2022 NBA Draft Safari

[foucault87]

I really hope we take a swing on one of the high potential wings (Dieng, Eason, Daniels). IF they aren't there, I settle for Ochai who is a better impact player now, but frankly I dont really care how much this rookie contributes to the 2023 campaign. Drafting for the one year bump is short-sighted. I also really hope we dont waste the pick on another scoring guard like Davis or Tyty. Davis especially looks like a huge bust, perfect for Sac.

 

[Kepler]

everybody discussing who to pick at 14 when we are picking for top 3

 

[adam81king]

everybody discussing who to pick at 14 when we are picking for top 3

Not #4?

 

[Muffinalt]

everybody discussing who to pick at 14 when we are picking for top 3

Oh ive been fantasizing about rosters with a new shiny Jabari Smith on it for months now

It's happening.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

I really hope we take a swing on one of the high potential wings (Dieng, Eason, Daniels). IF they aren't there, I settle for Ochai who is a better impact player now, but frankly I dont really care how much this rookie contributes to the 2023 campaign. Drafting for the one year bump is short-sighted. I also really hope we dont waste the pick on another scoring guard like Davis or Tyty. Davis especially looks like a huge bust, perfect for Sac.

I just wanna say this in regards to Ochai..

I hate the label of “he’s a high floor guy but low ceiling…”

That was the knock on Mikal Bridges. 3 and D wing with a low ceiling. Now he’s an absolute BALLER. Scoring 20 a night in the playoffs. Just had a 31 pt game. 3 year college player:

DeAndre Hunter. Same thing. Now he’s starting to develop into a baller. Putting up big time playoff games. 2 year college player plus a redshirt season.

Now I know I know if Agbaji was 6’7-6’8 instead of 6’5-6’6 then maybe that changes some opinions and maybe he’s not even available at 14..but I’m just comparing situations not them as players

But I’ll throw a shorter guy out there…


Desmond Bane…same thing.


I know My guy ImWithDan says his model which kicks ass quite a bit says it hates Ochai. I respect that and take it into account..I do.

Im just saying…if a front office thinks this dude can play…there’s nothing stopping 3 or 4 year college guys from getting better once they get to the league no matter how old they are. If you believe in a guys film, his skill set, and as long as his physical attributes aren’t so bad they’re / detriment to what you’re trying to do on the court…there’s plenty of 2,3,4 year college guys that continue to get better..just like they had gotten better year over year in college. And plenty of athletes with potential thet flash skills but never can put it together at the pro level just like they never fully put it together at the college or semi pro level.

 

["MVP"]

I just wanna say this in regards to Ochai..

I hate the label of “he’s a high floor guy but low ceiling…”

That was the knock on Mikal Bridges. 3 and D wing with a low ceiling. Now he’s an absolute BALLER. Scoring 20 a night in the playoffs. Just had a 31 pt game. 3 year college player:

DeAndre Hunter. Same thing. Now he’s starting to develop into a baller. Putting up big time playoff games. 2 year college player plus a redshirt season.

Now I know I know if Agbaji was 6’7-6’8 instead of 6’5-6’6 then maybe that changes some opinions and maybe he’s not even available at 14..but I’m just comparing situations not them as players

But I’ll throw a shorter guy out there…


Desmond Bane…same thing.


I know My guy ImWithDan says his model which kicks ass quite a bit says it hates Ochai. I respect that and take it into account..I do.

Im just saying…if a front office thinks this dude can play…there’s nothing stopping 3 or 4 year college guys from getting better once they get to the league no matter how old they are. If you believe in a guys film, his skill set, and as long as his physical attributes aren’t so bad they’re / detriment to what you’re trying to do on the court…there’s plenty of 2,3,4 year college guys that continue to get better..just like they had gotten better year over year in college. And plenty of athletes with potential thet flash skills but never can put it together at the pro level just like they never fully put it together at the college or semi pro level.

Meh.

I'm not even sure that I buy that Agbaji is a high floor guy. I see him as a solid second-round prospect being mocked way too high.

