2022 NBA Draft

[brevity]

When you throw in the individual mock drafts in print, CBS Sports is becoming Hot Take Central. Kyle Boone has both Dyson Daniels and Jeremy Sochan crashing the Top 6, and David Cobb recently moved AJ Griffin DOWN to #6 (he was #4). Meanwhile, Boone and Gary Parrish have Griffin going #8, and Boone has Mark Williams tumbling down to the Sixers at #23.

I'd add that AJ is in free fall draft status wise. There was talk of him being 4th (not that serious of talk) or 5th (dead serious talk). Now there is a real chance he falls out of the top 10.

Do you just post BS like this to see if someone (like me) is foolish enough to take the bait? This is just flat out stupid. AJ has not been projected in the Top 5 at any point since he end of the season. Every mock draft has him around 10-12. The "talk" you reference is made up in your own head. You love make these grand proclamation posts based on nothing but your desire to make us read your $#!t . Just stop.

Not commenting on the posts of HeyYou in general, but, as of today, CBS Sports still has AJ Griffin going #6 to Indiana in one mock and #8 to New Orleans in the other two.

These are, admittedly, outliers when you look at the consensus of mock drafts from high-profile sources. The others have Griffin going 11th, 12th, or 13th. I don't know why CBS Sports is collectively all in on Griffin getting drafted in the top 8, but they are, and David Cobb had AJ Griffin going #4 as recently as 2 weeks ago.

In other words, they've always been either the Batman, or Batman in training, on their team. Well, the NBA doesn't even need that guy to be a Robin. And that player isn't good enough to be Robin in the NBA anyway. The NBA needs Alfreds.

Old men who live in wealth without earning any of it themselves? Doesn't that describe the NBA owners?

[gam7]

These are, admittedly, outliers when you look at the consensus of mock drafts from high-profile sources. The others have Griffin going 11th, 12th, or 13th. I don't know why CBS Sports is collectively all in on Griffin getting drafted in the top 8, but they are, and David Cobb had AJ Griffin going #4 as recently as 2 weeks ago.

Having DBR mock-drafted for the Cavs (and therefore being somewhat familiar with their team needs), I am confident that they would take Griffin in a heartbeat if he's available at 14. I also am confident that he will not be available at 14. Somewhere in the 11-13 range feels about right for Griffin.

[MChambers]

Here's an interesting story about how Jake LaRavia of Wake Forest has moved up in the mock drafts, by proving that he is 20 years old, and not 22 as indicated on many websites.

https://www.basketballnews.com/stori...ars-old-rumors

[MartyClark]

Not commenting on the posts of HeyYou in general, but, as of today, CBS Sports still has AJ Griffin going #6 to Indiana in one mock and #8 to New Orleans in the other two.

These are, admittedly, outliers when you look at the consensus of mock drafts from high-profile sources. The others have Griffin going 11th, 12th, or 13th. I don't know why CBS Sports is collectively all in on Griffin getting drafted in the top 8, but they are, and David Cobb had AJ Griffin going #4 as recently as 2 weeks ago.



Old men who live in wealth without earning any of it themselves? Doesn't that describe the NBA owners?

Eh, maybe. The old men who lived in wealth had the ability to make money. (Most of them, I recognize there is some inherited wealth).

Why are you resentful of NBA owners? They invest a huge amount of money and try to manage the team in a way that is both winning and cost productive.

Easier said than done.

[CameronBornAndBred]

This would be interesting since I've seen more than a few mocks having Williams go to the Hornets. They have two essentially back to back picks, but it's possible they trade away one. (And Hayward.)

It’s not hard to connect the dots to a Hayward trade, but ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on air that the Hornets are willing to attach one of their first-round picks — No. 13 or No. 15 — to whatever team takes on Hayward’s salary (hat tip Real GM).

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/report-...170059955.html

[Billy Dat]

Paolo suddenly a Vegas odds favorite to be taken #1
https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/202...for-no-1-pick/

[flyingdutchdevil]

Paolo suddenly a Vegas odds favorite to be taken #1
https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/202...for-no-1-pick/

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if any of Chet, Jabari, or Paolo went first. Each has a strong case to be selected 1st and each has weaknesses where you could justify drafting them 3rd.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

I've been saying it for over six months. There is no universe in which Holmgren will approach Banchero's production in the first three years. If you are drafting Chet over Paolo, you'd better be prepared to take some heat.

