Page 1 of 2

Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengue

Posted: Mon Jun 9, 2025 5:37 pm
by djsunyc
raptors on the clock and they are deciding between carter bryant, cmb or essengua.

who do you take?

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Mon Jun 9, 2025 5:39 pm
by douggood
didnt this poll answer it already

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2462382

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Mon Jun 9, 2025 5:47 pm
by bobbyp3588
Noa is so young still and already competing hard and successfully against grown ass men. Lots of room to still improve and if he can add weight which he should be able to do, then he’s a star in the making.

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Mon Jun 9, 2025 5:48 pm
by OakleyDokely
I honestly have no idea what Masai does, especially if Maluach is off the board and no obvious player drops.

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Mon Jun 9, 2025 5:55 pm
by Tofubeque
I like these polls that focus on position because I’ve been viewing this draft like that - there’s a big, a wing and a guard I prefer in our range and I think I’m similar to consensus here. Dozens of forum denizens can’t be wrong!

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Mon Jun 9, 2025 5:58 pm
by Badonkadonk
bobbyp3588 wrote:Noa is so young still and already competing hard and successfully against grown ass men. Lots of room to still improve and if he can add weight which he should be able to do, then he’s a star in the making.

One negative is that the German league isn't at the same level as several other top European leagues where prospects have been gauged vs. mature competition, like in Spain, France or the Adriatic (incl. Serbia).

I still think Noa is intriguing but that's definitely a wild card, especially if you watch him on video and you see the guys he's playing against.

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Mon Jun 9, 2025 6:10 pm
by PhilBlackson
This thread has already been done, lock er up or merge

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Mon Jun 9, 2025 10:02 pm
by bluerap23
douggood wrote:didnt this poll answer it already

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2462382


not really. That poll had way more options so you weren't getting people to vote on which of these 3 peeps like best.

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Mon Jun 9, 2025 10:21 pm
by Jim Todd Jr.
at least spell it right

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Mon Jun 9, 2025 10:49 pm
by junot111
Badonkadonk wrote:
bobbyp3588 wrote:Noa is so young still and already competing hard and successfully against grown ass men. Lots of room to still improve and if he can add weight which he should be able to do, then he’s a star in the making.

One negative is that the German league isn't at the same level as several other top European leagues where prospects have been gauged vs. mature competition, like in Spain, France or the Adriatic (incl. Serbia).

I still think Noa is intriguing but that's definitely a wild card, especially if you watch him on video and you see the guys he's playing against.

I haven't seen any flashes of a star player from his highlights. He has a physical advantage and he knows how to use it. That is a skill, but will it translate to the nba? Outside of that he hasn't shown any on ball creation, no coast to coast plays, no passing ability, no ball handling, no difficult shot making. From what I can see he plays physical and knows how to move off the ball. He can be a fine player but I'm not seeing the hype based off the German league games that people keep bringing up

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Mon Jun 9, 2025 10:56 pm
by Grew
Essengua next Aguagua?

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Mon Jun 9, 2025 11:11 pm
by Psubs
junot111 wrote:
Badonkadonk wrote:
bobbyp3588 wrote:Noa is so young still and already competing hard and successfully against grown ass men. Lots of room to still improve and if he can add weight which he should be able to do, then he’s a star in the making.

One negative is that the German league isn't at the same level as several other top European leagues where prospects have been gauged vs. mature competition, like in Spain, France or the Adriatic (incl. Serbia).

I still think Noa is intriguing but that's definitely a wild card, especially if you watch him on video and you see the guys he's playing against.

I haven't seen any flashes of a star player from his highlights. He has a physical advantage and he knows how to use it. That is a skill, but will it translate to the nba? Outside of that he hasn't shown any on ball creation, no coast to coast plays, no passing ability, no ball handling, no difficult shot making. From what I can see he plays physical and knows how to move off the ball. He can be a fine player but I'm not seeing the hype based off the German league games that people keep bringing up


I think he might be like Mogbo that can shoot the 3 better, without the passing yet.

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 12:10 am
by deeps6x
Bryant, but I wouldn't hate Essengue if Masai sees what he wants in him. CMB, good player, but with a low ceiling imho. Too much of a flawed tweener.

All three are flawed, but I think Bryant has the highest ceiling.

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 1:52 am
by RoteSchroder
Bryant - A better athlete than basketball player. Lateral quickness/ability to stay in front of his man on defense isn't that great for a guy who's supposed to be an elite defender. Ability to go North/South with the ball on offense is lacking.

CMB - Strong floor, but also not the best perimeter defender, better suited for small ball PF. Not a believer in his shooting form, I'd project a slow and painful progression, but you never know.

Essengue - highest offensive upside of the three, worst post-D and strength of the three.

junot111 wrote:
Badonkadonk wrote:
bobbyp3588 wrote:Noa is so young still and already competing hard and successfully against grown ass men. Lots of room to still improve and if he can add weight which he should be able to do, then he’s a star in the making.

One negative is that the German league isn't at the same level as several other top European leagues where prospects have been gauged vs. mature competition, like in Spain, France or the Adriatic (incl. Serbia).

I still think Noa is intriguing but that's definitely a wild card, especially if you watch him on video and you see the guys he's playing against.

