Speaker 1: What is up, Fellasiko's I am Dan Favalley. It is
time for Hardwood. Hardwood Knox is NBA Draft Mega Primer,
which means I have the distinct pleasure of being joined
by Bleacher Reports Jonathan Wasserman.
Speaker 2: The guru draft guru over at BR does excellent work.
Speaker 1: Call him at NBA Draft wast that's at n B
A d R A F T W A s S.
He's gonna be hosting a live show in the Bleacher
Reports studio for the drafts. We'll be sure to go
check those out them so the links will be all
over his social media profiles. One of the best in
the business, one of the busiest men in the business.
At this point, I can imagine, thank you so much,
wash for coming on.
Speaker 3: How the heck are you doing?
Speaker 4: I'm doing well. This is like a fun time of year.
But I'm also like, you know, there's so much time
in between the end of the season until the draft,
and there's no games, and there's so many different storylines
that pop up, and so much of them are you know,
fabricated bs, and so I just can't wait till I
get to the finish line. Ready?
Speaker 1: Do you are you the type of person that might
overthink some of their priors because of all this time
you have in between, like I guess when the maybe
the college season ends, or like when the actual game
samples wind down to the point when the NBA Draft
is or have you gotten better over the years of
just not being stubborn and locking your guys in. But
I've tried not to second guess yourself too much based
off things that might happen at the combine or think
there's things that you might hear during what would be
again when it comes to gameplay, just some downtime one
hundred percent.
Speaker 4: And I think one of the biggest challenges and I
think I've heard one team told me that they don't
let their scouts watch games more than twice. Like usually
the routine as you watch the games during the season
and then you go back and watch, you know, some
film in a couple months when you up to the draft.
But you know, the more you watch, the more your
brain starts to kind of play tricks on you and
make you like think of new ideas and start to
change things when they shouldn't necessarily be changed. So that's
something I've tried to improve on over the years, is
not to overthink and uh and yeah, that's that's one
of the things. The biggest challenges with the draft process
is how much stock do we put into the workouts?
How much stock do we put into the you know,
the storylines that pop up, and which team likes who,
and who's gaining steam and who's not and so yeah,
I try and block out as much as I can.
Speaker 1: Well, this year, I have not watched as much film
on a draft class.
Speaker 3: I don't think in at least a half decade.
Speaker 1: So I have enough, just like Shin Deep, to just
have some reckless takes to throw at you. So this
is just gonna be absolutely interesting. I'm excited to pick
your brain. I wanted to start. We'll begin with like
kind of the top four guys AJ Debansa. But the
tea does not get pronounced right. That was part of
my studying too, AJ Debansa correct, is that that sounds right?
Speaker 3: What do we make?
Speaker 1: What do you make of him? I want I would
love your overall impressions of these guys. I think one
of the big questions I have for him is whether
you think though that he can be either the table
setter or just like the level of shot creator. When
looking at his shot selection to be the like kind
of the offensive engine for a team.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean he's so good at creating, like you know,
at of iOS and stuff that you know, you see
guys like I don't know, Jaylen Brown will average five assists, right,
Like you know, he's not going to be your point wing.
But because he draws so much attention and he's so
good at creating opportunities, I think as long as he's
able to use his brain enough and process and make
the right passes when the double gets thrown at him, yeah,
he can be somebody like you totally run offense through
and win games. And he did that at BYU this year. Again.
I think he's just like this, he's gonna have this reputation.
I think why he's number one, projected number one to
the Wizards is because all three of these top guys,
they're like unbelieved. This is the best top three I
think I've I've covered, and so everyone has that obvious upside.
It's like, Okay, when you're number one, you don't want
to grew up. And who's got the you know, who's
got the fewest holes? Like with aj I just I
can't picture an outcome where he's not a twenty five
point per game vib assist, you know, average type of guy,
and you know he's competitive. Like I just there's just
no there's no really red flags or questions with his game.
And so I think and obviously everybody wants a wing
in Washington could use one right in the middle, not
that they don't have a couple of nice young guys there,
but like he's just he'll fit in. He's he's got
he checks the intangible boxes. He's got the positional size
which you want, which creates the advantages, and obviously the
skill level of creation and shot making and the production
behind it, dading back to high school. Now at BYU
leading the country. So it's just like his resume is
pretty pretty flawless.
Speaker 1: Yeah, the size is incredible at six'. NINE i didn't
want to ask you if there's do you assign any
concern to just as someone who is six' nine having
his physical tools that he wasn't more or of just
not trying to assign too much value to defensive, counting
stats but just the defense of playmaking when you're looking
at his, block rate or is he SOMEONE that i
see a lot of people are operating under the belief
that he's someone who will be better in like sort
of a matchup or an assignment, specific role kind of
Like What klay thompson was For. The warriors never had
like the defensive playmaking or. Counting stats but if you
engaged him with someone who on the opposite end of,
the floor like the primary offensive option on the, other,
team like he is someone who's gonna be able to
lock in and.
Speaker 4: HANDLE that, i mean just like having seen him, grow
up he's definitely like the type of kid who is
going to, you know if they pinpointed early IN his,
nba career, they're like you got to get. BETTER defensively
i trust that he will do what's necessary to. GET
better i. Do have he's not number one on my. Personal,
board again the difference, between one two and three is,
so little, but like, you know there's something with the
lack of. Defensive playmaking, TO me i usually put stock,
into that and not just related. TO defense i think
it's kind of you know it it underlines some how quick,
you REACT which i think affects your, Offense also and,
so yeah that does, you know it does factor in
when when the conversation is so close between Him and Peterson,
and boozer and he's. Got it he definitely has to get,
better defensively and we've seen it plenty of times where
he's on the perimeter and he gets beat and, you're like,
COME on i wish you put in a little bit.
More effort but also if we did this with every,
FRESHMAN star i mean that's kind of overthinking. As well
it's like thirty game sample size when he's got a
thirty percent usage and everything runs through, him offensively and
he's not going to be held, as accountable, you know
as a freshman in college as he will be IN.
The nba so he's got improvements. To MAKE but i
trust that he'll. BE fine i don't know if if
he'll be a number one, lockdown GUY but i think
he's so. Good offensively he just has to, be like,
you know an average level defender and forget the steals
and blocks the. Next level can you just like make
the right, you know move his body well enough on
the ball and obviously make enough good reads as a.
TEAM defender.
Speaker 1: I think if he fouls a little bit more at
least would imply maybe some activity to which might make
like an idiot like me. Feel better THE question i
have for both him and this law will Be For
darren peterson is when you're looking at the and it
really is more SO for aj when you're looking at
the uses, in college is there any concern about him
scaling back into more of this larger ecosystem role AT
the nba level where maybe he is the second or the,
third option especially.
Speaker 4: Starting, OUT yeah, I mean, i mean listen on, on paper,
you know if he goes to a Team like WASHINGTON
and I Saw trey young obviously opted out. LAST night
i don't really know what that, means Yet But TREY
young i was, looking up, you know as the every
year in the last, five years he's top three in time.
Of POSSESSION and aj is an on, Ball guy like
his off ball numbers. Aren't great he's not a great spot.
Up shooter he doesn't really, do much, you know in
terms of movement shooting or cutting or anything. Like that,
so yeah it's good to, an adjustment and, you know
you trust a guy that that that's that good is
going to figure. It out and again sometimes, there's overthinking
like two you could have two ball dominant guys on
the floor at the. Same TIME and i think eventually
maybe Somebody like trey will have to adjust and and,
you know not over dribble as much and let more
offense RUN. Through, aj maybe, you know the first year,
OR two aj will go through, some adjustments playing more
off the ball and spotting up and standing around a
little bit and coming, off dribble handoffs and stuff. Like
that stuff he's not wasn't, used to certainly in high
school and then EVEN. At byu, but again he's he's
so good that you start to overthink fit a little
bit too much for a player this for a player
this young and.
