Baja Den's way too early, worthless 2023 mock draft:

[serbiangoat]

I've been asking for months around here for someone to debunk why Coulibaly has anything less than lottery talent and no ones stepped up to really take a swing..


the truth is whatever critical things you might come up with; are they really gonna be deal-breakers at pick 24? when your talking an 18 year old whos built for defense like that?

If I had to come up with something I'd point to the low volume on the 3pt shooting, or just lack of stats in general, but again, his 3pt shot looks pretty good to me and it doesnt seem like a deal-breaker. Funny to hear someone trying to come up with something bad to say but cant.. You'd think he'd get more blocks with long arms like that but at the same time it doesnt seem like too many players are gonna try and test him, and he sure gets plenty of steals. he's a pest.

The way he runs and the way he rebounds and defends, idk, we could use wings with that archetype and that length and ability to recover guys like Fox and Monk get players like this easy buckets just from running the floor. We're playing the Warriors and coach is telling our guys to run run run, Coulibaly is built for a team like that. We dont need to draft a star here at #24 we need a player that presents matchup issues.

I agree with you but I agree with the poster above I get an off feeling about him as well but at the same time recognize he's a legit 3 and D that every team needs/wants. I also can't figure out why I got the same feeling watching him in the u18 or u19 when I watched him. (it might be cause I have watched way to much Malcolm Calazon the last 3-4 years but this kid is WAY better). I think at #24 you can't go wrong with him.

 

[Ozymandias]

I agree with you but I agree with the poster above I get an off feeling about him as well but at the same time recognize he's a legit 3 and D that every team needs/wants. I also can't figure out why I got the same feeling watching him in the u18 or u19 when I watched him. (it might be cause I have watched way to much Malcolm Calazon the last 3-4 years but this kid is WAY better). I think at #24 you can't go wrong with him.

Maybe I'm missing something but I'm really quite convinced. Especially when I see him grabbing offensive rebounds, that to me looks like it'd fit in great around here.


When I first started mentioning I liked Coulibaly better than Rupert -- Rupert was held in such a higher regard and now even some of the mocks that had Rupert in the lottery have reversed course and have Coulibaly in the teens and dropped Rupert to the 20's.

 

[dude12]

Whomever the Kings draft, the draftees will need to be able to shoot the 3 at a good clip. So for a few of the wings being discussed, a few don’t shoot the 3 so well, I don’t think they are an option. Number 1 priority is to not clog the lane because of Domas and Fox.

 

[ESP47]

Whomever the Kings draft, the draftees will need to be able to shoot the 3 at a good clip. So for a few of the wings being discussed, a few don’t shoot the 3 so well, I don’t think they are an option. Number 1 priority is to not clog the lane because of Domas and Fox.

Yeah the D and maybe 3 players scare me because the G League is completely littered with them. Okpala, Edwards and Dozier are all that archetype with Edwards having by far the best shooting track record. Previous seasons we had Justin James, DaQuan Jeffries, Woodard etc. These guys are a dime a dozen because they lack the skill necessary to shoot consistently. Sometimes you get guys like Royce O'Neal or Torrey Craig that develop a shot and IQ that's good enough to dig out a career in the NBA but the majority of these guys wind up stuck in the G League.

If there are safer picks on the board, I'm all for taking them. Most of the high ceiling guys will be taken by time the Kings pick. If the Kings can get a rotational player out of the pick, then that will be a success to me. Who knows, maybe we'll get lucky and there will be a Haliburton type fall that turns into a no brainer pick for us.

 

[dude12]

Yeah the D and maybe 3 players scare me because the G League is completely littered with them. Okpala, Edwards and Dozier are all that archetype with Edwards having by far the best shooting track record. Previous seasons we had Justin James, DaQuan Jeffries, Woodard etc. These guys are a dime a dozen because they lack the skill necessary to shoot consistently. Sometimes you get guys like Royce O'Neal or Torrey Craig that develop a shot and IQ that's good enough to dig out a career in the NBA but the majority of these guys wind up stuck in the G League.

