2022 NBA Draft Thread – (June 23rd, 8PM, ESPN)

[Half-Full]

NBA Draft Junkies always comes up some interesting sleepers, including this guy, Isiaih Mosely (not Mobely). I haven't seen his name on the mocks, so he's definitely under the radar. Given his shooting and his numbers, one has to ask why.

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Edit: Apparently Isiaih has withdrawn from this year's draft, and is transferring from Mid Major Missouri State, to Missouri for his senior year.

[Scoonie]

Somewhere they do a consensus mock of the most prominent sites - anyone have the link for that? Can't remember where it was.

I believe there are multiple, but here is one just updated yesterday. Lots of familiar names between 49-60:

https://www.rookiescale.com/2022-consensus-board/

49 David Roddy 21.2 Colorado State Jr. Forward 6'6" 261 Octagon NBA
50 Alondes Williams 23.0 Wake Forest 5Y-Sr. Combo Guard 6'5" 209 LIFT NBA
51 Jabari Walker 19.9 Colorado So. Forward 6'8" 214 BDA + WME NBA
52 Michael Foster Jr. 19.4 G League Ignite 2003 Big 6'9 1/4" 237 ISE NBA
53 Yannick Nzosa 18.6 Unicaja Málaga 2003 Big 6'11 3/4" 215 CAA
54 Dominick Barlow 19.1 Overtime Elite 2003 Forward 6'9 3/4" 221 Life NBA
55 Gabriele Procida 20.1 Fortitudo Bologna 2002 Wing 6'7 3/4" 193 Excel (Sigma) NBA
56 Trevion Williams 21.8 Purdue Sr. Big 6'8 3/4" 265 Octagon NBA
57 Julian Champagnie 21.0 St. John's Jr. Wing 6'7 3/4" 212 UNLTD NBA
58 Keon Ellis 22.5 Alabama Sr. Wing 6'4 3/4" 167 EZ NBA
59 Khalifa Diop 20.4 Gran Canaria 2002 Big 6'11" 231 Wasserman NBA
60 Dereon Seabron 22.1 NC State So. (RS) Wing 6'5 1/4" 182 NEXT

[Half-Full]

Getting into deep sleeper territory... Rafael from Draft Junkies really likes this guy, and why not? Hard not to get caught up in his enthusiasm.

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[Hal14]

Getting into deep sleeper territory... Rafael from Draft Junkies really likes this guy, and why not? Hard not to get caught up in his enthusiasm.

Watch on YouTube

He's going back to college next year

This is a good resource - it shows a complete list of draft eligible players, you just have to click on 2 different pages to see everyone.

1) Early entry list: https://www.rookiescale.com/early-entrant-tracker/

2) auto-eligible prospects: https://www.rookiescale.com/2022-nba-draft-auto-eligible-prospects/

The only changes that can be made at this point to either list is if a player decides to withdraw and play professionally, outside of the NBA (so play in the G-league, Overtime Elite or for an overseas pro team). The deadline for those players to withdraw is June 13 at 5pm EST.

[Hal14]

This is our guy. Yoan Makoundou. Look at him taking off from just inside the FT line and dunking it, like a 6'9" MJ. Seriously, this is basically the dunk MJ did in the dunk contest. I think Yoan jumps from a little bit closer than MJ did but still, this is very impressive, especially for a 21 yr old:

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I also love the fact that after doing that FT line dunk, he doesn't just stand there trying to look all cool and show boat. He immediately jumps into a drill, doing the drill where you pick up a ball on each block, go up and dunk it. He's going hard, full speed at the drill - like seriously, who is going that hard a that drill after they just run up and did a dunk from the FT line? I'm telling you, this dude is a top 20 player in this draft class.

Here's some highlights of a late season game for his team in France's top division:

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:28 really smooth looking stroke on the catch and shoot 3 here
:53 attacks a close out, drives by his man, explodes to the rim for the dunk!

Another recent game for his team:

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1:44 gets the ball a couple feet beyond 3 pt line out on the wing, is very closely guarded by his man. Guard teammate comes over to help him out, but he fakes the hand off to him, then turns towards the basket for a drive. Easily gets by his defender, takes it to the hole, met by a help defender and beats him with a filthy euro step move and finishes at the rim with a scoop shot.
2:04 look at him go in for the offensive rebound and throw down the ferocious put back dunk!
2:18 oh man, he does it again. starts out on the perimeter, his teammate shoots a 3 but he times his jump perfectly, throwing down another put back dunk - this time with 1 hand
3:41 another poster dunk

Ok last one:

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:41 has ball way out near half court. Takes his man off the dribble, uses an in and out dribble move to get his defender leaning left and then explodes right, drives to the hole, throws down a ferocious 1 handed dunk! Nice skill, power, athleticism. I've watched this play like 15 times now, it's awesome haha
1:49 nice job fronting the post here, knocking the ball away, creating the turnover and fast break opportunity for his team

Again, this guy is a PF who can play some small ball 5. Ended the season at 36.9% from 3. 6'9", 225 lbs with a 7'3.5" wingspan.

