2023 NBA Draft Thread 4

[eyriq]

Yeah, still stuck on 2021

I wonder what kind of proprietary AI tools teams have access to.

AI is kind of a catch all term. I don’t believe NBA teams need to have LLMs like Chatgpt or have the expertise to build and create those are beyond the resources of an NBA front office. I am sure they do have their proprietary machine learning models for classification and prediction of outcomes. Probably also some clustering models as well. I am skeptical any one nba team could have the resources to make advancements in CNN creation for computer vision when you have all the big tech companies grabbing up as many of those experts as they can. Also it would make more financial sense to create a tool outside of a team then sell it to all the teams.

That's a great take. LLMs are killing it as the most popular AI products but to your point there are other AI technologies. I do think it would be intriguing for a team to bring in a local LLM and train it on basketball specific documents. Could then be leveraged for scouting reports, competitive analysis, data analysis, and the like.

[jonbob17]

Yeah, still stuck on 2021

I wonder what kind of proprietary AI tools teams have access to.

AI is kind of a catch all term. I don’t believe NBA teams need to have LLMs like Chatgpt or have the expertise to build and create those are beyond the resources of an NBA front office. I am sure they do have their proprietary machine learning models for classification and prediction of outcomes. Probably also some clustering models as well. I am skeptical any one nba team could have the resources to make advancements in CNN creation for computer vision when you have all the big tech companies grabbing up as many of those experts as they can. Also it would make more financial sense to create a tool outside of a team then sell it to all the teams.

Yah, that is what I am saying i bet there are companies working on it, and I wonder how many teams are using these products already.
With things like development, there are so many variables (so very hard for humans to evaluate), but there is so much available data. Feel like with sports and and all the money that is associated with it we may see the biggest breakthroughs in human predictive tools in sports first, given the all the data collected including video analytics, and a measurable outcome in on court production.

Could be a creepy sci fi, where the machines know players destiny fairly accurately. Maybe we are a ways off, but i have to believe we are somewhere in the process.

[JoshuaPotter]

NBA draft has us taking Black at 6 and Ausar at 11.

Would walk away happy from that draft.

[JoshuaPotter]

Looks like some current comp for Ausar is trevor ariza

I am not saying thats who he will become. To finish the thought experiment out. If true and that is who he develops into then I would say 10-11 is a good range where drafting him becomes a good value.

The further he slips, the great the potential long term value.

But I doubt he slips beyond 11 in general after all that hype. Is there a world where Amen + Ausar slips and we draft them at 6 / 11 still? That would just be so crazy.

This is not something I want, but I bet something the org would do because we "like people like this".

[yoyojw17]

Watch on YouTube

AUSAR AND HENDRICKS! DOWN!

[Nyce_1]

Did any of you catch the Lock’d On Mock Draft?

The guy running the Magic took Grady Dick at #6, then traded #11 + Okeke to NY for Hartlestein and a future 2nd, saying he wanted to clear roster spots for vet free agents.

Reactions?

I have heard of additional by subtraction. Would rather we just start waiving players.....

Especially if we have a tendency to just cash consideration 2nd rounders.....

Imagine if the FO actually made the right decision and gave Hartenstein Bamba’s deal.

Imagine if Hartenstein actually accepted the offer our FO gave him instead of choosing NY.

Read on Twitter

?t=BO_2pdjWk7dZXEBW-jCl6A&s=19

Read on Twitter

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[Petre1978]

NBA draft has us taking Black at 6 and Ausar at 11.

Would walk away happy from that draft.

2 non shooting guards.
The board would riot.

[JoshuaPotter]

NBA draft has us taking Black at 6 and Ausar at 11.

Would walk away happy from that draft.

2 non shooting guards.
The board would riot.

Based on what I understand of both players. I would give them 1 largely non impact rookie year from the arc, and by year 2 we would start to see improvement.

In year 3, they would be whom they are. Just like any other player.

Kinda seeing Suggs the same way.

The defense potential of our guard would be leveled up by a large margin.

[basketballRob]

Cam and Lively are both working with Paolo's trainer.