If there are safer picks on the board, I'm all for taking them. Most of the high ceiling guys will be taken by time the Kings pick. If the Kings can get a rotational player out of the pick, then that will be a success to me. Who knows, maybe we'll get lucky and there will be a Haliburton type fall that turns into a no brainer pick for us.

I think you saw why Brown turned away from Davion in the last 2 games of the playoffs and went with TD…..players need to be able to knock down that 3 and be able to space for Fox and Domas. Also the reason why Sasha is a no brained to get over here. Not saying defense isn’t important but I expect any of our rookie picks to be able to knock it down. True 3 and D would be phenomenal

 

[sactowndog]

Yeah the D and maybe 3 players scare me because the G League is completely littered with them. Okpala, Edwards and Dozier are all that archetype with Edwards having by far the best shooting track record. Previous seasons we had Justin James, DaQuan Jeffries, Woodard etc. These guys are a dime a dozen because they lack the skill necessary to shoot consistently. Sometimes you get guys like Royce O'Neal or Torrey Craig that develop a shot and IQ that's good enough to dig out a career in the NBA but the majority of these guys wind up stuck in the G League.

If there are safer picks on the board, I'm all for taking them. Most of the high ceiling guys will be taken by time the Kings pick. If the Kings can get a rotational player out of the pick, then that will be a success to me. Who knows, maybe we'll get lucky and there will be a Haliburton type fall that turns into a no brainer pick for us.

yes but many of the better teams have hit on one. Anunoby was at 23, Kuzma at 27, Josh Hart at 30…..not to mention Derrick White at 29.

For a group that claims how good Monte is at drafting we need to let him operate in a good draft.

 

[sactowndog]

Right now, my list at 24 would be:

1. GG
2. Whitehead
3. Lewis
4. Bilal
5. Murray

surprised Prosper isn’t on the list….

 

[SacTownKid]

surprised Prosper isn’t on the list….

He's not bad, but I think there's more potential in some others. I question Prosper as anything other than a defender at the next level. I also see a little more 4 than wing in him.

 

[twslam07]

This is where I’m at thus far…

Players I Really Like:
Bilal Coulibaly
Maxwell Lewis

Players I Like:
Andre Jackson Jr.
Bobi Klintman
Kobe Brown
Kobe Bufkin
Kris Murray
Rayan Rupert

Players I Somewhat Like:
Colby Jones
GG Jackson
Jordan Walsh
Leonard Miller

 

[twslam07]

Maybe I'm missing something but I'm really quite convinced. Especially when I see him grabbing offensive rebounds, that to me looks like it'd fit in great around here.


When I first started mentioning I liked Coulibaly better than Rupert -- Rupert was held in such a higher regard and now even some of the mocks that had Rupert in the lottery have reversed course and have Coulibaly in the teens and dropped Rupert to the 20's.

Agreed, Coulibaly looks like a really good prospect. I highly doubt he's available at #24. There's too much to work with there for all these GMs to let him slip that far but hey I think we said that about Haliburton, right? There's always a chance.

 

[Ozymandias]

He's not bad, but I think there's more potential in some others. I question Prosper as anything other than a defender at the next level. I also see a little more 4 than wing in him.

"O-Max" Prosper might actually have gone from being discussed (by me!) here as the late 2nd rd pick to out of range of our first rd pick in just a few weeks with the combine.

That being said theres reason to believe he's more than just a one dimensional defender, this kid is a max effort hustle player whos 6'8 with a 7'1 wingspan and he's quite explosive meaning hes built to sort of gravitates towars the action, and he's built to play uptempo so the Kings are a good landing spot for him IMO.

9/12 from the floor vs Baylor... I knew he had a chance to get drafted this year watching this.. I've been rooting for this player he's always seemed to have the talent, Its unsurprising to me to see him leapfrog so many names late in the process.

 

[SacTownKid]

"O-Max" Prosper might actually have gone from being discussed (by me!) here as the late 2nd rd pick to out of range of our first rd pick in just a few weeks with the combine.

That being said theres reason to believe he's more than just a one dimensional defender, this kid is a max effort hustle player whos 6'8 with a 7'1 wingspan and he's quite explosive meaning hes built to sort of gravitates towars the action, and he's built to play uptempo so the Kings are a good landing spot for him IMO.

