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

[NatP4]

Jalen Suggs is on another level. Just dominating this game.

[nate33]

Jalen Suggs is on another level. Just dominating this game.

Its interesting to watch how he controls things without dominating the ball. The only blemish are the turnovers (6 so far). But some of them came from him getting a steal and then quickly losing it in the chaos afterwards. (I don't know why he didn't get credit for more steals.) Defensively, he is fantastic. Fights through screens like Avery Bradley, but harasses the ball handler with his long arms like George Hill.

He needs to become a better shooter, but he is just a freshman. There is no doubt in my mind he will get there. When he does, his game will be sort of like a bigger, more athletic Kyle Lowry - a guy who can run the show or blend in as necessary, while also being great on D.

[NatP4]

Jalen Suggs is on another level. Just dominating this game.

Its interesting to watch how he controls things without dominating the ball. The only blemish are the turnovers (6 so far). But some of them came from him getting a steal and then quickly losing it in the chaos afterwards. (I don't know why he didn't get credit for more steals.) Defensively, he is fantastic. Fights through screens like Avery Bradley, but harasses the ball handler with his long arms like George Hill.

He needs to become a better shooter, but he is just a freshman. There is no doubt in my mind he will get there. When he does, his game will be sort of like a bigger, more athletic Kyle Lowry - a guy who can run the show or blend in as necessary, while also being great on D.

Good assessment

[NatP4]

Franz Wagner doing Franz Wagner things. Totally outplayed Scottie Barnes.

The 3 ball didn’t fall today, but not many prospects can give you 13-10-5 in a huge game with elite defense.

[Illuminaire]

Franz impressed the heck out of me today. He was awesome on both sides of the ball. He has such an understated mastery of space and timing, and he's a smooth, effective athlete.

I'm a fan. If the Pels end up picking in the 5-8 range, I'd love for them to pick him up (and move Ingram somewhere for a talented guard).

Edit: Apologies for the brief aside to Pels drafting. I'd say something on their team board but it is literally dead, and the Wiz board still has the best posters to talk to anyways.

If the Wiz are picking 5-8, they should strongly consider the younger Wagner as well...

[NatP4]

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

[SUPERBALLMAN]

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

Davion Mitchell thoroughly impressed me with his intensity and defense, his speed, and really a well rounded game skills overall. His post game interview I caught displayed a player who gets it and has a good head on his shoulders and solid mental approach. I'd be very happy to see him added to this team, IMO his perimeter defense has game transforming potential. I do notice he's moved up on NBA Draft Room to 13 and ahead of his backcourt mate Butler at 17. It was the other way around not long ago.

[NatP4]

Agreed. Mitchell has impressed me in the tournament. His quick twitch/first step is really good. Few players have been able to stay infront of him throughout the year. You combine that with his elite Patrick Beverly-like defense and overall offensive efficiency and leadership/calm demeanor, and he might be a late lottery pick.

[Illuminaire]

There is one significant red flag with Mitchell - his free throw shooting, and what that implies about his NBA 3PT percentages.

Mitchell has been a poor FT shooter his entire college career. He's staggeringly consistent in how poor he is, hitting 67, 66, and 67 percent over his three years of play.

Until this year he was an equally poor shooter from distance, hitting 29 and 32 percent.

All statistical indicators say that his three point efficiency in the 20-21 season was a fluke, and his lack of improvement at the line is a strong indicator that he will be a poor shooter at the NBA level.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

There is one significant red flag with Mitchell - his free throw shooting, and what that implies about his NBA 3PT percentages.

Mitchell has been a poor FT shooter his entire college career. He's staggeringly consistent in how poor he is, hitting 67, 66, and 67 percent over his three years of play.

Until this year he was an equally poor shooter from distance, hitting 29 and 32 percent.

All statistical indicators say that his three point efficiency in the 20-21 season was a fluke, and his lack of improvement at the line is a strong indicator that he will be a poor shooter at the NBA level.

Good point, I do also value 3 pt shooting as a good indicator of shooting stroke and potential. His shooting actually reminds me of Westbrook. But he has been able to overcome his poor shooting to have a very impressive career, with a lot of the same intangibles that Mitchell seems to possess. Jason Kidd is one who had a terrible shot and was able improve. Gary Payton shot 73% from the line for his career and 32% from 3, but was a hell of a pg.

