What player do you have a stronger negative/ positive opinion on vs majority?

[azcatz11]

Maybe there is a thread on this already. Just curious what player you like or dislike more than the majority? For example, I know we have a lot of Edey truthers and deniers. Let’s leave him out of this.

Who else? Thanks

[JRoy]

Good call on Edey. He’s a polarizing player. His detractors will say he’s too slow, can’t guard the perimeter etc and those are valid concerns. He could bust.

I believe he won’t. His high level of production, heavy minutes and ability to lead an unremarkable cast to the title game while racking up consecutive POTY awards are a solid indicator that he can succeed on the next level.

[babyjax13]

Negative: Ulrich Chomche
Looked outmatched in his few BAL games. Can't dribble, can't shoot, has poor touch, a walking turnover, terrible court awareness, throws some nice passes but for every good one is a different play where he took 4 seconds to make a decision and had the ball stripped. Shoots all the time despite a horribly broken jumper. Maluach is already a better player and I'm not enamored with him, either. I'm fine with a flier on him in the 50s, but I wouldn't be the one to pick him, even at 58.

Ryan dunn: I want to like him but he has no offense. Maybe he can be a worse Brandon Clarke on offense?

Positive: I wouldn't say overwhelmingly positive, but I think Tyler Smith and Kyshawn George are two of the most interesting guys in the class and should be in the top 5 convo. My level of confidence that they turn into more than just starters with desirable archetypes is somewhat low, but I like them both.

I also think it's fun to actually address Edey. I think he will be a solid situational big with a good chance of being a low end starter a la Nurkic/Zubac.

[FarBeyondDriven]

Negative: Ulrich Chomche
Looked outmatched in his few BAL games. Can't dribble, can't shoot, has poor touch, a walking turnover, terrible court awareness, throws some nice passes but for every good one is a different play where he took 4 seconds to make a decision and had the ball stripped. Shoots all the time despite a horribly broken jumper. Maluach is already a better player and I'm not enamored with him, either. I'm fine with a flier on him in the 50s, but I wouldn't be the one to pick him, even at 58.

Positive: I wouldn't say overwhelmingly positive, but I think Tyler Smith and Kyshawn George are two of the most interesting guys in the class and should be in the top 5 convo. My level of confidence that they turn into more than just starters with desirable archetypes is somewhat low, but I like them both.

I also think it's fun to actually address Edey. I think he will be a solid situational big with a good chance of being a low end starter a la Nurkic/Zubac.

Malauch does not look like a top prospect so you lost me there. But I agree about Chomche. Thing is, he's the youngest player in the draft and while he does have a long ways to go he has size, athleticism and some skills worth taking a risk on. I think he would have been better served to play a year in college. I can imagine with good coaching he could make a massive leap and been in the lottery conversation.

[babyjax13]

Negative: Ulrich Chomche
Looked outmatched in his few BAL games. Can't dribble, can't shoot, has poor touch, a walking turnover, terrible court awareness, throws some nice passes but for every good one is a different play where he took 4 seconds to make a decision and had the ball stripped. Shoots all the time despite a horribly broken jumper. Maluach is already a better player and I'm not enamored with him, either. I'm fine with a flier on him in the 50s, but I wouldn't be the one to pick him, even at 58.

Positive: I wouldn't say overwhelmingly positive, but I think Tyler Smith and Kyshawn George are two of the most interesting guys in the class and should be in the top 5 convo. My level of confidence that they turn into more than just starters with desirable archetypes is somewhat low, but I like them both.

I also think it's fun to actually address Edey. I think he will be a solid situational big with a good chance of being a low end starter a la Nurkic/Zubac.

Malauch does not look like a top prospect so you lost me there. But I agree about Chomche. Thing is, he's the youngest player in the draft and while he does have a long ways to go he has size, athleticism and some skills worth taking a risk on. I think he would have been better served to play a year in college. I can imagine with good coaching he could make a massive leap and been in the lottery conversation.

I don't disagree on Maluach, I just think he's clearly better than Chomche. Chomche doesn't look draftable at this point (to me) and the jury is still out on Maluach, but I haven't seen anything special from him.

[FarBeyondDriven]

Positives

George - There's a chance he's the best player from this draft class and I've only seen one other person who has him near the top like me. Most have him late lottery or in the 20s

Smith - Another that is being mocked in the late teens or 20s that could be a top 3-5 player from this draft when all is said and done.

