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2023 NBA Draft Megathread

Yeah, this is a trash take. Trying to **** on me but then you throw some bs out there that we need to make a decision on Kessler. If Jarace can’t play with Lauri and Kessler I wouldn’t draft him. Period. Especially at 9.

You lectured to me death saying this **** doesn’t matter when it was it Flip lmao. Now you’re the guy who has a measured understanding approach with numbers. Get out of here lmao. You are the guy that gets upset when numbers are used against your favorite prospects.

And you’re calling it “BS” to say we need to make a decision on Kessler than immediately make a decision on Kessler lmao. If you believe Kessler is that dude where you can’t consider players that don’t fit with him you are doing exactly what I said. Literally In back to back sentences you said it was BS then validated it haha.
 
I wonder if Locke reads Jazzfans in his spare time…
I don’t know why he wouldn’t sometimes. This is an active, great message board. I have never once gone on intelligence missions to other forums and thought any other board was even close to the quality here. Boards are useful for taking a pulse on the electorate, so to speak. As a member of the media and head of a huge podcast network it makes sense that he would want to get a sense of what prospective listeners are thinking. It’s also grist for the mill.

Went on a tangent. Just saying that this is the spot. Also, Tony Jones and Andy Larsen stop by which reinforces that.
 
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I continue to ask... how should we feel about all those perimeter players with very VERY questionable 3p shot? The twins, Walker, Black, etc?

There aren't any/many guard/wing players playing deep in the playoffs that don't shoot or have poor 3p shooting ...

Twins…no idea they play in a glorified AAU league and it’s all hype. Doesn’t mean it’s unjustified but it’s impossible to tell one way or the other. Ausar definitely more of a promising shooter though.

Black….He has pretty poor indicators all around, it is a legit concern. I think he will good enough with the ball in his hands to justify it all, however. He’s great at getting to the basket.

Jarace….I would say he’s not really a perimeter player. He’s a big. If you envision him more as a perimeter player I can see where the concern becomes a bigger one.
 
I don’t know why he wouldn’t sometimes. This is an active, great message board. I have never once gone on intelligence missions to other forums and thought any other board was even close to the quality here.

Went on a tangent. Just saying that this is the spot. Also, Tony Jones and Andy Larsen spot by which reinforces that.
Yeah but Locke has his Twitter and Locke on NETWORK which is very active and his mail bag gets lots of attention too.

I think he would be too proud of what he has to visit our forum tbh.
 
I continue to ask... how should we feel about all those perimeter players with very VERY questionable 3p shot? The twins, Walker, Black, etc?

There aren't any/many guard/wing players playing deep in the playoffs that don't shoot or have poor 3p shooting ...
I continue to hear pundits say that shooting is the easiest skill to learn in the NBA,..

Anyone know how true that is?
 
Twins…no idea they play in a glorified AAU league and it’s all hype. Doesn’t mean it’s unjustified but it’s impossible to tell one way or the other. Ausar definitely more of a promising shooter though.

Black….He has pretty poor indicators all around, it is a legit concern. I think he will good enough with the ball in his hands to justify it all, however. He’s great at getting to the basket.
Think about it like this... is Black SO GOOD on ball as a self-creator and as creator for others that you can see him starting for you in the Western conference finals? And you need to give HIM the ball, rather than someone else? I kind of can imagine the twins getting there... I am not so sure with Black.
Jarace….I would say he’s not really a perimeter player. He’s a big. If you envision him more as a perimeter player I can see where the concern becomes a bigger one.
I think his appeal is that he's a big/long wing. I think I love him even less if he's a big... especially when we already have Kessler and Lauri.
 
Think about it like this... is Black SO GOOD on ball as a self-creator and as creator for others that you can see him starting for you in the Western conference finals? And you need to give HIM the ball, rather than someone else? I kind of can imagine the twins getting there... I am not so sure with Black.

I think his appeal is that he's a big/long wing. I think I love him even less if he's a big... especially when we already have Kessler and Lauri.
Walker is a big. He moves well for a big but he’s a big.
 
