2023 Draft Prospect discussion

[OakleyDokely]

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[Indeed]

Leonard Miller G League Stats in 9 games:

27.6 MIN, 15.2 PPG, 8.0 REB, 1.7 AST, 2.4 TO, 1.7 STL, 0.4 BLK, 48.1 FG, 25.0 3PT, 75.0 FT, 58.6 TS, 23.6 USG, -7.0 NET RATING

Do you think he would have better off staying in the 2022 draft?

He was probably going 2nd round last year, he has a chance to go 1st this year so he probably made the right decision as more teams get to see him play.

His efficiency has been good for his age, but it looks like his defense has been atrocious. Although, g league defense can be non existent in general. He also doesn't provide much in the way of playmaking or outside shooting. He's a pretty big project, maybe a team takes a flyer on him later in the 1st.

Interesting that his vision isn't that bad, just not adapted to the G-league speed / length yet. He might ended up in the early 2nd, usually teams in the early 2nd would risk for a project.

[Ell Curry]

Speaking of electric, we can't forget about Terquavion. He just looks like a star in the making. Shooting percentages leave a lot to be desired, but if he can improve his shot selection he's a 20ppg guy in the NBA.

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If we truly believe that one of Koloko or Precious will develop offensively and become a meh player on that end and thereby become a passable starting 5, then drafting the next Simons/Bones Hyland/Poole makes sense to balance out the bench.

[Ell Curry]

Some interesting 2nd rounders/undrafted guys:

Pete Nance - Smallball stretch 5 for Northwestern, he handles it well and can shoot and is playing the 4 at UNC and doing well. Low upside, but easy to see him spacing the floor and being a shooter off the bench for us.

Antonio Reeves - Leads Kentucky in scoring off the bench, clueless on defense but a lights out shooter with a quick release and NBA size at the 2. If we could teach him how to defend, we could certainly use a kind of dumb standard NBA backup 2 who will take 5 3s in 15 minutes a night more than most teams.

Adam Flagler - You may remember him as a backup to Mitchell and Butler when Baylor won the title. Not a natural PG but has improved his stats and a really nice 3 and D option at the 1 that could help us off the ball as a backup to Van Vleet if Barnes can join Siakam as a high usage ballhandler in 2-3 years. Great shooter, plays hard, likes to pressure the ball.

Trayce Jackson Davis - Undersized 5 but smart and seems ready to the best player in the Big 10. Could be a cheap Birch replacement for us with actual scoring touch at the 5, though no shot.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I have a player for you guys to keep an eye on. He's out of a mid-major program so his competition level isn't amazing, but that hasn't deterred this guy from Cameroon we currently have on our roster.

6'7" 205 lb PG from New Mexico State Deshawndre Washington

On the season he's averaging 13/8/6 on 43/50/73 shooting splits

Obviously, the scoring isn't there yet and the general shooting isn't either. I doubt 50% from 3 lasts especially with him shooting 73% on free throws. But he's a work in progress and the slate we'd have to work with would be amazing.

His release is a bit low in my opinion, but at 6'7" that shouldn't matter. He looks to have tight handles and the right amount of shiftyness to get where he wants to go.

He's already 21, so I think it would be possible to grab him in the 2nd round.

There isn't much tape on him yet so here's a little Instagram highlight of him. Hopefully, more video is posted of him later, but I love what I see so far.

[Kevin Willis]

I have a player for you guys to keep an eye on. He's out of a mid-major program so his competition level isn't amazing, but that hasn't deterred this guy from Cameroon we currently have on our roster.

6'7" 205 lb PG from New Mexico State Deshawndre Washington

On the season he's averaging 13/8/6 on 43/50/73 shooting splits

Obviously, the scoring isn't there yet and the general shooting isn't either. I doubt 50% from 3 lasts especially with him shooting 73% on free throws. But he's a work in progress and the slate we'd have to work with would be amazing.

His release is a bit low in my opinion, but at 6'7" that shouldn't matter. He looks to have tight handles and the right amount of shiftyness to get where he wants to go.

He's already 21, so I think it would be possible to grab him in the 2nd round.

There isn't much tape on him yet so here's a little Instagram highlight of him. Hopefully, more video is posted of him later, but I love what I see so far.

Interesting guy. Gives me a reason to watch a New Mexico state game. He is built a bit like Penny, wonder how his defense is since there is not much video no that end.

[Mark_83]

Saw Cason Wallace for the first time in the Michigan game. Really, really liked him. Only their 5th option on O after Tshiebwe, Wheeler, Reeves and Toppin and he's playing the 2 guard spot because Wheeler is tiny and a maestro, but he moves like an NBA starting PG, really good on D and shoots the 3 well. Made some smart decisions on both end of the floor.

