Charlotte and Atlanta tonight. The good thing about the Atlanta game is even if they lose we have the added consolation that an OKC win is good for our draft position.
Let's say you could take that pick, add Christian Wood and another player like Gordon or Tate - and use it to move up into the top 10 in this draft (but not top 5). Who would you target? Does someone like Jalen Duren because a consideration? He's super athletic, amazing rim protector, and may be able to develop range. He may not be your starting center of the future, but he certainly could be a very valuable piece that serves as a finisher (like a Capela), a top 3 rim protector, and give you the imposing physical presence in the front court that this team has been sorely missing. Any interest in a player like that.... @Clutch ?
Picking up a sochan or Eason with the Brooklyn pick, coupled with jabari with the first pick is the dream for me. That length and versatility would upgrade this team so much.
Just looking at the draft positioning as of today (which still makes any prediction a bit premature but hey it's all in good fun right?) via tankathon.com, if it all holds I don't see any team in the top 10 picking Duren. The assumptions I'm making are: 1. He's not going to be a top 5 pick 2. Portland, Sacramento and San Antonio (currently 6, 7, and 8 in draft selection respectively) aren't going to use their high pick on a center that needs significant work to become a more well-rounded player. Portland needs a ready-now player if they are intent on keeping Dame. Granted we ARE talking about the Kings here who has shown to do weird things on draft night but they need talent. I don't know if putting Duren next to Sabonis is the answer either. 3. New Orleans and Washington are next at 9 and 10. Valanciunas serves as a better center/piece for them than Duren and Washington has Porzingis and Bryant up front 4. Atlanta (13th pick) don't need Duren with Capela up front So that leaves New York at 12 and Charlotte at 14. The Knicks would be a nice landing spot for Duren because they'll need a center going into next year. Charlotte could also be in play for Duren even though they have Harrell and Plumlee on the roster. The chips might fall correctly for us and have Duren slip down to the Brooklyn pick.
Tankathon honestly is bad at mock drafts. Always late to react to actual trends. https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/top-55-drft-stock-market-update?s=r That's the place to go for this. Corey takes top mock drafts (including Talkathon) and gives players average amounts to figure out where most think they will land. Even with their 13th pick at the time, Duren is projected to go 9.
Why, you have Jalen Green, KPJ, presumable a top 5 pick to fill one of those forwards spots - that's enough star power that needs the ball to score. What you need next are the very hard to find role players - the near stars who get you over the hump. The guys like Draymond Green, Clint Capela, etc. If you can find a guy who can play D and rebound like a Mutumbo but still has an offensive game and a jump shot - a Dwight Howard who is happy to pick an roll - and again - can hit a jump shot...I think you gotta to take a guy like that.
**** you milwaukee. ****ing fail. and ****ing dumbass middleton. if you're gonna foul, at least look at the guy so that it looks like you're going for the ball
**** you budenholzer. if you're gonna be a dumbass incompetent coach, at least be like kerr and tell your guys to intentionally injure the other team's star player
Cleveland losing ain't helping us any... *EDIT* : I take that back... we may want Cleveland to lose this one since they're playing Atlanta.
