The Boston Celtics have been one of the best teams in the NBA since the trade deadline. They boast a record of 20-6 post-deadline, and a major factor in that success is their defense. Boston ended the regular season with a defensive rating of 106.2, ranking them at the top of the league. It’s easy to understand why when you look at their personnel. Marcus Smart is a DPOY candidate. Robert Williams III is an excellent anchor who has received some All-Defensive buzz. Al Horford is always solid. Jayson Tatum is playing the best defense of his career.
Beyond those top dogs, there is one player who is more important to the C’s than most people realize. That guy is Derrick White.
White, the 29th pick in the 2017 draft, became a fan favorite in San Antonio during his tenure there due to his elite defense. Acquired by Boston at the deadline, his All-League guarding ability has played a huge part in their post-deadline prosperity.
Seriously, White is flat-out sensational on D. He does so many different things on that end that make him one of the top guard defenders in the association.
The standout attribute of White’s defense is his excellent lateral movement. He moves quickly and changes direction with ease, and he rarely gets beat.
Very few people can stay in front of Ja Morant when he gets downhill, but White does so here and forces the miss with a little help from Williams.
Here he does a great job. Cade tries to shake him with a few crossovers and a spin with no luck.
He puts the clamps on here, forcing Hield into a tough jumper.
This is just impeccable.
Even if an offensive player does get an advantage downhill on White, they’re driving on one of the top shot-blocking guards in the league. He often hits unsuspecting drivers with a chase-down rejection.
Here Thad Young sets a nice screen, but White recovers and erases VanVleet’s pull up.
White is just overall solid. Here, when matched up with the bigger Olynyk, he stays strong and strips the ball away.
This is textbook clamps, forcing a tough shot and getting a contest without even jumping, annoying the foul-seeking Middleton.
It’s impossible to talk about White’s defense without mentioning his trademark charge-taking. He ranked in the top five in charges taken per game and total charges taken for the 2021-22 season.
Derrick White is undoubtedly awesome on defense, but what makes him a true X factor is his offense. He’s a guy you can trust when he has the ball in his hands and can be the glue that holds the offense together.
He’s improved his point guard skills this season, and he can get the ball to the open man effectively. His 3.1 assist-to-turnover ratio places him inside the top 25 in the league.
He can make plays off the drive, whether it’s a kick-out:
Or a dump-off.
This is a nice read- he sees the help collapsing and throws a perfect lob to Theis.
As a scorer, White has struggled a little this season. He knocked down just 31% of his deep-range tries in 26 games with Boston (although he did hit 44% from the corner), but when he is hitting his shots it’s the cherry on top.
Derrick White has been one of the more underrated players over the last few seasons. While he doesn’t always jump out on the stat sheet, he makes so many winning plays. He can fit in any lineup and elevate it. Boston has their eyes on a championship this postseason, and White will be crucial in them achieving that goal.
The Lakers have been eliminated from playoff contention.
That’s freakin’ wild.
Whether you want to pin it on injuries, roster construction, coaching, or age, the fact that a team led by arguably the greatest player ever and two other superstars didn’t even make the play-in is crazy stuff. It’s even crazier that a team with that level of talent became unwatchable to many fans.
So, obviously, something needs to change. That’s why today we’re returning to NBA2K22 after a long break. I’m stepping in as the general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers. My goal is to return them to their former glory and hoist the Larry O’B at the end of the year.
If you haven’t seen my other GM articles, feel free to check them out.
Let’s get going!
April 6th, 2022
As of today, the Lakers are 31-48 with three games remaining this season. This is where my tenure as the general manager begins. For these last three games, I’ll be resting my stars and tossing some minutes to my young guys because winning doesn’t matter at this point.
The Bucks won the ‘chip and Giannis won MVP. Let’s go.
July 3rd, 2022
The offseason begins. Let’s take a look at the roster.
I want to build a championship roster around the trio of LeBron, AD, and Westbrook. They are here to stay for next season unless Westbrook declines his player option.
Beyond them, almost everyone is a free agent. There are a few players I will look to bring back when we get to free agency.
First order of business is to fire Frank Vogel. I don’t think he’s a horrible coach or anything, but we need someone new. I offered contracts to Alvin Gentry, Lloyd Pierce, and Darvin Ham, but their respective teams unfortunately blocked me from bringing them in. As a result, I’m promoting assistant coach David Fizdale to fill the role.
Next up is the draft.
Trade #1: Pick Swap
Lakers get: 2022 38th overall pick
Timberwolves get: Two future second round picks
The Lakers didn’t have any picks, and I wanted one. I’m snagging an early second round pick from Minnesota, who had three seconds in the upcoming draft and had no need for all of them.
Draft Pick: Andrew Nembhard
With the 38th pick in the 2022 NBA draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select Andrew Nembhard from the University of Gonzaga. Nembard is a do-it-all guy who can play a few positions, and he should be able to play some minutes for me right away.
