2023 Draft Prospect discussion

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Keyonte George

Seriously, whoever we draft, we need a high end creator or a franchise big. None of this 6'8 wing with potential. It all means nothing if these guys can't fix what issues we have. Keyonte is one of the best creators, so I am onboard with this, but honestly we should aim for Scoot or Wemby or Amen Thompson.

If you're putting Amen in there, I'm not sure why you wouldn't have AUSAR too who's also looking like the better shooter of the two...

His potential here would also be pretty droolable (HERE in particular) if (and I'd assume we either would or get close) cleaned up his shooting mechanics because the key thing is it looks like the TOUCH is there. Just like what OG had and I'm ONLY really comparing the touch. But being that they're a similar physical profile, imagine OG was a freakish athlete, with ELITE quickness, came into the league being able to drive to the rim, much faster up & down the court, has already showed more advanced ball skills than OG and had much better court vision/passing ability to come in. I'm sorry even tying his name to OG because his potential DWARFS Anunoby.

But he's basically the same measurements but a freakish athlete that's coming in superior in almost every skill other than possibly shooting. I was unable to find the percentage online but I know I've heard multiple analysts that cover him say they're surprised at how well he's shooting & I know they mentioned the number was somewhere around high 30s (around 40%)....if he has that touch and we just have to clean up mechanics, Ausar would be a MONSTER. Just because he's not Amen, doesn't mean he's a different kind of athlete.

Reminds me almost of the athletic difference between VC (Amen) & TMac (Ausar)...by any normal standard TMac was one of the best athletes in the league but yeah almost anyone next to Vince (Amen) looked/looks fairly average. He can get anywhere he wants on a court, he has some touch, if you clean up the kinks in the lower half like OG had, watch out because Ausar would the potential to be a top 10-15 (I believe could crack top 10) player in the league at some point in his career (if Amen can do likewise, there's no question he could be a top 10 player imo). Those Twins are just different, they just need to get with the right organizations.

Amen is like a 6'6 Jalen Green! Ya, slightly different, but not like Morris Twins different.

[Dalek]

Seriously, whoever we draft, we need a high end creator or a franchise big. None of this 6'8 wing with potential. It all means nothing if these guys can't fix what issues we have. Keyonte is one of the best creators, so I am onboard with this, but honestly we should aim for Scoot or Wemby or Amen Thompson.

If you're putting Amen in there, I'm not sure why you wouldn't have AUSAR too who's also looking like the better shooter of the two...

His potential here would also be pretty droolable (HERE in particular) if (and I'd assume we either would or get close) cleaned up his shooting mechanics because the key thing is it looks like the TOUCH is there. Just like what OG had and I'm ONLY really comparing the touch. But being that they're a similar physical profile, imagine OG was a freakish athlete, with ELITE quickness, came into the league being able to drive to the rim, much faster up & down the court, has already showed more advanced ball skills than OG and had much better court vision/passing ability to come in. I'm sorry even tying his name to OG because his potential DWARFS Anunoby.

But he's basically the same measurements but a freakish athlete that's coming in superior in almost every skill other than possibly shooting. I was unable to find the percentage online but I know I've heard multiple analysts that cover him say they're surprised at how well he's shooting & I know they mentioned the number was somewhere around high 30s (around 40%)....if he has that touch and we just have to clean up mechanics, Ausar would be a MONSTER. Just because he's not Amen, doesn't mean he's a different kind of athlete.

Reminds me almost of the athletic difference between VC (Amen) & TMac (Ausar)...by any normal standard TMac was one of the best athletes in the league but yeah almost anyone next to Vince (Amen) looked/looks fairly average. He can get anywhere he wants on a court, he has some touch, if you clean up the kinks in the lower half like OG had, watch out because Ausar would the potential to be a top 10-15 (I believe could crack top 10) player in the league at some point in his career (if Amen can do likewise, there's no question he could be a top 10 player imo). Those Twins are just different, they just need to get with the right organizations.