I haven't seen any flashes of a star player from his highlights. He has a physical advantage and he knows how to use it. That is a skill, but will it translate to the nba? Outside of that he hasn't shown any on ball creation, no coast to coast plays, no passing ability, no ball handling, no difficult shot making. From what I can see he plays physical and knows how to move off the ball. He can be a fine player but I'm not seeing the hype based off the German league games that people keep bringing up


He has shown every single point you mentioned. It's just not frequent and very unpolished. If you like Essengue, you need to believe that he 1) has something to build on and 2) has the ability to improve on it (e.g. go from OG-level handles to Durant-level handles).

If you watch his games from 10 months ago, he had a few more on-ball plays in half-court settings where he got to the rim, but they ended up as misses or him getting fouled. You see a lot more "3 point line to rim" plays from Essengue than Carter Bryant.

E.g.

Watch on YouTube


Half court settings:
0:09 - behind the back to a drive at the rim
0:36 - goes the other way off the screen, cross over to the rim
0:59 - simple baseline drive from the mid-range
1:19 - another 1 v 1 drive
1:36 - another 1 v 1 drive
2:08 - another drive past his man
2:13 - another drive attempt

There are a ton of bad misses and air balls in this footage including clunked FT's, but he's gotten better as the season progressed and will likely get even better still. The take away is that he's slashing past his man on every drive without dribbling off his foot. Seven half court driving attempts and he got past his man in all seven. This is someone with "no handles". What's it gonna look like with more training and development?

Now find me a half court slashing reel for Carter Bryant.

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 2:15 am
by Thaddy
We should go for upside and that's Essengue. If his bust potential is too high then we should consider Fleming.

Going for the younger player has a lot of risk. We have a number 1 that we've invested in, brought in Ingram, and then we have RJ/IQ. If we can give them a good stretch C we'll see them having a rising value as we get into the playoffs.

Fleming
Barnes
Ingram
Barrett
IQ

That looks like a complete line up and we'd get 48 good minutes from the C position.

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 2:19 am
by Johnston
bobbyp3588 wrote:Noa is so young still and already competing hard and successfully against grown ass men. Lots of room to still improve and if he can add weight which he should be able to do, then he’s a star in the making.


Plus he's an archetype we have had success developing.

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 2:42 am
by Got Nuffin
Johnston wrote:
bobbyp3588 wrote:Noa is so young still and already competing hard and successfully against grown ass men. Lots of room to still improve and if he can add weight which he should be able to do, then he’s a star in the making.


Plus he's an archetype we have had success developing.


Flashes of a wingified Siakam if SQUINT really hard

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 3:24 am
by BCbudraptorfan
his name is **** Carter Bryant ofcourse you draft him, plus we got mogbo already to develope

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 9:16 am
by junot111
RoteSchroder wrote:Bryant - A better athlete than basketball player. Lateral quickness/ability to stay in front of his man on defense isn't that great for a guy who's supposed to be an elite defender. Ability to go North/South with the ball on offense is lacking.

CMB - Strong floor, but also not the best perimeter defender, better suited for small ball PF. Not a believer in his shooting form, I'd project a slow and painful progression, but you never know.

Essengue - highest offensive upside of the three, worst post-D and strength of the three.

junot111 wrote:
Badonkadonk wrote:One negative is that the German league isn't at the same level as several other top European leagues where prospects have been gauged vs. mature competition, like in Spain, France or the Adriatic (incl. Serbia).

I still think Noa is intriguing but that's definitely a wild card, especially if you watch him on video and you see the guys he's playing against.

I haven't seen any flashes of a star player from his highlights. He has a physical advantage and he knows how to use it. That is a skill, but will it translate to the nba? Outside of that he hasn't shown any on ball creation, no coast to coast plays, no passing ability, no ball handling, no difficult shot making. From what I can see he plays physical and knows how to move off the ball. He can be a fine player but I'm not seeing the hype based off the German league games that people keep bringing up


He has shown every single point you mentioned. It's just not frequent and very unpolished. If you like Essengue, you need to believe that he 1) has something to build on and 2) has the ability to improve on it (e.g. go from OG-level handles to Durant-level handles).

If you watch his games from 10 months ago, he had a few more on-ball plays in half-court settings where he got to the rim, but they ended up as misses or him getting fouled. You see a lot more "3 point line to rim" plays from Essengue than Carter Bryant.

E.g.


Half court settings:
0:09 - behind the back to a drive at the rim
0:36 - goes the other way off the screen, cross over to the rim
0:59 - simple baseline drive from the mid-range
1:19 - another 1 v 1 drive
1:36 - another 1 v 1 drive
2:08 - another drive past his man
2:13 - another drive attempt

There are a ton of bad misses and air balls in this footage including clunked FT's, but he's gotten better as the season progressed and will likely get even better still. The take away is that he's slashing past his man on every drive without dribbling off his foot. Seven half court driving attempts and he got past his man in all seven. This is someone with "no handles". What's it gonna look like with more training and development?

Now find me a half court slashing reel for Carter Bryant.

Thanks for sharing. This was hard to watch, he looked like Precious Achiuwa with a green light to shoot. I guess his coaches reeled him in to play within his role as the season went on so maybe that's a credit to his coachability. For the record, I don't think Carter Bryant's ceiling is any higher. But these lowlights haven't quite sold me and he has a LONG way to go to reach his potential. It's giving 2 years away from 2 years away vibes

Re: Draft Poll: Bryant, CMB or Essengua

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 12:42 pm
by Jerry Lucas
Easily CMB but I still like all 3 of these prospects.