49 Comments
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Let’s keep the comments here draft-only. Other comments can live in the Explain post or Daniel’s upcoming piece.

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Jalen Williams - local school, hard worker, seems like a good guy

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Unexciting, this group. Williams seems too good to still be available by the time it gets to us, but hey, we're operating on the assumption he will be? Then yeah, he's the pick here.

None of the other guys have much more than size, hope, and potential going for them. Not that they can't stick in the NBA but they all need to make some significant strides in their game to make that possible.

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I'd be ok with any of them other than Jovic, but since I have to choose 1 it's gotta be Williams

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Not sure if voting is closed for this one since Group D is now open for debate, and I think the tally is too one-sided for my ballot to matter, but while it's close for me, my vote still goes to Beauchamp. Williams just looks like he's playing a little slow, and got away with it because it was against the WCC. I think that to justify getting drafted around where he's mocked right now, he should have been dominant, and I don't see that (of course, I'm not a scout). Beauchamp looks more than quick enough against more physical competition, and right now I love rebounding skill in non-centers (thank OPJ for that). The combination of character, work ethic, and athleticism seems like the kind of thing the Warriors go for late in the first round. Sure, his shot needs a lot of work, but Kuminga improved in that area much faster than most people thought he would, so I'd trust our coaches. Williams should be a decent pro, I just like the Warriors' fit with Beauchamp right now a bit more.

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Group c - Williams

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My vote is Williams … and it wasn’t very hard for me.

Full disclosure, I came into this tournament with Williams and LaRavia as two of my favorites so I needed to someone in this group to knock off Williams … and I don’t think I got that.

The reason he’s my choice here and others weren’t is I think I have a bias toward skills you can’t really teach: court vision and the combo of length & timing on D. Just about everything else — with maybe the exception of certain shooting problems — can be learned with professional level coaching/development/physical training. But the way Williams — and Jovic, to a certain extent — see the game really stands out this far down in the draft. Williams’ weaknesses don’t bother me much because a) he wouldn’t be a high usage point guard on the Warriors (or anywhere I suspect) and so b) he’ll be more of an off ball defender where his length and disruptiveness will be a real asset. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to think he could be a valuable a piece down the road as late career Livingston, who didn’t have the quicks/athleticism to run point full time but made for a really awesome secondary creator off the bench who could handle some defensive assignments using length alone. If we’re looking for someone down the line to play next to Poole on the wing with Wiseman at center, I think a guy who can contribute as a long help defender, create offense for others, and maybe knock down catch and shoot opportunities is pretty ideal.

Again, I’m not sure he WILL become all that, but he has the requisite tools to POSSIBLY become that, which I’m just not sure the others have. And at this point in the draft, I want guys with the best shot to carve out a career and having some of those skills that can’t really be taught is part of that.

And because of all that, I’m having a hard time believing Williams will be around at 28 … but let’s hope 🤷🏾‍♂️

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Jun 19, 2022·edited Jun 19, 2022

Not having done more than read what is here... Beauchamp barely over Brown, mainly for defense with hustle and maybe all around play, with Williams very close behind.

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My vote is Beauchamp. I see I'm relatively alone here, but I like his length and definitely saw the Mikal Bridges comp, as well as JTA, as someone else noted. That jumper is scary, but I think he has potential as an inside finisher.

Williams was appealing, too, but I'm in the minority here because I'm skeptical his playmaking will translate. He reminds me of DLee, which is pretty good, but I see that as his ceiling.

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Jun 19, 2022·edited Jun 19, 2022

Wow looks like my input here isn't needed! I'll offer it none the less: Jalen Williams.

Not many prospects have the complete package, but Williams seems to: athleticism, length, passing, shooting, and defense all appear to be somewhere between above average and elite. It's a little strange/concerning that he didn't perform better sooner, but you have to take a chance on the package, though of course he's not likely to fall to us :(

Williams/Brown/Beauchamp have a lot of similarities, they all have the elite athleticism and defensive potential, while Brown has the age advantage, Beauchamp and Williams have the length, and Williams edges the other two out with the passing and shooting.

I think my second place would be Brown by a nose hair, mostly due to shooting concerns with Beauchamp. I love Beauchamp's length, but a 22 y/o shooting 27% from 3 doesn't bode well. Also we're in a perfect position to take on a raw project like Brown. Given that he's already put up pretty good numbers as a college freshman, it's exciting to think what he could do with a year or two of warriors tutelage.

Jovic is last due to pretty mediocre numbers, and my almost completely uninformed impression that he won't be able to guard on the perimeter.

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Lets keep it local and go J Williams.

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I also like Williams — he has a real good feel for the game, even if he is 2 years older than Brown.

I want to like Brown, but at number 28 I’m not really holding out for him developing that athleticism into a super scoring threat. And if you’re not a scoring threat, I think our future young core needs a bit more of that smooth facilitation on offense.

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I want Williams too. That dude is smooth, great balance, great footwork, passing, handle and shot all look pretty clean.

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Jalen Williams

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Williams for me as well.

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Jun 18, 2022Liked by Nate P

Williams for me, and it's not particularly close. Dude has nice handles, terrific ambidextrous passer in the open court and runs a beautiful PnR, and a smooth shot that will translate in plenty of C&S and mid-range buckets. Lot of overlap with Moody, but looks like a better ballhandler. I honestly doubt he will fall low enough for Dubs to have a crack at him. His weaknesses in rebounding, ISO, and 1v1 D will get a lot of cover on a team like the Dubs. The others all have severe weaknesses that would make them mostly unplayable, or else we already have better versions of their skills on the roster.

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