Speaker 1: This good based ON everything i had read and listened
to before ever really Just Watching, DARREN peterson i expected
to go watch him and then come away feeling why
is everyone so hyped?
Speaker 3: ABOUT him i feel the.
Speaker 1: Opposite WAY and i know that people say that's not
what you saw at can this because of the small,
sample size it doesn't even compare to what some of
the high school footage DID and i saw very little.
Speaker 3: Of that what do you make?
Speaker 1: Of HIM and i guess the place to start would
be is how much of a red frag really is the,
cramp stuff, the hamstrings all the ankle issues that he
was dealing with this.
Speaker 3: PAST year i.
Speaker 4: Don't think it's a. RED flag i don't even think
IT'S like i wouldn't even register on my RADAR if i,
was picking unless unless there's medicals that, say OTHERWISE which
i don't have. Access TO but i haven't heard anybody
have any complaints. ABOUT it i think he. IS uh
i think the, only drawback the only thing that makes
me nervous is kind of the history of, the archetype
like the. Two guard, it's just, YOU know I Guess
anthony Edwards Is Anthony What what's who's the best two
guard IN the nba?
Speaker 2: RIGHT now I Think anthony edwards feels like the right
that the.
Speaker 1: Right guy i'm trying to think of who else would
be like because the positions are so, Weird NOW but, i,
think yeah.
Speaker 4: But like a non like a non, playmaking right like
a classic, YOU know i think that there was Comparisons
to kobe because of style, of play like obviously they'll
get you five assist, or whatever but they're like that classic,
two GUARD and i think it's just been harder for
that type of guy to lead the team all the
way to, the championship and so that would be the.
Only reason but LIKE when i used to watch him in,
high SCHOOL and i think the first the FIRST time
i saw him live was At euro Camp in italy
and he was a junior in. High school and this
is when he was like STARTING to aj WAS always
Aj and camra always one and two in. High school
And then peterson like midway through his junior year and
then senior year is when he really, Blew up like
you could really see he looked like just LIKE an
nba star PLAYER when i saw him live when he
was sixteen, year seventeen and it wasn't the stuff he was.
Doing now it was the on, ball creation getting to
whatever spot he, wanted to the smooth mid range game
he shot. The, three well he was creating, for others
just like he looked like you Know That all star
shot creating. Two guard and then he Goes to kansas
and he's running so much stuff off. THE ball, i
mean his his off ball numbers were, insanely efficient not just,
catching shooting but running off screens and and, you know
like the comparison started to Shift To ray allen like
that's that became a popular comparison, this year just based
on his style and Usage, at kansas and that's always
a thing like these we were just talking ABOUT, with
aj where you have to these guys are gonna have
to adjust playing off the. Ball, more well we just
saw HOW good dp was playing off. THE ball, i
mean that's what. Takes time and he's already like super efficient,
at it way BETTER than. Aj is and so you
put him IN the nba with more spacing suddenly and
hopefully more, explosive legs and we're going to see that
he's not just this Off Ball ray, allen type but
like he has got the ball juiced to be a
number one option and. Shot creator and by, the way
if you look at the Tape, from prolific he was
a he turned into a playmaker his, senior year like
offense ran through him and he made the right reads
to get other. Guys involved so he's kind of like
the full package here at. That position and SO it's
i could see why he'll be in the number one.
Overall CONVERSATION and i think there, are teams whether it's,
You Know, danny ainge we've seen him do. IT before
i think With, with Tatum like tatum didn't have the
most efficient rookie Year. At duke, IN fact i mistakenly
dropped him down my board way MORE than i. Should
have but you're put in more stock into the high
school tape and stuff that you've seen him in. Different
SITUATIONS and i think sometimes, you know you go to
you go, to college and like you don't really have
control over. Your fit you don't really know who else
is going to be there when you you sign on,
With them AND so i think teams are GOING to,
i Mean the wizards or whoever, it Is the jazz
Or the grizzlies aren't going to put too much stock
in some of the inefficiency we saw this year down
the stretch or the competitiveness like that was never really
a question mark in.
Speaker 1: High, school yeah and you Mentioned the, edwards name and
Him Or, Donovan Mitchell darren pearson seems to move the
same way both on or off, the BALL which i think.
Is encouraging and some of The comps i'd seen for
him beforehand maybe set me up FOR what i thought
was gonna. Be disappointed were NOT that i Don't Think
bradley Beal Or jamal murray at.
Speaker 3: Their peak or, good players but you're.
Speaker 1: Kind of hoping for someone more with, number two and
also just how hype the draft. Class was AND when
i was actually watching, THE film i thought More Of
anthony edwards than either one of those, other TWO which
i think if other people are coming away with, similar
impressions is. Probably good you did mention the, Passing though
That's something AND again i saw mostly college stuff that
did not pop. For me and so when you're looking
at Him Or, aj devantsa, is there you know between,
the two who do you have confident in becoming more
of a let's call it a table setter for others
as they get into the.
Speaker 4: Next, level yeah it's a good question because it's funny
because coming into, The, season aj, you KNOW if i
had to do scouting reports on him in, high school he'd,
be like he's got to be a more, willing, passer
right he was a little bit too catch. AND hold
i think actually a good comp firm coming out high
school that nobody Uses, was carmelo like that, mid, range
heavy mid range game one on one. A lot and
so what we saw this Year was devonsa was far
more willing and really showed some evolution with this GAME
where dp was more of when he gets, the ball
he's looking at the rim right his numbers like AND
normally i hate guards or wings that don't have an
assist PERCENTAGE over i forget THE number, I have like
fifteen percent is really not, Historically Promising but i'm going
to really put more stock INTO what i saw in,
high school AND so I don't i think they're. Close
enough it's hard, to say like who is the, Better
playmaker who's going to be more of a table setter
at the. NEXT level i think they're both in the
same tier. Of it, AND yeah i do expect to
see More with peterson when he has some support, around
him Like that kansas team really was not a, Stacked
lineup like there was not a lot of, star players
AND so i think he KIND of i don't know
whether he was coached up to have the mindset or
he took it upon himself to BE like i got,
to score, you know twenty five a night for us
to have. A chance AND so i do think we'll
see a different Type of peterson at the. Next level
but it was also good to SEE that aj showed
some growth in that department.
Speaker 1: As well the stuff you're say thing About the kansas
rosters that apply To His darren peterson's finishing, at ALL
because i was shocked to like to see him shoot
under sixty percent at the rim last year on layups
or whatever.
Speaker 3: It was that actually kind of.
Speaker 1: FLOORED me i thought that number should have been so,
much higher just again based off.
Speaker 4: Watching, HIM yeah i also think it has to do with,
the legs like he didn't look as he just Didn't
like i've tweeted out a couple of videos only because
it was so. Eye popping in, high school he has
some like explosive finishing ability, and yeah a couple. Of them,
you know he HAD the, byu game he had his
biggest finish of, the year which was A blowby i
THINK on aj and he threw it down over two
defenders from. Far away, you're right we didn't see it.
Super often it's it's really hard to assess without knowing.
What games was he cramping or was he feeling stuff in.
His legs kansas Also has badunga who kind of just
camps out in the middle and, effects Spacing and kansas
had very poor shooters so the spacing. Wasn't GREAT so
i usually don't get two carried away with, finishing numbers
unless they're on like in one year, of college unless
they're on like one side of, the spectrum unless they're
really bad or. Really Good so i'm not gonna take
too much awaye from the fact that he wasn't like
any lait. Level finisher, What's?
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For that and now back to, the show you had
said that you had a pretty clear. Top three i'm
gonna assume the other One is camboozer that's involved, in
there but you can correct Me if.
Speaker 3: I'm wrong he.
