Official 2022 Draft Thread

[Kevin Willis]

I appreciate seeing all these guards in the class, but I think this team is officially shifting away from the small player because of the way the team plays. This team want to play big and that is the NBA's game. Smalls have to be so exceptional offensively that it is hard to keep anything but elite smalls.

Toronto player archetype:

-Big time competitor who is a worker
-Can grab a rebound and push the break
-Capable of running pick and roll
-Flex option passer/decision maker
-Three point shooting ability but Toronto always values their shooting development
-Can contest perimeter shots on defense
-Can switch and cover dribble penetration

Nikola Jovic is a kind of 6'10 Franz Wagner type. Loads of international experience with Serbia, and has a high b-ball IQ. He has some jaw dropping passes at times, but overall checks all the above boxes and will only just turn 19 at the draft.

Watch on YouTube

His u19 Serbia NT highlights his true skill as a facilitator:

Watch on YouTube

How long is this guy? I know of him but can't see his length anywhere, Mr. Povertystricken Durant.

[Indeed]

Watch on YouTube

[Karanpal]

Murray and Davis looked real good today wow very impressed by both

[Karanpal]

Chet
Smith
Ivey
Brown
Bhanchero
Murray
Davis
Mathurin
Aj griffin
Chandler

Is my top 10 right now

[alpngso]

Watch on YouTube

Davis over Ivey

[AbC?]

Yeah there's no chance Davis drops out of the top 10. 37/14/3/2/2 against Jaden Ivey. Passes the eye test, he has "it".

Ever since he was mentioned early in this thread he's pretty much been the only guy that's been of much interest to me.

Watch on YouTube

[ItsDanger]

I appreciate seeing all these guards in the class, but I think this team is officially shifting away from the small player because of the way the team plays. This team want to play big and that is the NBA's game. Smalls have to be so exceptional offensively that it is hard to keep anything but elite smalls.

Toronto player archetype:

-Big time competitor who is a worker
-Can grab a rebound and push the break
-Capable of running pick and roll
-Flex option passer/decision maker
-Three point shooting ability but Toronto always values their shooting development
-Can contest perimeter shots on defense
-Can switch and cover dribble penetration

Nikola Jovic is a kind of 6'10 Franz Wagner type. Loads of international experience with Serbia, and has a high b-ball IQ. He has some jaw dropping passes at times, but overall checks all the above boxes and will only just turn 19 at the draft.

Watch on YouTube

His u19 Serbia NT highlights his true skill as a facilitator:

Watch on YouTube

How long is this guy? I know of him but can't see his length anywhere, Mr. Povertystricken Durant.

7'1 wingspan. Although the t shirt makes it look questionable. Need legit combine measurements.

[will]

I appreciate seeing all these guards in the class, but I think this team is officially shifting away from the small player because of the way the team plays. This team want to play big and that is the NBA's game. Smalls have to be so exceptional offensively that it is hard to keep anything but elite smalls.

Toronto player archetype:

-Big time competitor who is a worker
-Can grab a rebound and push the break
-Capable of running pick and roll
-Flex option passer/decision maker
-Three point shooting ability but Toronto always values their shooting development
-Can contest perimeter shots on defense
-Can switch and cover dribble penetration

Nikola Jovic is a kind of 6'10 Franz Wagner type. Loads of international experience with Serbia, and has a high b-ball IQ. He has some jaw dropping passes at times, but overall checks all the above boxes and will only just turn 19 at the draft.

Watch on YouTube

His u19 Serbia NT highlights his true skill as a facilitator:

Watch on YouTube

How long is this guy? I know of him but can't see his length anywhere, Mr. Povertystricken Durant.

7'1 wingspan. Although the t shirt makes it look questionable. Need legit combine measurements.

Kid is all offense. Gonna need to be in the right situation to succeed. He only started playing pro ball in Serbia in 2021.

[will]

There are a lot of good prospects this 2022 draft though.

[Kevin Willis]

There are a lot of good prospects this 2022 draft though.

Definitely. A strong wing year too. We can pick up a solid SG.

[will]

There are a lot of good prospects this 2022 draft though.

Definitely. A strong wing year too. We can pick up a solid SG.

The way the game has evolved to, it appears like every guy is a wing player. Even guys like Chet, Jabari Smith, Paolo have a perimeter/wing game game in their arsenal.

The traditional 'big' and point guard seem to have taken a back seat.

[Madhouse]

There are a lot of good prospects this 2022 draft though.

Definitely. A strong wing year too. We can pick up a solid SG.

The way the game has evolved to, it appears like every guy is a wing player. Even guys like Chet, Jabari Smith, Paolo have a perimeter/wing game game in their arsenal.

The traditional 'big' and point guard seem to have taken a back seat.

we will be a wings only roster.

[will]

Definitely. A strong wing year too. We can pick up a solid SG.

The way the game has evolved to, it appears like every guy is a wing player. Even guys like Chet, Jabari Smith, Paolo have a perimeter/wing game game in their arsenal.

The traditional 'big' and point guard seem to have taken a back seat.

we will be a wings only roster.

I will just preface my post with a pause.

