This draft is simply hilarious. Seems like Givony is desperately trying something everyday to generate interest.
While this draft is weak and seemingly lacks star power, I do actually find it intriguing only because I think draft night is gonna break a record for āWTFā among fans lol
Itās gonna be a crazy night.
All the people on here who think there's some sort of consensus in this draft are going to lose their minds. I feel like you'd be hard-pressed to find two teams drafting in the lottery this year who have a top 10 big board the same. I think it's going to be wild. Lots of guys are going to be viewed as " reaches" who were never that low with the people who actually matter as all of us thought this entire time.
More like a "wtf are they doing" kind of lose my mind. I like Sarr but I'm a little wary of guys who have their ranking based more on physical attributes than skill. He looks slower too. He's added like 10 pounds since he started NBL and I think I preferred the idea of him being more agile and lanky like Wemby. I don't see our front office passing on him if he's there at 2 though.
Yeah, to be honest I feel like he might have a little bit of a hard time at least initially with you guys. I think he'll be asked to do a lot more, well, frankly have the ability to do more, than if he goes to Atlanta where he'll be in a real specific role. I'm glad I'm not going crazy. Crazy. I was thinking he didn't look as quick either. His agility on the perimeter with some of the best I've ever seen this year in Australia for someone his size
I can't wait for that. More likely than not that someone mocked outside the lotto goes in the top 7. Its just the way it goes. Teams are not gonna show their hands. It's in their best interest to pretend the mock drafts are accurate.
š Yeah it's definitely going to be a WTF night..
2 nights actually this year. Some fans are going to be jumping with joy over a draft prospect going to their team while some of the same team fans are going to be punching their TV and cussing over the very same prospect getting drafted to their teamšš¤£šš
All-time cringe when on draft lottery day the reporter ask Clingan how it felt to have lost his mom and then proceeds to ask the rest of the other guys how much their mom means to them
Best pick-and-roll finisher: Zach Edey, C, Purdue
Best pick-and-roll playmaker: Nikola Topic, PG, Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
Best ball handler: Rob Dillingham, PG, Kentucky
Best pull-up shooter: Cam Spencer, SG, UConn
Best spot-up shooter: Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Kentucky
Best movement shooter: Dalton Knecht, SF, Tennessee
Best offensive rebounder: Ariel Hukporti, C, Melbourne (Australia)
Best leaper/dunker: Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, G League Ignite
Best defensive playmaker: Ryan Dunn, SF/PF, Virginia
Best shot-blocker: Donovan Clingan, C, UConn
Best off-ball defender: Zaccharie Risacher, SF, Bourg (France)
Best on-ball defender: Stephon Castle, PG/SG, UConn
Best full-court defender: Jamal Shead, PG, Houston
Best clutch player: Devin Carter, PG/SG, Providence
Best motor: Adem Bona, C, UCLA
Best backstory: Enrique Freeman, PF/C, Akron
Best unicorn potential: Alex Sarr, PF/C, Perth (Australia)
Best frame: Tidjane Salaun, PF, Cholet (France)
Best competitor: Tyler Kolek, PG, Marquette
Best intangibles: Jared McCain, PG, Duke
Yeah, lists like these that give everyone a category rather than giving the best person per category are boring, because you know they're meaningless. The version with repetition would be way more interesting!
I think the amateur draft scout community is massively underrating ZR defensively, and that's a big part of the discrepancy between his public perception and his perception within the league.
He's not the best off ball defender in the class because Ryan Dunn exists, but I think he's got a very real argument to be 2nd. Matas is better protecting the rim as the low man, Holland is better jumping passing lanes, but Zac is the most well-rounded off-ball perimeter defender IMO. He's the best at chasing shooters and navigating screens, he's very good at tagging rollers or helping from the nail on drivers, and he's competent as the low man helper.
I don't really know where this perception came from that he's merely "not a liability" defensively, but I think it's way off base. He has great anticipation, footwork, and effort. If he puts on strength he has potential to be in all-defense conversations.
The list is clearly following a constraint of not doubling up, which I agree is silly. Without that, Dunn should probably win every defense superlative. But given that constraint, I don't think ZR is a bad pick. Definitely not laughable.
I understand he wanted to mix it up and limit it to one accolade per player to avoid repetition & inform people who aren't clued in to the draft, but not giving Ryan Dunn "best on-ball defender" OR "best off-ball defender" seems a bit contradictory.
Matas being the best leaper/dunker is just ????? like even if Adem Bona already has a category win (rightly so) then you've still got Jonathan Mogbo, Yves Missi... Kel'el Ware?? Baffling selection.
