2021 NBA Draft Thread

[ThunderBolt]

We should keep a running tally of how many mocks from national figures actually have Barnes in the top 5. Chad Ford has him at 4.

The athletic staff did a full draft and they had him at four.

CBS sports' most recent one out yesterday has him at 5. That writer says an NBA Scout even said he wouldn't take Kuminga in the lottery at all (though, to be clear, the writer went ahead and slotted him at 6 with us).

One of the guys on locked on nba draft podcast is pretty low on him. I didn’t watch the all the g league games but it sure seems that some people are getting carried away with devaluing him.

[ThunderBolt]

Lots of people talk about building through the draft but lots less talk about how important it is just to get really lucky with the guy you pick. Look at Booker at pick 13. If they pick Cam Payne that year (who went 14) are they in the Finals? Or Jokic and Draymond being picked in the second round, are their respective teams as successful if they end up with guys that never make the roster instead?

That's why I'd still like to hold onto a great many of these picks even if it seems like something that will be useless.

Even Shai at 11. Picking in the last third of the draft gets tougher you are exactly right on luck. Presti has said as much too. It’s easy to wonder what could’ve been with the houston pick but were also fortunate Miami came back down to earth. Their pick not being in the mid 20s is huge. Pairing 16 & 18 might let us end up with a better player than we get at six.

[Dadouv47]

What's the athletic mock draft?

Yeah we need luck in the draft. A lot of VERY good prospects but no Zion/AD/Lebron type of guy. I love Cade but he's a bit overrated somehow. Would love to get Green but not sure I'm willing to give up a ton of picks for him.

We badly need to draft a future option 1 but at this point if we are able to draft a future very good player (option 3?) and a future good starter, it's already pretty good.

[Old Man Game]

The athletic staff did a full draft and they had him at four.

CBS sports' most recent one out yesterday has him at 5. That writer says an NBA Scout even said he wouldn't take Kuminga in the lottery at all (though, to be clear, the writer went ahead and slotted him at 6 with us).

One of the guys on locked on nba draft podcast is pretty low on him. I didn’t watch the all the g league games but it sure seems that some people are getting carried away with devaluing him.

It also seems like Barnes just honestly helped himself that much by showing up in Chicago and the combine and doing really well. Whereas Kuminga played it cool and, when coupled with his mediocre G league play, didn't do himself any favors.

[Dn4sty]

Ayo Dosunmu in OKC for draft stuff/workout

[Dn4sty]

We might be getting several new members to this forum

[ThunderBolt]

We might be getting several new members to this forum

Why is that?

[Dn4sty]

We might be getting several new members to this forum

Why is that?

I was having a Twitter convo with several knowledgeable Thunder fans and mentioned realgm

[Dadouv47]

We might be getting several new members to this forum

Why is that?

I was having a Twitter convo with several knowledgeable Thunder fans and mentioned realgm

Not a bad idea. We have more picks this year than active members

[retrobro90]

Ayo Dosunmu in OKC for draft stuff/workout

Loved watching Ayo play for the Illini. Would love Kofi Cockburn on OKC as well. Two guys I'd be happy to root for.

I like Ayo as an upside swing too. The knock I hear from most evaluators is about how he dominated the ball in college *and needs to learn how to play without it* but OKC should still be looking for guys who can be high level creators. Ayo has the size and strength for that potential to be there.

[ThunderBolt]

Read on Twitter

[Dadouv47]

Read on Twitter

As a belgian I should be happy about this but Vrenz looks like a Poku 2.0 so not sure it makes sense....

[Devilanche]

Read on Twitter

As a belgian I should be happy about this but Vrenz looks like a Poku 2.0 so not sure it makes sense....

If it’s one of the second rounder I can see why it make sense. But if it’s the 18 Abit hard to see the allure.

[ThunderBolt]

Read on Twitter

[thedoppelganger]

https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-draft-workouts/

Running list of who has worked out for which teams so far. Would expect we'll start hearing more about the first rounders working out this week as all the combine/pro day events in Chicago are wrapped up.

[retrobro90]

Watched one (1) scouting video on YouTube about Vrenz. Looks really interesting. Especially the playmaking. Would be happy taking that kind of swing with one of our 2nds. Happy overall with the list of guys they've brought in for workouts.

[jambalaya]

My draft top 30 big board (updated to version 4, check for later editions:

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Last 6 in following tweet.

Not a mock draft, a big board.

[ThunderBolt]

Watched one (1) scouting video on YouTube about Vrenz. Looks really interesting. Especially the playmaking. Would be happy taking that kind of swing with one of our 2nds. Happy overall with the list of guys they've brought in for workouts.

Rafael Barlowe has been high on him for a while. I would be thrilled if we got him in the second round and I wouldn’t be too upset if we took him at 18.

[Dn4sty]

My draft top 30 big board:

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Last 6 in following tweet.

Not a mock draft, a big board.

A response is probably pretty long, but I’d be interested in hearing the rationale for Wagner and Kispert

[jambalaya]

Wagner- size, good at a lot of stuff and youth (something I rarely emphasize but he has it on top of the other 2).

Kispert, elite skill, better at most other stuff than often thought.

Imo Green and Barnes have fewer strengths and more weaknesses.

I see no superstars among these 4. Or probably even stars. Maybe 1-2 borderline stars. Certainly will be players and fans that expect stars or superstars and will judge what they get as close enough. I am less likely to get there but we'll see.