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Draft Roundtable: Dishing Out The Embiid Face

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via geeksandcleats.com

1. Which team(s) should be disappointed in their draft?

Zach Oliver (@ZachOliverNBA): I think there’s multiple teams here who should be disappointed. Toronto, Chicago, and Sacramento to name a few. I don’t really know what Toronto did, to be honest. I’m not convinced that this Bruno Caboclo guy they picked at 20 is real. Plus, he’s two years away from being two years away. Chicago is kind of interesting. I’m not a big fan of Doug McDermott, but I understand why they moved their two picks to get him. Have to find a way to clear cap before you have it if you want Carmelo Anthony… As for the Kings… Why? Just, why? Stauskas has a great shot, yes, but he looks like I do on the defensive end: lost, dazed and confused. To me this also signals they’re giving up on last year’s NUMBER SEVEN OVERALL PICK Ben McLemore. Just, no, don’t do this, Kings.

Chris Reichert (@Chris_Reichert): I think it’s the Phoenix Suns. Their fans had high hopes coming into this draft, which were partially thwarted due to their unexpected success last season. Their three first round picks netted them ONE guy who might crack the rotation. I like T.J. Warren a lot and I think his skillset does translate to the NBA game, however, Ennis was a weird pick for me, especially with Gary Harris, Rodney Hood and P.J. Hairston still on the board. Doubtful that Ennis makes any impact unless Dragic or Bledsoe are moved, and Bogdan Bogdanovic will not have an immediate impact either. Would have liked to see them dangle Bledsoe and one of those picks to move into top seven or so and nab a real impact guy, but they stood firm with their three picks and I think they will regret it.

Quentin Haynes (@Haynesenberg): Tough. I’ll say the Chicago Bulls. Doug McDermott gives them an offensive talent, but I struggle seeing him being anything more than a below-average defender, and thus, destined to be a role player. The bigger issue is trading up with Denver and giving up both draft picks. The Nuggets needed Jusuf Nurkic and Gary Harris — both of whom could’ve helped Chicago right away. I understand the goal is to acquire Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James in free agency, but I would’ve gone another direction and kept those picks.

Rami Michail (@RamiMichail): It’s between the Thunder and Bulls for me. I don’t believe Doug McDermott is worth both Gary Harris and Jusuf Nurkic. Honestly, I also have my concerns that he could be another Adam Morrison, though I don’t think he’s that bad. For OKC, they took a late first at 21 and a mid second rounder at 29. Think they could have gotten better value. Also, while I understand Thabo and Perkins could be on their ways out, I think they needed to add shooting and bench scoring. P.J. Hairston and Jordan Adams could have been great selections for them at 21, and I think Cleanthony Early would have been a great snag for them at 29.

2. Three to five years from now, which team(s) will be dreading this draft?

Oliver (@ZachOliverNBA): This is tough. I want to go with Toronto again, and I am, but I also think you can include the Sixers here. Yes, I had them at the team who might have the best draft in three-to-five years, but I also think this could haunt them. There’s a question mark with Joel Embiid’s foot, and it’s possible that Dario Saric never comes over. Yes, they got some nice second round value in K.J. McDaniels, and Jerami Grant, while also getting Pierre Jackson from the Pelicans, but those guys can only take you so far as role players. For Toronto… THEY PICKED SOMEONE WHO ISN’T A REAL PERSON. STOP IT, MASAI.

Reichert (@Chris_Reichert): I think this could be the Suns again, but I’ll go with the Oklahoma City Thunder. They took Mitch McGary with their 21st pick and they almost assuredly could have traded down, acquired future assets and still taken him. I don’t see him having much of an impact and the back injuries scare me anytime it’s a big man. They had two first round picks (believe it or not) and I think they missed again with the 29th pick in Josh Huestis. They could have traded down here yet again or taken better prospects if they kept this pick. Damien Inglis, Cleanthony Early, Kyle Anderson and Spencer Dinwiddie were all still available here. I know they are a very good team and any pick will be hard pressed to crack their rotation, but we’re talking future here, and honestly I don’t see either player they drafted still in the league in five years.

Haynes (@Haynesenberg): Another really tough question, but I’ll say the Orlando Magic. Aaron Gordon is a great player, but I don’t know about taking him over Dante Exum and Noah Vonleh — both seemed like better options for Orlando. The other puzzling move was trading for Elfrid Payton. Giving back Philadelphia’s 2017 first round pick and an additional second round pick? I would’ve kept my assets and gone another direction. There’s a good chance Orlando could be very happy with Gordon and Payton in three seasons from now, but if Exum becomes a superstar or Vonleh becomes the rim protector Charlotte needs, Orlando could look back in this draft in regret.

Michail (@RamiMichail): Gotta go with the Toronto Raptors. Who did they draft?! A team that reached the playoffs and seemed to be climbing the ranks in the East needed to add some immediate help to continue their upward trend. Instead they draft a player who is years away from POSSIBLY contributing. To make matter worse, they probably took him far too early. Think in a couple years when the Raptors are Lowry and DeRozan-less and the bottom of the East, they’ll look at this draft as the source of their demise.

3. Which rookie(s) do you believe wish they received a different draft day cap?

Oliver (@ZachOliverNBA): Andrew Wiggins should’ve been in Orlando, god damnit! Wait… No, sorry, that’s for another time. Um, I’ll say Marcus Smart, Stauskas, and Zach Lavine. Smart was interesting for Boston. I think it leads to them trading Rajon Rondo… But where? Stauskas, I just, I don’t get it, guys. I don’t. Not with McLemore there. And LaVine… Minnesota, you kinda need to win now, you have a guy named Kevin Love you need to appease, not get a guy who’s somewhat of a project for two-to-four years from now. Get someone who can come in right now and help and contribute. Please, for the sanity of my good friend and co-writer Zach Bennett.

Reichert (@Chris_Reichert): Nik Stauskas. Sacramento is like a desolate landscape for any players not named Rudy Gay, DeMarcus Cousins or Isaiah Thomas, and I think Nik will get lost in the mix there. Not to mention just last season they took another shooting guard in Ben McLemore! Stauskas was the perfect fit for the next team to pick in Charlotte but it’s doubtful they would have taken him with Noah Vonleh (their actual pick) still on the board.

Haynes (@Haynesenberg): Jordan Adams and Memphis. I think Adams is a good player, but I really thought he would be a better fit for a Charlotte or Oklahoma City. The Grizzlies needed a three point shooter, and Rodney Hood was right there on the board. To me, he made more sense because he is more of a small forward. I struggle to see Adams getting enough minutes to show his worth with Courtney Lee and Tony Allen in front of him, and Jamaal Franklin with already a year into the system. A really odd fit.

Michail (@RamiMichail): For me it’s Marcus Smart. As long as Rajon Rondo is in Boston, there is no way he’ll have the keys to the offense. Don’t get me wrong, Smart could have been the number one pick last year and is a great player, but he’s a point guard. And let’s not forget how much Rondo loves having the ball. To make matters worse, Rondo won’t back down and just hand Smart the keys to Boston. This point guard battle could get bad.


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