2023 NBA Draft Thread

[JMAC3]

Keyonte George is interesting, gives me Desmond Bane vibes.

[wilson115]

Here's Dean with his midseason mock. Hoo boy.

Honestly it feels wrong to rate anybody #3 in this draft because nobody stands out as particularly exciting after Scoot and Wemby. Instead let’s just rate five people at a tie for #7 because all of these guys feel too high with a top 5 rating.

https://deanondraft.com/2023/02/08/2023-draft-mid-season-board/

[bravor]

If the nba can figure out fast a stand on Bridges's case, this might be another stupid failed draft anyway. Last year, they could have the benefit of the doubt (since the drama just occurred), but this year it's just beyond dumb not to push for the first two spots.
Saying this because everyone will enjoy a large win over SA (or maybe SA will 'rage' for 'missing' the winning shot, who knows ..? )

[fatlever]

I'm getting less and less excited about this draft the more I read about it. Seems like it's two great prospects and not much else at the top. And the draft isn't as deep as expected. It's probably would have been a good year to have a 9th or 10th pick, not the year to end up with the 3rd or 4th pick. And certainly not the year to have Denver's 29th pick.

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[Braggins]

I think the prospects after Wemby/Scoot are getting a little underrated because people are comparing them to Wemby/Scoot.

I like the prospects immediately after the consensus top 2 in this draft better than the players after the consensus top 3 in the last draft. I like Anthony Black and Brandon Miller more than Keegan Murray, Jaden Ivey, Bennedict Mathurin, Shaedon Sharpe, Dyson Daniels, and Sochan (4-9 in 2022).

I also think it will help when some of the players in this class that suck stop getting mocked so high (am I the only person watching Nick Smith play lol?).

[fatlever]

Dean echoed exactly what you guys have been saying about the Thompson Twins and Nick smith. I know Dean has some very controversial opinions, but I typically agree with his style and types of things he's looking for in players.

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[bravor]

Rookie contracts become crucial for the hornets now. Ball will have his extension soon (from 2024) and they will pay Washington (or whoever they s&t for him).
Even with Hayward 30ish gone, and depending on how much will cost Bridges (if we know before 2035 what the nba decides with him), those late 1st, early second rookie contracts are generally pretty useful (both in terms of trade value and in terms of assets as long as you stop gambling with barely 18yo kid who have lots of potential but basically no floor).

Bane is the perfect example of some gems that can be found if you do your job as scout & gm's (and it is from a team which is a small market that has hit more often than miss in the draft). That does not mean Hornets needs a Bane, the most glaring hole is a defensive wing. There are potential good defenders at the wing in this draft, with (really) promising offense (albeit not as a 1st or 2nd option).

But that does not move the needle. You need a star or close to to pair with Ball. And the best way right now is to f u l l y tank and cross fingers the 16 may before the draw. The first two picks this year will basically have almost all options.

[Chapelchilla]

The draft odds are so flat that there is no real difference in the bottom 4 and none in last 3.

[amcoolio]

Rookie contracts become crucial for the hornets now. Ball will have his extension soon (from 2024) and they will pay Washington (or whoever they s&t for him).
Even with Hayward 30ish gone, and depending on how much will cost Bridges (if we know before 2035 what the nba decides with him), those late 1st, early second rookie contracts are generally pretty useful (both in terms of trade value and in terms of assets as long as you stop gambling with barely 18yo kid who have lots of potential but basically no floor).

Bane is the perfect example of some gems that can be found if you do your job as scout & gm's (and it is from a team which is a small market that has hit more often than miss in the draft). That does not mean Hornets needs a Bane, the most glaring hole is a defensive wing. There are potential good defenders at the wing in this draft, with (really) promising offense (albeit not as a 1st or 2nd option).

But that does not move the needle. You need a star or close to to pair with Ball. And the best way right now is to f u l l y tank and cross fingers the 16 may before the draw. The first two picks this year will basically have almost all options.

That is why trading 13 is so maddening. I'd rather have Eason, Duren, Griffin next year on a rookie contract than PJ Washington at 20 million a year

[UNCNYC]

@UNCYC what's the deal with that Nick Smith kid from Arkansas?

He hasn't been heathy much at all but when he is He is kinda too energetic if that makes any sense lol. What I mean is he appears to try and do too much. He does show flashes, can get his own shot but then starts to look for it a bit too much. I do not see what they saw in him. This draft they have been wrong about most at the top.

As far as wings go the two wings I think are steals are Jordan Miller and Keyontae Johnson. I think either would fit great with Melo especially Jordan Miller. This draft has many SF's so we good there.

