This is a bold stance by you and I applaud standing by your analysis. I have been reading your commentary for about 10 years now and can say that while you have had a few wrong turns, about 98% of your projections are about right. In your column earlier this year, you discussed the Twins and compared them to other OTE players including Jayden Quittance, a 16 year old and currently ranked as the #25 pick in the 2025 draft. Adding together rebounds, assists, blocks and steals (thanks John Hollinger!), Quitance was better than the twins.
My biggest concern is that my Raptors are picking at 13 and should take one of Anthony Black, Cason Wallace, Kobe Bufkin, Gradey Dick or Jordan Hawkins(?). If youtake the twins out, how do you get to 12 guys and still have good choices at 13? Maybe they’re stuck taking Amen and then we pray you’re wrong? Probably not a winning strategy.
As for Raps pick, it all comes down to having other teams make enough mistakes such that one guy slides at 13. Ideally they want Cason or Black, and Dick would be a solid pick as well. Bufkin would be alright but not my favorite, and I'd pass on Hawkins.
I don't think Amen slides to 13, but if all of those other choices start flying off the board over Ausar and Whitmore who slide to 13, I'd take Brandin Podziemski and call it a day. It's not a huge reach, he is projected 19th and last year Jalen Williams was a surprise lotto pick from same school and that looks good for OKC so far. Honestly I'd prefer him over Bufkin and maybe even Dick as well, he's got some unique goodness on his side.
This is a bold stance by you and I applaud standing by your analysis. I have been reading your commentary for about 10 years now and can say that while you have had a few wrong turns, about 98% of your projections are about right. In your column earlier this year, you discussed the Twins and compared them to other OTE players including Jayden Quittance, a 16 year old and currently ranked as the #25 pick in the 2025 draft. Adding together rebounds, assists, blocks and steals (thanks John Hollinger!), Quitance was better than the twins.
My biggest concern is that my Raptors are picking at 13 and should take one of Anthony Black, Cason Wallace, Kobe Bufkin, Gradey Dick or Jordan Hawkins(?). If youtake the twins out, how do you get to 12 guys and still have good choices at 13? Maybe they’re stuck taking Amen and then we pray you’re wrong? Probably not a winning strategy.
Thanks for your analysis.
Thanks for the compliment, appreciate it.
As for Raps pick, it all comes down to having other teams make enough mistakes such that one guy slides at 13. Ideally they want Cason or Black, and Dick would be a solid pick as well. Bufkin would be alright but not my favorite, and I'd pass on Hawkins.
I don't think Amen slides to 13, but if all of those other choices start flying off the board over Ausar and Whitmore who slide to 13, I'd take Brandin Podziemski and call it a day. It's not a huge reach, he is projected 19th and last year Jalen Williams was a surprise lotto pick from same school and that looks good for OKC so far. Honestly I'd prefer him over Bufkin and maybe even Dick as well, he's got some unique goodness on his side.