2023 Draft Prospect discussion

[Psubs]

Yup. You and UcanUwill were the most vocal Sengun fans I remember on this board and the draft board. You both were very right. I still question parts of his game, but it's clear he's a hit.

I loved Mobley. He was the prize of that draft. Barnes was the hidden gem - no body knew he would be that good

You could tell at FSU that Barnes had big time upside. Nobody or very few thought he would be this good this early. His early rookie production, I'd expect right around now. But as we should see, he's being held back by other guys on the roster. The trades that we may see were inevitable when Scottie was drafted.

I grew to like Barnes based on this board's pumping up, which I'm also feeling for Jarace Walker.

J-Walker!!! J-Walking is ILLEGAL IN ALL 50 STATES!!!

[KINGTHANOS]

There seems to be a few holes in this draft after VW and Scoot.

Theres offensive players who are either below average or terrible on defense.

Defensive players with non existent or mediocre shooting ability.

Role players who are fine but don't seem good enough to warrant a top pick.

Then you have the Thompson twins who are hard to evaluate because they are playing against competition who are older but questionable talent level.

Can you group the Top 15 in those categories?

[PhilBlackson]

Im surprised how low all these mock drafts are on Jarace Walker.

If we end up with the Lakers pick whether through a Fred or OG trade, a Jarace Walker/Keyonte George coup would be incredible.

They seem more like supporting cast players than core players to me. We need a high end prospect like VW, Scoot, or even Brandon Miller if we want this draft to be a difference maker.

Strongly disagree.

I think it's the people who casually look into the draft that seem to think it's VW/Scoot or bust.

Vic & Scoot are just spoiling draft expectations by being such sure-fire prospects. Drafts don't generally have slam dunks even as the top 2 picks and even more rare is a true generational star at the top of it. So more casual followers of the draft are waiting to see other guys dominate like them but that's not the norm even in good drafts lol

It's not like Mobley dominated, Tatum didn't dominate, SGA didn't, Booker didn't, Mitchell, Brown didn't and on & on....I'd say quite a few guys outside the top 2 are having comparable college seasons to guys like them. I also find it ironic to say Walker & George seem like "supporting pieces" when they literally seem to have the potential to be upgraded versions of OG & Gary lol who we consider that.

[God Squad]

So Dean on Draft isn't a fan of the Twins.. Like at all lol. Here's an excerpt

How Good Are the Thompsons?

How can anybody know? There is definitely some appeal there but there is no real way to estimate its magnitude with any accuracy.

More front offices should adopt the viewpoint if you aren’t going to prove yourself vs. real competition, you aren’t going on their draft board. Far too many GM’s get seduced by the appeal of the mystery box, when mystery boxes tend to have tickets to a crappy comedy club much more frequently than a boat.

And frankly it’s a waste of energy to even try to figure it out. You can watch every minute of every OTE game and learn absolutely nothing from seeing a twin blow by a 17 year old three star prospect and dunk on him. It simply is not relevant to ability to perform at the NBA level.

At this point, my inclination is to make a special “Don’t know, don’t care” tier for the Thompsons and save my analytical energy for actual prospects. Based on the hype to evidence of goodness ratio, it seems impossible they will be undervalued in the draft. So what difference does it make if they should actually be ranked 10th or 20th or 50th? I wouldn’t pick them and it isn’t necessary to watch low tier basketball to try and elaborate further.

The efficient thing to do is to cross them off draft boards and let somebody else take the gamble, while focusing on scouting the players who are actually performing against a fair level of competition.

He also mentions Scottie Barnes in the comments.
Question

Are they even that freakish toolswise 6’6-6’7 quick average length good leaping ability there closer than to KPJ, Josh Green, Keldon Johnson type guys than actually outlier freaks like Giannis even Kuminga/Wiggins just outclass them in size plus athleticism

Answer

Nope, their tools are far from ideal.

