2023 Draft Prospect discussion

[mademan]

Im surprised how low all these mock drafts are on Jarace Walker.

If we end up with the Lakers pick whether through a Fred or OG trade, a Jarace Walker/Keyonte George coup would be incredible.

[Thaddy]

Im surprised how low all these mock drafts are on Jarace Walker.

If we end up with the Lakers pick whether through a Fred or OG trade, a Jarace Walker/Keyonte George coup would be incredible.

They seem more like supporting cast players than core players to me. We need a high end prospect like VW, Scoot, or even Brandon Miller if we want this draft to be a difference maker.

[Mark_83]

I want Miller, Walker, or Whitmore in that order, if we're outside the top 2.

[Fairview4Life]

I get that he is slow but I am still baffled that Givony (I assume) and friends have Zach Edey as their 65th ranked prospect and 9th ranked C. The dude is 7'4'', 285 and is about to win the player of the year award on the best team in the country.

[God Squad]

I get that he is slow but I am still baffled that Givony (I assume) and friends have Zach Edey as their 65th ranked prospect and 9th ranked C. The dude is 7'4'', 285 and is about to win the player of the year award on the best team in the country.

They also take NBA role into consideration. I'm not sure what his role / archetype is quite yet. But I'd take a gamble in the second depending on who's available.

[God Squad]

I called Mobley the best player in that draft by far and had Sengun #2. I also liked Wagner a lot too.

Walker Kessler was the only guy I liked last year.

Yup. You and UcanUwill were the most vocal Sengun fans I remember on this board and the draft board. You both were very right. I still question parts of his game, but it's clear he's a hit.

[PoundTown]

I want Miller, Walker, or Whitmore in that order, if we're outside the top 2.

If we are getting rid of OG, we just backfill him with Jarace lol. I expect Jarace to be very OGish, but more of a pure power forward, where as OG is kind of a hybrid forward. I like him a lot, just see a high end role player type than true star, think he could be very impactful like OG though. He very well might be the best talent on board when we pick.

I'd be happy with any of those 3 if we can't get one of the top 2. I probably have Dick and Black as next two viable options after those 3. Hendricks is intriguing, and I have a hard time guaging the Thomson bros.

[WuTang_CMB]

I called Mobley the best player in that draft by far and had Sengun #2. I also liked Wagner a lot too.

Walker Kessler was the only guy I liked last year.

Yup. You and UcanUwill were the most vocal Sengun fans I remember on this board and the draft board. You both were very right. I still question parts of his game, but it's clear he's a hit.

I loved Mobley. He was the prize of that draft. Barnes was the hidden gem - no body knew he would be that good

[ATLTimekeeper]

I'm like 95% wrong on all basketball predictions. I've pretty much given up after thinking Thomas Robinson was the next big thing.

Oh I'm wrong a lot too lol. But that's part of the fun, because even if you and I are wrong. Someone on here is usually very high on said prospect. Remember Sengun has his fair share of supporters. I saw the production, but his movements (lateral) and measurements made me skeptical. Now I can see how wrong I was about his game and how it'd translate. I still don't think he'll be a defender, but his passing and post game are legit.

Here's a question for ya'll: Who were your 3 biggest hits, and your 3 biggest misses (with receipts)?

Probably my biggest hit was Giannis but I have to see if I can find the post. Biggest miss probably Siakam. I hated the pick with a vengeance, and I was way wrong. The receipts from that draft are infamous haha.

I don't have the receipts, but I was one of the few Jokic fans on the draft board when one of their biggest big heads was adamant he was a career Euroleaguer. Also was high on Sengun (not as much of a surprise) and Lowry. Probably three of the best "I like the way they play" advocates.

My misses are way too many to count, but I was low on Scottie, Jaylen Brown and was certain Kyle Anderson wouldn't last two years in the NBA.

[God Squad]

Oh I'm wrong a lot too lol. But that's part of the fun, because even if you and I are wrong. Someone on here is usually very high on said prospect. Remember Sengun has his fair share of supporters. I saw the production, but his movements (lateral) and measurements made me skeptical. Now I can see how wrong I was about his game and how it'd translate. I still don't think he'll be a defender, but his passing and post game are legit.

Here's a question for ya'll: Who were your 3 biggest hits, and your 3 biggest misses (with receipts)?

Probably my biggest hit was Giannis but I have to see if I can find the post. Biggest miss probably Siakam. I hated the pick with a vengeance, and I was way wrong. The receipts from that draft are infamous haha.

I don't have the receipts, but I was one of the few Jokic fans on the draft board when one of their biggest big heads was adamant he was a career Euroleaguer. Also was high on Sengun (not as much of a surprise) and Lowry. Probably three of the best "I like the way they play" advocates.

My misses are way too many to count, but I was low on Scottie, Jaylen Brown and was certain Kyle Anderson wouldn't last two years in the NBA.

I have way too many misses lol. Who remembers Perry Jones?! Quincy Miller?! I was looking at all the wrong places for a star back then, especially when both of them underwhelmed in the worst way in college.

Edit : Scott Machado, Rawles Altkins

[Rapsfan07]

Im surprised how low all these mock drafts are on Jarace Walker.

If we end up with the Lakers pick whether through a Fred or OG trade, a Jarace Walker/Keyonte George coup would be incredible.

