Way too early 2022 NBA Mock Draft.....Houstan at #5 and no Dickerson
Yahoo sports just posted an early 2022 NBA mock draft. Caleb Houstan goes at #5 and no Hunter Dickerson in the first round. Other players of note:
> Chet Holmgren is #1
> Jaden Ivey at #7
> Max Christie at #17
> Trayce Jackson-Davis at #25
But what about Hunter Dickinson?
Oh crap! I screwed up. But to answer your question, there is no Hunter Dickinson in the first round as well.....
Nor do they have him in their second round, with Moussa predicted late. Pretty sure they didn’t have Franz in either round at this point last year. Shoot, I don’t recall Franz on their board until after he was going up ESPN’s mock board during early season.
If that short video from a few months back of Dickenson shooting threes is any indication of what he's working on this offseason, then he very well could be a first round pick.
The NBA wants the bigs of today's league to be able to shoot threes. Obviously that wasn't his game last season. If Dickenson was playing 25-30 years ago, then he'd already be a first round pick. But he likely needs to be able to do more than that. Could he find a three point game? Absolutely. But I guess we'll find out when the season starts.
All I know is if he can, his potential NBA ceiling will explode.
I think there is a spot in the NBA for Dickinson, but he doesn't have too high of a ceiling. Developing an outside shot will help, but he doesn't have that elite athleticism to really take it to another level.
He’ll need more than a 3 ball to really stick out to scouts and have that ceiling go up. He has speed and agility concerns from scouts so they question his ability to defend in space.
He’ll have a spot, but his game is going to be similar to Garza where it’s dominant in college but there’s huge question marks on it translating to the NBA game.
I was discussing this with my sons yesterday about Garza. Sure he was a great college post player and can step out further than most big men but who is he going to guard in the NBA? Any big man or power forward with any speed would eat him alive. Can you imagine him trying to guard Giannis? I have a long track record of being wrong about this stuff but that’s how I see it.
The only thing I would argue is that many many guards don't even attempt to play defense, and this is a guard driven league. Hell Duncan Robinson only shoots threes (although he slays it). If he is good enough offensively, he will play. Besides, many players opt to shoot threes over 2s due to analytics, which help poor defensive big men to some degree. just a counter point.
It’s not that he won’t play, he’ll just be limited to a bench role due to his defensive limitations. Duncan has an elite trait, where I don’t see Luka having one to offset his defensive liability.
Theyre certainly good enough to see time (both Garza and Dickinson) but the deficiencies in their game will most likely hold them back from playing real meaningful minutes in key situations. Which ultimately will show in their draft stock.
As for more 3s helping big men that lack defense, it actually hurts them. Instead of being able to use their size down low to defend the rim, you’re now asking them to defend in space on the perimeter. Where their lack of athleticism gets exploited. The fact that it’s a more 3 point centric league is actually the reason these guys are considered defensive liabilities. You’re asking big guys with slow feet to defend the perimeter and the pick and roll where agility and lateral mobility is key.
You're probably right, but it seems to me in today's NBA that there isn't as much of an emphasis on playing defense as there used to be. I pay very little attention to the X's and O's of basketball, but I can tell you that living down here in Atlanta, I've heard plenty on the radio about how Trae Young leaves a lot to be desired on defense. A lot. But he starts and is one of the league's ascending stars because he can put the ball in the hoop anytime he wants. The way I see it, if Dickinson can find ways to put the ball in the hoop, he's going to play. Teams are winning games 135-128 much more often now than they are 85-81.
Would he start? Probably not. As someone mentioned above, his athleticism isn't what you'd be looking for in the elite bigs of the NBA, and that's not something he has much control over. But he could certainly find a role somewhere. Especially if he can add additional dimensions to his game, or do enough from three point land to keep a defense honest.
Right, but I don’t see anyone really saying they won’t play or won’t find a role. Just that the role won’t be a big one and their dominance in college isn’t something that really translates to the NBA.
