2023 NBA Draft Thread

[Jamaaliver]

The Hawks took fewer 3s than anyone in the NBA this season on a per-shot basis and put very little pressure on the rim. Despite this, they were still a top-10 offense because Trae Young is that good of a creative force. With Bogdan Bogdanović’s injury history seeing him generally miss about 20 games per season and Dejounte Murray’s contract running out at the end of next season, it might make sense for them to look toward the combo guard market in this class, which is quite diverse in terms of skill set. But really, the Hawks can just take whoever they see as the best player available.

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[Jamaaliver]

Options for prospects in the 12-17 range.

Dereck Lively Jr. | 7-1 | C | 19 years old
Lively has a chance to be drafted in the lottery, but it’s just as likely that the big center from Duke goes in the mid-to-late teens. He’s a rim deterrent — not just blocking shots, but scaring opponents from challenging him — who has athletic mobility and unpolished-but-somewhat-promising offensive potential. But he might need a season or two to get stronger and learn the rhythms of the NBA.

Jalen Hood-Schifino | 6-5 | W | 20 years old
Hood-Schifino is a rangy wing defender who could have a lot of off-the-dribble juice in the midrange areas and as a secondary creator. He projects as a solid, low-ceiling role player. His 3-point shooting has questions, though, and neither he nor the next player solves the Mavericks’ immediate need for a big wing.

Jordan Hawkins | 6-5 | W | 21 years old
Hawkins’ most obvious comparison is Desmond Bane. While Bane has developed into a legitimate scoring option, his projection coming into the 2020 NBA Draft was similar to Hawkins’: proven volume shooter, older player with immediate impact potential, solid-if-not-shutdown defender. Hawkins might never be a 30-minute-per-night starter, but you can never have enough of those players.



Bobi Klintman | 6-10 | W/F | 20 years old
Bilal Coulibaly | 6-6 | W | 18 years old
G.G. Jackson | 6-9 | F | 18 years old

Klintman, Coulibaly, and Jackson are all developmental wings with buckets of potential that may or may not ever be realized. If Miller falls, I like him better than this trio, but Dallas Atlanta could do worse than trading back and using a pick in, say, the early 20s to grab one of these players with a forward-thinking perspective. It’s even more important given the stricter rules in the league’s new collective bargaining agreement making it harder to retain high-salaried veteran role players.

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[HMFFL]

Oscar Tshiebwe working out for Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/oscar-tshiebwe-working-out-for-atlanta-hawks-nba-draft/

I really like that young man as a project for us. He's got some dawg in him. He likely can be signed as an UDFA instead of using a pick on him. I hope we invite him to Summer League.

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He was the main force Kentucky had. Once he was double team and contained Kentucky looked absolutely clueless on offense.

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[Jamaaliver]

He was the main force Kentucky had. Once he was double team and contained Kentucky looked absolutely clueless on offense.

...and with us he would literally never be double-teamed. Ever.

We can use an infusion of toughness inside. Oscar can provide that. With him, it'd be about rebounding and intangibles, not production. In that sense, he reminds me of a young Kendrick Perkins.

[Jamaaliver]

2023 NBA Draft: Ranking The Top 5 Combo Guards

1. Anthony Black (Arkansas, Freshman)

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Giving Black a set position seems pointless, as he figures to split time handling the ball, moving it as a passer, playing out of spot-ups and cutting. Questions about his self-creation and shooting have had scouts question his lead-guard potential and scoring upside. But we've seen similarly limited jumbo playmakers like Black recently succeed (Scottie Barnes, Josh Giddey, Franz Wagner) using their positional height attacking, finishing, IQ and defensive tools.

2. Kobe Bufkin (Michigan, Sophomore)

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Bufkin will look highly adaptable with his 6'4" size (socks), pick-and-roll savvy, off-ball shot-making and outstanding finishing around the basket. There is room for him to improve in each area, but he's already plenty competent with his passing reads/delivery, pull-up, catch-and-shoot game and touch shots off drives. The fact that he shot 48.9 percent on long two-point jumpers and 84.9 percent from the free-thrown also make it easy to see his 1.3 three-point makes and 35.5 percentage each rise.

