Him interviewing with the Pacers and Blazers worries me, especially Portland. I feel like he'll be taken right in front of us, in which we'll probably pivot to Dieng.
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Lakers only have Anthony Davis and THT (player option) under contract after next season at this moment. I could definitely see them using that cap space to convince some decent free agents to go there to at least be a playoff caliber team. Some of this though does of course depend on Anthony Davis's health and who knows if his body will hold up anymore at this point.
So I could definitely see the 2024/2025 option for the Lakers pick being at it's peak value this summer, making it more beneficial to trade it now while it's hot.
Not sure yet if I'm a big fan of Ivey or Sharpe enough to want to trade up for one of them. You could make the argument about trading up for Lillard in 2012 rather than settling on Rivers, but the opposite argument is also true where you could settle for Lillard rather than moving up for Beal or Waiters that year. Or settle for Klay Thompson rather than trade up for Brandon Knight the year before. I think the way the Pelicans drafted last year provides at least some trust in the tier levels of how they will evaluate players this year.
Jake LaRavia and Jalen Williams are the two guys most on the rise this week in the draft. LaRavia dropped out of the 5x5 scrimmage, leading some to guess he has a promise.
I like him a lot, and he's the classic glue guy who does a bit of everything. If I were the Pelicans, I'd trade the #8 to a team with a pick in the late teens, with the aim being to also get a future pick in the deal, and then I'd pick LaRavia. With Zion coming back and Murphy expected to get more minutes I just don't see many minutes for a rookie, so why not get a do-everything low-usage-rate guy who can be integrated organically, without disrupting the current roster flow?
The good thing about our position in this draft, if a good player like Mathurin goes ahead of us, another great prospect gets pushed down. Many great options will be there at #8.
Feel like the fan base can get excited about just about any scenario on draft night. Sochan, Daniels, Mathurin. All would be intriguing in their own way, raising the ceiling of this team. Dieng would have been a surprise, but now he has been planted into our collective fanbase expectations. 4 + weeks left of speculation........
So you have J. Davis above Daniels and Sochan, interesting. Dieng might not last much beyond our pick, seems like the classic late riser like Pat Williams, like MM referenced.
Mark Williams is intriguing with those measurements. Some are saying that puts him in the top 10
Most versatile defensive player in this draft. Will be able to play the 5 to end games, especially when his frame fills in. Probably a good enough rebounder to hold up there. If he can shoot 35% on spot up 3s, he's a star in his role. I just worry he's not going to shoot it. But I wouldn't be mad at all with Sochan.
That’s great till you realize that he won't get minutes because he's an offensive liability. We already have a defensive specialist that's developing his offense. So, he's gonna get buried behind Trey and Lance indefinitely.
He'll blossom to a team that can cater to him, but we couldn't even if wanted too. We already have an above average defense with a ton of young guys.
If Herb was an 18ppg scorer. Sochen could make sense, but he doesn't.
So... What the heck is Sacramento gonna do.. Draft Sharpe and keep Davion as that 6th man guy
Sacramento is desperate to make the playoffs and traded Haliburton for Sabonis who only has two years left on his deal. I’d be shocked if they took the biggest boom or bust player there in Sharpe.
I’d imagine Ivey, even though they have Fox and Mitchell, or maybe more likely they take Murray. This also assumes the top three are all Chet, Jabari, and Banchero. Last year we assumed Suggs was a part of the top 4 and it ended up being Barnes.
I could also see them trading it for a player. Maybe even taking Sharpe at 4 but swapping it for Ivey or Murray at 5 or 6 along with getting another player back.
Or maybe Sharpe just has incredible workouts making it impossible for them to not draft and keep him.
I wouldn't be surprised if they try and package some picks with Davion Mitchell for a disgruntled star, maybe they start calling utah for Donovan Mitchell
Or.....they will just do what every team should do and take the guy they think has the best chance of one day being an All NBA player and figure out the position and fit thing later. When you are that bad as a franchise, for that long, that is the only thing you should do. The moronic thing to do would be to look at your current roster and use it to find a "fit" -- especially when there roster turns over every 18 months.
