2023 NBA Draft Megathread

[stitches]

Who's the last lead ballhandler/offensive initiator who flourished in the NBA without a shot? Giannis? And before him? What's the chance the twins are those types? They look so exciting on film... and at the same time so scary when I think about their game translating to the NBA. They will need to be truly special to be all-star level players...

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Who's the last lead ballhandler/offensive initiator who flourished in the NBA without a shot? Giannis? And before him? What's the chance the twins are those types? They look so exciting on film... and at the same time so scary when I think about their game translating to the NBA. They will need to be truly special to be all-star level players...

Depends on what you mean by flourish and what kind of team they get on. I think Amen is going to need a lot of spacing around him.

With Ausar since his **** is better, he's a bit safer, but I'm also scared he might just be Terrance Ferguson or something like that.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Who's the last lead ballhandler/offensive initiator who flourished in the NBA without a shot? Giannis? And before him? What's the chance the twins are those types? They look so exciting on film... and at the same time so scary when I think about their game translating to the NBA. They will need to be truly special to be all-star level players...

I think Amen is the type of athlete that can get wherever he wants on the court, no matter how crowded things get. There aren't a lot of those type of guys in the NBA. If his vision and passing translate to the NBA, then he is going to be good. He'll need to keep working on his shot and commit himself to being a defensive menace, where he certainly has the tools to be crazy good on the defensive side.

Ideally Amen would go somewhere with a 5 that can shoot. If the Jazz somehow were able to draft Amen, and he becomes the type of player he seems capable of, then maybe we would have to pivot from Kessler. Luckily, Lauri makes a lot of different type of lineups work.

I would definitely be nervous to draft Amen, but also super excited since I seem him as one of the few players in this draft with super high upside.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I think Amen is the type of athlete that can get wherever he wants on the court, no matter how crowded things get. There aren't a lot of those type of guys in the NBA. If his vision and passing translate to the NBA, then he is going to be good. He'll need to keep working on his shot and commit himself to being a defensive menace, where he certainly has the tools to be crazy good on the defensive side.

Ideally Amen would go somewhere with a 5 that can shoot. If the Jazz somehow were able to draft Amen, and he becomes the type of player he seems capable of, then maybe we would have to pivot from Kessler. Luckily, Lauri makes a lot of different type of lineups work.

I would definitely be nervous to draft Amen, but also super excited since I seem him as one of the few players in this draft with super high upside.

It's like with THT. The shooting isnt super important, but the finishing/foul drawing/decision making has to be on point.

I still think Amen is like the super-charged version of THT.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I've been watching more Rupert for my Rupert vs Bilal takes.

I think Rupert is better at basically everything other than finishing/off-ball movement/explosiveness.

Rupert has a much more projectable jump shot (IMO the form and speed of the release is far ahead of Bilal's), a much better handle (not even close), better defense (arguable, but I like that Rupert has a lower center of gravity w/ a bit more mass (slight advantage), and a better in-between game (something that may be useless for either player, so may not be relevant).


But Bilal's tools with those things he are better at are some of the more important things for role players. If Bilal is able to add some significant strength he's just a completely nasty off-ball player. The big question for me is the jumper as it's just as rigid and mechanical as it gets. Not necessarily bad, and maybe it becomes a relative strength 4 years from now on open C&S looks.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

1. 14. New Orleans Pelicans: Jalen Hood-Schifino (Indiana, PG/SG, Freshman)
   Hood-Schifino is earning consideration as high as No. 9 from the Jazz. We're hearing there has been a significant buildup of buzz on him during workout season, to the point where rival agents don't anticipating him being on the board outside the lottery.

From the latest Wass mock draft. If the Jazz want JHS, they are probably going to have to take him at 9 or trade up to 12.

View: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10077669-2023-nba-mock-draft-updated-full-2-round-predictions

 

[The Midnight]

Anthony Black was in Utah

I thought this was confirmed by twitter yesterday?

 

[seattlejazzfan]

If Bufkin was a freshman (he is freshman aged) would we hesitate to put him next to Black/Wallace?

I’m still hesitant to put him with them, but I can’t put my finger on why.

because he's not really a lead guard. you might be trying to fit a square peg into a round hole by trying to make him that.

 

[Eddie Zero]

I thought this was confirmed by twitter yesterday?

he was trolling Eli thinking he would ever want to be here lol. I hope he is in Utah and confirms what they need to see, to scratch him off the board.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

Of course it's worse than OTE. OTE is some of the highest ranked amateurs in the USA. These are random French kids who are OK at basketball.

lol. some of the highest ranked amateurs in the world. you realize college basketball players are amateurs, right? and you realize OTE teams got their *** handed to them by HS teams, right?

some of the highest ranked amateurs in the world. that might be one of the dumbest things i've ever heard you say. OTE is equivalent to a very good HS team. they are a step below the most elite HS teams. and the most elite HS teams would get destroyed by any college team. good hell, man. (edit) maybe you aren't considering CBB amateur due to NIL, etc. if that is the case i'll give you a pass despite the fact there are a lot of HS teams better than OTE.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

because he's not really a lead guard. you might be trying to fit a square peg into a round hole by trying to make him that.

