2022 Pick Watch and Draft Discussion

Post #1 » by **VCfor3** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 4:29 pm

Seeing as we have potentially three 1sts this next draft I thought it was time to start a new thread.

As of 4/16 via Tankathon

LAL 1st: 8 (Top 10 protected)
UTA 1st: 22 (Top 6 protected)
MEM 1st: 29

Post #2 » by **VCfor3** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 4:30 pm

LAL will turn things around but that pick is looking better than expected. Davis and Howard getting into on the bench doesn't bode well.

Post #3 » by **jman3134** » Fri Nov 12, 2021 7:55 pm

Just did an article on my top breakout college players. Take a look if you are interested: featured are Purdue's Jaden Ivey, Colorado's Jabari Walker, Villanova's Brandon Slater, Alabama's Keon Ellis, and Michigan's DeVante' Jones

http://jtmbasketball.blogspot.com/2021/11/breakthrough-2022-highlighting-ncaas.html

Post #4 » by **VCfor3** » Fri Nov 12, 2021 10:55 pm

jman3134 wrote:Just did an article on my top breakout college players. Take a look if you are interested: featured are Purdue's Jaden Ivey, Colorado's Jabari Walker, Villanova's Brandon Slater, Alabama's Keon Ellis, and Michigan's DeVante' Jones

http://jtmbasketball.blogspot.com/2021/11/breakthrough-2022-highlighting-ncaas.html

Heck yes man! Reading the article now!

Post #5 » by **jman3134** » Fri Nov 12, 2021 11:30 pm

To put in context, Jaden is a top 3-10 pick, Walker is probably 2 years away, and the final three are seniors (so they will probably go second round even though they are talented). It is significant for Slater and Ellis because they were 10-15mpg guys a year ago, but should have major roles this year. I forgot Caleb Mills on Florida St until today, but he is probably poised for a huge season and I would not be surprised if he goes lotto or even high lotto (if he managed to recover from the injuries he was dealing with last season).

Post #6 » by **VCfor3** » Sat Nov 13, 2021 12:25 am

Guess I'll have to check out a Purdue game this year

Post #7 » by **jman3134** » Sun Nov 14, 2021 5:01 am

VCfor3 wrote:Guess I'll have to check out a Purdue game this year

Think Jaden's mom worked for the Grizz at some point too before the ND job. So we have ties to this kid.

Post #8 » by **VCfor3** » Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:08 am

jman3134 wrote:
VCfor3 wrote:Guess I'll have to check out a Purdue game this year

Think Jaden's mom worked for the Grizz at some point too before the ND job. So we have ties to this kid.

I thought Jaden looked pretty good today. Also he seems to be the popular name on Grizz twitter. Maybe we will be able to pool our picks together to move up and get him unless he really blows up.

MemphisX · Post #9 » by **MemphisX** » Sun Dec 12, 2021 10:05 am

Jaden is going top 5 now. So that would be a pipe dream.

Grizz needs: Backup PG that can play alongside Ja...Big, physical wing that can guard the Luka types...long, athletic forward...vertical lob threat for Ja that can rim protect.

Grizzlies picks currently sit 17,24 and 28.

My preference is to use the best pick we have plus one of the others (and maybe a future pick) to move into the lottery again. My #1 target would be Kendall Brown of Baylor then Patrick Baldwin Jr.

Others I like: JD Davidson, Mark Williams, AJ Griffin, Jaden Hardy, Johnny Davis, Caleb Houstan and Peyton Watson(long term project).

Add Jeremy Sochan.

Post #10 » by **VCfor3** » Sun Dec 19, 2021 5:22 pm

Hopefully LAL drops some with AD out. Jaden Ivey looks like a top 5 pick so not happening for us. Haven't found anyone else that excites me in our draft range though I'll wait till closer to the draft to really look into it. Maybe we can use one of the picks to get Adams eventual replacement aka big bodied center.

Post #11 » by **jman3134** » Mon Jan 10, 2022 9:20 pm

There are exciting players, particularly internationals, in our draft range. We could package to move up for Ivey. I'm sure workouts might only boast his stock though. If he is out of reach, I'm sure someone will slip to us. I think Benedict Mathurin is also a top 10 pick, but you never know who will slide. If someone like Jovic and or Sochan slips to us, we take them. Gui Santos is still criminally underrated.

Post #12 » by **VCfor3** » Mon Jan 10, 2022 9:57 pm

jman3134 wrote:There are exciting players, particularly internationals, in our draft range. We could package to move up for Ivey. I'm sure workouts might only boast his stock though. If he is out of reach, I'm sure someone will slip to us. I think Benedict Mathurin is also a top 10 pick, but you never know who will slide. If someone like Jovic and or Sochan slips to us, we take them. Gui Santos is still criminally underrated.

I like those players depending on how the draft falls. Haven't had time to look into Santos any.

I wouldn't mind us trying to get TyTy especially if he slips in order to be our back up PG in case we can't keep Tyus in FA.