They seem more like supporting cast players than core players to me. We need a high end prospect like VW, Scoot, or even Brandon Miller if we want this draft to be a difference maker.

Obviously VM and Scoot are the big prizes here. I think Miller has a chance to be really good as well.

I'm not sure if any of the other players in the lottery project to be franchise changers but I think landing George, Walker or Whitmore at #6 is great value and will be a key piece of what we eventually build around Barnes.

I like Barnes a lot but I think we need to look for a guy who can create his own offense from all three levels and plays both sides of the ball. Barnes is good but he doesn't project to be THE guy. I do think he can be a solid 2nd or 3rd banana on a contending team once he develops and rounds out his game.

That's why these three guys are who I'd be looking at. I also think another pick in this draft would go a long way to accelerate our rebuild.

[Jstock12]

He's giving me Boucher vibes with those 3's! Either a splash or an airball

Watch on YouTube

Boucher that's 2 inches taller, with handles!!! Love the intensity saving the ball out of bounds to his teammate for a layup!!!

I want Baba, Edey, Bates or Tubelis!

Watch on YouTube

[T-d0t]

There seems to be a few holes in this draft after VW and Scoot.

Theres offensive players who are either below average or terrible on defense.

Defensive players with non existent or mediocre shooting ability.

Role players who are fine but don't seem good enough to warrant a top pick.

Then you have the Thompson twins who are hard to evaluate because they are playing against competition who are older but questionable talent level.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I called Mobley the best player in that draft by far and had Sengun #2. I also liked Wagner a lot too.

Walker Kessler was the only guy I liked last year.

Yup. You and UcanUwill were the most vocal Sengun fans I remember on this board and the draft board. You both were very right. I still question parts of his game, but it's clear he's a hit.

I loved Mobley. He was the prize of that draft. Barnes was the hidden gem - no body knew he would be that good

Cade and Mobley were the prizes. But I got killed for supporting Barnes that year.

[ItsDanger]

He's giving me Boucher vibes with those 3's! Either a splash or an airball

Watch on YouTube

Boucher that's 2 inches taller, with handles!!! Love the intensity saving the ball out of bounds to his teammate for a layup!!!

I want Baba, Edey, Bates or Tubelis!

Watch on YouTube

Tubelis is interesting but is he a 5 or a 4? Not sure who he defends in NBA. For context, last season he played a long time with a bad ankle injury which hurt his numbers. This season he's healthy.

[Ell Curry]

I get that he is slow but I am still baffled that Givony (I assume) and friends have Zach Edey as their 65th ranked prospect and 9th ranked C. The dude is 7'4'', 285 and is about to win the player of the year award on the best team in the country.

I think he goes higher than people expect. Kessler exceeding expectations will help him, he seems high character, and teams like Denver, Golden State, Dallas, Philly, the Clippers and Portland are all probably a bit unhappy with their backup center options.

Denver picks 42 and 45 as of right now, so I'd say they take him and maybe a 3 and D wing type like Shannon or Strawther then use the MLE on a veteran backup PG. Can't hurt to be able to rest Jokic more in 2nd halves when you're up 10-15 points and have a backup plan at center in case he misses a game or two in the playoffs.

[T-d0t]

Yup. You and UcanUwill were the most vocal Sengun fans I remember on this board and the draft board. You both were very right. I still question parts of his game, but it's clear he's a hit.

I loved Mobley. He was the prize of that draft. Barnes was the hidden gem - no body knew he would be that good

Cade and Mobley were the prizes. But I got killed for supporting Barnes that year.

Barnes in college did not look that good so if you predicted that he would take a huge leap then that's good on you

[Ell Curry]

There seems to be a few holes in this draft after VW and Scoot.

Theres offensive players who are either below average or terrible on defense.

Defensive players with non existent or mediocre shooting ability.

Role players who are fine but don't seem good enough to warrant a top pick.

Then you have the Thompson twins who are hard to evaluate because they are playing against competition who are older but questionable talent level.

Everyone is mad at Masai and Bobby but is there a front office you'd trust more to evaluate the Thompson twins? Even if they do ignore shooting and Amen seems like he might be below even a Dyson Daniels in that regard.

[ItsDanger]

I called Mobley the best player in that draft by far and had Sengun #2. I also liked Wagner a lot too.

Walker Kessler was the only guy I liked last year.

Yup. You and UcanUwill were the most vocal Sengun fans I remember on this board and the draft board. You both were very right. I still question parts of his game, but it's clear he's a hit.

I loved Mobley. He was the prize of that draft. Barnes was the hidden gem - no body knew he would be that good

You could tell at FSU that Barnes had big time upside. Nobody or very few thought he would be this good this early. His early rookie production, I'd expect right around now. But as we should see, he's being held back by other guys on the roster. The trades that we may see were inevitable when Scottie was drafted.

[Psubs]

Boucher that's 2 inches taller, with handles!!! Love the intensity saving the ball out of bounds to his teammate for a layup!!!

I want Baba, Edey, Bates or Tubelis!

Watch on YouTube

Tubelis is interesting but is he a 5 or a 4? Not sure who he defends in NBA. For context, last season he played a long time with a bad ankle injury which hurt his numbers. This season he's healthy.

He's like a weaker rebounding Domantas/JV. I think he's got high BBIQ that would be a nice backup PF/C. Could trade Boucher for a backup swingman that can shoot.