2022 NBA Draft Safari

[MirORich]

So much changes but today, I think the absolute ideal roster fit is Houstan.

Relative to his projected range and the range the Cavs likely draft in, could be a pretty nice match of BPA and fit.


Maybe the SF version of Klay.

Looks good. And most of these are sophomore year of HS highlights because you can see Barnes in many of the clips.
Maybe not as physical or athletic as Griffin or Watson, but a really nice stroke and good length. Don't see a lot of defensive possessions on that video so hard to tell how we moves his feet and defends. Length to shrink/disrupt passing lanes though

 

[ajz20]

So much changes but today, I think the absolute ideal roster fit is Houstan.

Relative to his projected range and the range the Cavs likely draft in, could be a pretty nice match of BPA and fit.


Maybe the SF version of Klay.

He is a mix to me between Allen Houston and Harrison Barnes. Hopefully more like prime Allen Houston! Def a guy to monitor.

 

[I'mWithDan]

Looks good. And most of these are sophomore year of HS highlights because you can see Barnes in many of the clips.
Maybe not as physical or athletic as Griffin or Watson, but a really nice stroke and good length. Don't see a lot of defensive possessions on that video so hard to tell how we moves his feet and defends. Length to shrink/disrupt passing lanes though

He moves his feet well on D, plays good angles and gives effort. The last one is maybe the best sign given how top ranked prospects tend to get pretty lazy on defense on the wing. It is always hard to project NBA defense but he appears to be similar to Klay athletically.....where he isn't an elite vertical guy but his side to side movement and balance, for someone his size, is really good.

Michigan has such an amazing S&C program in basketball as well. The way so many of their players have changed their bodies and gotten better......exciting to see a player who shoots like Houstan, where if his body and athleticism accelerates at all in college, could be a pretty special wing prospect.

Here is a glimpse of some D. Not great film but at least shows stance, positioning, effort, etc.

 

[I'mWithDan]

Besides Houstan, guys I have at least ear marked for the purposes of the Cavs...

Jalen Duren - Pairing him with Mobley would just be an absolutely electric combo at the 4/5. I realize we have Allen.....but I think Duren is just a really special talent. He has the physical tools and size that just so few kids his age ever do.

Peyton Watson - Really love him. He has just exploded athletically in the last 18 months. He went from this skinny kind of smooth wiry kid to a really powerful, maturing down hill player. Hope he is actually at his listed 6'7" height.

Julian Champagnie - He's still young enough to be a lottery pick and my model (and @Nathan S ) really liked him this past season. Really hoping he takes that next step as a scorer.

Draft wise, this is a tougher year (to me) for specific roster fits. I think Houstan may be the only initial top 10 guy where there's a very easy BPA / Roster fit. From what I see on Griffin....just measurement wise, I expect him to be a SG.

Tough to guess what happens with Sexton but today, I operate under the assumption he will be here. So I would prefer to fill the SF spot but realize this may not be a great draft for one. I know that may go against conventional wisdom but I honestly would only view Watson or Houstan as the type of players who have obvious fits at the SF position in the NBA. The other guys I have watched film on I am less convinced.

 

[MirORich]

Besides Houstan, guys I have at least ear marked for the purposes of the Cavs...

Jalen Duren - Pairing him with Mobley would just be an absolutely electric combo at the 4/5. I realize we have Allen.....but I think Duren is just a really special talent. He has the physical tools and size that just so few kids his age ever do.

Peyton Watson - Really love him. He has just exploded athletically in the last 18 months. He went from this skinny kind of smooth wiry kid to a really powerful, maturing down hill player. Hope he is actually at is listed 6'7" height.

Julian Champagnie - He's still young enough to be a lottery pick and my model (and @Nathan S ) really liked him this past season. Really hoping he takes that next step as a scorer.

Draft wise, this is a tougher year (to me) for specific roster fits. I think Houstan may be the only initial top 10 guy where there's a very easy BPA / Roster fit. From what I see on Griffin....just measurement wise, I expect him to be a SG.

