flip

That's an amazing deal for the Lakers, today, but they will really miss that 2027 #1 if they weren't bad enough to keep it.

Toronto - Baseball Obscura is on the clock.

1. Oklahoma City (Harlond) (trade) -- Jabari Smith Jr
2. Portland (mike f) (trade) -- Paolo Banchero
3. San Antonio (GregF)(trade) -- Chet Holmgren
4. Sacramento (Votto) -- Benedict Mathurin
5. Detroit (Cross-Eyed) -- Shaedon Sharpe
6. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) -- Jaden Ivey
7. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) (trade) -- Dyson Daniels
8. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) (trade) -- Keegan Murray
9. Houston (Oriole Tragic)(trade) -- Jeremy Sochan
10. Washington (HW American) -- Tyrone 'TyTy' Washington, Jr.
11. New York (. . . . . .) -- Jalen Duren (then traded to San Antonio)
12. Chicago (Dandy)(trade) -- Tari Eason
13. Charlotte (JJ1986) -- AJ Griffin
14. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) (trade) -- Nikola Jovic
15. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Malaki Branham
16. Atlanta (Der-K) -- Ousmane Dieng
17. Houston (Oriole Tragic) -- EJ Liddell
18. Oklahoma City (Harlond)(trade) -- Jalen Williams
19. Minnesota (TFTIO) -- Josh Minott
20. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Dalen Terry
21. Denver (asinwreck) -- Jake LaRavia
22. Memphis (tshipman) -- Blake Wesley
23. Philadelphia (57i66135.) -- Caleb Houstan
24. Milwaukee (Ken Griffey) -- Johnny Davis
25. New York (. . . . .) (trade) -- Mark Williams
26. Charlotte (JJ1986) (trade) -- Justin Lewis
27. Miami (aberg) -- Ochai Agbagi
28. New Orleans (tshipman) (trade) -- Marjon Beauchamp
29. Memphis (tshipman) -- Gabriele Procida
30. Denver (asinwreck) -- Walker Kessler

31. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) -- Kendall Brown
32. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) -- Kennedy Chandler
33. Toronto (Baseball Obscura) --
34. Oklahoma City (Harlond) --
35. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) --
36. Portland (mike f) --
37. Sacramento (Votto) --
38. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) --
39. Golden State (DCA) (trade) --
40. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
41. Golden State (DCA)(trade) --
42. San Antonio (GregF) --
43. LA Clippers (harlond) --
44. Atlanta (Der-K) --
45. Charlotte (JJ1986) --
46. Detroit (Cross-Eyed) --
47. Memphis (tshipman) --
48. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
49. Sacramento (Votto) --
50. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
51. Golden State (DCA) --
52. Golden State (DCA) --
53. Boston (winter's night) --
54. Milwaukee (forfeited over Bogdan Bogdanovich)
55. Miami (forfeited over Kyle Lowry)
56. Washington (HW American) --
57. Golden State (DCA) --
58. Cleveland (DCA) --
59. Portland (mike f) --
60. San Antonio (GregF) (trade) --

TRADES
1. Hawks/Der-K trade Jalen Johnson & Skylar Mays to the Thunder/harlond for Muscala, Williams, the Hornets' 2024 2nd round pick, and the Hawks' 2025 2nd round pick.
2. Pacers/Mellow Mouse trade Myles Turner to Pelicans/tshipman for 2022 #8, Jaxson Hayes, and Jonas Valancuinas.
3. Magic/Athletic Supporter trade the 2022 #1 pick to Thunder/harlond for the 2022 #2 pick and the Wizards' 2023 1st round pick (various protections)
4. Magic/Athletic Supporter trade the 2022 #2 pick to Portland/mike f for the 2022 #7 pick, the Bucks' 2025 1st round pick (protected 1-4), and Nassir Little
5. HOU trades #3 to SA for #9, #20, #38
6. Hornets/JJ1986 trade PJ Washington to Bulls/Dandy for Blazers' 2023 1st round pick (lottery protected in 2023 & thereafter)
7. SA/GregF trades McDermott, Langford, #25 to NY/. . . . . for Randle, #11 (Duren), #42
8. Cleveland/DCA trades Sexton (sign and trade: 4/70+), #14, CLE's 2026 1st (has some protections) to Indiana/MM for Malcolm Brogdon.
9. HOU trades #26 and 2023 FRP (MIL) to CHA for #15.
10. Bulls/Dandy trade Coby White, #18, Marko Simonovic to Thunder/Harlond for #12, Sixers' 2025 1st round pick (lightly protected as per Horford trade), rights to Vasilije Micic
11. Bulls/Dandy trade Patrick Williams to Spurs/GregF for Jakob Poeltl, Bulls' 2025 1st round pick (protected/conditional from DeRozan S+T), Bulls' 2025 2nd round pick
12. NOP/tshipman trades Devonte' Graham to Cleveland/DCA for Cedi Osman, Dylan Windler, #39
13. SA/GregF trades Primo, Richardson, Collins to IND/Mellow Mouse for Hield, #60
14. New Orleans/tshipman trades #39, #41, #52 to Golden State/DCA for #28
15. Lakers/Hombre trades Westbrook, 2027 1st to CHA/JJ1986 for Hogwash, Rozier

Was he too fat to shoot FTs? Because his numbers are unimpressive pretty much across the board.

His FT numbers (and shooting numbers generally) are terrific in the HS showcases. So whats your theory, he developed a brain tumor? Yips?

I'm saying, given how valuable he'd be if his HS shooting comes back, he should be the first pick off the board in the 2nd. Huge variance but unmatched upside.

#2995--Kyrie is going to be 30 next season, has averaged 34 games played the last 3 seasons, has played more than 72 games once in his career, has played more than 60 games just once in the last five years, is demanding a max contract that he certainly will not be worth and that will completely hamstring the team on the backend, and seems nearly as likely to sink his own team as he is to elevate it. Wasn't that long ago that Marks was being praised for getting Brooklyn out of the mess the Garnett/Pierce trade put them in. If anybody can put Brooklyn back in such a mess, it's Kyrie, especially with the Simmons question unanswered.

Kyrie has had some inscrutable things to say recently about his relationship with Lebron and the effect his own maturity level had on that. I have no idea what he was getting at there, but pairing him with Lebron is maybe the only situation in which I might want Kyrie.

His FT numbers (and shooting numbers generally) are terrific in the HS showcases. So whats your theory, he developed a brain tumor? Yips?

I'm saying, given how valuable he'd be if his HS shooting comes back, he should be the first pick off the board in the 2nd. Huge variance but unmatched upside.

He was pretty mediocre in the U-21 FIBA tournament last year too.

3/12 from 3, 2/4 from the FT line.

I don't really have a theory for why he was good in high school and not in college except that a lot of guys are good in high school. Plus, his high school shooting numbers aren't that crazy? Like, assuming this is the same guy, he shot 79% from the FT line and 37% from 3. That's ... fine.

It's been 24 hours since the last pick and, according to their member page, BaseballObscura hasn't visited the site since Friday. I'd vote to take best player available for Toronto and keep the draft moving.

... may have convinced GSW to take a flyer on Baldwin with one of our 50's picks, but there are enough other guys that I like who were good players on good teams that there's no need to grab a guy with 39 or 41 who was bad on a bad team, and bombed the combine too.

And, I'd question his judgement not going back to school for another year to prove his worth. It's best for him if he shows himself to be a lottery pick type talent. It worries me that he doesn't seem to believe in himself to do that.

Per ESPN, the best available is Jaden Hardy. I'm good with that.

That's an amazing deal for the Lakers, today, but they will really miss that 2027 #1 if they weren't bad enough to keep it.

Yeah, it's not like there's no risk here for the Lakers -- that unprotected pick is a big pot sweetener. The way I see it, the Lakers get to take one more run at the title with this deal (IF everyone stays healthy and they can find enough decent minimums, but that's my/Lakers problem). The Lakers' upside is immediate and the downside is massive, but I don't mind because they're locked into Lebron aging and AD's fragility and all of their combined money. Between Lebron and AD and Hayward, that's almost a guarantee of 60-80 missed games, but I'm here for the possible upside, and I'll pay out the nose for it.

The upside for Charlotte is that they're a mediocre team that's capped out, and in one move, the Hornets' biggest long-term financial obligations go from over $150 million to $47 million to zero in just two years, plus they add an unprotected lottery pick that's almost guaranteed to be high. With this trade, they can extend Ball and Bridges, and have the cap space to build something real, and get a high pick four years down the line, when they'll no doubt be capped out again.

I think that deal makes some sense for both teams. If I'm Charlotte (and presuming I can't flip him elsewhere), I'm wondering if I can use Russ as a sixth man.
---
Hardy is a good get in round 2.

Between Lebron and AD and Hayward, that's almost a guarantee of 60-80 missed games,

Is that a total, or a per player figure?

There is sad news today from the extremely real world of extremely real international ready-mix concrete companies who transition to operating extremely real digital metaverses: Sir Lucas Capetian, the brains and architect of Color Star Technology’s extraordinarily real Color World metaverse, has abruptly resigned his position, both as a member of Color Star’s board of directors and as chief executive officer, per a succinct company filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing says Capetian’s departure is due to “personal reasons” and did not result “from any disagreement with the Company.”
...
Tracking Capetian down, in those confused hours after the announcement of the 76ers partnership, became a surreal trial. The 76ers, it turned out, seemed never all that sure of who, exactly, they’d met and shaken hands with, and could do nothing more than assure Defector that Color Star’s CEO “does exist” and might possibly be “based in Europe.”

Buried in this BR Report that is mostly about Kyrie is a tidbit about Atkinson and the Hornets. Apparently the Hornets planned on retaining a lot of Borrego's coaching staff because they had another year on their contracts, and the team and Atkinson couldn't agree on terms for his preferred asst coaches. So if this is true the backout isn't about Kerr's future so much as it is about MJ being cheap.

With the 34th pick, OKC takes Wendell Moore. Orlando/Athletic Supporter is on the clock.

Yeah, it's not like there's no risk here for the Lakers -- that unprotected pick is a big pot sweetener. The way I see it, the Lakers get to take one more run at the title with this deal (IF everyone stays healthy and they can find enough decent minimums, but that's my/Lakers problem). The Lakers' upside is immediate and the downside is massive, but I don't mind because they're locked into Lebron aging and AD's fragility and all of their combined money. Between Lebron and AD and Hayward, that's almost a guarantee of 60-80 missed games, but I'm here for the possible upside, and I'll pay out the nose for it.

