2021 NBA Draft Thread

[ThunderBolt]

I love Suggs. I’m surprised people are down on him. I see him being a player that might not put up big scoring numbers night after night but I think he can be a better version of Jrue Holiday. I would be thrilled to get him.

Yup, don’t know about the fit with okc, but I have Suggs, then Mobley ending up the best players in this draft, in that order.

I think he can fit with shai. Some people cite CJ and Dame as examples but those two fit well offensively. The issue is neither of them play defense, but Suggs is very good at on ball defense.

[Dadouv47]

I wouldn't be that surprised if Suggs ends up at 6. My main issue is that I didn't want him at the first place

I love Suggs. I’m surprised people are down on him. I see him being a player that might not put up big scoring numbers night after night but I think he can be a better version of Jrue Holiday. I would be thrilled to get him.

I'm sure he's still pretty high amongst many experts/GMs. No clue why I'm low on him but it's the first season I'm really looking future NBA players so I must suck at it

[Old Man Game]

It'd be funny if the Barnes and Kuminga decision ended up like the Oden Durant decision on a lower tier. Like where Presti doesn't have to decide because someone in front of him makes their decision and then he just gets to default to the next guy and the next guy ends up the better of the two.

All of which is isn't to say someone like Davion Mitchell or Sengun or Moody or whomever might not end up better than either one of them, but those two guys appear to be strong consensus 5 and 6 picks at the moment.

[Dadouv47]

It'd be funny if the Barnes and Kuminga decision ended up like the Oden Durant decision on a lower tier. Like where Presti doesn't have to decide because someone in front of him makes their decision and then he just gets to default to the next guy and the next guy ends up the better of the two.

All of which is isn't to say someone like Davion Mitchell or Sengun or Moody or whomever might not end up better than either one of them, but those two guys appear to be strong consensus 5 and 6 picks at the moment.

yeah it happens every year to a lower degree. No doubt that some teams have better scouts but you need some luck as well (hope we get more lucky than in the lottery )

[thedoppelganger]

A reminder that final stage of Olympic Qualifiers begin today, with some draft prospects participating. The games are on ESPN+ for those in the US. Notable prospects playing either in the qualifiers or in friendlies if their country is already qualified:

Turkey - Sengun
Croatia - Roko Prkacin (can't find confirmation if he's on the roster for this, but has played for them previously)
Serbia - Filip Petrusev
Lithuania - Rokas Jokubaitis
Spain - Garuba
Australia - Giddey

Turkey is in the same qualifying bracket as Canada (Dort!), while Croatia, Serbia (Micic!), and Lithuania are all in separate brackets from each other. Spain and Australia are already qualified, so they'll be playing exhibition games over the next few weeks, with Australia playing one against the US.

Despite all the international flavor we currently have, the only Thunder players confirmed to participate appear to be Dort, Micic, and Deck. Deck had a positive COVID test returned recently, but hopefully he'll be eventually good to go for Argentina who already qualified.

[bondom34]

Count me in on Suggs too. Have had him at 2 on my board for a while and is exactly the guy I'd want next to SGA. Don't see it happening but would be thrilled with that as an outcome. Can defend and take some ball handling/playmaking duties.

Bizarre to me he seems to be falling when nothing's really changed.

[Old Man Game]

Count me in on Suggs too. Have had him at 2 on my board for a while and is exactly the guy I'd want next to SGA. Don't see it happening but would be thrilled with that as an outcome. Can defend and take some ball handling/playmaking duties.

Bizarre to me he seems to be falling when nothing's really changed.

For every rise there has to be a fall I guess. Simple as that. Barnes looking better. Team needs now taken into account etc. Still think he won't slip past Toronto at 4 though.

[Dadouv47]

yeah I don't see a scenario where Suggs falls at 6 tbh. Very good prospect and if somehow he falls at 5, no reason for Orlando to pass on him (Fultz is not THAT good and injury prone).

