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

[NatP4]

I remember that comment and thinking “ehh...I’m not so sure about that”, but it’s a lot closer than I thought at the time. Suggs is a full 1.25 years older than Springer.

As I’ve watched Tennessee play more, they have a terrible offense. Keon Johnson is a huge disappointment. Springer has to generate a lot of offense by himself.

Lowry is a great comparison. Neither of them have elite length or explosive athleticism, but they both have that bulldog strength and IQ+competitiveness. For an 18 year old, Springer is a great leader and might have even more upside as a scorer. He’s averaging 20 points per40 on >60% TS at 18!

I think all 3 of Butler, Wagner, and Springer will be undervalued for different reasons. Butler probably slips to 15-20 range because of his age, Wagner slips because people like iso scoring and fancy dribbling. Springer will drop because people question is he a true PG/undersized wing???? Springer certainly will go before the other two though.

[NatP4]

Baylor game canceled again tonight

But bigtime matchup between Michigan and Iowa, good chance to watch Wagner against a really good Iowa team with NBA talent.

[Ruzious]

I remember that comment and thinking “ehh...I’m not so sure about that”, but it’s a lot closer than I thought at the time. Suggs is a full 1.25 years older than Springer.

As I’ve watched Tennessee play more, they have a terrible offense. Keon Johnson is a huge disappointment. Springer has to generate a lot of offense by himself.

Lowry is a great comparison. Neither of them have elite length or explosive athleticism, but they both have that bulldog strength and IQ+competitiveness. For an 18 year old, Springer is a great leader and might have even more upside as a scorer. He’s averaging 20 points per40 on >60% TS at 18!

I think all 3 of Butler, Wagner, and Springer will be undervalued for different reasons. Butler probably slips to 15-20 range because of his age, Wagner slips because people like iso scoring and fancy dribbling. Springer will drop because people question is he a true PG/undersized wing???? Springer certainly will go before the other two though.

I think Springer's a little bigger than Suggs - he's got solid size for a 2. And if anything, I think you're underrating his athleticism. Butler will still be 20 at draft time, so his age his fine. Remember, Lowry was a tough little PG coming out of college - with no jump shot. He was unusual - a great defender and rebounder for a PG who gradually got better and better on offense.

[NatP4]

I’ll double down. There is no way Kuminga is a better prospect than Wagner. Watching this fantastic Michigan-Iowa game, I’m not sure that he made a single mistake or missed a shot in the first half. Was dominant on the defensive end guarding 1-5 effectively. He’s a little bit Otto Porter-like in his hiding from the ball on offense, needs to be more assertive.

[NatP4]

Oh my. Wagner is putting on a show. He’s made 7 consecutive shots now.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Evan Mobley is the best player in this draft!

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Oh my. Wagner is putting on a show. He’s made 7 consecutive shots now.

We might have a shot at drafting him. Might be better than Danny Avia. I’m gonna leave that spelling in there because it’s obviously auto correct.

[NatP4]

Oh my. Wagner is putting on a show. He’s made 7 consecutive shots now.

We might have a shot at drafting him. Might be better than Danny Avia. I’m gonna leave that spelling in there because it’s obviously auto correct.

Not sure now. After a performance like that, he’s going to continue to ascend. I think he’s comfortably in the top 10 now. That was impressive.

[nate33]

Suggs 2 assists shy of a triple double. 13 points, 11 boards, 8 assists, 2 steals.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Suggs 2 assists shy of a triple double. 13 points, 11 boards, 8 assists, 2 steals.

He could conceivably be better than Jason Kidd one day.

Evan Mobley might be a Tim Duncan Kevin Garnett Rasheed Wallace all wrapped into one player.

Cade Cunningham I don’t know but I’ve been told…

Moritz Wagner’s Little brother, Franz, would be starting on the Wizards right now. I have a feeling that kid is going to grow some more.

This draft is super loaded.

[prime1time]

Oh my. Wagner is putting on a show. He’s made 7 consecutive shots now.

I've become a believer. Not sure what he'll end up being, but he does strike me as a player that consistently stays within himself. I get Otto Porter vibes from him in a good way. Not putting him in the top 5, but I can see anywhere from 6 to 14.

[NatP4]

Oh my. Wagner is putting on a show. He’s made 7 consecutive shots now.

I've become a believer. Not sure what he'll end up being, but he does strike me as a player that consistently stays within himself. I get Otto Porter vibes from him in a good way. Not putting him in the top 5, but I can see anywhere from 6 to 14.

