2023 NBA Draft – Thurs, 8PM, June 22

[Hal14]

Wow.

Get em

I doubt Nnaji falls to 35 but if he does, you take him. Really think long term he could be a top 10 center in the league - and possibly an all-defensive team guy.

Was this the kid you were comparing to Jalen Duren a little? Great measureables.. Duren was one of the most impressive 18 year olds I’ve ever seen physically. Anything close to that would be amazing.

I haven’t paid much attention to the draft the last couple of years since well.. we haven’t had any picks to write home about but I’d be really excited for a few late first-early second guys potentially on the board. Or moving up with our pick and Pritchard if possible.

Yes, quite a few similarities between Nnaji and Duren. And Duren went 13th in last year's draft, had a solid rookie season and is the pistons C of the future. Which is why Nnaji probably will be gone by our pick at 35.

We should still be able to get a pretty decent player, though.

I suppose using Pritchard to move p a few slots is a possibility. Just doesn't seem like Brad's thing. He usually tries to trade picks for vets, rather than trade a guys who's been in the league a few years to move up a few spots in the draft - but we'll see..

[Parliament10]

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[Parliament10]

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[return2glory]

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If he goes undrafted, we need to look at Toppin.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

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And they will be putting on a concert at half time...

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[Parliament10]

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And they will be putting on a concert at half time...

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Hahaha!!!

Good One.

[Patsfan1081]

I don't know why you keep bringing up assist numbers. The guy had HORRIBLE teammates in a VERY tough conference. He had no one to pass the ball to who could make a shot.

There was plenty of times when he made a good pass to a teammate who either missed the shot or got fouled:

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Not only should you stop harping on his assist % so much, but it even makes less since to compare his assist % to NBA vets - many of whom have been in the NBA for 10+ years. C'mon now, GG was only 17 yrs old when this season started!

He should be graduating high school right now. Let's try taking the top bigs in HS basketball right now and throw them out there on the worst team in the Big 12 and see how they do. I'm willing to bet their assist % won't be very high.

GG could end up being a very good passer - he's still so young, so early in his development. He'll be able to show his passing when he's out there with more talented teammates in the NBA.

Last year in HS when he actually had talented teammates (in relation to the players on the other team) no one said anything about his lack of assists. Here's some footage from HS, we see some nice passes at :47 and at 3:12

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How many 6'9" freshmen who are only 18 have you seen make passes like this out of the PnR? And this is against the #2 team in college basketball!

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Does GG have flaws? Yes, of course. Every prospect does. Some of the decision making needs work, some of the defensive needs to be cleaned up. But all of that stuff (his flaws) I am already taking all of that into account when making my evaluation and ranking. If he had better shooting efficiency, less defensive mistakes and better passing numbers, he'd be a top 5 pick - maybe even top 3.

But he's got some flaws and that's why I have him ranked 14th. Sure he's got flaws, but the combination of handle, shot creation ability, shot making ability, ability to operate as the ball handler or the roll man out of PnR (or even pop out to shoot in pick n pop), ability to score on all 3 levels, good cutter, good lob target with a strong frame, good athleticism - doing all of that at 6'9", and only 18 yrs old (youngest player in the draft class) is enough for me to rank him 14th.

GG was the #1 ranked HS player in the country before he reclassified:
https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/where-kentuckys-basketball-targets-sit-in-on3s-new-2023-rankings/

My point is that his feel for the game is so utterly lacking that it will always hold him back from being a NBA player so the rest of his skill set is irrelevant. You can make a bunch of excuses for him (age, teammates, whatever) but my experience is that dumb people stay dumb even when their circumstances improve. The stats I've provided are merely illustrations of how big of a negative outlier he is when it comes to playmaking.

