[OhCanada-Participant]

2021 Draft Prospects
Green vs. Suggs https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/jalen-green-vs-jalen-suggs/
Kuminga vs. Barnes https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/jonathan-kuminga-vs-scottie-barnes/
Bouknight vs. Moody https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/james-bouknight-vs-moses-moody/
Giddey vs. J. Johnson https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/josh-giddey-vs-jalen-johnson/
Sengun vs. Jones https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/alperen-sengun-vs-kai-jones/
K. Johnson vs. Mitchell https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/keon-johnson-vs-davion-mitchell/
Kispert vs. Thomas https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/corey-kispert-vs-cam-thomas/
Primo vs. Williams https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/josh-primo-vs-ziare-williams/
Wagner vs. Murphy https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/franz-wagner-vs-trey-murphy/
Hyland vs. Mann https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/nyshon-hyland-vs-tre-mann/
Springer vs. Dosunmu https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/jaden-springer-vs-ayo-dosunmu/
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2022 Draft Prospects
Ivey vs. Holmgren https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/jaden-ivey-vs-chet-holmgren/
Smith vs. Banchero https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/jabari-smith-vs-paulo-banchero/
Davis vs. Mathurin https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/johnny-davis-vs-ben-mathurin/
Sharpe vs. Griffin https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/shaedon-sharpe-vs-aj-griffin/
Dyson vs. Washington https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/daniel-dyson-vs-tyty-washington/
Duren vs. Williams https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/jalen-duren-vs-mark-williams/
Beauchamp vs. Hardy https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/marjon-beauchamp-vs-jaden-hardy/
Brown vs. Sochan https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/with-the-5-pick-the-detroit-pistons-select/
Eason vs Murray
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2023 Draft Prospects

Jarace Walker VS Cam Whitmore https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/jarace-walker-vs-cam-whitmore/
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I had planned on making this post at some point during or after the tournament when Alabama is done playing games but looks like Draft.net beat me to it by putting Miller 2nd overall ahead of Scoot. Were skipping Wembenyama altogether this year.

This is an interesting one. Miller has really improved his ballhandling and creative ability as the season has progressed. Despite lacking that explosive first step or elite athleticism he has still shown alot of upside as a one on one creator. With his length and shooting ability I would say he is a better prospect then say Jabari Smith from last years draft. However his off the court issues may present questionable character flaws teams may want to stay clear of, I highly doubt it though. As long as he don’t actually get in any trouble teams will pick him wherever they have him on their boards.

Man Scoot has great feel for the game, a tight handle, smooth midrange J and outstanding vision but..6’2 can get real small in the NBA. Not saying he’s too small but in today’s NBA its almost a wait and see type deal when you are undersized. One thing about him though is, Scoot’s no Dennis Smith Jr. He can genuinely run an offense. He understands the game and learns. He’s a true PG.

This is ome of the toughest ones I’ve done. Personally I’ll be revisiting this after the tournament to see Miller’s final body of work but even now I think I gotta go with Miller. How good he can be would depend on how much work he puts into his ballhandling and playmaking but you know you will be able to rely on his shooting, defending and his size, length and athleticism. is not going anywhere. Alhough Scoot is a very good player and history tells us just to pick the guard in these situations.

[armchairgmParticipant]

Scoot for me.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Great vs btw… this is a very tough one… although I haven’t come up with a March big board quite yet, a sneak preview of the top is that Brandon Miller has caught Scoot Henderson for tier 2. (Wemby’s on an island in tier 1). I think this pick could depend on who’s drafting 2nd. Detroit might draft Brandon Miller 2 overall. Most teams however I think draft Scoot. Guards like Scoot are a great engine within a team if he pans out that is. Any tie between the 2 prospects – well edge goes to Scoot still. Miller’s gun incident baggage is what takes him away from his game a bit. I’m thinking unless there’s an obvious oozing need for a 3/4 in Brandon Miller a team would go with Scoot. In a vacuum I’m taking Scoot if I’m playing GM for say a team that can use both like San Antonio. Character matters with the culture of the locker room. Not that Miller is toxic or anything but the controversy behind him I just don’t want a part of. I can totally see it the other way though. Scoot better show up more, or I will change my mind. His performance during All-Star break was atrocious. That’s definitely reason enough to be concerned. Infact if he plays like that from here on out, he might drop out of the top 3. (Doubt it) Last year he performed better. Going back to Vegas in the summer though, that Scoot was about unstoppable. Imo that’s what most people are banking on. A successful career that that game reflects on.