Amen is like a 6'6 Jalen Green! Ya, slightly different, but not like Morris Twins different.

I think both are great, but Amen is a lead guard who can run the offense. I think you want a guy who can get into the paint and actually get the ball to shooters - we just lack that talent. Amen is 6'7 with a pointguard's game.

Watch on YouTube

;t=36s

[grant101]

If you're putting Amen in there, I'm not sure why you wouldn't have AUSAR too who's also looking like the better shooter of the two...

His potential here would also be pretty droolable (HERE in particular) if (and I'd assume we either would or get close) cleaned up his shooting mechanics because the key thing is it looks like the TOUCH is there. Just like what OG had and I'm ONLY really comparing the touch. But being that they're a similar physical profile, imagine OG was a freakish athlete, with ELITE quickness, came into the league being able to drive to the rim, much faster up & down the court, has already showed more advanced ball skills than OG and had much better court vision/passing ability to come in. I'm sorry even tying his name to OG because his potential DWARFS Anunoby.

But he's basically the same measurements but a freakish athlete that's coming in superior in almost every skill other than possibly shooting. I was unable to find the percentage online but I know I've heard multiple analysts that cover him say they're surprised at how well he's shooting & I know they mentioned the number was somewhere around high 30s (around 40%)....if he has that touch and we just have to clean up mechanics, Ausar would be a MONSTER. Just because he's not Amen, doesn't mean he's a different kind of athlete.

Reminds me almost of the athletic difference between VC (Amen) & TMac (Ausar)...by any normal standard TMac was one of the best athletes in the league but yeah almost anyone next to Vince (Amen) looked/looks fairly average. He can get anywhere he wants on a court, he has some touch, if you clean up the kinks in the lower half like OG had, watch out because Ausar would the potential to be a top 10-15 (I believe could crack top 10) player in the league at some point in his career (if Amen can do likewise, there's no question he could be a top 10 player imo). Those Twins are just different, they just need to get with the right organizations.

Amen is like a 6'6 Jalen Green! Ya, slightly different, but not like Morris Twins different.

I think both are great, but Amen is a lead guard who can run the offense. I think you want a guy who can get into the paint and actually get the ball to shooters - we just lack that talent. Amen is 6'7 with a pointguard's game.

Watch on YouTube

;t=36s

I could talk myself into either twin. Ausar has more than enough offball juice to fit in next to point Scottie. Like a more aggressive and defensively-capable zach lavine. Amen is a taller, (slightly) less slithery Ja Morant coming out of college. Both will thrive with NBA spacing. These kids have the potential to be really special.

[PhilBlackson]

Amen is like a 6'6 Jalen Green! Ya, slightly different, but not like Morris Twins different.

I think both are great, but Amen is a lead guard who can run the offense. I think you want a guy who can get into the paint and actually get the ball to shooters - we just lack that talent. Amen is 6'7 with a pointguard's game.

Watch on YouTube

;t=36s

I could talk myself into either twin. Ausar has more than enough offball juice to fit in next to point Scottie. Like a more aggressive and defensively-capable zach lavine. Amen is a taller, (slightly) less slithery Ja Morant coming out of college. Both will thrive with NBA spacing. These kids have the potential to be really special.

I think there's something more T-Mac'ish about Ausar than LaVine (nvm the dynamic I see with Amen where you can tell he still wants to be the guy ala TMac/VC), more of similar type of athlete imo especially when you talk defensively. Initially people thought TMac had that high defensive potential but after he left here to go to ORL he obviously became far less focused on that end of the court & locked into taking over offensively. But if he's brought into a team that makes it priority he has all the tools to lock a guy down & he actually does it sporadically but he's not consistently locked in on that end but again put him in a team/culture that puts a true emphasis on it, he has the potential be great on both ends.

