2022 NBA Draft Thread

[retrobro90]

I know retrobro90 won’t like this, but I wasn’t disgusted with what I’ve read/seen for Dieng. I’m not saying I want him at 12 but I can see a path forward there.

I think Dieng's upside as a wing creator is there but I don't see him getting maximized on this roster. I can't see him getting the reps as a ball handler and off the ball he's a complete liability. Also very leery after hearing intel that he's too shy in practices. Gives me Maledon vibes regarding his demeanor and aversion to contact. Just so incredibly ready to draft a player with some competitive fire and I feel like I get almost no signs of that w Dieng. Willing to admit his flashes are very impressive (especially the stepbacks out of iso)

[ThunderBolt]

I know retrobro90 won’t like this, but I wasn’t disgusted with what I’ve read/seen for Dieng. I’m not saying I want him at 12 but I can see a path forward there.

I think Dieng's upside as a wing creator is there but I don't see him getting maximized on this roster. I can't see him getting the reps as a ball handler and off the ball he's a complete liability. Also very leery after hearing intel that he's too shy in practices. Gives me Maledon vibes regarding his demeanor and aversion to contact. Just so incredibly ready to draft a player with some competitive fire and I feel like I get almost no signs of that w Dieng. Willing to admit his flashes are very impressive (especially the stepbacks out of iso)

I actually thought about Maledon too. I just have a very hands off approach with the draft since I don’t watch much college basketball. All I’m saying is I see a path where he becomes a guy that other teams are kicking themselves in hindsight. I also see that path with about half a dozen other guys. Evan Mobley is the only pick I have had strong feelings about in the last decade. When it comes to the draft I tend to defer more towards those making the pick than other times. I put a lot of value in being able to interview and speak to players. That’s something scouts and other experts just can’t compensate for not being able to do. Im a lot more likely to have a strong reaction to a pick the first two weeks of the season than on draft night.

[retrobro90]

I know retrobro90 won’t like this, but I wasn’t disgusted with what I’ve read/seen for Dieng. I’m not saying I want him at 12 but I can see a path forward there.

I think Dieng's upside as a wing creator is there but I don't see him getting maximized on this roster. I can't see him getting the reps as a ball handler and off the ball he's a complete liability. Also very leery after hearing intel that he's too shy in practices. Gives me Maledon vibes regarding his demeanor and aversion to contact. Just so incredibly ready to draft a player with some competitive fire and I feel like I get almost no signs of that w Dieng. Willing to admit his flashes are very impressive (especially the stepbacks out of iso)

I actually thought about Maledon too. I just have a very hands off approach with the draft since I don’t watch much college basketball. All I’m saying is I see a path where he becomes a guy that other teams are kicking themselves in hindsight. I also see that path with about half a dozen other guys. Evan Mobley is the only pick I have had strong feelings about in the last decade. When it comes to the draft I tend to defer more towards those making the pick than other times. I put a lot of value in being able to interview and speak to players. That’s something scouts and other experts just can’t compensate for not being able to do. Im a lot more likely to have a strong reaction to a pick the first two weeks of the season than on draft night.

I feel all that. It goes unspoken by me in here but maybe I should say that despite any convicted/definitive analysis I give on these prospects that I get the general difficulty when it comes to try and prognosticate with any sort of accuracy what kinds of careers these guys have. I get the hit/miss rate with each pick etc etc. I just try to forego most of the hedge language and caveats so I can state my dumb/wrong analysis without it being couched in unnecessary "receipt protectors". Also the draft is my personal favorite thing about the NBA. Even on years when OKC doesn't have a FRP I'm deep into these guys because watching their stories unfold for better or worse from the beginning is what I really enjoy about the sport itself.

[Mr Thunder Nick]

I still hope that we get Jabari Smith. He would help us a lot, and put Bazley on the bench. With Chet I would not be disappointed but with Banchero, I'm not so fine.

[WestbrookGOATed]

I still hope that we get Jabari Smith. He would help us a lot, and put Bazley on the bench. With Chet I would not be disappointed but with Banchero, I'm not so fine.

What if we took Ivey at 2? Always expect the unexpected with Presti. After Bancheros comments about the Thunder surfaced recently I don't think there's anyway we take him. Which is a very good thing.

[Patches Perry]

My instinct is that I just can't see Presti picking Chet or Paulo. I would not be surprised if we ended up with Ivey, Murray or Sharpe at the #2 pick based on my perception of how Presti looks at talent.

[Balkman32]

My instinct is that I just can't see Presti picking Chet or Paulo. I would not be surprised if we ended up with Ivey, Murray or Sharpe at the #2 pick based on my perception of how Presti looks at talent.

Its Chet or Jabari all the way. Don't over think it. Wing help at 12. It leaves the team open to add any type of player in next years draft.

[Dadouv47]

My instinct is that I just can't see Presti picking Chet or Paulo. I would not be surprised if we ended up with Ivey, Murray or Sharpe at the #2 pick based on my perception of how Presti looks at talent.

why not Chet? Wouldn't surprise me if we end up with Ivey either. I may have Chet first and then Ivey but I didn't watch enough of those prospects. Ivey is the kind of player Presti likes, that's for sure. Wish we could find a way to get 2 + 4 but almost impossible

[Patches Perry]

My instinct is that I just can't see Presti picking Chet or Paulo. I would not be surprised if we ended up with Ivey, Murray or Sharpe at the #2 pick based on my perception of how Presti looks at talent.

why not Chet? Wouldn't surprise me if we end up with Ivey either. I may have Chet first and then Ivey but I didn't watch enough of those prospects. Ivey is the kind of player Presti likes, that's for sure. Wish we could find a way to get 2 + 4 but almost impossible

I can't shake the Porzingis likeness for Chet, and Porzingis is pretty close to my least favorite player lol.

