Indeed wrote:vulture wrote:what are everyone feelings on AJ Griffin?
I still can't figure out whether he will be good at the next level?
I like Griffin, I think he will rise up to the lottery.
Duke is stacked, so stats may not be favouring him.
His comparison is Bulter, and I think Griffin maybe a bit bigger and longer.
I've said a few times now that would be the player I'd zero in on as a former projected top 5 talent that has dropped due to injury. I think we'll be realistically drafting 11-17th (personally I'd be surprised if he falls any further than 14, 15) but I think it will be between him or Eason for our pick because we just won't be high up enough for some "hotter" prospects...
Firstly while I think Raps would likely prefer guys like Mathurin, Brown & Murray more --- I don't think any of them are falling outside of the top 10 and if any do then cancel AJ or Eason, it will probably be them. However I expect them to be gone. Mathurin is the least likely because you're talking about 6'7 guard that is suddenly exploding in a BIG NAME program, imo he might leapfrog Murray, and possibly PB Jr. Murray's stock is rising but it's still not the same level program, Brown has some elite physical tools & great passing BUT a lot less refined and more a "project" in the sense he'll need some development that bad teams can be very reluctant with and PB Jr was previously a top prospect but being at a small school and having off & on performances despite level of competition, could easily see him drop -- at least outside of the top 6 or 7 if he doesn't start stringing together some more impressive performances...
On the flipside I do think our team when healthy just is better than easily no less than 8 of the current bottom teams with POR a huge question mark because we'll see who flinches between Morey & POR for Lillard but if they remain this low in the standings, they really going to hold out on a rebuild when PHI will offer a treasure chest of picks for Dame?!? Maybe or maybe not but if they do flip CJ instead then maybe they'll overtake us and of course I would assume ATL should get going but that's no guarantee of that. Then you have at least 3 other teams with huge question marks --- the league has started to figure out predominantly left handed Randle & RJ, BOS has a new coach, new voice but the same internal problems that just seems to completely lack chemistry and personally I'm still not fully sold on WAS. I could see us being behind them in the standings but dreadfully beating them in a Play In.
All that blab to say I just don't see a top 10 pick happening personally. While ATL might not stay where they are, I do think one of NYK or BOS in particular will drop below us eventually and I don't rule both of them doing so in which horrible case were battling for that Play In *sigh*...my current top 10 mock draft would be
Smith
Chet
Paolo
Ivey
Brown
Mathurin
PB Jr
Hardy
Duren
Murray
That leaves players like Johnny Davis (reminds me of the type of personality Raps like), Ousmane Dieng (one of the 6'8+ versatile molds we like but has been fairly unimpressive), then you have Eason (6'8+ defensive player with offensive upside - seems to be our prototype) but I stil think AJ will get SERIOUS consideration with or ahead of Eason BECAUSE again he was a previous top 5 prospect, he has unique skill, size, strength and has great ability to create space with how well he moves laterally plus need we mention being the son of a current staff member who will obviously be vouching for his talented son who really was looking like a more explosive, athletic Jimmy Butler....he's just getting his legs back right now. IF he doesn't play his way back into the spotlight as he gets legs back & rhythm, to me that's another "OG" situation where a top talent dropped due to injury, I think they jump BUT again I could see them loving their prototype Eason too. Bit of a ramble sorry lol but just my 2c as I see it in this moment.