I could see Ausar being built up with a similar type of trajectory IF (it's a big one)...if he lands in the right place for his DEVELOPMENT which of course I think is here. I think we would help bring out the special player in him especially when we're still seeking another go-to scorer & I think Ausar would welcome wanting people to recognize him like his brother will inevitably get just being such generational athlete, that Ausar would look to step up his game. I've said it a few times now but he might be favorite non-top 3 pick out of anyone for THIS team in particular. If I'm another team not as confident in my development then personally Cam would be my pick after the top 3 but strong developmental places I think should want Ausar more.

[Psubs]

I think both are great, but Amen is a lead guard who can run the offense. I think you want a guy who can get into the paint and actually get the ball to shooters - we just lack that talent. Amen is 6'7 with a pointguard's game.

Watch on YouTube

;t=36s

I could talk myself into either twin. Ausar has more than enough offball juice to fit in next to point Scottie. Like a more aggressive and defensively-capable zach lavine. Amen is a taller, (slightly) less slithery Ja Morant coming out of college. Both will thrive with NBA spacing. These kids have the potential to be really special.

I think there's something more T-Mac'ish about Ausar than LaVine (nvm the dynamic I see with Amen where you can tell he still wants to be the guy ala TMac/VC), more of similar type of athlete imo especially when you talk defensively. Initially people thought TMac had that high defensive potential but after he left here to go to ORL he obviously became far less focused on that end of the court & locked into taking over offensively. But if he's brought into a team that makes it priority he has all the tools to lock a guy down & he actually does it sporadically but he's not consistently locked in on that end but again put him in a team/culture that puts a true emphasis on it, he has the potential be great on both ends.

I could see Ausar being built up with a similar type of trajectory IF (it's a big one)...if he lands in the right place for his DEVELOPMENT which of course I think is here. I think we would help bring out the special player in him especially when we're still seeking another go-to scorer & I think Ausar would welcome wanting people to recognize him like his brother will inevitably get just being such generational athlete, that Ausar would look to step up his game. I've said it a few times now but he might be favorite non-top 3 pick out of anyone for THIS team in particular. If I'm another team not as confident in my development then personally Cam would be my pick after the top 3 but strong developmental places I think should want Ausar more.

Possibly, Amen is like a shorter TMac and Ausar is a shorter Paul George. Amen's shot is so janky with 1 leg kicking out. He may start his career shooting 3's like Kobe (weird he shot 35% the 1st 2 seasons off the bench, maybe it was shot selection becoming a starter).

Is Amen the pick at #3? Raptors did right to pick Scottie Barnes at #4 when it was a clear 1-3 with Cade, Jalen Green and Mobley.

If it was like #6, I'd be cool with any Thompson or Brandon Miller. I feel like Baba Miller is like drafting TMac out of HS.

Is Nick Smith Jr really that good? I see him at #3 on NBADraft.net and #4 (behind Amen) on Tankathon.

[PhilBlackson]

I could talk myself into either twin. Ausar has more than enough offball juice to fit in next to point Scottie. Like a more aggressive and defensively-capable zach lavine. Amen is a taller, (slightly) less slithery Ja Morant coming out of college. Both will thrive with NBA spacing. These kids have the potential to be really special.

I think there's something more T-Mac'ish about Ausar than LaVine (nvm the dynamic I see with Amen where you can tell he still wants to be the guy ala TMac/VC), more of similar type of athlete imo especially when you talk defensively. Initially people thought TMac had that high defensive potential but after he left here to go to ORL he obviously became far less focused on that end of the court & locked into taking over offensively. But if he's brought into a team that makes it priority he has all the tools to lock a guy down & he actually does it sporadically but he's not consistently locked in on that end but again put him in a team/culture that puts a true emphasis on it, he has the potential be great on both ends.

