The Official 2023 Draft Thread

Dat2U · Post #361 » by **Dat2U** » Thu Apr 20, 2023 3:13 am

Dereck Lively II will be a steal in the draft. Lottery level talent who will be picked in the late teens/20s. Huge rim runner with quick feet, good instincts and defensive awareness. DPOY potential. A future starting C IMO.

Kanyewest · Post #362 » by **Kanyewest** » Thu Apr 20, 2023 5:00 pm

Dat2U wrote:
Jay81 wrote:
Dat2U wrote:At this point I've cooled considerably on Anthony Black. I love the relentless slashing but the combo of a lack of a reliable shot & struggles with finishing in half court settings is alot to overcome. I moved him to late lottery from mid-lottery.

I like Cason Wallace and like Gradey Dick I'm sure he's a future 10+ year vet. I have concerns about his playmaking though and wonder if he's not a bigger stronger Monte Morris (which isn't bad but getting a playmaking PG is a real need).
Taylor Hendricks is really intriguing as a high volume 3pt shooter with shot versatility and a shot blocking menace at PF. Shot creation isn't great but he can attack closeouts in a straight line. I like his awareness on D which is a huge plus in my eyes. I wish he saw the floor better on offense though.

How about Cam Whitmore?

I think he goes before 8 which is why I didn't mention him. I don't like the court vision and I think the game moved a little fast for him at times but he is an impressively built wing with top tier athleticism and some off the bounce and athletic pop at the rim. I ses more of a 3/4 than a 3/2 based on skill level. The simpler the game is kept for him, the better he'll probably do. I get the Jaylen Brown comparisons. Similar type of player coming into the league with Cam being built a little bigger and a better rebounder. If he's there at 8, take him and I have him as the 6th best prospect at the moment after Wemby, Scoot, Miller & the Thompson twins.

It seems like where he lands could determine how good he's going to be. If he goes to a team like San Antonio, they may fix his 3 point shot and coach up his defense, which was improving to close the season. I do think his handle could be a little better than Brown because he's ambidexterous although sometimes he dribbles into tough spots (and Brown ultimately proved to have a great basketball IQ). I think he closed the season relatively strongly, he was part of some winning basketball as Villanova attempted to make a late season push to the tournament when they finally got Justin Moore back. I also feel like the Pacers may end up taking Whitmore at 7. It would certainly be a test to see whether Wes and the staff could coach up Whitmore (maybe James Posey could coach up his defense).

LofJ · Post #363 » by **LofJ** » Thu Apr 20, 2023 6:34 pm

Read on Twitter

I hope you guys land Scoot now, it's meant to be.

AFM · Post #364 » by **AFM** » Thu Apr 20, 2023 6:44 pm

kek put a sorting hat on this fellas head ASAP

doclinkin · Post #365 » by **doclinkin** » Thu Apr 20, 2023 11:43 pm

Ha! Be careful what you wish for, Scoot.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #366 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Fri Apr 21, 2023 12:18 am

I remember Cameron Thomas having Steph Curry scoring in the NCAAs. I was hoping he'd be a pick as a potential Beal replacement.

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Jay81 · Post #367 » by **Jay81** » Fri Apr 21, 2023 2:46 am

Read on Twitter

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9 and 20 · Post #368 » by **9 and 20** » Fri Apr 21, 2023 3:25 am

Jay81 wrote:

Read on Twitter
?s=46&t=C005pd5HNg3Y-KhVU7n3VA

This man has the face of a baby. If we draft him, I will immediately think of the Dave Chappelle 'Hey Baby! What you doing out here on the corner?' bit every time I see him in uniform.

Jay81 · Post #369 » by **Jay81** » Fri Apr 21, 2023 4:41 am

If we drop to 9...billal should get a look

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NatP4 · Post #370 » by **NatP4** » Fri Apr 21, 2023 6:37 am

Jay81 wrote:If we drop to 9...billal should get a look

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I would take him at 6, maybe even higher than that. Him declaring is big news. A lot of people thought he was a top 10 lock for 2024.

Still think he’s the best prospect in the draft outside of Wembanyama and maybe Miller/Ausar.

