(01-03-2020, 05:34 PM)omahen Wrote: Value of Brunson is not high as his ceiling is seen as back up point guard (if not, he wouldn't be picked 33rd).
Every draft from 2010 until 2017, either the best or second best player in the draft was available at 10 or later. (In order: Paul George picked 10th, Kawhi Leonard picked 15th, Draymond Green picked in the 2nd round, Giannis picked 15th, Jokic picked in the 2nd round, Josh Richardson , the 2nd best player in 2015, picked in the second round, Siakam picked 27th, Donovan Mitchell picked 13th.)
Brunson's draft position doesn't prove his ceiling. All you have to do is look at the draft and you'll see, draft evaluation is VERY prone to errors.
If Detroit cares about building a fantasy team of upside guys, sure go ahead and sell them on Dennis Smith Jr and Josh Jackson's upside. They were drafted high so their ceiling must be grand. Just don't mention they can't play.
If they want an NBA professional who makes good decisions on and off the floor, who plays efficient basketball, won't turn it over, can shoot and will be a good rotation player for a decade, they should go for Brunson.
Look, in my view the NBA draft is about two things. First priority is to get a superstar. That is obvious. Those guys are transcendent and can change a franchise. But the odds are extraordinarily low that Detroit will get a superstar with the Nets pick from Atlanta. Second priority of the draft is to get a solid NBA rotation player. Get a guy who can play. If he's a 30+ minute borderline all-star that's great, but if he's a 24-28 minute high quality backup, that's ok too. Just don't bust.
IMHO Brunson is already a 24 minute high quality backup. And he's played really well when he has started. The kid can play. Would Detroit rather gamble on a top-20 pick in a weak draft? I don't know. If I'm Detroit, I'd take the kid who I know can play, and the pick from Dallas, especially if the draft cognoscenti don't see a huge gap between the pool of players who are expected to go in the 20-40 range.