What's new
By:

2023 NBA Draft Megathread

These are 3 different players. Can anyone name all three REDACTED players without cheating?

NBA teams in the lottery are usually hoping to find a player who projects as either a lockdown defender, or a prolific scoring option which REDACTED is neither as of right now. With that said, the shooting guard position lacks quite a bit of depth in this draft class and in the NBA as a whole right now, and there's never been a higher premium put on floor-spacing and 3-point shooters. While REDACTED may not possess superstar potential, he also comes with very little risk, as it will be very very surprising if he doesn't end up developing into at least a solid NBA player. At age 18, as the youngest player who will hear his name called on draft night, and someone who is younger than many of the players who participated in this year's McDonald's All-American game, there is plenty of room for him to continue to improve despite not possessing incredible physical tools or upside.
Click to expand...

REDACTED isn’t the most creative player and has some struggles getting his own shot.

He doesn’t shoot particularly well off the dribble and his slow release gives the defender plenty of time to react and challenge the shot.

He projects as more of a glue-guy starter rather than a star player and probably won’t be a first or second option offensively.
Click to expand...

Projected role: Low-end starter

Without the speed, athleticism or reliable three-ball, REDACTED projects as more of a role player than a star. He could start one day if given enough support, but low-end starter, like [Elfrid] Payton, is his likeliest ceiling. REDACTED checks boxes for a guard—he just doesn't own any.
Click to expand...
 
seattlejazzfan said:
can we get a tl;dw on this?
Click to expand...
Ausar is better on defense especially helping off the weak side to get blocks and steals and has a more consistent shot. Amen is slightly more athletic (both amazing) but tends to force it which can cause more turnovers per assist. Amen prefers to attack the rim and dunk, but while Ausar does some of that, he likes to contort his body to split defenders and scoop it in. This reviewer gives a slight edge to Ausar. I've read that for most of their lives Ausar was considered the better player and would win most one on one. In the last year there has been a bit of a shift in perception from scouts favoring Amen.
 
KqWIN said:
These are 3 different players. Can anyone name all three REDACTED players without cheating?
Click to expand...
first must be gg. the third, if his ceiling is elfrid payton, he shouldn't even be drafted - but something tells me this dude is a moron and that isn't his ceiling assuming he's in the first round conversation - again, if elfrid payton is anybody's absolute best case scenario, you don't take him earlier than 50.
 
seattlejazzfan said:
first must be gg. the third, if his ceiling is elfrid payton, he shouldn't even be drafted - but something tells me this dude is a moron and that isn't his ceiling assuming he's in the first round conversation - again, if elfrid payton is anybody's absolute best case scenario, you don't take him earlier than 50.
Click to expand...

These are guys in the NBA already.
 
KqWIN said:
These are 3 different players. Can anyone name all three REDACTED players without cheating?
Click to expand...
I'd say first is Booker... bottom two one is likely Haliburton... I think.
 
KqWIN said:
Answers

1 Booker
2 Halliburton
3 Shai
Click to expand...
that's hysterical. iow, like i said, nobody knows who the best player is. find who you think is the best guy at a position of need and/or a guy who has good athleticism and measurables and cross your fingers.

this crap is impossible to predict even for the professionals, guys who spend 80 hours a week looking at and evaluating these prospects
 
