By Sharp Go To PostKeegan definitely looked on paper like the most likely to succeed of any of them pre-draft, but he just… hasn't been great. Like I said it's early though so he could become a good player, but top 5 pick worthy? I dunno. He doesn't really contribute much when he's not shooting and he hasn't been lights out.It's funny his twin Khris plays opposite of him. Does all the little things well but can't make a three to save his life eventhough he was drafted for it.
By Sharp Go To PostKeegan definitely looked on paper like the most likely to succeed of any of them pre-draft, but he just… hasn't been great. Like I said it's early though so he could become a good player, but top 5 pick worthy? I dunno. He doesn't really contribute much when he's not shooting and he hasn't been lights out.By all accounts, he's been a good defender this season.
His ankle saved his knee, alhamdulillah. Doubt he comes back this season but he won't miss next year
By DY_nasty Go To Postbtw how do you feel about deandre hunter?Like I said, he's been okay. I feel like his defense / defensive upside was really overrated going into the draft (like a lot of guys with big wingspans, which I've already complained about too much lol). He's been a lot better since he started coming off the bench for Jalen Johnson, since he can actually score against second string guys without being a huge liability on the other end. I think that's probably the right role for him. Totally fine player, great backup... just not the kind of guy you hope for if you're picking #5 overall.
By reilo Go To PostWhat? that's magic
By Kibner Go To PostBy all accounts, he's been a good defender this season.He has definitely been better than I remembered, but still probably not good enough to justify a starting spot just with his defense unless he gets a lot better (which he might). The crazy high D-EPM from earlier this year was almost certainly a SSS thing but he has at least clearly improved a lot from his rookie season (not exactly atypical). I just don't really think it's enough for a guy at #5? There are a ton of insane wing defenders now and a lot of them can even shoot (hell you have a few on your team!). He's been trying to become more multidimensional on offense and drive to the rim and kick out more, but so far it just hasn't really been working when his shot isn't falling since defenders don't have to cover him that tightly and he doesn't have the handle or first step to get to the rim without tight coverage (if he did, he probably wouldn't be on the "old #5 picks" list anyway). I feel like if he's knocking down shots, his whole game opens up and he can exploit it to shore up all the other holes in his offense, but he really needs to be a laser IMO to justify his pick.
I just think you are being too harsh with the "bust" label, personally. If a player makes it to their second (or even third!) contract, that's not a bust. Underwhelming for their draft position, sure. But not busts. If that is your threshold for a bust, then only like 5 draft picks in the lottery each year don't bust.
By Kibner Go To PostI just think you are being too harsh with the "bust" label, personally. If a player makes it to their second (or even third!) contract, that's not a bust. Underwhelming for their draft position, sure. But not busts. If that is your threshold for a bust, then only like 5 draft picks in the lottery each year don't bust.I don't think I called him a bust? Just not trending that well, especially compared to what he was projected to be. I think I only called the #2 picks who ended up being bad bench players or worse, or other top 5 picks who were like completely terrible and out of the league fairly early, busts. Like I don't think getting a couple of random show me deals after his rookie season ended makes Shelden Wiliams not a bust.
I feel like the part teams are probably paying attention to isn't so much the bust rate anyway, but more the fact that none of them so far has really hit in a way that would justify being picked top 5 in a redraft. Like why would you pick a guy top 5 if there's almost no chance he's one of the top 5 players in the draft? You have to be really confident in them to risk it (like I think the Kings were with Murray, most likely because his BPM estimate and other stats his sophomore year were completely nuts). I just don't see that happening for Knecht. He's almost two years older, a senior instead of a sophomore, and just doesn't have any outlier traits either athletically or statistically that would make a GM want to gamble like that.
By reilo Go To PostDid he have a serious injury since he left the warriors? He was a good role player for that team in 2022.
Well that actually explains it
Warriors coven magic got the best out of everyone during that championship run
Plus they were the healthiest
Nuggs losing by 22 to the tanking raptors
Plus they were the healthiest
Nuggs losing by 22 to the tanking raptors
Luka's streak of 30pt trip dubs ends. Dude was blasting 3s to get it, but they took him out with 6 min left lol
By joefu Go To PostLuka's streak of 30pt trip dubs ends. Dude was blasting 3s to get it, but they took him out with 6 min left lol
He got it
By pilonv1 Go To PostDubs need Grayson. Imagine Grayson with Draymonds teaching
Hell no. Shit would fuck up his game.
Wemby got dunked on but it’s pretty easy to do if you hold his arm to prevent the block
Replay don’t lie
🧐
Replay don’t lie
🧐
It was gonna happen at some point, the real question is how he managed to shoot like Shaq on free throws. One thing I will say is I was dead wrong about Draymond being a good matchup on defense, he got annihilated lol.
By Pac-2 Go To PostHe better watch out. Kai Jones did that and got cut.The difference between Kai Jones and TJD is that TJD is good.
Got to love how the only two games worth watching tonight are blacked out for me because I happen to live 6 hours away from both Denver and Phoenix...
By masud Go To PostGot to love how the only two games worth watching tonight are blacked out for me because I happen to live 6 hours away from both Denver and Phoenix…I am blacked out from all Texas team games when I am in west Texas. I think they are an average of 6 hours away. lol
By Sharp Go To PostPlayers drafted in the top 5 who were 23 on draft night (like Dalton Knecht will be) in the last 20 classes (from the 2004-5 draft to the 2023-4 draft):There have been some hits in lottery tho. Age usually drops a dude's stock some and some players drafted 6-10 are sometimes better than potential so I can see a team making the decision to get an older player even if it hasn't worked wonderfully in the last 20... Not saying that Knecht should be that dude that mind you. lol
- Nobody. But if you want we can count Wesley Johnson who turned 23 like a week after the draft (#4 overall in 20210). He had a short peak as a decent bench player but was terrible for the majority of his career.
