Draft Thread Part 2

[billy_hoyle]

I think I've settled on Keon Johnson as the player I'd take if he's available at our pick.

I've settled on Mobley in the same circumstance

[Psubs]

I think I've settled on Keon Johnson as the player I'd take if he's available at our pick.

Could Keon be Kevin Porter Jr 2.0 with more hops but without the questionable character issues?

Porter is the 6th youngest to score 50 and the youngest to put up 50 points and 10 assists. Also they beat #3 see Milwaukee (though without Giannis). He dropped 50 on Jrue!

Watch on YouTube

[Syd-TK3]

I think I've settled on Keon Johnson as the player I'd take if he's available at our pick.

Could Keon be Kevin Porter Jr 2.0 with more hops but without the questionable character issues?

Porter is the 6th youngest to score 50 and the youngest to put up 50 points and 10 assists. Also they beat #3 see Milwaukee (though without Giannis). He dropped 50 on Jrue!

Watch on YouTube

Nah Keon and Porter are nothing alike really. KPJ scorer with great creation skills and shiftyness. Keon is a much better defender tho with more of an athletic approach on offence. He's in the Jimmy butler/Jaylen brown type profile

[Bruin]

Outside the top 5 I’m between Keon and Scottie. I’ll be cool with either of them

[Jstock12]

I just caught that score. I will have to find some film on this because I am curious how he got his 24. I love to see those rebounding numbers. I am sure Draft Twitter is going nuts about this game. I personally hope Garuba ends up on OKC where he can develop.

I changed my opinion on him a bit after your thoughts, as he does seem undersized, like basically OG size, which is great if we didn't have so many similar types of players. I have a hard time slotting him in a C in the NBA, while he needs to have big improvements to be a PF.

/edit

I found highlights:

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=TresMasUno

Young Montrezl Harrell that has 3-pt shooting potential?

Less athletic Bam

Bam is an elite playmaking big though... Not Jokic level of course, but probably top2 or top3 in the league.

P.S. I don't agree that Garuba and Anunoby are the same size. To me just looking at the film it seems pretty obvious that Garuba is bigger, regardless of any outdated measurements.

[tdotrep2]

we getting a damn good player boys idc who it is

[OAKLEY_2]

I still see Detroit and Cleveland taking a risk for a higher ceiling players with Jalen Green and Kuminga

1. Houston - Cade
2. Minnesota - Mobley
3. Orlando - Suggs (wish for Mobley?)
4. Detroit - Jalen Green
5. Cleveland - Kuminga
6. OKC - Keon Johnson (Perhaps they need guards)
7. Sacramento - Scottie Barnes (Replacing or playing with Holmes)
8. Orlando - Jalen Johnson (Gordon 2.0?)

Anyway, those would be the top 7 regardless their order, I suppose.
And Jalen Johnson, Moody, Kai Jones, Wagner, Springer, Kispert may round out the top 12 or 13?

These would be my guesses if the draft order remained as is (which it won't especially considering since the draft odds have changed at least 2 non top 5 teams have made it in there; of course all praying we're one of those ) but this is how I think it would be if it were to...


1. HOU - Cade: it's really hard to picture any team passing on him, while he may not be Luka, teams will fear being the team to pass on him as others did Luka. Even though he's more Tatum with better passing and floor generalship, he's going to be a flat out stud, hard to picture him not working out

2. MIN - Mobley: I think they would actually love to take Suggs but they've clearly invested in making KAT happy with DLo and Suggs would clearly make him expendable. Towns is sadly an awful defender so I think they'll just look to continue to appease him and take a big to cover up his many faults defensively

3. ORL - Green: I absolutely wish this was us (and that we wouldn't make the mistake of taking Suggs if we were in that position) but I don't see the Magic taking another PG after investing in Fultz and then Anthony. They just moved Evan, T-Ross likely won't be sticking around so it's an easy fit and just hella fortunate to have a box office talent that will get them on TV again a la Pelicans with Zion

4. DET - Suggs: Hayes just suffered a MAJOR hip injury which many athletes never come back looking the same from see Bo Jackson and even little Isaiah Thomas - not to mention he already looked underwhelming. He'd actually be a helluva fit with Bey, Jackson, Stewart, Sekou etc moving forward and give them a much needed floor general which they sorely lack and I think Casey will love him