I’ll tell you what I’ve budged on:

1. Cunningham has elevated his prospect level to me after shooting the absolute lights out from 3 over the last 2 months

2. Jalen Green is a good prospect

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

i

Oh my. Wagner is putting on a show. He’s made 7 consecutive shots now.

I've become a believer. Not sure what he'll end up being, but he does strike me as a player that consistently stays within himself. I get Otto Porter vibes from him in a good way. Not putting him in the top 5, but I can see anywhere from 6 to 14.

Good Otto Porter, or non-available , “where’s my cane” OP?

[NatP4]

Otto Porter with a more powerful/strong build, capable of being a full time PF in today’s NBA, and slightly more assertive driving to the basket 1 on 1.

[pcbothwel]

Oh my. Wagner is putting on a show. He’s made 7 consecutive shots now.

I've become a believer. Not sure what he'll end up being, but he does strike me as a player that consistently stays within himself. I get Otto Porter vibes from him in a good way. Not putting him in the top 5, but I can see anywhere from 6 to 14.

I’ll tell you what I’ve budged on:

1. Cunningham has elevated his prospect level to me after shooting the absolute lights out from 3 over the last 2 months

2. Jalen Green is a good prospect

Damn it Nat. You're stealing my capitulation...lol

But same. I was underwhelmed by Cade's playmaking, but his shooting has really surprised me. And I didnt like Green's frame or archetype, but he's physical and showing more consistency on defense. His slightly wonky shooting form works for him as well.

The other lotto caliber players that im lower on than others are Barnes, Johnson, Moody, and Ziaire. Im not sure which, if any, ill change my assessment about.
I want to like Barnes and Moody, but Barnes is a REALLY bad shooter that, despite his 6'9, 230 lb with 7'2 wingspan frame, rebounds & blocks shots like shooting guard. He's a really strange archetype to project and wish he had another year to show more.

Moody is going to play in the league for decade, but I dont see a starter. He has poor ball handling and footwork/agility. I see a spot up shooter, but he doesnt have the feet to get open and he has zero creativity creating space. He is getting by right now by drawing a ton of fouls. But Im not sure how much that transfers. He out works guys and flails his limbs a lot, but I dont think that works in the league

[nate33]

1. Cunningham has elevated his prospect level to me after shooting the absolute lights out from 3 over the last 2 months

I think Cunningham is more like the next Jason Tatum than he is the next Luka Doncic. And there's nothing wrong with that.

[NatP4]

1. Cunningham has elevated his prospect level to me after shooting the absolute lights out from 3 over the last 2 months

I think Cunningham is more like the next Jason Tatum than he is the next Luka Doncic. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Agreed, but one of those players is a superstar all NBA franchise player, the other one is an all star level player.

[Ruzious]

1. Cunningham has elevated his prospect level to me after shooting the absolute lights out from 3 over the last 2 months

I think Cunningham is more like the next Jason Tatum than he is the next Luka Doncic. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Agreed, but one of those players is a superstar all NBA franchise player, the other one is an all star level player.

Yeah, he just turns it over too much to stay at PG, imo, but he is a very good shooter.

A 2nd round type who might be a 1st round talent is Darius Days. He gets over-shadowed by better-known teammates at LSU, but he's a heckuva shooter for a burly 6'7 player. Seems like his offensive role is limited to shooting jumpers, but he's good at it, and he rebounds really well. Only plays 27 minutes a game - oooh, I see he gets in foul trouble too much. Gets a good amount of steals but not blocks. Low usage rate - he might be too unselfish and too foul prone to get drafted.

[NatP4]

The grizzlies have such an awesome roster. Seems like they have great talent evaluating ability, not a single bad player on the roster. They value defense&efficiency and young talent. Xavier Tillman is having an awesome year. Clarke is far and away the 2nd best player in the 2019 class. Bane is terrific. Of course, now they have Jontay Porter also. Wish we were building something like that. They don’t have a single young player on that roster that wasn’t a >60% TS guy in college.

[payitforward]

The grizzlies have such an awesome roster. Seems like they have great talent evaluating ability, not a single bad player on the roster. They value defense&efficiency and young talent. Xavier Tillman is having an awesome year. Clarke is far and away the 2nd best player in the 2019 class. Bane is terrific. Of course, now they have Jontay Porter also. Wish we were building something like that. They don’t have a single young player on that roster that wasn’t a >60% TS guy in college.

On the money, Nat! They are doing a great job over there!