Post by delap on Aug 31, 2022 7:06:15 GMT -5
PreSeason
Lots of hype around this class and at least a few of them delivered. The gulf between #1 and the rest is gigantic at this time. That said... I really like everyone in the Top 10 and there were multiple HM players that would make the ladder until normal circumstances, so the class is looking deep. At the extreme end, though, the class leader in P/TSA only reached 1.12... so the scoring punch may be a little weaker in the first year or two for the group.
1. Bill Walton - Indiana Pacers
Easy pick here for the top. He averaged an insane 15.6 boards/36 in the early going, was 3rd in P/TSA, and his stocks almost equal his TOs (3.1 v. 3.5). Looks very similar to a young Kareem, with slightly better boards and slightly worse blocks. Can't wait for Heebs to bench him for years 2 and 3 in hopes of everyone forgetting about him and getting him on a cheap 2nd contract. Not this time, pal!
2. Ernie DiGregorio - Carolina Cougars
Scout 20x20x20x20 went back to Owner/GM 20s and told him this guy was a steal who was used wrong in college... and man was he correct. He looks like a fantastic PG in the finesse system in Carolina and could have the inside track at ROTY in the software.
3. Darryl Dawkins - Denver Nuggets
Betting on potential here. Chocolate Thunder needs some love to get to the mountain-top, but the building blocks look solid and he should end up top-notch in at least scoring and blocking, though it may come at the expense of rebounding prowess. I'm still betting on his upside.
4. World B. Free - Carolina Cougars
He wasn't built for every fit... but he might've been built for the aforementioned Carolina ecosystem. He's a decent defender and rebounder for a small SG and should see his scoring jump significantly (to match his athletic skills) with the right improvements. He fell too far in the draft, plain and simple.
5. Bobby C. Jones - Boston Celtics
You're telling me there is a gritty, hardscrabble, white guy that is named "Bobby Jones" and he went to the Celtics? Sounds like a match made in heaven. Is he Thybulle 2.0? Or even better? I'd be cautiously optimistic that he will be. Great player.
6. Lionel Hollins - Carolina Cougars
Notice a theme yet? He honestly looks almost as good as DiGregorio right now and has amazing POT. I may have put the Cougs points in the wrong order... but we'll take a look when the real lights turn on.
7. Jamaal Wilkes - Milwaukee Bucks
Efficient, likes to shoot enough, no real deficiencies... lots of things to like here from the young man out of UCLA. With the right improvements he'll be pushing Bobby Jones for 1st Team All-Rookie at SF.
8. Truck Robinson - Denver Nuggets
The other half of the Nuggets baby-big duo... Truck led the class in P/TSA and only has one weakness: the boards. Between he and Dawkins, both of them really need to get some rebound-coaching to reach their potential.
9. Brian Winters - Los Angeles Lakers
Another high POT player who looks decent already, Winters wants to shoot... he just isn't terribly efficient. Put him further away from the basket and give him some more jumpers and that'll get fixed right up, though. Rebounding is weak, but not woeful.
10. Len Elmore - Pittsburgh Pipers
Not a sexy pick, but Elmore put up solid 20/10 stats in the preseason without any noticeable deficiencies. He's never gonna be a star, but should be a solid player for a while.
Honorable Mentions:
Points:
Frank Oleynick - Philadelphia 76ers
Mike D'Antoni - Sacramento Kings
Kevin Joyce - Portland Trail Blazers
Wings:
David Thompson - Toronto Raptors
Ricky Sobers - Syracuse Nationals
Kevin Grevey - Portland Trail Blazers
John Drew - Indiana Pacers
John Brown - Chicago Stags
Bigs:
Kevin Kunnert - Cleveland Cavaliers
Cliff Pondexter - Atlanta Hawks
Swen Nater - Vancouver Grizzlies
Steve Downing - New Orleans Jazz