5. CLE - Kuminga: a very fortunate fit with their glut of PGs, then they can push Okoro over to SG since he's more that size and Kuminga can play SF or alternatively allow both PGs to play and go small ball with Okoro at SF and him at PF as they desperately try to kick Kevin Love out

6. OKC - J.Johnson: they have SGA/Maldeon at PG with Dort emerging at SG, bring in Johnson to help rebound and switch defensively with Poku, I think they'd have an ok young core with obviously a TON more picks to roll the dice on and there's plenty of talent at the SG position that they can take another shot at SG later (Christopher, Mann, Mitchell etc)

7. SAC: Scottie Barnes: they're overloaded at their guard positions, they don't seem to be too in love with Bagley anymore and they just must get better defensively so I think he'll be the pick there which is unfortunate for Barnes lol

8. ORL: Josh Giddey: I think they surprise people and take Giddey. Neither Fultz or Anthony are great distributors and they just cleared the runway at SG for Green with Isaac and Bomba as their post players so Josh should help them share the ball bit better

Then there's us and I think it's one of 3 players...

9. TOR - Kai Jones OR James Bouknight OR Keon Johnson

Bouknight (or K Johnson) because he could become one of the better scoring SGs in time and I like the strategy of in time him growing into a starting position and moving Trent to a PG like role then move Freddy for an upgrade at C but regardless I think he is a very Raptor like pick because he has good defensive instincts but he's also a smart, versatile player I think Nurse will like and almost allow some replication between starters FVV/Trent and Flynn/Bouknight where there isn't much dip (if any in time). I don't think Keon Johnson is the same personality or "cultural" fit but he has an outside chance because he just has some really nice raw potential that perhaps our scouting department is too tough for them to pass on developing

BUT I could likewise see the Raps taking Kai Jones, although I'm no longer a huge fan of it because I just don't like players with low production. It's generally a bad sign of unassertiveness and likely means he will be another kid that will develop into a heck of a roleplayer that will excite our fans with his flashes of great athleticism, but come Playoff time, I'd just prefer having more guys like Bouknight to get us a bucket than Jones just being another cog in the system. It's not like he's an excellent defender but again I'm sure in time we'd make something of him. I'd just personally like another scoring option for the Playoffs and prefer pursuing Paul Reed (who think is/will be a MUCH better option) in a S&T of Kyle to PHI. If we don't take him I can see him dropping all the way to the Hornets

This is a really thoughtful post and I applaud you for taking the time to write it up. However, I slightly disagree with one minor point, in which Keon Johnson wouldn't be a "cultural fit". I actually believe the opposite, that Keon would be a really great fit with our organization and team, after having watched a couple of post game interviews with him and also just watching his determined high motor basketball playing style. He seems like a really sensible, grounded, and rational individual that understands certain nuances of basketball, intuitively, and naturally is a very high BBall IQ player. He appears he's already a highly coachable player and in one interview he mentions his relationship with the coach, Rick Barnes, at Tennessee of how he appreciates that he knows that they both have the same goals of wanting him to become the best player possible and adhering to his counsel, as well as getting to the gym extra early to practice, and staying later for additional reps. I also really like how in the first video he mentions how he prides himself on his defence and his desire of wanting to lock down the best player on the other team and how he feels quite capable of guarding the 1, 2 or 3 positions. Its obvious that Keon's primed to becoming an elite 2-way player, which is what I think the Raps need, rather than another one dimensional, one trick pony.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Do. Not ever see the Raps passing on Davion Mitchell in the unlikely event he goes past number 6. So both of the above posts are sporting that glaring.omission. if our choices were between Mitchell or Bouknight we are laughing. Barnes we would be rolling the dice that he will have any shooting but looks like a Raptor culture fit. I think Raps start talking players like Keon or Kai Jones only if Mitchell, Bouknight or Barnes are all off the board. Keon, Barnes and Jones are all projects. The last project we picked was Bruno. Barnes may only be a shooting project.

[God Squad]

If we miss out on the wings/guards Masai bout to say F it and draft Usman Guruba.

[Indeed]

These would be my guesses if the draft order remained as is (which it won't especially considering since the draft odds have changed at least 2 non top 5 teams have made it in there; of course all praying we're one of those ) but this is how I think it would be if it were to...


