Now, who will be left when we pick?

[graymule]

Looking and listening to all the draft prospects here, I must wonder who the Hawks have their eye on this summer. I read where some of the players were mentioned as late 1st round or early 2nd round picks around January. They move up to lottery level now. This means that someone must move down when these players move up to take their place.

Do we stay at 13 & 22?

[Jamaaliver]

I'm thinking one of Collin Murray Boyles, Derik Queen, Noa Essengue will fall to #13.

If we stay pat, I select one of those forwards to back up Jalen Johnson.

#22 is trade bait.

[King Ken]

I don't know

What i do know is if Cedric Coward is available at 13. You run to the phone and turn the card in.

22 is obviously a lot harder as Coward is just a special prospect if available at 13 but I would take Ryan Kalkbrenner.

[HMFFL]

I'm thinking one of Collin Murray Boyles, Derik Queen, Noa Essengue will fall to #13.

If we stay pat, I select one of those forwards to back up Jalen Johnson.

#22 is trade bait.

I expect all three of them to be off the board by 13th.

I hope I'm wrong.

[Jamaaliver]

What i do know is if Cedric Coward is available at 13. You run to the phone and turn the card in.

22 is obviously a lot harder as Coward is just a special prospect if available at 13 but I would take Ryan Kalkbrenner.

Serious question:

If Cedric Coward is such a special prospect, why wasn't he in consideration for a top-5 pick in last summer's historically bad draft class?

What did he show in 6 games -- against low level competition -- that makes him a lotto pick this year but largely off the radar last summer?

[King Ken]

What i do know is if Cedric Coward is available at 13. You run to the phone and turn the card in.

22 is obviously a lot harder as Coward is just a special prospect if available at 13 but I would take Ryan Kalkbrenner.

Serious question:

If Cedric Coward is such a special prospect, why wasn't he in consideration for a top-5 pick in last summer's historically bad draft class?

What did he show in 6 games -- against low level competition -- that makes him a lotto pick this year but largely off the radar last summer?

He wasn't a senior, therefore, he wasn't on anyone's radar. If he had entered, he would have shot up right to the top if he did like Jalen did: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/33795097/2022-nba-mock-draft-teams-pick-based-latest-nba-lottery-projections

Also, he's a much better player this year than last year but even watching the games last year, he would have still been a tier 3.5 guy for me. This year, he's tier 3 which is extremely high if you've read my yearly reviews for the prospects.

Everything I needed to see as stated in the thread I created on the draft board.

Optimal size for a 2
Skill
Tools
Talent
Ability
Agility
Feel for the game
Decision making
Touch
functional ball handling
BBIQ
Post up skill
Tremendous body control
Can finish with either hand
ability to shoot from 3 levels
Malleable
He's been in the same scheme for 3 years. This is a scheme that is all about create the best looks and shots for all of the players. This is a scaled down version of Boston's scheme without as much isolation ball as the goal is create a college open 3 or layup and it does a good job of it. He plays it well. In the NBA, he will be in a much favorable scheme for his stats as he's going to be in more self-creation which I seen him have no trouble at. Watched the full Iowa game and they couldn't stop him, the shots just weren't falling. He moves exceptionally well. I honestly hate saying this, but he moves like Michael Jordan without some of the off-the-charts dynamic traits MJ has and plays like Scottie Pippen. He lacks some of the traits Scottie has too but he has some of his own special traits like his touch is reminiscent of Dana Barros. There are things he flashed on tape that will be lethal in the NBA. His ability he showed to play off a screen, in the Iowa game is what just took me over the moon. I realized right there, he's a 25ppg scorer in the NBA, sooner than later and he's plays the boards like Westbrook and he gets major height on his rebounds. This kid is insanely special and his game is built for the NBA.

The only reason I have Harper ahead of him is because Harper 4 year projection is a top 25 player and even though I think Coward will be one within the next 3 years, he's also 21 right now. When Harper is 24, he's already a franchise player and multiple-time All-Star. I have Coward .5 higher than I had J-Dub.

Why?
While J-Dub has shown for self-creation and ball handling than Coward, Coward's ability to shoot, his decision making, and his flashes of scoring off of screens with his elite post up game for a guard makes him a more scalable player. Both were elite prospects on the defensive end for guards for me.
For me, he's a no-brainer at 3 but I know he's not even on the board right now and won't be. He's not cleared for contact and that's gonna limit him in ways which made it possible for J-Dub to jump as much as he did but J-Dub is also why teams will be more willing to overlook it as some of those teams who missed on him and tried to move up to get him (Atlanta) will be willing to take a chance even without the 5v5 which is why J-Dub moved up as fast as he did. J-Dub was in the 50-80's in April of 2022.

