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2023 NBA Draft Megathread

I was watching the Minny Lakers preseason game which Wemby attended last night. At some point he got interviewed by the tv announcers. I was genuinely impressed. He speaks English fluently and seems really intelligent. I wouldn't be concerned about his shot selection and on court decisions for now, he sure looks like someone who will learn and adapt.
 
hgb said:
And not the franchise-changing Aaron Gordon (to be fair, two picks higher and it's Embiid).
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What if I told you Gordon did change our franchise... or Smart. Maybe Hayward never leaves and gets hurt. Getting nothing out of the pick was one thing... investing so much time and then a second contract in trying to make it work hurt quite a bit.

You just don't want to be in a position where you are taking what is left. You'd like to get your first choice of the guys in that next draft tier after Scoot.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
What if I told you Gordon did change our franchise... or Smart. Maybe Hayward never leaves and gets hurt. Getting nothing out of the pick was one thing... investing so much time and then a second contract in trying to make it work hurt quite a bit.

You just don't want to be in a position where you are taking what is left. You'd like to get your first choice of the guys in that next draft tier after Scoot.
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A couple of ping pong balls resulted in us drafting Exum/Kanter instead of Kyrie/Embiid. As you've said a couple of wins/losses can really be the difference between building a potential dynasty and being a treadmill team.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
However bad it hurts to watch THT play basketball and JB struggle and Ochai learn on the job... it is worth it. However embarrassing it is to shut down sexton with knee soreness or Lauri with plantar fasciitis or rest KO because of a migraine or give him 3 months of paternity leave for the birth of his second cousin... it is worth it.

We need to reach day hooker levels of shame to out tank one of OKC, Houston of SA... at very least put ourselves in pole position at 4th. It is worth it.
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That's one of my things for this season, I'm just going into it open minded. We have so many young players across the roster now, this is where you let them get burn and see if any of them can emerge as potential pieces that will be apart of the rebuild. We haven't really had a young team like this since the Hayward/Kanter/Burks/Favors/Exum days.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
What if I told you Gordon did change our franchise... or Smart. Maybe Hayward never leaves and gets hurt. Getting nothing out of the pick was one thing... investing so much time and then a second contract in trying to make it work hurt quite a bit.

You just don't want to be in a position where you are taking what is left. You'd like to get your first choice of the guys in that next draft tier after Scoot.
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Sure, they could've been better, but Exum looked pretty decent too, until the injury. Picking higher is always better, but I'm not sold on picking 4th or 5th that year would've made a huge difference.

That said, of course I agree, we want to get a high pick. This year is going to suck, since I *hate* hoping for my team to lose. I'm 100% against a >1 season tanking operation.
Lose out this year, draft someone good, be solid next year and give up that pick to OKC while rebuilding with a bunch of interesting prospects.
 
I'm watching the Pacers in pre-season. They don't look bad. I think they'll be a bit better than the Jazz if they don't trade out their vets and prune down their roster. Benedict Mathurin looks good for a rookie. Probably already better than Cam Reddish.

If the Jazz can duck the Pacers and Pistons in the standings that would be huge. We would be in the bottom 4 along with OKC, HOU and SA.
 
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Mock drafts seem pretty high on Dillon Mitchell. I'm skeptical. His game has been limited, and his shooting has been limited. He's an end-to-end athlete with some size who looks good at the HS level, but might be Marjon Beauchamp unless a lot of development takes place.

Some mocks are lower on GG Jackson than I am. GG has Jayson Tatum measurables and a downhill game that's like a more talented and explosive version of Pascal Siakam. Plus he can create and pass off the dribble. See if he shows out when CBB starts.
 
Ferguson_Mellochill said:
Mock drafts seem pretty high on Dillon Mitchell. I'm skeptical. His game has been limited, and his shooting has been limited. He's an end-to-end athlete with some size who looks good at the HS level, but might be Marjon Beauchamp unless a lot of development takes place.

Some mocks are lower on GG Jackson than I am. GG has Jayson Tatum measurables and a downhill game that's like a more talented and explosive version of Pascal Siakam. Plus he can create and pass off the dribble. See if he shows out when CBB starts.
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GG is also ranked lower, imo, because he reclassified late in the process.
 
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