2021 NBA Draft Safari

[I'mWithDan]

No one's lost more ground than Barnes in the last few weeks, at least on my draft rater.

Also, wondering why you always leave Sengun off these. He's gotta be as good as anyone in this draft statistically, right?

He is (statistically).......I just don't know what to make of him.

I have yet to hear anyone I lean on for qualitative scouting opinions talk about him......which isn't to say he won't be a good NBA player, but just an anecdote that the NBA team personnel I know (which are a few assistants and a few scouts), to this point, just don't seem that interested in him......for one reason or another.

 

[MD13]

He's just been completely miscast as a PG. Put him with a PG, and I think he'll look a lot better as a shooter and off-ball cutter.

I think he can be really valuable doing that while being a 2nd/3rd offensive initiator, but not as valuable as I think a few other guys in this class can be.

I agree on the first point, but it seems like everyone views him as #1 based on the impression that he IS a 6'8" PG. I feel like with Cade in particular there's been so much groupthink that analysts are scared to question the narrative on him.

 

[Derek]

I agree on the first point, but it seems like everyone views him as #1 based on the impression that he IS a 6'8" PG. I feel like with Cade in particular there's been so much groupthink that analysts are scared to question the narrative on him.

Definitely agree with this. Did you hear the announcers raving about him during his lackluster performance against Liberty? It honestly made me laugh.

 

["MVP"]

Definitely agree with this. Did you hear the announcers raving about him during his lackluster performance against Liberty? It honestly made me laugh.

Hahah I noticed that too. Something along the lines of "This is one special talent. Even when he doesn't shoot the ball well, he impacts the game in so many other ways with his court vision and rebounding and defensive impact."

It's getting out of hand at this point. I like Cade and his 40% 3-point shooting is nothing to sneeze at. But come on, he's not above at least some criticism. He's talked about as if he's the most surefire franchise savior since LeBron...

 

[Nathan S]

He is (statistically).......I just don't know what to make of him.

I have yet to hear anyone I lean on for qualitative scouting opinions talk about him......which isn't to say he won't be a good NBA player, but just an anecdote that the NBA team personnel I know (which are a few assistants and a few scouts), to this point, just don't seem that interested in him......for one reason or another.

It's not like he's completely off the radar...he's in the first round of pretty much every mock these days, with late lottery-early 20's the typical range, and those rankings don't yet account for his latest burst of elite production. Seems like he should be in the conversation.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

The thing with Cade is I don’t think he has a sure fire position. He’s like Magic/LBJ whereas his height makes him interchangeable (PG, SG, SF). That’s what makes him the number one or two pick in this draft! Mobley is not worth the top spot in this draft.

 

[Derek]

I know people would lose their minds, but I really like Jalen Suggs.

In addition to just being a great talent, he does a lot of things that could potentially cover Garland and Sexton’s deficiencies when playing alongside either of them.

 

[Adam]

I know people would lose their minds, but I really like Jalen Suggs.

In addition to just being a great talent, he does a lot of things that could potentially cover Garland and Sexton’s deficiencies when playing alongside either of them.

I love suggs reminds me so much of Brandon Roy. But with knees

 

[RchfldCavRaised]

Suggs has climbed up to be neck and neck with my Barnes at #3 priority for me.

Eearrrrly I called Cade for his inability to create space (cutting, dribbling, initiating) and how much that alarmed me. He did nothing to change that for me and I was really hoping he would so we could pencil him in as #1 and need less to get our hands on the true #1 in this draft, Mobley. He didn't do that.

I don't want him

I read a comp earlier in this thread to Middleton and I don't even feel that's his ceiling as I actually saw middleton shoot in college and he was deadeye/striking fear. I remember Rip Hamilton off the ball with 3pt range at 6'6/6'7 for Billy Gillespie at Miss St Bulldogs for Middleton. Allan Houston at Tennessee like. I don't see that for Cade

I keep coming back to the Harrison Barnes, Jabari Parker type of position less guy who peaked in high school and now will always be best served as 4th or 5th best at the pro level.

I watched his youtube "day in the life" looking for an intangible that would say he's a bull when he sees red and all I got was "say the right thing, but beta male if everything isn't perfect for his alpha performance".

I've seen that before and I don't want it to fill the gaps we have.

Mobley
Kuminga
Green
Suggs/Barnes



Everybody else

 

[Derek]

Suggs has climbed up to be neck and neck with my Barnes at #3 priority for me.

Eearrrrly I called Cade for his inability to create space (cutting, dribbling, initiating) and how much that alarmed me. He did nothing to change that for me and I was really hoping he would so we could pencil him in as #1 and need less to get our hands on the true #1 in this draft, Mobley. He didn't do that.

