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

[SUPERBALLMAN]

It’s a big mistake to base your draft day decisions on the mocks, especially when you’re not drafting in the top 5 or 6.

Those mocks are so often very, very wrong—and all over the place. Every year we talk here about players that the mocks were dead wrong about.

If you believe Butler is the best player/fit at 15 you take him and don’t look back.

Absolutely! & anyway, if you're going to pick someone based on the mock drafts, first you'll have to pick which mock draft to rely on!

The main use of the mock drafts is to be stimulated to look at some players you might have overlooked. Once you have some names to investigate, you start by looking at their college numbers. There are no good NBA players who put up bad numbers in college. Period.

Having done that you can start the real research.

WE AREN'T REAL GMS!!!

And we use mocks to get a feel for where others think players will go.

We do that because... all together now... WE AREN'T REAL GMS!

HOF !!! Absolute classic post! Too funny.

[Ruzious]

If the Wizards draft Giddey to play him alongside Russ, then yeah their screwing the pooch like they screwed Avdija & TBJ. If the Wizards draft Giddey with the intention of him backing up Russ and eventually replacing him in 2 years then it's a potential win.

That said I've sorta moved off of Giddey because I view him as a trade up option. I'd be shocked if he's still available at 15.

I also assume the pick is very much in play and we may be looking for immediate help.

Yeah, Giddy is going to be gone when the Wiz pick. Word is he measured 6'8 without shoes and might be still growing. And I don't think he's filled out yet. Kid could end up being bigger than Doncic. I think he's the 5th pick.

[NatP4]

Trade up: Suggs, Mobley, Giddey, Wagner

15: Giddey, Wagner

Trade down/acquire 2nd round pick: Butler, Queta, Duarte, Petrusev, Ayayi, Springer, Livers

UDFA targets: McKinley Wright, Livers, Grimes, Huff, Wieskamp, Abmas

[Ruzious]

I'll go with a trade down for Duarte and Petrusev, UDFA for Hauser and Julian Champagnie, buy a mid 2nd rounder for either Jay Huff or Moses Wright, minimum free agent for Jeremy Lin. That's 6 cheap players.

[payitforward]

I'll go with a trade down for Duarte and Petrusev, UDFA for Hauser and Julian Champagnie, buy a mid 2nd rounder for either Jay Huff or Moses Wright, minimum free agent for Jeremy Lin. That's 6 cheap players.

Way to go, Ruz! You're starting to sound like me. 5 rookies! May it be so!

If the young'uns all were regular roster, we'd have those 6 plus Beal, Russ, Bertans, Bryant, Rui, Deni, Gafford, Hutchison & Mathews. Lopez, Len, Smith, Neto, Bonga & Gill would be gone.

But, I bet they want to keep Gill. In any case, at least one of the draftees would wind up a 2-way player. Two if we decided not to retain Cassius Winston. Zards & I both like Winston; we'd be sorry to see him go. Still... he's a resourceful young man it seems; he'll make his way in the world & be successful!

In that cases, we'd be able to re-sign Neto as well.

Speaking of Julian Champagnie -- his twin brother Justin has had an off-the-charts Sophomore year at Pitt. Bring him in too!

[Ruzious]

I'll go with a trade down for Duarte and Petrusev, UDFA for Hauser and Julian Champagnie, buy a mid 2nd rounder for either Jay Huff or Moses Wright, minimum free agent for Jeremy Lin. That's 6 cheap players.

Way to go, Ruz! You're starting to sound like me. 5 rookies! May it be so!

If the young'uns all were regular roster, we'd have those 6 plus Beal, Russ, Bertans, Bryant, Rui, Deni, Gafford, Hutchison & Mathews. Lopez, Len, Smith, Neto, Bonga & Gill would be gone.

But, I bet they want to keep Gill. In any case, at least one of the draftees would wind up a 2-way player. Two if we decided not to retain Cassius Winston. Zards & I both like Winston; we'd be sorry to see him go. Still... he's a resourceful young man it seems; he'll make his way in the world & be successful!

In that cases, we'd be able to re-sign Neto as well.

