2021 NBA Draft Safari

[RchfldCavRaised]

Good comp @adam81king

Gordon had off the chart athleticism and mobility that I knew would make him a good to great 2-4 defender at the next level. Johnson doesnt have that. Gordon didnt have the offensive arsenal that Johnson has but he had a little better ball handling, agility, burst, athleticism.

(taps chin) Jalen Johnson reminds me of another Wildcat tweener... Derrick Williams. (maybe a younger Obi Toppin without the high hips and compromised mobility)

The way he was being used, I wasnt sure if it was purely limitations in his offensive game or limitations in how Coach K felt he should be used. Johnson really didn't look comfortable putting the ball on the floor whether in space or on the move just like Williams. You felt confident that if he got a smaller guy on his back, in the mid-post or lower, that he'd be able to get a bucket just like Williams and great timing on rebounding, weakside defensive help and finishing at the rim (with a running start) just like Williams.

I watched him early in the season, so I came back and watched him again as we got ready to start ACC play and I kept noticing him turning his back to secure the ball when any defenders pressured him. That can be improved but it spoke to him just not being confident or comfortable creating off the dribble, yet.

Other ACC guys who his game reminded me of at the collegiate level were Wake Forest's James Johnson or a little better polished offensively/little shorter and less impactful defensively John Collins from Wake

 

[I'mWithDan]

Good comp @adam81king

Gordon had off the chart athleticism and mobility that I knew would make him a good to great 2-4 defender at the next level. Johnson doesnt have that. Gordon didnt have the offensive arsenal that Johnson has but he had a little better ball handling, agility, burst, athleticism.

(taps chin) Jalen Johnson reminds me of another Wildcat tweener... Derrick Williams. (maybe a younger Obi Toppin without the high hips and compromised mobility)

The way he was being used, I wasnt sure if it was purely limitations in his offensive game or limitations in how Coach K felt he should be used. Johnson really didn't look comfortable putting the ball on the floor whether in space or on the move just like Williams. You felt confident that if he got a smaller guy on his back, in the mid-post or lower, that he'd be able to get a bucket just like Williams and great timing on rebounding, weakside defensive help and finishing at the rim (with a running start) just like Williams.

I watched him early in the season, so I came back and watched him again as we got ready to start ACC play and I kept noticing him turning his back to secure the ball when any defenders pressured him. That can be improved but it spoke to him just not being confident or comfortable creating off the dribble, yet.

Other ACC guys who his game reminded me of at the collegiate level were Wake Forest's James Johnson or a little better polished offensively/little shorter and less impactful defensively John Collins from Wake

Johnson has some markers that stand out though......in comparison to anyone named so far.

6 AST per 100 is a big number for those energy tweener types. Ditto for 3.1 STL per 100.

The flip side of his assists is he turned it over at a high rate, so it is probably a measure of how realistic it is for him to keep those interesting passing markers while also cutting down on mistakes.

Johnson has near elite hustle stat metrics and he is a really tough banger type on the glass.

In all honesty, I think he is one of the most interesting players outside the top 6. Statistically, he is unique for his size and position.

He's a "get you fired" type though, so I can't imagine we have the stomach to take him. But in the right situation, on the right team, I think he could be one of the steals of this draft.

If people think he's a 4, I kind of like the more modern NBA Draymond type comp for Johnson. Can rebound as a "smaller" player. Stout defender who moves well laterally. Good weakside rim protector. Competes and hustles. Can rebound and then go.....and is a competent enough passer in transition to have that be an actual NBA skill. As 4's, they have a lot of very similar statistical markers.

Really curious to see how he measures.

 

[Ozone]

JJ scares me with his lack of commitment to a lot of coaches he has played for. I don't think even though he has undeniable upside, that he fits the schedule, or fits the "culture"
I would not be surprised if the Johnson's; Keon and Jalen were at best, late lottery upside consolation picks or later.

 

[stoike]

Does anyone know what the lowest (worst) draft position would be for the Cavs?

 

[daddywags]

Does anyone know what the lowest (worst) draft position would be for the Cavs?

9. A 0.6% chance.

 

[Nathan S]

I'll be pretty devastated if we end up with Keon. He's like Barnes if you take off 4 inches of height and his only NBA-caliber offensive skill. Don't get the appeal.

 

[Nathan S]

Not a great game for Garuba overall, but there's a nice view of his shooting form in the highlights:
It's obviously a big swing skill for a defensive specialist like him; he's connecting at a lukewarm 31% from 3 and 65% from the line, which is just on the edge of respectability for an NBA big.

 

[Ozone]

I can't see any interest in Garuba in CLE at all. Am I missing something?

 

[CanadaEh]

I'm getting the feeling that Scottie Barnes is atop the Cavs big board. Long, athletic playmaker that can defend 1-4. An intensity along the lines of Collin Sexton. Play him at the 3, 4 or smallball 5. The question is the jump shot. Mechanics don't look terrible and we all know how good the shooting coaches are. If we pick #1 and don't see Cade or Mobley as a #1 go to scorer, I think the pick will be Barnes.

