2020 Draft - Part II

[WizarDynasty]

So Bleacher Report's recent mock draft had the Wizards trading up to the #5 with the Cavs and i was wondering what you guys would think of the trade.

Washington Wizards receive: No. 5, Cedi Osman
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: No. 9, No. 37 (via Bulls), Troy Brown Jr.

With the #5 pick they had the Wizards drafting Onyeka Okongwu. As a Cavs fan I'm not really sure how I feel about the trade as it just seems like shuffling around assets without any clear goal in mind still, but was curious what Wizards fans would think.

You will find that this forum (except Wizardynasty) is very high on Troy Brown Jr. He is still younger than many draft picks including Toppin, Saddiq Bey and Bane and he is about the same age as guys like Haliburton, Nesmith, Achiuwa and Smith. His statistical production at the NBA is really solid and he has shown significant improvement in his 2nd season. He also has a great attitude.

The Wizards are going to treat him as having the same value as a top 8-12 pick in this draft. So your trade is like trading the #9 and #10 pick for the #5 pick, in a draft with very little differentiation between #5 and #10.

So, no.

I'd trade the #9 plus #37 to move up to 5, but that's about it.

Nate, what you said does make sense and you are probably right. Troy has a great attitude and if that attitude translates into better muscle coordination, he is definitely worth more than 4 spots up in a draft. I am pretty sure we have something other than a recent draft pick to move up a few spots in the draft. One of the laker picks or even robinson i would consider. I like troy brown's standing reach too of 8'9. But again, If Opi Toppin is there, Cleveland has to give up an early 2nd---and they already traded that away. also if they want troy brown. So no to troy brown but we could give them robinson or wagner.

[Frichuela]

Jimmy Butler = Okoro. You gotta be kidding me. Did you see Butler's Handles and shooting off the dribble ability in college. Do you know how many years it will take okoro to develop this based on what I am seeing so far.
https://youtu.be/b4g0pr0hbbc?t=117
Butler crosses with his off hand..power dribble and goes into a perfects formed high elbow jumpshot. Bulter displayed Michael Jordan mechanics and fade aways in college. Okoro has a basic flat elbow that doesn't even rise to his eyesocket.
There is just no comparison. AGain, Butler >>>> better than shooting guard than Okoro in college and its not even close.
They slide Butler to small forward but his real position is shooting guard. You can slide michael jordan to small forward but he can't bang with powerforwards and neither can butler or Okoro even part time on switches and you need a bare minimum standing reach to bother post player shots. A small forward guards both perimeter and post.
Wizards not having a long small forward with elite defensive movement skills in the line up is why we are one of the worst teams defensively each year.
You assume the Okoro is going to develop these muscle memory mechanics. Butler did alot to make up for his poor standing reach and Butler is a much better shooting guard than he is small forward.

We'll have to agree to disagree...

1) We are not debating whether Okoro can be a successful shooting guard but whether he is capable of playing the small forward position successfully, and more importantly, if we can credibly guard big 3s.
2) Per Basketball reference, Jimmy Butler played 0 minutes at the small guard position last season. 53% of his minutes were as a small forward, 46% as a power forward and 1% as a center...Over his career, he has played 50% of his minutes as a small forward and 43% as a shooting guard. When looking at playoff minutes last season, Butler played 88% of his minutes as a power forward...and zero as a small guard (again per Basketball reference).

[nate33]

So Bleacher Report's recent mock draft had the Wizards trading up to the #5 with the Cavs and i was wondering what you guys would think of the trade.

Washington Wizards receive: No. 5, Cedi Osman
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: No. 9, No. 37 (via Bulls), Troy Brown Jr.

With the #5 pick they had the Wizards drafting Onyeka Okongwu. As a Cavs fan I'm not really sure how I feel about the trade as it just seems like shuffling around assets without any clear goal in mind still, but was curious what Wizards fans would think.

You will find that this forum (except Wizardynasty) is very high on Troy Brown Jr. He is still younger than many draft picks including Toppin, Saddiq Bey and Bane and he is about the same age as guys like Haliburton, Nesmith, Achiuwa and Smith. His statistical production at the NBA is really solid and he has shown significant improvement in his 2nd season. He also has a great attitude.

The Wizards are going to treat him as having the same value as a top 8-12 pick in this draft. So your trade is like trading the #9 and #10 pick for the #5 pick, in a draft with very little differentiation between #5 and #10.