3. Keyonte George (Baylor, Freshman)

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George will be viewed as more of a scoring 2-guard than a combo, though certain lineups may value his self-creation and pull-up shooting from the point of attack. Despite an inconsistent freshman season, his shot-making skill/versatility remains highly convincing. And while he'll be valued most for providing scoring firepower and shooting, high-level passing flashes point to some untapped playmaking potential. There will be an early emphasis on improving his shot selection, which should also help raise his efficiency as a finisher.

4. Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas, Freshman)

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Shot-making versatility and feel for cutting are the draws to Smith's scoring potential. He hasn't shown enough as a playmaker for NBA teams to trust in a lead-guard role, but his potential to connect off pull-ups, floaters, catch-and-shoot threes and movement—and still offer some pick-and-roll passing—should work well from either the starting 2 spot or a sixth-man type role.

5. Brandin Podziemski (Santa Clara, Sophomore)

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One of the draft's most productive players, Podziemski should offer enough shot-making skill, floater touch, passing and rebounding instincts to overcome physical and athletic limitations. Though the lack of burst and length may make it difficult to execute with the same efficiency he did against WCC defenses, it's worth betting on his range, shot-making versatility and playmaking IQ translating to functional/rotational scoring and facilitating.

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[Jamaaliver]

2023 NBA Draft: Ranking The Top 5 Combo Forwards

1. Jarace Walker (Houston, PF, Freshman))

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Aside from Victor Wembanyama, Walker has the most impressive mix of physical tools and skill versatility, a combination that stretches scouts' imaginations. At 249 pounds with a 7'2½" wingspan—numbers that highlight strength and length for overpowering around the basket and smothering defensively—he's a threat to hit threes, attack closeouts, use floaters, pass off the dribble and occasionally execute self-creation into jump shots. He just has to improve at finishing his own drives and containing wings better in space.

2. Cam Whitmore (Villanova, Freshman)

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While Whitmore's size and scoring flashes may point to an NBA wing, teams may want to use him at power forward, where he can match up physically (235 lbs), exploit bigs off the dribble and not hold as much playmaking responsibility. Regardless of position, his explosiveness and power should instantly translate to easy baskets, steals and blocks. And he's flashed enough of a first move off the dribble and shot-making to sporadically score off drives, spot-up threes and step-backs.

3. Taylor Hendricks (Central Florida, Freshman)

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Hendricks offers a valued, translatable mix of shooting and defensive versatility. His physical tools, jump shot, athletic plays at the rim and foot speed scream high floor and easy fit. The challenge for teams is assessing the likelihood of Hendricks adding more off-the-dribble skill and improving his finishing touch off self-creation.

4. GG Jackson (South Carolina, PF, Freshman)

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Shooting versatility and self-creation flashes fuel enticing scoring potential for Jackson. Certain teams may see the draft's youngest prospect and show more willingness to look past his 41.9 two-point percentage, poor assist-to-turnover ratio and weak defensive awareness. At this point, the ball-handling and tough shot-making separate Jackson and drive his offensive value. He'll need to use his first few years in the league improving his decision-making, execution converting drives and defense.

5. Kris Murray (Iowa, PF, Junior)

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Though Murray may not offer much creation outside of post-ups, his shot-making off spot-ups and screens, cutting, offensive rebounding and transition offense point to plug-and-play, off-ball scoring. His game and age (22) aren't historically synonymous with upside, but he figures to look like an easy fit and rookie contributor for the majority of teams in the mid-to-late first round.

Bleacher Report

[DirtybirdGA]

If anyone wanted center Edey, he's returning to school.

[Jamaaliver]

If anyone wanted center Edey, he's returning to school.

I do wonder if Zach Edey is the one player in the world able to actually give Wembanyama fits on the defensive end moving forward. I hope some SW Division rival drafts him next year, and Wemby & Edey become legendary rivals for the whole of their careers...

