Official 2022 NBA Draft thread

[rascal]

If the spurs stay at 9 they are just going to miss Mathurin and Sharpe by one or two picks. There's a drop off after those two guys go off the board. That's why even a one pick difference can give you a much weaker prospect.

[mo7888]

Here's my top 30 as of now (subject to change since it's early still). I've broken it into tiers again...

Tier 1
1. Paolo Banchero
2. Jabari Smith
3. Chet Holmgren
4. Jaden Ivey
Tier 2
5. Keegan Murray
6. Shaedon Sharpe
7. Benedict Mathurin
8. AJ Griffin
Tier 3
9. Jalen Duren
10. Johnny Davis
11. Dyson Daniels
12. Ousmane Dieng
13. Patrick Baldwin Jr
Tier 4
14. Mark Williams
15. Tari Eason
16. Jeremy Sochan
17. EJ Liddell
Tier 5
18. Ochai Agbagi
19. Nikola Jovic
20. Malaki Branham
21. Jaden Hardy
22. Walker Kessler
Tier 6
23. Wendell Moore Jr
24. TyTy Washington Jr
25. Trevor Keels
26. Kenny Chandler
27. Kendall Brown
28. Christian Koloko
29. Blake Wesley
30. MarJon Beauchamp

[Degoat]

Here's my top 30 as of now (subject to change since it's early still). I've broken it into tiers again...

Tier 1
1. Paolo Banchero
2. Jabari Smith
3. Chet Holmgren
4. Jaden Ivey
Tier 2
5. Keegan Murray
6. Shaedon Sharpe
7. Benedict Mathurin
8. AJ Griffin
Tier 3
9. Jalen Duren
10. Johnny Davis
11. Dyson Daniels
12. Ousmane Dieng
13. Patrick Baldwin Jr
Tier 4
14. Mark Williams
15. Tari Eason
16. Jeremy Sochan
17. EJ Liddell
Tier 5
18. Ochai Agbagi
19. Nikola Jovic
20. Malaki Branham
21. Jaden Hardy
22. Walker Kessler
Tier 6
23. Wendell Moore Jr
24. TyTy Washington Jr
25. Trevor Keels
26. Kenny Chandler
27. Kendall Brown
28. Christian Koloko
29. Blake Wesley
30. MarJon Beauchamp

Solid tiers! I would be happy with anybody from tier 2 or 3.

[exstatic]

Smith can defend the perimeter but he's not the best at it. We talked a lot about him predraft in 2020, was one prospect spurstalk like. Imo he's a C but he can play some PF like Collins, tough the switching will be a little bit difficult with them.

The nice thing about having him at the 4 would be that it will no longer be profitable to lure our center to the perimeter when we have a weak side shot blocker to protect the rim. New Orleans carved us up with that play.

[exstatic]

Here's my top 30 as of now (subject to change since it's early still). I've broken it into tiers again...

Tier 1
1. Paolo Banchero
2. Jabari Smith
3. Chet Holmgren
4. Jaden Ivey
Tier 2
5. Keegan Murray
6. Shaedon Sharpe
7. Benedict Mathurin
8. AJ Griffin
Tier 3
9. Jalen Duren
10. Johnny Davis
11. Dyson Daniels
12. Ousmane Dieng
13. Patrick Baldwin Jr
Tier 4
14. Mark Williams
15. Tari Eason
16. Jeremy Sochan
17. EJ Liddell
Tier 5
18. Ochai Agbagi
19. Nikola Jovic
20. Malaki Branham
21. Jaden Hardy
22. Walker Kessler
Tier 6
23. Wendell Moore Jr
24. TyTy Washington Jr
25. Trevor Keels
26. Kenny Chandler
27. Kendall Brown
28. Christian Koloko
29. Blake Wesley
30. MarJon Beauchamp

I think PBJ will be a riser, too. There will be a few players who redeem bad years or bad situations at the combine.

[mystargtr34]

The nice thing about having him at the 4 would be that it will no longer be profitable to lure our center to the perimeter when we have a weak side shot blocker to protect the rim. New Orleans carved us up with that play.

Another reason I like Sochan as our pick is that he has the size and mobility to arguably guard 3 through 5 and provide some rim protection if Poeltl is defending the perimeter. You could put Sochan on a stretch big or the better offensive player of a 4 or 5 and allow Poeltl to defend the guy who will be closer to the rim so that he can be the rim protector. Right now you can't put Keldon or McDermott on any starting 5's in the league because they'll just get taken to the post or they will be exposed on the boards when the shot goes up.

But again, you draft the best player available regardless of fit IF and only IF you see that player as being head and shoulders above the better fit.

[BacktoBasics]

Another reason I like Sochan as our pick is that he has the size and mobility to arguably guard 3 through 5 and provide some rim protection if Poeltl is defending the perimeter. You could put Sochan on a stretch big or the better offensive player of a 4 or 5 and allow Poeltl to defend the guy who will be closer to the rim so that he can be the rim protector. Right now you can't put Keldon or McDermott on any starting 5's in the league because they'll just get taken to the post or they will be exposed on the boards when the shot goes up.

But again, you draft the best player available regardless of fit IF and only IF you see that player as being head and shoulders above the better fit.

Seems like another Kyle Anderson experiment.

[mystargtr34]

Seems like another Kyle Anderson experiment.

A 38 year old Sochan with 20 seasons under the belt coming off multiple knee surgeries who developed a slow hitch in his jump shot that he now decides to shoot from in front of his face is a good comparison to Kyle Anderson.

[The Truth #6]

Hottest name in the draft right now. He’s going top-15 for sure. Maybe even top-12.

