2023 Draft Prospect discussion

[BoyzNTheHood]

He's basically a rich man's version of what Ivan Chiriaev thought he was.

Imagine taking Kevin Durant who's already a unicorn like we've never seen, and then saying here's 5"-6" of extra height. Like wtf man? Who okay'd this???

[Steven1562]

Wemby plus Barnes is a dynasty in the making. Wish we could get him but it would take a ton of injuries and a lost season plus lots of luck for it to happen. Wemby would be the perfect fit 5 for our team.

[720]

You guys think if we hover around .500 post allstar break and are in that 7-9 range in the standings we tank to get a top 8/9 odds to get a top 4 pick?

Tough call, I think they go all out to make the playoffs just to see what this roster is made of, to use the playoffs as a indicator on what to do long term. Masai has a lot of contract extensions coming up.

[PhilBlackson]

You guys think if we hover around .500 post allstar break and are in that 7-9 range in the standings we tank to get a top 8/9 odds to get a top 4 pick?

Tough call, I think they go all out to make the playoffs just to see what this roster is made of, to use the playoffs as a indicator on what to do long term. Masai has a lot of contract extensions coming up.

Simply put, no.

I know Wemby has everyone here salivating now & really the entire basketball world but I just think while of course like everyone else I'm sure Masai & Bobby love NOTHING more than to get the next generational star especially when he's not only a Long Boi member, he's the Long Boi President/King....BUT

There's too much riding on this season for a couple of our key starters especially Gary who I bet would love nothing more than to up his asking price. While it's obvious that the Raps will be willing to pay Fred well, I think he continues to "bet on himself". For all he knows there's another "Knicks" (for Brunson), willing to pay even more. If anyone watched his mini-doc during his last FA, he actually talked about how he had his eyes on playing with the Suns but then PHX made the move for CP3. Like Kyle with the Spurs (who's obv pretty much his mentor), Fred looks at this as what it is, a business. So I don't think he's going to want to do anything to hurt his VALUE going into free agency, he wants to get as close to his highest dollar possible.

Everyone knew Tampa was pretty much a built in excuse to "stealth tank". It's not the case this season. The team is fresh off a 5th seed while selling the fans on GROWTH & DEPTH. It's understood the East is tougher but I don't think there's any inkling that the team has any intention "being ok with either direction" ie/ Tampa Tank had zero bench with an obvious tank commander Baynes & gapping hole at C that we just never addressed. They've loaded up as best they could to be more competitive.

The only real caveat I could see to not competing is HEALTH (ie/ legit injuries to one or several of our starters) but that wouldn't really be a tank vs the season got DERAILED.

[720]

Can we use this thread to talk about this year’s rookies as well?

I know Shaedon has had an up and down preseason but courtsidefilms put together a highlight package of some of the offensive and defensive plays he has made so far.



I love watching his game man.

[Reeko]

Watch on YouTube

[pagal]

You guys think if we hover around .500 post allstar break and are in that 7-9 range in the standings we tank to get a top 8/9 odds to get a top 4 pick?

Tough call, I think they go all out to make the playoffs just to see what this roster is made of, to use the playoffs as a indicator on what to do long term. Masai has a lot of contract extensions coming up.

Let's be honest, there is ZERO chance of this team winning a championship this year or in the near future unless we draft/build up assets. I would dump our trash (BumVleet, GT, Khem + anyone to make trades work except Scottie/Siakam/OG), pull the rest of them aside - along with the coaching staff - and read them the Sam Presti rules.

This guy, if he stays healthy, is the most exciting prospect to come across since LeBron (sorry for stating the obvious). It also doesn't hurt that he's French and the marketing possibilities would be endless for himself as well as the franchise. He would also add 500-750 mill to the value of any franchise he lands on (read this somewhere or heard on ESPN - not taking credit for it by any means).

[Los_29]

You guys think if we hover around .500 post allstar break and are in that 7-9 range in the standings we tank to get a top 8/9 odds to get a top 4 pick?

Tough call, I think they go all out to make the playoffs just to see what this roster is made of, to use the playoffs as a indicator on what to do long term. Masai has a lot of contract extensions coming up.

Let's be honest, there ZERO chance of this team winning a championship this year or in the near future unless we draft/build up assets. I would dump our trash (BumVleet, GT, Khem + anyone to make trades work except Scottie/Siakam/OG), pull the rest of them aside - along with the coaching staff - and read them the Sam Presti rules.

This guy, if he stays healthy, is the most exciting prospect to come across since LeBron (sorry for stating the obvious). It also doesn't hurt that he's French and the marketing possibilities would be endless for himself as well as the franchise. He would also add 500-750 mill to the value of any franchise he lands on (read this somewhere or heard on ESPN - not taking credit for it by any means).

