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Following Potential 2025 Draftees

Anyone who has Queen over Yang is crazy imo


Mock that has Yang going to Utah at 43. Be still my beating heart
I bet that mock has Queen over Yang
 
I said earlier that I'd refrain from offering my opinions on college players since I don't watch the college game. However, I'm going to break this pledge by saying that IF the Jazz draft Kon at 5, I'll rent my clothes and cover my head with ashes. I watched him during the tournament, and everything about him screams competent NBA starter/role player but nothing about him suggests a transformative star. I don't think we purposively lose 65 games to draft a competent role player. For the pain they put us through, and will continue to put us through next year, the FO's sights HAVE to be set higher than this.

The above, of course, comes with the caveat that I don't really know what I'm talking about.

Edited to add, No, this is because he's white (just in case that thought pops into anyone's mind)
I feel the same way about your overall point, about Kon, and that I dont really know what I'm talking about either.
 

Mock that has Yang going to Utah at 43. Be still my beating heart

The scouting quotes are very interesting and good to read, but so uneven, lol. Obviously these are from different people, but it would be nice to have like one positive and one negative scouting quote.
 
Ok was thinking of this trade today

Jazz Trade

Lauri Markkanen
The #5 Pick
The #21 pick

To San Antonio for

#2 pick
# 14 Pick
(The rest are fillers)
HArrison Barnes
Keldon Johnson
Malaki Branham

The Salaries work
I think this makes a ton of sense for both teams. I expect the Spurs will want Va'Giannis or a blue chip prospect for the #2 if they sell it outright. But getting an all star speeds up their timeline and gives them more years competing with Webenyama. Booker, Murray, and Maarkenan are all really good next best options if Giannis isn't going to be traded.

I think that the Spurs could also just as easily do the same deal for the #2 for Lauri and filler without trading back on the #14 for #21 but I think that is steep. Harper is great, but you are trading an all star that imho is a near perfect fit next to the Alien because you get a versatile, sweet shooting, 7 footer who can play SF. That team would be insane.

People keep saying Harper makes sense for the Spurs, but I don't get it. Who comes off the bench? Fox? Castle? Or Harper?
 
I think if the tables were turned and we were on the Spurs forum we would be wondering what All Star makes the most sense to pair with Victor and Fox more than we would be excited about a 3 headed point guard lineup (2 of which are ultra young). Especially considering the 3 of them don't collectively shoot higher than 34% from three and play similar games.

I will be shocked if the Spurs start the season with Castle, Fox, and Harper. I mean, it's what they have been dealt, but why not dump some salary, consolidate talent, upgrade the roster, and still maintain Victor and Castle as the core of the youth movement?

Also, I think most teams in the league would love to pair their franchise player with a guy like Lauri.
 
I think if the tables were turned and we were on the Spurs forum we would be wondering what All Star makes the most sense to pair with Victor and Fox more than we would be excited about a 3 headed point guard lineup (2 of which are ultra young). Especially considering the 3 of them don't collectively shoot higher than 34% from three and play similar games.

I will be shocked if the Spurs start the season with Castle, Fox, and Harper. I mean, it's what they have been dealt, but why not dump some salary, consolidate talent, upgrade the roster, and still maintain Victor and Castle as the core of the youth movement?

Also, I think most teams in the league would love to pair their franchise player with a guy like Lauri.

Wemby is ready to compete in the playoffs today. He shouldn't have to, and won't want to wait for a rookie guard to develop in to a winning player. Castle still makes sense for them because he can scale down to a lower usage player and do all of the small things for them. Harper really doesn't make sense for them if they are trying to compete any time soon. As much as I like Harper, young guards typically take 3+ years to develop in to positive impact players.
 
Wemby is ready to compete in the playoffs today. He shouldn't have to, and won't want to wait for a rookie guard to develop in to a winning player. Castle still makes sense for them because he can scale down to a lower usage player and do all of the small things for them. Harper really doesn't make sense for them if they are trying to compete any time soon. As much as I like Harper, young guards typically take 3+ years to develop in to positive impact players.
I think having Wemby cheap for 2 years is not something SA should punt on either. The cap environment is going to drive more decisions and part of why OKC is so stacked right now is AS caliber talent on rookie deals. Can't just keep extending the window. So it depends on if they want to do the huge bet (Giannis) or make a smaller bet like Lauri.
 
I didn't love the Spurs trade for Fox, and I don't think I would like it for them if they traded for Lauri. Fox and Lauri will be two very expensive borderline all star type players. If I'm the Spurs, I'm wanting to surround Wemby with another top 10 player. Everyone will want to play with him, and as good as Fox and Lauri are, I think they can do better than that. I would trade for Giannis or Durant, but not Lauri and I would trade both Fox and Castle before I trade Harper.
 
I didn't love the Spurs trade for Fox, and I don't think I would like it for them if they traded for Lauri. Fox and Lauri will be two very expensive borderline all star type players. If I'm the Spurs, I'm wanting to surround Wemby with another top 10 player. Everyone will want to play with him, and as good as Fox and Lauri are, I think they can do better than that. I would trade for Giannis or Durant, but not Lauri and I would trade both Fox and Castle before I trade Harper.
I just wonder if they already have an agreement with an extension for Fox when the trade went down. Not sure the repercussions of backing off now and trading him would be. They should probably swing for Giannis. If they don't I wonder if a way cheaper price that doesn't include #2 for KD makes sense.
 