Negatives

Sheppard - no idea why he's being mocked #3 on most boards. It's baffling. I watched almost every single game he played in and he's very much a product of the talent surrounding him and their opponents imo

Clingan - Guy is a plodding, show-footed center with no offense that can't defend in space. What year is it? People didn't have Mark Williams or Lively near the top of the draft so why Clingan? Let me guess "weakest draft class ever!!"

[FrodoBaggins]

Our father, who art in heaven, Zach be thy name...

[clyde21]

higher on than most: Oso Ighodaro, Jalen Bridges, Trey Alexander

negatively can't think of too many, probably Zac Risacher is too high if people are talking about top 5, Salaun is too high if people are talking about lotto, and Collier is probably too high if people are talking about top 20 or 25

[jezzerinho]

Low on:
Klingan (clumsy, lumbering hulk)

High on:
Diadet (would be a lottery pick if he was from US)

[Rustyman]

Negative:
Klingan. I have seen lots of Rudy comparisons with him when he doesn't even have half the athleticism Rudy has. Also, he has no offensive game. No way do I draft a purely defensive player in the top 8.

Positive:
Dillingham. He has a better chance of being a lead guard than Sheppard due to his handle and shiftiness. He is virtually the prototype of so many small guards in the last decade who have made All Star. Also, he gets much less pub than Sheppard for his 3 ball but he shot it in so many different situations.

[tester551]

Low on:
Klingan (clumsy, lumbering hulk)

High on:
Diadet (would be a lottery pick if he was from US)

100% agree

[Village Idiot]

More positive:

Matas - best player in the draft IMHO
Holland - I can see him becoming a Jaylen Brown type of player
Missi - This kid has the atheticism, physical tools and motor to become a top 10 center/PF

More negative:

Clingan - his free throw percentage doesn't bode well for him becoming a very useful offensive player. I don't see the sufficient lateral quickness that others do
Dillingham - decent player but not the type of guy to build a winning team around. Will get abused on defense.
Topic - I don't see a well rounded game. His poor shooting and athleticism will enable defenses to sag off taking away a lot of the passing game that makes him special.

[Telfaire]

Negative:
Klingan. I have seen lots of Rudy comparisons with him when he doesn't even have half the athleticism Rudy has. Also, he has no offensive game. No way do I draft a purely defensive player in the top 8.

Well, I've looked into their respective strength & agility tests on the combine:

Lane agility time: 12.85 (RG), 12.06 (DC)
Shuttle run: 3.19 (RG), 3.38 (DC)
3/4 sprint: 3.57 (RG), 3.46 (DC)
standing vert: 25 (RG), 25.5 (DC)
Max vert: 29 for both


Do you find any significance in that, or do you think that the eye test is more than enough?

I do admit that Clingan's stamina scares me. I've looked into other, similar size centers who made it to the NBA, and the most comparable one that I've found so far (comparing freshman & sophmore years only, of course) was Roy Hibbert.

[Dat2U]

Negative: Stephon Castle.

I see no star upside and a modestly skilled wing who's best offensive skill is connective passing.

The PG talk is nonsense as he doesn't really put pressure on the defense and a large chunk of his paint scores are assisted.

[azcatz11]

More positive:

Matas - best player in the draft IMHO
Holland - I can see him becoming a Jaylen Brown type of player
Missi - This kid has the atheticism, physical tools and motor to become a top 10 center/PF

More negative:

Clingan - his free throw percentage doesn't bode well for him becoming a very useful offensive player. I don't see the sufficient lateral quickness that others do
Dillingham - decent player but not the type of guy to build a winning team around. Will get abused on defense.
Topic - I don't see a well rounded game. His poor shooting and athleticism will enable defenses to sag off taking away a lot of the passing game that makes him special.

Is Giddey a good comp for Topic?

[Cammo101]

More positive:

Matas - best player in the draft IMHO
Holland - I can see him becoming a Jaylen Brown type of player
Missi - This kid has the atheticism, physical tools and motor to become a top 10 center/PF

More negative:

Clingan - his free throw percentage doesn't bode well for him becoming a very useful offensive player. I don't see the sufficient lateral quickness that others do
Dillingham - decent player but not the type of guy to build a winning team around. Will get abused on defense.
Topic - I don't see a well rounded game. His poor shooting and athleticism will enable defenses to sag off taking away a lot of the passing game that makes him special.

Is Giddey a good comp for Topic?

