Everything 2023 Draft

[Mapko]

Biggest problem is the Blazers finding matching outgoing salary for Pascal, that doesn't hurt their depth.

I believe Simmons HAS to be included for salary (Nurkic might be an option, but do we have any interest in him?).
Simmons plus Sharpe for Siakam -I would not do. Simmons, Sharpe & No 3? Prob too much. Maybe Simmons, Sharpe & No 3 for Siakam & No 13? Add Precious?
hat deal (Simmons, Sharpe & No 3) should be enough to land J Brown from Bos (who Im convinced will be traded). Personally Brown might be better fit & player than Siakam in Boston.

[Charlie's Raptors]

Lucky 13

[Mapko]

We would offer Pascal for Brown and Boston would much much much rather have Pascal.

That's just us. There will be other teams willing to swap a star for Brown.

Houston doesn't have anyone capable or replacing Browns production.

Unfortunately (or fortunately for us if we were to get involved) is that Hou does nor have much to interest Bos who is in win now mode (even if they include Green, pick & Porter). Id guess Masai def takes that offer if presented.
Too much for a Brown or Siakam? I agree 100% but look at what top 10-20 players get you in return: For Mitchell, Gobert, D Murray, P George, AD...
Reality is: Top 3 or 4 or 5 player in draft is nice, but all NBA or all star still in prime is a sure thing.

[The Great One]

Watched this earlier today. He looks really good right now. The intel that he was playing through an injury for a large chunk of the season looks legit. I did not realize he had as much bounce as he does, a nice surprise. Shoot looks efficient and he does have some playmaking chops. I have him above Bufkin and Hawkins. I think I may still rank Wallace in front of him for a lead guard, but it's getting closer for me.

I have it the other way around. I have Bufkin 1 and George 2. Jackson 3 and Rupert 4.

I have Jackson and Rupert over Hawkins because if it all clicks both guys have potential to be really good. With Hawkins it feels like he's just a sharpshooter whichh is fine but I don't think he has the potential of a. Jackson or Rupert.

[golden]

I believe Simmons HAS to be included for salary (Nurkic might be an option, but do we have any interest in him?).
Simmons plus Sharpe for Siakam -I would not do. Simmons, Sharpe & No 3? Prob too much. Maybe Simmons, Sharpe & No 3 for Siakam & No 13? Add Precious?
hat deal (Simmons, Sharpe & No 3) should be enough to land J Brown from Bos (who Im convinced will be traded). Personally Brown might be better fit & player than Siakam in Boston.

Nurkic/Sharpe/Little/Johnson for Pascal works salary-wise.

The play here is not for either Simons or Nurkic. It's to get Sharpe and #3 (Scoot or Miller). If we have to take Nurkic back, then so be it. He's also a smaller contract than Simons, so easier to bundle in future trades.

[golden]

Watched this earlier today. He looks really good right now. The intel that he was playing through an injury for a large chunk of the season looks legit. I did not realize he had as much bounce as he does, a nice surprise. Shoot looks efficient and he does have some playmaking chops. I have him above Bufkin and Hawkins. I think I may still rank Wallace in front of him for a lead guard, but it's getting closer for me.

Koloko looked like Ibaka 2.0 in an open gym too.

[LJ2]

Why is Scoot considered a can't miss prospect?

His base stats look decent sure:
16.5ppg, 6.8apg, 5.3rpg with 1.1spg, 0.6bpg

But his efficiency sucks:
42.9%, 27.5% and 76% shooting splits.

Plus he's only 6'2. I was thinking he'd be 6'4 or 6'5. He also had a negative (-2.5) net rating.

Is it because he has flashy videos? 27.5% 3pt shooting is super ugly. And he takes about 2.7 a game. And he was pretty underwhelming during that rookie/sophomore game. And that's a pick up game. He should have been a highlight reel in that contest. He was given the spotlight and his own team, and was super meh.


I think this is a situation where his hype machine has made him overrated.

I don't know if Scoot is a can't miss prospect exactly.

The reason why many are high on him, and I think I've explained this before, is because he has some physical gifts which nobody else in the draft has. This isn't a situation like the Scottie draft year when many were talking about Keon Johnson as a freak athlete that we should pick in the range of the 7th pick (at that time). Scoot is every bit the athlete that Keon is, but way faster, way more explosive and more advanced in terms of basketball IQ and skills.

Just like Wemby isn't just another tall player, Scoot isn't just another athletic or quick player. Scoot will be more athletic and more explosive than 90% of the grown men at his position, from day one. In a match up driven league that is enticing. If he reaches his potential, his ceiling will be higher than Miller's.

[planetmars]

I don't know if Scoot is a can't miss prospect exactly.

