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

[dckingsfan]

Anyone interested in Day-Ron Sharpe ?

It's hard to believe we were looking at top 5 and end up at 15....

#SoWizards

[payitforward]

Giddey not going 15 but looking at this draft I'm not trading down. There's some really solid players right in our range...guys that can be in a rotation. I'm not trading that opportunity to pick up a few deep bench guys.

You may be right, but just for clarity: no one trades a potential "rotation" player for a couple of potential "deep bench" players.

Teams make those trades, because they think that by making such a trade they can get, say, 2 "guys that can be in a rotation" instead of 1 such guy.

They're not always right, because no one is always right in the draft no matter what they do. But if you think the "how good" curve either matches or even comes close to the "where picked" curve, you're not paying attention.

Pick a draft, any draft, & I'll be happy to demonstrate. Oh hell... how about last year? The #15 pick, which belonged to the Magic, is roughly-speaking tradable for the #26, #30 & #47 picks, all of which belonged to the Celtics.

The Magic picked Cole Anthony. If they'd had those 3 lower picks, they'd have been able to get Payton Pritchard, Desmond Bane, & say Paul Reed.

Or just trade the #15 to the Sixers for #21 & #34 & pick Tyrese Maxey & Xavier Tillman. Or would you rather have Cole Anthony?

Or just be lazy & trade #15 to the Kings for the ridiculously low return of #35 & #52, a trade literally no one in their right mind would make. Yet, in this draft, you'd get Xavier Tillman & Kenyon Martin Jr. Tillman is already a better NBA player than Cole Anthony, & I'd say Kenyon Martin is likely to be better than Anthony too.

I had every player you mentioned but Kenyon Martin Jr & Paul Reed ranked higher than Cole Anthony on the last tier list I put on here. And I had Paul Reed only 3 spots lower than Anthony. So no I wouldn't have done what the Magic did.

I was screaming at my TV and on Twitter for the Wizards to trade up for Tillman in the 2nd round. I had a mid-first grade on him.

I screaming to draft Haliburton at 9 when he fell.

Don't discredit me or my draft record by suggesting I co-sign ANY draft decison made by the Orlando Magic front office.

That's the highest level of disrespect and I won't stand for it!

...yeah they really do seem to be idiots, don't they? They could have jump-started a rebuild in a big way, but instead they did one stupid thing after another.

OTOH, watching the new Grizzlies FO work is like witnessing a bunch of brilliant laser surgeons extract value from other teams in the league.

But, it's not that you would have done what the Magic did -- it's that you give the impression of thinking that teams trade down b/c they want quantity rather than quality. Or that I would suggest doing it for the same kind of reason. But, neither is true.

Finally... I certainly did NOT mean to appear critical of your record of work on the draft, which is obviously excellent.

[NatP4]

I'd have major issues with drafting a 24 year guard with the 15th pick or making him the target of a trade down. I just don't see it. Not saying he can't be a rotation guy but at his age, what you get is what your getting so he better damn well be NBA ready.

I agree, and I think Duarte will be rotation caliber player very early in his career, but I need more at 15.

[Dat2U]

You may be right, but just for clarity: no one trades a potential "rotation" player for a couple of potential "deep bench" players.

Teams make those trades, because they think that by making such a trade they can get, say, 2 "guys that can be in a rotation" instead of 1 such guy.

They're not always right, because no one is always right in the draft no matter what they do. But if you think the "how good" curve either matches or even comes close to the "where picked" curve, you're not paying attention.

Pick a draft, any draft, & I'll be happy to demonstrate. Oh hell... how about last year? The #15 pick, which belonged to the Magic, is roughly-speaking tradable for the #26, #30 & #47 picks, all of which belonged to the Celtics.

The Magic picked Cole Anthony. If they'd had those 3 lower picks, they'd have been able to get Payton Pritchard, Desmond Bane, & say Paul Reed.

Or just trade the #15 to the Sixers for #21 & #34 & pick Tyrese Maxey & Xavier Tillman. Or would you rather have Cole Anthony?

Or just be lazy & trade #15 to the Kings for the ridiculously low return of #35 & #52, a trade literally no one in their right mind would make. Yet, in this draft, you'd get Xavier Tillman & Kenyon Martin Jr. Tillman is already a better NBA player than Cole Anthony, & I'd say Kenyon Martin is likely to be better than Anthony too.

I had every player you mentioned but Kenyon Martin Jr & Paul Reed ranked higher than Cole Anthony on the last tier list I put on here. And I had Paul Reed only 3 spots lower than Anthony. So no I wouldn't have done what the Magic did.

I was screaming at my TV and on Twitter for the Wizards to trade up for Tillman in the 2nd round. I had a mid-first grade on him.