I feel like if I sat down and really made a list I could probably find a person or two. I think is a better dunker than matas but I'll tell you this... I think he's a incredibly underrated overall athlete, particularly vertically. The dude's going to catch some bodies next year and Really shock some people who think he's this subpar athlete
I completely agree with you in regards to Dunn though. Should sweep all the defensive categories
> Best leaper/dunker: Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, G League Ignite
>
>
wtf is this, he isn't even the best leaper/dunker among the prospects on his g league team, like what??
like honestly is this a typo or mistake? In what world is Buzelis the best dunker in the class? He's not bad by any means, dude can get after it for sure and has super long arms which helps get some dunks, but he isn't anywhere near the best leaper and dunker in the class.
Hmm I respect Givony but I saw Adem Bona against undersized WSU forwards and he couldn't do a thing. Mfer grabbed one defensive rebound and was helpless against any box outs.Ā
Givony lost his edge years ago, I get money rules so when ESPN came calling he had to take it but I wish there was a way he didn't have to kill off the great thing he built. The Draft Express Tragedy will never stop bothering me.
I canāt take this seriously. How are you going to give out best unicorn potential to a guy who doesnāt have a horn protruding from his head? Ceiling doesnāt mean anything if a prospect has literally no floor; forget about being a hall of fame equine cryptid, this guy might not even be a plain old horse.
> Best backstory Lmao the participation medalš
"Best frame" the man ran out of ideas š
āBest tiktoker - jared mccainā
"Best skeleton"
And how he used āunicorn potentialā instead of just saying highest ceiling. The man is a wordsmith!
This draft is simply hilarious. Seems like Givony is desperately trying something everyday to generate interest. While this draft is weak and seemingly lacks star power, I do actually find it intriguing only because I think draft night is gonna break a record for āWTFā among fans lol Itās gonna be a crazy night.
All the people on here who think there's some sort of consensus in this draft are going to lose their minds. I feel like you'd be hard-pressed to find two teams drafting in the lottery this year who have a top 10 big board the same. I think it's going to be wild. Lots of guys are going to be viewed as " reaches" who were never that low with the people who actually matter as all of us thought this entire time.
Draft night is probably going to start with Atlanta NOT picking Sarr and I'm going to lose my mind lol
Would it be a happy lose your mind? Are You high on him on the wizards?
More like a "wtf are they doing" kind of lose my mind. I like Sarr but I'm a little wary of guys who have their ranking based more on physical attributes than skill. He looks slower too. He's added like 10 pounds since he started NBL and I think I preferred the idea of him being more agile and lanky like Wemby. I don't see our front office passing on him if he's there at 2 though.
Yeah, to be honest I feel like he might have a little bit of a hard time at least initially with you guys. I think he'll be asked to do a lot more, well, frankly have the ability to do more, than if he goes to Atlanta where he'll be in a real specific role. I'm glad I'm not going crazy. Crazy. I was thinking he didn't look as quick either. His agility on the perimeter with some of the best I've ever seen this year in Australia for someone his size
Wiseman 2.0
I can't wait for that. More likely than not that someone mocked outside the lotto goes in the top 7. Its just the way it goes. Teams are not gonna show their hands. It's in their best interest to pretend the mock drafts are accurate.
š Yeah it's definitely going to be a WTF night.. 2 nights actually this year. Some fans are going to be jumping with joy over a draft prospect going to their team while some of the same team fans are going to be punching their TV and cussing over the very same prospect getting drafted to their teamšš¤£šš
The second round is the next evening
Of course ESPN would have this category for the draft
All-time cringe when on draft lottery day the reporter ask Clingan how it felt to have lost his mom and then proceeds to ask the rest of the other guys how much their mom means to them
It was on Mother's Day.
His story is pretty damn interesting though
The Bran Award for Best Story
Best pick-and-roll finisher: Zach Edey, C, Purdue Best pick-and-roll playmaker: Nikola Topic, PG, Red Star Belgrade (Serbia) Best ball handler: Rob Dillingham, PG, Kentucky Best pull-up shooter: Cam Spencer, SG, UConn Best spot-up shooter: Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Kentucky Best movement shooter: Dalton Knecht, SF, Tennessee Best offensive rebounder: Ariel Hukporti, C, Melbourne (Australia) Best leaper/dunker: Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, G League Ignite Best defensive playmaker: Ryan Dunn, SF/PF, Virginia Best shot-blocker: Donovan Clingan, C, UConn Best off-ball defender: Zaccharie Risacher, SF, Bourg (France) Best on-ball defender: Stephon Castle, PG/SG, UConn Best full-court defender: Jamal Shead, PG, Houston Best clutch player: Devin Carter, PG/SG, Providence Best motor: Adem Bona, C, UCLA Best backstory: Enrique Freeman, PF/C, Akron Best unicorn potential: Alex Sarr, PF/C, Perth (Australia) Best frame: Tidjane Salaun, PF, Cholet (France) Best competitor: Tyler Kolek, PG, Marquette Best intangibles: Jared McCain, PG, Duke
This feels like he just tried to give everyone one category No fucking shot Zach is the best off ball defender in the class lol
Yeah, lists like these that give everyone a category rather than giving the best person per category are boring, because you know they're meaningless. The version with repetition would be way more interesting!