The upside for Charlotte is that they're a mediocre team that's capped out, and in one move, the Hornets' biggest long-term financial obligations go from over $150 million to $47 million to zero in just two years, plus they add an unprotected lottery pick that's almost guaranteed to be high. With this trade, they can extend Ball and Bridges, and have the cap space to build something real, and get a high pick four years down the line, when they'll no doubt be capped out again.

Yeah. I was speculating about this deal with an IRL Laker fan buddy (he was opposed). I have no idea if the real-life Lakers and Hornets would consider it.

Davis is signed through 23/24 and has a player option for 24/25. Hayward is signed through 23/24, and James ofc is signed through 22/23. If this deal actually happened, if I were Pelinka, I would consider offering James a one-year extension through 23/24, so James, Hayward and Davis align for two years, and James would then be able to Bronny-chase after that.

Of course the Lakers would have Rozier in this scenario, and Nunn, who literally did not play a minute last year, has already opted in for 5.2M. So, that would possibly be your starting 5--Nunn/Rozier/Hayward/James/Davis--although you might look to start a 3 you get on the minimum instead of Nunn or Rozier ofc.

I will be interested to see if something like this happens IRL. Rumors and spec in Lakerland today are, as you would expect, focused on Kyrie Irving.

Been interested in the Chet Holmgren takes.

I think you get a cheap 5 to round out the starting lineup, given that Davis prefers to play the 4. Nominally, at least. Given the injury histories, there are probably going to be 45 different starting lineups over the course of the season.

I dont think i have the horses to trade up to pick up, but I am stunned Patrick Baldwin has lasted this long in our draft. He's tall and he shoots like a ############, and you can fix the rest. And he has a real excuse for playing like #### in college, he's been hurt! Give him a year with pro-level training and conditioning and there's like a 50/50 chance your development team spits out the most dangerous shooter on the floor. Yes, he's high risk, but its the second round, you can drop him if he doesn't turn on his motor.

from the ringer's big board:

SHADES OF
Harrison Barnes, Kevin Knox, Jabari Parker

at least they didn't hit him with the adam morrison.

I think you get a cheap 5 to round out the starting lineup, given that Davis prefers to play the 4. Nominally, at least. Given the injury histories, there are probably going to be 45 different starting lineups over the course of the season

Fair point. Ham was very intentional about saying that he wants to go "four out/one in" though--which ofc would be very tough with Westbrook around and the massive decline of Davis from the arc. The other spec (and this is just fan stuff--nothing from Charania or Wojnarowski or whoever) is trying to move THT/Nunn for a wing in the 15-17M range.

At 35, the Orlando Magic select Andrew Nembhard, PG, Gonzaga.

Portland (mikef) is on the clock.

The Thunder are a rebuilding team that can't shoot and don't defend all that well. The Thunder finished last in the league in 3Pt%, 27th in 2Pt%, last in FG%, and 29th in EFG%. They were last in points and 29th in ORtg. They were 28th in assists and had over 300 fewer than their opponents. They were 18th in DRtg. They are probably best situated at guard with SGA, 2nd Team All-Rookie Josh Giddey, and Lu Dort (who BR.com lists as a SF even though he's 6'3"). They need talent everywhere, but given their shooting problems and defensive mediocrity, I wanted to focus on big wings and regular wings who had a chance to become good NBA shooters and defenders.

I traded up from the second pick because I preferred Jabari Smith's proven ability to shoot the ball (42% on 188 3PA, .799 FT%) compared to Banchero (33.8% on 130 3PA, .729 FT%) and wasn't going to take Holmgren with the 2nd pick no matter who went first. I wouldn't have been unhappy with Banchero, but I think Smith is a better fit for OKC. Smith is a long, tall, athletic wing with what everyone describes as a beautiful stroke who gets his shot off quickly. And with his height, he needs very little room to get his shot off. He also showed in college pretty good ability to guard the perimeter. 6"10" wings who can nail the 3Pt, can shoot over most everyone, and are switchable on the perimeter are a good addition to any team, and if he can be an above average defender--better steal and block rates than Banchero--he's an impact player.

I traded for Coby White who's not great, but he did shoot 38.5% on 353 3PA with a .857 FT%. BR.com lists him as a PG, but he has a poor assist rate for a PG (though a good AST/TOV ratio), so I see his role as playing opposite Theo Maledon or Tre Mann or whoever and providing outside shooting and some secondary creation on the second unit. He's an upgrade over whoever the Thunder had in that role last year.

I traded out of the 12th spot and in the 18th spot took Jalen Williams. Williams, 6'4" without shoes with a 7'2" wingspan, plays PG, 6.7 AST per 100 compared to 3.4 TOV. He's probably better off at wing in the NBA and has the wingspan and strength to guard taller guys. He shot 39.6% on 106 3PA, .809 FT%, and is said to be very good in the catch and shoot. He had a very good combine, finishing top 5 in the 3/4 court sprint and max vertical leap and playing very well in the 5-on-5.

With the 34th pick, I took Wendell Moore, also 6'4" without shoes and a 7' wingspan. He played 3 years at Duke, but doesn't turn 21 until September. He shot 41.3% on 126 3PA, .805 FT%. He had 7.6 AST per 100 compared to 3.4 TOV. Hollinger says his "rates of rebounds [9.2 per 100], assists and steals [2.4] all are among the best of any shooting guard prospect this year, and those indicators usually point toward pro success more than scoring averages." He played good defense in college, often guarding the other team's best player. Wasn't outstanding on the lane agility and 3/4 court sprint, but was top 10 in the leaping categories.

Finally, I traded for Jalen Johnson, 6'8" with a 7' wingspan. Johnson was taken 20th in the 2021 draft. He didn't get a lot of run with the Hawks, but he played well in summer league and in the G League, in the latter scoring 20.1 PPG and shooting 37.5% on 48 3PA, .564 FT, ugh. He rebounded really well, another area in which the Thunder need a lot of help.

Overall I feel like I accomplished what I wanted to do. I got maybe the best shooter in the draft with the potential to be an All-Star wing and added in the draft two other guys who are very long, solidly built wings with passing and shooting ability who could prove to be adequate to good defenders, and in today's NBA you can't have too many of those guys. Coby White should help the shooting issue immediately. Who knows what Jalen Johnson will do. We're short on centers, in every sense of the word, but there are guys out there, and maybe we can sign Evan Mobley's brother to a two-way.

Starters: SGA, Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, Jabari Smith, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.
Second unit: Theo Maledon or Tre Mann, Coby White, Jalen Williams, Kenrich Williams, Darius Bazley or Derrick Favors

Need a return to form from SGA (he slid from 41.8% on 3PA in 2021 to 30% in 2022), significant development from Giddey, improved shooting from Dort (he did raise his FT% last year by 99 points to .843 on 191 FTA and he shot better on 3PA in 2021), and immediate help from Smith, at least on the offensive end, and the Thunder might approach mediocrity. The Thunder were 7th in the league in 3PA, but 30th in 3Pt%, so if SGA, Giddey, and Dort all improve their shooting and Smith shoots like everyone thinks he can, there's a clear path to more wins. Plus improved shooting would open things up for SGA who got only 22% of his shots at the rim last year after getting more than 30% in the three years before.

Portland - mike f is on the clock.

1. Oklahoma City (Harlond) (trade) -- Jabari Smith Jr
2. Portland (mike f) (trade) -- Paolo Banchero
3. San Antonio (GregF)(trade) -- Chet Holmgren
4. Sacramento (Votto) -- Benedict Mathurin
5. Detroit (Cross-Eyed) -- Shaedon Sharpe
6. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) -- Jaden Ivey
7. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) (trade) -- Dyson Daniels
8. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) (trade) -- Keegan Murray
9. Houston (Oriole Tragic)(trade) -- Jeremy Sochan
10. Washington (HW American) -- Tyrone 'TyTy' Washington, Jr.
11. New York (. . . . . .) -- Jalen Duren (then traded to San Antonio)
12. Chicago (Dandy)(trade) -- Tari Eason
13. Charlotte (JJ1986) -- AJ Griffin
14. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) (trade) -- Nikola Jovic
15. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Malaki Branham
16. Atlanta (Der-K) -- Ousmane Dieng
17. Houston (Oriole Tragic) -- EJ Liddell
18. Oklahoma City (Harlond)(trade) -- Jalen Williams
19. Minnesota (TFTIO) -- Josh Minott
20. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Dalen Terry
21. Denver (asinwreck) -- Jake LaRavia
22. Memphis (tshipman) -- Blake Wesley
23. Philadelphia (57i66135.) -- Caleb Houstan
24. Milwaukee (Ken Griffey) -- Johnny Davis
25. New York (. . . . .) (trade) -- Mark Williams
26. Charlotte (JJ1986) (trade) -- Justin Lewis
27. Miami (aberg) -- Ochai Agbagi
28. New Orleans (tshipman) (trade) -- Marjon Beauchamp
29. Memphis (tshipman) -- Gabriele Procida
30. Denver (asinwreck) -- Walker Kessler

31. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) -- Kendall Brown
32. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) -- Kennedy Chandler
33. Toronto (Baseball Obscura) -- Jaden Hardy
34. Oklahoma City (Harlond) -- Wendell Moore
35. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) -- Andrew Nembhard
36. Portland (mike f) --
37. Sacramento (Votto) --
38. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) --
39. Golden State (DCA) (trade) --
40. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
41. Golden State (DCA)(trade) --
42. San Antonio (GregF) --
43. LA Clippers (harlond) --
44. Atlanta (Der-K) --
45. Charlotte (JJ1986) --
46. Detroit (Cross-Eyed) --
47. Memphis (tshipman) --
48. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
49. Sacramento (Votto) --
50. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
51. Golden State (DCA) --
52. Golden State (DCA) --
53. Boston (winter's night) --
54. Milwaukee (forfeited over Bogdan Bogdanovich)
55. Miami (forfeited over Kyle Lowry)
56. Washington (HW American) --
57. Golden State (DCA) --
58. Cleveland (DCA) --
59. Portland (mike f) --
60. San Antonio (GregF) (trade) --

