He doesn't have Klay's defense, you're right there. But he can run off screens and pin-downs and shoot on a dime.
2023 NBA Draft Megathread
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He doesn't have Klay's defense, you're right there. But he can run off screens and pin-downs and shoot on a dime.
Handlogten's Heros
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People thought Johnson would suck on defense. So that is the comp I'm using for Jett. He might have more on ball and less on defense/rebounding... ain't too worried about rebounding with Jett though.
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I wish their team wasn't so awful... would be easier to see if he could pass or not. That shot selection makes me itch... but it might be more necessity or because he is given too much leash. He's intriguing but I'm not taking him over Amen, Miller, Whitmore, Black and prolly not Nick Smith (though I'm not a big fan). I can see someone going top 10 and I would feel way more comfortable with him in the late lotto or mid first. Interviews and off court research would be big in my evaluation.
Barf
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I agree I don't know how much or how successful if you will, his game will translate to the next level. Has talent for sure, but just don't think top 5 at this point. Also, I have a gripe against the dude being a Tar Heel fan as he was supposed to come to us practically all the way up to signing day lol.
I keep going back and forth between GG and Cam Whitmore for #5. I think GG has some All Star potential, and I'm optimistic that he can fulfill a lot of that potential. He just has the right combination of size, athleticism, handle, shooting touch and aggressiveness getting downhill. He's also expanding his game pretty fast right now. His role models should be Pascal Siakam and Jayson Tatum. I think the passing will come. He's able to pass. He just often chooses not to. In his last game, GG shot 4/9 on 3s. The rest of his team shot 4/17. Often when he does make a good pass, it doesn't result in an assist. GG is pretty clearly the first option on that SC team. Would be nice if he'd grow another inch.
I like Anthony Black for the Jazz, but have him behind both Thompsons due to the Thompsons' athleticism and fluidity.
I'm not sold on Nick Smith, and his prolonged injury management bothers me.
I still have Brandon Miller as a later lottery guy. I still think he's an off-ball, secondary scorer who will score most his points shooting off the catch. I don't like his somewhat slow feet, loose handle, lack of vertical explosiveness and ability to be overwhelmed by more athletic defenders.
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HeatCheck
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I'm thinking big. That Wolves pick is going to land top 4 after they move up a few slots in the lottery. First try on the tankathon simulator this morning and that's exactly what happened. Amen Thompson come on down. (Unfortunately the Lakers pick and the Spurs keep landing at #1 on that damn simulator and hopefully that doesn't happen. If Jazz don't end up with Victor hope he ends up on an EC sad sack team such as MJ's Hornets).
If Jazz can also draft his brother Ausur I believe that guarantees they both stay in Utah for a very long time.
The more I watch college games this season more convinced the future stars from this next draft are not playing NCAA ball (Wemby, Scoot, Thompsons). I really like Anthony Black and a few others already mentioned here but don't see them with superstar potential...more like very high end rotation pieces. Maybe someone like GG does become the next Siakam but he's so young and raw in parts of his game it's going to take a few years of development.
If Jazz can also draft his brother Ausur I believe that guarantees they both stay in Utah for a very long time.
The more I watch college games this season more convinced the future stars from this next draft are not playing NCAA ball (Wemby, Scoot, Thompsons). I really like Anthony Black and a few others already mentioned here but don't see them with superstar potential...more like very high end rotation pieces. Maybe someone like GG does become the next Siakam but he's so young and raw in parts of his game it's going to take a few years of development.
Is this the first time you followed the draft?
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I don’t want both Thompsons. There is a real chance they both are bad shooters and there is a limit to how far you can go with multiple non or bad shooters. They wouldn’t play a lot together and you still need a rim protector. I get they are close but their games won’t compliment one another. I like both of them and think they will develop the shooting a bit but I wouldn’t want both… especially if you are drafting one at like 3 and one at like 6-8.
The reason I live Black is I think the shot is good enough that you could play him with almost every kind of backcourt or wing player and it would work. He still has some work to do on the shot but has a better starting point.
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Vic in Charlotte would depress me… I guess since they’d have Ball and Wemby they’d be in a good spot but I just feel like they’d mess it up so bad and end up costing Vic a good chunk of his career. Like AD on the pelicans but worse.
framer
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Go ahead and give me a list of players that have followed the Thompsons' path prior to the draft. It's possible that it was what they felt was the best path for them, but it certainly has the slight smell of a forced scarcity of information to it as well. I guess we'll see.
What's the difference between the Thompson's path and any player who sat out their freshman year, came straight from HS, played in some other insignificant league?
Do you question their talent, or do you think there is something inherently damaging about the path they took? They are some of the most obviously talented players I have ever seen.
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Right... Giannis was playing in a pretty ****** league. It isn't like these kids are hiding. They are playing basketball and didn't want to go to a college team. Not sure its a lot different than going G League... their weaknesses are on display as are their strengths. They have done some media stuff... think they did a pod with Vecenie. Zion was more private than those guys and it seems as though they are both good young men focused on basketball. I had more doubts on Lamelo than these two.
I think it's almost 100% proven if you are a top prospect college is an awful choice from a draft position perspective. The college game has a higher chance of hurting your stock than it does helping if your stock is already considered in the top 5 range, especially if you are choosing your school based on how much money they are paying you.
framer
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I agree that they are certainly athletic specimens, maybe generational, and could be very, very good. I'm just not certain how good at basketball they are and will become. Nobody is. And yeah, limiting their exposure to competition is a red flag. There is a tremendous risk in spending the #3 pick on Amen. I'd probably do it, as long as I get a long private workout against other players. If that isn't available, I don't know. . .there are so many good players that could be had at that spot that we could be sure about. We can't really blow this draft. . .
framer
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I mean if we are going to play decades old exceptions, I can give you Exum. I'd just want to have an extended workout with NBA players (which we did not get with Exum, I believe.) I'm just really interested to see if those are available if Amen is slotted by the media at #3.
Have you seen their passing or their handles? At this point there really is only one question on both of them and it's shooting. IDK how much you are going to learn from them playing 1 v 1 against other draftees as they would likely smoke most players in this draft 1 v 1. The bigger thing for these top tier guys is the interview process and what you think of their ability to improve.
They also went out and played in The Basketball Tournament, which has many high level basketball players. They did an overseas tour (not really sure how good those teams where considered). They've been out there playing basketball in front of cameras like @Handlogten's Heros said. OTE basically just seems like a Prep School where they have the teams play NBA style basketball, but I dont think the talent level is that bad individually, just a bunch of young guys trying to play up and down style.
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Not the same at all... but even so... there will be exceptions to every rule. The non-college route is fairly new, but isn't like these guys showed out in an international basketball tournament then went and hid from the world as Exum did. Shaedon Sharpe looks to have some serious promise and didn't play a minute last year. It isn't ideal but these guys aren't hiding.
Amen/Ausuar do stuff athletically that is some of the craziest stuff you will see from any 19 year old. Both of them are highly talented ball handlers and passers who compete on defense and have elite guard size.
Maybe they will have a huge learning curve, but their upside is just massive and I dont think they will ever be viewed as frauds. Maybe the shooting never comes around and forever have a really bad flaw, but it wont be like damn they cant play at all kind of thing.
Maybe they will have a huge learning curve, but their upside is just massive and I dont think they will ever be viewed as frauds. Maybe the shooting never comes around and forever have a really bad flaw, but it wont be like damn they cant play at all kind of thing.