Should be another fun year with a strong top 5-7 guys. Your lotto order... 1. Orlando 2. OKC 3. Houston 4. Sacramento 5. Detroit 6. Indiana 7. Portland 8. New Orleans 9. San Antonio 10. Washington 11. New York 12. OKC 13. Charlotte 14. Cleveland
Sharpe is going to be really interesting in a class where the consensus top 3 is all frontcourt guys. If his agent lets him work out for a bunch of teams and he plays like people think, I don't think it's out of the question he at least jumps into the top 4 ahead of Ivey and Murray.
Everyone said he looked great in practice, but he was also going up against players that couldn't beat a 15-seed.
I’d be surprised if the hornets keep the 13th and 15th picks considering the current makeup of the team. Hoping that Westbrook isn’t the return, but I think Heyward + picks + complimentary piece that isn’t LaMelo or Miles Bridges is a move the Hornets try before the draft.
Almost certainly. I don’t know anything about the NBA salary cap, but the Hornets can apparently go over the cap to sign him.
Just did a simulated lottery on tankathon and got (picks are my best guesses for those teams)... 1. Orlando (Chet) 2. Indiana (Banchero) 3. Portland (Smith) 4. Detroit (Murray) 5. Houston (Sharpe) 6. OKC (Ivey) 7. Sacramento (Griffin) 8. NO (Mathurin) 9. SA (Eason) 10. Washington (Duren)
The only good part about that draft possibility is the idea of Ivey dropping to Houston and that dumpster fire destroying all the careers down there. Imagine Green, Ivey, Porter Jr., Wood and Sengun on the same team, because I definitely think Houston would do that and think it's a good idea.
It took my 32 times to get the Cavs to the 4 spot. In my attempts the spurs got the top pick 8 times. I really think Cavs are jumping into the top 4.
What are the thoughts on Ivey here? When it's good it looks like some version of Ja offensively. Seems like there's a pretty big gap between floor and ceiling there, though, and Purdue's offense didn't really help with that eval.
Today's the day. Obviously rooting for my Pistons to get lucky again, but if not us I hope it's Orlando or Portland.
The winner wishes they could just save the pick for next year to draft Frenchman Victor Wembanyama. Reading about this guy almost seems like he was an April Fool’s joke. Maybe we will get lucky and a team will be able to draft both him and Chet back to back years. Spoiler Victor Wembanyama ASVEL PF/C Age: 18.3 Wembanyama is the true prize of this class and the best prospect in the world regardless of age. I've long considered the 18-year-old French big man the best prospect I've personally ever evaluated, and at 7-3 with a 7-9 wingspan and 9-7 standing reach, he's starting to turn that sky-high potential into real production for the ASVEL team in France. After missing some time because of injury earlier in the year, Wembanyama has hit stride over the past 10 games (EuroLeague and France Pro A), averaging 13.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 21.6 minutes while shooting 63% from 2 and 50% from 3. Even more impressive than the production has been how Wembanyama is getting his numbers. ASVEL is springing him free with off-ball screens like a wing, unleashing his feathery shooting touch. With his handle and footwork on display, he has been looking like a bigger Kevin Durant at times by splashing self-created step-back 3s. He's starting to add a more advanced midpost package, fading into back-shoulder turnarounds with incredible ease. He's getting to lobs no other player on the planet could even think of. On top of that, he's protecting the rim at an elite level -- well ahead of Rudy Gobert at the same stage -- while also showing the ability to step out and switch onto guards unlike any player we've previously seen at his height. Wembanyama is the only player in EuroLeague history to record a block percentage over 12%. He still has his lapses on the defensive glass, can get a little overzealous offensively and with a lean frame has some questions to answer about his durability. But Wembanyama is a one-of-one-caliber prospect, a franchise changer and a future NBA MVP so long as he can stay healthy.
Ranking the teams I want to win the lottery (least to most), taking out my own squad... 13. New York - I can't handle Chet in NY conversations 12. Cleveland - already good 11. Houston - they deserve to suck for a while 10. New Orleans - already lucked into 2 top picks and they don't need these bigs 9. San Antonio - they had their run 8. Washington - team is a mess and I feel guys would be set up to fail 7. OKC via LAC - OKC has enough chances without getting lucky this way 6. OKC - wouldn't be mad, but I don't like how they tank in spite of all those picks 5. Sacramento - fans deserve something good, but I'll feel bad for the player they get 4. Indiana - meh 3. Charlotte - the bigs in this draft could make them really, really fun 2. Orlando - would be #1 only for the fan base, but they have a glut of front court guys 1. Portland - all 3 guys would be perfect next to Lillard and the fan base cares.
Would be ecstatic if the Pacers get in a position to take Jabari or Paolo. Really just hoping we don't get hopped and pushed down the board though, top 5 or bust.
Rooting for the following 1 - Cavs 2 - Blazers 3 - Spurs 4 - Kings 5 - OKC 6 - OKC 7 - Rockets 8-14 - all other East teams.
I'm now convinced NY gets the top pick and we're going to be stuck with SAS screaming about Chet for the next 8 years.
4 more years of a 30 year old big man with his skill set? If Charlotte is trying to get Hayward off the books, I’d rather take Westbrook back.
I am in favor of anything that puts Malika Andrews on TV more often. She's replacing Rece Davis as the main draft host.