2023 NBA Draft - 630 central start time.

[Murphs56]

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If not for the Rudy trade (Big Minus), Connelly would be considered cooking lol

[Nick K]

Leonard Miller was a first-round talent and has quite a bit of upside. He was getting picked in the 20-25 range in most every mock draft I saw.

ESPN had him rated 23rd prospect. Tankathon mocked him at 20.

Vecenie had him 13 overall!

I can just see Miller and Minott out there. Watch bleepin out! Raw but very talented.

[karch34]

I’m going to say Terquavion Smith at 53.

Bones 2.0?

Got a bit of that vibe. Could see Jaylen Clark just because at 53 you want one standout skill and dude can defend, but feel like Smith is that combo guard he likes.

[SO_MONEY]

Love this pick, assuming he comes back from injury... super surprised we tookk him.... because of the injury, but I had him really high.

[Nick K]

Essentially speaking, the wolves get one year to develop him and see what he is. He could be lethal with McDaniels on the wings. Whether cat is gone this year or next, he will be gone. Developing a power forward makes sense.

Imagine Minott in there too. Whew!

[Norseman79]

So Clark is essentially okogie 2.0. hopefully kid recovers from the Achilles injury. Another draft and stash guy similar to Minot perhaps?

[karch34]

I’m going to say Terquavion Smith at 53.

Bones 2.0?

Got a bit of that vibe. Could see Jaylen Clark just because at 53 you want one standout skill and dude can defend, but feel like Smith is that combo guard he likes.

Ok. I don’t type well on iPad and takes me a long time. When I looked up it was pick 54. Was not cheating.

[KGdaBom]

I’m going to say Terquavion Smith at 53.

Bones 2.0?

Got a bit of that vibe. Could see Jaylen Clark just because at 53 you want one standout skill and dude can defend, but feel like Smith is that combo guard he likes.

Jaylen Clark it is.

[Dalvin]

Sorry Nowell, but we have a new Jaylen.
From a Jaylen of pure O into Jaylen of gritty D

[wolves_89]

So far with the Wolves Connelly seems to have a type in the draft. Moore, Minott, Miller, and Clark are all long/athletic wings who have a good chance at being plus defenders. I think the defining question for them all is if they can make open 3s at an acceptable rate.

[Norseman79]

It'll be interesting to see which point guards they bring in unless the plan is to move Moore to point guard full time

[Norseman79]

When can teams sign undrafted players?

[KGdaBom]

Jaylen Clark
6'5"
210 lbs
UCLA
17
POS RK
53
OVR RK
Pre-Draft Analysis
Dec. 27, 2022

A defense-oriented role player his first two seasons, Clark has expanded his game and emerged as a highly efficient third option for an 11-2 UCLA team that many consider to be a legitimate Final Four contender. Clark put his defensive prowess on full display earlier this month with a comprehensive shutdown of Kentucky freshman and projected top-10 pick Cason Wallace, under the watchful eyes of many NBA executives at Madison Square Garden, limiting him to seven points, zero assists and two turnovers on 2-for-13 shooting in UCLA's win.

Clark's combination of length, strength, quickness and intensity is highly impactful, as he regularly steps in for charges, helps off the ball and wreaks havoc getting in passing lanes and crashing the glass. He ranks first in steals among all prospects in the top 100 and is tops among guards in rebounding, but has also found ways to be productive offensively as well, averaging 22 points per 40 on an efficient 66% true shooting percentage while rarely turning the ball over. Most of his offense comes in transition, posting up and attacking closeouts on straight-line drives, but he has also shown some flashes of effectiveness overpowering weaker defenders off the dribble, finishing through contact and splashing open 3-pointers, hitting 11-for-28 from beyond the arc through 12 games.

Despite the improved play, Clark has some things to prove in Pac-12 play, specifically how translatable or sustainable his offensive game is. He's an average ball handler and passer who plays a lot of bully ball, using his strong frame, and sports a big windup on his stiff spot-up 3-pointer, needing time to get his jumper off and struggling when asked to shoot off the bounce. He's a career 63% free throw shooter and 31% from beyond the arc but has tremendous touch around the basket that indicates he has room to grow in this area. Already playing a similar role to the one he'd be asked to play in the NBA, Clark is in an outstanding situation to help UCLA to a deep NCAA tournament run, which would put him in position to hear his name called on draft night. -- Jonathan Givony

[KGdaBom]

When can teams sign undrafted players?

