They could be drafting second and the players would still have some issues. Other than the generational talents they all have a weakness at that stage.
i.e Amen Thompson's "outside shot".
That's why it's important to look at traits that stars have
prior to entering the NBA and compare current prospects to that.
Let's take a look at this guy, as an example:
A star SG or SF should have shot creation and enough ball handling ability to support it. Tightening it up can come later but if they don't have any ball handling abilities, they're not likely to develop it historically.
Since MJ was "average" as a ball handler and merely needed to tighten it up, that shouldn't really be too much of a concern unless he was simply lazy...which, he wasn't. Additionally, he had enough other traits to back him up - a jumper (even if he was 'streaky' at 21 y/o), the ability to attack the rim at will with his tremendous vertical and first step.
Essentially, shot creation compliments and partially negates these ball handling weaknesses.
Additionally, I want to add that all-around Superstar SGs tend to drop far more than they should. In most re-drafts, these guys would end up #1 or #2 but often fall to #3-6 (ex. Carter, Wade, Roy, Jordan, Harden) with a few of them hitting #12-14 like Drexler and Kobe. Even Edwards was looked down upon as a poor #1 pick back in 2020.
In that sense, maybe GMs would want to look at what type of player these SGs were prior to the draft and compare to see if there are similar prospects rather than glossing over them.
Smooth and quick first step (doesn't have to be lightning fast, just fluid and quick), ball handling that can be tightened up as a minimum, can attack the rim very well, has flashes of other skills, 6'4"-6'7" height and 6'8"-7'+ wingspan, good athleticism, good vertical, etc.
I don't think anyone in the draft has this so trying to look for D-Wade is probably not feasible here. But next year, that appears to be Darryn Peterson.
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Since you're responding to a comment about Rasheer Flemming and Portland might be looking at him. He's very quick and agile for a 240lb player that it's difficult to compare him to other players since it's such a rare set of traits to have. On the surface, I think he has potential to be an Obi Toppin/Cam Whitmore hybrid but with potentially better shooting. But utilizing those two as comps, is he a 3/4 or a 4/5 then?
If he can play 3/4, that's closer to Lebron territory in that, it's incredibly rare to have a player that can run and handle the ball while being 240+ lbs like him. Giannis is similar, too.
But I say Cam Whitmore here because he does have a similar athleticism and big body that he can bully others with but doesn't seem to have a passing game. Jerami Grant might be another example but he's thinner.
Likewise, I think Obi Toppin was similar but in the NBA, he's relegated to being a 4/5 so it's possible that's what he'll end up.
Someone brought up how he doesn't move his hips like a big man and imo, that is what makes him different from, say, Kel'El Ware, who is similar in terms of weight and lankiness but has that Aldridge/O'Neal kind of movement.
If Rasheer does play 4/5, that probably will limit him in that role similar to Obi Toppin.
But if he can find a way to be a bigger Cam Whitmore with MPJ type shooting, that might be like a "Two Level scorer". Then, who knows if he can build up playmaking? He has shown some flashes.
Nonetheless, I think a player like that is who Portland should gamble on if they don't beat the odds and get a Top 3 pick.
Every year, there is an All-Star in that #8-16 region so, might as well try to find the traits for a successful archetype and I think Flemming seems to be the most likely candidate here as a bigger Cam Whitmore who could turn into a bigger Kawhi if he cracks the code or as an Obi Toppin-esque forward that can potentially be a better shooter and defender.