1. HOU - Cade: it's really hard to picture any team passing on him, while he may not be Luka, teams will fear being the team to pass on him as others did Luka. Even though he's more Tatum with better passing and floor generalship, he's going to be a flat out stud, hard to picture him not working out

2. MIN - Mobley: I think they would actually love to take Suggs but they've clearly invested in making KAT happy with DLo and Suggs would clearly make him expendable. Towns is sadly an awful defender so I think they'll just look to continue to appease him and take a big to cover up his many faults defensively

3. ORL - Green: I absolutely wish this was us (and that we wouldn't make the mistake of taking Suggs if we were in that position) but I don't see the Magic taking another PG after investing in Fultz and then Anthony. They just moved Evan, T-Ross likely won't be sticking around so it's an easy fit and just hella fortunate to have a box office talent that will get them on TV again a la Pelicans with Zion

4. DET - Suggs: Hayes just suffered a MAJOR hip injury which many athletes never come back looking the same from see Bo Jackson and even little Isaiah Thomas - not to mention he already looked underwhelming. He'd actually be a helluva fit with Bey, Jackson, Stewart, Sekou etc moving forward and give them a much needed floor general which they sorely lack and I think Casey will love him

5. CLE - Kuminga: a very fortunate fit with their glut of PGs, then they can push Okoro over to SG since he's more that size and Kuminga can play SF or alternatively allow both PGs to play and go small ball with Okoro at SF and him at PF as they desperately try to kick Kevin Love out

6. OKC - J.Johnson: they have SGA/Maldeon at PG with Dort emerging at SG, bring in Johnson to help rebound and switch defensively with Poku, I think they'd have an ok young core with obviously a TON more picks to roll the dice on and there's plenty of talent at the SG position that they can take another shot at SG later (Christopher, Mann, Mitchell etc)

7. SAC: Scottie Barnes: they're overloaded at their guard positions, they don't seem to be too in love with Bagley anymore and they just must get better defensively so I think he'll be the pick there which is unfortunate for Barnes lol

8. ORL: Josh Giddey: I think they surprise people and take Giddey. Neither Fultz or Anthony are great distributors and they just cleared the runway at SG for Green with Isaac and Bomba as their post players so Josh should help them share the ball bit better

Then there's us and I think it's one of 3 players...

9. TOR - Kai Jones OR James Bouknight OR Keon Johnson

Bouknight (or K Johnson) because he could become one of the better scoring SGs in time and I like the strategy of in time him growing into a starting position and moving Trent to a PG like role then move Freddy for an upgrade at C but regardless I think he is a very Raptor like pick because he has good defensive instincts but he's also a smart, versatile player I think Nurse will like and almost allow some replication between starters FVV/Trent and Flynn/Bouknight where there isn't much dip (if any in time). I don't think Keon Johnson is the same personality or "cultural" fit but he has an outside chance because he just has some really nice raw potential that perhaps our scouting department is too tough for them to pass on developing

BUT I could likewise see the Raps taking Kai Jones, although I'm no longer a huge fan of it because I just don't like players with low production. It's generally a bad sign of unassertiveness and likely means he will be another kid that will develop into a heck of a roleplayer that will excite our fans with his flashes of great athleticism, but come Playoff time, I'd just prefer having more guys like Bouknight to get us a bucket than Jones just being another cog in the system. It's not like he's an excellent defender but again I'm sure in time we'd make something of him. I'd just personally like another scoring option for the Playoffs and prefer pursuing Paul Reed (who think is/will be a MUCH better option) in a S&T of Kyle to PHI. If we don't take him I can see him dropping all the way to the Hornets

This is a really thoughtful post and I applaud you for taking the time to write it up. However, I slightly disagree with one minor point, in which Keon Johnson wouldn't be a "cultural fit". I actually believe the opposite, that Keon would be a really great fit with our organization and team, after having watched a couple of post game interviews with him and also just watching his determined high motor basketball playing style. He seems like a really sensible, grounded, and rational individual that understands certain nuances of basketball, intuitively, and naturally is a very high BBall IQ player. He appears he's already a highly coachable player and in one interview he mentions his relationship with the coach, Rick Barnes, at Tennessee of how he appreciates that he knows that they both have the same goals of wanting him to become the best player possible and adhering to his counsel, as well as getting to the gym extra early to practice, and staying later for additional reps. I also really like how in the first video he mentions how he prides himself on his defence and his desire of wanting to lock down the best player on the other team and how he feels quite capable of guarding the 1, 2 or 3 positions. Its obvious that Keon's primed to becoming an elite 2-way player, which is what I think the Raps need, rather than another one dimensional, one trick pony.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Do. Not ever see the Raps passing on Davion Mitchell in the unlikely event he goes past number 6. So both of the above posts are sporting that glaring.omission. if our choices were between Mitchell or Bouknight we are laughing. Barnes we would be rolling the dice that he will have any shooting but looks like a Raptor culture fit. I think Raps start talking players like Keon or Kai Jones only if Mitchell, Bouknight or Barnes are all off the board. Keon, Barnes and Jones are all projects. The last project we picked was Bruno. Barnes may only be a shooting project.

