Official NBA Draft Discussion

[nabbs]

Use this thread for combine, individual workouts and any discussion leading up the draft. Combine measurements are starting to come out

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Bamba, Jackson and Carter JR really did win.

Jackson Jr could end up being the best bigman from this draft but I have a lot of stock in Bamba and Carter JR as well. I really like Ayton but I’ve soured on him as of late. Need to see how competitive he is and what his work ethic is like

[Lord_Zedd]

Ruh Roh,

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?s=19

To me it sounds more like, "I want to play with the Phoenix Suns and Kokosov"

[ATLTimekeeper]

Mo Wagner had some nice combine measurements. He's one of my sleeper picks, definitely has length and bulk to play the 5.

[nabbs]

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[nabbs]

Mo Wagner had some nice combine measurements. He's one of my sleeper picks, definitely has length and bulk to play the 5.

If he can show consistency from NBA three, bulks up a little and continues to play with his motor then I feel good about him finding a role in this league

[navyblue]

Ruh Roh,

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?s=19

To me it sounds more like, "I want to play with the Phoenix Suns and Kokosov"

you dont make that threat if you want to be the #1 pick by the suns, you only do a threat like this to be passed over, so if this is a ploy by him, it might be he wants to passed over by the suns. does he want to go to Vlade and the Kings?

[nabbs]

Ruh Roh,

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?s=19

To me it sounds more like, "I want to play with the Phoenix Suns and Kokosov"

Well he is in the middle of the European championship so I doubt he would come and outright say that he is leaving before his season is even done. There is a chance he stays but it’s so low. No way his agent makes him pass up the type of money he can get in the NBA

[Mister Ze]

I'm starting to think this draft class will bring back the center position

[nabbs]

Mods, can we pin this?

[ATLTimekeeper]

Mo Wagner had some nice combine measurements. He's one of my sleeper picks, definitely has length and bulk to play the 5.

If he can show consistency from NBA three, bulks up a little and continues to play with his motor then I feel good about him finding a role in this league

He measured at 241 with a solid 6.75% body fat. I think that's a good playing weight for him, because he can't afford to lose much quickness. I think for him defensive fundamentals and effort will make or break him as a starter/perpetual bench guy. You don't get any development on that end playing for Michigan.

Also really like Zhaire Smith, but I think he'll rise as the workout process continues.

[nabbs]

I'm starting to think this draft class will bring back the center position

Like modern centers or back to basket centers? I don’t really understand how any front office can watch these playoffs and think traditional centers are valuable in today’s league. It’s become more apparent to me than ever

[nabbs]

Mo Wagner had some nice combine measurements. He's one of my sleeper picks, definitely has length and bulk to play the 5.

If he can show consistency from NBA three, bulks up a little and continues to play with his motor then I feel good about him finding a role in this league

He measured at 241 with a solid 6.75% body fat. I think that's a good playing weight for him, because he can't afford to lose much quickness. I think for him defensive fundamentals and effort will make or break him as a starter/perpetual bench guy. You don't get any development on that end playing for Michigan.

Also really like Zhaire Smith, but I think he'll rise as the workout process continues.

Haven’t watched a ton of him but I’m going to over the weekend. I like his physicals but I need to see where the ball Iq is at. I have now put a premium on basketball intelligence and defense as keys for prospects. I feel as though you can find a solid rotation spot at the very least in this league if you have those two things.

[ATLTimekeeper]

I'm starting to think this draft class will bring back the center position

The true C? I think that Ayton and Bamba both have high bust potential. Could also be the two best picks in the draft. I see a lot of guys that performed well in college, but might be overrated a tad because they fit the small ball "5" tag a little better. Like, I don't think Wendell Carter is a top 5 worthy prospect, Bagley is probably going to do something really well but looks really clumsy out there, and Jontay Porter should be going late first round like Mo Wagner. Jaren Jackson looks like the only stud small ball 5 out there that I would trust, and even he looks like more of a 3rd option type.

[alpngso]

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Keita Bates Diop has even more impressive wingspan.

