2023 NBA Draft Thread

[Rays Pompadour]

Scanning the beats and not seeing much buzz for trading for Miller. That may change as the process unfolds, but the biggest noise is for Portland's pick at #3 to snag Henderson. Pundits believe the Hornets are locked in on Miller, mainly due to supposed poor fit for Henderson, so the intrigue in the draft begins with the Blazers.

[Ozymandias]

https://nbadraftroom.com/jarett-culver/

"Has an overall great feel for the game and plays both ends.
An elite level shooter who can knock down shots from anywhere on the floor and is very efficient. Scores from three levels and has a pure stroke.
A crafty ball handler and play maker who moves the ball well after collapsing the defense with the dribble. He’s a really high level passer.
Has a soft touch around the rim and a natural feel for putting the ball in the bucket.
Knows how to move without the ball to find space for his shot.
Can guard nearly every position and is a real menace in the passing lanes and on the ball.
Struggles from the FT line.
Has somewhat of a slow wind-up on his jumper (but the ball goes in the basket)."

Found this Culver report within a few seconds. A lot of similarities to what we are hearing for Miller. A lot of these skills that wing players display in college rarely translate to the NBA.

Well whoever wrote this report got it woefully wrong. His college stats do not even back up him being an elite shooter and a guy that can score at all three levels. He shot just 30% from the college 3pt line his last year and his TS% is only 54%.

Also I've never seen a guy praised as an elite shooter and be such a poor ft shooter.

If you google any other report you would see scouts praise his "jack of all trades" versatility but say he needs to improve his jump shot to succeed at the NBA level.

Check out this scouting report from the ringer: https://www.theringer.com/nba-draft/2019/4/5/18295786/jarret-culver-texas-tech-nba-draft

You're going to a lot more wings bust that are picked high in the draft because the prototypical wing is the archetype teams are looking for. A lot of teams are going to try to reach for these types of players and hope they strike gold. I'd rather take a gamble on one that has an elite shot rather than a jack of all trades type like Culver or a guy like Jackson who was rated highly solely on his athletic profile.

[luciano-davidwesley]

The point I'm trying to make is that Scoot as a near 80% free throw shooter as an 18/19 year old does NOT project as a bad shooter. He at the very least projects as a mediocre one.

Going by your logic his free throw percentage would be closer to 78% than 80% - remember you take more first free throws than second free throws due to and1's.

Average of 76.4% (first free throw) and 80.4% (subsequent free throws) with a slight statistical weighting towards the first free throw.

[Snidely FC]

For those of you who do not subscribe to ESPN+ Draft Experts Panel on Scoot vs Miller for the Hornets

3. Scoot Henderson started this draft cycle as the No. 2 prospect. Can he -- or should he -- still go No. 2 over Brandon Miller?
Jonathan Givony: Charlotte is saying privately they are open to all possibilities. They'll go through their process and this will take time to sort out. There are some complicating factors here, including a potential ownership change that might gain more steam now that the lottery is behind us. I don't think the LaMelo Ball-Scoot pairing is any kind of nonstarter. LaMelo is a big guard who is far from ball-dominant and has turned himself into a very good shooter -- career 38% for 3 in three seasons so far. Having another explosive creator who can break down a defense like Scoot could definitely work. They are already friendly off the court. With that said, most NBA people I've spoken with think Brandon Miller will be the pick at No. 2. Mitch Kupchak's recent comments didn't do anything to quell that. He was front and center for Brandon Miller's 41-point explosion at South Carolina and knows that the Hornets are both starved for wing talent and were the second-worst shooting team in the NBA last year. If the draft were tonight, I'd bet on him being the pick.

Jeremy Woo: I personally don't view a Henderson-Ball pairing all that favorably: It's hard enough to play two point guards together for winning stretches, much less very young point guards. There's not quite enough separation between Henderson (who I do prefer in a vacuum) and Miller in my mind to advocate for Charlotte taking an unnecessary risk, and the latter is a pretty seamless fit with the Hornets. I wouldn't rule anything out yet, particularly with the potential change in ownership coming, but I'd lean Miller at this point.

Jeff Borzello: I'd go with Miller at No. 2 over Henderson. Purely as a prospect, I like Miller more than Henderson, and when you factor in Ball's presence in Charlotte, that solidifies Miller at No. 2. He struggled in the NCAA tournament, but has the size and shooting ability and showed the requisite consistency and motor during the regular season that some questioned when he entered college. Charlotte needs a wing and it needs shooting. Miller obviously fits both of those better than Henderson.

