2023 NBA Draft Megathread

[Coach Ellis]

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again (and again. . . and again. . .)

You guys fight over some dumb stuff. I clearly have guys that I like more than others, but as a fan I want the Jazz to accumulate as much talent as possible. Don’t really care where it comes from.

Every draft pick is theoretically a great or terrible pick, but there’s way too many variables that go into picking guys to know how successful they’ll be until they’re in the building and either living up to the hype or failing miserably.

I tend to want the best athletes with the type of length I like, who are pesky on defense and have a good looking shot. I believe in the coaches to maximize our player’s potential - as long as they stay healthy and motivated.

As such, I tend to overvalue athletic wings/forwards and tall guards. I don’t buy too much into numbers, and go more with what my eyes tell me. If the Jazz draft a guy I don’t like (Trey Burks and Dante Exum) I’m going to hope like hell that the Jazz saw something I didn’t and they prove me 100% wrong.

 

[Goodluckchuck]

You'll get excited if it happens. He's awesome.

I don’t get the hate on him. Can shoot and plays pretty good defense.

 

[fishonjazz]

My favs right now: cam, Hendricks, Bufkin and Wallace.

Hoping to get one of the first two with the first pick and one of the other two with the second pick.

 

[NUMBERICA]

The most obtuse comp of the draft season happened when you said Anthony Black was like Scottie Barnes. Maybe have some humility.

Archie "Michael Jordan" Goodwin says hello again. You might also want to look up what obtuse means because you seem to like it more than you know what it means.

 

[KqWIN]

I still think the GG conspiracy about his pro day was my favorite flame war of this predraft process lol. But having a meltdown over being caught making up box scores is also very funny.

 

[KqWIN]

Archie "Michael Jordan" Goodwin says hello again. You might also want to look up what obtuse means because you seem to like it more than you know what it means.

The GOAT

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I'll put Elizah on ignore and save us all some page space. My bad.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I'll put Elizah on ignore and save us all some page space. My bad.

Everyone probably should.

 

[Elizah Huge]

I don’t get the hate on him. Can shoot and plays pretty good defense.

I would be happy if he was the pick at 9. Just the thought of trading up for Black or Cam has my expectations a little too high.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I don’t get the hate on him. Can shoot and plays pretty good defense.

If he is really good at the things he projects to be really good at... he's an amazing player that every contender is thirsty for. He's also an A+ kid based on everything I have seen about him.

People confuse ball in hand with upside I think... and if a guy isn't ball in hand they limit the ceiling on a guy. IDK its weird.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Everyone probably should.

Nah... @Elizah Huge is a very helpful valued poster.

 

[Elizah Huge]

If he is really good at the things he projects to be really good at... he's an amazing player that every contender is thirsty for. He's also an A+ kid based on everything I have seen about him.

People confuse ball in hand with upside I think... and if a guy isn't ball in hand they limit the ceiling on a guy. IDK its weird.

Giannis happening has really skewed a lot of people’s thoughts. Every young kid who is super long and raw has huge so called potential now because of it.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

Everyone probably should.

meh, everybody contributes to the site in one way or another. you, for example are annoying af at times, but you're entertaining. you definitely give this site life. elizah huge has strong opinions and argues them to the death. that's fun. some people choose to ignore guys - bunch of nancies who do that, but whatevs. guys do what they need to do.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

meh, everybody contributes to the site in one way or another. you, for example are annoying af at times, but you're entertaining. you definitely give this site life. elizah huge has strong opinions and argues them to the death. that's fun. some people choose to ignore guys - bunch of nancies who do that, but whatevs. guys do what they need to do.

I dont value or respect anyone who says things like "x poster likes player Y, so I dont like player Y"

If that's the basis of your draft analysis I'd rather read nbadraft.net scouting reports than anything you have to say.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

This is where I have settled on him. I'm not sky-high on him, but what he allows you to do is a lot more exciting than what he himself necessarily does. I think there is a universe where he can switch across all positions, hits 40% from 3, and his defense/rebounding allows the Jazz to unleash Lauri at the 5 and legitimate (not gimmick) switch-everything scheme.

He was like a college version of Lauri with some of the rim protection, shooting, and dunking he offered. He has several skills/ability that will get him opportunity. If he gets elite at a couple of them he is a home run... if he is good and builds out other parts of his game he's a home run... It isn't just the skills its the value placed on those particular skills. His haters look at handle, creation, and passing... he's a combo forward/big.... those things are cute to have but not necessary... like I ain't worried about Scoot's ability to protect the rim ya know.

 

[zyzz]

I'm watching this NBA.com interview series and Keyonte George is the cockiest ************ there is.

The Athletic had an article where they interviewed execs and college coaches who played against the prospects. They mentioned that about George. General confidence and cockiness that could help or hurt him. Like if you doubled him or talked **** to him, he would take it personally and take horrible shots to prove himself.

 

[Bawse Dawg]

If he is really good at the things he projects to be really good at... he's an amazing player that every contender is thirsty for. He's also an A+ kid based on everything I have seen about him.

People confuse ball in hand with upside I think... and if a guy isn't ball in hand they limit the ceiling on a guy. IDK its weird.

Decent chance we get him, and I would talk myself into it, and root for the kid. But we are a team with a lot of needs and he doesn't seem to really specifically fit any of them. And I've just really become fans of players who can really set the table for others and keep the ball moving. It's why I've soured even on Whitmore a bit recently, and totally come around on Black. The first summer league game would be the first time I see Hendricks on a basketball court though. I don't even watch highlights. I read a bunch of stuff (mostly here) and go on vibes. So obviously my opinion should not be regarded in the slightest.

 

[Elizah Huge]

He was like a college version of Lauri with some of the rim protection, shooting, and dunking he offered. He has several skills/ability that will get him opportunity. If he gets elite at a couple of them he is a home run... if he is good and builds out other parts of his game he's a home run... It isn't just the skills its the value placed on those particular skills. His haters look at handle, creation, and passing... he's a combo forward/big.... those things are cute to have but not necessary... like I ain't worried about Scoot's ability to protect the rim ya know.

8/9 players who’s ever done what he did all went in the top-7 of their draft. Most recent being Mathurin who is pretty ****ing good.

 

[NUMBERICA]

My favs right now: cam, Hendricks, Bufkin and Wallace.

Hoping to get one of the first two with the first pick and one of the other two with the second pick.

We are lock-step.

 

[zyzz]

Sam Vecenie’s latest mock has us taking Hendricks. He said that Hendricks had a really strong workout with the Pistons and would be their target if they traded back with us.