2023 Draft Discussion Part III

[Dalek]

I thought I posted this earlier today, but I think I forgot to submit. These are pretty decent videos of Coulibaly showing his offense and the second one highlights the defense:

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I think his size, wiry frame and shooting ability remind me most of Mikal Bridges. He will be a guy who moves up because he has a good base to work from, is young and malleable.

Whether Toronto wants him is another story. He is a a very good prospect, but likely a couple years away from producing, and at pick 13 there might be a bit more pressure for immediate returns. To me, he could be better served as a draft and stash guy to get better reps where he is.

Looking at Coulibaly's stats he's had more TO's than assists. He doesn't look like a good shooter if we're going by the stats. The FT% is reassuring but I think Cissoko's ability to get to the line and the month by month improvement in that area shows he's gaining confidence in his physicality. Cissoko has double the FTr of Banton and better playmaking stats than him in the GLeague this season. Cissoko is 18 while Banton is 23 years old.

The reason I have faith in Cissoko is because he is easy to compare to NBA talent. I've seen him go against Champagnie and the 905 with borderline NBA players and out perform them. That's gives enough reasonable belief he can be a productive rotation player right away.

Cissoko's immediate skills are going to be his ability to get to the line, play POA defense, run an offense as the ball handler in a pick and roll, keep turnovers low, and play as a secondary ball handler. He's going to be a streaky shooter but I can see him improving on that. I guess his FT% is >65 next season but <75

I just don't think the G-League is a good place for him to develop. He has a good situation in Europe where he can gain confidence.

You have to remember that his highlights and stats are mainly against lower league and younger players and that's probably where he needs to be in year one to gain confidence, not watch journeyman G-Leaguers take turns running the offense over him.

[DreamTeam09]

I thought I posted this earlier today, but I think I forgot to submit. These are pretty decent videos of Coulibaly showing his offense and the second one highlights the defense:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

I think his size, wiry frame and shooting ability remind me most of Mikal Bridges. He will be a guy who moves up because he has a good base to work from, is young and malleable.

Whether Toronto wants him is another story. He is a a very good prospect, but likely a couple years away from producing, and at pick 13 there might be a bit more pressure for immediate returns. To me, he could be better served as a draft and stash guy to get better reps where he is.

Looking at Coulibaly's stats he's had more TO's than assists. He doesn't look like a good shooter if we're going by the stats. The FT% is reassuring but I think Cissoko's ability to get to the line and the month by month improvement in that area shows he's gaining confidence in his physicality. Cissoko has double the FTr of Banton and better playmaking stats than him in the GLeague this season. Cissoko is 18 while Banton is 23 years old.

The reason I have faith in Cissoko is because he is easy to compare to NBA talent. I've seen him go against Champagnie and the 905 with borderline NBA players and out perform them. That's gives enough reasonable belief he can be a productive rotation player right away.

Cissoko's immediate skills are going to be his ability to get to the line, play POA defense, run an offense as the ball handler in a pick and roll, keep turnovers low, and play as a secondary ball handler. He's going to be a streaky shooter but I can see him improving on that. I guess his FT% is >65 next season but <75

He looks slow footed to me, maybe it's just pace that he likes to play with, or the deceptive strides that make him look slow, but i'd like a little more burst out of someone who handles the ball. 6'6 doesn't impress me, if he was 6'9-6'10 i'd be all in. I guess there's still time n hope to add some height.

[ArthurVandelay]

I hadn't seen much of Bilal Coulibaly earlier as he was always listed in the 2nd round. But now I'm starting to wonder why is he ranked so low? I feel like he's definitely going to be a riser in the draft. He's heavily underrated.

The thing with him is he's still a kid growing into a man's body and he is a player along the lines of a Trey Murphy in the sense of being a guy who has incredible potential but needing to be confident in himself and realize just how good of a player he can be.

If the switch turns on and he plays with another level of assertiveness and confidence on the court and realizes that he's "the guy" he could be a complete steal.

The footage of him playing against really bad young french players got people a little too hyped up but he's still a guy with potential who has a feel for the game and impacts it in many different ways.

Big thing for him is just working on his body and playing nonstop against grown men/better competition while honing his skills.