[King Ken]

Passing on Coward is not going to workout for anyone outside of Dallas and San Antonio who does it

https://tankathon.com/players/compare?players=cedric-coward--jalen-williams--stephen-curry

[atlantabbq99]

1a. Khaman Maluach
1b. Derik Queen
3. Yaxel Lendeborg

Worst comes to worst, Yaxel should be available at 13, but the Hawks should just draft the best player on the board at #13 and then trade down to get Yaxel. Just like what they did on draft night to get Jordan Crawford.

[Jamaaliver]

Serious question:

If Cedric Coward is such a special prospect, why wasn't he in consideration for a top-5 pick in last summer's historically bad draft class?

He wasn't a senior, therefore, he wasn't on anyone's radar....

Passing on Coward is not going to workout for anyone outside of Dallas and San Antonio who does it

[King Ken]

Serious question:

If Cedric Coward is such a special prospect, why wasn't he in consideration for a top-5 pick in last summer's historically bad draft class?

He wasn't a senior, therefore, he wasn't on anyone's radar....

Passing on Coward is not going to workout for anyone outside of Dallas and San Antonio who does it

It's clear you choose your side.

[Jamaaliver]

It's clear you choose your side.

I just don't understand how 6 games this season makes him a lottery pick lock -- after 3 years in college.

[King Ken]

It's clear you choose your side.

I just don't understand how 6 games this season makes him a lottery pick lock -- after 3 years in college.

His tape and abilities make him a lottery lock. His data backs it. It's not that difficult to understand. This is the NBA which is a game of inches. This is not college Basketball.

[jayu70]

It's clear you choose your side.

I just don't understand how 6 games this season makes him a lottery pick lock -- after 3 years in college.

Who has him as a lottery lock after the combine?

[King Ken]

It's clear you choose your side.

I just don't understand how 6 games this season makes him a lottery pick lock -- after 3 years in college.

Who has him as a lottery lock after the combine?

Who had Jalen Williams as a lottery lock outside of me at this stage? A.J. Griffin was seen as a lottery lock, and he wasn't.

[Jamaaliver]

Who has him as a lottery lock after the combine?

The other individual I was just talking to...

His tape and abilities make him a lottery lock. His data backs it.

[jayu70]

I just don't understand how 6 games this season makes him a lottery pick lock -- after 3 years in college.

Who has him as a lottery lock after the combine?

Who had Jalen Williams as a lottery lock outside of me at this stage? A.J. Griffin was seen as a lottery lock, and he wasn't.

Whaaat? Only you?
Jalen had a breakout year his last season, so he was already moving up draft boards.
Ask @CP War Hawks - he was a fan of drafting him at 16.
This is what you wrote after seeing his combine

4t. Jalen Williams – Combo Guard - High floor and high ceiling. I’ve been questioning should I move this guy to tier 3.5 or at least tier 4 high-end as his game has shot up my list. I didn’t see any of his games during the season but I watched his NBA Combine and he was special

Mock drafts prior to the lottery but before the combine had him slotted in the 15-20 range.

[King Ken]

Who has him as a lottery lock after the combine?

Who had Jalen Williams as a lottery lock outside of me at this stage? A.J. Griffin was seen as a lottery lock, and he wasn't.

Whaaat? Only you?
Jalen had a breakout year his last season, so he was already moving up draft boards.
Ask @CP War Hawks - he was a fan of drafting him at 16.
This is what you wrote after seeing his combine

4t. Jalen Williams – Combo Guard - High floor and high ceiling. I’ve been questioning should I move this guy to tier 3.5 or at least tier 4 high-end as his game has shot up my list. I didn’t see any of his games during the season but I watched his NBA Combine and he was special

Mock drafts prior to the lottery but before the combine had him slotted in the 15-20 range.

I posted the ESPN mock, he was in the 50s.

At this stage, the combine is when I put him on the board and instantly moved him to tier 3.5.

You doing too much and doing it all wrong

Jay, you got an obsession with getting your ass kicked by me on these types of things and than running away like you never stood behind that ****. Remember, the Murray trade. You was on my neck, why you don't want Trae to play with another All Star. Look at LaVine size next to Murray. Why you don't want to win? Turns out, I was right and I knew I was right from the jump.

[King Ken]

I am not going to go back and fore with you Jamaal or Jay on this again. I already answered your question Jamaal so don't ask me anything again on this topic.

When you comes to Coward. Any team after the Spurs and Mavs who will take Harper and Flagg will regret passing on Coward. I made my point very clear as to why in the detailed post to JL. You can go back to that post if you want a reference. I don't give a damn about what a mock says in May. I care about what that player does within the first 3-4 seasons. That's where a player makes their mark.

When I say he's a lottery lock, believe me.
I told many that Edey was going to be a lottery pick, many didn't believe me. Was he a lottery pick, JL?

I know tape, I know Basketball. I am not saying I am perfect, I have my misses but when I really put my neck out for you, I am confident that the results will be in my favor.