Thursday July 29th

Here are some expected high lottery picks

Cade Cunningham



Jalen Green


Jalen Suggs


Evan Mobley


Jonathan Kuminga

Sharife Cooper most likely outcome is as a really good backup PG imo. Love his game: elite court vision, amazing first step. Just doesn't have the shooting and even if he did, he's too small. He also doesn't show much effort on D at this point. When he is locked in, he is not terrible at D given his size limitations. If he gets the shooting, he could be a lower-third starter.

The best prospect on that Auburn team that is in this draft (i.e., the only other one) is JT Thor. 6'11", can shoot, play D. Needs to add size and better dribbling, but he can really do it all. He went in to the process as lower end 2nd round/UDFA. I think he will end up getting taken early second round. It will be a steal. He has Siakam or better upside imo with a Nic Claxton floor.

Other SEC guys:

Cam Thomas: will be a player. Has a great face-up game. Can hit shots. I would not want one of the contenders to take him; he can be an impact player off the bench right away similar to MPJ.

BJ Boston: don't see it. Seems like more of a Malik Monk flameout/resurgence type player. He doesn't have the shot right now. I also hope he is not terribly affected by what he witnessed. He appears to be a great kid/young man, like almost all of the players in the draft.

Herb Jones: great bench guy. probably carve out 10 years in the league. needs to improve FT shooting if he wants to play though. Otherwise he will be an end of bench guy. Nate Oats was great for improving his potential as an NBA player (emphasizing 3s).

Javonte Smart: steal in the late 2nd round/UDFA. Will be a good floor general 2nd unit guy. Can hit a 3 and a stepback 3, especially if given a strong ass offer.

Trendon Watford: a lot worse than he thinks he is. undersized. good game, and maybe could carve out 4-6 years in a worse Jabari Parker role. potential to be humbled by how much bigger and better NBA players are and learn from it.

John Petty: end of bench guy. flamethrower when he's on, but I can't see him being anything other than that end of bench guy who is good to improve others' defense in training camp.

Alperen Sengun looks like he should go top 5, maybe top3. He won't as he's being floated around in the 8th to 14th range, but I don't see him falling past #8 with his stats.

Turns 19 a couple days before the draft and put up eye popping numbers in Turkey last year which is probably the 3rd or 4th best league in the world. 1.3 steals, 1.7 blocks a game, incredible rebounding numbers, 19ppg, 65% FG 81% FT shooting on 6.2 FT a game in 28 minutes. 2.5 assists vs 2.3 TOV as well.
He shows incredible skill and touch around the rim, an array of quality post moves and the ability to pass out of the post as well. He didn't take many 3s, but his FT% suggests he definitely has the ability to develop a 3pt shot.

His rebounding numbers were also incredible, 4.1 ORB, 5.3 DRB a game.

Defensively I see a very high IQ player with incredible reaction time who rotates very well to get his high steal and block numbers. He also can jump pretty high. The scouting reports suggest he's slow and won't be able to defend the PnR in the NBA or at all on switches on the perimeter, but I think a lot of that could just be him being a Euro because his STOCKS suggest he can be an impact defender.

It will be interesting to see what height he is because I've seen him listed from 6'9 to 6'11. He has the ability to dribble pretty well, pass well, score with his back to the basket, and draw free throws. Also has a knack for rebounding and has a super BBIQ. There will always be a place for that in the league and I think he will be an all star by his 4th season.

JT Thor projected in first round (23rd) in Jonathan Wasserman's latest mock. Really looks like the word is out: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...iers-no-1-pick

Draft lottery about to kick off.

Draft Lottery!!!

Can Cleveland luckbox the #1 pick again?

****ing kill me

Pacers 32 year streak without a top 9 pick is just outstanding.

Cleveland going to ship this. RIP Vini

Would be so ****ed up. Other than lucking into LeBron, and losing him and somehow getting him to come back home, that franchise is such a failure.

Wow. Didn’t realize that about the Pacers.

RIP Cade Cunningham’s career.

Yep, 1988, the Dunkin' Dutchman:

Deeetroit Basket Ball

I want Sengun so I will happily trade down from 4 to 6 in exchange for one of your first round picks and one of those pick swaps you own in 2035

That sounds like a pretty good deal jwax. I suggest you take it!

I’ll phone it in to the league.

Doesn’t help that I’m an Ok St alum. Good job beating the Clippers last game of the season.

close!

jumping up a couple spots is huge

I don't pay much attention to the NBA but the current regime in Detroit appears to have at least some idea how to build a roster and run a team.

You're still probably right but at least there's a chance.

Do you think DET should sell high on Jerami Grant and look to acquire youth/pick/s to more align with Cade's timeline?

If they get the right offer, absolutely. Grant had a breakout season but he's 27. Need a shot at another truly elite player with the same window as Cade.

One of the most storied organizations in sports, your Detroit Pistons, are BACK!!!!

Congrats man, I'm very happy for you + Detroit fans!