Speaker 1: Was, another One and GRANT and i had said this
to each other off air before we record. Another episode
everything even some of the stuff we, had seen but
like read and, about him we were, just like why
is this guy being so? Hyped up why are there
so many models that think that he might be the
best prospect in. The CLASS so i go into it
with that mindset kind of already tainted, against HIM and
i came, Away thinking i'm not as high on Him
As Darren peter center as, A devance i, don't think
but the pick and roll initiation from someone his size
IS something i just had no idea, going into and
so that. Tantalizes me so my first QUESTION is i
would like to know about the. Other stuff why he's breaking,
these models maybe why you're you're so high, on him
or others might be so high, On him but do
you see that type of, Initiation scaling like does he have?
The handle does he have the vision for that to
work IN?
Speaker 4: The, nba yeah he's my number, ONE guy i have
number one on my. PERSONAL board i would take him
first in. THIS draft i, just again he's also somebody who's.
You've seen i've seen him since fifteen, years old like
he was a big name as, a FRESHMAN and i
can't believe like he's still not IN. THE nba i
feel like he's been a teenager for like twenty. Years
already but it's JUST every, i mean this is kind
of cliche at, this point but he. WENT everything, I
mean i think three, GOLD, medals FIBA three, eybl CHAMPIONSHIPS
and MVPs four. State championships he does, not lose and
he almost didn't lose this year except for That ridiculous
connecticut Game where moones hit that crazy three in. THE
steel i do factor, that in but from a, skilled
perspective and what's going, To, translate yeah his handle is.
Super tight he's just a threat in every situation from
every spot on, the floor and every year he got
better as a shooter in high school and now he's
a forty. PERCENT three i mean HE took i think
the volume was almost the same As, de bonsa and
he was forty percent. From Three de bonsa was. Thirty
four he's a better shooter Than de bonca. Right now at,
six nine six ten. Two fifty he averaged four and
a half assist. PER game, i mean he's somebody that
offense can. Run, through again this is the guy you
put number one because you believe in processing and brain
stuff like. The way And Also i'm i'm learning, from
mistakes or At least i'm Taking mistakes i've made in
the Past, with HALIBURTON who i did not clearly think
was going to be as good as. He Is and i'm,
PUTTING yeah, i mean like the athletic questions, to ME and,
i me unless it was so obvious that he's not
going to be able to get a, SHOT off i
just don't. SEE that i think he's going to. Be fine.
You know, down low he's going to overpower guys away from.
The basket he'll take him off, the dribble or he'll
shoot a step, back three or he'll space the floor
as a spot, up guy or he'll play in the
post and be, a passer or he'll run these, picking
ROLLS which i think he can do because his handle
is so good and his brain is so sharp that
he'll make the. Right reason he's a very, good driver
like and not just. Straight lines he's got the, euro
step he's got he just has. Everything possible the only
if you're an anti, boozer guy the only thing you
could say is he doesn't jump, with explosiveness and there's
so much evidence IN the nba that that's it's it's
not going to like negate. Everything else it might, YOU
know i think a couple times. A, game yeah maybe
he gets denied at. THE rim i think there's also
from an, optic standpoint like when You see boozer, GET
blocked i think your brain, just, goes, well yeah he's
not gonna be able to do this IN. The nba
but it's just because of like the way, it looks
that's not going to be it's not going to happen
so much where suddenly it's going to negate. His offense
like but he average twenty two twelve five assists forty
percent from three fifty. Five percent by, the way he's
still he hasn't thirned. Nineteen yet he's a full year
Younger Than, caleb wilson one full Year who i've heard
Scouts Like caleb. Wilson better the only explanation could be
because he is he, jumps HIGHER like i just better than.
Everybody else and, you know of course people Point to
Luka and jokic, and like, you know you're if You're
buying boozer at, number ONE which, i am it's because
you expect him to find ways to compensate for the
fact that he's not the fastest. OR bounciest i just those,
two things to me are not going to negate or
really honestly affect his impact on.
Speaker 3: The game offensively.
Speaker 1: For SURE and i think the stuff he, does too
which teams so focused now and winning the, possession battle
like the, offensive rebounding could be a huge part of.
IT too I think i Struggle because i'm a, big
like especially with someone who doesn't follow these guys the.
Entire year i'm a big comps guy or trying to
figure them out. For myself couldn't figure out a good
offensive comp. For him then went and read some, of
THEM and i know. You, have uh you're one of
the Ones That kevin love, listed RIGHT and i see
shades of you can see shades of all. Of them
I've Seen, al horford There's Been, Kevin love there's been
a bunch of others thrown. Out there he's so tough
to pin down OFFENSIVELY because i feel like he's there's
the ground bound and, a shore but he just does
so many other things that if you get too bogged down, by,
saying oh, you know, wa says He's Like kevin love is, just,
Like Well kevin love like wasn't running pick and rolls,
Like THIS so i could not figure out like even
a hybrid comp for him that.
Speaker 4: Made, sense nah there. IS none i mean it's the
comp game like works in, some scenarios but. You can't
there's just there. ISN'T one i mean it was like people, were,
like Well what's. Wemby's comp there just. Isn't one there's
never been this guy, that's like you know the same
thing With. With cam they're just not. A comp there's
things he does Similarly To. Kevin love, YOU know i
have to put it, in There like i'm sorry for
throwing blee trip word under. The bus. They won't they
only want me to pick. One COMP like i just can't.
DO it i wouldn't be able.
Speaker 3: To settle yeah here just like four of, them.
Speaker 4: RIGHT well i mean does the things that the love
of comparison is from the same. Physical tools they're measured.
Very similarly they have, shoot threes they are both, post
players they're both HIGH i. Q, Guys No kevin love
was not handling, the ball. You Know the horford thing is,
again like oh he's not a, great athlete. Same size
horford wasn't shooting forty percent from three as an eighteen
year Old. In florida, you know he wasn't handling the
ball like there's just there is no there is No
comp he's he's honestly the most well rounded prospect you.
Could FIND and i Said that cooper. Last Year but
cam is right in the. Same conversation the OTHER thing
i should.
Speaker 1: Ruggle WITH and i don't mind this if you say
someone's a, pure too but if you say someone is
a pure for for SOME reason i meet, he, said
well that's just not.
Speaker 3: Gonna work what is?
Speaker 1: He defensively or if you're building, a team whether it's
a prospect from the past or one that you're know
now or just A current, nba, player like who is
the ideal archetype you want to put alongside him in
the front court to make?
Speaker 4: That? Work, DEFENSIVELY yeah I mean i think, you want,
you Know A mitchell, robinson type maybe like a, you
know a vertical athlete who's going to race shots around,
the Basket because cam. Is not he doesn't have a high. Block,
RATE AGAIN i i think some of the defensive currents
are concerns. ARE overblown, i know like that's also A
reasonable if you're not a, cam guy, you're, like well,
you know he's going to be a. LIABILITY defensively. I
did i did a big video on it because it
going back, through it kind of drove me a. LITTLE
nuts i think it's kind of a lazy thing to
say because of again, the optics like you'll see him,
get beat but you'll see a lot of these guys.
Get beat and he's the same REASON why i think
he's going to succeed offensively IS why i think he'll
be good, enough defensively, you know maybe not like a not,
a plus but not somebody who's going to lose, your
games lose. Your possessions he's, so smart like he his
steel rate over three percent steel rate and that wasn't you.
Know luck you could see he anticipates. Really well. He
helped he's a very good. Help, defender yeah there's gonna
be one on, one matchups, you know in certain spots
when he's on an island where he. Gets beat, but
again these are like a couple of possessions. A GAME
maybe i think he's going to be just, fine defensively,
and yeah just, on paper again just based on what
he doesn't, do well, which is, you know protect the
rim as. AN anchor i guess you want to Put
A mitchell robinson type in the Middle because boozer will
play around the perimeter offensively and, you know create. The
spacing AND again i don't think he's as slow as
everyone thinks. He is he Beat Out caleb wilson in
the lane, agility drill and SO again i think they're
overblown just based on. LIKE visuals i think he's going
to be.
