2021 NBA Draft Safari

[foucault87]

Even if we take Suggs/Green, does that mean we dump Sexland? I would assume we run them as our 3 guards for a year and then flip Garland for value

 

[I'mWithDan]

You don't think there's a legitimate argument that Mobley is just the better prospect?

If Mobley is off the board, I'd be excited with Green or Suggs, either of whom would almost definitely end the Sexland starting backcourt. I think the best pure "fits" to make our current roster work would be Cade or Kuminga, if you believe in their talents.

For me, Mobley’s passivity on offense is harder for me to square with someone like Green in this class.

I have actually said previously (in pages way back) that Mobley looked like the #1 guy.....but that was prior to seeing Green, as a 19 year old, showing 3 level scoring potential in the G-League. I still like Mobley....just not as much as I like Green.

Mobley has to be a game changing defender if he is not a go to scorer at the NBA level and my concern with him would be he has not really exhibited interesting volume scoring markers.....and his shooting projection could go either way.

That more speaks to this draft where the completeness of the top 5 is better than average but it isn’t totally apparent there is one truly elite guy. And if I’m betting on one prospect coming out of the group, I would have more confidence that Green’s star outcomes happen far more frequently than a big man profile like Mobley’s. Mobley probably has a higher floor but you just need an actual star to do anything of consequence in the NBA, especially relative to the Cavs market. So given this current roster is going nowhere, I would aim for the star profile.

 

[I'mWithDan]

Even if we take Suggs/Green, does that mean we dump Sexland? I would assume we run them as our 3 guards for a year and then flip Garland for value

What else do we need to see at this point?

I can’t imagine Garland’s value will be higher next year vs right now.

You just admit the mistake and move on.

 

[MirORich]

I can’t imagine Garland’s value will be higher next year vs right now.

His FG% is up 4 points from his rookie year
His 3P % is up 4 points from his rookie year
His assists are up 1.9 from his rookie year
Hes averaging 22 ppg and playing more aggressivsly in his past 4 games

Even if you don’t believe in the long term fit(as starters together or just with both on the roster), I could easily seeing his number comtinuing to climb the rest of the year and in year three and could definitely see him having a higher trade value by halfway through next year than he has around the league now.

 

[Nathan S]

For me, Mobley’s passivity on offense is harder for me to square with someone like Green in this class.

I have actually said previously (in pages way back) that Mobley looked like the #1 guy.....but that was prior to seeing Green, as a 19 year old, showing 3 level scoring potential in the G-League. I still like Mobley....just not as much as I like Green.

Mobley has to be a game changing defender if he is not a go to scorer at the NBA level and my concern with him would be he has not really exhibited interesting volume scoring markers.....and his shooting projection could go either way.

That more speaks to this draft where the completeness of the top 5 is better than average but it isn’t totally apparent there is one truly elite guy. And if I’m betting on one prospect coming out of the group, I would have more confidence that Green’s star outcomes happen far more frequently than a big man profile like Mobley’s. Mobley probably has a higher floor but you just need an actual star to do anything of consequence in the NBA, especially relative to the Cavs market. So given this current roster is going nowhere, I would aim for the star profile.

Well you know, if you want a big who's *not* passive on offense...you know who I'm about to suggest...

 

["MVP"]

What else do we need to see at this point?

I can’t imagine Garland’s value will be higher next year vs right now.

You just admit the mistake and move on.

I agree that if Suggs or Green are the pick, one of Sexland will be either moved to the bench or traded. I actually think Suggs is a great fit next to Sexton, and Green a good enough fit next to Garland.

But I don't agree that Sexland was a mistake. Garland was clearly the best talent available at 5 in 2019. In their two years together, neither of Sexland has hindered the other's development. Garland's value is probably higher or as high as any other player selected after him. Taking BPA in those drafts have set us up nicely for this draft IMO, that we can take Green OR Suggs and feel great about getting good value back for one of Sexland to construct a team that makes more sense.

I don't know, I just think talent accumulation is the most important thing when starting a rebuild.

