2026 NBA draft thread

[khaled1987]

Sure sounds like Givony is making a sh*tload of excuses for Peterson, while holding Dybantsa to a complete different standard. 

The first thing about building a championship roster around somebody is that he HAS to be the leader of the team, not just the best player. So that´s where from everything I have read and seen from Peterson he already falls short. He is in the mold of a KD, Harden or Embiid.  I can´t think of a single team where the best player was a poor leader and they won the title. KD always had a better leader around him, when he was successful in OKC (Westbrook) and Golden State (Curry+). Everywhere else the locker room eventually turned into a disaster, because KD is such a poor leader.  Also Peterson virtually had no assists, but I´m supposed to believe he´s the next Lillard. Lillard still averaged 3.5 APG on a team with nobody to pass to. Also Dybantsa is crap on defense, but Peterson is the new Lillard. Eh.  

Basically what Givony is doing is mostly a character analysis of Peterson, whether he´ll behave differently at the next level.

I agree with you that he isn't holding Peterson accountable for his Kansas year. But he is on point about Dybantsa, he has this Mbappe syndrome, a guy who thinks that defense is beneath him. Peterson is on different defensive level. He pointed that Peterson used to average around 6 and 7 assists in high school. 

But again, I agree there is leadership question marks (though, Kawhi was never a leader and he won a chip in Canada) and that he is ignoring his college career.

Anyway, I listened to the rest of podcast and here is some takes:

Ament: He believes he should be the 5th pick, he likes his physical tools and more importantly how he developed as a player, especially in defense. He pointed that he played in a team that crowded the frontcourt with 2 bigs and it hurt Ament, but he says when he look at where he was 2 years ago and where he is now, he is a guy you believe he will reach his potential. However he admits he isn't a good player now. Part of the reason is Clippers having Garland too.

Brown: He believes he is the best PG, and that he is really good passer, I think he pointed out that he plays small, but he feels he is going to be the best PG out there.

Acuff: Clearly not a fan, he hates his body language and how he didn't care when he was playing in bad teams in high school, said that in Arizona game he was targeted all game and he didn't put effort, dismissed the Brunson comparison and also said he is the best scorer and improved passer, but not a leader and he might end up as a guy who puts big numbers in a bad team. 

Wagler: He says he is a good player, but he plays smaller than his size, he isn't sure about his position and feels he is a bit if tweener. 

Mara: Nate compared him to Clingan, but Givony has pointed about despite his talent, but he avoids contact and doesn't shoot 3's. He doesn't see him as good as him. 

Flemings: There is an added context to the clip we have seen. Nate Duncan was the one hating on him, he said he seems him as a 25-35 top PG, compared him to Tyus Jones, Givony was really nice to Nate, rather than Flemings. He said that yeah, he might end up as backup, but he is still top 10 pick with his mid-range and possibility to add 3 PT. 

Last thing, he said he doesn't have intel atm, because it is something he didn't enjoy doing (one thing that made me think that Schmitz moved higher in basketball world is his communication/social skills, Givony seems like the introvert who just want to do his work and be left alone). He added that teams usually very secretive at this point and if there is a rumour there is a reason it was allowed to be leaked.