Official 2022 Draft Thread

[Kevin Willis]

In the same sentence I called him a project, don't take the first part so seriously. Take it easy.



He was ranked 11th for 2022 prospects last year lol, legit one of the best prospects to come out of France. He's just been very disappointing in the NBL. It wouldn't be a reach to pick him in the 32-34 range at all lol. Wouldn't be my first or 2nd choice but I still find him interesting as a project.

I have to agree he wouldn't be a reach. If he had decent stats in Australia he would be lotto. If he had good stats he would be at least top 10. He's 6'8" with a 7 foot wingspan that used to shoot - haha, a decent playmaker and good defender. He would be better than Baldwin and close to Keegan with the ability to play multiple positions. But his stats suck and like stated, teams will be scared to take a guy like him first round because that's guaranteed money. Second round is good for that kind of risk, where we pick him in the second round is irrelevant. If we can turn him into a Keegan type prospect then great. He could also make Malachi look amazing so it's a risk but coming from a president who had the balls to take Barnes over Suggs, I can see him do it and he fits the teams design.

No way top 10. Sengun went 16 and Garuba went 23. He looks like a taller Patrick McCaw right now.

Right now he's way worse than Patrick McCaw, you're being nice. But at the beginning of the season he was a projected lottery pick. If we can get him back on track, he might end up being better than Sengun and Garuba. If he's available, we'll take him.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10004474-ousmane-dieng-2022-nba-draft-prospect-commits-to-nbls-new-zealand-breakers

Dieng should have an opportunity to carve out a pretty expansive role for himself next season, and how he performs against pro competition should go a long way in finalizing his 2022 draft stock.

It wouldn't be a surprise if he's ultimately a top-five pick next year based on his size, versatile skill set and long-term potential.

[Kevin Willis]

I wonder how much interest the front office would have in The other Champagnie Twin.
He averages 2 steals/pg and is further along on O than his brother coming out of college.
30-35 is to high to take him but could change with a good tournament run.

My theory is the 1st half of the year, #20 was too high to take him, but he's leveled off scoring wise as well as 3pt %. Now #30-35 might be okay.

Keegan Murray has crazy wingspan and can dunk from standstill. Champagnie is like a poor man's Keegan Murray. He stayed a extra year to keep improving and I'd bet that he works as hard as his brother. He's like hoping to draft Desmond Bane type of prospect. Maybe a taller Elijah Hughes or better yet a Jordan Nwora type prospect now.

He’s listed as a guard but doesn’t have great assist averages. He seems to have the size and wingspan to defend 1-4, maybe not so much the 1.
Norm or Dort could be other potential projections.
He just seems like a Raptors type pick.

Champagnie is a good pick. He's a baller. I don't think he's a great defender and he's a bit older but he's legit talent wise.

[hype_2004]

Ok this just in I'm neighbors with a Filipino that works in the grounds department at the ACC he recently talked to a Raptors scout. The Raptors are high on Kai Sotto and are looking to snag him with the 31st pick, damn fukin out of the blue pick for Ujiri, if it's true.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Ok this just in I'm neighbors with a Filipino that works in the grounds department at the ACC he recently talked to a Raptors scout. The Raptors are high on Kai Sotto and are looking to snag him with the 31st pick, damn fukin out of the blue pick for Ujiri, if it's true.

It seems strange, but so did Giddey. I'm not impressed with Sotto, but if Masai likes him then who am I? We'll see though...

[hype_2004]

Ok this just in I'm neighbors with a Filipino that works in the grounds department at the ACC he recently talked to a Raptors scout. The Raptors are high on Kai Sotto and are looking to snag him with the 31st pick, damn fukin out of the blue pick for Ujiri, if it's true.

It seems strange, but so did Giddey. I'm not impressed with Sotto, but if Masai likes him then who am I? We'll see though...

I saw some highlights of him, tall lanky and pretty skillful, moves decently at 7'2 plus he's Filipino you know MLSE going for that diversity money. I'm positive that this has some smoke, gonna talk to my neighbour and maybe he has more details and get a few more scoop, but yeah man this is certainly interesting. He plays for the Australian league and Raptors sent some scouts there recently, so this has traction.

[Psubs]

My theory is the 1st half of the year, #20 was too high to take him, but he's leveled off scoring wise as well as 3pt %. Now #30-35 might be okay.

Keegan Murray has crazy wingspan and can dunk from standstill. Champagnie is like a poor man's Keegan Murray. He stayed a extra year to keep improving and I'd bet that he works as hard as his brother. He's like hoping to draft Desmond Bane type of prospect. Maybe a taller Elijah Hughes or better yet a Jordan Nwora type prospect now.