 

[Nathan S]

(per-100 stats)

Cade Cunningham (19.5 years old, 6'8" 220lbs): 31.2 points (.44/.40/.85 shooting), 9.6 boards, 5.4 assists, 2.5 steals, 1.2 blocks, 6.2 turnovers, 3.8 fouls

Mystery player (19.7 years old, 6'8" 220lbs): 32.4 points (.43/.38/.89 shooting), 12.1 boards, 2.2 assists, 2.4 steals, 1.6 blocks, 3.1 turnovers, 2.9 fouls

Any guesses?

 

[adam81king]

(per-100 stats)

Cade Cunningham (19.5 years old, 6'8" 220lbs): 31.2 points (.44/.40/.85 shooting), 9.6 boards, 5.4 assists, 2.5 steals, 1.2 blocks, 6.2 turnovers, 3.8 fouls

Mystery player (19.7 years old, 6'8" 220lbs): 32.4 points (.43/.38/.89 shooting), 12.1 boards, 2.2 assists, 2.4 steals, 1.6 blocks, 3.1 turnovers, 2.9 fouls

Any guesses?

Recently waived Jabari Parker as a freshman at Duke?

 

[Nathan S]

Recently waived Jabari Parker as a freshman at Duke?

Nope, this player officially entered the 2021 draft yesterday!

 

[I'mWithDan]

(per-100 stats)

Cade Cunningham (19.5 years old, 6'8" 220lbs): 31.2 points (.44/.40/.85 shooting), 9.6 boards, 5.4 assists, 2.5 steals, 1.2 blocks, 6.2 turnovers, 3.8 fouls

Mystery player (19.7 years old, 6'8" 220lbs): 32.4 points (.43/.38/.89 shooting), 12.1 boards, 2.2 assists, 2.4 steals, 1.6 blocks, 3.1 turnovers, 2.9 fouls

Any guesses?

I don't know......but I feel like averaging 2.5 times more assist doesn't make these players all that similar?

My blind guess would be someone like Oubre or Winslow but I'm grasping at what other true NBA wings had such low assist totals.

Recently waived Jabari Parker as a freshman at Duke?

The scoring number is the giveaway it isn't Jabari.....he actually had crazy per 100 scoring numbers.

 

[daddywags]

Julian Champagnie. But I looked it up. (Cheater)

 

[Nathan S]

I don't know......but I feel like averaging 2.5 times more assist doesn't make these players all that similar?

My blind guess would be someone like Oubre or Winslow but I'm grasping at what other true NBA wings had such low assist totals.



The scoring number is the giveaway it isn't Jabari.....he actually had crazy per 100 scoring numbers.

I guess this gets down to the question of, would Cade be better if he just ditched the point guard stuff and focused on scoring? That's sort of what he did the last few games of the season. I don't think the answer to that question is obvious, but I think the "scoring wing" version of Cade is remarkably similar to Julian Champagnie.

 

[daddywags]

Doesn't Cunningham fit really well here as a SF with point forward abilities? Seems to me he fits really well with any of Sexton, Garland and/or Okoro. Lots of different 1-2-3 lineups there.

 

[adam81king]

I guess this gets down to the question of, would Cade be better if he just ditched the point guard stuff and focused on scoring? That's sort of what he did the last few games of the season. I don't think the answer to that question is obvious, but I think the "scoring wing" version of Cade is remarkably similar to Julian Champagnie.

This is why my comps of Cade have never been Lebron or Ben Simmons. Jimmy Butler has been the closest I could find as a projection (without numbers to back it up, just feel and style of offense).

 

[Nathan S]

Doesn't Cunningham fit really well here as a SF with point forward abilities? Seems to me he fits really well with any of Sexton, Garland and/or Okoro. Lots of different 1-2-3 lineups there.

But can he function as a point forward at the NBA level? He struggled when he tried to play that role for OK State, and gradually transitioned into more of a scoring role. By the end of the season, he was actually averaging more points and fewer assists than Sexton did in college.