2021 Draft thread. Woo! 15th pick here we come! Hoo. Ray.

[NatP4]

And I get why the NBA world is obsessed with him. He’s extremely coordinated and has a great handle and shot creating ability for a 6’7 guy. I’m sure he will be the guy that you can throw the ball to and say “get a bucket”

No one cares about defense, efficiency, or making your teamates better. If you can put up 20 points per game on 55% TS, you’re a “star”

[NatP4]

Wow. I don’t think Franz Wagner could've played a worse final game in a Michigan uniform. Missed the game winning 3 twice and wasn’t even close.

Horrible performance by Michigan all around.

[prime1time]

All I'll say about Cunningham is keep the same energy when he comes into the league.

[DCZards]

And I get why the NBA world is obsessed with him. He’s extremely coordinated and has a great handle and shot creating ability for a 6’7 guy. I’m sure he will be the guy that you can throw the ball to and say “get a bucket”

No one cares about defense, efficiency, or making your teamates better. If you can put up 20 points per game on 55% TS, you’re a “star”

The 3-4 times I’ve seen Cunningham play he’s been solid on D.

At 6-7 with a great handle and shot creating ability he’s a great prospect. I have him at #1 and Suggs at a close #2.

[queridiculo]

The Wizards are going to need some serious luck to come out of this draft ahead.

Outside of the top 4 things become really iffy, although I do like the depth of this class aside from that.

Looks like a terrible year for the Wizards not to have a 2nd rounder, might be a lot of value 31-38.

[Dark Faze]

Wow. I don’t think Franz Wagner could've played a worse final game in a Michigan uniform. Missed the game winning 3 twice and wasn’t even close.

Horrible performance by Michigan all around.

Yea it was unfortunate. Given his statline and the closeness of the game, he's probably really down right now. Nights like that will happen.

[Ruzious]

I guess Isaiah Jackson is no longer a player we should consider - now that we have Gafford - too similar?

Good point. Almost the exact same prospect.

I have shifted towards researching guards because of Gafford. What you think of Josh Giddey?

I like Giddey. He's unusually skilled - a natural out there. I'd really need to see him playing against higher level athletes to have an idea of how he'd do in the NBA. He'd be a bad fit for the Wiz, because I think he's best with the ball in his hands.

[NatP4]

The Wizards are going to need some serious luck to come out of this draft ahead.

Outside of the top 4 things become really iffy, although I do like the depth of this class aside from that.

Looks like a terrible year for the Wizards not to have a 2nd rounder, might be a lot of value 31-38.

Totally agree. Top 4 is great, 15-40 is great, 5-14ish is extremely weak. We know the wizards will not trade up or down. They will slot in at 8 or 9 and take Sengun from Turkey, for the international marketing component of course.

[Ruzious]

5 years from now, Franz Wagner will be one of the better 2 way wings in the NBA and Jonathan Kuminga will be on his 3rd NBA team collecting DNPs.

And we have a couple more college basketball games to go, but outside of that, this is what we have to work with in terms of pre-draft evaluation. The 5-12 range on all of the mocks are extremely weak. These guys are being completely undervalued IMO:

1. Wagner
2. Giddey
3. Duarte
4. Butler
5. Queta
6. Ayayi
7. Springer
8. Jackson
9. Petrusev
10. Mitchell

Your guy Duarte seems to be going up in the mocks - finally. If the Wiz trade Beal, he should be a target for the Wiz. Seems to do everything well, and has good size at the 2. I'm not a big Petrusev fan - because of his lack of defense.

[Dat2U]

I guess Isaiah Jackson is no longer a player we should consider - now that we have Gafford - too similar?

Good point. Almost the exact same prospect.

I have shifted towards researching guards because of Gafford. What you think of Josh Giddey?

I like Giddey. He's unusually skilled - a natural out there. I'd really need to see him playing against higher level athletes to have an idea of how he'd do in the NBA. He'd be a bad fit for the Wiz, because I think he's best with the ball in his hands.