Goran Dragic is the closest comp for me. Also a little Vasilje Micic, minus the jumper.

[BlazersBroncos]

POSITIVE
Matas Buzelis F - I believe he is the best prospect in this class and should be the clear cut #1. His athletic numbers are elite for his size, his shot mechanics are fine, he has flashed as a secondary playmaker and can both finish and lead a transition. He has Batum with a better motor / competitive streak upside. COMP - Detlef Schrempf
Tyler Smith F - His defensive IQ is poor, but he has an ideal role playing PF skillset and all the athletic traits you look for in a modern PF. His 3PT shot is tremendously smooth, he has great bulk for his age and is still super athletic. I see a PJ Washington caliber modern stretch PF who can hit a 3 and finish above the rim. He will need others to create his shots for him but he will finish well when they do. COMP - PJ Washington
Zach Edey C - Think he is a 20/10 guy by the end of his rookie deal if not MUCH sooner. He has size we have not really seen, with conditioning, injury resilience, competitiveness and tremendous hands. I believe he is a low Top-10 talent. COMP - Zubac
Kyshawn George GF - Smooth with great size and a effortless 3PT shot. See a great role player in him - ideal 4/5th starter who can get 12-15ppg without much usage, isnt a ball stopper and even can make + passes at times. Think he uses his size well on defense but not sure he has the athleticism to be the defender I initially thought he would be. COMP - KCP

NEGATIVE
Rob Dillingham G - Simply put, for every Tyrese Maxey there are a dozen Juan Dixons. I just dont buy it at the next level.
Cody Williams F - Kid weighs less than Trae Young coming out, his isnt an elite athlete, he isnt assertive and dissapears not for quarters but games at a time. People point to his shooting but the volume is insanely low from 3 and his FT isnt anything to write home about either. His WS is the best trait and thats just not nearly enough for me to take him as high as people are mocking him.
Ja'Kobe Walter G - Literally Caleb Houstan statistically but shorter and in a crappier draft. Total project who is touted as a 3/D but doesnt take smart shots, doesnt shoot a good % and isnt well disciplined on defense.
Tidjane Salaun F - He has alot of tools and you have to love the size but he is a very straight line player with little wiggle on both sides of the ball. I dont see how a guy his size can end up with like 2 blocks on the year either. People ding Furphy and George for their combine testing numbers but rarely do you hear about how bad Salaun tested. I see a late FRP 'ball of clay' type that you take a flyer on but certainly not a Top-10 pick.

[FarBeyondDriven]

Positives

George - There's a chance he's the best player from this draft class and I've only seen one other person who has him near the top like me. Most have him late lottery or in the 20s

Smith - Another that is being mocked in the late teens or 20s that could be a top 3-5 player from this draft when all is said and done.

Negatives

Sheppard - no idea why he's being mocked #3 on most boards. It's baffling. I watched almost every single game he played in and he's very much a product of the talent surrounding him and their opponents imo

Clingan - Guy is a plodding, show-footed center with no offense that can't defend in space. What year is it? People didn't have Mark Williams or Lively near the top of the draft so why Clingan? Let me guess "weakest draft class ever!!"

going through potential landing spots for Sheppard and there's a few that teams that might get me to change my projections for him should he drop to them. OKC, MIA, MIL, ORL, and MN. I'm realizing a lot of my negativity about his prospects are tied to believing he'll go to the teams in the top 10 which are all bad fits imo. If he was taken in the more appropriate late lottery/teens/twenties to a contender he then has so much more value and potential to have an impact due to fit.

Kinda the same thing with Clingan. He's not talented enough to warrant a high pick but if he landed in OKC, LAL WAS (2nd pick) or BOS he'll be set up for success better due to fit and expectations. Top of the draft seems ridiculous.

[Klomp]

I think I'm going to say Bronny James.

I believe in the Basketball IQ.
I believe in the body frame.
I believe in the "connector"/defender skill set.

[Telfaire]

POSITIVE
Matas Buzelis F - I believe he is the best prospect in this class and should be the clear cut #1. His athletic numbers are elite for his size, his shot mechanics are fine, he has flashed as a secondary playmaker and can both finish and lead a transition. He has Batum with a better motor / competitive streak upside. COMP - Detlef Schrempf

I agree, leaning towards selecting him #1 on my mock draft, and I also thought about a mixture of Schrempf & Hedo, with more athletisicm, as a COMP.