2023 NBA Draft Megathread

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I can understand why a team wouldn't want to deal with that type of project.

The next one I will watch full game of is probably Whitehead... I'm very intrigued by him. And I will try to pick an early game before he got injured.

I'm just reading tea leaves, but I think the thing that's turning people off on GG was his penchant for taking tough (bad) shots instead of passing the ball this year. I think that was situational at South Carolina and can be corrected with coaching. If you look at his Team USA tape, he was a very different player. Someone will see through it and draft him.

Right now, the main thing for GG is his interviews and whether he acts like a professional. He needs to show he's coachable. Guys like Hassan Whiteside and Louis King dropped in the draft because they just didn't come off as serious people during the interview process.

 

[KqWIN]

That’s fair too… I just think if we want to yolo and swing it doesn’t necessarily mean you swing on a prospect like GG. I really think if he works it will be as a second draft guy once he’s flamed out or close to it.

I think Bilal is going to be there at 16. Maybe Toronto takes him but I think Miller ends up going to OKC or Toronto and I could see Keyonte going to Toronto as well. I don’t think nba GMs are as big on Bilal as you think. I think there is a 60-70% chance he is there still.

Yeah, I could be wrong about this and I don't know how still being in France affects his stock. I think they are 1-1 in a the quarterfinals so he could have a predraft process if they lsoe. He's also getting his minutes cut as guys have returned from injury.

I just think TOR and OKC would be all over him. If it were other teams I would think the chance is higher, but they are the two most likely teams out of any in the league to "reach" for him. I think Milller/Coulibaly go 12 and 13 in some order. I think this was a potential spot for GG as well, but he's dropping in the mocks after a bad combine so I think it will be those two.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Be careful. Ainge is the master of smokescreens. We're only a few months from him leaking the Jazz had no interest in RJ Barrett and that Bogey was worth an unprotected first.

Some of the criticism around GG does sound contrived. Nitpicking over his shot selection and the pace in his workout seems silly. (Besides he took plenty of 3s and had plenty of rim finishes in his workout.) Any team can bring him in and put him through any workout they want.

I don't agree with it, but it's gotten to the point though where there is enough smoke floating around that maybe he really has fallen into the Jaden McDaniels category and his market may be soft.

 

[stitches]

Yeah, I could be wrong about this and I don't know how still being in France affects his stock. I think they are 1-1 in a the quarterfinals so he could have a predraft process if they lsoe. He's also getting his minutes cut as guys have returned from injury.

I just think TOR and OKC would be all over him. If it were other teams I would think the chance is higher, but they are the two most likely teams out of any in the league to "reach" for him. I think Milller/Coulibaly go 12 and 13 in some order. I think this was a potential spot for GG as well, but he's dropping in the mocks after a bad combine so I think it will be those two.

Miller is another one I didn't see much from in their game vs Wemby's team. And I wasn't overly impressed in his highlights. What's the appeal there? He seemed utterly mediocre to me in those two games...

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I would definitely explore what it would take to move up and get Miller or Scoot. Both have All-NBA upside.

Those teams are going to want Lauri. They're lousy teams that need an impact player right away. Jazz might be able to finagle a move up to #4 or #5 using #9 and future picks. There's some perception that players in the 5 - 9 range are pretty similar caliber. It's Whitmore vs. Walker vs. Hendricks vs. Ausar vs. Black.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I can understand why a team wouldn't want to deal with that type of project.

The next one I will watch full game of is probably Whitehead... I'm very intrigued by him. And I will try to pick an early game before he got injured.

Watch Whitehead's McDonalds and Team USA stuff. Tell me he doesn't remind you of Harrison Barnes in high school.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

from where do these words on the street come? just curious...

Hearsay

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Yeah, I could be wrong about this and I don't know how still being in France affects his stock. I think they are 1-1 in a the quarterfinals so he could have a predraft process if they lsoe. He's also getting his minutes cut as guys have returned from injury.

I just think TOR and OKC would be all over him. If it were other teams I would think the chance is higher, but they are the two most likely teams out of any in the league to "reach" for him. I think Milller/Coulibaly go 12 and 13 in some order. I think this was a potential spot for GG as well, but he's dropping in the mocks after a bad combine so I think it will be those two.

I’ve seen varying opinions… Dean of the Draft is obviously not the most trustworthy on this stuff but I always end up perusing his stuff… and he scoffed at Bilal and that league in general… he’s kinda bonkers but I think there will definitely be front offices that kinda say “cool story” to the kid on the JV French team.