Now it’s free agency time. Westbrook unsurprisingly accepted his PO and he’s back. Kendrick Nunn declined, he’s gone.
I have a lot of spots to fill and zero money to fill them. I’m searching for mimimum-contract guys who can actually make an impact (not 80 year-old Trevor Ariza).
Resigning: Stanley Johnson
There was no way I was letting Bench Mob All-Star Stanley Johnson leave. His hustle and defense are fantastic and will be needed. I gave him a two-year, five million dollar deal.
Signing: Gary Harris
Although he’s fallen off since his Denver days, Harris still provides quality 3&D play and might be the starter if I can’t find a better option.
Signing: Serge Ibaka
Serge’s play with the Bucks this season has proven he still has something left in the tank as a defensive anchor off the bench. He’ll be my backup center or maybe even the starter if necessary.
Signing: Taurean Prince
Prince is a 3&D wing who has played good minutes for the Timberwolves this season. He’s the type of guy who I want on my team if I’m trying to contend.
Signing: Eric Bledsoe
I needed a backup point guard. Bledsoe can play defense, and off the bench I like what he can do for me.
Signing: Ben McLemore
McLemore has been a solid three-point threat for the Blazers and he should do the same for me in his return to the City of Angels.
The other players I brought in to fill out the roster are Davon Reed, Drew Eubanks, Wenyen Gabriel, and Devin Cannady. Unfortunately due to my lack of funds I was unable to retain Malik Monk. That really stinks. I was able to bring back Austin Reaves on a two-year deal.
Beginning of 2022-23 Regular Season
At the beginning of the regular season, my rotation looks like this:
Starters: Westbrook, Harris, Prince, LeBron, Davis
Bench: Horton-Tucker, McLemore, Ibaka, Bledsoe, Johnson
We’re ranked second in the power rankings, but I’m not so sure about that. I’m thinking I’ll need to find a way to acquire another 30+ minute per game guy at the deadline to make me feel confident about our championship chances.
December 1st, 2022
A little over a month into the season, we are 8-10 and 12th in the conference. Things aren’t looking good.
January 1st, 2023
We’re still below .500. Trades coming soon.
Febuary 6th, 2023
Trade: Kenny Hustle to LA
Lakers get: Kenrich Williams
Thunder get: Austin Reaves, two second round picks
Finding a trade was very hard. I have very few assets, and my one main asset Talen Horton-Tucker is making more money than he’s worth which means finding a fair deal was difficult. I had to make something happen, so I traded one of my few young assets to OKC to get a rock-solid role player in Williams.
Trade Deadline
Trade: Bledsoe Back to Phoenix
Lakers get: Aaron Holiday
Suns get: Eric Bledsoe
Bledsoe hasn’t been bad by any means, but he hasn’t been good either and I need to try something different. Holiday, who was rotting away on Phoenix’s bench, will hopefully provide a spark off the bench for me while the contending Suns get a proven veteran.
Post-deadline, here’s my new rotation:
Starters: Westbrook, Harris, Williams, LeBron, Davis
Bench: Horton-Tucker, McLemore, Holiday, Ibaka, Johnson
There weren’t many more deals I could make that wouldn’t be moving laterally. My rotation is solid, but nothing more. Guys will need to step up big to make something happen.
All-Star Break
At the break, we are 23-37, good for 13th in the West. Our defense is top ten in the league, but our offense is dead last. Scoring options in free agency are non-existent.
April 1st, 2023
We are 27-47, 14th in the West. I don’t see a world where we make the playoffs. Here’s the rotation I’m running for the rest of the year:
Starters: Holiday, Nembhard, Horton-Tucker, Gabriel, Davis
The Los Angeles Lakers finished with a record 27-55, 14th in the West. Here are the stats from the guys:
R. Westbrook: 16 PPG/9 RPG/7 APG
G. Harris: 10/1/1 (he was really disappointing)
K. Williams: 8/5/3, 1.4 SPG (as a Laker)
L. James: 20/8/8
A. Davis: 19/10/4, 2 BPG
T. Horton-Tucker: 12/3/3 (he had a solid year)
B. McLemore: 8/2/1
T. Prince: 7/3/2
S. Ibaka: 7/4/1
S. Johnson: 3/2/1, best +/- on the team
A. Holiday: 9/1/2 (as a Laker)
D. Reed: 4/2/2, 45% from deep
W. Gabriel: 6/5/1
A. Nembhard: 6/2/5 (he really shined as a starter to end the year)
D. Cannady: 6/0/1
D. Eubanks: 3/4/1
What this season proved is how tough of a predicament the Lakers have put themselves in. They have no money, no assets, and no picks. I did my best and couldn’t make anything happen. Of course, this is just NBA2K so things could play out differently in the real world, but they will need to make big changes to turn things around.
So, did you enjoy my tenure as the GM of the Lakers? Let me know! I always have fun playing some MyNBA so if you like this type of article I will do more. Thanks for reading, and see you next time!
