[valentine]

 Quick one…

How much stock to teams put on drafting players based on private workouts, as opposed to what they’ve already done in competition. 

Maybe give a %

Eg. If ‘Team A’ wants a PF, and they have 5 guys in mind, what percentage of their decision is based on college performance, and how much is private workouts factored in? Are GM’s minds pretty much decided before the workouts…or is it all still up for grabs. 

Feel free to use examples of situations where a player either jumped, or fell in the draft order based on Private Workouts. (Sadly, Darko comes to mind). 

 

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 That is a very good question and interesting topic. Before elaborate as a simple awser I would say it depends on job security really and how much your willing to gamble and it really depends on who’s pushing which buttons.

I think most GMs are scared to make mistakes. They may know that guy who had an amazing workout is better than the guys with accolades but are just too scared to pick him because of the backlash they would get if they messed up.

For instance if you think of MJ making draft decisions in Charlotte he literally always just selects the most proven college players. It’s almost hysterical. MKG, Kemba, Zeller, Kaminsky…granted he did select Biyambo and Vonleh but I don’t really think those were his choices if you follow the patterns. To me it seems as if he really values proven accolades.

Another example in 2014 Bruno Caboclo was selected 20th ahead of proven guys like Kyle Anderson and Shabazz Napier. If Masai Ujiri the Toronto Raptors GM was not comfortable with his position and felt it was at risk there would be no way he made that selection. The reality is he had scouted Bruno at Basketball Beyond Borders, had his people attend his games and workouts and I believe even held a private workout to scout him and see if he was worth the backlash.

In the same year if you recall Lebron James recommended the Heat drafted Shabazz Napier only to leave Miami for Cleveland in free agency. But since Lebron was the one pushing the buttons Napier got drafted 24th. Interesting thing is if Miami had the Raptors 20th pick and Toronto had the Miami 24th pick both players would probably end up drafted to the same teams.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 That is a very good question and interesting topic. Before elaborate as a simple awser I would say it depends on job security really and how much your willing to gamble and it really depends on who’s pushing which buttons.

I think most GMs are scared to make mistakes. They may know that guy who had an amazing workout is better than the guys with accolades but are just too scared to pick him because of the backlash they would get if they messed up.

For instance if you think of MJ making draft decisions in Charlotte he literally always just selects the most proven college players. It’s almost hysterical. MKG, Kemba, Zeller, Kaminsky…granted he did select Biyambo and Vonleh but I don’t really think those were his choices if you follow the patterns. To me it seems as if he really values proven accolades.

Another example in 2014 Bruno Caboclo was selected 20th ahead of proven guys like Kyle Anderson and Shabazz Napier. If Masai Ujiri the Toronto Raptors GM was not comfortable with his position and felt it was at risk there would be no way he made that selection. The reality is he had scouted Bruno at Basketball Beyond Borders, had his people attend his games and workouts and I believe even held a private workout to scout him and see if he was worth the backlash.

In the same year if you recall Lebron James recommended the Heat drafted Shabazz Napier only to leave Miami for Cleveland in free agency. But since Lebron was the one pushing the buttons Napier got drafted 24th. Interesting thing is if Miami had the Raptors 20th pick and Toronto had the Miami 24th pick both players would probably end up drafted to the same teams.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 But yeah its a case by case scenario and everybody is different and values different things. I don’t think there’s a written handbook or percentages written out on a formula. I think most of these guys are just winging it shooting with their eyes closed hoping they hit bullseye lmao.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 But yeah its a case by case scenario and everybody is different and values different things. I don’t think there’s a written handbook or percentages written out on a formula. I think most of these guys are just winging it shooting with their eyes closed hoping they hit bullseye lmao.

[KerouacJackParticipant]

 Kristaps Poringzis is a perfect example. His workouts blew everyone away. Minnesota recently admitted they almost picked him #1

Yao Ming as well. Before his workouts no one had him going top 10! 

[KerouacJackParticipant]

 Kristaps Poringzis is a perfect example. His workouts blew everyone away. Minnesota recently admitted they almost picked him #1

Yao Ming as well. Before his workouts no one had him going top 10! 

[whiteflashParticipant]

 The major difference there is along with individual skill work, scouts also saw Porzingis scrimmage. Milicic and Tskitisvili literally only had private 1-on-1 and individual workouts. It’s pretty crazy to think teams would blow a top 5 pick looking for that homerun on a dude they’ve never really seen in a game setting.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 The major difference there is along with individual skill work, scouts also saw Porzingis scrimmage. Milicic and Tskitisvili literally only had private 1-on-1 and individual workouts. It’s pretty crazy to think teams would blow a top 5 pick looking for that homerun on a dude they’ve never really seen in a game setting.

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