I could see Ausar being built up with a similar type of trajectory IF (it's a big one)...if he lands in the right place for his DEVELOPMENT which of course I think is here. I think we would help bring out the special player in him especially when we're still seeking another go-to scorer & I think Ausar would welcome wanting people to recognize him like his brother will inevitably get just being such generational athlete, that Ausar would look to step up his game. I've said it a few times now but he might be favorite non-top 3 pick out of anyone for THIS team in particular. If I'm another team not as confident in my development then personally Cam would be my pick after the top 3 but strong developmental places I think should want Ausar more.

Possibly, Amen is like a shorter TMac and Ausar is a shorter Paul George. Amen's shot is so janky with 1 leg kicking out. He may start his career shooting 3's like Kobe (weird he shot 35% the 1st 2 seasons off the bench, maybe it was shot selection becoming a starter).

Is Amen the pick at #3? Raptors did right to pick Scottie Barnes at #4 when it was a clear 1-3 with Cade, Jalen Green and Mobley.

If it was like #6, I'd be cool with any Thompson or Brandon Miller. I feel like Baba Miller is like drafting TMac out of HS.

Is Nick Smith Jr really that good? I see him at #3 on NBADraft.net and #4 (behind Amen) on Tankathon.

I don't see those comparisons for the Twins. Amen to me can be something like mega Ja, same athleticism, ability to get to the rim & passing but bigger and Ausar I wouldn't say is TMac as a player but was just putting some perspective on his athleticism, I don't know of a comparison that I love but I feel he can be something like McGrady in being a taller/longer SG.

Baba's been top of my list in the 7-10 range assuming none of Ausar, Whitmore or Brandon Miller slip (although I actually think Baba's ceiling is higher than Brandon's, but Brandon's floor is higher too).

Personally I'm not a fan of Nick Smith Jr, I just see another Poole type of player (low end Bones Hyland) with possibly some better passing which is still a damn good player but you have to be a TRULY elite scorer like Steph or prime Harden with favorable rules for me to just simply overlook your lack of defence, I don't think NS Jr (or Keyonte George) is that.

[grant101]

OK, finally had some time to go down the Baba Miller rabbit hole. I'm sold on him as a mid to late lottery guy. He reminds me a lot of Jaden McDaniels (who I think the Raps were really high on). He needs to eliminate that extreme dip on his shot and get a lot stronger, but he's got the footwork and handle to turn into something really interesting. Also really intrigued by the playmaking flashes!

[BoyzNTheHood]

OK, finally had some time to go down the Baba Miller rabbit hole. I'm sold on him as a mid to late lottery guy. He reminds me a lot of Jaden McDaniels (who I think the Raps were really high on). He needs to eliminate that extreme dip on his shot and get a lot stronger, but he's got the footwork and handle to turn into something really interesting. Also really intrigued by the playmaking flashes!

Welcome

[JShuttlesworth]

Why is Cason Wallace so bad at shooting free throws?

I haven't seen enough footage of his free throws to figure it out. I do notice that he's one of those guys who likes to point his hips / legs to the left of the net, and keep his shoulders square. In theory there's nothing wrong with that, Wade shot his free throws like that too, and lots of players have a similar style.

I would say if it's not broken don't fix it, but in Wallace's case it isn't working for him. I think he should try getting his toes on his right foot onto the dot in middle of that free line, aligning his lower half with his shoulders, and shooting square to the net.

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[Ell Curry]

Why is Cason Wallace so bad at shooting free throws?

I lack the Bball IQ to answer this, but Wallace is one of my favorite type of draft inefficiencies: Guard who can pass but is being forced to play the 2 because he's a freshman and the coach has an experienced PG who can't play anywhere else that he likes. Steph Curry, Westbrook and Jrue Holiday all had to play off ball and got dinged for it pre-draft (though Westbrook got up to #4, I assume by looking like Russell Westbrook in workouts?).

[Psubs]

Why is Cason Wallace so bad at shooting free throws?