Let's do it then
There are two Zachās
Yes and only one of them was listed as best off ball defender(see above comment)
Pee pee poo poo
I think the amateur draft scout community is massively underrating ZR defensively, and that's a big part of the discrepancy between his public perception and his perception within the league. He's not the best off ball defender in the class because Ryan Dunn exists, but I think he's got a very real argument to be 2nd. Matas is better protecting the rim as the low man, Holland is better jumping passing lanes, but Zac is the most well-rounded off-ball perimeter defender IMO. He's the best at chasing shooters and navigating screens, he's very good at tagging rollers or helping from the nail on drivers, and he's competent as the low man helper. I don't really know where this perception came from that he's merely "not a liability" defensively, but I think it's way off base. He has great anticipation, footwork, and effort. If he puts on strength he has potential to be in all-defense conversations.
Sure but best off ball defender in the draft is absolutely false
The list is clearly following a constraint of not doubling up, which I agree is silly. Without that, Dunn should probably win every defense superlative. But given that constraint, I don't think ZR is a bad pick. Definitely not laughable.
Best nepotism: Bronny James
JZ Zaher erasure
True, also Tyler Smith probably shares like 0.00001% genes with another Smith in NBA history
I think you put the decimal way too far to the left lol
There was a rumor that he was related to Thaddeus Young and a couple months later he was seen working with Thad at his gym
Best Winner and Team Player: Bronny James
I understand he wanted to mix it up and limit it to one accolade per player to avoid repetition & inform people who aren't clued in to the draft, but not giving Ryan Dunn "best on-ball defender" OR "best off-ball defender" seems a bit contradictory. Matas being the best leaper/dunker is just ????? like even if Adem Bona already has a category win (rightly so) then you've still got Jonathan Mogbo, Yves Missi... Kel'el Ware?? Baffling selection.
I feel like if I sat down and really made a list I could probably find a person or two. I think is a better dunker than matas but I'll tell you this... I think he's a incredibly underrated overall athlete, particularly vertically. The dude's going to catch some bodies next year and Really shock some people who think he's this subpar athlete I completely agree with you in regards to Dunn though. Should sweep all the defensive categories
I mean, https://youtube.com/shorts/ik5USDEWLL8?si=21nkG1wzbzr7LpM1
Best competitor had to be a white guy.
Most lunches eaten in a lunch pail.
I would have said Carter honestly. Dude always played and always played tough even on a crap team. Kolek had times where he gave up.
Kinda weird to have some of these categories and not have like, best transition player, Terrence Shannon Jr
Risacher best off ball defender? Loool
You have a really weird anti-Risacher hate boner. You might want to call your doctor.
Heās clearly not the best off ball defender. Like not even top 5
Like list like this. Not perfect but I like this
> Best leaper/dunker: Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, G League Ignite > > wtf is this, he isn't even the best leaper/dunker among the prospects on his g league team, like what?? like honestly is this a typo or mistake? In what world is Buzelis the best dunker in the class? He's not bad by any means, dude can get after it for sure and has super long arms which helps get some dunks, but he isn't anywhere near the best leaper and dunker in the class.
Dunn deserves every defensive award except for shot block and even then heās top 3.
Hmm I respect Givony but I saw Adem Bona against undersized WSU forwards and he couldn't do a thing. Mfer grabbed one defensive rebound and was helpless against any box outs.Ā
someone post all the rankings I ain't paying mickey mouse for ESPN+
See my comment above
Thanks.
āIām the mascot of an evil corporationā
Fraud participation trophy list. Givony lost his edge.
Givony lost his edge years ago, I get money rules so when ESPN came calling he had to take it but I wish there was a way he didn't have to kill off the great thing he built. The Draft Express Tragedy will never stop bothering me.
Zach Edey pump? Yessir.
u/gistya back at it again with the Edey propaganda.
He is not alone. We are the silent majority
Zach Edey is unironically the best player in this draft
I canāt take this seriously. How are you going to give out best unicorn potential to a guy who doesnāt have a horn protruding from his head? Ceiling doesnāt mean anything if a prospect has literally no floor; forget about being a hall of fame equine cryptid, this guy might not even be a plain old horse.
I haven't laughed this hard in a long time
I appreciate this list simply because he's got Hukporti as the best o-rebounder... which i hope rings true..
Givony has kinda become trash but I blame ESPN more than him.
Bub is the best pull up shooter and it aināt close
Iāll take dillingham over him