Official 2022 NBA Draft thread

[duncan2150]

It’s getting difficult to look at lottery prospects given the low but increasing chance the Spurs make the playoffs and end up with a 15th or lower pick. On one hand, if they do the playoffs, that must mean other players aside from Murray stepped up their level of play and increased their trade value. On the other hand, it’s a lower pick. Well, if someone raised their trade value enough to attach with the Spurs’ FRP, they could move up and attain either Baldwin Jr or Keegan Murray. That would be a dream.

On that same note, if they do make the playoffs, then that must mean someone else on the team would have established himself as a foundational piece (think Keldon increasing his scoring output and showing us he can be counted on for a bucket). That would make everybody excited.

It’s all unlikely, especially with COVID, and maybe the Spurs end up between #8 to #12 like some expected. And in that range, I hope we get a chance to draft one of those two prospects I mentioned.

I agree with you

About Keegan i saw that tweet a few days ago and that scares me a little bit. We'll see as the season goes, with the tournament....

[BackHome]

One thing I have done lately is look into how draft picks play against good teams - If you look at stats they look good but then you see a player who averages 10 rebounds had like 25 against a team that has a loosing record for that last 20 years..lol

As far as Keegan I think he will be a good player he does a little bit of everything if he was two inches taller he would probably be a top 5 player. I think he could go anywhere from 8 to 16 just depends on how teams look at his age and his fit for them

[duncan2150]

Thanks Dejounte for responding this draft is really funny for me a lot of potential as far as players but have to dig through the weeds to find that complete player.

I will say this if we don’t draft in the top 3 then I am almost 85% certain that we take a SG or SF - This draft is really weak when it comes to PF and C after the 3rd pick. This sucks for us as PF is a real need and if we do draft in the 10 to 13 range I don’t see anyone that is either a bench player or potential aka Luka. I do think that with our 3 picks will find Walkers and Forbes replacement which is what I look for each draft coming away with a player that is better then a starter or depending on where we draft better then bench player just getting better talent every year

If we are late lottery i think some 3/4 like Tari Eason from LSU, Nikola Jovic( potential) or Aj Griffin( more a true SF imo) could be in the mix. Overall you're right the are not a lot of PF/C after the top picks.

[duncan2150]

One thing I have done lately is look into how draft picks play against good teams - If you look at stats they look good but then you see a player who averages 10 rebounds had like 25 against a team that has a loosing record for that last 20 years..lol

As far as Keegan I think he will be a good player he does a little bit of everything if he was two inches taller he would probably be a top 5 player. I think he could go anywhere from 8 to 16 just depends on how teams look at his age and his fit for them

Totally and the fact that he's 21 yrs old is also a little concern. Overall i think he could be good in the league but we need to see more of him against big teams.

[BackHome]

If we are late lottery i think some 3/4 like Tari Eason from LSU, Nikola Jovic( potential) or Aj Griffin( more a true SF imo) could be in the mix. Overall you're right the are not a lot of PF/C after the top picks.

It's crazy how players can move up and down the draft a few weeks ago Tari Eason was a second rounder on almost every board now i have seen him move up to 16 in the first. I was really looking at him as a second and he reminds me of Brown who I think will be a top 8 pick but I think Eason is a better defender. And when I say better defender I think he will be an elite defender in the NBA.

As far as Jovic I am a little torn on how Luka turned out -but I do like that he is a point type of player

Griffin was looking like a mid to late first rounder and I even saw him in the second rounds in a couple of mocks. But his last few games Duke has been giving him more minutes and he is responding if he continues I think he will jump right back in top 10

[Dejounte]

It's crazy how players can move up and down the draft a few weeks ago Tari Eason was a second rounder on almost every board now i have seen him move up to 16 in the first. I was really looking at him as a second and he reminds me of Brown who I think will be a top 8 pick but I think Eason is a better defender. And when I say better defender I think he will be an elite defender in the NBA.

As far as Jovic I am a little torn on how Luka turned out -but I do like that he is a point type of player

Griffin was looking like a mid to late first rounder and I even saw him in the second rounds in a couple of mocks. But his last few games Duke has been giving him more minutes and he is responding if he continues I think he will jump right back in top 10

I haven’t watched much Jovic because like you, I’m traumatized by the Luka experience. However, my first impression is that Jovic has natural ball handling capabilities whereas Luka always looked like a big man trying to show off his crossover moves he learned from YouTube.

[KingKev]

I really hope the Spurs keep it simple with this pick and get too fancy.

[BatManu20]

Spurs should be tanking hard for that top pick right now so they can draft this kid. Easily the best prospect in this draft imo and will change whatever franchise he’s drafted by.

[Dejounte]

IMO,
1. Banchero
2. Baldwin Jr.
3. Jaden Ivey
4. Keegan Murray
5. EJ Liddell

Focused on shot creation here and on players who look like they can carry an offense without fading into the background. Other prospects don’t really standout in this area.

[BackHome]

I would replace Baldwin with Bennedict Mathurin and AJ. Griffin. Out of those two Griffin is younger but Bennedict gets you points all over and rebounds at a high rate. To me Baldwin is a 3 an D player not impressed so far - But Smith is my DREAM.........

[duncan2150]

Spurs should be tanking hard for that top pick right now so they can draft this kid. Easily the best prospect in this draft imo and will change whatever franchise he’s drafted by.

Really like himn i also think he's the best fit with Banchero if we talk about top picks. But i hope he'll go more inside, actually he is playing pretty exclusively on the perimeter.