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[Optimus_Steel]

I don't care who we take, just get the best possible shooting/scoring guards available.

[nymets1]

We have to get Scoot Henderson or one of the Thompson brothers. Scoot and Amen are supposedly gone before the 6th pick but Ausar Thompson is probably going to be available at 6. Assuming Scott and Amen are gone and Ausar is available when we make the pick, Ausar should be the pick.

[Knightro]

Read on Twitter

[MartinsIzAfraud]

We have to get Scoot Henderson or one of the Thompson brothers. Scoot and Amen are supposedly gone before the 6th pick but Ausar Thompson is probably going to be available at 6. Assuming Scott and Amen are gone and Ausar is available when we make the pick, Ausar should be the pick.

Ausar will have the better career IMO. Amen’s shot has 3 clicks in it and starts at his waist lol

[drsd]

Imagine if Hartenstein actually accepted the offer our FO gave him instead of choosing NY.

I like Bitadze. Let's see what develops. Hartenstein is a 5ppg stiff and always will be a stiff. Teams need stiffs for the deep bench, but I am happy for him helping the Knicks be worse.

[Knightro]

Wasserman's Final Mock

1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama
2. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller
3. Portland Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson
4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson
5. Detroit Pistons: Jarace Walker

6. Orlando Magic: Anthony Black
Position: PG/SG
Team: Arkansas
Age: 19

Interest in Anthony Black seems to be spreading and growing. The Wizards at No. 8 now seem like his floor.

With Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic may have to pass on a forward like Cam Whitmore, whose medical reports have also raised some questions.

Orlando could see more upside with Black than Markelle Fultz, and the front office does have a recent history of valuing skill and versatility over athleticism.

Black has fans all over for his coveted mix of positional size, passing and defense.

7. Indiana Pacers: Taylor Hendricks
8. Washington Wizards: Ausar Thompson
9. Utah Jazz: Cam Whitmore
10. Dallas Mavericks: Bilal Coulibaly

11. Orlando Magic: Gradey Dick
Position: SF
School: Kansas
Age: 19

Orlando will be hoping Gradey Dick is still there at No. 11, as it will swing for upside at No. 6 and then target shooting in the late-lottery.

If Dick is gone, Jordan Hawkins is another name expected to draw consideration.

Post Mock Depth Chart

G: Fultz, Anthony, Black
G: Harris, Suggs, Houstan
F: F. Wagner, Dick, Okeke
F: Banchero, Bol, Isaac
C: Carter, Bitadze, M. Wagner

You'd really need to move one of Fultz or Anthony to open up playing time for Anthony Black in this scenario. Dumping Gary Harris and replacing him with a bad shooter in Black just to get Black on the court doesn't seem too wise.

We'll see how it goes.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10080062-brs-final-2023-nba-mock-draft-full-2-round-predictions

[basketballRob]

Wasserman's Final Mock

1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama
2. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller
3. Portland Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson
4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson
5. Detroit Pistons: Jarace Walker

6. Orlando Magic: Anthony Black
Position: PG/SG
Team: Arkansas
Age: 19

Interest in Anthony Black seems to be spreading and growing. The Wizards at No. 8 now seem like his floor.

With Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic may have to pass on a forward like Cam Whitmore, whose medical reports have also raised some questions.

Orlando could see more upside with Black than Markelle Fultz, and the front office does have a recent history of valuing skill and versatility over athleticism.

Black has fans all over for his coveted mix of positional size, passing and defense.

7. Indiana Pacers: Taylor Hendricks
8. Washington Wizards: Ausar Thompson
9. Utah Jazz: Cam Whitmore
10. Dallas Mavericks: Bilal Coulibaly

11. Orlando Magic: Gradey Dick
Position: SF
School: Kansas
Age: 19

Orlando will be hoping Gradey Dick is still there at No. 11, as it will swing for upside at No. 6 and then target shooting in the late-lottery.

If Dick is gone, Jordan Hawkins is another name expected to draw consideration.