TRADES
1. Hawks/Der-K trade Jalen Johnson & Skylar Mays to the Thunder/harlond for Muscala, Williams, the Hornets' 2024 2nd round pick, and the Hawks' 2025 2nd round pick.
2. Pacers/Mellow Mouse trade Myles Turner to Pelicans/tshipman for 2022 #8, Jaxson Hayes, and Jonas Valancuinas.
3. Magic/Athletic Supporter trade the 2022 #1 pick to Thunder/harlond for the 2022 #2 pick and the Wizards' 2023 1st round pick (various protections)
4. Magic/Athletic Supporter trade the 2022 #2 pick to Portland/mike f for the 2022 #7 pick, the Bucks' 2025 1st round pick (protected 1-4), and Nassir Little
5. HOU trades #3 to SA for #9, #20, #38
6. Hornets/JJ1986 trade PJ Washington to Bulls/Dandy for Blazers' 2023 1st round pick (lottery protected in 2023 & thereafter)
7. SA/GregF trades McDermott, Langford, #25 to NY/. . . . . for Randle, #11 (Duren), #42
8. Cleveland/DCA trades Sexton (sign and trade: 4/70+), #14, CLE's 2026 1st (has some protections) to Indiana/MM for Malcolm Brogdon.
9. HOU trades #26 and 2023 FRP (MIL) to CHA for #15.
10. Bulls/Dandy trade Coby White, #18, Marko Simonovic to Thunder/Harlond for #12, Sixers' 2025 1st round pick (lightly protected as per Horford trade), rights to Vasilije Micic
11. Bulls/Dandy trade Patrick Williams to Spurs/GregF for Jakob Poeltl, Bulls' 2025 1st round pick (protected/conditional from DeRozan S+T), Bulls' 2025 2nd round pick
12. NOP/tshipman trades Devonte' Graham to Cleveland/DCA for Cedi Osman, Dylan Windler, #39
13. SA/GregF trades Primo, Richardson, Collins to IND/Mellow Mouse for Hield, #60
14. New Orleans/tshipman trades #39, #41, #52 to Golden State/DCA for #28
15. Lakers/Hombre trades Westbrook, 2027 1st to CHA/JJ1986 for Hogwash, Rozier

Orlando: We're not trying to contend next season. Our goal was to acquire pieces for the future, while providing a development environment for young players. We have ~33M cap space not counting Mo Bamba (RFA) and the second-rounders. If work hadn't gotten in the way I'd have tried harder to absorb bad contracts with picks, but in this universe I'm going to continue to try to do that post-draft. I don't feel strongly either way about Bamba but doing it in this order means we don't have to renounce him yet and can see what he gets in RFA.

We acquired two reasonably protected firsts (Wizards 1-14 with less and less protection over time, and Bucks 1-4) that we expect to convey in our timeline, while trading down from 1 to 7. This also saves us $5M in cap space (difference between rookie contract of #1 and #7) to eat bad contracts to get more picks.

I didn't love the top 3 in this draft. I think Jabari is a complementary piece, not a star. Holmgren is a very interesting player and I don't mind the slight frame, but I also think that people are getting way too excited about his versatility, his handle and passing are nowhere near good enough to be actually useful at an NBA level. Banchero strikes me as just an offense-first guy and not likely to be a good number-one option; I hate drafting these guys because they have to be incredibly good to be worth their contracts (see also Jalen Green last year).

The guy I always wanted was Dyson Daniels. I love his defense and it's proven against a higher level of competition than college. High BBIQ and a great passer. For a 19 year old I think his bust chance is very low and if the shooting and/or handle comes around, watch out.

We're not going to contend next year, but I think we can be fun and start setting the stage. If we re-sign Bamba we'll be playing a lot of two-big lineups, but if not we're looking at something like:

Fultz / Suggs / Wagner / Isaac / WCJ

and we've got spirited competition for backup initiators. In the second round, we drafted Kennedy Chandler (high-variance potential sparkplug) and Andrew Nembhard (I'm convinced this guy will have a TJ McConnell like career and I think having a solid floor general helps other guys develop, even if he has zero star potential). Cole Anthony and RJ Hampton are still floating around. Each of these guys might just be bad but we have a lot of them and they're a pretty young group (even Fultz). I like having lots of options here in case one pops. Daniels will get major league minutes as a backup wing.

None of this is close to a contender. Isaac might be dead, Terrence Ross and Chuma Okeke are our notional wing depth; that's really, really not good. WCJ is really our only relevant big (outside of Bamba). But it's pretty easy to find mediocre bigs out there and having as many shots at the development apple to find a plus initiator feels like the right approach at this stage.

Portland selects Christian Koloko, C, Arizona.

Well, you guys talked me out of Baldwin, so the Kings will take another project, UCLA forward Peyton Watson. He was another top (15ish) recruit, but in his case, he was playing limited minutes behind a bunch of experienced college players. He'll probably be G-League fodder for a while, but has good size and some defensive potential.

Here's the Kings roster at the moment:

Guards: DeAaron Fox, Davion Mitchell
Wings: Harrison Barnes, BENNEDICT MATHURIN, DiVencenzo, Justin Holiday
Bigs: Sabonis, Richaun Holmes
Deep bench: Mo Harkless, Terence Davis, Alex Len, P. WATSON

That's.....not a very good team. Sabonis is the only player who's definitely above average at his position.

I'd still be looking to move off of Fox and try a re-boot at PG. Maybe packaging Barnes or Holiday's expiring contracts, and try to re-build around Sabonis, Mathurin, and Mitchell, and take another swing at the top of the 2023 lottery.

ORIOLE TRAGIC (Houston), you're up.


1. Oklahoma City (Harlond) (trade) -- Jabari Smith Jr, Auburn
2. Portland (mike f) (trade) -- Paolo Banchero, Duke
3. San Antonio (GregF)(trade) -- Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
4. Sacramento (Votto) -- Benedict Mathurin, Arizona
5. Detroit (Cross-Eyed) -- Shaedon Sharpe, kentucky
6. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) -- Jaden Ivey, Purdue
7. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) (trade) -- Dyson Daniels, G-League
8. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) (trade) -- Keegan Murray, Iowa
9. Houston (Oriole Tragic)(trade) -- Jeremy Sochan, Baylor
10. Washington (HW American) -- Tyrone 'TyTy' Washington, Jr., Kentucky
11. New York (. . . . . .) -- Jalen Duren (then traded to San Antonio), Memphis
12. Chicago (Dandy)(trade) -- Tari Eason, LSU
13. Charlotte (JJ1986) -- AJ Griffin, Duke
14. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) (trade) -- Nikola Jovic, Int'l
15. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Malaki Branham, tOSU
16. Atlanta (Der-K) -- Ousmane Dieng, Int'l
17. Houston (Oriole Tragic) -- EJ Liddell, OSU
18. Oklahoma City (Harlond)(trade) -- Jalen Williams, Santa Clara
19. Minnesota (TFTIO) -- Josh Minott, Memphis
20. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Dalen Terry, Arizona
21. Denver (asinwreck) -- Jake LaRavia, Wake Forest
22. Memphis (tshipman) -- Blake Wesley, Notre Dame
23. Philadelphia (57i66135.) -- Caleb Houstan, Michigan
24. Milwaukee (Ken Griffey) -- Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
25. New York (. . . . .) (trade) -- Mark Williams, Duke
26. Charlotte (JJ1986) (trade) -- Justin Lewis, Marquette
27. Miami (aberg) -- Ochai Agbagi, Kansas
28. New Orleans (tshipman) (trade) -- Marjon Beauchamp, G-League
29. Memphis (tshipman) -- Gabriele Procida, Int'l
30. Denver (asinwreck) -- Walker Kessler, Auburn

31. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) -- Kendall Brown, Baylor
32. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) -- Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee
33. Toronto (Baseball Obscura) -- Jaden Hardy, G-League
34. Oklahoma City (Harlond) -- Wendell Moore, Duke
35. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) -- Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga
36. Portland (mike f) -- Christian Koloko, Arizona
37. Sacramento (Votto) -- Peyton Watson, UCLA
38. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) --
39. Golden State (DCA) (trade) --
40. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
41. Golden State (DCA)(trade) --
42. San Antonio (GregF) --
43. LA Clippers (harlond) --
44. Atlanta (Der-K) --
45. Charlotte (JJ1986) --
46. Detroit (Cross-Eyed) --
47. Memphis (tshipman) --
48. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
49. Sacramento (Votto) --
50. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
51. Golden State (DCA) --
52. Golden State (DCA) --
53. Boston (winter's night) --
54. Milwaukee (forfeited over Bogdan Bogdanovich)
55. Miami (forfeited over Kyle Lowry)
56. Washington (HW American) --
57. Golden State (DCA) --
58. Cleveland (DCA) --
59. Portland (mike f) --
60. San Antonio (GregF) (trade) --

TRADES
1. Hawks/Der-K trade Jalen Johnson & Skylar Mays to the Thunder/harlond for Muscala, Williams, the Hornets' 2024 2nd round pick, and the Hawks' 2025 2nd round pick.
2. Pacers/Mellow Mouse trade Myles Turner to Pelicans/tshipman for 2022 #8, Jaxson Hayes, and Jonas Valancuinas.
3. Magic/Athletic Supporter trade the 2022 #1 pick to Thunder/harlond for the 2022 #2 pick and the Wizards' 2023 1st round pick (various protections)
4. Magic/Athletic Supporter trade the 2022 #2 pick to Portland/mike f for the 2022 #7 pick, the Bucks' 2025 1st round pick (protected 1-4), and Nassir Little
5. HOU trades #3 to SA for #9, #20, #38
6. Hornets/JJ1986 trade PJ Washington to Bulls/Dandy for Blazers' 2023 1st round pick (lottery protected in 2023 & thereafter)
7. SA/GregF trades McDermott, Langford, #25 to NY/. . . . . for Randle, #11 (Duren), #42
8. Cleveland/DCA trades Sexton (sign and trade: 4/70+), #14, CLE's 2026 1st (has some protections) to Indiana/MM for Malcolm Brogdon.
9. HOU trades #26 and 2023 FRP (MIL) to CHA for #15.
10. Bulls/Dandy trade Coby White, #18, Marko Simonovic to Thunder/Harlond for #12, Sixers' 2025 1st round pick (lightly protected as per Horford trade), rights to Vasilije Micic
11. Bulls/Dandy trade Patrick Williams to Spurs/GregF for Jakob Poeltl, Bulls' 2025 1st round pick (protected/conditional from DeRozan S+T), Bulls' 2025 2nd round pick
12. NOP/tshipman trades Devonte' Graham to Cleveland/DCA for Cedi Osman, Dylan Windler, #39
13. SA/GregF trades Primo, Richardson, Collins to IND/Mellow Mouse for Hield, #60
14. New Orleans/tshipman trades #39, #41, #52 to Golden State/DCA for #28
15. Lakers/Hombre trades Westbrook, 2027 1st to CHA/JJ1986 for Hogwash, Rozier

I'm working on my pick at #38, but if some wants to move up then I'm open to ideas.