I’m taking Scoot for now, but as I just stated – they’re in the same tier now. It’s a matter of need. Scoot is a bit of an on the court version of Ja at his best. That’s a heck of a player. I’d rather have that than a better shooting less handles version of a McGrady/Granger hybrid. That’s just how I see it for now.

[HitsterParticipant]

If Scoot had gone to college we’d have likely had a very good idea of who was the better prospect. If we break it down on just skill and upside as opposed to who will be the best fit on whoever gets second pick it might give dfferent answers. Plus the gun issue is still the elephant in the room.

If we look at the 4 worse teams in the NBA on this seasons standings – Pistons, Rockets, Spurs and Hornets. If we consider them for 2nd pick I could only really see the Rockets or Pistons taking Miller. Pistons have a young backcourt so adding Scoot would mean ballhandling, minutes would need to be looked at unless they go 3 guard line up. Detroit have had bad boys before and might think they could fit Miller in. The Rockets if they think Miller passes their character tests would be a nice fit there too.

The Spurs with their values and having an older coach in Pops I don’t see drafting Miller although their strong leadership and well run team might be a place where Miller would get the stability he might need to flourish. The Hornets would be a good playing fit for Miller but with MJ having built a global brand and his Nike deals would he risk any comeback from Miller being called as a trial witness and the publicity it could generate if he could take Scoot at 2 as a safer pick and pair him with Ball in a dynamic backcourt. The flipside is MJ could have a one to one with Miller and point out all the success that he had and he played with some pretty crazy guys over the years and give MIller some home truths. If Miller wouldn’t listen to and heed MJ then who would he take some frank words from.

On current playing ability I still have Scoot at number 2 but if Miller goes deep into March Madness and puts up good performances then I’d be prepared to flip them over.

MIller ticks so many boxes as the prototype current ideal NBA player – nice size, can play a number of positions, excellent 3 point shooter, good rebounder, useful developing ball carrier and creator. But Scoot as a powerful scoring PG offers a more physical version of what NBA teams also love.

Whoever picks at number 2 has a choice but if Miller does fall to 3 what do teams I’ve highlighted above do if they wouldn’t feel comfortable taking him at 2. I feel he’d currently be too good to pass over as drop down to next tier of prospects looks a bigger gap than between him and Scoot.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

I agree, but Rockets and Scoot’s a better fit than Miller on the Rockets imo. I could easily see them running something like Scoot/Jalen G/Jabari S/Eason/Sengun as a solid lineup.

[HitsterParticipant]

I don’t see K-Mart Jnr as having locked down his position yet so I’d slide Miller in there. I guess it could depend how well Eason develops as if he comes in then the need for Miller is less as Smith can slide over to SF with Eason alongside Sengun as you suggest.

Even with K-Mart Jnr in there you can still take Scoot and use Jabari as PF but I liked Miller and Jabari reaklly being able to stretch the floor.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Tari Eason is better than his minutes show. Jabari Smith and Tari Eason aren’t that far off from each other either. Jabari actually has some development to do yet. Tari is more ready to contribute in the here and now. Houston’s just been tanking. If they weren’t Tari would have more minutes all year round.

[OhCanada-Participant]

Jabari has a much more difficult role as well as a high volume perimeter shooter. He basically only takes difficult shots, especially playing in Houston where they currently have no main facilitator and only have young players trying to get their numbers. Although I’m a big fan of Eason and think he has insane potential. I feel like if you gave Eason 32+ minutes per game he would be in contention for rookie of the year and Houston would win more games.

[BothTeamsPlayedHard-Participant]

Right before the news of Miller delivering a gun to a murder, I posted that there isn’t a tier difference in ability, and Miller makes more sense for more of the teams likely to land the #2 pick given the current building blocks on their rosters. Things have changed. This isn’t about scouting. This isn’t about what some blinder-wearing scout claims in February or March about how teams will react. This is a very basic IQ test. Believe me, this is going to happen. BREAKING NEWS: Video of Star rookie on Fill in the Blank NBA Team delivers gun moments before murder! CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, BBC, CCTV, Al Jazeera, etc. It will be on a loop globally. It will blow up. It won’t just be a basketball story or an NBA story, it will be something your grandmother knows about. Just because Alabama is pretending there is no story here, it doesn’t mean there is no story. Unfortunately, we seem to live at a time where people’s imagination is such that they cannot envision the written word. We know what happened. We know there is video. We know it will come out at trial, or maybe sooner. Once people see it, public perception will turn (Remember the Ray Rice video. The facts were already out, so what did you think it was going to look like?) Even the most innocent explanation offered by Miller’s lawyer projects horribly, and it is probably a stretch that the video reveals him to be just that. Ja Morant has been out two weeks with no solid return date after a video of him flashing a gun. Miller is a great talent. Find another one. He isn’t worth what is going to happen. Take Scoot and find a way to build a team that makes sense after. Shoot, take Gradey Dick. I have a hard time believing a team is going to run head first into a rock like Wile E. Coyote. There is not tunnel. You have to know better.

