[NorrinRaddParticipant]

1 – Mavericks – Cooper Flagg
2 – Spurs – Dylan Harper
3 – 76ers – Ace Bailey
4 – Hornets – VJ Edgecombe
5 – Jazz –

I have to think about his one for a minute… in my mock there’s a trade and in this one there isn’t…

[HitsterParticipant]

Tre Johnson is my pick. He’s the sort of scorer they need. They have Kessler as their defensive anchor so no need to take a big here. Kon would need a creator and I wouldn’t personally take Jeremiah Fears with his sticking out ears quite this early.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Interesting… I’m on the opposite end on this one. The Jazz have many wings that are starting to come around. They could use a forward or a big shot blocker to replace Kessler if they’re moving on from him in a year… they have been trying to trade him (asking a lot) since the end of last year and I think he’s on his final year of his contract. They could also use a jumbo guard. Tre Johnson should be the BPA, but I have to sit on this one because of Johnson’s fit… he’s none of what I mentioned. On the other hand, you make a good point about scoring there Hitster.

So we got Jeremiah big ears Fears as a nickname… still sitting on my pick…

[HitsterParticipant]

Talking of making fun of a few player’s appearances I see our old friend Jake “Sloth” Stephens is playing in the Serbian league and just over a week ago had a 29 point game including 6 three pointers.

Tre Johnson 1
Jeremiah Fears 1

[OhCanada-Participant]

I think Toronto will try to move up and draft Khaman Maluach or Tre Johnson here. I also think that Utah will have alot of interest in Maluach here. I don’t think Ainge see’s Kessler as a building block for his team. His FT shooting regressed from 60% to 52% and in the playoffs teams will just hack a shack him. If done properly the hack a shack can be used to stop transition plays and makes it hard to get into rythm. Mitchell Robinson got benched because of this recently.

That being said I don’t think you can pass on Tre Johnson. I’m high on Khaman Maluach but not that high yet.

[HitsterParticipant]

Kessler has one year left on his rookie deal and we know Ainge would be looking for minimum the Lakers offered for Charlotte’s Mark Williams but would Lakers give up that much for a guy who has a FT issue like Kessler

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

I think I’m going for a reach here… I’ve decided on Khaman Maluach…

Tre Johnson – 2
Khaman Maluach – 1

[OhCanada-Participant]

Its tough though because your never going to geta chance to get a 7’2 player with Maluach’s length and athletisism. It just isn’t going to happen. But you will have a chance to get a player with Tre’s skillset. And Danny Ainge is in it for the long haul. He’s not looking to get the best player available he’s looking to get the best player in 5 years.

I gotta switch to Maluach.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Khaman Maluach – 2
Tre Johnson – 1

[HitsterParticipant]

Although Danny Ainge is the CEO of Utah and they have the Basketball Front Office of GM, VPs etc who do all the scouting and compiling draft prospect data and reports. We all know that it will be Danny making the call on who they draft, I am sticking with Tre here despite the old saying by Danny’s mentor Red Auerbach “You cannot teach size” and we know Danny sticks by another of Red’s sayings “You can never have enough draft picks”.

One thing I want to throw out was Danny also had 5th pick in the 2007 draft but traded that for Ray Allen and went onto create the first big 3 and win the title. Utah aren’t going to do something similar but after rookie deals the only Utah player under contract beyond next season is Lauri Markkanen who Danny might look to cash in on.

Again Danny is the guy to watch as the draft day cards fall into place.

[sweaterflexParticipant]

The Jazz seem ripe for a trade, if they stayed in place I’d take Kon.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

sweaterflex!!! Great to see you back on!!!

Maluach – 2
Tre Johnson – 1
Kon – 1

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Well it’s been 24+ hours and we’re about that time of the day…
Maluach it is!!!

[HitsterParticipant]

With all the liking for Maluach’s size and skill set is there any thought that the Hornets take him at 4. They had the rescinded trade for Mark Williams to the Lakers and they have a playmaker in place so might have less need for Edgecombe?

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Anything’s possible – we’ve seen some crazier things happen in drafts. It wouldn’t be that far of a reach imo.

[OhCanada-Participant]

I originally put Maluach at #4 before editing it back to VJ. I think its possible, Hornets dont seem to confident in Mark Williams.

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