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BigDaddyG
Posts: 40003 Alba Posts: 9 Joined: 1/22/2010 Member: #3049 |
6/14/2022 3:51 PM
Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL: Always... always remember: Less is less. More is more. More is better and twice as much is good too. Not enough is bad, and too much is never enough except when it's just about right.
- The Tick
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martin
Posts: 77019 Alba Posts: 108 Joined: 7/24/2001 Member: #2 USA |
6/15/2022 9:22 AM
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martin
Posts: 77019 Alba Posts: 108 Joined: 7/24/2001 Member: #2 USA |
6/15/2022 10:06 AM
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martin
Posts: 77019 Alba Posts: 108 Joined: 7/24/2001 Member: #2 USA |
6/15/2022 10:07 AM
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martin
Posts: 77019 Alba Posts: 108 Joined: 7/24/2001 Member: #2 USA |
6/15/2022 10:08 AM LAST EDITED: 6/15/2022 10:09 AM
Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL: Pick No. 11 Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
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BigDaddyG
Posts: 40003 Alba Posts: 9 Joined: 1/22/2010 Member: #3049 |
6/15/2022 11:24 AM
martin wrote:Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL: I actually like these comps. Benedict getting the THJ comparison is meh, but whatever. He'll be gone by the time the Knicks pick. Always... always remember: Less is less. More is more. More is better and twice as much is good too. Not enough is bad, and too much is never enough except when it's just about right.
- The Tick
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martin
Posts: 77019 Alba Posts: 108 Joined: 7/24/2001 Member: #2 USA |
6/15/2022 11:28 AM
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martin
Posts: 77019 Alba Posts: 108 Joined: 7/24/2001 Member: #2 USA |
6/15/2022 11:47 AM
I thought this was a good article on Johnny Davis
https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2022/6/13/23137460/nba-draft-detroit-pistons-johnny-davis-fifth-pick
Underrated on offense and on defense, Davis could raise your floor and your ceiling Now that the Pistons know they will be selecting fifth in the upcoming NBA Draft, it’s time to start homing in on prospects who will most likely be available. I believe there are six players in particular the team will be considering at this spot. Over the next few posts, I will be touching on who I think those six players are. Some of these prospects have already been written about already here at DBB, so I will point you in the direction of those posts in the final piece of this series. But, let’s get started on someone I will have to argue for MORE than any other of the six players in question. Johnny Davis is someone I am much higher on than the consensus for a lot of reasons. His most recent measurements at the NBA Combine list him at 6-foot-5.75 inches tall in shoes with a 6-foot-8.5 inch wingspan, 8-foot-7.5 inch standing reach and weighing in at 196.4 pounds with 6.7% body fat. This past season at Wisconsin, he led the Badgers to a 25-8 record and a No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament. Thought of mainly as a scorer, Davis does have an array of skills I think are going uncelebrated and will be part of the reason why I think he should be rated higher than he is. Let’s take a look at his per-game stats from this past season before we take a deeper dive into his game on the court: 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.7 blocks Where Johnny Davis Excels on the Court First and foremost, Davis is a shot creator. While, yes, he has a good handle and definitely creates for himself out of isolations and pick-and-rolls very well, I want to start this breakdown of his offense taking into account the context in which Davis’ offense was generated. I would argue that Davis and Paolo Banchero had to do the heaviest lifting in terms of generating offense for their teams this past season—and I believe Davis is tops in that regard. While both Paolo and Davis had a 148-point difference between their team-leading points scored (671 for Paolo and 612 for Johnny) and the second-leading scorers on their teams, Paolo had the benefit of having three teammates in the regular rotation who shot better than 40% from three. Davis, on the other hand, had none. In fact, there was not a SINGLE player in Wisconsin’s regular rotation who shot 34.9% or better from long range this past season. Wisconsin was not a good three-point shooting team and Davis had to continue to find ways to score despite there being a noticeable lack of spacing. One of the most BIZZARE things I have seen this draft cycle is Wisconsin’s de-emphasis of the corner three. I am NOT going to excuse Davis’ inefficiencies (as you will see a few paragraphs later), but it is also incredibly difficult to be efficient as a primary offensive option who likes to drive into the teeth of the defense and draw contact when your ENTIRE team takes 96 corner threes all season and only sinks 26 of them. That equals 27.1%. Contrast this with a team like Duke who took 195 corner threes and sunk 83 of them for a 42.6% clip, and you get a glimpse into why I think Davis gets the nod when it comes to creating the most offense for his team. Three-point