Knew the initials were JJ, but had to look it up. Josh Jackson
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Post your reaction if the Pels draft AJ Griffin at #8 ....
The fact that I don’t even remember the guy and you remember how I felt about him….I don’t even know how to process that. Like, I am sure you are right, but why you would know or remember that is beyond me. Can you help me recall who my 4th grade teacher was? Lol
I have a weird selective memory lol like I can remember Shamit Dua hating the Lakers trade and not being a fan of BI at all when we first got him. Also I remember Ryan Schwan rap verse and you guys hoping we trade for Eric Bledsoe when Boogie was at his wedding lol
Now, I KNOW I never loved Knox. I have had some great draft hits, and some bad misses (loved Kris Dunn and didnt like Jaylen Brown at all). I have gotten better in recent years and it has because I have realized the second contract is the issue. It places a timeline on the pick and the guy has to hit big or be gone, and because of that you gotta look for guys who can impact the games in multiple ways. A guy who is versatile on both sides in the ways he can impact a game, has high character, and real room to grow in a specific way. You cant take a guy like AJ Griffin who only impacts the game in one way currently and just hope everything grows. You take a guy like Daniels who has the size, the in between game, can grab 18 rebs in a game, can meet guys at the rim, can switch multiple positions, can be a good secondary playmaker, and just needs to make his shot more conisitant to unlock everything and be the NBA's version of a 5 tool player
I'm set on Daniels, too. But Mathurin would be great, too, in a different way. If both are there at #8, that would mean someone like AJ Griffin, Sochan, or Duren jumped up to the top 7. Interesting scenario.
Side note -- could Malaki Brahnam be a super-riser and be the surprise pick at #8 ? He checks all the boxes, like a more athletic, better-shooting NAW.
A difference is that Branham is an awesome finisher. Great percentages everywhere. I don't think he's shown the same passing flashes that made NAW interesting, but in terms of dribble game and size, pretty similar and he is as good a shooter and at-rim finisher as anyone in this class. I think he can also be a killer in the midrange.
don't be. you would be getting an athletic scorer who can shoot instead of someone who is isn't. while defenders are nice, the name of the nba game is scoring
So does Shaedon Sharpe's high school's logo look familiar to anyone? #Destiny #SharpeBeakedPelican (SBP)
Attachment 6630
So it sounds like they aren’t getting much traction in trade up convos and that they are starting to lock in on guys at 8 and based on their intel on who is most likely to go top 7, Daniels, Mathurin, and AJ Griffin are the main three they are looking at if they stay at 8. Yes, Griffin. Some in the FO really like him.
Also open to slight trade downs where they could get one of those guys or Dieng or Branham, who they also like a lot. Anyway, that is the latest about three and a half weeks out. Curious how Griffin is performing in private workouts because several teams in the league really like him apparently.
Personally, I got 7 guys I would be really excited about. Of course, the Pels pick 8th. Daniels should be right there with those other consensus top 6. Just gotta hope someone else loves Duren or Griffin or Mathurin.
If my top 7 are gone, I would have trade downs lined up. And if those 7 are gone, I think I would have several buyers looking to move up for the top big as 9, 10, 11, and 13 all would have a need at center.
Also…don’t cross of Duren
Ugh
While I'm not personally enamored with Griffin, I don't really understand the amount of vitriol being directed his way. Yes, he'd be drafted more on potential than what he's shown so far, but no one seems to mind that with Sharpe or some other prospects.
As for Mathurin, I've come down off of him a good bit the more I watch him. His defense is really meh, and sometimes just plain bad. I've noticed that he also has a tendancy to put his teamates in a bad spot to avoid looking bad himself. I mean nothing major, but just little nit picks that irritate me when I watch a lot of college athletes raised on aau ball (or whatever passes for aau up in Canada).
The issue with Griffin, for me, is when his shot isn’t falling (or he is taking shots), what else is he doing? Defense, both on and off, is a negative. Doesn’t get to the line. Won’t rebound or get assists.
Preferring X guy over Y guy is not showering Y guy with vitriol. We talk about Griffin vs guys in the 15-20 range and the talk about him would be positive. It’s like if you debated Jabari Smith vs Tari Eason. You wouldn’t be hating on Eason. One guy is just better than the other. Same goes for Griffin when discussing prospects in the 6-10 range IMO
Not a popular opinion, but I would be totally fine with Griffin. He's a ridiculous shooter with a versatile jumpshot and unreal touch, and he has great size and strength for a wing. Unlike Mathurin, he has enough of a handle that there is on-ball creator upside. He has defensive possessions which are cover-your-eyes bad, but recently in the lottery it has been very hard to predict who becomes a good defender. Guys like RJ Barrett, Ben Simmons, and Jaylen Brown were really not good in college but have adapted just fine to the NBA defensively. Conversely, guys like De'Aron Fox, Donovan Mitchell, and Zion who were impactful defenders in college have been poor defenders at best in the NBA. It's not a get out of jail free card and you can't disregard his awful defensive movement skills, but he is so good as a shooter and has enough strength and handle a possibility exists for star upside and that's worth taking at 8. I'd be okay with Branham at 8 for the same reasons.
Less okay with Duren. Haven't watched all that much Memphis, but an undersized unskilled player who can really only play 5 doesn't seem like a great use of resources this high in the draft. If Pels draft him, I'll be hoping he's Bam but am extremely skeptical.
