2023 Draft Discussion Part 4

[Yallbecrazy]

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

I think it's slightly more likely we trade the pick away than trade for more picks unless we trade back, but we're not trading back if Cason is available.

[niQ]

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[ArthurVandelay]

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Absolutely.

I’m going to be a that guy and highlight my posts from March 19 calling him to be a lotto pick by draft night.
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I stand by the claim. In one of the posts I said he might not be there at 15, where Raptors picked at the time. Now I say the same thing about 13.

[Psubs]

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

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What were the Thompson's doing the year before OTE?

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

When you hear a guy like Spoelstra talking about players with "iron wills" you realize that this is the quality which matters above all else when finding truly elite NBA talent. Ask yourself if the player or players you like most in this draft possess that characteristic and that will likely translate to whether or not they become an amazing NBA talent.

Guys who look timid on the court, unsure of themselves, body language ups and downs depending on score and situation, etc... will never be big time players. There are tons of players like this who are all-stars and even hall of famers who haven't won **** because they do not possess this trait and their accolades are based on hype and high but inefficient production.

[Rapsfan07]

That's who I forgot!!!

JHS and Maxwell Lewis.

I think Edey is a solid early to mid 2nd rounder. He also doesn't fit in that group being the best player in college basketball by a decent margin.

Also, Amen Thompson is absolutely worth a 1st round pick as a gamble, I just happen to think it's in the 20-30 range.

You do realize that LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey all shot poorly prior to coming to the NBA. With Amen Thompson, you are talking about a bigger Ja Morant.

No normal prospect has this level of body control and handle at 6'7:

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Look at the creativity with the ball:

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I'd consider Amen the second pick in the draft or at least 2b to Scoot's 2a. Loads of talented guards improve their shot with NBA training: Lonzo shot 42% from three last season; Lamelo shot 38%; Giddey made a near 10% improvement in this three point shot last season. Amen even without a great jumper is going to kill on ball screens.

Lotta guys on here have been steady sleeping on Amen. Dude reminds me of a bigger, more athletic John Wall. If he ever shoots 33-36% on 3s, watch out.

He should go no lower than 4 IMO.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

JHS and Maxwell Lewis.

I think Edey is a solid early to mid 2nd rounder. He also doesn't fit in that group being the best player in college basketball by a decent margin.

Also, Amen Thompson is absolutely worth a 1st round pick as a gamble, I just happen to think it's in the 20-30 range.

You do realize that LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey all shot poorly prior to coming to the NBA. With Amen Thompson, you are talking about a bigger Ja Morant.

No normal prospect has this level of body control and handle at 6'7:

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Look at the creativity with the ball:

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I'd consider Amen the second pick in the draft or at least 2b to Scoot's 2a. Loads of talented guards improve their shot with NBA training: Lonzo shot 42% from three last season; Lamelo shot 38%; Giddey made a near 10% improvement in this three point shot last season. Amen even without a great jumper is going to kill on ball screens.

Lotta guys on here have been steady sleeping on Amen. Dude reminds me of a bigger, more athletic John Wall. If he ever shoots 33-36% on 3s, watch out.

He should go no lower than 4 IMO.

But the second he steps onto a summer league floor all those moves are gonna disappear... he's going to cower in fear and turn the ball over the second he's on the floor with any player over 20 years old. He might as well just try to sign a deal in china where he has a 10% chance of sticking in the league due to his athleticism. Best case scenario eugene german CBA productivity???

If anyone is gonna hate either of the twins it shouldn't be based on where they played. There is no reasonable justification to disqualify them or their abilities based on who they went up against. It makes for a tougher evaluation of NBA potential, it doesn't strip them of their talent as basketball players.

[BoyzNTheHood]

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Absolutely.

I’m going to be a that guy and highlight my posts from March 19 calling him to be a lotto pick by draft night.
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I stand by the claim. In one of the posts I said he might not be there at 15, where Raptors picked at the time. Now I say the same thing about 13.

A bunch of folks in here still think Rupert is better

[ArthurVandelay]

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Absolutely.

I’m going to be a that guy and highlight my posts from March 19 calling him to be a lotto pick by draft night.
viewtopic.php?p=104911465#p104911465


I stand by the claim. In one of the posts I said he might not be there at 15, where Raptors picked at the time. Now I say the same thing about 13.

A bunch of folks in here still think Rupert is better

You can probably make a debate about NOW. But projecting, Bilal has 2-way star written all over him imo. Does he get there, I’m not sure. But there is definitely a chance if he works.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Absolutely.

I’m going to be a that guy and highlight my posts from March 19 calling him to be a lotto pick by draft night.
viewtopic.php?p=104911465#p104911465


I stand by the claim. In one of the posts I said he might not be there at 15, where Raptors picked at the time. Now I say the same thing about 13.

A bunch of folks in here still think Rupert is better

You can probably make a debate about NOW. But projecting, Bilal has 2-way star written all over him imo. Does he get there, I’m not sure. But there is definitely a chance if he works.

I don’t think it’s close. Now or in the future. Rupert will be in the Sefolosha/TLC range for me until he shows me otherwise

[WuTang_CMB]

Bilal is the second best international prospect in this draft. The upside is clearly there and fits modern day wing profile. If its there between the ears, you take him at 13

[Morse Code]

Y'all think Kobe can develop into a PG down the road? Whatever you want to call it, that runs in the back court with Scottie? 2bh he can definitely do, but let's say Scottie never improves. Could Bufkin fit and do what we need beside him?

