2022 NBA Draft

[TraBuch]

I’m really not understanding where all the Keels lottery talk is coming from. I’m not even sure he’s a first rounder at this point. Outside of the first game of the season against Kentucky, he’s been pretty underwhelming. Solid defense but his offense is kinda bad right now. Shooting was his calling card in high school and he’s only shooting 30% from 3. He’s able to muscle his way into the paint, but he has a lot of trouble finishing. I don’t really see much PG vision, either.

[TraBuch]

Finally got his first start and AJ Griffin responded with his best game of the season tonight. He’s getting better every game. So far this season, his scoring’s mainly been from 3, but he had some really nice drives tonight on top of the usual step back 3s. By the end of the season, I think he’s gonna be looked at as a top 5 pick.

[Duke4life831]

Nice to see AJ being put into the starting lineup. Keels on the ball needs to be brought to an end. Nothing good comes from him putting the ball down and trying to create. He is awful at it. His 3pt % is bad but i think a lot of that is due to him thinking he’s a great shot off the bounce. His catch and shoot 3 seems to be solid. That should be his role on the team and nothing more. Haven’t disliked watching a OAD as much as Keels.

3 things really stick out about AJ.

That jumper is money. Whether it’s a catch and shoot or off the dribble, that thing is smooth and money.

His handle is very tight.

The dude is massive. Just look at him when he walks up to the FT line. Those arms are super long and those shoulders are ridiculous. That dude is going to be one strong SOB in his mid 20s.

Duke’s offense needs to be built all around Paolo, AJ, and Moore as the facilitator.

[yoyoboy]

I'm so happy to see AJ showing the potential I always knew he had. Dude is probably going to be a top 5 pick for me.

I believe in his shooting. He's not just hitting open catch and shoot looks. He's creating for himself and hitting high difficulty looks at times and the form looks great. I love his movement and footwork. His handle combined with his frame looks good enough for him to get a step on defenders, get inside, and finish through contact. And he's a really low turnover guy who might not be an amazing playmaker but makes the right passes. Haven't paid attention enough to truly evaluate his D but maybe someone else can chime in there.

[Duke4life831]

I'm so happy to see AJ showing the potential I always knew he had. Dude is probably going to be a top 5 pick for me.

I believe in his shooting. He's not just hitting open catch and shoot looks. He's creating for himself and hitting high difficulty looks at times and the form looks great. I love his movement and footwork. His handle combined with his frame looks good enough for him to get a step on defenders, get inside, and finish through contact. And he's a really low turnover guy who might not be an amazing playmaker but makes the right passes. Haven't paid attention enough to truly evaluate his D but maybe someone else can chime in there.

When it comes to his defense, in my opinion since he has started getting legit minutes he has been Duke's best perimeter defender. Dude has been super versatile. Not getting the steals numbers Id like to see, but ya I think he has been fantastic on that end the last 6-7 games.

Here is a quick breakdown by Mike Schmitz on AJ from last week. About 1:30 he talks about his defense real quick

Read on Twitter

[NYPiston]

Nice to see AJ being put into the starting lineup. Keels on the ball needs to be brought to an end. Nothing good comes from him putting the ball down and trying to create. He is awful at it. His 3pt % is bad but i think a lot of that is due to him thinking he’s a great shot off the bounce. His catch and shoot 3 seems to be solid. That should be his role on the team and nothing more. Haven’t disliked watching a OAD as much as Keels.

3 things really stick out about AJ.

That jumper is money. Whether it’s a catch and shoot or off the dribble, that thing is smooth and money.

His handle is very tight.

The dude is massive. Just look at him when he walks up to the FT line. Those arms are super long and those shoulders are ridiculous. That dude is going to be one strong SOB in his mid 20s.

Duke’s offense needs to be built all around Paolo, AJ, and Moore as the facilitator.

Griffin is a great shooter but I think his handle is a little wild. It seems like his body is going too fast for his dribble at times but I think that could also be due to inexperience as well.

In any event, he's getting better every game and just has the look of a player that can make a run for the top 5 with the tools he has.