Now you don't seem to agree with my take and that's perfectly fine, healthy debate is what this forum should be built on. Hopefully you'll respect the fact that showing me three instances of him making the simplest possible reads on a basketball floor isn't going to quell my concerns about his basketball IQ either. I don't root for people to fail so I actually hope I'm wrong but I would be shocked if he's still in the league 5 years from now.

Wouldnt trade up to grab him but seems like the perfect guy to take a second round flyer on. The kid has to decent size flaws and Id rather it be be character/mental like him or Bates then something like size or natural ability that Ainge seemed to harped on more in the past taking mini pg’s. Feels a little odd to totally dismiss someone off of a small sample size in which he should have technically still have been playing highschool ball also.

[Andrew McCeltic]

Is Jaime Vazquez one of the rare slow-footed guys who can flourish because he's so smart and crafty? Kyle Anderson, Zaza Pachulia..

[Hal14]

Is Jaime Vazquez one of the rare slow-footed guys who can flourish because he's so smart and crafty? Kyle Anderson, Zaza Pachulia..

Maybe, but he struggled to stay in front of his man in college when defending the ball out on the perimeter.

And in the NBA, the players are faster and better, with more space to have to cover.

Probably a moot point, though. Jaquez goes 17th in this mock so good chance he will be off the board by our pick, 35:

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2023-nba-mock-draft-brandon-miller-scoot-henderson-go-behind-victor-wembanyama-in-two-round-projection/

[bisme37]

I've paid zero attention to the draft lol. Who are we taking you guys?

[return2glory]

Is Jaime Vazquez one of the rare slow-footed guys who can flourish because he's so smart and crafty? Kyle Anderson, Zaza Pachulia..

He isn't slow footed. His lateral quickness can get better against smaller guards but he is actually a solid defensive player. He is one of my top 3 favorites at 35 if he is still there. I watched him this season more than any player I've watched in this draft other than Drew Timme. I've watched games, not highlights.

Jaime Jaquez Jr is an underrated player based on where most mock drafts have him going. He is finally climbing up the draft boards this week. He does a lot of good things on the floor. He makes winning plays and comes up big.

Watch on YouTube

Look at the 2:37 mark to check out his foot speed.

[bucknersrevenge]

Is Jaime Vazquez one of the rare slow-footed guys who can flourish because he's so smart and crafty? Kyle Anderson, Zaza Pachulia..

He isn't slow footed. His lateral quickness can get better against smaller guards but he is actually a solid defensive player. He is one of my top 3 favorites at 35 if he is still there. I watched him this season more than I've watched any player in this draft other than Drew Timme. I've watched games, not highlights.
Jaime Jaquez Jr is an underrated player based on where most mock drafts have him going. He is finally climbing up the draft boards this week. He does a lot of good things on the floor. He makes winning plays and comes up big.

Watch on YouTube

Look at the 2:37 mark to check out his foot speed.

Not a fan. For whatever reason, he looks like the most milquetoast boring player I ever saw. Not one thing jumps out about him. No one thing it looks like he does very well. Average athlete. It would make total sense that he would be our choice.

[Hal14]

I've paid zero attention to the draft lol. Who are we taking you guys?

Here's a new mock draft:

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2023-nba-mock-draft-brandon-miller-scoot-henderson-go-behind-victor-wembanyama-in-two-round-projection/

If these are the first 34 picks, then these are the 5 guys I think we should be looking at with the 35th pick:

1. James Nnaji
2. Mouhamed Gueye
3. Sidy Cissoko
4. Noah Clowney
5. Jordan Walsh

[Dogen]

I've paid zero attention to the draft lol. Who are we taking you guys?

Here's a new mock draft:

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2023-nba-mock-draft-brandon-miller-scoot-henderson-go-behind-victor-wembanyama-in-two-round-projection/

If these are the first 34 picks, then these are the 5 guys I think we should be looking at with the 35th pick:

1. James Nnaji
2. Mouhamed Gueye
3. Sidy Cissoko
4. Noah Clowney
5. Jordan Walsh

They have Celtics picking Clowney at 35. I'm surprised to see him available. He looks like Robert Williams IV on the court sometimes, with his ability to cover ground and alter shots. Good Timelord insurance?