Why are we trying to emulate a strategy that doesn't work? What has Sam Presti accomplished in this league aside from managing to do the impossible and not win a championship after drafting KD, Westbrook and Harden? Presti has been a complete trainwreck as a GM and I'm honestly surprised he still has a job.

There is no rule that says we have to keep our current team forever. We are allowed to make moves.

[pagal]

You guys think if we hover around .500 post allstar break and are in that 7-9 range in the standings we tank to get a top 8/9 odds to get a top 4 pick?

Tough call, I think they go all out to make the playoffs just to see what this roster is made of, to use the playoffs as a indicator on what to do long term. Masai has a lot of contract extensions coming up.

Let's be honest, there is ZERO chance of this team winning a championship this year or in the near future unless we draft/build up assets. I would dump our trash (BumVleet, GT, Khem + anyone to make trades work except Scottie/Siakam/OG), pull the rest of them aside - along with the coaching staff - and read them the Sam Presti rules.

This guy, if he stays healthy, is the most exciting prospect to come across since LeBron (sorry for stating the obvious). It also doesn't hurt that he's French and the marketing possibilities would be endless for himself as well as the franchise. He would also add 500-750 mill to the value of any franchise he lands on (read this somewhere or heard on ESPN - not taking credit for it by any means).

Why are we trying to emulate a strategy that doesn't work? What has Sam Presti accomplished in this league aside from managing to do the impossible and not win a championship after drafting KD, Westbrook and Harden? Presti has been a complete trainwreck as a GM and I'm honestly surprised he still has a job.

There is no rule that says we have to keep our current team forever. We are allowed to make moves.

Respectfully, just like you dismiss others when it fits your narrative: I guess the majority of the league/writers/media/fans are all wrong for considering Presti one of the best in business?

There are several reasons why OKC didn't win with KD but here are a few: cheap ownership in a small market, Russ being hard-headed and set in his ways, Harden being a playoff choker, and the great KD being a cupcake who lost a 3-1 lead and joined a 72-9 team to get his rings. Presti was good enough to build a team which had a 3-1 lead on an all-time great team but because the two stars were horrible in 3 straight games, he's a bad GM and his strategy was not up to your standards?

Lastly, I am not suggesting we tank every single year like OKC but I would rather take a shot at being set for an extended period of time with an all-time talent rather than a team with a second-round ceiling.

I doubt anyone could match your basketball IQ and intellect so I will leave this here for the rest of us.

[wegotthabeet]

You guys think if we hover around .500 post allstar break and are in that 7-9 range in the standings we tank to get a top 8/9 odds to get a top 4 pick?

Tough call, I think they go all out to make the playoffs just to see what this roster is made of, to use the playoffs as a indicator on what to do long term. Masai has a lot of contract extensions coming up.

during the Tampa season they got off to a slow start, but were .500 around the half way point and eventually finished 7th last.

I don't see it personally. this team is much deeper. they'd have to be fighting for the play-in and have one or two major injuries + make trades.

Siakam & OG would have to injured. Barnes would have to have a sophomore slump/regress. FVV & GTJ would have to be traded. it just seems like too many things would have to go wrong to finish below 8th or 9th in and a the standings. never mind the lotto luck to land a top 4 pick.

[wegotthabeet]

You guys think if we hover around .500 post allstar break and are in that 7-9 range in the standings we tank to get a top 8/9 odds to get a top 4 pick?

Tough call, I think they go all out to make the playoffs just to see what this roster is made of, to use the playoffs as a indicator on what to do long term. Masai has a lot of contract extensions coming up.

Let's be honest, there ZERO chance of this team winning a championship this year or in the near future unless we draft/build up assets. I would dump our trash (BumVleet, GT, Khem + anyone to make trades work except Scottie/Siakam/OG), pull the rest of them aside - along with the coaching staff - and read them the Sam Presti rules.

This guy, if he stays healthy, is the most exciting prospect to come across since LeBron (sorry for stating the obvious). It also doesn't hurt that he's French and the marketing possibilities would be endless for himself as well as the franchise. He would also add 500-750 mill to the value of any franchise he lands on (read this somewhere or heard on ESPN - not taking credit for it by any means).

Why are we trying to emulate a strategy that doesn't work? What has Sam Presti accomplished in this league aside from managing to do the impossible and not win a championship after drafting KD, Westbrook and Harden? Presti has been a complete trainwreck as a GM and I'm honestly surprised he still has a job.