If all of this is true it's gonna be a sad Draft day for me. I'm terrified of Griffin physical health but I guess his medicals are clearing things. Sigh. And double sigh on the Duren love.
Not expecting Daniels to be there for us at all so it's looking likely that it will be Mathurin, Griffin, Duren or Dieng
Portland, please take Duren!
Anyone but Griffin please.
Please Griff
This forum is getting carried away with both the Griffin hate and the unconditional Dyson love.
Daniels doesn't have a quick first step, he isn't explosive, often flat footed, and isn't physical at all. He has good lateral movement, but if he can't fight through screens or handle NBA punishment it isn't going to do him much good.
Even with the injuries Griffin probably has a body more suited for the NBA style of play than Dyson does. If he gets back the athleticism he has in high school even moreso.
I'm not saying Griffin is better but to pretend that Daniels is that much better than Griffin is getting carried away. I'd easily say that Griffin's potential ceiling is higher than Dyson's.
Where was he measured? He doesn't look 6'11" on the court. Looks 6'9". Looks way smaller than Ayton in terms of height. No arguing he's built, though. Just closer to the Onyeka Okonwu/Bam end of the spectrum in height just observationally than a true seven footer.
Ain't no way Duren is 6-11 with a 7-5 wingspan. If he was he wouldn't have chose not to measure at the combine. His stock would skyrocket if he's he would measure at that.
Same with Griffin who also chose not to measure...He's not 6-6 with a plus wingspan.
These big centers are becoming dinosaurs. You can be the best shot blocker in the world, but it isn’t going to do you any good if you’re constantly having to chase perimeter shooters around the arc. Look at the two centers in the NBA finals, Draymond Green who can switch off and guard perimeter players and Al Horford who’s made a career out of steady inside play with the ability to knock down shots from the 3 point line.
Yea it looks like those were past, unofficial measurements. Thought he measured at the combine. He looks closer to Bam size than Ayton for sure, but really what's a few inches at that point. More about quickness and athleticism. He definitely wouldn't be atop most of our wish lists. But if we do draft him, we will find a way to hype up his strengths and potential.
Players who are vertically explosive, strong, and smart can definitely play center at a high level even if they aren't seven foot. Duren is definitely the first two. But there are some inherent limitations, you can't just stand straight up with your arms up and limit shot attempts like Rudy Gobert, which is a possibility for a guy like Mark Williams. It's true that in the playoffs, there are limits to what shot blocking can do.
From the little I've seen, I don't think Duren is a smart, two steps ahead defensive player like Horford or Green or even Adebayo. If it's going to work, think it will have to look more like young Dwight Howard. I don't think he's that nuclear of an athlete, though. Maybe more like Robert Williams, but I haven't seen enough of him to know if he moves that well on the perimeter (pre-meniscus, not the guy out there right now).
BleacherReport just released a new mock draft, with "intel" tidbits:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-chet-holmgren
Sharpe dropping to 10?!
On Daniels, and Branham:Quote:
Teams watching old film of Shaedon Sharpe
The Pistons and others are going back to the AAU tape of Sharpe, who didn't play a minute this season. He looked good at his pro day, but teams acknowledge that his athleticism and shot-making were made for the one-on-none workout, and his agency did a good job of putting Sharpe in position to showcase his strengths. Talent alone right now has him in the mix for lottery teams, including Detroit at No. 5. However, despite an enticing mix of bounce and shooting skills, the film shows a player who struggles to create going north-south and relies heavily on low-percentage dribble jumpers. Limited confidence in Sharpe's feel or ability to make teammates better could lead to teams feeling more comfortable with prospects like Murray, Griffin, Davis and Mathurin.
Quote:
Daniels surging into top-8 mix
Teams are under the impression that the Daniels buzz is real. His draft ceiling has been said to have risen into the Nos. 4-8 range after he measured like a wing (6'7?" in shoes), recorded the combine's fastest shuttle run, put on a convincing shooting clinic at his pro day and impressed in interviews. The fact that he's so versatile and interchangeable between positions 1-4 also eliminates fit concerns with most teams.
Branham's draft range now looking like Nos. 8-14
Daniels' name is hotter, but Branham's is also trending. Not everyone is convinced, but there is still a lot of interest in the freshman who's a year younger than Johnny Davis, measured longer and was more efficient from three, the mid-range and at the rim. Teams think that he can go as high as No. 8 and that he's a better bet to go in the lottery than be on the board at No. 15.
Duren would fit a clear need on this (and every) team, and still only 18 and developing. Not sure he's as high-flying as Robert Williams, but he has a really strong core base and positioning.
If anyone would be frustrated about drafting Duren or Griffin, or any player -- Watch one of their highlight videos, and by the end you'll be hyped about their potential and fit on the team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0rkICtKe6I
I think we don't know what player he is. So that's where I'm at on that. He hasn't played a lot in the past handful of years.
Pre-injury Griffin was getting a lot of blocks/boards. Duke-Griffin was really really needed for spacing the floor and had a limited role and limited minutes.
He's also 18 so if someone tells you they know what kind of player he is, they don't really know. The injury risk is a bigger issue for me there than the other stuff.
Trading up to 5 was all I wanted...
This is about the worst news you could've possibly shared. 2 of the only projected lottery picks I adamantly don't want(along with the majority of the fanbase), are 2 of our 4 main targets? What is their reasoning behind targeting Duren and Griffin?
I'd much rather Sochan or even Johnny Davis. Sounds like our FO stop watching the playoffs after we were eliminated.