Very few college freshman are lead guards. Cason Wallace spent much of the year not being a lead guard. It's just the nature of college basketball that you are probably going to be on a team w/ a 6' tall upperclassmen who is going to push you off ball. You can't just limit your PG drafting to guys who have 100% experience being a full-time PG.

I wouldn't categorize it as square peg round hole. It's just trying to mold a young player into a more advanced role.

 

[Coach Ellis]

I don’t really see him as someone who isn’t going to interview poorly. Made me like him more watching that.

I still like GG. Would love to get him with a later pick.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

lol. some of the highest ranked amateurs in the world. you realize college basketball players are amateurs, right? and you realize OTE teams got their *** handed to them by HS teams, right?

You are the weirdest of the weird with your anti OTE agenda. OTE has plenty of top 50 recruits for their respective class on their rosters, and some highly ranked international prospects as well. What I said was a fact. Any given OTE team has more highly ranked talent than your average power conference team that isn't one of the top recruiters.

 

[margodydek]

Who's the last lead ballhandler/offensive initiator who flourished in the NBA without a shot? Giannis? And before him? What's the chance the twins are those types? They look so exciting on film... and at the same time so scary when I think about their game translating to the NBA. They will need to be truly special to be all-star level players...

Morant would probably qualify here.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

Is there really a big difference between Walker, Hendricks and Leonard Miller?

if anything the biggest difference it that miller is probably better than them. but the other difference that people are underrating miller, so you probably get him at 16, so you can take somebody else at 9 and get both.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

You are the weirdest of the weird with your anti OTE agenda. OTE has plenty of top 50 recruits for their respective class on their rosters, and some highly ranked international prospects as well. What I said was a fact. Any given OTE team has more highly ranked talent than your average power conference team that isn't one of the top recruiters.

you act like i'm making up the fact that the second best team in the league got taken to the woodshed by a HS team. it's a simple fact cy. I'm sorry I'm letting facts get in the way of your silly hyperbole. every power conference team - even the bad power conference teams - in the country would beat any HS team by 50, yet the second best OTE got beat by 15. good grief man. lay off the mary jane for two seconds.

i used to say the OTE is a garbage league, but that isn't fair. it is what it is - a really good HS level league whose best teams could compete against most of the best HS teams in the country.

 

[stitches]

Morant would probably qualify here.

Morant is not a great shooter... but he is a shooter. He shoots it on the catch and he shoots it off the dribble and you have to guard him up to the 3p line even if you don't sell on it as much as you would with a super sharp shooter. I don't think Amen ever gets to that point IMO. With Ausar there is a chance he gets there... not sure it will be enough....

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

you act like i'm making up the fact that the second best team in the league got taken to the woodshed by a HS team. it's a simple fact cy. I'm sorry I'm letting facts get in the way of your silly hyperbole. every power conference team - even the bad power conference teams - in the country would beat any HS team by 50, yet the second best OTE got beat by 15. good grief man. lay off the mary jane for two seconds.

Dear lord, you are insufferable.

Talent is the question. OTE is a group that has gotten a lot of very talented individuals on board. They play a weird style because of the rules and the experiment of letting 16-20 year olds play in a pro-system, so that results in some rough basketball and growing pains.

They got beat by Cam Boozer who could be a top 10 NBA player at some point in his career and has an incredibly advanced body. Who gives a ****? It's such a weird thing to constantly bring up whenever we talk about OTE's talent level.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

Dear lord, you are insufferable.

Talent is the question. OTE is a group that has gotten a lot of very talented individuals on board. They play a weird style because of the rules and the experiment of letting 16-20 year olds play in a pro-system, so that results in some rough basketball and growing pains.

They got beat by Cam Boozer who could be a top 10 NBA player at some point in his career and has an incredibly advanced body. Who gives a ****? It's such a weird thing to constantly bring up whenever we talk about OTE's talent level.

they didn't get beat by cam boozer - they got beat by Cam Boozer's HS team. a HS that isn't even a top 10 team in the country. yes OTE teams are very talented - a lot of HS teams are very talented.

I'm sorry you hate that i bring it up, but the fact they got beat by a HS team is entirely relevant. as a defender of the league, however, i understand why me constantly bringing up that fact would bother you. facts can be a bitch.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

they didn't get beat by cam boozer - they got beat by Cam Boozer's HS team. a HS that isn't even a top 10 team in the country. yes OTE teams are very talented - a lot of HS teams are very talented.

I'm sorry you hate that i bring it up, but the fact they got beat by a HS team is entirely relevant. as a defender of the league, however, i understand why me constantly bringing up that fact would bother you. facts can be a bitch.

Its not relevant in any way.