Some nice analysis here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ1V9mcXW4A

I definitely see the Spurs looking into him. Seems to have a good feel for the game, which is important.

[Degoat]

Ousmane Dieng gives me big Nicholas Batum vibes, I honestly think he gets drafted in the top 12 and wouldn’t at all be surprised if he’s the spurs guy.

[BackHome]

One thing people need to understand his offensive has dramatically improved from the beginning of the season but his defense while not terrible is not good. I don’t know if it’s just he is a kid playing against grown ass men or if he just doesn’t like playing defense just something to think about.

[mystargtr34]

I wonder how many spots up the Spurs could move from 20 or 21 if they offer that pick + 23/24/25 and 38 picks. Up from 20 or 21 to 16 or 17?

What if they throw in Richardson to a team like the Cavs or Hornets who need perimeter defense + shooting. Maybe you can get to the Hornets 15, or the Cavs 14th pick. Richardson is a 37% career 3-pt shooter, has just come off a 42% 3FG season this year, above average defender. his 3 point % seems to go up when he's in a reduced role.

Cavs areas for improvement are at the 2-3 position (Allen, Mobley and Garland are their building blocks). Hornets need defense and shooting and a C. They also seem to be in win now mode. They'll likely take Duren or Williams with their 13th pick, they may be open to moving down from the 15th pick for an established player that fills an area of need.

The Spurs would obviously only do this if someone they really like is there at 14-17. That could be Dieng, that could be Branham, that could be Eason or even an Agbaji who would fill a 3-D need at the 3 position. To me there is a drop off after the top 9 picks to the 10-15 range. Then there is another drop off from the 10-15 group of prospects to the 16-25 group imo.

[DPG21920]

I wonder how many spots up the Spurs could move from 20 or 21 if they offer that pick + 23/24/25 and 38 picks. Up from 20 or 21 to 16 or 17?

What if they throw in Richardson to a team like the Cavs or Hornets who need perimeter defense + shooting. Maybe you can get to the Hornets 15, or the Cavs 14th pick. Richardson is a 37% career 3-pt shooter, has just come off a 42% 3FG season this year, above average defender. his 3 point % seems to go up when he's in a reduced role.

Cavs areas for improvement are at the 2-3 position (Allen, Mobley and Garland are their building blocks). Hornets need defense and shooting and a C. They also seem to be in win now mode. They'll likely take Duren or Williams with their 13th pick, they may be open to moving down from the 15th pick for an established player that fills an area of need.

The Spurs would obviously only do this if someone they really like is there at 14-17. That could be Dieng, that could be Branham, that could be Eason or even an Agbaji who would fill a 3-D need at the 3 position. To me there is a drop off after the top 9 picks to the 10-15 range. Then there is another drop off from the 10-15 group of prospects to the 16-25 group imo.

CHA seems to be the best chance. Jakob + pick 23 for pick 13

[Mr. Body]

CHA seems to be the best chance. Jakob + pick 23 for pick 13

Barf.

[rascal]

Not impressed with Dieng. Shys away from going to the basket and not a consistent shooter and just doesn't look very explosive or quick.

I don't see anything special in him and won't upgrade the current roster.

I'd rather have Agbagi. More explosive, more athletic and proven to be tough mentally in a big game.

[rascal]

If the Spurs make a trade to move up they need to target getting into the top 7 to get a player who has big upside and a difference maker.

[rascal]

Ousmane Dieng gives me big Nicholas Batum vibes, I honestly think he gets drafted in the top 12 and wouldn’t at all be surprised if he’s the spurs guy.

Agbagi is better. Compare film on both these guys. Agbagi is better.

[Gibbz]

Agbagi is better. Compare film on both these guys. Agbagi is better.

I like Agbaji but he's three years older than Dieng. I'm not comfortable taking anyone who's 22+ in the top 10 of this draft.

[ragas]

CHA seems to be the best chance. Jakob + pick 23 for pick 13

[buttsR4rebounding]

Ousmane Dieng gives me big Nicholas Batum vibes, I honestly think he gets drafted in the top 12 and wouldn’t at all be surprised if he’s the spurs guy.

The teams he had played on over the past 3 years have a combined 6-62 record. That alone gives me some concern.

[PhantomDashCam]

R. DeMurre couldn’t find your original post on Jake but you were the first post to have mentioned him. Kudos!

[exstatic]

CHA passed on him at the deadline, signed ‘TrezzHarrell, dropped into the play in and lost. There probably some regret there.

There’s a market of multiple teams that have shown interest in Jak. CHA, TOR, and probably sneaky interest from GS. He’ll pull a FRP, and I don’t mean a swap.

[exstatic]

Ousmane Dieng gives me big Nicholas Batum vibes, I honestly think he gets drafted in the top 12 and wouldn’t at all be surprised if he’s the spurs guy.

Batum was a Swiss Army knife, but like his FNT teammate Diaw, was considered an underachiever for most of his career. I’d rather swing for another Primo type, maybe Sharpe, than draft a glue guy at 9.

[rascal]

Batum was a Swiss Army knife, but like his FNT teammate Diaw, was considered an underachiever for most of his career. I’d rather swing for another Primo type, maybe Sharpe, than draft a glue guy at 9.

No doubt take the player with the higher upside. Sharpe far more upside than Dieng. But Sharpe is likely to be gone by pick 9.

[rascal]

I like Agbaji but he's three years older than Dieng. I'm not comfortable taking anyone who's 22+ in the top 10 of this draft.

I don't care about three years in difference.

Agbaji is the better athlete, more explosive and quicker and not afraid to come up big in the big games as evidenced by the tourney, more immediate upside, don't like Dieng at all for the 9th pick. I don't see anything in his game that says he'll be a future star
and go to player.