I would guess Duren is still the 1st center off the board due to his athletic profile but seeing Williams' measurables along with the fluidity and a budding shot... maybe you're right. I've also not seen Williams mocked above 12-13 or so. Seen more of him in the 20s than anything. This draft is weird like that though. Top 3 seem pretty set, there's a short 2nd tier that probably doesn't get you out of the top 10 including Ivey, Murray, Sharpe, Duren, Griffin, Davis...then after that it just seems like that 3rd tier is wide open for 15 or so picks. Speaking of Portland, I do think they should at least be considering an offer of Wood, Tate and 17 for 7 and I'd be absolutely shocked if Stone hasn't made that proposal. I think Lillard/Wood is a pretty decent scoring punch and Nurkic can be the big on defense Wood never will be. One guy at 7 isn't going to give you half a starting lineup and still get a quality prospect at 17. Another guy I've been looking at at 17 is MarJon Beauchamp. Good athlete, good height for a 3, good defender, decent offense. Definitely needs Lucas to help him with the shooting but that's a potential starting 3 for sure.
I’m pumped for Banchero it has been a long time since we had a Rocket with the opportunity/capacity to hold down the 4 spot. Our front court has been not only undersized, but overmatched in terms of skills as well.
Yes, I agree. Beauchamp would be a solid add. See my longer look in the thread above. . . Or Jalen Williams. Dieng might be the guy who falls out of the lottery. I have a hard time getting a read on him, though others are sure about him being a potential star. I can't even tell how tall he is. He definitely has guard-like skills and has a decent floater for such a young player. On Mark Williams: NY might be his floor at #11. While we could hope for Duren to slide, I just don't see that happening at this point. I'm still pretty high on Tari Eason; he's a definite trade-up target. If Stone can figure out how to end up with Eason and Williams, he's the GM of the year. Plugging them in with Banchero would be a phenomenal frontline.
Dieng def another guy who hits the mocks anywhere from like 10th to 30th. Very smooth athlete, interested to see how he pans out no matter where he gets drafted. I don't think I'm quite as high on Eason as the rest of y'all seem. Just seems like a measurables guy that doesn't actually play that well, maybe I've gotten a bad read on him but I'd rather have quite a few other players before him, especially on a trade up. Who knows, I didn't see it with Sengun last year I thought he was just slow. He's part of my rebuild now.
Did you forget we got Patrick Patterson in 2010, Marcus Morris and Motiejunas in 2011, and then Terrance Jones and Royce White in 2012?
Dieng should continue to play one more season in NZ. I wouldn't mind him as a stash player. His frame isn't bad. He can add muscle, though I do fear he could be a bit like Caboclo on offense. His defense is coming along fairly well.
Dieng is just to soft for my taste. His skills + size + upside are excellent but I've been burned by high upside with jello insides before - Bruno Caboclo. Eason is many things, but he is an absolute dog on defense AND offense.
Let's just go for the trifecta and acquire ALL the Williams boys in 1st round. *7'2 Mark Williams *6'10 Jaylin Williams *6'5 Jalen Williams
If we were to get Paolo and the three Williams, you could almost let the rebuild ride and focus on the 2023 pick being traded for a young star. Sengun/Mark Williams/Garuba Jaylin Williams/Garuba Banchero/Jalen Williams Green/Jaygup KPJ/Nix Jaylin Wlliams seems to be decent from corner 3. All through the tournament, I was just watching and thinking that this is gonna be a high level role player in the NBA.
I'd be tempted to start Jalen Williams over KPJ and Mark Williams over Sengun with your lineup. Just so starters are more balanced offensively and defensively with better spacing and rim protection. And KPJ and Sengun off the bench would be instant offense plus playmaking.
I guess I've just come to be ok with #17 if we cant trade up. I am more than willing to overpay in assets that wont be here in a few years (Gordon,Wood,Tate) BUT even if all trade up candidates are gone, I'm still excited about the prospects that will make it to #17. We are gonna get a good player there.
The last front court worthy of the 'Legacy of Bigs' tag was Yao, Luis, and Deke. Can't wait to get back to those days of post dominance.
Watched all the potential first rounders' scouting videos. Damn...there is so many 6'6+ wingers (Murray, Mathurin, Griffin, Agbaji, Eason, Brown, Beauchamp, Jalen Williams, Dieng, Baldwin), who have the skillsets (atheletic, good on ball defense, decent shooting) to be a solid player in the modern NBA. There got to be some of these players still available at pick #17. I will be very excited if Stone draft one of these wings.
