2023 NBA Draft Megathread

[fishonjazz]

Wasn't he injured? And in highschool too?

I would bet if you were to compile a list of athletes who have previous injuries that the list would include almost every player in every sport who ever played. Sports are physically demanding for the most part.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Wasn't he injured? And in highschool too?

I mean he hurt his thumb... not like a foot or knee or even a shoulder... just a contact injury that can happen to anyone.

 

[fishonjazz]

He could have a Kwahid issue with his body.

So could every player in the draft I guess.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

this will make @Elizah Huge happy. I think I am back on the Anthony Black over Cason Wallace bandwagon. There was some article talking about how he was some damn 4 sport athlete and is just a mother effer as a competitor and I am here for all the slop I guess. I know Suggs was like a great football player and we all know Harpring was too... it isn't always an amazing indicator but I just think there are too many potential benefits to having a pg that size and will just cross my fingers on the shooting with him. Its part of what originally made me like him is just the teammate gym rat stuff...


I reserve the right to change my mind 12 more times.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

My biggest fear with Cam is that his body falls apart and can only give you 20 games a year.

He'll need to develop some good habits to protect his knees and back. I don't like when he slams both feet down on a gather and two-footed jump. He should be fine though.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

this will make @Elizah Huge happy. I think I am back on the Anthony Black over Cason Wallace bandwagon. There was some article talking about how he was some damn 4 sport athlete and is just a mother effer as a competitor and I am here for all the slop I guess. I know Suggs was like a great football player and we all know Harpring was too... it isn't always an amazing indicator but I just think there are too many potential benefits to having a pg that size and will just cross my fingers on the shooting with him. Its part of what originally made me like him is just the teammate gym rat stuff...


I reserve the right to change my mind 12 more times.

I think it's pretty telling that neither Black nor Wallace has come in to work out for the Jazz, while Gradey Dick has. See if Bufkin, George or Hood-Schifino come in next week.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I think it's pretty telling that neither Black nor Wallace has come in to work out for the Jazz, while Gradey Dick has. See if Bufkin, George or Hood-Schifino come in next week.

I mean I think they will... still only like half way through workout szn right?

 

[whatthe]

Is Denver going to offer the 40 + the Jazz 2024 (protections removed) for the 28? I might take that. The Jazz could be a bottom feeder next year.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Is Denver going to offer the 40 + the Jazz 2024 (protections removed) for the 28? I might take that. The Jazz could be a bottom feeder next year.

OKC still holds the pick. They would have to move it but may not want to as it might hurt their other picks... its the least favorable of 4 picks they own. Jazz pick may be that... so they want to keep as many chances as possible to give up a ****** pick.

 

[whatthe]

OKC still holds the pick. They would have to move it but may not want to as it might hurt their other picks... its the least favorable of 4 picks they own. Jazz pick may be that... so they want to keep as many chances as possible to give up a ****** pick.

Oh I thought Denver did a trade today with OKC and got it.

 

[Elizah Huge]

Oh I thought Denver did a trade today with OKC and got it.

They get the least favorable out of all of the 2024 picks OKC owns.

 

[KqWIN]

Gym rat stuff….meh. It’s important, but if a report came out that Cason trained with bears it wouldn’t really swing my opinion. Not saying this is the case, but sometimes there’s a reason why you hear and sometimes there’s a reason why you don’t. I have Black > Cason….but it’s undeniable that Cason has that dawg in him on the court.

Having said that, my “irrational” trait that I love is a late bloomer with late growth spurt. We all have our things.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Gym rat stuff….meh. It’s important, but if a report came out that Cason trained with bears it wouldn’t really swing my opinion. Not saying this is the case, but sometimes there’s a reason why you hear and sometimes there’s a reason why you don’t. I have Black > Cason….but it’s undeniable that Cason has that dawg in him on the court.

Having said that, my “irrational” trait that I love is a late bloomer with late growth spurt. We all have our things.

Its more the competitive stuff which i think really matters. He played 4 sports at a high level... i think he loves to compete... hoping it means he has some more shooting upside now that basketball is his full focus maybe there is some rapid improvement? I like Cason as well.

Its also just the thought of... if you have a big playmaking guard it opens up a lot of stuff (especially if he is really good on defense), so the shooting is troublesome but there is some real upside if it comes around.

 

[KqWIN]

Its more the competitive stuff which i think really matters. He played 4 sports at a high level... i think he loves to compete... hoping it means he has some more shooting upside now that basketball is his full focus maybe there is some rapid improvement? I like Cason as well.

Its also just the thought of... if you have a big playmaking guard it opens up a lot of stuff (especially if he is really good on defense), so the shooting is troublesome but there is some real upside if it comes around.

I think it's important to be competitive and it's a nice story....but it wouldn't change anything for me if I learned that Cason actually played 5 sports. I see him play basketball and that dude is crazy competitive. I bet there's someone out there that see's this 4 sport story and says he doesn't love the game enough, I remember when Ant caught a lot of flock for liking football more.