Speaker 1: Just okay what are your general Impressions Of caleb, Wilson
especially i'm very curious to what you think he could
turn into on the.
Speaker 3: Offensive, END.
Speaker 4: Yeah i think there's a little bit more of unpredictability
with like the. Different outcomes just there's some there's more
guesswork because he has obviously a lot more skill to
catch up to Than than cam AND and i guess
technically you know the idea that he would have, more
upside which IS again i think the word upside is
thrown around way. Too loosely, it's, like well what? Drives
upside it used to be athleticism and now it's really
your brain and skill and of course you have this
athletic ability and you can add, the skill which is
what the argument would. Be for, you know a big
time athlete, has upside don't? YOU know i don't have
as much confidence in where he's going to go. Right
now his, strengths, are yeah like his the advantages he
creates with his athleticism and the easy buckets. He gets
he's good in THE mid, ratee know he's got the
shot making ability around the post. Or whatever he can
handle the ball in the. Open floor, you know his
his self creation isn't the. Most advanced he. Shoots poorly
he's one of the worst finishing forwards in the. ENTIRE
draft i actually pulled this up JUST so i to.
Forget it on layups fifty you think, a guy you
think a guy with, you know his tools would shoot
better than fifty three. Percent laps and it's not because
he doesn't have. The skill it's because like the he
forces drives and he just doesn't have the processing to
pick the. Right spots but of course he gets himself
plenty of easy buckets above the rim with, the athleticism and,
so yeah like he's not a three point shooter. At
all he shot poor on his. Long twos so he's
got a lot of catching up to do in terms
of his. SKILL level, i think in, my opinion if
you're going to outplay a Guy like cam or, outperform
him you know IN. The nba, but yeah again just
more guesswork with his offensive development and also, again defensively
his defensive highlights, are incredible maybe the best in. The
draft his defensive low lights are. Not good, you know
he has lapses off, the ball and so there's just
again more guesswork in terms of how much. He develops
but he's and he's also a year older than the,
other freshman but he's also like an incredible kid and
somebody that you would bet on to maximize. His potential
he's definitely the number four guy, For Me but i'm
not one of those wild card guys who's going to
like shake up the board and put them over the perceived.
Big three if.
Speaker 1: You had to bet on, him improving either his developing
a three point shot or just a better handle in
those half, court situations which one would you be more
confident in?
Speaker 4: Him honing, YOU know i think as his handle actually,
Was surprised that's what. SURPRISED me i REMEMBER what i had.
IN preseason i know he was in that tier right
behind the, big three but in some of the op
the stuff he does in the open floor was, pretty
good like he was able to get to spots if
he had space in front. Of HIM and i think
at One Point scottie barnes became, a Comparison, and barnes
of course when he Was At florida state and now
was almost like a point. POWER forward I think caleb
shows some flashes. Of That and caleb also is really.
Good passing passing ability a little bit reckless he'll make
he'll turn the ball over, a lot but he can
also make really high. Level Passes so i've Seen some
i've seen some pretty surprisingly impressive creation with. His, handle
again the shooting thing, is like, you KNOW if i
could spend more time with him in the gym and
see the mechanics up close and see what he goes
through on a daily basis in terms, of routine, you
know the numbers aren't the numbers aren't good. Right now
so again there's a little bit of guess work, with
THAT but i do like him in the short. RANGE
area i don't think his percentages were great there but the. Eye,
test yeah so, let's see you, Know here i'm looking.
Right now the short range inside seventy, seventeen feet he
was eight. Of nineteen from long twos he was two,
of nine and from deep he was seven of. Twenty
six so obviously the numbers, you know when he's further
away are. Not good but the eye test around, THE
key i think that's why there's Some Like kevin garnett
comparisons there is because it just looks like he looks
very comfortable inside. Fifteen feet, BUT again I unless i
have more access, To him i'm guessing a little bit
on how he's going to be up from deep.
Speaker 1: If the shooting doesn't. COME along i think the big
question will be nuclear. Powered athlete but he is. Six
nine the stuff he does defensively isn't necessarily all the
time traditional big. Man stuff is he someone who can
soak up minutes at the five or do you think
that that's going to wind up being a stretch?
Speaker 3: FOR him i.
Speaker 1: LIKE that i like.
Speaker 4: The idea I'M always i always like that idea of
playing playing a little. BIT small i guess it depends
on who you're. Playing against but he's such a good
such a good athlete, that yeah he CAN make i
think enough plays around, the basket you know in rim
protection where he can play some. Small. BALL five i
guess you got to get the right pieces around him
and play the. Right lineup, But yeah i'm into that
idea with experiment team at.
Speaker 1: The five so you kind of already mentioned where you
might have these guys in the. Top four but if
your and your your latest mock, is out so like
you do have the go that, Up there but if
You have cambus, or one who do you flesh out?
From that like your personal, big board not as where
you think these players are? Gonna go how do you how,
does two three and four shake out my?
Speaker 4: Personal board Just cam, At one, peterson TWO a j
Three and. CALEB four i mean that's kind of been
most people stop four throughout, the year unless you're one
of those guys who just think That a cuff is
like the Total Outlier jalen, brunson TYPE which i, you
know maybe, he IS but i don't have enough confidence
to put him. That high, but yeah THAT'S how i.
Have it, and again the difference the Difference between PETERSON
and dp, FOR me I mean Peterson and debonsa, is
like at, This point i'm, you know close your eyes.
AND pick i think they're both going to. Be awesome,
and sometimes by, the way when these guys are IN
the nba, ten years, you know ten, years in you
still don't know which, One's better like you can both
be like all star starters and you're still not sure
who the better. PLAYER is i think they're both going
to be all stars starting type, of guys and so
you really you really can't lose.
Speaker 1: With, them well it seems like people are having a
ton of discussions about.
Speaker 3: Those, three specifically.
Speaker 1: Pretty much every single Mock draft i've seen Has de
bonsa Going. To washington do you think that it's a
real conversation THAT could dp Or Could cam.
Speaker 3: Boozer end up going?
Speaker 1: At one or is that do you just have aj
conn of pencils and as though he's gonna end up Going.
Speaker 3: To washington.
Speaker 4: People around The league i've talked, to again, everyone's guessing
like nobody Knows what. Washington's doing and we've seen before where,
you know, you know you never trust the, draft buzz
like especially remember like that year When Everyone, jabari smith
everyone just expected and then like the day of They.
Took bonkero you just they're not letting, anybody know and
so you're kind of. Going off and that's the problem
with draft reporting is like you're you're asking other teams
what they think another team is going. To do so
everyone kind OF. ASSUMES aj i talked to a general
manager the other day right in, that range, and they,
you know he was sounded as, you know guessing just.
Like us, he's, LIKE well i assume aj is going
to go, number one could could dep go?
Speaker 2: Number?
Speaker 4: One, Two yeah i've talked to a bunch of agents who, are,
like yeah they could totally surprise everyone And. Take boozer they're,
just not, you know letting that buzz. Get out and
maybe they know so Much about boozer they don't even
need to work. Him out, And again boozer has been
around for, so long everybody knows, his character everybody has
seen him play five years at this point before he's
ever PLAYED an. Nba game some guys they don't need
to even bother bringing in and then, you know you bring,
him in then all of, a sudden there's storylines. Out
there so it's totally it's totally possible that they could
shock Everyone AND when i, say shock it's just because
this is what the media and fans are expected to
believe that they're only going To. Take aj BUT just
i think, on paper if you're a general manager and
you have to reduce the amount of risk while get
the most potential award based on what, YOU hear aj is?
That guy because there are People do i'm in. THE
minority i Think with cam at, number one there are
people who just like don't see the upside or not
willing to bet on. That upside, So again i'm gonna
Stick with aj, at one but there would be if
They took peterson Or even cam, AT one i wouldn't.
