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2023 NBA Draft Megathread

NUMBERICA said:
Are there any good PGs that can shoot a basketball in this draft? That’s the single piece that will most help a Lauri/Kessler build. I’m not a draftnik but I don’t see a good prospect in if that type.
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I feel like we haven't focused on Cason Wallace as much as we probably should have on this board. He has been in a little slump from 3 over the last few weeks but he can really shoot the ball and defend. I feel like he can be a prime George Hill caliber of player with the upside of maybe being a Jrue caliber guy.
 
fishonjazz said:
IF is the key word here.
Could say that about a handful of current draft picks in this coming draft and about a million from past drafts.
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True, but how often do the Jazz ever have a realistic chance at picking a potentially transformational player? There’s always risk in the draft, but IF he hits, it’s huge. If the Jazz only had that pick in their back pocket, I’d probably consider trading it for Luka. But the fact is that they have the firepower to pick him and still put together an attractive trade package for Luka. That would be my strategy.
 
Don't get me wrong... if its Luka or Wemby you are choosing between living in a beach house in Hawaii or living in a beach house in SoCal... I can see the perks of both... I would pick Hawaii 100 times out of 100... some prefer SoCal.

There is legit no wrong side of the argument. I just think Luka will struggle to lead a title contender until he figures out how to get himself in tip top shape... which will lead to better defense, less nagging injuries, and being able to carry his team longer. I watched him against GS live in the playoffs... he cost his team 10+ points in the game with not getting back or complaining to refs, etc. Lauri has the perfect offensive game to assimilate next to him... but Luka also needs to be more active off ball to make that a championship pairing imo. I also think he would bail on us and we'd make a bunch of short sighted moves. So in this case I'd select 7-9 years with the mystery box instead of 2-3 years with Luka.
 
default said:
Luka gets results, but looks like a random dad bod guy at the local rec center basketball court.
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He does... to a point... and then there are results issues at the highest levels because he doesn't have enough in the tank. Championship guys like Lebron/Steph don't **** around with their conditioning. He's crazy talented but he needs to get obsessive about his training and eating or he will limit himself.
 
NUMBERICA said:
You’re overthinking this and that is not my point. My point is simply that there is literal opportunity cost with Luka relative to Wemby in the form of $30 million in cap. Do with that cap whatever you want.
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I already said I would take Luka over Wemby and 30M in cap space.
Handlogten's Heros said:
Don't get me wrong... if its Luka or Wemby you are choosing between living in a beach house in Hawaii or living in a beach house in SoCal... I can see the perks of both... I would pick Hawaii 100 times out of 100... some prefer SoCal.

There is legit no wrong side of the argument. I just think Luka will struggle to lead a title contender until he figures out how to get himself in tip top shape... which will lead to better defense, less nagging injuries, and being able to carry his team longer. I watched him against GS live in the playoffs... he cost his team 10+ points in the game with not getting back or complaining to refs, etc. Lauri has the perfect offensive game to assimilate next to him... but Luka also needs to be more active off ball to make that a championship pairing imo. I also think he would bail on us and we'd make a bunch of short sighted moves. So in this case I'd select 7-9 years with the mystery box instead of 2-3 years with Luka.
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That is a terrible comparison.
 
Coach Ellis said:
My simple answer is no. If Wemby hits, Jazz are a perennial contender for years. If the Mavs are willing to move Luka, I’d pick Wemby and then make them an offer that would be hard to refuse. If that doesn’t work, then I move onto the next young, but disgruntled star to hit the market.
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This. A combo of Wemby (assuming he becomes even 80% of projected. I mean 80% of a true LeBron-esque generational talent is easily top 5 NBA for years and years. Oh and assuming he doesn't have injury issues, which is really the bigger concern), Lauri, Kessler as your front line is a devastating combo any way you look at it. On both ends of the court. Add in some solid 3&D wings and a good facilitator we can get with accumulated assets and there is virtually no way we don't win multiple rings with that mix.

But if Wemby doesn't pan out or has ongoing health issues then that mostly goes out the window. We become the nuggets, nearly making some noise every year, but derailed by injuries and bad player mix, that is a real possibility.
 
It's Luka for me. He's going to be a top 5 player, possibly top 1, for the next decade. Wemby is a very impressive and unique prospect....but I'm not betting on a 7'5 body staying healthy over having Luka. Even if Wemby is healthy, it's not a foregone conclusion he will be as good or better than Luka. I'm pleased that he's getting to the FT line this year, which is a huge development for him, but his jumper doesn't go in as much as you'd like. There really isn't any prospect, besides LeBron maybe, where I was 99% he would be a top 5 player for a long time and Wemby isn't that certain for me.
 
Coach Ellis said:
True, but how often do the Jazz ever have a realistic chance at picking a potentially transformational player? There’s always risk in the draft, but IF he hits, it’s huge. If the Jazz only had that pick in their back pocket, I’d probably consider trading it for Luka. But the fact is that they have the firepower to pick him and still put together an attractive trade package for Luka. That would be my strategy.
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Good points
 
No ceilings did a mock draft... if you aren't familiar with them they are the nerdiest of draft nerds that ever nerded, but I like their stuff and the site looks really nice.

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/2023-nba-mock-draft-v5

They had their team do the mock... we ended with Wallace, Dick, Strawther... they had Hendricks at 10...

There may be some group think with them... but I think it would be fun to guess where a group of people who follow the draft all year ended up selecting Kyle Filipowski... like take a guess before you actually click the link. Again... not the end all be all.
 
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