He's 21 (turns 22 in august) so a little bit on the older side but he didn't start playing basketball until he was 16 so he's still very much in development phase, still just scratching the surface of his potential. But at the same time, for a guy who's only been playing basketball a few years he's already a starter and putting up good numbers for a playoff team in France's top division and I believe he also made the France national team.

You bring him in next season to learn from and be mentored by Horford. Then in 2023-2024 when Horford's contract is over, Makoundou will be ready to get more minutes.

This guy is the no. 20 ranked player on my big board - would be awesome value to get him at 53. It'd be the 2nd year in a row we take a French player in the 2nd round I called it last year when we picked Begarin, let's see if I'm right again.

I know what you're thinking. Makoundou isn't in any of the mock drafts or top 100 lists. So what? I know talent when I see it. He's underrated. The US media outlets always underrate the international players and often times there's a international player in particular who flies way under the radar as the US media outlets are late to find out about him.

Honestly, I had no idea who this guy was until 2 or 3 weeks ago. But when I objectively look at the film, as well as his stats, his background, his wingspan, etc. I moved him into my top 20 for this draft class. He's that good.

You take Makoundou with 53rd pick, then sign Jules Bernard as UDFA. I'd be ecstatic with that.

[jmr07019]

Imagine in 2014 if someone told you Smart and Wiggins would meet in the finals, Smart would outplay Wiggins and that neither guy would be a top 2 player on his team

[Hal14]

Updated list of players we've brought in for a workout:

Keon Ellis - Wing - Alabama
Kevin McCullar Jr - Wing - Texas Tech
Gabe Brown - Wing - Michigan St
Ron Harper Jr - Wing - Rutgers
Lucas Williamson - Wing - Loyola Chicago
Jared Rhoden - Wing - Seton Hall
Julian Champagnie - Wing - St John's
Trevion Williams - C - Purdue
Isaiah Wong - SG - Miami
Michael Foster - PF - G League Ignite
Teddy Allen - Wing - New Mexico St
Peter Kiss - Wing - Bryant
Collin Gillespie - Guard - Villanova
Darius Days - PF - LSU
Payton Willis - G - Minnesota
AJ Reeves - G - Providence

Again, McCullar and Wong withdrew from the draft and are going back to college.

This might not be a complete list - there could be a player(s) we worked out but it just didn't get out there in the public - maybe the team wanted to keep it under wraps so the player didn't get more buzz and then get drafted before our pick at 53.

I don't remember hearing about us working out Begarin before the draft last year - but then after we picked him Brad was quoted saying how impressed he was when we worked him out. So again, this might not be a complete list - the team might just be playing it close to the vest with some of the guys they're bring in for workouts..

I actually haven't heard about this Payton Willis guy before but he looks pretty good. Here he is dropping 30 points on Caleb McConnell, who was arguably the best perimeter defender in all of college basketball this season:

Watch on YouTube

[Celts17Pride]

Wouldn't be surprised at all if the Celtics got back into this draft probably a 2nd round pick in the 30's. It's a way of adding some talent at a cheap cost which is important given that the Celtics will be a tax payer this year if they can get two more wins in the NBA Finals.

[Scoonie]

He likely won't get drafted, but wanted to mention his working out for us. He is a local kid from Portsmouth, RI who played most of his career at Villanova, but transferred to Syracuse for his final year of eligibility.

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[playa-hater]

Updated list of players we've brought in for a workout:

Keon Ellis - Wing - Alabama
Kevin McCullar Jr - Wing - Texas Tech
Gabe Brown - Wing - Michigan St
Ron Harper Jr - Wing - Rutgers
Lucas Williamson - Wing - Loyola Chicago
Jared Rhoden - Wing - Seton Hall
Julian Champagnie - Wing - St John's
Trevion Williams - C - Purdue
Isaiah Wong - SG - Miami
Michael Foster - PF - G League Ignite
Teddy Allen - Wing - New Mexico St
Peter Kiss - Wing - Bryant
Collin Gillespie - Guard - Villanova
Darius Days - PF - LSU
Payton Willis - G - Minnesota
AJ Reeves - G - Providence

Again, McCullar and Wong withdrew from the draft and are going back to college.

This might not be a complete list - there could be a player(s) we worked out but it just didn't get out there in the public - maybe the team wanted to keep it under wraps so the player didn't get more buzz and then get drafted before our pick at 53.

I don't remember hearing about us working out Begarin before the draft last year - but then after we picked him Brad was quoted saying how impressed he was when we worked him out. So again, this might not be a complete list - the team might just be playing it close to the vest with some of the guys they're bring in for workouts..

