2023 NBA Draft “Hot Takes” Thread

[Coach Ellis]

All of us have them, I figure we need a “safe place” to share them.

I’ll start. I definitely have a couple that will go against the grain of what everyone else thinks.

Hot Take #1 - Cam Whitmore is going to be the 2nd best player in the draft.

Every single guy at the top of the draft is a huge projection as to how they will develop because of how young they are. . . but I just see something special when I watch him play. I understand why other guys have higher rankings to the collective. . . but he just looks like what I want at the hardest position to fill in basketball.

I really want DA to spend to go get him. He’ll probably have to overpay, and a lot of fans will be pissed because of it. . . but I actually think he’d be worth giving up assets to go get.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Whitmore wins rookie of the year (Wemby misses too many games to qualify).

 

[The Midnight]

Amen never develops his shooting ala Tyreke Evans or Westbrook.

 

[The Midnight]

Brandon Miller misses a whole year trying to deal with his legal issues.

 

[Mongoose]

I think there’s a better than decent chance Cason Wallace is there at 16.

 

[The Midnight]

Bilal = Exum 2.0

 

[Elizah Huge]

Brandon Miller misses a whole year trying to deal with his legal issues.

This isn’t even a hot take this is just dumb.

 

[The Midnight]

Wallace has an average NBA career at best.

 

[Coach Ellis]

Whitmore wins rookie of the year.

For the Utah Jazz.

 

[Coach Ellis]

Hot Take #2 - @Saint Cy of JFC is right and you’re all going to have to listen to him brag about it for years. Bobi Klintman is going to be very similar to Kyle Kuzma in the NBA and should be drafted a lot earlier than he’s being talked about right now.

Body type and style of play are very similar to my eye test. It’s all flash and potential at this point, but I see a lot of upside to Klintman and I’m surprised he’s not getting more love now that he’s officially staying in the draft. It’s a strong year, so maybe he falls to the late 1st early 2nd range. . . but I won’t be surprised if he gets drafted way above his current projections - and then subsequently outplays where he gets picked. He’s my dark horse pick for #16.

 

[Mongoose]

Wallace has an average NBA career at best.

I’m not saying the Jazz should take him necessarily but I think he may still be there at 16.

 

[Coach Ellis]

I’m not saying the Jazz should take him necessarily but I think he may still be there at 16.

I really want wings in this draft, but I’d be perfectly happy with any number of guys falling to #16 and getting picked there - Couliably, Dick, Bufkin, Wallace, Bufkin, George and JHS all make that list. Sitting at 16 should be pretty easy considering how strong the middle of the draft looks right now.