Who are the consolation prizes for those who miss out on Flagg?? Ace Bailey, anyone else good?
I’m struggling with this question as well. Probably because I’m an over-thinker, but here’s my personal opinion with a long winded explaination. Lol.
Right now: the good is that although we haven’t seen it yet, the Shae and Scoot backcourt can theoretically work on paper. With Shae’s eventual expansion of his on-ball game and increased role in that department, Scoot’s catch and shoot 3 will be his biggest asset, and it looks like it is trending in the right direction. When Scoot begins to make those 3s at a decent clip, I’d like to see him eventually cut to the rim with his speed—this is going to lead to major dump-off opportunities for Clingan and and rolling big man. Clingan is the third foundational piece that we have, who we can count on tho anchor this defense maybe as soon as next season. He is going to be able to be reliable from 3 imo. That is a huge need in today’s NBA and something I didn’t ever project in his game. We currently have two great glue guys as forwards who I am perfectly happy with currently, but our consolation prize is ideally someone who can start as soon as his sophomore season and push one of Camara or Avdija to the bench.
That is going to be our tight-window of contending while everyone is relatively cheap.
Shae will have only started his extension. Scoot will be in year four and hopefully already extended. Clingan will be in year three. Avdija will have two years left on his very cheap deal. Camara will be in year four and hopefully already extended. Kris will be in year four, hopefully as a legit 3-D guy off the bench who can go off for 5+ 3s on any given night. I am hoping Rupert will still be on this team as well. Add that consolation prize in year 2, that’s realistically eight rotation players, we would be a backup big man and at least a emergency third big (I’m perfectly fine with Reath if he can be brought back cheap).
- Bailey is my personal favorite. He is going to be a legit two way #1 option. Scoot’s progression as a shooter is going to be huge for if Bailey will ever realistically co-exist in my dream world. Bailey would essentially throwing a lotto ticket at an even bigger Shae.
- Dylan Harper I haven’t watched too much of, but his measurements are good for a PG/SG. He looks a look bigger than 6’6 to me, probably because of his frame. Adding another legit star-level PG prospect to this team would make us that much more dangerous with the right coach to mold this talent pool. As long as everyone can shoot the ball, everyone should get an opportunity to handle the rock. Long term, he is playing SG in a 2-PG lineup and another potential big time ball handler in the clutch. Short term, he is our backup PG/SG who might contend for 6MOY as soon as his rookie year. He is consolation prize #2 for me and my #3 pick currently.
- Khaman Maluach, I would watch closely this year. There’s just something intriguing about a two big lineup, and having a 7’2 althetic freak on one side and another 7’2 giant on the other will give opposing teams nightmares. Maluach moves more like Mobley than Clingan, so I think they realistically could play 12-24mins together a night eventually. I don’t know if he’s my #4 yet just because I haven’t gotten to watch much basketball yet, but I currently know I like four guys so far.
I’m currently not all that interested in Traore or Edgecombe until I see their combine measurements. If they are consensus top 6 and end up being there at #5/#6, I may trade down and grab another pick in next year’s draft.
- Egor Demin I was interested in earlier, but it seems the recent reviews haven’t been good so far and I’m more in love with the idea of Demin than what he is currently. But a big guard with legit PG-skill would be highly sought after. Any prospects that fall in this category, I would take.
I’m sure more obvious ones will appear eventually without me needing to go into too much research.