Oriole ... GSW is getting nervous. My plan A for #39 is available, but plans B-E are all gone.

I'll give you 39 + 57 for 38.

DCA: How about 39 + 41? (Edited)

No, not 39 + 41. Traded down from 28 to 39 (thinking it was likely the guy I liked at 28 would still be there at 39, he's still there at 38). The hope was that I'd get another guy in that value tier at 41 for taking on that risk.

DCA: 39 + 51 + 52?

To be honest, I was hesitant to offer even the 57. If I can sweat out 28->38, I can sweat out 28->39.

HOU selects Khalifa Diop at #38.

DCA is on the clock.

oh my god i never noticed that stiggles picked caleb houstan

its perfect

caleb houstan sucks so hard, but he sucks in PRECISELY the way that is irresistible catnip to stiggles. its the perfect match of houstan's odd mix of skills, the sum of which is so much worse than each of the individual components because of a comprehensive lack of basketball IQ, and stiggles being taken in, over and over, by players with insane talent and no basketball IQ

i don't know if i have a take on that, but i know i'm not big on houstan

oh my god i never noticed that stiggles picked caleb houstan

its perfect

caleb houstan sucks so hard, but he sucks in PRECISELY the way that is irresistible catnip to stiggles. its the perfect match of houstan's odd mix of skills, the sum of which is so much worse than each of the individual components because of a comprehensive lack of basketball IQ, and stiggles being taken in, over and over, by players with insane talent and no basketball IQ

it's almost as if i expect a 19 year old will have the potential to mature into a more well-rounded human being as they gain life experience outside of high school and AAU.


which is not to say you're wrong. it's just that, considering i'm picking in the mid 20s, i'm willing to make that bet.

Oriole Tragic, I kinda wish you'd taken Baldwin, so we could all imagine Votto's anguish. At the 18th pick, I was deciding between Jalen Williams and Josh Minott, and when TFTIO took Minott with the very next pick, I was struck with huge buyer's remorse. Drafts can be hard that way.

can identify

i'm now waiting with baited breath for dca's pick - the suspense!

i'm never sure how much to go with a project in round 2. unless they develop quick, there's a decent chance you'll want to dump them anyway for the next new thing. (i mean, they're all projects at that point - but i mean a guy like houstan with lots of tools but aways away from being aways away. have to be patient, i guess.)

@Harlond/3036:

Hah, yeah, I am all the way out on Baldwin even at this stage of the draft.

I actually think Jalen Williams is great pick at #18. I allllllmost took him at #17 (which would have helped you?) but I really like Liddell and I was worried he wouldn't have been there at #20.

In hindsight, perhaps I should have taken Williams at #17 and hoped that Liddell was still there at #20, because I am not sky-high on Terry aside from his age and size at PG, and perhaps his motor.

I have a guy I want to talk about, but there's an outside chance he makes it to 47.

With pick 39, the Warriors take Jaylin (not Jalen) Williams, F/C, Arkansas.

Minnesota (TFTIO) on the clock for pick 40

When Mark Williams started to slide, I began to hope that he'd slide all the way to 28. When the Knicks grabbed him at 25, Jaylin Williams was next on my list, and it was an easy call to trade 28 down to 39 + 41 + 52, given that he's been mocked in the mid-40's typically.

Not your typical lobs and blocks center prospect, but once you get past the elite of that type, I'd rather have a more versatile modern big man like Jaylin Williams. He can pass, he can shoot a bit, he can protect the rim and defend in space, his BBIQ is off the charts. I think the Warriors are the perfect landing spot for him to maximize his value, and eventually contribute in a role somewhere between Looney-actual and Draymond-lite.

+1, dca
well, sorta. i am (clearly) ok with old school centers as well, but i like jaylin quite a bit.
--
real knicks supposedly offering burks into cap space. if he's healthy, that's a decent move for another team (albeit a no ceiling move)... but the foot surgery might make me nervous.

Respect the Nets

Oriole Tragic, I kinda wish you'd taken Baldwin, so we could all imagine Votto's anguish. At the 18th pick, I was deciding between Jalen Williams and Josh Minott, and when TFTIO took Minott with the very next pick, I was struck with huge buyer's remorse. Drafts can be hard that way.

One of the interesting things about this exercise is trying to figure out what the current goals of the team you are drafting for are and then making logical picks. With Denver, I concluded that the front office is confident that the existing roster -- when healthy -- is a contender and the goal is to add a couple well-developed prospects who might contribute key minutes to supplement the veterans in a 2023 postseason run.

It's also the team that traded a couple seconds to install JaVale McGee as the backup center a while back, so I concluded this was a teem that would have interest in Walker Kessler (or, if he fell that far, Mark Williams). Booth probably didn't trade a rotation player in order to use that second 1st round pick on a project or a stash candidate.

We'll soon know if this speculation is wildly off-base, but it's part of the fun. The other fun thing will be to see how different our draft is to the actual event. I expect some major differences, based on names yet to be called in our draft.

it's almost as if i expect a 19 year old will have the potential to mature into a more well-rounded human being as they gain life experience outside of high school and AAU.

fwiw, the buzz out of Crisler was that Houstan was a worker and coachable - he just is missing something that ties it together. I am skeptical he turns into more than a guy.

At 40, the Twolves take Ismaël Kamagate, from Paris Basketball. Raw, young, big kid. Sure, why not?

DCA, you're back on the clock at 41

1. Oklahoma City (Harlond) (trade) -- Jabari Smith Jr, Auburn
2. Portland (mike f) (trade) -- Paolo Banchero, Duke
3. San Antonio (GregF)(trade) -- Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
4. Sacramento (Votto) -- Benedict Mathurin, Arizona
5. Detroit (Cross-Eyed) -- Shaedon Sharpe, kentucky
6. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) -- Jaden Ivey, Purdue
7. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) (trade) -- Dyson Daniels, G-League
8. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) (trade) -- Keegan Murray, Iowa
9. Houston (Oriole Tragic)(trade) -- Jeremy Sochan, Baylor
10. Washington (HW American) -- Tyrone 'TyTy' Washington, Jr., Kentucky
11. New York (. . . . . .) -- Jalen Duren (then traded to San Antonio), Memphis
12. Chicago (Dandy)(trade) -- Tari Eason, LSU
13. Charlotte (JJ1986) -- AJ Griffin, Duke
14. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) (trade) -- Nikola Jovic, Int'l
15. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Malaki Branham, tOSU
16. Atlanta (Der-K) -- Ousmane Dieng, Int'l
17. Houston (Oriole Tragic) -- EJ Liddell, OSU
18. Oklahoma City (Harlond)(trade) -- Jalen Williams, Santa Clara
19. Minnesota (TFTIO) -- Josh Minott, Memphis
20. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Dalen Terry, Arizona
21. Denver (asinwreck) -- Jake LaRavia, Wake Forest
22. Memphis (tshipman) -- Blake Wesley, Notre Dame
23. Philadelphia (57i66135.) -- Caleb Houstan, Michigan
24. Milwaukee (Ken Griffey) -- Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
25. New York (. . . . .) (trade) -- Mark Williams, Duke
26. Charlotte (JJ1986) (trade) -- Justin Lewis, Marquette
27. Miami (aberg) -- Ochai Agbagi, Kansas
28. New Orleans (tshipman) (trade) -- Marjon Beauchamp, G-League
29. Memphis (tshipman) -- Gabriele Procida, Int'l
30. Denver (asinwreck) -- Walker Kessler, Auburn

31. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) -- Kendall Brown, Baylor
32. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) -- Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee
33. Toronto (Baseball Obscura) -- Jaden Hardy, G-League
34. Oklahoma City (Harlond) -- Wendell Moore, Duke
35. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) -- Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga
36. Portland (mike f) -- Christian Koloko, Arizona
37. Sacramento (Votto) -- Peyton Watson, UCLA
38. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Khalifa Diop, Gran Canaria
39. Golden State (DCA) (trade) -- Jaylin Williams, Arkansas
40. Minnesota (TFTIO) -- Ismaël Kamagate, Paris Basketball
41. Golden State (DCA)(trade) --
42. San Antonio (GregF) --
43. LA Clippers (harlond) --
44. Atlanta (Der-K) --
45. Charlotte (JJ1986) --
46. Detroit (Cross-Eyed) --
47. Memphis (tshipman) --
48. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
49. Sacramento (Votto) --
50. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
51. Golden State (DCA) --
52. Golden State (DCA) --
53. Boston (winter's night) --
54. Milwaukee (forfeited over Bogdan Bogdanovich)
55. Miami (forfeited over Kyle Lowry)
56. Washington (HW American) --
57. Golden State (DCA) --
58. Cleveland (DCA) --
59. Portland (mike f) --
60. San Antonio (GregF) (trade) --

TRADES
1. Hawks/Der-K trade Jalen Johnson & Skylar Mays to the Thunder/harlond for Muscala, Williams, the Hornets' 2024 2nd round pick, and the Hawks' 2025 2nd round pick.
2. Pacers/Mellow Mouse trade Myles Turner to Pelicans/tshipman for 2022 #8, Jaxson Hayes, and Jonas Valancuinas.
3. Magic/Athletic Supporter trade the 2022 #1 pick to Thunder/harlond for the 2022 #2 pick and the Wizards' 2023 1st round pick (various protections)
4. Magic/Athletic Supporter trade the 2022 #2 pick to Portland/mike f for the 2022 #7 pick, the Bucks' 2025 1st round pick (protected 1-4), and Nassir Little
5. HOU trades #3 to SA for #9, #20, #38
6. Hornets/JJ1986 trade PJ Washington to Bulls/Dandy for Blazers' 2023 1st round pick (lottery protected in 2023 & thereafter)
7. SA/GregF trades McDermott, Langford, #25 to NY/. . . . . for Randle, #11 (Duren), #42
8. Cleveland/DCA trades Sexton (sign and trade: 4/70+), #14, CLE's 2026 1st (has some protections) to Indiana/MM for Malcolm Brogdon.
9. HOU trades #26 and 2023 FRP (MIL) to CHA for #15.
10. Bulls/Dandy trade Coby White, #18, Marko Simonovic to Thunder/Harlond for #12, Sixers' 2025 1st round pick (lightly protected as per Horford trade), rights to Vasilije Micic
11. Bulls/Dandy trade Patrick Williams to Spurs/GregF for Jakob Poeltl, Bulls' 2025 1st round pick (protected/conditional from DeRozan S+T), Bulls' 2025 2nd round pick
12. NOP/tshipman trades Devonte' Graham to Cleveland/DCA for Cedi Osman, Dylan Windler, #39
13. SA/GregF trades Primo, Richardson, Collins to IND/Mellow Mouse for Hield, #60
14. New Orleans/tshipman trades #39, #41, #52 to Golden State/DCA for #28
15. Lakers/Hombre trades Westbrook, 2027 1st to CHA/JJ1986 for Hogwash, Rozier

i tend not to like sports movies - in part because i'm allergic to schmaltz - but is anyone else curious about the giannis biopic that comes out this weekend? his story is truly incredible.