9/12 from the floor vs Baylor... I knew he had a chance to get drafted this year watching this.. I've been rooting for this player he's always seemed to have the talent, Its unsurprising to me to see him leapfrog so many names late in the process.

He could be. I still think it'll come down to productivity. Heck, we saw what happens now when a player can't be up to snuff offensively even if they are great defensively in Davion. Prosper shows potential, but kind of in a poor mans Jerami Grant kind of way IMO. I like the potential of someone like Rupert over him TBH. I'll take a raw 18 year old improving over a Junior with the situation that player would be coming into with the Kings. I think Prosper has a decent floor but he'll have to find the right situation.

 

[Ozymandias]

He could be. I still think it'll come down to productivity. Heck, we saw what happens now when a player can't be up to snuff offensively even if they are great defensively in Davion. Prosper shows potential, but kind of in a poor mans Jerami Grant kind of way IMO. I like the potential of someone like Rupert over him TBH. I'll take a raw 18 year old improving over a Junior with the situation that player would be coming into with the Kings. I think Prosper has a decent floor but he'll have to find the right situation.

Well I mean.. Jerami Grant was a 2nd rd pick.. The things said about him in that draft, the summer leading up to it, the season leading up to it, in hindsight were preposterously nitpicked for such a solid athlete, especially in a draft where Aaron Gordon was held in such a high regard for the entirety of the process..

I cant help but think of OG Anunoby, somehow he fell to the 23rd pick, were selecting 24th, when you look back at the negative things said about OG it was in a similar vain, big strong athelete not much skill, and the raptors get paid off bigtime for believing otherwise.

Its glorious he's leapfrogged up the board so much we can have this convo, there are recent mocks where he wouldnt even be in the kings range so its an interesting scenario for discussion either way.

Make no mistake though, Prosper is improving rapidly and still has much more to go... I've watched this player for years thru his recruitment, he's way better now than he was at Clemson especially on the o-boards which is where we could use him, he'll continue to get stronger, his skill level is improving, there's a lot to like, he plays hard he's very explosive and long.

 

[Ozymandias]

Another interesting discussion to be had is Zach Edey at #37, he's certainly helped himself and convinced people he's more mobile than previously thought at the combine, which is really quite a big deal for a 300lb player, he seems to be trending towards the 40's maybe higher.

There is still a matter of him staying or going in this draft he might be fishing for that type of promise in the 37 range.. he's 7'4 with a 7'10.5" wingspan and shoots 75% from the ft line.. Could we use him in the Alex Len capacity seen in the playoffs and final weeks of the regular season?

 

[SacTownKid]

Well I mean.. Jerami Grant was a 2nd rd pick.. The things said about him in that draft, the summer leading up to it, the season leading up to it, in hindsight were preposterously nitpicked for such a solid athlete, especially in a draft where Aaron Gordon was held in such a high regard for the entirety of the process..

I cant help but think of OG Anunoby, somehow he fell to the 23rd pick, were selecting 24th, when you look back at the negative things said about OG it was in a similar vain, big strong athelete not much skill, and the raptors get paid off bigtime for believing otherwise.

Its glorious he's leapfrogged up the board so much we can have this convo, there are recent mocks where he wouldnt even be in the kings range so its an interesting scenario for discussion either way.

Make no mistake though, Prosper is improving rapidly and still has much more to go... I've watched this player for years thru his recruitment, he's way better now than he was at Clemson especially on the o-boards which is where we could use him, he'll continue to get stronger, his skill level is improving, there's a lot to like, he plays hard he's very explosive and long.

The mocks I've seen have been all over the board which doesn't mean it's not a decent draft, but that there's clearly lack of delineation between talent once you get to about the middle range. If Prosper can go to place where he can find minutes as a defender, in particular as a switch stretch PF i think it'll be best for him. Much like Grant. It's hard to compare players like OG and Gordon. OG was injured, Gordon was a one and done.

