1981
1984
1985
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1993
1996
1999
2001
2003
2008
2011

I think it's telling that we haven't had one since 2011. There are more teams and more talent now spread across the league. It's hard to make an All star team.

The 2016 draft year has FVV as an undrafted player that made an All Star game. Jamal Murray is an almost All Star game maker, as well as someone like Brogdan. They add up to make that sort of draft once all tabulated.

[TheDraftGuy]

I have been banging the drums for a while now saying that this was a good draft when everyone was saying average, slightly below average but we don't get 7 all stars in drafts practically ever, let alone another 2-3 borderline all stars on top of that. It doesn't happen. Would you care to post the drafts we have had that many all stars.

As pointed out by BostonGrouch, there have been a number of these drafts.

Looking at the most recent ones.

2008 - Rose, Westbrook, Love, Lopez, Hibbert, Jordan, Dragic with the borderline All-Stars being Gordon, Pekovic, Gallinari.

2011- Irving, Walker, Thompson, Kawhi, Vuvecic, Butler, Thomas with borderline guys being Valanciunas, early Brandon Knight, Tobias Harris, maybe Kanter on a winning team

2016, as you astutely pointed out - Simmons, Ingram, Brown, Sabonis, Siakam, Dejounte Murray, FVV with Jamal Murray, Hield, LeVert being borderline (Murray likely to be selected someday).

And so, I think we can get something similar.

My guess is that it's going to be Banchero, Holmgren, Ivey, Smith Jr, Davis, Duren, Sharpe with borderline guys being Murray, Mathurin, and maybe someone like Beauchamp/Liddell/Hardy. And perhaps one of these guys swaps with Smith Jr or Duren as the one who makes an All-Star game.

[bucknut]

those borderline all stars are really what it's all about, dudes can make 1-2 all stars or not make any and same type of player but it doesn't count.......for a class to includes borderline guys that may not make it but deserved too your talking 10-12 guys top potential class

96 draft class had 11 but marcus camby deserved 1 so basically 12

2001 had 8 and richard jefferson, jason richardson never made 1 ...but mehmet and gerard wallace count as all stars.....could say 10

1999 had 9 and doesn't include Lamar Odom who never made an all star game

2003 had 9 , boris diaw never made an all star game

What separates the 2003 and 96 was the hall of fame type guys and I don't see a lot of those in this class but I think this class has 12 guys who can fit the borderline all star spectrum and some won't make it some will

Right now my 12 is
1 ivey
2 jabar smith
those 2 almost locks for all stars

borderline category
3 chet
4 pablo
5 johnny davis
6 jalin williams
7 malaki branham
8 beauchamp
9 jovic
10 duren
11 mark williams
12 sochan

Mark williams doesn't fit the prototype of an all star but if rudy gobert and jarrett allen and tyson chandler can make an all star he can be a borderline guy

sochan doesn't appear to be one but if draymond can be an allstar then he can

[SelfishPlayer]

If Presti is correct about drafts getting better, then first round picks should be experiencing an increase in trade value. First round picks IMO seem to be decreasing in trade value since the Clippers traded for Paul George.

[Dadouv47]

If Presti is correct about drafts getting better, then first round picks should be experiencing an increase in trade value. First round picks IMO seem to be decreasing in trade value since the Clippers traded for Paul George.

well only win now teams are trading picks and we saw several teams that want to improve keeping their picks in this draft (Portland/NOLA).Also some rebuilding teams are looking at picks instead of young players (Gobert trade, Murray trade) so Presti might not be totally wrong.

[MemphisX]

If Presti is correct about drafts getting better, then first round picks should be experiencing an increase in trade value. First round picks IMO seem to be decreasing in trade value since the Clippers traded for Paul George.

I think some teams have not caught on to the value of 1st round picks. Also, elite players trump the value of picks because they are so rare.

[SelfishPlayer]

If Presti is correct about drafts getting better, then first round picks should be experiencing an increase in trade value. First round picks IMO seem to be decreasing in trade value since the Clippers traded for Paul George.

well only win now teams are trading picks and we saw several teams that want to improve keeping their picks in this draft (Portland/NOLA).Also some rebuilding teams are looking at picks instead of young players (Gobert trade, Murray trade) so Presti might not be totally wrong.

If drafts are getting stronger and the people who recognize this value first round picks more, then the Spurs and Danny Ainge/Utah are ahead of the curve. They have teams overpaying by simply trading seemingly an increasing amount of first round picks, but these same picks are individually worth more than in the recent past to people who view the drafts as improving. From a monetary perspective, picks should be experiencing deflation, but they are in fact experiencing inflation.