I have 48 and 50, and to be honest, I'm out of ideas. Anyone want those picks?

for what? future picks?
how about mia 2nd in '24 and lac 2nd in '27?

GSW also willing to trade 51, 52, 57 for future picks if TFTIO doesn't take you up on that.

we can talk about that, sure
--
harland - have you come up with a use of your cap space yet? you're kind of in a use it or lose it scenario, i think?
if you don't come up with another use, i'll again offer gallo + cash and a 2nd for nothing -- based on my reading of things, it essentially gets you a (nearly) free 2nd rounder -- absent other deals on your side, it doesn't meaningfully impact your 2022-23 cap situation at all (you'll be barely over the cap either way*, given dead money and SGA now getting paid, with no risk of getting into tax territory). i get a TE plus a little breathing room if i want to stay out of the tax (in which case i let the TE expire -- truthfully, i likely only use it to make other trades easier, not to take on money - thanks to trae now getting paid on my end).


* i can come up with a scenario that puts you under the cap (you renounce some cap holds, etc...) but you'd be in worse financial shape than by being barely over.

With pick 41, GSW take Scotty Pippen Jr, G, Vanderbilt.

San Antonio (GregF) up for pick 42.

We've got a type ...

I'd hoped with the 41 that I added to be able to grab Nembhard (actually I may have taken Nembhard #39, since I worried about him getting past a D-Lo-dumping Minnestota, and hoped for Jaylin to keep sliding to #41). Failing that, Hardy or Moore would be excellent value picks, but all three went off the board back-to-back-to-back earlier in R2.

PG depth has been a real weak spot, and the revolving cast of G-League fodder isn't going to cut it if Curry or Poole misses time when the games matter. I think Baby Batman is a good fit, and not just because bloodlines. I like his strong performance record, especially the ability to get to the line, and he's flashed potential as a shooter. I've read conflicting assessments of his defense, but the tools are there and I have confidence in our development system to bring him along on D especially. The comp that I keep reading is Fred VanVleet. That'll do.

Der-K, I'm particularly interested in the 2024 second since GSW have no picks in that draft. I think I'd be willing to trade all three late seconds this year for the two future seconds that you've dangled, given how crowded the roster is now and having no picks at all in 2024.

Those are pretty late seconds and I'm not sure how to fit 4 2nd rounders on a roster, but I'd definitely give you the MIA '24 2nd and some cash (a mil?, either from 21-22 if I don't make another deal with it or in a separate 22-23 "fake" transaction*) for those three.
Additionally, you can have Chaundee Brown (2 way guy) if you want, he's getting cut otherwise


*like swapping the draft rights of alpha kaba and cady lalanne

Even though there are only 2 picks ahead of me, I'm putting odds of getting my top guy on the board at very low.

Yeah, I can do 51, 52, 57 for 2024 R2, Brown, and some money to offset the $100m tax bills we're going to be paying the next few years.

Deal: ATL gets 51, 52, 57 for Miami's '24 2nd, Chaundee Brown, and "cash considerations".

Ah, what the hell. What's the exact deal you're proposing Der-K? I'm probably on board.

There's a damn hurricane here in Richmond right now, so offer quick in case the storm gets me.

Updating the grid ...

San Antonio (GregF) on the clock for #42

1. Oklahoma City (Harlond) (trade) -- Jabari Smith Jr, Auburn
2. Portland (mike f) (trade) -- Paolo Banchero, Duke
3. San Antonio (GregF)(trade) -- Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
4. Sacramento (Votto) -- Benedict Mathurin, Arizona
5. Detroit (Cross-Eyed) -- Shaedon Sharpe, kentucky
6. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) -- Jaden Ivey, Purdue
7. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) (trade) -- Dyson Daniels, G-League
8. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) (trade) -- Keegan Murray, Iowa
9. Houston (Oriole Tragic)(trade) -- Jeremy Sochan, Baylor
10. Washington (HW American) -- Tyrone 'TyTy' Washington, Jr., Kentucky
11. New York (. . . . . .) -- Jalen Duren (then traded to San Antonio), Memphis
12. Chicago (Dandy)(trade) -- Tari Eason, LSU
13. Charlotte (JJ1986) -- AJ Griffin, Duke
14. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) (trade) -- Nikola Jovic, Int'l
15. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Malaki Branham, tOSU
16. Atlanta (Der-K) -- Ousmane Dieng, Int'l
17. Houston (Oriole Tragic) -- EJ Liddell, OSU
18. Oklahoma City (Harlond)(trade) -- Jalen Williams, Santa Clara
19. Minnesota (TFTIO) -- Josh Minott, Memphis
20. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Dalen Terry, Arizona
21. Denver (asinwreck) -- Jake LaRavia, Wake Forest
22. Memphis (tshipman) -- Blake Wesley, Notre Dame
23. Philadelphia (57i66135.) -- Caleb Houstan, Michigan
24. Milwaukee (Ken Griffey) -- Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
25. New York (. . . . .) (trade) -- Mark Williams, Duke
26. Charlotte (JJ1986) (trade) -- Justin Lewis, Marquette
27. Miami (aberg) -- Ochai Agbagi, Kansas
28. New Orleans (tshipman) (trade) -- Marjon Beauchamp, G-League
29. Memphis (tshipman) -- Gabriele Procida, Int'l
30. Denver (asinwreck) -- Walker Kessler, Auburn

31. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) -- Kendall Brown, Baylor
32. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) -- Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee
33. Toronto (Baseball Obscura) -- Jaden Hardy, G-League
34. Oklahoma City (Harlond) -- Wendell Moore, Duke
35. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) -- Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga
36. Portland (mike f) -- Christian Koloko, Arizona
37. Sacramento (Votto) -- Peyton Watson, UCLA
38. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Khalifa Diop, Gran Canaria
39. Golden State (DCA) (trade) -- Jaylin Williams, Arkansas
40. Minnesota (TFTIO) -- Ismaël Kamagate, Paris Basketball
41. Golden State (DCA)(trade) -- Scotty Pippen Jr, Vanderbilt
42. San Antonio (GregF) --
43. LA Clippers (harlond) --
44. Atlanta (Der-K) --
45. Charlotte (JJ1986) --
46. Detroit (Cross-Eyed) --
47. Memphis (tshipman) --
48. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
49. Sacramento (Votto) --
50. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
51. Atlanta (Der-K)(trade) --
52. Atlanta (Der-K)(trade) --
53. Boston (winter's night) --
54. Milwaukee (forfeited over Bogdan Bogdanovich)
55. Miami (forfeited over Kyle Lowry)
56. Washington (HW American) --
57. Atlanta (Der-K)(trade) --
58. Cleveland (DCA) --
59. Portland (mike f) --
60. San Antonio (GregF) (trade) --

TRADES
1. Hawks/Der-K trade Jalen Johnson & Skylar Mays to the Thunder/harlond for Muscala, Williams, the Hornets' 2024 2nd round pick, and the Hawks' 2025 2nd round pick.
2. Pacers/Mellow Mouse trade Myles Turner to Pelicans/tshipman for 2022 #8, Jaxson Hayes, and Jonas Valancuinas.
3. Magic/Athletic Supporter trade the 2022 #1 pick to Thunder/harlond for the 2022 #2 pick and the Wizards' 2023 1st round pick (various protections)
4. Magic/Athletic Supporter trade the 2022 #2 pick to Portland/mike f for the 2022 #7 pick, the Bucks' 2025 1st round pick (protected 1-4), and Nassir Little
5. HOU trades #3 to SA for #9, #20, #38
6. Hornets/JJ1986 trade PJ Washington to Bulls/Dandy for Blazers' 2023 1st round pick (lottery protected in 2023 & thereafter)
7. SA/GregF trades McDermott, Langford, #25 to NY/. . . . . for Randle, #11 (Duren), #42
8. Cleveland/DCA trades Sexton (sign and trade: 4/70+), #14, CLE's 2026 1st (has some protections) to Indiana/MM for Malcolm Brogdon.
9. HOU trades #26 and 2023 FRP (MIL) to CHA for #15.
10. Bulls/Dandy trade Coby White, #18, Marko Simonovic to Thunder/Harlond for #12, Sixers' 2025 1st round pick (lightly protected as per Horford trade), rights to Vasilije Micic
11. Bulls/Dandy trade Patrick Williams to Spurs/GregF for Jakob Poeltl, Bulls' 2025 1st round pick (protected/conditional from DeRozan S+T), Bulls' 2025 2nd round pick
12. NOP/tshipman trades Devonte' Graham to Cleveland/DCA for Cedi Osman, Dylan Windler, #39
13. SA/GregF trades Primo, Richardson, Collins to IND/Mellow Mouse for Hield, #60
14. New Orleans/tshipman trades #39, #41, #52 to Golden State/DCA for #28
15. Lakers/Hombre trades Westbrook, 2027 1st to CHA/JJ1986 for Hogwash, Rozier
16. GSW/DCA trades #51, #52, #57 to Atlanta/Der-K for Miami's 2024 2nd, Chaundee Brown, and "cash considerations"

I send you Gallo, your 2025 2nd, and 4.73m for the rights to Devon Hardin (who retired 7 years ago).
Basically, you'd be buying your 2nd back for 270k (a second I think that was sent to ATL in the original sign and trade that sent him to the Hawks?)

---
Hurricane? Oh no! What part of Richmond are you in - not near the river I hope? (I lived there for 2 years in the late 90s.)

It's a deal. OKC really needs a rim protector, and Gallinari is not that, but he shot 38.1% on 3PA, .904 FT%, so he'll help out in the shooting department until somebody comes calling for him.

