2023 NBA Draft – Thurs, 8PM, June 22

[Smart2Nesmith43]

I don't get the Thompson love in these mock drafts honestly. They seem to have broken jumpers which is problematic for perimeter players in this NBA.

[Homerclease]

So. After watching this series with the Hawks and about to watch this series vs Embiid and the rest of the floppers, it reaffirms my desire to trade up for Derek Lively. We need another big that can contest shots in the lane, clear the glass and maybe even grab an offensive rebound here and there. There’s also a good chance we see Mitchell Robinson in the ECF too. Lively fills our biggest need and the price to move up from the early second to the late first isn’t exorbitant

[165bows]

I don't get the Thompson love in these mock drafts honestly. They seem to have broken jumpers which is problematic for perimeter players in this NBA.

100%. Going to be a lot of busts in this lottery. I mean, there always are, but there will be this year, too.

[Kalela]

So. After watching this series with the Hawks and about to watch this series vs Embiid and the rest of the floppers, it reaffirms my desire to trade up for Derek Lively. We need another big that can contest shots in the lane, clear the glass and maybe even grab an offensive rebound here and there. There’s also a good chance we see Mitchell Robinson in the ECF too. Lively fills our biggest need and the price to move up from the early second to the late first isn’t exorbitant

And under-the-radar young big I really like is Isaiah Jackson at Indiana. The Pacers don't really use him much but he reminds me of Timelord but with a much better injury history and more promising offensive potential. Celtics may be able to trade Grant Williams to get him from the Pacers. If developed properly, he can end up being a really good center. He is really solid defensively.

Watch on YouTube

[Curmudgeon]

There are half a dozen Derek Lively's already in the league, which is full of young project centers, e.g. Kabengele. Heck, Moses Brown is still only 24 years old.

If Lively slips, fine, but I'm not moving up to grab him.

[Homerclease]

There are half a dozen Derek Lively's already in the league, which is full of young project centers, e.g. Kabengele. Heck, Moses Brown is still only 24 years old.

If Lively slips, fine, but I'm not moving up to grab him.

Except I think Lively is better than them. Kabengele can’t guard anyone, neither can Moses Brown. If they had taken my advice and moved up for Kessler last year we’d be sitting pretty

[165bows]

If they stay where they are (or drop back), feels like Bona or Gueye are their type of guys. Though if Jacques is still there they prob have to take him despite not having a ton of minutes for him. Jacquez prob gets grabbed by Memphis in the 20s.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

If they stay where they are (or drop back), feels like Bona or Gueye are their type of guys. Though if Jacques is still there they prob have to take him despite not having a ton of minutes for him. Jacquez prob gets grabbed by Memphis in the 20s.

The Grizzlies have a very specific type of prospect they target to put around Morant.

Read on Twitter

They have a bunch of guys from prior years that also reached these thresholds (Konchar, Tillman, Clarke) so it's clearly not a coincidence.

Jaquez meets four of those criteria (missing the efficient shooting) so he's definitely going to get a long look from the Memphis front office. Especially since it's slim pickings when it comes to guys that fit all five targets this year.

[Curmudgeon]

There are half a dozen Derek Lively's already in the league, which is full of young project centers, e.g. Kabengele. Heck, Moses Brown is still only 24 years old.

If Lively slips, fine, but I'm not moving up to grab him.

Except I think Lively is better than them. Kabengele can’t guard anyone, neither can Moses Brown. If they had taken my advice and moved up for Kessler last year we’d be sitting pretty

If they had taken my advice two years ago they would have Isaiah Stewart or Naz Reid.

[Homerclease]

There are half a dozen Derek Lively's already in the league, which is full of young project centers, e.g. Kabengele. Heck, Moses Brown is still only 24 years old.

If Lively slips, fine, but I'm not moving up to grab him.

Except I think Lively is better than them. Kabengele can’t guard anyone, neither can Moses Brown. If they had taken my advice and moved up for Kessler last year we’d be sitting pretty

If they had taken my advice two years ago they would have Isaiah Stewart or Naz Reid.

I was the first on Reid here too. Said he should’ve gone top 10 that year. I specifically remember you agreeing with me on that one too. Shame for him he showed up to workouts out of shape. Stewart I thought was too small but he’s shown he’s gonna stick in this league for a long time.

Back to Lively, he’s a legit 7 footer with a near 8 foot wing span that can actually move his feet and defend in space. He’s huge, and not a sloth that gets played off the floor in the modern NBA. He’s exactly what this team needs

[Hal14]

Ok, time to unveil a sleeper. This guy has very little draft buzz, is pretty much not on any mocks or big boards so good chance we could snag him mid to late 2nd round.

But the upside is potentially getting a top 15 player in this draft.

Isaiah Miranda.

The case for him is pretty simple. Guys who are 7'1", are only 19 and can move like he can move on the court, handle the ball, pass, shoot and block shots typically go VERY high in the draft.

https://youtube.com/shorts/miIx8Co8j9Q?feature=share

He hits 3 threes in this game:

Watch on YouTube

Footage from a game last season:
5:30 some flashes of switchability. He defends a small/quick guard out on the perimeter, denies the drive and forces the guard to kick it to a teammate out on the perimeter
5:50 catches it out on the perimeter. Takes it to the hole, has enough burst to get by his man, then a dipsy do finish which shows a high skill level for a 7-footer
6:00 nice rim protection here
6:11 catches the lob, turns to the basket and lays it in, all in 1 fluid motion. Then we see him run back on D, looks very fluid and quick, runs more fluid than most 7-footers, especially ones who are in HS
7:29 catch, turn, and then quickly faces up to basket, fires the shot and hits it. Smooth

Watch on YouTube

Highlights from a HS showcase:
Rim protection, he's even blocking multiple 3 point attempts!
Taking it to the rim with change of direction moves
Throwing down lobs
:44 Roll man, catches it, turns, 1 dribble, change of direction, strong finish at rim
:50 knocks down the 3, smooth
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/A2hBe4XtUY0

He's underrated because he enrolled at NC State at the beginning of the 2nd semester (last month) and hasn't played yet in a college game.