You might recognize the name Jose Alvarado from this video:
If you haven’t seen that, there’s a chance you wouldn’t know who he is. I didn’t either prior to this season. I first learned the name Jose Alvarado during a game in November where his enthusiasm on the bench stood out to me.
Jose Alvarado is giving me Theo Pinson vibes. He’s super engaged on the bench.
At the time he was riding the pine, but he entered the rotation in early January and on January 20th he had his breakout game in his hometown at Madison Square Garden.
1/20/22 Bench Mob Player of the Day- Jose Alvarado
13 points (6/9 shooting), 4 assists, and 4 steals in a Pelicans win
Since then, Jose has been a consistent contributor for the Pelicans, especially on defense. He’s a pest on that end with a knack for picking pockets. His 4.2 steal percentage is higher than guys like Matisse Thybulle, Dejounte Murray, and Herb Jones.
They call him Grand Theft Alvarado for a reason.
On offense, he pushes the pace and attacks the paint. He has a nice floater to finish over big guys, or he can take it all the way.
He’s also a good passer when driving- he makes solid reads in the pick-and-roll.
My favorite thing about Jose is the swagger and energy he plays with. Nobody else in the league is pulling off something like this in a game. Dude’s just out there having fun and it’s a blast watching him play.
Jose’s play off the bench has been very valuable for the Pelicans, especially throughout their post-break play-in push. That’s why he recently inked a four-year standard contract making him eligible to play in the upcoming playoffs.
I was very happy to see him sign that deal. He leaves it all on the floor every night, and he’s legitimately been one of the best backup point guards in the association this season.
At the trade deadline, the Indiana Pacers finally hit the reset button. After years spent stuck in mediocracy (and being seemingly content with it), a roster overhaul was long overdue.
Now, the team is filled with exciting young talent. Tyrese Haliburton, who Indiana received in return for Domantas Sabonis, is a fantastic core piece for the rebuild. Myles Turner, one of the league’s premier shot-blockers, is only 25. Chris Duarte is a rookie who scores like a long-time pro. Bench Mob All-Star Duane Washington Jr. is a three-point sniper. Former number ten pick Jalen Smith has shushed those who called him a bust after his lackluster rookie campaign. 6’5” two-way contract rookie Terry Taylor is a maniac on the glass. Isaiah Jackson is a talented young big.
Out of that fun collection of young ballers, my favorite is third-year forward Oshae Brissett. After spending his rookie year in Toronto, Oshae’s tenure with Indiana began on two ten-day contracts last season. He showed out and earned a multi-year deal.
The first couple of months of this season were inconsistent for Oshae. He didn’t always see the court (he played just six minutes per game across six contests in November), and when he did play his performance was just as up-and-down as his role.
Lately, he’s turned things around. He’s started all 14 games since the All-Star break and has blossomed in the bigger role. He’s averaging 11.7 points and 6.6 rebounds on 53% TS after the hiatus, and with his 24 point, 9 rebound performance on March 30th he earned his league-leading sixth Bench Mob Player of the Day award (passing Herb Jones and Gabe Vincent).
Despite his quality play, there’s a chance you’ve never heard of Oshae. He’s an undrafted guy playing for a team the average fan doesn’t care about. So what does he do well, and why is he leading the league in BM POTDs? Oshae is an all-around role player who would fit seamlessly into any lineup.
He can throw down highlight dunks but is also a strong finisher when driving.
What a pass from Lance
He’s also a smart cutter.
He can hit the three-ball at a decent rate. He’s shooting 33% overall on the season, and he’s connected on 40% of his treys in Pacers victories.
He’s a solid rebounder, corraling 5.1 (1.6 offensive) misses per game.
He can also get you some stocks, accumulating 2.3 total steals and blocks per 100 possessions. He swiped a career-high 5 steals against the Warriors in December.
Although he doesn’t excel in one area, Oshae is a complete player. He does a bit of everything, and every team in the association would love to have a guy like that on their roster. His under-the-radar well-rounded contributions are why Oshae Brissett is a Bench Mob superstar.
When he was selected first overall in 2017, Markelle Fultz was supposed to be the savior of The Process. He was oozing with talent and upside.
Then came the injuries.
A rare condition called thoracic outlet syndrome destroyed Markelle’s shooting ability and held him to just 33 games in his first two seasons. He was traded to Orlando in 2019 and his future was uncertain. People were already labeling him as a bust.
The following season, Markelle played 72 games and was solid. He averaged 12 points and 5 assists on 46% from the field, and things were finally looking up until he tore his ACL eight games into the 2020-21 season.
Devastating injuries seemingly derailed Markelle’s career before it began.
That’s not the case.
Markelle made his season debut on February 28th and immediately made an impact. He’s played a total of 7 games this season and is averaging 9 points and 5 assists on 48% shooting in just 18 minutes per game (less than players like Dean Wade and Jordan Nwora!). It’s impossible to tell that two years ago his career was on the line when he does things like this:
He has looked at home in the mid-range, and that is a positive sign for his game. He’s hit 53.8% of his attempts from 10-16 feet while taking a quarter of his shots from that range.