For me it was the highlights playing against French first division talent that got me hyped up.

[Grew]

The more I see of these prospects in our range the more it's George for me. He's got natural talent no one else in our range has, maybe Nick Smith but George seems to have higher BBIQ. If he goes to the right situation, somewhere committed to his development that puts the ball in his hands, you could have the next Jamal Murray type.

I'm getting kind of sick of putting so much stock into college numbers. It's a different game, there are plenty of great college players whose games don't translate to the league, or guys who just aren't cut out for the spotlight. Malachi was a great college player. Jaylen Brown shot the same EFG/TS as George in college. Some guys aren't cut out for the college game but will excel in the NBA.

I'm swinging for the fences and taking George if he's there at 13. That's the skillset we need.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

I thought I posted this earlier today, but I think I forgot to submit. These are pretty decent videos of Coulibaly showing his offense and the second one highlights the defense:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

I think his size, wiry frame and shooting ability remind me most of Mikal Bridges. He will be a guy who moves up because he has a good base to work from, is young and malleable.

Whether Toronto wants him is another story. He is a a very good prospect, but likely a couple years away from producing, and at pick 13 there might be a bit more pressure for immediate returns. To me, he could be better served as a draft and stash guy to get better reps where he is.

Looking at Coulibaly's stats he's had more TO's than assists. He doesn't look like a good shooter if we're going by the stats. The FT% is reassuring but I think Cissoko's ability to get to the line and the month by month improvement in that area shows he's gaining confidence in his physicality. Cissoko has double the FTr of Banton and better playmaking stats than him in the GLeague this season. Cissoko is 18 while Banton is 23 years old.

The reason I have faith in Cissoko is because he is easy to compare to NBA talent. I've seen him go against Champagnie and the 905 with borderline NBA players and out perform them. That's gives enough reasonable belief he can be a productive rotation player right away.

Cissoko's immediate skills are going to be his ability to get to the line, play POA defense, run an offense as the ball handler in a pick and roll, keep turnovers low, and play as a secondary ball handler. He's going to be a streaky shooter but I can see him improving on that. I guess his FT% is >65 next season but <75

He looks slow footed to me, maybe it's just pace that he likes to play with, or the deceptive strides that make him look slow, but i'd like a little more burst out of someone who handles the ball. 6'6 doesn't impress me, if he was 6'9-6'10 i'd be all in. I guess there's still time n hope to add some height.

That was my initial criticism as well and you have to hope he will just be a long, smooth operator type rather than some guy who uses great agility and strength to get by.

[Thaddy]

Looking at Coulibaly's stats he's had more TO's than assists. He doesn't look like a good shooter if we're going by the stats. The FT% is reassuring but I think Cissoko's ability to get to the line and the month by month improvement in that area shows he's gaining confidence in his physicality. Cissoko has double the FTr of Banton and better playmaking stats than him in the GLeague this season. Cissoko is 18 while Banton is 23 years old.

The reason I have faith in Cissoko is because he is easy to compare to NBA talent. I've seen him go against Champagnie and the 905 with borderline NBA players and out perform them. That's gives enough reasonable belief he can be a productive rotation player right away.

Cissoko's immediate skills are going to be his ability to get to the line, play POA defense, run an offense as the ball handler in a pick and roll, keep turnovers low, and play as a secondary ball handler. He's going to be a streaky shooter but I can see him improving on that. I guess his FT% is >65 next season but <75

He looks slow footed to me, maybe it's just pace that he likes to play with, or the deceptive strides that make him look slow, but i'd like a little more burst out of someone who handles the ball. 6'6 doesn't impress me, if he was 6'9-6'10 i'd be all in. I guess there's still time n hope to add some height.

That was my initial criticism as well and you have to hope he will just be a long, smooth operator type rather than some guy who uses great agility and strength to get by.

If Keyonte can't score against NCAA talent he definitely isn't going to have better efficiency against NBA level defenders. Burst is overrated, having guys that can bully their way into the post to draw fouls, doubles, or just finish because they are bigger is more efficient.

[Yallbecrazy]

He looks slow footed to me, maybe it's just pace that he likes to play with, or the deceptive strides that make him look slow, but i'd like a little more burst out of someone who handles the ball. 6'6 doesn't impress me, if he was 6'9-6'10 i'd be all in. I guess there's still time n hope to add some height.