I screaming to draft Haliburton at 9 when he fell.

Don't discredit me or my draft record by suggesting I co-sign ANY draft decison made by the Orlando Magic front office.

That's the highest level of disrespect and I won't stand for it!

...yeah they really do seem to be idiots, don't they? They could have jump-started a rebuild in a big way, but instead they did one stupid thing after another.

OTOH, watching the new Grizzlies FO work is like witnessing a bunch of brilliant laser surgeons extract value from other teams in the league.

But, it's not that you would have done what the Magic did -- it's that you give the impression of thinking that teams trade down b/c they want quantity rather than quality. Or that I would suggest doing it for the same kind of reason. But, neither is true.

Finally... I certainly did NOT mean to appear critical of your record of work on the draft, which is obviously excellent.

I kid, ok only slightly lol. Magic really do need help though.

The Grizzlies track record thus far is quite impressive but nailing role players year after has its eventual pitfalls. You can only give so many guys rotation minutes and their depth means a guy like Brandon Clarke can become an afterthought and lose trade value and/or confidence. Consolidation of talent after drafting and development is just as important as drafting the right guys.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

At 15 were not going to get anyone that's gonna make any difference on this team.....

[payitforward]

At 15 were not going to get anyone that's gonna make any difference on this team.....

Why do you say that? How long a list of difference-makers taken @#15 or later do you want?

[XtremeDunkz]

At 15 were not going to get anyone that's gonna make any difference on this team.....

The last 2 years Philly drafted Maxey at 21 and Thybulle at 20. If either had more playing time on a worse team they would have easily competed for ROY and look like steals so far.

Idk how good Washington's scouting is but you can always find diamonds in the draft.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[doclinkin]

I'd have major issues with drafting a 24 year guard with the 15th pick or making him the target of a trade down. I just don't see it. Not saying he can't be a rotation guy but at his age, what you get is what your getting so he better damn well be NBA ready.

I guess for me I see it like this: if we take it as a given that Josh Giddey jumps to the top 10, am I convinced enough on Franz Wagner that I think he is worth any two players lower down? If not Wagner, who else falls from the lotto that I would be willing to jump at? And do I think there are as useful players that I could get later, if someone wanted to jump up to 15?.

My caveat on Giddey was future picks/current prospects, given that Giddey is a nice player but who does not yet do more at an NBA level than pass and be tall. He is a phenom though, so his upside is through the roof. That being the case a team who truly covets him may be able to sweeten the pot enough with current picks and future picks that I would be willing to listen. (Last year Dallas would have traded 18, 31 and Seth Curry to get to our spot for Haliburton. I liked Tyrese, but we took Deni. 18 and 31 would have netted you from your mock: RJ Hampton and Tillman, plus Seth Curry. Or Curry, Precious/Saddiq Bey and Tillman for me. Does that package long term beat Haliburton? Maybe not, but either your picks or mine collectively would have beat Deni in minutes and wins last year).
Call it Sharife Cooper and DayRon Sharpe if you like upside more than production. I dunno. I do think Giddey will eventually be a sweet player wherever he ends up. How long before that pays off, and is the payoff worth more than 2 talents slightly lower down?

Still. I personally am more convinced on Neemias Queta than Duarte. I am more intrigued as a prospective talent by Petrusev than I am by Duarte. But those are players mocked lower down. So if I could pick a solid role player who fits a role for this team PLUS an upside player or one I am targeting, then I feel better.

Duarte to me does read as a plug in ready NBA player, who as a useful role player approximates what Beal does, except for secondary distributing, and not getting to the foul line at an all-star level -- but with and upgrade of solid switchable defense. If I can get a role player and an upside player with a trade back, PLUS future prospects. Then I will take that. High efficiency guards who have range do tend to translate to the NBA level. If he adds foul collecting to his dribble drive attack (adding some muscle that he didn't pack on during his Juco stint) so he can finish though contact instead of needing to fade or side-step on every shot, then he will prove to be a winning player on whatever team.

That said, the question is, only 2 players I see mocked in the 13-15 range that look like teams behind us might trade up to get them are Giddey and Wagner -- if Thibodeax really likes Wagner's defense. The players mocked ahead of them who are likely to fall (to my eyes: Kispert, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Johnson) are not necessarily ones teams will overpay to obtain. Kispert fills a role, as a Bertans substitute. I'm upsy downsy about the other two, and none of the above strike me as guys I want more than guys lower down, even if the talent level/athleticism is more apparent.