Be shocked Do.
Speaker 2: The grizzlies have the easiest job in the draft?
Speaker 3: At three or is It actually chicago? At Four the.
Speaker 4: Grizzlies and i'm sources that have around, them are, they're
like they're stressed. Free three. They're not this is like
A very they're focused on sixteen and. Thirty two I'm
unless i'm, Being played i'm pretty sure they're going to
take whichever the big three falls. TO them i.
Speaker 1: Wanted to talk to you about the glut of guards
after what feels like the top. Four prospects who do
you have just from, you know all the names that we'll,
Get to who do you have highest on your big
board out of?
Speaker 4: That, group man it's it's, so difficult and teams are having.
Difficulty too. They DON'T so i THINK just, I test,
I mean acuff was the. Most productive he won, the games,
SKILL character i think if, I'm if i'm not going,
TO overthink I take i take. A cuff he, MEASURED
well i mean. MEASURED fine i think exactly the same
Measurements As dame lillard and same style. OF play i
think he's got in terms, of stats, you know in
terms of eye tests and production and. All that like
he's it's like hard to bet. Against him there's one
thing with him that again this sounds, like overthinking but.
STEEL rate i factor that in at one point three,
steel rate which is would be there's never been like
a first round guard that's had a steel rate. THAT low,
i mean, that's okay not. Like never the CLOSEST was
maxi it was one. Point. Five wow, so again does that,
mean anything like would that be a reason you don't
take the best? Guard there i'm, you know if if,
you pay if you go buy history and analytics. AND
stuff i probadey teams that will not have, him there, and,
defensively yeah. HE'S stunk, i also, you know going back through,
the tape like he they kind of moved him away
from different from on, ball stuff which KIND of i
think reduced the amount of opportunities he would have to.
Get Steals, malie thomas, for example play next to him
and had to steal rate and had he was a,
bigger guard and like got more involved in the in
the in the actions. And STUFF so i, Don't Know
i'm i'm almost still on THE side I put i
put a. CUFF there i guess. It, would honestly it's.
So close that depends, what teaming WHAT team i was.
Picking for and that's what's interesting With the clippers, at
five who are WORKING Out mikel, brown today who is
a bigger guard than, a cuff and so on paper
he's a better Fit. With garland and, you know it's
hard if You're, the clippers like do you do you
take a you have an A cuff garland backcourt where
we have two guys who are six two. AND under
i mean, obviously defensively that's on paper hard. Too hard to.
Live with, but yeah then, You know I'm sure woggler is,
also bigger, great shooter not the same, caliber athlete not
super physical and uh and mikel and And And, kingston
flemings who to me is maybe the most well rounded of.
Them ALL but i know teams that that have struggles
seeing upside. With him and also the big selling Points
with flemings was like he was the bigger guard and
it turns out he actually had. SMALLER measurables i think.
Speaker 3: The nacuff i'm Not A kingston.
Speaker 1: FLEMINGS guy i don't really know what that means coming,
from ME but I think i saw with the people
who when you looked at just the, shot profile some of.
THE efficiency i came away from the film and everyone
was talking about how athletic he, could be and that
didn't really pop for.
Speaker 3: Me either WHAT am i missing Here With? Kingston?
Speaker 4: Flemings listen it depends on what. You LIKE so i
like the fact that he's awesome in the mid range over,
forty percent he gets to that spot and it's a
very almost unguardable shot because he's so good at creating
separation and he's so comfortable making it and he did
shoot a high percentage, from three he just didn't. Take
MANY so, I mean i think if you're going to Bet,
on flemings you're betting on obviously the mid range being
a big part of his game and the three point
volume increasing. Over time he's a very mature. Decision maker
he does have some athletic pop if he goes off
one foot and, he's got, you know a runway. To
go he's like just a super. Mature kid he's better
DEFENSIVELY then i think the other. Three guards incredible. Kid
like he he. Crushes interviews he's, super likable. Super humble
he Played, at houston WHICH every nba guy loves and values.
Playing For, for samson he's just, like again he doesn't have.
Many holes he's very seems like a very, safe pick
but maybe outcomes are closer to like, you know in
the beginning of the season that compared Him To george
hill in Case Someone. Cason wallace he just doesn't have
like that, one specialty elite thing that. He does AND
so i think That's why i'm From what. I'M hearing
i got some text yesterday that he's the guy of
the big four guards that is the most vulnerable that
could that could slide. To ten but he's also so
well r like you can't go wrong. WITH him i
think the other guys teams will see the other guys
with like.
Speaker 1: Higher ceilings in my Notes For Mikel, BROWN junior i
have written LaMelo ball with, a Conscience and i'm smitten
with him the fact that he might he's working out
For the clippers who have?
Speaker 3: Number five what does what?
Speaker 2: To you does that?
Speaker 1: Actually say is IT maybe i had been wondering about the.
Back stuff if, THAT'S like i was surprised that he
wasn't when looking at some of these guards and a
lot of the mocks and a lot of the, big
boards that he wasn't ahead of them to. Begin with
do you think this speaks, to oh maybe teams are
more confident in his back and he's been working out.
Really well or what IS the i don't want to
say what is the case Against Mike L. Brown junior
BUT when i look at what he, does offensively a
lot of the stuff he can, do defensively not just,
get steals but some of the.
Speaker 3: Ball, DENIAL stuff i was just a.
Speaker 2: Little, Bit surprised like, to ME he's i probably have.
Speaker 1: Him fourth on my own personal, big board like Ahead
Of caleb wilson at. This, point again that's just a rudimentary.
Big board what is the LOWDOWN.
Speaker 3: On Mikel? Brown junior?
Speaker 4: For YOU so i think he's got like a similar
shot profile and like Analytics As, trey young like over
ten threes per one hundred possessions and a thirty plus.
Assist rate, you know he's a he's a like just.
Human firepower but how he can control it is kind of.
The question like he didn't really have a good season.
THIS year i mean he was he was the top guard,
Coming in like everybody had him as the top Guard,
after Foeba After hoop summit where he. Was great but
then he came in this year and he had a
lot of games where he was like two for thirteen
or one for fourteen or zero. For ten he had
a bunch of, those games and, YOU know i think
the teams that like him are going to just ignore
those games and either put It, on okay he wasn't
fully healthy or he had a. Big workload if you're,
a skeptic, you're like this guy has, you know a
pretty wild. SHOT selection i was actually going through his film,
this morning and like, so many he takes a lot
of those classic hero pull ups and step backs and
shots that look good on film if they. Go in
but he didn't have, great percentages AND so, i think,
YOU know i think it's smart to sometimes overlook. The
percentages and a year where he ONLY played i, don't
know twenty games or maybe a little, bit more and
there's a lot of tape on him. Going back although
he was never like if you look at the high,
school numbers he was never a. Knockdown shooter he was
he's a. Shot maker he's a, streaky guy but he's
flashy and you can create offense, very easily and he's.
CLEVER finisher a couple of numbers that stood out, to
me like two of twelve, on floaters like he doesn't
have that, Middle GAME and, i think, to me that's
a THAT'S some i put stock, Into that like you
got to have that that. Float game, but yeah like
he's an eye test he's an eye. Test guy he's not,
you know you got to you gotta forget the percentages
with him and buy what you're seeing in terms of the,
shot creation the flair, the past seeing the tough shot
making the, deep range and you just kind of if
you're gonna, buy him you ignore the fact that like
half of his games he shot below, you know thirty.
Speaker 1: Five Percent, KEATON waggler i think is the my number.
Two guard you look at the range of outcomes that
seems like people have for him is, very TURBULENT where
i see the Shades of Haliburton or sga that people.
Might See but i've also seen comps To Like. Jason
preston where are you At with waggler leading into?