Toronto is project 6-9 but also they drafted Malachi Flynn and traded for a guy like Gary Trent Jr… so I could see them going away from toolsy wings too. I think Miller is an awesome fit next to Chet.I just don’t see it as a certainty he’s gone… I think it’s closer to a coin flip and if I was betting today I’d say he’s there at 16.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Miller is another one I didn't see much from in their game vs Wemby's team. And I wasn't overly impressed in his highlights. What's the appeal there? He seemed utterly mediocre to me in those two games...

That was early in the year. Miller was VERY productive in the G League this year and made huge improvements over the year. This is as a teenager against grown *** men. In March he was 23/12 with a block and a steal. His shooting is wonky but has shown improvement and has some promise. Also athletic 6-10 with 7-2 wingspan is a good thing too.

His backstory is kind of interesting as well… he was skinny and his high level competition stuff in HS was cut short because of injury. Vecenie has a story coming out on him soon… I can see him being overlooked in plain sight…

 

[framer]

I'd add Keyonte to that group, specifically as a high end scorer. He was a decent off the dribble shooter, shows flashes as a passer, is able to get to the FT line, is a more physical player on both ends, and can also scale down into a bomber role if it doesn't pan out. I can see him being a big time initiator because of his off the dribble 3 + ability to draw fouls at the basket. Probably ends up more like Clarkson or Beasley, but he checks a lot of the boxes in terms of being an offensive engine. You get some crazy shots and highlights that very few in this class can make, but his efficiency and passing isn't that bad.

Bilas is the best bet at #16. I just don't think he will be there.

If Keyonte is sitting there at 16 you pretty much have to take him as long as he is still breathing.

 

[default]

I feel pretty confident with all the picks we have this year and in future years plus having so much cap space, that we are going to make a trade in this draft. It is just hard to predict what it will look like.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

I’m a big Leonard Miller guy. Would be a great pick at 16

here's the thing with leonard miller - he's a swing for the fences guy and probably the safest pick in the draft. you don't dominate the the grown *** pros in the g league (he's the best HS to g league player we've seen in the g league), as a 19 year old if you can't play. iow, he's definitely an NBA player based on how well he played against fringe nba guys as a 19 year old. the only question is how good he can be. what's his ceiling. that makes him a no-brainer to me at 16.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

That was early in the year. Miller was VERY productive in the G League this year and made huge improvements over the year. This is as a teenager against grown *** men. In March he was 23/12 with a block and a steal. His shooting is wonky but has shown improvement and has some promise. Also athletic 6-10 with 7-2 wingspan is a good thing too.

His backstory is kind of interesting as well… he was skinny and his high level competition stuff in HS was cut short because of injury. Vecenie has a story coming out on him soon… I can see him being overlooked in plain sight…

taking into account his production, especially in March, including the efficiency with which he did it, you could argue by the end of the season he was the best player in the league. which is bonkers for a 19 year old playing against pros. we've only seen it with Luka - not that he's a comparable player to Luka, but that's really the only time we've a player that age dominate a comparable pro league like that.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

taking into account his production, especially in March, including the efficiency with which he did it, you could argue by the end of the season he was the best player in the league. which is bonkers for a 19 year old playing against pros. we've only seen it with Luka - not that he's a comparable player to Luka, but that's really the only time we've a player that age dominate a comparable pro league like that.

He's just making rapid improvements... like he was a bean pole and people put him in the "2 years away from being 2 years away" category and he's already added enough strength that he was moving grown men. From the accounts I've heard he is just picking things up fast and improving rapidly... the numbers bear that out.

Give me a kid who is legit 6-10 with a 7-2 wingspan, has a high motor, demonstrated his work ethic... even if his jumper is ugly as ****... I will work with that.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

in february and march, miller averaged 20 ppg on 65% TS, 12.5 rebs. 56% FGs and 83% FTs (83% from the line is a great sign for his potential to figure it out from distance). the only problem i would have with taking him at 9 is if you can get him at 16, then it's a wasted pick that early. otherwise, he's a good enough prospect to take at 9 in my mind.

 

[KqWIN]

Miller is another one I didn't see much from in their game vs Wemby's team. And I wasn't overly impressed in his highlights. What's the appeal there? He seemed utterly mediocre to me in those two games...

I was with you. His shot was so fugly in that game and it was painful to watch him. He ended up having a really great season in the G_League though. Super productive. I think his performance and the production the G-League was as good as any prospect, and that includes former and future high draft picks like Jalen Green and Scoot.