[Billy Dat]

As I absorb tons of draft coverage, Mark Williams has really emerged as a critical darling.

From noted NBA talent-developer and TrueHoop contributor, Coach David Thorpe:

"Maybe you say that centers are out of favor in the NBA.

Are you sure about that? The Celtics were plus-30 in the Finals when Robert Williams was in the game. The Heat won the regular season in the East with Bam Adebayo as their defensive stud. The Bucks improved mightily when Brook Lopez returned from injury. The Suns were the best team for most of the season with Deandre Ayton anchoring the defense. Last season’s best regular season team was Rudy Gobert’s Jazz.

The pendulum swings, and it has swung away from big men a bit. But I can’t imagine a trend which could make it so Mark Williams doesn’t help NBA teams win. "

[flyingdutchdevil]

As I absorb tons of draft coverage, Mark Williams has really emerged as a critical darling.

From noted NBA talent-developer and TrueHoop contributor, Coach David Thorpe:

"Maybe you say that centers are out of favor in the NBA.

Are you sure about that? The Celtics were plus-30 in the Finals when Robert Williams was in the game. The Heat won the regular season in the East with Bam Adebayo as their defensive stud. The Bucks improved mightily when Brook Lopez returned from injury. The Suns were the best team for most of the season with Deandre Ayton anchoring the defense. Last season’s best regular season team was Rudy Gobert’s Jazz.

The pendulum swings, and it has swung away from big men a bit. But I can’t imagine a trend which could make it so Mark Williams doesn’t help NBA teams win. "

Yeah. I'd be shocked if MW fell out of the top 15. You simply cannot teach length.

As for AJ, he's kinda all over the place. As high as 6, as low as 12... will be interesting to see where he lands.

[budwom]

As I absorb tons of draft coverage, Mark Williams has really emerged as a critical darling.

From noted NBA talent-developer and TrueHoop contributor, Coach David Thorpe:

"Maybe you say that centers are out of favor in the NBA.

Are you sure about that? The Celtics were plus-30 in the Finals when Robert Williams was in the game. The Heat won the regular season in the East with Bam Adebayo as their defensive stud. The Bucks improved mightily when Brook Lopez returned from injury. The Suns were the best team for most of the season with Deandre Ayton anchoring the defense. Last season’s best regular season team was Rudy Gobert’s Jazz.

The pendulum swings, and it has swung away from big men a bit. But I can’t imagine a trend which could make it so Mark Williams doesn’t help NBA teams win. "

I agree, though most "centers" do not have the attributes of Robert Williams...he's remarkably mobile for a center, and has a ridiculous wing span...but yeah, Mark has the quickness and length to make an impact, for sure.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Paolo suddenly a Vegas odds favorite to be taken #1
https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/202...for-no-1-pick/

Sounds like a good way to lose your money.

As NBA teams finalize their boards ahead of Thursday night's NBA draft, sources have told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the order of the top three picks is "increasingly firm," with Auburn's Jabari Smith Jr. going to the Orlando Magic at No. 1, Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 2, and Duke's Paolo Banchero to the Houston Rockets at No. 3.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-3-sources-say

That article does reference the betting odds you linked, though.

Banchero, who helped lead Duke to the Final Four in coach Mike Krzyzewski's last season, surged past Smith to emerge Thursday morning as the consensus betting favorite for the No. 1 pick, before sportsbooks removed odds from their boards.

Smith's odds had improved to -275 as of Wednesday before being passed by Banchero, who was listed by Caesars Sportsbook at -200 to be selected first overall. Smith was the second-favorite at +140 at Caesars, while Holmgren was +1,100 on Thursday, before sportsbooks began taking odds off the board.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Things are looking decent for Trevor in ESPN's latest mock.
Here's where the Dukies are projected. Banchero and Williams haven't moved from their spots; it will be a mild surprise to me if Mark goes somewhere other than Charlotte.

3. Banchero - Houston
12. Griffin - Oklahoma City
15. Williams - Charlotte
23. Moore - Philadelphia
34. Keels - Oklahoma City

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/sto...intel-scouting

[brevity]

Paolo suddenly a Vegas odds favorite to be taken #1
https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/202...for-no-1-pick/

1. So there's our first talking point as we arrive on Draft Day: will the Top 3 be anything other than Smith to ORL, Holmgren to OKC, Banchero to HOU?