I do see Queta now creeping up the first round mocks though. So he may not be this year's TIllman as an overlooked talent available late. I was baffled at how low he was on most mocks. He may look physically awkward, but a high effort defensive Bigs who also makes assists is a player who will succeed in the NBA. He understands the court, and can make up the deficits of his athleticism with his understanding of where to be. On defense I have seen him guard 4 positions on one play: meet the ballhandler outside then guarding every pass and drive to the interior where he swallowed up the shot after the pass to the Big. Yeah he needs work on his body to prevent injury risk, but with big league trainers I get the sense he can be tuned up to be both stronger and more durable. High energy bigs tend to be high energy in the offseason as well. HIs FT % climbing from 56% to 70% in 2 years suggests he is a grinder and gym rat. He has inconsistent form on his jumper, but if he can jump 20% in 2 years with free throws, there's no doubt withing with David Adler he can improve his sloppy jumpshot as well to increase his accuracy first, then range. HIs midrange jumper is already decent.

Maybe with Bryant and Gafford this is not a position of need, but to me he seems like the piece missing in the fader bar between the two. High energy defense, lob threat, who can also pass to the shooter and cutter when defenses clog things up. A sweet passing Big can open the floor up as much as an outside shooting Big. The blocks and steals are nice, but to me the playmaking skill from an interior player is as rare an asset as the quick twitch ath-elites you will see going earlier in the draft. See 5:18 in this video

Watch on YouTube

I get the feeling that if he stays healthy people are going to be pissed they missed on Queta. Seven foot Draymond. Walmart bargain Jokic, but with defensive upgrade package. I get the sense, eventually, with his evident on court smarts, he will be directing players on defense.

So yeah, my trade down target would be Queta plus future assets. If I could also pick up a useful and efficient role player who fills a need (efficient guard/wing scoring when Brad is out; ranged wing defender). Then I'm alright with the picks. But then, I tend to value production over upside. The guys I pick tend to produce early, where more talented players take a minute to figure out where they fit. Maybe eventually I will be happier with Deni than I would have been with the Curry, Tillman, Precious/Bey package plus 2nd rounders. For now, I dunno, would a healthy Deni have been the difference maker in the Philly series? Seems to me even Curry and Tillman would have made a difference. Or Saddiq hitting nearly 40% from 3, with upgraded defense as an actual SF so we wouldn't have to basically play Neto as our starting Small Forward.

A moot point anyway since we simply don't trade down here. They like the guys they like and are overjoyed with whomever falls to them since they always had them ranked far higher. Shrug.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

At 15 were not going to get anyone that's gonna make any difference on this team.....

The last 2 years Philly drafted Maxey at 21 and Thybulle at 20. If either had more playing time on a worse team they would have easily competed for ROY and look like steals so far.

Idk how good Washington's scouting is but you can always find diamonds in the draft.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Don't get me wrong, I think we can get a good player. Wagner or Garuba are a couple examples of players that could be there that I'd be happy to pick. I just think this team is farther away overall. I mean how much did Avdija help this year, and I thought he was a good pick.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I'd have major issues with drafting a 24 year guard with the 15th pick or making him the target of a trade down. I just don't see it. Not saying he can't be a rotation guy but at his age, what you get is what your getting so he better damn well be NBA ready.

I guess for me I see it like this: if we take it as a given that Josh Giddey jumps to the top 10, am I convinced enough on Franz Wagner that I think he is worth any two players lower down? If not Wagner, who else falls from the lotto that I would be willing to jump at? And do I think there are as useful players that I could get later, if someone wanted to jump up to 15?.

My caveat on Giddey was future picks/current prospects, given that Giddey is a nice player but who does not yet do more at an NBA level than pass and be tall. He is a phenom though, so his upside is through the roof. That being the case a team who truly covets him may be able to sweeten the pot enough with current picks and future picks that I would be willing to listen. (Last year Dallas would have traded 18, 31 and Seth Curry to get to our spot for Haliburton. I liked Tyrese, but we took Deni. 18 and 31 would have netted you from your mock: RJ Hampton and Tillman, plus Seth Curry. Or Curry, Precious/Saddiq Bey and Tillman for me. Does that package long term beat Haliburton? Maybe not, but either your picks or mine collectively would have beat Deni in minutes and wins last year).
Call it Sharife Cooper and DayRon Sharpe if you like upside more than production. I dunno. I do think Giddey will eventually be a sweet player wherever he ends up. How long before that pays off, and is the payoff worth more than 2 talents slightly lower down?

Still. I personally am more convinced on Neemias Queta than Duarte. I am more intrigued as a prospective talent by Petrusev than I am by Duarte. But those are players mocked lower down. So if I could pick a solid role player who fits a role for this team PLUS an upside player or one I am targeting, then I feel better.