stitches said:
As I said in the other thread I haven't watched much college basketball this year. I'm coming to the pre-draft process with pretty much clear mind on the prospects. I will watch highlight of the top ~15 or so prospect and will be typing down my VERY SURFACE level impressions of them:
1. Wemby - GOD!
2. Scoot - speed, athleticism, active hands on defense.... very good skill level, very good handle, can finish in the restricted area even against contests, good feel for the pass... can't make out his feel for the game and his ability to operate in the PnR from highlights. The shot looks good, no idea if it's falling enough. I know that supposedly he had a down season, but... if we get the 2-4 pick and he's there... I think I'd be good with that pick. I think he has decently high upside.
3. Brandon Miller - great size and length. Very good skill for his size. The shot looks good... AND he playmakes for his teammates? Another one I would have no trouble taking in the top 3 if we jump to a non-1 spot in the lottery... looks like high level prospect
4. Cam Whitmore - chunky! Looks huge. Has explosiveness, but not sure he's as quick as I'd like... His shot looks good... he shoots both on the catch and off the dribble. Good skill level, but handle looks ... meh? ... Didn't see much/any playmaking for his teammates... Like him don't love him... on highlights :D
5. Amen Thompson - freaky athleticism and physical traits... effortless jumps... very intriguing passing flashes. Looks like a creative passer. Questionable shot... not sure he will ever be an average shooter. Huge defesive potential
6. Ausar Thompson - freaky athleticism and physical traits... effortless jumps... I don't love his shot. Seems like he shoots more/better than his brother... still not sold on it... Like his brother, shows some great passing flashes. Good feel for the game, solid ballhandling...
7. Taylor Hendricks - shotblocker/secondary rim protector? Very good size for a wing. Shooter? Stroke looks nice on the catch. OK... I'm intrigued... good atleticism... on-ball offensive game seems to be work in progress... still... first time I'm seeing any of his highlights, looks really intriguing. Serious 2-way potential.
8. Anthony Black - big guard... some explosive plays on highlights... unselfish... makes the right pass it seems... good feel for the game, good skill, good finding options off the PnR. Defensive potential? The highlight I saw had him shooting some 3s and hitting, but his %s are not great. His FT% is OK at 70%... maybe there's a chance he gets to about average? His shot doesn't looks particularly smooth. Didn't see much self-creation... Lonzo type projection?
9. Jarace Walker - another big wing. Love that this draft has some big wing/guards. Looks huge. Good not great athleticism... shot looks OK... some passing flashes? great shotblocker for a wing. Defensive upside? Not much self-creation besides attacking some close-outs... floaters rather than attacking the rim?
10. Cason Wallace - size OK for a point guard, strong... they are posting him up?!? Doesn't look super athletic... Some great flashes of playmaking for teammates, shooting and even defensive contests at the rim. Shot looks good. Better than most of those other players in the top 10. %s are better too... I think it can translate. Good patience out of the PnR... Is he a lead guard, gets a lot of off-ball shots? Finishes through contact at the rim. Interested to see his stats at the rim... He looks solid but unspectacular. Kind of like... George Hill type?

OK... this is it for me for now... I will continue my exploring of the top of the draft tomorrow... Tell me what I got wrong in here? Favorites so far... (purely based on highlights) ... Top 3, I'd be good with any of them... Amen Thompson, Taylor Hendricks....Anthony Black
Click to expand...

stitches said:
Continuing my exploration of the draft prospects by just watching highlights for now:
11. Kobe Bufkin - guard... OK height... looks a bit slight... has good speed and quickness to the rim, good skill level and handle(saw him split doubles a few times), floaters look good, shot looks really good both on the catch and off the dribble. I didn't see much creation for others... and his stats don't suggest he's a great passer. Is he a combo? He kind of looks a bit like a 6th man type to me... from highlights at least. How's his defense? I guess if he's a good defender maybe he can be a starter... probably need to see full games of his to get better feel about him
12. Gradey Dick - wing... ok athlete, nothing special... has some nice skill... attacks close out... step through move... finishes well in transition... good touch at the rim? Good creativity attacking the rim. Shooter! Form looks beautiful... and stats suggest it's falling too... is he the best shooter in the draft? Can't make out his feel for the game from the highlight I watched... or his defense? Not much creation for teammates... not much advanced self-creation, but has some step back 3s...
13. Leonard Miller - big forward with length... good athlete, explosive with space... looks a bit ... stiff and upright? Shot looks... weird... a bit like Jaren Jackson's but doesn't seem to be falling as much. Still the numbers are not horrible. Secondary rim protector potential with his length? Doesn't look like he has much on-ball skill...?
14. Dereck Lively Jr.... center? eh... OK, What's the appeal here? Defense? Looks very ordinary... I don't think I'd take him with ANY of our 1st round picks... No idea why he's ranked here.
15. Brice Sensabaugh - wing... chunky... good, not great athlete... but offensively skilled... good handle creates separation on jumpers... seems like a scorer... interesting. The shot looks good... and the stats suggest it's falling... How's his defense? Not much passing in his highlights... but he scores in variety of ways... gets to his spots and scores...


