Let's Talk Draft Picks

[Spud2nique]

2 hours ago, kg01 said:

Plus Hield would pitch a hissy about coming off the bench

Hield would be a starter if we traded for him. 
 

Trae

Hield

Cam

Collins

Capela

6th man- Hunt

[Spud2nique]

39 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

Brown is not available. Him, Kemba, and Tatum are their franchise guys

Kemba and Tatum are the faces of the Celts.

Brown and Smart are the reason they win.

Im mad that Brown and Smart are in the Celtics because teams in the same conference usually try and not trade with one another.

 

Secondly, the Ainge factor. You can not negotiate with that guy without wanting to virtually slap the $hit out of him. 
-real talk

[hazer]

18 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

Hield would be a starter if we traded for him. 
 

Trae

Hield

Cam

Collins

Capela

6th man- Hunt

Hazer likey deece better:

Trae

Brown

Cam

Collins

Capela

6th: Hunter

Sniper: Harris

 

Edited May 5, 2020 by hazer

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, hazer said:

Hazer likey deece better:

Trae

Brown

Cam

Collins

Capela

6th: Hunter

Sniper: Harris

 

Oh I like the Brown scenario better as well. Of all the players that are under contract in the NBA right now I’d say Brown is top 5 or 6 for me. Ok maybe 10 if you are throwing in the untouchables. But who the hell knows whose untouchable and whose not except for Supes guy  

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, hazer said:

Hazer likey deece better:

Trae

Brown

Cam

Collins

Capela

6th: Hunter

Sniper: Harris

 

For the sniper role, do you mind if we get a cheaper version of Harris in Dougie (please don’t call me Dylan) McDermott?  

[AHF]

1 hour ago, hazer said:

Hazer likey deece better:

Trae

Brown

Cam

Collins

Capela

6th: Hunter

Sniper: Harris

 

That's only because Brown is clearly better which is why Hield is much more available than Brown.

[NBASupes]

I need to complete my writeups on this prospects but I am probably the highest on Edwards long term but for us, Okoro is the best fit by a mile and even the person I think has the highest upside in the draft for us. 

I compare his defense to Torrey Craig right now. He is an insanely good team defender for a college player much less a freshman. As polished as any I've seen on that end. We drafted who I evaluated was the best perimeter defender in Reddish while Tybulle was the best weakside and helpside defender, Reddish possession by possession was as advanced as they come. Okoro is even better. 

Offensively, he reminds me a lot of Buddy Hield in terms of movement, ball handling layer although not as advanced at this stage as Hield was in his last year. He is a lot more explosive than Hield and is a much better finisher and uses his functional strength better as a freshman than Hield did when he left OU. That said, Hield was a good shooter when he entered OU and left an elite one. I doubt Okoro will get there much less Hield level but I see hope. His shooting form is a lot like the MJ types who idolize Jordan. Guys like Rozier for example. Doesn't get insane vertical pop but he gets high up on his jumper. Clean release but not consistent in the body. Similar to Reddish in that way although Cam had a superior stroke. 

 

Body type is similar to guys like Justise Winslow, Torrey Craig, Nassir Little, Kawhi Leonard, Stanley Johnson, and Jimmy Butler 

Tools are similar Jimmy Butler and Torrey Craig. 

Biggest strengths:

Hand size - big wide paws but not overly long.

Hands - his hands are like John's, strong and flexible. 

Motor - He doesn't stop moving. Similar to Hield and Collins. He's a movement specialist, which will work extremely well with Trae Young. 

Elite Finisher for position - Like John, he knows how to get in position to score naturally. He doesn't just stand around like Kevin does. He's more active on offense by a lot over Reddish with better scoring instincts than Hunter. Great hands and finishes with both hands while using his linebacker body well.

Feel for the game on both ends - Probably his biggest strength. He feels the game extremely well. Like he feels offense like rookie John but defense like rookie Cam and some. He just feels the game well. 

His BBIQ - He is off the chart of Basketball mental metrics. 

Lateral Quickness- He reminds me a lot of Craig in how laterally quick he is. 

Strength - Very rare when freshman have NBA bodies and know how to use it as well. He does. Which is why he's rotational even as a rookie. 

Good passer - Not a secondary guy but he's a good within the flow passer. Similar to Huerter as a prospect at this stage when Kevin entered. It might be a couple of years before we see the benefits like we seen with Kevin. 

