2023 NBA Draft

[MemphisX]

Let's say the draft plays out like

1. Wemby
2. Scoot
3. Miller
4. Amen
5.

What's your plan as the Detroit GM?

Gradey Dick

[King Ken]

NBA Teams are too afraid to make big changes.. but Ball should be offered to Golden State for Poole, Kuminga and a pick or Minn for KAT and then draft Scoot. As good as Wemby may be.. Scoot will be as good imo and faster

Ball, you mean Melo? That's a horrible deal for Charlotte. Poole don't have this type of value to get a stud. You would be lucky to find a team to give you cap relief. Maybe LiAngelo

You don't trade Melo. They already been playing these two PG lineups

[The-Power]

Let's say the draft plays out like

1. Wemby
2. Scoot
3. Miller
4. Amen
5.

What's your plan as the Detroit GM?

Gradey Dick

Fans should riot in that case.

[crows2]

If Lively goes to the right team that lets him play to his strengths and doesn't expect much offense from him he's going to be a really good player. It's kinda weird how overlooked he is.

How’s it weird? He averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds per game in college, and bigs who can’t shoot 3s aren’t the most valuable archetype in the NBA anymore. He definitely has a path to success, but I’m not sure he’s done enough at this stage to prove he’ll be an elite rebounder and defender in the league, which he’ll need to be.

[LofJ]

If Lively goes to the right team that lets him play to his strengths and doesn't expect much offense from him he's going to be a really good player. It's kinda weird how overlooked he is.

How’s it weird? He averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds per game in college, and bigs who can’t shoot 3s aren’t the most valuable archetype in the NBA anymore. He definitely has a path to success, but I’m not sure he’s done enough at this stage to prove he’ll be an elite rebounder and defender in the league, which he’ll need to be.

The game film on him screams elite rim protector and defensive difference maker. He was also playing with another really good big in Flipowski that limited his touches and playing time. I'm not sure he'll ever be a threat to score much, but for a team that needs a rim protector he should be high on their board. He's the best in this class after Wembanyama.

[EvanZ]

Let's say the draft plays out like

1. Wemby
2. Scoot
3. Miller
4. Amen
5.

What's your plan as the Detroit GM?

Not clear to me that 4 = Amen. Ausar is the better shooter and the athletic difference isn't that huge (they're freaking identical twins). I actually am considering Hendricks at 4 at this point and then Ausar at 5.

What people are forgetting is how old the Thompson twins are.

[JMAC3]

Let's say the draft plays out like

1. Wemby
2. Scoot
3. Miller
4. Amen
5.

What's your plan as the Detroit GM?

Not clear to me that 4 = Amen. Ausar is the better shooter and the athletic difference isn't that huge (they're freaking identical twins). I actually am considering Hendricks at 4 at this point and then Ausar at 5.

What people are forgetting is how old the Thompson twins are.

He is going to be 20 years old majority of this year, I don't think the NBA is looking at him as some old prospect at this point.

[Hal14]

Let's say the draft plays out like

1. Wemby
2. Scoot
3. Miller
4. Amen
5.

What's your plan as the Detroit GM?

It's a tough choice.

Honestly, you could debate either Ausar, Whitmore, Hendricks or Jarace.

I'd go Ausar. Just think he's the BPA and can see him fitting as a 3 alongside Cade and Ivey. Or can play him at the 2 (or even the 1) when Cade/Ivey is on the bench.

The speed, athleticism and explosiveness of having Ivey + Ausar is very intriguing.

Cade, Ivey and Ausar all being good passers/play makers is also intriguing. Ball will be zipping around out there, guys will be going FAST.

Ausar can really D it up, too. Can guard the other team's best wing scorer, something Whitmore can't do (you probably wouldn't want jarace or hendricks doing it either)

[Hal14]

Let's say the draft plays out like

1. Wemby
2. Scoot
3. Miller
4. Amen
5.

What's your plan as the Detroit GM?