He's not a pure PG and he'll have to learn the decision or play as a 3rd ballhandler type like a Derrick White maybe, but there's way more upside because he makes good decisions and is really strong and quick.

Vecenie has him going #9 so too early for us to pick without a Trent trade, probably, but we could do worse moving Trent for a pick and using that pick to trade up and go get Wallace. Could play with Fred or Banton and give us a physical and defensive 2 guard who can hit a 3. Won't make our halfcourt offense sing, but a defender who will run in the open court (and had some nice push ahead passes to wing and corner 3pt shooters) and has upside as a driver and creator does make some sense.

I can definitely see the Jrue Holiday vibes. Good shooter, really good defender, tough and smart and not selfish but maybe no better than a #3 scorer even at his peak and might well take 4-5 years like Jrue did to become a really good offensive player, but that also means he won't be a max contract guy after his rookie deal and you eke max 2-way production out of him on his 2nd deal.

This team desperately needs a PG who can defend and hit shots now that Fred looks like he's on the back 9 of his career.

[Kevin Willis]

I have a player for you guys to keep an eye on. He's out of a mid-major program so his competition level isn't amazing, but that hasn't deterred this guy from Cameroon we currently have on our roster.

6'7" 205 lb PG from New Mexico State Deshawndre Washington

On the season he's averaging 13/8/6 on 43/50/73 shooting splits

Obviously, the scoring isn't there yet and the general shooting isn't either. I doubt 50% from 3 lasts especially with him shooting 73% on free throws. But he's a work in progress and the slate we'd have to work with would be amazing.

His release is a bit low in my opinion, but at 6'7" that shouldn't matter. He looks to have tight handles and the right amount of shiftyness to get where he wants to go.

He's already 21, so I think it would be possible to grab him in the 2nd round.

There isn't much tape on him yet so here's a little Instagram highlight of him. Hopefully, more video is posted of him later, but I love what I see so far.

Maybe Banton with some shooting?. His defense could be better. Vision is really good. Good rebounder for his size. Low release. Not explosive. Maybe a little bit of a Livingston type. He seems a little slow but maybe I am confusing his shiftiness.

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[ItsDanger]

Zach Edey just dropped 30/20 and is producing Shaq like numbers for an 8-0 Purdue squad with limited offensive support. 76% FT shooting currently and scores while getting fouled.

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Enough with the athletic no offense toothpicks. These guys mostly get by on their athleticism but can't play the game. You don't have room on your roster in NBA for these projects. Look at Banton, same player 18 months later. Don't make the same mistake as many did with Andrew Nembhard who is a starting calibre PG playing behind Tyrese, BBIQ is important. Look at how he carved up the Warriors. Not a great athlete? LMAO!

[Kevin Willis]

Zach Edey just dropped 30/20 and is producing Shaq like numbers for an 8-0 Purdue squad with limited offensive support. 76% FT shooting currently and scores while getting fouled.

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Enough with the athletic no offense toothpicks. These guys mostly get by on their athleticism but can't play the game. You don't have room on your roster in NBA for these projects. Look at Banton, same player 18 months later. Don't make the same mistake as many did with Andrew Nembhard who is a starting calibre PG playing behind Tyrese, BBIQ is important. Look at how he carved up the Warriors. Not a great athlete? LMAO!

Zach Edey's numbers are very close to Brook Lopez. I assume it will go down by the end of the year, but right now it's actually better than Brook's. I won't post the comparison because it formats bad. He should have a career for a team looking for a post presence similar to JV / Brook. Of the Cs improving to first round level, I would put Zach over some others.

Many here liked Andrew Nembhard and Koloko doesn't suck. We did make a bet that either Malachi or Delano would take the next step and they did - side ways. We need 6'7"-6'9" guys that are good at basketball. They can shoot, pass and score. This draft has several players like that. Hell RHJr. will become that type of player and pass Banton by next year.

[DreamTeam09]

Leonard Miller continues to play well with another good game.

This kid was at my rec centre like every day just 3yrs ago. He never took things seriously so I just expect any of this. There were kids his age better than him, but he grew n filled out. Crazy....

He would be the 2nd NBAer that I practically saw grow up in front of me

[Kevin Willis]

Leonard Miller continues to play well with another good game.

This kid was at my rec centre like every day just 3yrs ago. He never took things seriously so I just expect any of this. There were kids his age better than him, but he grew n filled out. Crazy....

He would be the 2nd NBAer that I practically saw grow up in front of me

Who was the first? Murray?

[mtcan]

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Anyone on the Mongolian Mike bandwagon? He is a tall boy. He has some nice court vision and passes with a bit of flare...I see some Josh Giddey.

