2021 NBA Draft

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With the NBA reaching the mid-season point I thought I’d post a Big Board rankings for the top White prospects in 2021.

Deceptive Speeds 2021 NBA draft Big Board

(Rank/Position/ Name/ Size/ School/ Projection)

1. SF Corey Kispert (Sr) 6’7 220 GONZAGA- Top 10 pick (could go as high as 6th overall)

2. PF Roko Prkacin 6’9 210 (18 yrs) CROATIA- Lottery pick

3. SF/F Franz Wagner (So) 6’9 220 MICHIGAN- Lottery pick

4. C/PF Alperen Sengun 6’10 240 (18.5 yrs) TURKEY- Lottery- Mid 1st round

5. PG/SG Josh Giddey 6’8 205 (18 yrs) Australia- Mid- Late 1st rd

6. C Luka Garza 6’11 265 (Sr) IOWA- Late 1st-Early 2nd rd

7. PG/CG Rokas Jokubaitis 6’3 190 (20 yrs) LITHUANIA- Early 2nd-Mid 2nd rd

8. PF Matthew Hurt 6’9 235 (So) DUKE - Mid 2nd rd

9. PF Sandro Mamukelashvili 6’11 240 (Sr) SETON HALL- Mid 2nd rd

10. PG Carlos Alocen 6’5 205 (20 yrs) SPAIN- Mid-Late 2nd rd

11. C Filip Petrusev 7’0 235 (20 yrs) GONZAGA/SERBIA- Mid-Late 2nd rd (Graduated from Gonzaga in 2020)

12. SF Mario Nakic 6’7 210 (19 yrs) SERBIA- Late 2nd rd

13. C Jay Huff 7’1 240 (Sr) VIRGINIA- Late 2nd rd

14. SF/PF Sam Hauser 6’8 218 (Sr) VIRGINIA- Late 2nd rd- UDFA

15. SG Austin Reaves 6’5 205 (Sr) OKLAHOMA- Late 2nd rd- UDFA
 
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white lightning

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Excellent write up Deceptive Speed. Thanks for the hard work compiling this list. I need to do some research on some of these guys I've never heard of. We appreciate it. :)
 

icsept

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Decent list. Heavy on Euros, as usual. I’d love to see Kispert succeed in the NBA.
 

Bucky

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Good list, some decent Wing and Big Man prospects!
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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Hunter Dickinson should be added to the list, because it is likely he will declare. he’s arguably the best freshman in the country, despite all the media hype for the turnover machine at Oklahoma State, Cade Cunningham.

also, i will provide actual scouting reports on the projected lottery picks in the next couple days. after reviewing it, i think you will see the insanity that is the NBA. stay tuned ...
 

Bucky

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Hunter Dickinson should be added to the list, because it is likely he will declare. he’s arguably the best freshman in the country, despite all the media hype for the turnover machine at Oklahoma State, Cade Cunningham.

also, i will provide actual scouting reports on the projected lottery picks in the next couple days. after reviewing it, i think you will see the insanity that is the NBA. stay tuned ...

Agreed 100 percent! I've watched Cunningham a few times now and not impressed. Turnovers and he's not a good shooter. Meanwhile Hunter is a force in the paint and even when he's having an off game he's impacting the game in other ways.
 

icsept

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As an OK State alum, I’ve watched Cade Cunningham multiple times this year. If he’s a potential number 1 pick, then this is an extremely weak draft. He has good not great size, handles, passing, defense, and shooting. Nothing jumps out at you as elite. Any comparisons to “a more athletic Luka Doncic” are downright absurd.
 

icsept

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Maybe I spoke too soon on Cade Cunningham. He just put up 40 pts to beat #7 OU. Still didn’t see anything spectacular, but credit where credit is due.
 

Bucky

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OU is 7 lol

Regardless of what we think, yes getting drafted high. That's been in motion for a while now.
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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Maybe I spoke too soon on Cade Cunningham. He just put up 40 pts to beat #7 OU. Still didn’t see anything spectacular, but credit where credit is due.
in what was probably his best game of the year to date, Cunningham scored 40 (12-21 shooting) and pulled down 11 rebounds, both phenomenal numbers for a guard, but he had a mere 1 assist and an abysmal 6 turnovers. i expect him to be more of a playmaking wing at the next level rather than the “game changing” point guard he’s hyped to be. he is MUCH better at creating for himself than he is running an offense or creating for others.

meanwhile, for the other team, do-everything point guard Austin Reaves led his team in scoring with 22, rebounding (6), and assists (8, though he did have 5 turnovers). Reaves get ZERO hype yet is a vastly better leader, passer, and is comparable as a scorer. the difference is Reaves isn’t black and doesn’t dunk often, so the “experts” and the (((media))) don’t care about his abilities despite the FACT that he’s almost-single-handedly turned Oklahoma into a solid team.
 