[ThunderBolt]

One reason I like Suggs is his fit with a small market organization. I know this stuff isn’t a big deal to some and I worry about it more than I should, and Russ was the kid from LA who stayed in okc… but there are some players that will always be chasing bigger markets. IIRC, Suggs is the one that was interested in Gonzaga, not the other way around. He willingly chose to leave Minnesota and go to Spokane and play for a mid-major team, albeit a very good one. It just seems like if we do our part to build a good team, he might be happy playing in okc. I feel the same way about Cade. For the record I’m not saying don’t draft guys from California like Mobley or Green. The stuff with Suggs is a small thing but I don’t think that kind of stuff is always meaningless.

[Dadouv47]

One reason I like Suggs is his fit with a small market organization. I know this stuff isn’t a big deal to some and I worry about it more than I should, and Russ was the kid from LA who stayed in okc… but there are some players that will always be chasing bigger markets. IIRC, Suggs is the one that was interested in Gonzaga, not the other way around. He willingly chose to leave Minnesota and go to Spokane and play for a mid-major team, albeit a very good one. It just seems like if we do our part to build a good team, he might be happy playing in okc. I feel the same way about Cade. For the record I’m not saying don’t draft guys from California like Mobley or Green. The stuff with Suggs is a small thing but I don’t think that kind of stuff is always meaningless.

This is a big deal actually (the reason why I would always draft a guy from East Europe over an American if they have the same level)

[ThunderBolt]

One reason I like Suggs is his fit with a small market organization. I know this stuff isn’t a big deal to some and I worry about it more than I should, and Russ was the kid from LA who stayed in okc… but there are some players that will always be chasing bigger markets. IIRC, Suggs is the one that was interested in Gonzaga, not the other way around. He willingly chose to leave Minnesota and go to Spokane and play for a mid-major team, albeit a very good one. It just seems like if we do our part to build a good team, he might be happy playing in okc. I feel the same way about Cade. For the record I’m not saying don’t draft guys from California like Mobley or Green. The stuff with Suggs is a small thing but I don’t think that kind of stuff is always meaningless.

This is a big deal actually (the reason why I would always draft a guy from East Europe over an American if they have the same level)

Part of my opinion is based on watching from a distance. If I’m Presti and I speak to these guys in person, that fear might be alleviated depending on what they say.

[Dadouv47]

One reason I like Suggs is his fit with a small market organization. I know this stuff isn’t a big deal to some and I worry about it more than I should, and Russ was the kid from LA who stayed in okc… but there are some players that will always be chasing bigger markets. IIRC, Suggs is the one that was interested in Gonzaga, not the other way around. He willingly chose to leave Minnesota and go to Spokane and play for a mid-major team, albeit a very good one. It just seems like if we do our part to build a good team, he might be happy playing in okc. I feel the same way about Cade. For the record I’m not saying don’t draft guys from California like Mobley or Green. The stuff with Suggs is a small thing but I don’t think that kind of stuff is always meaningless.

This is a big deal actually (the reason why I would always draft a guy from East Europe over an American if they have the same level)

Part of my opinion is based on watching from a distance. If I’m Presti and I speak to these guys in person, that fear might be alleviated depending on what they say.

Yeah it's tough to know, even more than those decisions are not only based on the player personality but also family, agents etc.

A guy like Jalen Green is after media/fashion for a while now but it's a business so you don't really know if he just wants to get rich/famous and play anywhere or if he wants to be in LA/NY. We can have a bad perception from outside so yeah that's Presti job to know players/agents

[ThunderBolt]

Count me in on Suggs too. Have had him at 2 on my board for a while and is exactly the guy I'd want next to SGA. Don't see it happening but would be thrilled with that as an outcome. Can defend and take some ball handling/playmaking duties.

Bizarre to me he seems to be falling when nothing's really changed.

For every rise there has to be a fall I guess. Simple as that. Barnes looking better. Team needs now taken into account etc. Still think he won't slip past Toronto at 4 though.

I’m getting myself mentally prepared that Presti manages to trade up and still ends up drafting Barnes.

[Dadouv47]

Count me in on Suggs too. Have had him at 2 on my board for a while and is exactly the guy I'd want next to SGA. Don't see it happening but would be thrilled with that as an outcome. Can defend and take some ball handling/playmaking duties.

Bizarre to me he seems to be falling when nothing's really changed.

For every rise there has to be a fall I guess. Simple as that. Barnes looking better. Team needs now taken into account etc. Still think he won't slip past Toronto at 4 though.

