I just hope that whoever we get at #3 will have a chip on his shoulder after being snubbed by the first two teams and motivated to be ROTY. Its hard to predict who will be #3, because all top three prospects can be #1. So we just have to wait by draft night on who magic and thunder selected.
https://theathletic.com/3306664/2022/05/17/nba-mock-draft-lottery/ 3. Houston Rockets Paolo Banchero | 6-10 forward | 19 years old | Duke The Rockets are in the business of taking the best player available regardless of position, and with Holmgren and Smith off the board, the next best option is Duke’s Paolo Banchero. There is already a considerable amount of internal intrigue in Banchero and the fact that Jalen Green essentially signed off on the 19-year-old after the final regular-season game — citing their relationship and praising his game — only adds more fuel to the fire. At some point during this rebuild, Houston needs to begin to outline what the future of this team looks like. In Green, there is already a capable scoring guard with playmaking chops. Their frontcourt still lacks a complement to that — insert Banchero. He’s a confident, smooth, capable-passing scorer with size. His versatility allows him to function in different lineups, even operating in pinches as a small-ball big. His defense still leaves a lot to be desired, which is likely why he isn’t higher on the board, but there’s no denying his offensive wizardry. Rockets head coach Stephen Silas will be overflowing with joy finding creative ways to weaponize Banchero’s ballhandling, a necessity for his variance offense. His inside-outside combination should be a welcome fit with Green — and might just be the writing on the wall for Christian Wood. — Kelly Iko https://theathletic.com/3312706/2022/05/17/nba-mock-draft-2022/ 3. Houston Rockets Paolo Banchero | 6-10 forward | 19 years old | Duke In leading Duke to the Final Four this year, Banchero showed why he is the most complete offensive player in this draft class. He’s a matchup nightmare at 6-foot-10 and 245 pounds. He’s physical but has a lot of polish as a ballhandler and shot creator, countering multiple defensive coverages with ease. He favors scoring from the less efficient midrange zone but can generate those shots with ease through his ability to separate and shoot over the top. On top of that, there’s a case that he’s the best passer — at 6-foot-10! — in the lottery. Banchero’s defense lags behind his outstanding offense, but if your team is seeking a primary playmaker, he is the guy to bet on. Houston will likely look to just draft the best player available here, and that’s Banchero. He fits well as a frontcourt playmaker who can pass paired with Jalen Green as a scorer in the backcourt. 17. Houston Rockets (via BKN) TyTy Washington Jr.| 6-3 guard | 20 years old | Kentucky Washington is a polarizing prospect. Many talent evaluators believe Kentucky tends to hold back its guards, so we don’t see the best of them until they reach the NBA. Think Tyler Herro, Tyrese Maxey and Keldon Johnson in recent years. Additionally, Washington was arguably the best freshman guard in the country during the first half of the season. From Game 1 to Game 17, Washington averaged 14.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting 51.5 percent from the field, 42 percent from 3 and 82 percent from the line. But he suffered a couple of ankle injuries in games against Auburn and Florida. Over his final 14 games, he averaged 10 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists and shot just 36.2 percent from the field and 27.7 percent from 3 while playing through those two injuries. Which stretch represents the real TyTy? Teams will need to get him in for workouts and figure it out.
Comments in this thread makes it seem like we got the 5th pick. We should be happy we beat the odds and got the chance to draft one of the top 3 prospects. We can FINALLY get a big. We don't have the luxury to worry about fit ... draft the BPA and go from there. Top 3 was our goal and we got that yesterday.
Sorry if this was already posted. What’s interesting is Stone consistently mentioned the possibility of trading the pick.
Name a program that's better. This is not trying to pump up Duke, it's just that the NBA Draft is a crap shoot and you can't just right off a program because of the misses most of every draft is a miss. You can't right off Kyrie either because he was still with that program for a year and got the same coaching as any other 1 and done and oh yeah he played in 11 games that year.
Can’t limit value, if he gets blown away with an offer that would be good. Or if he can make the pick seem more valuable he can trade up as well
#17, i want Jeremy Sochan, a real sleeper, If you watch his highlight reel, you will find he's unique - size, wingspan, soft hand, court vision n defense (from 3-5). (edit: his turnaround / spin pump fake is amazing, even though need more time to polish)
Please like and retweet this everyone so Jabari falls to us. Banchero is an offensive prospect who can’t shoot from 3? He is the antithesis of the modern NBA big but we want to draft him? Give me Ivey all day and move KPJ pleaseeeeeeee
Was lurking on various teams reaction after draft. That one hurt Pacers fans to see their former star rep a new team (Kings: 30-52) getting a higher pick despite them having a worse record (Pacers 25-57).
Then maybe just maybe Sengun does not deserve to start? Banchero would be picked over Sengun even if they were both in this draft and Sengun had played this year, but somehow we need to pick for a fit with Sengun? Its amazing the thought process when it comes to favorite players or favored Banchero is not a tweener he is 6'10, just please stop with this craziness. If Banchero is a tweener so is Holmgren.
100% ...all the way through. Tons of crybabies..who also don't understand that we're positioned very nicely.
now that the order is set and the rockets didn't end up #1, were going to see takes on who really guys around here wanted to pick rather than constant takes of any of the top 4-5 would be fine that we've heard over and over for months. And some of the obvious 2-3 are going to get downplayed in order to prop up who they're forced to pick
kinda like the thought process of Paolo being Lebron 1.0…it’s amazing the lengths people will go to to prop up their favorite player
At worst Sengun and Banchero are equals. Realistically Sengun is better than Banchero with more upside. He’s already shown he can play in this league and only 3 months older than Paolo. Same size, with a slightly better wingspan in Sengun. Similar athletes with Paolo being a little more mobile. Passing is a wash. Shooting Paolo has a slight edge. Rebounding goes to Sengun. Defense goes to Sengun because he’s engaged.
LOL did the biggest Chet fan around say projection is a negative? Chet is all about projection. 7 1/2 he can surprise a bit like Sengun who I think is about a 6 1/2.
That’s where we disagree. Chet’s college game translates immediately with a lot more upside in his offensive repertoire. Paolo’s is harder to protect, his strengths aren’t high enough to take the duties away from prototype guards. That’s the projection, can the offense run through him secondarily? Is it done frequently enough to warrant the selection? If not, he’s a role player that doesn’t offer high level shooting or defense. Ultimately, I like Paolo, fit is a concern and upside is a concern imo