OG was a project as well. Jones is better than Bruno.
I am not surprised we pick Mitchell over Jones, since I like Mitchell, but should we draft a higher potential with our lottery pick, which may not happen often.

[UcanUwill]

Young Montrezl Harrell that has 3-pt shooting potential?

Less athletic Bam

Bam is an elite playmaking big though... Not Jokic level of course, but probably top2 or top3 in the league.

P.S. I don't agree that Garuba and Anunoby are the same size. To me just looking at the film it seems pretty obvious that Garuba is bigger, regardless of any outdated measurements.

I actually think Garuba can be playmaking big too, he shows nice passes in every game and he can handle the ball.

[Mark_83]

I still believe we're winning the lotto and moving up to pick 3, in which case I'm taking Mobley, Kuminga, or Suggs in that order.

If we stay at 8 I'm taking Barnes or Bouknight.

[vulture]

hollinger being really excited about Alperen Şengün has me intrigued if we don't get into the top 4.

[PhilBlackson]

I still believe we're winning the lotto and moving up to pick 3, in which case I'm taking Mobley, Kuminga, or Suggs in that order.

If we stay at 8 I'm taking Barnes or Bouknight.

I can see the top 2 being Cade and Mobley in which case I'm poppin bottles n drafting Jalen Green! lol personally even if we fluke into the 2nd pick I'm taking Green. Pending any injury, Green is all but guaranteed to be an elite scorer...I'm not passing on kid that projects to be a 30ppg type of bucket getter.

If we stay at #8 I'd take one of JJohnson, Bouknight, KJohnson, Christopher or Williams.

[OAKLEY_2]

This is a really thoughtful post and I applaud you for taking the time to write it up. However, I slightly disagree with one minor point, in which Keon Johnson wouldn't be a "cultural fit". I actually believe the opposite, that Keon would be a really great fit with our organization and team, after having watched a couple of post game interviews with him and also just watching his determined high motor basketball playing style. He seems like a really sensible, grounded, and rational individual that understands certain nuances of basketball, intuitively, and naturally is a very high BBall IQ player. He appears he's already a highly coachable player and in one interview he mentions his relationship with the coach, Rick Barnes, at Tennessee of how he appreciates that he knows that they both have the same goals of wanting him to become the best player possible and adhering to his counsel, as well as getting to the gym extra early to practice, and staying later for additional reps. I also really like how in the first video he mentions how he prides himself on his defence and his desire of wanting to lock down the best player on the other team and how he feels quite capable of guarding the 1, 2 or 3 positions. Its obvious that Keon's primed to becoming an elite 2-way player, which is what I think the Raps need, rather than another one dimensional, one trick pony.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Do. Not ever see the Raps passing on Davion Mitchell in the unlikely event he goes past number 6. So both of the above posts are sporting that glaring.omission. if our choices were between Mitchell or Bouknight we are laughing. Barnes we would be rolling the dice that he will have any shooting but looks like a Raptor culture fit. I think Raps start talking players like Keon or Kai Jones only if Mitchell, Bouknight or Barnes are all off the board. Keon, Barnes and Jones are all projects. The last project we picked was Bruno. Barnes may only be a shooting project.

OG was a project as well. Jones is better than Bruno.
I am not surprised we pick Mitchell over Jones, since I like Mitchell, but should we draft a higher potential with our lottery pick, which may not happen often.

If we look at a big who is 19-20 we pretty much know without debate they are two years from being two years away. Now if we are by some grace in a position to draft Mobley? Make that selection and never look back.

[OAKLEY_2]

Og wasn't a project he was projected to be a serious lotto pick. Somehow his knee injury scared people away.

[Psubs]

Og wasn't a project he was projected to be a serious lotto pick. Somehow his knee injury scared people away.