I’m getting myself mentally prepared that Presti manages to trade up and still ends up drafting Barnes.

and I'm the pessimist here!?

[ThunderBolt]

For every rise there has to be a fall I guess. Simple as that. Barnes looking better. Team needs now taken into account etc. Still think he won't slip past Toronto at 4 though.

I’m getting myself mentally prepared that Presti manages to trade up and still ends up drafting Barnes.

and I'm the pessimist here!?

Lol. I’m actually ok with Barnes.

[Devilanche]

It'd be funny if the Barnes and Kuminga decision ended up like the Oden Durant decision on a lower tier. Like where Presti doesn't have to decide because someone in front of him makes their decision and then he just gets to default to the next guy and the next guy ends up the better of the two.

All of which is isn't to say someone like Davion Mitchell or Sengun or Moody or whomever might not end up better than either one of them, but those two guys appear to be strong consensus 5 and 6 picks at the moment.

What if both of them are gone by 6th and we are left with Suggs ?

There’s still enough time for someone else to jump into the top 6 and there’s always time for a time to be super high on someone they bring in for workout who is nowhere near the consensus top 8 .

[Devilanche]

Count me in on Suggs too. Have had him at 2 on my board for a while and is exactly the guy I'd want next to SGA. Don't see it happening but would be thrilled with that as an outcome. Can defend and take some ball handling/playmaking duties.

Bizarre to me he seems to be falling when nothing's really changed.

He’s falling only because mocks have him at PG but they don’t believe 2 of Cleveland/Toronto/Orlando wants a PG ?

[bondom34]

Count me in on Suggs too. Have had him at 2 on my board for a while and is exactly the guy I'd want next to SGA. Don't see it happening but would be thrilled with that as an outcome. Can defend and take some ball handling/playmaking duties.

Bizarre to me he seems to be falling when nothing's really changed.

He’s falling only because mocks have him at PG but they don’t believe 2 of Cleveland/Toronto/Orlando wants a PG ?

He'd be a perfect player for Toronto or Orlando too so really not sure.

Maybe it is mocks, but was thinking even on big boards he's dropping, and not sure why. He's not a volume scorer type I guess, and has been out of sight maybe. He's still 2 for Vecenie and I'm sure some others (myself included) but not sure.

Also I'm at a point where I think I feel a little better about Barnes than Kuminga. Not against either, but really just pretty open right now. Moody, Bouknight, I've been high on Wagner for a while too. I'm mostly just out on Sengun but other than that think I'd be happy with most anything.

[Devilanche]

Count me in on Suggs too. Have had him at 2 on my board for a while and is exactly the guy I'd want next to SGA. Don't see it happening but would be thrilled with that as an outcome. Can defend and take some ball handling/playmaking duties.

Bizarre to me he seems to be falling when nothing's really changed.

He’s falling only because mocks have him at PG but they don’t believe 2 of Cleveland/Toronto/Orlando wants a PG ?

He'd be a perfect player for Toronto or Orlando too so really not sure.

Maybe it is mocks, but was thinking even on big boards he's dropping, and not sure why. He's not a volume scorer type I guess, and has been out of sight maybe. He's still 2 for Vecenie and I'm sure some others (myself included) but not sure.

Also I'm at a point where I think I feel a little better about Barnes than Kuminga. Not against either, but really just pretty open right now. Moody, Bouknight, I've been high on Wagner for a while too. I'm mostly just out on Sengun but other than that think I'd be happy with most anything.

I think supposed team needs are brought into the mocks now . And Barnes is the only one of the now top 6 to had something to show publicly since the end of the season for them which is why he’s the only one moving up.

Each team will order of the top picks would be different of course.

I think Toronto/Orlando would probably pick a highest upside pick and Suggs probably have a higher floor and lower ceiling compared to the others but he’s more likely to be closer to a good starter / potentially reach the ceiling type of pick than the rest excluding Cade / Green.

[Old Man Game]

What do you all make of Kai Jones? I watched this kid in the Big 12 tournament and came away pretty impressed. Could totally see him at 16 or 18. High energy dunker spot/screen and roll guy. Sort of a Montrezl Harrell potential if he develops his skills.