[Illuminaire]

Good point, I do also value 3 pt shooting as a good indicator of shooting stroke and potential. His shooting actually reminds me of Westbrook. But he has been able to overcome his poor shooting to have a very impressive career, with a lot of the same intangibles that Mitchell seems to possess. Jason Kidd is one who had a terrible shot and was able improve. Gary Payton shot 73% from the line for his career and 32% from 3, but was a hell of a pg.

I'd generally avoid projecting young players based on Westbrook (all time freak athlete) and Kidd (all time freak cerebral hard worker).

That said, your overall point that he could still be a good player even if his 3PT shooting is a mirage is true. It would also be a limiting factor for him, though. Scrappy defensive PGs that can't shoot are a liability in today's NBA.

Personally, I'd avoid Mitchell in the lottery. He strikes me as a high floor player, but one most likely to end up as a sixth man unless he ends up in the perfect situation.

[NatP4]

Mobley having a ridiculous game. On triple double watch. Denying everything at the rim.

It doesn’t get talked about enough, but Mobley is a really good passer. No tunnel vision to his game.

[nate33]

Mobley having a ridiculous game. On triple double watch. Denying everything at the rim.

It doesn’t get talked about enough, but Mobley is a really good passer. No tunnel vision to his game.

Mobley has been invisible in the 2nd half. Oregon has been dominating the offensive glass.

I think Mobley is really talented and I'm sure he will pan out to be a very good pro, but it's going to take some time. He is so weak right now. He will get manhandled for a few years until he can bulk up.

[NatP4]

Mobley having a ridiculous game. On triple double watch. Denying everything at the rim.

It doesn’t get talked about enough, but Mobley is a really good passer. No tunnel vision to his game.

Mobley has been invisible in the 2nd half. Oregon has been dominating the offensive glass.

I think Mobley is really talented and I'm sure he will pan out to be a very good pro, but it's going to take some time. He is so weak right now. He will get manhandled for a few years until he can bulk up.

I was just about to post this. Oregon is straight up abusing Mobley on the glass and around the basket.

[Illuminaire]

Mobley heard you guys calling him soft.

(But also, yeah, he's got that thin, high-center-of-gravity frame like AD. I think he'll be really, really good, but anyone on the thicc side is going to bully him for the first 2-3 years.)

[NatP4]

Of course, Mobley proceeds to posterize some guy. Dunk of the tournament.

[nate33]

Mobley having a ridiculous game. On triple double watch. Denying everything at the rim.

It doesn’t get talked about enough, but Mobley is a really good passer. No tunnel vision to his game.

Mobley has been invisible in the 2nd half. Oregon has been dominating the offensive glass.

I think Mobley is really talented and I'm sure he will pan out to be a very good pro, but it's going to take some time. He is so weak right now. He will get manhandled for a few years until he can bulk up.

I was just about to post this. Oregon is straight up abusing Mobley on the glass and around the basket.

I wonder if he will slip to #3 or #4 behind Suggs and/or Green.

[NatP4]

Mobley has been invisible in the 2nd half. Oregon has been dominating the offensive glass.

I think Mobley is really talented and I'm sure he will pan out to be a very good pro, but it's going to take some time. He is so weak right now. He will get manhandled for a few years until he can bulk up.

I was just about to post this. Oregon is straight up abusing Mobley on the glass and around the basket.

I wonder if he will slip to #3 or #4 behind Suggs and/or Green.

It’s really hard to imagine teams passing on all of those physical tools. I think it goes Cunningham-Mobley-Green-Suggs, and there’s a real possibility that Suggs drops to 5 after Kuminga because of “upside”

I have some real concerns about Mobley though. He’s not really an alpha type and he’s actually super soft on the defensive glass. He’s way too talented to not become a great NBA player though. His pogo stick finishes around the basket are Anthony Davis like.

[nate33]

I was just about to post this. Oregon is straight up abusing Mobley on the glass and around the basket.

I wonder if he will slip to #3 or #4 behind Suggs and/or Green.

It’s really hard to imagine teams passing on all of those physical tools. I think it goes Cunningham-Mobley-Green-Suggs, and there’s a real possibility that Suggs drops to 5 after Kuminga because of “upside”

I have some real concerns about Mobley though. He’s not really an alpha type and he’s actually super soft on the defensive glass. He’s way too talented to not become a great NBA player though. His pogo stick finishes around the basket are Anthony Davis like.

Mobley needs to take a thousand catch and shoot jumpers and pick-and-pop jumpers a day every day until the draft. His swing skill will be shooting. If he can be a knock down shooter, teams will happily overlook his lack of girth and just play him at PF until he fills out.

[NatP4]

Suggs vs Mobley next game.