[Dadouv47]

My instinct is that I just can't see Presti picking Chet or Paulo. I would not be surprised if we ended up with Ivey, Murray or Sharpe at the #2 pick based on my perception of how Presti looks at talent.

why not Chet? Wouldn't surprise me if we end up with Ivey either. I may have Chet first and then Ivey but I didn't watch enough of those prospects. Ivey is the kind of player Presti likes, that's for sure. Wish we could find a way to get 2 + 4 but almost impossible

I can't shake the Porzingis likeness for Chet, and Porzingis is pretty close to my least favorite player lol.

I hate Porzingis while I love Chet...Chet will likely be a way better defensive player and his mindset/work ethic is totally different.

[Patches Perry]

why not Chet? Wouldn't surprise me if we end up with Ivey either. I may have Chet first and then Ivey but I didn't watch enough of those prospects. Ivey is the kind of player Presti likes, that's for sure. Wish we could find a way to get 2 + 4 but almost impossible

I can't shake the Porzingis likeness for Chet, and Porzingis is pretty close to my least favorite player lol.

I hate Porzingis while I love Chet...Chet will likely be a way better defensive player and his mindset/work ethic is totally different.

If his mindset is totally different that can make a huge difference. Its looking like Chet will be on the board for OKC, so if we take him, I hope you're right about him being better than Porzingis. From watching highlights, Chet seems to have a better offensive feel and shooting stroke than Porzingis, but he needs to get stronger immediately. He will always be skinny because he is so tall and his arms are so long that muscle distribution just doesn't work in his favor, but getting up to 220-230 within a few years would go a long way.

[mr570]

Chet's the guy. If they don't pick him and he's there they're going to be bad for a long, long time. imo of course.

The more interesting thing is what they do later in the draft. Not sure they will move up at 12 bc it's been put out there. I think they'll try to package 30 + 34 to move into the late first. Not sure who they'd target but again expect it to be someone that they hadn't worked out publicly or mentioned with them or whatever.

[Woerzboerg]

My instinct is that I just can't see Presti picking Chet or Paulo. I would not be surprised if we ended up with Ivey, Murray or Sharpe at the #2 pick based on my perception of how Presti looks at talent.

There is chatter that Presti badly wanted to trade up for Mobley last year, so based on this imo it's not unlikely that he will take Chet.

[Dadouv47]

My instinct is that I just can't see Presti picking Chet or Paulo. I would not be surprised if we ended up with Ivey, Murray or Sharpe at the #2 pick based on my perception of how Presti looks at talent.

There is chatter that Presti badly wanted to trade up for Mobley last year, so based on this imo it's not unlikely that he will take Chet.

Mobley is a generational talent and was already way better and much stronger than Chet. I have Chet first on my board but no way we will get a player like Mobley (We can be very happy if Chet develops into a slightly worse version of Mobley)

[Patches Perry]

My instinct is that I just can't see Presti picking Chet or Paulo. I would not be surprised if we ended up with Ivey, Murray or Sharpe at the #2 pick based on my perception of how Presti looks at talent.

There is chatter that Presti badly wanted to trade up for Mobley last year, so based on this imo it's not unlikely that he will take Chet.

Mobley is a generational talent and was already way better and much stronger than Chet. I have Chet first on my board but no way we will get a player like Mobley (We can be very happy if Chet develops into a slightly worse version of Mobley)

Ughh. Mobley would have been perfect for this team too. I still kick myself that Presti couldn't make that deal.

[Old Man Game]

More I think of it, I'll be shocked if it isn't Chet. He's got the elite high school player thing. The buzz around the thunder taking him as smokescreen is meaningless at two when literally you don't have to worry about anyone but Orlando taking him first, and finally, if Orlando did take him the front office will be equally happy with Smith.

[Dadouv47]

If Presti can make the exact opposite of his #16th pick move (trading two future bad FRPs for #14 or #15) it would be pretty good.
I really think the value in this draft is the depth from 8 to 15. Making some crazy move up from 12 to 4 would be insane but way more difficult and maybe not worth it with guys relatively weak at the top. Wonder if Charlotte would be willing to trade one of 13 or 15 for future picks if they can't move up.

[retrobro90]

Don't think Presti would take a 21 year old junior but I'd honestly be great with Jalen Williams at 12. Went back on some of his tape and a lot of his passes are legitimately special for a guy that's 6'6" with a 7'2" wingspan

[Devilanche]

Don't think Presti would take a 21 year old junior but I'd honestly be great with Jalen Williams at 12. Went back on some of his tape and a lot of his passes are legitimately special for a guy that's 6'6" with a 7'2" wingspan

Honestly if I can’t get who I want from the 7-12 range . I rather drop down abit and pick up a future protected first for someone like jalen Williams .

Someone more proven .

[Dadouv47]

Read on Twitter

No clue what to think about this. Don't think 12 is available to move down.