The Official 2023 Draft Thread

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'm not trying to say that Cade or Ivey should prohibit the Pistons from taking Scoot, but it would be wild if they took another point/combo guard when there is a clear need for a wing.

I think Miller would go at 2 in that scenario, Scoot to Portland b/c Portland can't pass up on talent regardless of who's there.

The Knicks drafted Rod Strickland the following year after drafting ROTY Mark Jackson.

I'm not sure what process teams follow.

[doclinkin]

Watching Wiggins have another solid game last night vs LAL left me wondering
if Miller is going to be the guy that causes regret to the team(s) that passed
on drafting him.

I expect Miller to be the second pick in the draft.

Likewise. Unless workouts and interviews make stars out of Scoot/Twins. Or the Wiz win the 2nd pick and Ted nixes Miller over perceived character issues and PR nerves.

[NatP4]

Watching Wiggins have another solid game last night vs LAL left me wondering
if Miller is going to be the guy that causes regret to the team(s) that passed
on drafting him.

I expect Miller to be the second pick in the draft.

Likewise. Unless workouts and interviews make stars out of Scoot/Twins. Or the Wiz win the 2nd pick and Ted nixes Miller over perceived character issues and PR nerves.

I see it as a locked in 1&2 with Wemby and Scoot. The big question for whoever lands 3 will be Miller Vs Amen. Ausar is getting completely undervalued and will be a total steal at 5/6/7/8.

No idea how a prospect like Ausar can drop that far. He’s got top shelf athletic ability. Can be an elite secondary playmaker/ball handler. Can shoot and play off ball/cut. Top shelf basketball IQ. Elite defensively, can guard 1-4 easily. Fills the stat sheet.

Put actual talent around the Thompson twins and their athletic ability will pop even more. I think Ausar can make the wizards into a legit a playoff team.

[doclinkin]

Scoot has some giant paws for a guy his size. They look like they have been transplanted from a Defensive Lineman. He does have that star quality about his demeanor. Clearly bright, intense, and loves the game. I appreciate that he admires most AI, CP3, and Jrue as models for his game. Flair, attitude; leadership, defense, even if he hasn't yet figured out how to put it all together. His game reminds me more of Ja Morant, but with a yet more serious focus. I'd have no problem with the team taking him at #2. It would be an injection of the right kind of attitude.

I also think his addition would shift chemistry significantly, necessitating blowing up the team to rebuild around him, but with the charisma to give a new GM cover to do so. That's a positive.

Here's a good and long interview with him:

Watch on YouTube

That's a quality quality kid. Family, focus, priorities straight, and poised in front of a camera, no wrong answers.

[Dat2U]

I like Scoot unless its Detroit or OKC making that 2nd pick. I think teams value a primary shot creator that's a 'walking paint touch' over a very good but very streaky perimeter shooter who isn't creating much space and is a poor finisher in half court sets. I like Miller but I think his athleticism limits the upside somewhat. Still at 6-9, with a quick release and enough on ball skills to create a decent midrange look, he's worthy of a top five pick.

[Frichuela]

Yes, Scoot should be our pick if the basketball Gods grant us #2 in the lottery

[TGW]

LOL sorry guys...but the Wizards are going to end up picking 10th. It is what it is.

[Frichuela]

LOL sorry guys...but the Wizards are going to end up picking 10th. It is what it is.

Most probably and so Wizards

[NatP4]

Yes, Scoot should be our pick if the basketball Gods grant us #2 in the lottery

Why though??? I just don’t get the hype about him. His defense is really bad. His shot selection is questionable. Teams just go under every pick and roll.

You play a guy big minutes and big usage and put the ball in his hands and let him play PNR, he’s going to rack up assists. I kinda think people overstate the athletic ability, it’s a significant step below both Thompson twins. There’s some last step explosion and strength, but he’s not really an above the rim or quick twitch athlete.

He’s nowhere close to a prime John Wall with all the chasedown blocks and being a lob threat and switchable on defense.

I’m not saying he’ll be a bust, but it’s very possible that he just ends up a very regular starter. Minimal defensive impact, Mediocre efficiency, can’t really play off ball, the turnovers are an issue. He takes a lot of mid range shots.

Why wouldn’t we just gamble on Amen Thompson? The dude is like Westbrook/Lebron tier physically. Similar flaws but significantly higher upside than Scoot. He will actually beat guys one on one and draw help defenders. F he’s drafted to a team that just puts the ball in his hands and spreads the floor, he’s going to be ELITE. Triple doubles left and right, can play 1-4. Ausar will be elite in a different way. True off ball option, and elite defense.

[NatP4]

Rewind a few years and throw Collin Sexton, Dennis Smith Jr, and Emmanuel Mudiay on the ignite. I bet they would’ve had similar hype and similar numbers.

Mudiay right now in the g league: 19 points 7 assists 6 rebounds 3 turnovers 1.4 steals on 58% TS.

Scoot: 19 points 8 assists 6 rebounds 4 turnovers 1.2 steals 53% TS

Atleast 1 “miss” in the top 3 of every draft in the last 15 years with the exception of the Horford/Conley draft. This year probably won’t be an exception, and I’m pretty certain 1-3 will be Wemby(who is generational) Scoot, and Miller (extremely safe pick). Do the math!!