So, no.

I'd trade the #9 plus #37 to move up to 5, but that's about it.

Nate, what you said does make sense and you are probably right. Troy has a great attitude and if that attitude translates into better muscle coordination, he is definitely worth more than 4 spots up in a draft. I am pretty sure we have something other than a recent draft pick to move up a few spots in the draft. One of the laker picks or even robinson i would consider. I like troy brown's standing reach too of 8'9. But again, If Opi Toppin is there, Cleveland has to give up a 2nd also if they want troy brown.

I'm kinda surprised you like Toppin so much. He strikes me as the exact type of guy that your hip bend theory would downgrade. He puts up great numbers and is definitely a springy athlete; but he is stiff, with poor lateral movement and a high center of gravity.

Anyhow, a 2nd rounder doesn't shift the balance for me. I don't see a scenario where we give up Troy Brown to move up 4 spots.

[Revenged25]

You will find that this forum (except Wizardynasty) is very high on Troy Brown Jr. He is still younger than many draft picks including Toppin, Saddiq Bey and Bane and he is about the same age as guys like Haliburton, Nesmith, Achiuwa and Smith. His statistical production at the NBA is really solid and he has shown significant improvement in his 2nd season. He also has a great attitude.

The Wizards are going to treat him as having the same value as a top 8-12 pick in this draft. So your trade is like trading the #9 and #10 pick for the #5 pick, in a draft with very little differentiation between #5 and #10.

So, no.

I'd trade the #9 plus #37 to move up to 5, but that's about it.

Nate, what you said does make sense and you are probably right. Troy has a great attitude and if that attitude translates into better muscle coordination, he is definitely worth more than 4 spots up in a draft. I am pretty sure we have something other than a recent draft pick to move up a few spots in the draft. One of the laker picks or even robinson i would consider. I like troy brown's standing reach too of 8'9. But again, If Opi Toppin is there, Cleveland has to give up a 2nd also if they want troy brown.

I'm really kinda suprised you like Toppin so much. He strikes me as the exact type of guy that your hip bend theory would downgrade. He puts up great numbers and is definitely a springy athlete; but he is stiff, with poor lateral movement and a high center of gravity.

Anyhow, a 2nd rounder doesn't shift the balance for me. I don't see a scenario where we give up Troy Brown to move up 4 spots.

That's for the responses to BR's suggested trade and explanation into why you guys would be for or against it such a trade.

[payitforward]

According to this...
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2917478-2020-nba-draft-rumors-celtics-t-wolves-pelicans-want-to-trade-for-no-6-pick

...there'll be a lot of competition to move up to #6 -- which will raise the cost to get there. We are not listed among the contestants, I'm glad to see.

Of course, only one team will get there -- & this may make our #9 pick more valuable in a trade down. If Boston secures #6, the Pels would be my next target. They have 13, 39 & 42, which is what I'd want (plus #60 if I could get it -- why not?).

Since in all but 3 of the last 15 drafts, 1 or more players were available at #13 who were better than the player taken at #9, I wouldn't be too concerned that I'd pay any real cost in the trade.

[WizarDynasty]

Jimmy Butler = Okoro. You gotta be kidding me. Did you see Butler's Handles and shooting off the dribble ability in college. Do you know how many years it will take okoro to develop this based on what I am seeing so far.
https://youtu.be/b4g0pr0hbbc?t=117
Butler crosses with his off hand..power dribble and goes into a perfects formed high elbow jumpshot. Bulter displayed Michael Jordan mechanics and fade aways in college. Okoro has a basic flat elbow that doesn't even rise to his eyesocket.
There is just no comparison. AGain, Butler >>>> better than shooting guard than Okoro in college and its not even close.
They slide Butler to small forward but his real position is shooting guard. You can slide michael jordan to small forward but he can't bang with powerforwards and neither can butler or Okoro even part time on switches and you need a bare minimum standing reach to bother post player shots. A small forward guards both perimeter and post.
Wizards not having a long small forward with elite defensive movement skills in the line up is why we are one of the worst teams defensively each year.
You assume the Okoro is going to develop these muscle memory mechanics. Butler did alot to make up for his poor standing reach and Butler is a much better shooting guard than he is small forward.

We'll have to agree to disagree...