I gotta say, I think this draft is really being underrated in the second tier in particular. Griffin, Davis, Mathurin, Brown, Murray, Washington, Davison, Eason. Players that seem to be getting better and better. Even guys like Hardy and Duren that still have a lot of untapped potential. Lots of meat there.
I don't think the top of the draft is quite on par with the strong drafts of the past but the 2nd tier is shaping up to pretty darn solid. Lots of "toolsy" players with high upside that are just scratching the surface of their potential.

[TraBuch]

Watch on YouTube

[Magic_Johnny12]

AJ Griffin will be the Patrick Williams of this draft and get drafted A LOT higher than people project.

[clyde21]

kinda set on these for now until probably the tournament

T1:
1 Jabari Smith Jr.

T2:
2 Paolo Banchero
3 Chet Holmgren

T3:
4 Jaden Ivey
5 Kendall Brown
6 Johnny Davis
7 Max Christie

T4:
8 Dyson Daniels
9 Bennedict Mathurin
10 Nikola Jovic
11 Ousmane Dieng
12 Patrick Baldwin Jr.
13 Caleb Houstas
14 Tari Eason
15 AJ Griffin
16 Jaden Hardy
17 Moussa Diabate
18 Kennedy Chandler

[EMG518]

kinda set on these for now until probably the tournament

T1:
1 Jabari Smith Jr.

T2:
2 Paolo Banchero
3 Chet Holmgren

T3:
4 Jaden Ivey
5 Kendall Brown
6 Johnny Davis
7 Max Christie

T4:
8 Dyson Daniels
9 Bennedict Mathurin
10 Nikola Jovic
11 Ousmane Dieng
12 Patrick Baldwin Jr.
13 Caleb Houstas
14 Tari Eason
15 AJ Griffin
16 Jaden Hardy
17 Moussa Diabate
18 Kennedy Chandler

You don't have Keegan Murray or Blake Wesley even on the list, really?

[clyde21]

Keegan Murray would be listed next if I felt like going far enough, but I think that's fine for T4 for now, I like Murray, obviously the production is ridiculous, just wish he was more athletic and he's old

and no, i don't have Wesley in T4, not even sure he's coming out this year tbh but we'll see.

[The-Power]

When is it time for us to talk about Kris Murray as a potential first-round pick in this year's draft?

[MemphisX]

AJ Griffin will be the Patrick Williams of this draft and get drafted A LOT higher than people project.

Nah, he is already being projected top 5 by some.

[Ruzious]

When is it time for us to talk about Kris Murray as a potential first-round pick in this year's draft?

He and Keegan impersonated each other yesterday. It'd be nice to see them start both Murrays. I think Kris has a chance to go late first. He didn't just shoot the lights out; he also got 3 steals and 3 blocks... off the bench. A 31.2 PER for a backup forward is absurd.

[EvanZ]

When is it time for us to talk about Kris Murray as a potential first-round pick in this year's draft?

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Yeah it's time everyone realized it.

[Hal14]

AJ Griffin will be the Patrick Williams of this draft and get drafted A LOT higher than people project.

I don't think that's possible.

Most people on Twitter already have him as a top 5 pick, some even have him no. 1..

[clyde21]

don't know who this Jeremy Woo cat it but either he's good or he's been reading this boards

probably the second

https://www.si.com/nba/2022/01/13/nba-mock-draft-2022-paolo-banchero-jabari-smith-chet-holmgren-johnny-davis

[Hal14]

it's nuts that Purdue has TWO centers on the same team who are both putting up insane numbers in terms of BPM, PER, offensive rating, defensive rating, rebounding %, etc.

Not sure the last time a college team has had 2 centers putting up these type of advanced stats across the board..

[jezzerinho]

AJ Griffin will be the Patrick Williams of this draft and get drafted A LOT higher than people project.

I don't think that's possible.

Most people on Twitter already have him as a top 5 pick, some even have him no. 1..

So far, i have AJ at No1. Plenty of time for things to change but this is a really poor draft imo.

[CP War Hawks]

Just start watching these dudes highlights as of late. Griffin looks like a Jimmy Butler clone. I'm starting to like this center class. Koloko looks like the overall best center in this class.