2023 NBA Draft Thread

[JMAC3]

Ajay Mitchell used to remind me a bit of Killian Hayes. Interesting to see him with the Pistons jersey here... He seems like a team 4 year guy so I doubt he leaves. Not sure who else to go with at pick 4. Right now I have Wilson or Durisic. Wouldn't mind Michell and part ways will Melo for a bunch of picks. Who knows he could declare. Highy doubt it tho


Dude seems like he has a broke jumper. 26.7% from 3 on only 2 attempts per game? I might take him in the 40s at the soonest.

UCSB might have played the countries softest schedule. They legit played zero power 5 schools until Baylor waxed them by 18.

Although I will admit he isn't Curry lol, Stats are the biggest cover ups of the truth in life. They are one of the biggest problems in the world. Best to watch the games...

The lack of volume speaks for itself, he has made 36 threes total in 62 career games on 29%.

[LofJ]

A lot of guys we could take a look at in this game. Kobe Bufkin and Jett Howard (Juan Howard's kid) with Michigan and Reece Beekman with Virginia.

I really like Beekman. He's strong, he can attack the basket, he has a good first step, he's a great defender, and he's a solid shooter and passer. Tony Bennett's guys have killed it as role players in the league. I think Beekman is going to be another one that sticks in the league for a while. He'd be a great pick at 34.

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[JMAC3]

I am getting to the point where I just need to know the draft lottery order.

[Braggins]

Read on Twitter

[LofJ]

I love Anthony Black. I live in Northwest Arkansas and went to a few of his games this season. He's a ball of energy on defense, always moving and creating chaos. He plays hard (sometimes too hard) and tries to do too much leading to turnovers. But next to a capable playmaker like LaMelo I think he'd blossom. If he was a better shooter he'd be the ideal replacement for either Rozier or Hayward. If we don't land Wembanyama or Miller he's my guy.

[Braggins]

I love Anthony Black. I live in Northwest Arkansas and went to a few of his games this season. He's a ball of energy on defense, always moving and creating chaos. He plays hard (sometimes too hard) and tries to do too much leading to turnovers. But next to a capable playmaker like LaMelo I think he'd blossom. If he was a better shooter he'd be the ideal replacement for either Rozier or Hayward. If we don't land Wembanyama or Miller he's my guy.

He didn't look as explosive in the tournament, but they were saying during last nights game that he was wearing a walking boot in between games because of the ankle sprain he suffered in the SEC tourny. He was quiet in the Kansas game, but he was on Dick the entire game and effectively neutralized him.

Hes my guy at this point after Wemby, Scoot, and Miller. I have him as BPA at #4 (my 4-9 is super close tbf) and he also conveniently is a perfect fit for the "Lonzo" role next to LaMelo. He has the psychotic drive to not lose and the personality to be a shrewd game manager. He would be the guy that initiates the offense and manages the little stuff while basically setting LaMelo up to make most of the plays. On defense he would be the primary PoA defender and you can easily hide LaMelo on the worst wing size player. Hes a sort of mix between Lonzo, Josh Giddey, and Dyson Daniels.

Hes basically a real version of what people are theoretically hoping the Thompson twins are (minus the extra twitchy athleticism).

[LofJ]

I love Anthony Black. I live in Northwest Arkansas and went to a few of his games this season. He's a ball of energy on defense, always moving and creating chaos. He plays hard (sometimes too hard) and tries to do too much leading to turnovers. But next to a capable playmaker like LaMelo I think he'd blossom. If he was a better shooter he'd be the ideal replacement for either Rozier or Hayward. If we don't land Wembanyama or Miller he's my guy.

He didn't look as explosive in the tournament, but they were saying during last nights game that he was wearing a walking boot in between games because of the ankle sprain he suffered in the SEC tourny. He was quiet in the Kansas game, but he was on Dick the entire game and effectively neutralized him.

Hes my guy at this point after Wemby, Scoot, and Miller. I have him as BPA at #4 (my 4-9 is super close tbf) and he also conveniently is a perfect fit for the "Lonzo" role next to LaMelo. He has the psychotic drive to not lose and the personality to be a shrewd game manager. He would be the guy that initiates the offense and manages the little stuff while basically setting LaMelo up to make most of the plays. On defense he would be the primary PoA defender and you can easily hide LaMelo on the worst wing size player. Hes a sort of mix between Lonzo, Josh Giddey, and Dyson Daniels.

Hes basically a real version of what people are theoretically hoping the Thompson twins are (minus the extra twitchy athleticism).

I want to like the Thompsons, especially Ausar. But people fool themselves every draft imagining the best case scenario with athletic guys like them. It's hard to judge hard good they really are when they played in an unstructured rec league with guys 2-3 years younger than them. Those players were talented, so they weren't going up against scrubs. There's definitely a reason people are intrigued by them.

But still give me the guy that is the same size as them, a year younger, that has demonstrated he posseses a high basketball IQ, plays hard, has great size for his skillet, and stood out in a structured environment against other NBA prospects. Maybe someone will hit a home run with the Thompsons, but I think Anthony Black will prove to be a better player than both of them.

[SWedd523]

I don't necessarily disagree but the fact remains that most high level players are plus athletes. In order to be a great player these days without being a great athlete you either need to be a phenomenal shooter or a big Center.

