Pick #14 - Strategies

[Dejounte]

This dude seriously used a workout video to justify Maluach becoming a good shooter someday? Wtf lmfao

[Ariel]

Supposedly his role in Duke was very different from the role he had in South Sudan and the NBA Academy, and he's shown the ability to shoot from 3 over there, he's just 18 and he's been playing basketball for 5 years only. I'm always skeptical of projections with very little to back them up, but also it's fair to acknowledge just because we have no evidence for this doesn't mean there isn't.

This reminds me of Wemby's class, Spurs were rumored to have Amen at 2 (I had Brandon Miller) and I was extremely wary of picking one of the Thompson twins because every clip seemed unserious level of compe iion, but they were right, we just don't have anywhere near access to the data they do, so I guess I'll defer to their judgement on this.

[DAF86]

This dude seriously used a workout video to justify Maluach becoming a good shooter someday? Wtf lmfao

No, you ing dumbass. I gave an explanation, the video is just a bonus.

Why are yall acting as if draft prospects don't have perceived future strenghts, despite what current numbers indicate?

Everybody and their mothers knew Wemby was gonna be a 3pt threat despite him shooting less than 30% from 3 before getting to the NBA.

The Spurs drafted Castle because they knew he had playmaking chops, despite not playing as a main ball hanlder in UCCON.

This is the same , Maluach was projected as a stretch big coming into college. Granted, his low volume on 3 pt shots might have put some reservations into that notion, but he's still only 18 years old and the clean shooting stroke is there to still fully believe he will develop that reliable 3pt shot someday.

[Dejounte]

This is another Poku level take and it’s embarrassing tbh

[SpursBills]

Sorber's going to be a useful player, period. Bigs with his combination of passing and age usually pan out - I posted a while ago about guys with his combination of AST%, STL%, and OREB% usually outperform their draft stock. He's in the Wendell Carter Jr/Al Horford mold of "undersized" bigs who pass well and can kind of do a lot of different things. Highest defensive LEBRON in all of college basketball this year. With regards to defense, the only thing you can really quibble with is his size - if he's playing at the level, does he have the foot speed to keep up, especially with a foot injury at his age? And if he's playing drop, does he have the verticality for his rim protection to translate? Opponents shot 48% at the rim with him on, which is better than Lively 2 years ago (50%) although not nearly as good Clingan last year who was godlike (43%) in this respect. Way more questions on offense but the passing and IQ really helps him in this regard. I think (hopefully healthier) Wendell Carter Jr who is better on defense and worse on offense is probably a safe bet for him - since defense is more important for bigs than offense, his overall impact will probably be better.

Maluach requires a bit more projection, but in spite of his rawness he still protected the rim at the same rate (48% at the rim when he was on). You can say Flagg played a big part of that, but that rim% jumped up to 55% when he was off even though his backup Maliq Brown was a very good defender. Defensively he's got way better physical characteristics but worse instincts - I wouldn't say he's switchable, but he looks way more mobile than most guys his size, and his standing reach makes his translation to playing drop more palatable. Offensively, I think the numbers argument is that 2 point FG% and dunk% are both significant predictors for success for college bigs, and Maluach is elite at both. As far as rebounding, it's an interesting discourse because he's actually a top 10 offensive rebounder by % of the last 15 years among drafted prospects, so I think it's at worst a mixed bag. Not a huge fan of an AST:TO < 1 and it was REALLY bad last year, but I wonder how much of that is just a late development or whether his instincts are truly broken. For reference, he was at 0.7 this year, while Thabeet was at 0.25 as a 22 year old. Career wise, maybe Hibbert who can't get dusted as much on the perimeter? He seems way more agile and had a more confident shooting stroke last year so there's potential for BroLo offense possibly.

[Mugen]

I’d be okay if they traded down and picked up a future asset or two tbh.

[CGD]

With suns replacing rockets at 10…

Rockets seemed to be a team that would have wanted a Bryant/Coward type while the suns seem like the floor for Maluach or a likely Sorber landing spot

They also need a PG. I could see this as the Jaku landing spot.

[CGD]

Biggest need(s) for teams picking before #14:
#9(Raptors): PG and C
#10(Suns): C
#11(Blazers): not sure
#12(Bulls): C and SF/PF
#13(Hawks): C

It seems unlikely that a C like Queen will slide to Spurs pick. Carter Bryant or Noa Essengue could be available at #14 for Spurs. If Demin or Jakucionis are still there at #14, Spurs could get quite a lot for them in a trade.

Portland feels like the Bryant landing spot. Not sure if the visa issues for Malauch have resolved, but could see Essengue to Toronto

[sfernald]

Maluach is a non shooting big. He’s also got an upside down asst/TO ratio ,and a whopping 2,5 stocks/36.

Maluach is just a little too hasheem thabeet-y to me.

[sfernald]

Portland feels like the Bryant landing spot. Not sure if the visa issues for Malauch have resolved, but could see Essengue to Toronto

I have little doubt Bryant and Essengue will be gone by #14. Just because those teams need a center doesn’t mean they will draft a center. Most teams in lottery will probably pick best available player on their board unless they are a good team and have very specific needs that match a certain prospect.

[RC_Drunkford]

the shooting upside with Maluach is legit. He's not Sochan. He's not only shooting 3s, but also midrange and turnaround fadeaways. He literally nailed a jumper in Embiid's face in the olympics. This is not Steven Adams shooting in the gym, there's in game tape on this.