[ATLTimekeeper]

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It wouldn't surprise me to hear that Masai/Bobby have made a side trip to watch this kid again. We know they're in Europe right now.

[ATLTimekeeper]

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.

Cissoko is French but has lived in Spain since he was 13 and now is in the U.S.

Maledon wasn't that good of a prospect, so he's really producing like a back-up and that reflects where he was taken in the draft.

Hayes and Nkitilina are definitely busts, overhyped French point guards that can't shoot. They weren't good athletes in France, either. If you're a lead ballhandler and you can't shoot, it doesn't matter where you grew up. This has been the quick demise of plenty of lotto PGs. Coulibaly and Rupert aren't lead ballhandlers. Cissoko is more of a linker in the NBA. I think they're most likely wings that can guard up and down the line-up.

[Dalek]

Y'all think Kobe can develop into a PG down the road? Whatever you want to call it, that runs in the back court with Scottie? 2bh he can definitely do, but let's say Scottie never improves. Could Bufkin fit and do what we need beside him?

I don't think his feel as a PG is there. He is getting to the rim on drives and not commonly looking to create for others.

I watched a couple Michigan and Indiana games and Hood-Schifino was a huge contrast - manipulating ball screens and making good reads.

Bufkin definitely was more of a dribble handoff get a bucket guy. He has excellent defense so maybe the scoring and defense is enough.

JHS has the defensive and passing but he lacks the step Bufkin has.

[ItsDanger]

Bufkin is pretty much a strict SG. I didn't see any evidence he could be run the point at all. But what does he do at a high level really? For me taking a guy like that, got to be a tough shot maker, create your own shots off the dribble, more athleticism. Maybe I just don't see that upside that he has in this respect but at #13 that is a bit of a reach I think. I find these guards to be very tough to project so I could be wrong. With more spacing in NBA and better teammates, these are the factors that must be considered.

[Dalek]

Bufkin is pretty much a strict SG. I didn't see any evidence he could be run the point at all. But what does he do at a high level really? For me taking a guy like that, got to be a tough shot maker, create your own shots off the dribble, more athleticism. Maybe I just don't see that upside that he has in this respect but at #13 that is a bit of a reach I think. I find these guards to be very tough to project so I could be wrong. With more spacing in NBA and better teammates, these are the factors that must be considered.

There are lots of these combos which to me is cover for undersized SG. Last year we had Shaedon Sharpe and maybe Anthony Edward's before that but there is a dearth of true shooting guards. The guys who can create and dunk on guys are slowly being replaced by the jumper happy combos. Hate it.

[Ell Curry]

Bufkin is pretty much a strict SG. I didn't see any evidence he could be run the point at all. But what does he do at a high level really? For me taking a guy like that, got to be a tough shot maker, create your own shots off the dribble, more athleticism. Maybe I just don't see that upside that he has in this respect but at #13 that is a bit of a reach I think. I find these guards to be very tough to project so I could be wrong. With more spacing in NBA and better teammates, these are the factors that must be considered.

The case for him as a combo guard is that he was playing with an undersized PG who wasn't respected as a shooter and Div-2 level players at the 4, but still got to 3 assists a game, which isn't bad for college (it's like 1.5 times what Poole and Quickley had. Similar to Jordan Clarkson's numbers. Those are sort of the first guys that come to mind as 3rd, combo guard types these days.

And overall, the case is that he shot 70% at the rim and was a year younger than typical sophomores.

He's a weird case because he didn't take over games much and his team was crying out for him to go full Johnny Davis.

So, he might be like a decent Trent replacement or the 3rd guard we need, but unless we keep Trent or sign and trade him, we're still a guard short.

[ItsDanger]

Bufkin is pretty much a strict SG. I didn't see any evidence he could be run the point at all. But what does he do at a high level really? For me taking a guy like that, got to be a tough shot maker, create your own shots off the dribble, more athleticism. Maybe I just don't see that upside that he has in this respect but at #13 that is a bit of a reach I think. I find these guards to be very tough to project so I could be wrong. With more spacing in NBA and better teammates, these are the factors that must be considered.

The case for him as a combo guard is that he was playing with an undersized PG who wasn't respected as a shooter and Div-2 level players at the 4, but still got to 3 assists a game, which isn't bad for college (it's like 1.5 times what Poole and Quickley had. Similar to Jordan Clarkson's numbers. Those are sort of the first guys that come to mind as 3rd, combo guard types these days.

And overall, the case is that he shot 70% at the rim and was a year younger than typical sophomores.

He's a weird case because he didn't take over games much and his team was crying out for him to go full Johnny Davis.

So, he might be like a decent Trent replacement or the 3rd guard we need, but unless we keep Trent or sign and trade him, we're still a guard short.

Bufkin has a lot more upside than Trent at same time in their careers so he can definitely be a good replacement potentially. I think his handles are average which leads me to confirm he is a strict SG. But still I'm looking for higher upside players at #13. Again, I think evaluating this group of guards is really tough.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

I think Bufkin has the talent to develop into a PG if you really want to put him on that path but is a much more natural fit at SG.

A lot of people look for reasons to criticize Marcus Sasser and one of them tends to be his assist totals yet they don't realize he played with two other guards on the court at almost all times and ran an offense where there was constant motion and ball distribution between them and ultimately everyone (teammates, coaching staff) wanted him to shoot the ball at every possible chance (and why not since he's an incredible shooter). I think his refined ast/to ratio this year is a nice sign and that he can increase his playmaking output in the NBA if necessary. Ultimately you want this kid to be jacking up as many 3 pointers per game as possible.