The Jett Howard Thread

[drsd]

I'm wondering why we have a fetish for drafting Mich players with our second pick. 3 years in a row now

Welman's answer was, " i) we did draft a player from Arkansas and ii) players come from where they come from."

He almost seemed up-fended to be asked this (obvious) question. But then he deflected to how well coached the Michigan players are; code: Papa Juwan Howard - please don't be angry at me for flubbing the answer.

[drsd]

If the Magic wanted Jett, they could have traded down 3 to 4 picks for him.

If?

By definition the Magic did want Howard. And as stated before, if you like a guy, don't play games. Just draft him.

Look at last year, the Magic could have traded the overall #1 for 2 or 3 and probably still have gotten Banchero. Is that worth the risk? No. Just draft the dude you like. No games.

[drsd]

If Howard spends the off-season with a chip on his shoulder proving he deserves his draft slot, great.

[fendilim]

It appears like Jett didnt join the combine?

[RookieStar]

It appears like Jett didnt join the combine?

He didnt thats why we are all guessing his height. His guestimates are all over the place from 6'5 to 6'8

[cedric76]

People r brainwashed by those mocks, like people saying that whitmore fell in the draft, he didn't fall, he was just ranked in the 20 range by all NBA executives.
YouTubers just got it wrong

NBA gms had Jett ranked in the top 13 range and Orlando picked him in that range, plain and simple

[jezzerinho]

It appears like Jett didnt join the combine?

He didnt thats why we are all guessing his height. His guestimates are all over the place from 6'5 to 6'8

Howard is 6'5" without shoes, there or thereabouts.

In pics of him beside Bufkin (6'4.25") Howard is half an inch to an inch taller.

[fendilim]

It appears like Jett didnt join the combine?

He didnt thats why we are all guessing his height. His guestimates are all over the place from 6'5 to 6'8

Ha, maybe the magic promised him that early?

Franz didnt participate, so did Caleb. Both have promises heading into the draft.

https://www.nba.com/stats/draft/combine-anthro?SeasonYear=2022-23

[SOUL]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FzUgy5yaAAIobHQ?format=jpg&name=medium

NBA heights are hard to determine. Looks about the same as Cam Whitmore who is credited as 6'7 (but almost 6'6 without shoes). Whatever it is, they play in shoes and he seemed like a solid height/weight for SG/SF.

Also kinda crazy Black looks taller than Jarace (and Jarace is considered PF/C) while Black is PG/SG/SF. I think Black just has a longer neck or something 'cause he measured almost 6'6 while Jarace was 6'6 and a half. Still though.. big dude.

Some other strange combine notes I was looking at:

- Black is tall but his wingspan isn't very long compared to a lot of others. His teammate, Jordan Walsh (who measured smaller) has almost 5 inches standing reach over him, but to be fair, he was comparing to dudes like 3 inches taller than him.. freakishly long arms.
- Hand width was above average though, above a lot of other wings/even a few centers.
- Only 3 lbs less than Hendricks

[cedric76]

Watch on YouTube

[fendilim]

Damn you do, damn you don’t.

People criticize WeHam for not being risky. And drafting based on consensus, etc. in previous years.

Now Jett isn’t a popular pick, people still criticize them.

Funny.

Can’t please everybody. Even the Suggs pick everyone was happy. Then Suggs don’t live up to expectations, they blame management again haha

[VFX]

Damn you do, damn you don’t.

People criticize WeHam for not being risky. And drafting based on consensus, etc. in previous years.

Now Jett isn’t a popular pick, people still criticize them.

Funny.

Can’t please everybody. Even the Suggs pick everyone was happy. Then Suggs don’t live up to expectations, they blame management again haha

I’ve never once heard anyone blame management for selecting Suggs. People blame Suggs for not being Jamal Murray.

People don’t criticize Weltham for not being risky or playing it safe. They criticize them for trying to overthink their position and their predictable actions.

Okeke, Cole, and Jett were taken because they were either injured or underwhelmed compared to where they would have been taken ranked prior. Franz, Bamba, Isaac, and Black all fit their length per position agenda.

Suggs and Paolo are the only two that don’t fit either category taken in the first round. Probably because they could afford to play 4-D chess with top 5 picks.

