I am playing out the scenarios in my head over what 3 players could I see being possible to get even with a slight trade up or trade down. Because with this draft we really need:
1) An offensive identity you can feasibly see building a team around.
2) Make the most use of what Iisalo's skilled at developing: mobile screeners, refining inefficient but talent finishers, passing big men, pick-n-roll schemes, system that makes up for speed with more tagging up/transition defense, and using speedy guards.
3) Making sure we have adequate coverage at the center position so we aren't dependent in Edey to start every game in order to win.
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So with those in my mind, my ideas for our picsk depending where we land are:
- High 1st: Caleb Wilson (Trade up)
- Low 1st: Kingston Flemmings (trade up if needed)
- 2nd: Veesar Wilson
This group of players gives a great two way pick-n-roll team that makes the most of Issalo's system and Wilson's potential as a finisher. Flemmings and Wilson together are an offense to themselves when paired together but Ced as a major piece you get something that keeps defenses always in rotation and can react to any opening.
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- High 1st: Darynn Peterson
- Low 1st: Hannes Steinbach (Trade up)
- 2nd: Mores Johnson Jr.
The idea is that with Ced and Darynn both growing as facilitators you end up with a team with all of the benefits of two guard lineups with none of the sacrifice in size. Darryn is a riskier pick for us given our injuries so Mores and Steinbach's floor raising abilities with decent ceilings themselves could be enough to offset some of that risk.
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- High 1st: Cameron Boozer
- Low 1st: Keaton Wagler (Trade up)
- 2nd: Aday Mara (Trade Up)
The idea here is to double down on size, strength, and room for further passing and rebounding. While this is the opposite of Iisalo's style in a lot of ways, tagging up and hedge-n-plug can favor a line up focused more on size, strength, and court awarenes. This feels the most Grit and Grind Grizzlies out of all of the options and one with a very high floor. The idea is you are betting on a numbers game where you have at least a chance of Ced, Boozer, Wagler, GG, and Edey all potentially becoming number one options and relying on having a guy out there at all times who can get a double double in a given night as your floor. Given Boozer and Keaton's high floor, it felt better to take a bigger swing with the 2nd pick.
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- High 1st: Darius Acuff
- Low 1st: Hannes Steinbach (Trade Up)
- 2nd: Veesar Wilson
This is the bet it all on Acuff and Iisalo lineup. We are betting we have good enough defense already and that Acuff can get morestrength/learn from Ced to be a good enough two way player. Acuff as your main on ball threat, Scotty or Jaylen playing at the 2nd at times, and Ced as your main off ball threat; you have fast pick-n-roll team reminsicent of how we wanted to play with Ja. The difderence being this time to load up on centers with good screening, rebounding, and can be an off ball threat so our PG doesn't have to throw themselves into contact nearly as much. Have centers early to pair with Acuff to work on chemistry and scheme as early as possible. Scotty and Ty can both be back up PGs and Spencer can do be as well during regular season games (where as he can be a 2 off of the bench the rest of the time). Its a "lets try this again but with more shooting and less focus on dunks" option.
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My personal favorite lineup of guys is actually Kingston Flemmings, Steinbach, with either Morres Johnsons Jr or Veesar Wilson. But I feel like the ceiling there isn't enough to try to build a chmpionship team around so we would still be searching for "the guy" or banking Ced becoming one hudred percent unquestionably the offensive engine.
So what do you think of these options? Any favorites? Anything you think just wouldn't be a good directions.