Markelle mixes his mid-range shot creation with strong finishing. He’s shooting 80% on shots at the rim.
He’s also a smart passer who makes the right pass often.
Since his return, I’ve been impressed with Markelle’s lead-guard ability. Even if he won’t become the superstar he was envisioned to be, he’ll be a starting guard for a long time. It’s really cool to see a guy overcome significant injuries and come back better. Markelle Fultz is back and ballin’, and it’s been a lot of fun.
The 2022 Rodeo Road Trip was a sensational one for Lonnie Walker IV. He scored 17+ points in six straight games, and his 30-point performance at home last night against Sacramento extended that streak to seven.
Lonnie has shown flashes of his scoring ability throughout his career. He’s pulled off absurdly acrobatic lay-ups like this one many times:
It’s shot-making that has held him back from reaching sparkplug status. He shoots 34% from three for his career, and has struggled to find consistency. That hasn’t been a problem lately though as he’s hitting 40% of his deep-range tries across his last seven outings as well as mid-range pull-ups like this one that make his scoring even more dynamic.
Lonnie’s production and confidence are skyrocketing, and he’s becoming the player fans thought he could be when he was drafted. That’s exactly what a young, rebuilding team like the Spurs wants.
There is a decision to be made this summer, as Lonnie is entering restricted free agency. At the beginning of the season, it seemed likely that San Antonio would let him leave. Now, with the way he’s been playing lately, that probably won’t be the case. I think they should definitely try to retain Lonnie.
How much is he worth? If he continues his increased production, there will be a team out there that offers him $15+ million per year. That’s reasonable considering the contracts other young players get nowadays.
However, I’m not convinced the Spurs should give him that money. I believe Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson are the long term starters at Lonnie’s positions. While Lonnie does seem like the sixth-man bucket-getter type of guy, $15+ million is a hefty price to pay for a bench piece (especially if he’s not a sure thing going forward). Giving him the big bucks could also make it harder to pay other key pieces down the line.
I want to him to be resigned. I would miss him if he left, he’s an exciting player to watch.
It’s been a blast to watch Lonnie Walker come into his own over the last couple weeks. He’s a really solid player when he’s playing with confidence and I’m rooting for him to keep it up. Go get your bag, Lonnie!
If you’ve read my draft grade articles, you know that I am a self-proclaimed NBA draft casual. I rarely watch NCAA games until March Madness, and when it’s time for the draft I have only basic knowledge of the guys being selected.
I want that to change. While trying to watch a few games, I spent the last week or so doing research on 2022 draft prospects. I watched highlights, read scouting reports, and started checking out some additional info on Twitter.
So, after all that research, I’ve put together a top thirty ranking of the best players in the upcoming NBA draft.
It might suck. I have no idea. My goal is to continue to pay more attention to NCAA happenings and update this big board up until the draft. I will be releasing an updated version after the tournament.
Alongside my rankings, you will find another score. For each player, I compiled an average ranking across four other sources: NBA Draft Room, NBADraft.net, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN. I wanted to compare my placements to those of some major outlets.
Let’s get into the list!
#1- Jabari Smith Jr.
Media Ranking- 1.25
Jabari Smith, the versatile power forward from Auburn, seems to be the popular choice to be the first overall pick this June. From what I’ve seen, I find that very hard to disagree with. The 6’10” phenom is one of the best shooters in the draft, killing defenses off the catch or the bounce with a high release point reminiscent of Kevin Durant’s. Beyond that, he has a solid handle for a player of his size, and he’s a finisher at the bucket. If I were the GM picking first overall this summer, Jabari Smith would be my guy.
#2- Chet Holmgren
Media Ranking- 2.25
Chet is a player I’ve been aware of since his high school days due to his immense talent. The seven-footer impresses me the most with his incredibly efficient paint play and his spectacular shot-blocking ability, but he has also displayed ball-handling and shooting that have scouts drooling at the mouth thinking about how good he can become. I wouldn’t blame anybody who thinks he is the top guy in this class.
#3- Paolo Banchero
Media Ranking- 3.75
Paolo Banchero is the third guy in this class who has a shot at going number one. He’s an impressive scorer and should have an offensive impact right away in the league. He uses his 6’10” height and strength to be an excellent finisher at the rim, and he uses quality footwork to create space for his knockdown mid-range jumper. He’s very skilled for a player of his size. Banchero will likely become a top option very early in his NBA career.
#4- Jaden Ivey
Media Ranking- 3.25
Ivey is an explosive downhill athlete, a quick and crafty finisher, and a transition tyrant at the point guard position. His playstyle has drawn many comparisons to Ja Morant. While it’s impossible to say if Ivey will ever become the player Ja is, his ceiling is high. He’s shown some off-the-bounce creation from deep, and if that becomes a legit weapon in his arsenal Ivey will be a very scary player one day.