[HitsterParticipant]

Interesting point about Houston not playing Eason as they are looking to tank. Is Eason one of those glue type players who holds a team together and his stats might not reflect what he contributes to the team?

Houston seem to have a talented set of young players who are developing and putting up numbers but the team aren’t performing as a cohesive unit yet. Jabari as the 3rd pick would be expected to be given priority minutes and developed in front of Eason too.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Jabari is Jabari… he needs to improve his handles or be the best off of screens in the league to be what he should be. He’s just not there yet. Tari is a year older than Jabari and probably a little better as a player atm. Infact that was the tricky thing about making this team gel this year early imo. Eason should have started from the get go if they really wanted to win. Jalen Green also going through some growing pains will improve too. They’ve been starting some funny lineups. You nailed it though, Eason is a good defender, but he’s pretty efficient too. I think Jabari Smith and Tari Eason could be good in the game at the same time though – sure. Sengun could make that team pretty competitive and cohesive as a group. Scoot in that lineup would be pretty amazing.

The Hornets I think you can make a case for fit with Scoot too. LaMelo still the playmaker primary and Scoot as the scoring secondary. Terry Rozier would be a bit on the back burner but a rotation or Terry trade wouldn’t be out of the question. Brandon Miller could easily work there as well. Since they could use both prospects either way, I actually think they’d go Scoot because of the controversy surrounding Miller. Other than that it’s a toss up though which way the Hornets would go.

What if Orlando received the top 2 picks?

[HitsterParticipant]

The Bulls pick Orlando get is top 4 protected I think. If they get top pick they would likely end up fielding the tallest NBA line up ever. If they get 2nd pick I think they go Scoot as they can play him alongside Fultz and their size at 3 to 5 plus Franz Wagner developing nicely they may not feel Miller is an obvious fit unless they can slide him or Franz to SG and create another size mismatch.

If they get 3rd pick they take BPA ( whoever is left out of Miller and Scoot).

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

got it… never been good with who gets what, thanks…

[HitsterParticipant]

If Orlando were prepared to take the baggage that Miller may bring with him then 5th and 8th for 3rd would be a good trade out offer to whoever else may get 3rd pick and might not want or be prepared to take Miller – this is based on current lottery positions.

Scoot I like the idea of him at the Spurs if they don’t get Wemby, he’d be a huge upgrade to their current guard line up. That to me might be his perfect landing spot.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Scoot or Wemby to the Spurs would be fantastic for developing. You’re right, Scoot is the perfect fit there… Orlando has so much depth that they should try trading up to 2 or 3 if they are in that position. Arizona State looking good right now…

[HitsterParticipant]

The Pacers and Jazz both have 3 first rounders so I’d love to see Ainge and Pritchard making some draft night moves like in 2007.
With Brandon Miller I’ll throw out the drop down after him in the draft looks quite big and with rumours the 2024 draft isn’t great will a team risk passing on him?

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

I expect Indy to move up. They also have an early 2nd round pick this year that’s practically a first. Charlotte might move up too due to the amount of picks they have. Portland will be interesting to watch in the draft. I think Atlanta and Memphis might trade away their picks or move up as well. Both teams have so much depth on their rosters. It’s going to be a wild June.

[HitsterParticipant]

Teams will be looking at the Miller incident and speaking to their lawyers/PR people to see what they think and if there could be negative feedback or loss of sponsors etc. A lot will depend on where the draft lottery balls fall but teams will be taking soundings. If a team gets lucky and moves up I think they take him but with us knowing how Spurs and Pacers hierarchy like “high character” guys and with MJ’s brand and Nike deals it is a big issue there IMO.

I can see the Pacers certainly looking to do something with their two late first rounders and early 2nd rounder either package or trade a couple of them. Lots of teams have traded away a pick and may look to dip into the first round if the right player is there for them but do they have future picks to send back apart from say the Knicks who could make a big move to get another proven guy in.

