u/Best_Caregiver_6109

Alright kinda a two part Nuggets draft day deal that hinges on Bucks deciding to NOT trade Giannis.

Step 1: Jamal and 26 for Rollins Kuzma Portis Nance & 10

A relative cheap cost to upgrade to an All star/all nba guard whose been proven in the postseason, despite the recent failures in the West, Jamal would immediately be a top 4 or 5 guard in the East. Nuggets replace Jamal with younger cheaper Rollins and move up to the lottery.

Step 2: Nuggets send #10, Braun Portis Valanciunas & Nance to Chicago for Okoro Smith and #15

Bulls use a very small amount of their cap space this year as Val and Nance are on partial or non-guaranteed deals, but give up some 27 flexibility to move up 5 spots to grab someone they really value. Perhaps its Mara if they want a center, or if one of the guards is around at 10 that they want to pair with Caleb. Nuggets save a hefty chunk by moving down 5 spots from their recent lottery acquisition.

Overall Nuggets get worse but save a ton of money and should likely be able to keep all their FAs and stay below the tax and 2nd aprons. They might have to include their one future pick or swap. Maybe chicago likes Strawther or Holmes or even Nnaji.

Bucks try again, for some reason

Bulls smartly use their cap space to move up

EDIT: lotta replies of guys just saying some of the players listed aren’t point guards. Did you not see the quotes in the title? Did you read the whole post before commenting? Its distracting from the actual discussion I was hoping for which is where you would rank the 26 guards with these players as prospects and/or projecting them in 5-10 years.

Im curious as to peoples opinions on two fronts, the first being as prospects, and the second being projecting 5-10 years from now how would you rank these guards?

2nd Pick: Dylan Harper

3rd Pick: Reed Sheppard, Scoot Henderson

4th Pick: Stephon Castle, Amen Thompson

5th Pick: Jaden Ivey

6th Pick: Anthony Black

7th Pick: Jeremiah Fears

8th Pick: Egor Demin, Rob Dillingham, Dyson Daniels

10th Pick: Cason Wallace

Couple things to note. If you go to the full lotto, only three more guys would be added in Topic, Carter and Carrington. I dont mind not including them.

I decided to include some guys who some would consider combos or 2 guards. Include them if you like. Sheppard, Castle, Amen, Ivey, Black, Demin, Daniels, Wallace all could be 2s or maybe 3s in your heads. I think Edgecombe and Knueppel also might be combos, possibly Tre Johnson as well. We’ll see.

We all agree Cooper shouldn’t be here right?

The most guards drafted in the top 10 in one draft is 4 in 2023 in this range. Unless those three rookies I just mentioned at the end of the last paragraph ALL become “PGs” than 2025 will have 7 (!). This year will have 6?

I stopped at 4 drafts as to not include guys like Ant, Cade, Hali, Reaves and LaMelo.

There are several top young guards who were drafted outside the lotto that deserve mention. Keyonte George, Ajay Mitchell, Andrew Nembhard, Ryan Rollins, Jared McCain and Collin Gillespie who was undrafted.

So how would you rank the 6 guards consistently mocked top 10 with this group?

Before I start, why does it matter? It doesn’t, but neither does yours. Thanks for letting me ramble.

1. I like Aday and Yaxel above any of the lotto guards

-I’m sure at least one of the lotto guards will hit and become a Max contract/All Star level player but each one has a giant red flag that I think could keep each of them from succeeding as primaries.

-Age is a factor in team decision making, but I dont think it needs to be a factor on a big board. Big fan of Aday since pre UCLA U19 comps, measurements were great but absolutely loved how he played on Michigan in an NBA style offense and defense, looking at the centers in the last two or three drafts I can clearly see him translating like Edey, Lively, Ware did immediately with similar upside. Yaxels shooting improvements look real and his position is the most valuable and hardest to find in the league. Whats more valuable, an Aaron Gordon, McDaniels type or like a Darius Garland level PG?

2. Philon and Burries both deserve a ton more love in that guard conversation.

-Personally Philon is my favorite and he is 7 on my board, Burries is 9 with Brown between them. A few weeks ago, Christian Anderson would be included in this part as well but I have relented and moved him down a tier. Philon I believe is the most surefire of the guards, highest floor and ceiling, great measurements and numbers overall. Thought he was incredible in the SEC this year and think he has some Maxey in his game. Underrated defender. I like Burries because I love rebounding guards and every time he needed to step up throughout Zona’s season, he did. Much better combo prospect than Flagler. My concern with the lotto guards (Wagler Acuff Flemings) are the same as everyones, I just find it hard to look past and imagine them succeeding at the level to justify them going in that 5-8 range.

3. Morez and Quaintaince are special defensive prospects that are insanely underrated.

-I think people know this by know, yet I still see both of them (especially Morez) mocked and ranked low. Both also have interesting offensive upside. Quaintance I get due to the knee but if thats cleared I think they both are borderline top 10 for me. There is a real part of me that wants to put Chinyelu in the same boat as these guys but I will show restraint. He should get a promise and stay in the draft though. Theres 5 playoff teams who all could use a big at the end of the 1st.

4. People waking up to Carr’s upside should revisit Isaiah Evans

-Truly believe if Evans chose to attend a different school to be the first option either of his two years in college, he would be being talked about like a surefire lottery guy. Ideal wing measurements. He didnt necessarily have the best showing shooting or athleticism wise at the combine but watching him at Duke I dont think either are an issue. The floor for guys like Evans and Carr are wings like Champagnie with great upside, maybe even Jdub levels?

5. Anderson, Okorie, Tanner and Stirtz are all awesome, but size is a real limitation.

-You maybe could rope Acuff and Flemings into this as well. You can go look at the amount of NBA players 6’3” and under. How many are all stars? Starters? Role players? How many are riding the bench? The ratio is disheartening. Doesnt mean these guards are worthless, and while I have each higher than consensus they all fall in mocks, some to the 2nd. Its a dying position.

6. Karaban is an absolute stud.

-Surprised where he gets ranked versus a guy like Stirtz when they are pretty similar in the sense they have low athleticism and defense concerns but are high IQ + high touch bets. Those types of guys hit if the players have the work ethic. Karaban is an absolute winner, a dawg, do it all, do whatever it takes kind of guy. For my money he is the 2nd best Senior in this class only behind Yaxel.

7. This is the worst 2nd round that I can remember

-This is assuming 5-10 borderline 1st round guys to return to college without a promise due to NIL. Even if every early entrant at the combine stays in, the draft gets bleak fast. The last few years I felt bad for 2nd round picks getting squeezed into two way contracts. This year, I expect two things. 1. Nearly every international prospect will be selected. 2. All 2nd rounders in the nba next year will be on two ways besides at most 5 players. I think some guys selected wont even keep their two way spots after summer league or training camp. Its brutal out here.

Just refinished a rewatch of our beloved study group for the umpteenth time, then went down rabbit hole of other content made by Dan and after some Harmonquest I decided to give Krapopolis a shot. Its really fun, the humor definitely feels closer to community than rick & morty does. Im at the beginning of season 2 and just heard Alison and Danny in an episode. Garrett’s actor I’ve heard a few times, Jim Rash was in an early episode.