 

[Ozymandias]

The mocks I've seen have been all over the board which doesn't mean it's not a decent draft, but that there's clearly lack of delineation between talent once you get to about the middle range. If Prosper can go to place where he can find minutes as a defender, in particular as a switch stretch PF i think it'll be best for him. Much like Grant. It's hard to compare players like OG and Gordon. OG was injured, Gordon was a one and done.

Im just saying thats how people tried to write off JErami Grant all throughout the college season and the summer leading up to the draft, and now he shoots 40% from 3 and makes 20 mil per season, is looking for a raise and many of those predraft concerns look awfully foolish.

OG Gordon Grant all fit a very similar archetype if youre having trouble comparing them Idk what to tell ya, those guys are literally prototype new age starting PF's for todays NBA.


and my other point is NO ONE ELSE LIKED THIS KID AT 54.. FOR MONTHS... SO OF COURSE NO ONE ALL OF A SUDDEN IS GONNA LIKE HIM IN THE FIRST..... which is bogus


This is honestly one of those players who if he was on the west coast people here would like him a lot more but he's a player from the Big East... I refuse to believe otherwise..

People wanna talk about players like Harrison Ingram around here, stanford forwards who are WAY worse, but their 'local guys' (meanwhile Ingram is from Texas) so they get mention over n over..

Jamie Jacquez, UCLA player, lets get him! Some Canadian kid at a big east school like O-Max isnt nearly as appealing around here, n thats bogus, we should be looking for the best players for the Kings, not the best west coast players for the kings, no reason to cast a small net.

n hey if this was the forum to some east coast team, they'd be biased the other way around, dont take it personal, thats just how these things tend to go.

Marquette was excellent all season long, no one really wanted to discuss them here, I posted over n over about them n got no response.. Its funny to see now, he actually had to leapfrog 50 spots up the board for someone to write something negative about him.

 

[SacTownKid]

Im just saying thats how people tried to write off JErami Grant all throughout the college season and the summer leading up to the draft, and now he shoots 40% from 3 and makes 20 mil per season, is looking for a raise and many of those predraft concerns look awfully foolish.

OG Gordon Grant all fit a very similar archetype if youre having trouble comparing them Idk what to tell ya, those guys are literally prototype new age starting PF's for todays NBA.


and my other point is NO ONE ELSE LIKED THIS KID AT 54.. FOR MONTHS... SO OF COURSE NO ONE ALL OF A SUDDEN IS GONNA LIKE HIM IN THE FIRST..... which is bogus


This is honestly one of those players who if he was on the west coast people here would like him a lot more but he's a player from the Big East... I refuse to believe otherwise..

People wanna talk about players like Harrison Ingram around here, stanford forwards who are WAY worse, but their 'local guys' (meanwhile Ingram is from Texas) so they get mention over n over..

Jamie Jacquez, UCLA player, lets get him! Some Canadian kid at a big east school like O-Max isnt nearly as appealing around here, n thats bogus, we should be looking for the best players for the Kings, not the best west coast players for the kings, no reason to cast a small net.

n hey if this was the forum to some east coast team, they'd be biased the other way around, dont take it personal, thats just how these things tend to go.

Marquette was excellent all season long, no one really wanted to discuss them here, I posted over n over about them n got no response.. Its funny to see now, he actually had to leapfrog 50 spots up the board for someone to write something negative about him.

Who wrote anything negative? Solid player, wouldn't mind him as a King at all, but position will matter for him IMO. If he finds the right situation I think he can have a very long career. Like another Marquette more PF than wing, Jae Crowder. The initial conversation was started around the idea that he wasn't in my top 5. I'd have him just outside if any of those other 5 were there if it were me making the call.

 

[bajaden]

yes but many of the better teams have hit on one. Anunoby was at 23, Kuzma at 27, Josh Hart at 30…..not to mention Derrick White at 29.

For a group that claims how good Monte is at drafting we need to let him operate in a good draft.

While I agree with you in principle, I think I should point out that Anunoby was coming off a severe injury at the time and that's why he dropped. He was my choice in that draft and I was disappointed when we passed on him and instead drafted Justin Jackson.

