2023 NBA Draft Thread 3

MagicMatic wrote:
zaymon wrote:
KillMonger wrote:

Read on Twitter

I am riding Podziemski train just like i had Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero in the past.

I know Orlando is going to trade #36, but what is the chance Podz is there?

I would consider him at 11. I dont think there is any chance such a good shooter and passer with size will be available in the second round. I could be wrong.

bigdogdylan5 · Post #408 » by **bigdogdylan5** » Thu May 18, 2023 7:12 pm

Petre1978 wrote:
bigdogdylan5 wrote:
Skybox wrote:
Whitehead might be the best 2 in the draft...Supposedly, injuries hampered his time at Duke and he played through them...his skill set and HS projections were as high as anyone in the draft not from France. His workouts will determine a lot....If he's 100%, he could easily be Top 10, especially with Dick looking mortal at the combine. If his shot matches Gradey's and his size, athleticism, and defensive potential exceed his...he's ahead of Hawkins and Dick, who are the sharpshooting 2's this year.

Lively is also very interesting...if workouts/physicals work out - I'd be good with another couple of Duke guys coming in. I like WCJ a lot, but I'd prefer him backing up 4 and 5, getting significant minutes off the bench, but I'd prefer a defensive stopper/rim-runner at C, next to Paolo and Franz...Maybe we could trade back or maybe they both jump up as workouts reveal more about everyone.

Dariq Whitehead might be the high upside 2 guard I really wanted to find. He can play the two or three which are both needs for us. Great size with plus wingspan and looks to be a great athlete. If we keep both picks I want to go high upside with one and he looks like a great choice because of his excellent C/S numbers with potential as a scorer.

Will have the second surgery on the same foot.

I am aware. The medical professionals will advise the front office and would need their blessing to draft him.

Post #409 » by **eyriq** » Thu May 18, 2023 7:22 pm

KillMonger wrote:

Read on Twitter

Analytics guys should be drooling over Podz. Easily the best statistical profile among college kids.

Rick Rolled · Post #410 » by **Rick Rolled** » Thu May 18, 2023 8:16 pm

Been watching a ton of video and I’m actually really struggling to find guys who I’d be unhappy with drafting at 6 and 11. Unless we make an astronomical reach for someone which I really don’t see happening.

I really love that most of these YouTube scouting videos spend equal time highlighting the strengths as well as the weaknesses. Makes it much easier to keep things in perspective and not deem every player a savior based off of some flashy highlights.

We’ve come such a long ways since the days of nbadraft.net comparing DeShawn Stevenson to Michael Jordan.

MAGICian619 · Post #411 » by **MAGICian619** » Thu May 18, 2023 8:54 pm

Can someone explain to me why Amen is consistently ranked higher than Ausar?

Seems like Ausar has superior shooting and defending abilities. Amen is the better play maker with a faster first step but his shooting is atrocious. I like Ausar a lot more for Orlando than Amen. Just seems like they should be more of a coin flip than Amen clearly being the better prospect.

What am I missing?

RookieStar · Post #412 » by **RookieStar** » Thu May 18, 2023 9:27 pm

Just so you know.... any news that a player has worked out for us... we usually don't pick them lol

It's them "Secret" interviews that we get.

RookieStar · Post #413 » by **RookieStar** » Thu May 18, 2023 9:50 pm

First regarding Dariq.

He was the #1 or #2 at worst college recruit BEFORE he had that injury at the start of the season. He was penciled in to be the 6'6 SG at Duke not SF . Aside from his 3pt threat, he can get to the hole ( at least in high school )

If he shares his medicals and everything is fine, then it could be another Okeke scenario and I think WeHam will get him ( as I jokingly said weeks before)

Second regarding Leonard Miller.

