Official 2022 NBA Draft thread

[Degoat]

AJ Griffin has the risks of MPJ without the upside. He could drop like a rock if his medical records are not convincing.

True he could absolutely fall, I see the Pelicans trying to appease Zion though surround him with shooters, Griffin played for Duke, etc.

[Degoat]

[QUOTE=BatManu20;10727591]Put your mind at ease boys. Spurs will re-sign Fat Head this off-season and all of our PF woes will be absolved

Honestly thought about it and what if the spurs just view Keldon and Doug Mcderrmot as the teams PFs lol

[Ariel]

True he could absolutely fall, I see the Pelicans trying to appease Zion though surround him with shooters, Griffin played for Duke, etc.

Given recent events I'm more inclined to believe they'd be better off trading Zion and replacing him with Murray, than trying to appease him. Actually they'd have to be IDIOTS to do so, and the Pelicans FAILING TO EVEN MENTION HIM FOR NEXT SEASON TICKET HOLDERS points to them acknowledging this.
https://www.basketballnews.com/stori...ticket-holders


If I'm them I'd listen to offers and pull the trigger as soon as an acceptable one comes along. If not, I still draft a replacement (Keegan Murray or Banchero if they're lucky) and bring back Zion only to up his value and trade him as soon as that's the case. He's a ticking time bomb.

[BackHome]

I will be honest the more I watch Dieng the more I like the kid - Yeah it's kinda swinging for the fences but we have so many guards and not sold on Duren think you could get the same production with 25th pick on Ismael Kamagate.

[Ariel]

not sold on Duren think you could get the same production with 25th pick on Ismael Kamagate.

That's what I've been saying all along... the more I think about it, the more I like Kamagate at 25...

[Dejounte]

I might as well do my deep dive on Dieng then…

my initial reaction is that I’m concerned with guys like Dieng who hasn’t had experience as a focal point on offense. Maybe it can be developed, maybe it can’t. I think to take away the scoring load off DJ, you’ve got to have a certain type of mental makeup. DJ has to pretty much respect you if you’re going to take that many shots (I’m really speaking of any type of teammate here). It’s part of the team dynamic. Pop shares the same philosophy as we all know. You earn your keep on this team. Where Banchero would already be respected off the bat, guys who took more of a backseat in college won’t grasp quickly the whole “I’ll take what’s mine” mindset that most young players grow into.

Yes, there won’t be many players who fit this profile so beggars can’t be choosers.

[Russ]

Might as well repost this from another thread:

So, basically, what are the best attainable C prospects? I'd assume we'd be looking for a high-floor, relatively high-ceiling type, especially with the #9 pick (lottery notwithstanding). None of the projected top picks are C's either (I see Chet as more a PF from the little I've seen of him, at least until/if he fills out his body). What are the "big fish" out there?Thanks for any info, I like to at least know be familiar with the names to be interested in come draft night.

Other than possibly Duren, there's not a lot of upside in the centers likely to go in the 1st round.

You might take a look at Ismael Kamagate (France) with the Spurs 2d round pick (#38). (Though he might not be there by then.)

He's a little older (21) but he's averaging 11.8/6.3 in Paris shooting 648% from the floor and 664% from the line -- not disastrous for an athletic guy whose 6'11" and 230.

Negative -- he can't/doesn't shoot the three at all.

Most importantly, he looks to have a good motor -- he's a high-end offensive rebounder. In short, he moves pretty well and looks intriguing.

Given the dearth of centers in this draft he might be worth a look at some point down the draft.

[Degoat]

I like Dieng and wouldn’t mind if he’s the pick but I worry about Raw forwards like him after the Luka experiment lol As it stands I’d like to see
9th- Johnny Davis
20th- Blake Wesley/Marjon Beauchamp
25th- Ismael Kamagate
38th- Trayce Jackson Davis

[Ariel]

Might as well repost this from another thread:

If we don't take him at 25, he'd have to be passed on by Dallas (would be a great fit), Golden State (could really use him), Memphis, OKC (twice), Pacers (who might trade Turner and see him as a cheaper replacement), Portland and Sacramento before we get to 38. I think it's extremely unlikely he lasts that long with that many teams who could use him. If we want him (I do), I think we'd have to take him with the Boston pìck.

