2021 Draft Lottery

[Peacedog]

You have assumed that Mobley will be a star and that Barnes will not be. Shai is already a star. If the Cavs have Barnes rated as highly as Mobley then it would be a fantastic trade. Garland/Shai/Barnes/Okoro/Allen is a pretty ridiculous and versatile core if even one of Okoro or Barnes can be capable 3 pt shooters.

My guess is the Cavs have Mobley rated WAY higher than Barnes.

 

[kriegs]

Contract situation with SGA makes a move like that extremely risky. God forbid we have to pay him, Collin, and JA at the same time, and still probably remain bad. Don't love it even if we gave up Sexton in the trade. Mobley just fits the timeline better and has more upside.

 

[kriegs]

How hungry are the Thunder?​

The No. 1 topic heading into draft day is this: Exactly how willing are the Thunder to move up from the sixth spot in the draft?


Oklahoma City has more future draft picks than it can possibly use and a team that is set up to be quite bad for the immediate future. That sets up the Thunder to make the type of trade offer to a team in the top three that might be tough to resist: offering the extension-eligible Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the sixth pick and other draft assets to a team that will allow them to move up.


Thus far, most of the attention has focused on what kind of offer the Thunder might make the Pistons to move up to No. 1 and select Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham, but that story has shifted in the last 24 hours. Now we’re hearing a lot more chatter about a Thunder-Cavs trade for the third position, which would allow Oklahoma City to select USC’s Evan Mobley.


One presumes any team in the top three is demanding a huge sum from the Thunder, and it’s an easy ask because Oklahoma City has such a ridiculous horde of picks.


In fact, I wonder if teams in the top three are actually being too careful here and pricing too much certainty into the eventual quality of their draft picks. What are the odds of the second or third pick in the draft actually turning out to be better than Gilgeous-Alexander? Go back and look at the last 10 drafts before you answer.


Ultimately, however, one question is likely to dominate the discussion: How hungry are the Thunder to get into this top three? Clearly, they have the assets to pull off something if they want to badly enough. And, needless to say, a move up from the sixth spot would be an early earthquake that rattles the rest of the draft board.


(While we’re here, and if we really want to get crazy: What about a three-way trade that moves the Thunder to the top pick to take Cunningham, Detroit down to No. 3 to take Mobley and the Cavs dropping to No. 6 but landing Gilgeous-Alexander, with both Detroit and Cleveland walking away with extra Thunder draft picks?)

Will Thunder move up? Will Magic move back? John Hollinger’s four big thoughts heading into NBA Draft night

Draft day is here, and the expectation is that we’ll see unusually high trading activity given how many teams are trying to move up, move down or change their rosters. I already gave you my top-70 players and my mock draft for tonight, but here are a few other added thoughts to ponder while we...

theathletic.com

 

[Cement]

Also important to remember that OKC was 22-50 last year, same as the Cavs.

So SGA didn't translate to more wins. Yeah, his team was garbage but if he was really worth $168 million you'd think his stats would've led to a record better than 22-50.

So we're left with the same question on SGA as we are with Sexton (and Zach Lavine for that matter) - how good are they really if they're decent stats aren't leading to more wins?

Interestingly Sexton and SGA posted the exact same win shares last season (3.5).

 

[cabs]

The issue with SGA is not the quality of player, the issue is he is not gonna stay long term so what is the point. He apparently didn't let us draft him at pick 8, why should we trade down from selecting Mobley to get him.

 

[WorldFreeB]

Poku would be a nice get if we are fantasizing about a Thunder package.

 

[NMCav]

Will Thunder move up? Will Magic move back? John Hollinger’s four big thoughts heading into NBA Draft night

Draft day is here, and the expectation is that we’ll see unusually high trading activity given how many teams are trying to move up, move down or change their rosters. I already gave you my top-70 players and my mock draft for tonight, but here are a few other added thoughts to ponder while we...

theathletic.com

I just don't see Koby trading down. Team has been wanting to be in the top 3 for the past 2 lottos and dropped to 5. Why would he choose to drop down to 6 after getting in the top 3? Why pass up a rookie scale Mobley for a maxed out unhappy SGA and a much lessser prospect?

 

[Derek]

Also important to remember that OKC was 22-50 last year, same as the Cavs.

So SGA didn't translate to more wins. Yeah, his team was garbage but if he was really worth $168 million you'd think his stats would've led to a record better than 22-50.

So we're left with the same question on SGA as we are with Sexton (and Zach Lavine for that matter) - how good are they really if they're decent stats aren't leading to more wins?

Interestingly Sexton and SGA posted the exact same win shares last season (3.5).

In fairness, the Thunder were 16-19 when he played and made the playoffs the year before with him playing an integral role.

 

[Cavatt]

In fairness, the Thunder were 16-19 when he played and made the playoffs the year before with him playing an integral role.

Cavs were 500 early in the season. Teams started slow

 

[Derek]

Cavs were 500 early in the season. Teams started slow

I'm just saying, you can't say SGA doesn't translate to more wins and point to their overall record when they were a drastically different team when he was playing.

 

[kriegs]

The only scenario (2) I could be sold on besides staying put and taking Mobley...

 

[chuck0609]

I just don't see Koby trading down. Team has been wanting to be in the top 3 for the past 2 lottos and dropped to 5. Why would he choose to drop down to 6 after getting in the top 3? Why pass up a rookie scale Mobley for a maxed out unhappy SGA and a much lessser prospect?

They’re not. If Koby drops down he loses his job. Point blank.
They may trade Sexton for a top 8 or so pick, or a player and pick. But they are picking 3rd.

 

[Expensive Jet]

I just don't see Koby trading down. Team has been wanting to be in the top 3 for the past 2 lottos and dropped to 5. Why would he choose to drop down to 6 after getting in the top 3? Why pass up a rookie scale Mobley for a maxed out unhappy SGA and a much lessser prospect?

because literally every talking NBA head had a collective mourning with Sam Presti after OKC fell in the lotto, and are trying to speak Mobley to OKC into existence.

 

[LeeBuckeye]

Is it me or does it seems like everyone in the basketball world outside of Cleveland is trying to will Mobley to OKC?

Also what the hell are the Warriors doing?

 

[LeeBuckeye]

because literally every talking NBA head had a collective mourning with Sam Presti after OKC fell in the lotto, and are trying to speak Mobley to OKC into existence.

I promise I didn't see this before posting. Great minds