 

Improvement Areas - 

Skill-set - While he shows flashes of skill, he is far from polished at it. Not as raw at it as Bruno but raw. He will need a year of offensive polish at the least to really implement his will on offense. 

He doesn't have a great body - 6'6 225, 6'8.5 wingspan is decent. I mean the size and bulk is there and that's critical for defense. Compared to Hunter, he's not close. Hunter is 6'8 228, 7'2 wingspan. Reddish is 6'9 208 7 wingspan. His body favors Jimmy Butler. That's not bad but it's not natural fit. He will have to adjust, especially on the bigger wings. 

He's not a freak athlete - Guys like Nas Little was insanely athlete. Okoro is a test athlete like Butler, they would probably kill all of the SPARQ tests but they don't pass the freak athlete for Basketball test. This is just another mark to say he will take some time. 

Shooting - His shooting form is okay but his consistency is off, his percentage aren't good, and he will need some time to adjust. He's not Iggy, it's not an ugly style shot he has nor is a rugged. I'll clearly say he has more Leonard and Rozier in his shot than Iggy and Winslow. His form is solid. He just needs to clean it up like Cam did with us this year. 

 

Final Thoughts

General Upside - While he doesn't have Cam's 9.5 projection from me with the Hawks or Hunter's 7.5 instant impact, or Trae's 9 potential. I gave him a high 8.5 which is tied for #4 with Obi Toppin and Cole Anthony. His instant impact is a 7 which is the highest of any Hawk outside of Hunter last year as an upcoming rookie. It was tied with Cam Reddish. I do see Okoro was a rotational player in year 1. 7th-9th man level and very productive. I expect similar impact as a rookie to rookie Mikal Bridges but not the same level of shooting but better defensive impact. Hunter to me is a better prospect coming in but Hunter had to adjust to the 3. Okoro like Reddish is already developed for handle perimeter defensive responsibilities. 

I honestly think he's the best fit. He will take time before he breaks the starting five but he just fits. The fact that he can defend 1-4 really helps as well. He provides some similar defensive versatility like Cam. 

 

He is tied for #4 of my Tier 4 prospects. For the Hawks, he is #2 behind Anthony Edwards. While I like Okoro a lot more than Edwards for the Hawks, you don't want to pass on Edwards. His long term is extremely projectable and he could be a star. I don't know if passing on that for any team is a good idea, especially in this draft. I don't know if Okoro can become a star but he got a lot to like about his game. 

 

[hazer]

47 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

For the sniper role, do you mind if we get a cheaper version of Harris in Dougie (please don’t call me Dylan) McDermott?  

Now that ain't no fun. But probably more likely. I guess I wouldn't DIE if we snagged Dougie McD instead. I'd probably side-stink-eye until Christmas though

[hazer]

45 minutes ago, AHF said:

That's only because Brown is clearly better which is why Hield is much more available than Brown.

You just gotta burst my fantasyland bubble, dontcha Atlanta Hawks Fan?

Actually i'd be happy with either, but elated with only one.

[NBASupes]

Okoro grades:

Hawks grade 

7 floor

8.5 ceiling 

Normal grade

6 floor

8.5 ceiling

Hawks 

offense 6

Defense 9

Normal 

Offense 5.5

Defense 9

[Spud2nique]

31 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

Okoro grades:

Hawks grade 

7 floor

8.5 ceiling 

Normal grade

6 floor

8.5 ceiling

Hawks 

offense 6

Defense 9

Normal 

Offense 5.5

Defense 9

Okoro or Okongwu for me. It’s like 2017 when I wanted Anunoby and Semi. 
 

Supes, you already know I love the African boys! Yes sir! 
 

 

[hazer]

2 hours ago, Spud2nique said:

Okoro or Okongwu for me. It’s like 2017 when I wanted Anunoby and Semi. 
 

Supes, you already know I love the African boys! Yes sir! 
 

 

Easy there Spuds McDermott. Hawks history with Afrikan front-of-shop/out-of-back-door comments

Edited May 6, 2020 by hazer

[Spud2nique]

44 minutes ago, hazer said:

Easy there Spuds McDermott. Hawks history with Afrikan front-of-shop/out-of-back-door comments

Ya, no fake store front Deng’d up products please! But imagine if you will for me the wonderful @hazer

How would you feel about facing this D lineup?

