Post by Rog on Apr 6, 2024 22:12:00 GMT
Here we go, draft time! Every tankers favorite time of the year as teams look to find the next shiny thing. Lets take a look at this year's class. To start, here is a reminder on how these articles work; I am telling you the most likely best case scenario, not a prediction on where a player ends up but the if they hit the best case scenario, this is the most likely spot they end up. However, they can reach above or below their tiers in the end, so don't take this as a prediction and look at the text for a true look at a player.
Potential All-Time Greats
Cameron Boozer PF 6'10'' 220 19 B C+ C+ C B- A
- This class will be a fun test to potential vs development. Cameron Boozer has the highest top-end potential of any player in this class due to where he is development-wise but also because he possesses traits, athletically and innately, that point to him being the only player in this class I realistically and easily see developing into a true All-Time Great. I don't think he is the safest pick though, he has some decent boom or bust potential. Offensively hes going to be fine, he should become a 20 point scorer with relative easy and little time. Defensively though, he is going to have flaws that aren't going to go away unless his potential takes him to a place that just isn't likely. He is solid at playing his man, quick enough to switch, but he likely ends up sub 2 stocks. Overall, Boozer has the size, athleticism, strength, and offensive skill to be a sure-fire starter long term in this league. For him to reach this tier though, his defensive game needs to take a massive leap.
- This class will be a fun test to potential vs development. Cameron Boozer has the highest top-end potential of any player in this class due to where he is development-wise but also because he possesses traits, athletically and innately, that point to him being the only player in this class I realistically and easily see developing into a true All-Time Great. I don't think he is the safest pick though, he has some decent boom or bust potential. Offensively hes going to be fine, he should become a 20 point scorer with relative easy and little time. Defensively though, he is going to have flaws that aren't going to go away unless his potential takes him to a place that just isn't likely. He is solid at playing his man, quick enough to switch, but he likely ends up sub 2 stocks. Overall, Boozer has the size, athleticism, strength, and offensive skill to be a sure-fire starter long term in this league. For him to reach this tier though, his defensive game needs to take a massive leap.
Potential SuperstarsJa'Kobe Walter SG 6'5'' 210 22 B- B B- B- C B
Caleb Wilson PF 6'10'' 215 19 C+ C+ C+ B- C+ A
Labaron Philon PG 6'4'' 184 21 B- B- C- C+ C B
Zaccharie Risacher* SF 6'9'' 210 22 B- C+ B- C C A
Kiyan Anthony SF 6'6'' 190 20 C+ B- C- C C- A
Cody Williams SF 6'8'' 200 23 B C+ C+ B+ C B
Bassala Bagayoka PF 6'10'' 220 20 B- C C C+ C+ A
Khani Rooths. PF 6'8'' 215 21 B- C C C+ C+ A
Airous "Ace" Bailey SF 6'8'' 202 20 B- C+ C B- C A
Dash Daniels.** SG 6'5'' 200 20 B- C+ C+ C+ C A
Xavier Booker C 6'11'' 235 21 C C D+ B B- B
- This class is the weakest draft for top 3-4 that we've had. We don't have a guaranteed generational superstar like Flagg or an all-around star with limitless potential like Sarr, nor do we have other pieces in the 2 and 3 range that would be top picks in other classes. What we do have though is an insanely deep lottery filled with players who have a chance to compete at a very high level. My favorite player in this tier, and potentially in the class is Ja'Kobe Walter. For him to work, especially if you pick him top 2-3, you have to be a fan of his current game. And why wouldn't you? He has a real shot to step in and be a 20-point-per-game scorer from day one. Offensively, outside of a pure specialist, he is the best pure shooter in the class. While not among the most athletic, Walter has above-average quickness and athleticism and is strong and well-built for a shooting guard. Defensively he is fundamentally sound and with development could end up an All-Defensive team candidate. Due to the lack of top-end potential I don't see him fully breaking out scoring-wise or defensively to reach above the top end but I do think he is set to be really, really good.
- The exact opposite case of Walter, Caleb Wilson is part of a raw but potentially strong class of power forwards that should help impact the position that so desperately needs dudes. Wilson has an all-around game that is well-suited for him to blow up and become a star. He doesn't quite standout anywhere and so while I think he has a narrow shot to become an All-Time-Great, I don't think its very likely. What I do think is likely is a possible future where he exhibits tremendous modern day talents like a good face up game, high assists, a decent blend of steals and blocks, and good but not great rebounding. He has good athleitcism for a power forward, solid strength, good quickness. He simply doesn't have a weakness outside of some turnover issues but he needs to pick a lane to really be truly great. He has solid blow up potential too with him being 19. I don't think he is in contention for the #1 pick due to the true boom or bust potential he has here but maybe whoever gets the first pick should at least consider the notion?