Speaker 4: The, draft yeah so. He's one he's just a different
EVALUATION because i hadn't really he wasn't on my radar
coming into, the year which is obviously that's rare for a,
guy who's, you know look potentially the fifth pick in
the draft as a win and. Done guy so it's
like you have less confidence just because you've seen less. Of,
him however he was good so often. This year every
time you wanted to, be like, all right he's gonna hit,
the wall he drops forty six in a Win, against
purdue or he, you know takes over and leads his
team to a final. Four, run yeah he's like Just,
like boozer like the athletic thing concerns are not really
like a big deal. To me he's the way you
see these less athletic guards get to spots with footwork.
And timing he, does that and he finishes, pretty well
and he gets fouled at a, high rate draws a lot.
Of fouls he's just a very crafty guy in the,
eye test even dating back to high school where he put,
up big good three. Point numbers if you go back,
and look it looks like he's going to be a
big time, shot, maker smart. Smart passer, YOU know i
think the question is he gonna be able to create
enough advantages and be your? Lead guard, YOU know i
always wanted to go back To the halliburton com because
it's like the reason why the reason why people were
Low on haliburton was because they didn't think he'd be
able to consistently create against a half. Core defense while
we could. DO that i think the drawbacks and the
reasons why you'd maybe be negative on him is and
it's kind, of like at, this point it's cheesy to,
say it but zero dunk attempts like that's never happened
for a for a. Top prospect he doesn't score, at
all kind of like in the, mid range he's got
a little float, float game but the number is when
he had to shoot off the dribble inside the arc,
Were bad and, TO me i think Is a i'm a,
big guy like you got to be able to hit
that that mid range, pull up like especially just not
to compare Guys to brunston because he's one, of one
but if you're going to be that, complete Score like
wiler wasn't that. Complete score he was a deep, shot
maker and he was a crafty finisher and he's a.
Smart passer it's, YOU know i think it's just a
safer projection to put him in the, you know six to.
Ten range, But no i'm not Like A jason preston
guy like he's he was, too skilled. Too consistent also
another kid who just like talking. To him he's. So
humble he doesn't HAVE. Any x he didn't. Expect this,
he like, you know he earned. All this and, so
yeah he's a fascinating PROSPECT and i would love to
see him go to a team who also has, you
know another guard with him and he can be more
of a combo type and then maybe eventually we, see
THAT like i think it's as safer if he goes
to a team with a. League guard you can break,
down defenses and then maybe over time he takes over
and we see that he really can get the SPOTS against.
Nba defenders, but man he's been a lot of fun
to watch and one of the biggest additions to to
this draft conversation in twenty. Twenty six.
Speaker 1: Where do you Land On Braden burry's BECAUSE when i was,
WATCHING him i, Don't Remember so i'm trying to think
of the last player or even a good comp. To
wear a scorer, in motion whether as a shooter or
going towards, the basket but also is as aggressive or
holds up as well defensively as he does as. A
guard i, don't like no one necessarily sprang to MIND
that i thought made. Sense there so, how like where
are you just overall?
Speaker 4: With him he seems like just such a. SAFE pick
i mean, he's not, because there, you know again two
guards who. AREN'T playmakers i got to drop him down
a little. Bit lower, like again there's just not a
great history or track record in terms of upside of
a six or four guard who's not a guy who's
gonna get, you assists so that for, THAT reason i
put him, a little, you know below the four guards
that we, just MENTIONED but I think i have him.
At nine he's like the. NEXT guy i think the
ideal outcome is Like A derek white type of guy
who can just score efficiently and defend his position. Really
well he's he's. Really strong SO that's i think that's
the ideal Outcome. For burry's he's just very good at what,
he does very efficient at what. He does he's just
not the most like. Versatile guy.
Speaker 1: Where what would we be Saying About yaxel lnderbergh if
he wasn't turning twenty Four.
Speaker 3: In, september well.
Speaker 4: He's come up in the draft conversation, every year and
so one of the i'm lower ony acts than than
Most media. I've seen and, of course AGAIN as i
continue to, talk ABOUT like i go off patterns, in
history there is like no examples of a twenty four
year old rookie who reaches, you Know all star games,
And listen he's had a chance to go in the
draft every year and he's never he hasn't been he
hasn't been. Good enough so he was good enough this
year playing with an incredibly, stacked team AND so I
know i like him as a role player IN. THE
nba i think he did a couple of things right,
this year and Being on michigan helped him. Do it
he didn't have to do as much so he had
he was more efficient from three because he got better looks. From,
THREE well i definitely think he, improved Defensively and i'll
give him personal credit, For that like he just looked
more engaged and anticipated pretty well and looked just like
more excited to play defense. This, year, well yeah he's,
he's good good, at everything not great at any. One
thing and then again history, just said, you know wait
a little bit on a guy who's gonna be a
twenty four year. Old rookie so we'll see where he
goes in. The draft i've heard from multiple people that
he is has had weak workouts Like he's i've heard
twice he hasn't, finished workouts whether that was due to
conditioning or the injury he suffered during the. Final four
teams are waiting on. THE medicals i haven't heard anything
about what. They say i'm not they're going to play
that much of a role in where. He goes, but
again the, fact that like, you know at twenty two or,
twenty three teams, weren't like let's definitely take him in the,
first round, YOU know i think that tells you enough
that he's he Was never he's never like a SURE
thing nba star or anything. Like THAT and i don't
think he did enough this year, To, say okay at,
twenty four this is going to be the outlier we
got to take a chance on in terms of somebody
who's going to break the barrier and reach upside at.
Speaker 1: This age assuming this reporting is not smoking me or
it does Seem Like morris johnson is one of the
guys who might be flying up draft boards based. On
workouts what is it about him that's fueling at is
that the vision of can he be something different offensively
than what we saw because he was playing alongside like
in like those jumbo size front Courts.
Speaker 3: At michigan this.
Speaker 4: Is another GUY who, I like i just can't get
behind like this. Crazy RISE and i think this is
also just a. Long season and obviously he played more
games than, Anybody else SO again i think there's a
little bit of overthinking with him in terms of like
what type of guy he could be IN. THE nba
i think he'll be a contributor from. DAY one i
just so much would have to change with his offensive
game for him to again like find a path. To upside,
you know He's A isaiah. Stewart type he's gonna play.
Tough defense he's gonna get you easy buckets and. OFFENSIVE
rebounds i think he'll make the occasional spot. Up shot
he's gonna be a hard, worker again another kid who's
gonna give you an a plug interview and be a
great teammate and stuff. Like that so he's, to me
it's a safe pick in the mid first round for
a team that's looking for. Immediate MINUTES but i found
like a, you know if it's my first and only
pick in the Draft and i'm looking for an, UPSIDE
guy i don't KNOW how i could. Take him, you
know if You're the grizzlies at sixteen and you take
your star guy, at three you know it. Makes sense
or if you're the thunder and you have you know
you want to trade twelve or you want to, use
it take him, at twelve or trade twelve and take
him at seventeen as a guy who can play, right,
Away like i'm good, with THAT but i think. HIS
people i had an agent tell me today that his
agent was telling people that he could go like, top
ten which is. JUST no i. CAN'T imagine.
Speaker 2: U is nate a man's gonna get? Somebody fired and
WHY do?
Speaker 1: I have WHY am I Seeing alexey polkoshewski with better?
Speaker 3: Pr, here.
Speaker 4: Yeah his people are not happy. WITH me i have
been a little bit Lower on nate, this year and
he was also the guy coming in who is? It
was it was After the? Big three It was Nate
And caleb WILSON is i think he's the four and,
five guys. You know, to me he's more of. An idea,
you know everybody loves the six. TEN wing i think
like a realistic thing is, you know and we don't
Know Where will riley is. Gonna Be But will riley
was like the guy you that type of that type
of player who had a pretty good. ROOKIE year, i
think NOT that i watched him much IN, the NBA
but i think he can be a good a. Good
player he's definitely helping himself during the workouts From what.