I agree that players at age 22 are far from finished products. But rarely do you have players with Agbaji's statistical profile that become even rotational players at the NBA.

Mikal Bridges averaged 5 stocks per 40 mins during his 3 seasons at Villanova. Agbaji, in his breakout senior year, was at 2.4. Bridges shot 85% from the line vs. Agbaji's 72%. Bridges was at 53% from the floor during his 3 years vs. Agbaji's 45% from the floor for his career.

Statistically, these two are not even in the same stratosphere as prospects. And Bridges has gone on to overachieve even relative to expectations.

Hunter I felt even when he was drafted that this guy is just so raw. He was playing PF at Virginia and kind of an after thought for them offensively. He was a "physical tools" pick with a lot of upside despite his age.

And Bane is built like an absolute tank with a silky smooth shot. From his sophomore year to his senior year, he shot close to 45% from 3 and 50% from the floor to go with 2.2 stocks. In retrospect, Bane clearly should have been seen as an "Okoro with a lethal jump shot" prospect.

I don't think Agbaji is close to any of these guys as a prospect.

I'm not opposed to drafting a senior. Last year, OU's Jason Preston was my favorite second round target. I'm just opposed to drafting this specific senior with our lottery pick.

 

[roozy]

Meh.

I'm not even sure that I buy that Agbaji is a high floor guy. I see him as a solid second-round prospect being mocked way too high.

I agree that players at age 22 are far from finished products. But rarely do you have players with Agbaji's statistical profile that become even rotational players at the NBA.

Mikal Bridges averaged 5 stocks per 40 mins during his 3 seasons at Villanova. Agbaji, in his breakout senior year, was at 2.4. Bridges shot 85% from the line vs. Agbaji's 72%. Bridges was at 53% from the floor during his 3 years vs. Agbaji's 45% from the floor for his career.

Statistically, these two are not even in the same stratosphere as prospects. And Bridges has gone on to overachieve even relative to expectations.

Hunter I felt even when he was drafted that this guy is just so raw. He was playing PF at Virginia and kind of an after thought for them offensively. He was a "physical tools" pick with a lot of upside despite his age.

And Bane is built like an absolute tank with a silky smooth shot. From his sophomore year to his senior year, he shot close to 45% from 3 and 50% from the floor to go with 2.2 stocks. In retrospect, Bane clearly should have been seen as an "Okoro with a lethal jump shot" prospect.

I don't think Agbaji is close to any of these guys as a prospect.

I'm not opposed to drafting a senior. Last year, OU's Jason Preston was my favorite second round target. I'm just opposed to drafting this specific senior with our lottery pick.

You pretty much covered what I wanted to say, just wanna add that he doesn't have the handle of Bane and wasn't nearly as consistent from the foul line.

 

[jhernjh]

The Cavs two positions that can use improvement, in SF and SG. That Serbian kid, Nikola Jovic, seems to be able to play both positions. He is most likely SF. With the ability to ball handle, pass and also can hit off-ball 3-pointers. While his defense is raw, this team has plenty of good defenders to compensate. At 6-10 (with a 7-1 wingspan) it gives the Cavs a back-up with size if they have multiple bigs go down with injuries and another ball handler that can help compensate Okoros skill set

 

[roozy]

The Cavs two positions that can use improvement, in SF and SG. That Serbian kid, Nikola Jovic, seems to be able to play both positions. He is most likely SF. With the ability to ball handle, pass and also can hit off-ball 3-pointers. While his defense is raw, this team has plenty of good defenders to compensate. At 6-10 (with a 7-1 wingspan) it gives the Cavs a back-up with size if they have multiple bigs go down with injuries and another ball handler that can help compensate Okoros skill set

Jovic might be the the worst defender in this class, just another Lauri.

 

[foucault87]

I think you guys are missing what IBWT is saying about Ochai. Its not an issue of him being directly compared to guys like Mikal or Desmond. Its the fact that these were upperclassmen who went on to make major improvements to their game after getting drafted and are currently having huge impacts on playoff teams. We shouldn't discount Ochai's game just because he is older.

