2023 Draft Discussion Part 4

[ATLTimekeeper]

I feel like evaluating prospects is becoming harder now with varying levels of competition that prospects play in. NCAA, OTE, Ignite, various pro leagues in different countries, guys who sit out the year and haven't been seen since high school, etc. Plus factoring in how some prospects perform at the youth national level.

The transfer portal and 5th year guys will change the NCAA prospect pool as well.

The Ignite might be on par with like, Australia. It's not competitive but they are playing against quality basketball players. There just haven't been any breakout players yet from there.

If they don't play in Europe, but scouts rave about them at youth tournament/Adidas/BWB. They probably suck and shouldn't be drafted high.

[Psubs]

I found another Thompson twin highlight video:

Watch on YouTube

Funny vid but do you know for a fact what would happen if you were to put them in NBA scrimmages against other 20 year old players? Would the handles and finishing and defense and passing just suddenly disappear?

They are scared to find out, thus not participating in the scrimmages.

[HumbleRen]

I found another Thompson twin highlight video:

Watch on YouTube

Funny vid but do you know for a fact what would happen if you were to put them in NBA scrimmages against other 20 year old players? Would the handles and finishing and defense and passing just suddenly disappear?

They are scared to find out, thus not participating in the scrimmages.

Didn't people say the same thing about Shaedon Sharpe ? Only experience he had was playing in HS against super weak competition.

Turned out just fine with one of the highest ceilings in the draft.

[Badonkadonk]

Been catching up on vids post-Madness and my current top 3 that may still be there in the 10-15 range are Wallace, Hawkins and Coulibaly.

[Yallbecrazy]

Funny vid but do you know for a fact what would happen if you were to put them in NBA scrimmages against other 20 year old players? Would the handles and finishing and defense and passing just suddenly disappear?

They are scared to find out, thus not participating in the scrimmages.

Didn't people say the same thing about Shaedon Sharpe ? Only experience he had was playing in HS against super weak competition.

Turned out just fine with one of the highest ceilings in the draft.

Shaeden Sharpe was also a lights out shooter to go along with being an incredible athlete with good handles... he was also the #1 RSCI guy and he was still really bad as a rookie. He flashed a lot, shot 36% from 3 and still had a very negative impact. He still needs to learn the game a lot, but people are excited for his potential down the line.
Imagine if he couldn't shoot? He would be considered a likely bust right now.

People liked Jalen Green after his finish to his rookie year and now a lot have soured on him, Shaeden seems very similar.

Also, that is an example of the mystery box working out better than expected... there are lots more where it doesn't. Hence, why the twins are draftable, but shouldn't be lottery picks in my opinion.

[HumbleRen]

They are scared to find out, thus not participating in the scrimmages.

Didn't people say the same thing about Shaedon Sharpe ? Only experience he had was playing in HS against super weak competition.

Turned out just fine with one of the highest ceilings in the draft.

Shaeden Sharpe was also a lights out shooter to go along with being an incredible athlete with good handles... he was also the #1 RSCI guy and he was still really bad as a rookie. He flashed a lot, shot 36% from 3 and still had a very negative impact. He still needs to learn the game a lot, but people are excited for his potential down the line.
Imagine if he couldn't shoot? He would be considered a likely bust right now.

People liked Jalen Green after his finish to his rookie year and now no one likes him, Shaeden may have a similar trajectory.

Those are idiots lol.

Same people who said Devin Booker was a non winning player for the first 4 years of his career.

[Kevin Willis]

Funny vid but do you know for a fact what would happen if you were to put them in NBA scrimmages against other 20 year old players? Would the handles and finishing and defense and passing just suddenly disappear?

They are scared to find out, thus not participating in the scrimmages.

Didn't people say the same thing about Shaedon Sharpe ? Only experience he had was playing in HS against super weak competition.

Turned out just fine with one of the highest ceilings in the draft.

That's a really good point. The only things I can think of is Sharpe was younger, was under Kentucky's program, his shot wasn't broken, less holes in his game in general. But yeah it's possible Thompson Twins will be fine no matter what. IF Ausar drops to us I guess we should take him but I would still be reluctant, his weakness is our weakness.

[grant101]

They are scared to find out, thus not participating in the scrimmages.

Didn't people say the same thing about Shaedon Sharpe ? Only experience he had was playing in HS against super weak competition.

Turned out just fine with one of the highest ceilings in the draft.

That's a really good point. The only things I can think of is Sharpe was younger, was under Kentucky's program, his shot wasn't broken, less holes in his game in general. But yeah it's possible Thompson Twins will be fine no matter what. IF Ausar drops to us I guess we should take him but I would still be reluctant, his weakness is our weakness.

Your final point is my main stumbling block with the twins, but at 13, i think you've got to pull the trigger.

I see the shaedon comp in that they were both hyper athletic mystery boxes, but the twins have a very different value proposition: whereas shaedon could shoot reasonably well and slash in straight lines, but struggled to create and wasnt much of a playmaker, the twins are walking paint touches with a gift for passing. It may be a longshot, but if they could develop even decent jumpers, you're looking at star potential.

