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Who should we pick at #5?

Who should we pick at #5?

  • Khaman Maluach

  • Tre Johnson

  • Kon Knuepel

  • Derik Queen

  • Jeremiah Fears

  • Kasparas Jakucionis

  • Collin Murray-Boyles

  • Others


Results are only viewable after voting.
If you're drafting Ace Bailey in the top 5, it's because you believe he's a bonafide shot taker and shot maker, and that he can fit into a team concept smoothly.

Outside of shooting, there is a reasonable chance that Noa Essengue will turn out to be a better overall player than Ace Bailey. Noa's size, fluidity running the floor, ability to get downhill, ability to finish at the rim and make defensive plays all compare well vs. Ace.
 
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If you're drafting Ace Bailey in the top 5, it's because you believe he's a bonafide shot taker and shot maker, and that he can fit into a team concept smoothly.

Outside of shooting, there is a reasonable chance that Noa Essengue will turn out to be a better overall player than Ace Bailey. Noa's size, fluidity running the floor, ability to get downhill, finish at the rim, and make defensive plays all compare well vs. Ace.
He’s a tantalising prospect..
 
He sucks and his name doesn’t sound like a part of the female anatomy.

For real… ball didn’t go in enough. He kinda fell off. The decision making… and I think he’s a worse defender. I’m fine with Kas but Kon is the ****.

I think the reason to pick Kon over Kas is that Kas has questions as both an on ball player (turnovers) and off ball player (didn't play off ball) whereas Kon seems like a sure thing as an off ball player with some potential to play on ball as well.

These points are definitely heard….but what I’ll say is that there is a ton of optimism for Kon to be able to do thinks that Kas is already doing. HH talked about Tre needing to play more like Kon and vice versa, I think that is also true with Kas/Kon. Physically, they are also fairly similar and capable of the same thing as well.

It’s not a given that Kas will be a good off ball player, and I don’t image he will ever be as good of an off ball player as Kon projects to be…but I still imagine that Kas would be a lot more efficient if he had more opportunities created for him by his teammates. Kas is on the extreme other end where a very large proportion of his offense was self created. And despite being self generated, he was still at 59% TS at the end of the year. Not as efficient as Kon, but I think you get the idea. If these two started playing like each other, that gap in efficiency would diverge.

I’d also say that while Kas has potential to move more towards Kon, that’s just a scenario where the primary handler/offensive hub thing doesn’t work out. It would be a big development, but if Kas were to hit his OTD 3’s and take care of the ball a bit better he’s right there. 6’6, great passer, gets to the basket and FT line, and (theoretically) has an off the dribble 3. So he has potential doing more or less.
 
Bailey has been slipping in large part because he is 6'7", not 6'10"
he's 6'9 instead of 6'10 and nobody knows if he's slipping.

to be clear, nobody thought he was 6'10" barefoot. his standing reach of 8'11" is elite - like off the charts for a SG/wing. people think his measurements underwhelmed, but when you take everything into account, in shoes measurement, and length measurements (wingspan/standing reach), he killed it. the idea that he's slipping is just people spitballing.
 
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I also dont see why San Antone needs Dylan Harper. They should try to trade the #2 for Giannis, Zion, or Lauri.
exactly. he's extremely redundant when you factor in Castle and Fox. Lauri on the Spurs would be sick and we'd get Harper. then we could draft whomever is left at #5. that's my dream scenario.
 
Bailey has been slipping in large part because he is 6'7", not 6'10"
Yeah losing to Tre Johnson in both max verticals is not a good look. Also:

View: https://x.com/DraftExpress/status/1922321082163360178?t=xNE2-d5539kWuQftdGsKoA&s=19


Just been a horrible draft combine so far for Ace. I mean how the hell did you miss nearly half of your wide open midrangers in an open gym. If he's streaky like that not sure he can ever recover from it. Shot looks pure but we've seen enough streaky shooters with the purest jumper who could never figure it out. Take Key for example. Kevin Knox also comes to mind.
 
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If you're drafting Ace Bailey in the top 5, it's because you believe he's a bonafide shot taker and shot maker, and that he can fit into a team concept smoothly.

Outside of shooting, there is a reasonable chance that Noa Essengue will turn out to be a better overall player than Ace Bailey. Noa's size, fluidity running the floor, ability to get downhill, finish at the rim, and make defensive plays all compare well vs. Ace.
I think Ace is the prime candidate to drop comes draft night. I mean a MPJ or even Cam Whitmore type of drop-off.
 
It does kind of feel like 3-5 will be some order of VJ, Ace, and Tre. I don't love that we get last pick and kind of have to hope that the teams in front of us pick the wrong guy.

VJ Edgecombe:
Elite Athleticism (common sentiment I have heard is that its only half a step down from Thompson Twin athleticism)
Good at catch and shoot 3s
Decent driving downhill but a little wanting for how athletic he is
shaky ballhandling
Great in transition
Great defensive playmaker
High Motor
I’d throw in that his athleticism is so good it doesn’t matter that he doesn’t have great ball handling. Because of his burst and athleticism he makes making plays look so easy compared to other prospects.
 
He's the same size as Paul George and Trey Murphy. That's not the issue. The issue is his shot diet and lack of passing. He has a very high ceiling if he can hit it, but he's actually a bit riskier than Tre Johnson and probably also VJ Edgecombe.
And yet, I’m still fully convinced that Flagg, Harper, Bailey, Edgecombe and Johnson are the 5 best prospects in this draft. I’m happy with any of them at this point. What stresses me out, is that at 5 it’s too easy to go off script.
 
And yet, I’m still fully convinced that Flagg, Harper, Bailey, Edgecombe and Johnson are the 5 best prospects in this draft. I’m happy with any of them at this point. What stresses me out, is that at 5 it’s too easy to go off script.

Jazz need to decide what their strategy is going to be for on-ball creation. That's the only factor that would disrupt the top 5, imo. Right now, we've got a bunch of guys standing around waiting for someone else to create opportunities for them. Does that get Jeremiah Fears into the conversation? What about Kon? Jazz would probably trade back a spot or two for one of those. The only other wildcard I could imagine would be Essengue if he's incredible in workouts.
 
Jazz need to decide what their strategy is going to be for on-ball creation. That's the only factor that would disrupt the top 5, imo. Right now, we've got a bunch of guys standing around waiting for someone else to create opportunities for them. Does that get Jeremiah Fears into the conversation? What about Kon? Jazz would probably trade back a spot or two for one of those. The only other wildcard I could imagine would be Essengue if he's incredible in workouts.
Jazz are in no position to reach to fill a specific need. Draft the best player on your board, period. Assuming they keep their pick next year, they’ll have 4 opportunities to address needs, plus trades. Draft the best player at every pick for now and when guys actually start developing or flaming out, then you figure out how to fill needs.
 
Jazz are in no position to reach to fill a specific need. Draft the best player on your board, period. Assuming they keep their pick next year, they’ll have 4 opportunities to address needs, plus trades. Draft the best player at every pick for now and when guys actually start developing or flaming out, then you figure out how to fill needs.

Sure, but they may decide that on-ball creation is a serious consideration in determining the best player on their board.
 
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