[CP War Hawks]

Edey would've been a solid pick with the Hawks 2nd rounder. Regarding Wemby he struggles with lower center of gravity centers ala OO. Wemby would just simply maneuver around Edey even in the post just go straight up with a floater or fadeaway.

[Jamaaliver]

...Regarding Wemby he struggles with lower center of gravity centers ala OO. Wemby would just simply maneuver around Edey even in the post just go straight up with a floater or fadeaway.

I'm curious how a 6'8" Forward (a la OO) would contest the jump shot of a 7'4" Center.

[Jamaaliver]

Draft scouting report: Brice Sensabaugh

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Brice Sensabaugh recently decided to stay in the NBA Draft, after the Ohio State forward had one of the best seasons as a freshman for the team since D’Angelo Russell in 2015.

The 6’6 forward averaged 16.3 points and 5.4 rebounds over 24.5 minutes per game and led Ohio State in scoring and rebounding, which propelled him to being named on the Big Ten’s All-Freshman team.

The first thing that jumps out when talking about Sensabaugh is his ability to put the ball in the basket from three. His catch-and-shoot numbers were impressive, as he shot 45.8% in that category. Whether it was open or highly contested, there was a good chance that the freshman was going to knock down the shot.

In the NBA, being a solid catch-and-shoot player will get you minutes, but if you're able to move off the ball for shots, you’ll stay on the court much longer, and Sensabaugh has a good feel in that area of his game. Not only is he efficient from behind the arc, but he'll step in just a bit at times and hit a mid-range shot to keep the defense on their toes. If Sensabaugh can work on his handle and having better awareness on the court, his offense has the ability to reach an even higher level.

With Sensabaugh’s body frame, he's able to make plays going into the paint with his physicality. He usually uses his shoulder to block defenders off, and when he gets in the lane, the defender sometimes doesn't have a choice but to foul him.

Though his offense is good and what would keep him on the court in the league, his defense is an area where he may fall short. Putting him up against shifty and quick players isn't where he’ll thrive, but more physical players may suit him better to guard. Too often he’s caught jumping on pump fakes, and his help defense also needs to improve.

Putting things into perspective, Sensabaugh is a one-and-done player and will be raw entering the league, but his three-point shooting will be his calling card to start. Sensabaugh could get drafted around the early 20s in the first round, so if the Hawks wanted to snag him earlier with their 15th overall pick, they could make it happen.

Peachtree Hoops

[CP War Hawks]

...Regarding Wemby he struggles with lower center of gravity centers ala OO. Wemby would just simply maneuver around Edey even in the post just go straight up with a floater or fadeaway.

I'm curious how a 6'8" Forward (a la OO) would contest the jump shot of a 7'4" Center.

https://www.nba.com/wizards/2020-nba-draft-profile-onyeka-okongwu

Wemby is going to play pf once the Spurs find a decent center to pair him with. Dude has skinny calves and thighs, guys can get under him at the poa.

[HMFFL]

He was the main force Kentucky had. Once he was double team and contained Kentucky looked absolutely clueless on offense.

...and with us he would literally never be double-teamed. Ever.

We can use an infusion of toughness inside. Oscar can provide that. With him, it'd be about rebounding and intangibles, not production. In that sense, he reminds me of a young Kendrick Perkins.

That's who he reminds me of too. He has what we need to fill a roster spot as long as his toughness carries over to the NBA.

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[Jamaaliver]

A decent prospect for our 2nd round draft pick:

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Wemby is going to play pf once the Spurs find a decent center to pair him with. Dude has skinny calves and thighs, guys can get under him at the poa.

I'll take your word for it.

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[tbhawksfan1]

As a dual citizen US-French and living over here about half my life....(grew up in ATL) I am very excited about Wembanyama. To have a young French phenom in the GOAT prospect convo is wild

It's going to be strange for me because I only pull for the Hawks but I can't wait to see what Pop does with the kid