Official 2021 NBA Draft Thread

[Nyce_1]

Things I would do to be able to get the number 1 pick and select Cade. I can't say enough how high I am on him.

I'm right there with you. Real talk, I'd EASILY give up our pick, Bulls pick, + next year pick unprotected (or next available pick we can trade). His game is so mature and his IQ is elite. And only 19...maaaaan, get this kid on this team and we are SET.

[PrimeThyme]

I'm right there with you. Real talk, I'd EASILY give up our pick, Bulls pick, + next year pick unprotected (or next available pick we can trade). His game is so mature and his IQ is elite. And only 19...maaaaan, get this kid on this team and we are SET.

I would give up our pick, the Bulls pick, && a top 3 protected 2023 pick, or the Bulls 2023 pick to move up. I firmly expect to be one of the top 5 worst teams next year and would prefer to hold on to that selection. I'm not even sure if that would get it done either though.

I just still can't envision a team deciding to trade it. It depends where we land I suppose. The higher up, the more realistic it becomes.

[Skin]

Here's where I'm at as of April 9th...

If the Magic hit the lottery with their pick (pick 1-4)
1. Cade Cunningham
2. Jalen Suggs
3. Jalen Green

If the Magic do not hit the lottery with their own pick (pick 6-8)
1. Trade up into top 4
2. Scottie Barnes
3. Moses Moody

Bulls pick (pick 9-15)
1. Moses Moody
2. Alperen Şengün
3. Franz Wagner
4. Jaden Springer

I like how you come up with your Tiers and rankings updates. Motivates me to do one.

as of April 9th...

If the Magic hit the lottery with their pick (pick 1-4)
1. Jalen Green
2. Cade Cunningham
3. Jalen Suggs
4. Jonathan Kuminga

If the Magic do not hit the lottery with their own pick (pick 6-8)
1. Trade up into top 4 (day dream scenario that I don't believe in)
2. Keon Johnson
3. Davion Mitchell

Bulls pick (pick 9-15)
1. James Bouknight
2. Chris Duarte
3. Moses Moody
4. Jaden Springer

[The Effect]

Im not giving up all that to get from our pick to the #1 pick.

Not sure id give up what other are willing to give up, but if we miss out on the top 3, im willing to trade from 5-8 to #3 and get one of the Jalens (preferably Green), but im not doing 2 top 10 this year and our first next year (plus more??)

[PrimeThyme]

Bulls pick (pick 9-15)
1. James Bouknight
2. Chris Duarte
3. Moses Moody
4. Jaden Springer

Sell me on this Bouknight kid Skin.

I quite honestly haven't caught much of him at all this season, but continuously see his name brought up in this range. Seems to have nice size as a guard and has had some scoring explosions, but overall his shooting percentages, shot selection, && streaky shooting concerns me a bit. He also seems to have the tools defensively but has struggled to actually be a plus player on that end.

What am I missing? I'm not the biggest Moody fan but I think I lean towards him over Bouknight.

[Skin]

Bulls pick (pick 9-15)
1. James Bouknight
2. Chris Duarte
3. Moses Moody
4. Jaden Springer

Sell me on this Bouknight kid Skin.

I quite honestly haven't caught much of him at all this season, but continuously see his name brought up in this range. Seems to have nice size as a guard and has had some scoring explosions, but overall his shooting percentages, shot selection, && streaky shooting concerns me a bit. He also seems to have the tools defensively but has struggled to actually be a plus player on that end.

What am I missing? I'm not the biggest Moody fan but I think I lean towards him over Bouknight.

TBH that range is really fluid. Kispert has fallen out of this range for me just because of how much he struggled in the tournament. I may come back to him later, but yeah.

Can't really sell you on Bouknight, because even myself I'm iffy about him... but Bouknight is a bucket getter. He's a shot creator and can score with the ball in his hands. We keep saying around here that we need that kind of player. Well Bouknight has that trait. He didn't shoot well from 3 this year, below 30%, but his form looks good and he shot 35% last year. FT% is sharp. 82% last year, 78% this year. So how much did injury play into it? Not sure. He's quick and get can above the rim more than I've seen from Moody and Springer. I think having a microwave scorer off the bench could give us a guy to replace T-Ross.

[RookieStar]

Bulls pick (pick 9-15)
1. James Bouknight
2. Chris Duarte
3. Moses Moody
4. Jaden Springer

Sell me on this Bouknight kid Skin.

I quite honestly haven't caught much of him at all this season, but continuously see his name brought up in this range. Seems to have nice size as a guard and has had some scoring explosions, but overall his shooting percentages, shot selection, && streaky shooting concerns me a bit. He also seems to have the tools defensively but has struggled to actually be a plus player on that end.