Also, because he's a late bloomer who wasn't a highly rated recruit till just recently and grew 5 inches since high school.

Bumping this. I didn't think Isaiah Miranda was gonna declare for the draft. I thought he was gonna go back to NC State for next year, but it turns out he did declare.

I'm telling you, this guy could turn out to be a STEAL.

7'1". Only 19 yrs old (in all these videos, he's only 17 or 18). Good mobility, good athleticism, can run the floor, handle the ball, dude can hit step back 3's, side step 3's, catch lobs, block shots and makes it all look effortless.

Could potentially be a guy who could play either the 4 or the 5.

Watch on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/moKviqICo-Q

Watch on YouTube

He looks a little skinny in these clips, but rumor has it he's gotten bigger/stronger over the past few months, since arriving on NC State's campus.

Miranda could be this year's Shaedon Sharpe. By that I mean a highly rated recruit who reclassified, making himself eligible for the draft a year earlier - but didn't get onto his college campus till halfway through the college season. So, rather than going out there and playing the 2nd half of the season (and possibly hurting his draft stock) he just sits out the rest of the season, watched his team play from the bench, practices with the team and still ends up getting drafted.

Sharpe was the 7th pick in the draft last year, even though he was essentially a dude who went from HS to the pros. Miranda isn't gonna go as high as Sharpe did - because Sharpe was much higher rated coming out of HS than Miranda. But even if the only film we have of Miranda is from HS and AAU, I know what I see on the film. 7-footers who can move like this, and have this type of a skill set at such a young age are 1st round talents.

[Hal14]

The Celtics have brought Landers Nolley in for a workout and have scheduled a workout for Oscar Tshiebwe.

Nolley is a wing from Cincinnati. Oscar is a big man from Kentucky.

Both are 23 yrs old. So guys who are older and possibly less of a project / more ready to contribute from day 1.

Both would probably be a reach in the 33 or 35 slot. So probably just looking at them as possible UDFA.

[Curmudgeon]

Oscar Tshiebwe is a poor man's Bam Adebayo. Not sure why he's projected so low in the draft, unless it's his age.

[Half-Full]

The Celtics have brought Landers Nolley in for a workout and have scheduled a workout for Oscar Tshiebwe.

Nolley is a wing from Cincinnati. Oscar is a big man from Kentucky.

Both are 23 yrs old. So guys who are older and possibly less of a project / more ready to contribute from day 1.

Tshiebwe is intriguing. A monster rebounder, and decent defender. Only 6'9", but a 7'4" wingspan, and very strong. Plays with energy. If we are looking for a big with our pick, he certainly warrants consideration. Good to see that the Celtics are bringing him in for a workout.

Landers Nolley looks like he has some skills, but will they translate to the NBA? If he goes undrafted he would be worth a look on our Summer League team.

[Hal14]

Oscar Tshiebwe is a poor man's Bam Adebayo. Not sure why he's projected so low in the draft, unless it's his age.

I don't really see that. IMO, he reminds me more of Tristan Thompson.

He's projected low because of age, but also struggles to defend PnR, struggles to defend in space, not super quick or athletic for a big, has a decent mid range jumper but can't shoot from 3 or take anyone off the dribble facing up, just an ok passer..

He's strong as hell and a heck of a rebounder, though..

[Kalela]

I liked Tshiebwe when he was at West Virginia and thought he would be a late first-round pick then if declared for the draft. I didn't think he would stay in college for this long. Anyway, I have no real evidence of this but watching Mazzulla coach the Celtics I get the feeling he values players who box out and rebound and Tshiebwe is one of the best rebounders in college basketball.

[Hal14]

Wouldn't hate it if we drafted Bona.

Watch on YouTube

[Hal14]

Others have said this, but it seems like we have to wait till the draft lottery takes place to see if we get pick 33 or 35:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/04/10/sports/even-without-first-round-pick-celtics-can-get-an-impact-player-this-years-draft/

[165bows]

Wouldn't hate it if we drafted Bona.

Watch on YouTube

The length/athleticism/motor combo is really appealing. Rare that guys have all three the way he gets up and down like that.

Some of those warts I’m not even that concerned with. Otoh this team loves passers and ft shooters even from their big men so there’s that.

[threrf23]

Oscar Tshiebwe is a poor man's Bam Adebayo. Not sure why he's projected so low in the draft, unless it's his age.

I don't really see that. IMO, he reminds me more of Tristan Thompson.

He's projected low because of age, but also struggles to defend PnR, struggles to defend in space, not super quick or athletic for a big, has a decent mid range jumper but can't shoot from 3 or take anyone off the dribble facing up, just an ok passer..

tho Tristan Thompson averaged 10 rebounds per 40 in his one year at Texas

Tshiebwe has been an elite rebounder since his freshman year.

Part of that has to do with physical advantages, but rebounding also has to do with focus/instinct/effort/fundamentals, it denotes upside in other areas.

I guess he could go the route of guys like Thomas Robinson and Caleb Swanigan, but his defensive stats (and foul efficiency) suggest his athleticism should be just enough to carve out a place in the NBA?

Since 2009, major conference guys who posted a rebound percentage above 21.5% as a freshman include (min 500 minutes):

Boogie Cousins
Schiebwe
Michael Carrera
Donovan Clingan

If you drop the threshold to 200 minutes, you add Trevion Williams, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Will Yeguete.