That was my initial criticism as well and you have to hope he will just be a long, smooth operator type rather than some guy who uses great agility and strength to get by.

If Keyonte can't score against NCAA talent he definitely isn't going to have better efficiency against NBA level defenders. Burst is overrated, having guys that can bully their way into the post to draw fouls, doubles, or just finish because they are bigger is more efficient.

We're not doing a full rebuild, having a guy jack up a bunch of low percentage shots while not offering much else means he's not going to see the floor. If he doesn't see the floor he's not going to get better. Cissoko at least offers many things so he can be effective even if not shooting, and I don't think he will automatically be a bad shooter as a rookie. 31% in the G league at 18 is pretty good, don't forget it's not just the distance, but also the rim tension is different in college vs the NBA. There's a good chunk of shots in college that rattle and go in, but would bounce out in the NBA/ G league.

[HumbleRen]

Who’s the most downhill threat prospect. That’s who we need.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

Who’s the most downhill threat prospect. That’s who we need.

Ricky Council

[HumbleRen]

Who’s the most downhill threat prospect. That’s who we need.

Ricky Council

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

Who’s the most downhill threat prospect. That’s who we need.

Ricky Council

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[billy_hoyle]

He looks slow footed to me, maybe it's just pace that he likes to play with, or the deceptive strides that make him look slow, but i'd like a little more burst out of someone who handles the ball. 6'6 doesn't impress me, if he was 6'9-6'10 i'd be all in. I guess there's still time n hope to add some height.

That was my initial criticism as well and you have to hope he will just be a long, smooth operator type rather than some guy who uses great agility and strength to get by.

If Keyonte can't score against NCAA talent he definitely isn't going to have better efficiency against NBA level defenders. Burst is overrated, having guys that can bully their way into the post to draw fouls, doubles, or just finish because they are bigger is more efficient.

That's objectively not true. Some players do improve against NBA competition. Not alot mind you, but if Masai wants Keyonte, I'm definitely game. He's a player type we could use.

[DreamTeam09]

Who’s the most downhill threat prospect. That’s who we need.

Ricky Council

He's actually my favourite player in this draft.

[Thaddy]

That was my initial criticism as well and you have to hope he will just be a long, smooth operator type rather than some guy who uses great agility and strength to get by.

If Keyonte can't score against NCAA talent he definitely isn't going to have better efficiency against NBA level defenders. Burst is overrated, having guys that can bully their way into the post to draw fouls, doubles, or just finish because they are bigger is more efficient.

That's objectively not true. Some players do improve against NBA competition. Not alot mind you, but if Masai wants Keyonte, I'm definitely game. He's a player type we could use.

My hope is Dick, Jackson, Hawkins, and a few others rise in the draft and we get Wallace who would be the safest pick. The 6'9 pipedream can still live on but adding guards and going small in the backcourt could have it's advantages. If we could field a Wallace and DDV backcourt through FA I could see Fred's production improving by playing with another guard similar to how he did with Lowry.

A guard that can use the pick and roll well, make others around him better, and shoot well off the catch and dribble is what we need. George looks like a high volume low efficiency scorer.

[BoyzNTheHood]

A lot of Cissoko supporters reference Keyonte George’s shooting percentages, but ignore Cissoko’s. Is that because you are accounting for the G-League being a far better league? I have my concerns about Cissoko’s stats. It’s not appealing for a guy who’s supposed to be a future NBA player amongst minor leaguers. After all, guys like Blanton and Koloko dominate the G-League and are barely NBA players at this point in their careers.

[dozo]

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Nothing really new on Rupert.

45 min
Rayan Rupert
-offense is bad
-defense is special (can guard up or down)
-rare prospect -size/measurements
-top 25 worst case scenario
-great motor
-decent in transition offense
-strong going left attacking the rim
-if available at 25, teams should try to trade up for him
-can facilitate the PnR
-shooting form is good
-raw like Ousmane Dieng
-he doesn't have a skill that he excels at.
-If the shot doesn't develop he will be another Matisse Thybulle
-values where he plays. Likes the NBL.
-if Rupert played in different league his evaluation would be different.


