The Official 2023 Draft Thread

[queridiculo]

Can we just talk about the players whom the Wizards shouldn't select?

It's going to be one of those guys.

[Rafael122]

Legitimately the only way I think one of the Thompson twins falls to 8 is if Walker, Whitmore and Hendricks all get taken before us which is entirely possible. This is how I have it:

1. Spurs - Wemby
2. Hornets - Miller
3. Blazers - Henderson
4. Rockets - Whitmore
5. Pistons - Walker
6. Pacers - Hendricks
7. Magic - Thompson Twin #1
8. Wiz - Thompson Twin #2

If Black takes the place of 1 of Whitmore/Walker/Hendricks or even gets taken in the top 7 as well, even better.

[Frichuela]

Max pain zone…so Wizards

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[machu46]

I'm not 100% sold on it, but I've definitely grown intrigued by the idea that chasing "all star upside" in the form of raw, very flawed players is often a losing proposition. Oftentimes, those are the types of prospects where if they don't reach their potential, they don't really fit anywhere on the floor as they generally make for poor role players.

On the flipside, we've seen so many instances now of "low ceiling" prospects ending up having much higher ceilings than expected and even if they don't break through their perceived ceiling and hit higher, they oftentimes are good role players and in the current NBA ecosystem where stars are constantly on the move, positioning yourself with a lot of good pieces while missing THE piece seems like a near ideal place to be.

Cason Wallace, and to a lesser extent, Anthony Black feel like they fit that mold to me. With Wallace, I feel very confident that he will be a good defender in the NBA, especially at the POA but also as a team defender. He seems poised to be a solid catch and shoot guy that can at least attack closeouts even if he never develops into a primary ball-handler.

With Black, he needs to learn to shoot if he's going to be an all-star caliber player in the NBA. But if he doesn't, he appears to be a versatile defender and smart decision-maker that likely makes the team better IMO.

[doclinkin]

Anthony Black is incredibly boring. Not very athletic, no perimeter game as a guard. Really limited upside.

Hmmm…I remember similar things being said about Jalen Brunson.

There are a lot of athletic, exciting former college players working for Amazon while smart, skilled guys like Brunson are stars in the NBA.

Black has the smarts, skills and size to be a star. He’s also a better athlete than you give him credit for.

Jalen Brunson shot 40% from 3 in college. 60% on 2pt shots. With nearly a 4:1 ast/to ratio.

Black shoots 30%. Black posts 3 TOs for every 3.9 assists.

He defends well, he's tall if you call him a point guard. He gets to the line against college level defense.

But everything else is projection. I don't think what this team needs most is a wing player who can't shoot, who will have to develop in the fundamental job duties of their position before they can give you reliable production.

LOL essentially the opposite of what Machu said up there ^^^

If we are arguing between Cason and Black, I pick Cason. He can shoot. And has a 2:1 Ast/TO ratio.

[machu46]

Anthony Black is incredibly boring. Not very athletic, no perimeter game as a guard. Really limited upside.

Hmmm…I remember similar things being said about Jalen Brunson.

There are a lot of athletic, exciting former college players working for Amazon while smart, skilled guys like Brunson are stars in the NBA.

Black has the smarts, skills and size to be a star. He’s also a better athlete than you give him credit for.

Jalen Brunson shot 40% from 3 in college. 60% on 2pt shots. With nearly a 4:1 ast/to ratio.

Black shoots 30%. Black posts 3 TOs for every 3.9 assists.

He defends well, he's tall if you call him a point guard. He gets to the line against college level defense.

But everything else is projection. I don't think what this team needs most is a wing player who can't shoot, who will have to develop in the fundamental job duties of their position before they can give you reliable production.

LOL essentially the opposite of what Machu said up there ^^^

If we are arguing between Cason and Black, I pick Cason. He can shoot. And has a 2:1 Ast/TO ratio.

Lol to be fair, I do agree that if Black doesn't pan out, he will end up being a wing. But I think he can still be a valuable role player in that case by playing good defense and just doing smart things offensively. If he never improves as a shooter, he will 100% turn into a guy that teams try to cheat off of in the playoffs though.

