The Official 2023 Draft Thread

[payitforward]

I haven't started looking at this year's draft prospects, not at all really. That said, off the numbers this kid looks like a potential R2 steal if he's on the board for us:

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/brandin-podziemski-1.html

Watch on YouTube

;t=109s

Ok I can see it. Nice floater, misdirection footwork, silky shot, quick release.

On top of which, that highlight reel leaves out the sequence where he walks on water!

(sports-ref page lists him as 6'5" -- he looks a lot shorter than that in the highlights, no?)

[doclinkin]

Pretending we fail in the play-in games and have to pick in the mid first round. I'm eyeballing:

Spoiler:

Taylor Hendricks.

Watch on YouTube

;t=75s

Norchad Ormier.

Watch on YouTube

And with the ethics of a vulture, wondering if Brandon Miller falls in the first round due to his driving a gun to the site of a murder. But Ted would never let Tommy pick him.

Also Bryce Hopkins:

Watch on YouTube

And a grab bag of 5th year seniors worth a late 2nd round look, or UDFA.

Xavier Castaneda of Akron
Cameron Parker of Portland State
Jake Stevens of Chattanooga
Drew Pember of UNC Asheville

Watch on YouTube

[gambitx777]

The Knicks have our R2 pick this year (I don't recollect why...), but we have the Bulls pick in the 2d round (the 2d of the 2 R2 picks they gave us for Sato), which looks like it might be @#37.

Right now, https://nbadraftroom.com/p/2023-2nd-round/ shows us taking DaRon Holmes II -- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/daron-holmesii-1.html -- at that spot.

Here's hoping we do something to acquire an additional R2 pick.

We also hold rights to Boston's second protected funny and if we don't get it we get it next year. It does not seem likely to convey .


Sent from my SM-G991U1 using RealGM mobile app

[gambitx777]

Pretending we fail in the play-in games and have to pick in the mid first round. I'm eyeballing:

Spoiler:

Taylor Hendricks.

Watch on YouTube

;t=75s

Norchad Ormier.

Watch on YouTube

And with the ethics of a vulture, wondering if Brandon Miller falls in the first round due to his driving a gun to the site of a murder. But Ted would never let Tommy pick him.

Also Bryce Hopkins:

Watch on YouTube

And a grab bag of 5th year seniors worth a late 2nd round look, or UDFA.

Xavier Castaneda of Akron
Cameron Parker of Portland State
Jake Stevens of Chattanooga
Drew Pember of UNC Asheville

Watch on YouTube

I wonder if that pember kid could be a decent Kuzma replacement in the second round or undrafted if kuz pushes himself out.

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using RealGM mobile app

[NatP4]

Coulibaly at 37 would be a great pick. One of the top upside players in the draft. I think he’ll explode late in the process like Giddey and Daniels did in recent years and go lottery though.

Jordan Hawkins is a name to watch in the 20-40 range. Launches a ton of 3s, 20 points per 36 on 59% TS. Just 20 years old. Looks like a legit NBA scorer, prototypical 2 guard.

Colby Jones is another one. Also just 20 years old 15-5-5 per 36. Secondary playmaker, plays solid defense. Shoots the 3 at 40%. Reminds me of Josh Hart.

I’m with PIF though. Favorite option at 37 is Podziemski. Some of the best numbers in the nation. Will have just turned 20 by draft night. He’s just getting better and better as the year goes on. There’s legit star upside here.

His draft age 20 numbers are significantly better than what Jalen Williams did at Santa Clara as a 21 year old junior. Hard to find a good player comp, but he reminds me a ton of Haliburton. Elite shooter that gets a ton of 3s up. Can be a true lead guard at 6”5, defends well, fills the stat sheet. Just a winning player with zero flaws. Jamal Murray is another player comp.

[NatP4]

If they lose the 1st and just take Podziemski at 37, it’s a home run off-season and draft.

[Frichuela]

This is why you tank…but our idiot owner never does..

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?s=46&t=y1j7YwVWQOH5A3DJ9hrKMg

[payitforward]

Doc -- Nijel Pack... is he Robert Pack's son?

Where/how do you come up with these guys?

[FAH1223]

Read on Twitter

[BearlyBallin]

Doc -- Nijel Pack... is he Robert Pack's son?

Where/how do you come up with these guys?

Nijel Christian Pack was born May 22, 2001 in Oconomowoc, Wis. … Parents are David and Robin Pack… Has two siblings (Ben and Anjelica).
From KStateSports.com
https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/nijel-pack/8102

Maybe he’s related another way but probably not his son.

[doclinkin]

Doc -- Nijel Pack... is he Robert Pack's son?

Where/how do you come up with these guys?

I get my numbers the same place everyone does -- basketballreference.com

I gave up and paid for a b-ref subscription. The rest is just tailored searches for lynchpin stats. If I sort by defensive rebounds (baseline BBIQ) then I scan the column for 3FG% (coaches won't play you if you can't shoot) to see if I can find a versatile inside/outside player to take the role from Kuzma for instance.

I commonly look at the (free) first page of kenpom.com then scan the roster of the top schools (sorted by defense, offense, then both) to see who seems to be affecting the score most.

Cross reference with b-ref. Looking at 2nd rounders you can commonly find players who stayed in school, not one and done, which lets you look at their progress. If you see increased efficiency with increasing usage, you have a gamer who loves competition. If you see steady progress in FT%, you have a gym rat who is likely to grow in offseasons.

