Baja Den's first, complete nonsense, too early, 1st round mock draft:
- Thread starter bajaden
- Start date
sactowndog
All-Star
If Wagner is there when we draft we need to grab him. Zaire Williams might fall. I’m thinking we will be looking at Williams, Garuba, Johnson and perhaps Giddey as a point forward
I havent been able to catch any college hoops this year, but just going off reads and clips Jalen Johnson should be a nice fit, good size point forward, and likely available where we pick.
I was high on Barnes at around 6-8 but the Kings push to the playoffs should put him out of reach.
Anyways, lots of possibilities to improve.
I was high on Barnes at around 6-8 but the Kings push to the playoffs should put him out of reach.
Anyways, lots of possibilities to improve.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
If we end up picking 12-15 and he is still on the board after 8 I hope Monte moves up to draft Franz. Like you say, he just makes his team better without really standing out. I know Bajaden mentioned in another post his IQ and ability to defend passing lanes is Haliburtonesque.
twslam07
All-Star
With our pick, I'd be targeting...
- Franz Wagner
- Moses Moody
- Scottie Barnes
- Ziaire Williams
Guys like J. Johnson & Kispert would be my consolation prize although I don't feel nearly as good about those two as I do the other four I mentioned.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
With the way the Kings are going, they'd probably be looking to trade out of that pick rather than trade up but you never know, maybe Bagley and the Kings pick can get them somewhere in that range? If this team performs as it should, and should have been all year honestly, then unfortunately they will likely be in a part of the draft that doesn't have nearly the upside. I could see Jalen Johnson rising after workouts.
Guess it kind of depends on what Monte has planned with some of our bigs but Garuba also looks interesting. Agile but looks strong, looks like he can do a bit of everything.
I kind of think with our current squad we have the guard positions best covered. So I’m mostly looking at the frontcourt.
I kind of think with our current squad we have the guard positions best covered. So I’m mostly looking at the frontcourt.
Groovygreg
Starter
It seems like the Kings will have some good options.
Not the same order, but this was essentially my list of guys outside the top 5. This is the draft to nab a big wing. Could add Kispert to this as well.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
is Jalen Johnson the MPJ of this draft? Michael's concerns were more about his injury history but newest JJ is another blue chip guy that might be picked later than he should.
It's really hard to find a MPJ in any draft. MPJ was seen as a potential #1 pick for his KD-like scoring ability as a lights-out shooter. The only reason he fell in the draft is because of his health concerns. Some teams completely took him off their draft boards because of that. His medical was a huge deal among all NBA teams.
On the other hand, I definitely think Johnson is underrated. He's got a good skillset as a versatile player. However, players that have been touted as playmaking wings without a consistent jumper have struggled a bit in the NBA. A couple that come to mind are: Justice Winslow, Josh Jackson, Troy Brown Jr, and Jarrett Culver.
FWIW, ESPN does have Jalen Johnson as their 7th best prospect. https://www.espn.com/nba/draft/bestavailable/_/position/ovr/page/1
bajaden
Hall of Famer
My targets would be Franz Wagner, Corey Kispert, Kai Jones, Moses Moody, and Jalen Johnson. I have no idea why people are down on Kispert. He's the best shooter in the draft, he's a very good defender, has good handles for the position, etc. High BBIQ. He's one of the most ready to step in and play players in the draft. With Barnes and Williams and quite a few others, your betting that in a couple of years, they'll be as good as Kispert is right now!
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
And that's the gamble. Along with his affinity for reaching in on PG's it's probably the only downside. The good news is NBA teams aren't going to be able to zone him to death like college teams do. That lane will be clear so if keeps refining that floater he's got or his hook shot he'll still be an offensive option. And Florida State running switch defense is great for his ability to step right in and understand NBA defense from the get go. It didn't play to the rules of the NCAA but certainly good for his propects as an NBA defender.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Well, I like both players, but I would give the edge overall to Kispert because of his shooting. He has that ability to be moving coming off a screen and still square up and hit the three. So he's more than just a catch and shoot player. He's a smart defender in a team defense concept. Very good player without the ball in his hands. He's constantly moving. He seldom takes bad shots and he's not a black hole.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
People need to remember that it's much easier to clog the lane in college with no defensive 3 second rule, and that can really affect a player like Barnes, so I agree, I think the NBA will be kinder to him. But, that still doesn't mean he'll eventually be a good shooter. He could end up being Simmons part two. That's why I personally wouldn't take a gamble on him. I was high on Kid Gilchrist at one time, and was willing to gamble on his shot improving. Well it didn't! If your picking in the mid twenties, then go ahead and gamble, but not on a lottery pick.
twslam07
All-Star
But that’s sort of my point with Kispert.