 

[bajaden]

Im just saying thats how people tried to write off JErami Grant all throughout the college season and the summer leading up to the draft, and now he shoots 40% from 3 and makes 20 mil per season, is looking for a raise and many of those predraft concerns look awfully foolish.

OG Gordon Grant all fit a very similar archetype if youre having trouble comparing them Idk what to tell ya, those guys are literally prototype new age starting PF's for todays NBA.


and my other point is NO ONE ELSE LIKED THIS KID AT 54.. FOR MONTHS... SO OF COURSE NO ONE ALL OF A SUDDEN IS GONNA LIKE HIM IN THE FIRST..... which is bogus


This is honestly one of those players who if he was on the west coast people here would like him a lot more but he's a player from the Big East... I refuse to believe otherwise..

People wanna talk about players like Harrison Ingram around here, stanford forwards who are WAY worse, but their 'local guys' (meanwhile Ingram is from Texas) so they get mention over n over..

Jamie Jacquez, UCLA player, lets get him! Some Canadian kid at a big east school like O-Max isnt nearly as appealing around here, n thats bogus, we should be looking for the best players for the Kings, not the best west coast players for the kings, no reason to cast a small net.

n hey if this was the forum to some east coast team, they'd be biased the other way around, dont take it personal, thats just how these things tend to go.

Marquette was excellent all season long, no one really wanted to discuss them here, I posted over n over about them n got no response.. Its funny to see now, he actually had to leapfrog 50 spots up the board for someone to write something negative about him.

Well I guess I'm living in my own little world because I wouldn't touch Harrison Ingram with a ten foot pole. Well, maybe that's a bit severe, but I wouldn't be wasting a draft pick on him, and I personally haven't seen much talk about him. The Big East conference is a tough conference and I could argue that it's a tougher conference than the Pac 12 overall. As I stated previously, I like Prosper, but I tend to shy away from players that can't shoot. Doesn't mean they can't correct that with some work.

If memory serves, there hasn't been a top player come out of Stanford for quite a while. I remember the good old days when Stanford and even Cal pumped out NBA players on a regular basis. I currently have Prosper going at 34, but I can see a team taking a flyer on him at the bottom of the 1st rd. As far as Edey goes, I'm not much of a fan, but once again I think a team will get seduced by his overall size an take a chance on him, but I have him going in the 50's or not being drafted. Hey, I could be wrong! Wouldn't be the first time.

 

[sactowndog]

While I agree with you in principle, I think I should point out that Anunoby was coming off a severe injury at the time and that's why he dropped. He was my choice in that draft and I was disappointed when we passed on him and instead drafted Justin Jackson.

mine too

 

[ESP47]

Yeah thought Anunoby was considered an 11-15th talent that year but dropped because of his injury. I was also disappointed we drafted JJ instead as well. I think Vlade had his eyes on Giles at 20 and didn't want to draft two guys with injuries and went with the "safer" pick in JJ. Just sucks because there was talent all over the place outside the lottery that year.

 

[ockingsfan]

I think Vlade had his eyes on Giles at 20 and didn't want to draft two guys with injuries and went with the "safer" pick in JJ. Just sucks because there was talent all over the place outside the lottery that year.

I think Vlade just plain sucked at picking players (besides Fox who fell in his lap).

 

[206Fan]

Yeah thought Anunoby was considered an 11-15th talent that year but dropped because of his injury. I was also disappointed we drafted JJ instead as well. I think Vlade had his eyes on Giles at 20 and didn't want to draft two guys with injuries and went with the "safer" pick in JJ. Just sucks because there was talent all over the place outside the lottery that year.

I hated JJ as a prospect. Soft wing who got even softer in the NBA. Such a big waste of a draft pick. Vlade hit on 1 pick out of 20.. what a shame.... not sure what's worse, PapaG + Malachi + Skal? or the picks on JJ and Giles

 

[ESP47]

I hated JJ as a prospect. Soft wing who got even softer in the NBA. Such a big waste of a draft pick. Vlade hit on 1 pick out of 20.. what a shame.... not sure what's worse, PapaG + Malachi + Skal? or the picks on JJ and Giles

I didn't hate the Giles or Skal picks but JJ, PapaG and Malachi were all bad. PapaG being the worst of them for sure.

