2022 NBA Draft Safari

[InBoobieWeTrust]

I like Eason but are we sure he not a taller Okoro, both same age right now but are defense first……Eason on the court same time with Mobley and Allen, where is the floor spacing …..Just asking

I don’t think Eason and Okoro compare similarly in any aspect. Not athletically. Okoro is a brute force athlete that relies on his power and speed. But he doesn’t move on the court gracefully. Eason glides around the court with ease. His athleticism is derived from his physical profile of length and explosion.

Okoros length is underwhelming. Easons is elite. Not just height but wingspan. Standing reach.

Eason has a cleaner more fluid dribble compared to Okoro(but so does my grandmother…Okoro is an ugly flat handed dribbler…may have small hands.

Eason profiles much better as a shooter than Okoro does and Okoro is already up to a 35% shooter from 3 with the looks our offense generates. Eason would theoretically FEAST offensively here.

Okoro has thicccccer thighs though. So there’s that going for him.

 

[Muffinalt]

@I'mWithDan, how does your model like Jalen Williams and Dalen Terry?

Also maybe you've ran numbers for Vince Williams and Alondes Williams too? Well Im pretty sure it won't like Alondes at all.

 

[cliffdawg]

Shield your eyes

I can't even describe the production gap here but it would be something like the distance from Pluto to Earth.

So from your stats we’re looking for a defensive SF…….

 

[MirORich]

I don't really care that much about taking a guy who fits positionally, although obviously I prefer to have someone who isn't a pure center. This team still need a lot to contend, and further, I think they need another big time talent swing.

This is my fear with Branham as well. He's not overly athletic and his scoring at Ohio State mostly relied upon him being a great shooter, which wasn't consistent for him this year.

There is basically no way I'm leaving this draft with Ochai or Branham at this point and feeling good about it. Those seem like big swings on guys who might be a decent role players. Eason and Daniels have the ability to be lockdown, defensive impact players.

I hate that I’m sounding like a Branham pimp, becasue I’m not, but in what way was his shooting inconsistent? Sure, he did have a few bad shooting games, everyone does, but I don’t get labeling his shooting, which was a massive strength for him at all three levels, as inconsistent.

 

[MD13]

This is kind of why beat writers should stay out of scouting endeavors.

His shot looks "gross".......this describing a 6'8" wing that shot 80% from the FT line, on 200 attempts.

Only 22 SF's or SF/PF tweeners shot 80% or better from the line. That out of a pool of 104 players in the possession era.

Mechanically, whatever he is doing is obviously repeatable.......and when evaluating shooting mechanics, that is really all that matters.

Does this player get consistent results?
Does this player get consistent release patterns?
When he enters in to the back half of his motion, where is the ball, elbow, shoulders?

There's so much more to shot evaluation than the esthetics of a players' shot.

I have some concerns about him getting the shot off when it's not catch and shoot, just because it's so low and to the right.

In general, I don't see why people won't try to jump on his right hand side because he's so right hand dominant on drives as well.

But again, this is nitpicking to an extent. I'm pretty confident that he ends up as an above average shooter from catch and shoot 3s at least.

 

[MirORich]

Eason actually produces meaningful defensive statistics, unlike Okoro.

Well, actually, if you compare their freshman year stats….

But we can’t hold Eason’s first year stats against him when he clearly made an impact as a sophomore and we will never know what Okoro’s second year stats at Auburn would have been.

Eason is also just 4.5 months younger than Okoro right now.

But this post is a combination of speculation and raw date pints like age and I’m certainly not making a game/role comparison between the two at this point

 

[I'mWithDan]

So from your stats we’re looking for a defensive SF…….

Are we done here?

Eason's offensive upside at the NBA level is certainly the question with him........but he's not even in the same area code as Okoro.

Eason draws fouls, he makes FT's, he flashed off dribble shooting, he has some good passing flash, can attack a bit off the dribble.