Kevin Pelton: My stats-based projections have Miller as the No. 2 prospect in this year's draft ahead of Henderson. There's certainly a strong possibility Henderson ends up the better of the two players, but I don't think the Hornets potentially taking Miller should automatically be viewed as a case of prioritizing fit over best talent available.

interesting that Givony and Woo both mention potential change of ownership still apparently in play...

[UNCNYC]

I personally think we should trade the pick. For those who love Brandon Miller we can draft Drew Peterson (who is quite a bit older) but plays the same game is this very deep draft. Drew plays 4 positions.

Watch on YouTube

[MPM]

So...just over my triggered PTSD. My third lotto day witnessing the just-miss whiffing on a once-in-a-generation center. Granted, 'Zo wasn't a bad booby prize, but still.

I'm hard-leaning Miller at 2, but wouldn't be crushed with Scoot. But, this said...the Nets have basically said no to the idea of #3 and Simons for Mikal. What about #2 and Rozier? Bridges is only 26 plus we could market "The Bridges of Mecklenberg County"

[UNCNYC]

So...just over my triggered PTSD. My third lotto day witnessing the just-miss whiffing on a once-in-a-generation center. Granted, 'Zo wasn't a bad booby prize, but still.

I'm hard-leaning Miller at 2, but wouldn't be crushed with Scoot. But, this said...the Nets have basically said no to the idea of #3 and Simons for Mikal. What about #2 and Rozier? Bridges is only 26 plus we could market "The Bridges of Mecklenberg County"

Always one of my favorite posters... MPM = MVP. If you were a watch you would be Richard Mille lol.

We still have some other decent center on the board if we miss on VW (which btw I am suuuuuuper happy we did lol)

Those centers are - Drew Timme, Branden Carlson, Clifford Omoruyi, Azuolas Tubelis, PJ Hall, Patrick Gardner,

I bet at least 3 of them gonna be better than VW.

[UNCNYC]

suuuper deep draft

1-15 -
Nikola Durisic, Anthony Black, Jalen Hood Schifino, Gradey Dick,
Jalen Wilson, Brandon Miller, Brice Sensabaugh, Noah Clowney,

16-30 -
Kobe Bufkin, Brandin Podziemski, Reece Beekman,
Colby Jones, Jordan Miller, Max Lewis, Tristan Da Silva, Azuolas Tubelis,

31-45 -
Craig Porter JR., Agustin UBAL, Mojave King,
Keyontae Johnson, Drew Peterson, Jaime Jaquez, Clifford Omoruyi,

46-60 -
Bryson Warren, Tristen Newton, Kevin McCullar, Yannick Kraag, Nadir Hifi, Hunter Maldonado,
Michael Sharavjamts, Alex Fudge, PJ Hall, Bobi Klintmon, Jalen Slawson, Justice Sueing, Roko Prkacin, Patrick Gardner,

[MPM]

So...just over my triggered PTSD. My third lotto day witnessing the just-miss whiffing on a once-in-a-generation center. Granted, 'Zo wasn't a bad booby prize, but still.

I'm hard-leaning Miller at 2, but wouldn't be crushed with Scoot. But, this said...the Nets have basically said no to the idea of #3 and Simons for Mikal. What about #2 and Rozier? Bridges is only 26 plus we could market "The Bridges of Mecklenberg County"

Always one of my favorite posters... MPM = MVP. If you were a watch you would be Richard Mille lol.

We still have some other decent center on the board if we miss on VW (which btw I am suuuuuuper happy we did lol)

Those centers are - Drew Timme, Branden Carlson, Clifford Omoruyi, Azuolas Tubelis, PJ Hall, Patrick Gardner,

I bet at least 3 of them gonna be better than VW.

Aw, man - you're too kind. Happy to see you're still fully on top of it - our resident diamond-in-the-rougher. BTW - would be very happy with Podziemski with one of our later picks.

[KingCat]

I don't get the Mikal Bridges desires here. He will be 27 by the time we start playing. He isn't a 2nd option on a title team and probably not a 3rd option. Best He does for us is put us into a playin position again.

Make no sense to trade our future for more short term mediocrity

[UNCNYC]

I forgot to include one of my favorite players I hope we draft in my list

[MPM]

I don't get the Mikal Bridges desires here. He will be 27 by the time we start playing. He isn't a 2nd option on a title team and probably not a 3rd option. Best He does for us is put us into a playin position again.

