2023 Draft Discussion Part 5

[ATLTimekeeper]

https://www.on3.com//news/nba-draft-college-coaches-candid-scouting-reports-on-first-round-draft-picks/


(No. 14) G Kobe Bufkin, Michigan

Profile | 6-4, 175 pounds | September 2003

2022-23 stats: 33 games, 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 48.2% FG, 35.5% 3P, 84.9% FT

A Big 10 coach: “An aggressive driver. Good in the ball screen and dribble handoff actions, and we had to make him work. He needed to see bodies, and we forced him into tough twos. He is a better shooter than the numbers show and more explosive downhill. Really impressed with the jump he made this year after a relatively quiet freshman year.”

A Big 10 coach: “A dynamic guard with great length, capable of going on big scoring runs. Very good in transition and finishing. Want to make his touches hard and be physical with his drives. He cooked us and made some very tough shots. I would say you have to limit the looks from three and, be physical, try to support early in the gaps on penetration.

A Big 10 coach: “He was a complete combo guard. He would have been an 18-19 point guy easily if Hunter (Dickinson) was not the first option and a lot of sets were run for Jett (Howard). I think he’s a lottery talent.”

Please Masai

I enjoyed this whole article. So much better hearing from opposing college coaches that don't have an agenda. Those composite scout/exec takes people put out don't matter.

[LBJKB24MJ23]

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i'm all in on Kobe. and Dick.

pause.

[bboyskinnylegs]

I would love to turn a departing Fred or GTJ into another first from a capped out team, there's a lot of interesting prospects that will be available. Though I think it is pretty unlikely to happen.

[Jadoogar]

I would love to turn a departing Fred or GTJ into another first from a capped out team, there's a lot of interesting prospects that will be available. Though I think it is pretty unlikely to happen.

it's extremely rare that a s&t brings back that level of value but the market has been changing. teams don't have capspace anymore, especially contenders. For example, the lakers don't have much use for the 17th pick aside from trade value. They have no other means of adding talent so if they can get FVV, i think they would have to strongly consider it.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

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Ay man...

That Rockets package with the 4th not looking too bad

[bboyskinnylegs]

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has us taking Leonard Miller at 13

[grant101]

I would love to turn a departing Fred or GTJ into another first from a capped out team, there's a lot of interesting prospects that will be available. Though I think it is pretty unlikely to happen.

it's extremely rare that a s&t brings back that level of value but the market has been changing. teams don't have capspace anymore, especially contenders. For example, the lakers don't have much use for the 17th pick aside from trade value. They have no other means of adding talent so if they can get FVV, i think they would have to strongly consider it.

Yup, S&Ts rarely work out, but the Lakers are in a bind so this might be their best option to upgrade - between FVV and Kyrie, I'm taking Fred every time, especially considering the likely price. If we can turn FVV into #17, Christie and Beasley, that's a massive W.

Draft at least one shooter @ 13 or 17, and this team starts making a lot more sense. We know Beasley is a shooter, and I believe Christie gets there as well.

[grant101]

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Ay man...

That Rockets package with the 4th not looking too bad

Def smoother, but that dip to his waist is not great

[ItsDanger]

Amen Thompson shot is too low, going to have a problem as the ball handler. Not as huge a deal if you're off ball (which he is not).

[bboyskinnylegs]

how do we know that isn't actually Ausar working on his shot?

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

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has us taking Leonard Miller at 13

I could live with that, he plays like Amare Stoudemire.

[DreamTeam09]

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has us taking Leonard Miller at 13

I could live with that, he plays like Amare Stoudemire.

Noteven close to the power or face up ability or small ball 5 ability that Amar'e had.

You would've been better of saying CB4, and even CB4 was bigger with more offensive potential

I'm rooting for Miller tho, I knew him personally

[Psubs]

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Ay man...

That Rockets package with the 4th not looking too bad

I guess baby steps but he's shooting from so low. Like the opposite of Boucher above his head catapulting the ball.

[Psubs]

I would love to turn a departing Fred or GTJ into another first from a capped out team, there's a lot of interesting prospects that will be available. Though I think it is pretty unlikely to happen.

it's extremely rare that a s&t brings back that level of value but the market has been changing. teams don't have capspace anymore, especially contenders. For example, the lakers don't have much use for the 17th pick aside from trade value. They have no other means of adding talent so if they can get FVV, i think they would have to strongly consider it.