shooting is not everything when it comes to generating offense, but it is a big help for a primary creator as it gives them more space to operate within. So, the fact Davis did still generate so much offense, while also leading his team to the aforementioned 25-8 record and a No. 3 Seed in March Madness should be considered when looking at his stats. Davis also ended his year injured as he was on the receiving end of a nasty foul—one assessed the rare flagrant-2 level—March 6, 2022, against Nebraska. After that, Davis was continually dealing with an ankle issue. Pistons fans are all too familiar how that injury can impact your game. I know this is a roundabout way to get to Davis’ actual skills as a shot creator, which to me is best summed up in one word: Attacking. Davis drove into double and triple teams on the regular, drawing 196 trips to the free-throw line on the way and going 71-of-99 on shots at the rim, which translates to 71.1%. He also is great along the baseline with a smooth turnaround jumper that helped him shoot 40.9% from both sides of the baseline. Davis looks to get to the hoop and is very physical getting into the bodies of his defenders to finish, draw the foul, or get the AND1. The one aspect of his game I believe Davis does not get enough credit for is his defense. Just how good of a defender is Davis? Well, let me give you a list of opponents he faced this past season and give a statistical overview of these opposing players in their matchups against Wisconsin. And yes, before you ask, Davis WAS the primary defender on all these guys I am about to list: Malaki Branham, Jaden Ivey, Max Christie, and Bryce McGowens. Branham was the first of these future NBA players and potential lottery guys he faced, and in their December 11, 2021, match Davis held him to ZERO points. In their second matchup on January 13, 2022, Branham faired better, scoring 10, going 5-of-8 from the field and missing his only three-point attempt. Christie did a solid job on Davis in their first matchup on January 21, 2022, scoring 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting and getting the win. Their second time around, however, Davis put Christie in check as the Spartan scored just 8 points on 3-of-8 shooting and Davis did not allow him to even take one three-point attempt. They even had a third match post-Davis injury and Christie points stayed at 8 on 2-of-5 shooting from the field, but Michigan State did knock Wisconsin out of the Big Ten Tournament in this game. McGowens definitely had the best showing against Davis, scoring 23 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Wisconsin got the win in this matchup, however, and sadly we did not get the rematch as Bryce McGowens did not play in that game and the aforementioned flagrant-level 2 injury happened as well, so we would not have been able to see a full second game even if he did. As we saw with Max Christie that McGowens definitely brings something else in the rematch and it would be great to see how he was able to counter McGowens’ length. And finally, the way we saw fighters Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder give us classic boxing matchups of the boxer versus the knockout artist, Davis and Ivey gave college basketball fans the matchup of the technician versus the athlete. Their first matchup is one of the single most impressive pieces of film by any prospect this draft season, in my opinion. This was one of the first games you saw a team limit Ivey in transition and turn him into a jump shooter. Wisconsin definitely succeeds as Ivey scores 14 and goes 3-of-9 from the field—and Davis is the tip of the spear. Ivey manages to beat him twice in the halfcourt, but otherwise, Davis funnels him to his center, forces him into his uncomfortable floater, and fouls him when absolutely necessary instead of letting him get his game going trying to just outrun everybody. Oh, and Davis all did this while scoring his season-high 37 points on the other end playing Ivey like fiddle—drawing him into stupid foul after stupid foul. The second matchup saw Ivey counterpunch back and catch Davis with some pump fakes to blow by him, but, again, Davis the technician forces Ivey into more jump shots than he wants to take and smells blood in the water once Ivey starts 0-of-4 from the free-throw line. This game also exemplifies Ivey’s lack of a midrange game as he is just trying to get to the hoop or shoot threes, and Davis plays him as such. STILL, Ivey had a fantastic final five minutes in this game that has an incredible ending. Seriously, if you go back and watch ANY game in its entirety from this past season, this is the one. And remember, he did all this fantastic defensive work WHILE BEING THE PRIMARY OFFENSIVE OPTION every single game. This is one of the reasons I have been so high on Davis throughout the process. In my opinion, it is incredibly rare that your No. 1 offensive option has the desire, skills and SUCCESS to be the primary on-ball defender. It is not hyperbole to argue that Davis carried this Wisconsin team because of all that he contributed on both ends of the court. The matchups against Ivey were particularly impressive as this kind of defensive ability to force a top-notch athlete and scorer out of their usual game and into a secondary set of skills is what the best