He's not a high percentage shooter as of now, but he's clearly capable of making them and shoots 75% on free throws. It's not a reach to predict that he will eventually shoot decent percentages. I think Sorber can get there as well, but if I had to pick between the 2, Maluach is the safer one when it comes to shooting.

[TimDunkem]

Usual suspects here with the awful Maluach takes, I see. lol non-shooting Hasheem Thabeet?

[DPG21920]

Not being funny but does anyone know if Timvp is ok? Very odd that we didnt get any other threads or updates from him this entire time for over a month and draft is 2 days away.

[scott]

Not being funny but does anyone know if Timvp is ok? Very odd that we didnt get any other threads or updates from him this entire time for over a month and draft is 2 days away.

I asked awhile back if anyone actually had the ability to get in touch with him and got crickets. I got the impression that ChumpDumper might keep in touch with him in real life? CD, is this the case? Are you able to shed any light. People have genuine human concern for the Ellis family.

[DPG21920]

I asked awhile back if anyone actually had the ability to get in touch with him and got crickets. I got the impression that ChumpDumper might keep in touch with him in real life? CD, is this the case? Are you able to shed any light. People have genuine human concern for the Ellis family.

Just odd - I mean we know he wrote the draft board just a month ago, so hopefully hes all good.

[Spurs Brazil]

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/draft/?...er=round%3Aall

Team Fit
The Spurs should find a center who can play next to and behind Wembanyama. Sorber could fit the bill since he’s shown flashes of mobility moving his feet on defense and the promise of a jumper. But at his foundation, he has a massive frame and the throwback skill set to match with strong screens, soft-touch finishes, and gritty drop-coverage instincts. At a minimum, he’d be a quality backup behind Wemby. And at best, they could become twin towers that start and end games.

[sfernald]

the shooting upside with Maluach is legit. He's not Sochan. He's not only shooting 3s, but also midrange and turnaround fadeaways. He literally nailed a jumper in Embiid's face in the olympics. This is not Steven Adams shooting in the gym, there's in game tape on this.

He's not a high percentage shooter as of now, but he's clearly capable of making them and shoots 75% on free throws. It's not a reach to predict that he will eventually shoot decent percentages. I think Sorber can get there as well, but if I had to pick between the 2, Maluach is the safer one when it comes to shooting.

You are so ing far gone if you see nba three point shooter in that video. Ihart made 8 three points in the gleague championship game and now he shoots basically zero threes per year. This guy has a low chance of becoming even an average three point shooter. If you want to argue he will become a dominate rim protector and rim runner than fine, even an incredible screener but you aren’t selling me the three point pencil haha.

[Dejounte]

You are so ing far gone if you see nba three point shooter in that video. Ihart made 8 three points in the gleague championship game and now he shoots basically zero threes per year. This guy has a low chance of becoming even an average three point shooter. If you want to argue he will become a dominate rim protector and rim runner than fine, even an incredible screener but you aren’t selling me the three point pencil haha.

“but you have to use your imagination for things we don’t have information on! Use your imagination, damnit!”

[Mugen]

Maybe I'm just giving them too much credit but the C @ #14 feels smokescreen-y to me.

Not because backup C isn't a position of needed but because the group of guys that could conceivably be available have significant question marks heading into next season. I think this team is very much trying to get into the playoffs next year and are going to be looking for an immediate rotation player with #14 or looking to trade it again.
-Maluach is a long shot to fall that far but even he seems like a few years away from being a rotation piece
-Sorber has injury concerns
-Berenger is super raw

I wonder if they're trying to bait a late teens team into trading up and their real target is someone like Nique Clifford tbh.

[Spurs Brazil]

Venice new Mock draft

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...-dylan-harper/

14. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)
Cedric Coward | 6-5 wing | 21 years old | Washington State
I’ve been saying that Coward would be the clear riser in this draft class since early April, and that seems to have borne itself out. Though he committed to Duke this spring after entering the transfer portal, it felt exceedingly unlikely he was going to pull out of the draft given his tools and shot-making ability. His balance and fluidity are special for a player who is nearly 6-6 with a 7-2 wingspan. Everything in the kinetic chain with Coward is perfect. Everything is in one motion and clean with the jumper, with easy, repeatable mechanics to pair with touch. He seems to have added some explosiveness, too.

The Spurs could use more wings to pair with their cache of guards and Wembanyama, particularly ones who can shoot it. League sources have noted that San Antonio could move this pick if its preferred targets aren’t on the board. League sources have also recently connected both Beringer and Maluach with the Spurs, players they might have to move up for.

[TD 21]

If they don't trade it (probably for future draft capital), I suspect it'll be Sorber. The actualized version is more or less the ideal backup/double big option with Wembanyama and the archetype of big they've typical prioritized over the Beringer archetype.

I doubt Bryant makes it to 14 and while Coward seemingly has a better chance, unless they're planning to make a trade, they have quan y (if not quality) of youngish and young wings/forwards and are well positioned to sign Yabusele/LaRavia.

[SpursFan86]

Best case scenario is Atlanta jumping on the Beringer grenade right before us, and then us getting Coward or Sorber.

[DPG21920]

I want Kon really bad. I would be overjoyed if SA moved up from 14 to get him. Maybe if he falls to 8-11 range they can do it.

[DesignatedT]

If we're going Center, I'd rather trade back to the late 20's and attempt to fleece someone out of a future 1st or something and take Kalkbrenner. Don't like using 14 on someone like Sorber or Beringer.

I like Bryant and Coward but my guess is Essengue being the pick.

[Gibbz]

Who do y'all like between Sorber and Coward at 14?