[nabbs]

I'm starting to think this draft class will bring back the center position

The true C? I think that Ayton and Bamba both have high bust potential. Could also be the two best picks in the draft. I see a lot of guys that performed well in college, but might be overrated a tad because they fit the small ball "5" tag a little better. Like, I don't think Wendell Carter is a top 5 worthy prospect, Bagley is probably going to do something really well but looks really clumsy out there, and Jontay Porter should be going late first round like Mo Wagner. Jaren Jackson looks like the only stud small ball 5 out there that I would trust, and even he looks like more of a 3rd option type.

Big carter fan. Looks like he has leaned out quite a bit and if his agility speed checks out, I’m ALL IN. High ball IQ and is a good shooter. Two highly transferable skills. He is also a very underrated defender. Again, if his agility checks out then it’s very encouraging for his potential to be a small ball 5 at the next stage

[dukes_wild]

Draft time is my favorite time of year (aside from playoffs but that always seems to end poorly for us) so it sucks not having a pick.

My top 10 goes like:

1. Ayton
2. Doncic
3. Bagley
4. JJJ
5. Porter Jr
6. Young
7. Bamba
8. Sexton
9. Mikal Bridges
10. Carter Jr

Biggest sleepers:

Troy Brown SG/SF
Gary Trent Jr SG
Aaron Holiday PG
Keita Bates-Diop SF
Rawle Alkins SG
Tony Carr PG

I've loved Troy Brown since High School, he's much like Caris LaVert in the sense that he can basically play 1-3 as he has point guard skills in a 6'7 SG/SF body. I kind of wish he stayed another year. His 3pt shooting was a little disappointing but his jump shot isn't broken by any means and he has a nice in-between game offensively with some floaters, post-up fade aways, etc. That, combined with his ability to pass the ball should give him some potential as a solid PnR ball handler preferably as a 3rd option though.

Trent Jr is the prototype for modern day SGs. I project him to be a slightly poor man's Bradley Beal.

I think Holiday will be a solid back-up PG for several years.

Bates-Diop is such an intriguing player to me. Great wingspan (7'3"!) on a 6'7, 230lb frame, good footspeed, great finisher inside. He shot 36% from 3 on high volume, but I think that makes his jumper look better than it is. His mechanics are pretty strange, but he's improved it every year. If he can even just be an average 3pt shooter at the NBA level I think he can be a pretty good role player.

Soph season for Alkins was a little underwhelming but I still think he can be a good back-up SG who can come in and get you buckets from anywhere on the floor. Only reason I have him as a sleeper is because he's projected to go in the mid-late 2nd round.

Carr is just a solid 6'4/6'5 point guard who can do almost everything at a good, but not great level. He had a huge Y1 to Y2 jump in college which bodes well for his upside at the NBA level. That Penn State team should not have done as well as they did last season, Carr got them to overachieve and there was an article that a few NBA front office execs raved about his poise, and just winning type of game. Whoever snags him with a pick in the 25-35 range will be very lucky imo

[nabbs]

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Bamba is a freak of nature lmao. Gobert with a jumper is a scary ceiling to think about. He is also better than Rudy at that age.

All the combine measurements are in the link. Johntay Porter becomes incredibly interesting to me with those measurements and Kevin Knox is intriguing f the defense checks out. I am going to be watching lane agility. It’s becoming more and more useful to gauge your potential to move your feet out on the perimeter.

[nabbs]

Draft time is my favorite time of year (aside from playoffs but that always seems to end poorly for us) so it sucks not having a pick.

My top 10 goes like:

1. Ayton
2. Doncic
3. Bagley
4. JJJ
5. Porter Jr
6. Young
7. Bamba
8. Sexton
9. Mikal Bridges
10. Carter Jr

Biggest sleepers:

Troy Brown SG/SF
Gary Trent Jr SG
Aaron Holiday PG
Keita Bates-Diop SF
Rawle Alkins SG
Tony Carr PG

I've loved Troy Brown since High School, he's much like Caris LaVert in the sense that he can basically play 1-3 as he has point guard skills in a 6'7 SG/SF body. I kind of wish he stayed another year. His 3pt shooting was a little disappointing but his jump shot isn't broken by any means and he has a nice in-between game offensively with some floaters, post-up fade aways, etc. That, combined with his ability to pass the ball should give him some potential as a solid PnR ball handler preferably as a 3rd option though.

