ESPN: NBA mock draft with Kobe and Jett going in 1st round
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/37873455/projecting-all-58-picks
Insider, so the basics are that they have Kobe Bufkin going #12 to OKC and Jett Howard going #17 to the Lakers. Looks like they're basically considering them for 1st round locks.
The write-up on Kobe Bufkin:
Bufkin has become one of the trendier names circulating in the past week, initially rumored to have a promise in the teens and now looking like a strong bet to land in the lottery, with a chance to potentially sneak into the top 10. His youth, versatility, high-energy style and late-blooming trajectory have endeared him to teams, and after a quiet, strategic pre-draft process, Washington, Utah, Oklahoma City and Toronto look like his potential landing spots. In this scenario, it's OKC which could invest in him as an upside pick despite the fact its talented young backcourt is crowded. Coulibaly and Lively are other names in the mix here for the Thunder, who have also explored trade opportunities involving this pick.
The write-up on Jett Howard:
Howard is said to be part of a group of options that include Lively, Smith and Noah Clowney, only two of whom are available in this scenario. Coming off a run to the Western Conference finals, the Lakers can be opportunistic about where they are positioned on draft night. Several high-level prospects are likely to be available here, allowing them to either add a talented young player to their core or make an impactful trade to remain competitive heading into next season. Should they stand pat, adding a shooter with size, feel and pedigree such as Howard makes a lot of sense with their current roster configuration.
They have Detroit picking Jarace Walker out of Houston in the 5 spot:
The intel shifted in recent days following Whitmore's workout in Detroit, indicating that the Pistons may look in a different direction, be it trading down or selecting another player such as Walker. Making Monty Williams the highest-paid coach in the NBA unquestionably gives him input on how the roster is built, and the expectation around the league is the Pistons will want to pivot to respectability as quickly as possible. Should Detroit trade down, Jalen Hood-Schifino has come up as a prospect the front office is high on, as well as Gradey Dick, Taylor Hendricks and Cason Wallace. Pistons general manager Troy Weaver showed deft ability maneuvering around the lottery last year to position himself to land two elite prospects in Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren, and it's possible he looks to do the same again, possibly with a team such as Utah (who holds the No. 9 and 16 picks).
Others:
- With the first pick of the second round, they have DET picking Brice Sensabaugh out of c'bus.
- They put Trayce Jackson-Davis at #34 to the Hornets.
- They have Emoni Bates going #52 to the Suns.
If this comes to fruition, I sure hope there is additional pressure on Juwan Howard to shake up his coaching staff.
2 NBA first rounders and a former All-American center and can't make the tournament? Ouch!
I've been having this debate with a few of my friends, and I completely disagree with your take.
The NBA drafts on potential...not production.
Kobe had a relatively complete performance...but Jett was almost ineffective outside of occasional scoring outbursts.
Plus, they were surrounded by quite a bit of youth and/or ineffective players. Hunter had a very good season, but he's not best-suited to be the #1 option on his team.
Similar case with Houstan and Moussa. Neither really did that much in college, but were drafted on the perceived potential. Had each stuck around for a second year, you're probably looking at a Sweet Sixteen team. Even a team with a healthy Llewellyn and the expected Shannon is probably getting in to the second round of the tournament. Margin between success and failure is thin in college basketball.
My one wish would be if NBA teams arent putting a kid on a roster let him play and get exposure in college until you are ready. Let the kids play and train and work towards a degree. I dont think there is one player in the NBA that would say a degree isnt a good thing to have your last 40+ years after the NBA.
They could pay them for their name, image, and likeness until they graduate and then pay them to play.
That ship sailed long ago. Kinda like hoping men started wearing bowlers again.
I'd agree with you if you were arguing why JH couldn't take them to the sweet 16 or something. But two first rounders and HD at center should 1000% get you in the dance, which honestly isn't that difficult (despite what Tommy Amaker may tell you). Then take a look at how we lost games, particularly close games where the team just farted the game away in the final few minutes time and time again. Once or twice, that's on the players. Over and over again, that's a coaching issue.
Maybe. Or maybe at the end of the season. But as people pointed out ad nauseum, we were one of the very youngest teams in the country. And maturity is even more important in this age of free agency and drafts on promise. I mean, we have thousands of middle-aged M fans who are mad at Jett, a freaking freshmen, that--injured--he wasn't winning games for us down the stretch. Woulda been nice, but to assume he's gonna? At 18? Or to hold it against the kid? That's just stupid. As the fact that he's gonna be the 18th player in the world chosen to play in the NBA this year. . . kinda demonstrates!
It's not Juwan's fault he can't win with NBA talent lol
In what world is Kobe Bufkin the 12th best NBA prospect?
The world you currently live in, as a matter of fact
If you're a highly paid NBA scout then your opinion holds water.