Walker is a big. He moves well for a big but he’s a big.
For me he’s a PF/ small ball 5 until he proves he can shoot it… even then he might be more of a pure 4. That’s fine but if the shooting doesn’t happen I think it looks a lot like Okongwu and it’s got it’s limits.
 
For me he’s a PF/ small ball 5 until he proves he can shoot it… even then he might be more of a pure 4. That’s fine but if the shooting doesn’t happen I think it looks a lot like Okongwu and it’s got it’s limits.
That's the thing... nowadays PFs are wings. They play on the perimeter predominantly...
 
Death, taxes, and stats only matter when they reaffirm my opinion :D I think you can glean some extra insight by doing more contextual stats. But it’s funny to be the guy that says we can’t use Freshman shooting stats and then all of a sudden get really into even smaller sample size numbers for freshman. The more you cut the sample the more SSS it is obviously.

I still like Jarace a lot. Shooting is a concern but the real appeal is his defense. I think he is one of the best, if not the best defensive prospect in this draft. He will enable teams to have a small ball look without compromising things that a big man would also provide. I think his defense has become somewhat of an afterthought in these convos but I’d say he has the potential to be a DPOY/ Best defender in a playoff series type guy.

Offensively I hated the way HOU used him and think he will be much better in an NBA system. His offense gets less exciting if the shooting never comes around….but I’d really like to see him in more PnR and as a passer out of the high post. The two man game between Jokic/Murray and Bam/Whatever shooter has been a staple in both team’s offenses this playoffs and I think Jarace can unlock that.

With all that said, I’m kind of a sucker for these kind of prospects. Love Okongwu, Aaron Gordon, Wendell Carter, Mobley etc. I really value a physical athlete who offers some skill and does the little things. Im also less critical of bigs’ shooting than guards, but maybe that’s a mistake.

From a Jazz perspective I think he’s the ideal fit with Lauri in a 4/5 combo situation, but it does get more dicey playing with Kessler as you’re making a bigger bet on his shooting skills. Before you draft Jarace I think you have to make a judgement on Kessler and consider whether he’s the guy you max out and play in every situation like Gobert or just a very good good C who may or may not be a part of your closing playoff look.
Muted
 
Think about it like this... is Black SO GOOD on ball as a self-creator and as creator for others that you can see him starting for you in the Western conference finals? And you need to give HIM the ball, rather than someone else? I kind of can imagine the twins getting there... I am not so sure with Black.

I think his appeal is that he's a big/long wing. I think I love him even less if he's a big... especially when we already have Kessler and Lauri.

I’ve never really seen Walker as a big long wing, but if that’s the lens you view him through I can understand how he comes off as underwhelming.

He’s a really big guy, maybe not height wise, but his frame and length are definitely that of a big. Most importantly, he’s really good at the big man stuff. I think you get the benefits of small ball without compromising what you would get from a traditional big man. @Handlogten's Heros has mentioned Okongwu as kind of a bad outcome for him if he can’t shoot. I don’t disagree with the comparison but I really like Okongwu myself.

That’s why I mentioned early that we have to make a consideration on what Kessler is right now. Is he at the point where we cannot draft someone who isn’t sure thing fit with him? I would say Jarace is in the “iffy” fit category with Kessler, but is a fantastic fit with Lauri as a 4/5 combo.
 
I continue to ask... how should we feel about all those perimeter players with very VERY questionable 3p shot? The twins, Walker, Black, etc?

There aren't any/many guard/wing players playing deep in the playoffs that don't shoot or have poor 3p shooting ...
Perimeter players that cant shoot worry the F out of me. I would like to avoid them. Having said that, I like wallace and he isn't a very good shooter either so idk.

i would love to get Hendricks and Hawkins at 9 and 16. Those are my realistic picks I want most of all if we dont make any moves.
 
I continue to ask... how should we feel about all those perimeter players with very VERY questionable 3p shot? The twins, Walker, Black, etc?

There aren't any/many guard/wing players playing deep in the playoffs that don't shoot or have poor 3p shooting ...

Denver is starting Gordon (34.7% from 3) and Brown (35.8% from 3).
 
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