You're absolutely right that T. Young is a grotesque defender, but perimeter scoring guards in that +5/-3 O/D split range are still useful both because they in total provide plus value, and because from a schematic standpoint, if your PG is your worst defender, you can still have a somewhat acceptable scheme. If your C, who definitely isn't a small ball hypermobile kind of guy, is a minus defender, there is almost no possible amount of offensive value you can plausibly provide that will make you into a starter level player. For example, Jokic is +5/+1 and Embiid +4/+2. Center needs to provide some plus defense or some legit switchability/floor spacing, otherwise you're Greg Monroe. (SPM values from DARKO)
The general contention that there is little/poor defense played in the NBA is uninformed. The individual offensive skills today are elite-across the board and, pretty much, every defender is stranded on an island against a player who can both challenge you off the dribble and drain the three. Here, you receive little assistance as all your teammates have to stick to their guys because they can drain 3s too. It's a pick your defensive poison game. Hawks fans whining about Young is pathetic. You don't have to live in Georgia to be ignorant about basketball-but it helps...they do know football-it's a "little" different game than basketball.
Dickinson is a very good college player.
Trey Young is hardly representative of the Defense being played in the NBA. You must be thinking of the All-Star Game.
Drilling 3s in practice without any players contesting with all the time in the world to get set and shoot is very different than trying to catch, get your feet set, and get a shot up before the defender contests in the high pressure moment of a game. We’ll have to wait until the season to see how that 3 point shot is looking.
In the most recent practice video of him shooting threes, he went 5/12 with one or two airballs mixed in. Still a long road before he a viable the point threat. Hope he gets there.
Absolutely. Practice is different than in-game situations. I'm just saying its a start.
There is nothing in those films of Hunter shooting threes that predicts he is going to develop any proficiency here. Nothing...the form is brutal-even when they go in. Juwan did not have him sticking close to the basket without very good reason. He has plenty to work on with his 15' and in game.
I think Hunter in the NBA will be like what Marc Gasol was around the time he played for the Raptors and one a championship. 7+ footer who is skilled around the hoop but can also shoot 3’s at around 35% and be a plus defender
Asking for a friend how do you one a championship. Is it possible to two a championship as a BadBoy???
Why do you think he’ll be a plus defender? Dickinson’s shortcomings and the way the NBA is today suggests the opposite.
To be fair, Eric Dickerson is old and was not a basketball player
I'd be surprised if Dickinson is a first-round pick. But if he adds a three-point shot, an off-hand, and many more post-moves to his arsenal, he may play his way into the late 20s. But that is a tall order to develop, and if he does all that he'll be unstoppable next year.
Big D1ckinson Energy to you.
Biggest surprise to me is the lack of Diabate on these early 2022 mocks. If Dickinson is likely leaving after this season, it would be awesome to get another year out of Diabate.
Where am I being drafted in this so called mock draft?
In other words, you are saying:
"You mock me!"?
How the hell do people that care enough about Michigan athletics enough to come to this site not know the names of the players? Jfc.
You should spell “know” correctly before dumping on other posters’ spelling.
Ahh, you're right. Sorry about that! One typo is the same as people butchering these names everyday!
It’s not the same person butchering names everyday just like it’s not the same person misspelling basic words while pointing out the misspelled names.
If Dickinson is a first round pick in next year's draft, there's a very good chance it's after a Michigan national title. Because the kind of skill he probably needs to show to get there as a true big (rather than the "modern big") means he's dropping 3s, scoring with both hands, just generally dominating. I am firmly in favor of this occurring.
no Hunter Dickerson in the first round
Incidentally, this is not a surprise to anyone.
Who is Dickerson, and should i be offended by his absence?
ESPN also has one, although insider only:
1. Chet Holmgren
5. Caleb Houstan
12. Jaden Ivey (Purdue)
27. Keegan Murray (Iowa)
34. Andre Curbelo (Illinois)
58. DeVante' Jones
No Hunters in the list, neither Dickinson nor Dickerson.
It's Dickinson
Thanks, njvector
took me an hour, but e see what you ded there!
You're welcome, draggingchild
Eric Dickerson?
Whoa. I didn't realize Houstan was also a one and done like Diabate. With Garza going so late I am not surprised by Dickinson's current projection.
I think Diabate was more likely to return for a second year than Houstan from the start. Houstan is an elite tall shooter with great perimeter defense. NBA teams are going to absolutely love his measurables and film.
Houstan is consensus top 10 with polished game and nba size. He also reclassified from 2022 so has that going for him too.
Dickerson is the new Ruddock
As an Atlanta sports fan, it's also like people calling our running back Warwick Dunn.
What about JJ McCaffrey, where was he?
LMAO. Between the OP and the 1st 2 replies Hunter's last name is spelled 3 different ways!
- Dickenson
- Dickerson
- Dickinson
Is this what's meant by the Michigan "difference"!?
We will probably have 2 guys go in the first five picks after we win a national championship