[HumbleRen]

Read on Twitter

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[OakleyDokely]

Before the draft, everyone should have to list their top 13. If you don't, you don't get to whine months later that the Raps didn't take so and so.

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

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[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

We should all be jumping for joy if Cason Wallace is there at 13

[ArthurVandelay]

Read on Twitter

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Might just be me, but seems like Rupert has been forgotten.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

REJECTEDBYCLARK » Wed Mar 29, 2023 12:15 pm

Does anyone else feel Cason Wallace should be drafted top 5? I think there's a definite argument to be made for him to be selected over Jarace Walker who has looked really clumsy to me at times and has frequent mental lapses.

Cason gives me Kawhi vibes in strict terms of his laser focus and intensity and how he approaches the game. It's easy to get excited about him as a potentially elite NBA iso defender and he's very smart in everything he does on the offensive end.

Barlowe reads realgm

BPMGatekeeper has gone with Coulibaly over Wallace though, let's see how that goes

[gha4life]

Funny vid but do you know for a fact what would happen if you were to put them in NBA scrimmages against other 20 year old players? Would the handles and finishing and defense and passing just suddenly disappear?

They are scared to find out, thus not participating in the scrimmages.

Didn't people say the same thing about Shaedon Sharpe ? Only experience he had was playing in HS against super weak competition.

Turned out just fine with one of the highest ceilings in the draft.

Yeah but atleast sharp was playing against his own age group, the twins are what 20 21 playing against 16yr Olds, big risk

Sent from my SM-S918W using RealGM mobile app

[ArthurVandelay]

REJECTEDBYCLARK » Wed Mar 29, 2023 12:15 pm

Does anyone else feel Cason Wallace should be drafted top 5? I think there's a definite argument to be made for him to be selected over Jarace Walker who has looked really clumsy to me at times and has frequent mental lapses.

Cason gives me Kawhi vibes in strict terms of his laser focus and intensity and how he approaches the game. It's easy to get excited about him as a potentially elite NBA iso defender and he's very smart in everything he does on the offensive end.

Barlowe reads realgm

BPMGatekeeper has gone with Coulibaly over Wallace though, let's see how that goes

I’d be ecstatic coming out of the draft with both Coulibaly and Wallace. Fingers crossed.

[Yallbecrazy]

REJECTEDBYCLARK » Wed Mar 29, 2023 12:15 pm

Does anyone else feel Cason Wallace should be drafted top 5? I think there's a definite argument to be made for him to be selected over Jarace Walker who has looked really clumsy to me at times and has frequent mental lapses.

Cason gives me Kawhi vibes in strict terms of his laser focus and intensity and how he approaches the game. It's easy to get excited about him as a potentially elite NBA iso defender and he's very smart in everything he does on the offensive end.

Barlowe reads realgm

BPMGatekeeper has gone with Coulibaly over Wallace though, let's see how that goes

I’d be ecstatic coming out of the draft with both Coulibaly and Wallace. Fingers crossed.

Considering we have 1 pick I don't see it happening.

[Tofubeque]

Not impressed with the Thompsons given their age and competition level, you’d expect them to be more efficient. If their stock doesn’t hold up Ausar could actually be there at 13, so things could get interesting.

I’m higher on guys who played in pro leagues but thinking on it today, France keeps producing these guards like Maledon and Killian Hayes who have good physical tools, clear NBA skills, played professionally, but they get to the NBA and are just bog standard NBA guards. I hope we’re not falling into the same trap with Coulibaly or Cissoko. Granted they might be better prospects than Hayes which is wild since one was mocked as high as top 5 and the others aren’t even in the lottery consistently. That 2020 draft was all over the place.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

Barlowe reads realgm

BPMGatekeeper has gone with Coulibaly over Wallace though, let's see how that goes

I’d be ecstatic coming out of the draft with both Coulibaly and Wallace. Fingers crossed.

Considering we have 1 pick I don't see it happening.

Don't you get the feeling that by draft night we will likely have more than 1 pick? I'm fairly convinced a trade will be made that will get us another 1st rounder. Masai is a total fraud if he stands pat and we run it back with everyone especially after saying significant changes are coming

[Dalek]

Not impressed with the Thompsons given their age and competition level, you’d expect them to be more efficient. If their stock doesn’t hold up Ausar could actually be there at 13, so things could get interesting.

I’m higher on guys who played in pro leagues but thinking on it today, France keeps producing these guards like Maledon and Killian Hayes who have good physical tools, clear NBA skills, played professionally, but they get to the NBA and are just bog standard NBA guards. I hope we’re not falling into the same trap with Coulibaly or Cissoko. Granted they might be better prospects than Hayes which is wild since one was mocked as high as top 5 and the others aren’t even in the lottery consistently. That 2020 draft was all over the place.

I am glad you mentioned it. I think Ausar is the most likely guy to fall. Everyone auto lists the twins together but Ausar is a bit less desirable than Amen who is more of the PG. Ausar is the better defender but will teams pass on him because of the poor shooting?