That's it for today... 5 more tomorrow from me... What did I get wrong?
Click to expand...

Continuing my impressions by the prospects based strictly on highlights :D Above are the top 15 I've watched... I will try to go for 7 more today...
16. Jalen Hood-Schifino - guard with size (or is he a wing?)... either way... looks to have great skill level... good ballhandler... variety of advanced moves - hesi, hang dribble, splits double teams... wow... impressive/creative passing... pull up jumpers... %s look ... OK, but shot looks good overall... Doesn't look like an athlete... very... ground-bound... but I like the skill... What's the knock on him? Probably questions about athleticism and defense? He looks like a better basketball player than most of the list above... at least on highlights...
17. Jordan Hawkins - seems like a shooting guard... the shot looks nice... has some bounce, attacks the rim with purpose... doesn't look like he has much self-creation or creation for teammates. Not much wiggle... not much on-ball offensive skill... some nice movement off-ball though... How's his defense? Can he be a 3&D guard? I guess that would be his ideal role.
18. Keyonte George - ewww... that FG% is horrible... what? Even though the FG% is bad... the shot looks good. FT% might suggest potential for improvement in the 3p shot. And the FG% might suggest horrible shot selection? Seems to have some quickness and some athletic ability, not elite but OK. Has some wiggle. Handle looks good, helps him attack the paint... seems to settle for 3s, though... had some finishes with the left hand on this highlight? Nice... Has some on ball skill... good passer... I'm intrigued. Need to watch a few full games.
19. Nick Smith Jr - listed 6'5" ... looks smaller to me. Very nice quickness. Doesn't seem super bouncy.... Shot looks good... %s like with a lot of this class are meh... you have to project it. Some floaters... attacks the paint with his quickness... but in a lot of cases settles for floaters. Doesn't seem to be high level creator - not for himself and not for others... I think I like all previous 3 better than him.
20. Kris Murray... old... seems to be the oldest prospect I've seen so far. Big wing/forward. Lefty! Doesn't looks slow or uncoordinated but... looks a bit robotic when he dribbles... and when he shoots. Not much wiggle, but he has some skill and the shot looks OK, even if the %s are meh... not much in-between game. Question is ... is he dominating because he's older than everybody on the floor?
21. Dariq Whitehead - first play, PnR, crossover into rim attack and a dunk. OK... intrigued. Big guard/wing? 3p% higher than 2p%? Why? Behind the back dribble into attack of the rim. WOW! He has some high level flashes... Shot looks real nice. %s are nice too. Shoots it on the catch and off the pnr... some step backs too. I'm intrigued! What's the story with him? I need to watch some full games for better feel of his game. The flashes and the shooting are high level. It feels like he needs to be higher on the board... Has high level traits and high level shooting. Flashes of ballhandling... why is his 2p% so low? Looks like a long player... how's his defense? I just saw him take a few 1 foot past the 3p like off the dribble 2s... reminded me of someone... and his shot kinda looks like his(Alec Burks)
22. GG Jackson - have to be honest... I stretched this installment just so I can get to GG, becaus of all the discussions in this thread about him. Ok... lets see... 38%FG?!?!? EWW! For a big/forward? EWW! Good size, good lenght... good athleticism... Some nice finishes through contest at the rim. Shot looks OK, %s are meh to bad... shows some eurostep moves... On highlights, he looks like he should be much better than he is. Can handle a bit and attack the paint with the dribble... finishes with the left too. Damn... some intriguing flashes. I think I will need to watch him in full games to see why all of his stats are so bad.

So... what say you? What did I get wrong? What did I get right?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page
Back
Top