If not, then you haven't been paying attention. Almost everyone not an NBA scout thinks he is a lottery pick.
you really shouldn't broadcast your basketball ignorance
The team that drafts Jett Howard in the first round is making a huge mistake. He didn't really up his game at Michigan by refining his non-shooting skills, and I can't see the grit he needs to succeed coming once he signs.
He's 20 years old.
Well, good for them.
admittedly bot know Emoni as a person...I feel like I strongly dislike him...with that said man the sun's would be a great place for him. To learn wfrom guys with the work ethic of Durant, Beal and Booker, may just make him realize his potential. But do the Sun's even still have that pick? Also, if they do, they need someone they can count on because that pick will almost be guaranteed a roster spot and will be counted on. a senior or junior would more than likely be the pick
Bates was on SI and regraded as the next great BBall player. Man how time has changed for him, barely seen as a draftable player who unfortunately was hindered by all the hype and his dad among him the face of a school. Best thing would have been Emoni not getting that SI cover and working hard and going to a program that would have humbled him.
Regrading Mich players Bufkin has a promise to be drafted in the lottery and he has to thank Sanderson and Howard and the coaches for helping him become a more complete player. He also is one of the youngest prospects in the draft.
Howard has the skill but needs to put in the hard work on defense and rebounding and other parts of his game that doesn't have to do with scoring. Scouts have wondered if he actually loves basketball enough to get better and his desire to put in the work. You have to wonder if he plays BBall because his dad did and he does have talent but it really isn't his first love. Is he playing it for himself or his family? We should find out with how his NBA career goes but at times he didn't look interested in Bball. This is just my opinion from reading what scouts have said and personally being around some players who were good at Ball but only played cause their family pushed them. They made the NBA but burned out cause it wasn't their first love or they didn't even like playing it.
I want Dick!
Cheney or Nixon?
Cavett or Tracy?
Van Dyke or Van Patten?
Around or head?
I don't like either of those landing spots. OKCs backcourt is loaded and I feel like there is way too much drama anytime Lebron is involved.
As far as the Pistons They're drafting Cam Whitmore
I pray that Bufkin falls to the Nets, but OKC is my second team so I would love that as well. I can see Jett falling to the Nets though as safer bet when they grab someone like Dariq Whitehead.
As long as the Pistons don't take one of the Thompson twins who can't shoot, I'll be fine with it but I really want them to draft Hendricks
I honestly feel that the best thing the Pistons could do is trade that pick away to try to acquire that one big name that could put them over the hump.
They have 3 budding young superstars in Cunningham, Ivey and Duren. I watched a lot of Pistons basketball this past winter and Duren is going to be a very similar player to Kevin Garnett. There were several times this season I watched that kid hit a turnaround jumper from the elbow. If that is something he can do consistently, the sky is the limit for that young man.
Ivey is so athletic and he proved he can shoot a little bit. I believe that part of his game will continue to improve. With his athleticism and tenacity on defense he should be a very solid 2 guard.
I know the jury is still out on Cade but honestly over the last half of his rookie year he was the rookie of the year. I know the injury this year was a setback but I really believe that Cade is going to be a 20 10 8 guy for a large part of his career.
I expect big things this year especially if they acquire someone to lead them. I mean Bojan is great but he's not the guy.
I would think trading out is what they are trying to do with Weaver having a Plan B of using the picks then nabbing a Jeremi Grant/Cam Johnson type FA.
Again, I'm fine with pretty much any scenario that doesn't involve drafting one of the Thompson twins. I'd prefer they draft or trade for someone who can actually shoot the ball.
the Garnett-Duran comparison is, well, inapt.
Thanks for sharing the ESPN take!
CBS Sports has Kobe at #13 to the Raptors and Jett at #14 to New Orleans... Similar range, if a bit different landing spots.
Pistons need to dump Diallo and Joseph, and get a veteran power forward with $30 million cap space to use.
Maybe trade down? Draft Prospects 4 through 10 aren't all that different. Take a flyer with Amoni Bates with the second pick.
Most importantly, keep Cade healthy. Looking for some big year two jumps from the youngest team in the NBA.
Sorry they won't be with Michigan, with another year to develop and contribute.
Good for them, and fingers crossed if it works out.
Can't blame them for leaving. Someone is floating the prospect of lottery pick money in their face to go and make a career out of playing a game. Who among us can say with a straight face they would've turned that down to come back and make pennies compared to what the NBA will pay you? If you say you would, I can only presume you're lying. If the degree is important to you, Kobe and Jett can always come back and finish it later. This opportunity may never come up for them again. They are one injury away from never being able to play again. Strike while the iron is hot.
Don't care if you're at Michigan, Rutgers, Akron, Kentucky, Duke, Kansas or any other program in America. No amount of money that school could pay you would sniff what a lottery pick contract could pay you.
Yeah I wish they stayed longer, but I probably would have done the same thing if I were in their shoes. Bottom line: they owe me nothing. They owe you nothing. They owe Michigan fans nothing.
They owe nothing to anyone other than themselves.