 

[Ozone]

I'm getting the feeling that Scottie Barnes is atop the Cavs big board. Long, athletic playmaker that can defend 1-4. An intensity along the lines of Collin Sexton. Play him at the 3, 4 or smallball 5. The question is the jump shot. Mechanics don't look terrible and we all know how good the shooting coaches are. If we pick #1 and don't see Cade or Mobley as a #1 go to scorer, I think the pick will be Barnes.

I think there is a lot to like as a Point guard at the next level more than off ball. I mean they can play him in many different roles like Ben Simmons for example so he is valuable in that vein. I don't think he will remain a non shooter either like Simmons has. Looking at the data I assume Barnes at least can improve his ft rate from 63%

 

[Ozone]

I'll be pretty devastated if we end up with Keon. He's like Barnes if you take off 4 inches of height and his only NBA-caliber offensive skill. Don't get the appeal.

cannot see them taking him as ugly as that shot is. But his ability to get to that rim and defend is worth a late lottery flier if he can prove capable of developing a Russel Westbrook mid rang game.

 

["MVP"]

Good comp @adam81king

Gordon had off the chart athleticism and mobility that I knew would make him a good to great 2-4 defender at the next level. Johnson doesnt have that. Gordon didnt have the offensive arsenal that Johnson has but he had a little better ball handling, agility, burst, athleticism.

(taps chin) Jalen Johnson reminds me of another Wildcat tweener... Derrick Williams. (maybe a younger Obi Toppin without the high hips and compromised mobility)

The way he was being used, I wasnt sure if it was purely limitations in his offensive game or limitations in how Coach K felt he should be used. Johnson really didn't look comfortable putting the ball on the floor whether in space or on the move just like Williams. You felt confident that if he got a smaller guy on his back, in the mid-post or lower, that he'd be able to get a bucket just like Williams and great timing on rebounding, weakside defensive help and finishing at the rim (with a running start) just like Williams.

I watched him early in the season, so I came back and watched him again as we got ready to start ACC play and I kept noticing him turning his back to secure the ball when any defenders pressured him. That can be improved but it spoke to him just not being confident or comfortable creating off the dribble, yet.

Other ACC guys who his game reminded me of at the collegiate level were Wake Forest's James Johnson or a little better polished offensively/little shorter and less impactful defensively John Collins from Wake

JJ reminds me more of the OG tweener, Marion. His playmaking ability & physicality make him head & shoulders above Williams as a prospect, though he doesn't quite have the shooting promise that Williams showed at Arizona. He has the highest upside of anyone outside of the top-6 IMO, though he also comes with the most risk given his inconsistency in his short career at Duke.

 

[Nathan S]

I can't see any interest in Garuba in CLE at all. Am I missing something?

Well, theoretically our starting 5 of the future is Garland/Sexton/Okoro/_______/Allen. Garuba seems to fit in that blank as well as anyone in this draft if you believe he can hit open 3's.

 

[Muffinalt]

Well, theoretically our starting 5 of the future is Garland/Sexton/Okoro/_______/Allen. Garuba seems to fit in that blank as well as anyone in this draft if you believe he can hit open 3's.

I find myself thinking more and more of Cade as the pick, granted we're in position to draft him. He would fit so damn well on our roster. We could really minimize his weaknesses and actually amplify all that he does well.

One of O'Sexland would have to go the bench but as a death lineup with those three + Cade at the 4, I think we'd be onto something really, really good.

Although I'd be happy with a whole bunch of other guys to be fair as well, very much including the really good defenders in Garuba and Wanger. Just interesting thinking about how our roster is going to move forward, it could go a lot of ways

But yeah Cade grew on me a bunch. A lot to do with his goddamn interviews, great character. I'd probably be a horrible scout, being swayed by personality all the time

 

[Nathan S]

I find myself thinking more and more of Cade as the pick, granted we're in position to draft him. He would fit so damn well on our roster. We could really minimize his weaknesses and actually amplify all that he does well.

One of O'Sexland would have to go the bench but as a death lineup with those three + Cade at the 4, I think we'd be onto something really, really good.

Although I'd be happy with a whole bunch of other guys to be fair as well, very much including the really good defenders in Garuba and Wanger. Just interesting thinking about how our roster is going to move forward, it could go a lot of ways

But yeah Cade grew on me a bunch. A lot to do with his goddamn interviews, great character. I'd probably be a horrible scout, being swayed by personality all the time

I'm never really gonna be happy with Cade because I'm mainly a numbers guy, and the numbers on him just aren't all that good.

I wouldn't be over the moon with Garuba either, it's just that, out of everyone we could draft, he seems like the clear best fit if we're sticking with our apparent core of Garland/Sexton/Okoro/Allen next season. He'll help ensure that they're respectable on defense, and he'll be an unobtrusive roleplayer on offense.

The hope would be that Garland/Sexton take the next step and actually become an elite 2-man offensive engine, and then Okoro/Garuba/Allen bring the length, athleticism, and defense.