I'M hearing i heard he's in the Mix FOR chicago
i think that could also really mean it's there, for fifteen.
Not four he's worked Out, For brooklyn he's he's worked
out for a bunch of teams. Top ten he's being
selective about where. HE goes i, just can't, you know
fall in love with the six to ten guy who
shot below forty percent from. The floor but he is,
very competitive he has very unique combination of six ten
size and shot. Making skill, but again like he doesn't
do anything good Enough where i'm super confident of you
know that the offense is going to translate to, you
know all star type of. Offensive results, you know he was,
good defensively like he did a lot of. Nice things
he just he. Wasn't consistent he's not explosive around. The
basket he didn't you shot terribly on laps. And stuff
but again he's an idea and, he's young and he's
see also another. Great kid i'll repeat that all day
because this draft just has a lot of a lot
of high. Character guys so again there's some guesswork in,
his development but in terms of the physical profile in the,
skill set you can see why that's an. Enticing, Guy.
Speaker 1: Adamarra i've tried to come around ever since missing on
Bigs like zachie E D, donovan kling And Even walker
kessler just the name, Of few i've tried to come
around more and guys. Like him can he be like
a like a lower usage offensive player at the. Next
LEVEL that's i think my bigger question because a lot
of the stuff that popped like there's going to.
Speaker 3: Be the passing or it feels like he needs to
be in maybe a higher.
Speaker 1: Volume role BUT then i also kind of WONDER when
i watch, him move which is really what, gets me
is he feels like he has the MAYBE the iq
and the shot making Of An, isaiah hartenstein but he
moves Like. Zach edie it just looks just doesn't look
right all. The time where are we at? On him,
or again can he be scaled down at the next
level or can he even handle a featured workload going
into the going INTO?
Speaker 4: The, NBA well i think for, what hearing he's going to.
Go high and so if you take him, top TWELVE
which i Is what, i'm hearing you expect him to
be your. STARTING center i guess Unless You're oklahoma city
and you have the luxury of drafting backups because your
lineup is. So strong, BUT yeah i think he's he's
going to be The way i've described him. ALL season i,
was LIKE whether i don't have the confidence to say
he's going to be a high level starter or or.
A backup he's just such a unique guy to have in. Your,
rotation yeah where he, goes again there's there's gonna there's some,
to me there's guesswork in terms of how high a.
Ceiling goes but to have a guy who's seven to three,
in socks who block shots at the rate that he,
block shots who passes the way, he passes who finishes
the way, he finishes and who has enough skill at
least on that low block with his touch and footwork
and turning, you know over either SHOULDER like, I could
i could see why teams would want to take a
chance on him in the, top ten especially right if
he's not your your go. TO guy, i, THINK yeah
i think you can scale him down a little bit
and just let him play to his strengths and have
his real value revolve around rim protection and moving the,
ball offensively and then just, you know when you get space,
down low give it, to him and, you know when
you have an opportunity to dive for the basket for an,
Easy bucket like he's gonna get you a lot of,
those naturally just by having his unique forget what the
nine to nine reach or something. Like, that like, you
know he's just too unique of a guy to to
let slide. Too far and even if he does not
become a star caliber center or a defensive player that,
you're candidate he's just such a unique guy to have for.
Your rotation.
Speaker 3: What Is?
Speaker 1: Johannis, Steinbach Yeah i've i've gone back.
Speaker 4: And forth in, THE beginning I. Love Steinbach now i've
kind of gone back and, forth again just like a
history of a center who doesn't, block shots you got
to be so good offensively to have to hold a lot.
OF value i do think He's got he's got to, play,
center okay and so he's just not, YOU know i
don't they weren't a great. Team defensively he doesn't block
a lot. Of, SHOTS offensively i think he's probably better
than some of. The highlights and and he was used
as a, post guy but like he didn't he didn't
shoot a lot, of threes didn't make a lot. OF
threes i think he's a better passor than the. Numbers,
suggest definitely definitely a better passer than the. NUMBERS suggest
i steal a high. FIELD guy i. LIKE him i
think he's going to be a. ROTATION player I just
i would if if it means using a lillary pick to,
GET him i would let somebody else. Take him but in, The,
TWENTIES like i think he's A useful, Nba STARTER but
i don't think he's.
Speaker 1: SHIN gun i think he's gonna need to really if
he's gonna play. A five feels like he needs to
clean up. The glass and maybe that's where a lot
of his assists could come from on the, offensive end
as it feels like on the film he threw immediately
after getting those, offensive rebounds threw it out to the three,
point line and we've seen that. With teams that could
work well in terms of again racking. Up assists but
like those second chance three pointers tend to have a
higher percentage on them than those first chance.
Speaker 3: Opportunities, too yeah that.
Speaker 4: MAKES sense i mean he's just not like a guy
who's going to explode towards the basket like a lot
of his but a lot of his, SHOTS inside, i
mean he's got good instincts and he's just always found.
A way he got picked up a lot of offensive
rebounds and nice little touch around. The basket but, but
yeah he's just like he just doesn't like, ever dominate
even though he does have games where he's like twenty six.
AND fourteen i just. DON'T know i have struggle to
see him doing that AT the nba level based on
what he's able to do, Right now like he's never
he's he doesn't put the ball on the, floor ever and,
right now so much has to go right for him
to be a reliable three. Point SHOOTER so i just
think with that type of archetype and those LIMITATIONS like,
I see i see a good a, GOOD player I
just i would let somebody else take him if it
meant having to use a. LOTTERY pick.
Speaker 2: I did want to ask you about one, of them
at least one of my draft.
Speaker 1: Day darlings THESE guys i just glom onto is thinking
THAT or i think they're gonna better than. The consensus
can you talk me Out Of darlen swayin being, A
Key Shawn, George Nikil Alexander, WALKER hybrid.
Speaker 4: I mean. It's listening it comes down to, his shooting
and he got better. This year, you know not a ton,
of volume but he got better. This year he's an.
INTERESTING guy i was talking to a high level guy
the other day, Who's like swayin is gonna. Go early
He thinks swayn's gonna go earlier than. PEOPLE think i
SEE the i see the draw. To him everybody likes
a big. Six wing they can handle. The, ball yeah
everage Three, Assistant, dewey yeah somebody told. Me that and
you got better from three. This year BUT like i can't.
Really see the question is is how is he going to?
Be used, you know he's not going to the way
he was Used. IN texas i can't see him being
used that way IN the nba without like more of
HIS his a lot of his scoring was, on DRIVES
and I think nba defenses are going to make it
a little harder for him to get, a bucket, you
know and picking rolls or one. On one he's got
to get better playing up off the dribble. And SHOOTING
but i do like him as a secondary guy who's
going to defend a couple. Of positions he's going to
get out, and transition get easy buckets and you know in. Secondary,
actions yeah he'll make some plays off the dribble and
get to the rack and you hope that he could
just make enough. Open three so he's an interesting vet
to make in the very. ENTICING archetype i have a
little bit. LESS confidence i wish, he was like if
this was after his first year he was, Doing this
I'd be i'd be more enticed to h to take
him in. A lottery, so yeah well we'll see where.
He goes but definitely one of the more interesting guys as.
Speaker 3: A sucker for jet pack.
Speaker 1: Floor spacers let's call Him Is Trayvon brazil gonna break
MY heart.
Speaker 4: I love I had, i remember and it was probably
two or three years ago at THIS point i had
him as a potential lottery pick on my mock draft
boards and then he really hurt his knee and the
explosion wasn't there and he came back. This year, BUT
yeah i do think here he reminds Me Of. OBI
topping i MEAN that's i think the type of game
that he'll the blueprint that he's got to follow if
he wants a chance AT. THE nba, a big a
big finisher and a guy who could, you know make enough.
OPEN threes.
Speaker 1: I also think he's gonna end up being better defensively Than.