Speaking of Julian Champagnie -- his twin brother Justin has had an off-the-charts Sophomore year at Pitt. Bring him in too!

Yes, bring in Justin too. He's shorter but seems tougher - a "dog" as they say nowadaze, rebounds like Westbrook. They're somewhat like the Martin brothers - Caleb and Cody.

[payitforward]

Yes, I was thinking about the Martin twins too....

I like both the Champagnie's a whole lot. This is one hell of a draft if guys with their abilities & their numbers aren't projected to be picked!

[Ruzious]

Yes, I was thinking about the Martin twins too....

I like both the Champagnie's a whole lot. This is one hell of a draft if guys with their abilities & their numbers aren't projected to be picked!

I think it's because of the length of their last name. Teams aren't willing to pay the extra money for so many letters on their jerseys. And they're concerned that it will be interpreted as promoting a certain type of alcoholic beverage.

[pcbothwel]

I'll go with a trade down for Duarte and Petrusev, UDFA for Hauser and Julian Champagnie, buy a mid 2nd rounder for either Jay Huff or Moses Wright, minimum free agent for Jeremy Lin. That's 6 cheap players.

Ruz.. I like the trade down and the targets.
My only concern with Petrusev is that he cant really defend in space well, rebound, or protect the rim. I think he works really well as a rotational Center with Gafford, but I worry he would be redundant with Bryant in the near term.

[payitforward]

Yes, I was thinking about the Martin twins too....

I like both the Champagnie's a whole lot. This is one hell of a draft if guys with their abilities & their numbers aren't projected to be picked!

I think it's because of the length of their last name. Teams aren't willing to pay the extra money for so many letters on their jerseys. And they're concerned that it will be interpreted as promoting a certain type of alcoholic beverage.

Also there's a lot of opportunity to misspell those long names. This is not some easy situation like with the Martins.

Not to mention this weird obsession for twins whose first names start with the same letter. Really the Martins & the Champagnies need to arrange a name swap: Cody Champagnie... no that sounds too weird, make it Caleb Champagnie & Justin Martin. Yeah, there you go.

Best to wait until after the draft, however: the guys making mocks would have fits....

[Ruzious]

Yes, I was thinking about the Martin twins too....

I like both the Champagnie's a whole lot. This is one hell of a draft if guys with their abilities & their numbers aren't projected to be picked!

I think it's because of the length of their last name. Teams aren't willing to pay the extra money for so many letters on their jerseys. And they're concerned that it will be interpreted as promoting a certain type of alcoholic beverage.

Also there's a lot of opportunity to misspell those long names. This is not some easy situation like with the Martins.

Not to mention this weird obsession for twins whose first names start with the same letter. Really the Martins & the Champagnies need to arrange a name swap: Cody Champagnie... no that sounds too weird, make it Caleb Champagnie & Justin Martin. Yeah, there you go.

Best to wait until after the draft, however: the guys making mocks would have fits....

Come to think of it, the Morris twins also have first names starting with the same letter. Speaking as someone who actually does have an identical twin brother, I think that's weird. And there's no truth to the rumor that my brother's name is Ruzmatazs.

[Ruzious]

I'll go with a trade down for Duarte and Petrusev, UDFA for Hauser and Julian Champagnie, buy a mid 2nd rounder for either Jay Huff or Moses Wright, minimum free agent for Jeremy Lin. That's 6 cheap players.

Ruz.. I like the trade down and the targets.
My only concern with Petrusev is that he cant really defend in space well, rebound, or protect the rim. I think he works really well as a rotational Center with Gafford, but I worry he would be redundant with Bryant in the near term.

I'm hoping he can play PF, though I could be wrong. He got in better shape after leaving Gonzaga, and I think that helped with his athleticism. He certainly runs well enough. Does he have the quickness? We'll have to see.

[NatP4]

I think Petrusev is a PF in the NBA. I also think he’ll be a surprisingly solid defender. Not all that different from the kind of role Anthony Gill played this year.

Average defender, stretches the floor, makes the right play, smart, underrated passing and ball handling ability, elite finishing at the basket.

Probably not a rim protector at the 5 or big time rebounder, but still a solid defender.