There is no rule that says we have to keep our current team forever. We are allowed to make moves.

Presti still has a job because he is universally regarded as a top 5 executive in the NBA. if he got fired he'd have multiple FO job offers within a few months. don't exaggerate to make your point.

[Los_29]

Let's be honest, there ZERO chance of this team winning a championship this year or in the near future unless we draft/build up assets. I would dump our trash (BumVleet, GT, Khem + anyone to make trades work except Scottie/Siakam/OG), pull the rest of them aside - along with the coaching staff - and read them the Sam Presti rules.

This guy, if he stays healthy, is the most exciting prospect to come across since LeBron (sorry for stating the obvious). It also doesn't hurt that he's French and the marketing possibilities would be endless for himself as well as the franchise. He would also add 500-750 mill to the value of any franchise he lands on (read this somewhere or heard on ESPN - not taking credit for it by any means).

Why are we trying to emulate a strategy that doesn't work? What has Sam Presti accomplished in this league aside from managing to do the impossible and not win a championship after drafting KD, Westbrook and Harden? Presti has been a complete trainwreck as a GM and I'm honestly surprised he still has a job.

There is no rule that says we have to keep our current team forever. We are allowed to make moves.

Presti still has a job because he is universally regarded as a top 5 executive in the NBA. if he got fired he'd have multiple FO job offers within a few months. don't exaggerate to make your point.

How is he top 5? Based on what? They’ve been one of the worst drafting teams in the league the past 10 years and have been really poor at developing talent.

[wegotthabeet]

Why are we trying to emulate a strategy that doesn't work? What has Sam Presti accomplished in this league aside from managing to do the impossible and not win a championship after drafting KD, Westbrook and Harden? Presti has been a complete trainwreck as a GM and I'm honestly surprised he still has a job.

There is no rule that says we have to keep our current team forever. We are allowed to make moves.

Presti still has a job because he is universally regarded as a top 5 executive in the NBA. if he got fired he'd have multiple FO job offers within a few months. don't exaggerate to make your point.

How is he top 5? Based on what? They’ve been one of the worst drafting teams in the league the past 10 years and have been really poor at developing talent.

based holding his job for 15 years. based on reputation. based on consensus amongst the top basketball minds on the planet.

come on man let's be honest, you're reaching.

[Kevin Willis]

We're not getting VW, our team is too good for that. However, there are several teams that are not that good and they have a chance to get him. Some of these teams have really good players that they will need to dump in order to be bad. We do have a good chance of getting one or two of these players and that should be our focus.

[Los_29]

Presti still has a job because he is universally regarded as a top 5 executive in the NBA. if he got fired he'd have multiple FO job offers within a few months. don't exaggerate to make your point.

How is he top 5? Based on what? They’ve been one of the worst drafting teams in the league the past 10 years and have been really poor at developing talent.

based holding his job for 15 years. based on reputation. based on consensus amongst the top basketball minds on the planet.

come on man let's be honest, you're reaching.

What reputation though? Reputation is earned through what you have accomplished. He hasn't earned anything as a GM. He has not been a good GM over the past decade. Over the past 10 years they are among the worst teams in the league at drafting (22nd in the league). He made an absolutely horrendous trade where he sent Harden to Houston for essentially nothing. You can argue that completely changed the course of their franchise over the next decade or more. They also haven't been able to develop any notable talent.

He has not been a good GM. He's also three years into his rebuild and has almost nothing to show for it aside for SGA and Josh Giddey.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Read on Twitter

[PhilBlackson]

Read on Twitter

Almost reminded me a bit of Bona but I know Adem is supposed to be a freak athlete in general, also a late starter so I'd say it's pretty impressive where he's at already. Not sure what level of competition Gueye faced before reaching college but I know Bona impressed in the bigger tournaments he was in. I know I'll be keeping an eye out for him at UCLA, if MG does more stuff like that though, maybe I'll try to keep bit more look out on him too.

Watch on YouTube

[2019nbachamps]

I’m shocked people here are actually discussing us tanking. There are like 10-12 awful teams in the NBA right now. Unless we benched all our starters this season we have pretty no shot of getting favourable draft odds. Teams like Utah, Spurs, OKC, Rockets, Pistons, Indy, Sac, Portland, Charlotte, Orlando, Wizards have no shot at the playoffs and there’s a chance around 10 of them don’t surpass 30 wins.

[WuTang_CMB]

Wemby looks generational. Scoot another stud. We'll see if its a deep draft by january

[goinrogue]

As someone who firmly believes the league rigs drafts when important players are available, no way in hell a top 2 pick goes to the raptors.