I do think he has fewer paths to expand his game right now compared to someone like Dyson or Eason, but if he is a 16-18 ppg guy with elite shooting and good D? That is a fine outcome for 14th pick and would be a great add for the Cavs

 

[jhernjh]

Jovic on offense is a much different player than Lauri. In the NBA he will probably guarding forwards, instead of guards where he looked the worst at guarding. The Cavs need more offfense and creativity, than they need more defenders. Jovic is only 19 and has time to improve on that aspect.

Last year, lots of folks thought Scottie Barnes offense would not translate in the NBA. He did just fine. Jovic has a similar skill set on offense, but he has holes to improve on d.

 

["MVP"]

I think you guys are missing what IBWT is saying about Ochai. Its not an issue of him being directly compared to guys like Mikal or Desmond. Its the fact that these were upperclassmen who went on to make major improvements to their game after getting drafted and are currently having huge impacts on playoff teams. We shouldn't discount Ochai's game just because he is older.

I do think he has fewer paths to expand his game right now compared to someone like Dyson or Eason, but if he is a 16-18 ppg guy with elite shooting and good D? That is a fine outcome for 14th pick and would be a great add for the Cavs

Yea, and the counterpoint is that any player can improve and drafting a player with Agbaji's analytical and physical profile is not an optimal use of a lottery pick.

Every upperclassmen that has gone on to become a plus starter in the NBA had a positive analytical profile and/or physical profile when drafted. Maybe Agbaji bucks the trend, but there is no data to support that is a likely scenario.

I really don't care that Agbaji is a senior. I'm more concerned with his relatively underwhelming production level as a senior.

 

[foucault87]

Yea, and the counterpoint is that any player can improve and drafting a player with Agbaji's analytical and physical profile is not an optimal use of a lottery pick.

Every upperclassmen that has gone on to become a plus starter in the NBA had a positive analytical profile and/or physical profile when drafted. Maybe Agbaji bucks the trend, but there is no data to support that is a likely scenario.

I really don't care that Agbaji is a senior. I'm more concerned with his relatively underwhelming production level as a senior.

Totally fair and I think I fall in between your and IBWT's assessment. Agbaji's median expectation value likely ends up a solid starter ala 09 Courtney Lee. Not a bad player by any means.

 

[stoike]

Meh.

I'm not even sure that I buy that Agbaji is a high floor guy. I see him as a solid second-round prospect being mocked way too high.

I agree that players at age 22 are far from finished products. But rarely do you have players with Agbaji's statistical profile that become even rotational players at the NBA.

Mikal Bridges averaged 5 stocks per 40 mins during his 3 seasons at Villanova. Agbaji, in his breakout senior year, was at 2.4. Bridges shot 85% from the line vs. Agbaji's 72%. Bridges was at 53% from the floor during his 3 years vs. Agbaji's 45% from the floor for his career.

Statistically, these two are not even in the same stratosphere as prospects. And Bridges has gone on to overachieve even relative to expectations.

Hunter I felt even when he was drafted that this guy is just so raw. He was playing PF at Virginia and kind of an after thought for them offensively. He was a "physical tools" pick with a lot of upside despite his age.

And Bane is built like an absolute tank with a silky smooth shot. From his sophomore year to his senior year, he shot close to 45% from 3 and 50% from the floor to go with 2.2 stocks. In retrospect, Bane clearly should have been seen as an "Okoro with a lethal jump shot" prospect.

I don't think Agbaji is close to any of these guys as a prospect.

I'm not opposed to drafting a senior. Last year, OU's Jason Preston was my favorite second round target. I'm just opposed to drafting this specific senior with our lottery pick.

A prospect with his athletic ability (40" vertical) and steadily improving jump shot (41% on 3-pointers as a senior) and solid defensive skills has a chance to be at least a solid NBA player.

 

[Goldin Brown]

A prospect with his athletic ability (40" vertical) and steadily improving jump shot (41% on 3-pointers as a senior) and solid defensive skills has a chance to be at least a solid NBA player.

We would need him to be similar to Klay Thompson, but he seems more like a Reggie Bullock type to me.