#5- Nikola Jovic
Media Ranking- 21.25
International prospect Nikola Jovic immediately stood out to me. He’s oozing with natural talent as a 6’10” guard. He’s a smart and accurate passer who can handle the ball, and he has some shot-making ability. As shown by the media ranking, I clearly feel very different about Jovic than the average scout. I think the upside for a player with a skillset like Jovic’s is too high for him to be selected any later than tenth, and I’d roll the dice on him in the top five.
#6- Adrian Griffin Jr.
Media Ranking- 6.25
Duke freshman AJ Griffin’s claim to fame is his knockdown three-ball. He’s hitting a sizzling 49% from deep on four attempts per game for the Blue Devils. Shooting like that will make him an impactful player from the get-go, but it’s his athleticism and handle that give him the upside to be a top ten pick.
#7- TyTy Washington
Media Ranking- 12.5
TyTy Washington is a smooth operator. The Kentucky point guard is very shifty and can score from all three levels. I like his floater game, as that is a shot that can make a good scoring guard great. This class isn’t very deep at point guard, but Washington is talented and I consider him a top option at that position.
#8- Shaedon Sharpe
Media Ranking- 8.0
Shaedon Sharpe is a mystery box. He hasn’t and won’t play any college basketball, leaving his high school highlights the only indication of his talent. He’s very athletic and has scoring ability, and his ceiling is high. His floor is low too because he’ll likely come into the league very raw. It’s difficult to tell how good Sharpe is, but if he pans out he could be the core of a rebuild.
#9- Bennedict Mathurin
Media Ranking- 9.5
Arizona freshman Bennedict Mathurin is built for the modern NBA with his natural scoring ability. He has an extremely fluid stroke from deep and he’s a good shooter when set or on the move. He needs to improve on defense, he’s inconsistent on that end, but he’s got the torch and that’s hard to pass up on.
#10- Johnny Davis
Media Ranking- 6.75
Johnny Davis is the go-to guy on the Big Ten champion Badgers. He’s averaging 20 PPG (which isn’t typical for an NCAA player) and getting it done at all three levels. He’s also a tough defender. Many teams may be looking at him as a future franchise guard, but I’m not sold on that at the moment. He’s more of a tough-shot maker than a space creator, and that isn’t guaranteed to translate to the league. I like Davis as a 3&D two-guard in the NBA, but he’s very capable of becoming more than that.
#11- Patrick Baldwin Jr.
Media Ranking- 25.0
PBJ was a five-star recruit coming out of high school, receiving offers from all the big schools. He chose to play for his dad at the much less regarded University of Milwaukee. That has hurt his draft stock, but I’m high on him. Like Jabari Smith, PBJ is a good three-point shooter with a beautiful high release. He gives me Michael Porter Jr. vibes, and MPJ is a good player. I think more people should be looking at Patrick Baldwin Jr. as a lottery talent.
#12- Keegan Murray
Media Ranking- 8.5
Iowa freshman Keegan Murray is one of the nation’s leading scorers. He doesn’t create for himself, but he’s smart and efficient in the way he gets it done. He’s shooting 64% from two on eleven attempts per game, as he’s a very effective driver with good touch at the basket. He’s a solid shooter as well with smooth form. He lacks the ability to create for himself, and I think his ceiling is a high-end role player, but there’s nothing wrong with selecting a sure-fire contributor in the lottery.
#13- Jaden Hardy
Media Ranking- 22.0
Like his G-League Ignite predecessor Jalen Green, Hardy is a talented player who needs to piece everything together. He struggles with efficiency and decision-making at times, but he’s shown many flashes of natural scoring and passing ability and I think his upside is high.
#14- Kendall Brown
Media Ranking- 18.0
Brown is a very active and athletic forward who will fit in with any NBA roster. He’s versatile on defense, a smart cutter, and a good finisher. I think a player like him who could play anywhere has too much value to be picked outside of the lottery.
(Now that we are outside of the lottery, I will keep my explanations shorter. I still have limited knowledge on most of these guys, and the lower we go the less information I was able to find.)
#15- Tari Eason
Media Ranking- 23.0
Eason is a 3&D wing, but he also has a solid handle and mid-range game that suggest he can become more than that one day.
#16- Walker Kessler
Media Ranking- 19.25
Rim protection is the most important part of an NBA defense and Kessler is averaging 4.7 blocks per game for Auburn.
#17- Jean Montero
Media Ranking- 38.5
Montero is a foreign point guard who is pretty raw. He has pure playmaking talent and can shoot off the dribble, and could end up having a Darius Garland-esque developmental path (late bloomer). After all, point guard is the hardest position to adjust to in the NBA.
