OT Vegas Summer League 2023

Walker was another guy I really, really liked and personally valued over Miller (not to say Miller won't be good, so much as Walker is a unicorn-ish prospect akin to the Thompson twins and Wemby). Prior to that, I was torn between him and Hendricks but he simply has natural defensive instincts (little things like tossing the ball off someone's body while jumping in mid-air for an out of bounds steal or knowing when/where to angle himself so he can poke the ball), decent ball handling, some shot creation, a three point shot, and the length+strength+speed to guard ALL five positions.

Furthermore, Walker has a similar physique, athleticism, and skillset to Kawhi except, obviously, not as offensively talented. For all the push for him to be a pure power forward, he is closer to a wing/forward. He may need to lose some weight to have more agility to play like that but he has the talent and cites wing/forwards as his influence. And so, if he clicks his offense? Well, I think you may get a player who is better than Miller is projected to be.

For reference, first round caliber wing/forwards who are 6'8", have 7'2" wingspans, and 9" hands (the 'Masai Scale') have done very well in the NBA. If they can play defense and have a variety of skills, they become studs simply due to their physique. Lottery versions of those players who meet the physical threshhold I listed and have those skills/defensive capabilities usually do well - Pippen, Ingram, KD, Kawhi, Giannis (both Kawhi and Giannis drafted outside lottery but were lottery talent for me and on several mocks). Scottie Barnes will probably fulfill this, as well. And someone like Tari Eason, I also had as a guy who should've been in the lottery because this scale was the threshhold that I used to scout him with, which he met. In the future, it may serve people on here well to know this thresh hold.

So, yeah, Walker....lot of potential and I'm hoping to be proven right years from now.

Pretty sure I posted prior to the draft that a post-Dame contingency of Simons-Sharpe-Amen-Walker///Scoot-Sharpe-Walker-Leonard Miller (or Murray) and either Nnaji or Edey back when was Edey was thinking about declaring would've been great to rebuild around. Five man starting unit, right there. Defensive oriented, athletic, lengthy, and versatile.

 

Still plenty of nice seats in the lower bowl available with tipoff in a few minutes for the first game. Might just get here later on Tuesday and Thursday.

Liked what I saw from Walker yesterday as well.

 

I'll probably get there around 2. Hope the seats are still available.

 

Looks like it could be a killer draft of 2023.

 

Yeah, last few drafts have been very positive for teams. This draft, I view similar to 2003 while last year, I see it being akin to 2009.

The trade off, however, seems to be that the next draft is pretty bad and 2025 could be only a little bit better. Comparable to 2013 and 2014...but no guarantees a Giannis or Jokic exists (well, actually, Edey might be comparable to Jokic but that's a different convo).

 

Duop will front him and bang him all 245 lbs. This is his chance to make a team, shut down Gumby.

 

Wemby

We could if we dealt Dame to San Antonio for a package built around Sochan

 

I would love that!

 

He’s going to feast tonight

 

I have one seat in the upper level if you want. Front row.
One seat should be easy find elsewhere though.

 

Seat next to me in 118 about 8 rows off the court is open as well.

 

Jarrett Jack coaching Detroit. Cool.

 

Section 208 front row . One seat open.

edit: still lots of seats available in the lower bowl.

 

??????

 

l

Scoot's game is close to Wall's. He could benefit.

 

Ever since a couple people said Jabari Smith was trash, he's been on a tear.

 

We desperately need vets.

 

Just landed. In taxi, heading to dropoff bag at hotel then go to the game. Got room key on app already, slick.

 

Yeah, but one seat next to 2 quality Blazers fans. Now that’s worth something.

 

Why isn’t the Grant deal official yet?