Before this past season, he had some hype as a 6'10 PG. I thought that was false hope and didn't buy into it. Looked slow and his skill level wasn't up to par with an actual guard. But he transitioned into this super productive big who is active and energetic on both ends. I like him at #16, but probably not at #9.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

in february and march, miller averaged 20 ppg on 65% TS, 12.5 rebs. 56% FGs and 83% FTs (83% from the line is a great sign for his potential to figure it out from distance). the only problem i would have with taking him at 9 is if you can get him at 16, then it's a wasted pick that early.

And I keep on mentioning this but it is unique to the G League... they shoot 1 free throw for 2 points on most fouls. The first free throw is generally made at a 3-4% higher rate than the second... so with all the G League guys you can tack a little bump up on their FT%.

His wonky *** release will likely limit how many threes he will take... but I think he could end up a 35%+ 3P shooter on low volume. Not enough to make defenses close out hard to him but also good enough to punish if they completely ignore him.

I get some Siakham vibes there.

 

[KqWIN]

I’ve seen varying opinions… Dean of the Draft is obviously not the most trustworthy on this stuff but I always end up perusing his stuff… and he scoffed at Bilal and that league in general… he’s kinda bonkers but I think there will definitely be front offices that kinda say “cool story” to the kid on the JV French team.

Toronto is project 6-9 but also they drafted Malachi Flynn and traded for a guy like Gary Trent Jr… so I could see them going away from toolsy wings too. I think Miller is an awesome fit next to Chet.I just don’t see it as a certainty he’s gone… I think it’s closer to a coin flip and if I was betting today I’d say he’s there at 16.

Dean is a crazy guy for sure haha. I like reading his thoughts, but this is one of those one's I don't necessarily agree with. There will be teams that pass on him because of his lack of box score production, but in terms of mystery prospects Bilal really isn't that big of a mystery anymore. I don't even think being a mystery hurts draft stock anyways. I can see them saying cool story to Bilal, but in the same way some teams said might have said cool Dieng last year and say cool story to his crappy play in AUS. There have been way more "out there" picks made in the past and certainly by TOR and OKC in particular. It only takes one team to like him, and the teams most likely to do that are in the the 11-13 range. Every team needs 6'8 athletic wings.

I'm biased, but it doesn't even feel like a reach to draft him the lottery. I've seen a lot of people come around to that opinion as well. Not everyone is high on him, but I don't think if he went 12 or 13 that's some kind of giant unexpected leap. The sticker shock of ranking him so high isn't what it was when he was still playing with the Jr team when I first mentioned him. Where would you rank him? I noticed that you drafted him at #15 in the mock.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Dean is a crazy guy for sure haha. I like reading his thoughts, but this is one of those one's I don't necessarily agree with. There will be teams that pass on him because of his lack of box score production, but in terms of mystery prospects Bilal really isn't that big of a mystery anymore. I don't even think being a mystery hurts draft stock anyways. I can see them saying cool story to Bilal, but in the same way some teams said might have said cool Dieng last year and say cool story to his crappy play in AUS. There have been way more "out there" picks made in the past and certainly by TOR and OKC in particular. It only takes one team to like him, and the teams most likely to do that are in the the 11-13 range. Every team needs 6'8 athletic wings.

I'm biased, but it doesn't even feel like a reach to draft him the lottery. I've seen a lot of people come around to that opinion as well. Not everyone is high on him, but I don't think if he went 12 or 13 that's some kind of giant unexpected leap. The sticker shock of ranking him so high isn't what it was when he was still playing with the Jr team when I first mentioned him. Where would you rank him? I noticed that you drafted him at #15 in the mock.

Probably late teens for me... someone may take him before 16 but I think you make it more of a certainty than it actually is.

 

[Bodhi]

Here is where I stand today. Dudes still moving a lot by the game/day:

1: Wemby
2: Amen
3: Scoot
4: Miller
5: Ausar
6: Keyonte
7: Walker
8: Wallace
9: Hendricks
10: GG
11: Leonard Miller
12: Black
13: Jett
14: Nick Smith Jr
15: Hawkins
16: Whitmore
17: Dick
18: Sensabaugh
19: Filipowski
20: Hood-Shifinio
21: Maxwell Lewis
22: Kris Murray
23: Ware
24: Clowney
25: Whitehead
26: Sasser
27: Terrance Shannon
28: Rupert
29: Jackson-Davis
30: Colby Jones

Yur boi out here EARLY on that Leonard Miller love......