defenders do. When you face this level of competition, you cannot always stop them, but you have to at least force them into being uncomfortable from the minute they step out of the locker room. Areas Johnny Davis Needs to Improve Davis absolutely has to become more efficient with his offense as soon as possible to continue to develop as even a secondary scorer. I mean, just look at Davis’ shot chart and you will see two areas, in particular, he will need immediate improvement. While his midrange jumper is lauded by many, he’s got to stop taking so many from the elbows. You want the three-point shot to improve also, but as noted before, Davis had almost no help in that department from his teammates. Also, per Coach Spins at The Box-and-One YouTube Channel, Davis was 21-of-54 on catch-and-shoot threes for 38.9% so there are some positive indicators that with teammates who can help take pressure off him, this can improve. The one area for me that is most worrisome is in the paint, where you see a below-average 39.8%. To me this screams, “I need a runner or a floater.” This is next to impossible to predict, and I am one who will not say about any prospect, “I feel really confident they’ll easily develop X shot,” no matter how much I love them because developing basketball skills is incredibly hard. My thought is Kawhi Leonard jump shots are the exception and not the rule. Davis obviously has a ton of offensive tricks in the bag, so I wouldn’t rule out the development of said runner/floater, but what I see on this shot chart and film is one missing piece in the complete offensive puzzle that makes Davis an even better scorer. His ability to create for others also needs improvement, but I also think it is not as bad as many have argued. Having 66 assists and 71 turnovers objectively is not great from your primary offensive option. This, more than anything, is what many wished we saw more from Davis when it comes to his skillset. With his ability to attack through double and triple-teams, he SHOULD be leveraging that as a passer to find his wide open teammates. BUT, another thing I think has not been talked about enough with Davis is that he RARELY turns the ball over despite having it so much. When you dive into the advanced stats, you will see a below-average 14.8% assist percentage, but the 10.8% turnover ratio is absolutely fantastic for someone with a 32.5% usage. Davis fits a profile of college players with 27% or higher usage rates and incredibly low turnover rates. Other guys that fit this profile are: Anthony Edwards 12.9% TO, Kawhi Leonard 12.3% TO, Kevin Durant 11.4% TO, Michael Beasley 11.8% TO, and Carmelo Anthony 9.6% TO. BUT, return to the film, and you will see the ball stick to Davis’ hands more often than it should. Davis posted only five games all season where he was able to record more than three assists. This lack of playmaking was especially concerning in the second half of the season, where Davis’ blinders were even more apparent as he recorded just 5 games with more than 2 assists in the final 16 games of the season. While I don’t want to handwave this off and say, “who is he supposed to pass the ball to?” now seeing his teammates themselves struggled to fill their roles and help Davis out more, what I do want to suggest is that there were assists left out there on the floor. Return to that first Ohio State game, and you will see two great passes Davis makes to get his teammates a wide-open shot, and they miss it. This happened in almost every single Davis game this season. If I were a GM, this would be something I would immediately task someone on my staff to watch as it does tell the complete story of Davis as a passer and definitely would be what I would quiz him on, ESPECIALLY in those moments where he just put his head down and had the blinders on to score. Again, I am not saying his playmaking is not an issue because even in the positive indicators, it is below average. There were a good amount of assists left out there, however, and the list of aforementioned guys with heavy usage and low turnovers at least give precedent of a player type like Davis being able to develop more as a passer in the NBA. Does Johnny Davis Have an NBA Player Comparison? Davis’ ability to create for himself out of isolation off the dribble and being a defensive difference-maker at the shooting guard position, I am reminded most of Latrell Sprewell. While not quite the explosive athlete Spree was in his prime, Davis’ 6-foot-5.75 inches and 196 pounds is very close to the 6-foot-5-inch height and 190-pound weight listed for Spree on his basketball reference page. What I see most when I look at both guys is the ability to attack on both ends of the court. And, as I mentioned, while Spree was a more explosive athlete in his prime, watching Davis jump passing lanes, rise up into his jump shot in the midrange, and draw fouls driving to the hoop made me think of Spree—especially as I remember him in the 1999 Finals on the Knicks against the Spurs. Among other career high- and (low)lights, Sprewell was one of the best two-way wings of his time, however, and had career per-game averages of 18.