Who’s repping us?
Just want to hear them call in this order Golden State -> Indiana -> San Antonio -> Charlotte -> New Orleans.I’m mentally prepared for all outcomes.
Tinker McNair
Jonathan Wasserman @NBADraftWassHollinger came out with his top 23 today.
3. Scottie Barnes (thinks he may end up being the best in the draft; I agree)
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If Barnes best case scenario is Simmons or Green, it’s hard to imagine him being the best player in a loaded draft.
Hollinger wrote his Barnes blurb as if it's a guarantee that he develops an outside shot while his blurb about Kuminga makes it sound like he’s never gonna learn how to shoot.If Barnes best case scenario is Simmons or Green, it’s hard to imagine him being the best player in a loaded draft.
Feel like we are going to pick at 10.
Or the draft may not be as loaded as most assume. I don't see any generational players.
did you name the puppy Cade?I just adopted a puppy. Hopefully she’s a good luck charm.
FWIW, Barnes has the same wingspan (and bad shooting stroke) as Kawhi did coming out of college.
I just adopted a puppy. Hopefully she’s a good luck charm.
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That said, I’m mentally prepared for the 0.4% chance at 11 because the lottery gods hate us for spitting in their face. Anything better is gravy. Lol
I hear this argument but isn't it also true that there's a half dozen players in every draft who fit that description? And yet there's still only one Kawhi Leonard. Do they all need to go to the Gregg Popovich school of tough love to develop properly? Keon Johnson is also an excellent defender with a questionable jumper. Why is he ranked 15 spots lower here? Is it because he's smaller and doesn't do the Draymond scream whenever you make a good play thing? Almost all of these draft "experts" make me nauseous with their analysis. It tends to be in the same genre of hyperbolic group-think.
A bigger point that tends to get overlooked in the pre-draft period is that a lot of these guys are not going to meet expectations. If every player hit their hypothetical ceiling we'd have 20 All-Stars in every draft. In reality you're lucky to have 4 or 5 All-Stars in the same draft. Legit MVPs come along once every 5 years or so. That means there's a lot of players who will not overcome their weaknesses and will instead settle in as role-players, journeymen, or team leaders in some other international league.
It's not fun to pick on people and point out their flaws but of the 23 players listed there, half of them will probably be available for a minimum contract in 5 years. And considering our past history, the question at the forefront of my mind is how do we not pick one of those players? My preference is always to find two-way players who can excel in different skill areas offensively and defensively but I've observed over the years how elite defenders I've fallen in love with end up on the end of the bench when the coach doesn't trust them on offense. Bricking open jumpers (or worse, refusing to take them) is a quick ticket out of a rotation for most players. So the clock is already ticking for some of these guys.
I just find it hard to believe a non shooting low scoring PF is going to end up the best player in the draft. This is a scoring and shooting league these days
Keon Johnson measured 6'3.25. He's shorter than Fox.
Giannis is a PF, who is a below average shooter. So was Magic. I'm not saying Barnes will be them, but he has a chance with his physical attributes. I'd take that chance, especially if the other choices aren't exactly jaw dropping.
FWIW, I think Cade and Mobley will be good players. Think Cade ends up being somewhere between Harrison Barnes and Paul George. Likely closer to Barnes than George. Mobley is Aldridge. Think Scottie Barnes ends up being somewhere between SloMo and a less flashy, more defensive Magic.