Some pre-draft thoughts:
Assuming we're done with meeting draft prospects, we've interviewed and worked out about 45 -- that we know of. There's some speculation whether we talked to Dieng. He reportedly said he didn't meet with us though Tom Orsborn tweeted that Eason, Davis, and Dieng would have interviews and since we talked to the other two, I understood Dieng as having done so as well rather than just generally being available for talking to. Anyway, I'm sure we've done our due diligence.
Here's a broad breakdown:
Prospects returning to college - Pete Nance and Terquavion Smith
Prospects we worked out twice -
Darius Days-
Josh Minott (Thanks, mzfk69!)
Prospects we interviewed and worked out -
Johnny Davis-
Jeremy Sochan-
Tari EasonAs much as we may loathe another guard, the reality is that we may be losing some through free agency or trades. And if the best prospect at wherever we may be drafting who has the highest star potential happens to be a guard, well we get BPA and deal with the roster accordingly.
But speaking of trades, Collins is widely available - not a matter of if but when.
Say we trade Doug, JRich, 20 and 25 for Collins and 16 - this is just me spitballing not a specific rumour I've heard so it's not like it has some legs. Just playing around with trade ideas. Hawks get shorter contracts, players who move well without the ball, can shoot well around Trae, and JRich can defend. They also get a couple of firsts.
We now have 9 and 16 and have a true starting PF who can score inside and out.
(Is that package better suited to try and pry the more expensive Ayton instead? Depends on what we could get for Jakob, I suppose, though he may be part of an Ayton swap and the combination of assets mentioned for Collins could be packaged for other assets, be it help now or picks later).
We can either draft whomever we love at 9 and 16 (Eason?) or package both plus likely another asset to get up to 4. I'm not sure I buy the rumours of our love affair with Murray. Even without Collins and should we use more of those assets for a move up in the draft instead to target a higher floor guy in Murray feels more like smoke to get another team to bite. Or we really love him and see a higher potential than, say, Ivey, who is Ja lite. Or we draft Ivey and either keep him or trade him to a team that really covets him for players and assets (2023 pick(s)) we covet more.
Speaking of 2023 assets, I'd be shocked if we parted with Keldon and 9 for 4. Keldon I'd hate to move unless it's for high 2023 picks and whichever prospect. It's interesting, though, that we worked out bruising Darius Days twice and two of the three the players we worked out and interviewed are more physical bigs in Sochan and Eason.
So many options!
For sure we have holes in the roster and need to balance it out; for sure we have some players who are trade bait and with Wiesy and Primo coming up, Doug and JRich are good candidates. I think Lonnie is, too, and whichever way things develop with his RFA status, he isn't part of our long-term plans. For sure we're star hunting. If it takes steps now to get there later (ie/ Collins and 2023 picks) we roll with a better, more talented roster into this upcoming season.