Dame Sarr committed to Duke. Pretty good sign Coward is all in on the draft (if he hasn't announced that)
I think Coward is a lock first round guy. I think there is honestly like a less than 35% chance he is there at 21.
 
I just wonder if they already have an agreement with an extension for Fox when the trade went down. Not sure the repercussions of backing off now and trading him would be. They should probably swing for Giannis. If they don't I wonder if a way cheaper price that doesn't include #2 for KD makes sense.

Yeah I think part of the deal with Fox was that they could as R+E him this year. If that's in place or just a simple extension agreement, I don't think it's the Spurs style to back out of that. I understand why the Spurs did it, Fox is a great player and they traded very little for him. But as a Jazz fan I felt like it was a great thing because the Spurs probably could have gotten a better player (especially one at max or near max $) than Fox. Wemby makes them such an attractive destination.

If they are committed to Fox, I have a hard time seeing them commit to Lauri. Both good players, neither are guys that are for sure max players in this new CBA. I'd go for Giannis, then go for Durant. If you can't get either, just sit back and wait for something amazing to happen because it always does for them.
 
I've watched more film than ever this draft cycle, and one thing I've learned is that rim pressure is probably more about the ability to attack the hoop with a defender in front of you than it is the ability to beat the initial guy off the dribble. It's fun to learn how different players navigate that situation and I definitely consider it a skill similar to the way we view shooting. Some guys should shoot/attack more than they do, but it's not as simple as deciding to do it more. To shoot more 3's, you have to become a better shooter and the same thing goes for attacking the defender at the rim.

Ace - Rarely attacks the defender, but probably could if he wanted to. Avoids contact and wants the mid range pullup.
Tre- Also wants the mid range pullup and does not attack. Don't think he has the skill/explosion to attack a ton, but does have the skill to turn these pullup 2's into pullup 3's. When he does attack the defender he doesn't have physicality and it usually turns into a floater.
VJ - Jumps directly at the defender every time....mixed results. Very little craft or skill when attacking, it's all vertical athleticism. No interest in taking a pullup jumper.
Fears - Wants to attack the defender every time, but does it with craft. Wants to get fouled first, shoot second, and is a decent passer when the defense collapses entirely. Pullup jumper is least preferred, but he's pretty good at making them.
Kas - This is his comfort zone. IMO he is on another level than the other guys right now. Passes well from here, attacks the defender with craft and physicality, and master at drawing fouls. His pullup/step back is only used when the defense switches or goes under a pick.
 
Why would the Spurs give us 14 on top of it? They won’t.
Because we are giving #5 it is a fair deal. To move back 3 spots and still get Markkanen is a hell of a deal for SAS. They would have

Fox
Castle
Vessel
Markkanen
Wemby

That is a great starting 5. They would still have sochan, Paul and mamu off the bench. Add the #5 PICK let's say tre or Ace. Add a couple solid pieces in free agency and they are a good playoff team. They don't need more young talent. They need to start winning with Wemby.
 
I've watched more film than ever this draft cycle, and one thing I've learned is that rim pressure is probably more about the ability to attack the hoop with a defender in front of you than it is the ability to beat the initial guy off the dribble. It's fun to learn how different players navigate that situation and I definitely consider it a skill similar to the way we view shooting. Some guys should shoot/attack more than they do, but it's not as simple as deciding to do it more. To shoot more 3's, you have to become a better shooter and the same thing goes for attacking the defender at the rim.

Ace - Rarely attacks the defender, but probably could if he wanted to. Avoids contact and wants the mid range pullup.
Tre- Also wants the mid range pullup and does not attack. Don't think he has the skill/explosion to attack a ton, but does have the skill to turn these pullup 2's into pullup 3's. When he does attack the defender he doesn't have physicality and it usually turns into a floater.
VJ - Jumps directly at the defender every time....mixed results. Very little craft or skill when attacking, it's all vertical athleticism. No interest in taking a pullup jumper.
Fears - Wants to attack the defender every time, but does it with craft. Wants to get fouled first, shoot second, and is a decent passer when the defense collapses entirely. Pullup jumper is least preferred, but he's pretty good at making them.
Kas - This is his comfort zone. IMO he is on another level than the other guys right now. Passes well from here, attacks the defender with craft and physicality, and master at drawing fouls. His pullup/step back is only used when the defense switches or goes under a pick.
Some of our coaching staff has left since(especially the guy who was directly involved with Mitchell)... but the Jazz had a pretty good success in improving Mitchell's finishing around the rim with introducing some craft and new skills like off-foot finishes, floaters, using extension and length in addition to athleticism, etc. Just a thought... maybe this is actually not that hard to improve if VJ is willing to work on it.
 
My work is paying me for Yaxel Landeborg film session today. I wish I had some more film against better competition. He looks like a giant in that league. The one thing that is really interesting watching him is how often he is guarding much smaller players out on the perimeter. He probably has more reps out on the perimeter than any of the bigs, you can feel his 7'4" wingspan out there. He also has to dribble against these small players as well, and does a good job for a big.

I need to watch a bit more, but I think he has potential as a defensive playmaker that can do enough offensively to stay on the floor. I'm going to compare against some other guys who might be available at 21, but he's in the mix for me as of now.
 
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