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks with shooting splits of 45.1% from two-point range, 33.7% from three-point distance, and 80.4% from the free-throw line. He also averaged 4.7 trips to the free-throw line in his 13 year career. While Spree put up over 20 points per game in four of his first six seasons, he became more well known for becoming a secondary offensive option on the Knicks from 1998 to 2003 who could still take over when necessary. And even in those early years, Spree learned to play alongside guys like Tim Hardaway, Chris Mullin, CWebb, and Jim Jackson (another guy I’ve seen Davis compared to) so he always used his scoring and defense to help complement his teammates. I see Davis doing similar work in the Association. While he might not reach the Golden State days Sprewell, I think he could easily be the secondary scorer and high-level defender Knicks version of Sprewell for 13 years. What Does Johnny Davis Look Like on the Pistons? So long Cory Joseph! Davis could immediately step in and be the point guard defender alongside Cade many of us are clamoring for. Not only would he have his 6-foot-5.75 inches and 196-pound frame to cause mismatch problems, but his 6-foot-8.5-inch wingspan, 8-foot-7.5 standing reach pose a major issue for many NBA point guards. Davis’ physicality on both ends would also benefit the Pistons greatly. On offense, the team would finally have someone other than Jerami Grant who seeks contact and knows how to use his frame to get into the body of defenders to draw fouls. On defense, the Pistons would have a guard who wants to take the toughest assignment away from Cade and knows how to use his broad chest to stand up the opposition and has the basketball IQ to continually funnel guys to his center when they get a step on him. Bonus being, he has the strength to guard up to the 3 in small-ball lineups and the pick-and-roll ability to give Cade and Saddiq some easier three-point shots. These two things, for me, separate Davis from someone like Ivey whose size (he didn’t measure at the combine) and lack of focus on the defensive side of the ball could keep him from being a two-way mismatch the way Davis already is. The shooting will have to come around, but that is one concern that to me is not as big since Davis was able to keep an entire team afloat without great spacing, and himself flashed good off-the-catch ability. The ball sticking to his hand, however, could be an issue and something that may take time to adjust to since he got used to having to be THE man. Still, Davis would be a needed addition to a lineup of Cade, Saddiq, Jerami, and Beef Stew as there is another scorer and attacker who knows how to use screens and get after it on defense with wing size and the desire to do everything he can to keep his team in the win column. Thank you for continuing to read and support all of us here at Detroit Bad Boys! Tell us what you think of Johnny Davis in the comments and who else the team should consider at number 5. Look out for the next article in this series where I will keep it on the wing... Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
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martin
Posts: 77019 Alba Posts: 108 Joined: 7/24/2001 Member: #2 USA |
6/15/2022 12:09 PM
anyone have insider?
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TPercy
Posts: 28010 Alba Posts: 1 Joined: 2/5/2014 Member: #5748 |
6/15/2022 12:28 PM
martin wrote:anyone have insider?Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL: 1. Orlando Magic EDITOR'S PICKS 2022 NBA mock draft: Best fit vs. best available for every team Five playoff surprises that could impact the 2022 NBA draft Building the perfect Spurs draft: Mocking all four San Antonio picks
The Thunder will conduct workouts with all of the top prospects in the class, including Smith, Holmgren, Banchero, Sharpe, Jaden Ivey and others. The franchise's rebuild is viewed with increasing favor, as a strong coaching staff, player-development infrastructure, organizational culture and trove of players assembled should allow OKC to quickly pivot toward respectability. Adding a 7-footer with a 7-6 wingspan to that core, one who projects as a potential Defensive Player of the Year candidate with the mobility, timing and competitiveness Holmgren offers, makes perfect sense. He'll give the Thunder offense, which ranked last in the NBA in 3-point percentage, much-needed spacing with his ability to shoot, push off the defensive glass, create for others and finish emphatically around the basket, and should fit in very well with their existing pieces thanks to the two-way versatility and excellent feel for the game he brings.
After watching him work out at his home base in Memphis and bringing him on an individual visit to Houston, the Rockets seem high on the talent, skill and fit of Banchero. He had an outstanding freshman season at Duke, showcasing all of his offensive versatility in a season that culminated in a Final Four run. Banchero is a 6-10, polished and aggressive scorer who can carry a significant load with his ability to handle, pass and shoot, and his ability to create off the dribble both for himself and teammates should pair well with the explosive transition scoring and shot-making prowess Jalen Green offers. Banchero should compete for Rookie of the Year honors and has considerable upside to grow into as the Rockets surround him and Green with the requisite defensive pieces and floor spacers to return to playoff contention.
