2023 Draft Discussion Part 6

[ATLTimekeeper]

Leonard Miller was just across the board solid at the combine, and he had one of the best seasons for a 19 year old in the GLeague to date. I really like his rate of improvement - that's usually a good sign. I worry about defensive IQ, but playing heavy minutes against experienced competition in an offense-only league might be misleading.

[WuTang_CMB]

Cason workout with us. Nice. Heard on a podcast that the back issues were overblown. He just sat out one game and it was precautionary

[PhilBlackson]

Leonard Miller was just across the board solid at the combine, and he had one of the best seasons for a 19 year old in the GLeague to date. I really like his rate of improvement - that's usually a good sign. I worry about defensive IQ, but playing heavy minutes against experienced competition in an offense-only league might be misleading.

If we didn't already have an entire starting line up of PFs, I'd be a lot more interested in Leonard Miller tbh. He does definitely have an intriguing skillset, reminds me of something like Odom.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Leonard Miller was just across the board solid at the combine, and he had one of the best seasons for a 19 year old in the GLeague to date. I really like his rate of improvement - that's usually a good sign. I worry about defensive IQ, but playing heavy minutes against experienced competition in an offense-only league might be misleading.

If we didn't already have an entire starting line up of PFs, I'd be a lot more interested in Leonard Miller tbh. He does definitely have an intriguing skillset, reminds me of something like Odom.

Odom would be top 2 in this draft. That dude was well ahead of his time. Lenny reminds me more of a poor man’s Bosh, or an Olynyk type.

[HumbleRen]

We already have a Lamar Odom.

[BoyzNTheHood]

We already have a Lamar Odom.

[ItsDanger]

News finally, Raps worked out someone in their range. Guess that means the entire process will be kept from the public. MLSE has such a way with their fanbase.

[OakleyDokely]

I'd rather take a swing on a high upside guy than go with a safer pick like Cason. Safe doesn't really move the needle. I'm sure Cason will be good, but his upside is probably solid starter. Getting these type of guys isn't that hard via trade or free agency. I don't care about position or ability to contribute right away nearly as much as a high potential impact, even it comes 3-4 years from now.

[720]

I'd rather take a swing on a high upside guy than go with a safer pick like Cason. Safe doesn't really move the needle. I'm sure Cason will be good, but his upside is probably solid starter. Getting these type of guys isn't that hard via trade or free agency. I don't care about position or ability to contribute right away nearly as much as a high potential impact, even it comes 3-4 years from now.

I agree, I’m fine with taking a low floor high ceiling guy. Especially if Portland isn’t moving that third pick. No need to stay safe. This team is a few pieces away from being a proper contender anyways.

[bboyskinnylegs]

News finally, Raps worked out someone in their range. Guess that means the entire process will be kept from the public. MLSE has such a way with their fanbase.

I'm sure they'll have plenty of Open Gym footage to show after the draft is done.

[ItsDanger]

News finally, Raps worked out someone in their range. Guess that means the entire process will be kept from the public. MLSE has such a way with their fanbase.

I'm sure they'll have plenty of Open Gym footage to show after the draft is done.

I can't wait for the video footage of them almost trading for Scoot a few years from now.

[HumbleRen]

We already have a Lamar Odom.

16/8/5 is what Lamar Odom averaged at age 20 and 21.

[HumbleRen]

Cason from Kentucky, them dudes always got some latent hidden ceiling in them.

[BoyzNTheHood]

We already have a Lamar Odom.

16/8/5 is what Lamar Odom averaged at age 20 and 21.

[Rapsfan07]

I'd rather take a swing on a high upside guy than go with a safer pick like Cason. Safe doesn't really move the needle. I'm sure Cason will be good, but his upside is probably solid starter. Getting these type of guys isn't that hard via trade or free agency. I don't care about position or ability to contribute right away nearly as much as a high potential impact, even it comes 3-4 years from now.

I sort of disagree. I mean eventually there is a breaking point in this logic where the upside swing is too great of a swing, instead of just taking the player that is obviously going to be good but maybe not a star like Flynn over Bane.

I guess what I'm saying is with this drafting thing, it's easy to overthink things and I really don't want the FO to do that and again miss out on a solid player.

As far as acquiring these kinds of players, I don't think we've ever acquired a solid starter in FA that I can remember.

I think the approach here is let's a guy who can get on the floor, impact the game in a positive way and still has some upside. We need guys who can actually play, and preferably a guard.

Would absolutely love an additional first or even a second. I, contrary to most popular opinions, believe this draft is going to be really good and would love to grab at least two or three guys. Although, I know that is very unlikely given the team's history.

[HumbleRen]

I'd rather take a swing on a high upside guy than go with a safer pick like Cason. Safe doesn't really move the needle. I'm sure Cason will be good, but his upside is probably solid starter. Getting these type of guys isn't that hard via trade or free agency. I don't care about position or ability to contribute right away nearly as much as a high potential impact, even it comes 3-4 years from now.

