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2023 NBA Draft Megathread

I wouldn't touch guys like Bates or Baldwin Jr. in the first round. In the second or as undrafted guys... sure. I just think most of those types will either fade away or pop on like their 3rd or 4th team.
Not really fair to group Bates in with Baldwin. Baldwin was just complete *** all around. Bates is actually good, but he's just good at one facet.
 
it's really not plenty efficient for a second year player playing against crappy competition - and yes, the competition does matter.
Man, he's pretty efficient. Not wildly so, but 21.5 points on 16.5 shots is good, especially when you consider he's making a lot of tough shots. It puts him right in line with guys like CJ/Dame as far a mid-major guys in their 2nd year.

If we are judging purely as a scorer, he's a certified first round pick probably. The efficiency stuff is a plus IMO, not a negative. It's just that he isnt elevating his teammates from what I can tell ( admittedly have no watched any full games) and he only scores on high usage tough buckets.

And we can say competition this and competition that, but he dropped 30 against Michigan and nearly beat them.
 
I was simply going on name as a gag. I am not a big fan of NSJ and yes... I see some JC there.
He's a thin-boned scorer, but he's also only 18.5 years old and is already incredibly advanced as a scorer. There's a handful of guys you can make physical comps for him to. His handle seems WAY tighter than Clarkson's on first watch and he's someone who is going to attack the basket and be more physical from Clarkson, especially if he's able to fill his body out.
 
Honestly, Nick Smith is a hard one for me to predict. I like him, but I think he is a little lower on my list than on most mock drafts.

He's good, just physically slight and not super explosive. The question on him is whether he can get to the rim. If he were really 6'5", that would help in a big way, but I doubt he is.
 
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The impressive thing with NSJ is that he's just coming in and doing these things right off the bat like he's been doing it all season. Contrast that to guys like Whitemore/Whitehead who arent nearly as confident/ready.

Now, granted, I do not the full extent to all three players injuries. Maybe NSJ had the least severe injury to recover from, but to me it's clear indicator NSJ has the confidence to make it in the NBA.
 
The impressive thing with NSJ is that he's just coming in and doing these things right off the bat like he's been doing it all season. Contrast that to guys like Whitemore/Whitehead who arent nearly as confident/ready.

Now, granted, I do not the full extent to all three players injuries. Maybe NSJ had the least severe injury to recover from, but to me it's clear indicator NSJ has the confidence to make it in the NBA.
I think he was in camps and stuff though, but yeah.

Is he Bradley Beal in the NBA? Projecting the player type/mold is kinda tough with him. I guess what will sway my opinion is whether the passing is there and defense.
 
I think he was in camps and stuff though, but yeah.

Is he Bradley Beal in the NBA? Projecting the player type/mold is kinda tough with him. I guess what will sway my opinion is whether the passing is there and defense.
Yeah, I dont think his player type is all that uncommon. There's a ton of 6'4 ish combo guards who are long and athletic 3-level scorers and they all play somewhat similarly w/ their own unique flairs. It's obviously a pretty tried and trued archetype if you are efficient enough and can survive defensively and not completely low IQ. Just from the little I watched I would say he's a pretty safe pick to be a good player.

From the game I watched yesterday he seems like he has the care factor of wanting to be a good defender and he just has an overall "it" factor.
 
I think he was in camps and stuff though, but yeah.

Is he Bradley Beal in the NBA? Projecting the player type/mold is kinda tough with him. I guess what will sway my opinion is whether the passing is there and defense.

I think his defense, passing and scoring will translate. The question for me is whether he's impactful enough to be a lead guard. Then what does he look like if the ball isn't in his hands? Can he mature and be a high-impact starter? I could easily see him be a 6th man like a Jordan Clarkson or Jet Terry. He should have a very high floor at least.

I think there's going to be a vigorous debate about NSJ v. Keyonte. Those guys may be close, even though NSJ was originally thought to be the higher level prospect coming into the season.
 
Yeah, I dont think his player type is all that uncommon. There's a ton of 6'4 ish combo guards who are long and athletic 3-level scorers and they all play somewhat similarly w/ their own unique flairs. It's obviously a pretty tried and trued archetype if you are efficient enough and can survive defensively and not completely low IQ. Just from the little I watched I would say he's a pretty safe pick to be a good player.

From the game I watched yesterday he seems like he has the care factor of wanting to be a good defender and he just has an overall "it" factor.
I just don't know where to put him on the spectrum... is it Jordan Clarkson/Jordan Poole type, is it more like a better CJ, is it Bradley Beal. Like how much upside does that player type have.

I think he's top 5 so probably a little more critical on his evaluation than some others... likely passing on Amen, Miller, or Whitmore to take him.
 
This reminds me of my 4th grade basketball team where I was just insanely taller than everyone else and other kids would shoot nonchalantly around me like I wasnt Mark Eaton.
It ain't fair to let the 13 year olds play with the 4th graders just cuz they get held back a few times.
 
I just don't know where to put him on the spectrum... is it Jordan Clarkson/Jordan Poole type, is it more like a better CJ, is it Bradley Beal. Like how much upside does that player type have.

I think he's top 5 so probably a little more critical on his evaluation than some others... likely passing on Amen, Miller, or Whitmore to take him.
I would say him doing what he's doing and not turning 19 until April puts him more on the trajectory of being on the higher end, but I guess it's hard to actually know for sure. But we will have a lot more games going forward.
 
I think his defense, passing and scoring will translate. The question for me is whether he's impactful enough to be a lead guard. Then what does he look like if the ball isn't in his hands? Can he mature and be a high-impact starter? I could easily see him be a 6th man like a Jordan Clarkson or Jet Terry. He should have a very high floor at least.

I think there's going to be a vigorous debate about NSJ v. Keyonte. Those guys may be close, even though NSJ was originally thought to be the higher level prospect coming into the season.
I expect NSJ to put a pretty defined and clear gap between himself and Keyonte as the year goes on.
 
I expect NSJ to put a pretty defined and clear gap between himself and Keyonte as the year goes on.
George has been hit and miss after his first good showing. I think Keyonte ends up below the Amen/NSJ/Whitmore/Miller tier when all is said and done.
 
Man, he's pretty efficient. Not wildly so, but 21.5 points on 16.5 shots is good, especially when you consider he's making a lot of tough shots. It puts him right in line with guys like CJ/Dame as far a mid-major guys in their 2nd year.

If we are judging purely as a scorer, he's a certified first round pick probably. The efficiency stuff is a plus IMO, not a negative. It's just that he isnt elevating his teammates from what I can tell ( admittedly have no watched any full games) and he only scores on high usage tough buckets.

And we can say competition this and competition that, but he dropped 30 against Michigan and nearly beat them.
lillard was significantly more efficient as a sophomore. the efficiency at that level is a problem when pretty much all you do is shoot/score.
 
George has been hit and miss after his first good showing. I think Keyonte ends up below the Amen/NSJ/Whitmore/Miller tier when all is said and done.
yep. i keep hearing he's a good shooter, but once the games start you have to actually shoot good in order to be considered a good shooter. that hasn't happened...yet.
 
lillard was significantly more efficient as a sophomore. the efficiency at that level is a problem when pretty much all you do is shoot/score.
Purely from a scoring efficiency they were close.

Lillard averaged 6 more points than he did field goal attempts. Bates averages 5 more points than field goal attempts.
 
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