The NBA Draft was on Thursday night, as players around the country were able to achieve their dream of playing in the NBA. There were a few surprises along the way but teams were hoping to find their next stars. Phenom Hoops tuned in as well and had some thoughts from the first round of the NBA Draft. Here are a few thoughts our own Patrick O’Brien had.
First off though, I want to give a huge congrats to all the Phenom Hoops Alums that were selected throughout the NBA Draft!
Joshua Primo – No. 12 Pick
Trey Murphy III – No. 17 Pick
Cameron Thomas – No. 27 pick
Jaden Springer – No. 28 pick
Day’Ron Sharpe – No. 29 pick
Isaiah Todd – No. 31 pick
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl – No. 32 pick
Aaron Wiggins – No. 55 pick
Top-10 pick that will pay off the most: Jalen Suggs (Gonzaga) to Orlando Magic
Of course, if you pick one of the top three guys of Cunningham, Green, and Mobley, you can’t really go wrong so I’m looking outside those top three guys. Jalen Suggs was looked at early on to be the fourth pick but Scottie Barnes went to the Raptors and Suggs eventually fell to No. 5. But really do think that the Magic are going to be happy with having him, as Suggs plays with such a mature game and understanding in my opinion. He has a natural feel, has great size at 6’4, plays with a strong feel, doesn’t force much, and has that ability to step up in big moments. I truly do believe that the future is bright and you will be seeing his name as an All-Star in the coming years.
Intriguing Top-10 pick: Jonathan Kuminga to Golden State Warriors
Kuminga was another player that was intriguing and was regarded as one of the premier talents in the draft and yet he fell to No. 7 to Golden State. Kuminga was a top talent in high school and was strong with the Ignite, as the 6’8, 225-pound prospect has a tremendous frame, is explosive, and can fill it up in several areas. It seems like it was a guy that you just couldn’t pass on for the Warriors and it is going to be interesting to see how he can fit in with the shooters they have at GS. He also could make a nice mark on the defensive end.
Player to watch picked between 11-20: Alperen Sengun (Turkey) to Houston Rockets
When watching some of his highlights, there is just something that intrigues me with this 6’9 center from Turkey. He was off the charts in the playoffs, averaging nearly 19 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal in just 28 minutes. He is a very skilled big, moves well with nice footwork, and has good hands and feel. Yes, there looks to be some adjustment coming over to the NBA but as far as one to watch, he has my attention.
Teams that impressed on Draft night: Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets
I really do like what the Hornets did in this year’s draft. They may have not expected James Bouknight to be there at No. 11 but it gives them another scoring guard that they love to have. He can certainly fill it up, provides depth at guard, and gives a nice scoring option alongside LaMelo Ball. And the fans knew that the Hornets needed a big, which is why I like them making the move to get Kai Jones, a player that many they would be selecting at No. 11. Being selected at No. 19, the 6’10 forward is incredibly agile, moves really well, and makes a presence on both ends of the floor. And it could just be the start for this young man, as he is still a developing talent.
As far as the Nets go, they had two late picks that they will need to hit with the amount of talent they already have and their limited sources to bring in talent. Cam Thomas I think is an absolute steal at No. 27, as he is a prolific scorer that can only learn from some of the best with the Nets but also help to come off the bench. I also like that they went out and got Day’Ron Sharpe. He is an absolute man-child on the glass, creates second chances for his team, and has only grown his game over the summer. I like those two late picks by the Nets.