He’s listed as a guard but doesn’t have great assist averages. He seems to have the size and wingspan to defend 1-4, maybe not so much the 1.
Norm or Dort could be other potential projections.
He just seems like a Raptors type pick.

Champagnie is a good pick. He's a baller. I don't think he's a great defender and he's a bit older but he's legit talent wise.

He definitely can't guard 1's at the next level. Right now he can guard 2-3 and maybe 4 in smallball lineups. May never become a starter with this Raptor lineup for a good 6th man. He does get a lot of deflections like Keegan Murray.

[Psubs]

Ok this just in I'm neighbors with a Filipino that works in the grounds department at the ACC he recently talked to a Raptors scout. The Raptors are high on Kai Sotto and are looking to snag him with the 31st pick, damn fukin out of the blue pick for Ujiri, if it's true.

It seems strange, but so did Giddey. I'm not impressed with Sotto, but if Masai likes him then who am I? We'll see though...

I saw some highlights of him, tall lanky and pretty skillful, moves decently at 7'2 plus he's Filipino you know MLSE going for that diversity money. I'm positive that this has some smoke, gonna talk to my neighbour and maybe he has more details and get a few more scoop, but yeah man this is certainly interesting. He plays for the Australian league and Raptors sent some scouts there recently, so this has traction.

Could he become a 7'2 version of Yuta Watanabe?

Watch on YouTube

[Karanpal]

It seems strange, but so did Giddey. I'm not impressed with Sotto, but if Masai likes him then who am I? We'll see though...

I saw some highlights of him, tall lanky and pretty skillful, moves decently at 7'2 plus he's Filipino you know MLSE going for that diversity money. I'm positive that this has some smoke, gonna talk to my neighbour and maybe he has more details and get a few more scoop, but yeah man this is certainly interesting. He plays for the Australian league and Raptors sent some scouts there recently, so this has traction.

Could he become a 7'2 version of Yuta Watanabe?

Watch on YouTube

Honestly was ready to write him off after seeing some of his videos last year but man he looks interesting with his size . Of course he's gonna have problems defending switches but his 3pt shot isn't broken and that spacing would be huge . Moves good for a guy his size. Put em through the g league from the minimal highlights I've seen I actually like his potential more them some of the other 7 footers only 19 too

[Kevin Willis]

It seems strange, but so did Giddey. I'm not impressed with Sotto, but if Masai likes him then who am I? We'll see though...

I saw some highlights of him, tall lanky and pretty skillful, moves decently at 7'2 plus he's Filipino you know MLSE going for that diversity money. I'm positive that this has some smoke, gonna talk to my neighbour and maybe he has more details and get a few more scoop, but yeah man this is certainly interesting. He plays for the Australian league and Raptors sent some scouts there recently, so this has traction.

Could he become a 7'2 version of Yuta Watanabe?

Watch on YouTube

I remember they compared him to Chet in previous years. They're around the same age. Chet is a bit better in just about everything. Sotto is taller though and he could probably guard 3-5. Raptors could also be scouting Dieng. Sotta would be a better player than Yuta.

Chet is a perimeter player, Kai is a post player with outside skills.

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

[PhilBlackson]

I saw some highlights of him, tall lanky and pretty skillful, moves decently at 7'2 plus he's Filipino you know MLSE going for that diversity money. I'm positive that this has some smoke, gonna talk to my neighbour and maybe he has more details and get a few more scoop, but yeah man this is certainly interesting. He plays for the Australian league and Raptors sent some scouts there recently, so this has traction.

Could he become a 7'2 version of Yuta Watanabe?

Watch on YouTube

I remember they compared him to Chet in previous years. They're around the same age. Chet is a bit better in just about everything. Sotto is taller though and he could probably guard 3-5. Raptors could also be scouting Dieng. Sotta would be a better player than Yuta.

Chet is a perimeter player, Kai is a post player with outside skills.

Yuta was a silly (and quite *ahem* transparent) comparison *facepalm

[Psubs]

Could he become a 7'2 version of Yuta Watanabe?

Watch on YouTube

I remember they compared him to Chet in previous years. They're around the same age. Chet is a bit better in just about everything. Sotto is taller though and he could probably guard 3-5. Raptors could also be scouting Dieng. Sotta would be a better player than Yuta.

Chet is a perimeter player, Kai is a post player with outside skills.

Yuta was a silly (and quite *ahem* transparent) comparison *facepalm

But why? If Kai has shown some outside skills like a pull up jumper.

They are both lefties. Since he is over 7ft tall he gets more blocks than steals with his arms up on defense. They are both elite athletes but agile enough to get by.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

@2:17 looks like Yuta out there.

Watch on YouTube

@0:04 drive from the top.

Watch on YouTube

@0:02 lefty pull up jumper like Yuta.

@0:58 can take a big man off the dribble.

