I knew Charlotte would mess this up.
Jordan still making decisions for them.
Scoot will end up being much better. They gave Portland the better player.
Portland will probably even keep Scoot if they don't get what they want in a trade.
It's a playoff team already if Lamelo can stay healthy
I knew Charlotte would mess this up.
Jordan still making decisions for them.
Scoot will end up being much better. They gave Portland the better player.
Portland will probably even keep Scoot if they don't get what they want in a trade.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...nd-predictions
Newest mock from BR has Cason Wallace going last out of the commonly discussed Bufkin/Hood-Schifino/Wallace trio…hope this is the case as it’ll make him the most attainable while I view him as the best of the 3.
The Spurs didn't just win the lottery when they won the lottery, they dodged a bullet by not landing at #3 and possibly being forced to choose between Miller and someone like a Thompson twin.
I would be happy with Leonard Miller or Dariq Whitehead at 33. Big wings/combo forwards, first-round talent, high upside.
It's been an interesting process for the four of them. Hood-Schifino is by far the worst statistically but he could go before Bufkin and Wallace. I mean, his metrics look really bad, but he has size and glimpses.
The things I'm reading on Cason Wallace is that teams think he has a ceiling offensively, if they like him on defense. Suggests they may see him more of a backup or spot starter or otherwise doesn't have the 'star' upside. So it doesn't seem like he's getting the Kentucky dividend some claimed he would.
But then he cancelled workouts at one point, so he might even have a promise higher than we think...
Theres a video (i dont have the link at my fingertips rn) of Wallace and NSJ shooting in a workout at Washington that got a good bit of exposure a week or so ago. His mechanics weren't as smooth as you'd like. His stock started dropping(compared to the other PG's) when that video got passed around.
My feeling is:
Anthony Black goes 8 or 9, with Utah springing ahead of Washington to get him if needed. Outside chance of Orlando at 6.
Kobe Bufkin goes 11 or 12 at the latest, maybe 13 to Toronto.
The other two, I have no idea. If Washington can't get Black, I can't see them taking Wallace at 8; their play seems to take the remaining PF (Hendricks, Walker) or trade for later picks.
Hood-Schifino could go to New Orleans or Atlanta, if Atlanta stays at 15.
Wallace seems like he could go many places. If the workout rumors are true, I can see him go late teens. Seems like Miami could grab him. If Utah pulls a big at 9, they could grab Wallace at 16.
I don't really have a good feel for where anyone's going, but I've finished my final BB of how I value the players. Feel free to come back and chastise me in a couple of years if need be
Tier 1:
1. Victor Wembanyama
Tier 2:
2. Scoot Henderson
Tier 3:
3. Jarace Walker
4. Cam Whitmore
5. Amen Thompson
6. Brandon Miller
7. Ausar Thompson
8. Taylor Hendricks
9. Gradey
Tier 4:
10. Nick Smith Jr
11. Kobe Bufkin
12. Anthony Black
13. Cason Wallace
14. Jordan Hawkins
Tier 5:
15. Kris Murray
16. Rayan Rupert
17. Keyonte George
18. Leonard Miller
19. Dereck Lively II
20. Jalen Hood-Schifino
21. Bilal Coulibaly
Tier 6:
22. Dariq Whitehead
23. O-Max Prosper
24. Jett Howard
25. Brandin Podziemski
26. Maxwell Lewis
27. Brian Sensabaugh
28. Gregory Jackson II
29. Noah Clowney
30. Tristan Vukcevic
I think there's very little to no chance we draft in the second round for two reasons.
1. If we move up, that high #2 (33) is perfect trade filler and would almost undoubtedly be gone.
2. If we move up, and don't trade that pick, we don't need another player this year beyond Wembanyama and that other 1st.
Not to mention if we decide to trade a Keldon or Vassell (doubtful at best), then we will get even more picks out of it.
And we already have a mul ude of picks coming our way over the next several years, with lots of cap space for free agents, and a young roster they need to give time to. Would be unwise to pack the roster in SA and Austin with young unproven talent such that no one has a chance to blossom.
Only way we pick at #33 is if PATFO stays put and doesn't move up (and that would only happen if they see what they perceive as a ing steal still on the board) and even then I could see #33 go as a trade chip for another vet player, pre-draft.
That Cam Whitmore injury intel… Very interesting…
Edit: Thought this may have been some disinformation but apparently he broke his tibia twice at 15 and his dad was told he may never play bball again. Jesus. Could it be from that? 3:20 markThere have been some concerns over Cam Whitmore's medicals, which could cause a few teams to pass in the mid-lottery, per sources. This could be an opportunity for the Jazz or others to buy low on an 18-year-old who showed no signs of any injury affecting his explosiveness during the season.
Sounds like a great kid though.
Last edited by PhantomDashCam; 06-21-2023 at 10:49 AM.
If those reports about Hornets taking Miller at #2 and Blazers looking to trade #3 are correct, both franchises should be disbanded, no point in wasting anyone's time.
Nuggets just jumped us in the 2nd Round if we keep that pick. I actually like this for Denver though. They need cheap Rookie contracts to fill out their roster given their cap situation, and there’s good wing depth in this draft. They should get a couple of guys who can come in and contribute right away. I think guys like Brice Sensabaugh, Dariq Whitehead, Julian Strawther, Julian Jacquez, or Ben Sheppard would be great for them in that range.
Solid move by both teams..
i know that indiana didnt want to take 4 guys in the top 32... but they got bad value here. even if the 2024 denver FRP ends up being, say, 25th or something, id rather have #29 this year than #25 next year
indiana is currently a purgatory team... if im them i probably would have worked to clear out some roster spots (dump hield for a future pick) and actually take 4 guys this year instead of taking a deal like this which kinda feels like negative value just for the sake of spacing out picks
Agreed. Pacers still have picks 7 & 26. They weren’t bringing in 4 Rookies. Beneficial for both parties.
man, pacers were very desperate to move out and took quite a value loss to do so, imo. hope the spurs dont end up in this situation. makes moving back up this year even more appealing if this is the market for dumping unwanted picks...
Don't totally get that for Indiana.
So Denver got 29, 32, 37 and a 24 second at the cost of 40 and a protected pick in 2029? I don't know how I feel about that.
From Sam Vecenie's column today on The Athletic site:
Additionally, it’s worth noting two factors leading to this draft being remarkably difficult to project right now. First, I have never experienced as much smoke-screening in the NBA Draft as I have heard this year. Typically, a number of lies told, or rumors spread like wildfire and become widely accepted. But this year has been all over the map. Second, a number of picks seem to be truly available for acquisition. In large part, it has to do with the number of teams that have multiple picks.
29 and 32 this year are going to be great picks for a nuggets team entering a salary crunch, especially in this year's draft. pacers ed up imo
if there was a draft to have "too many picks" it was this one. its not like the pacers are a complete team with a serious roster crunch
I think Denver has learned from Golden State's recent draft mistakes and are looking for college players who are skilled and can help immediately, rather than trying the lower success rate concept of finding the next young player who might be a #1 or #2 option in 5-7 years.
Calvin Booth masterclass tbh. Showing why he’s one of the best GM’s in the league.
Apparently this isn't Denver's pick next year. It's the worst of these:
Houston (1-4 protected)
Utah (1-10 protected)
LA Clippers (unprotected)
Oklahoma City (unprotected)
At least that seems to be the case. Denver is trading the worst of these that they were getting from OKC over to Indiana. It's probably the Clippers pick around 20 or so I guess. Confusing.
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