I actually haven't heard about this Payton Willis guy before but he looks pretty good. Here he is dropping 30 points on Caleb McConnell, who was arguably the best perimeter defender in all of college basketball this season:

Watch on YouTube

well I do love Wings so I should be happy.

[playa-hater]

I will keep repeating this at least once a week till draft time.

BUY a pick please!!

[165bows]

Updated list of players we've brought in for a workout:

Keon Ellis - Wing - Alabama
Kevin McCullar Jr - Wing - Texas Tech
Gabe Brown - Wing - Michigan St
Ron Harper Jr - Wing - Rutgers
Lucas Williamson - Wing - Loyola Chicago
Jared Rhoden - Wing - Seton Hall
Julian Champagnie - Wing - St John's
Trevion Williams - C - Purdue
Isaiah Wong - SG - Miami
Michael Foster - PF - G League Ignite
Teddy Allen - Wing - New Mexico St
Peter Kiss - Wing - Bryant
Collin Gillespie - Guard - Villanova
Darius Days - PF - LSU
Payton Willis - G - Minnesota
AJ Reeves - G - Providence

Again, McCullar and Wong withdrew from the draft and are going back to college.

This might not be a complete list - there could be a player(s) we worked out but it just didn't get out there in the public - maybe the team wanted to keep it under wraps so the player didn't get more buzz and then get drafted before our pick at 53.

I don't remember hearing about us working out Begarin before the draft last year - but then after we picked him Brad was quoted saying how impressed he was when we worked him out. So again, this might not be a complete list - the team might just be playing it close to the vest with some of the guys they're bring in for workouts..

I actually haven't heard about this Payton Willis guy before but he looks pretty good. Here he is dropping 30 points on Caleb McConnell, who was arguably the best perimeter defender in all of college basketball this season:

Watch on YouTube

His shooting form looks great but he's also 24 years old.

[Hal14]

He likely won't get drafted, but wanted to mention his working out for us. He is a local kid from Portsmouth, RI who played most of his career at Villanova, but transferred to Syracuse for his final year of eligibility.

Read on Twitter

He's 6'9" and shot over 40% from 3 this season in the ACC. He's at least worth a shot at possibly bringing him in as a UDFA and seeing what he can do on the summer league team.

[Celts17Pride]

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and the rest was history.

[Celts17Pride]

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[Celts17Pride]

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[playa-hater]

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Haven't seen this kid play yet, So I have no idea how he is. But I do know coach J Wright and have witnessed his incredible fundamental development development trainings it does for his players at Villanova.. I would bet he is more Fundamentally sound that many in this draft.

Just think of how many Villanova players particularly at the skill positionsTurn out better than people expected.

[Scoonie]

Samuels is another local kid from Franklin, MA, and went to the Rivers School in Weston, MA.

https://villanova.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jermaine-samuels/12216

[Hal14]

Read on Twitter

Haven't seen this kid play yet, So I have no idea how he is. But I do know coach J Wright and have witnessed his incredible fundamental development development trainings it does for his players at Villanova.. I would bet he is more Fundamentally sound that many in this draft.

Just think of how many Villanova players particularly at the skill positionsTurn out better than people expected.

Defensively, Samuels is perfect for a switch-heavy scheme like we have. Extremely versatile, switchable defender. Very fundamentally sound, plays hard, plays the right way. College senior so he's mature and well developed with his game - not raw, not a project.

I just don't know how much he helps you on the offensive end. His dribble/pass/shooting skills just aren't really there enough - which is why he's not ranked very high. And being an older prospect, there's less of a window for him to improve those ball skills.

If he had better ball skills, I'd be onboard for sure..but then again, if he had better ball skills, then maybe he'd go higher than 53..

[Celts17Pride]

Read on Twitter

Haven't seen this kid play yet, So I have no idea how he is. But I do know coach J Wright and have witnessed his incredible fundamental development development trainings it does for his players at Villanova.. I would bet he is more Fundamentally sound that many in this draft.

Just think of how many Villanova players particularly at the skill positionsTurn out better than people expected.

Defensively, Samuels is perfect for a switch-heavy scheme like we have. Extremely versatile, switchable defender. Very fundamentally sound, plays hard, plays the right way. College senior so he's mature and well developed with his game - not raw, not a project.

I just don't know how much he helps you on the offensive end. His dribble/pass/shooting skills just aren't really there enough - which is why he's not ranked very high. And being an older prospect, there's less of a window for him to improve those ball skills.

If he had better ball skills, I'd be onboard for sure..but then again, if he had better ball skills, then maybe he'd go higher than 53..

I think Justin Lewis is my first binky. I see Grant 2.0 potential. What is your opinion?