#18- Jalen Duren
Media Ranking- 11.0
Duren is a monster in the paint on both ends, and he’s one of the best rebounders in the draft. His offensive skillset is limited to lob catching and dump-off finishing though, which doesn’t make me excited enough about his upside to take him in the lottery (especially if he doesn’t have good playmakers around him).
#19- MarJon Beauchamp
Media Ranking- 18.75
Beauchamp doesn’t excel in one area, but he can do everything well. He can score at the rim and from the mid-range, he plays defense, and he’s unselfish. He should be a very solid role player the moment he touches an NBA court.
#20- Dyson Daniels
Media Ranking- 15.75
Daniels is a talented defender and is a good passer for a wing, but he’s very limited as a scorer and that will have to change.
#21- Wendell Moore
Media Ranking- 22.75
Moore is a good shooter, a decent passer, and a high flier. He’s another do-it-all guy and has high upside if he can build off his shot-creation ability.
#22- Blake Wesley
Media Ranking- 20.0
Blake Wesley is a bucket. He moves well with the ball, finishes over bigger players, and can shoot the ball.
#23- Ochai Agbaji
Media Ranking- 19.5
One of the most polished products in the draft, fourth-year Kansas wing Ochai Agbaji will provide immediate 3&D impact in the NBA.
#24- Johnny Juzang
Media Ranking- 62.0
I have no idea why the media thinks Juzang will go undrafted. Maybe this is me being a casual, but I think he’s a late first-round talent. He has shooting/scoring ability that most players in the draft can’t match.
#25- Trevor Keels
Media Ranking- 25.7
Keels is a strong point guard who plays hard on defense and finishes through contact at the rim. He is also very comfortable in the pick&roll, one of the NBA’s most common actions.
#26- E.J. Liddell
Media Ranking- 25.75
Ohio State power forward E.J. Liddell’s main strengths are finishing and defense. He’s also become a solid three-point shooter over his college career, which will make him more playable in the age of stretch fours.
#27- Caleb Houstan
Media Ranking- 40.0
Houstan has a smooth jumper he uses to score at a high level. He was regarded as a first-round pick until early-season struggles changed that, but I think he’ll be a solid contributor in the league.
#28- Michael Foster
Media Ranking- 44.25
The fourth and final G-League Ignite prospect on my top thirty, Foster plays with energy on defense and on the glass. He has a fluid mid-range game and is developing a three-ball.
#29- Jeremy Sochan
Media Ranking- 19.75
Sochan is a player I’ve seen get a lot of buzz on Twitter, mostly because he’s one of the best defenders in the draft. He isn’t much of a three-point shooter at this point, and his terrible free-throw shooting makes me nervous.
#30- Tyson Etienne
Media Ranking- 79.0
Etienne is a better shooter than almost every player I did research on, and he displays NBA range in every game he plays. If a guy like Corey Kispert can be picked just outside the lottery I think Etienne is worthy of a late first-round selection.
Other players I scouted for this and will continue to keep an eye on include Matthew Cleveland, Max Christie, Mark Williams, and Harrison Ingram.
So that’s a draft casual’s big board! How bad was it? Let me know! Thanks for reading, and see you next time!
(P.S. Sorry it’s been so long since I last put out an article- I was struggling to come up with a good idea. I will be more consistent.)
(Another P.S. If you know any good sources for NBA draft info- websites, blogs, Twitter accounts, anything; let me know!)
The All-Star break is approaching, and the All-Stars have been announced. I’m excited because my three favorite players were all selected (Giannis, DeMar DeRozan, and Dejounte Murray).
Last season, I named Bench Mob All-Star teams around this time. The teams were made up of snubs, such as DeRozan.
This season, I’m doing it differently. If you follow my Twitter, you’re aware of my Bench Mob Player of the Day awards. Every day, I highlight an unheralded player who had a big game. When I say unheralded, I don’t mean a guy like Jakob Poeltl or Jarred Vanderbilt who are commonly referred to as such. Bench Mob players are guys that some fans haven’t even heard of. They’re nothing more than role players, but they’re winning contributors every night for their teams. So this year, I’ve selected twelve of those players to make up my All-Star team. Without further ado, here are the 2021-22 Bench Mob All-Stars.
Herb Jones (Captain)
Herb Jones has won a league-leading 5 BM POTD awards, and that’s why he’s the captain of this team. Herb was drafted 35th overall to the Pelicans, and I had never heard of him. His immediate winning impact made me learn his name very quickly. I wrote this article on him early in the season to highlight his All-League level defense. Herb plays hard every night, and so far he’s the Bench Mob Player of the Year.
Gabe Vincent
Gabe Vincent spent his first two seasons in the league on a two-way deal with the Miami Heat. He played 50 games in the 2020-21 season but was an inefficient scorer and not much else. Now playing on a standard contract in his third year, Gabe has broken out into a legit backup point guard. He averages 9 PPG while shooting 39% from deep (5 attempts per game), and he’s become a willing distributor averaging 3 APG. Miami’s cream-of-the-crop player development has resulted in an extremely deep roster that includes 3 Bench Mob All-Stars. Five-time BM POTD Gabe Vincent is at the top of that group.
