It is so much harder to evaluate the early-entry guys now than it was in the 80s and 90s when nearly everyone stayed in college. At 11 you are going to get a guy who still needs to develop. But, you can still find a guy with an elite skill.
So the question becomes which skill in which player is more likely to develop.
Player - Has/needs:
Keon - athleticism/shot
Bouknight/Moody - shot/defense
Wagner - well-rounded/elite something
Sengun - post offense/defense, range
Garuba - defense/offense
Kispert - shot/defense
Kai - movement,range / BBIQ
I. Jackson - shot blocking/bulk
Jalen - transition/half court
All these guys seam to have issues and are projected all over the board. One mock had Kai 10th another had him 20th Same for Sengun I just want us to trade back and try to get 16 and 18 then we get two good players
Ziaire Williams invite interesting
Coming out high school talent right there with expected top 6 freshmen, 6â8 2-way do everything wing, 20 Stanford games not great & shot poorly⌠m37/29 3p, 10.7
Not hear burn about being top half first until recent
while players did excelâŚcause of no practices, live off campus in hotel rooms, etcâŚtalent not meet expectations getting 2nd look and consideration at invite/workouts
Ziaire along with Jalen Johnson, BJ Boston
While I can totally get excited about Zaire, and would be extremely optimistic about him at 11, it seems there are a lot of red flags on Jalen. BJ just seems getting in the 2nd round of we can trade up and want to.
Iâve come back around on him considerably, Iâd be very happy if we landed him at 11. His stock really seems to be on the rise right now - will be interesting to see if he makes it to 11 or not.
I question what he is. Is he a Kevin Love coming out of UCLA? Is he a Vucevic in his first year or two in the league? If heâs a 4 and will still need a 5 on the floor next to him to keep from hemorrhaging points, what are we doing with PJ in the near term? They wonât play together and will JB even play him at the 5?
For me the main question is, can he guard on the perimeter?
I donât want us to invest significant resources into a player you canât close a game with. If he canât switch on D, while also not being able to protect the rim, I do not want him in the lottery.
Thatâs despite the fact I love what he brings on offence. Wonderful skills in the post, excellent passing and Iâm confident he can/will shoot well from deep as he hits 80% of his free throws.
Ford also said in this same piece that Cam Thomas, Z Williams, Moses Moody, and DayâRon Sharpe are also âin the mix.â Outside of Moody who will definitely be gone by 16, all these other dudes could make it there. If this is who Mitch covets I think I could even be talked into 16 & 34 for 11.