I've also gone back and forth on these two a lot as well. I have Black ahead right now because I really believe in his ability to get to the basket and as a result I feel better about putting the ball in his hands a ton. My biggest concern with him is that he would get caught in the situation where he needs the ball bc he can't shoot, but also isn't good enough to warrant having the ball a ton. This is still a concern of mine to some extent, but I trust Will Hardy a lot to develop him.

 

[sip]

The one thing we know for sure is that body type has zero impact on injury issues and longevity. There are people that look like Greek gods that are constantly injured and players that are skinny as hell that have no issues.

 

[cowhide]

I haven't really followed college basketball or know much about the players except for what I read on this board so don't attack me if this is a dumb questions? What is the difference between L. Miller and J. Walker? Is there that much difference in talent?

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I think it's important to be competitive and it's a nice story....but it wouldn't change anything for me if I learned that Cason actually played 5 sports. I see him play basketball and that dude is crazy competitive. I bet there's someone out there that see's this 4 sport story and says he doesn't love the game enough, I remember when Ant caught a lot of flock for liking football more.

I've also gone back and forth on these two a lot as well. I have Black ahead right now because I really believe in his ability to get to the basket and as a result I feel better about putting the ball in his hands a ton. My biggest concern with him is that he would get caught in the situation where he needs the ball bc he can't shoot, but also isn't good enough to warrant having the ball a ton. This is still a concern of mine to some extent, but I trust Will Hardy a lot to develop him.

I think you are being a bit dismissive here. We are all looking for clues that point at future success. Many times the guys that are good in other sports might be showing you just how great a natural athlete they are. You also pick up things in other sports... Olajuwon people pointed to his footwork and soccer... Embiid too. Jokic and the water polo stuff... Ant and football... Nash and soccer... MJ and baseball...

I will take all the clues I can personally... just shows this kid has something to him that when he lines up in a competitive environment, he finds ways to excel. I think its a good sign. Baseball, Football, and Soccer all have elements that can help in Basketball. He's had lots of practice in a variety of athletic competitions... seems like a relevant data point.

 

[cowhide]

The main reason why I am not as high on Cam is his lack of passing. Jazz are at their best when we move the ball around. I would still pick him at 9 if he is the best available player but I worry about him being a black hole.

 

[KqWIN]

I think you are being a bit dismissive here. We are all looking for clues that point at future success. Many times the guys that are good in other sports might be showing you just how great a natural athlete they are. You also pick up things in other sports... Olajuwon people pointed to his footwork and soccer... Embiid too. Jokic and the water polo stuff... Ant and football... Nash and soccer... MJ and baseball...

I will take all the clues I can personally... just shows this kid has something to him that when he lines up in a competitive environment, he finds ways to excel. I think its a good sign. Baseball, Football, and Soccer all have elements that can help in Basketball. He's had lots of practice in a variety of athletic competitions... seems like a relevant data point.

I feel like if we knew every sport that every one of these guys played we'd realize that there are a lot of guys who played another sport. I actually think cross training is great and does help. I'd recommend it for all youth athletes and I've done some reading on this.....but it's not a detail that changes what I'm seeing. Those guys you mentioned were highly skilled, and I'm sure playing other sports helped with that. But what does that say about a guy who had that same development and isn't so skilled? Is that good or bad? I think you could go either way on that and for me it's just not so significant. If Black said he is a good passer because of another sport I'd believe him.....but saying he will be a better shooter because he had that previous cross training.....I'm not digging into that too much.

Like I said, it wouldn't change a thing for me if I knew Cason played 5 sports. I see him on the court and how hard he plays, that's what enough for me. Same goes for Black. It does not tip the scales knowing that he now played 4 sports when I only knew he played 2. I'm going to judge their competitiveness on the basis of how hard I see them compete on the court. Same goes for their jump shot or any other skill. I'm gonna look at his form, his percentages, the shots themselves....whether or not he played football isn't going to make a difference for me.

The same is true for the opposite case as well. You hear about Jamal Murray's dad programming him to be a basketball player from a young age. It worked for him, other things work for others. There's a million different origin stories of NBA players. These are good things to write articles and stories about but not something I put too much emphasis on in a draft evaluation. We all have our little tidbits that we gravitate too, however. I like guys with late growth spurts and probably care about it too much. At least it's not drafting Jabari Parker for the shape of his dome.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I think you are being a bit dismissive here. We are all looking for clues that point at future success. Many times the guys that are good in other sports might be showing you just how great a natural athlete they are. You also pick up things in other sports... Olajuwon people pointed to his footwork and soccer... Embiid too. Jokic and the water polo stuff... Ant and football... Nash and soccer... MJ and baseball...

I will take all the clues I can personally... just shows this kid has something to him that when he lines up in a competitive environment, he finds ways to excel. I think its a good sign. Baseball, Football, and Soccer all have elements that can help in Basketball. He's had lots of practice in a variety of athletic competitions... seems like a relevant data point.

Yeah, it's a thing. Doesnt mean they will improve tremendously, but multi-sports athletes who drop the other sports to focus on the main sport have more room for improvement. To dismiss it is absurd. It's called specificity.