I'm in the North Side near the seminary. I got an alert on my phone, one of those that scares you because it's so loud and unexpected. Two minutes later I look out the window and the trees are getting horizontal and the rain is pouring down in sheets. Seems to have passed for now.

At the start of the second round, SA was looking at multiple options for a PG or combo guard to provide more situational defence and shooting than Tre Jones without completely lacking for playmaking.

By pick 35, all but one of those were off the board - but the last one snuck through. With #42, the Spurs select Trevor Keels, PG/SG, Duke. A best-case outcome sees him turn into a George Hill-style lead guard who's equally comfortable running the offence or contributing without the ball in his hands; at worst, he has a baseline of offensive skill with enough size not to be played off the floor.

harlond is up at #43.

1 - deal

2 - oh, i presumed that you were going to cut him, as only 5m of his 21.45m is guaranteed for next year - but the deadline to guarantee it is this month. but either way - maybe someone would want the expiring contract?
---
hardly the same, but i had to pitch all of my fridge contents after wind knocked down power lines on friday - blech.
---
keels was my plan b

Warriors writeup:

GSW are going to try to run it back as much as possible. We have 7 guys out of contract, we will try to bring 6 of them back, and the 7th (Iguodala) will be welcomed to the coaching staff should he so desire.

The 6: Looney, JTA, Damion Lee, Bjelica, Payton, Porter. We'll offer up to the full TPMLE to Porter (~$6.5m), up to the Early Bird max (~2/$21) to Payton, whatever it takes to keep Looney (within reason), and minimum deals to the other three. I'm hopeful that we can get most/all of them back, but I'm also happy to see them get paid - they deserve it - if another team wants to give them significantly more money than we are able to. If all 6 come back, we can only sign a maximum of 3 more guys (one to a regular deal, plus a pair of 2-ways).

The draft itself, we came into it with #28, #51, and #57, and after a series of transactions, came out of it with 3 players: Jaylin Williams (top of my list at #28), Scotty Pippen Jr (#51 value), and Chaundee Brown (#57 value), as well as a 2024 second rounder and some cash to help pay for the most expensive roster in the league.

Brown's not special, but he's likely already a functional back-of-the-rotation 3-and-D guy, and he's insurance in case some of our FA wings end up elsewhere. Bringing back Justinian Jessup from Australia is another option if there are multiple departures. Nico Mannion is encouraged to stay in Italy for further seasoning.

Lineup: Curry, Klay, Wiggins, Draymond, Looney(?)
PG: Poole, Pippen(2-way), Mannion(Italy)
Wings: Payton(?), Porter(?), JTA(?), Lee(?), Moody, Kuminga, Brown(2-way), Jessup(Australia)
Bigs: Bjelica(?), Wiseman, Williams

I think it's overwhelmingly likely that Looney returns, and we have full Bird rights, but if he doesn't, I'll have to be creative to find another starting 5. The other guys can be replaced - at a loss, but adequately - by ring-chasers on minimum deals or in-house options.

harland, i'll give you 44 and 57 for 43.

Pat C sorta surprisingly opted in to his 22-23 option (5.7m) ... speculation is that this might presage an extension.

Der-K, it's a deal, but if you take the guy I've settled on, there will be consequences.

Fair!
Atlanta selects G/F Christian Braun, Kansas. He's the last guy in this draft I have a first round grade on.
-----------

1. Oklahoma City (Harlond) (trade) -- Jabari Smith Jr, Auburn
2. Portland (mike f) (trade) -- Paolo Banchero, Duke
3. San Antonio (GregF)(trade) -- Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
4. Sacramento (Votto) -- Benedict Mathurin, Arizona
5. Detroit (Cross-Eyed) -- Shaedon Sharpe, kentucky
6. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) -- Jaden Ivey, Purdue
7. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) (trade) -- Dyson Daniels, G-League
8. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) (trade) -- Keegan Murray, Iowa
9. Houston (Oriole Tragic)(trade) -- Jeremy Sochan, Baylor
10. Washington (HW American) -- Tyrone 'TyTy' Washington, Jr., Kentucky
11. New York (. . . . . .) -- Jalen Duren (then traded to San Antonio), Memphis
12. Chicago (Dandy)(trade) -- Tari Eason, LSU
13. Charlotte (JJ1986) -- AJ Griffin, Duke
14. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) (trade) -- Nikola Jovic, Int'l
15. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Malaki Branham, tOSU
16. Atlanta (Der-K) -- Ousmane Dieng, Int'l
17. Houston (Oriole Tragic) -- EJ Liddell, OSU
18. Oklahoma City (Harlond)(trade) -- Jalen Williams, Santa Clara
19. Minnesota (TFTIO) -- Josh Minott, Memphis
20. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Dalen Terry, Arizona
21. Denver (asinwreck) -- Jake LaRavia, Wake Forest
22. Memphis (tshipman) -- Blake Wesley, Notre Dame
23. Philadelphia (57i66135.) -- Caleb Houstan, Michigan
24. Milwaukee (Ken Griffey) -- Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
25. New York (. . . . .) (trade) -- Mark Williams, Duke
26. Charlotte (JJ1986) (trade) -- Justin Lewis, Marquette
27. Miami (aberg) -- Ochai Agbagi, Kansas
28. New Orleans (tshipman) (trade) -- Marjon Beauchamp, G-League
29. Memphis (tshipman) -- Gabriele Procida, Int'l
30. Denver (asinwreck) -- Walker Kessler, Auburn

31. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) -- Kendall Brown, Baylor
32. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) -- Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee
33. Toronto (Baseball Obscura) -- Jaden Hardy, G-League
34. Oklahoma City (Harlond) -- Wendell Moore, Duke
35. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) -- Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga
36. Portland (mike f) -- Christian Koloko, Arizona
37. Sacramento (Votto) -- Peyton Watson, UCLA
38. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Khalifa Diop, Gran Canaria
39. Golden State (DCA) (trade) -- Jaylin Williams, Arkansas
40. Minnesota (TFTIO) -- Ismaël Kamagate, Paris Basketball
41. Golden State (DCA)(trade) -- Scotty Pippen Jr, Vanderbilt
42. San Antonio (GregF) -- Trevor Keels, Duke
43. Atlanta (Der-K) -- Christian Braun, Kansas
44. LA Clippers (harlond) --
45. Charlotte (JJ1986) --
46. Detroit (Cross-Eyed) --
47. Memphis (tshipman) --
48. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
49. Sacramento (Votto) --
50. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
51. Atlanta (Der-K)(trade) --
52. Atlanta (Der-K)(trade) --
53. Boston (winter's night) --
54. Milwaukee (forfeited over Bogdan Bogdanovich)
55. Miami (forfeited over Kyle Lowry)
56. Washington (HW American) --
57. Atlanta (Der-K)(trade) --
58. Cleveland (DCA) --
59. Portland (mike f) --
60. San Antonio (GregF) (trade) --

TRADES
1. Hawks/Der-K trade Jalen Johnson & Skylar Mays to the Thunder/harlond for Muscala, Williams, the Hornets' 2024 2nd round pick, and the Hawks' 2025 2nd round pick.
2. Pacers/Mellow Mouse trade Myles Turner to Pelicans/tshipman for 2022 #8, Jaxson Hayes, and Jonas Valancuinas.
3. Magic/Athletic Supporter trade the 2022 #1 pick to Thunder/harlond for the 2022 #2 pick and the Wizards' 2023 1st round pick (various protections)
4. Magic/Athletic Supporter trade the 2022 #2 pick to Portland/mike f for the 2022 #7 pick, the Bucks' 2025 1st round pick (protected 1-4), and Nassir Little
5. HOU trades #3 to SA for #9, #20, #38
6. Hornets/JJ1986 trade PJ Washington to Bulls/Dandy for Blazers' 2023 1st round pick (lottery protected in 2023 & thereafter)
7. SA/GregF trades McDermott, Langford, #25 to NY/. . . . . for Randle, #11 (Duren), #42
8. Cleveland/DCA trades Sexton (sign and trade: 4/70+), #14, CLE's 2026 1st (has some protections) to Indiana/MM for Malcolm Brogdon.
9. HOU trades #26 and 2023 FRP (MIL) to CHA for #15.
10. Bulls/Dandy trade Coby White, #18, Marko Simonovic to Thunder/Harlond for #12, Sixers' 2025 1st round pick (lightly protected as per Horford trade), rights to Vasilije Micic
11. Bulls/Dandy trade Patrick Williams to Spurs/GregF for Jakob Poeltl, Bulls' 2025 1st round pick (protected/conditional from DeRozan S+T), Bulls' 2025 2nd round pick
12. NOP/tshipman trades Devonte' Graham to Cleveland/DCA for Cedi Osman, Dylan Windler, #39
13. SA/GregF trades Primo, Richardson, Collins to IND/Mellow Mouse for Hield, #60
14. New Orleans/tshipman trades #39, #41, #52 to Golden State/DCA for #28
15. Lakers/Hombre trades Westbrook, 2027 1st to CHA/JJ1986 for Hogwash, Rozier
16. GSW/DCA trades #51, #52, #57 to Atlanta/Der-K for Miami's 2024 2nd, Chaundee Brown, and "cash considerations"
17. Atlanta/Der-K trades Gallinari, OKC's 2025 2nd, and $4.73m to OKC/harland for the rights to Devon Hardin
18. Atlanta/Der-K trades #44 and #57 to LAC/harland for #43

LA Clippers select Matteo Spagnolo, Vanoli Cremona. Charlotte/JJ1986 is on the clock.

Spagnolo is 19 and signed with Real Madrid when he was 15. Third youngest guy to play for the Italian national team. Nobody I draft here is going to do anything for the Clippers in the short run, thus a stash pick.

Spagnolo was next on my board! :)
--
So this pick is gonna be Baldwin, right?

We actually have a chance to finish this draft. In the last of remaining picks, see only one BBTF GM that hasn't been quite active.

Wondering if we broke the record for trades, too.

The hardest part at this point is remembering who has actually been selected already.

I suppose if anyone is having trouble deciding on a player, you could simply announce intent to tamper with a free agent and have Adam Silver forfeit your pick.

Wojbomb:

The Portland Trail Blazers are acquiring Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant for a protected 2025 first-round pick and additional draft assets, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

Real Blazers acquiring Jerami Grant for a 2025 first.

Edit: beaten while I double check how to spell his name.

I would have guessed that Portland was giving up this year's first in the deal. Looks like Cronin likes the prospects this year.