1) We are not debating whether Okoro can be a successful shooting guard but whether he is capable of playing the small forward position successfully, and more importantly, if we can credibly guard big 3s.
2) Per Basketball reference, Jimmy Butler played 0 minutes at the small guard position last season. 53% of his minutes were as a small forward, 46% as a power forward and 1% as a center...Over his career, he has played 50% of his minutes as a small forward and 43% as a shooting guard. When looking at playoff minutes last season, Butler played 88% of his minutes as a power forward...and zero as a small guard (again per Basketball reference).

capable doesn't get you far into playoffs. Playing the small forward on an elite does.
Butler is not a powerforward...I don't care what stats you look at. Butler can play small forward..but he is not an elite rebounder for small forward. he is not an elite shot blocker for a small forward. He does not shoot close to .50 percent which suggest shootin guard. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck. they i assume it's a duck .

Okoro is a hustle player and has a great first step. He has the tools to be a good shooting guard minus the shooting mechanics...which is tremendously bad by the way--and automatically eliminates him from any comparison to butler and kleonard.

He does not have the physical tools to be an elite small forward.
Zion williamson...no matter how explosive he is, will never be an elite center. End of discussion. People are trying to force a square peg into a round hole.
Okoro is not a talented perimeter offensive player. He may get there but he has years of work.
If he were about 6 to 7 inches inches he could pull off playing powerforward, which is his natural position based on his playing style and the fact that he hasn't developed elite handle after playing all of these years. If you play in post, you don't develop off hand dribble skills...which explain Okoro.
Butler is an extremely coordinated offensive player and he was like this in college before he got to nba.

[DCZards]

Dat2U has compared Okoro to Marcus Smart and Patrick Williams to Marvin Williams. I think both are pretty good comps.

Of those two players, which do you think helps you win more? Marvin Williams has the conventional tools that make him look the part of a good NBA player. He fits almost any roster but he was never really a difference maker. Marcus Smart is an unorthodox player without a real position, but he really makes an impact, at least with his attitude and force of will.

I'm a big fan of Marcus Smart and, if Okoro is indeed similar to Smart, then I'm all in for drafting him. All Smart does is consistently make winning plays with his defense, high bball IQ and effort. He's also proven to be a clutch shooter. I'll take a guy like that all day long.

[Frichuela]

Dat2U has compared Okoro to Marcus Smart and Patrick Williams to Marvin Williams. I think both are pretty good comps.

Of those two players, which do you think helps you win more? Marvin Williams has the conventional tools that make him look the part of a good NBA player. He fits almost any roster but he was never really a difference maker. Marcus Smart is an unorthodox player without a real position, but he really makes an impact, at least with his attitude and force of will.

I'm a big fan of Marcus Smart and, if Okoro is indeed similar to Smart, then I'm all in for drafting him. All Smart does is consistently make winning plays with his defense, high bball IQ and effort. He's also often a clutch shooter. I'll take a guy like that all day long.

This! 100%

[Frichuela]

On the trade down topic...

Could this be the opportunity to trade down with Boston?

Apparently, they could be looking for a "lottery pick" to trade for Jrue Holiday with the Pels:

"The Boston Celtics are pursuing a trade for Jrue Holiday of the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer.

Boston is attempting to package their three first round picks (14, 26, 30) in exchange for a lottery pick, which they would then send to the Pelicans.

The Celtics would need to also include salaries to make a deal work, which would likely result in either Gordon Hayward or Kemba Walker being traded."

Or is it the 9th pick not enough...and they are looking for a higher pick (Detroit or Atlanta)?

[Ed Wood]

Whether by kismet, or just good scouting, or possibly FOMO on my part I'm seeing the cluster of early-to-mid lottery players whom I'd want to hang around at 9 to snag one of - the group of Okongwu, Hayes, Avdija, and Haliburton (essentially in that order) - projected to be off the board. If that's not the case I'd stay at nine for one of those four, but failing that I think I'm more than happy to trade back for value if possible.