Make no sense to trade our future for more short term mediocrity

Appreciate your take. For me, it’s just casual risk-mitigation pondering. I get the downside but also think you're underselling Bridges. I like Miller and Scoot, but don’t love-love either of them. Bridges is what he is now - an elite defender and good 3 pt shooter who was playing at All-Star level to close out last season and is under contract for the next 3 years. He put up 26.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 24 games post ASB. Dumping Terry and his $$$ would be a bonus. In addition, he’s not the cultural question mark Miller represents to a team that seems a bit lost in that regard nor a fit problem like Scoot. He’d be a seamless fit and immediately step into a locker room leadership role. Basically, a zero-risk addition of an all-star caliber wing with a good head on his shoulders and six years or so left in him or a fairly safe gamble on double that time with one of the youngins. In all honesty? Either way I’d be happy.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nets-mikal-bridges-gives-advice-163001299.html

EDIT - on the flip side, you draft Miller/Scoot and attempt to trade Terry for something that resembles 3&D but I just don't see anything of value coming back for him. Also, the Bridges idea is likely a non-starter anyway. If the Nets don't want Simons and 3, I don't see how Rozier and 2 is much better.

[GoBobs]

some footage of 7'4'' 306 lb Zach Edey running drills at the combine

Watch on YouTube

[MPM]

some footage of 7'4'' 306 lb Zach Edey running drills at the combine

Watch on YouTube

Looks like a fun second-round flyer player - a highly, highly situational paint monster.

[Goodecharlotte]

some footage of 7'4'' 306 lb Zach Edey running drills at the combine

Watch on YouTube

My question is why is he only going in the 2nd because he looks impressive?

[MPM]

My question is why is he only going in the 2nd because he looks impressive?

Would have to go back and look at draftnik takes, but from what I'd read previously he has no offense away from the rim and is very slow-footed on D.

EDIT: looks like he has a decent little hook and I think he shoots it from the stripe pretty well:

Watch on YouTube

[GoBobs]

some footage of 7'4'' 306 lb Zach Edey running drills at the combine

My question is why is he only going in the 2nd because he looks impressive?

Mainly because he plays a back to the basket post up style that nobody is really running right now in the nba. He also gets compared to other really really tall players like Boban and Taco.

Boban has had a pretty successful NBA career despite coming over here at 27 and getting him at 20 years old with a 2nd round pick would be a huge win. Boban is thought to have a medical condition that made him grow so tall though (his dad is 5'9'') and a lot of times that makes a person less coordinated so not a great comparison.

Tacko never had near the production of Edey so also not a good comparison.

here is a clip of Van Gundy and some other guys talking about Boban and Zack Edey

Watch on YouTube

;t=10s

This is another really good video although a year old now

Watch on YouTube

[dmutombo321]

Love Zach Edey. Is going to be a steal for someone in the early second round

Sent from my motorola edge (2021) using RealGM mobile app

[JMAC3]

Assume the NBA decided to really covet the #2 pick and all the players are potentially available.
Who are the guys you are willing to move #2 for? It can be as obvious as Jokic or as wild as Jaden Ivey.
Let me see some full lists.

[amcoolio]

Trade the 2:
Jokic
Giannis
Luka
Wembanyama
Embiid
Curry
Booker
Tatum
Brown
Durant
Butler
SGA
Garland
Mobley
Bancharo
Haliburton
Edwards
Mikal
Bam
Jalen Williams
Franz Wagner (he's got a long career of 23/5/5 and solid defense ahead of him, like a bigger, more intense Gordon Hayward, I really wanted this guy man)
Zion (50/50 on this one)
Cade Cunningham (cutoff, I think he and LaMelo would be very intriguing)


Tough Omissions:
KAT (I honestly think we aren't that much better with him or without him, his defense is that bad)
Morant (we just can't)
Giddey
JJJ (would rather gamble)
Mitchell
Barnes (Need to see more, I would rather gamble)
Sharpe
Maxey
Brunson
Fox (Don't think he works with LaMelo)
Kawhi (Would freak out if not in LA)
George (Too injured)
Lauri (We would get ridiculed)
Sabonis (Ditto)
Siakam, Jrue, LeBron, AD - too old

Mostly I would gamble on Scoot/Miller taking us to the next level, even though most of the players above could be better