2030 Draft:1st round Reactions and Grades

[Clinton]

2/5 folks. That was how well I did in guessing a players ratings based on 4 box scores. Two others tied with my scouting skills and the rest only got one right. LOOKING AT YOU SAM! So...based on that I should hover around 40% prediction rate in grading and JUDGING all the picks in the 1st round.

Alright now you know my fuggin credentials. So sit back, relax, and enjoy my out-of-pocket takes on the 2030 Draft. P.S. i no longer care if anyone comes through, fuck the haters, i need RP.

Jesses Big Board: viewtopic.php?p=69220#p69220
OG Draft File:history/29/draft/draftplayers-pot.htm
Updated Draft File: draft/draftplayers-pot.htm
Draft Notes: viewtopic.php?t=6016

Profiles:
Benevolence Sinclair: viewtopic.php?t=5913
Dirk Deschamps: viewtopic.php?t=5915
Flory Kuminga: viewtopic.php?t=5823
JJ Crawford: viewtopic.php?t=5825
King Bacot: viewtopic.php?t=5826
Liu Yuze: viewtopic.php?t=5916
Marcus Jones Jr.: viewtopic.php?t=5917
Mohamed Dabone: viewtopic.php?t=5824

Top 5 Inside:
1. Marcus Jones Jr. (C) - B+
2. Michael Hightower (SF) - B
3. Flory Kuminga (SF) - B
4. Dylan West (SF) - B
5. Draydne McDaniels (SF) - B

Top 5 Outside:
1. Praise Badejo (PG) - B+
2. Denym Wallace (PF) - B
3. Logan Martin (C) - B
4. Dirk Deschamps (SG) - B
5. Pierce Paul (SG) - B

Top 5 Handles(Passing):
1. DJ Reason (PG) - A-
2. Javi Alcarez (PF) - B
3. Ethan Guber (PG) - B
4. Will Conroy Jr. (PG) - B
5. Draydne McDaniels (SF) - B

Top 5 Defense:
1. Hector Serrano (SF) - A-
2. Nicholas White (SF) - B+
3. Edward Gross (C) - B+
4. Ethan Guber (PG) - B+
5. Kenxton Perkins (SG) - B

Top 5 Rebounding:
1. Kenxton Perkins (SG) - B
2. Benevolence Sinclair (SF) - B
3. Darius Thompson (C) - B-
4. Jackson Foley (PF) - B-
5. Alex Alexander (C) - B-

Clints Big Board: PSH YOU WISH!

2030 1st Round:
Lotto:
1. New York Knicks (GM: Nasty Nav): Mohamed DaBonay - PF - Burkin Faso
Needs: Frontcourt help. Heir to the Jones throne at PG.
Analysis: The Knicks found a little luck in jumping to the number one pick after having the second best odds before the lottery. Needing a FC player of the future, the Knicks snag Mohamed Dabone. Being compared to Wemby is no joke and I too would take this swing at number one. I didnt scout him though and based on all the research I have done on Dabone, there is zero shot he is only 19yrs old. If the scout brought back good news, then NBD and i will accept this shame. If thats the case then he is the only teenager in this class and some juicy starting ratings. His C+ rebounding also being closer to B- than C amongst all players in the file. If anyone has true star potential and fun name possibilities for a front court player, its Dabone. Knicks now have a solid core of enticing young players.
Grade: A for 19yr old. B- for a 23/24yr old.

2. Los Angeles Lakers (via MIL) (GM: GX): Marcus Jones Jr. - C - UNLV
Needs: Youth in the frontcourt. SG.
Analysis: If not for the Cavs magical year, GX could have been GMOTY. As a consolation prize, the Lakers are gifted the second overall pick after a previous trade with Milwaukee. Having three bigs that are 33yrs old each, GX decides to infuse some youth with Marcus Jones Jr. Dude looks BEEFY to say the least. Positives: highest inside in the file, profile player, A pot, potential to be the dude at the 5 and never have to worry about an upgrade. Needs help from GX: Amongst players in the file, Jones is closer to C than B- in both DEF and REB. I know that he will not be receiving help with his jumpshot(free throws) and handles, so can GX get the TC luck and camps to help Jones realize his potential as a "strong starter" in SLN. I know that I will follow the trajectory of Jones vs. Darius Thompson but I think will all the factors that GX did fine choosing Jones as his BIG BUTT prospect. As long as DAMPier eats against him, then good pick GX.
Grade: B+