Tough to guess what happens with Sexton but today, I operate under the assumption he will be here. So I would prefer to fill the SF spot but realize this may not be a great draft for one. I know that may go against conventional wisdom but I honestly would only view Watson or Houstan as the type of players who have obvious fits at the SF position in the NBA. The other guys I have watched film on I am less convinced.

Griffin's wingspan is supposedly 7 foot. 3-4 inches longer than Okoro. I think he'll play SF. He supposedly has also grown to a true 6'6" and is the third youngest of all the 22 earmarked lotto picks, but obviously tough to trust until done at the NBA combine.

The video I saw of Watson and Banchero doing a workout together showed Watson as so gangly, like a Siakam or 17 year old Giannis body. Obviously he can develop physically but it makes me wonder how his shot mechanics will be. He has supposedly grown to 6'9" but again, who knows. Actually plays for Long Beach Poly which is 10 minutes from where I live so maybe I'll actually go see him live if they have a good team coming in to ply them at their gym.

Do you see Jovic and Baldwin, Jr. as more modern NBA defensive 4's and not SF's?

 

[I'mWithDan]

The video I saw of Watson and Banchero doing a workout together showed Watson as so gangly, like a Siakam or 17 year old Giannis body. Obviously he can develop physically but it makes me wonder how his shot mechanics will be. He has supposedly grown to 6'9" but again, who knows. Actually plays for Long Beach Poly which is 10 minutes from where I live so maybe I'll actually go see him live if they have a good team coming in to ply them at their gym.

Banchero is like an offensive tackle, so maybe not the best body type for a comp.

Watson looked like a 6'6" version of Chet about 18 months ago. His lower body has started filling out but if he is actually 6'9", that would make sense why his upper body is more sleight. Until he stops growing, it is going to probably be tough for him to put on a significant amount of weight.

Do you see Jovic and Baldwin, Jr. as more modern NBA defensive 4's and not SF's?

Baldwin looks more like a 4 to me. Again, it was my assessment of watching 15-20 minutes of his condensed games. I think he really lacks the suddenness needed to put the ball on the floor at the 3......but is pretty interesting as a 4 who can create a bit.

Jovic, he can prove me wrong one day......but I would say he is unequivocally not an NBA athlete and I don't know I can name a single impactful 3 that overcame that to be a keeper. Seems more like a 4 to me as well.

 

[Nathan S]

Small sample size, but Jovic's 1 steal vs 12 blocks in U19 world cup play kinda screams that he's a pure 4 at the NBA level.

 

[MirORich]

Banchero is like an offensive tackle, so maybe not the best body type for a comp.

Watson looked like a 6'6" version of Chet about 18 months ago. His lower body has started filling out but if he is actually 6'9", that would make sense why his upper body is more sleight. Until he stops growing, it is going to probably be tough for him to put on a significant amount of weight.



Baldwin looks more like a 4 to me. Again, it was my assessment of watching 15-20 minutes of his condensed games. I think he really lacks the suddenness needed to put the ball on the floor at the 3......but is pretty interesting as a 4 who can create a bit.

Jovic, he can prove me wrong one day......but I would say he is unequivocally not an NBA athlete and I don't know I can name a single impactful 3 that overcame that to be a keeper.

Yeah, I couldn't believe Banchero's body. I know he's skilled and highly regarded but trying to think of someone with a similar tree trunk stoutness that has been a star in the NBA. I guess he kind of looks like Zion with another 4 inches of height but the same or more stoutness and not the same elite athleticism.

Baldwin kind of reminded me of Michael Porter Jr in build and movement. But right, is that a PF or SF in the NBA?

 

[I'mWithDan]

Baldwin kind of reminded me of Michael Porter Jr in build and movement. But right, is that a PF or SF in the NBA?

I honestly have a tough time with comps. I always am better at spotting what I wouldn't believe to be similarities vs. which actual player someone may wholly resemble.

Porter Jr. was such a finished product to me in HS. He almost looked like a cartoon character with his size, athleticism and skill at his size. It is kind of funny to look at his high school tape.....it seriously just looks like you took him, today and let him play against HS kids.

Not a comp but Watson's ascension is very similar to Sexton's. Just as a late bloomer that has really come on. Hoping his body starts to fill out a little in college.