[JMAC3]

Nick Smith Jr has played 6 games. That includes his first game with 5 mins. So if exclude that he has basically had 3 good games and 2 bad games. Not sure I am ready to write him off like so many have seemed to do so quickly.

He kind of reminds me of Jordan Poole, good size, shifty, solid shooting mechanics, but probably a bit too much of a gunner in the small sample size. Although it is hard to blame him given he is trying to make up for lost time and still get paid.

[UNCNYC]

I do not have Nick Smith as a top 5 sg. I have Keyonte George, and Brandin Podziemski, as well as a few others ahead of him.

btw he plays tomorrow (thursday)

Santa Clara @ BYU - 9:00 PM - CBSSN ( Brandin Podziemski )

This is a quality draft and fun. I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out more players than the Cade draft most thought would.

[UNCNYC]

The only players in the top 10 I like a lot that the experts put there are Anthony Black, Keyonte George, and Brandon Miller.

My Top 10 in order

1. Nikola Durisic
2. Jalen Wilson
3. Brandon Miller
4. Anthony Black
5. Noah Clowney
6. Brice Sensabaugh
7. Keyonte George
8. Azuolas Tubelis
9. Judah Mintz - Reminds me of Ja Morant without the athletcism
10. Grady Dick

[JMAC3]

Are we not a little surprised Scoot Henderson isn't putting up better stats in the Gleague? Don't get me wrong it is solid for 17 games
18.9 ppg on 46.5/35.7/74% splits
4.5 reb
5.8 assists.

Few notes tho
Peyton Watson 19 ppg in 15 games - 30th selection
Blake Wesley 18.8 ppg in 13 games- 25th selection
BJ Boston 24.2 ppg in 15 games - 51st selection
Jaden Hardy 28.8 ppg in 11 games -37th selection
Wendell Moore Jr 19.1 ppg in 9 games - 26th selection
Josh Minott 18.1 ppg in 19 games-45th selection

Few Hornets
Bryce McGowens 25.1 ppg in 7 games- 40th selection
Mark Williams 22.5 ppg in 11 games - 15th selection
JT Thor 19 ppg in 5 games -37th selection

These guys were late firsts/seconds for majority and they are outperforming Scoot. I would expect to see him dominating the league if guys like Jaden Hardy and BJ Boston are. Imagine if Paolo, Jaden Ivey or Mathurin were playing in the gleague instead of the NBA. What type of numbers would they be putting up?

[JMAC3]

Arkansas is on the bubble of not making the tournament at this rate which is pretty crazy considering they have 5 guys in most peoples top 60 draft prospects.

[yosemiteben]

Mark Williams is averaging 23 ppg? That's news to me.

[HornetJail]

Mark Williams is averaging 23 ppg? That's news to me.

those were his Greensboro stats

[JMAC3]

Are we not a little surprised Scoot Henderson isn't putting up better stats in the Gleague? Don't get me wrong it is solid for 17 games
18.9 ppg on 46.5/35.7/74% splits
4.5 reb
5.8 assists.

Few notes tho
Peyton Watson 19 ppg in 15 games - 30th selection
Blake Wesley 18.8 ppg in 13 games- 25th selection
BJ Boston 24.2 ppg in 15 games - 51st selection
Jaden Hardy 28.8 ppg in 11 games -37th selection
Wendell Moore Jr 19.1 ppg in 9 games - 26th selection
Josh Minott 18.1 ppg in 19 games-45th selection

Few Hornets
Bryce McGowens 25.1 ppg in 7 games- 40th selection
Mark Williams 22.5 ppg in 11 games - 15th selection
JT Thor 19 ppg in 5 games -37th selection

These guys were late firsts/seconds for majority and they are outperforming Scoot. I would expect to see him dominating the league if guys like Jaden Hardy and BJ Boston are. Imagine if Paolo, Jaden Ivey or Mathurin were playing in the gleague instead of the NBA. What type of numbers would they be putting up?

To clarify these are all gleague stats. I am mainly just pointing out that the 40th, 45th and 37th picks etc are putting up similar stats to Scoot who is considered a steal at #2.

[yosemiteben]

Ah that makes more sense lol

[bubowskee]

I don't think anyone is calling Scoot a steal at 2. He is simply the second-best player in this draft and would've been the best player in the last several drafts. There is no reason to box score watch with him when the G League is pretty much a free for all with little structure. Basically anyone who gets the ball in the G League can score 20 points cause the league is just terrible.

Scoot is a freak athlete with a great looking shot and is a great playmaker. When you watch him play, its clear how good he can be. He does things that other players can only dream of.

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