I mean, we are talking about a franchise that didnt take Luka because they already had their "point guard"......never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever consider your current roster when drafting that high. Ever.
That's what they really should do but then again it's the kings...also hearing that vivek has given the management a mandate to get them to the post season as soon as possbile especially with sabonis having 2 yrs left on his deal. Easily one of the wors owners in sports
Will be interesting to see if they'll extend LeBron or maybe he waits until free agency so he can get the no-trade clause. Either way, we've seen what building a team around a prime AD gets you (lotto more often than not) so I'm not sure how worried I'd be about (possible?) broken down AD.
Would love to do an 8th Pick Tournament on here, with two posters making cases in a versus battle. Lets start with Dyson Daniels vs Benedict Mathurin
Who wants Daniels, who wants to take Mathurin?
Rules: Minimum of 2, maximum of 4 paragraphs on the pros of your guys, and then minimum of 1, maximum of 3 paragraphs on the cons of the opponent
Volunteers?
Not impressed with Daniels. Everything seems reactionary with slight hesitation. He's going to give NBA players an inch and he's not going to be able to use his size and athleticism in the NBA to get it back like he does in the GLeague. I feel like these type of players are a dime a dozen and one occasionally develops into a star that makes people think that the next one is going to also be a star. I don't think it's worth the risk unless they trade down.
I want to get off of liking Mathurin, but the more I watch, the more I like. Doesn't back down from a challenge. Good all around game. I feel like he can be Paul George lite if everything works out for him. Also he's a good off-ball scorer which could work out well considering there are three ball dominant players already on the team.
I just don’t see an NBA player when I see clips of Daniels. I’d be happy if Mathurin fell to us. Good shooter with a quick release, good athlete, seems like he could plug and play pretty quick.
Mathurin
pros: higher ceiling, fits that need at the 2 guard spot/bench scorer, good shooter, can play off the ball, very athletic, good cutter, saw that fire in him during march madness where he willed arizona to a win (forgot which team it was against).
Cons: size limits him strictly as a 2 guard, could maybe play sf but would be undersized, needs to get his handles better.
Daniels
Pros: size allows him to play and defend 1-3 spot, good defender, good rebounder, good all around player, has a nice demeanor that would fit well with any team, good passer, can play point and facilitate, his size allows him to play with our undersized guards.
Cons: not a good shooter (he has a nice form though), not really that athletic, and last but not the least he's Australian......
My pick between the 2 would probably be mathurin because of that potential, although i really like the versatility of daniels especially if he becomes a good/respectable shooter.. I've been going back and forth.
Personally I'm growing skeptical that Mathurin will still be there at 8. I think the first two are obviously going to be Dyson (edit: meant Jabari) and Chet. The next five is going to be some combination of Banchero, Murray, Ivey, Sharpe, and Mathurin.
I can see liking someone more than Daniels, but I cant understand not liking Daniels. We are talking elite size and traits (people are saying not that athletic but he just had Scottie Barnes rookie best shuttle time and the best lane agility time at the combine....thats super athletic). He has amazing defensive metrics, and already has a floater and an in-between game, the hardest things to develop for most young guards/wings.
Sure, his shooting numbers weren't great, but Kuminga shot 24% from three and 62% from the line in his one G League season. Its a tough, weird transition for an 18 year old. In his first year in the NBA, Kuminga is already up to nearly 34%. Daniels shot looks great, just needs to add strength.
Again, I can see liking someone more - personally, I dont at the #8 spot, but I get it. But to see things like, "I dont see an NBA player" is wild to me
Eh, just doesn't pass the eye test for me. Slowish, frail, a little too deliberate. I think defensively, he's feasting on smaller guards without a lot of talent. I think there is a danger he gets overwhelmed in a much faster, stronger league. But admittedly I've just seen clips not complete game footage.
And yes, if his shot was better I'd be a little higher on him. Maybe if he got stronger his 3 pt shot would improve.
Dyson and Chet? or Jabari and Chet?
As for Mathurin... I doubt he'd be there at 8 as well. I'm thinking he'll go 6 or 7, so if the Pels want him they'd have to move up a couple/few spots for him. If Jabari is still on the board at 3 the Pels should move Heaven and Earth to move up for him (IMO).
