2021 Draft thread. Woo! 15th pick here we come! Hoo. Ray.

[payitforward]

Yeah. He, along with Mann, Queta, Dosunmu, and Duarte were all guys I loved in the early 2nd and appear to be climbing unfortunately. Im sure my other favorites like Mathurin and Prkacin will do the same

Yeah, but for everyone that climbs, someone's got to fall! There'll be good prospects.

Good enough that we need to buy a high R2 pick....

[NatP4]

Mikal Bridges is another good comparison although he went pro after his junior season. His FTA rate was even lower than Wagner.

Remember, younger than all 3 of Porter, Hayward, and Bridges, with a significantly lower usage rate.

Bridges is a terrific one on one defender though. Wagner is good defensively, but is he THAT good?

In college, Bridges had an extremely high USG% of 27% - well above Porter and Hayward and way above Wagner. His efficiency was lower than all of those guys too. It's interesting that he went on to become a prototypical low usage 3&D forward after being such a primary scorer in college.

I didn’t watch any of those guys for an extended amount of time in college, but Wagner is as good of a defensive player that I have watched in college basketball besides Mobley. He is THAT good. There are no holes in his defensive game. His lateral quickness is elite level. Instincts are off the charts, active hands and strong frame to guard bigs in the paint. He’s a better defensive player than Batum, Porter, and Hayward. Not sure if he’s as good 1 on 1 as Bridges. Tough to know as of now. Bridges has a 7’1 wingspan. Will have to wait and see what Wagner measures in at.

HUGE scouting opportunity this weekend when he goes against Scottie Barnes and FSU.

[Kanyewest]

Did you have to do this manually? Or is there a website somewhere that shows college stats as well as draft position?

I did it manually - but only took me a few minutes.

[doclinkin]

Mikal Bridges is another good comparison although he went pro after his junior season. His FTA rate was even lower than Wagner.

Remember, younger than all 3 of Porter, Hayward, and Bridges, with a significantly lower usage rate.

Bridges is a terrific one on one defender though. Wagner is good defensively, but is he THAT good?

In college, Bridges had an extremely high USG% of 27% - well above Porter and Hayward and way above Wagner. His efficiency was lower than all of those guys too. It's interesting that he went on to become a prototypical low usage 3&D forward after being such a primary scorer in college.

I didn’t watch any of those guys for an extended amount of time in college, but Wagner is as good of a defensive player that I have watched in college basketball besides Mobley. He is THAT good. There are no holes in his defensive game. His lateral quickness is elite level. Instincts are off the charts, active hands and strong frame to guard bigs in the paint. He’s a better defensive player than Batum, Porter, and Hayward. Not sure if he’s as good 1 on 1 as Bridges. Tough to know as of now. Bridges has a 7’1 wingspan. Will have to wait and see what Wagner measures in at.

HUGE scouting opportunity this weekend when he goes against Scottie Barnes and FSU.

I would second the idea that Wagner is one of the players that will be undervalued if he is selected at the draft position he is mocked to be taken. As such if someone was trying to overpay to jump up to our lotto pick outside of the top 4, I'd be happy to listen to offers.

In my esteem you do need 2 key players on defense: the Inside-out mobile big who can defend the paint and the Pick&Roll equally well, and at least one long multi-tool perimeter defender with good lateral mobility and instinct who plays as well as a ball-stopper at the point of attack, does not have to switch to stay with the ball-handler, and helps well off the ball. Wagner does not have world class quick twitch speed, but even as a freshman he was one of the best defenders in the nation. His understanding of positioning and his anticipation of the play, and innate sense of angles/floor balance makes his teammates better on defense. On defense he has the sort of timing and game sense that the best Point Guards have on offense. That makes up for his lesser quick-twitch speed, since he is essentially has the whole scouting report updating in his head in real time.

[Illuminaire]

A better Batum who can rebound like a PF is basically the triple-A platinum version of a roleplayer.

It's hard to determine the value of those kinds of players. They're not floor-raising all-NBA stars. But they're the kind of 2nd or 3rd semi-star who can raise your ceiling to perennial playoff powerhouse.

In this draft, I'd probably put Wagner in the second tier of players. But GMs may be placing his value in a third tier - which does make for enticing trade-down dream scenarios.

[NatP4]

Duarte per36: 18 points 5 rebounds 2.7 assists 1 block 2 steals 66% TS.

The guy seems like surefire bet to be a quality 2 way SG in the NBA. Some team is going to get a dirt cheap nba ready starting caliber player in the late 1st early 2nd.

[The Consiglieri]

29 games left, it looks like 18 are against weaker sides.

[Hidden Eye]

I know this has nothing to do with the draft but..