[Andrew McCeltic]

How are we rating 3 through 12, if we traded Jaylen or got into the late lotto with Brogdon/Smart?

I like a bunch of players but 3 has to be Scoot and 10 through 12 a slider - a Thompson, Hendricks, Anthony Black, Jarace Walker - who could all be off the board.

[Hal14]

I've paid zero attention to the draft lol. Who are we taking you guys?

Here's a new mock draft:

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2023-nba-mock-draft-brandon-miller-scoot-henderson-go-behind-victor-wembanyama-in-two-round-projection/

If these are the first 34 picks, then these are the 5 guys I think we should be looking at with the 35th pick:

1. James Nnaji
2. Mouhamed Gueye
3. Sidy Cissoko
4. Noah Clowney
5. Jordan Walsh

They have Celtics picking Clowney at 35. I'm surprised to see him available. He looks like Robert Williams IV on the court sometimes, with his ability to cover ground and alter shots. Good Timelord insurance?

Yeah a little bit like Time Lord on defense, with potential to be kind of like Horford on offense with his shooting potential.

Doesn't have the passing/playmaking of rob or al, but he's only 18. He could learn from them.

Definitely wouldn't hate it if we got Clowney.

There's some things he has to work on, on both ends of the floor (plus he's only 18) so I wouldn't expect anything in year 1 (development in the g league) but you're hoping that by year 2 or 3 he could be a solid rotational big who can rebound, block shots, hit 3's and switch defensively.

[165bows]

Is Jaime Vazquez one of the rare slow-footed guys who can flourish because he's so smart and crafty? Kyle Anderson, Zaza Pachulia..

He isn't slow footed. His lateral quickness can get better against smaller guards but he is actually a solid defensive player. He is one of my top 3 favorites at 35 if he is still there. I watched him this season more than I've watched any player in this draft other than Drew Timme. I've watched games, not highlights.
Jaime Jaquez Jr is an underrated player based on where most mock drafts have him going. He is finally climbing up the draft boards this week. He does a lot of good things on the floor. He makes winning plays and comes up big.

Watch on YouTube

Look at the 2:37 mark to check out his foot speed.

Not a fan. For whatever reason, he looks like the most milquetoast boring player I ever saw. Not one thing jumps out about him. No one thing it looks like he does very well. Average athlete. It would make total sense that he would be our choice.

Prob just don't like Mexicans i bet.

Seriously though guy is the leader in defensive win shares in the entire NCAA and people are like he prob sucks on D and there's nothing he's good at.

[return2glory]

Is Jaime Vazquez one of the rare slow-footed guys who can flourish because he's so smart and crafty? Kyle Anderson, Zaza Pachulia..

He isn't slow footed. His lateral quickness can get better against smaller guards but he is actually a solid defensive player. He is one of my top 3 favorites at 35 if he is still there. I watched him this season more than I've watched any player in this draft other than Drew Timme. I've watched games, not highlights.
Jaime Jaquez Jr is an underrated player based on where most mock drafts have him going. He is finally climbing up the draft boards this week. He does a lot of good things on the floor. He makes winning plays and comes up big.

Watch on YouTube

Look at the 2:37 mark to check out his foot speed.

Not a fan. For whatever reason, he looks like the most milquetoast boring player I ever saw. Not one thing jumps out about him. No one thing it looks like he does very well. Average athlete. It would make total sense that he would be our choice.

Have you watched him play in games, from start to finish? At 35, if he is there, he would be a solid pick. A good replacement if we loss Grant.

[zoyathedestroya]

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He doesn't have the balls of one Danny Ainge.

[djFan71]

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He doesn't have the balls of one Danny Ainge.

He did get the rights to swap for one of Brad's though.