As the title states, I think this draft is far too rich to ignore. Drafting 2 lottery players would completely change the complexion of this team.
The combination of size, athleticism, scoring, and defence of many lottery players offers much needed skills in our rotation.
Many have suggested swapping #13 for a top 5 pick in Siakam and OG trades, but I think that retaining 13th is imperative to building talent and depth going forward.
IMO this makes a siakam trade more viable as I doubt we’d move into a top-end pick in an OG trade while retaining 13.
Side note: here’s a fantastic YouTube channel that has broken down many of the lottery-projected players. Show the creator some love:
https://youtube.com/@derek-parker
I would prefer to select a creator/guard with size if we move up via trade. After that, this channel has me hyped about many players in the 5-12 range that I previously hadn’t examined. It’s possible that one of these players falls to 13. Some of which:
Jarace Walker
Cam Whitmore
Gradey Dick
Thoughts on prioritizing picks this year? Part of me wonders if that’s why the FO dealt our pick next year – they may have been planning to make more than one meaningful selection this year (yes, I know it would’ve made more sense to tank).
by TorontoSportsFan10
7 Comments
Trading Siakam for a top 3 pick is the definition of gambling away the future.
I agree that a 2nd lottery pick would be huge. I think there’s great value in the 5-8 range of this draft.
If Indiana is intent on adding some more proven players then an OG trade may be possible. OG for 7 and Nembhard sounds amazing to me.
I think Nembhard is the ideal backup PG for us. Shown solid playmaking ability, is a great on-ball defender, and a capable shooter. Having the 7th and 13th picks would allow us to fill a team need (Dick, Keyonte, Bufkin, Wallace) as well as take a flier on a high upside player (Leonard Miller, Bilal, Rupert).
This type of trade would also give us the cap space to re-sign all 3 UFAs. Lots of wins.
Fred-Wallace-Scottie-Pascal-Poeltl
Nembhard-GTJ-Miller-Precious-Koloko
With Otto and Boucher as bench vets feels like a great way to bridge the current and future parts of the team in a way that balances our team.
They need more talent than anything else.
Ya I agree that 2 picks in this draft looks better than having one in next year’s draft. I’m over that pick, it sucks but there’s no viable center options going forward so Jak was a good get assuming he re-signs.
Honestly I just want to figure out a way to get Cason Wallace
If we did a deal with Portland that involves #3 then I would like to add #23 and then I’m ok with giving #13. There are guys in the #13 range that I could see going at #23. That was the case with OG in his draft iirc. Donovan Mitchell went #13, og went #23 and guys like Jarret Allen went #22. A get those vibes from this draft. I guy like Bufkin or Bilal I could see raps taking at 23 or 13. Stranger things have happened at the draft. Dejounte Murray fell like that in the following yrs draft iirc.
I mostly agree with this… however I think Scoot is such a high-level talent that if it takes including the #13 to get him (which it probably would), you do it.
Like if we’ve got a hypothetical scenario where both Houston and Portland want to trade, Scoot is on the board at #3, and Portland is looking for #13 back in a trade and Houston isn’t, and the trade returns are otherwise equal… I’d include he #13 and trade up for Scoot.
…
In a trade with, say, Indiana, which I think is a strong possibility… I think you ultimately want to come away with a combo-guard and a shooting wing player.
Combo-guard for me would mean taking Cason first and then Dick if he’s still on the board, Hawkins if he’s not. The risk here is that if both Dick and Hawkins are off the board at 13, then that means there are few good fits left… most of the BPAs are going to be combo-guards who we’d struggle to find minutes for and doesn’t fit a longterm need if Wallace pans out.
Other approach is going with that wing first (Whitmore, Hendricks, Dick) and then taking the best remaining combo guard at 13 (Wallace, Bufkin, George, Smith, and Hood-Schifino… listed in my order of preference). This is definitely the safer approach. But it means likely missing out on Wallace.
So it kinda depends which of these scenarios look better to you: Whitmore and Nick Smith, or Wallace and Dick. I don’t mind either of those scenarios, but kinda like the latter more. Wallace, Barnes, and Dick would be a really complementary trio. I’m less excited about Barnes, Whitmore and Smith.
(Also, I know the Raptors interviewed Black, and he’s a great prospect for some teams, but the fit beside Barnes is awful… he’s not a guy I’d move up for… I’m hoping that’s just the Raptors doing due diligence.)
I agree with acquiring another lottery pick, but you can’t trade OG. He’s an elite playoff piece for a contender, you’re just trading a guy that you’re trying to build with a future pick.