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Whole Truth wrote:

jman3134 wrote:

Whole Truth wrote:
Edwards is another 5 star prospect who reclassified to Georgia & is projected to go #1.

Memphis pick is top 6 protected. (Wiseman, Edwards, Hampton, Stewart, Meldon, Anthony). Is a good group of talent. If you're Memphis, you hope you don't miss out. Good spot to be for keeping or conveying.

If Memphis do draft JA, they need to trade Conley & let the young players determine whether or not the pick is conveyed. Worse case Ja & or 3J disappoints, they net another top 6 talent where there is some 5 star recruits available & convey 2021 or the young players prove themselves & convey to keep the 2021 pick. Personally I think I'd rather pick top 6 next year than have to endure 4 losing seasons. Potentially end up with a core group of Ja, Edwards & 3J.

To be fair, I am aware of Edwards, though he is one of the few I haven't seen in high school action. I knew he was in the 2019 class, but didn't know he reclassified.

So I'll break down exactly what I mean: at the top we have Edwards, Wiseman, Hampton, Stewart, Manion, Anthony. Manion, Anthony, and Hampton will all function as point guards, so we probably aren't in the market for them alongside Ja. Can't speak too much on Edwards, as I haven't seen him, but let's assume he goes #1. The next best wing prospect most likely is Scotty Lewis, who I love, but who needs at least two years of school to refine his jumper.

The other top guys are energy bigs with a high motor and NBA athleticism in Precious and Stewart. Wiseman is great and can stretch the floor, but isn't he very reminiscent of JJJ? Point being, barring some significant legacy college improvements, I think this is a big time down year, particularly for wing scorers. I like Antoine, but don't think he's a one and done.

Maybe not Meldon & Anthony but Hampton is 6'5" with a 6'7" wing span & is a very good 3pt shooter. Memphis could run him off ball as a secondary ball handler to Ja. I would have Ja as the primary ball handler becuase he has better court vision, passing ability & is less engaged off ball but It would be a boon for Memphis to be able to run 2 PG's who can handle the ball at the same time without giving up a size advantage. Raptors used to close games with 2 undersized PG's Fred, Lowry to move DeRozan to SF to have another shot creator/shooter on court. Memphis could potentially convert Hampton to a full time SG with PG creating skills. Hampton is more of a scoring guard than facilitator anyway & he can light it up.

With Edwards & Lewis in the mix, Memphis IMO would have 3 potential targets top 6.

100% with you on Hampton, and I would fully support drafting him. That said, he might go top 1-3. If we fall outside this range (we very well could with Ja's immediate impact), I am negative on the rest of the guys. I am not sure Scotty will enter. With that said, we need a wing who is more of a three point shooter to complement what we have atm. If he takes two years and hones his outside stroke, I am all aboard the Scotty train. I love his game and he is a Jersey kid, so I have a natural bias.

The reason why I want us to concede this pick is the strength of the 2021 class, which is supposed to be special.

jman3134 wrote:100% with you on Hampton, and I would fully support drafting him. That said, he might go top 1-3. If we fall outside this range (we very well could with Ja's immediate impact), I am negative on the rest of the guys. I am not sure Scotty will enter. With that said, we need a wing who is more of a three point shooter to complement what we have atm. If he takes two years and hones his outside stroke, I am all aboard the Scotty train. I love his game and he is a Jersey kid, so I have a natural bias.

The reason why I want us to concede this pick is the strength of the 2021 class, which is supposed to be special.

Lets say hypothetically out of the 6 picks Memphis miss out on Edwards, Hampton & Scotty as preferred options… opportunity still exists to use that top 6 pick as trade leverage. Some team might have interest in one of the bigs atop the draft or a PG like Anthony & Meldon (Suns/Magic/Heat) where Memphis could trade for either a future pick or a young wing from said team. Take the Heat for example, they will most likely look to rebuild with Wade retiring, they have need at PG & they have Dallas' 2021 unprotected pick. By trading Conley & throwing Ja into the fire, Memphis will also know whether they could or should trade a Meldon or Anthony or need one. At this point, nothing is a given.

What I'm generally saying is to approach team building, like life. No plan goes accordingly, opportunity & the recognition of it dictates direction.

I was all for keeping Conley but the opportunity presented itself in that Memphis lucked into their potential future PG, where now, they can trade Conley & potentially add an addition pick as well as position the team for a 3rd top 6 pick to add to a core of Jackson, Ja & pick Conley is traded for. Another reason I like behind the idea of Hayes being a high upside blank canvas at 5 besides the obvious potential in his game of the players in that range, is in drafting him & trading Conley, it helps Memphis position for that 3rd top 5 pick in as many years. You may like the 2021 draft better but there's quality in the top 6 of next years draft that might be equal or better to what Memphis could potentially land in 2021 to look past it. If in Jackson's 3rd year, Memphis hasn't taken any leaps in the win department having added 4 young upside players (Jackson, Hayes?, Ja, 2020 top 6), then Memphis would have bigger issues than wanting their 2021 pick back.

Being in Memphis shoes, I'd care less about losing the trade than doing what's best currently. Alot can change in 2yrs, Hapton & Edwards have already reclassified to beef up the potential 2020 pick or convey situation.