I can see Memphis looking to possibly trade out or take on an unguaranteed contract by getting an early 2nd rounder – the Pacers early 2nd rounder might interest them. The Hawks I think they keep options open if they pick just outside the lottery as a good player may fall who they like the look of. If not they may trade out, down or stash a guy. For Memphis you can always draft and stash someone like say Coulibaly.

[OhCanada-Participant]

See heres the question though. Is the gun issue really that bad and by that I mean is Miller truly guilty of delivering a gun for a murder knowing what would happen or did he pass on a gun and the person carried on with the murder without his knowledge. I’m not being ignorant I just truly don’t know where this situation stands and theres really no concrete information out there. Because you know its nice to think that these young athletes, celebrities, actors and musicians can just roam around America like normal citizen but the reality is they are more than likely armed because there are people out there hunting them down for the cars they drive, the jewelry they were etc. Why hasn’t Alabama shelved him? Is the potential backlash really worth an elite 8 visit?

I didn’t think the gun thing was that terrible but if he truly delivered a gun for a murder and he knew what was going on then yeah gonna have to go Scoot here.

[ZouldiersParticipant]

Scoot over Miller any day. Miller to me seems like a good prospect that can be an all star someday. Scoot is someone you can build around with his skill, NBA-ready build and natural talent. I get why teams would lean towards Miller at #2 because of fit but do not over complicate this.

[sweaterflexParticipant]

You hate to hear about the gun incident, but as a prospect I have a lot more long term confidence in Miller. Scoot has not shown much in the way of growth this year, his shot selection is not great, and there are strong indicators he’s not quite in that John Wall/Derrick Rose/Ja Morant class of athletes based on pretty middling efficiency finishing at the rim. I see his likely outcome somewhere between current De’Aaron Fox and peak Eric Bledsoe. On pure upside I might consider Amen ahead at this point. Miller looks like an ideal second option, something of a rich man’s Khris Middleton.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

very interesting take… seen that before actually. Would love to see your big board sometime. At least what’s your top 5 atm? 1 – Wemby 2 – Miller 3 – Amen 4 – Scoot 5 – Whitmore????? just a guess…

[OhCanada-Participant]

Yeah idk. I have alot of issues with this class, Outside of Wemby I don’t think theres a single player I’m “sure” about in the entire 2023 draft.

I mean Scoot is a damn good player don’t get me wrong, but he lacks size and watching those G-League Ignite games I haven’t really been blown away by anything hes done to be honest. Those games are hard to judge though. Miller (allegations aside) has no midrange, lacks the first step his dribble skillset is begging for and plays like crap when his shot isn’t falling, the Thompson’s play against terrible competition and have horrible shooting consistency which could really look bad at the next level, Walker is stiff and lacks the ability to create on offense, Nick Smith hasn’t shown me much at all tbh aside from great size and good athleticism. I actually think Amari Bailey has shown alot more and for whatever reason he’s ranked 35th in this mock,

Theres alot of talent and who knows who really shines at the next level but a whole lot of question marks. I think alot of these kids could end up being busts.

[HitsterParticipant]

Scoot is that tall for a modern NBA guard but at pushing 200lbs he should have a lot of explosive power to get to the basket. If Miller, Smith and Black were supposed to be the top 3 NCAA prospects in this years draft it’s a bit underwelming to say the least.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

This is kind of the reason I had Emoni higher than most for a big chunk of the season. He’s going to be younger than most other prospects and all have some holes in their games. Some prospects bring more to the table than others, but for the most part those aren’t much of your shoe in prospects. I believe Emoni has been blacklisted from the NBA at this point with where his stock is.
Brandon Miller is going to be 20.6 years old on draft night. That also means he’s a full year ahead of most other newcomers to college basketball. No wonder he dominated. I am higher on him and Scoot than thinking they are pedestrians, but the floors are still high I suppose. Scoot is a tough one to judge for me because he’s been absent.
Then there’s the Thompson twins. I don’t know how to rank them quite… but I have an idea I suppose.

[HitsterParticipant]

I’m pretty much like you Norrin with how to rate players. I don’t go that much into the age if someone is later graduating HS, it is almost like someone being the youngest or oldest in their class. Certainly in Middle School someone born in the early fall could well have a size advantage over someone born the next summer.

In Basketball where the majority of guys are well above average height I don’t think the age difference has much effect personally.

If it wasn’t for Wemby and maybe Scoot this would be one of the worse if not the worse draft class since I got back into following the NBA in 2004.

[Author]

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