Bounce to ESPN game log to see if the player is racking up stats against weaker teams, or do they play better against conference rivals and ranked opposition. In games where they don't shoot well, do they make up for it in other categories?

The rest is eyetest, does the highlight package thin-slice as a guy who looks the part.

I distrust rebounding/scoring stats of the usual Tall Guy Weak Conference types, since in the NBA everybody is tall. But I love assists from non-guards, and steals from Bigs which seem to underscore their situational intelligence.

[doclinkin]

Rutgers, top 10 defense team. Who is a +/- standout?

Not a defender but a shooter: Sr guard Cam Spencer.
Shooting 3FG .425, on 5 shots a game. 92% at the FT line.

youtube.com/watch?v=WatC_IcrSLs

High arcing shot, decent handle, nice on the catch and shoot, good pump fake. Nothing jumps out, even as a NBA Garrison Matthews UDFA type. Just another shooter maybe.


Houston, top 10 defense. 2 standouts,
sr guard Marcus Sasser.
Better than 2:1 asst:TO ratio. 2.2 steals per 40.
Shooting .380 from 3. increased efficiency with increased usage.
Shot poorly vs ranked competition. 6'1" and does not post high assist or FTA numbers.

BUT:

Houston Freshman PF Jarace Walker
6'8" 240lb rock.
Shooting .368 from 3.
Played excellent against #2 UVA, generally notable for their defense, I pay attention to players who score against them.
vs, Virginia, Walker went 6-11, 2-3 from 3, 7 boards, 4 ast, 3 steals, 17pts.
IMG academy kid so he will have all the fundamentals:

Watch on YouTube

https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfeed/the-offensive-game-of-houston-forward-jarace-walker

He's an early look at a steal for me. Efficient and productive freshman, versatile and defensive minded. That's my guy. But he's #7 on tankathon, not sneaking past anybody.

[doclinkin]

Brandon Miller is still my #2 though. Wemby of course at the top, if his body proves durable. Miller is a hell of a consolation prize IMO. Shows up at the top of a number of my searches.

[doclinkin]

UCLA Bruins junior guard Jaylen Clark.
A top 10 defense team.
Guard who rebounds well for his size, near 3 steals a game,
Shooting solid 3FG .36, but up from .200 as a freshman, .259 soph. despite increasing usage.
Played well against Baylor, UMD, UK, didn't shoot well against Arizona but ripped 10 boards.

How's he look?

Watch on YouTube

Ground bound. Shifty, not quick twitch. But solid. I'd snatch him for the GoGo and see how he develops. Can he increase his assist #'s? The smarts are there.

[Dat2U]

Brandon Miller is still my #2 though. Wemby of course at the top, if his body proves durable. Miller is a hell of a consolation prize IMO. Shows up at the top of a number of my searches.

Great shooter but I don't know that he's #1 option material. Not enough of a burst to get into the lane and not explosive to finsh strongly when he does. Does 90% of his damage from outside. Khris Middleton is maybe a good comparison for him.

[Dat2U]

Random draft thoughts:

Cam Whitmore is a bigger Lance Stephenson lol. Maybe with a little more bounce. He has the same herky jerky tunnel vision ISO forays to the basketball. With the same streaky jumper to match. He has better physical tools then Lance at 6-7, bouncy and built like a tank but I see a lot of similarities in terms of how they play.

I still prefer Gradey Dick out of any of the late lottery prospects. Gives you elite level shooting with enough athletic pop to defend at a capable level and finish along with enough ball skill to offer more offensively and even initiate some offensive actions.

Sensabaugh is a first rate scorer and deserves consideration but there is a degree of bully ball to his game that might not work as efficiently on the next level. Plus I still don't know who he is capable of defending.

Anthony Black flashes some Iguodala to his game as a do it all wing who can positively impact both sides of the court. Getting more consistent from 3 would give him one of the higher upsides in the draft.

The best case scenario for Cason Wallace is Jrue Holiday. A two way PG who can function as a tiertary creator, knock down open looks and play high level D. Good size for a PG.

I've wrapped up all scouting on Wemby. Nothing else to see. No question, he's goated prospect and would probably be selected ahead of LeBron if they were in the same draft. Health is the only thing that would stop him from being a future first ballot HOF'er.

[AFM]

I can’t tell if the Lance Stephenson comp is a compliment or not

[payitforward]

If they lose the 1st and just take Podziemski at 37, it’s a home run off-season and draft.

No. If we keep the R1 pick, take a terrific prospect with it, & then get Podziemski at 37... that is a home run.

[Dat2U]

I can’t tell if the Lance Stephenson comp is a compliment or not

The tunnel vision part no. Lance had a long career and started on some playoff teams but his self creation was a mixed bag as his overall effectiveness. Cam is a better athlete so his ISO game may translate a little better but the lack of assists and blocks is a little concerning considering the skill level and physical attributes.

[Dat2U]

I think the top 5 are clear for me. Wemby, Scoot, Amen, Brandon aka Gunna & Ausur. It gets murky after that. I need to see more from Nick Smith Jr. Cam slides a bit for me. Gradey D, Sensabaugh, Black & Wallace all bring some interesting pieces to the table but all have flaws that could lock them into a lesser role than hoped. Jarace looks solid but low usage, would probably go wing or PG before drafting a pure PF. Keyonte George is intriguing as well but I cringe at the thought of drafting another SG.