I watched some Giddey video yesterday. I was really impressed. Your right, he's got innate feel for things --- angles, changing speeds. He looked pretty quick to me with the ball but I need to watch some more. I get legit lottery pick vibes from him though if that jumper is legit.

[Dat2U]

And I get why the NBA world is obsessed with him. He’s extremely coordinated and has a great handle and shot creating ability for a 6’7 guy. I’m sure he will be the guy that you can throw the ball to and say “get a bucket”

No one cares about defense, efficiency, or making your teamates better. If you can put up 20 points per game on 55% TS, you’re a “star”

The 3-4 times I’ve seen Cunningham play he’s been solid on D.

At 6-7 with a great handle and shot creating ability he’s a great prospect. I have him at #1 and Suggs at a close #2.

Joe Johnson is another comparison that's been thrown around and makes alot of sense. Might be a bit more aggressive in looking to score than Joe was.

[NatP4]

Good point. Almost the exact same prospect.

I have shifted towards researching guards because of Gafford. What you think of Josh Giddey?

I like Giddey. He's unusually skilled - a natural out there. I'd really need to see him playing against higher level athletes to have an idea of how he'd do in the NBA. He'd be a bad fit for the Wiz, because I think he's best with the ball in his hands.

I watched some Giddey video yesterday. I was really impressed. Your right, he's got innate feel for things --- angles, changing speeds. He looked pretty quick to me with the ball but I need to watch some more. I get legit lottery pick vibes from him though if that jumper is legit.

And one look at the game logs shows that the jumper is really coming around, and not just in a “makes a 3 here and there” kinda way.

2/15: 3-4
2/23: 3-5
2/25: 2-6
3/4: 2-5
3/11: 2-5
3/14: 4-8

After only making two 3s in his first 7 games.

In an interview recently, he said that he’s just gotten more comfortable now after the rough start. Also interesting that he’s apparently ambidextrous and equally comfortable driving and finishing either direction.

The numbers are almost identical to what Lamelo Ball did last year in the same league at the same age.

[Shoe]

Mobley looks like Jermaine O Neal. Smooth post game and shot blocker. I don't think he's the next Duncan or Garnett but a 6x all-star, 3x all-nba like O Neal who had injuries and other issues would be a great outcome.

Cade is not too exciting in the way Wall and Simmons aren't too exciting. All fantastic players, all elevate a franchise to playoff contender, but probably can't be the best on a championship team. Also because they are point guards they kind of limit how you can build your roster. I'd probably pick him #1 though.

Suggs plays like Neto. High motor, defensive playmaker, pass first but can be aggressive to the rim, hit open 3s. I'm not sure I see the superstar Lillard or Rose potential, but maybe the Gonzaga system is restricting some of his game. He would be the perfect third guard to rotate with Westbrook and Beal.

If you're drafting based on NBA potential, Kuminga and Green should probably go 1 and 2 just because they're wings and the others are PG and C. I think those two are in the Brandon Ingram/Jaylen Brown category, where their first three seasons are underwhelming then year 4/5 you have an all star. I don't think anyone would be psyched about getting that type of player since we want superstars, or we want instant contribution, but they'd retain the most value as assets.

Moody kind of looks like Rudy Gay - size, jumper, but no handle. Everyone else I don't even know. Barnes seems like a good player but also looks like he could be neutralized pretty easily. Wagner is okay but no all star upside. I will still beat the drum that Prkacin is the most Tommy Sheppard prospect. He even looks like Vesely dunking the ball in the ABA

Read on Twitter

[Ruzious]

Moody's not as big as Gay - he's more of a 2/3, while Gay is a combo forward. I'm still a Moody fan even though he killed his shooting stats in the Tournament and failed to step up. I think he needs to add some strength for the NBA - which is very doable. Still, if I had to choose between him and the underrated Duarte, I'd take Duarte - though Moody will be picked earlier.

Interesting comp by Shoe of Mobley to Jermaine. I can see that.

[NatP4]

Man, Moody did not help his team at all in the tournament. There’s just no shot creating ability there, he has to be setup. I see a decent floor-low ceiling guy. Maybe an average defender, good low usage shooter.

