Official 2021 NBA Draft Thread

[basketballRob]

Honestly you can't make a wrong choice here i think the top 5 have all star talent....my thing with mobley is i want to see if what he's doing now will translate to the next level where his size and length isn't elite anymore.....Mobley going into the nba 7"0 about 215-220 and can't effectively stretch the floor? I don't know.....i see what he can do i just don't know if it will translate....

I think Cade is special as well, the poise he has the feel for the game? top shelf and it's rare to see a kid that doesn't get sped up he plays at his pace...

Green is a pure scorer, i like the film i've seen on him the only thing i will say is i just hope later on when the G-league showcase starts up we get to see some more play making out of him....i want to see him make reads and make the right play when he's supposed to and i want to see more on the defensive end....

I like Suggs too but for me personally i think he leans on his athleticism a bit too much if that makes any sense? I'm always kinda weary of players like that because it may at times become a crutch where you think you can dunk over everybody or blow by everybody....Still though i think he has all star potential

Mobley has elite size and he's the best big in the draft since Anthony Davis. He's probably the closest player to a can't miss.

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maybe....but to me his size isn't that special at the nba level...plus he can't effectively stretch the floor without putting in some major work on that shot, it's too slow i'm not sure he can get that off in the next level...i think he's shooting around 30% from college 3? even with that said i think everything else he brings to the table still gives him a high ceiling, i just don't know about "can't miss" in today's nba where you have to be able to stretch

It's not only me calling him a can't miss or comparing him to AD or TD, it's everyone.



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[VFX]

The thing about a player like Mobley...

Fit aside, how many examples do people need of “elite” bigs getting drafted to bad teams that end up doing nothing in the modern nba? Embiid, KAT, AD, DMC, Ayton, Randle, KP, etc.

It doesn’t matter to me that Mobley is heralded as a top 3 talent. The team isn’t balanced enough offensively that selecting him makes any sense to me. I’ve seen that story play out again and again.

[basketballRob]

The thing about a player like Mobley...

Fit aside, how many examples do people need of “elite” bigs getting drafted to bad teams that end up doing nothing in the modern nba? Embiid, KAT, AD, DMC, Ayton, Randle, KP, etc.

It doesn’t matter to me that Mobley is heralded as a top 3 talent. The team isn’t balanced enough offensively that selecting him makes any sense to me. I’ve seen that story play out again and again.

I think the other players in the top 5 are a bigger risk than Mobley. Not sure why you put Randle in that group. Plus Mobley is probably more highly touted than any of those guys outside of AD.

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[VFX]

The thing about a player like Mobley...

Fit aside, how many examples do people need of “elite” bigs getting drafted to bad teams that end up doing nothing in the modern nba? Embiid, KAT, AD, DMC, Ayton, Randle, KP, etc.

It doesn’t matter to me that Mobley is heralded as a top 3 talent. The team isn’t balanced enough offensively that selecting him makes any sense to me. I’ve seen that story play out again and again.

I think the other players in the top 5 are a bigger risk than Mobley. Not sure why you put Randle in that group. Plus Mobley is probably more highly touted than any of those guys outside of AD.

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It’s not about “risk”. It’s about ceiling.

Drafting a player like Mobley makes perfect sense to a solid well-established team that won’t rely on him needing to make plays on offense. Which is why a team like the Warriors can take Wiseman, with no qualms, knowing Steph and Klay will be options 1 and 2 on offense.

Orlando isn’t that team. When you struggle to attract free agents, and rely on a C to shoulder the offense, the last thing you want is to spend a top 5 pick on a big that perpetuates a dated offense.

If he’s the #5 guy out of Suggs, Green, Cade, Kuminga, then maybe..even then I’m looking further down the draft.

It’s funny. I remember having these same conversations about why I’d never select Bamba. I guess we all know how that turned out.

[basketballRob]

The thing about a player like Mobley...

Fit aside, how many examples do people need of “elite” bigs getting drafted to bad teams that end up doing nothing in the modern nba? Embiid, KAT, AD, DMC, Ayton, Randle, KP, etc.

It doesn’t matter to me that Mobley is heralded as a top 3 talent. The team isn’t balanced enough offensively that selecting him makes any sense to me. I’ve seen that story play out again and again.

I think the other players in the top 5 are a bigger risk than Mobley. Not sure why you put Randle in that group. Plus Mobley is probably more highly touted than any of those guys outside of AD.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

It’s not about “risk”. It’s about ceiling.

Drafting a player like Mobley makes perfect sense to a solid well-established team that won’t rely on him needing to make plays on offense. Which is why a team like the Warriors can take Wiseman, with no qualms, knowing Steph and Klay will be options 1 and 2 on offense.

Orlando isn’t that team. When you struggle to attract free agents, and rely on a C to shoulder the offense, the last thing you want is to spend a top 5 pick on a big that perpetuates a dated offense.

If he’s the #5 guy out of Suggs, Green, Cade, Kuminga, then maybe..even then I’m looking further down the draft.