Post #13 » by **jman3134** » Thu Feb 3, 2022 6:31 am

I still love both Santos and Sochan for the Grizzlies. Both would be perfect complementary pieces for our attack. Santos is great out in transition and Sochan is so versatile defensively and has a ton of upside athletically. I could see either starting for us down the road. Gui might need a year in the G League to get acclimated, but he already has pro experience and a great one on one toolset. It will come down to proving he can make jumpers. I think both of these guys are lotto talents and we may be able to get them mid/late 1st.

Post #14 » by **VCfor3** » Sat Feb 5, 2022 12:02 am

I'm getting a little worried that the LAL pick falls to #10 and we get two meh 2nds.

I see 9 teams that should likely be worse than LAL (25-28).
1. ORL (12-41)
2. DET (12-39)
3. HOU (15-36)
4. OKC (16-34)
5. SAC (19-35)
6. SAS (19-34)
7. IND (19-34)
8. NOP (19-32) - Could make a move but I still think they end up worse
9. POR (21-31) - especially after that trade

That means LAL has to finish ahead of one of the teams in their general range in order to not be #10. Gotta beat out:
NY (24-28) - came on strong to end the year last year. Can they do it again?
WAS (24-27) - were hot to begin the year but have cooled. Could easily see them dropping more but there is a chance they get hot again
ATL (25-26) - super hot since Hunter has come back and shored up their defense. Also could make a move or two
LAC (27-27) - recent trade should help them
BOS (28-25) - they seem to be kinda figuring it out

Luckily LAL has to only stay ahead of one of the above teams (betting on WAS), but with Bron having issues and AD's injury history it is easy to see them as the team that potentially ends up at the bottom of that group giving NOP #10.

MemphisX · Post #15 » by **MemphisX** » Sun Feb 6, 2022 12:52 pm

VCfor3 wrote:I'm getting a little worried that the LAL pick falls to #10 and we get two meh 2nds.

I see 9 teams that should likely be worse than LAL (25-28).
1. ORL (12-41)
2. DET (12-39)
3. HOU (15-36)
4. OKC (16-34)
5. SAC (19-35)
6. SAS (19-34)
7. IND (19-34)
8. NOP (19-32) - Could make a move but I still think they end up worse
9. POR (21-31) - especially after that trade

That means LAL has to finish ahead of one of the teams in their general range in order to not be #10. Gotta beat out:
NY (24-28) - came on strong to end the year last year. Can they do it again?
WAS (24-27) - were hot to begin the year but have cooled. Could easily see them dropping more but there is a chance they get hot again
ATL (25-26) - super hot since Hunter has come back and shored up their defense. Also could make a move or two
LAC (27-27) - recent trade should help them
BOS (28-25) - they seem to be kinda figuring it out

Luckily LAL has to only stay ahead of one of the above teams (betting on WAS), but with Bron having issues and AD's injury history it is easy to see them as the team that potentially ends up at the bottom of that group giving NOP #10.

Yes, it was getting a little scary with LeBron out. Hopefully we can get at least 20 more games from LeBron and AD for the rest of the regular season. Lakers have 7 games remaining with the Suns(2), Warriors(3), Jazz(2) and Bucks(1) plus Cleveland and Philly. So they can't afford to lose any against the bad teams they have left. They do have two left against the Wizards which might be the difference.

Washington is letting go of the rope. New York should remain mediocre. I think the Lakers will be similar to the Hawks from here on out if both are healthy.

Post #16 » by **VCfor3** » Mon Mar 28, 2022 2:22 am

We aren't getting that Lakers pick unless they find a way to win two play-in games

psman2 · Post #17 » by **psman2** » Fri Apr 15, 2022 4:57 pm

VCfor3 wrote:We aren't getting that Lakers pick unless they find a way to win two play-in games

That pick could have really set us up long term. Our success this year takes some of the sting out of losing it, but it will always be a what if situation especially if some really good guys end up getting drafted in that range.

Post #18 » by **VCfor3** » Fri Apr 15, 2022 6:54 pm

psman2 wrote:
VCfor3 wrote:We aren't getting that Lakers pick unless they find a way to win two play-in games

That pick could have really set us up long term. Our success this year takes some of the sting out of losing it, but it will always be a what if situation especially if some really good guys end up getting drafted in that range.

Yeah that pick would have been big. Could have been the key asset in a big trade or with our recent draft history it could have been a player that helps us. At least the Utah pick is a little better than expected. Luckily I have faith our FO can get whatever done that we need.

jefe · Post #19 » by **jefe** » Fri Apr 15, 2022 9:46 pm

I still can't believe that the Lakers blew it that bad down the stretch. It wasn't even a situation where they tanked to keep the pick for themselves. I'm still just in utter disbelief.

Post #20 » by **VCfor3** » Sat Apr 16, 2022 5:40 pm

jefe wrote:I still can't believe that the Lakers blew it that bad down the stretch. It wasn't even a situation where they tanked to keep the pick for themselves. I'm still just in utter disbelief.

Agreed. I thought the Russ deal would go badly but geez this season was terrible (and it isn't all on RW). Too bad the Lakers weren't willing to include THT to get Lowry or anyone else who would have actually helped this team.