The Kings aren't Ivey's preferred destination but have proved willing to take players without the benefit of workouts and medical information in the past, doing so as recently as a year ago when selecting Davion Mitchell. Many around the NBA feel that this pick is available for a team looking to swap picks and move up the draft for Ivey. Detroit, Indiana and Oklahoma City are among those that could potentially exchange an asset to help the Kings' chances of contending for a playoff spot, with the likes of Jerami Grant, Myles Turner and Lu Dort a few potential options that rival teams point to. In the event that the Kings elect to hold on to this pick and prefer to avoid the drama associated with picking a player against his camp's will, the candidacy of Keegan Murray might be gaining steam with head coach-to-be Mike Brown. Owner Vivek Ranadive is also said to be a proponent of selecting him.
Basketball Draft Challenge
While the Pistons likely will be disappointed to see Ivey off the board in this scenario, Murray's fit here looks strong, especially with the amount of trade chatter surrounding power forward Jerami Grant. The incumbent is widely expected to be on the move this summer, as he's entering the final year of his contract and doesn't look to be on the same timetable as the rest of the Pistons' roster. Murray's cerebral approach and steady demeanor should fit in well with franchise building block Cade Cunningham, with his dynamic shooting ability, how he ignites the break off the defensive glass and the versatility he brings defensively. Sharpe is also said to be a real candidate here but couldn't separate himself in a competitive 3-on-3 workout he conducted last week alongside the likes of Bennedict Mathurin, Dyson Daniels and others.
Mathurin is drawing strong reviews on the private workout trail, excelling in competitive action, individual drills and interview sessions everywhere he's visited thus far. An All-American who excels coming off screens and operating in the open court, Mathurin can play either wing spot and has plenty of upside to grow into at just 19 years old. He would give the Pacers a strong backcourt rotation with Malcolm Brogdon, Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Duarte. Many teams are kicking the tires on what it would take to acquire Brogdon or Myles Turner in a trade, but the asking price for both is said to be high.
The Blazers are early in their rebuilding process and can afford to swing for the fences for a prospect like Daniels, who possesses significant upside but will need time to fill out his frame and become a more dynamic scorer. Daniels would be an excellent understudy for Damian Lillard while still having the length and defensive versatility to operate in the same backcourt with him and Anfernee Simons. Daniels doesn't need the ball to make his presence felt, as he's an excellent decision-maker, passer, cutter and rebounder and a rapidly improving shooter. He defends everyone from the point of attack to bigger wing-forwards and makes quite a few plays off the ball.
The Pelicans have less of a major need at any particular position than other lottery teams. New Orleans has four surefire starters in the fold and a plethora of young talent at every position that gives it tremendous depth and role players to plug virtually any hole. Drafting Sharpe and allowing him to come along slowly would make plenty of sense. Sharpe possesses elite physical tools with his exceptional frame, length and explosiveness to go along with dynamic perimeter-shooting ability and the potential to reap huge dividends down the road. There was a reason Sharpe was the No. 1-ranked player in his high school class, as he has the kind of scoring instincts many teams look for in a top offensive option and plays a position where every franchise seeks talent.
Duren offers a natural succession plan for Jakob Poeltl, who is entering the final year of his contract. He's arguably the most physically gifted big man in the draft, at 6-10, 250 pounds with a 7-5 wingspan, and has a ready-made role from day one as a lob-catching shot-blocker with the huge catch radius he displays, the excellent timing he shows as a rim-protector and the way he uses verticality to his advantage. Duren also has significant room for growth in terms of skill level as the game slows down for him entering his 20s.
ESPN Daily podcast Monday through Friday, host Pablo Torre brings you an inside look at the most interesting stories at ESPN, as told by the top reporters and insiders on the planet. Listen The Wizards need to improve their backcourt after cycling through a cascade of guards this past season. An All-American last season, Davis should be able to play an immediate role with his defensive versatility, unselfishness and scoring ability, while also bringing many winning intangibles to which the Wizards will be attracted. He would fit well alongside the ball-dominant Bradley Beal and has plenty of upside to tap into as well at just 20 years old. This pick is widely assumed to be available in trade talks, in exchange for a proven backcourt player.
