2023 NBA Draft Megathread

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I think GG is cool and potentially very good, but I dont see any outstanding traits that would make him a top 3 player. A lot of times if the most exciting thing about a prospect is their age, I dont think they are worth too much hype.

The argument for Flip over GG is that you are potentially getting a Lauri Markkanen type player, a mobile 7' who can be an elite shooter. Right now I have GG over Flip as well, but I wouldnt say it's set in stone. If Flip can show more consistency and really elevate Duke, he could leap ahead of GG, especially if GG really struggles in conference play.

GG's combination of length, athleticism, handle and ability to create space and get downhill make him special this draft class. To me, that gives GG a much higher ceiling and puts him in a different tier from Filipowski. Drafting Filipowski over GG would be similar to drafting Kelly Olynyk over Giannis, imo. Hopefully, Danny Ainge learned from that experience.

If you want a big who can shoot and facilitate, then Filipowski becomes interesting. However, the Jazz already have a better player in Lauri and could draft an equal or possibly better prospect in Baba Miller. Miller should be a multi-positional defender and would be a better rim protector if he'll commit to it.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

GG's combination of length, athleticism, handle and ability to create space and get downhill make him special this draft class. To me, that gives GG a much higher ceiling and puts him in a different tier from Filipowski. Drafting Filipowski over GG would be similar to drafting Kelly Olynyk over Giannis, imo.

He's got a 6'10 wingspan. His wingspan isnt special. His handle isnt special. His athleticism isnt special. They are all solid to pretty good.

Clearly his best attribute is currently his age, which is a big thing. Comparing their prospect gap to KO to Giannis is absurd.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

GG seems like the type of player that gets GMs fired... either they take him too high and it was obvious he was a looter in a riot with nice wingspan... a guy putting up some decent scoring numbers on a **** team. Or he goes mid first and turns out to be good and people will think it was obvious that when a guy with those tools puts up numbers at a young age... of course he is great.

I like the idea of GG and see him going late lotto and definitely before Filipowski. I think guys that are likely bigs get overrated early in the draft by mock drafts and then slide as the draft approaches.

I've seen enough from GG to believe his floor is high and he's not actually a risky pick.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

He's got a 6'10 wingspan. His wingspan isnt special. His handle isnt special. His athleticism isnt special. They are all solid to pretty good.

Clearly his best attribute is currently his age, which is a big thing. Comparing their prospect gap to KO to Giannis is absurd.

No it's not. Go look at what Giannis looked like when he turned 18. Go look at what Olynyk looked like in the NCAA Tournament for Gonzaga. Olynyk had shown much more as an all-around player than Filipowski. Meanwhile, Giannis hadn't shown any ability to shoot.

GG's handle, the shift and the driving ability are quite special for a player that size, regardless of age. That's the appeal.

Also, you're referring to GG's measurements last spring, which were taken within a few months of turning 17. See how he measures out this spring.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I've seen enough from GG to believe his floor is high and he's not actually a risky pick.

That's kind of an absurd thing to say given he's played one of the easiest schedules among projected first round picks and has very poor advanced stats.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

No it's not. Go look at what Giannis looked like when he turned 18. Go look at what Olynyk looked like in the NCAA Tournament for Gonzaga. Olynyk had shown more as an all-around player than Filipowski. Giannis hadn't shown any ability to shoot.

GG's handle, the shift and the driving ability are quite special for a player that size, regardless of age. That's the appeal.

Also, you're referring to GG's measurements last spring, which were taken within a few months of turning 17. See how he measures out this spring.

Sir you cant be an age fetishist and just ignore you just comped a Junior KO to a Freshman Flip.

And I doubt GG has grown that much. He looks 6'9 with short arms. You typically dont grow your height/wingspan ratio that much as you age, even if you are able to add an inch to your height. It's most likely going to be proportional.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

That's kind of an absurd thing to say given he's played one of the easiest schedules among projected first round picks and has very poor advanced stats.

I generally respect many of your takes. I'll disagree with you here. Look at who GG is playing with. Look at the shots he's getting. The criticism that GG is inefficient and playing on a bad team is the same argument you'd use against a prospect like Anthony Edwards, who still went #1 in his class.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Sir you cant be an age fetishist and just ignore you just comped a Junior KO to a Freshman Flip.

