2023 NBA Draft Megathread

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

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.

Jazz would have a 20% - 30% chance of moving up into the top 4. Looks like those are the best odds the Jazz are going to get. I like Black for the Jazz, especially if they're going to use multiple creators, like they have been this season.

Gradey Dick is the most Kyle Korver-like pure shooter, but I worry that this archetype might not be as valuable in today's NBA where teams are loading up with wings and switching defensively. A player like Jett Howard, who has more self-creation and shoot-off-movement potential might be better. Offensively, Howard might be the most comparable to a Klay Thompson in this draft.

One guy I'd look at in the late 20s would be Jordan Walsh. He's a relentless defender, and he has more ability to facilitate on-ball than he's shown at Arkansas. He should also be able to knock down shots. He's kind of a Swiss-army knife at 6'7" with close to a 7-ft wingspan.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

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.

Not at all.

 

[Elizah Huge]

2023 NBA mock draft -- Will Scoot Henderson play for the Ignite again?

ESPN NBA draft insider Jonathan Givony provides his latest mock and the latest on Henderson's status with the Ignite.

www.espn.com

4 NSJ
5 Ausar
6 Whitmore
7 Miller
8 Walker
9 Wallace
10 Howard
11 George
12 Black
13 Ware
14 Filipowski

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

4 NSJ
5 Ausar
6 Whitmore
7 Miller
8 Walker
9 Wallace
10 Howard
11 George
12 Black
13 Ware
14 Filipowski

Big rise for Howard but I get it. Guy is a big wing and shooting it well… good genes obvi. Give me Anthony Black with our pick or the Minny pick and I’m cool.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

4 NSJ
5 Ausar
6 Whitmore
7 Miller
8 Walker
9 Wallace
10 Howard
11 George
12 Black
13 Ware
14 Filipowski

I agree with Jett Howard moving up near that range. If he really hits, you're talking about a legit perimeter scorer, like 20 ppg, who is 6'7".

I don't agree with GG Jackson falling out of the lottery. Guys that young do tend to drop a bit, but you can't take Filipowski over Jackson.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Jazz would have a 20% - 30% chance of moving up into the top 4. Looks like those are the best odds the Jazz are going to get. I like Black for the Jazz, especially if they're going to use multiple creators, like they have been this season.

Gradey Dick is the most Kyle Korver-like pure shooter, but I worry that this archetype might not be as valuable in today's NBA where teams are loading up with wings and switching defensively. A player like Jett Howard, who has more self-creation and shoot-off-movement potential might be better. Offensively, Howard might be the most comparable to a Klay Thompson in this draft.

One guy I'd look at in the late 20s would be Jordan Walsh. He's a relentless defender, and he has more ability to facilitate on-ball than he's shown at Arkansas. He should also be able to knock down shots. He's kind of a Swiss-army knife at 6'7" with close to a 7-ft wingspan.

Bruh, Walsh is far over 7' wingspan. It's closer to 7'3 than it is 7'

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I agree with Jett Howard moving up near that range. If he really hits, you're talking about a legit perimeter scorer, like 20 ppg, who is 6'7".

I don't agree with GG Jackson falling out of the lottery. Guys that young do tend to drop a bit, but you can't take Filipowski over Jackson.

Filipowski could be a top 10 player in the draft. He's still going to be 19 when the NBA season starts. He has massive potential. His stats arent great, but he looks great when I watch him. His shot looks BEAUTFIUL for a 7'. He's a far better shooter than his % show. He's on a mediocre Duke team where he's the best player when he shouldn't be the best player on a Duke team.

I think having Ware at 13 is the bigger question mark. But the center class is weak this year.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Filipowski could be a top 10 player in the draft. He's still going to be 19 when the NBA season starts. He has massive potential. His stats arent great, but he looks great when I watch him. His shot looks BEAUTFIUL for a 7'. He's a far better shooter than his % show. He's on a mediocre Duke team where he's the best player when he shouldn't be the best player on a Duke team.

I think having Ware at 13 is the bigger question mark. But the center class is weak this year.

Okay, but I don't see any argument for taking Filipowski over GG. I see GG as potentially a top-3 player in this class. That's how high his ceiling is.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Okay, but I don't see any argument for taking Filipowski over GG. I see GG as potentially a top-3 player in this class. That's how high his ceiling is.

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.

 

[sip]

Not at all.

I love how you act like you are the defacto decision maker. Go to any mock draft at this point and virtually every one of them is drastically different in that range. As the season goes on we should see a lot more clarity but at this point in time to act like there is a select pecking order is stupid.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I love how you act like you are the defacto decision maker. Go to any mock draft at this point and virtually every one of them is drastically different in that range. As the season goes on we should see a lot more clarity but at this point in time to act like there is a select pecking order is stupid.

So you are telling me Cam Whitmore could go 14 and Gradey Dick could go #4? You think 4-14 are that fluid?

 

[Elizah Huge]

Filipowski could be a top 10 player in the draft. He's still going to be 19 when the NBA season starts. He has massive potential. His stats arent great, but he looks great when I watch him. His shot looks BEAUTFIUL for a 7'. He's a far better shooter than his % show. He's on a mediocre Duke team where he's the best player when he shouldn't be the best player on a Duke team.

I think having Ware at 13 is the bigger question mark. But the center class is weak this year.

This is true for me the times I’ve watched them too.

 

[sip]

So you are telling me Cam Whitmore could go 14 and Gradey Dick could go #4? You think 4-14 are that fluid?

Absolutely. I could see a team viewing Dick in that Peja mold and not wanting to risk trading down to try and grab him. I would say Whitmore at 14 is a lot more likely than Dick at 4 though. He has a lot more time to shake off the rust though.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Filipowski could be a top 10 player in the draft. He's still going to be 19 when the NBA season starts. He has massive potential. His stats arent great, but he looks great when I watch him. His shot looks BEAUTFIUL for a 7'. He's a far better shooter than his % show. He's on a mediocre Duke team where he's the best player when he shouldn't be the best player on a Duke team.

I think having Ware at 13 is the bigger question mark. But the center class is weak this year.

No pure centers in the first 18-20 picks for me unless they project to be special as rim protectors or shooters with some rim protection. Unless they are straight special for other reasons. Ware is a no for me until late first. I haven't come away impressed with Filipowski but watched very little.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Okay, but I don't see any argument for taking Filipowski over GG. I see GG as potentially a top-3 player in this class. That's how high his ceiling is.

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.

 

[sip]

This kid has such a great shooting stroke.

 

[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.