Coming off a disappointing season, the Knicks desperately need to upgrade at point guard but lack great options there. Trading this pick for an immediate contributor could be attractive, but there aren't many great apparent options on the table at the moment. If they decide to keep the pick, drafting a player such as Griffin, who is arguably the best shooter in the class after making 45% of his 3-pointers, could make sense. His 7-foot wingspan gives him significant potential defensively, he's one of the youngest players in the draft, and he plays one of the most coveted positions in the modern NBA.
The Thunder are said to be aggressively pursuing trade conversations for this pick, seeking to package it with future assets or existing OKC players in order to move into the mid-lottery, with players including Jaden Ivey and Shaedon Sharpe believed to be among the potential prospects they covet. If they elect to stand pat, picking one of the draft's most talented wing forwards in Dieng could make a lot of sense, as there are minutes to be had and quite a bit of potential left to tap. A fluid wing with ample size to slide to the power forward position as his frame fills out, Dieng hit his stride as the Australian NBL season progressed, flashing impressive shot-making prowess, the ability to create for teammates out of the pick-and-roll and the length and off-ball instincts to defend multiple positions.
Rival teams don't expect the Hornets to hold on to both of their mid first-round picks -- adding two rookies in need of minutes and patience might not be the most attractive proposition for a team that just fired its head coach after failing to advance past the play-in game. Regardless of who is making this pick, Sochan is likely to come off the board right in this range as most teams have him graded as a late lottery-level talent, with some even having him firmly in the top 10. Sochan brings several different dimensions with his ability to defend all over the floor, pass the ball effectively and slide up or down positions depending on the matchup, while also possessing plenty of upside to grow into having just turned 19. His feel for the game, versatility and competitiveness gives him a very high floor as well.
The Cavs will be looking to add size and perimeter shooting on the wing this offseason, both in free agency and in the draft. Agbaji, one of the best shooters in the draft with a 6-10 wingspan and chiseled frame, projects as a plug-and-play, 3-and-D prospect who should be ready to contribute immediately after winning All-America honors and coming off a national championship in which he won the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player for Kansas. Ousmane Dieng is another prospect rival teams point to as someone the Cavs are very high on, but is already off the board in this scenario.
2022 NBA Finals The Golden State Warriors lead the Boston Celtics 3-2 in the Finals, with Game 6 Thursday (9 p.m. ET, ABC) in Boston. GAME 5: GS 104, BOS 94 GAME 4: GS 107, BOS 97 GAME 3: BOS 116, GS 100 GAME 2: GS 107, BOS 88 GAME 1: BOS 120, GS 108 • Series keys | Experts' picks | Odds The Hornets can be strategic with their two first-rounders that sandwich Cleveland's pick, knowing it is highly unlikely the Cavs will take a center with two outstanding big men already in place. The Hornets have been seeking a legitimate rim-protecting, lob-catching center to pair with LaMelo Ball from the moment they drafted him, and could very well be attracted to Williams, with whom they'll be familiar from down the road in Durham. Williams led college basketball in dunks last season, won ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors and made considerable progress as a sophomore. He's an absolute game-changer on both ends of the floor with his combination of size (7-1), length (7-8 wingspan) and non-stop energy, providing a steady offensive presence with his excellent hands and finishing ability and putting a lid on the rim defensively thanks to his mobility, timing and reach.
The Hawks, perpetually one of the most active front offices in the NBA, are said to be exploring a host of options to strengthen their defense and better position themselves to make a playoff run next season. John Collins could be a catalyst for a major draft-day trade. Should the Hawks still be picking at this spot when the dust settles, a player like Branham could make a lot of sense, as he has a strong case to be considered the most talented prospect on the board. Branham's combination of size, frame, length, scoring instincts and shot-making prowess off the dribble (44% FG%) and with his feet set (43%) look seamlessly translatable to what the NBA is looking for at his position. He plays with a unique combination of aggressiveness and poise for a player who just turned 19, and the fact that he made such impressive strides as the season moved on, facilitating more for others and showing competitiveness defensively one-on-one, gives him a high ceiling as a prospect.
The Rockets are early in their rebuilding and will likely be looking to take swings on talent and upside, as they don't appear to be particularly close to contention. Eason is one of the most explosive and productive players in the draft, putting consistent pressure on opposing defenses with his quick first step, physicality and insatiable intensity, characteristics that allow him to live at the free throw line. These same traits helped make him one of the most versatile defenders in the college game, a magnet for steals, blocks and rebounds who flew all over the floor in LSU's suffocating press while rotating from guarding point guards to big men.