Players drafted in the top 5 who were 22 on draft night in the last 20 classes:
- Shelden Williams (#5 overall in 2006). Massive bust.
- Hasheem Thabeet (#2 overall in 2009). Massive bust.
- Kris Dunn (#5 overall in 2016). Solid role player, though not what you'd hope for from a #5 pick.
Players drafted in the top 5 who were 21 on draft night, but 22 for most of the season, in the last 20 classes:
- Emeka Okafor (#2 overall in 2004). Bust, though he eventually became a solid bench player.
- Adam Morrison (#3 overall in 2006). Massive bust.
- Evan Turner (#2 overall in 2006). Bust. He stuck in the league for a long time as a role player but he got way more chances than he deserved because of his draft pedigree.
- De'Andre Hunter (#4 overall in 2019). Okay bench player but not what you'd hope for from a #4 pick.
- Keegan Murray (#4 in 2022). Too early to say, but his first two seasons haven't been promising.
Like this isn't me cherrypicking there is literally not a single hit from anyone even close to Knecht's age drafted top 5 in 20 years and the best of the bunch so far is Kris Dunn. And there are barely any such picks to start with, especially lately (the last guy who was actually 22+ on draft night was drafted in 2016). Even the terrible GMs in the early 2000s who picked guys off vibes wouldn't dare use a top 5 pick on Knecht.
By Koko Go To Post#FireMalone.nuggets coastin'
By Sharp Go To PostThe difference between Kai Jones and TJD is that TJD is good.
And Kai is the GOAT. Ask him.
By blackace Go To PostThere have been some hits in lottery tho. Age usually drops a dude's stock some and some players drafted 6-10 are sometimes better than potential so I can see a team making the decision to get an older player even if it hasn't worked wonderfully in the last 20… Not saying that Knecht should be that dude that mind you. lolThat's because if he expanded it to Top 10 he'd have to list Curry and Lillard as 22 and 21 year olds drafted 6th and 7th.
I did top 5 because Dy asked about top 5, but Curry and Lillard were both 21 their rookie season so they wouldn't apply here anyway...
Oh actually Lillard was 22 (not on draft night but he'd be in the third group). But either way I wasn't deliberately excluding them lol, clearly players can be good when they're older, teams just haven't demonstrated they are capable of identifying which ones are that good very well.
For instance TJD this year is 23 and probably will end up one of the better players from this class but he wasn't even drafted in the early second round, meaning a large number of teams thought he wasn't worth drafting at all. So even if you were high on him like GSW why would you spend a top pick on him? You know he'll be available later. I think for the trend to be bucked there would have to be an older prospect teams were actually scared of missing out on and Knecht is not that.
Oh actually Lillard was 22 (not on draft night but he'd be in the third group). But either way I wasn't deliberately excluding them lol, clearly players can be good when they're older, teams just haven't demonstrated they are capable of identifying which ones are that good very well.
For instance TJD this year is 23 and probably will end up one of the better players from this class but he wasn't even drafted in the early second round, meaning a large number of teams thought he wasn't worth drafting at all. So even if you were high on him like GSW why would you spend a top pick on him? You know he'll be available later. I think for the trend to be bucked there would have to be an older prospect teams were actually scared of missing out on and Knecht is not that.
By DY_nasty Go To PostYal need to watch Dalton highlights to understand how bad this draft is as he's likely top 5 lolTop 5 could be some combination of Sarr Risacher Topic Sheppard and Dillingham without having to draft Knecht top 5... but yeah he's definitely in the mix after that.
By Sharp Go To PostI did top 5 because Dy asked about top 5, but Curry and Lillard were both 21 their rookie season so they wouldn't apply here anyway…Lillard was 22. Players like Roy (short career tho), Noah, CJ, Buddy (who was 24 at number 6), Mikal Bridges, and Davion Mitchell were picked outside of the top 5 but in the lottery because of their ages probably and were all decent..
Oh actually Lillard was 22 (not on draft night but he'd be in the third group). But either way I wasn't deliberately excluding them lol, clearly players came be good when they're older, teams just haven't demonstrated they are capable of identifying which ones are that good very well.
By DY_nasty Go To PostYal need to watch Dalton highlights to understand how bad this draft is as he's likely top 5 lolI don't think it will be 2013 bad but pretty close.
Gonna check ESPN, see how many points Portland won by after that comeback...
Well, let's only consider the absolute value of the margin instead.
Well, let's only consider the absolute value of the margin instead.
By reilo Go To Post
Well that actually explains it
Sucks that his body let him down. The guy never got a chance to reach his ceiling which I believe would have been a really efficient 17-18ppg guy.
SHOOKtics playing a road B2B in two different states
The fück
And in cursed Utah where KG got injured
Oof
The fück
And in cursed Utah where KG got injured
Oof
I've legit tried to be mad at charges but honestly they just need to move the restricted area out more.
Most of the guys getting hurt are just being stupid. There's no fix for stupid. But outside of Miami a defender should be rewarded for making a read like that.
Most of the guys getting hurt are just being stupid. There's no fix for stupid. But outside of Miami a defender should be rewarded for making a read like that.
Enable the defender near the charge circle to actually challenge the shot by killing the verticality rule that is never accurately enforced.