And I doubt GG has grown that much. He looks 6'9 with short arms. You typically dont grow your height/wingspan ratio that much as you age, even if you are able to add an inch to your height. It's most likely going to be proportional.

At the end of the day, Filipowski is not going to get drafted in the top half of the 1st round. He's a middling athlete by NBA standards. He's not long enough to protect the rim at the 5. His shooting splits describe a pretty average shooter. He's not a particularly switchable perimeter defender. His appeal is that he can handle and move the ball pretty well for a guy that size. That's not a lottery guy in this draft, and it doesn't require having a fetish for younger prospects. Filipowski would be very fortunate to have a career like Olynyk's, as it would require him to earn starting-level minutes when Filipowski is more likely to be a backup.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I generally respect many of your takes. I'll disagree with you here. Look at who GG is playing with. Look at the shots he's getting. The criticism that GG is inefficient and playing on a bad team is the same argument you'd use against a prospect like Anthony Edwards, who still went #1 in his class.

You could put any number of highly rated HS Seniors on a ****** team and they would put up similar stats.

Anthony Edwards is/was an elite athlete and he was putting up 37-6-6 against Michigan State in Georgia's non-conference schedule. Georgia played actual opponets in their non=conference schedule. Edwards also RAISED his game in SEC play.


Let's see how GG does in SEC play. Being on a bad team only gives a prospect so much of a pass. Having 1:3.5 A;TO ratio is absurdly bad. His 3pt shooting currently seems flukey.

And again, I overall like GG. I had him 11th or 10th when I did the mid-season big board, but comparing him to Giannis is absolutely absurd.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

At the end of the day, Filipowski is not going to get drafted in the top half of the 1st round. He's a middling athlete by NBA standards. He's not long enough to protect the rim at the 5. His shooting splits describe a pretty average shooter. He's not a particularly switchable perimeter defender. His appeal is that he can handle and move the ball pretty well for a guy that size. That's not a lottery guy in this draft, and it doesn't require having a fetish for younger prospects. Filipowski would be very fortunate to have a career like Olynyk's, as it would require him to earn starting-level minutes when Filipowski is more likely to be a backup.

Just calling out your logical inconsistency.

If you think age is such an important factor, you shouldnt be saying dumb **** like "Go look at what Olynyk looked like in the NCAA Tournament for Gonzaga. Olynyk had shown much more as an all-around player than Filipowski". Really? A junior in the Tournament showed better stuff than a 19 year old Freshman half way through a season? Crazy. Flip will play his first NBA game at age 19 compared to KO who was 22 when he first saw the NBA floor.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

You could put any number of highly rated HS Seniors on a ****** team and they would put up similar stats.

Anthony Edwards is/was an elite athlete and he was putting up 37-6-6 against Michigan State in Georgia's non-conference schedule. Georgia played actual opponets in their non=conference schedule. Edwards also RAISED his game in SEC play.


Let's see how GG does in SEC play. Being on a bad team only gives a prospect so much of a pass. Having 1:3.5 A;TO ratio is absurdly bad. His 3pt shooting currently seems flukey.

And again, I overall like GG. I had him 11th or 10th when I did the mid-season big board, but comparing him to Giannis is absolutely absurd.

I agree it will be great to see GG in actual SEC play. My closest direct comp for GG right now is Siakam. However, drafting Filipowski over GG I would compare to drafting Olynyk over Giannis. That was the kind of very conservative draft-day decision that I hope Ainge wouldn't make this time around.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Just calling out your logical inconsistency.

If you think age is such an important factor, you shouldnt be saying dumb **** like "Go look at what Olynyk looked like in the NCAA Tournament for Gonzaga. Olynyk had shown much more as an all-around player than Filipowski". Really? A junior in the Tournament showed better stuff than a 19 year old Freshman half way through a season? Crazy. Flip will play his first NBA game at age 19 compared to KO who was 22 when he first saw the NBA floor.

You're twisting my analogy at this point trying to make an argument. Filipowski isn't an elite prospect, 19 or otherwise. I'll put it this way: GG has some All Star potential. Filipowski has virtually zero All Star potential.