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2023 NBA Draft Megathread

I've been looking at quite a few mocks and once you get past Amen Thompson, who mostly goes at #4, sometimes #5 behind Whitmore, the selections WIDELY and some cases drastically diverge. Even Whitmore fell to the Jazz in one mock I looked at. I saw Nick Smith go at I think #7 in one mock.

Makes me think that using assets to trade up is not really a great option as the divergence of opinion in the draft community likely exists in the teams draft board, so for the Jazz, it would seem unlikely that all 8 players ahead of their ninth rated player will be selected, likely not even 8, maybe even 7, and the Jazz will be able to select a player they'd rate higher than 9 anyway.
 
From The Athletic:

Gradey Dick isn’t likely to be considered by Dallas, team and league sources tell The Athletic, all of whom were granted anonymity since they were not authorized to speak publicly about prospects. The team’s new front office is focused on athleticism and physicality much more than the old guard, which might have favored a skilled shooter but an unremarkable athlete like Dick.

Bufkin is the only guard who I would consider with the No. 10 overall pick, though Dallas might feel differently. Cason Wallace, Keyonte George and Nick Smith Jr. don’t solve Dallas’ urgent needs and might struggle to earn minutes.
 
I have a feeling someone in the top 8 is going to fall in love with Bufkin. I think there’s going to be a ton of surprises in this draft and someone unexpected will fall to us
 
From The Athletic:

Gradey Dick isn’t likely to be considered by Dallas, team and league sources tell The Athletic, all of whom were granted anonymity since they were not authorized to speak publicly about prospects. The team’s new front office is focused on athleticism and physicality much more than the old guard, which might have favored a skilled shooter but an unremarkable athlete like Dick.

Bufkin is the only guard who I would consider with the No. 10 overall pick, though Dallas might feel differently. Cason Wallace, Keyonte George and Nick Smith Jr. don’t solve Dallas’ urgent needs and might struggle to earn minutes.

Potentially bad news for trade up scenarios. I thought ORL might trade back to get #9 and select Dick but they can get him at #11. He makes so much sense on that team.

As far the DAL pick? Physicality and athletics….that could be Cason, Black, Bufkin or maybe Hendricks, Coulibaly, Miller.

Don’t think they would draft Dick, Hawkins, or Brice if that intel is true.
 
How many all stars do people think will be in this draft? I think the record is 12. My guess is it's an average year in this regard at around 7.

How many starter level players will be in this draft?

I think in pretty much every draft there are usually about 5 players in the lottery that are complete busts. Do we get more or less than that this year? My guess is 1 or 2 more.
 
It’s funny to me that you guys pick a player to advocate over another player and seek to tear that other player down in your efforts to advocate for your guy. There’s maybe 10 guys in this draft that I just don’t want at all. Pretty much every other guy we’ve talked about looks really good to me - which is way different than most drafts. I definitely have guys that I prefer - for one reason or another - but I would say most of the guys we generally like have high potential this year. Doesn’t always feel that way.

Can’t wait to see which guys the Jazz actually have rated highest on their own board. This is going to be Danny Ainge’s first draft with the Jazz and we have 3 picks (including a top 10 pick), tons of cap space and a boatload of assets to move around with. Last year, without any picks, the Jazz somehow ended up with two pretty darned good rookies once the dust settled.

It’s going to be a heck of a fun ride this off-season.
 
It’s funny to me that you guys pick a player to advocate over another player and seek to tear that other player down in your efforts to advocate for your guy. There’s maybe 10 guys in this draft that I just don’t want at all. Pretty much every other guy we’ve talked about looks really good to me - which is way different than most drafts. I definitely have guys that I prefer - for one reason or another - but I would say most of the guys we generally like have high potential this year. Doesn’t always feel that way.

Can’t wait to see which guys the Jazz actually have rated highest on their own board. This is going to be Danny Ainge’s first draft with the Jazz and we have 3 picks (including a top 10 pick), tons of cap space and a boatload of assets to move around with. Last year, without any picks, the Jazz somehow ended up with two pretty darned good rookies once the dust settled.

It’s going to be a heck of a fun ride this off-season.
Amen. Thats why I think this draft is going to be special as we look back in 3, 5 and 10 years.

Even dudes I'm not really high on at all like Brice have a legit bankable skill that translates to the NBA. Dudes a walking bucket. There are prob 20+ dudes I can see the upside or rotation level player on in this draft with just a handful of dudes I think straight up stink (Rupert for 1....).
 
Interesting. Did they write anything for the Jazz picks it is just an ordered list?


9. Jalen Hood-Schifino

Hood-Schifino is one of the big winners of the measurements and pro day portions of the draft process, as he clearly possesses all-star-level physical tools with his tremendous size, frame and length for a point guard. Players with his caliber of upside tend to rise as we get closer to the draft. Many executives pivot into home run-swing mode at this stage of the lottery, especially teams like the Jazz who have three picks at their disposal and some clear holes to plug in the backcourt. -- Givony

16. Kobe Bufkin


Bufkin looks to be well-established in this range of the draft, having set himself apart somewhat as a two-way contributor who can fulfill a range of needs in the backcourt. He measured well for a combo guard at north of 6-foot-4 barefoot, which helps him comparatively in this range, where his well-roundedness becomes a strong sell. Bufkin is in play for teams beginning in the late lottery and at this point would seem firmly entrenched in the top 20. -- Woo


28. OMP

Prosper had perhaps the single best performance at the combine, dropping 21 points and seven rebounds in just 22 minutes of action, mostly through pure hustle and activity. He fits a clear mold NBA teams are actively pursuing with his defensive versatility, 7-1 wingspan and budding perimeter shooting, causing him to keep his name in the draft after strong feedback. -- Givony
 
This is what was said about Wallace at 17:

Wallace measured better than expected at the draft combine but appears to have a bit of a wider range on draft night than other lottery candidates, as some teams don't view him as a surefire point guard or primary creator and others question his scoring credentials
 
I've been looking at quite a few mocks and once you get past Amen Thompson, who mostly goes at #4, sometimes #5 behind Whitmore, the selections WIDELY and some cases drastically diverge. Even Whitmore fell to the Jazz in one mock I looked at. I saw Nick Smith go at I think #7 in one mock.

Makes me think that using assets to trade up is not really a great option as the divergence of opinion in the draft community likely exists in the teams draft board, so for the Jazz, it would seem unlikely that all 8 players ahead of their ninth rated player will be selected, likely not even 8, maybe even 7, and the Jazz will be able to select a player they'd rate higher than 9 anyway.
That is not how it works though.
There are a couple players in this draft worth trading up to pick 3 but the cost will be enormous without a win now vet to help Dame which we don't have. Unless you think Danny would actually trade the Finnisher. doubt it, but if the TB would take the Finnisher and 16 for pick 3,23 Simons and fillers. I think it is although probably not worth it, somthing this front office would consider.
The Finnisher is at the least going to be all nba 2nd team next season and demand a massive bag to keep before the team around him is close to ready to contend.
If they go the draft rebuild route anyway,
I think it is actually more likely Danny trades OUT from 9 as part of a package for one of the Boston duo that just got bf on national tv
 
This is what was said about Wallace at 17:

Wallace measured better than expected at the draft combine but appears to have a bit of a wider range on draft night than other lottery candidates, as some teams don't view him as a surefire point guard or primary creator and others question his scoring credentials

This is weird to me, because he's arguably one of the better scorers + passers in the draft. But I understand the "boring" angle as he doesn't hit the same kind of high notes the other PGs do. I'd be thrilled if he falls to 16 and as much as I love Bufkin I would take Cason over him.
 
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