Trent Jr is the prototype for modern day SGs. I project him to be a slightly poor man's Bradley Beal.

I think Holiday will be a solid back-up PG for several years.

Bates-Diop is such an intriguing player to me. Great wingspan (7'3"!) on a 6'7, 230lb frame, good footspeed, great finisher inside. He shot 36% from 3 on high volume, but I think that makes his jumper look better than it is. His mechanics are pretty strange, but he's improved it every year. If he can even just be an average 3pt shooter at the NBA level I think he can be a pretty good role player.

Soph season for Alkins was a little underwhelming but I still think he can be a good back-up SG who can come in and get you buckets from anywhere on the floor. Only reason I have him as a sleeper is because he's projected to go in the mid-late 2nd round.

Carr is just a solid 6'4/6'5 point guard who can do almost everything at a good, but not great level. He had a huge Y1 to Y2 jump in college which bodes well for his upside at the NBA level. That Penn State team should not have done as well as they did last season, Carr got them to overachieve and there was an article that a few NBA front office execs raved about his poise, and just winning type of game. Whoever snags him with a pick in the 25-35 range will be very lucky imo

Alkins has a Marcus smart type body. Could be a mismatch nightmare form 1-3 defensively. I would definitely take a flier on him in the second round

[nabbs]

Draft time is my favorite time of year (aside from playoffs but that always seems to end poorly for us) so it sucks not having a pick.

My top 10 goes like:

1. Ayton
2. Doncic
3. Bagley
4. JJJ
5. Porter Jr
6. Young
7. Bamba
8. Sexton
9. Mikal Bridges
10. Carter Jr

Biggest sleepers:

Troy Brown SG/SF
Gary Trent Jr SG
Aaron Holiday PG
Keita Bates-Diop SF
Rawle Alkins SG
Tony Carr PG

I've loved Troy Brown since High School, he's much like Caris LaVert in the sense that he can basically play 1-3 as he has point guard skills in a 6'7 SG/SF body. I kind of wish he stayed another year. His 3pt shooting was a little disappointing but his jump shot isn't broken by any means and he has a nice in-between game offensively with some floaters, post-up fade aways, etc. That, combined with his ability to pass the ball should give him some potential as a solid PnR ball handler preferably as a 3rd option though.

Trent Jr is the prototype for modern day SGs. I project him to be a slightly poor man's Bradley Beal.

I think Holiday will be a solid back-up PG for several years.

Bates-Diop is such an intriguing player to me. Great wingspan (7'3"!) on a 6'7, 230lb frame, good footspeed, great finisher inside. He shot 36% from 3 on high volume, but I think that makes his jumper look better than it is. His mechanics are pretty strange, but he's improved it every year. If he can even just be an average 3pt shooter at the NBA level I think he can be a pretty good role player.

Soph season for Alkins was a little underwhelming but I still think he can be a good back-up SG who can come in and get you buckets from anywhere on the floor. Only reason I have him as a sleeper is because he's projected to go in the mid-late 2nd round.

Carr is just a solid 6'4/6'5 point guard who can do almost everything at a good, but not great level. He had a huge Y1 to Y2 jump in college which bodes well for his upside at the NBA level. That Penn State team should not have done as well as they did last season, Carr got them to overachieve and there was an article that a few NBA front office execs raved about his poise, and just winning type of game. Whoever snags him with a pick in the 25-35 range will be very lucky imo

Love to hear your thoughts on mykahiluk. 4 year guy but because he came in at 16, he is still only 20. Great size for a 2/3 at 6’8 and can shoot the lights out. Similar build for Korver. If Masai can get a second rounder I’d love to go after him for some much needed shooting help

[dukes_wild]

Might swap MPJ and Bamba on my top 10 mock. More I think about it I find it hard to believe that a player as unique as Bamba gets drafted after a guy with hip injury concerns.

Still, forwards with Porter's size and offensive fluidity don't often come around, he could easily make a few teams really regret their pick if he falls to the 7-9 range.