They are just so entirely different as prospects. Eason's outcomes are seemingly worse case a larger Okoro.

Where if Isaac could actually guard 2-4, we wouldn't even be talking about replacing him would we?

So I'd personally tale a gamble on Eason because I'm very certain his a really, really good multi-positional wing defender and if his offensive improvement is at all real, he could be the best player in this draft.

 

[cliffdawg]

I don’t think Eason and Okoro compare similarly in any aspect. Not athletically. Okoro is a brute force athlete that relies on his power and speed. But he doesn’t move on the court gracefully. Eason glides around the court with ease. His athleticism is derived from his physical profile of length and explosion.

Okoros length is underwhelming. Easons is elite. Not just height but wingspan. Standing reach.

Eason has a cleaner more fluid dribble compared to Okoro(but so does my grandmother…Okoro is an ugly flat handed dribbler…may have small hands.

Eason profiles much better as a shooter than Okoro does and Okoro is already up to a 35% shooter from 3 with the looks our offense generates. Eason would theoretically FEAST offensively here.

Okoro has thicccccer thighs though. So there’s that going for him.

I always felt Okoro has always been miscast as a small forward on this team, I like Eason just wish I could trust his offense will match his defense eventually……

Im still hoping this 21 year old (Okoro) still have some upside left, there was a stretch last year when we were all pretty excited about him, then he got hurt , player around him got hurt/ COVID etc etc….Don’t get me wrong I want lose any sleep if he was traded…..But we’re getting excited about a guy who might have a NBA offensive game ( Eason) , He’ll I get why you like Ocha he has that knock down shot that would fit seemingly with our team right now…

 

[I'mWithDan]

Well, actually, if you compare their freshman year stats….

But we can’t hold Eason’s first year stats against him when he clearly made an impact as a sophomore and we will never know what Okoro’s second year stats at Auburn would have been.

Eason is also just 4.5 months younger than Okoro right now.

But this post is a combination of speculation and raw date pints like age and I’m certainly not making a game/role comparison between the two at this point

I've talked about this before......but there is seemingly no data that I see, that supports age (within reason) being a factor in NBA outcomes.

The median drafted prospect age on 1/1 of their rookie year is 21.66. Eason will be a touch younger than that.

Guys that were 21 or older:

Lillard, Draymond, Kemba, Siakim, McCollum, Brogdan, Oladipo, Klay, Middelton, Hield, Covington, Crowder, Warren, etc, etc.

Just pointing out that there are plenty of success cases.......and guys like Covington seem like near perfect comps for Eason.

Wings especially can develop well beyond even median years. Covington was 23 on 1/1 of his rookie year for example.

Okoro is a SG......and SG's flash at much young ages than SF's. That is more why I was confident that Okoro was going to be a pretty big bust. Even though I took a lot of flack for my stance on him in draft threads.

 

[cliffdawg]

Are we done here?

Eason's offensive upside at the NBA level is certainly the question with him........but he's not even in the same area code as Okoro.

Eason draws fouls, he makes FT's, he flashed off dribble shooting, he has some good passing flash, can attack a bit off the dribble.

They are just so entirely different as prospects. Eason's outcomes are seemingly worse case a larger Okoro.

Where if Isaac could actually guard 2-4, we wouldn't even be talking about replacing him would we?

So I'd personally tale a gamble on Eason because I'm very certain his a really, really good multi-positional wing defender and if his offensive improvement is at all real, he could be the best player in this draft.

Don’t get me wrong I like Eason, but why are you comparing his Sophmore stats to Okoro freshman stats, ……….

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

I like Eason but are we sure he not a taller Okoro, both same age right now but are defense first……Eason on the court same time with Mobley and Allen, where is the floor spacing …..Just asking

You can watch Okoro's tape in HS and in College and see the same thing: a guy scoring because he's just a superior athlete and stronger than everyone else. He couldn't shoot the ball at all, and he was very physically developed at an early age. This is probably what's hurt his progression more than anything. He didn't need to really develop his skills to score. Now when he's in a league of guys where he doesn't have the pure athletic advantage it gets way harder.