[DreamTeam09]

Leonard Miller continues to play well with another good game.

This kid was at my rec centre like every day just 3yrs ago. He never took things seriously so I just expect any of this. There were kids his age better than him, but he grew n filled out. Crazy....

He would be the 2nd NBAer that I practically saw grow up in front of me

Who was the first? Murray?

Cojo was basically at my rec everyday from like grade 9-11 and would come back until he went off to college.

I was incharge of the gym as the youth supervisor. I'm only a yr or 2 older.

Heron Park CRC in Scarborough

[ItsDanger]

Leonard Miller has to be one of the more intriguing players. Good rebounder, good FT, has a scoring touch. Defense is not good currently. Very unique player.

[niQ]

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Anyone on the Mongolian Mike bandwagon? He is a tall boy. He has some nice court vision and passes with a bit of flare...I see some Josh Giddey.

Shout out to the last Mongolian in the NBA, Former Raptors Legend - Mengke Bateer.

[PhilBlackson]

We could really use a guy like Cam Whitmore. Outside of the top 2-5 he seems like the most likely to develop into a star in my opinion. The only issue is not seeing him against NCAA competition yet, but it's early.

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I think Cam goes top 5.

Besides the obvious top 2, the only other guy I think MIGHT go ahead of him is Amen. But yeah I’d absolutely love if we were able to get him. Interested who you think would go before him other than those guys but personally those would be the only prospects I’d put ahead of him. He looks like a potentially ever so slightly more athletic version of Jaylen Brown to me.

It's fair of you to say that he could go top-5, but I think outside of the obvious top-2 in Wemby and Scoot you have to rank Nick Smith above him, both of the Thompson twins have potential to go ahead of him, as well as Brandon Miller. I could also see someone like Anthony Black, Gradey Dick, or Keynote George being toss ups with him. Maybe I'm just hoping he drops to us lol

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Sorry meant to respond to this earlier but as I said I personally think Cam is a top 5 player and imo I'd consider him as high as 3rd depending on how he progresses so no I absolutely would not and don't why "you have to put Nick Smith above him". Personally I'm not even sold Nick Smith is a top 5 to me, I don't see what makes him so much better than George...and heck even Terquavion. They're all roughly the same sized scoring guard types in the mould of Poole. Personally I'd rather have an even more athletic Jaylen Brown type that's much further along skillwise than Jaylen was in college. Depending on how much he expands his game I don't rule out surpassing Amen since Thompson has an ugly as jumper and Cam is still an excellent athlete himself.

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The actual big wing that I'm praying can slip to us is BABA MILLER (or Anthony Black)...although won't surprise me if his stock skyrockets as he works his way into the college season once his suspension is up.

[DreamTeam09]

I think Cam goes top 5.

Besides the obvious top 2, the only other guy I think MIGHT go ahead of him is Amen. But yeah I’d absolutely love if we were able to get him. Interested who you think would go before him other than those guys but personally those would be the only prospects I’d put ahead of him. He looks like a potentially ever so slightly more athletic version of Jaylen Brown to me.

It's fair of you to say that he could go top-5, but I think outside of the obvious top-2 in Wemby and Scoot you have to rank Nick Smith above him, both of the Thompson twins have potential to go ahead of him, as well as Brandon Miller. I could also see someone like Anthony Black, Gradey Dick, or Keynote George being toss ups with him. Maybe I'm just hoping he drops to us lol

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Sorry meant to respond to this earlier but as I said I personally think Cam is a top 5 player and imo I'd consider him as high as 3rd depending on how he progresses so no I absolutely would not and don't why "you have to put Nick Smith above him". Personally I'm not even sold Nick Smith is a top 5 to me, I don't see what makes him so much better than George...and heck even Terquavion. They're all roughly the same sized scoring guard types in the mould of Poole. Personally I'd rather have an even more athletic Jaylen Brown type that's much further along skillwise than Jaylen was in college. Depending on how much he expands his game I don't rule out surpassing Amen since Thompson has an ugly as jumper and Cam is still an excellent athlete himself.

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The actual big wing that I'm praying can slip to us is BABA MILLER (or Anthony Black)...although won't surprise me if his stock skyrockets as he works his way into the college season once his suspension is up.

Outside the top 2, he's probably the most surefire prospect. Everyone else will have some real question marks

Anthony black is good and baba Miller is exactly the guy I'm hoping for as well.