Not clear to me that 4 = Amen. Ausar is the better shooter and the athletic difference isn't that huge (they're freaking identical twins). I actually am considering Hendricks at 4 at this point and then Ausar at 5.

What people are forgetting is how old the Thompson twins are.

But Amen projects as a PG and is the better passer/playmaker/facilitator than Ausar.

Ausar projects as maybe a PG but more than likely a SG/SF combo.

Houston has a bigger need for a PG. Their team is a bunch of iso ball hog guys who don't know how to pass. First thing Udoka said when he was introduced as celtics head coach is "we're gonna turn tatum and brown into better play makers. It's been too much of this my turn, your turn stuff".

Hendricks at 4? He is much too similar to Jabari Smith Jr. Probably not a good idea to have 2 guys with such similar skill sets - they'll get in each other's way - and it'll be harder for each to reach their ceiling.

Henricks is less than a year older than the twins. Hendricks played on the same AAU team with the twins.

[clyde21]

draft should start after Vic/Scoot/AB

[EvanZ]

Let's say the draft plays out like

1. Wemby
2. Scoot
3. Miller
4. Amen
5.

What's your plan as the Detroit GM?

Not clear to me that 4 = Amen. Ausar is the better shooter and the athletic difference isn't that huge (they're freaking identical twins). I actually am considering Hendricks at 4 at this point and then Ausar at 5.

What people are forgetting is how old the Thompson twins are.

But Amen projects as a PG and is the better passer/playmaker/facilitator than Ausar.

Ausar projects as maybe a PG but more than likely a SG/SF combo.

Houston has a bigger need for a PG. Their team is a bunch of iso ball hog guys who don't know how to pass. First thing Udoka said when he was introduced as celtics head coach is "we're gonna turn tatum and brown into better play makers. It's been too much of this my turn, your turn stuff".

Hendricks at 4? He is much too similar to Jabari Smith Jr.

Henricks is less than a year older than the twins. Hendricks played on the same AAU team with the twins.

The fact that Hendricks is similar to Jabari is a huge plus Not sure why that would be an issue to have two giant wing defenders that can shoot.

As for Houston "needing a point guard", point guards have to shoot. Amen can't shoot, and Ausar is questionable (but probably the better bet). Neither are good shooters for "point guards". I think Amen and/or Ausar in the best case scenario would look something like Iguodala. If you buy them. My guess is both top out around 50-75% of what Iggy was.

Also you said Hendricks is "less than a year older" than the twins? He's 11 months younger. 11 months at this stage of development is huge.

[clyde21]

Houston should take AB, not sure if there is a more obvious pick tbh

Black-Green-Tari-Bari-Alpy

[Hal14]

Not clear to me that 4 = Amen. Ausar is the better shooter and the athletic difference isn't that huge (they're freaking identical twins). I actually am considering Hendricks at 4 at this point and then Ausar at 5.

What people are forgetting is how old the Thompson twins are.

But Amen projects as a PG and is the better passer/playmaker/facilitator than Ausar.

Ausar projects as maybe a PG but more than likely a SG/SF combo.

Houston has a bigger need for a PG. Their team is a bunch of iso ball hog guys who don't know how to pass. First thing Udoka said when he was introduced as celtics head coach is "we're gonna turn tatum and brown into better play makers. It's been too much of this my turn, your turn stuff".

Hendricks at 4? He is much too similar to Jabari Smith Jr.

Henricks is less than a year older than the twins. Hendricks played on the same AAU team with the twins.

The fact that Hendricks is similar to Jabari is a huge plus Not sure why that would be an issue to have two giant wing defenders that can shoot.

As for Houston "needing a point guard", point guards have to shoot. Amen can't shoot, and Ausar is questionable (but probably the better bet). Neither are good shooters for "point guards". I think Amen and/or Ausar in the best case scenario would look something like Iguodala. If you buy them. My guess is both top out around 50-75% of what Iggy was.

Also you said Hendricks is "less than a year older" than the twins? He's 11 months younger. 11 months at this stage of development is huge.