Pg- Dunn (ya Kris Dunn, we sign him even though he’s restricted)

SG- Okoro

SF- Cam

PF- Hunter

C- Capela

The last 2 minutes of the game if we have any kind of a lead, we put in “the closers” (that’s what we’ll callem) who will put the game on ice for us!  

 

AHF dream killer in 3....2.. I kid  

 

Edited May 6, 2020 by Spud2nique

[Spud2nique]

45 minutes ago, hazer said:

Spuds McDermott.

I gotta be closer to being Dylan’s brother than Doug. Just sayin.

[NBASupes]

20 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

Ya, no fake store front Deng’d up products please! But imagine if you will for me the wonderful @hazer

How would you feel about facing this D lineup?

Pg- Dunn (ya Kris Dunn, we sign him even though he’s restricted)

SG- Okoro

SF- Cam

PF- Hunter

C- Capela

The last 2 minutes of the game if we have any kind of a lead, we put in “the closers” (that’s what we’ll callem) who will put the game on ice for us!  

 

AHF dream killer in 3....2.. I kid  

 

Okoro best position to me is SF. Cam is SG. This is for offense. For defense, they can play both but Okoro is better against size.

[Spud2nique]

11 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

Okoro best position to me is SF. Cam is SG. This is for offense. For defense, they can play both but Okoro is better against size.

Good call it’s strange though I automatically put the taller guy Cam at the SF but your right Okoro’s natural position is the 3 but man if we got him to go along with some of the defensive types we got now, things would get fun.

[hazer]

50 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

Good call it’s strange though I automatically put the taller guy Cam at the SF but your right Okoro’s natural position is the 3 but man if we got him to go along with some of the defensive types we got now, things would get fun.

I did the same thing, edited 3 posts because of SG/SF. But it's truly an interchangeable "wing" position for Hawks. 1 can play 2 on O then 3 on D and a mix of each whenever preferable during the same few set of possessions. Truly starting to understand the "positionless" concept, in subset.

[marco102]

4 hours ago, Spud2nique said:

Okoro or Okongwu for me. It’s like 2017 when I wanted Anunoby and Semi. 
 

Supes, you already know I love the African boys! Yes sir! 
 

 

We know @Spud2nique. We know.

Anthony Edwards is the prize of this draft.  

I see it like this.  Trae's skill is on another level.  Cam's smoothness and two way potential is very intincing.  

However, Edwards is a bull dozer.  Come playoff time you'll need a guy like Edwards to one, guard a big strong player and two bum rush the basket and get you free throws and buckets. 

 If the Hawks slip up and get him, it's a wrap. I don't care what his shooting percentages are.  I don't care he was slack on defense from time to time.  Just watch the way he moves, the way he scores, and the way he defends when he's engaged, and the way he can playmake.

Anthony Edwards is just like Cam in my book from last year.  The Hawks need him to complete this core.

[hazer]

9 minutes ago, marco102 said:

We know @Spud2nique. We know.

Anthony Edwards is the prize of this draft.  

I see it like this.  Trae's skill is on another level.  Cam's smoothness and two way potential is very intincing.  

However, Edwards is a bull dozer.  Come playoff time you'll need a guy like Edwards to one, guard a big strong player and two bum rush the basket and get you free throws and buckets. 

 If the Hawks slip up and get him, it's a wrap. I don't care what his shooting percentages are.  I don't care he was slack on defense from time to time.  Just watch the way he moves, the way he scores, and the way he defends when he's engaged, and the way he can playmake.

Anthony Edwards is just like Cam in my book from last year.  The Hawks need him to complete this core.

If we luck up and get #1, Edwards is definitely the pick. So do we trade that #1 and assets before we pick him (my preference) for a star? Or snag him and dangle? I want to trade the pick or selection regardless, for an All-Star NOW.

[hazer]

2 minutes ago, hazer said:

If we luck up and get #1, Edwards is definitely the pick. So do we trade that #1 and assets before we pick him (my preference) for a star? Or snag him and dangle? I want to trade the pick or selection regardless, for an All-Star NOW.

Hawks are FINALLY in a position with a promising young core 22 and under, a probable top 5 pick, AND the most cap space in the NBA for the next 2 years. Driver's seat, time to be the pressure appliers