[JMAC3]

Black is fine, but I also worry about his athleticism. Both vertically and quickness wise. He has a bit of Josh Giddey in his game where he just kind of lulls defenders to sleep without doing too much with the ball. I like him, but he is more in the 8 range for me.

[fatlever]

trade back, get 2 lotto picks in 8 to 12 range, select -> black & dick, then with the 2nd first, grab the best big who can shoot
end up with -> big, black, dick

[Braggins]

I don't necessarily disagree but the fact remains that most high level players are plus athletes. In order to be a great player these days without being a great athlete you either need to be a phenomenal shooter or a big Center.

Not saying you were claiming he wasn't, but Black is a plus athlete. Hes just a guy who has good traits across the board, but doesn't necessarily wow you with any one aspect of his athleticism, except maybe his motor, whereas the Thompsons are next level. They look like Jalen Green in the way they glide around like they are hovering on air, but are a couple inches taller with better frames.

AB still has plus athleticism on a 6'6"+ 200 lb frame, which is a pretty awesome for a PG.

[JMAC3]

I don't necessarily disagree but the fact remains that most high level players are plus athletes. In order to be a great player these days without being a great athlete you either need to be a phenomenal shooter or a big Center.

Not saying you were claiming he wasn't, but Black is a plus athlete. Hes just a guy who has good traits across the board, but doesn't necessarily wow you with any one aspect of his athleticism, except maybe his motor, whereas the Thompsons are next level. They look like Jalen Green in the way they glide around like they are hovering on air, but are a couple inches taller with better frames.

AB still has plus athleticism on a 6'6"+ 200 lb frame, which is a pretty awesome for a PG.

plus athleticism seems like a stretch to me. Seems average at best from what I have seen.

[fatlever]

Nba draft net had us taking Taylor Hendricks at #4. is he moving g up into consensus top 10? What's his story?

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[fatlever]

Who in the 2 to 10 range is a guy who can make a living at the FT line?

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[Braggins]

Nba draft net had us taking Taylor Hendricks at #4. is he moving g up into consensus top 10? What's his story?

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I like him quite a bit. Ive had him top 6 for a while. Hes a long versatile PF who defends the perimeter, offers decent rim protection, pretty good rebounding, and shoots 40% from 3pt on good volume. Hes skinny, but has a decent frame and pretty good athleticism. He can probably play some small ball 5. He has aspects that remind me of a bunch of different useful guys that have been drafted recently, but I'm not sure who the best one to one comparison is (theres probably a good one).

Taylor Hendricks ~ PF ~ 6'9" 210
Central Florida (AAC) ~ Fr ~ 11/22/2003 (19.6)
per75 poss: 19.8 pts ~ 9.2 reb ~ 1.8 ast ~ 1.2 stl ~ 2.3 blk ~ 1.9 tov ~ 2.6 pf
53.5% 2pt(8.9) ~ 39.4% 3pt(6.0) ~ 78.2% ft(4.2) ~ 58.9% ts
122.5 ORtg ~ 97.2 DRtg ~ +7.9 bpm (+5.4/+2.5) ~ 21.2% usg ~ 0.96 ast/tov

[Braggins]

Who in the 2 to 10 range is a guy who can make a living at the FT line?

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I haven't seen per possession free throw attempt stats on the Thompson twins and I'm not sure about Scoots free throw attempts because of the goofy GLeague free throw rule, but among NCAA guys in the mix, the top per possession free throw attempt rates are Kyle Filipowski, Keyonte George, and Anthony Black, in that order. Sensabaugh and Miller are pretty close to those guys. Black had the worst % of that group at 70.5%.

I'm guessing the Thompson twins would be in the mix in terms of their attempt rates based on their per36 minute stats.

Keyonte George being that high surprised me because of his lack of size and athleticism, but he has a nice skill level and fairly deep bag for a 19 year old.

[SWedd523]

I don't necessarily disagree but the fact remains that most high level players are plus athletes. In order to be a great player these days without being a great athlete you either need to be a phenomenal shooter or a big Center.

Not saying you were claiming he wasn't, but Black is a plus athlete. Hes just a guy who has good traits across the board, but doesn't necessarily wow you with any one aspect of his athleticism, except maybe his motor, whereas the Thompsons are next level. They look like Jalen Green in the way they glide around like they are hovering on air, but are a couple inches taller with better frames.

AB still has plus athleticism on a 6'6"+ 200 lb frame, which is a pretty awesome for a PG.

I don't see AB stepping into the NBA and being consider an above average athlete

[JMAC3]

Nba draft net had us taking Taylor Hendricks at #4. is he moving g up into consensus top 10? What's his story?

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Modern day 4 in the PJ/John Collins build. Stretch the floor, block some shots and still mobile enough to guard on the perimeter.

[JMAC3]

Really wish college basketball tracked dunks, feels like it is a great tool to evaluate prospects functional athleticism. So difficult to find.

[JMAC3]

Really wish college basketball tracked dunks, feels like it is a great tool to evaluate prospects functional athleticism. So difficult to find.

Semi off topic but Jalen Suggs only has 5 dunks this year. He was probably heavily overrated as an athlete coming into the NBA.