I don't want him

I read a comp earlier in this thread to Middleton and I don't even feel that's his ceiling as I actually saw middleton shoot in college and he was deadeye/striking fear. I remember Rip Hamilton off the ball with 3pt range at 6'6/6'7 for Billy Gillespie at Miss St Bulldogs for Middleton. Allan Houston at Tennessee like. I don't see that for Cade

I keep coming back to the Harrison Barnes, Jabari Parker type of position less guy who peaked in high school and now will always be best served as 4th or 5th best at the pro level.

I watched his youtube "day in the life" looking for an intangible that would say he's a bull when he sees red and all I got was "say the right thing, but beta male if everything isn't perfect for his alpha performance".

I've seen that before and I don't want it to fill the gaps we have.

Mobley
Kuminga
Green
Suggs/Barnes



Everybody else

Talk me into Kuminga. I couldn’t get myself excited about him from the G-League season, but I admit that it’s based on just a few games.

 

[RchfldCavRaised]

Talk me into Kuminga. I couldn’t get myself excited about him from the G-League season, but I admit that it’s based on just a few games.

Do you remember when Artest really hit his prime as a MVP contender before the brawl and then when he came back at Houston/Sac before settling into a really good roleplayer for LAL?

I see Kuminga easily reaching last year in Indy prime RonRon. He's already close to that offensively.

He's got in-game intangibles that will help him and give him a high floor to build on. Some guys are magnets because of their offensive gravity (garland), some defensive (marcus smart, tony allen) and then some guys are magnets because of how they impact both ends. I believe Kuminga is a magnet offensively as a 3 and has potential to be that defensively 2, 3 & 4 like Artest.

My first preference is Mobley but I believe you can't miss with Kuminga defensively next and higher ceiling in future, Green next offensively and less high defensive potential, and Barnes and Suggs after

 

[Derek]

Do you remember when Artest really hit his prime as a MVP contender before the brawl and then when he came back at Houston/Sac before settling into a really good roleplayer for LAL?

I see Kuminga easily reaching last year in Indy prime RonRon. He's already close to that offensively.

He's got in-game intangibles that will help him and give him a high floor to build on. Some guys are magnets because of their offensive gravity (garland), some defensive (marcus smart, tony allen) and then some guys are magnets because of how they impact both ends. I believe Kuminga is a magnet offensively as a 3 and has potential to be that defensively 2, 3 & 4 like Artest.

My first preference is Mobley but I believe you can't miss with Kuminga defensively next and higher ceiling in future, Green next offensively and less high defensive potential, and Barnes and Suggs after

I’m sold

 

["MVP"]

Kuminga reminds me a bit of Pat Will from this last class. Super raw but all the tools to be a long, athletic, really good two-way wing.

 

[pr26]

Suggs has climbed up to be neck and neck with my Barnes at #3 priority for me.

Eearrrrly I called Cade for his inability to create space (cutting, dribbling, initiating) and how much that alarmed me. He did nothing to change that for me and I was really hoping he would so we could pencil him in as #1 and need less to get our hands on the true #1 in this draft, Mobley. He didn't do that.

I don't want him

I read a comp earlier in this thread to Middleton and I don't even feel that's his ceiling as I actually saw middleton shoot in college and he was deadeye/striking fear. I remember Rip Hamilton off the ball with 3pt range at 6'6/6'7 for Billy Gillespie at Miss St Bulldogs for Middleton. Allan Houston at Tennessee like. I don't see that for Cade

I keep coming back to the Harrison Barnes, Jabari Parker type of position less guy who peaked in high school and now will always be best served as 4th or 5th best at the pro level.

I watched his youtube "day in the life" looking for an intangible that would say he's a bull when he sees red and all I got was "say the right thing, but beta male if everything isn't perfect for his alpha performance".

I've seen that before and I don't want it to fill the gaps we have.

Mobley
Kuminga
Green
Suggs/Barnes



Everybody else

I think I don’t dislike Cade’s game as much as you....but I do have him right after those top 5 guys you listed and I’d take any of them over Cade every single time.

My wishlist looks exactly like yours, except I struggle choosing between Kuminga and Green. I think Kuminga might have the highest ceiling in this draft....but I think Green is the most sure fire offensive impact player in the draft. One of those rare drafts where I’m happy with a top 5 pick and seeing who is left.

 

[MD13]

Talk me into Kuminga. I couldn’t get myself excited about him from the G-League season, but I admit that it’s based on just a few games.

Kuminga is one of those "if his jumper comes around, he's a perennial all star wing" kind of guys. Sometimes you become a paul george or kawhi, and more often you don't. He does so many good things on both ends of the court, but if he can't shoot then he probably tops out as a solid rotation player. I was really impressed by his floor game, but it all revolves around how he tops out as a shooter.