3. Miami Heat (GM: Will the Thrill): Benevolence Sinclair - SF - Villanova
Needs: Star Player. Front Court players.
Analysis: I was pissed when I read that Will took Benevolence, WHILE DRIVING TOO?! The audacity. Yeah each year I fall for a few players and Sinclair was one this season. Now to me not gushing about the player and focusing on the fit. Whew, that was a long break. Uhm, what break? Pft totes. Okay so in the time spent not writing, I heard some crazy good things about Sinclair. Some wondered if Sinclair was a possibility for the 1st overall pick. Thats heresay though and ill stick to my OG point. If Sinclair can be the Star that the Heat need then okay but if not then Will used the 3rd overall pick to snag another role player on the wing. I entirely thought that this could be a spot for Flory or Liu. Am i salty that i never got the shot at Benevolence? ENTIRELY. But oh well. I guess the other way of thinking is saying fuck it to fit, you take the best player and the let chips fall, especially this early in a rebuild. Ill eat my words if Sinclair turns out to be the dude AND Will walks away with Cash at some point in this draft. I am going to give this a good grade b/c id rather be right on Sinclair but yea, my opposing view still stands.
Grade: A-

4. Utah Jazz (GM: Ralph Grundavelli aka The King of the Swing aka Sauce-walka): JJ Crawford - SG - UCLA
Needs: TC Luck. Time. FC players?
Analysis: Grundavelli(patent pending) went all in a couple seasons ago to reset the tank clock and he somehow already had a nice stable of young, talented players. Add the highest scouted pot player this year in JJ Crawford to the mix. Does anyone else find it hilarious that Ralph is building a backcourt of ex-SLN player's children. Ariza, Rider IV, and now Crawford. Will Ralph regret not taking Baby Perk? Only time will tell. At the very least Ralph has fun with his team builds. I still remember him going all out to put the UNC foursome together. I bitched enough about Will picking Sinclair to where i wont go after Ralph for maybe not looking at Dirk or Kenxton or FC help here. If Danny is a SF then cool, if Ralph wants to give him burn at 4, put Ariza at the 3, and Craw at the 2 to try and figure some things out then more power to him. Its solid getting the #1 scouted pot guy at pick four. I dont necessarily think Crawford is next level but i guess I will find out just like Ralph.
Grade: A for fun, A for scouted pot work, B for being just a solid pick imo.

5. Portland Trailblazers (GM: Samothy Quadratic IV):

5. Seattle SuperSoNicks (via POR) (GM: Thorn in my side): King Bacon - PG - UVA
Needs: PG. SG. Dirk.
Analysis: But you couldve had Dirk DeuxChamps... You know, through this whole process i forgot about King Bacon. There was a legit PG prospect this season, and Nick traded A LOT of stuff ("fuck them picks") to come up to 5 for King. Goodbye Ja Morant? He looks fun but he is also one of a kind. I didnt scout him but if his outside is "rough" and he doesnt get turnovers then can Nick accept that life? I think Nick had a plan though, which includes someone(acting like i dont already know who) giving him Dirk. They kind of balance each other out as a backcourt. What ifs are not this pick though. King is gonna be weird but i think Nick could make it work. He needed a PG and got the best one in this draft.
Grade:D for Dirk

6. Indiana Pacers (via MIN) (GM: Tongpapi): Liu Yuze - PF - China
Needs: Unknown
Analysis: So here i am not thinking about the draft and Pankin boldly asks who I am looking at with my pick. Excuse me sir, but i will not divulge(totally divulged) my plan for you if you tradeback. Nope Pankin just needed a little convo to try and decide who to pick. I eventually got to the point of trying to tell him to take Liu because i thought it would be best with the ages of Giannis and Isaac. I did not want to tell him though because i scouted Liu and was hoping to get him. Alas, Nowitzki. I eventually did though and then not 30mins later? Pankin tells me that he is trading the pick to Tong instead, who ALSO takes Liu. Fuck me. Alright Tonger you got your guy and gave up a pretty wild package to get him. Do i like him, yes. Is he a SF, NO! He is a big man. You also have a plethora of SFs so yeah, figure that out as well. I guess this is cool because Liu and Hansen run their national team and now they have the opportunity to do it together in Indiana. Dude wtf, Sinan too? LMAO. Xi JinTong out here in Indiana. Damn thats pretty cool, i am down for that front court. Yeah fine, fuck it.
Grade: A

7. Golden State Warriors (GM:Yours Truly): Flory Kuminga - SF - UNC
Needs: FC help. Hope. Make the playoffs(not happening). Talent.
Analysis: I was telling Merv earlier in the day that I lowkey thought Flory could fall because he reads like a PF. WELL HERE WE ARE NOW. I had a crazy offer on the table for this pick but i really didnt want to hop out of this draft entirely. Could I have used that package to get a winning piece this season, perhaps. Was I able to swing any entry back into the draft with said package, no. Imagine if i get booted out of the league now because i didnt take that package. Crazy butterfly effect. Knock on wood? Welp now I have Flory who i will make a PF. Teaming him up with ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Erick Dampier Jr for the forseeable future. I always wanted Jonathan so this is cool for me. Im not sure if it was the right pick but I wasnt entirely sold on Gaskins, Lazar is my guy but even I got scared off by his DEF/REB, and I sadly couldnt commit to Draydne. I think if Flory and Liu were taken ahead of me then i am going Draydne or Kenxton but WHO KNOWS?!
Grade: UP TO THE READER

