2023 NBA Draft Thread

[drsd]

5. Cam Whitmore
7. Gradey Dick

If the Magic draft Whitmore , I will throw-up. Stop the Athlete nonsense. Find basketball players please.

..

[Petre1978]

Sidy Cissoko

5th consecutive 20+ PTS game since his longer absence. His role has increased and he responds extraordinarily well. Especially when he gets a chance to create, good things happen for the team.

23/6/6/1/0 (4-6 on 2s, 5-9 on 3s, 0-1 on FTs) with 1 TO in 32 MIN, +6 (-8 without him)

24/6/4/1/1 (5-9 on 2s, 2-5 on 3s, 5-8 on FTs) with 1 TO in 30 MIN, -10 (-16 without him)

22/6/3/1/0 (4-10 on 2s, 4-7 on 3s, 1-2 on FTs) with 1 TO in 37 MIN, +11 (+4 without him)

22/2/5/4/1 (3-4 on 2s, 3-7 on 3s, 4-4 on FTs) with 5 TO in 32 MIN, +6 (+2 without him)

20/1/5/3/1 (6-10 on 2s, 0-3 on 3s, 4-5 on FTs) with 1 TO in 32 MIN, +2 (-14 without him)

Average: 22/4/5/2/1 with 2 TO on 56/45/70 shooting splits and +3.0.

Very consistent scoring on high efficiency.
23 Assists to only 9 Turnovers.
During those games, there has been a consistent pattern of the team doing better with him on the court. In fact, his +3.0 net rating is not only highest on the team but every other starter is at -1.7 or below.
Tiny sample, of course, but it may be the start of a pattern.
Lack of rebounding continues to be a concern, though.
He just doesn't care about it at all for the most part.
Hopefully that can be drilled into him and he can pick it up when needed.
Defense has been solid overall but he is not as consistently good as he could be despite some minor limitations.

[jezzerinho]

I'm a big fan of Cissoko. Very talented kid.

[cedric76]

Sidy Cissoko

5th consecutive 20+ PTS game since his longer absence. His role has increased and he responds extraordinarily well. Especially when he gets a chance to create, good things happen for the team.

23/6/6/1/0 (4-6 on 2s, 5-9 on 3s, 0-1 on FTs) with 1 TO in 32 MIN, +6 (-8 without him)

24/6/4/1/1 (5-9 on 2s, 2-5 on 3s, 5-8 on FTs) with 1 TO in 30 MIN, -10 (-16 without him)

22/6/3/1/0 (4-10 on 2s, 4-7 on 3s, 1-2 on FTs) with 1 TO in 37 MIN, +11 (+4 without him)

22/2/5/4/1 (3-4 on 2s, 3-7 on 3s, 4-4 on FTs) with 5 TO in 32 MIN, +6 (+2 without him)

20/1/5/3/1 (6-10 on 2s, 0-3 on 3s, 4-5 on FTs) with 1 TO in 32 MIN, +2 (-14 without him)

Average: 22/4/5/2/1 with 2 TO on 56/45/70 shooting splits and +3.0.

Very consistent scoring on high efficiency.
23 Assists to only 9 Turnovers.
During those games, there has been a consistent pattern of the team doing better with him on the court. In fact, his +3.0 net rating is not only highest on the team but every other starter is at -1.7 or below.
Tiny sample, of course, but it may be the start of a pattern.
Lack of rebounding continues to be a concern, though.
He just doesn't care about it at all for the most part.
Hopefully that can be drilled into him and he can pick it up when needed.
Defense has been solid overall but he is not as consistently good as he could be despite some minor limitations.

We need another french man, bring sidy over

[VFX]

How many athletic players that can handle ball are out of the league? The answer is a lot. MCW is barely in the league.

I'm just surprised people are enamored with the Thompson twins.

Dominick Barlow was the best player to come out of OTE last season. He signed a two-way with the tanking Spurs and hasn't been that good.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

Thompson twins are the:

Josh Jackson
Derrick Williams
Stanley Johnson
Marquess Chriss
Isaac Okoro
Thomas Robinson

Of this draft.

Guys that will be taken highly because of their athleticism despite the fact that they don’t have actual basketball skill.

I don’t care how big and athletic prospects are going into the draft. If you have to design a roster around glaring shortcomings, then you aren’t (at the very least) worth a top 5 pick.

A guard that can’t shoot is the same as a Center that can’t play defense or rebound. Why spend a lotto pick on that player if you can sign a number of guys that can?

Markelle Fultz also has a quick first step and can get to the rim using his athleticism. Congratulations. He’s still a bottom 5 point guard.

[thelead]

An interesting thought; Isaac, Bamba, Chuma, and Cole were all drafted during the Vooch build. Franz, Suggs, Paolo, and Houstan all drafted during the rebuild. Vooch era picks feel like whiffs because they were made under a win now strategy? Is it a consideration in understanding our rebuild roadmap? Fultz was traded for during the Vooch era as well. Out with the old, in with the new?