Rival teams say the Bulls aren't in love with their options here, and they are open to trading the pick, potentially in a package with combo guard Coby White. If they stand pat, the versatility offered by Williams could be attractive here, as Williams has the length to defend power forwards with his 7-2 wingspan, but also possesses the court vision, playmaking and shooting to be utilized at point guard in college, which should provide him with the versatility to slide all over the floor for a team that had to plug holes last season in an injury-plagued campaign.
Twin-tower lineups are becoming more in vogue these days with the success teams like Boston and Cleveland had with bigger lineups this season. For a Minnesota team looking to take the next step defensively, drafting the NCAA's Defensive Player of the Year could make some sense, even if that means playing Kessler alongside a super-skilled 7-footer in Karl-Anthony Towns. Kessler is a force as a rim protector but also brings strong pick-and-roll finishing ability and even some potential as a perimeter shooter. Kessler is a steady offensive presence with his ability to catch difficult passes, hammer home lobs, finish with touch around the basket and make good decisions out of short rolls, which should make him a good fit in Minnesota's offense.
With three picks in the first round, the Spurs can afford to take a swing on the player with the biggest upside possible, as adding star power to the roster is a major priority for the team. Wesley is one of the most physically gifted guards in this draft, capable of getting into the paint at will with his strong frame and explosive first step. He made strides as the season moved on both defensively and with his ability to create for teammates, and if he can continue to evolve as a shooter, he has the potential to be a real mismatch with the ball in his hands.
Having drafted well, and forced to play their young players fairly extensively due to injury, the team has also developed some solid depth, giving the Nuggets good flexibility heading into the draft. Adding quality depth in the backcourt could be attractive for the Nuggets, especially a steady-handed guard like Washington who can play with or without the ball, excels in pick-and-roll and is a strong perimeter shooter. Washington has the size and length to play in many different lineup configurations for a team like Denver, giving him nice positional versatility to go along with his strong feel for the game.
With the impending free agency of backup point guard Tyus Jones, who is in line for a raise after an excellent season, adding depth in the backcourt could make a lot of sense, especially with a local product like Chandler. He was one of the most talented point guards in college, blessed with incredible speed and burst, terrific ballhandling ability and creativity as a finisher and passer, and flashes of real shot-making ability. Despite being on the smaller side, Chandler's quickness, basketball instincts and length made him a significant asset defensively last season, allowing him to make a living getting in passing lanes while also being a real pest on the ball.
With James Harden turning 33 in August and on the downside of his career from a physical standpoint, adding more talent in the backcourt could very well be a major priority for the Sixers, if only to protect Harden's health and ensure he's at his best entering the playoffs. Hardy still has plenty of upside to tap into as a shot-making, instinctual scorer who is only 19. Adding more shooting alongside Joel Embiid should be an attractive proposition for the Sixers, and Hardy has the type of scoring talent that could allow him to anchor a bench unit down the road if he continues to progress with his frame and decision-making.
While the Bucks are clearly in need of a big man capable of playing starting-caliber minutes, other team needs caused a half-dozen players capable of playing center to already be selected at this point in the draft, making the next-best true big man somewhat of a reach at this pick. That said, Jovic has excellent size at 6-11, a strong feel for the game and could slide nicely between Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Possessing an interesting blend of youth, talent and confidence, Jovic is a skilled forward with the tools to fill a role a la Danilo Gallinari or Nemanja Bjelica down the line. Jake LaRavia and Andrew Nembhard are two other players who have drawn some interest at this spot.
The Spurs could be attracted to the versatility, off-court intangibles and productivity offered by Liddell. At 6-7, Liddell is undersized for an NBA power forward, but makes up for that with a near 7-foot wingspan and chiseled 243-pound frame. He brings a strong defensive versatility with a much improved shooting stroke that made him a force from beyond the 3-point line.
With confidence brewing regarding the Mavericks' ability to retain Jalen Brunson, adding quality wing depth to surround Luka Doncic and Co. looks like a priority. Beauchamp is the type of rim-running, elite-cutting, hard-playing wing who doesn't need plays called for him and can find his own offense alongside Doncic just by virtue of his energy. Beauchamp could emerge as a starting-quality player if his jumper and ballhandling continues to improve, but his defensive versatility as a long-armed wing who can check point guards through power forwards will be useful in the meantime along with his ability to score off his hustle and instincts.
