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2023 NBA Draft Megathread

So, as per usual, Norway has zero NBA players (we've had one, Torgeir Bryn got a few games for the Clippers in 89-90, 3 games for a total of 10 minutes and 4 points), so whenever there's a college hopeful, we get an article or two. In 2020, Harald Frey was the talk of the draft (here), but he's in Germany now. This year, it's Kristian Sjølund from Portland Pilots. Has anyone heard of him at all? I doubt he'll be drafted, but maybe he's a potential camp invite somewhere, or summer league. 6'8" and a shooter, so that's a bit intriguing, and also rare. It feels like it's mostly guards coming out of Norway.
 
Its crazy how if you did this graph for like 20 years in a row lebron would be right at the most ideal location basically every year.
He is so special and gets so much undeserved hate imo and isn’t appreciated like he should be.


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This shows big wings. If Jokic were included though, he'd be in elite territory as well.
 
His ability to shoot from different angles, off movement and with a quick release at 6'7" - 6'8" really stands out.
His lack of nba level burst, is a concern for a forward, but it will come in time as he gets stronger, and is not a major issue imo. He just needs time in the weight room and the skill level off ball offensively is already top 10
 
Its crazy how if you did this graph for like 20 years in a row lebron would be right at the most ideal location basically every year.
He is so special and gets so much undeserved hate imo and isn’t appreciated like he should be.


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This is true. I think he really soured a lot of people with the whole "the decision" fiasco. Definitely one of the top 2 best talents ever in the NBA, but the court of public opinion comes down pretty hard on arrogance and self-aggrandizement generally speaking.
 
Welp, the Jazz don't look like they're going to get a top-8 pick in this draft. Pistons, Hornets, Rockets, Spurs, Wizards, Lakers, Thunder and Magic are all markedly worse than the Jazz. Teams like Toronto, Golden State, and Miami should improve and push Utah's picks up the draft board a couple spots, but still, the Jazz are probably going to top out with picks #9 and #11 at best. More likely, the Jazz are going to end up at #10 and #12, unless Chicago somehow catches fire.

That means Wemby, Scoot, Amen, Ausur, Cam, GG and Brandon Miller should all be gone. Maybe the Jazz would be able to package their two late lotto picks and move up to #7 or #8 to draft one of those players, but let's assume that's unlikely. Nick Smith Jr. could possibly slip due to injury concerns, but if that's the case the Jazz might want to pass as well.

Here are the players the Jazz would be looking at in the 10-14 range. Keep in mind, the Jazz will be able to draft two of them ---

Guards: Nick Smith Jr., Anthony Black, Keyonte George, Cason Wallace
Wings: Jett Howard, Gradey Dick, Maxwell Lewis
Big Wings/Forwards: Jarace Walker, Taylor Hendricks, maybe Baba Miller shows up

If it were me, I would want to come away with a high-level facilitator like Anthony Black (assuming he can play that role full-time) or Keyonte George. Then I would want to come away with a big, athletic, 2-way wing. The guy in this group that has the most potential might actually be Taylor Hendricks. Hendricks has size, athleticism, bounce and some inside-outside scoring. He has Jared Vanderbilt measurables and has some tools to work with as a potential go-to scorer. He's someone to keep an eye on. Otherwise, Jarace Walker should be a two-way contributor in the mold of a Marcus Morris or Paul Millsap.

If the Jazz could come away with Anthony Black and Taylor Hendricks, then to me that's salvageable.
 
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Welp, the Jazz don't look like they're going to get a top-8 pick in this draft. Pistons, Hornets, Rockets, Spurs, Wizards, Lakers, Thunder and Magic are all markedly worse than the Jazz. Teams like Toronto, Golden State, and Miami should improve and push Utah's picks up the draft board a couple spots, but still, the Jazz are probably going to top out with picks #9 and #11 at best. More likely, the Jazz are going to end up at #10 and #12, unless Chicago somehow catches fire.

That means Wemby, Scoot, Amen, Ausur, Cam, GG and Brandon Miller should all be gone. Maybe the Jazz would be able to package their two late lotto picks and move up to #7 or #8 to draft one of those players, but let's assume that's unlikely. Nick Smith Jr. could possibly slip due to injury concerns, but if that's the case the Jazz might want to pass as well.