- There are two point guards that look like shooting guards ratings wise, I like Labaron Philon better of the two because he is two years younger and possesses some traits that should enable to him flourish. Offensively he is terrific at all three levels. He has great above the rim athleticism and a set of moves that allow him to get his shot off even when he isn't dunking on someone. He is deadly from mid range and combined with his athleticism and inside prowess he should get to the line a bunch. He's got a good three point shot as well, but as of now its the least developed among the three levels. Philon is a weird prospect. He has shooting guard size but point guard quickness and a lack of strength that gets him bodied if he tries to guard(or get guarded) by wings. Drafting him, you gotta figure out what you want. If you don't emphasize assists and passing, Philon has the potential to be an elite scorer, defender, and is a solid rebounder at PG. Try to force him to be a SG and you could end up with a high end shooting guard but just as likely to me you end up with a tweener of a shooting guard that can't quite hang.
- There were three players from this tier that I had the most issue and debate about whether they deserved to be in the above tier or here. The first two were Walter and WIlson, the third is Zaccharie Risacher. He is by far the best international player in this class. He possesses premier size and a skillset that should help him in his transition in a year once his contract is up. Defensively he is going to struggle, at all levels. He wil likely never be a great defender but luckily offensively he possesses a good game that combined with his potential could cary him to being one of the better offensive small forwards in the league at his peak. He scores well at all three levels and his atheleticism is squarely average to slightly above average, he won't be hurt by it either. The consensus around the league among scouts though is he should end up around the 4-7 range and thats due to his age preventing him from having truly gamebreaking potential.
- Ask around the league about Kiyan Anthony, and you find a lot of scouts who feel like his name is adding more value to his draft value than his actual game. It has been the consensus for a long time. However, there is a few rogue voices out there and do point out something that proves true in life time and time again, name and money grant a certainly level of access that most people don't have. Kiyan has been born and raised into basketball, its his entire life. He has size and athleticism you can't teach and a pedigree you can only aquire from a select few parents worldwide. I would not sleep on Kiyan's potential. However, you've seen what other former star players have become, its not a guarantee. He does put together a decent set of skills forward too, hes just not the lock of a prospect that he once was thought to be.
- Continuing a theme of players being developed and older towards the top of this class. Cody Williams is another player with terrific size playing the wing and adding to a growing collection of wings in this class. Williams excels in two ways. The first way is the way you put food on the table in the NBN: He is a bully in the paint. Athletically he can get anywhere he wants and his strength and skill inside enable him to score against lesser SFs at will and compete with post players. Defensively his above average strength, goo dathleticism and pure energy and effort enables him to be a potentially game altering defender. He struggles from behind the arc and is a bit on the old end bringing his top end down, but his overall game right now means he'll always stick.
- I really like this power forward class. It has everything. Bassala Bagayoka has game-wrecking athleticism. At 6'10 he shouldn't be able to get the lift he does or beat defenders off the dribble but he can. He is really raw though outside of his athleticism. He can't score at the rim without relying on his athleticism and he is average with his faceup game. Defensively he has a solid base but has to get better quickly. He has solid potential but I'd lean towards solid starter than much more but there is a way through where he blows up.
- There is a lot of similiarites between Bassala and Khani Rooths in terms of projecting where they go. Rooths looks like a starting PF that doesn't reach much higher. He couldn't be much different from a game perspective though. Hes a solid inside scorer who has decent athleticism but relies on his skills and finesse more. He has a good enough face up game but that needs development. Defensively he is good but won't be a game-changer stock wise. A year older than Bassala with a more advanced game, I'd bet they end up in similar places.
- At one point in the process, scouts looked at Airous "Ace" Bailey as the likely top pick. Why wouldn't they, he just looks the part? He has a silky smooth three point shoot, capable of getting it from anywhere. He, along with Bassala Bagayoka, is probably the most athletic player in the draft. Defensively he is solid, not great but dependable and showing great potential. He plays a position of need and has no flaws in his game. I question his ability to really blow up but I'd bet he becomes a very good player.
- There are players in drafts I fall in love with, sometimes for a reason simply that I like their name. Dash Daniels fits the bill here but beyond that he has a really nice game. He has the size, athleticism, and potential to become a really nice player. He needs to work on his three point shot and get a bit stronger, but overall hes a really solid prospect that I think is going to make the person that drafts him prety happy with getting a nice starting shooting guard. His ability to be more will depend on luck and camps.
- Tell me if you've heard this before regarding the prospects in this class: Xavier Booker is a developed player who should contribute from day 1 but the question becomes is how much development does he have in him. He is 21 years old so compared to some of the developed players in this class he has a bit of time. Early on he will almost exclusively rely on his defensive game to contribute to his team. He should begin his career as a solid shotblocker and rim protector. He is good from the mid range too but offensively he will be limited early and and frankly probably always. He has defensive player of the year potential but his offensive limitations probably prevent him from being a true Hall of Famer.
