2020 Draft Thread, Part 2

[Little Digger]

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[ChuckDurn]

My current draft tiers for what I see as the top-11 players, a week before the draft:

Tier 1:
Nobody

Tier 2:
Wiseman, Ball. (Only draft Ball to trade him)

Tier 3:
Okoro, Edwards

Tier 4:
Vassell, Okongwu, Williams, Hayes

Tier 5:
Haliburton, Toppin, Avdija

[Little Digger]

Okoro averaged 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.9 steals per game as a freshman at Auburn last season, but his jump shot needs work, and he shot just 28.6% from 3-point range and 67.4% from the line, so there are questions about how successful a shooter he would be in the NBA. Although his defensive presence is the biggest draw, Okoro said that in his pre-draft workouts with teams he was able to show off his shooting ability and demonstrate it’s not a weakness.

Okoro, who played at McEachern High School, said he has worked out with three teams (Golden State, Minnesota, Cleveland) and has interviewed with those three teams plus the Hawks, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, Washington and Chicago. Just because he’s chatted with the Hawks and others doesn’t necessarily mean anything will materialize, though; having conversations with multiple teams before the draft is standard.

In this time before the draft, Okoro has been working on ballhandling, shooting, sliding on defense and playing pick-up, trying to polish everything up.



… On what he can bring to the offense: “I’m just trying to be an all-around player, willing to do anything on the offensive end and defensive end to help my team win. I feel like I can contribute on offense by attacking the rim, drawing contact and getting to the free-throw line, also just driving and finding open teammates.”

… On his biggest challenge at the next level, and what part of his game will translate best to the NBA: “I feel like coming into the NBA, you’ve got to learn the pace of the NBA. It’s way different from high school and college, so just coming in and learning the pace of the NBA is probably going to be the biggest challenge. I feel like my first step into the NBA, just playing defense is something I’m going to be good at already.”

… On how he’d grade his jump shot during his time at Auburn vs. now: “I would say during the college season, it was probably, like, a C-plus. But I feel like now, I’ve been working every day just putting up a lot of shots, and I feel like right now it’s around a B-plus, A. I feel like just taking more time with my jump shot and just being more fluid with it, just learning how to get the ball higher. During the college season I shot a lot of flat balls, and I’m just learning right now to shoot it high and get a high arc on it.”

… On how he can prepare for the quick turnaround from the draft to the season: “I’m just ready. I’ve been mentally and physically ready all my life, been preparing for this day and this moment to happen. I feel like I’m already ready for all this to happen.”

… On what separates him from the rest of the draft class: “Just my willingness to win, my willingness to do anything to help the team to win. Coming in and just playing my role and being a defensive player.”


https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/five-questions-with-nba-draft-prospect-isaac-okoro/NXTEV3B5DVA4RK7AS25V53M374/

[ClutchUp]

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These effort concerns with him scare the heck out of me. I shouldn't have to tell you to go hard no matter what.

[Flash Falcon X]

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Interesting. I’ve never heard of a team giving a prospect advice in a workout. Other than interviews, I always imagined it as a pretty quiet process where they just watch what he does on the court and silently make evaluations.

[TB]

Edwards cracks me up. He's constantly telling everyone how he is learning how lazy and crappy he has been. He's like a self-aware Waiters or JR Smith.

[Little Digger]

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[Onus]

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He seems like a thibs like player. So you’d have to jump in front of them, although Cavs could use him as well but they seem more likely to try to get a star.

[Little Digger]

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[HiRez]

I have hope !!!
Been waiting on this
Maybe
Andre Iguodala returns in a different body

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But wait, doesn't this blow up your theory about the absence of any interaction or acknowledgement of Okoro meaning he's they guy they really want? This could be bad news!

[HiRez]

Pieces are falling into place, it seems perhaps Wiseman and Edwards are the 2 targets for a #2 pick, while Okoro and Haliburton are 2 targets for trade downs in the 3-8 range (I think both will be gone before #9). And Ball is in there somewhere if he falls a bit or someone wants to give up assets for him. This generally makes me happy although I'm still iffy on Edwards. Would be good to hear if they worked out Vassell, Williams, and Okongwu. Not sure where Avdija fits in but I'm sure he's on the table for them at some draft position.