What am I missing? I'm not the biggest Moody fan but I think I lean towards him over Bouknight.

If you don't mind, Ill answer that for you.

First off, Bouknight can break down plays. He is like a 3-level threat and can break down defenses on his own and either pull up from the 3pt line, do jump stop for a midrange or do acrobatic lay-ups. He is probably more athletic than moody but lesser keon. Thing is though he is a sophomore so he is more matured than all of them I think.

The problem with him this season is probably 2-fold. He came back from an i jury that affected his shot, thus his low 3pt range later in the season AND his team kinda sucks. They have big man that provides no spacing thus teams can easily double team him and when he passes, his teammates cannot score properly( sounds familiar??). Also, unlike Moody where he has gunners/chuckers for mates so scoring threat is spread out OR keon when he has another "star" gaurd to share the offense with, Bouknight is kinda by his lonesome.

He also loves to rebound inside despite being only 6'5. So if you have problems with his percentage and etc its probably due to his injury. Which I think should factor in our consideration. Im not sure but I think there were also injuries during his freshaman year?? As for his shot selection, a lof of them were forced shots because teammates continually passes back to him cuz they are too gunshy lol

[Nyce_1]

Barnes declared for the draft.

[Skin]

Been watching more things on youtube, following his HS career with Prolific Prep and I must say...

Jalen Green is in Tier 1 all by him damn self. I want him more than any prospect I can remember.

[basketballRob]

I think Jalen Green is much bigger than 6'5. We're going by measurements that he had when he was 16, in 2018. He was 6'4 w/o shoes, with a 6'8 wingspan.

Some speculation now is that he was measured in the G-League at 6'6" w/o shoes. So with shoes, he's probably 6'7" and I would assume his wingspan is 6'10+.

Those measurements are a little bigger than Kobe's, who he's sometimes compared to.

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[KillMonger]

Read on Twitter

[RookieStar]

I think Jalen Green is much bigger than 6'5. We're going by measurements that he had when he was 16, in 2018. He was 6'4 w/o shoes, with a 6'8 wingspan.

Some speculation now is that he was measured in the G-League at 6'6" w/o shoes. So with shoes, he's probably 6'7" and I would assume his wingspan is 6'10+.

Those measurements are a little bigger than Kobe's, who he's sometimes compared to.

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I dunno.. its easy to see how tall he is. I mean just look at him besides Kuminga who is measured 6'7 without shoes? If you are saying Green grew to 6'6 in GL them Kuminga nust be 6'9 at the least.

[basketballRob]

I think Jalen Green is much bigger than 6'5. We're going by measurements that he had when he was 16, in 2018. He was 6'4 w/o shoes, with a 6'8 wingspan.

Some speculation now is that he was measured in the G-League at 6'6" w/o shoes. So with shoes, he's probably 6'7" and I would assume his wingspan is 6'10+.

Those measurements are a little bigger than Kobe's, who he's sometimes compared to.

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I dunno.. its easy to see how tall he is. I mean just look at him besides Kuminga who is measured 6'7 without shoes? If you are saying Green grew to 6'6 in GL them Kuminga nust be 6'9 at the least.

Is Kuminga a lot taller than him? I think Kuminga measured 6'6 also.

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[RookieStar]

I think Jalen Green is much bigger than 6'5. We're going by measurements that he had when he was 16, in 2018. He was 6'4 w/o shoes, with a 6'8 wingspan.

Some speculation now is that he was measured in the G-League at 6'6" w/o shoes. So with shoes, he's probably 6'7" and I would assume his wingspan is 6'10+.

Those measurements are a little bigger than Kobe's, who he's sometimes compared to.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

I dunno.. its easy to see how tall he is. I mean just look at him besides Kuminga who is measured 6'7 without shoes? If you are saying Green grew to 6'6 in GL them Kuminga nust be 6'9 at the least.

Is Kuminga a lot taller than him? I think Kuminga measured 6'6 also.

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well..... when they announced before GL started I read somewhere that Green is 6'4 barefoot and Kuminga was rounded off 6'7 barefoot. So lets assume 2inches difference at least.

[basketballRob]

I dunno.. its easy to see how tall he is. I mean just look at him besides Kuminga who is measured 6'7 without shoes? If you are saying Green grew to 6'6 in GL them Kuminga nust be 6'9 at the least.

Is Kuminga a lot taller than him? I think Kuminga measured 6'6 also.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

well..... when they announced before GL started I read somewhere that Green is 6'4 barefoot and Kuminga was rounded off 6'7 barefoot. So lets assume 2inches difference at least.

Okay, I think they had Kuminga listed at 6'6", but maybe they just made that up.