Duarte to me does read as a plug in ready NBA player, who as a useful role player approximates what Beal does, except for secondary distributing, and not getting to the foul line at an all-star level -- but with and upgrade of solid switchable defense. If I can get a role player and an upside player with a trade back, PLUS future prospects. Then I will take that. High efficiency guards who have range do tend to translate to the NBA level. If he adds foul collecting to his dribble drive attack (adding some muscle that he didn't pack on during his Juco stint) so he can finish though contact instead of needing to fade or side-step on every shot, then he will prove to be a winning player on whatever team.

That said, the question is, only 2 players I see mocked in the 13-15 range that look like teams behind us might trade up to get them are Giddey and Wagner -- if Thibodeax really likes Wagner's defense. The players mocked ahead of them who are likely to fall (to my eyes: Kispert, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Johnson) are not necessarily ones teams will overpay to obtain. Kispert fills a role, as a Bertans substitute. I'm upsy downsy about the other two, and none of the above strike me as guys I want more than guys lower down, even if the talent level/athleticism is more apparent.

I do see Queta now creeping up the first round mocks though. So he may not be this year's TIllman as an overlooked talent available late. I was baffled at how low he was on most mocks. He may look physically awkward, but a high effort defensive Bigs who also makes assists is a player who will succeed in the NBA. He understands the court, and can make up the deficits of his athleticism with his understanding of where to be. On defense I have seen him guard 4 positions on one play: meet the ballhandler outside then guarding every pass and drive to the interior where he swallowed up the shot after the pass to the Big. Yeah he needs work on his body to prevent injury risk, but with big league trainers I get the sense he can be tuned up to be both stronger and more durable. High energy bigs tend to be high energy in the offseason as well. HIs FT % climbing from 56% to 70% in 2 years suggests he is a grinder and gym rat. He has inconsistent form on his jumper, but if he can jump 20% in 2 years with free throws, there's no doubt withing with David Adler he can improve his sloppy jumpshot as well to increase his accuracy first, then range. HIs midrange jumper is already decent.

Maybe with Bryant and Gafford this is not a position of need, but to me he seems like the piece missing in the fader bar between the two. High energy defense, lob threat, who can also pass to the shooter and cutter when defenses clog things up. A sweet passing Big can open the floor up as much as an outside shooting Big. The blocks and steals are nice, but to me the playmaking skill from an interior player is as rare an asset as the quick twitch ath-elites you will see going earlier in the draft. See 5:18 in this video

Watch on YouTube

I get the feeling that if he stays healthy people are going to be pissed they missed on Queta. Seven foot Draymond. Walmart bargain Jokic, but with defensive upgrade package. I get the sense, eventually, with his evident on court smarts, he will be directing players on defense.

So yeah, my trade down target would be Queta plus future assets. If I could also pick up a useful and efficient role player who fills a need (efficient guard/wing scoring when Brad is out; ranged wing defender). Then I'm alright with the picks. But then, I tend to value production over upside. The guys I pick tend to produce early, where more talented players take a minute to figure out where they fit. Maybe eventually I will be happier with Deni than I would have been with the Curry, Tillman, Precious/Bey package plus 2nd rounders. For now, I dunno, would a healthy Deni have been the difference maker in the Philly series? Seems to me even Curry and Tillman would have made a difference. Or Saddiq hitting nearly 40% from 3, with upgraded defense as an actual SF so we wouldn't have to basically play Neto as our starting Small Forward.

A moot point anyway since we simply don't trade down here. They like the guys they like and are overjoyed with whomever falls to them since they always had them ranked far higher. Shrug.

I've been watching Queta highlights, and saw a couple of his games this year. He is interesting. I like his size, and his defense and passing skills. NBA DRAFT ROOM has him at 59, below other Centers as Cockburn and Garza, as well as Bassey (who is also interesting). I don't know about him at 15, but he could be a steal later. Maybe we can acquire another pick, but I suspect our front office is happy with the Bryant/Gafford tandem idea, with Len probably for depth, so I don't know if they go out of their way to make a move to get him.

But he could be one of those guys we think back man we could of got him. Not sure a comp on him... Maybe Mitchell Robinson? Draft Room comp is Dampier.

https://lastwordonsports.com/basketball/2021/05/21/neemias-queta-2021-nba-draft-profile/

[Illuminaire]

The giant elephant in the draft room is that unless you luck into a Giannis or Joker, even a really good mid-round pick usually becomes, at best, a value added rotation player. Someone you're happy to have until you need to pay them market value, and then they're just a guy on your team.

For a below average team like the Wiz, acquiring a rotation caliber player on the cheap doesn't move the needle far enough. It will mean squeaking out a few more wins in the short term. The team will look better. The floor will be raised.

