2022 NBA Draft Safari

[Jstock12]

I will say, I'm feeling pretty good about my top-4 of Sengun/Mobley/Barnes/Wagner (especially considering Sengun's a year younger than the other 3). I've never nailed the top of a draft like this.

Unfortunately I'm a little bit more busy than in previous years so won't be able to post any model results until further notice

Any opinion on the https://evanmiya.com/ model? Does it look legit to you? I'm mainly interested because it has my boy Tubelis in 2nd place which seems a bit too good to be true (though I hope it is). Banchero is 25th lol.

 

[adam81king]

I keep seeing folks say they want a "3 and D" wing and I'm wondering why.

As much as we all agree that Mobley is a franchise player, I do think people are incorrectly assuming he'll be the #1 scoring option. I don't see him as the 25ppg scorer many seem to be thinking. At his peak, he feels like a Nikola Jokic-type offensive hub. Similarly, surrounding him with various shooting and scoring options through versatile players seems to make the most sense. When healthy, Jokic has Murray, MPJ, Barton, etc all capable of scoring 20+ on a given night. For that reason, I'd love to see the Cavaliers get a guy that has a little more versatility than a 3 and D, or supplemental guy. If I'm Koby, I'm looking for a guy that can score the ball, create his on shot, shoot the ball and can be a secondary/tertiary playmaker. Yes, that sounds like a big wish list in one guy, but I think getting that guy will make this team a contender for the foreseeable future. Personality/character/chemistry are critical, but doable. Whether they need to move assets to get the guy, or not, is the question. In the draft (outside of the top 5), I'm keeping an eye on guys like:
Keegan Murray (6'8" Wing Iowa SO)
Patrick Baldwin (6'10" F Milwaukee FR)
Ben Mathurin (6'7" SG Arizona SO)
Dyson Daniels (6'6" Wing GLeague)
Peyton Watson (6'8" Wing UCLA FR)
MarJon Beauchamp (6'6" Wing GLeague)
Julian Champagnie (6'7" Wing St Johns JR)
Max Christie (6'7" Wing Mich State FR)
Bryce McGowens (6'6" Wing Nebraska FR)
Ochai Agbaji (6'5" SG Kansas SR)
Harrison Ingram (6'7" Wing Stanford FR)
Terrance Shannon (6'6" SG Texas Tech JR)
Johnny Davis (6'5" SG Wisconsin SO)

 

[ajz20]

With the Cavs now very likely picking in the late teens or early 20s…

I really like Keegan Murray.

He’s an excellent two way player who is only shooting 31% from theee but I think his shooting projects as really good long term…he’s an 82% FT shooters.

He’s a damn good rebounder and he is an absolutely monstrous defender. He checks all the boxes behind the scenes from what I understand.

He can come in and compete hard right away. I hate making the Kawhi comparisons but this is just about general trajectory and developmental processes….but while I see a lot of comparisons to “role player “ 3 and D guys for Murray….I happen to think he oozes offensive potential and with the right individual coach. I think he’s ALREADY a great 3 and D role player waiting to help a good team and I think he could grow with Garland, Allen and Mobley and he would perfectly fit the timeline.

So my guy is Keegan Murray. I think he’s s late lottery guy unless he sets the tourney on fire which is possible. I would be okay with the Cavs being aggressive and moving up to draft him. I would sacrifice a kings ransom of 2nds..both of our top 10 seconds this year and I’d throw in like 3..4. Hell idc they can have 10 seconds if they let us move up from 20 to 10 lol.…I’d give Windler…I’dgive up Sexton.

Realistically I’d even give up a future lottery protected first round pick which is likely what it would take.

Fuck it. Here’s my draft. Say the Cavs are picking 20th even tho I fear it may end up like 23rd-24th.

#20, 2023 First lottery protected for 4 years then it turns into 2 seconds. 2025 2nd from the Bucke. 2027 2nd rounder from Denver and Windler For the 11th pick from the Kings.

We select Keegan Murray

We keep our 2nds this year…right now they’re 34 and 36

With 34 we select Iverson Molinar. PG from Miss State

With 36 we select Isaiah Mobley.

So…

We just got our much needed 2 way wing who’s good enough to win now with us and has potential to really blow up into a star IMO

We got another big who stretches the floor and rebounds in anticipation of a Kevin Love trade or simply him moving on the follow year after his contract is over. Happens to be our superstars brother who himself has been playing amazing ball this year. He is an NBA player- flat out no doubt.

Then we add another desperately needed guard-needed whether Sexton signs long term or not. He’s got good size at 6’3. He can play on or off the ball. Has a nice handle and a pretty smooth jumper. He really is a guy who can go out and get a good shot on his own if needed. Hopefully we can resign Rubio and he can learn under him and Garland.


We solve our long term wing problem and we just made the rotation 3 players deeper. These are 3 rookies that can play and help your team win right now. They all fill certain spots this team could really use help in. Some may disagree with me on Molinar and maybe want more of a true PG/setup guy at PG but I think we have plenty of that in Darius and Ricky. We need guys who can spark an offense When the movement gets stagnant and we go cold. Sexton can do that but his future is uncertain. A 2nd rounder on a guy like Molinar is a good Insurance policy and even if we keep Sexton we still could use the extra backup/safety ball handler.