With his sudden pullout on everything draft related, he must have gotten a promise. Seeing as he is in the teens pick, the team that made a promise must have a top-10 pick right? Who could that be?? Sounds familiar? ( Franz cough cough )

KillMonger · Post #414 » by **KillMonger** » Thu May 18, 2023 10:39 pm

Read on Twitter

Smoke and mirrors? or could it be legit? he does have a big elephant in the room and i couldn't imagine being grilled about that from every team....

jonbob17 · Post #415 » by **jonbob17** » Thu May 18, 2023 11:10 pm

Interesting tidbit i saw in Vecenie's post-lottery mock draft, which had the Magic drafing Hendricks and Gradey

The list of high-major true freshmen in the last 30 years, per Sports-Reference, to average 14 points and shoot 40 percent from 3 while taking at least 200 3s is limited. It’s Gradey Dick, Gary Trent, Kevin Durant, D’Angelo Russell, O.J. Mayo, Tajuan Porter and Jamal Murray. Tajuan Porter was 5'7" so you can cross him off.

jonbob17 · Post #416 » by **jonbob17** » Thu May 18, 2023 11:24 pm

MAGICian619 wrote:Can someone explain to me why Amen is consistently ranked higher than Ausar?

Seems like Ausar has superior shooting and defending abilities. Amen is the better play maker with a faster first step but his shooting is atrocious. I like Ausar a lot more for Orlando than Amen. Just seems like they should be more of a coin flip than Amen clearly being the better prospect.

What am I missing?

They have always played on the same team with Amen as the lead ball handler and Ausar off ball. If they were equal everywhere else all that experience on ball would be enough to tip the scale in favor of Amen.. Everybody says Amen is a better athlete, and like a top percentile NBA athlete, Ausur still being a very high level athlete.

They are both bad shooters both shots look kind of funky and not the same everytime. I would't call Ausar a superior shooter to...feel free to fill in the blank, and you will probably be right.

Ausar 29.8 on 3s and 66.2 from the line
Amen 25.0 on 3s and 65.6 from the line

My biggest gripe with both is that they had one job this year, no college, 24/7 training and b-ball...and the numbers above are the results.

I guess there is just so much promoting of these guys, when Amen was being recruited he was ranked 38th in his class by Rivals. When they signed with Overtime elite, suddenly they were the best thing ever. Maybe they are i don't know. I guess these scouts will have enough tape on them to make the right call. Of course you don't want to be the GM that passes on a 6'6" ja Morant, either

Ralof · Post #417 » by **Ralof** » Thu May 18, 2023 11:32 pm

MAGICian619 wrote:Can someone explain to me why Amen is consistently ranked higher than Ausar?

Seems like Ausar has superior shooting and defending abilities. Amen is the better play maker with a faster first step but his shooting is atrocious. I like Ausar a lot more for Orlando than Amen. Just seems like they should be more of a coin flip than Amen clearly being the better prospect.

Amen is considered not just a better athlete,but a supreme one,possible top 5-10 in nba since day one.
It is a better creator ball in his hands,and that make all the difference in the world.
also,being that athlete and with the same iq and work ethic Ausar has,his potential on D is not in question.

basically the idea,is that Ausar ceiling is a Iguolada type of player,Amen ceiling is(some sort of)taller Ja Morant,and those comps are not mine

Skin · Post #418 » by **Skin** » Thu May 18, 2023 11:37 pm

KillMonger wrote:

Read on Twitter

Smoke and mirrors? or could it be legit? he does have a big elephant in the room and i couldn't imagine being grilled about that from every team....

Miller slides to 6!

Watch on YouTube

Spoiler:

jonbob17 · Post #419 » by **jonbob17** » Thu May 18, 2023 11:41 pm

KillMonger wrote:

Read on Twitter

Smoke and mirrors? or could it be legit? he does have a big elephant in the room and i couldn't imagine being grilled about that from every team....

That intel sounds like everybody 3 and later wants him to slide....but you are probably right some of these team officials are known to ask some pretty over the line questions, or maybe thats just the nfl

Ralof · Post #420 » by **Ralof** » Thu May 18, 2023 11:43 pm

KillMonger wrote:

Read on Twitter

Smoke and mirrors? or could it be legit? he does have a big elephant in the room and i couldn't imagine being grilled about that from every team....

a smoke screen of that type by a guy with that reputation after that"incident"??