I agree I think Cason is probably a better/safer fit for the Wizards.

[gambitx777]

Here is my full proof draft plan !

We get the 18 pick from Miami in a trade for Beal.

We trade back with Orlando
Trading. 8, cooks and gill and 3 mill in cash
For
11 and 36

We trade 36 and 42 and Todd to the clippers for
30

Then we draft
#11 Wallace
#18 Coulibaly
#30 Podziemski
#59 Grant Nelson form NDSU

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using RealGM mobile app

[queridiculo]

Max pain zone…so Wizards

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Also, that's going to be the closest the Wizards will get to winning the lottery for the next decade.

[tacosman]

If I'm washington's GM, I try to put together a package for the #1 pick. #8 to beal to a future first and throw in 2 future seconds?

If that doesn't work, try package 8 and something else to get into the 2 or 3 slot. This is a three player draft(with the two tiers being #1 and then #2/3), so you have two options to move into that second tier if Spurs aren't willing to deal. But if I'm washington, staying at 8 and picking just screams treadmill continues....

[Dat2U]

Can we just talk about the players whom the Wizards shouldn't select?

It's going to be one of those guys.

The two guys high IQ guys with shaky jumpers and lacking the top notch athleticism to compensate or finish at a high level. I like Jarace Walker a little more than Anthony Black but I'd pass on both.

Also not a fan of Nick Smith Jr ... reminds me of Cameron Payne who struggled mightly and was out of the league until he caught up with the speed of the game in Phoenix to become a decent backup.

Keyonte George ... unless the guy is a stud, drafting another SG that can only play SG seems redundant. Don't dislike George, i just don't see value in drafting him late lottery.

Jalen Hood-Schifino ... was mostly terrible in collegr outside a few big games. A combo guard who's a mid range master but range doesn't comfortably translate to the 3 pt line as of yet.

Rayan Rupert ... not enough offensive skill for my liking. Projects as a solid defender and you hope hr makes enough shots not to be a detriment offensively.

[doclinkin]

If I'm washington's GM, I try to put together a package for the #1 pick. #8 to beal to a future first and throw in 2 future seconds?

Ha! Now you're just taunting us. I'm calling a foul, it's against the rules to kick a fighter when they're already down.

[NatP4]

Here is my full proof draft plan !

We get the 18 pick from Miami in a trade for Beal.

We trade back with Orlando
Trading. 8, cooks and gill and 3 mill in cash
For
11 and 36

We trade 36 and 42 and Todd to the clippers for
30

Then we draft
#11 Wallace
#18 Coulibaly
#30 Podziemski
#59 Grant Nelson form NDSU

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using RealGM mobile app

Think Podziemski ends up mid to late 1st. Think you would have to take him at 18. I really like the plan though. I would go 8 for 21&22 from Brooklyn. Trade Monte Morris to the clippers at 30. Package Todd+59 to anyone who will take it.

16: Coulibaly
21: Podziemski
22: Cissoko
30: Noah Clowney
42: Edey

Podziemski Wright
Kispert Davis Jackson
Avdija Coulibaly Cissoko
Porzingis Clowney Cooks
Gafford Edey

[tacosman]

If I'm washington's GM, I try to put together a package for the #1 pick. #8 to beal to a future first and throw in 2 future seconds?

Ha! Now you're just taunting us. I'm calling a foul, it's against the rules to a fighter when they're already down.

It's all about the art of the deal....and really selling it. Sell the hell out of beal having a mid to late career resurgence if he went out west. Sell the hell out of what you can get at #8. Then play up Wemby's risk of injury......

A good gm would get San Antonio's brass in a room and wouldn't let them out until they do the deal. Hell throw in some swaps if you have to. Just get it done. Washington has nothing to lose after all......

[mhd]

Dick is probably my target at 8. You can never have enough shooting. Davis is irrelevant to me. New gm probably gets rid of him soon

[80sballboy]

Here are the latest mocks after the lottery and the Wizards' picks at 8.