I sort of disagree. I mean eventually there is a breaking point in this logic where the upside swing is too great of a swing, instead of just taking the player that is obviously going to be good but maybe not a star like Flynn over Bane.

I guess what I'm saying is with this drafting thing, it's easy to overthink things and I really don't want the FO to do that and again miss out on a solid player.

As far as acquiring these kinds of players, I don't think we've ever acquired a solid starter in FA that I can remember.

I think the approach here is let's a guy who can get on the floor, impact the game in a positive way and still has some upside. We need guys who can actually play, and preferably a guard.

Would absolutely love an additional first or even a second. I, contrary to most popular opinions, believe this draft is going to be really good and would love to grab at least two or three guys. Although, I know that is very unlikely given the team's history.

Penalizing players for being good young never made sense to me lol.

Saw the same rhetoric with Franz Wagner and now he's a top 3 player from the 2021 draft with a much higher ceiling than people realized.

[Rapsfan07]

I'd rather take a swing on a high upside guy than go with a safer pick like Cason. Safe doesn't really move the needle. I'm sure Cason will be good, but his upside is probably solid starter. Getting these type of guys isn't that hard via trade or free agency. I don't care about position or ability to contribute right away nearly as much as a high potential impact, even it comes 3-4 years from now.

I sort of disagree. I mean eventually there is a breaking point in this logic where the upside swing is too great of a swing, instead of just taking the player that is obviously going to be good but maybe not a star like Flynn over Bane.

I guess what I'm saying is with this drafting thing, it's easy to overthink things and I really don't want the FO to do that and again miss out on a solid player.

As far as acquiring these kinds of players, I don't think we've ever acquired a solid starter in FA that I can remember.

I think the approach here is let's a guy who can get on the floor, impact the game in a positive way and still has some upside. We need guys who can actually play, and preferably a guard.

Would absolutely love an additional first or even a second. I, contrary to most popular opinions, believe this draft is going to be really good and would love to grab at least two or three guys. Although, I know that is very unlikely given the team's history.

Penalizing players for being good young never made sense to me lol.

Saw the same rhetoric with Franz Wagner and now he's a top 3 player from the 2021 draft with a much higher ceiling than people realized.

Yep, exactly.

I still can't believe how good he's turned out to be btw.

[HumbleRen]

I sort of disagree. I mean eventually there is a breaking point in this logic where the upside swing is too great of a swing, instead of just taking the player that is obviously going to be good but maybe not a star like Flynn over Bane.

I guess what I'm saying is with this drafting thing, it's easy to overthink things and I really don't want the FO to do that and again miss out on a solid player.

As far as acquiring these kinds of players, I don't think we've ever acquired a solid starter in FA that I can remember.

I think the approach here is let's a guy who can get on the floor, impact the game in a positive way and still has some upside. We need guys who can actually play, and preferably a guard.

Would absolutely love an additional first or even a second. I, contrary to most popular opinions, believe this draft is going to be really good and would love to grab at least two or three guys. Although, I know that is very unlikely given the team's history.

Penalizing players for being good young never made sense to me lol.

Saw the same rhetoric with Franz Wagner and now he's a top 3 player from the 2021 draft with a much higher ceiling than people realized.

Yep, exactly.

I still can't believe how good he's turned out to be btw.

People just overthought it.

Dude is 6'10, slick handles and can score from all 3 levels lol. Somehow that's a considered a safe prospect I guess lol.

[Jadoogar]

Penalizing players for being good young never made sense to me lol.

Saw the same rhetoric with Franz Wagner and now he's a top 3 player from the 2021 draft with a much higher ceiling than people realized.

Yep, exactly.

I still can't believe how good he's turned out to be btw.

People just overthought it.

Dude is 6'10, slick handles and can score from all 3 levels lol. Somehow that's a considered a safe prospect I guess lol.

People tend to fall in love with athleticism. Kuminga over Franz is wild. I this might be a bigger mistake by the warriors than Wiseman over Lamelo. Atleast you could make the argument that Lamelo was pretty rough in Australia so it was hard to see how it would translate. Kuminga was a pure potential pick.

[ATLTimekeeper]

I'm confused at the Bane/Flynn comment. One wasn't a high upside v. the other a low upside pick.

Upside is hard to peg, but usually p/40 tells you the chances someone has of being a scorer in the NBA (even if they're more of a defensive/role player at the lower level). Anything below 16 and it's like a 5% chance of being a scorer in the NBA. Franz Wagner is one of the more recent outliers. So, a guy like Cason, Walker, Ant Black are all in that range. Are they safe? Chances are they'll all do things that coaches love and get lots of chances to fail. I wouldn't pick them and think that they'll be better than, say, OG Anunoby.