 

[SacTownKid]

I didn't hate the Giles or Skal picks but JJ, PapaG and Malachi were all bad. PapaG being the worst of them for sure.

Yet Papa G isn't looking too bad overseas. The issue beyond bad drafting has ALWAYS been development. Heck, they nearly tanked Fox by pushing him around to various positions, attempting to put PG's around him multiple times. That literally started day 1 with George Hill. The franchise has been really good at making players look less than because of the attempt to bandaid the roster and picking coaches who didn't historically make players look good to begin with.

 

[63royals]

Yet Papa G isn't looking too bad overseas. The issue beyond bad drafting has ALWAYS been development. Heck, they nearly tanked Fox by pushing him around to various positions, attempting to put PG's around him multiple times. That literally started day 1 with George Hill. The franchise has been really good at making players look less than because of the attempt to bandaid the roster and picking coaches who didn't historically make players look good to begin with.

George Hill was here to be the point guard until Fox was ready. Once he was, they traded Hill.

 

[Ozymandias]

 

[SacTownKid]

George Hill was here to be the point guard until Fox was ready. Once he was, they traded Hill.

Fox was ready from day 1 to lead a rebuilding squad. All the way up to Walton they were pushing Fox in a direction that actually had some believing he should have been trade fodder. All usage. We now know that without any question. It's actually a borderline miracle Fox is still on the Kings. When a franchise almost screws up that sort of talent it's not really hard to see why so many players, regardless of their potential, were trashed over and over.

 

[Ozymandias]

So a darkhorse candidate I've been posting about all season made an unexpected draft decision --- Charles Bediako of Alabama is IN.

He announced it about a week ago. Word is he's getting positive feedback, which is unsurprising to me as I think he might have more offense than he was allowed to show, hes always been able to get out and run in a good stride, but Bama did a good job strengthening him up aswell, he's made marked progress in that area, you probably wouldnt notice it if you just saw him this season but progress like that for players that size and age, that always bodes well for their NBA chances as teams will look to take a flyer if that progress continues rapidly, he simply looks more ready for the G-League too.

All season long I've been saying "People keep talking about Alabama's players Miller and then Clowney and you dont hear a peep about Bediako!" whos a guy thats 6'10 barefoot with a 7'3.25" wingspan.

Alabama wasnt expecting him to stay in the draft at all, with Clowney in too now they are scrambling to find a bigman for next season..


Yet another Canadian kid btw... seems like my last bunch of posts are all about Canadian players here. He is a guy who used to be known as more of a light weight all offense guy, but that is long in the past, he outgrew that and now hes a legitimate force on the oboards. I would figure him as a guy whos got more to show teams in workouts than he was able to display in 2 years of college.


When Bama got eliminated ---Bediako played great.. All the big names missed all their jumpshots they all shot putrid percentages and San Diego States bigs who were pulverizing opponents shot poorly vs Bediako. Bama actually wins that game if they feed Bediako, just watch the tape if u dont believe me, instead they laid brick after brick after brick on the perimeter, and Bediako was one of the reasons they were able to even keep it close.

He moves well defensively, Coach Brown might like him. This is a player whos footage you bring before the defensive specialists on the staff and let them decide.

 

[Ozymandias]

"Based on what I've been told, there's no reason I shouldn't be a first-rounder." - O-Max Prosper


He's born July 2002 so he's sort of a young Junior. Brandon Miller, a Freshman, for example is born in November 2002, Maxence is only 4½ months older.

Here is the NBA combine scrimmage, he only played this one and then shut it down... This is one of those 'when there's smoke there's fire' situation, his stock is on the rise for sure...

In a world where Patrick Williams and Isaac Okoro go 4th and 5th in the draft, this player is worth investigating at 24.

"Coming out of college, people were questioning the consistency of my jumper," Prosper said. "That's something I've really worked hard to show NBA teams I can be a catch-and-shoot player. I have the ability to improve and become very versatile on both ends. If some teams weren't sure, I've shown them I can do more things on both ends in this process."