There are other players that I think highly of in the draft, but I don't really feel more attached to those projected a little earlier to those projected a little later. For instance - I don't really think more of Okoro as a prospect than I do of Devin Vassell, even if they're obviously not quite interchangeable despite both being defensively oriented wings. There are also just generally a decent glut of players that will fall in somewhere towards the mid-to-late first that speak to me to some degree. All of Kira Lewis, Aleksej Pokusevski, Cole Anthony, Jalen Smith, Josh Green, the aforementioned Vassell, possibly Devon Dotson, Grant Riller, and Leandro Bolmaro and all picks I'd be pretty happy to make. The big argument against splitting picks for the Wizards is the fact that there are already a lot of players to sink development time into on the roster, but I genuinely don't think there's a much fall-off once that first group is spoken for.

[Frichuela]

Jimmy Butler = Okoro. You gotta be kidding me. Did you see Butler's Handles and shooting off the dribble ability in college. Do you know how many years it will take okoro to develop this based on what I am seeing so far.
https://youtu.be/b4g0pr0hbbc?t=117
Butler crosses with his off hand..power dribble and goes into a perfects formed high elbow jumpshot. Bulter displayed Michael Jordan mechanics and fade aways in college. Okoro has a basic flat elbow that doesn't even rise to his eyesocket.
There is just no comparison. AGain, Butler >>>> better than shooting guard than Okoro in college and its not even close.
They slide Butler to small forward but his real position is shooting guard. You can slide michael jordan to small forward but he can't bang with powerforwards and neither can butler or Okoro even part time on switches and you need a bare minimum standing reach to bother post player shots. A small forward guards both perimeter and post.
Wizards not having a long small forward with elite defensive movement skills in the line up is why we are one of the worst teams defensively each year.
You assume the Okoro is going to develop these muscle memory mechanics. Butler did alot to make up for his poor standing reach and Butler is a much better shooting guard than he is small forward.

We'll have to agree to disagree...

1) We are not debating whether Okoro can be a successful shooting guard but whether he is capable of playing the small forward position successfully, and more importantly, if we can credibly guard big 3s.
2) Per Basketball reference, Jimmy Butler played 0 minutes at the small guard position last season. 53% of his minutes were as a small forward, 46% as a power forward and 1% as a center...Over his career, he has played 50% of his minutes as a small forward and 43% as a shooting guard. When looking at playoff minutes last season, Butler played 88% of his minutes as a power forward...and zero as a small guard (again per Basketball reference).

capable doesn't get you far into playoffs. Playing the small forward on an elite does.
Butler is not a powerforward...I don't care what stats you look at. Butler can play small forward..but he is not an elite rebounder for small forward. he is not an elite shot blocker for a small forward. He does not shoot close to .50 percent which suggest shootin guard. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck. they i assume it's a duck .

Okoro is a hustle player and has a great first step. He has the tools to be a good shooting guard minus the shooting mechanics...which is tremendously bad by the way--and automatically eliminates him from any comparison to butler and kleonard.

He does not have the physical tools to be an elite small forward.
Zion williamson...no matter how explosive he is, will never be an elite center. End of discussion. People are trying to force a square peg into a round hole.
Okoro is not a talented perimeter offensive player. He may get there but he has years of work.
If he were about 6 to 7 inches inches he could pull off playing powerforward, which is his natural position based on his playing style and the fact that he hasn't developed elite handle after playing all of these years. If you play in post, you don't develop off hand dribble skills...which explain Okoro.
Butler is an extremely coordinated offensive player and he was like this in college before he got to nba.

Look...it is obvious we disagree on this, so I'd happily agree to disagree.

I would just say that the NBA is changing fast and standing reach is not the only metric that matters, increasingly so...

True, the Lakers played big but they had a freak in nature in A Davis. The other finalist (Miami) played with Butler and J Crowder as their interchangeable 3 and 4s...and both of them lack a decent standing reach (Crowder's one was 8'3" at the draft combine!!). Their center (Bam Adebayo) has a standing reach of barely 9', which is small for a center, wouldn't you agree?

[WizarDynasty]

You will find that this forum (except Wizardynasty) is very high on Troy Brown Jr. He is still younger than many draft picks including Toppin, Saddiq Bey and Bane and he is about the same age as guys like Haliburton, Nesmith, Achiuwa and Smith. His statistical production at the NBA is really solid and he has shown significant improvement in his 2nd season. He also has a great attitude.

The Wizards are going to treat him as having the same value as a top 8-12 pick in this draft. So your trade is like trading the #9 and #10 pick for the #5 pick, in a draft with very little differentiation between #5 and #10.

So, no.

I'd trade the #9 plus #37 to move up to 5, but that's about it.