2. Who gets picked first: AJ Griffin or Mark Williams? Mock drafts have kept Griffin ahead so far, but it's close.

3. Does Wendell Moore Jr crack the first round? Most projections have him selected anywhere from #20-40, but it seems like at least 30 other players can say the same thing.

4. I haven't yet seen a 2-round mock draft that leaves out Trevor Keels, but if reality inches toward a worst case scenario, at what point in draft night should we start to worry? (And the perennial question: is it better to drafted with a really late pick or to have some choices as an undrafted free agent?)

5. How many ACC players get drafted in the first round? How many get drafted at all? Based on this early entry list*, here are many of the ACC players who are draft eligible:

Keve Aluma, Virginia Tech
Paolo Banchero, Duke
Buddy Boeheim, Syracuse
John Butler Jr, Florida State
Michael Devoe, Georgia Tech
AJ Griffin, Duke
Jericole Hellems, NC State
Trevor Keels, Duke
Jake LaRavia, Wake Forest
Wendell Moore Jr, Duke
Isaiah Mucius, Wake Forest
Malik Osborne, Florida State
Anthony Polite, Florida State
Dereon Seabron, NC State
Cole Swider, Syracuse
Dallas Walton, Wake Forest
Blake Wesley, Notre Dame
Mark Williams, Duke

* This year's early entry list is better than past lists because it includes seniors like Ochai Agbaji, who used 4 years of eligibility but did not use their COVID/super senior/5th year. The list leaves out draftable players who exhausted their eligibility: 5-year players like Alondes Williams and Brady Manek, 6-year players like Jordan Bohannon (179 games, all at Iowa, a record), and one 7-year collegian, Jalen Coleman-Lands.

[rsvman]

Do you just post BS like this to see if someone (like me) is foolish enough to take the bait? This is just flat out stupid. AJ has not been projected in the Top 5 at any point since he end of the season. Every mock draft has him around 10-12. The "talk" you reference is made up in your own head. You love make these grand proclamation posts based on nothing but your desire to make us read your $#!t . Just stop.

You know you don't have to read his posts, right? As soon as I see his user name, like just scroll through to the next post in the thread.

Some forums have 'ignore' buttons that make it so you can't even see a poster's posts at all if you click the button. DBR doesn't have one, but you can still scroll right past the posts.

[CameronBornAndBred]

You know you don't have to read his posts, right? As soon as I see his user name, like just scroll through to the next post in the thread.

Some forums have 'ignore' buttons that make it so you can't even see a poster's posts at all if you click the button. DBR doesn't have one, but you can still scroll right past the posts.

DBR does indeed. Click the user profile, and then select "Add to ignore list". I've not used it, because it would likely leave me confused if an ignored poster was posting lots in a certain thread.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

DBR does indeed. Click the user profile, and then select "Add to ignore list". I've not used it, because it would likely leave me confused if an ignored poster was posting lots in a certain thread.

I've used it, then turned it off. It renders some topics nearly unreadable, depending on how frequently the offending DBR poster comments.

[scottdude8]

DBR does indeed. Click the user profile, and then select "Add to ignore list". I've not used it, because it would likely leave me confused if an ignored poster was posting lots in a certain thread.

The nice thing about the feature is it doesn't just "delete" said posts, but shows you that someone posted but hides the content. So you won't be lost in the thread, and can easily see the post in question if necessary. I haven't utilized this feature until recently, but can say it has lowered my blood pressure on multiple occasions

[Phredd3]

The nice thing about the feature is it doesn't just "delete" said posts, but shows you that someone posted but hides the content. So you won't be lost in the thread, and can easily see the post in question if necessary. I haven't utilized this feature until recently, but can say it has lowered my blood pressure on multiple occasions

I have been an occasional, but satisfied, user of the DBR ignore function. I believe the first poster I ignored is now a forcible retiree of DBR. I was happy not to hear the end of that story until later.

[CDu]

Paolo suddenly a Vegas odds favorite to be taken #1
https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/202...for-no-1-pick/

Woj counters with a tweet that it is increasingly likely to be Smith/Holmgren/Banchero 1/2/3.