But not the ceiling. You're still not getting out of the first round if you're just filling out the rotation with solid dudes. To move up into the realm of contenders - or even just spunky never-dos who give you just enough hope to cheer madly every year - you need to add *stars*.

From a big picture perspective, there is merit to the idea of building an organization that people want to join. Look at the Nets' epically successful rebuild. But is there anyone here who thinks the Wiz have done that? (For heaven's sake, they're called the Wizards. Even the name is cringe, let alone the owner and front office. Sorry Tommy, two decades of failure casts a long shadow).

This is all to say, if you're the Wizards, I think you have to swing for the fences. Take your shots. The only way you're changing the destiny of this franchise is by grabbing a game-changer.

[FAH1223]

The giant elephant in the draft room is that unless you luck into a Giannis or Joker, even a really good mid-round pick usually becomes, at best, a value added rotation player. Someone you're happy to have until you need to pay them market value, and then they're just a guy on your team.

For a below average team like the Wiz, acquiring a rotation caliber player on the cheap doesn't move the needle far enough. It will mean squeaking out a few more wins in the short term. The team will look better. The floor will be raised.

But not the ceiling. You're still not getting out of the first round if you're just filling out the rotation with solid dudes. To move up into the realm of contenders - or even just spunky never-dos who give you just enough hope to cheer madly every year - you need to add *stars*.

From a big picture perspective, there is merit to the idea of building an organization that people want to join. Look at the Nets' epically successful rebuild. But is there anyone here who thinks the Wiz have done that? (For heaven's sake, they're called the Wizards. Even the name is cringe, let alone the owner and front office. Sorry Tommy, two decades of failure casts a long shadow).

This is all to say, if you're the Wizards, I think you have to swing for the fences. Take your shots. The only way you're changing the destiny of this franchise is by grabbing a game-changer.

Getting a rotation level player especially on the wing is huge. We don't have any rotation level SFs at the moment.

We also have the MLE and BAE and a little room under the luxury tax. We could also go over the tax and get under before the end of the league year in June 2022.

The issue is Tommy has no idea what he's doing with wing players.

[Illuminaire]

Getting a rotation level player especially on the wing is huge. We don't have any rotation level SFs at the moment.

We also have the MLE and BAE and a little room under the luxury tax. We could also go over the tax and get under before the end of the league year in June 2022.

The issue is Tommy has no idea what he's doing with wing players.

Is a 6th man quality wing enough to get the Wizards past the first round?

How about the second?

I don't think the Wizards get past Philly even if that had mid-tier starting SF on the roster. A Mikal Bridges, or Andrew Wiggins, does not elevate the team very far - at least, not when it counts. What you're laying out is exactly the reason why this team has been a treadmill and post-season joke for 20 years.

[FAH1223]

Getting a rotation level player especially on the wing is huge. We don't have any rotation level SFs at the moment.

We also have the MLE and BAE and a little room under the luxury tax. We could also go over the tax and get under before the end of the league year in June 2022.

The issue is Tommy has no idea what he's doing with wing players.

Is a 6th man quality wing enough to get the Wizards past the first round?

How about the second?

I don't think the Wizards get past Philly even if that had mid-tier starting SF on the roster. A Mikal Bridges, or Andrew Wiggins, does not elevate the team very far - at least, not when it counts. What you're laying out is exactly the reason why this team has been a treadmill and post-season joke for 20 years.

The Bullets lost a dozen games this season because Brooks' coaching is bad. Bad rotations, no adjustments, etc. He did not put guys in positions to succeed in many different parts of the year.

I think they're a 4th or 5th seeded team and yeah, they could get to the 2nd round. Conference Finals? No. They need a 3rd star. A generational star that can only come through the top 4 picks which we had a shot at until the 17-6 finish. This was the year to strategically tank and get one of those top guys. Alas, we aren't able to do it.

I think they will be a better team next season assuming the coach is better and they are able to get a couple of wings and a rebounding PF.

I think we should aim to be like the Utah Jazz or San Antonio Spurs. They both haven't had top picks in years but have been able to hit on those guys in the teens and been able to scout well in free agency. If we go to the postseason for the next 20 years out of the next 25, that's fine with me. But we need a front office that will do its actual homework and address the deficiencies in a proactive fashion every year.

We have two all-stars who will get us to the postseason even with a coach who had no idea what the hell he's doing schematically. An upgrade in coaching and talent management is all we're asking for. Unfortunately, Ted has no idea or awareness to do what the Miami Heats, the Spurs, the Jazz, who are always competitive have done with less draft capital than franchises like the T-Wolves.