 

[sailfish]

Walker ( just based on highlights) has a chance to stick in the Nba because he is long and has an easy release. He is not going to wow you with athletic traits but he is smooth with his movement. Seems like a guy who could develop into a quality role player. I am not sure the upside is huge, might just be a bench guy in the nba but the Cavs could def use a guy like him moving forward.

Jabari Walker is the son of former Louisville Cardinal & NBA player, Samaki Walker. So, good bloodlines there.

looking at his stats:

Jabari Walker College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Jabari Walker - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more

www.sports-reference.com

-.641 TS% is outstanding.
-.523 3P% is also outstanding.
-his 40 minute per stats are better than Evan Mobley or Scottie Barnes.
-his PER, of 26.8, is better then Barnes and only 2.3 behind Mobley, who didn’t shoot as many 3’s.

All in all, I’m very intrigued by Walker as a possible NBA wing.

 

[sailfish]

Besides Houstan, guys I have at least ear marked for the purposes of the Cavs...

Jalen Duren - Pairing him with Mobley would just be an absolutely electric combo at the 4/5. I realize we have Allen.....but I think Duren is just a really special talent. He has the physical tools and size that just so few kids his age ever do.

Peyton Watson - Really love him. He has just exploded athletically in the last 18 months. He went from this skinny kind of smooth wiry kid to a really powerful, maturing down hill player. Hope he is actually at his listed 6'7" height.

Julian Champagnie - He's still young enough to be a lottery pick and my model (and @Nathan S ) really liked him this past season. Really hoping he takes that next step as a scorer.

Draft wise, this is a tougher year (to me) for specific roster fits. I think Houstan may be the only initial top 10 guy where there's a very easy BPA / Roster fit. From what I see on Griffin....just measurement wise, I expect him to be a SG.

Tough to guess what happens with Sexton but today, I operate under the assumption he will be here. So I would prefer to fill the SF spot but realize this may not be a great draft for one. I know that may go against conventional wisdom but I honestly would only view Watson or Houstan as the type of players who have obvious fits at the SF position in the NBA. The other guys I have watched film on I am less convinced.

Personally, I’d recommend casting a wider net. Last year at this time, BJ Boston & Jalen Johnson were almost universally regarded as lottery picks. Furthermore, no one thought of Franz Wagner, Davion Mitchell, & Josh Primo as lottery picks.

I’ve heard NBA types don’t have as good a feel for the high school class of 2021, due to Covid. ALOT can and likely will change between now and next June.

 

[adam81king]

Personally, I’d recommend casting a wider net. Last year at this time, BJ Boston & Jalen Johnson were almost universally regarded as lottery picks. Furthermore, no one thought of Franz Wagner, Davion Mitchell, & Josh Primo as lottery picks.

I’ve heard NBA types don’t have as good a feel for the high school class of 2021, due to Covid. ALOT can and likely will change between now and next June.

I have a list of just SFs, or big SGs, that goes into the 140s or player rankings for the 2022 Draft. I think it's about 12-18 players long. Happy to share the names with anyone interested.

 

[MirORich]

I have a list of just SFs, or big SGs, that goes into the 140s or player rankings for the 2022 Draft. I think it's about 12-18 players long. Happy to share the names with anyone interested.

About 10-12 of them have been listed/mentioned/discussed over the past 3-4 pages but the more the merrier. Unless it's something that's pinned, it's always going to fall back pages, sometimes in a single day depending on how frequent the conversation in this thread is.

 

[adam81king]

About 10-12 of them have been listed/mentioned/discussed over the past 3-4 pages but the more the merrier. Unless it's something that's pinned, it's always going to fall back pages, sometimes in a single day depending on how frequent the conversation in this thread is.

When I get back to my computer I'll post the list, and admins can decide on pinning, or not. I've only seen a few of the guys mentioned, but that probably goes to your point of missing guys from not having it pinned.

 

[All4One1ForAll]

So much changes but today, I think the absolute ideal roster fit is Houstan.

Relative to his projected range and the range the Cavs likely draft in, could be a pretty nice match of BPA and fit.


Maybe the SF version of Klay.

What do you think of AJ Griffin. It'd be nice to add someone with an NBA-ready body and his game is very reminiscent of Butler's.