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[Bensational]

I haven't scouted first round candidates properly, just been focusing on a few. Here are the ones I'm targeting, and wondering how we use them:

Cade - Lead playmaker, add to a big-wing combo with Isaac and Okeke who cover 2-4. Will be your lead scoring option, but will likely also create a ton of easy handoffs/rolls for bigs and kick-outs to perimeter shooters.

Suggs - Maybe I'm overestimating, but I think he could have a CP3 kind of impact on a team. There's a poise and control he showed in his game which shone despite being surrounded by a very experienced and senior team. I don't think he's a league leader scoring threat, but I think he will run an offense perfectly. Question - who's he passing to? WCJ, Bamba, Isaac, Okeke, Harris, Hampton, Cole, Fultz - none of these guys seem cut out to be the #2 that CP3 has shown he needs, let alone Suggs.

Green - I don't have a full feel for how his game will develop, but the tools are all there. is he a Beal/Booker type who will still need a great #2 to be competitive? Will he partner better with a PG, another wing, or a big? (Ie, Kobe + Shaq/Gasol, Wade + Shaq, Wade + Bron, George + Kawhi, Harden + Durant, Klay + Curry, etc).

Keon - I'm fast falling in love with this kid. I just love his combination of athleticism and footwork. I haven't studied him extensively, but from what I've seen he looks like he has really high level body control. His use of pivots and fakes look elite for someone his age and as a guard. He seems to have great hip control, and when he attacks the rim he often leads with his hip to either glance off a defender and explode to the hoop or absorb contact whilst keeping the ball in his offhand for protection. He needs to get a respectable 3pt%p, but his AST% and TOV% track with Suggs as far as efficiency. I'd maybe liken him to Fultz but with less ballhandling/passing skill but a higher likelihood of developing a 3pt shot. Not sure what his PnR game is like, but he'll have to learn one.

[VFX]

I haven't scouted first round candidates properly, just been focusing on a few. Here are the ones I'm targeting, and wondering how we use them:

Cade - Lead playmaker, add to a big-wing combo with Isaac and Okeke who cover 2-4. Will be your lead scoring option, but will likely also create a ton of easy handoffs/rolls for bigs and kick-outs to perimeter shooters.

Suggs - Maybe I'm overestimating, but I think he could have a CP3 kind of impact on a team. There's a poise and control he showed in his game which shone despite being surrounded by a very experienced and senior team. I don't think he's a league leader scoring threat, but I think he will run an offense perfectly. Question - who's he passing to? WCJ, Bamba, Isaac, Okeke, Harris, Hampton, Cole, Fultz - none of these guys seem cut out to be the #2 that CP3 has shown he needs, let alone Suggs.

Green - I don't have a full feel for how his game will develop, but the tools are all there. is he a Beal/Booker type who will still need a great #2 to be competitive? Will he partner better with a PG, another wing, or a big? (Ie, Kobe + Shaq/Gasol, Wade + Shaq, Wade + Bron, George + Kawhi, Harden + Durant, Klay + Curry, etc).

Keon - I'm fast falling in love with this kid. I just love his combination of athleticism and footwork. I haven't studied him extensively, but from what I've seen he looks like he has really high level body control. His use of pivots and fakes look elite for someone his age and as a guard. He seems to have great hip control, and when he attacks the rim he often leads with his hip to either glance off a defender and explode to the hoop or absorb contact whilst keeping the ball in his offhand for protection. He needs to get a respectable 3pt%p, but his AST% and TOV% track with Suggs as far as efficiency. I'd maybe liken him to Fultz but with less ballhandling/passing skill but a higher likelihood of developing a 3pt shot. Not sure what his PnR game is like, but he'll have to learn one.

I feel the same way about Keon. I think there are definitely worse situations than winding up with him if we fall out of the top 5 as our selection. Suggs and Cade I feel the same.

To me the biggest X factor out of these guys is Green. He seems like he has the highest boom or bust potential. Cade and Green are somewhat quantifiable in their games.

Kuminga, for as high as people sell him as a superior athlete, is a project as far as I’m concerned. Mobley even moreso.

My big board for Orlando:

1a. Suggs
1b. Cade

2. Green
3. Keon

4. Kuminga
5. Mobley

6. Barnes
7. J. Johnson

[Knightro]

I like Jaden Springer more than his teammate Keon Johnson

[thelead]

I like Jaden Springer more than his teammate Keon Johnson

There we go

Where were you a few days ago when the guys were giving me crap for saying the same?

[Knightro]

There we go

Where were you a few days ago when the guys were giving me crap for saying the same?

My bad

I just really like prospects who produce at comparable level to their peers at a younger age.

So perhaps it's not too surprising that Springer, Moody and Sengun - who are all 18 years old still - are three of my top names outside of the top 5-6 or with the Bulls pick.