Watch on YouTube

[Dalek]

Kid is all offense. Gonna need to be in the right situation to succeed. He only started playing pro ball in Serbia in 2021.

Let's see how his season goes, but I like his skillset as it fits the style of play we have and he adds another high level passer and creator. That said, there are a lot of interesting forwards in this class especially in the lottery. Jovic may be one of those guys who drops because his shot has not taken a big enough step forward. Him and Roko P are similar, but I give Jovic an edge because he reads the game better and he just has that poise with the ball, although his turnovers are up this year.

As you can see a guy like Franz Wagner, it is possible for a high bball IQ guy to look comfortable in the NBA right away. Wagner succeeds because he is tall, can handle the ball and create his own shot. Wagner's play was spotty on Michigan last year and it hurt his stock at the wrong time, but in the NBA with spacing, a guy like him works well.

[will]

Kid is all offense. Gonna need to be in the right situation to succeed. He only started playing pro ball in Serbia in 2021.

Let's see how his season goes, but I like his skillset as it fits the style of play we have and he adds another high level passer and creator. That said, there are a lot of interesting forwards in this class especially in the lottery. Jovic may be one of those guys who drops because his shot has not taken a big enough step forward. Him and Roko P are similar, but I give Jovic an edge because he reads the game better and he just has that poise with the ball, although his turnovers are up this year.

As you can see a guy like Franz Wagner, it is possible for a high bball IQ guy to look comfortable in the NBA right away. Wagner succeeds because he is tall, can handle the ball and create his own shot. Wagner's play was spotty on Michigan last year and it hurt his stock at the wrong time, but in the NBA with spacing, a guy like him works well.

Outside of the basketball court, kid is going to need a strong support team around him as well. New country, culture, etc, although he was born in the UK.

[Kevin Willis]

Definitely. A strong wing year too. We can pick up a solid SG.

The way the game has evolved to, it appears like every guy is a wing player. Even guys like Chet, Jabari Smith, Paolo have a perimeter/wing game game in their arsenal.

The traditional 'big' and point guard seem to have taken a back seat.

we will be a wings only roster.

That seems to be where we're heading. Wings only roster with some 'specialists'. I am fine with Jovic because he might be around at our pick. Teach him some defense and if that's his wingspan then he has the tools for defense. But in this draft do you pick him over a Johnny Davis? How about Baldwin or Moore? Dalek broke down the type of players we like and I don't think Baldwin is that guy. Davis is though. Moore too.

[will]

The way the game has evolved to, it appears like every guy is a wing player. Even guys like Chet, Jabari Smith, Paolo have a perimeter/wing game game in their arsenal.

The traditional 'big' and point guard seem to have taken a back seat.

we will be a wings only roster.

That seems to be where we're heading. Wings only roster with some 'specialists'. I am fine with Jovic because he might be around at our pick. Teach him some defense and if that's his wingspan then he has the tools for defense. But in this draft do you pick him over a Johnny Davis? How about Baldwin or Moore? Dalek broke down the type of players we like and I don't think Baldwin is that guy. Davis is though. Moore too.

Johnny Davis array of offense has been impressive.
Not sure what he brings on the defensive side.

[C-R-E-A-M-]

Mathurin, Johnny Davis or AJ Griffin

[Psubs]

The way the game has evolved to, it appears like every guy is a wing player. Even guys like Chet, Jabari Smith, Paolo have a perimeter/wing game game in their arsenal.

The traditional 'big' and point guard seem to have taken a back seat.

we will be a wings only roster.

That seems to be where we're heading. Wings only roster with some 'specialists'. I am fine with Jovic because he might be around at our pick. Teach him some defense and if that's his wingspan then he has the tools for defense. But in this draft do you pick him over a Johnny Davis? How about Baldwin or Moore? Dalek broke down the type of players we like and I don't think Baldwin is that guy. Davis is though. Moore too.

Johnny Davis seems like an Eric Gordon/Josh Hart type. I think he could be a starter and be on the level of a Malcolm Brogdon (who put up 50/40/90 in the league. I'd rather gamble with Kendall Brown, Keegan Murray or Nikola Jovic as players with better potential than Davis.

[Kevin Willis]

we will be a wings only roster.

That seems to be where we're heading. Wings only roster with some 'specialists'. I am fine with Jovic because he might be around at our pick. Teach him some defense and if that's his wingspan then he has the tools for defense. But in this draft do you pick him over a Johnny Davis? How about Baldwin or Moore? Dalek broke down the type of players we like and I don't think Baldwin is that guy. Davis is though. Moore too.

Johnny Davis seems like an Eric Gordon/Josh Hart type. I think he could be a starter and be on the level of a Malcolm Brogdon (who put up 50/40/90 in the league. I'd rather gamble with Kendall Brown, Keegan Murray or Nikola Jovic as players with better potential than Davis.

Keegan Murray is nice, he's really become dominant this year. Brown I don't really follow. If Baylor game / highlight is on I change the channel. If he fills the Baylor mode of the past he has tools but not really skilled. Murray though, he's physical. Barnes, OG and Murray would wear people down and he's the right height, wingspan and defensive skill. I like him over Baldwin and AJ.