Leonardfan

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in what was probably his best game of the year to date, Cunningham scored 40 (12-21 shooting) and pulled down 11 rebounds, both phenomenal numbers for a guard, but he had a mere 1 assist and an abysmal 6 turnovers. i expect him to be more of a playmaking wing at the next level rather than the “game changing” point guard he’s hyped to be. he is MUCH better at creating for himself than he is running an offense or creating for others.

meanwhile, for the other team, do-everything point guard Austin Reaves led his team in scoring with 22, rebounding (6), and assists (8, though he did have 5 turnovers). Reaves get ZERO hype yet is a vastly better leader, passer, and is comparable as a scorer. the difference is Reaves isn’t black and doesn’t dunk often, so the “experts” and the (((media))) don’t care about his abilities despite the FACT that he’s almost-single-handedly turned Oklahoma into a solid team.

Ah so Cunningham is a typical black gunner ball hog basketball player - nothing revolutionary there.
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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below you will find my abbreviated scouting reports of the projected lottery picks as determined by the majority of NBA “talent” (sic) “evaluators” (sic). to be clear, these are not my assessments nor the players i think are the best available, but rather these snippets come from the current composite scouting reports of the “best players available” by the people who get paid to do this sort of thing.

there are only two White athletes currently projected to be picked in the top 13, so i will note them and otherwise all the players listed will have “dat upside.”

#1) Cade Cunningham (19 years old, freshman) - one of three proclaimed potential first-overall picks. a big (6-7) point guard who is hitting 44% of his threes (only 80 attempts on the year, however) and can get to the rim at will, but he doesn’t finish well. explosive leaper. averages more turnovers than assists and is hitting 40% of his two-point shots. doesn’t play defense.

#2) Evan Mobley (19 years old, freshman) - the second possible #1 overall pick. highly mobile 7-foot shot blocker. has great timing and instincts, is incredibly long, and rarely gets in foul trouble making him a center piece for a defense. doesn’t like contact and shies away from physical players. isn’t very tough. is a good ball handler and passer for his size but commits a lot of turnovers. not a consistent scoring option when playing against opponents who have size.

#3) Johnathan Kuminga (18 years old, G League) - the third candidate to be taken first overall. physically gifted, explosive, plays hard, makes plays. potential lock down defender. lacks skill. can’t shoot or dribble. needs the ball in his hands or he doesn’t do much on offense.

#4) Jalen Suggs (18 years old, freshman) - elite physical tools, very tough and hard nosed, terrific defender, with plus size at the point guard position. good vision as a passer but is turnover prone. struggles as a decision maker and in the half court offensively with his jump shot, but is dynamic in transition.

#5) Jalen Green (19 years old, G League) - can take over a game for stretches with his scoring ability. undersized for a two guard and lacks instincts as a lead guard. doesn’t play defense despite possessing the physical tools to do so. off court issues. inconsistent jump shot. turnover prone. takes a lot of bad shots.

#6) James Boughknight (20 years old, sophomore) - explosive athlete but undersized as a two guard. can get to the rim and finish but doesn’t scare anyone with his jump shot. doesn’t play defense.

#7) Jalen Johnson (18 years old, freshman) - rare playmaking ability and physical tools for a 6-9 player. can’t shoot, doesn’t play hard, and doesn’t play defense. quit on his high school team and quit on Duke after only 13 games.

#8) Scottie Barnes (19 years old, freshman) - terrific ball handler, passer, and decision maker for his size. potential lock down defender. can’t shoot a lick.

#9) Corey Kispert (21 years old, senior, White) - good size and athleticism, especially for a player perceived as a spot-up shooter. best shooter in the draft and can score in bunches from any area of the floor. has improved every season. may not have any more upside. solid but not elite defender.

more to come later ...
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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to wrap up my brief draft preview ...

#10) Keon Johnson (19 years old, freshman) - an excellent run-jump athlete who is an excellent, tough on-ball defender, though he is undersized on the wing. can’t shoot or dribble or create his own shot, but he plays very hard and is a willing passer.

#11) Franz Wagner (19 years old, sophomore, White) - a multi-dimensional player with length. can contribute in all facets of the game offensively. can create his own shot and score at all three levels or create for others, plus rebounder on the wing, and can defend multiple positions. unselfish player who is happy to make winning plays without demanding lots of shots. hasn’t had to be “the guy” so questions remain if his incredible efficiency will translate to higher usage.