Kohlil ware that is my reckless take of the Podcast
that i'll fire. Off here are there any prospects that
you think you need to put that we should put
on a radar that maybe you like better than, the
consensus or you just don't think that are receiving enough
attention Adding?
Speaker 4: INTO tuesday, I mean i think From what i'm hearing
like and one of the interesting Guys Is taris Reid.
From yukon i've Seen some i've heard from from people
who who have him in the first round, for sure
and he's getting looked at. Even earlier whether they pulled
the trigger on him, OR not i. Don't KNOW but
i did a just like a unique stat query one
of three GUYS in nba in college history with, you
know thirteen percent offensive, rebound percentage fifteen percent, assist percentage
and a nine percent. Block rate like he, block shouts
he passes, really well great, offensive rebounder and he's a
very skilled. Post player kind of a unique combination. OF
strengths i don't know if he's a star, caliber player
but he's somebody who's probably going to go in the
TWENTIES who i think could be a pretty. Unique guy
and then if you want to, play it like go
deeper into the. SLEEPER category, i like WHO do? I like?
I like, You know caravan is to me somebody who's
gonna stick for, a while just making, open shots making,
good decisions. Bringing toughness winner if he goes to a
good Team like hillar minutes. Right, AWAY ah i think
O'cory from stanford is maybe THE guy i have highest
on my board. Who teams he just got invited to
the green room as one of the last, four guys
And so corey led TO a sec and scoring as.
A freshman his scoring tape is ridiculous in terms of.
Creating shots, you know he's six two and the average
three assists, per game which is why he's not higher up.
On boards but Also, at stanford like there was there was.
Nobody else he had to be, the guy and he was,
the guy and he did it. Pretty efficiently AND so
i think a low end outcome Is A. Dennis shrewder but,
to me he's so gifted off the dribble and quick
with his handle and getting too spots and finishing and
shooting off the dribble and catch and, shoot Stuff and
stanford guy. LIKE smart i expect him to be more
of a, you know to figure out the playmaking part
and be good enough to be a starting caliber. Point
GUARD so i think he's somebody who's probably gonna go
in the mid to late first round who can give
you better results.
Speaker 1: Than That Could joshua jefferson fall into that category, at
all just given sort of the shooting and playmaking uptick
that we saw from him in his fourth year or
his third Year At, iowa state whatever, It, was.
Speaker 4: YEAH definitely i mean he's, to me HE'S an. NBA
player i think the ceiling, is limited but you're not
looking for high ceiling guys at, you know thirty three in,
the draft he was left out of the, green room
but suggests he's probably gonna go somewhere twenty five to.
Thirty five his people told me late, first round which
to me means early. Second round, but yeah, he's, like
yeah he does everything. Good enough and in the playmaking,
THIS year i think a five as is, per game
so you really got to see him with, the ball
make passing reads and that that'sto doubt. REALLY high, iq
guy and he defended really. Well TOO so i Definitely
like jefferson as a solid early second round pick or
late or late first, round pick particularly, for again a
playoff team that's not looking for.
Speaker 1: Super upside my final question for YOU that i ask
you every single year when you come on, the podcast
are there any draft player trends or through lines that
you're monitoring heading into this year's? Prospect passion you mean
in terms of like whether it's team building approach or
is it like a player maybe it's even a specific
player that, could rise or a player archetype that. Could
rise i've been asked on doing Post Like nick's Winning
the title radio and, podcast spots whether teams will be
more inclined to select maybe smaller Guards Because jalen brunson
just was the best player on a. TITLE team i
think that's that's like a that's interesting. TO me i
Just Think jalen brunson is so strong in a way
that a lot of other like it's might be hard.
To envisions even coming out. Of school you remember this
BETTER than. I did he was he was, pretty, strong
right he had that, stocky build and so you look
at some of these other.
Speaker 3: Smaller guards or quote unquote smaller.
Speaker 1: GUARDS here i don't know if anyone profiles is having,
his STRENGTH which i think is what makes it difficult
for me is that yes he's a, small guard but
he's also built like. A.
Speaker 4: TANK yeah i think that's Definitely been that's been the.
BIG theme i think that who to a cuff versus
and all these, guys are, you know don't have Great
size Fleming's Acuff O'cory, bennett sturtz who we didn't talk
ABOUT who i, really love, you know not not super
physically imposing or quick like where they where they're going
to go and and our team's going to take them
if they have. ANOTHER guard a lot of teams, Have
guards so how are they going to value these? Smaller,
GUARDS yeah, I mean i know it's not an. Original
thing you've brought it, up yourself, but yeah that's probably
would have been, my answer is how teams value these these.
Little GUARDS and i think the biggest the thing that
keeps my mind rolling is that group right there from five,
to nine what order do those guys go? A, Cuff
Flemings mike Kel. And woggler because you ask five people
and you're gonna get five different answers on how they,
rank them and it all starts With, THE clippers i believe.
At five And as i've, been told everyone's waiting to
see what they DO because i, keep, asking like what
order do you think they're going? To go and nobody
knows until we know exactly Who the clippers take? In Five.
Speaker 1: Was is there anything else about this DRAFT that i
didn't ask you or you think leading into this draft
that you need to be Discussed cover you've talked and
written about it for months. Ad nauseum but is there
anything we didn't cover that you think needs to?
Speaker 4: Be? HIT no i think we we hit on a
lot of the. Main guys. You know the big thing
is LIKE n i l bringing bringing back a lot
of potential first rounders and definitely a lot of, you
know guys who would normally go thirty to. Forty, five,
so uh it's it's A shallow it's a. Shallow draft
it's going to continue to become a shallow draft every
year as Long as nil. Is here, you know there
might be guys who are going in the second ROUND
who i have not even. Thought about, you know we
saw a couple of times last year at the end
of the draft with with guys WHO like i, had,
to like, you know go look at their stat PAGES
because i hadn't even thought of them all season as a.
Draft prospect they almost think some of the some of
these teams are going to be like at the end of,
the draft they'd rather take a shot and on somebody
totally wacky and out of. The box then draft of,
the draft one of the, you know the main guys
who was like a bottom of THE barrel nba, Combine
INVITE so i think that'll be interesting. To see and,
also nobody, you know the value of these second round
picks is just, really declining and we'll see how that
plays out in.
Speaker 1: This draft it's funny too because now teams ARE actually
i Was asking i've asked people, about this teams are
struggling how to value first round picks now too because
of the. Lottery REFORM so, i guess and does that
impact how you have to are gonna have to go
about doing your? Job now obviously doesn't apply to, this
draft but in seasons the comer is that NOT something
i guess you have to? Think about is it MORE
of i guess when you're, doing mocks does that make
it more, difficult though or is lottery reform not gonna
impact how you have to approach this?
Speaker 4: At, All yeah i'm Not gonna it's not going to
affect THE way I do mox. Just yet although until we're,
in it until it's like we're in, THAT year i.
DON'T know i. DON'T know i HAVEN'T really i haven't
really thought about it. Too much but. We'll see we'll
see how. It goes every every couple. Of years the
process kind of evolves. And.
Speaker 1: Changes west thank you as always for this sixty to
seventy minute sprint through the upcoming. Draft class you're able
just to tell, where listeners viewers really confined you in
all the great work that.
Speaker 4: YOU Do Nba draft Bass, on twitter and we'll have
an updated mock draft probably like every day up until
the mock up until the actual draft, as usual and,
then yeah for the draft, this Year, bleacher Report bleacher.
REPORT app i guess it's going to be on live
throughout both rounds with Me And, jake fisher so tune in.
Speaker 2: For that that'll be a lot. Of fun when you're
twenty twenty seven mock draft in the day after, the draft.
Speaker 4: Day after That's what i'm working.
Speaker 2: On today thank you again So. MUCH watch i really
appreciate your time as always.
Speaker 4: Taking care, All, right dan good to talk. To me