I think as soon as the draft ends.

[Mattya]

Go get Terquavion Smith

[Norseman79]

Could use a PG l, a sharp shooter and a beefy big rebounder

[Nick K]

Jaylen Clark to us at #53.

Strengths: Suffocating perimeter defender who was widely recognized as the best perimeter defender in college basketball this season … Incredibly disciplined defender who laterally moves his feet masterfully and fully extends on contests without fouling … An aggressive defender who took on the toughest matchups, yet stayed out of foul trouble and rarely conceded easy buckets … Intelligent defender who loves to force ball-handler toward the baseline and still stay in front. Even when he gets beat for a step, he recovers well and can block shots from behind with a great wingspan for his size (6’4 height and 6’9 wingspan) … Great anticipation as a defender, both on and off the ball, to force turnovers on charges or steals. Lays his body on the line … Very effective guarding 1-3. Can hold his own in the post, even against taller 4’s with exceptional upper body strength … Defensive playmaker … Possesses Jose Alvarado type of energy, never taking a play off to allow lead ball-handlers to relax or bring it up the floor easily …

Measured 6’4.00” barefoot, 8’5.50” standing reach, 204.2 lbs, and a 6’9.00 wingspan at the 2023 NBA Draft Combine … 2023 Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year and NABC Defensive Player of the Year … Second-Team All-Pac 12 in 2023 … Pac-12 All-Defense in 2022 and 2023

Says it all about this guy. Must overhaul shooting mechanics.
-------------------------

This turned out to be one hell of a draft for us! Unbelievable. I'm just not used to seeing a highly competent front office at work. The last 3 years have been great!

[SO_MONEY]

So Clark is essentially okogie 2.0. hopefully kid recovers from the Achilles injury. Another draft and stash guy similar to Minot perhaps?

He is a defender who can guard 1-3, not athletic, not a good shooter, but does little things and finishes around the rim, if it translates given athletic limitations. Either way you have a guy that can perhaps be your third SG and has a role. Hopefully he makes improvements if not chew him up with 2way years and draft a new one. But this team needs willing defenders and culture setters to fit the new guard around ANT. At 53 hard to do much better in that he can already do something really well.

[younggunsmn]

Jon K said Min 28 2nd and Utah 26 2nd for picks we gave up for Miller.
But Real GM says our Utah picks are 24 and 25, the only pick we own in '26 is worst of IND/SAS/MIA.

So he's either wrong on the year or the team. My guess is the year.

Either way I like the Miller pick. Prototypical size and excellent athlete. But very very raw.
Good handle for his size his only above average skill at this point.
Shot doesn't look bad and has a smooth release, but very raw as a shooter too.

A lot like Minott, but thicker with a more developed body.
A ton of upside there, very surprised he was still available at 33 in a class this weak.
Looks like he has enough quickness to switch onto guards once he improves his defensive fundamentals.
Looks like a prototypical 2000s era 4, which fills a big need for us.
Talent really fell off this year after the first dozen or so picks (really the top 3 some would say) and if we had kept our pick and taken this guy at 16 I would have been fine with it.
I would put him in the late 20's or early 2nd with last year's draft class though.
Is there a reason so many teams passed on this guy though?
Doogie said we didn't bring many players in for workouts, I hope we did our due diligence.


Not super excited about Clark but at 53 is a good player to take a flyer on as he has an NBA skill as a defender.
Not real athletic and jump shot is funky. Averaged more steals than assists.
Great motor and tenacious on defense and on loose balls and rebounds.
Reminds me of a slightly less polished Wendell Moore or NAW with a lot less athleticism.
Or maybe a 40 year old Westbrook.
Candidate for a 2-way.

Not a bad night for us considering we came in with only 53.
Other than the Spurs, I didn't see our conference rivals get significantly better in the draft tonight.
Was not excited to see Sacramento dump Richaun Holmes contract to clear more capspace they could potentially use to go after Naz Reid.

[wolves_89]

I'll be curious to see what the Wolves do with Clark in terms of a contract. He's likely out with an Achilles injury for most if not all of next season, so I'm guessing he ends up on a 2-way deal.