[Dejounte]

Ok, interesting. I like what I see so far. Dieng belongs in that group of “surprise box” ultra young and promising players: Sharpe, Miller, and PBJ.

“Surprise box” means that due to cir stance or environment, there isn’t enough tape on these guys for anyone to get a good grasp of how good they’ll be compared to the rest of the draft prospects

I’d rank the four like this right now:
1) Dieng
2) Miller
3) Sharpe
4) PBJ

these guys are either home run picks or flat out duds. Big gap.

Dieng has an impressive skillset for a guy his size. His 3 pt shooting is ugly though.

[Ariel]

Ok, interesting. I like what I see so far. Dieng belongs in that group of “surprise box” ultra young and promising players: Sharpe, Miller, and PBJ.

“Surprise box” means that due to cir stance or environment, there isn’t enough tape on these guys for anyone to get a good grasp of how good they’ll be compared to the rest of the draft prospects

I’d rank the four like this right now:
1) Dieng
2) Miller
3) Sharpe
4) PBJ

these guys are either home run picks or flat out duds. Big gap.

Dieng has an impressive skillset for a guy his size. His 3 pt shooting is ugly though.

I'd take Sharpe out of the picture, seems like he's been promised to get picked REALLY high (OKC?). Other than that, I like that list as a swing for the fences at 20... Jovic and Blake Wesley could be in that list too.
Calipari: "He was coming back, that was the plan. But all of the sudden some cir stances changed, and maybe he can be picked in those early early picks"

[Dejounte]

I'd take Sharpe out of the picture, seems like he's been promised to get picked REALLY high (OKC?). Other than that, I like that list as a swing for the fences at 20... Jovic and Blake Wesley could be in that list too.
Calipari: "He was coming back, that was the plan. But all of the sudden some cir stances changed, and maybe he can be picked in those early early picks"

I don’t think you can get promises at this point. Those happen in pre-draft individual<>team meetings. More likely he liked where he was being mocked and he turned back on his word to his coach. Not a good look, honestly. Shows a bit of his character.

[Ariel]

I don’t think you can get promises at this point. Those happen in pre-draft individual<>team meetings. More likely he liked where he was being mocked and he turned back on his word to his coach. Not a good look, honestly. Shows a bit of his character.

Officially, you're right. But there's all kind of comments that could slid under the table. Maybe not promises per se, but if he gets enough hints...

And I agree on his character. The whole season was a fiasco, there's a lot of murky stuff going on about his eligibility and so on... doesn't speak well of him as a person, and that's not the kind of player I'd invest a high pick on.

[rascal]

I don’t think you can get promises at this point. Those happen in pre-draft individual<>team meetings. More likely he liked where he was being mocked and he turned back on his word to his coach. Not a good look, honestly. Shows a bit of his character.

Good thing you're not running the Spurs if you put Sharpe behind Miller and Dieng.

[rascal]

I don’t think you can get promises at this point. Those happen in pre-draft individual<>team meetings. More likely he liked where he was being mocked and he turned back on his word to his coach. Not a good look, honestly. Shows a bit of his character.

Good thing you're not running the Spurs if you put Sharpe behind Miller and Dieng.

Doesn't show anything negative on his character, Calipari even says he's a good kid and supports him going to the NBA if he is a top pick and he's in discussions with his family on what he'll do.

[Degoat]

You can’t question a young man’s character when he could be guaranteed millions of dollars for changing his mind lol he would be insanely stupid to go back to school

[rascal]

If we don't take him at 25, he'd have to be passed on by Dallas (would be a great fit), Golden State (could really use him), Memphis, OKC (twice), Pacers (who might trade Turner and see him as a cheaper replacement), Portland and Sacramento before we get to 38. I think it's extremely unlikely he lasts that long with that many teams who could use him. If we want him (I do), I think we'd have to take him with the Boston pìck.

Agree that Boston pick would be where to take him. I don't like too many other players around that pick.

[Ariel]

You can’t question a young man’s character when he could be guaranteed millions of dollars for changing his mind lol he would be insanely stupid to go back to school

It goes much deeper than that. There are serious questions as to whether he actually graduated high school in time or not, at first it was reported he didn't and that's why he wasn't playing this year, now all of the sudden the paperwork appeared and he graduated on time, which makes you wonder why he didn't play in college in the first place... there are a lot of murky things surrounding him, a lot of coincidental events that sound extremely su ious.

