2022 NBA Draft Lottery

[redboy0125]

Saw this-

Benedict Mathurin, Arizona guard, said he's interviewed with the Knicks, Raptors, Bulls, Pelicans, Pacers and Blazers.

"It's about going to the right spot," he said "It's not going high or low."

— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) May 19, 2022

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.

[bradael]

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.

[Eyquem]

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?

[Taker597]

After watching this, I'm team Sochan at 8. He's basically a defensive unicorn, with offensive upside.

Its trade up for Ivey/Sharpe. Draft Mathurin/Davis or Trade back for Dieng/Williams.

Sochan just ain't moving the needle for me

[Rheem654]

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.

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........

[Rheem654]

Its trade up for Ivey/Sharpe. Draft Mathurin/Davis or Trade back for Dieng/Williams.

Sochan just ain't moving the needle for me

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

[Biasvasospasm]

After watching this, I'm team Sochan at 8. He's basically a defensive unicorn, with offensive upside.

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.

[DroopyDawg]

After watching this, I'm team Sochan at 8. He's basically a defensive unicorn, with offensive upside.

A 6’9 Herb Jones? I can get with that.

[Taker597]

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

I actually meant Daniels not Davis. Got the names mixed up.

[Taker597]

A 6’9 Herb Jones? I can get with that.

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.

[Taker597]

So... What the heck is Sacramento gonna do.. Draft Sharpe and keep Davion as that 6th man guy

[bradael]

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.

[PaKwAn]

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

[MichaelMcNamara]

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.

[PaKwAn]

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

[ml wave]

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.

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.

[Taker597]

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

Absurd. They have no quality center and Harrison Barnes is their only wing worth anything. BPA is gonna be a guard at their pick.

The Haliburton trade was wack. Sacramento makes being the worst run organization look hard.

[AusPel]

Absurd. They have no quality center and Harrison Barnes is their only wing worth anything. BPA is gonna be a guard at their pick.

The Haliburton trade was wack. Sacramento makes being the worst run organization look hard.

Sac Town actually has a loyal and supportive fan base too

Feel for those guys

[Taker597]

Sac Town actually has a loyal and supportive fan base too

Feel for those guys

Their reddit is is titled "Welcome to basketball hell..."

[MichaelMcNamara]

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?

[Taker597]

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?

I like both. That's hard mannnnnn.... I do think one of them will go 7th.

[DroopyDawg]

So... What the heck is Sacramento gonna do.. Draft Sharpe and keep Davion as that 6th man guy

Well... they drafted Haliburton when they had Fox, and they drafted Davion when they had Haliburton AND Fox... who knows what Sac will do.

[bradael]

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.

[Silverfoxx]

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?

Really want to do this but it's been a looooong week of auditing contracts haha.

[Freyfamilyreuni]

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.