Gary Payton II
29-year-old Gary Payton II grinded to get his opportunity. After going undrafted in 2016, he had short stints with three teams prior to when he signed with the Warriors last season. A favorite in the organization, Gary has been extremely valuable off the bench for one of the league’s top teams. Just like his dad, he’s an excellent defender at the guard position and one of the best steals guys in the association. His 4.0 STL% would top the league if he had played 1,000 minutes this season. He’s been a BM POTY candidate all season and is undoubtedly a Bench Mob All-Star.
Cody Martin
Cody is a standout role player for this exciting young Hornets roster. He does lots of things well and can slide into any lineup. He’s a good defender, he shoots the three at a 41% clip, and he can pass a little (he averages almost 3 APG, but has dished out 5+ eight times this season). He won his first of four BM POTD’s by taking back-to-back clutch charges against James Harden. Cody is a player every team would love to have.
Keita Bates-Diop
Another success story for Coach Pop and San Antonio’s player development staff, 2018 second-round pick Keita Bates-Diop has blossomed into a solid rotational piece for the young Spurs. He’s a tough-nosed player who defends, hustles, and finishes at the rim. He played the game of his life the day before Christmas, dropping 30 points on a perfect 11-11 shooting in a win over the Lakers. I’ve enjoyed watching Keita play this season and that’s why he’s a Bench Mob All-Star.
Amir Coffey
Especially post-trade-deadline, the Clippers are one of the league’s deepest teams. Breakout third-year forward Amir Coffey is one of the players providing that depth. In his 20 starts this season, he’s put up 13 PPG (49% from the field, 43% from three) while posting enough assists, rebounds, and steals to make him a viable fantasy pickup. He’s on a two-way deal this season, but will definitely earn a full contract this offseason.
Omer Yurtseven
The second Heat player on this team, Yurtseven has impressed with his tenacious rebounding. He had a ridiculous 14 game streak of grabbing 10+ boards, one of the longest runs by a rookie ever. The 23-year-old Summer League standout has become a legit backup big for one of the toughest teams in the league.
Caleb Martin
What a season it’s been for the Martin twins. The two parted ways for the first time in their young NBA careers last offseason, and both of them developed into high-level role players. Although his offensive game is slightly more limited than his brother’s, Caleb has an equal defensive impact for one of the league’s best teams in that category. He’s won just one BM POTD, but he’s had the impact of a Bench Mob All-Star.
Stanley Johnson
As soon as he signed his first 10-day with them, it was obvious that Stanley is the type of player the Lakers needed. He plays with grit and energy (especially on defense) that makes him easy to root for. He’s not the missing piece that will bring another ‘chip to LA, but hopefully the juice he brings will become contagious.
Jaylen Nowell
Despite playing fewer minutes per game this season than he did last, Nowell has proven to Minnesota fans that he has a place in their future. He has obvious talent on the offensive side of the ball and will be a contributor on that end for a long time. Because he plays in a small market, he’s overlooked by the average fan, but he will show out once he gets the minutes he deserves.
Javonte Green
After beginning his career as a lower rotational piece in Boston, Javonte has found a home in Chicago. He’s started 28 games for a playoff contender because he guards the opponent’s best player every night and takes pride in doing so. He also throws down high-flying slams that should land him in the Dunk Contest soon.
Duane Washington Jr.
Rounding out my All-Star team is three-time BM POTD Duane Washington Jr. The undrafted rookie impressed me during Summer League with his scoring ability, and that’s translated to the league. In the month of January, he averaged 11 PPG on 40% from deep. He’s a three-point sniper, and he will always have a spot in the league because of it.
So, those are my 2021-22 Bench Mob All-Stars. If you hadn’t heard of any of those guys, you should watch them play sometime. Every single one of them is a legitimate rotational piece in the NBA. They are the unsung heroes of your favorite teams.
It actually happened. With all the talks surrounding a Harden to Philadelphia deal leading up to today, I’m not too surprised. Doesn’t make the trade less crazy though. This shakes up the league significantly. Here are my immediate thoughts on the blockbuster of the 2022 trade deadline.
Brooklyn Nets
Receive: Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, 2022 first-round pick (unprotected), 2027 first-round pick (protected)
While Harden is the best player in the deal, it’s tough to look at this return and not say Brooklyn is now the best team in the East.
Of course, people said the same thing after the big three originally formed. They were the championship favorite heading into the season. Then KD got hurt, Harden got unhappy, and Kyrie gave up on the team by not getting a shot.
This time, I think it’s different. Ben Simmons has become underappreciated as a player since his disappointing performance in the 2021 playoffs. He’s now the best third option in the NBA, and won’t need to score to help the Nets win. He’ll provide more than enough defense for a roster that desperately needs it, and he’s an elite facilitator who’ll take pressure off Kyrie and KD in the playoffs. On top of that, he’s probably the best player Brooklyn could have gotten in return for Harden.