Would rather have a few extra inches of dimensions…even somebody like Scottie Barnes who is less athletic but 2-3″ taller and 5-6″ longer is a better physical profile.

6’6 with short arms is probably the most overrated height that can be had, because people look at it as wing sized but it is really SG sized. Huge diff between 6’6 and 6’8.

Of course the twins are listed at 6’7…but grain of salt since there are no official measurements and OTE needs them to go high to put them on the map for future prospects…I’d guess they are ~6’6.5 on average.

https://deanondraft.com/2023/02/02/how-good-are-the-thompson-twins/

[raptor jesus]

I'm like 95% wrong on all basketball predictions. I've pretty much given up after thinking Thomas Robinson was the next big thing.

Oh I'm wrong a lot too lol. But that's part of the fun, because even if you and I are wrong. Someone on here is usually very high on said prospect. Remember Sengun has his fair share of supporters. I saw the production, but his movements (lateral) and measurements made me skeptical. Now I can see how wrong I was about his game and how it'd translate. I still don't think he'll be a defender, but his passing and post game are legit.

Here's a question for ya'll: Who were your 3 biggest hits, and your 3 biggest misses (with receipts)?

Probably my biggest hit was Giannis but I have to see if I can find the post. Biggest miss probably Siakam. I hated the pick with a vengeance, and I was way wrong. The receipts from that draft are infamous haha.

I signed up to this forum to discuss the 2011 draft. Here's one of my first posts about a prospect I liked:

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1093590&start=20#wrap

Kawhi Leonard looks like a serviceable SF prospect. Active on both ends, great rebounder, good motor, expanding offensive game and play making abilities. If we acquire a mid first rounder, I'd take a long look at him.

Full disclosure, Alec Burks was at the top of my wishlist that year.

[ItsDanger]

When looking at the draft eligible players, you got to consider the team they're on also. So, with Jarace Walker being on Houston, a very good balanced team that has a certain style, his individual numbers won't jump off the page necessarily. I'm still undecided on him as I need to see Houston more.

[Brinbe]

Yep. we just need good young players, period. any of these top 10-12 prospects could contribute off our bench at the very least. Finding a rotation piece isn't nothing. Def something we perhaps took for granted with how deep our teams were for the better part of a decade.

Guys like George or Dick may not leap off the page as franchise players but they would instantly fill a key role we've been missing which is a bucket getter off-the-bench. Even a guy like GG Jackson, for example, may just offer us more of what we have, but as long as he's good, that's what matters in the end.

We have so many holes you can make a case for any of the lottery talent on this team at this point. We're not in a position to be super choosey, at least positionally.

[Psubs]

What makes the Thompson Twins better prospects than Emoni Bates?

[Brinbe]

What makes the Thompson Twins better prospects than Emoni Bates?

with amen, it's an insane first step that will surely translate to the league and really good playmaking ability. with enough size that there's defensive upside. still a risk with that shooting and everything but it's all tools with him. You bring him in and mold/develop him. And Ausar is similar with a little less athleticism but more shooting.

Emoni is just a tall selfish wing at this point. He could have a role at the next level with his size/shooting but he's just another Patrick Baldwin right now where the idea of them is better than the reality.

[PhilBlackson]

What makes the Thompson Twins better prospects than Emoni Bates?

Their physical tools, defensive ability, passing ability & just general intangibles.

Both of them have elite first steps, strong frames & court vision with Amen being the more explosive leaper of the two. Emoni is an arrogant kid that's had multiple off court issues (carrying a gun & getting into it with MEM staff) thinks a team needs to be built around him, that's a rail thin ballhog that chucks up shots whenever & from whereever he feels like it lol

I admit the Twins NEED to land on teams like ours that can develop but the tools are there. Personally I'd love to actually get Ausar because the shooting touch appears to be there but it's just his lower body mechanics that are a bit off, reminds me of OG in that sense. However unlike OG, Ausar is far more advanced as a ballhandler, passer at the same age and a MUCH better first step. He can pretty much get where he wants to on the court but just needs to clean up the "kickout" he does with his legs when he shoots. Anytime you have a REALLY athletic player that can handle the bball & create space on their own shots and/or collapse a defence, there's serious potential and that's what the Twins have. I just like Ausar for us more because of the shooting, Amen to me feels more like a Westbrook style of player without the over inflated ego lol.