Yup, S&Ts rarely work out, but the Lakers are in a bind so this might be their best option to upgrade - between FVV and Kyrie, I'm taking Fred every time, especially considering the likely price. If we can turn FVV into #17, Christie and Beasley, that's a massive W.

Draft at least one shooter @ 13 or 17, and this team starts making a lot more sense. We know Beasley is a shooter, and I believe Christie gets there as well.

Trade Beasley for Evan Fournier, future 2nd pick and cash.

[HumbleRen]

I prefer Ausar to Amen.

[Vorticity]

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i'm all in on Kobe. and Dick.

pause.

and if we get them both you can finish your novel "Kobe Dick"

[HumbleRen]

Smith is a few months younger than these guys on average, so that’s the point working in his favor. But everything else is working against.

None of these guys are known to be physical players, but they all dwarf Smith as rebounders. He was anemic on the glass for Arkansas, which raises a major concern for his ability to be physical and active. These players are all defensive liabilities, but Smith may be outright unplayable because of his lack of physicality on defense.

Herro and Maxey were also clearly better NCAA passers, and that’s with having to both play as secondary handlers to Ashton Hagans (as well as Immanuel Quickley, who had a good deal of his talent hidden because of this). Arkansas had no true PG, and still Smith was unable to showcase any notable ability to create for his teammates once given frequent touches.

The success stories were all around 50%+ inside the arc, while Smith is floating right under 40%. And most importantly— they all destroy Smith at FT’s. Even if you combine his AAU FT stats with Arky, he is still only 75.8% FT— which should debunk the “elite touch” narrative.

The non-elite shooting is a major issue for Smith. He is not a floor general, he does not pressure the rim, and he will likely be terrible on defense. He needs to be an elite shooter just to have a chance of hanging in the NBA. If he is a merely decent or good shooter, he will bust, and that appears to be what he is on track for. And if we look at shot distribution this is even more grim

https://deanondraft.substack.com/p/how-does-nick-smith-measure-up-to

[Kevin Willis]

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If Nick Smith Jr. shot like this he would be obvious at our pick as a replacement / backup for FVV. However if he played like this he would be a top 5 pick. If we do decide to take a chance on him, I think this board would implode though.

Toronto Raptors (13th pick)
There are going to be several needs for Toronto after a down .500 season. Obviously, a lot of that will be dependent on whether front office head Masai Ujiri blows up the roster by trading forwards Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.

One obvious need here is getting more length in the backcourt. Fred VanVleet is smallish. He’s also set to become a free agent in July. Adding Smith to the mix with the 13th selection would just make too much sense given his skillset, frame and the Raptors’ overall needs.

Even if NSJ shot 45/40/85 in college I still wouldn't take him anywhere near the top 5. The passing was atrocious and he put up 0's all across the stat board in key areas constantly. This guy went full games where he put up 0-1 rebounds 0-1 assists and 0 steals.

What if he becomes a Maxey type?

[Kevin Willis]

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If Nick Smith Jr. shot like this he would be obvious at our pick as a replacement / backup for FVV. However if he played like this he would be a top 5 pick. If we do decide to take a chance on him, I think this board would implode though.

Toronto Raptors (13th pick)
There are going to be several needs for Toronto after a down .500 season. Obviously, a lot of that will be dependent on whether front office head Masai Ujiri blows up the roster by trading forwards Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.

One obvious need here is getting more length in the backcourt. Fred VanVleet is smallish. He’s also set to become a free agent in July. Adding Smith to the mix with the 13th selection would just make too much sense given his skillset, frame and the Raptors’ overall needs.

If i was following him closely before college I could see myself being convinced that maybe it was just a down year and injuries but I'm honestly not a Nick Smith fan despite my love for Maxey and that typa player. Hopefully he can build up his stock again quickly in this pre draft process and convince another team before us.

I feel the same as you, Maxey is a good comparison with him but if another teams falls in love and drops a good candidate that would be best outcome.

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

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has us taking Leonard Miller at 13

I could live with that, he plays like Amare Stoudemire.

Noteven close to the power or face up ability or small ball 5 ability that Amar'e had.

You would've been better of saying CB4, and even CB4 was bigger with more offensive potential

I'm rooting for Miller tho, I knew him personally

Bosh was a mechanical black hole with zero ball handling skills. This guy's a guard that grew up.

The g-league numbers are nice, the shooting from deep could use work. But it's like 32%....so not bad.