The Kasparas Jakucionis Thread

[MasterIchiro]

I think his ceiling is Goran Dragic.

[LofJ]

I've come around on this guy. He has great floor awareness and vision. He can create offense for others and get to the rim. He's also big enough to be an off guard, so his high turnover rate isn't as much of a concern. I like him more than Tre Johnson.

[MasterIchiro]

I've come around on this guy. He has great floor awareness and vision. He can create offense for others and get to the rim. He's also big enough to be an off guard, so his high turnover rate isn't as much of a concern. I like him more than Tre Johnson.

I agree. He plays heady. As a secondary playmaker the turnovers go down.

[wilson115]

Long thread on Jaku. Thought he was trending top 5 before the injury.

Read on Twitter

[Diop]

^^^
thats a good read, but some the way they described some of his passing attempts and turnovers did give me flashbacks of Micic. Makes me a little nervous.

i dont hate him, but I still have him below the main 3 discussed

[Snidely FC]

Jak is an example of how focused everyone is on 3pt percentage. Remember when Jak’s 3% was at 40 and he was widely ranked Top 4?

I could see him here in the kind of Robin role Austin Reaves performs for the Lakers, or a 6’6 version of the TJ McConnell archetype, a guy who uncorks pnr and ball movement. I like Jak.

[JMAC3]

Jak is an example of how focused everyone is on 3pt percentage. Remember when Jak’s 3% was at 40 and he was widely ranked Top 4?

I could see him here in the kind of Robin role Austin Reaves performs for the Lakers, or a 6’6 version of the TJ McConnell archetype, a guy who uncorks pnr and ball movement. I like Jak.

He shot 34% on spot up 3s, so the off the dribble, step back and grenades he was taking as the primary dragged his percentage down. I think he looks a lot more efficient as a number 2.

He draws fouls at a great rate, rebounds and has great vision. I don’t see star potential but if you are trading down I think he can provide solid value. I have him ranked 8th on my big board-7th on my hornets board.

[KingCat]

I feel he is who a lot of Kon supporters think he will be. A strong secondary handler and play maker. I like, but don't love his fit between Melo and Miller

A draft night where we trade back to get him while also grabbing other assets from a Brk/Utah/Pels would give a lot of respect for the current FO.

In a world hks stock doesn't fall cause of the injury I could see him consistently placed in the same tier as Tre, VJ, and Ace.

I say this everytime we flirt with getting another guard, but best case scenario if he works out is we have our own Hali-Fox scenario except hopefully we package the right guy.

[Bassman]

OK, I got really wary of Jaku, wanted no part of him. Now, thinking about that possibility if we trade back with the Nets to 8. Assuming the injury made him regress, and his offensive prowess and promise are pretty good, there are still weaknesses in his game. Want to put him between Melo and Miller? His defense is not good, and his athleticism is limited. So how is he better than Kon? I’m still open to drafting him at 8, but also strongly would consider Carter Bryant there.

[KingCat]

OK, I got really wary of Jaku, wanted no part of him. Now, thinking about that possibility if we trade back with the Nets to 8. Assuming the injury made him regress, and his offensive prowess and promise are pretty good, there are still weaknesses in his game. Want to put him between Melo and Miller? His defense is not good, and his athleticism is limited. So how is he better than Kon? I’m still open to drafting him at 8, but also strongly would consider Carter Bryant there.

Better measurements (no dino arms). Better ball handling skills. Better playmaker. His shooting wasn't far behind Kon's before his arm injury. Not a good athlete but still noticeable better than Kon who will be one of the most pedestrian athletes in the league.

[Braggins]

I actually forgot that his midseason injury was an arm injury. That makes it seem fairly likely that it had something to do with his shooting drop off afterwards. His shot looks good and hes an 85% free throw shooter. He'll probably be at least a decent shooter in the league.

pre injury (16 g) = 40.5% 3pt ~ 87.2% ft
post injury (17 g) = 24.2% 3pt ~ 82.2% ft

[MasterIchiro]

I actually forgot that his midseason injury was an arm injury. That makes it seem fairly likely that it had something to do with his shooting drop off afterwards. His shot looks good and hes an 85% free throw shooter. He'll probably be at least a decent shooter in the league.

pre injury (16 g) = 40.5% 3pt ~ 87.2% ft
post injury (17 g) = 24.2% 3pt ~ 82.2% ft

Looks like a sleeper pick. Starting to imagine Jeff weighing all those offers from Wizards, Pels, Nets looking to move up.

[JMAC3]

I actually forgot that his midseason injury was an arm injury. That makes it seem fairly likely that it had something to do with his shooting drop off afterwards. His shot looks good and hes an 85% free throw shooter. He'll probably be at least a decent shooter in the league.

pre injury (16 g) = 40.5% 3pt ~ 87.2% ft
post injury (17 g) = 24.2% 3pt ~ 82.2% ft

His overall shot difficulty was a lot tougher at Illinois than Kon as well, would love to see the Plowright comparison. He shot a lot more off the dribble and I think that was good and bad, the good is he possesses the shot, the con is he is not awesome at creating separation consistently.

34% off the catch is workable if he is also going to make some tough ones at the end of shot clocks. I think he fits both next to and behind LaMelo, but his upside isn’t awesome which is I why I wouldn’t take him at 4 but if you are picking at 7 or 8 because the package was so awesome I wouldn’t be devastated over the pick.

Still prefer staying at 4 for Ace, VJ, Tre.. or trading down a few spots and still getting one of them. KJ or Maluach at 7/8 with a bunch of extras is cool. Still prefer all those guys to Kon- but if it’s going to be Kon please god trade down

[Diop]

Jak makes me feel more comfortable for a trade back, if we can get something for the future or dump green. Jak is still very intriguing. There is nothing stopping him from becoming the best guard in this draft. You never can truly tell

[MasterIchiro]

Jak makes me feel more comfortable for a trade back, if we can get something for the future or dump green. Jak is still very intriguing. There is nothing stopping him from becoming the best guard in this draft. You never can truly tell

The most likely trade back slots are 5, 6, 7, 8.

The further from 4, the more Hornets risk him slipping through their grasps.

Same applies for an upside swing.

Jeff didn't trade up for Castle or Reed (seemed his top choice) so he ended up reaching for his fallback pick. His first draft looks like a bust draft thus far.

He needs to follow it up with upside swing.

So maybe Jeff can orchestrate a deal for Jaku at 5 or 6, but even 7 is pushing it because the Wizards could take him as someone who can lift their floor through a very prolonged rebuild. Players like Jaku make everyone around them better.

I prefer Jeff aims for this draft's Reed/Castle by making a compelling offer to move to 3 for that top target rather than waiting for that player to fall or falling back and missing out on your second choice on top of your first.

Jeff can't stack a second consecutive bust draft on top of his first bust draft, because he will be entering Cho territory. And Cho should've been cut after following Biz over Klay with MKG over Beal.

Jeff is a scout though so he has that going for him. Cho is an MBA. He's a glorified money manager.