2021 NBA Draft Safari

[Adam]

I've never understood this notion that Barnes is an "underwhelming" or average athlete. I remember this play from his first college game:


Yea, he's a pretty terrific athlete actually, with a 6'9 & built frame to boot.

I think Barnes doesn't look like an explosive athletes because he is so big and smooth. People see jerky as explosive. Barnes is more of a constant acceleration guy

 

[roozy]

I think Barnes doesn't look like an explosive athletes because he is so big and smooth. People see jerky as explosive. Barnes is more of a constant acceleration guy

Yeah I'm not seeing the explosiveness.

 

[ryanf]

Give me a break. Combine stuff sounds like fixed exercises like the NFL combine warriors. I look at film. There are a couple of pre draft videos that show this. Find them bud. They are in this thread.

I'll wait for the day barnes posterize kuminga... hard...

 

[Nathan S]

How many NCAA players have the quickness and handle to turn the corner on Lewis, then the explosiveness to finish over Castleton? Not many...

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Barnes over Green is dope like dumb. Its not happening either. Barnes is a glue guy. Not a lead dog. This is a star league based around scoring/athletic "ceilng", which impacts future defensive potential and in many respects, that has always been the case.

So Green projects as a better defender than Barnes because of his higher "athletic ceiling". Gotcha!

 

[Nathan S]

Just noticed that Barnes finished the season with precisely as many made field goals as assists. Not that there's anything magical about that, but he did very literally strike a perfect balance between looking for his own shot and creating opportunities for his teammates. Other than Cooper (small sample size) and Suggs, no other young prospects come close. Seems like a very "lead dog" thing to do.

 

[foucault87]

So whats the scoop on Scottie Pippen Jr? Is he going to end up making people look stupid or is he a random guy we would never care about except for who his dad is

 

[Nathan S]

So whats the scoop on Scottie Pippen Jr? Is he going to end up making people look stupid or is he a random guy we would never care about except for who his dad is

He withdrew from this draft, so we don't have to worry about that question for at least another year

I certainly had him in my first round though.

 

[NtG]

Just noticed that Barnes finished the season with precisely as many made field goals as assists. Not that there's anything magical about that, but he did very literally strike a perfect balance between looking for his own shot and creating opportunities for his teammates. Other than Cooper (small sample size) and Suggs, no other young prospects come close. Seems like a very "lead dog" thing to do.

Wouldn't field goal attempts vs assists be a better indicator than field goals made for looking for his own shot?

 

[Nathan S]

Wouldn't field goal attempts vs assists be a better indicator than field goals made for looking for his own shot?

Yeah, but then the proper comparison would be all passes that lead to a made or missed shot, and that’s not something that’s usually tracked rigorously. So I think the straightforward comparison is his own made shots to his teammates’ made shots off his passes.

 

[Ozone]

Yeah I'm not seeing the explosiveness.

All that says to me is you are not a good judge of explosiveness at all. The kid proved he has explosive hops at the combine. Are they skinny kid 48" record breaking max vert hops? no, they are however with a 9' standing reach and the ability to touch the top of the backboard from a standing vert position or higher on the run far more impressive than a shorter kid needing a ton of open space to get that high

 

[Futuredome]

I'll wait for the day barnes posterize kuminga... hard...

Bring it on. Barnes slow first step and trying to explain it away as "smooth" is lolz. Guy just isn't that quick. I see him developing into a "big wing" offensively who will struggle with quicker players. Guarding Jalen Green, he will not be.

Oh yeah, if you think Kuminga "needs space", I can sell you a 1 dollar bill for 5 20's. All Barnes showed at the combine was he was tall and lanky. I mean, Mobley is taller and lankier. Has a better form on his 3 and is has much quicker feet. But we must continue to hype up Barnes. Watching him play in the NCAA tournament was a real treat. Started losing interest in him.

 

[Mcreek]

Great article on Mobley:

2021 NBA Draft: Evan Mobley isn’t the typical 7-footer, he’s ‘a unicorn’ that can fit anywhere

Now, his NBA dream within reach, that versatile skill set has scouts and executives salivating, believing he could be a trajectory-altering talent, the kind that lifts a franchise into rare air. Just as he did at Rancho Christian and then again at the University of Southern California.

www.cleveland.com

 

[I'mWithDan]

Bring it on. Barnes slow first step and trying to explain it away as "smooth" is lolz. Guy just isn't that quick. I see him developing into a "big wing" offensively who will struggle with quicker players. Guarding Jalen Green, he will not be.

Oh yeah, if you think Kuminga "needs space", I can sell you a 1 dollar bill for 5 20's. All Barnes showed at the combine was he was tall and lanky. I mean, Mobley is taller and lankier. Has a better form on his 3 and is has much quicker feet. But we must continue to hype up Barnes. Watching him play in the NCAA tournament was a real treat. Started losing interest in him.

It is fun to argue prospects......but I think a lot of times we fall in to this trap where one side only argues the positives and one side only argues the negatives.

With Barnes, his path to NBA success, IMO is more straightforward. If he can shoot, he's probably going to be an All-Star, relative to his passing and defense.

With Kuminga, his physical tools are pretty tantalizing, but he took a huge step back once his athletic gifts weren't so completely overpowering. The thing that scares me about Kuminga is his improvement feels more multi pronged......which if so, those are the prospects I just really do not personally want to draft. It is so hard to improve each level you go up.......and unlike someone like Green, Kuminga really didn't do a whole lot against pro competition. And if he needs to refine skill across the board, mature, etc......it is just a lot to ask of someone IMO. Is there a chance it all comes together? Sure. Is it likely? To me, it just is not.

That isn't to say Kuminga isn't a worthy gamble......I think he is......but the point in the draft that it makes sense to gamble on a guy like Kuminga is just, to me, several tiers after someone like Barnes. Barnes is more of a tier 2 guy to me.......maybe even a 1.5 with Suggs. Kuminga is more of a tier 4 type.......where at that point, I become more inclined to just swing for the ceiling, even if it means I can draft a guy that is out of the league in 3-4 years.

 

[JJ_PR]

I like Kispert & Murphy. We could get them both by trading down. I'm not sure Mobley is what we need with Allen on the roster. The spacing would be pretty bad.