It’s funny. I remember having these same conversations about why I’d never select Bamba. I guess we all know how that turned out.

He's not a center.

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[zaymon]

I dont believe in Mobley frame, i dont believe in Cunningham athletecism i dont believe in Green decision making i dont believe in Suggs shooting and i dont believe in Kuminga playmaking.
If i had to choose right now i would propably pick Suggs or Green but i cant see a homerun right now.

[bigshawn]

The thing about a player like Mobley...

Fit aside, how many examples do people need of “elite” bigs getting drafted to bad teams that end up doing nothing in the modern nba? Embiid, KAT, AD, DMC, Ayton, Randle, KP, etc.

It doesn’t matter to me that Mobley is heralded as a top 3 talent. The team isn’t balanced enough offensively that selecting him makes any sense to me. I’ve seen that story play out again and again.

I think the other players in the top 5 are a bigger risk than Mobley. Not sure why you put Randle in that group. Plus Mobley is probably more highly touted than any of those guys outside of AD.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

It’s not about “risk”. It’s about ceiling.

Drafting a player like Mobley makes perfect sense to a solid well-established team that won’t rely on him needing to make plays on offense. Which is why a team like the Warriors can take Wiseman, with no qualms, knowing Steph and Klay will be options 1 and 2 on offense.

Orlando isn’t that team. When you struggle to attract free agents, and rely on a C to shoulder the offense, the last thing you want is to spend a top 5 pick on a big that perpetuates a dated offense.

If he’s the #5 guy out of Suggs, Green, Cade, Kuminga, then maybe..even then I’m looking further down the draft.

It’s funny. I remember having these same conversations about why I’d never select Bamba. I guess we all know how that turned out.

I agree with this statement wholeheartedly. I personally want Jalen Green for I feel he's is the most dynamic scorer. I want no parts of a big in this new NBA. Been there done that. We need to get with the times, plus we have an abundance of forwards.

It's literally the definition of insanity if we draft a big.

[VFX]

I think the other players in the top 5 are a bigger risk than Mobley. Not sure why you put Randle in that group. Plus Mobley is probably more highly touted than any of those guys outside of AD.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

It’s not about “risk”. It’s about ceiling.

Drafting a player like Mobley makes perfect sense to a solid well-established team that won’t rely on him needing to make plays on offense. Which is why a team like the Warriors can take Wiseman, with no qualms, knowing Steph and Klay will be options 1 and 2 on offense.

Orlando isn’t that team. When you struggle to attract free agents, and rely on a C to shoulder the offense, the last thing you want is to spend a top 5 pick on a big that perpetuates a dated offense.

If he’s the #5 guy out of Suggs, Green, Cade, Kuminga, then maybe..even then I’m looking further down the draft.

It’s funny. I remember having these same conversations about why I’d never select Bamba. I guess we all know how that turned out.

He's not a center.

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He’s a big. My statement still stands.

[RookieStar]

I think the other players in the top 5 are a bigger risk than Mobley. Not sure why you put Randle in that group. Plus Mobley is probably more highly touted than any of those guys outside of AD.

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It’s not about “risk”. It’s about ceiling.

Drafting a player like Mobley makes perfect sense to a solid well-established team that won’t rely on him needing to make plays on offense. Which is why a team like the Warriors can take Wiseman, with no qualms, knowing Steph and Klay will be options 1 and 2 on offense.

Orlando isn’t that team. When you struggle to attract free agents, and rely on a C to shoulder the offense, the last thing you want is to spend a top 5 pick on a big that perpetuates a dated offense.

If he’s the #5 guy out of Suggs, Green, Cade, Kuminga, then maybe..even then I’m looking further down the draft.

It’s funny. I remember having these same conversations about why I’d never select Bamba. I guess we all know how that turned out.

He's not a center.

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Unfortunately in the modern NBA that we find ourselves in, he is a C... with the way he plays and all. That means he has to fill out.

The only way he won't play C is if he has the speed and desire to do what JI is doing and be able to chase opposing wings all the way to the perimeter.

[basketballRob]

It’s not about “risk”. It’s about ceiling.

Drafting a player like Mobley makes perfect sense to a solid well-established team that won’t rely on him needing to make plays on offense. Which is why a team like the Warriors can take Wiseman, with no qualms, knowing Steph and Klay will be options 1 and 2 on offense.

Orlando isn’t that team. When you struggle to attract free agents, and rely on a C to shoulder the offense, the last thing you want is to spend a top 5 pick on a big that perpetuates a dated offense.

If he’s the #5 guy out of Suggs, Green, Cade, Kuminga, then maybe..even then I’m looking further down the draft.

It’s funny. I remember having these same conversations about why I’d never select Bamba. I guess we all know how that turned out.

He's not a center.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Unfortunately in the modern NBA that we find ourselves in, he is a C... with the way he plays and all. That means he has to fill out.