8. Sacramento Kings (GM:Jesse): Kenxton Perkins - SG - Texas Tech
Needs: PG.
Analysis: Two players Jesse was going to take here and both their names are close to King. Really tried to fool us with your big board huh. Jesse needed a PG and Nick did not oblige him. Instead the Kings end up with perhaps the quirkiest player ever? He is the best rebounder in the file as a SG. Let that sink in. He quite literally breaks the rules as a player build. If you have offense around him then you can just let him roam as backup 2-4 and come in to fuck with the opposing teams entire gameplan. Kenxton is entirely and mini-me of Kendrick and im here for it.
Grade: A for simply saying fuck pot and going for unheard of rating line

9. Los Angeles Lakers (via MIL): Draydne McDaniel - SF - Kansas
Needs: Youth in the frontcourt. SG.
Analysis: Technically this is Heimers pick after (ARGH) trading LAL Shai and getting Draydne in the return package. Not sure if the talks were ongoing before or after, my sources have faded. Okay so Draydne is a really cool prospect. I liked what i saw when i scouted those games from Givony and I think it gives Heimer a better version of Scottie-2-Hottielanta. Im not scared by potential turnovers being too high. His outside game looks LEGIT. I think his defense will be fine but is lowkey being boosted by athleticism. Maybe once people stop picking the players i liked then ill stop handing out high ass grades but for now yeah. The only other two I would still maybe go with instead are Gaskins and Dirk. Josiah Brooks looks cool but id rather be an NDL team and risking diminished gains with him. Yeah, fair pick by either GX or Heimer here.
Grade: B+

10. Charlotte Hornets (GM: JBurns): Dirk Deschamps - SG - Deutschland
Needs: To win 41 or make the playoofs. SG. A Star.
Analysis: I dont talk to Jack enough to be giving him a nickname sadly, i do not wish to offend you. I think this a really good landing spot for Dirk (if Nick doesnt end up getting him). Charlotte needs a big time scorer and Dirk could be their guy. We all know about Dirks lack of defense but imagine if he is the missing piece at the 2 spot. The backcourt of Maxey and him will get absolutely torched but they could be torching as well. I think if Nick was a real one, then he would trade Cam to Charlotte. At the very least Scottie Barnes. But who knows. Not my job. There was only one wing/guard still worth taking and Charlotte scooped him up. I hope for Charlottes sake that 41 wins is possible.
Grade: B+

11. Minnesota Timberwolves (via CHI) (GM: BPanks): Darius Thompson - C - Oklahoma
Needs:
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12. Portland Trailblazers (via IND) (GM: Samothy Quadratic IV): Cayden Gaskins - PF - FSU
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13. Washington Bullets (via PHI) (GM: Wes): Reggie Evans Jr. - PG - Alabama
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NDL Zone:
14. Denver Nuggets (GM: Kipke): Lazar Bratic - C - Serbia
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15. Seattle SuperSoNicks:
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16. Sacramento Kings (via SAS):
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17. Washington Bullets:
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18. Boston Celtics:
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19. New York Knicks (via DET):
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20. Washington Bullets (via NJN):
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21. Los Angeles Clippers:
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22. Washington Bullets (via LAL):
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23. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL):
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24. Dallas Mavericks (via ATL):
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25. Orlando Magic (via VAN):
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26. Dallas Mavericks (via PHX):
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27. Milwaukee Bucks (via DAL):
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28. Houston Rockets (via TOR):
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29. Dallas Mavericks (via CLE):
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[Hoff]

Formatting

[GX.]

Need an epilepsy warning at the start

[SourKittles]

Being #1 scout gives credence to these draft reactions. If you dislike one of my picks in the future, might have to buy them out immediately

[mantypas/CavsCzar]

he's back!!!

[Clinton]

Being #1 scout gives credence to these draft reactions. If you dislike one of my picks in the future, might have to buy them out immediately

Josh and Wes are better scouts than me

[quady]

everyone price is right'd me

[quady]

really should get some sort of honor bonus for going first and not updating post hoc

[pacers]

kinda upset i dont have a nickname here after seeing Ralph Grundavelli and Samothy Quadratic IV

[Jordo]

Samothy Quadratic IV sent me