[Onus]

https://www.nba.com/stats/draft/combine-anthro/?dir=1&sort=HEIGHT_W_SHOES

[shazam_guy]

I am very willing to admit I was wrong if it turns out that way, but I REALLY don't want Ball. I just see too many holes and too much evidence of him having many of the same problems as his brother Lonzo.

Would you have picked Lonzo number two? I wouldn't have, and I was right about that, or at least it looks that way.

And (said this before, too) I think people are giving up way too early on Jordan Poole. I remember how many people on this board were dissing Draymond his first year. (Not to mention all the Curry-haters.) Poole could still turn out to be the second-team ballhandler and shooter we need on the bench. Crazy not to give him another year in the Warriors system to find out.

[ChuckDurn]

I am very willing to admit I was wrong if it turns out that way, but I REALLY don't want Ball. I just see too many holes and too much evidence of him having many of the same problems as his brother Lonzo.

Would you have picked Lonzo number two? I wouldn't have, and I was right about that, or at least it looks that way.

And (said this before, too) I think people are giving up way too early on Jordan Poole. I remember how many people on this board were dissing Draymond his first year. (Not to mention all the Curry-haters.) Poole could still turn out to be the second-team ballhandler and shooter we need on the bench. Crazy not to give him another year in the Warriors system to find out.

You're not alone in your assessment of either Lamelo or Poole. I'm with you on both.

[Little Digger]

“There’s no Tim Duncan, where the guy is a senior and he is going to be great automatically and you win now and win for the next 20 years,” Myers said during a virtual news conference Wednesday. “I think you owe it to the organization to build towards the future if there’s not an obvious win-now guy. If the win-now guy helps win four regular-season games, then what’s the point of that?

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/11/gm-bob-myers-says-the-warriors-are-drafting-for-the-future-not-a-win-now-guy/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

[Quazza]

I am very willing to admit I was wrong if it turns out that way, but I REALLY don't want Ball. I just see too many holes and too much evidence of him having many of the same problems as his brother Lonzo.

Would you have picked Lonzo number two? I wouldn't have, and I was right about that, or at least it looks that way.

And (said this before, too) I think people are giving up way too early on Jordan Poole. I remember how many people on this board were dissing Draymond his first year. (Not to mention all the Curry-haters.) Poole could still turn out to be the second-team ballhandler and shooter we need on the bench. Crazy not to give him another year in the Warriors system to find out.

Poole had one of the worst starts to an NBA career Ive ever seen. Historically bad. But when he came back (I think from injury) and slotted in at back up PG, he came on in leaps and bounds. I thought he was super impressive in that role

[whatisacenter]

I am very willing to admit I was wrong if it turns out that way, but I REALLY don't want Ball. I just see too many holes and too much evidence of him having many of the same problems as his brother Lonzo.

Would you have picked Lonzo number two? I wouldn't have, and I was right about that, or at least it looks that way.

And (said this before, too) I think people are giving up way too early on Jordan Poole. I remember how many people on this board were dissing Draymond his first year. (Not to mention all the Curry-haters.) Poole could still turn out to be the second-team ballhandler and shooter we need on the bench. Crazy not to give him another year in the Warriors system to find out.

Poole had one of the worst starts to an NBA career Ive ever seen. Historically bad. But when he came back (I think from injury) and slotted in at back up PG, he came on in leaps and bounds. I thought he was super impressive in that role

yeah, Poole had a horrible start, went down to the G League and came back up with more confidence.

[wco81]

ESPN had mock draft.

They all agreed with Wiseman to the Warriors. Jay BIlas says the notable thing about Wiseman is mobility, runs like a wing. I think he's talking more about transition though than say defense perimeter players on switches.

[Mylie10]

ESPN had mock draft.

They all agreed with Wiseman to the Warriors. Jay BIlas says the notable thing about Wiseman is mobility, runs like a wing. I think he's talking more about transition though than say defense perimeter players on switches.

Spot on!

[cdubbz]

ESPN had mock draft.

They all agreed with Wiseman to the Warriors. Jay BIlas says the notable thing about Wiseman is mobility, runs like a wing. I think he's talking more about transition though than say defense perimeter players on switches.

I don’t get the Chris Bosh comparisons. Jay Bilas said it again during the mock draft. He’s never shown 25% of the skills Bosh has had at that age. I won’t be mad at Wiseman, but man he’s only played so many meaningful games.