The host of podcast has done thorough job of evaluating Coulibaly. The Biggest take away is Coulibaly natural feel for the game.

1:17:41min
Bilal Coulibaly
-The host of show has him 12th on his big board
-sales pitch for top 20 or late lottery range
-moves his feet as well as any other prospect he has evaluated in 12 years.
-the best euro step from a pure wing
-can handle the ball
-can get downhill
-can create for himself
-finishes around, over, and thru contact
-absorbes contact well on defense
-strong stature
-great foot speed
-jump shot needs to speed up.
-shown improvement as spot shooter and pull-up shooter.
-we need to understand that he played at junior level at some parts of the season.
-he dominated at that level, filled up the box score.
-transitioned well to the senior team
-should be taken more seriously as a 2023 draft pick.
-he doesn't play like an 18yr old.
-never looks out of place or lost
-Mets92 is a good team. A mixture fringe nba players, french vets and young prospects vying for the NBA.
-he fits on both sides of the ball
-nice mid-range pullup going right.
- believes he is top 6 in 2024 draft class.

[Mark_83]

A lot of Cissoko supporters reference Keyonte George’s shooting percentages, but ignore Cissoko’s. Is that because you are accounting for the G-League being a far better league? I have my concerns about Cissoko’s stats. It’s not appealing for a guy who’s supposed to be a future NBA player amongst minor leaguers. After all, guys like Blanton and Koloko dominate the G-League and are barely NBA players at this point in their careers.

I'm a Cissoko supporter and I like George based on where we're picking. I wouldn't take either in the top 10, but depending on who's there at 13, I'd happilly take either.

[ATLTimekeeper]

A lot of Cissoko supporters reference Keyonte George’s shooting percentages, but ignore Cissoko’s. Is that because you are accounting for the G-League being a far better league? I have my concerns about Cissoko’s stats. It’s not appealing for a guy who’s supposed to be a future NBA player amongst minor leaguers. After all, guys like Blanton and Koloko dominate the G-League and are barely NBA players at this point in their careers.

Can't speak for anyone else but for me it's that there's significant amounts of data for the NCAA and almost none for the NBA prospects in the Gleague. You can reliably gauge players chances of success based on NCAA data, but you really can't with the Gleague. But, you also have to accept that the Gleague has the NBA line, NBA shot clock and Cissoko is playing against physically mature players.

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

Nothing really new on Rupert.

45 min
Rayan Rupert
-offense is bad
-defense is special (can guard up or down)
-rare prospect -size/measurements
-top 25 worst case scenario
-great motor
-decent in transition offense
-strong going left attacking the rim
-if available at 25, teams should try to trade up for him
-can facilitate the PnR
-shooting form is good
-raw like Ousmane Dieng
-he doesn't have a skill that he excels at.
-If the shot doesn't develop he will be another Matisse Thybulle
-values where he plays. Likes the NBL.
-if Rupert played in different league his evaluation would be different.


The host of podcast has done thorough job of evaluating Coulibaly. The Biggest take away is Coulibaly natural feel for the game.

1:17:41min
Bilal Coulibaly
-The host of show has him 12th on his big board
-sales pitch for top 20 or late lottery range
-moves his feet as well as any other prospect he has evaluated in 12 years.
-the best euro step from a pure wing
-can handle the ball
-can get downhill
-can create for himself
-finishes around, over, and thru contact
-absorbes contact well on defense
-strong stature
-great foot speed
-jump shot needs to speed up.
-shown improvement as spot shooter and pull-up shooter.
-we need to understand that he played at junior level at some parts of the season.
-he dominated at that level, filled up the box score.
-transitioned well to the senior team
-should be taken more seriously as a 2023 draft pick.
-he doesn't play like an 18yr old.
-never looks out of place or lost
-Mets92 is a good team. A mixture fringe nba players, french vets and young prospects vying for the NBA.
-he fits on both sides of the ball
-nice mid-range pullup going right.
- believes he is top 6 in 2024 draft class.

I can see why Coulibaly is a better prospect than Rupert. Still raw but the offensive foundation and upside is there along with the length.

[Bruin]

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