Nate, what you said does make sense and you are probably right. Troy has a great attitude and if that attitude translates into better muscle coordination, he is definitely worth more than 4 spots up in a draft. I am pretty sure we have something other than a recent draft pick to move up a few spots in the draft. One of the laker picks or even robinson i would consider. I like troy brown's standing reach too of 8'9. But again, If Opi Toppin is there, Cleveland has to give up a 2nd also if they want troy brown.

I'm kinda surprised you like Toppin so much. He strikes me as the exact type of guy that your hip bend theory would downgrade. He puts up great numbers and is definitely a springy athlete; but he is stiff, with poor lateral movement and a high center of gravity.

Anyhow, a 2nd rounder doesn't shift the balance for me. I don't see a scenario where we give up Troy Brown to move up 4 spots.

He is a stiff defensively but he a guy you make an exception for, at least when you combine him with Wall. Offensively he can deeply bend his hips. He just fits so well with Wall and Beal. I think he would fit well with Rui too.

[payitforward]

So Bleacher Report's recent mock draft had the Wizards trading up to the #5 with the Cavs and i was wondering what you guys would think of the trade.

Washington Wizards receive: No. 5, Cedi Osman
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: No. 9, No. 37 (via Bulls), Troy Brown Jr.

With the #5 pick they had the Wizards drafting Onyeka Okongwu. As a Cavs fan I'm not really sure how I feel about the trade as it just seems like shuffling around assets without any clear goal in mind still, but was curious what Wizards fans would think.

That's a definite no.

C'mon man... Ok, you are a Cleveland fan, so you are not going to come in here & propose something ridiculously in our favor. But, I wouldn't dream of trading Troy Brown straight up for Cedi Osman (& I like Osman, btw).

So, that means I'd have to think the rest of the exchange was a bargain for us. &... it is more than fair, in fact. But, not right for us: we need that R2 pick.

In any case, I don't know why you guys wouldn't take Okongwu yourselves -- you've drafted guards two years in a row. You have Drummond & Nance (a guy I really like!), but with Thompson gone & Love ancient, it seems to me you'd be salivating over Okongwu as a key part of remaking your core. Am I wrong about that?

[WizarDynasty]

So Bleacher Report's recent mock draft had the Wizards trading up to the #5 with the Cavs and i was wondering what you guys would think of the trade.

Washington Wizards receive: No. 5, Cedi Osman
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: No. 9, No. 37 (via Bulls), Troy Brown Jr.

With the #5 pick they had the Wizards drafting Onyeka Okongwu. As a Cavs fan I'm not really sure how I feel about the trade as it just seems like shuffling around assets without any clear goal in mind still, but was curious what Wizards fans would think.

That's a definite no.

C'mon man... Ok, you are a Cleveland fan, so you are not going to come in here & propose something ridiculously in our favor. But, I wouldn't dream of trading Troy Brown straight up for Cedi Osman (& I like Osman, btw).

So, that means I'd have to think the rest of the exchange was a bargain for us. &... it is more than fair, in fact. But, not right for us: we need that R2 pick.

In any case, I don't know why you guys wouldn't take Okongwu yourselves -- you've drafted guards two years in a row. You have Drummond & Nance (a guy I really like!), but with Thompson gone & Love ancient, it seems to me you'd be salivating over Okongwu as a key part of remaking your core. Am I wrong about that?

They know what an elite big man looks like. They have studied Tristan Thompson for years, wizard fans can't distinguish the difference. We don't know what the difference is between cheap wine and fine wine because we haven't had any in decades. We never had a above average center and Gortat was traded for a reason.

[Revenged25]

So Bleacher Report's recent mock draft had the Wizards trading up to the #5 with the Cavs and i was wondering what you guys would think of the trade.

Washington Wizards receive: No. 5, Cedi Osman
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: No. 9, No. 37 (via Bulls), Troy Brown Jr.

With the #5 pick they had the Wizards drafting Onyeka Okongwu. As a Cavs fan I'm not really sure how I feel about the trade as it just seems like shuffling around assets without any clear goal in mind still, but was curious what Wizards fans would think.

That's a definite no.

C'mon man... Ok, you are a Cleveland fan, so you are not going to come in here & propose something ridiculously in our favor. But, I wouldn't dream of trading Troy Brown straight up for Cedi Osman (& I like Osman, btw).