You’re giving the edge to Kispert because of his shooting but Windler is no slouch there himself and he was a late 1st pick. What really separates him from Windler where he deserves to be a lottery pick?
I’m not so much challenging as I am curious.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
That's all true. It should be noted that MKG never played PG though. Barnes is legit guarding PG's and running a teams offense. There have been plenty of players that survived as non-shooting PG's. Yeah, he can be scary but if a team gambles and wins the payoff is great in a draft like this which has no guaranteed LeBrons to be nabbed.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
I think to me the difference is Kispert has a stronger body and appears to be a little better with contact and a better athlete. He's similar to Buddy in some ways. Windler is longer but not the bull of a G/F Kispert is. He could be a one dimensional shooter but in todays game, that still means he's a rotation player.
kb02
All-Star
I know a really good shrink who can help you with your Gonzaga hate.
The team is efficient, but I don't think they're that good. I never thought USC was that good this year either. Would've preferred an Oregon Gonzaga match up, because Oregon would run on Gonzaga.
UCLA is up at the half and they're going to beat Michigan, because Michigan's bigs are overrated.
UCLA is going to give Gonzaga a game. I don't think UCLA wins, but it'll be close. UCLA with Nix and Chris Smith and they beat Gonzaga.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
ultimate hot take. Franz is a really good prospect IMO.
100 combined points in 40 minutes is so strange to watch for an NBA fan. I enjoy the tournament but I just can’t get that into college ball.
Wagner just screams high level role player. He can't really create his own shots consistently, and his 3 ball is widely inconsistent. I think you saw it there with his final 2 attempts to win the game. Air balled then clunked another.
During the tournament he went 2-16 from 3pt land through 4 games.
During the tournament he went 2-16 from 3pt land through 4 games.
kb02
All-Star
Yea. He's a second rounder to me.
kb02
All-Star
I think UCLA should go small against Gonzaga. Bring in Kyman or Singleton and take out Riley (the 5). Play Jacquez at the 5. Timmey is like 6'8. Jacquez is around 6'7, but sturdy. Then would have 5 decent ball handlers on the floor to beat the Zags press. And play a 2-3 zone all game and dare the Zags to beat the Bruins on the perimeter. As a Bruin, who has watched the team all year, this was totally unexpected. Crazy turnaround.
twslam07
All-Star
Wagner / Juzang
Age = 19.59 / 20.04
Height = 6’9” / 6’6”
Weight = 220 / 210
WS = 4.6 / 2.7
OWS = 2.8 / 1.8
DWS = 1.9 / 0.9
BPM = 12.4 / 6.4
OBPM = 6.4 / 5.1
DBPM = 6.0 / 1.3
NetRTG = 31.2 / 4.8
ORTG = 124.1 / 108.4
DRTG = 92.8 / 103.6
USG% = .197 / .265
TS% = .602 / .532
FG% = .492 / .420
3P% = .357 / .345
FT% = .831 / .911
PPG = 16.2 / 19.0
RPG = 8.2 / 5.2
APG = 3.8 / 2.1
SPG = 1.5 / 1.0
BPG = 1.3 / 0.5
TOPG = 1.6 / 2.0
FPG = 2.8 / 2.4
*stats per40 min
twslam07
All-Star
You could very well be right in the end but wasn’t this what a lot of people were saying about Haliburton?
Although he’s a sophomore, he’s younger than Mobley, Suggs, and Barnes. And he’s only 1 month older than Cunningham. He’s a young kid, may still be growing, has a good shooting stroke, has a similar AST to TO ratio as Halliburton’s sophomore year, and he’s a good defender.
What some may see as a role player, I see...
- A player with a good foundation of skills (not many weaknesses, someone who won’t hurt the team)
- A player who has shown significant improvements year over year (good trajectory for future development)
- A player who has great size for the forward position (and still may be growing)
- A player with good vision and IQ (the best players in the league tend to need both of these)
- An underrated defender (will show up in wins but maybe not stats and accolades)
I said it earlier but a more athletic, better defending Gallinari sounds like an obtainable ceiling. If he has that drive and puts in a lot of time on his handle and go-to moves, he can potentially ascend beyond that.
twslam07
All-Star
I don’t know if I’d call him a bust I’m just not sure if he’s worth a lottery pick. We had guys like Windler and Bane with similar bodies of work go way later in their drafts. Just trying to make sense of what makes Kispert so much more special than them to warrant being taken so early.
