Draft Prospects 2021

lol i just went to read more and saw his stl% was 2.7 and his blk% was 2.0. his technique and strength really makes guarding 1-4 possible

Underwhelming stat year for both, but Springer and Keon started coming on last 11 games when both became starters and more minutes.
Springer 31 min, 16.3 points, 45/37
Keon 30 minutes, 14.4 points, 48/31

Springer more polished and NBA ready right now, but even b4 combine liked Keon better long term NBA player. If want for better minutes right away, and about a 1-2 year window, take Springer. If want better player in a couple years, take Keon.

Starting to fall in love with Bouknight really think he could be a great scorer and we need to find a pure scorer for this team

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I checked him out for the first time a couple weeks back. I was sold in about the first 3 highlights in the vid.

He has the look of a game that will translate, and not only translate but potentially translate really well due to increased spacing in NBA.

I don’t have ESPN + could you post it?

James Bouknight | SG | 6-5 | 190 | UConn

ESPN Top 100 ranking: No. 8

What makes him polarizing?

Bouknight is an NBA-caliber scorer with the type of off-the-dribble game you see from NBA All-Stars. He’s one of the draft’s most effortless bucket-getters who fits the NBA game with his pull-up shooting and fluidity with the ball. With that said, his skeptics wonder what he’ll be able to do at an NBA level other than score the ball.

We know he’ll put up raw scoring numbers at the next level, but will he improve enough as a passer and defender to impact winning at a high level, at least enough to live up to his buzz as a potential top-10 pick? That’s where the right situation comes in, as where he’s drafted will likely play a big role in the type of passer and defender he becomes.

Intriguing fit: Golden State (7th or 14th overall)

Landing in a situation like Golden State would be huge for Bouknight’s long-term development in the aforementioned key areas. One of the draft’s most talented shot-creators, Bouknight could play a Jordan Clarkson-like role as a bench bucket-getter in year one, while learning how to add value in a more ball-moving style predicated on 0.5-second decision-making alongside stars [Stephen Curry], [Klay Thompson]and [Draymond Green]).
Should he land in the wrong situation, there’s a chance Bouknight gets labeled (rightfully or not) an inefficient ā€œbad team scorer,ā€ which was largely Clarkson’s reputation before he arrived in Utah. Not always given ample space to operate at UConn, Bouknight’s efficiency numbers took a hit as he posted a sub-50% effective field goal percentage, a 0.64 to 1 assist-to-turnover ratio and a -5.3 pure point rating. Often having to turn touches into dribble-heavy isolation possessions, Bouknight’s critics wonder how his style will fit within an NBA offense.

Going to Golden State, which desperately needs another perimeter scorer, would expedite Bouknight’s growth as a more efficient quick-action scorer in the [Bradley Beal] mold, while also allowing him to be himself, given the need he fills for Steve Kerr and Co. Bouknight’s combination of leaping ability, body control, shooting potential and shot creation gives him one of the highest upsides in the draft, which could come to light if he lands in a situation like Golden State, where he’ll also be held accountable defensively.

[Keon Johnson] SG | 6-5 | 186 | Tennessee
What makes him polarizing?

Johnson is a bit outside the box as a prospect given the fact that he’s not the most advanced ball-handler or shot-creator at 185 pounds, but he will be one of the most explosive players in the NBA from day one and can impact the game all over the floor with his instincts and motor.

With that in mind, Johnson isn’t the type of prospect you simply draft high, hand the ball to and ask to save the franchise. His incredible upside is most likely to be maximized if he goes somewhere that values the little things he does well right now – finishing, cutting, rebounding, defending, moving the ball – and gives him the necessary time to sharpen his skill.

Think of a guard version of Patrick Williams or Isaac Okoro. Neither prospect was overly polished on draft night, but the Bulls and Cavs bet on their athletic gifts and approach to the game when evaluating the type of player each can become. Johnson’s serious approach and winning impact will surely buy him time to grow into his game, as long as he lands in the right situation.

Intriguing fit: [Charlotte Hornets] (11th overall)

The draft’s bounciest leaper, Johnson would greatly benefit from a situation where he can stick to his strengths as a transition finisher, slasher, defender and ball-mover early in his career, giving him time to eventually tap into his incredible upside. While Toronto, Golden State and San Antonio would also be great fits for Johnson, Charlotte is an intriguing dark horse, in part because the Hornets aren’t financially committed to any young guards not named Ball past next season, either.

Johnson would mesh perfectly alongside a transition playmaker like [LaMelo Ball], who has played a huge role in re-energizing [Miles Bridges], a rim-rattler like Johnson, with his full-court dimes. Head coach James Borrego has also shown a willingness to play three-guard lineups, which wouldn’t put too much pressure on Johnson to generate the majority of a team’s half-court offense, an area where he’s still evolving.

Given Ball’s size at 6-8, Johnson could defend point guards – likely his best defensive position at 6-5, 186 with a 6-7 wingspan. An underrated spot-up shooter, Johnson would be able to add value as an occasional floor-spacer, straight-line driver, cutter and post-up scorer on offense, while learning from one of the best passers in the game in Ball. Given Charlotte’s youth movement, Johnson would also have the necessary rope to play through mistakes and develop at his own pace.

I’m tired of mostly 1-way players. Bouknight worries me in that regard.

I don’t judge 20 year olds on their college defense TBH. Most of defense is technique and mental commitment

At pick 11, everyone available will probably have a deficiency. I think Hornets need a 5 and shooting. More likely to get shooting/scoring at 11. I think Bouknight can provide that.

Can’t fault your reasoning or picks.

The thing Bouknight doesn’t get enough credit for is the toughness/difficulty of shots he had to take in college due to him being the focal point (USG% 31.6 vs Moody’s 22.3 & Keon’s 26.8). I’m sure his shooting numbers would look a lot better if he had a supporting cast.

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I get the no d argument. I disagree that d can be learned. It can to an extent but defense is in the DNA. It is will and want. It isn’t something that just gets turned on. With that said, at #11 I would rather have someone who is skilled at all things offense and no defense that someone with a mixed bag of both. If he is elite at offense, I would rather take it.

Especially, if you are losing terry next year. At worst, he would be replacing monk this year.

If you are looking at going 100% offense/0% defense, that’s Sengun though I don’t want us to spend our draft capital on him personally (at 11).

(i have no actual informed opinion) i was mainly referring to bouknight because i am hearing he is elite level scoring in all aspects of scoring. he also seems to be the one that people are saying if he hits his ceiling could be looked at as the ā€œhow did that guy not get drafted top 3?ā€

I like Bouknight at this point. I think he plays better D than Monk. I’d let Monk go, keep Graham for 8M and draft Bouknight.

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good plan.

is it possible to play worse d than monk? he is very bad

Have you seen Jeremy Lamb and Al Jefferson, and Hornets Nic Batum. Lol.

Monk has improved dramatically defensively.

But he didn’t have anywhere to go but to improve.

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I do like Vrenz as a pick in the mid 40s if we can do some work with our two 50s picks.

This would be my plan as well draft one of the shooting guards, let Monk walk.

I honestly think there’s a good chance Malik is a 15ppg type guy in the NBA but he’s fourth sometimes fifth in the guard rotation and we can find someone a lot cheaper to fill that

Hard to be Malik bad first 3 years
Bouk talent like, but starting grading to find better pick from outsider view
FO inside dig into maturity and if NBA grown up easy take at 11, of course if he’s all that less likely there anyhow
offensive specialists need work on a sleepy lamb or monk timeline, soft pass