[Dat2U]

Yes, Scoot should be our pick if the basketball Gods grant us #2 in the lottery

Why though??? I just don’t get the hype about him. His defense is really bad. His shot selection is questionable. Teams just go under every pick and roll.

You play a guy big minutes and big usage and put the ball in his hands and let him play PNR, he’s going to rack up assists. I kinda think people overstate the athletic ability, it’s a significant step below both Thompson twins. There’s some last step explosion and strength, but he’s not really an above the rim or quick twitch athlete.

He’s nowhere close to a prime John Wall with all the chasedown blocks and being a lob threat and switchable on defense.

I’m not saying he’ll be a bust, but it’s very possible that he just ends up a very regular starter. Minimal defensive impact, Mediocre efficiency, can’t really play off ball, the turnovers are an issue. He takes a lot of mid range shots.

Why wouldn’t we just gamble on Amen Thompson? The dude is like Westbrook/Lebron tier physically. Similar flaws but significantly higher upside than Scoot. He will actually beat guys one on one and draw help defenders. F he’s drafted to a team that just puts the ball in his hands and spreads the floor, he’s going to be ELITE. Triple doubles left and right, can play 1-4. Ausar will be elite in a different way. True off ball option, and elite defense.

Shot creation. Amen really can't shoot or create shots off the bounce. Scoot has an established and well fleshed out mid-range game. You can realistically see him becoming a respectable 3pt shooter as his form does not look bad at all. Amen on the other hand is closer to Ben Simmons in that his shooting skill is underdeveloped and he's not really confident in his shot making and his form can change with each shot. Amen is such a God tier athlete that he might be a walking paint touch without a jumper but I also think he'll be easier for defenses to game plan for and harder to fit guys around him.

I think Amen vs Miller is a great debate though at 3 and its alot closer to me than people would think. I just wish i had evidence Amen's stroke is improving because I think I would lean towards picking him in that instance.

[Dat2U]

Rewind a few years and throw Collin Sexton, Dennis Smith Jr, and Emmanuel Mudiay on the ignite. I bet they would’ve had similar hype and similar numbers.

Mudiay right now in the g league: 19 points 7 assists 6 rebounds 3 turnovers 1.4 steals on 58% TS.

Scoot: 19 points 8 assists 6 rebounds 4 turnovers 1.2 steals 53% TS

Atleast 1 “miss” in the top 3 of every draft in the last 15 years with the exception of the Horford/Conley draft. This year probably won’t be an exception, and I’m pretty certain 1-3 will be Wemby(who is generational) Scoot, and Miller (extremely safe pick). Do the math!!

IMO its an extremely flawed methodology to do these generic comparisons on past drafts solely based on who was drafted where but frankly this board seems to have fallen in love with it and it seems to a part of the discussion every few pages now.

I feel confident Scoot is an all-star caliber talent. He's certaintly a better prospect than the PG you mentioned when they were coming out.

[NatP4]

I agree 100%, but I’m betting on Amen to atleast be able to make a 3 here and there. I think Amen’s best comparisons are Lebron/Westbrook/Morant. He will be a walking paint touch. I’ve changed my tune a fair amount on these guys after watching more games. Ausar is a safe bet to be bigtime impact, Amen is like that weird Russell Westbrook exception player. Both of them have some superstar makeup though.

In the wizards context, we just spread the floor with Beal/Kispert/Porzingis and whoever else, and give him the ball. He’s getting into the paint regardless, drawing help, finishing up and over defenders.

Scoot is not doing that. He’s not beating guys 1 on 1. His signature play is a PNR that the defense goes way under on, and he shoots a mid range jumper, then gives it right back on the other end with his atrocious PNR defense.

Do we take the 99 percentile 6’8 athlete, or the 6’2 PG with questionable defense and shooting?

[dckingsfan]

How many days until the lottery?

[Kanyewest]

How many days until the lottery?

4 days, 3 hours, and 39 minutes.

[AFM]

4 days 3 hours and 37 minutes until this board has a collective meltdown and everyone posts "10th pick? #sowizards, it's been fun yall, but I'm out for real this time"

[DCZards]

4 days 3 hours and 37 minutes until this board has a collective meltdown and everyone posts "10th pick? #sowizards, it's been fun yall, but I'm out for real this time"

[9 and 20]

4 days 3 hours and 37 minutes until this board has a collective meltdown and everyone posts "10th pick? #sowizards, it's been fun yall, but I'm out for real this time"

Not this guy. I will celebrate. As a Wiz fan, I honor and celebrate tradition, even if painful. They remind us of who we are. Every year for the lottery, I don my Mitchell Butler shirsey and chant so-wiz over and over until the sadness comes.

[gambitx777]

I'd be fine with ten lol cuz that's the top range for my for my favorite guy in the first round Carson Wallace !

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[payitforward]

You wouldn't want a much higher pick that allowed you to trade down for Cason Wallace & also get another young prospect?