My guess is that those Vuc era picks were mostly Matt Lloyd’s (continuation of the Hennigan era) and that’s why he is no longer with the magic. I bet Lloyd had a difference of opinion on who to take with the #1 pick (maybe Chet or Jabari) and Weltman wanted Paolo. I may be reaching but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our ‘draft guy’ leaves right before we drafted Paolo with the top pick in the draft.

[eyriq]

An interesting thought; Isaac, Bamba, Chuma, and Cole were all drafted during the Vooch build. Franz, Suggs, Paolo, and Houstan all drafted during the rebuild. Vooch era picks feel like whiffs because they were made under a win now strategy? Is it a consideration in understanding our rebuild roadmap? Fultz was traded for during the Vooch era as well. Out with the old, in with the new?

My guess is that those Vuc era picks were mostly Matt Lloyd’s (continuation of the Hennigan era) and that’s why he is no longer with the magic. I bet Lloyd had a difference of opinion on who to take with the #1 pick (maybe Chet or Jabari) and Weltman wanted Paolo. I may be reaching but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our ‘draft guy’ leaves right before we drafted Paolo with the top pick in the draft.

I think there is a significant probability, say 20%, that we rebuild our backcourt around Suggs this offseason. A large part of it will be executing our gameplan around free agents and trade targets, and getting our guys in the draft.

If we make the play-in, forget about it. If we get Scoot, its a no-brainer. If we have a guard we really like in the draft available to and if we can sign FVV its rebuild time.

So drafting Scoot or signing FVV means blowing up the backcourt and building it around Suggs (well building it around Scoot and Suggs but you get the point).

[Petre1978]

An interesting thought; Isaac, Bamba, Chuma, and Cole were all drafted during the Vooch build. Franz, Suggs, Paolo, and Houstan all drafted during the rebuild. Vooch era picks feel like whiffs because they were made under a win now strategy? Is it a consideration in understanding our rebuild roadmap? Fultz was traded for during the Vooch era as well. Out with the old, in with the new?

My guess is that those Vuc era picks were mostly Matt Lloyd’s (continuation of the Hennigan era) and that’s why he is no longer with the magic. I bet Lloyd had a difference of opinion on who to take with the #1 pick (maybe Chet or Jabari) and Weltman wanted Paolo. I may be reaching but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our ‘draft guy’ leaves right before we drafted Paolo with the top pick in the draft.

I think there is a significant probability, say 20%, that we rebuild our backcourt around Suggs this offseason. A large part of it will be executing our gameplan around free agents and trade targets, and getting our guys in the draft.

If we make the play-in, forget about it. If we get Scoot, its a no-brainer. If we have a guard we really like in the draft available to and if we can sign FVV its rebuild time.

So drafting Scoot or signing FVV means blowing up the backcourt and building it around Suggs (well building it around Scoot and Suggs but you get the point).

Why building the backcourt around Suggs?

[eyriq]

My guess is that those Vuc era picks were mostly Matt Lloyd’s (continuation of the Hennigan era) and that’s why he is no longer with the magic. I bet Lloyd had a difference of opinion on who to take with the #1 pick (maybe Chet or Jabari) and Weltman wanted Paolo. I may be reaching but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our ‘draft guy’ leaves right before we drafted Paolo with the top pick in the draft.

I think there is a significant probability, say 20%, that we rebuild our backcourt around Suggs this offseason. A large part of it will be executing our gameplan around free agents and trade targets, and getting our guys in the draft.

If we make the play-in, forget about it. If we get Scoot, its a no-brainer. If we have a guard we really like in the draft available to and if we can sign FVV its rebuild time.

So drafting Scoot or signing FVV means blowing up the backcourt and building it around Suggs (well building it around Scoot and Suggs but you get the point).

Why building the backcourt around Suggs?

I think for several reasons

1. He's WeHam's guy
2. He's showing elite defensive potential
3. His offensive toolkit is promising
4. He's versatile, able to play the 1 or 2 with investment in development

[basketballRob]

We need the Pacers to beat the Bulls. I think Haliburton is playing

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[Petre1978]

I think there is a significant probability, say 20%, that we rebuild our backcourt around Suggs this offseason. A large part of it will be executing our gameplan around free agents and trade targets, and getting our guys in the draft.

If we make the play-in, forget about it. If we get Scoot, its a no-brainer. If we have a guard we really like in the draft available to and if we can sign FVV its rebuild time.

So drafting Scoot or signing FVV means blowing up the backcourt and building it around Suggs (well building it around Scoot and Suggs but you get the point).

Why building the backcourt around Suggs?

I think for several reasons

1. He's WeHam's guy
2. He's showing elite defensive potential
3. His offensive toolkit is promising
4. He's versatile, able to play the 1 or 2 with investment in development

Key for Suggs is to stay healthy.
What about Anthony and Fultz?

