Poll: 2021 NBA Draft

[Ozone]

You would trade #1 for Green and Barnes? I think I would too

I like the odds that Orlando would have interest in trading 3 and 8 for example, to get Cade or Mobley at 1 or 2,but I don't like the odds that that second pick is at 8, and more likely 10. I don't think OKC moves up as at least one of their picks will be at worst 8 and the other at worst 5 or they didn't get it.

 

[Ozone]

I don't think he is there at 7. I would be ok with Kuminga I suppose. Do you take Giddey at 8?

I bet they would like to see his workouts, shooting wise, before they passed on Bouknight for example, who apparently is having Darius Garland type workouts lol
I think if the top 6 are as expected with Kuminga and Barnes gone, in the group with Cade,Mobley,Suggs and Green.
Some less expected but highly recruited and extremely raw Jonathan Isaac type options like JT Thor or Greg Brown are in play in a trade down situation.
I think at 7 I would seriously consider taking Sengun over Jalen Johnson or Moody,at least if Sengun's outside shooting is expected to become reliable, and he has perimeter defensive ability at the NBA level.
If Giddey proves he has the first step, and shooting chops to be an upgrade to either guard, then sure I take him as well, but I doubt they do without planning to move one. Probably Garland which seems unlikely if Giddey is not a plus shooter either.

 

[Randolphkeys]

There seems to be some momentum for Suggs going ahead of Green.

I'd happily take Suggs ahead of Green if I'm searching for a guard. Suggs reminds me of Brandon Roy without knee issues. You can build an offense around him with shutdown defense on the other side of the floor. Roy happens to be one of my all time favorite "I forgot all about him" players in NBA history.

Watching Green I get Zach Lavine vibes. You love what he does on offense but live with the defense and lack of physicality.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

So, it's Suggs' fault that his playing well wasn't enough for his team to win in the national championship game, but Cade gets a pass for playing like dog shit in the early rounds against lesser teams?

OK State was a really talented team. Cade flat out isn't a PG, he was just miscast and masquerading as one. He's a good shooter, but that's all he brings to the table.

What I see in Cade is a version of Joe Johnson

 

[Randolphkeys]

What I see in Cade is a version of Joe Johnson

I'll buy that for a dollar. At Arkansas, Joe was a point forward with great size/shooting and a little bit of a turnover problem.

 

[adam81king]

I still have nightmares (not really) about playing Joe Johnson in the AAU national Tourney after our senior year in HS...it wasn't fun guarding him (really).

 

[Vipra]

It's going to hurt if we don't get a playmaking wing. If you get 2 would you trade down for 2 lottery picks from OKC?

I wanted to post a situation where Cavs are picking at #1. I did it twice and each time OKC fell to #6 in the Tankathon simulator (plus 16 and 18). Would you still trade if Barnes is there at #6? (So, #1 for #6, #16, and #18 or #6 and 2022 OKC pick)

I got the following order in the simulator twice:

1. Cavs
2. Wolves
3. Rockets
4. Pistons
5. Magic
6. OKC
7. Raptors
8. Magic
9. Kings
10. Pels

 

[adam81king]

I wanted to post a situation where Cavs are picking at #1. I did it twice and each time OKC fell to #6 in the Tankathon simulator (plus 16 and 18). Would you still trade if Barnes is there at #6? (So, #1 for #6, #16, and #18 or #6 and 2022 OKC pick)

I got the following order in the simulator twice:

1. Cavs
2. Wolves
3. Rockets
4. Pistons
5. Magic
6. OKC
7. Raptors
8. Magic
9. Kings
10. Pels

No. As much as I love the draft and the idea of adding young talent, this team doesn't need more of that, they need *elite* talent. I don't have faith in this front office to find elite talent at #16 and #18, and less faith in the coaching staff to develop it. Stay at #1 and pick Mobley or Cade.

 

[Ozone]

No. As much as I love the draft and the idea of adding young talent, this team doesn't need more of that, they need *elite* talent. I don't have faith in this front office to find elite talent at #16 and #18, and less faith in the coaching staff to develop it. Stay at #1 and pick Mobley or Cade.

Cade and Mobley are not really any more elite potential wise though than Kuminga Green or Suggs in the big picture.
Those two do have a higher floor. This draft has several high ceiling outcome options like Barnes,Sengun,Bouknight, Hyland, hell even a sleeper like Cooper could be the best player long term as well

 

[adam81king]

Cade and Mobley are not really any more elite potential wise though than Kuminga Green or Suggs in the big picture.
Those two do have a higher floor. This draft has several high ceiling outcome options like Barnes,Sengun,Bouknight, Hyland, hell even a sleeper like Cooper could be the best player long term as well

My post was in response to a specific hypothetical. Kuminga, Green and Suggs are not likely to be available at #6, and Barnes, Sengun, Bouknight, Hyland and Cooper are unlikely to he available at 16 and 18 (without overlapping what the team already has at various positions). I also have zero faith in the JBB staff to develop the guys listed, and no faith in Koby to select the right guys down the draft. The deal wouldn't be worth it. That's the overall point.