#12) Moses Moody (18 years old, freshman) - a long spot-up shooter with a pure stroke. solid defender. can’t create his own shot and lacks both a mid-range game and the ability to finish at the rim. average athlete. poor ball handler.

#13) Ziaire Williams (19 years old, freshman) - a 3-and-d project who is very long with a good feel for the game. can’t create his own shot and is too skinny to handle contact. length provides potential as a defender but physically weak and gets pushed around. off court issues. doesn’t play hard and disappears for long stretches even when matched up against less talented players.

#14) Usman Garuba (18 years old, “Spain”) - long, strong, and athletic. “looks like” an NBA wing. can’t shoot or dribble or pass, but he can finish above the rim. an excellent defender who can guard multiple positions. looks like he matured physically at a young age.

#15) Daishen Nix (19 years old, G League) - good size at the point guard spot. excellent passer and can create for others. terrific instincts. below average athlete who struggles to defend on the ball. below average jump shot. questions remain if he is quick enough to create his own shot. work ethic question marks due to his inability to get in shape.

************

i will stop my preview there. again, i want to point out that the aforementioned player summaries are not my personal assessments but have been compiled by looking at “respected” takes from various “scouts” (sic).

that being said, here is my quick take: the NBA is run by a bunch of morons. every year they pay guaranteed contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to high-risk players, but they never learn their lesson. they hope for the rare superstar and ignore the incredibly high bust percentage of these risky picks. simultaneously, they downgrade solid, low risk players who can contribute immediately because they don’t have “dat (rarely realized) upside.” yet, they wonder why the same teams always suck and why the NBA has been hemorrhaging fans for decades.
 
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With the end of March Madness with a game vs caste football favorite Gonzaga vs Baylor I decided to update my big board for 2021. There’s plenty of players who’ve moved up and came from out of left field into draft consideration!
Deceptive Speeds 2021 NBA Draft BigBoard-
(Rank/Pos/Name/Size/School-Country/Draft projection)
1. SF Franz Wagner 6’9 220 MICHIGAN- Top 10 overall pick (could go high as 5th ovrall)

2. SF Corey Kispert 6’7 220 GONZAGA-
Top 10 ovrall pick (could go ahead of Wagner but most mocks have him just sliding in at 8-12th)

3. C Alperen Sengun 6’9 240 TURKEY- Lottery pick (His ethnicity is that of Enes Kanter who is white but some believe is Arab descent)

4. PG/SG Josh Giddey 6’8 190 AUSTRALIA- Lottery pick-Late 1st rd

5. PF Roko Prkacin 6’9 210 (18 yrs) CROATIA- Late 1st rd

6. C/PF Filip Petrusev 6’11 235 (21 yrs) SERBIA- Late 1st-Early 2nd rd (Former Gonzaga star that avg 17 ppg and 8 rpg in 2019/20 played last season overseas)

7. SG Austin Reaves 6’5 206 OKLAHOMA- Early 2nd rd (went from likely UDFA to legit draft pick with high scoring NCAA tourney)

8. PG/CG Rokas Jokubaitis 6’5 195 (20 yrs) LITHUANIA- Mid 2nd rd

9. PF Santi Aldama 6’11 215 LOYOLA MARYLAND (SPAIN)- Mid 2nd rd (big finish at end of Sr year for the Spaniard who played for small Loyola, not to be confused with more popular Loyola Chicago)

10. C Luka Garza 6’11 265 IOWA- Mid- Late 2nd rd (won the Naismith player of the year should carve out career like a stronger Kelly Olynyk)

11. PF/C Sandro Mamukelashvili 6’11 240 SETON HALL (GEORGIA)- Late 2nd rd

12. PG Carlos Alocen 6’5 205 SPAIN- Late 2nd rd

13. C/PF Jay Huff 7’1 240 VIRGINIA- Late 2nd rd-UDFA

14. SG/SF Gabriele Procida 6’7 195 ITALY- Late 2nd rd-UDFA

15. SF Mario Nakic 6’7 215 SERBIA- Late 2nd-UDFA

16. SF/PF Sam Hauser 6’8 218 VIRGINIA- Late 2nd-UDFA (I definitely see him in the NBA with his good shooting under-control game, but I don’t think he’ll hear his name called)

17. SG Nikita Mikhailovskii 6’8 180 RUSSIA- Late 2nd-Draft and Stash/UDFA

Undecided Players???
18. PF Matthew Hurt 6’9 235 DUKE- Early-Mid 2nd rd (will probably return with him having a chance to be a 1st rounder in next years draft)

19. SG Matthew Mayer 6’9 225 BAYLOR- Late 1st-Early 2nd rd (legit 6’9 guard who’s another guy who had a big NCAA tournament. Still has championship game to play)

20. PG/CG Mac McClung 6’2 190 TEXAS TECH- Mid 2nd rd (rare white freak-athlete is the most likely to return, and should develop into a legit 1st round talent)

21. SF Joe Wieskamp 6’6 212 IOWA Mid-Late 2nd rd
 

Phall

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Josh Giddey from Australia has a fantastic highlight reel! He's going to outperform his draft position, wherever it is.