Post Mock Depth Chart

G: Fultz, Anthony, Black
G: Harris, Suggs, Houstan
F: F. Wagner, Dick, Okeke
F: Banchero, Bol, Isaac
C: Carter, Bitadze, M. Wagner

You'd really need to move one of Fultz or Anthony to open up playing time for Anthony Black in this scenario. Dumping Gary Harris and replacing him with a bad shooter in Black just to get Black on the court doesn't seem too wise.

We'll see how it goes.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10080062-brs-final-2023-nba-mock-draft-full-2-round-predictions

It would almost be like winning the Florida lottery to pick 4-11 correct.

I do like Black. I like that money doesn't seem like his motivation.

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[fendilim]

Black Dick is destiny

[JoshuaPotter]

Spoiler:

Wasserman's Final Mock

1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama
2. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller
3. Portland Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson
4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson
5. Detroit Pistons: Jarace Walker

6. Orlando Magic: Anthony Black
Position: PG/SG
Team: Arkansas
Age: 19

Interest in Anthony Black seems to be spreading and growing. The Wizards at No. 8 now seem like his floor.

With Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic may have to pass on a forward like Cam Whitmore, whose medical reports have also raised some questions.

Orlando could see more upside with Black than Markelle Fultz, and the front office does have a recent history of valuing skill and versatility over athleticism.

Black has fans all over for his coveted mix of positional size, passing and defense.

7. Indiana Pacers: Taylor Hendricks
8. Washington Wizards: Ausar Thompson
9. Utah Jazz: Cam Whitmore
10. Dallas Mavericks: Bilal Coulibaly

11. Orlando Magic: Gradey Dick
Position: SF
School: Kansas
Age: 19

Orlando will be hoping Gradey Dick is still there at No. 11, as it will swing for upside at No. 6 and then target shooting in the late-lottery.

If Dick is gone, Jordan Hawkins is another name expected to draw consideration.

Post Mock Depth Chart

G: Fultz, Anthony, Black
G: Harris, Suggs, Houstan
F: F. Wagner, Dick, Okeke
F: Banchero, Bol, Isaac
C: Carter, Bitadze, M. Wagner

You'd really need to move one of Fultz or Anthony to open up playing time for Anthony Black in this scenario. Dumping Gary Harris and replacing him with a bad shooter in Black just to get Black on the court doesn't seem too wise.

We'll see how it goes.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10080062-brs-final-2023-nba-mock-draft-full-2-round-predictions

Do we like the possibility of Dick at SG? Sometimes I see his name as SF sometimes as SG. Was wondering if he could flex.

Also a backcourt of a Suggs / Black could be sick defensively with Franz + Paulo + Wendell. Even if we are straight up throwing our ability to shoot 3pts.

[jonbob17]

Post Mock Depth Chart

G: Fultz, Anthony, Black
G: Harris, Suggs, Houstan
F: F. Wagner, Dick, Okeke
F: Banchero, Bol, Isaac
C: Carter, Bitadze, M. Wagner

You'd really need to move one of Fultz or Anthony to open up playing time for Anthony Black in this scenario. Dumping Gary Harris and replacing him with a bad shooter in Black just to get Black on the court doesn't seem too wise.

We'll see how it goes.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10080062-brs-final-2023-nba-mock-draft-full-2-round-predictions

Yah, I don't know that Gradey is a true wing. He's 6'6", he has a little more to his game than just shooting but he seems more of a guard to me, based on who he is going to be able to defend, not sure how many minutes he can log next to two guards. Houstan seems more like the back up SF, maybe Bol if he is in the rotation.

Minutes are going to be key here. If we take Black or another guard. They got to open up minutes. 96 guard minutes, we kind of need 30+ going to suggs. If Fultz is part of the plan he is going to need 30+. 36 left for Cole and rookie(s). Agree Harris has to go, and they probably do need to pick a direction with Cole and MF.

If we are adding a FA guard then there is a bigger bottleneck. I think we should target a SF in free agent, even though theres not a lot of talent out there.

[jonbob17]

Kevin Pelton updated his WAR based ranking last week. Anybody have an ESPN insider account that can help out with list?

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/37847803/nba-draft-2023-breaking-30-best-prospects