I lack the Bball IQ to answer this, but Wallace is one of my favorite type of draft inefficiencies: Guard who can pass but is being forced to play the 2 because he's a freshman and the coach has an experienced PG who can't play anywhere else that he likes. Steph Curry, Westbrook and Jrue Holiday all had to play off ball and got dinged for it pre-draft (though Westbrook got up to #4, I assume by looking like Russell Westbrook in workouts?).

Westbrook had elite hops. Rajon Rondo was a poor FT shooter. Maybe a professional can help him? He shoots 3's well, so maybe he just needs to move back a little like TMac or like Nick Van Exel?

[Kevin Willis]

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Jet Howard should be considered as a big SG / SF. Primarily SG. If we keep tanking we should have either one of Gradey, Maxwell or Jet. All 3 would fit seemlessly. Imagine have an OG / Dick combo on the wing?

[Psubs]

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Jet Howard should be considered as a big SG / SF. Primarily SG. If we keep tanking we should have either one of Gradey, Maxwell or Jet. All 3 would fit seemlessly. Imagine have an OG / Dick combo on the wing?

Should aim higher if around #10 to get a creator, like Cason Wallace, Anthony Black or Keyonte George.

[JShuttlesworth]

Why is Cason Wallace so bad at shooting free throws?

I lack the Bball IQ to answer this, but Wallace is one of my favorite type of draft inefficiencies: Guard who can pass but is being forced to play the 2 because he's a freshman and the coach has an experienced PG who can't play anywhere else that he likes. Steph Curry, Westbrook and Jrue Holiday all had to play off ball and got dinged for it pre-draft (though Westbrook got up to #4, I assume by looking like Russell Westbrook in workouts?).

Yah, I see him as a PG too, definitely not a shooting guard

I don't know what his barefoot measurements will be, but he's listed at 6'4 and and looks like he definitely has a plus wingspan (unconfirmed but I think I read that he has a 6'6 wingspan). Solid defense, a lot of quickness and speed at the guard spot. He would be great to stick on some of the faster guards that we have trouble staying in front of defensively

I think he would be the type of guard that Masai / Bobby would see value in

[Psubs]

Why is Cason Wallace so bad at shooting free throws?

I lack the Bball IQ to answer this, but Wallace is one of my favorite type of draft inefficiencies: Guard who can pass but is being forced to play the 2 because he's a freshman and the coach has an experienced PG who can't play anywhere else that he likes. Steph Curry, Westbrook and Jrue Holiday all had to play off ball and got dinged for it pre-draft (though Westbrook got up to #4, I assume by looking like Russell Westbrook in workouts?).

Yah, I see him as a PG too, definitely not a shooting guard

I don't know what his barefoot measurements will be, but he's listed at 6'4 and and looks like he definitely has a plus wingspan (unconfirmed but I think I read that he has a 6'6 wingspan). Solid defense, a lot of quickness and speed at the guard spot. He would be great to stick on some of the faster guards that we have trouble staying in front of defensively

I think he would be the type of guard that Masai / Bobby would see value in

2.5 steals in 32 mpg is great! 1.25 Stl/TO, 2 A/T

If he turns out like a 6'4 Rondo that can shoot 3's above league average, I think that's a great get.

[ItsDanger]

While I enjoy these online draft content creators to hear different opinions, they're clearly biased towards offense, especially from the accepted analytics perspective. So, outside the lottery, got to think like a GM of an actual team.

[Kevin Willis]

Spoiler:

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Jet Howard should be considered as a big SG / SF. Primarily SG. If we keep tanking we should have either one of Gradey, Maxwell or Jet. All 3 would fit seemlessly. Imagine have an OG / Dick combo on the wing?

Should aim higher if around #10 to get a creator, like Cason Wallace, Anthony Black or Keyonte George.

We really need a second first round pick. If we lose FVV and GTJr - getting a Cason Wallace or Anthony Black would be nice. Then one of those three shooters. With our front court it should be good for a few years.