I like Dyson at 8. You won't need to teach him how to defend... but you CAN teach him to be a better shooter if he's willing to put in the work to better his shot. I just think we have enough guys that can already defend on the wings... we just need more/better shooting/scoring off the bench.
Yeah, I feel the same doubts in him as I felt when I fell in love with Haliburton and some just didnt like him at all. Haliburton also didnt 'pop' on these little highlight clips like others do. No high flying or fancy stuff. But those plays happen maybe once or twice a game, at most, in a game that has nearly 200 total possessions. What actually helps winning is IQ, versatility, defense, and playmaking. Dont matter how sexy it is.
All good, difference is what makes the world go round. But I am Team Daniels over here
I'm really starting to come around on Daniels, but all I've watched are some highlight tapes. One of the most intriguing things I've seen is his secondary rim protection. To those that have actually watched him: is that real or just a few stray highlights that exaggerate his ability?
He LOVES meeting guys at the rim and challenging shots. And his agility and length allow him to get there a lot. I would bet he has block numbers like Covington, who is regularly one of the only non centers to be over 1 block per game every year
That's very exciting, especially thinking of the fit with our roster which has very little vertical shot blocking. If his shot comes around (and like others have said, his form looks great) he really does seem like an ideal fit with Zion, CJ, Herb, and Jonas.
Back to Mathurin, the more I watch of him the more I like him. Kind of reminds me of a taller, skinnier Vinnie Johnson. His shooting form really reminds me of the Microwave. Even his negatives (being foul prone and overagressive) aren't a big deal if you're just planning on giving him bench minutes early on.
Vinnie got to that mid range and was automatic. Could get to his spots. Mathurin is a catch and shoot guy or a cutter guy. Not a lot of in between.
I like Mathurin. Wouldnt at all be upset if Pels drafted him. But winning is about doing a ton of things to help, and Mathurin helps when he is scoring the ball. Daniels can help with playmaking, rebounding, scoring, and defense. I will just always take that first because scoring is the easiest thing to replace in the NBA
I mean yes and no. Mathurin is more of a modern update with his shot of choice being behind the arc. So yes, Vinnie midrange, Mathurin three point. But their shooting motion and quick release have similarities at least to me. And I don’t think Mathurin is just a catch and shoot guy. I’ve seen a number of plays where he was shooting off the dribble, granted mainly in transition, but some where he was coming off screens.
As opposed to say, Agbaji, who does seem like mainly just a catch and shoot guy, from what I’ve seen (and usually fairly wide open when he takes the shot).
What does FO think about AJ? Or do they think he's gone before 8?
Maybe I'm suffering PTSD from NAW's green light, but from what I saw from Mathurin. His shot selection don't stress me out.
It does feel like Mathurin has more fan hype.
At 7th... If it's Daniels or Mathurin. I don't see how you pick Mathurin over him. A bad team needs a Daniels more than a Mathurin.
We are in a weird spot. We do need another big time shot getter with CJ. Especially, if BI not going to shoot the three as much.
Granted... With Zion back. I do think BI will shoot more 3s. He was simply filling a role that was available to him with no Zion in the paint.
It's really starting become a roster numbers game. It's why I didn't feel much for the Sochan discussion. Great prospect, tho.
I like Mathurin, but the more I watch him I like other guys more.
Another thing I found interesting, if you look at these offensive minded guards/wings that go mid
lottery they almost never pan out. If they do, they’re All-NBA types. I think a lot of it has to do with what McNamara said earlier, when they aren’t shooting/scoring they do nothing else for you, and to justify them they have to do it at a high level, and most don’t.
Bingo
Dyson Daniels had (in my view) the most impressive showing of any prospect on the Pro Day circuit at the NBA Combine, shooting the lights out and looking like he still has immense potential he's yet to tap into. Starting to generate some top-five pick buzz. That's from Givony
Been really going back and forth with these prospects in our range... im torn between Sochan, Daniels and Eason
Shooting is still king with GSW coming back to dominance.
It's Daniels or Bennedict for me.
I can't see anything wrong. I do see Daniel as draft riser to 6th or 7th. I hope both fall to use so we don't settle.