 

[Ozone]

My post was in response to a specific hypothetical. Kuminga, Green and Suggs are not likely to be available at #6, and Barnes, Sengun, Bouknight, Hyland and Cooper are unlikely to he available at 16 and 18 (without overlapping what the team already has at various positions). I also have zero faith in the JBB staff to develop the guys listed, and no faith in Koby to select the right guys down the draft. The deal wouldn't be worth it. That's the overall point.

Woops, missed that part lol Yeah The Cavs are not trading down too far, without another potential lottery pick in 22 as incentive , or two lottery picks in 21 for one.Not imo.
I could see something like the Cavs trading down a couple spots only, if doing it means picking up a future lottery likely pick in 2022,& if they see no fit at all with BPA, where they are, but in a positionless league I doubt it, especially anywhere higher than 8th

 

[Vipra]

Yes, Giddey! I somehow managed to forget about him.

Prospects I like:
PG: Cade, Suggs, Butler, Giddey
SG: Green, Moody, Duarte
SF: Wagner, Kispert, Kuminga, (Jalen Johnson)
PF: Barnes, Petrusev, Kai Jones, (Garuba)
C : Mobley, Sengun, Garza (why is he so low on so many draft boards?!!)

If we get a top-4 pick, there will be some roster shake-up. Koby will have his job cut out.

The way Ben Simmons panned out, and because of the similarities Giddey has with Simmons, I think I am not that high on Giddey any more. Simmons is still a great playmaker and might again become an all-star, but he will certainly fail in the playoffs again.

Prospects I like (with apologies to prospects who are undersized relative to their position):
PG: Cade, Suggs, Butler
SG: Green, Moody, Duarte
SF: Wagner, Kispert, Kuminga, (Jalen Johnson)
PF: Barnes, Petrusev, Kai Jones, (Garuba)
C : Mobley, Sengun, Garza

 

[adam81king]

The way Ben Simmons panned out, and because of the similarities Giddey has with Simmons, I think I am not that high on Giddey any more. Simmons is still a great playmaker and might again become an all-star, but he will certainly fail in the playoffs again.

Prospects I like (with apologies to prospects who are undersized relative to their position):
PG: Cade, Suggs, Butler
SG: Green, Moody, Duarte
SF: Wagner, Kispert, Kuminga, (Jalen Johnson)
PF: Barnes, Petrusev, Kai Jones, (Garuba)
C : Mobley, Sengun, Garza

I think you're doing a disservice to yourself and Giddey to compare him to Simmons. Other than being tall Australian guards, I don't find them similar, at all. Simmons always seemed like he was the biggest guy who just happened to be better than everyone else and just ended up as a "point guard" because no one else had the heart to tell him no.

Giddey, offensively, reminds me more of Ricky Rubio than Simmons. I think he'll be able to play in the League because he's a smarter player than Simmons and has a much better handle than him, too. Giddey should stay on your big board.

 

[Nathan S]

Giddey is really not very similar to Simmons...he's way more skilled, but also way less athletic. I want to re-emphasize that he missed a game due to a concussion he suffered because he literally faceplanted on a wide open dunk.

 

[Ozone]

The way Ben Simmons panned out, and because of the similarities Giddey has with Simmons, I think I am not that high on Giddey any more. Simmons is still a great playmaker and might again become an all-star, but he will certainly fail in the playoffs again.

Prospects I like (with apologies to prospects who are undersized relative to their position):
PG: Cade, Suggs, Butler
SG: Green, Moody, Duarte
SF: Wagner, Kispert, Kuminga, (Jalen Johnson)
PF: Barnes, Petrusev, Kai Jones, (Garuba)
C : Mobley, Sengun, Garza

Giddey is not afraid to shoot though, and has good spot up ability, floaters, runners etc, lol not at all the same player. Similar sized playmaker is about the only comparison. Ben is far more athletic and a better defender. Giddey is more creative and finds his teammates far better than Ben did at the same age.
I think Giddey is as close to LaMelo as you will see in this draft, and I am kind of surprised he is not getting more top 5 love as a result, except that the NBA is a 3 point dominated league, and Giddey is lacking a legit jumper and as some have indicated is about the same level of explosive athlete as Delly.