Jay81 · Post #371 » by **Jay81** » Sat Apr 22, 2023 4:34 am

Start prepping to tank for Cooper Flagg

gambitx777 · Post #372 » by **gambitx777** » Sat Apr 22, 2023 5:42 am

Other than wemby and maybe Brandon miller that I'm not really in love with any in the top ten. Scoot has bust written all over him. I hope they hire piff or someone piff adjacent as GM and we can trade back Brooklyn having two late firsts is perfect ! We move back and we can see if my preferred pick falls, Wallace or take guys like bilal or podziemski or again I'm still beating the Emoni Bates drum if he comes out in the second round.

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FAH1223 · Post #373 » by **FAH1223** » Sat Apr 22, 2023 7:15 am

Watch on YouTube

Dark Faze · Post #374 » by **Dark Faze** » Mon Apr 24, 2023 3:04 pm

Is there any reason why Bates is still mocked to go in the 2nd round? He wasn't terribly efficient this year, but 6'10 with handle and shot creation ability and still only 19 is something that would be hard to pass up outside of the lottery.

Jay81 · Post #375 » by **Jay81** » Mon Apr 24, 2023 3:19 pm

Dark Faze wrote:Is there any reason why Bates is still mocked to go in the 2nd round? He wasn't terribly efficient this year, but 6'10 with handle and shot creation ability and still only 19 is something that would be hard to pass up outside of the lottery.

lol sounds like you are talking about Isiah Todd

NatP4 · Post #376 » by **NatP4** » Mon Apr 24, 2023 3:43 pm

Dark Faze wrote:Is there any reason why Bates is still mocked to go in the 2nd round? He wasn't terribly efficient this year, but 6'10 with handle and shot creation ability and still only 19 is something that would be hard to pass up outside of the lottery.

Played against bad competition and put up terrible numbers. Doesn’t get steals, blocks, or rebounds, averaged twice as many turnovers as assists, was inefficient like you said. Actually posted a negative BPM figure. His defense is atrocious.

He really shouldn’t be drafted, not going to be a NBA player.

payitforward · Post #377 » by **payitforward** » Mon Apr 24, 2023 6:32 pm

Off the numbers & his performance I wouldn't draft him anywhere. I doubt any team will, although I'm sure he'll get a chance to show something over the Summer.

Has he declared for the draft? He's a fool if he has.

Edit -- I see that yeah he's declared. Too bad.

AFM · Post #378 » by **AFM** » Mon Apr 24, 2023 6:55 pm

payitforward wrote:Off the numbers & his performance I wouldn't draft him anywhere. I doubt any team will, although I'm sure he'll get a chance to show something over the Summer.

Has he declared for the draft? He's a fool if he has.

Edit -- I see that yeah he's declared. Too bad.

He saw the Wiz give a player like Todd 4 years guaranteed and immediately threw his hat in the ring

payitforward · Post #379 » by **payitforward** » Tue Apr 25, 2023 12:10 am

Anybody looked at this kid Oso Ighodaro? -- might have potential & be available at our late R2 spot....

Dat2U · Post #380 » by **Dat2U** » Tue Apr 25, 2023 1:00 am

gambitx777 wrote:Other than wemby and maybe Brandon miller that I'm not really in love with any in the top ten. Scoot has bust written all over him. I hope they hire piff or someone piff adjacent as GM and we can trade back Brooklyn having two late firsts is perfect ! We move back and we can see if my preferred pick falls, Wallace or take guys like bilal or podziemski or again I'm still beating the Emoni Bates drum if he comes out in the second round.

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Scoot is the 2nd coming of John Wall. Hyper athletic but a little raw. Just like Wall coming out he can tighten his handle a little and improve his jumper but he's explosive and will be guy defenses must account for.

Brandon Miller does alot of impressive things but has two red flags which prevents me from putting him above Scoot and much closer to the Thompson twins than you'd probably think. His poor finishing in half court situations and the negative ast to TO ratio. Now he had enough 'I'm him' moments that his you look at his strengths as a lengthy shot maker with range and secondary creation skills and say he's a safe bet to at least be a really solid starter.