So, that means I'd have to think the rest of the exchange was a bargain for us. &... it is more than fair, in fact. But, not right for us: we need that R2 pick.

In any case, I don't know why you guys wouldn't take Okongwu yourselves -- you've drafted guards two years in a row. You have Drummond & Nance (a guy I really like!), but with Thompson gone & Love ancient, it seems to me you'd be salivating over Okongwu as a key part of remaking your core. Am I wrong about that?

Did you even read my post outside of just the listed trade? It wasn't my proposal/what I was suggesting, it was what Bleacher Report did in their most recent mock. I was simply seeing what the Wizards fans here would think about the trade as I really didn't have any strong feelings on the trade either way.

[payitforward]

Revenged25 -- duh! My bad. Sorry, man.

Do you agree that Okongwu would be a great pick for you? Or, who do you have your eye on?

[Revenged25]

Revenged25 -- duh! My bad. Sorry, man.

Do you agree that Okongwu would be a great pick for you? Or, who do you have your eye on?

My preferred targets are Deni -> Okoro -> Okongwu in that order. I like Deni because the Cavs desperately need playmakers and even if Garland and/or Sexton become playmakers, the NBA has shown you need one at SF to really have a chance to contend. I like Okoro because the Cavs also desperately need an elite defensively player on the wing and Okoro could provide that, not to mention that he has the work ethic and dog in him similar to Sexton so the two of them leading a culture revolution of always giving 100% could do wonders for the org in the long run. Finally Okongwu would also be a great help defensively, but I think having an elite wing defender would be more important and an elite big defender, especially since it seems the Cavs might be interested in trying to keep Drummond long term if the numbers are right.

[payitforward]

On the trade down topic...

Could this be the opportunity to trade down with Boston?

Apparently, they could be looking for a "lottery pick" to trade for Jrue Holiday with the Pels:

"The Boston Celtics are pursuing a trade for Jrue Holiday of the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer.

Boston is attempting to package their three first round picks (14, 26, 30) in exchange for a lottery pick, which they would then send to the Pelicans.

The Celtics would need to also include salaries to make a deal work, which would likely result in either Gordon Hayward or Kemba Walker being traded."

Or is it the 9th pick not enough...and they are looking for a higher pick (Detroit or Atlanta)?

Their 3 first round picks -- 14, 26 & 30 -- for our #9 pick would be a dream come true.

We'd likely get Achiuwa @ 14. Then, 3 of Malachi Flynn, Xavier Tillman, Tyler Bey & Paul Reed with #s 26, 30 & 37. Buy a late R2 pick to take, say, Nate Hinton, then pick up Nathan Knight undrafted. Wow.

Even if things unfolded differently for 26, 30 & 37, there are going to be really promising players down there. E.g. we might get Leandro Bolmaro at #37 (he's committed to play in Europe next season -- which might even be helpful). Or Peyton Prichard.

There is just a ton of talent between 25 & 40. Very unusual draft class....

[payitforward]

Revenged25 -- duh! My bad. Sorry, man.

Do you agree that Okongwu would be a great pick for you? Or, who do you have your eye on?

My preferred targets are Deni -> Okoro -> Okongwu in that order. I like Deni because the Cavs desperately need playmakers and even if Garland and/or Sexton become playmakers, the NBA has shown you need one at SF to really have a chance to contend. I like Okoro because the Cavs also desperately need an elite defensively player on the wing and Okoro could provide that, not to mention that he has the work ethic and dog in him similar to Sexton so the two of them leading a culture revolution of always giving 100% could do wonders for the org in the long run. Finally Okongwu would also be a great help defensively, but I think having an elite wing defender would be more important and an elite big defender, especially since it seems the Cavs might be interested in trying to keep Drummond long term if the numbers are right.

Makes sense....

Sexton was pretty bad as a rookie, but he improved a lot this year. If he stays on that trajectory, he'll be very very good.

[Shoe]

Of course, only one team will get there -- & this may make our #9 pick more valuable in a trade down. If Boston secures #6, the Pels would be my next target. They have 13, 39 & 42, which is what I'd want (plus #60 if I could get it -- why not?).

39 and 42 might get the Pelicans up to 12 maybe. Wizards out right bought 42 last year and could probably do it again. We also have 8 players on rookie contracts so going for more than 1 second round pick is unrealistic let alone 4.