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Potential All-Stars
Xaivian Lee PG 6'3'' 185 23 B- B- C B- C- B
Jasper Johnson. SG 6'4'' 185 20 B- B- C+ C- C- A
Karter Knox SF 6'6'' 230 21 C+ B- C+ C C+ A
Rocco Zikarsky C 7'3'' 245 20 C+ C C- C+ B- A
D.J. Burns Jr PF 6'9'' 275 23 B C C C+ C B
Vrenz Bleijenbergh.. SF 6'10'' 211 23 C+ C+ B B- C B
Caleb Foster PG 6'4'' 183 22 B- C B C+ C- A
Koa Peat PF 6'9'' 240 19 B- C C C+ B- A
Bryson Tiller PF 6'10'' 250 20 B- C C- C+ B- A
- The other point guard with a scoring first rather than pass first mentality at point guard is Xavian Lee. Lee compares in an interesting contrasting way to Philon. Athletically he is no where near as gifted as Philon. That isn't to ay he isn't quick or doesn't possess solid above the rim skills, Philon is just at another level. From a pure technical standpoint though Lee has the edge. He is a better shooter and has more moves and skills to get his at the rim without the athleticism. He also is slightly worse on the defensive end too, but nothing terribly great. The big drop off to me is his age and I feel like he has less time, less potential to be anything more than a solid starter and thats why he is here in All-Star and Philon is up there in Superstar.
- Jasper Johnson looks set to be a really nice 6th man that can get you 15-20 per game off the bench and wins a couple 6th man of the year awards. He honestly looks like a really good scorer, if starting capable of getting you 25+ a game in his peak. However, he is a true negative on the defensive end and will rack up an unsightly amount of turnovers should you play him starters minutes. Plus he lacks strength to play the SG position full time and can't start at PG. If he ever figures out his turnover issues and/or blows up defensively, he can reach above this tier, but for now neither looks especially likely.
- I like Karter Knox. He is a bit undersized to play small forward but he has good strength and a playstyle that plays bigger than 6'6. His limitation comes from the fact that he just isn't good at the rim, it will limit his long term ability to be a pure scorer and defensively he is not good at all. He needs his offensive game to carry him and let being a plus rebounder be the second part of his game people talk about. He reminds of Cedric Maxwell from the previous version, just as a shooter instead of an inside threat.
- Its hard to leave 7'3 centers off lists like this but Rocco Zikarsky is an uninspiring prospect who relies heavily on the fact that he is bigger and stronger than just about everyone he plays. He'll block shots, rebound well but I don't think he'll ever be a great scorer unless his outside game takes a leap. That is the most intriguing part, he has a shot to be an elite shot blocker and three point threat, but needs a lot of help to get his offensive game to be more than an all-star here and there.
- With C potential, 23 years old, not a great shooter already, Cameron Carr is probably one of the only times I'll have a rookie that comes with a B rating(TWO!) and not put them with more confidence of turning out. Frankly, its hard to envision him developing much more and I think he ends up a rotational wing that is a good contributor but given he starts at a pretty good spot its not impossible to envision a perfect path to being a really good starting SG. Target the three point shooting ASAP though.
- D.J. Burns Jr. has everything going for him. Great inside scorer, solid mid range game, isn't awful defensively, and is stronger than maybe two-three players in this class. He has one really big flaw though: He sucks on the boards. He might never reach 9 rebounds a game let alone being great there. If he develops into a 20 point per game scorer but only gets 8 rebounds a game, can you mask that? That is the question you'll have to answer if you draft him.
- One of the more unique prospects in this class is Vrenz Bleijenbergh. He currently struggles to score and sadly doesn't look like he'll ever be great there. But he can backup every position, can defend 1-3, and possesses elite size. He also is on the higher end of the B potential meaning there is some development for at least a couple training camps. I love his chance to be a long term contributor, camping him will require some choices to be made.
- I've made this clear before: I don't like point guards who have C outside. I think its hard to see them blowing up. Caleb Foster makes it worse by also having his best trait be his passing. If you like pass first, quick point guards who can score a bit inside, then Foster is your guy. For the rest, like myself, hes undraftable unless its very late.
- Another fun name, Koa Peat, and I'll never leave a B- inside, B- rebounding big off this list. He's only down in All-Star because he doesn't really possess a skill to take off. Hes solid everywhere, but not great anywhere. He has good strength, solid athleticism, pretty good from mid range, can pass and hit a three if asked, and doesnt hurt you defensively. Inspiring. Hope the 19 years old carries him to greater things because his game lacks anything fun to cling onto. He is a 15-20 range draft pick that you wno't be surprised if he blows up "surpringly" in his first TC.
- See above, apply to Bryson Tiller but add solid shot blocker, worse rebounder, turnover prone and apply the same thing. Hes not 19, reducing his chances. That shot blocking thing might be the difference though.
An actual ranking:
Tier 1: Whose number 1?
1. Carlos Boozer
2. Ja'Kobe Walter
3. Caleb Wilson
Tier 2: Can't convince me at #1 but after that? Maybe
4. Cody Williams
5. Zaccharie Risacher
6. Kiyan Anthony
Tier 3: Boom or bust
7. Dash Daniels
8. Airous "Ace" Bailey
9. Koa Pete
Tier 4: Safe, position specific picks
10. Labaron Philon
11. Xaivian Lee
12. Xavier Booker
13. D.J. Burns Jr.
thanks Roggo 
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