[Petre1978]

Watch on YouTube

[RookieStar]

From the draft board, clyde seems like a legit draft opinion to track.

pre march madness update

1 Victor Wembanyama

2 Scoot Henderson
3 Anthony Black

4 Keyonte George
5 Brandon Miller
6 Nick Smith Jr.
7 Jarace Walker
8 GG Jackson
9 Gradey Dick
10 Taylor Hendricks

11 Cam Whitmore
12 Ausar Thompson
13 Amen Thompson
14 Judah Mintz
15 Jordan Hawkins
16 Rayan Rupert
17 Ricky Council
18 Cason Wallace
19 Kyle Filipowski
20 Trey Alexander

That's actually a good mock except I wanna know why Black is raated so high? He is maybe in the 7th-10th range for me

[KillMonger]

How many athletic players that can handle ball are out of the league? The answer is a lot. MCW is barely in the league.

I'm just surprised people are enamored with the Thompson twins.

Dominick Barlow was the best player to come out of OTE last season. He signed a two-way with the tanking Spurs and hasn't been that good.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

Thompson twins are the:

Josh Jackson
Derrick Williams
Stanley Johnson
Marquess Chriss
Isaac Okoro
Thomas Robinson

Of this draft.

Guys that will be taken highly because of their athleticism despite the fact that they don’t have actual basketball skill.

I don’t care how big and athletic prospects are going into the draft. If you have to design a roster around glaring shortcomings, then you aren’t (at the very least) worth a top 5 pick.

A guard that can’t shoot is the same as a Center that can’t play defense or rebound. Why spend a lotto pick on that player if you can sign a number of guys that can?

Markelle Fultz also has a quick first step and can get to the rim using his athleticism. Congratulations. He’s still a bottom 5 point guard.

I say this respectfully but this makes me wonder if you've watched the games and not just highlights... For me watching the twins play.... The very last thing on my mind is the word "unskilled"

Sent from my Pixel 7 using RealGM mobile app

[eyriq]

How many athletic players that can handle ball are out of the league? The answer is a lot. MCW is barely in the league.

I'm just surprised people are enamored with the Thompson twins.

Dominick Barlow was the best player to come out of OTE last season. He signed a two-way with the tanking Spurs and hasn't been that good.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

Thompson twins are the:

Josh Jackson
Derrick Williams
Stanley Johnson
Marquess Chriss
Isaac Okoro
Thomas Robinson

Of this draft.

Guys that will be taken highly because of their athleticism despite the fact that they don’t have actual basketball skill.

I don’t care how big and athletic prospects are going into the draft. If you have to design a roster around glaring shortcomings, then you aren’t (at the very least) worth a top 5 pick.

A guard that can’t shoot is the same as a Center that can’t play defense or rebound. Why spend a lotto pick on that player if you can sign a number of guys that can?

Markelle Fultz also has a quick first step and can get to the rim using his athleticism. Congratulations. He’s still a bottom 5 point guard.

I say this respectfully but this makes me wonder if you've watched the games and not just highlights... For me watching the twins play.... The very last thing on my mind is the word "unskilled"

Sent from my Pixel 7 using RealGM mobile app

I was thinking that they looked hella skilled too. I think lack of shooting gets over indexed in almost every evaluation.

[Magic#1]

We need the Pacers to beat the Bulls. I think Haliburton is playing

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

Done. 17 games to go and they're two games out of the play-in. We are getting closer and closer to getting WCJ, Franz and another lottery pick out of Vooch. That's amazing.

[basketballRob]

Bulls down to 6th worst.

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[eyriq]

Bulls down to 6th worst.

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A slightly weighted coin flip in our favor to get their pick. Makes me nervous.

[basketballRob]

Bulls down to 6th worst.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

A slightly weighted coin flip in our favor to get their pick. Makes me nervous.

They'll probably still end up 8th or 9th.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[VFX]

How many athletic players that can handle ball are out of the league? The answer is a lot. MCW is barely in the league.

I'm just surprised people are enamored with the Thompson twins.

Dominick Barlow was the best player to come out of OTE last season. He signed a two-way with the tanking Spurs and hasn't been that good.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

Thompson twins are the:

Josh Jackson
Derrick Williams
Stanley Johnson
Marquess Chriss
Isaac Okoro
Thomas Robinson

Of this draft.

Guys that will be taken highly because of their athleticism despite the fact that they don’t have actual basketball skill.

I don’t care how big and athletic prospects are going into the draft. If you have to design a roster around glaring shortcomings, then you aren’t (at the very least) worth a top 5 pick.

A guard that can’t shoot is the same as a Center that can’t play defense or rebound. Why spend a lotto pick on that player if you can sign a number of guys that can?

Markelle Fultz also has a quick first step and can get to the rim using his athleticism. Congratulations. He’s still a bottom 5 point guard.

I say this respectfully but this makes me wonder if you've watched the games and not just highlights... For me watching the twins play.... The very last thing on my mind is the word "unskilled"

Sent from my Pixel 7 using RealGM mobile app

Hard to even tell during games because they aren’t playing real competition.

Both of them are oversized athletic playmaking guards that play defense, get to the rim, and can’t shoot.

Shooting is the only prerequisite to be drafted by Orlando at this point. They aren’t skilled at anything that matters as a deficiency to Orlando.

Nothing else to talk about.