What a shortsighted, overly simplistic evaluation.

PG's have to shoot and Amen can't shoot, eh? lol ok, so based on that evaluation, I suppose you don't even think Amen is a 1st round pick?

Plenty of PG's have been questionable shooters. D-Fox, D-Rose, Rondo, Ben Simmons, Westbrook, John Wall, etc. Imagine if those guys were 6'7" with a 7'0" wingspan. Imagine if Simmons was shorter but more athletic and actually gave a sh*t about basketball and working hard at it.

Hell, even Scoot is a questionable shooter. Around 30% for the season, which is what Amen shot in the OTE playoffs. Lamelo was a questionable shooter prior to the NBA. So was Giddey. Lowry only took 0.5 3PA per game during his last year of college ball lol.

Just put some shooters around Amen and you'll be fine. That way, defenses need to play out on the shooters, leaving enough space for Amen to drive/create off the dribble.

The dude has an insanely quick first step, is a walking paint touch. Even if defenses sag off him, he is still quick/explosive/skilled/creative enough to get to the basket and make a play. And he's extremely good at pushing the pace, getting out in transition and finishing it himself or throwing laser passes ahead to teammates for easy baskets.

Comparing Ausar to Iggy kind of makes sense. But the comp makes no sense at all for Amen. Saying stuff like this makes it seem like you haven't watched the twins play very much. Amen is nothing like Iggy. Amen is a PG and the best passer/play maker in this draft class. His vision, creativity, IQ as a passer, the advanced reads he makes, the way he acts as a floor general out there running the show for his team offensively, winning multiple games in the OTE finals by running the point (one game he won where he was top of the key, drive it to the basket for the winning layup, the other game he won by surveying the floor, driving in and passing it cross court to Ausar, who hit the winning 3), the advanced reads he makes as a passer. We didn't see that stuff from Iggy.

[Braggins]

Houston should take AB, not sure if there is a more obvious pick tbh

Black-Green-Tari-Bari-Alpy

Yep, best fit between any lottery prospect + lottery team. I have him ranked 4th, so I don't see it as a reach for fit.

[CP War Hawks]

Gonna be sum really good early 2nd rounders that's going to outplay a few 1st rounders.

[babyjax13]

I think Detroit should go Whitmore. I think he's a reasonably good fit with their guards and Duren. Otherwise Hendricks.

[SeattleJazzFan]

way too high on B Miller but other than that's actually a solid list, and love the Trey Alexander shoutout, who continues to be criminally underrated.

list is missing Keyonte George tho big time.

what do you mean way too high on Brandon Miller? i guess you think the entire league is way too high on him? if anything hollinger is too low based on how the actual draft will shake out. either way, Miller is a lock for top three, so if anybody is too high or too low on miller, you are too low.

[EvanZ]

Comparing Ausar to Iggy kind of makes sense. But the comp makes no sense at all for Amen. Saying stuff like this makes it seem like you haven't watched the twins play very much.

You can see what they are in 5 minutes of watching. You should stop listening to YouTubers.

The fact is they are basically the same player anyone who thinks they are substantially different (except for Ausar being a better shooter) is just reading way too much social media and not doing your own evaluation.

[EvanZ]

God help anyone who is watching OTE and thinks that league is anything other than nonsense. Even the announcers are complete dumpster fires.

[Hal14]

Comparing Ausar to Iggy kind of makes sense. But the comp makes no sense at all for Amen. Saying stuff like this makes it seem like you haven't watched the twins play very much.

You can see what they are in 5 minutes of watching. You should stop listening to YouTubers.

The fact is they are basically the same player anyone who thinks they are substantially different (except for Ausar being a better shooter) is just reading way too much social media and not doing your own evaluation.

I did my own evaluation.

I watched a lot more than 5 minutes.

After watching a sufficient amount and doing a thorough evaluation, Amen and Ausar are very different players. Ausar is kind of like Iggy, while Amen is nothing like him.

If all you watch is 5 mins and you base your whole evaluation on that, then you don't know sh&t.