Wizards need to change their jerseys

They had the same jerseys for about 7 years and its time to change it. Get rid of the stench EG has associated with the Jerseys.

[Mizerooskie]

I know this has nothing to do with the draft but..

Wizards need to change their jerseys

They had the same jerseys for about 7 years and its time to change it. Get rid of the stench EG has associated with the Jerseys.

If we're talking cosmetic changes they need to make, it all starts with "Wizards".

On the draft topic, they really need to buy back in to round 2. Several NBA quality bigs there: Huff, Bassey, Garza, a couple Euros.

[closg00]

2021 NCAA Tournament: NBA Draft prospects who helped or hurt their stock in the first weekend of March Madness

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2021-ncaa-tournament-nba-draft-prospects-who-helped-or-hurt-their-stock-in-the-first-weekend-of-march-madness/

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

2021 NCAA Tournament: NBA Draft prospects who helped or hurt their stock in the first weekend of March Madness

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2021-ncaa-tournament-nba-draft-prospects-who-helped-or-hurt-their-stock-in-the-first-weekend-of-march-madness/

Thank you for posting this!

[nate33]

2021 NCAA Tournament: NBA Draft prospects who helped or hurt their stock in the first weekend of March Madness

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2021-ncaa-tournament-nba-draft-prospects-who-helped-or-hurt-their-stock-in-the-first-weekend-of-march-madness/

Why isn't Buddy Boeheim a 1st round prospect? He is an elite shooter. He is tall with a high release. He can get his shot off with a guy right in his face. And he looks athletic enough to hold his own at the NBA level if he gets a little stronger in the gym.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I have had an epiphany. (On top of that I had a thought that seems like a breakthrough!!!)

5 letters re the Wizards draft

https://youtu.be/qPEcDg6mUsM

This draft has at least three future SUPERSTARS and several solid players.

[NatP4]

2021 NCAA Tournament: NBA Draft prospects who helped or hurt their stock in the first weekend of March Madness

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2021-ncaa-tournament-nba-draft-prospects-who-helped-or-hurt-their-stock-in-the-first-weekend-of-march-madness/

I have cooled completely off on Ayo Dosunmu. His basketball IQ is suspect.

Abmas is legit. One of the smartest players I have watched.

[DCZards]

2021 NCAA Tournament: NBA Draft prospects who helped or hurt their stock in the first weekend of March Madness

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2021-ncaa-tournament-nba-draft-prospects-who-helped-or-hurt-their-stock-in-the-first-weekend-of-march-madness/

Why isn't Buddy Boeheim a 1st round prospect? He is an elite shooter. He is tall with a high release. He can get his shot off with a guy right in his face. And he looks athletic enough to hold his own at the NBA level if he gets a little stronger in the gym.

Boeheim may not go in the first round but he’ll get drafted...and will very likely be a steal if he’s drafted late in the second round.

He’s a deadly shooter and has also shown an ability to create his own shot.

[DCZards]

2021 NCAA Tournament: NBA Draft prospects who helped or hurt their stock in the first weekend of March Madness

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2021-ncaa-tournament-nba-draft-prospects-who-helped-or-hurt-their-stock-in-the-first-weekend-of-march-madness/

I have cooled completely off on Ayo Dosunmu. His basketball IQ is suspect.

Abmas is legit. One of the smartest players I have watched.

A friend of mine’s son played at Dallas Jesuit with Abmas (Julius Marble from Mich. State was also on the team). He’s been telling me about “Midcourt Max” for a couple of years. He says that while Abmas is listed at 6-1 he’s really closer to 5-10.

His size might not matter though because he’s having a nice NCAA run that has moved him up the draft boards. (Actually, it put Max on the boards since he wasn’t before.)

You’re right about him being smart...Abmas is a biochemical major.

[NatP4]

Starting to really like Josh Giddey. His numbers are all trending up as the season has gone along, his basketball IQ and competitiveness are elite level. At just 18 years old on draft night, he presents real lottery level upside.

I might be sliding him up as high as right behind Wagner and above Jared Butler. Doesn’t even turn 19 until preseason of his rookie year.

I could be way off on this, but Giddey is a lot closer to being “the next Luka” than Cunningham is.

Really looking at a trade down with OKC to target Wagner and Giddey/Butler right now.

[FAH1223]

[NatP4]

Man, the 5-12 picks just completely blow my mind. Moody is okay, Sengun is interesting, but there’s a serious chance that NONE of those guys become good NBA players.

[NatP4]

If Giddey elected to play college basketball, he would dominate and probably secure a top 10 pick. What he is doing in the NBL at just 18.5 years old, is far more impressive than what freshman like Moody, Springer, Barnes, Williams, and Johnson have done in NCAA.

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