I love it but Murray might very well honestly sneak into the top 8 to 12 picks. He is older but his skill set is too good to not be a lottery . selection as of today. You may need to give up more, but I'd offer a future one to move up in this draft and grab a wing!

 

[bs80]

Isaiah Mobley playing his way into the first round...

Watch the Lakers overdraft Isaiah as part of their pitch to sign Evan in FA down the line

Remember in 2014 when the Heat drafted Napier because LeBron talked him up so much only to watch LeBron skip town anyway? Good times!

 

[adam81king]

Watch the Lakers overdraft Isaiah as part of their pitch to sign Evan in FA down the line

Remember in 2014 when the Heat drafted Napier because LeBron talked him up so much only to watch LeBron skip town anyway? Good times!

Lakers don't have a 1st round pick this year, so that's good.

 

[cavsfever]

If we're going to be in the late teens, why not just take Isaiah Mobley? I know he doesn't exactly fit a need, but we're unlikely to get a starting SF down that low, the brother connection could be very positive for the team, and he does legit project as a good rotation big with a high floor. 40% three point shooting on 4 attempts per game is not bad at all for a college big man.

He taught Evan how to be tough playing in their driveway!

 

[Rich]

Sengun is going to follow a Sabonis like path. It will take him a few years to become a good enough defensive player to make him a key piece but he will get there.

Yes I think Sengun is going to be quite a good player. I dunno where Nathan vanishes too in non-draft times but he's gonna be right about Sengun.

 

[adam81king]

If we're going to be in the late teens, why not just take Isaiah Mobley? I know he doesn't exactly fit a need, but we're unlikely to get a starting SF down that low, the brother connection could be very positive for the team, and he does legit project as a good rotation big with a high floor. 40% three point shooting on 4 attempts per game is not bad at all for a college big man.

He taught Evan how to be tough playing in their driveway!

If Isaiah is playing well enough to warrant drafting him in the 1st, that's fine and I'm OK with doing that. Drafting him in the 1st just because he's our franchise players brother would be a wasted asset, though. This isn't like the NFL where you just get your QB where you can. If Isaiah is a 2nd round pick, get him with the Houston or San Antonio picks (or move up to get him, if needed), but don't use a 1st for no reason.

And I *do* think we can get a starting quality wing (SG/SF) with our 1st.

 

[Cement]

 

[Nathan S]

Any opinion on the https://evanmiya.com/ model? Does it look legit to you? I'm mainly interested because it has my boy Tubelis in 2nd place which seems a bit too good to be true (though I hope it is). Banchero is 25th lol.

Looks good to me!

 

[MirORich]

Griffin finally with a decent game. A lot of these freshman wings have underwhelmed but I am not going to write any of them off after their 10-12 first games in college, no matter how much those games torpedo their overall stat profile at the end of the year. A lot of conference games left, then conference tourneys, and NCAA's for them to show what their skillset is.

 

[ajz20]

Griffin finally with a decent game. A lot of these freshman wings have underwhelmed but I am not going to write any of them off after their 10-12 first games in college, no matter how much those games torpedo their overall stat profile at the end of the year. A lot of conference games left, then conference tourneys, and NCAA's for them to show what their skillset is.

Griffin is coming off a serous injury and is not 100 percent. If you look at his hs tape, his explosiveness is not back just yet. Maybe in a few months or sometime in 22. He is also raw,but might be one of those " how did he not get picked in the top 10" guys in 5 years because the upside is def there. He won't get huge minutes at Duke on most games, so he could easily out play where he is picked in a few years. No idea what the work ethic is, but he will likely have more upside then some of the players who will be taken above him.

 

[MirORich]

Griffin is coming off a serous injury and is not 100 percent. If you look at his his tape, his explosiveness is not back just yet. Maybe in a few months or sometime in 22. He is also raw,but might be one of those " how did he not get picked in the top 10" guys in 5 years because the upside is def there.

I'm a big time fan. Was surprised to see how little he was playing/impacting. Didn't realize the injury recovery was still an issue. If he slipped to us I'd pick him in a heartbeat. Even if he ascends as the season goes on, it still helps because it might push a Murray or Mauthurin a couple spots lower.

 

[adam81king]

If Okoro keeps this up, the Cavaliers have very good guys under 25 at every position. Are they then in the very rare position to truly draft BPA, instead of having a need? Can Koby let the draft come to him like Andrew Berry does? This may make me even more excited about the draft than I was.

 

[Smooth]

If Okoro keeps this up, the Cavaliers have very good guys under 25 at every position. Are they then in the very rare position to truly draft BPA, instead of having a need? Can Koby let the draft come to him like Andrew Berry does? This may make me even more excited about the draft than I was.

I still think the wing (or SF to be specific) is the greatest area of need..

Outside of that, shooting is always needed (especially if they’re 3&D) and developing a future plan for replacing Rubio would be next..

But to your point, the Cavs don’t look like they have to force any one position or any one role.. Ideally, they’ll be able to let the draft come to them and pick from the best player who fits their mold..