[Ell Curry]

Caleb vs. Rutgers

Watch on YouTube

Looks like Cam Reddish.

Nah, not at all. Nowhere near the athlete or potential on D and he's not the type to take a million shots like Cam and be inefficient as a result. Right now he's just a 6'8 shooter who hits them at home and when he has time, but not on the road or when tightly checked. Bit craftier when he does drive (which is rare) than Cam. More like a Cam Johnson if we're talking 6'8 Cams.

If he comes back, I expect he'll be a central part of the offense since Dickinson will probably leave, so his volume numbers will go up, but efficiency might not. It's hard to know how much his lack of strength is hurting him. He's really playing within himself and Michigan's O is pretty good (24th but improving, the D is 68th and has been a bigger issue) and based around Dickinson, so his job is to provide spacing, we don't run a lot of stuff for him to initiate offence or shoot off screens or attack via curls.

I think we'd take him at 31, but my guess is he'll come back if he's going that late, and also he's a 6'8 shooter who seems like a coachable kid, so one of the contending teams in the 20s will probably take him and just develop him slowly like Memphis (who have 3 firsts and could use a Kyle Anderson replacement even if Ziaire Williams becomes a starting quality 4), Milwaukee always wants shooting around Giannis and even OKC at #30 right before us makes sense for them if they think he can provide spacing for Giddey, SGA and the 4 they likely draft with a top 3 pick.

[YelloC]

I watched the Gonzaga vs UCF game and Chet Holmgren is the real deal.
Hopefully he doesn’t end up a Piston and gets forced into a dirty bulk.
I also feel like Andrew Nembhard is the Raptors undrafted pick this year if he doesn’t go in the 2nd round.

[Psubs]

I watched the Gonzaga vs UCF game and Chet Holmgren is the real deal.
Hopefully he doesn’t end up a Piston and gets forced into a dirty bulk.
I also feel like Andrew Nembhard is the Raptors undrafted pick this year if he doesn’t go in the 2nd round.

Chet is shooting a crazy 44% from 3 with 3.5 blocks in 26 mins.

[BoyzNTheHood]

For those who like guys like Johny Davis and Benedict Mathurin (like me), how do you feel about guys like Bryce McGowens and Malaki Branham? I'm not sure Branham will declare this season, but I think if he did he has a 1st round shot. McGowens is the focal point of the Nebraska offense and hasn't met a shot he didn't like, so his percentages leave something to be desired, but you can see the potential.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[BoyzNTheHood]

Another kid I like is Peyton Watson. His stats are trash, and he's been nothing but disappointing this season. But what I'm looking at is the canvas you'd have to work with. They list him at 6'8", but he looks taller than that to me (maybe 6'10"?). The handle will need to be improved, but he already has an offensive foundation to build on with his jump shot, and he puts in the effort on defense. He had a growth spurt and seems to be getting used to his new body. He was listed at 6'4" in 2019.

If he wants to go in the first round he shouldn't declare this season, but if he puts it together we wouldn't be able to get him unless we tank. I'd give a kid like this a promise at 31 and stick him on the 905 with a neon green light. Who knows, maybe he's Kevin Knox, or maybe there's something more...

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[Kevin Willis]

For those who like guys like Johny Davis and Benedict Mathurin (like me), how do you feel about guys like Bryce McGowens and Malaki Branham? I'm not sure Branham will declare this season, but I think if he did he has a 1st round shot. McGowens is the focal point of the Nebraska offense and hasn't met a shot he didn't like, so his percentages leave something to be desired, but you can see the potential.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Both are versatile scorers. McGowens is a little bit slept on but he's a first rounder that might go lotto. Branham doesn't impress me as much as McGowens but still a solid player with a good feel for the game. I think Branham will come back another season but who knows. His percentages are nice. Quality SG.

[Ell Curry]

For those who like guys like Johny Davis and Benedict Mathurin (like me), how do you feel about guys like Bryce McGowens and Malaki Branham? I'm not sure Branham will declare this season, but I think if he did he has a 1st round shot. McGowens is the focal point of the Nebraska offense and hasn't met a shot he didn't like, so his percentages leave something to be desired, but you can see the potential.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Both are versatile scorers. McGowens is a little bit slept on but he's a first rounder that might go lotto. Branham doesn't impress me as much as McGowens but still a solid player with a good feel for the game. I think Branham will come back another season but who knows. His percentages are nice. Quality SG.

Branham looked like a solid pro to me against Michigan. Good size for a 2 and can shoot it from 3 or mid-range. He doesn't get separation easy so I think he projects as like a 4th or 5th option, but the 2nd best offensive player on the #7 O in the country at 18 and being such a high level shooter is impressive.

[Psubs]

Branham looks like a 6'5 Lu Dort.