[ItsDanger]

Watch on YouTube

Finishes at rim, nice handle, decent post game. Shooting form isn't there but is it fixable? Got to be a serious candidate for early 2nd round.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I loved Mobley. He was the prize of that draft. Barnes was the hidden gem - no body knew he would be that good

Cade and Mobley were the prizes. But I got killed for supporting Barnes that year.

Barnes in college did not look that good so if you predicted that he would take a huge leap then that's good on you

The signs were there, but yes he was better than expected very early in his career.

Sent from my LYA-L0C using RealGM mobile app

[BoyzNTheHood]

Watch on YouTube

Finishes at rim, nice handle, decent post game. Shooting form isn't there but is it fixable? Got to be a serious candidate for early 2nd round.

Doesn't do it against any decent team

Sent from my LYA-L0C using RealGM mobile app

[BillyGM]

Watch on YouTube

[PoundTown]

Watch on YouTube

If we acquire a late first in a deadline deal, this guy looks like an underrated commodity at that position, big time.

[Psubs]

Watch on YouTube

@1:54, I don't think anyone on the Raptors makes that shot.
@2:28, no one on the team has nicer touch on their floater.

He just is smooth and his shots look decisive and confident. He's scored a minimum of 12 points in every game.

[Rapsfan07]

Yep. we just need good young players, period. any of these top 10-12 prospects could contribute off our bench at the very least. Finding a rotation piece isn't nothing. Def something we perhaps took for granted with how deep our teams were for the better part of a decade.

Guys like George or Dick may not leap off the page as franchise players but they would instantly fill a key role we've been missing which is a bucket getter off-the-bench. Even a guy like GG Jackson, for example, may just offer us more of what we have, but as long as he's good, that's what matters in the end.

We have so many holes you can make a case for any of the lottery talent on this team at this point. We're not in a position to be super choosey, at least positionally.

I couldn't agree more. Picking up George, Walker, Whitmore... even Smith to a lesser extent is still a lot better than what we have on our bench at the moment.

I actually think we should grab another pick or two. There are some guys late in the first that I think could have an NBA impact right out of the gate.

[_MidNight_]

We need an SGA/Dejounte/Hali type big guard. Anyone fit the bill in our range?

[Brinbe]

Yep. we just need good young players, period. any of these top 10-12 prospects could contribute off our bench at the very least. Finding a rotation piece isn't nothing. Def something we perhaps took for granted with how deep our teams were for the better part of a decade.

Guys like George or Dick may not leap off the page as franchise players but they would instantly fill a key role we've been missing which is a bucket getter off-the-bench. Even a guy like GG Jackson, for example, may just offer us more of what we have, but as long as he's good, that's what matters in the end.

We have so many holes you can make a case for any of the lottery talent on this team at this point. We're not in a position to be super choosey, at least positionally.

I couldn't agree more. Picking up George, Walker, Whitmore... even Smith to a lesser extent is still a lot better than what we have on our bench at the moment.

I actually think we should grab another pick or two. There are some guys late in the first that I think could have an NBA impact right out of the gate.

absolutely, totally agreed. we should priortise receiving back a good pick in this draft. having two or three young prospects to pair with scottie/precious/gary would be great starting point for this new era of raps ball.

[Brinbe]

We need an SGA/Dejounte/Hali type big guard. Anyone fit the bill in our range?

anthony black is more in the giddey range but he's got good size. nick smith jr might be more of a combo guard but he's got solid size too.

either of those two would be great additions.