SB Nation-Jarace Walker
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2023/5/16/23717192/nba-mock-draft-2023-instant-projection-lottery-results-order-victor-wembanyama-spurs

Yahoo-Cam Whitmore
https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-nba-mock-draft-8-san-antonio-spurs-land-the-no-1-pick-with-victor-wembanyamas-future-team-revealed-012751198.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAB08544Jn-lYRA9C_7-LGbJ4GQNZ8ll_-uYsnIbr5CmHnjrtLD-7ka-GYAThB3y87iwQRuo9Aw-b-uvgv5wWocF1BtqxteuQ4B-ApdwQMwkIVa-xr4pX7P5D_izD9C3UDCf66MDoxrbiJGQm1MsUO9wMfXsCLeOhZJcEqrzQPWGq

The Athletic-Ausar Thompson
https://theathletic.com/4513228/2023/05/16/nba-draft-lottery-mock-draft-wembanyama/

The Scout: Thompson is an elite athlete who impacts the game in a wide variety of ways. He’s a very strong defender who flies around in help as a good rim protector and playmaker in passing lanes. He’s a strong, technical on-ball defender. Offensively, he can really get out on the break and score, and in the half court, he’s a sharp cutter and driver of the basketball in straight lines. His passing is maybe my favorite skill of his, especially as a secondary ballhandler. As a finisher, Thompson has a terrific package of touch finishes and layups in addition to above-the-rim athleticism. The guy Thompson reminds me of most is Andre Iguodala, even down to the shooting questions that Thompson will have to work through early in his career. My bet is Thompson is an impact player on winning basketball because of how well-rounded his game is

.

FoxSports-Ausar Thompson
https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/nba-mock-draft-1-0-no-certainties-outside-of-victor-wembanyama

The Ringer-Anthony Black
https://nbadraft.theringer.com/mock-draft

BR-Cam Whitmore
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10075697-2023-nba-mock-draft-full-2-round-predictions-after-lottery-reveal

ESPN-Anthony Black
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/37654799/2023-nba-mock-draft-projecting-all-58-picks-post-lottery

The Wizards are at an inflection point after a change in leadership in the front office and will likely need to find a head decision-maker over the next few weeks. Point guard has been a position of need for the Wizards for some time, and they could very well be attracted to the defensive versatility and feel for the game Black brings, as well as his ability to play any of the backcourt positions thanks to his terrific size.

[80sballboy]

From the Washington Post:

The last 10 players to be taken eighth range from busts to quality rotation players: Dyson Daniels, Franz Wagner, Obi Toppin, Jaxson Hayes, Collin Sexton, Frank Ntilikina, Marquese Chriss, Stanley Johnson, Nik Stauskas and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. While Wagner has all-star potential, there isn’t a billion-dollar global icon in the bunch.

[Jay81]

From the Washington Post:

The last 10 players to be taken eighth range from busts to quality rotation players: Dyson Daniels, Franz Wagner, Obi Toppin, Jaxson Hayes, Collin Sexton, Frank Ntilikina, Marquese Chriss, Stanley Johnson, Nik Stauskas and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. While Wagner has all-star potential, there isn’t a billion-dollar global icon in the bunch.

yea but alot of global icons were picked after 8 in these drafts.....

[NatP4]

The magic won’t let Ausar drop below 6.

[badinage]

The draft lottery is just absolutely crushing. Crushing. To have come that close. And for the second time in 5 years — they came that close in the Zion draft, too. *

Meanwhile, the Spurs are going to get to draft their third HOF big man in the modern era. Third. After intentionally tanking their season. That’s their reward.

I like the Spurs, I like what they have been, I love Pop — but they surely aren’t deserving of this.





* Would someone explain to me how we came that close to 1 — how we had the best odds at that point out of all the teams — and we not only don’t get 1, but we don’t get 2, or 3, or 4.

[80sballboy]

Starting interviews with no GM or will they have one in place by Friday?

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