The reason why many are high on him, and I think I've explained this before, is because he has some physical gifts which nobody else in the draft has. This isn't a situation like the Scottie draft year when many were talking about Keon Johnson as a freak athlete that we should pick in the range of the 7th pick (at that time). Scoot is every bit the athlete that Keon is, but way faster, way more explosive and more advanced in terms of basketball IQ and skills.

Just like Wemby isn't just another tall player, Scoot isn't just another athletic or quick player. Scoot will be more athletic and more explosive than 90% of the grown men at his position, from day one. In a match up driven league that is enticing. If he reaches his potential, his ceiling will be higher than Miller's.

Oh okay.. so he can also become the next Eric Bledsoe too. Too risky to trade Pascal for IMO.

[LJ2]

Oh okay.. so he can also become the next Eric Bledsoe too. Too risky to trade Pascal for IMO.

I don't think Bledsoe is a great comp for Scoot because Scoot is just that much quicker, but absolutely there is bust potential. Same as there would be for Wemby or any other pick.

[DanH]

Nurkic/Sharpe/Little/Johnson for Pascal works salary-wise.

The play here is not for either Simons or Nurkic. It's to get Sharpe and #3 (Scoot or Miller). If we have to take Nurkic back, then so be it. He's also a smaller contract than Simons, so easier to bundle in future trades.

If we get both Little and Sharpe, I'm fine with Nurk over Simons. I'm not sure that Portland would prefer that, but I think I would, I'm not a huge fan of Simons anyway.

[planetmars]

I don't think Bledsoe is a great comp for Scoot because Scoot is just that much quicker, but absolutely there is bust potential. Same as there would be for Wemby or any other pick.

Bledsoe mostly because of how athletic he was. He just never became anything else. The biggest concern I have about Scoot is that he's not a good shooter. It's something he can develop, but it's definitely not a skill he's bringing to the table on day 1.

And if you're trading a player like Pascal, then I'd want a guy who can shoot the hell out of the ball.

[slaw]

Koloko looked like Ibaka 2.0 in an open gym too.

But how did he do against the folding chair?

[WJF]

Koloko looked like Ibaka 2.0 in an open gym too.

Im not only basing my opinion off of this clip. I watched him play in the summer going into his freshman year. I liked his competitiveness, he has that dog in him. I was down on him during the NCAA season before learning he played hurt. Now he’s back to looking like the guy from the summer.

[LJ2]

Bledsoe mostly because of how athletic he was. He just never became anything else. The biggest concern I have about Scoot is that he's not a good shooter. It's something he can develop, but it's definitely not a skill he's bringing to the table on day 1.

And if you're trading a player like Pascal, then I'd want a guy who can shoot the hell out of the ball.

Scoot's game is going to be closer to Ja's game than Trae's, if that's what you are hoping for.

[planetmars]

Re-ranking my top 13 post lottery:

May 8th:

1. Wembanyama
2. Miller
3. Henderson
4. Ausar. Thompson
5. Amen. Thompson
6. Dick
7. Hawkins
8. Sasser
9. Sensabaugh
10. Black
11. Bufkin
12. Wallace
13. Hendricks



May 15th (today):

1. Wembanyama
2. Miller
3. Sasser
4. Henderson
5. Dick
6. Hendricks
7. Wallace
8. Whitmore
9. Hawkins
10. Sensabaugh
11. Bufkin
12. George
13. Miller


I took out on both Thompson brothers. Just not feeling the overtime elite and that competition. The twins have good size and all, but they should have gone to at least the G-league. I can't really take them seriously.

I'm still in love with Sasser, even more so now than a week ago. It's so irrational but I don't care. He's in my opinion the best PG in the draft.. even more so than Scoot. So f@ck it. He should be there at 13 and would be my pick. I would be scared to trade down and miss him so I'm taking him and the wrath of all Raptor fans

But outside of him.. I do like Hendricks more than I did last week. He's a really good shooter. He's a forward and we need a guard, but him and Dick are neck and neck for me now. Wallace is the next best PG of the bunch. I love his poise. Whitmore joined my ranks. He plays like a guard from Villanova despite not having coach Jay Wright not there. Philly breeds great guards.. and of course our GROAT. He's also really thick and athletic.

Hawkins, Brice and Bufkin are all pretty lumped together for me. I'm fine with either one. Bufkin's shooting does worry me a bit though. I don't think he's that great. And his rim scoring I think may be more problematic in the NBA than in college so on the tail end of the three. But I do see a lot of Derrick White in his game. Rounding out my top 3 are Keyonte George and Leonard Miller. George had the ball a lot in college, but I do believe in that injury he had caused his efficiency woes. Leonard has all the tools to be a really good player in the league and bonus points for his passport.


And of course Masai will pick someone else and I'll end up loving the pick