Correct, prior to the injury he was a top 3 pick. Players like Embiid and Michael Porter Jr, didn't drop as far because they were consideration for #1 picks. Is Jalen Johnson the only top player that got hurt this season?

[tecumseh18]

Og wasn't a project he was projected to be a serious lotto pick. Somehow his knee injury scared people away.

Correct, prior to the injury he was a top 3 pick. Players like Embiid and Michael Porter Jr, didn't drop as far because they were consideration for #1 picks. Is Jalen Johnson the only top player that got hurt this season?

I don't think he was ever top 3. I remember Top 10. But even with the injury, OG was mocked into the low teens, tho' BR had him at #27 or so.

Always love re-watching this. Ya gotta be good to be lucky. And in 2016-2017, Masai & Co. were very good.

Watch on YouTube

[Reeko]

Og wasn't a project he was projected to be a serious lotto pick. Somehow his knee injury scared people away.

Correct, prior to the injury he was a top 3 pick. Players like Embiid and Michael Porter Jr, didn't drop as far because they were consideration for #1 picks. Is Jalen Johnson the only top player that got hurt this season?

I don't think he was ever top 3. I remember Top 10. But even with the injury, OG was mocked into the low teens, tho' BR had him at #27 or so.

Always love re-watching this. Ya gotta be good to be lucky. And in 2016-2017, Masai & Co. were very good.

Watch on YouTube

It's crazy that we got a top 5 player from that draft, while drafting at 23. Only guys that are definitively better than OG at this point are Tatum, Mitchell and Adebayo. I rate him ahead of guys like Collins and Isaac, personally.

[Psubs]

Og wasn't a project he was projected to be a serious lotto pick. Somehow his knee injury scared people away.

Correct, prior to the injury he was a top 3 pick. Players like Embiid and Michael Porter Jr, didn't drop as far because they were consideration for #1 picks. Is Jalen Johnson the only top player that got hurt this season?

I don't think he was ever top 3. I remember Top 10. But even with the injury, OG was mocked into the low teens, tho' BR had him at #27 or so.

Always love re-watching this. Ya gotta be good to be lucky. And in 2016-2017, Masai & Co. were very good.

Watch on YouTube

Pre-season before Fultz was a prospect. Lonzo was possibly late lotto.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_2017.html

I only really recall Tatum being a top prospect definitely ahead of OG Anunoby. I think fello Dukie Frank Jackson was top 3 prospect before he did so-so at Duke. He had a lot of hype. Remember when Ivan Rabb was 5-10 prospect!!! Possibly Fox and Josh Jackson were also top 5 prospects.

[Dalek]

Correct, prior to the injury he was a top 3 pick. Players like Embiid and Michael Porter Jr, didn't drop as far because they were consideration for #1 picks. Is Jalen Johnson the only top player that got hurt this season?

I don't think he was ever top 3. I remember Top 10. But even with the injury, OG was mocked into the low teens, tho' BR had him at #27 or so.

Always love re-watching this. Ya gotta be good to be lucky. And in 2016-2017, Masai & Co. were very good.

Watch on YouTube

It's crazy that we got a top 5 player from that draft, while drafting at 23. Only guys that are definitively better than OG at this point are Tatum, Mitchell and Adebayo. I rate him ahead of guys like Collins and Isaac, personally.

OG is definitely in the top five or six. I still have Fox ahead of him because Sacramento built their offense around him and his speed and scoring could be franchise level. To me, OG and Isaac are very similar. Isaac before getting hurt was a top tier defender and emerging offensive player.

Back in the that draft period I remember people being skeptical of OG because of a number of things. OG was primarily a low minute bench guy for Indy who ended up starting and playing okay but got hurt. He was like a super sub that could take over a game with defense and a crazy dunk that would take the air out of the other team.

He was a guy Tom Crean only scouted because he was their to see another player, James Blackmon Jr. So he was this barely recruited, athletic freak with a super raw skillset coming off an knee surgery. No one even knew what his position would be, many thinking PF of C in the NBA because they didn't think he could score from outside well enough. He was such a bad freethrow shooter.

I remember posting that day of the draft thinking we were going to get OG. In the back of my mind I thought Kuzma would have been a safer pick, he was connected to Delon Wright and offered a good scoring package of skills, but OG was worth the wait and strangely enough he healed way faster than expected.