Duarte is a baller. That guy is going to be a terrific nba ready pickup for a team. It’s too bad he’s not 22 instead of 24 on draft night.

[nate33]

Cade is not too exciting in the way Wall and Simmons aren't too exciting. All fantastic players, all elevate a franchise to playoff contender, but probably can't be the best on a championship team. Also because they are point guards they kind of limit how you can build your roster. I'd probably pick him #1 though.

I think people aren't factoring that the NCAA game is very different from the NBA game. Even a guy like Luka couldn't be Luka in the NCAA's because of the zone defenses and the number of teammates who can't reliably hit shots.

I think Cade is likely to be less turnover prone and more effective finishing in the NBA than he is in college because of the superior spacing and the limitations on packing the lane. That doesn't mean Cade will be the next Luka like some seem to think he is, but I can see him at least being the next Gordon Hayward - a SF with some legit playmaking ability, even if he isn't a true PG.

[NatP4]

Cade is not too exciting in the way Wall and Simmons aren't too exciting. All fantastic players, all elevate a franchise to playoff contender, but probably can't be the best on a championship team. Also because they are point guards they kind of limit how you can build your roster. I'd probably pick him #1 though.

I think people aren't factoring that the NCAA game is very different from the NBA game. Even a guy like Luka couldn't be Luka in the NCAA's because of the zone defenses and the number of teammates who can't reliably hit shots.

I think Cade is likely to be less turnover prone and more effective finishing in the NBA than he is in college because of the superior spacing and the limitations on packing the lane. That doesn't mean Cade will be the next Luka like some seem to think he is, but I can see him at least being the next Gordon Hayward - a SF with some legit playmaking ability, even if he isn't a true PG.

Sorry Nate, Luka would’ve ripped the NCAA to shreds and totally dominated every single game. He was the best player in the ACB at 17.

Cunningham’s mediocre finishing has a lot to do with his lack of explosive athleticism.

[nate33]

Sorry Nate, Luka would’ve ripped the NCAA to shreds and totally dominated every single game. He was the best player in the ACB at 17.

While surrounded by professional players who could space the floor way better than NCAA players can.

Nobody dominates in the NCAA's, except perhaps elite perimeter shot creators. It's a league that isn't well-suited for people who can attack the rim, either by driving or posting up. It's to easy to help.

In the past 10 years, there have only been 5 freshman drafted who have averaged 20 or more points per game while shooting 6 or fewer 3's:

Zion
Aayton
Bagley
Fultz
Cunningham

Incidentally, they were all #1 overall picks except Bagley who went #2 after Aayton.

[NatP4]

Sorry Nate, Luka would’ve ripped the NCAA to shreds and totally dominated every single game. He was the best player in the ACB at 17.

While surrounded by professional players who could space the floor way better than NCAA players can.

Nobody dominates in the NCAA's, except perhaps elite perimeter shot creators. It's a league that isn't well-suited for people who can attack the rim, either by driving or posting up. It's to easy to help.

In the past 10 years, there have only been 5 freshman drafted who have averaged 20 or more points per game while shooting 6 or fewer 3's:

Zion
Aayton
Bagley
Fultz
Cunningham

Incidentally, they were all #1 overall picks except Bagley who went #2 after Aayton.

Well dominating isn’t just scoring 20 points per game. Take the most common player comparison for Cunningham, Ben Simmons. Played on an awful LSU team that won nothing and had absolutely no floor spacing. One single player shot over 34% from 3 on that team. Simmons still shot 56% from 2PT compared to 46% for Cunningham. Simmons also produced twice as many rebounds, 1.5 more assists with less turnovers, more steals and blocks, higher BPM, O/D rating, Win shares, and everything else.

And Cunningham scored less than one single point more than Simmons. I don’t understand why all of your historical analysis centers around points per game.

[dckingsfan]

Does the 2nd round pick thread start soon? Or since we don't have a pick in the second round do we skip it?