It's the Milwaukee pick, so a particularly unlikely to be great pick.

Uh ... okay deal? I don't really get why the Blazers dumped RoCo, and I kinda think that Anfernee Simons is not a starting caliber player, so I don't love their collection of moves. I think they are basically about the same level as they were last year and they weren't that good last year, so I don't get all these moves that result in doing a bunch to get back to where you started.

I have extremely little interest in Baldwin; I'm going to take another player who wasn't actually very good. Charlotte selects Max Christie. Detroit is on the clock.

I wish Christie had stayed in school - he’s an interesting player

Detroit takes Bryce McGowens from Nebraska. Literally pulled up Sam Vecenie's Draft Guide, read the summary for the top few guys not picked yet and took the one I liked best. Almost took Baldwin.

Memphis/tshipman is up

Memphis is taking David Roddy out of Colorado State. He's a really weird player who grabs a ton of rebounds and averages over a block per game as a guard.

Memphis seems to love guys like that and, well, I do too. He's almost certainly not an NBA player, but he might be.

Minnesota/TFTIO is up.

I am just glad I got rid of my last second-round pick. I feel like I dodged a bullet.

Please don’t let Atlanta trade for Harrison Barnes; it would give me the sads.

Minnesota/TFTIO up for #48

1. Oklahoma City (Harlond) (trade) -- Jabari Smith Jr, Auburn
2. Portland (mike f) (trade) -- Paolo Banchero, Duke
3. San Antonio (GregF)(trade) -- Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
4. Sacramento (Votto) -- Benedict Mathurin, Arizona
5. Detroit (Cross-Eyed) -- Shaedon Sharpe, kentucky
6. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) -- Jaden Ivey, Purdue
7. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) (trade) -- Dyson Daniels, G-League
8. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) (trade) -- Keegan Murray, Iowa
9. Houston (Oriole Tragic)(trade) -- Jeremy Sochan, Baylor
10. Washington (HW American) -- Tyrone 'TyTy' Washington, Jr., Kentucky
11. New York (. . . . . .) -- Jalen Duren (then traded to San Antonio), Memphis
12. Chicago (Dandy)(trade) -- Tari Eason, LSU
13. Charlotte (JJ1986) -- AJ Griffin, Duke
14. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) (trade) -- Nikola Jovic, Int'l
15. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Malaki Branham, tOSU
16. Atlanta (Der-K) -- Ousmane Dieng, Int'l
17. Houston (Oriole Tragic) -- EJ Liddell, OSU
18. Oklahoma City (Harlond)(trade) -- Jalen Williams, Santa Clara
19. Minnesota (TFTIO) -- Josh Minott, Memphis
20. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Dalen Terry, Arizona
21. Denver (asinwreck) -- Jake LaRavia, Wake Forest
22. Memphis (tshipman) -- Blake Wesley, Notre Dame
23. Philadelphia (57i66135.) -- Caleb Houstan, Michigan
24. Milwaukee (Ken Griffey) -- Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
25. New York (. . . . .) (trade) -- Mark Williams, Duke
26. Charlotte (JJ1986) (trade) -- Justin Lewis, Marquette
27. Miami (aberg) -- Ochai Agbagi, Kansas
28. New Orleans (tshipman) (trade) -- Marjon Beauchamp, G-League
29. Memphis (tshipman) -- Gabriele Procida, Int'l
30. Denver (asinwreck) -- Walker Kessler, Auburn

31. Indiana (Mellow Mouse) -- Kendall Brown, Baylor
32. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) -- Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee
33. Toronto (Baseball Obscura) -- Jaden Hardy, G-League
34. Oklahoma City (Harlond) -- Wendell Moore, Duke
35. Orlando (Athletic Supporter) -- Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga
36. Portland (mike f) -- Christian Koloko, Arizona
37. Sacramento (Votto) -- Peyton Watson, UCLA
38. Houston (Oriole Tragic) (trade) -- Khalifa Diop, Gran Canaria
39. Golden State (DCA) (trade) -- Jaylin Williams, Arkansas
40. Minnesota (TFTIO) -- Ismaël Kamagate, Paris Basketball
41. Golden State (DCA)(trade) -- Scotty Pippen Jr, Vanderbilt
42. San Antonio (GregF) -- Trevor Keels, Duke
43. Atlanta (Der-K) -- Christian Braun, Kansas
44. LA Clippers (harlond) -- Matteo Spagnolo, Vanoli Cremona
45. Charlotte (JJ1986) -- Max Christie, Michigan St
46. Detroit (Cross-Eyed) -- Bryce McGowens, Nebraska
47. Memphis (tshipman) -- David Roddy, Colorado St
48. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
49. Sacramento (Votto) --
50. Minnesota (TFTIO) --
51. Atlanta (Der-K)(trade) --
52. Atlanta (Der-K)(trade) --
53. Boston (winter's night) --
54. Milwaukee (forfeited over Bogdan Bogdanovich)
55. Miami (forfeited over Kyle Lowry)
56. Washington (HW American) --
57. LA Clippers (harlond)(trade) --
58. Cleveland (DCA) --
59. Portland (mike f) --
60. San Antonio (GregF) (trade) --

TRADES
1. Hawks/Der-K trade Jalen Johnson & Skylar Mays to the Thunder/harlond for Muscala, Williams, the Hornets' 2024 2nd round pick, and the Hawks' 2025 2nd round pick.
2. Pacers/Mellow Mouse trade Myles Turner to Pelicans/tshipman for 2022 #8, Jaxson Hayes, and Jonas Valancuinas.
3. Magic/Athletic Supporter trade the 2022 #1 pick to Thunder/harlond for the 2022 #2 pick and the Wizards' 2023 1st round pick (various protections)
4. Magic/Athletic Supporter trade the 2022 #2 pick to Portland/mike f for the 2022 #7 pick, the Bucks' 2025 1st round pick (protected 1-4), and Nassir Little
5. HOU trades #3 to SA for #9, #20, #38
6. Hornets/JJ1986 trade PJ Washington to Bulls/Dandy for Blazers' 2023 1st round pick (lottery protected in 2023 & thereafter)
7. SA/GregF trades McDermott, Langford, #25 to NY/. . . . . for Randle, #11 (Duren), #42
8. Cleveland/DCA trades Sexton (sign and trade: 4/70+), #14, CLE's 2026 1st (has some protections) to Indiana/MM for Malcolm Brogdon.
9. HOU trades #26 and 2023 FRP (MIL) to CHA for #15.
10. Bulls/Dandy trade Coby White, #18, Marko Simonovic to Thunder/Harlond for #12, Sixers' 2025 1st round pick (lightly protected as per Horford trade), rights to Vasilije Micic
11. Bulls/Dandy trade Patrick Williams to Spurs/GregF for Jakob Poeltl, Bulls' 2025 1st round pick (protected/conditional from DeRozan S+T), Bulls' 2025 2nd round pick
12. NOP/tshipman trades Devonte' Graham to Cleveland/DCA for Cedi Osman, Dylan Windler, #39
13. SA/GregF trades Primo, Richardson, Collins to IND/Mellow Mouse for Hield, #60
14. New Orleans/tshipman trades #39, #41, #52 to Golden State/DCA for #28
15. Lakers/Hombre trades Westbrook, 2027 1st to CHA/JJ1986 for Hogwash, Rozier
16. GSW/DCA trades #51, #52, #57 to Atlanta/Der-K for Miami's 2024 2nd, Chaundee Brown, and "cash considerations"
17. Atlanta/Der-K trades Gallinari, OKC's 2025 2nd, and $4.73m to OKC/harland for the rights to Devon Hardin
18. Atlanta/Der-K trades #44 and #57 to LAC/harland for #43

Mouse. Can you give me a Dispatch invite? My account was messed up and I had to create a new account.

The hardest part at this point is remembering who has actually been selected already.

Ha, remember when Oregon's Jordan Bell got drafted three different times? I still have my Jordan Bell stock, he would be a nice small-ball center in the NBA!

Grant isn't as good as his rep - this deal seems kinda all around reasonable?
(The idea that he was worth a #7 was bizarre)

Bulls draft recap:

Coming into this, I said that the Bulls lack rim protection, outside shooting, and positional size. I tried to address those deficiencies and also seek out opportunities to improve the overall talent level, particularly by adding players who can be a positive on both ends. I think my draft/offseason has been largely successful in those respects.

Outgoing: Patrick Williams, Coby White, Marko Simonovic, #18, 2023 POR 1st rounder (lottery-protected)
Incoming: Jakob Poeltl, PJ Washington, Tari Eason/#12, [rights to] Vasilije Micic, 2025 PHI 1st rounder (top-6 protected), 2025 CHI 1st & 2nd rounders

Starters = Lonzo Ball / Zach Lavine / DeMar DeRozan / PJ Washington / Jakob Poeltl
Top Reserves (24-28 MPG) = Alex Caruso & Nikola Vucevic
Bench Rotation (12-24 MPG) = Vasilije Micic (MMLE signing), Ayo Dosunmu, Javonte Green, Tari Eason
Deep Bench = Tony Bradley, minimum-salaried shooter [Wayne Ellington, Ben McLemore, Joe Wieskamp, return of Matt Thomas?], UDFAs (1 gets a roster spot & another gets a two-way deal)

With decent health, I expect this roster to be much more competitive against the league’s best teams than last year’s version, which was tied for the East’s best record at the All-Star break but notoriously went 3-25 against the top-4 seeds (playoffs included). I want to stagger Poeltl and Vucevic, though I think they can play together at least a handful of minutes a game against bench units. Hopefully Vucevic can feast against backups much in the way that Kevin Love did last season and experience a similar revival. While I looked for a Vucevic trade to add shooting / draft assets, when none presented itself I decided to hang onto him. I’d rather try him off the bench than move him for next to nothing.

I’ll go through each transaction.

(1) Traded Blazers' 2023 1st round pick (lottery protected in 2023 & thereafter) to Charlotte for PJ Washington

Heading into last year’s trade deadline, I wrote about why PJ Washington was my top realistic trade target for the Bulls. Here’s a quick recap:
• High-volume, high-efficiency outside shooter with deep range, joining a team that ranked last in 3-point attempt rate. He should open up the court far more than last season’s primary options at the 4. Javonte Green, Derrick Jones Jr., and Patrick Williams each averaged just three 3-point attempts per 100 possessions, with more than half of them collectively from the corners. PJ averaged 8.2 per 100 possessions, with 3/4 of them coming from above the break.
• Excellent ball-handler and passer relative to his position, enabling the Bulls to run all the sets and actions they use with Vucevic and perhaps more.
• Length (7’2.25” wingspan, 8’10.5” standing reach) and lateral quickness make him an extremely versatile defender in terms of switching and executing different schemes and coverages, which is especially useful in the playoffs.