 

white lightning

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This kid can really play. Long, lean, & an athletic shooting/scoring machine. :) Good luck to Josh Giddey in the NBA Draft. He will be a true sleeper and a gem for what ever team is smart enough to pick him!
 

Bucky

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Good article on Luka Garza. Bringing that chip on his shoulder to the NBA..He says he's been disrespected at every level prior, so he's used to it. Common theme for White Players. Anyways he compares himself to Enes Kanter and Nikola Vucevic. Good comparisons in my opinion. There is definitely room for a skilled almost 7 footer in the game, NBA just prefers a "different" type of prospect.

https://247sports.com/Article/Luka-...ic-2021-NBA-Draft-Iowa-basketball--164120058/
 

white lightning

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Good article on Luka Garza. Bringing that chip on his shoulder to the NBA..He says he's been disrespected at every level prior, so he's used to it. Common theme for White Players. Anyways he compares himself to Enes Kanter and Nikola Vucevic. Good comparisons in my opinion. There is definitely room for a skilled almost 7 footer in the game, NBA just prefers a "different" type of prospect.

https://247sports.com/Article/Luka-...ic-2021-NBA-Draft-Iowa-basketball--164120058/


Play with that chip on your shoulder and it's a huge advantage. When people underestimate you, that's when you pounce on them and make them pay. The kid is a absolute stud when it comes to all around play. Vertical leap and
lateral quickness is not everything. Jokic is an multiple time all star and MVP Candidate this year. Garza reminds me so much of him. Good luck to Luke Garza in the NBA Draft.
 

white lightning

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Mac McClung is considering staying in the NBA Draft. He has until the first week of July to change his mind. If he opts out of the nba draft he will stay at Texas Tech. He is in training right now as if he will remain
in the draft. It's a tough decision to make as he can be drafted alot higher with a big senior year. I think he should go now if he can be drafted either late 1st round or the 2nd round. The only reason I say that is there
is always the chance of injury when he is such an explosive athlete. The kid has a around a 50 inch vertical. We will see what Mac decides but I look forward to seeing him either back at Texas Tech or in the NBA soon!
 

white lightning

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It's official now. Mac McClung is staying in the NBA Draft. I think it's a good decision as with his explosive style of play it can possibly lead to a serious injury. Go now while your healthy. The main problem will be where he is drafted? I'm
guessing somewhere in the late 1st to early or mid 2nd round. In a fair world he would go alot higher. The guy can jump out of the gym, good shooter and passer. McClung is very smart and a natural leader. Hoping he goes to the right team
that will actually think outside the box and give him a legitimate chance. I don't want to see him get screwed over like so many of our guys do. It's funny how the NBA tends to screw our most athletic players the most. They hide them until they
can get rid of them or let them just stay in the D League or on the bench. The league doesn't want more Brent Barry types disproving the lie of black athletic superiority.
iu
 
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Leonardfan

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It's official now. Mac McClung is staying in the NBA Draft. I think it's a good decision as with his explosive style of play it can possibly lead to a serious injury. Go now while your healthy. The main problem will be where he is drafted? I'm
guessing somewhere in the late 1st to early or mid 2nd round. In a fair world he would go alot higher. The guy can jump out of the gym, good shooter and passer. McClung is very smart and a natural leader. Hoping he goes to the right team
that will actually think outside the box and give him a legitimate chance. I don't want to see him get screwed over like so many of our guys do. It's funny how the NBA tends to screw our most athletic players the most. They hide them until they
can get rid of them or let them just stay in the D League or on the bench. The league doesn't want more Brent Barry types disproving the lie of black athletic superiority.

I honestly do not think the league wants an athletic, dynamic White PG/SG. They seem to draw the line at the ridiculously athletic, fundamentally sound European big men. I can certainly see McClung drawing the ire of many of black players in the league (Lebron James just vouched for Curry to be league MVP over Jokic). I hope I am wrong though!
 
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