Ben’s lack of shooting doesn’t even matter anymore, because Seth Curry is teaming up with Patty Mills and Joe Harris to form a lethal firing squad.
Andre Drummond is an underrated part of this trade. He’s proven this season that he can be very valuable as a backup big, and Brooklyn needed just that.
So while the Nets just gave up a top-ten player in the league, they’re just as scary after.
Philadelphia 76ers
Receive: James Harden, Paul Millsap
In no way is this trade a negative for Philly. Ben Simmons had to go, and they’re getting a true superstar in return.
The duo of Harden and MVP frontrunner Joel Embiid is ridiculously good on paper. However, many teams have looked good on paper (including the Nets prior to this season) and underperformed majorly.
My main concern is that James Harden isn’t willing to play off-ball. He wants to be the guy or he becomes uninterested. This is a problem because Joel Embiid has become arguably the best player in the league this season. Why? Because with Simmons’s absence, he was the guy with the ball in his hands.
I highly doubt Harden will show up to Philly and play second fiddle to Embiid, and in my humble opinion I don’t think it’s smart to do something that will take away from a player as good as Embiid is.
Other than that, Seth Curry is the ideal player to have next to Harden and Embiid, and losing him is tough. Tobias Harris should star as a third option, I think that’s a perfect role for him.
Overall I don’t see any losers in this trade. Simmons and Harden both needed to go, and both teams got back quality hauls. It’s too bad though because both will lose to the Bucks in the playoffs.
Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts? Who do you think is the best team in the East after this trade? Let me know! Thanks for reading, and see you next time!
The Blazers are a mess this season. Injuries have hit them like a freight train. Dame has missed 22 games and could be done for the year. His sidekick, C.J. McCollum, missed 18 contests. Up-and-coming young wing Nassir Little recently went down with a season-ending shoulder injury.
Injuries, as well as questionable roster construction, are the reason Portland is 10 games below .500. Their struggles are making a roster overhaul inevitable.
Amid the chaos, a star has blossomed. That guy is Anfernee Simons, and he is the savior of Portland’s sinking franchise.
If you haven’t paid any attention to the mediocre Blazers, you’ve probably missed the young guard’s rise. During Dame’s absence, Simons has stepped up in a huge way. Across 15 games in January, he scored 23 points per game and dished out 7 assists per game while shooting 46% from the field and 43% from three.
A player who puts up those numbers across a whole season is an All-Star. Ant is efficient and multi-dimensional. Let’s take dive into Portland’s new franchise player.
Scoring
The standout attribute of Simons’ game is obviously his ability to get buckets. He gets it done in multiple ways and does it extremely effectively.
Overall this season he’s hit right around 40% (39.6%, to be exact) of his deep-range shots while shooting 7 a game. In January, he hit the three-ball at a 43% clip on 10.5 attempts per game.
He’s also knocked down 45% of his mid-range tries and finished 55% of his shots at the rim. This efficiency is very impressive considering only 42% of his baskets are assisted (that number dropped to 36% in January). He’s a high-level shot creator, using his crafty handle to create space for his smooth jumper.
(Jusuf Nurkic deserves a lot of love- he’s one of the best screeners in the NBA and helps out Simons big-time)
He loves stopping and popping- if a defender loses him on a screen, he makes them pay.
Plus, as most small guards do, Ant’s got a nice floater game.
Playmaking
Since Ant is such a good scorer, he gets a lot of defensive attention. So when the defense keys in on him, he takes advantage of it and gets his teammates easy buckets.
His assist percentage was at 11.4% in the 2020-21 season, and it’s jumped to 21.1% this season. Ant’s growth as a floor general makes him a much more reliable offensive centerpiece.
Defense
The hole in Ant’s game is his defense. His defensive RAPTOR has been at the lower-end of the league since his rookie year. He’s at -2.4 this season, which is bottom 20 out of players with 700+ minutes played. However, as proven by top point guards such as Trae Young, you don’t need to be a lockdown (or even a plus) defender to be an elite player.
Over the last month, it’s become very clear that Anfernee Simons is that guy. He has all the tools needed to be an All-Star soon. He’s just 22 years old, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he can be the core piece of a Portland rebuild.
The man holding back a reconstruction is Damian Lillard. He wants to be a Blazer for life, and as long as a player like him is on your team you should always try to contend. Unfortunately, they can never get it done. Every successful regular season is followed by a disappointing post-season in Portland.
With that in mind, is it time to move on from Dame? If he is traded one day, Anfernee Simons will be there to take over the team. He’s a budding superstar.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69670427/1232660563.0.jpg)
.JPG)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66357948/1206001506.jpg.0.jpg)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69691394/1234466253.5.jpg)
.JPG)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70416762/usa_today_17437836.0.jpg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22726064/1232911825.jpg)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70005064/1344977935.0.jpg)
The Bench Mob Blog 