I also find that PJ Washington is an unusually bad fit for the Hornets. He’s best as a connective player who can handle the ball regularly and execute team defensive schemes with his quickness, switchability, and awareness. With LaMelo dominating the ball and Miles Bridges as the regular PF, the Hornets need PJ to be more of a play finisher on offense and a rim protector on defense, and those just aren’t his strengths. I think he’d fit much better with Lonzo and the Bulls.

(2) Traded Coby White, #18, Marko Simonovic to OKC for #12 (Tari Eason), Sixers' 2025 1st round pick (lightly protected as per Horford trade), rights to Vasilije Micic

Here is my preferred approach to this year’s draft, for any team:
- If you have a high lottery pick -> trade down to the late lottery, draft Tari Eason
- If you have a late lottery pick -> draft Tari Eason
- If you have mid- to late 1st round pick -> trade up to the late lottery, draft Tari Eason

Yeah it’s simplistic, but I think it works. I tend to have fairly idiosyncratic draft rankings, and this year is no exception. My biggest deviation from the consensus is that I have Eason in the very top tier of prospects.

Eason has ideal size and athleticism for a combo forward, with a 7’2” wingspan and 8’11.5” standing reach, while already possessing outlier strength. He was arguably the NCAA’s most disruptive defender last year, as his length, quick feet, quick/massive hands, and outstanding anticipation and explosiveness allowed him to intercept passes, snatch the ball away on live dribbles, and pile up blocks as a help defender and in transition.

Offensively, Eason has shown rapid development in two years of college, including dramatic improvements in free throw shooting, 3-point shooting, creating his own shot, and getting to the free throw line. Despite coming off the bench and playing just 24 minutes a game, Eason ranked 3rd in the SEC in free throw attempts while making 80% of them. Down the stretch he was automatic at the line, with games of 10-10, 9-9, and 7-7(x2) in his last 6 games (90% overall).

There are real concerns with Eason, but I think they’re substantially overblown. He has funky shooting mechanics on his jumper, with a release point just above his right shoulder, and he’s also very right-hand dominant as a ball-handler and finisher. My view is that shooting mechanics and handle are among the areas most susceptible to improvement as a pro, especially when you’re dealing with someone exhibiting an extreme motor and rapid gains in skill development like Eason. He was ruthlessly effective even with those flaws, scoring an absurd 40 points per 100 possessions in the SEC on much higher efficiency than most other draft prospects apart from the true bigs.

The other flaws are all somewhat related: he can play out of control at times, he has a poor A/TO ratio, and he commits fouls at a high rate. This mostly stems from trying to do too much, and I strongly prefer players who are hyperactive and could benefit from dialing it back a bit as opposed to those who are overly passive. In this respect, he’s the opposite of Patrick Williams. And I don’t subscribe to the idea that committing lots of fouls is a red flag; several of the league’s best defenders had similar or even higher foul rates in college, including Draymond Green, Joel Embiid, and reigning rookie standout Herb Jones.

I see Eason as the kind of player who can really elevate a team’s title chances if he pans out. Both statistically and stylistically, one of Eason’s most similar prospects is Shawn Marion. Certainly Marion is among the highest of Eason’s high-end outcomes, but even a lesser version is a player who holds value regardless of the roster construction or style of play.

Micic is someone who’s likely worth a lot more to the Bulls than the Thunder. He’s arguably the best offensive player not currently in the NBA, as he’s been at or near the top of the EuroLeague in scoring, assists, 3s, and free throws in each of the past two seasons. Micic has indicated that he’s interested in making the jump to the NBA, but only to play a significant role on one of his preferred teams. The Bulls have been linked to him, and despite holding his rights, the Thunder have not. By dealing Coby White, the Bulls open up a clear role for Micic as the backup point guard behind an injury-prone (and currently injured) starter in Lonzo Ball. That seems like a role Micic would be eager to play if the money is right, and the Bulls should be willing to use the taxpayer-MLE on him provided that their frontcourt is mostly set.

(3) Traded Patrick Williams to Spurs for Jakob Poeltl, Bulls' 2025 1st round pick (protected/conditional from DeRozan S+T), Bulls' 2025 2nd round pick

I’m lower than most Bulls’ fans on Patrick Williams. While I’ve been pleasantly surprised by his jumper, I just don’t see the defensive potential the team was expecting when he was drafted. His feet and reactions look slow to me, and he drifts through games way too much without making the sort of effort plays I’d like to see (rebounding / boxing out, setting screens, helping on D). With PJ Washington and Tari Eason on board to cover most minutes at the 4 now and especially in future years, I can feel good about moving Patrick Williams to another team that values him more highly.

Enter the Spurs and Jakob Poeltl to fill the rim protection void. Poeltl isn’t Gobert in that regard, but he’s solidly in the next, borderline-elite tier. For the past 3 years on average, opponents are shooting 53.7% within 6 feet when Poeltl’s around, 9.2% worse than they shoot otherwise. In comparison, opponents are shooting 61.6% within 6 feet when Vucevic is around the rim, just 1.7% worse than they shoot otherwise over that same span. Poeltl is more coordinated, gets up off the ground much more readily, and does a better job of staying vertical, upright, and in position to contest.

Compared to Gobert as a trade target, Poeltl is a better passer and ball-handler, about 3.5 years younger, and likely to cost roughly half as much going forward. Poeltl is slated to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, though I would make every effort to keep him and let Vucevic seek a larger role elsewhere.

Please don’t let Atlanta trade for Harrison Barnes; it would give me the sads.

There's roughly 4,354 Hawks rumors out there and I'm not sure I like any of them. I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow.

a few last minute trade stabs..
tshipman/memphis - any interest in moving dillon brooks? (still also interested in melton; if we flipped players, i'd see about your interest in huerter / hunter)
asinwreck/denver - any interest in a deal centered around john collins for aaron gordon and monte morris?
if baseball obscura were around, i'd have a host of ideas for toronto. most of them likely unappealing.
---
yeah, mike a, fingers crossed.
---
dlgm, nice write up.

a few last minute trade stabs..
tshipman/memphis - any interest in moving dillon brooks? (still also interested in melton; if we flipped players, i'd see about your interest in huerter / hunter)

I'd modestly interested in a Brooks/Huerter swap. What would you throw in to make that deal happen?

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
·
6h
Detroit has traded Jerami Grant to Portland for 2025 first-round pick via Milwaukee, sources tell ESPN.

Several awesome write-ups, this year!if you think your approach was simplistic, just wait until you see my write-up!

I didn't look into whatever is Houston's IRL plan, and I didn't really look into the pu-pu platter that HOU got back from DAL, and (unusally for me) I didn't try to unload Wall or Gordon. Gordon had a pretty good year last year, so I probably should have tried to move him. Maybe I shold have tried to move Wall to CHA, but we all know that I was unware that CHA is an NBA team :D

What I did do is look up and down the roster and found the following:

1) Bunch of pretty young 6'5", 6'6" wing/shooter types; seriously there are only three or four players on HOU (aside from the DAL pu-pu platter) that are taller than 6-6.
2) Sengun, who is 6'9"
3) Wall and Gordon
4) Some late-20s/early-30s just-guys

I didn't see a lot of size or defense. My early attempts at adding some size in Wiseman and WCJ were rebuffed, and there was no way that I was blowing #3 overall on Chet. I don't think he's going to be worth a top-5 pick.

I actually liked what I saw in the 10ish through 20ish range (not that I thought the next Luka was sitting there or anything like that), so I turned #3 and #26 into #9, #15, #20, #38 and tried to pick up some younger guys with some length and clean injury history that seemed like they could defend and do a couple of others things pretty well.

Jeremy Sochan (#9, 6'9", 7'0" span) is probably my biggest gamble. He seems like the type of player that somebody just yelled at stiggles about, upthread. If he can't shoot (and his college numbers suck), then I blew the pick.

If I could run it back, I would think harder about either drafting Duren at #9, or trading that pick for more picks in the #10-20 range. I would also have had a closer look at taking Jalen Williams (I like his Schmitz tape OK, but he seemed pretty chill on and off the court) at #15 or #17, and then rolled the dice on the OSU guys falling.

A former primate friend of mine, who is now a betting sharp, is losing his mind over the line movement overnight. Banchero appears to be going 1-1.

I'm leaving for vacation in a few hours, so I'll pre-submit the Kings #49 pick:
John Butler, C, FSU, or if he's gone, Ron Harper Jr, Rutgers.

Before I finish my write-up, does anyone have interest in acquiring Russell Westbrook (plus some draft assets)? His former teams (WAS, OKC, HOU) seem the most likely to be in a position to take him on.

Before I finish my write-up, does anyone have interest in acquiring Russell Westbrook (plus some draft assets)? His former teams (WAS, OKC, HOU) seem the most likely to be in a position to take him on.

I'm not sure what Washington could and would swap to make it all work, but if you can figure something out, we'd take on Russ and some of those draft assets you're talking about.

3093 - interestingly, reports (like woj) don't seem to agree. not used to this kind of a split...

3090 - i wouldn't throw anything in. truthfully, i think i'd have you add to it?
brooks, imo, is better than huerter and would help with the hawks' achilles heel of defense. but, he has only one year left on his deal, i think might be overpaid on his next contract, and atlanta shoots less threes than you'd think (which this swap would exacerbate).

3090 - i wouldn't throw anything in. truthfully, i think i'd have you add to it?
brooks, imo, is better than huerter and would help with the hawks' achilles heel of defense. but, he has only one year left on his deal, i think might be overpaid on his next contract, and atlanta shoots less threes than you'd think (which this swap would exacerbate).

Evil Danny Green is always down to *shoot* 3s, not always going to make them.

If you aren't going to throw anything in, I'm not going to make the deal.

3093 - interestingly, reports (like woj) don't seem to agree. not used to this kind of a split...

My single favorite day on the calendar for NBA Twitter promises to be a good one this year.

Some noise out of Denver that the Nuggets are trying to package either Will Barton or Monte Morris with one of their picks for....a wide possibility of rotation players. We'll see how off base my taking LaRavia and Kessler is in a few hours, and I'm curious to see if Calvin Booth uses a different strategy than Tim Connelly did the past few years.