Eason has a strange looking shot, but it seems to work for him up to this point. If we take Eason and all he becomes is a slightly better shooting version of Okoro who has length, size, can rebound, and can defend both forward spots at a high level, is anyone here going to be upset at that for the #14 pick? I'm not. We all want the mythical two-way wing, but at this point we just need upgrades in the rotation on the wing that we can build on.

 

[MirORich]

I've talked about this before......but there is seemingly no data that I see, that supports age (within reason) being a factor in NBA outcomes.

The median drafted prospect age on 1/1 of their rookie year is 21.66. Eason will be a touch younger than that.

Guys that were 21 or older:

Lillard, Draymond, Kemba, Siakim, McCollum, Brogdan, Oladipo, Klay, Middelton, Hield, Covington, etc, etc.

Just pointing out that there are plenty of success cases.......and guys like Covington seem like near perfect comps for Eason.

Wings especially can develop well beyond even median years. Covington was 23 on 1/1 of his rookie year for examplle
Okoro is a SG......and SG's flash at much young ages than SF's. That is more why I am confident that Okoro was going to be a pretty big bust. Even though I took a lot of flack for my stance on him in draft threads.

Awesome. I know some guys(both here and draft industry types) do factor age heavily, so I brought that up not aimed at you specifically.

I like Eason a lot. Especially in a vacuum. I certainly don’t want to be blinded by the short term or make any draft decisions based on Okoro/Stevens but at the same time, having three wings all so needing large amounts of offensive development just to get to offensively average/basic aptitude does make me nervous.

But, Eason’s length separates him in a way that makes me comfortable IF that’s the direction we go.

Realistically, regardless of what position and player we pick at 14, a star outcome would be the severe outlier and what we’re really just hoping for is that they turn out to be a good role player who is playable and translatable in the playoffs, which are so different from the regular season

 

[PIP]

That is too good

 

[I'mWithDan]

Awesome. I know some guys(both here and draft industry types) do factor age heavily, so I brought that up not aimed at you specifically.

I like Eason a lot. Especially in a vacuum. I certainly don’t want to be blinded by the short term or make any draft decisions based on Okoro/Stevens but at the same time, having three wings all so needing large amounts of offensive development just to get to offensively average/basic aptitude does make me nervous.

But, Eason’s length separates him in a way that makes me comfortable IF that’s the direction we go.

Realistically, regardless of what position and player we pick at 14, a star outcome would be the sever outlier and what we’re really just hoping for is that they turn out to be a good role player who is playable and translatable in the playoffs, which are so different from the regular season

No, didn't take it that way.

I think my opinion probably goes against some of the more prevailing ones on age........data just (to me), shows that it is largely overblown.

There is a point where it starts to matter........but somehow, we've entered a world where Eason types are "old" when they are, in reality, of average draft age.

And guys who fall within the bands of average draft age (20-22.5 ish) tend to hit at very similar rates.

Which would lead me to believe that development timelines aren't adversely effected by being a year or two older.....especially at SF, where productive guys succeed across the age spectrum.

 

[MirORich]

No, didn't take it that way.

I think my opinion probably goes against some of the more prevailing ones on age........data just (to me), shows that it is largely overblown.

There is a point where it starts to matter........but somehow, we've entered a world where Eason types are "old" when they are, in reality, of average draft age.

And guys who fall within the bands of average draft age (20-22.5 ish) tend to hit at very similar rates.

Which would lead me to believe that development timelines aren't adversely effected by being a year or two older.....especially at SF, where productive guys succeed across the age spectrum.

Am still curious how your model would look at Branham’s profile if it takes into consideration his conference play to the end of the year stats only.

Once he settled in after 10 non conference games, his shooting % seem pretty elite at all levels