[doclinkin]

The giant elephant in the draft room is that unless you luck into a Giannis or Joker, even a really good mid-round pick usually becomes, at best, a value added rotation player. Someone you're happy to have until you need to pay them market value, and then they're just a guy on your team.

For a below average team like the Wiz, acquiring a rotation caliber player on the cheap doesn't move the needle far enough. It will mean squeaking out a few more wins in the short term. The team will look better. The floor will be raised.

But not the ceiling. You're still not getting out of the first round if you're just filling out the rotation with solid dudes. To move up into the realm of contenders - or even just spunky never-dos who give you just enough hope to cheer madly every year - you need to add *stars*.

From a big picture perspective, there is merit to the idea of building an organization that people want to join. Look at the Nets' epically successful rebuild. But is there anyone here who thinks the Wiz have done that? (For heaven's sake, they're called the Wizards. Even the name is cringe, let alone the owner and front office. Sorry Tommy, two decades of failure casts a long shadow).

This is all to say, if you're the Wizards, I think you have to swing for the fences. Take your shots. The only way you're changing the destiny of this franchise is by grabbing a game-changer.

A destiny changing franchise player may not be in every draft. Especially after 15. Though actually the swing for the fences upside pick was the Ernie method of drafting. Hyper talents like JaVale, Nick Young, Kelly Oubre, had all the measurables you might want. But none of the production. To me the software is as important as the hardware. You can go far by drafting a Draymond Green late. A top notch role player. We squandered our best chance of drafting a franchise player by running through the cupcake schedule in the last half of the season. Ted's platitude that we will never tank may be asinine, but he was selling the idea to Brad not to us.

Might as well draft smart.

That said, if you trade down and trade forward (to the future) you have a better chance of picking lucky, late. If you get a useful role player along with a project or upside pick, it gives you a little more time to develop that new kid. Less pressure to do it all or burn out. Ditto if you gamble on another team's lousy future.

I'm okay with an upside bet. I don't think Giddey will fall. Who else looks like a star at 15 or below? To me the upside prospects after 15 on the tankathon mock are:

Jaden Springer: 2nd youngest player in the draft. Hits a nice % from 3 but doesn't take enough. Does get to the line. Doesn't pass enough or well enough. Productive youth has higher upside. If a kid plays well young then they have a chance to be a breakout star later.

Sharife Cooper: Magician with a dribble and fancy pass. Inefficient gunner, small and cocky. Crowd pleaser who may be good trade bait.

DayRon Sharpe: Athletic, smooth passing, rebounding young Big with good low post footwork. 50% free throw shooter with no real range.

Filip Petrusev: Euro players are often overlooked. Though we saw him at Gonzaga. He has improved since then, drilling at the same BBall club in Serbia that has produced Jokic among other multi-tool Serbs in the NBA. Adds a pick and pop stretch 4/5 who is a fluid enough athlete that he can actually play mobile defense. Thus allowing one way players like Bertans/Bryant to be dangled in trade talks. Enough of a handle to dribble drive a few steps to finish. His improvement suggests upside may be attainable.

Queta: Given the stat improvement in his profile: significantly increasing FT% & assists, progressive increase in blocks, steals, rebounding; decreasing TO's and fouls. Needs better footwork, consistent form on his jumper.

Whereas the instantly useful role-player types to me would be:

Jared Butler: ranged offense combo guard with try hard defense
Chris Duarte: efficient scorer, fills a 3 and D role at 2/3
Ayo Dusunmu: college star, NBA do-it-all role player, glue guy, journeyman talent, star work ethic. Skilled enough to be added into any trade as a sweetener.
Joel Ayayi: consummate glue guy, quiet winner
Charles Bassey: high energy interior Big.

To my way of thinking if you can get one from the first category, and one from the 2nd, then you have a chance to both add wins and upside alike. The adage is: first you win, then you get good. Young teams packed with upside players rarely win, and rarely develop those young talents since they learn to both lose and get numb to losing.

[MVP1992]

At 15 were not going to get anyone that's gonna make any difference on this team.....

Any chance another Giannis slips through

[DCZards]

Getting a rotation level player especially on the wing is huge. We don't have any rotation level SFs at the moment.

We also have the MLE and BAE and a little room under the luxury tax. We could also go over the tax and get under before the end of the league year in June 2022.

The issue is Tommy has no idea what he's doing with wing players.

Is a 6th man quality wing enough to get the Wizards past the first round?

How about the second?

I don't think the Wizards get past Philly even if that had mid-tier starting SF on the roster. A Mikal Bridges, or Andrew Wiggins, does not elevate the team very far - at least, not when it counts. What you're laying out is exactly the reason why this team has been a treadmill and post-season joke for 20 years.