[Ruzious]

I'll go with a trade down for Duarte and Petrusev, UDFA for Hauser and Julian Champagnie, buy a mid 2nd rounder for either Jay Huff or Moses Wright, minimum free agent for Jeremy Lin. That's 6 cheap players.

Way to go, Ruz! You're starting to sound like me. 5 rookies! May it be so!

If the young'uns all were regular roster, we'd have those 6 plus Beal, Russ, Bertans, Bryant, Rui, Deni, Gafford, Hutchison & Mathews. Lopez, Len, Smith, Neto, Bonga & Gill would be gone.

But, I bet they want to keep Gill. In any case, at least one of the draftees would wind up a 2-way player. Two if we decided not to retain Cassius Winston. Zards & I both like Winston; we'd be sorry to see him go. Still... he's a resourceful young man it seems; he'll make his way in the world & be successful!

In that cases, we'd be able to re-sign Neto as well.

Speaking of Julian Champagnie -- his twin brother Justin has had an off-the-charts Sophomore year at Pitt. Bring him in too!

And all these moves aren't particularly hard to make. I'm thinking Tommy has a reasonable chance to put a fun team together - not a top 4 team in the East - but a team in that next group - and that could be ok. Obviously, we want better, but a good offseason would be a welcome start.

[payitforward]

I think it's because of the length of their last name. Teams aren't willing to pay the extra money for so many letters on their jerseys. And they're concerned that it will be interpreted as promoting a certain type of alcoholic beverage.

Also there's a lot of opportunity to misspell those long names. This is not some easy situation like with the Martins.

Not to mention this weird obsession for twins whose first names start with the same letter. Really the Martins & the Champagnies need to arrange a name swap: Cody Champagnie... no that sounds too weird, make it Caleb Champagnie & Justin Martin. Yeah, there you go.

Best to wait until after the draft, however: the guys making mocks would have fits....

Come to think of it, the Morris twins also have first names starting with the same letter. Speaking as someone who actually does have an identical twin brother, I think that's weird. And there's no truth to the rumor that my brother's name is Ruzmatazs.

Growing up, I knew a pair of identical twins named Teddy & Terry.

[Ruzious]

Also there's a lot of opportunity to misspell those long names. This is not some easy situation like with the Martins.

Not to mention this weird obsession for twins whose first names start with the same letter. Really the Martins & the Champagnies need to arrange a name swap: Cody Champagnie... no that sounds too weird, make it Caleb Champagnie & Justin Martin. Yeah, there you go.

Best to wait until after the draft, however: the guys making mocks would have fits....

Come to think of it, the Morris twins also have first names starting with the same letter. Speaking as someone who actually does have an identical twin brother, I think that's weird. And there's no truth to the rumor that my brother's name is Ruzmatazs.

Growing up, I knew a pair of identical twins named Teddy & Terry.

Come to think on it, I grew up knowing twins named Danny and Donny, but they were fraternal and didn't even look like brothers. Danny would routinely school me at basketball and every other sport. Donny was bigger - but not interested in sports.

[payitforward]

Danny & Donny is perfect for fraternal twins. Now, if it had been Ron & Don, that would have been perfect for identical twins.

Note that I don't think Justin/Julian are identical, right? Nor Caleb/Cody.

Marcus & Markieff are, of course. But that pair of names -- identical first syllables, totally different second syllables -- doesn't fit any paradigm.

Then there are boy/girl twins -- can be like Martin/Martha or Lester/Hester.

Of course, some twins are neither identical nor fraternal:

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Listened to Chad Ford podcast today, pretty good one about underrated players in the draft....

https://player.fm/series/chad-fords-nba-big-board-nba-draft-podcast




Josh Primo anyone??

Watch on YouTube

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Or how about this guy?

Vrenz Bleijenbergh

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[Ruzious]

Listened to Chad Ford podcast today, pretty good one about underrated players in the draft....

https://player.fm/series/chad-fords-nba-big-board-nba-draft-podcast




Josh Primo anyone??

Watch on YouTube

I liked his highlights - he passed the eye test, but his stats are very ordinary. Less than an assist per game from a guard is not good, and he doesn't score much. Invite him to Summer League is the best I can do.