[D-Robinson 50 fan]

Does anybody else see (less skilled) Michael Beasley when looking at how Banchero plays?

of course what got mostly in Beasley’s way was his work ethic and loving to smoke a bit too much. Lol. He wasn’t a bad NBA player, just underwhelming for where he was picked In the draft.

[duncan2150]

Does anybody else see (less skilled) Michael Beasley when looking at how Banchero plays?

of course what got mostly in Beasley’s way was his work ethic and loving to smoke a bit too much. Lol. He wasn’t a bad NBA player, just underwhelming for where he was picked In the draft.

Banchero is bigger, his background is solid. Beasley was killing it back in the days , Banchero is more poised imo. I also think he's more complete than Beas, better passer. They have some similarities as SF/PF, playing with their strenght.

But overall Beas was better offensively.

I would replace Baldwin with Bennedict Mathurin and AJ. Griffin. Out of those two Griffin is younger but Bennedict gets you points all over and rebounds at a high rate. To me Baldwin is a 3 an D player not impressed so far - But Smith is my DREAM.........

Mathurin looks solid, do you think he is strickly a SG ? imo he can play SG and SF and maybe PF one day if he gains some lbs.

[TD 21]

The obvious Banchero comp is Randle or a less athletic prime Griffin. Smith will likely be more malleable given the probability of his being a better shooter/defender, but for a team in dire need of an offensive centerpiece the former makes more sense.

[Dejounte]

I don’t think people understand how historic Keegan’s season is IF he keeps it up

He’s having a better college season than Durant did. Think about that for a second.

His PER and WS/40 is in the territory of all-time NBA greats. Not kidding. Look it up.

[Chinook]

So I am not really into college scouting, but I did like what I've seen from Tari Eason. He feels like an upgraded KBD, and that's the kind of player that can make a Johnson/Poeltl pairing work. I don't know if I'd consider any of the young vets on the team as a legit core, but looking at Murray, White/Vassell, Johnson and Poeltl as the assumed starting four in a couple of years, they need a guy to compliment them. By all means, if a BerPA is available, go with that. But I wouldn't be against reaching for Eason pretty high up there.

[BatManu20]

I don’t think people understand how historic Keegan’s season is IF he keeps it up

He’s having a better college season than Durant did. Think about that for a second.

His PER and WS/40 is in the territory of all-time NBA greats. Not kidding. Look it up.

Latest BR Mock Draft has us taking him at 8. I personally hope we get a top-5 pick so we can select one of the blue chip prospects. But this kid is definitely intriguing. Kind of cerebral and not very athletic, but is a smart, skilled, high IQ player. Seems like Spurs material.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndica...tions.amp.html

[TD 21]

I don’t think people understand how historic Keegan’s season is IF he keeps it up

He’s having a better college season than Durant did. Think about that for a second.

His PER and WS/40 is in the territory of all-time NBA greats. Not kidding. Look it up.

Looking into him some more, he also fits the Spurs stereotype.

If the Baldwin Jr. comparison is Cam Johnson, his is probably Patrick Williams, who the Spurs supposedly badly wanted in '20.

[rascal]

Why do people want the Spurs to get unathletic players?

I want athleticism and exciting players on the Spurs. It's time to move away from the unathletic targets.

[duncan2150]

Why do people want the Spurs to get unathletic players?

I want athleticism and exciting players on the Spurs. It's time to move away from the unathletic targets.

I think you used the bad word, maybe you want an explosive player or an elite athlet but murray is not an unathletic player.

[BackHome]

I will say this if we don’t get a top 10 pick in this draft when we do pick we’re really going to have to reach to me there is a serious drop off in talent after 10th pick. We’re definitely talking G League for two years type of player

[BatManu20]

I will say this if we don’t get a top 10 pick in this draft when we do pick we’re really going to have to reach to me there is a serious drop off in talent after 10th pick. We’re definitely talking G League for two years type of player

There’s a serious drop off in talent after the 8th pick tbh. And Spurs ain’t getting a top-5 pick cause they’re too proud to tank (even though tanking is literally the only reason this franchise is even relevant in the first place).

They’ll be selecting around the 10th pick again this year and likely peddling in mediocrity for years to come tbh. Depressing but it is what it is.

[duncan2150]

There’s a serious drop off in talent after the 8th pick tbh. And Spurs ain’t getting a top-5 pick cause they’re too proud to tank (even though tanking is literally the only reason this franchise is even relevant in the first place).

They’ll be selecting around the 10th pick again this year and likely peddling in mediocrity for years to come tbh. Depressing but it is what it is.

I don't know how you can say that. I really don't think there's a drop off after 8 maybe after the first 3-4( ivey banchero smith and holmgren).

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

I don't know how you can say that. I really don't think there's a drop off after 8 maybe after the first 3-4( ivey banchero smith and holmgren).

I agree. Huge drop off after 4. But then - Brown, Duren, Hardy, Mathurin, Griffin, Baldwin Jr, Murray, Davis, maybe even add Washington and Houstan to this tier. I don't see much between these currently. I also expect Jeremy Sochan and Tari Eason to end up rising to this group as well. Peyton Watson too, if he could actually hit a shot or two.

[duncan2150]

I agree. Huge drop off after 4. But then - Brown, Duren, Hardy, Mathurin, Griffin, Baldwin Jr, Murray, Davis, maybe even add Washington and Houstan to this tier. I don't see much between these currently. I also expect Jeremy Sochan and Tari Eason to end up rising to this group as well. Peyton Watson too, if he could actually hit a shot or two.

Totally agree with your list, there's a big group of good prospects after the top 4.