A Mikal Bridges is exactly what this team needs: A young, athletic wing who can shoot 3s and defend his a** off.

3pt shooting and perimeter defense should be the priority for this offseason...both in the draft and free agency.

[Dat2U]

I'd have major issues with drafting a 24 year guard with the 15th pick or making him the target of a trade down. I just don't see it. Not saying he can't be a rotation guy but at his age, what you get is what your getting so he better damn well be NBA ready.

I guess for me I see it like this: if we take it as a given that Josh Giddey jumps to the top 10, am I convinced enough on Franz Wagner that I think he is worth any two players lower down? If not Wagner, who else falls from the lotto that I would be willing to jump at? And do I think there are as useful players that I could get later, if someone wanted to jump up to 15?.

My caveat on Giddey was future picks/current prospects, given that Giddey is a nice player but who does not yet do more at an NBA level than pass and be tall. He is a phenom though, so his upside is through the roof. That being the case a team who truly covets him may be able to sweeten the pot enough with current picks and future picks that I would be willing to listen. (Last year Dallas would have traded 18, 31 and Seth Curry to get to our spot for Haliburton. I liked Tyrese, but we took Deni. 18 and 31 would have netted you from your mock: RJ Hampton and Tillman, plus Seth Curry. Or Curry, Precious/Saddiq Bey and Tillman for me. Does that package long term beat Haliburton? Maybe not, but either your picks or mine collectively would have beat Deni in minutes and wins last year).
Call it Sharife Cooper and DayRon Sharpe if you like upside more than production. I dunno. I do think Giddey will eventually be a sweet player wherever he ends up. How long before that pays off, and is the payoff worth more than 2 talents slightly lower down?

Still. I personally am more convinced on Neemias Queta than Duarte. I am more intrigued as a prospective talent by Petrusev than I am by Duarte. But those are players mocked lower down. So if I could pick a solid role player who fits a role for this team PLUS an upside player or one I am targeting, then I feel better.

Duarte to me does read as a plug in ready NBA player, who as a useful role player approximates what Beal does, except for secondary distributing, and not getting to the foul line at an all-star level -- but with and upgrade of solid switchable defense. If I can get a role player and an upside player with a trade back, PLUS future prospects. Then I will take that. High efficiency guards who have range do tend to translate to the NBA level. If he adds foul collecting to his dribble drive attack (adding some muscle that he didn't pack on during his Juco stint) so he can finish though contact instead of needing to fade or side-step on every shot, then he will prove to be a winning player on whatever team.

That said, the question is, only 2 players I see mocked in the 13-15 range that look like teams behind us might trade up to get them are Giddey and Wagner -- if Thibodeax really likes Wagner's defense. The players mocked ahead of them who are likely to fall (to my eyes: Kispert, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Johnson) are not necessarily ones teams will overpay to obtain. Kispert fills a role, as a Bertans substitute. I'm upsy downsy about the other two, and none of the above strike me as guys I want more than guys lower down, even if the talent level/athleticism is more apparent.

I do see Queta now creeping up the first round mocks though. So he may not be this year's TIllman as an overlooked talent available late. I was baffled at how low he was on most mocks. He may look physically awkward, but a high effort defensive Bigs who also makes assists is a player who will succeed in the NBA. He understands the court, and can make up the deficits of his athleticism with his understanding of where to be. On defense I have seen him guard 4 positions on one play: meet the ballhandler outside then guarding every pass and drive to the interior where he swallowed up the shot after the pass to the Big. Yeah he needs work on his body to prevent injury risk, but with big league trainers I get the sense he can be tuned up to be both stronger and more durable. High energy bigs tend to be high energy in the offseason as well. HIs FT % climbing from 56% to 70% in 2 years suggests he is a grinder and gym rat. He has inconsistent form on his jumper, but if he can jump 20% in 2 years with free throws, there's no doubt withing with David Adler he can improve his sloppy jumpshot as well to increase his accuracy first, then range. HIs midrange jumper is already decent.

Maybe with Bryant and Gafford this is not a position of need, but to me he seems like the piece missing in the fader bar between the two. High energy defense, lob threat, who can also pass to the shooter and cutter when defenses clog things up. A sweet passing Big can open the floor up as much as an outside shooting Big. The blocks and steals are nice, but to me the playmaking skill from an interior player is as rare an asset as the quick twitch ath-elites you will see going earlier in the draft. See 5:18 in this video

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I get the feeling that if he stays healthy people are going to be pissed they missed on Queta. Seven foot Draymond. Walmart bargain Jokic, but with defensive upgrade package. I get the sense, eventually, with his evident on court smarts, he will be directing players on defense.

