There are a lot of good players in the draft. The only way we don't get someone helpful is if we trade the pick. If Duarte is picked early it just means someone higher will fall.
i haven't seen a lot of thomas, but every scouting report scares me. you can't have disinterested defenders in the modern nba if you want to contend. the best teams hunt them mercilessly until they're unplayable.
He would actually be pretty awesome to have drop down to the Lakers. He’s projected to be drafted in the teens in most mock drafts and is a athletic center who can catch easy lobs
With the financial gymnastics we're trying to play in the trade market, it makes sense including that and getting 1-2 non guaranteed in return from whether trade we land on.
According to this morning's B/R rumor, we've even tried to trade up for Duarte. There's buzz he could go as high as 10 to the Grizz now.
Draft buzz from The Athletic's Zach Harper I think there's a desire from the playoff teams to acquire someone who can step right in to a 7th or 8th man's spot on a rookie scale contract. And by most of the playoff teams inquiring, it's driving up his hypothetical price to bidding war/ game of chicken pushing him into the very early teens.
if mgmt likes someone that falls to them @22 id hope they buy some mid to high 2nds for another THT potential gem
it's pretty rare to find an immediate credible rotation guy for a good team outside of the lottery. shane battier was #6, for example. more recently, what was hunter? 4?