The only way he won't play C is if he has the speed and desire to do what JI is doing and be able to chase opposing wings all the way to the perimeter.

He'll play center occasionally like Anthony Davis or Garnett, but not full time.

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[drsd]

Well you wanted to lose, so we are losing. I would argue its better to lose with talent injured than without talent at all.

And-1


If the Magic finish as a bottom-four team, which I would say is probable right now, the team has a very good shot at a top-3 pick, statistically. Let's call Mr. #3 - Cade Cunningham. Rookie SGs can actually be positive players for a starting team that has balance. Orlando will have Isaac back. Indeed Cunningham would be in a rotation that includes a good deal of returning players.

Opening night would start as:
Anthony/Carter-Williams
Cunningham/Ross
Gordon/Bacon
Isaac/Aminu/Okeke/Clark
Vučević/Bamba

None of us expect Gordon to be on this roster to open next season, and adding his 16.4M to the expiring of Fournier (17.1M), Ennis (3.3M), and Birch (3M), that's 40 million dollars to find replacements for Gordon, Birch and add another PG.

Mr. Cunningham would be coming in to a mediocre to marginally good team. That is a nice place for a rookie 2-guard to learn the NBA. And in a playoff run, the Magic would bring back Fultz for the closing efforts.

The Magic could be a potential 2nd-round playoff team next year.

In conclusion, "I would argue its better to lose with talent injured...": I agree fully!

..

[RookieStar]

Well you wanted to lose, so we are losing. I would argue its better to lose with talent injured than without talent at all.

And-1


If the Magic finish as a bottom-four team, which I would say is probable right now, the team has a very good shot at a top-3 pick, statistically. Let's call Mr. #3 - Cade Cunningham. Rookie SGs can actually be positive players for a starting team that has balance. Orlando will have Isaac back. Indeed Cunningham would be in a rotation that includes a good deal of returning players.

Opening night would start as:
Anthony/Carter-Williams
Cunningham/Ross
Gordon/Bacon
Isaac/Aminu/Okeke/Clark
Vučević/Bamba

None of us expect Gordon to be on this roster to open next season, and adding his 16.4M to the expiring of Fournier (17.1M), Ennis (3.3M), and Birch (3M), that's 40 million dollars to find replacements for Gordon, Birch and add another PG.

Mr. Cunningham would be coming in to a mediocre to marginally good team. That is a nice place for a rookie 2-guard to learn the NBA. And in a playoff run, the Magic would bring back Fultz for the closing efforts.

The Magic could be a potential 2nd-round playoff team next year.

In conclusion, "I would argue its better to lose with talent injured...": I agree fully!

..

I;m sorry to be the bearer of bad news..BUT didn't we have this attitude/perspective at least 2 seasons ago? (lol)

[RookieStar]

Guys, what do you think of Jalen Johnson?

I was reviewing our chances and pleasantly surprised that we are projected 4th in this 5 man tank war race. However, despite being a big Duke fan, I was scratching my head why they project Jalen in the 6-8th range? In some tankathon lotto I see us dropping to as low as 6th and nab him (yuck).

What do you know that projects him that high? I would think he is a 9-12 pick for now. IT could rise later on if they make the tourney and go HAM.

[Def Swami]

I think there's a big drop off in talent after the top 5. If you look at Mike Schmitz's top 10 right now, you're praying that #6-9 learn to shoot. And #10 is a 22 year old senior.

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[PrimeThyme]

I would get physically ill if we drafted Mobley. It's not that I don't think he can develop into a good player, but he is going to struggle mightily offensively his first couple of years in the league imo. Go watch his highlights, he struggles to finish through contact and has a lot of frame to fill out before he will be an effective finisher around the basket.

He's got pretty nice touch around the rim, but I see him taking another Mo Bamba route early on in the league and settling for long jumpers or 3 pointers due to his lack of size.

This organization just hasn't shown the ability to develop a player like that. We need a surefire fully developed offensive player. Suggs is the obvious choice at this stage imo.

[RookieStar]

I think there's a big drop off in talent after the top 5. If you look at Mike Schmitz's top 10 right now, you're praying that #6-9 learn to shoot. And #10 is a 22 year old senior.

Read on Twitter

ESPN also has J.Johnson number 6? Why???

[Magicfanatic82]

Clear divide in talent after 5 players. I believe without anymore work all 5 at the top would have been selected at 1 last year over Edwards.

[RookieStar]

I might be in the minority or the only one here but i believe that the further down we go the ncaa tourney.. IF Zaire can take his Stanford team deep while showing even justbhis averages.. he might crack it. Also Keon Johnson, once teams do the private workouts/interview ... those 2 can make it.into a 6 man draft. I also believe that its their team style of olay that is limiting him ( tobe fair I only watched 1 game but i heard a lot about it and can see their point of view )

[Skin]

Beating Chicago proves we're not getting a top 5 pick.

[KillMonger]

Thoughts about keon johnson? too raw?