Here are the players the Jazz would be looking at in the 10-14 range. Keep in mind, the Jazz will be able to draft two of them ---

Guards: Nick Smith Jr., Anthony Black, Keyonte George, Cason Wallace
Wings: Jett Howard, Gradey Dick, Maxwell Lewis
Big Wings/Forwards: Jarace Walker, Taylor Hendricks, maybe Baba Miller shows up

If it were me, I would want to come away with a high-level facilitator like Anthony Black (assuming he can play that role full-time) or Keyonte George. Then I would want to come away with a big, athletic, 2-way wing. The guy in this group that has the most potential might actually be Taylor Hendricks. Hendricks has size, athleticism, bounce and some inside-outside scoring. He has Jared Vanderbilt measurables and has some tools to work with as a potential go-to scorer. He's someone to keep an eye on. Otherwise, Jarace Walker should be a two-way contributor in the mold of a Marcus Morris or Paul Millsap.

If the Jazz could come away with Anthony Black and Taylor Hendricks, then to me that's salvageable.
Other than Wemby, Scoot and Amen I think 4-14 is completely up in the air. I'm assuming Amen having such a high upside as a big pg plants him firmly at 3. Then you just have a ton of guys showing flashes but I don't think any of those other guys are separating themselves from the pack of around 10-12 guys. You have some guys showing flashes of really high upside but also flawed and raw games and then you have some guys that are a little more complete and consistent that look like they have a solid floor but not massive upside.
 
Welp, the Jazz don't look like they're going to get a top-8 pick in this draft. Pistons, Hornets, Rockets, Spurs, Wizards, Lakers, Thunder and Magic are all markedly worse than the Jazz. Teams like Toronto, Golden State, and Miami should improve and push Utah's picks up the draft board a couple spots, but still, the Jazz are probably going to top out with picks #9 and #11 at best. More likely, the Jazz are going to end up at #10 and #12, unless Chicago somehow catches fire.

That means Wemby, Scoot, Amen, Ausur, Cam, GG and Brandon Miller should all be gone. Maybe the Jazz would be able to package their two late lotto picks and move up to #7 or #8 to draft one of those players, but let's assume that's unlikely. Nick Smith Jr. could possibly slip due to injury concerns, but if that's the case the Jazz might want to pass as well.

Here are the players the Jazz would be looking at in the 10-14 range. Keep in mind, the Jazz will be able to draft two of them ---

Guards: Nick Smith Jr., Anthony Black, Keyonte George, Cason Wallace
Wings: Jett Howard, Gradey Dick, Maxwell Lewis
Big Wings/Forwards: Jarace Walker, Taylor Hendricks, maybe Baba Miller shows up

If it were me, I would want to come away with a high-level facilitator like Anthony Black (assuming he can play that role full-time) or Keyonte George. Then I would want to come away with a big, athletic, 2-way wing. The guy in this group that has the most potential might actually be Taylor Hendricks. Hendricks has size, athleticism, bounce and some inside-outside scoring. He has Jared Vanderbilt measurables and has some tools to work with as a potential go-to scorer. He's someone to keep an eye on. Otherwise, Jarace Walker should be a two-way contributor in the mold of a Marcus Morris or Paul Millsap.

If the Jazz could come away with Anthony Black and Taylor Hendricks, then to me that's salvageable.
We need Anthony Black… or a top 4 pick. I think they have the ammo to trade up for Black if their pick isn’t high enough. I also would love to get Hendricks or one of the wings mentioned with our second pick. Dick, Howard, Jackson are all nice bets on the wing. Not sure who is around at 25ish but there are guys I like a lot projected around there… or just take the guy who slides down unexpectedly… seems like there is always one of those.
 
Other than Wemby, Scoot and Amen I think 4-14 is completely up in the air. I'm assuming Amen having such a high upside as a big pg plants him firmly at 3. Then you just have a ton of guys showing flashes but I don't think any of those other guys are separating themselves from the pack of around 10-12 guys. You have some guys showing flashes of really high upside but also flawed and raw games and then you have some guys that are a little more complete and consistent that look like they have a solid floor but not massive upside.

I don't entirely agree with this. I think Cam Whitmore, Ausur Thompson, GG Jackson and Brandon Miller are almost assuredly gone by #9. Nick Smith Jr. would be too, but the prolonged injury management seems like a real concern.
 
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