So yeah, my trade down target would be Queta plus future assets. If I could also pick up a useful and efficient role player who fills a need (efficient guard/wing scoring when Brad is out; ranged wing defender). Then I'm alright with the picks. But then, I tend to value production over upside. The guys I pick tend to produce early, where more talented players take a minute to figure out where they fit. Maybe eventually I will be happier with Deni than I would have been with the Curry, Tillman, Precious/Bey package plus 2nd rounders. For now, I dunno, would a healthy Deni have been the difference maker in the Philly series? Seems to me even Curry and Tillman would have made a difference. Or Saddiq hitting nearly 40% from 3, with upgraded defense as an actual SF so we wouldn't have to basically play Neto as our starting Small Forward.

A moot point anyway since we simply don't trade down here. They like the guys they like and are overjoyed with whomever falls to them since they always had them ranked far higher. Shrug.

I'll withhold judgement on Petrusev until I scout him but while I agree Neemias Queta certainly has a look of NBA player I don't see the Draymond Green type upside. I see a rim runner with some passing instincts but he doesn't possess Dray's switchability on defense. There's nothing remarkable about his offensive skillset. Jumper is DOA. No face up game. It really doesn't mean alot if he can pass out of double teams. No one in the NBA will be double teaming him (Well maybe a Scott Brooks' coached team would lol). Having some decent low post moves and counter moves isn't going to translate because those opportunities are going to be rare for him. Defensively he could have utility in drop coverage & on hedges but the lateral quickness is an issue on switches.

Can you make a case in the first round for him? Absolutely, in part because I love the depth of the draft but I don't see anything that makes him standout from another rim running prospect in Isaiah Jackson who I'm actually higher on.

[doclinkin]

I'll withhold judgement on Petrusev until I scout him but while I agree Neemias Queta certainly has a look of NBA player I don't see the Draymond Green type upside. I see a rim runner with some passing instincts but he doesn't possess Dray's switchability on defense. There's nothing remarkable about his offensive skillset. Jumper is DOA. No face up game. It really doesn't mean alot if he can pass out of double teams. No one in the NBA will be double teaming him (Well maybe a Scott Brooks' coached team would lol). Having some decent low post moves and counter moves isn't going to translate because those opportunities are going to be rare for him. Defensively he could have utility in drop coverage & on hedges but the lateral quickness is an issue on switches.

Can you make a case in the first round for him? Absolutely, in part because I love the depth of the draft but I don't see anything that makes him standout from another rim running prospect in Isaiah Jackson who I'm actually higher on.

Maybe. The stat profile reads different to me. I see solid numbers improving year to year. The free throw % leap is rare and a positive sign. Bigs especially don't tend to jump 20% in 3 years. The rest reads as a defensive monster. Bigs who rack assists and steals tend to defend well at the next level, even more than shot blockers.

Offensively there is an underexploited role for smart passing bigs who can co-captain the attack from the pivot position in the high post. The Spain national team used the skill, ditto the Tim Duncan Spurs. And you can go back to the Bill Russell dynasty. Basically the Center acts as the hub of the wheel in a motion offense where players like Brad, Garrison, and Bertans can run full speed past picks and screens, and the screeners can cut to the basket for the easy backdoor finish. If you give me a guntower Big who can make a timely bounce pass or one handed lob over traffic, you can have an offense that hums, especially in this era. That is one of the Draymond parts I'm talking about. The overlooked lynchpin of the GSW offense, especially in the Iguodala era, when he would regularly catch the benefit for his backdoor reads and cuts. Yeah it helps if the pivot player can also hit a midrange jumper above the foul line though.

But I'll cede Queta's numbers could be a case of Small Conference Big Stats. I have been burned by the Mountain West before. (Dom McGuire I'm lookin at you). And the assist totals could be a case of forcefeeding the only NBA player on the team. Doesn't matter for us since the front office here doesn't trade down and Queta doesn't fit the profile. I'm holding firm that I like him. Which matters not at all except when he develops well on another team. We won't take him.

Petrusev does fit the profile (Euro. Range. A little bit toolsy). Though he is mocked lower down and I think they like waiting for someone higher up to slip to them. To me, I see: left hand, right hand, off the glass, has a floater even (rare in a big), hook shot over either shoulder, can drive the lane from the outside in 1-2 dribbles if left alone. His low post finishing will get swallowed up by bigger shotblockers in the NBA but he can dunk if left open and otherwise his footwork is deft and should develop. All of that was apparent at Gonzaga. Then he added a 3 pt shot when he went overseas.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

At 15 were not going to get anyone that's gonna make any difference on this team.....

Any chance another Giannis slips through

Maybe we should take a flyer on this guy? ........

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