[Skybox]

Watch on YouTube

That's a great video...I kind of forgot about his all-around game since earlier in the season (we all did?). I had in mind a chunky Dennis Scott spot up guy...no way is there a video of Gradey Dick handling the ball like that. Those ankle twists are somewhat routine, but at the same time gruesome to watch and certainly could have turned him into a Dennis Scott for a while after. I also had the idea that he was bigger than he is and, therefore, less able to play the 2...I don't think that's a problem-he looks like a big 2 to me. Hawkins' insane cardio and movement is still very intriguing, but maybe Jett's got a bigger bag...we'll see.

Call it rationalizing, but that video addressed several concerns I had in mind. I think his floor is Gary Trent and maybe Gradey Dick I think his ceiling is much higher. Much depends on conditioning and his body still developing. I also think the whole Coach's son thing is a real benefit, compounded by that Coach being a consummate NBA professional for a long career. He grew up in it. That doesn't guarantee anything, but it can definitely be a factor in a kid's comfort level and confidence right out of the gate. What a tremendous resource, especially when contrasted with a Lavar Ball or Ja Morant's dad, hanging on their coattails and craving credit and spotlights. Obviously, being coachable is a BIG factor in him showing more defensive progress...like a lot of high picks, he's probably been the scoring star his whole life and now he'll need to fight with men to earn minutes - and defense will be required if he wants to stay in the rotation.

I really hope he gets legit minutes right away (earned of course) and doesn't rot on the bench next to Houstan. I hope he's got that starter/contributor swagger and not just "happy to be here among my heroes" that, I think, hinders some rookies.

[tiderulz]

Damn you do, damn you don’t.

People criticize WeHam for not being risky. And drafting based on consensus, etc. in previous years.

Now Jett isn’t a popular pick, people still criticize them.

Funny.

Can’t please everybody. Even the Suggs pick everyone was happy. Then Suggs don’t live up to expectations, they blame management again haha

I’ve never once heard anyone blame management for selecting Suggs. People blame Suggs for not being Jamal Murray.

People don’t criticize Weltham for not being risky or playing it safe. They criticize them for trying to overthink their position and their predictable actions.

Okeke, Cole, and Jett were taken because they were either injured or underwhelmed compared to where they would have been taken ranked prior. Franz, Bamba, Isaac, and Black all fit their length per position agenda.

Suggs and Paolo are the only two that don’t fit either category taken in the first round. Probably because they could afford to play 4-D chess with top 5 picks.

yeah, i dont remember hearing anyone blame mgmt for taking Suggs. now i agree, taking Jett is risky and that is something the front office doesnt generally do. but then, was it risky or just zeroing in on 1 specific prospect regardless of how early. that is also something this front office does

[Skybox]

I'm not sure I'd call Jett "risky"...at worst, he can get his shot off and hit from range (like a handful of others in that range and later). He addressed a clear need, just not the guy most of us expected...but that one pretty safe skill alone justifies the risk of #11, IMO

[SOUL]

I like his form a lot. I worry about how he lands a bit though.. kind of like twists his foot or something but it doesn't look like a soft landing.

[fendilim]

Damn you do, damn you don’t.

People criticize WeHam for not being risky. And drafting based on consensus, etc. in previous years.

Now Jett isn’t a popular pick, people still criticize them.

Funny.

Can’t please everybody. Even the Suggs pick everyone was happy. Then Suggs don’t live up to expectations, they blame management again haha

I’ve never once heard anyone blame management for selecting Suggs. People blame Suggs for not being Jamal Murray.

People don’t criticize Weltham for not being risky or playing it safe. They criticize them for trying to overthink their position and their predictable actions.

Okeke, Cole, and Jett were taken because they were either injured or underwhelmed compared to where they would have been taken ranked prior. Franz, Bamba, Isaac, and Black all fit their length per position agenda.

Suggs and Paolo are the only two that don’t fit either category taken in the first round. Probably because they could afford to play 4-D chess with top 5 picks.

Just quick searches

Re: Weltman not being risky

That being said, Weltman takes very few risks. Their draft record isn't good enough to play it as safe as possible every offseason.