I agree Nick Smith shouldn't be a lock for anything yet, I do really like Ricky council tho

[PhilBlackson]

It's fair of you to say that he could go top-5, but I think outside of the obvious top-2 in Wemby and Scoot you have to rank Nick Smith above him, both of the Thompson twins have potential to go ahead of him, as well as Brandon Miller. I could also see someone like Anthony Black, Gradey Dick, or Keynote George being toss ups with him. Maybe I'm just hoping he drops to us lol

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Sorry meant to respond to this earlier but as I said I personally think Cam is a top 5 player and imo I'd consider him as high as 3rd depending on how he progresses so no I absolutely would not and don't why "you have to put Nick Smith above him". Personally I'm not even sold Nick Smith is a top 5 to me, I don't see what makes him so much better than George...and heck even Terquavion. They're all roughly the same sized scoring guard types in the mould of Poole. Personally I'd rather have an even more athletic Jaylen Brown type that's much further along skillwise than Jaylen was in college. Depending on how much he expands his game I don't rule out surpassing Amen since Thompson has an ugly as jumper and Cam is still an excellent athlete himself.

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The actual big wing that I'm praying can slip to us is BABA MILLER (or Anthony Black)...although won't surprise me if his stock skyrockets as he works his way into the college season once his suspension is up.

Outside the top 2, he's probably the most surefire prospect. Everyone else will have some real question marks

Anthony black is good and baba Miller is exactly the guy I'm hoping for as well.

I agree Nick Smith shouldn't be a lock for anything yet, I do really like Ricky council tho

Council is such a sleeper type of pick...

Because it's hard to tell is he as good as he seems & if so how did he go so unnoticed in Wichita?! Is he just benefiting from the attention guys like Smith Jr, Black & Walsh were supposed to be getting coming in? They are one of the most talented starting lineups of top recruits in college...Council wasn't supposed to be one of them and was an unknown before, so it's definitely a gamble BUT if it lands then everyone is going to say it was one of the bigger steals/sleepers in the draft.

The draft is SO LOADED that there's really is a ton of guys that COULD (not saying it's likely) drift into the 12-17ish range that could have just as much upside as anyone in the top 10 not named Wemby or Scoot. I can see guys like GG, Baba, Black, Whitehead...one or two of them just somehow sliding under the radar & into that part of that draft. Not sure if we will or not because aside from MIL, BOS...and a notch down CLE, the rest of the East is up for grabs, I'm not sure where we finish but personally aside from maybe a healthy PHI, I don't really see any other team that's better than us. In a worst case scenario (just also the gut feeling early on that it will be the case lol), I just get the vibe we're gonna end up taking a tough as nails SG that can just blend in with everyone like Wallace or Cissiko as a long term Gary replacement. But who knows?! Maybe Raps keep seek more offensive upside in Leonard Miller, Council or they decide they do wanna move CK to the starting line up long term & draft Terquavion as super 6th man (as an aside I think he'd be such a fun player to watch). Who knows?! lol Again I'm just praying we're in that Baba, GG like range lol

But assuming we don't trade the pick (Yak rumours make me sick lol), I think we're going to get a REALLY nice piece to add to the new(ish) core and it's gonna be an exciting draft day by the time we get to see what all these prospects can do.

[grant101]

It's fair of you to say that he could go top-5, but I think outside of the obvious top-2 in Wemby and Scoot you have to rank Nick Smith above him, both of the Thompson twins have potential to go ahead of him, as well as Brandon Miller. I could also see someone like Anthony Black, Gradey Dick, or Keynote George being toss ups with him. Maybe I'm just hoping he drops to us lol

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Sorry meant to respond to this earlier but as I said I personally think Cam is a top 5 player and imo I'd consider him as high as 3rd depending on how he progresses so no I absolutely would not and don't why "you have to put Nick Smith above him". Personally I'm not even sold Nick Smith is a top 5 to me, I don't see what makes him so much better than George...and heck even Terquavion. They're all roughly the same sized scoring guard types in the mould of Poole. Personally I'd rather have an even more athletic Jaylen Brown type that's much further along skillwise than Jaylen was in college. Depending on how much he expands his game I don't rule out surpassing Amen since Thompson has an ugly as jumper and Cam is still an excellent athlete himself.

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The actual big wing that I'm praying can slip to us is BABA MILLER (or Anthony Black)...although won't surprise me if his stock skyrockets as he works his way into the college season once his suspension is up.

Outside the top 2, he's probably the most surefire prospect. Everyone else will have some real question marks

Anthony black is good and baba Miller is exactly the guy I'm hoping for as well.

I agree Nick Smith shouldn't be a lock for anything yet, I do really like Ricky council tho

Agreed Cam is an absolute beast! No way he gets out of the top 5.

Waiting to see Baba play before I make any judgements, but the measurements are wild! Also keeping an eye out for Dariq and Jarace. Both have more to their games than they've been able to show, and may drop a bit (especially Dariq who's still recovering from an injury). Either would be an incredible outcome for a pick in the late teens/early twenties!