If he handles himself this way now and you still invest heavily on him now (it would take a top 4 pick to get him, IMO), you don't get to play surprised when he turns on you a few years down the road.

[exstatic]

AJ Griffin has the risks of MPJ without the upside. He could drop like a rock if his medical records are not convincing.

MPJ has a genetic condition that affects his connective tissue. His brother and sister have it, too. Not the same thing as recovering from a sprained knee.

[exstatic]

If we don't take him at 25, he'd have to be passed on by Dallas (would be a great fit), Golden State (could really use him), Memphis, OKC (twice), Pacers (who might trade Turner and see him as a cheaper replacement), Portland and Sacramento before we get to 38. I think it's extremely unlikely he lasts that long with that many teams who could use him. If we want him (I do), I think we'd have to take him with the Boston pìck.

The Spurs don’t think like that. They create an entire draft board of players, and at each pick, they just pick the highest remaining player on their board.

[ZeusWillJudge]

It goes much deeper than that. There are serious questions as to whether he actually graduated high school in time or not, at first it was reported he didn't and that's why he wasn't playing this year, now all of the sudden the paperwork appeared and he graduated on time, which makes you wonder why he didn't play in college in the first place... there are a lot of murky things surrounding him, a lot of coincidental events that sound extremely su ious.

If he handles himself this way now and you still invest heavily on him now (it would take a top 4 pick to get him, IMO), you don't get to play surprised when he turns on you a few years down the road.

I'm afraid that kind of stuff is pretty much baked intot he system now. Players commit to a school, and then de-commit. It used to be a rarity, because once you'd given your word it was expected that you would honor it. Now they do it all the time. And transfers? Have you been paying attention to how much that is happening? Players used to have to get permission from their old coach, and sit out a year. Now they get a one-time pass, where they can transfer at will, and begin to play for the new team immediately. I'm not going to try to say whether it's good or bad - it just is. But money is ultimately the reason for it, and that mindset is going to travel upward into those same players' NBA careers. You can't wish it away.

I long for the days when I used to be nostalgic.

[CGD]

^ NCAAB is a relic of the past.

I can see a world in 5 years where the majority of top FRPs emerge from GLeague and/or Euro Pro leagues, with college picks fading into late FRPs and SRPs. The gulf between pro and college talent is so damn big now (it’s increasingly painful to watch the college product) that i can see the GLeague Ignite model carving out a nice niche

[rankingtear]

^ NCAAB is a relic of the past.

I can see a world in 5 years where the majority of top FRPs emerge from GLeague and/or Euro Pro leagues, with college picks fading into late FRPs and SRPs. The gulf between pro and college talent is so damn big now (it’s increasingly painful to watch the college product) that i can see the GLeague Ignite model carving out a nice niche

Ignite has 1 first rounder next draft?

[exstatic]

^ NCAAB is a relic of the past.

I can see a world in 5 years where the majority of top FRPs emerge from GLeague and/or Euro Pro leagues, with college picks fading into late FRPs and SRPs. The gulf between pro and college talent is so damn big now (it’s increasingly painful to watch the college product) that i can see the GLeague Ignite model carving out a nice niche

I think the image and likeness money will kill that momentum. The college product is painful to watch because of the 40 second shot clock, not the talent level, which is far better than the gleague. If they would cut the shot clock to 24 or 25 seconds, it would increase possessions and scoring. There is so much dead time spent not attacking or trying to score.

[ZeusWillJudge]

I think the image and likeness money will kill that momentum. The college product is painful to watch because of the 40 second shot clock, not the talent level, which is far better than the gleague. If they would cut the shot clock to 24 or 25 seconds, it would increase possessions and scoring. There is so much dead time spent not attacking or trying to score.

Yeah, I agree about the shot clock. But I don't know about the affect of image/likeness money. The change in transfer rules helps the big programs that bring in the big money to the system. And the image/likeness money will mean that these kids will be able to have an established brand before they complete 1 year of college. The really good ones will come into the league as congolmerates, and with leverage over the teams. "Do X,Y,Z or I'll take my entourage elsewhere." And that will REALLY make it tough on teams from small media markets.

Again, good or bad is pretty much beside the point. It just is. I hope I'm wrong, but I think we're approaching a tipping point where the spectacle is bigger than the game itself.