Source: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2185971&hilit=Weltman+more+credit#p98399418

Drafting suggs:

Out of our entire guard roster. Doubling down on Cole / Suggs / Fultz screams disaster. Unless, mediocrity is the goal.....

Source: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2283652&p=105675901&hilit=Doubling+down+suggs#p105675901


Weham predictable actions? So the Jett howard pick didnt surprise you at draft night?

[VFX]

It’s both.

It’s risky in the aspect that they are going against conventional wisdom of every scouting service and analyst. Picking the guy that is by all means more one-dimensional and having the bigger flaws than the other options.

It’s playing it safe by taking exactly who they knew they were going to take months beforehand and playing it off like his injuries were 100% contributing to the aforementioned flaws.

I don’t think Jett was the “wrong” pick. That would have been not selecting a shooter. I just don’t think gambling against the potential in Dick or Hawkins, with less flaws, is a great bet at #11. We will see. Jett could be better for all we know.

[yoyojw17]

It appears like Jett didnt join the combine?

He didnt thats why we are all guessing his height. His guestimates are all over the place from 6'5 to 6'8

He was taller than black and eye to eye with coach Mosely who is 6'-8" if I remember correctly.

Was watching some of his vids and he was matched up a lot with shorter profiles. A lot of his miscues I noticed was .... Ball watching and late to react to someone that's already relocating.

But yup.... Definitely seeing him as a 2/3 more than a 3/2 which would give us great size. Possibly coming off the bench with black, Isaac, and goga will help with protecting him on defense as he gets that down.

The more I watch of the kid.... The more I get it and realize how little I knew about him. And I get it now. Maybe we should thank his ankles... Both of which he sprained at some point from midseason on.... Was barely out and played through it all. Fully healed and ready to rock... Can't wait for summer league

[VFX]

Damn you do, damn you don’t.

People criticize WeHam for not being risky. And drafting based on consensus, etc. in previous years.

Now Jett isn’t a popular pick, people still criticize them.

Funny.

Can’t please everybody. Even the Suggs pick everyone was happy. Then Suggs don’t live up to expectations, they blame management again haha

I’ve never once heard anyone blame management for selecting Suggs. People blame Suggs for not being Jamal Murray.

People don’t criticize Weltham for not being risky or playing it safe. They criticize them for trying to overthink their position and their predictable actions.

Okeke, Cole, and Jett were taken because they were either injured or underwhelmed compared to where they would have been taken ranked prior. Franz, Bamba, Isaac, and Black all fit their length per position agenda.

Suggs and Paolo are the only two that don’t fit either category taken in the first round. Probably because they could afford to play 4-D chess with top 5 picks.

Just quick searches

Re: Weltman not being risky

That being said, Weltman takes very few risks. Their draft record isn't good enough to play it as safe as possible every offseason.

Source: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2185971&hilit=Weltman+more+credit#p98399418

Drafting suggs:

Out of our entire guard roster. Doubling down on Cole / Suggs / Fultz screams disaster. Unless, mediocrity is the goal.....

Source: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2283652&p=105675901&hilit=Doubling+down+suggs#p105675901


Weham predictable actions? So the Jett howard pick didnt surprise you at draft night?

Yes. Weltman takes few risks. I’m talking about how he approaches everything as a GM and in regards to roster construction and trades. That isn’t a controversial thing to say. He doesn’t move in the draft (risk) and doesn’t trade players unless he absolutely has to for lack of playing time and contract.

Drafting of Suggs, and now Black, has nothing to do with the picks themselves. Both were great picks. Again, the criticism comes down to what Weltman does with the roster after making those picks. Will he actually move players now? Who knows. That was what I was talking about.

If you are going to pull receipts you should have context to what I’m referencing. I’ve been the most consistent person here regarding my feelings on this current FO and their choices/ lack thereof.

WeHam is predictable. Yes. It surprised me how predictable it was to take the 6’8 shooter from Michigan with injury history that was ranked higher in January as opposed to 6 months later after scouting services did the majority of their work. However, It was unpredictable because players like Dick and Bufkin had much less glaring weaknesses in their game comparatively.

I gave this draft a B/B-. I don’t think they made the wrong decisions. I also think they reached for Jett. Both can be true. I just wished they maximized value by moving back a few spots. It was predictable they didn’t.