[Ell Curry]

I lack the Bball IQ to answer this, but Wallace is one of my favorite type of draft inefficiencies: Guard who can pass but is being forced to play the 2 because he's a freshman and the coach has an experienced PG who can't play anywhere else that he likes. Steph Curry, Westbrook and Jrue Holiday all had to play off ball and got dinged for it pre-draft (though Westbrook got up to #4, I assume by looking like Russell Westbrook in workouts?).

Yah, I see him as a PG too, definitely not a shooting guard

I don't know what his barefoot measurements will be, but he's listed at 6'4 and and looks like he definitely has a plus wingspan (unconfirmed but I think I read that he has a 6'6 wingspan). Solid defense, a lot of quickness and speed at the guard spot. He would be great to stick on some of the faster guards that we have trouble staying in front of defensively

I think he would be the type of guard that Masai / Bobby would see value in

2.5 steals in 32 mpg is great! 1.25 Stl/TO, 2 A/T

If he turns out like a 6'4 Rondo that can shoot 3's above league average, I think that's a great get.

I remember Rondo in college, he was much smaller and a worse scorer outside of the paint but he could get to the bucket and affect games athletically a ton. They had another PG in Sparks who took a lot of his assist opportunities away and forced him to guard bigger players, so he actually should have made my list of "PGs who had to play 2 guard too much."

Wallace is at 4.4 assists a game as a freshman which is really great considering Wheever is at 5.9 and is a tiny senior so going to be trusted and played at PG, and Kentucky has little spacing at the 4. That probably projects to like 7 or 8 a game as a pro and top 10 in the league, with great defence and can shoot the 33.

He'd be a great pick for us, and in theory if we either tanked a bit to get like the 8th pick, or moved Trent for say the 20th pick and traded up with 20 and 15 to grab #8, he'd be a really solid fit here, though Masai seems like he'd be more likely to just pick a good wing prospect at 15 we can develop, and then a high upside guy with the 2nd pick.

I wonder if Washington would do a pick swap for us at the deadline, if their pick was say top 5 protected and we gave them Trent for Will Barton's expiring. It's a gamble on them being bad but they probably will be and if Beal or Porzingis goes down they could really struggle. And if their pick is top 5 I guess they'd owe us a top 20 protected first that turns into 2 seconds sort of thing. Get Wallace that way and move future picks for a center when the right one becomes available for a good price and just keep VanVleet, OG, Barnes and Siakam.

[Ell Curry]

He's an older PG but an A/T of 3 and shooting 50% from 3 on 6 attempts per game and shooting 87.% FT. I good candidate for the 2nd round pick.

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https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/adam-flagler-1.html

I think he'll slip because the Baylor guards in front of him when he was a great freshman off the bench (Butler and Mitchell) looked incredible for them and have been bad picks so far.

He can't get to the bucket or line, but other than that he's a really, really good player. Not unlike Van Vleet in that way, really. We could certainly use a 2nd Fred and missed out on Bane to draft one in Flynn, it just hasn't worked out.

Vecenie has Flagler undrafted, so maybe we could get him the same way we got Van Vleet.

[Ell Curry]

[quote="Kevin Willis"]

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/quote]

If we don't tank, I'd sign up right now for:

1) Trent and Koloko for a decent big like John Collins/Capela/Poeltl or even a guy like Bamba/Hartenstein/Gafford and a highly protected first.

2) Us drafting Maxwell Lewis. His stat line is perfect, he can hit a stepback 3 and looks like a quality, boring starter as an NBA 2 guard.


Center/Precious
Siakam/Boucher
Barnes/OG
OG/Lewis
VanVleet/MLE

would be a treadmill-y but good 9 man rotation next year, and we'd still have all our future picks to try to do a deal with the Center, OG or Van Vleet as the main contract/player piece, those picks and a Thad/Birch/Porter contract addition at any point in the future when the right guys comes on the market. Sadly, it looks like Donovan Mitchell was that player.