2022 Draft Ranks/Thoughts - Post Summer League?

[Upperclass]

In order of projected long-term impact (not summer league performance) imo

1 - Banchero - Obviously.. He still doesn't project to be an elite NBA player imo due to his lack of elite characteristics.. lack of speed, quickness, jumpshot.. But he has incredible intangibles, is far more skilled with the basketball than he was able to show at Duke, and appears to be a natural leader.

2 - Chet - Thunder knew what they were doing the whole time. Chet may have a Rob Williams-like impact at the rim, while being able to step out and hit 3's. He also plays like he cares.. which is a common trait in these newer draftees.

3 - Keegan Murray - He's Shareef Abdur-Rahim imo. A stretch 4 who can score from anywhere, but is especially adept from 3.. He's actually the perfect complement to Sabonis inside as they won't be able to drop off of him. (At some point, the Kings will need to move Fox for a better fit at SG and start Mitchell). He also has extremely quick hands on D, although slow feet but he should cause some disruptions. Kings are a playoff team.

4 - Jabari Smith - I dont think the Rockets got what they though they were getting in Jabari (high volume, Rashard Lewis-esque) scorer.. but they might have gotten more. He'll immediately step in and play as hard as anyone in the NBA and can hit from anywhere on O, minus off the bounce. He wont be a creator but should be a consistent 18-20/8 with great defense and effort. Reminds me of Cliff Robinson.

5 - Bennedict Mathurin  - I know people arent crazy about him.. but he looks like the next great SG in the league imo. Reminds me of Michael Finley.. but should be a better peak scorer with really good defense to boot.

6 - Jaden Ivey - Doesnt looks like the best fit next to Cade because he cant play off-ball (can Cade?).. but clearly will be a dynamic offensive guard. Defense looks suspect though.

7 - Malaki Branham - He's the stereotypical SG package, which isnt a bad thing. Looks like a prototype at the position and should be a starter THIS season for the Spurs at 2.. seems more dynamic than Vassell who is better suited off the bench imo.

8 - Blake Wesley - Quick, long, fast, athletic.. I actually think he'll be a better all-around player than Ivey.. Once he gains skill to go with his athletic tools and shot.. he wount be guardable.

9 - Jalen Williams - Appears to be the perfect glue guy for a team like the thunder. Can score if they need him to score, defend, rebound, hustle etc. Has a bit of Draymond in him, with a slightly better offensive acumen.. heckuva pick.

10 - Ousmane Dieng - One of the clear steals in the draft, even at 11.. shouldve probably been drafted top 6 imo or at the latest, 8th to the Pels.. Has all the tools to be a 6'10 point-forward who can defend.. Reminds me of Turkoglu but should be a little more athletic

11 - Ochai Agbaji - Looks like a Danny Green clone.. shooter who can defend with size and no handle

12 - A.J. Griffin - I think he'll start at 2 for the heat.. dynamic guard who can do everything except stay healthy. Reminds me of Q. Richardson

13 - JD Davison - Nate Rob/Marcus Smart hybrid.. should be a better defender than Rob.. has really good instincts defensively

14 - Dalen Terry - seems like the perfect glue-y combo guard.. can play any role as a backup and do a good enough job.. slightly better all-around than than a Delon Wright

Other Steals:
Walker Kessler - Will shot block, rim run and not make too many mistakes..
David Roddy - Seems like a very Grizzlines type of player.. tough, strong, can hit 3s. Probably signals Brooks end in memphis after the season or during
Nikola Jovic - Can score and not much else but the Heat need scoring
Caleb Houstan - He'll start at 2 fairly quickly imo.. has Allen Crabbe type potential
Christian Koloko - Should be a more well-rounded player than Mark Williams or Duren.. reacts fairly quick to actions, has good enough hands and should block everything
Jaylin Williams - The perfect backup Center for the Thunder and will probably start this season.. gives them size, width and smarts.. hes like a center version of Marcus Smart who will do the dirtywork


Avg Players (should stick in the league for their drafted team or others in a rotation role):
TyTy Washington Jr.
MarJon Beauchamp
Jake LaRavia - crafty shooter but no off-bounce game in the league
Mark Williams - Reminds me of Damion Jones.. slow reactor to on-court action
Tari Eason - Fantastic summer league but his game seems journeymanish to me
Wendell Moore Jr.
Andrew Nembhard
Max Christie
Bryce McGowens
Moussa Diabate


Busts (relative to expectation of their talents or draft position):
Jalen Duren - Doesnt do anything well and isnt as big as you would think or as athletic when hes not jumping up for lobs
Shaedon Sharpe
Dyson Daniels
Jeremy Sochan
Johnny Davis
Christian Braun
Patrick Baldwin Jr.
Peyton Watson
Jaden Hardy
Kennedy Chandler
Kendall Brown


Fringe players who should impact:
Gabriele Procida
Ryan Rollins
Josh Minott
Yannick Nzosa - I think he will be Ibaka-esque at some point
Jabari Walker
Gui Santos
EJ Liddell - provided he dosnt lose much mobility with the ACL tear
Trevion Williams
Darius Days
Kenneth Lofton Jr. - Seems like a fit next to Jaren Jackson in some lineups.. plays with constant force
Scottie Pippen Jr. - Will probably get alot of minutes in LeBron, AD lineups.. clearly an NBA player and should be very impactful

[PerkinsFor3]

All of that based on SL??

[clyde21]

yea this is a pointless exercise at this point, if you can't stand by your big board and scouting that took an entire college season after a few SL games then there is no point in watching any of these guys before SL i guess?

honestly we have these convos every single year, people either get way too down or way too high after SL which is a glorified scrimmage. last year people were down on Mobley after he underperformed in SL only to go and have the best season out of any rookie during the RS.

[Village Idiot]

Surprised you didn't mention Jabari Walker who looks like he should be able to get substantial playing time already his rookie year. He was the best Jabari in Vegas FWIW.

[mattyj]

Dyson Daniels played like 6 minutes before rolling his ankle and based on that you've called him a bust?

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[pad300]

Dyson Daniels played like 6 minutes before rolling his ankle and based on that you've called him a bust?

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Hey, that's six minutes more than Sochan, who was out with COVID protocols, and Miss Cleo has concluded that Sochan is a bust as well...

[Duke4life831]

I dont get how AJ Griffin climbs without playing in SL, but guys like Sharpe and Daniels who only played a few minutes tumbled?

Like others have said, if youre already doing a redraft and making changes to your big board based off of SL, youre doing something wrong with your original big board.

Ive said this multiple times, my only takeaways from SL is physical stuff and even then that is minimal. Use Paolo for example, its good to see that Paolo still looks like a huge person out on the court even when playing against a team full of guys trying to make the NBA, compared to seeing him against college teams that many of them dont have great size.