Terry has been one of the big winners of the pre-draft process, impressing teams with his character on and off the court while dropping glimpses of significant versatility and upside he can grow into at just 19. His length, unselfishness, feel for the game and ability to defend multiple positions could make him a viable NBA rotational player as his jumper continues to improve, something that would make for an interesting roll of the dice for the Heat, who boast one of the best player development infrastructures in the NBA.
The Warriors could be in the market for a versatile wing-forward who can play off others, make shots from the perimeter and defend multiple positions. LaRavia, who shot 38% from 3 last season and 78% at the free throw line, brings a strong feel for the game and intriguing playmaking ability defensively. The fact that he's only 20 years old gives him some additional upside he can still tap into as he continues to improve his frame, maximize his athleticism and become a more assertive perimeter shooter.
One of the big mysteries of the 2022 NBA draft is where Houstan, once a projected top-10 pick, ends up. Houstan declined his invite to the NBA combine, indicating there might be something to the rumors of a first-round promise, or that Houstan has a landing spot with which he's comfortable in the form of a "soft promise," which would only prevent him from working out for teams outside a certain range. Houstan's positional size, defensive awareness and perimeter shooting gives him a high floor as a prospect, despite his disappointing freshman season at Michigan.
The Nuggets received this pick in a trade with Oklahoma City this week that also provided them with financial flexibility this summer. Roddy, who played down the street at Colorado State, could be an attractive option. Roddy rebounded from an underwhelming showing at the NBA Combine with a slew of strong private workouts, showcasing why he was one of the most uniquely versatile players in the college game. At 6-foot-6, he sees quite a few minutes at center -- where he can thrive thanks to his 260-pound frame -- but is also a creative ballhandler and passer who converted 44% of his 3-pointers, making him a huge mismatch. Second round Andrew Nembhard | Gonzaga | PG | Age: 22.4 32. Magic Christian Braun | Kansas | SG/SF | Age: 21.1 33. Raptors (via Pistons) Peyton Watson | UCLA | SF/PF | Age: 19.7 34. Thunder Jaylin Williams | Arkansas | C | Age: 19.9 35. Magic (via Pacers) Trevor Keels | Duke | PG/SG | Age: 18.7 36. Trail Blazers Wendell Moore Jr. | Duke | SF | Age: 20.7 37. Kings Christian Koloko | Arizona | C | Age: 21.9 38. Spurs (via Lakers) Khalifa Diop | Gran Canaria | C | Age: 20.4 39. Cavaliers (via Spurs) Bryce McGowens | Nebraska | SF | Age: 19.5 40. Timberwolves (via Wizards) Kendall Brown | Baylor | SF | Age: 19.0 41. Pelicans Patrick Baldwin Jr. | Milwaukee | SF/PF | Age: 19.5 42. Knicks Hugo Besson | NZ Breakers | PG/SG | Age: 21.1 The Future is Bright!
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BRIGGS
Posts: 53275 Alba Posts: 7 Joined: 7/30/2002 Member: #303 |
6/15/2022 3:05 PM
TPercy wrote:martin wrote:anyone have insider?Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL: Not high on ah Griffin or Branhan. I see j Williams as a pg fixer for long term. Guys the only guard that scored efg60% per over 23 had two double digit assist games while being keyed and flexed on. He’s our pg for the future. Can play right now 6-6 212 is a BIG pg. low TO despite being a large volume ball handler If his burst was like Ivey he’d be pick 1 easy. It’s not so he’s a low lottery 10-15 pick. BuT we have a need and no one is trumping at talent mid lottery RIP Crushalot😞
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TPercy
Posts: 28010 Alba Posts: 1 Joined: 2/5/2014 Member: #5748 |
6/15/2022 6:11 PM
Anyone else warming up to idea of trading back for Jalen Williams?
The Future is Bright!
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martin
Posts: 77019 Alba Posts: 108 Joined: 7/24/2001 Member: #2 USA |
6/15/2022 8:51 PM
Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL: Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
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martin
Posts: 77019 Alba Posts: 108 Joined: 7/24/2001 Member: #2 USA |
6/15/2022 9:03 PM
TPercy wrote:martin wrote:anyone have insider?Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL: Thanks man! Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
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