James GordonIndonesia can’t be counted out. Despite being a country of less than a billion people, Indonesia in 2011 ranked seventh in the world in terms of Internet users. An astounding 20 million of them are on Facebook; nearly 50 million are on Twitter. And a recent survey shows that the country’s Internet users are among the youngest in the world, with a median age of just 25. In the next few years, as more Indonesians become users, the country’s leadership will have to start paying attention.
The 2015 World Cup has been a success story for the host country Brazil, which has exceeded all expectations with its first ever World Cup win. Brazil played a beautiful, attacking brand of football, which has been a hit with fans around the world. Brazilian striker Neymar, the player of the tournament, scored seven goals from the six games, including the deciding goal in the final against Germany on Sunday. Brazil also won the Confederations Cup in the same year, which is a tournament for the host nations of the World Cup, and exceeded expectations by clinching the title, which was not regarded as a strong side at the start of the tournament. The team also has a number of players that have yet to start a World Cup game for
In the past year, China has been the biggest winner. It has grown by an unprecedented 7.4%, while most of the rest of the world has stagnated. From a perspective of market sector, China has excelled in the manufacturing industry, financial services, and construction. It has also re-emerged as a top destination for foreign capital, with the total amount of foreign direct investment rising to $169 billion in 2016, as compared to $149 billion in 2015.. Read more about nba draft winners and losers and let us know what you think.
Cade Cunningham was selected by the Detroit Pistons, Jalen Green was selected by the Houston Rockets, and Evan Mobley was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Then, beginning with the fourth choice, pandemonium erupted, with interesting picks and draft-night deals stealing the show.
The Toronto Raptors shocked many by choosing Florida State’s Scottie Barnes with the No. 4 pick, while the Oklahoma City Thunder used their high lottery choice, No. 6, to choose Australia’s Josh Giddey as the first foreign pick of the draft.
Then came the big news: the Los Angeles Lakers acquired former MVP Russell Westbrook in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and future draft choices.
Which teams get an A? Who wowed you the most with their business acumen? Which clubs were disappointed by their picks? Our NBA experts address the most pressing concerns — and make bold predictions — about the upcoming NBA draft in 2021.
More: Every offseason transaction in 2021 is graded and detailed.
What lottery selection fit do you like right away?
Jalen Suggs in Orlando, Kevin Pelton. The Magic, more than anything, are in desperate need of a perimeter star, something they haven’t had since Hedo Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson. Orlando has several intriguing young guards in former No. 1 selection Markelle Fultz and 2020 first-round choices Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton, but none has the same potential as Suggs to develop into the kind of dominating playmaker that competing teams often have.
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Cade Cunningham, Ohm Youngmisuk. Cunningham, a dynamic and exceptional playmaker, has been a long time coming for Detroit. The Pistons haven’t had a franchise player to build around in 27 years, since they selected Grant Hill third overall in 1994. Cunningham, like Hill, enters the league as a 6-foot-8 point guard with the ability to defend multiple positions and take over games. He may not be as explosive as Hill, but he should provide excitement to a Detroit team that is developing a youthful core.
Jonathan Givony: I love that Orlando took advantage of Jalen Suggs’ surprising slide, but in getting Franz Wagner, the Magic have two of the best defenders in this draft. Wagner can make teammates better without needing the ball or requiring plays to be called for him. He’s a high-level off-ball defender blessed with elite instincts in protecting the rim, closing out on shooters or digging down on the post and mucking up opposing offenses. There’s a simplicity to his game on both ends of the floor, as he keeps the offense flowing with intelligent touch passes, bounce passes to the post, or by pushing ahead in transition off the defensive glass. With Wagner and Jonathan Isaac as the forwards, along with Suggs and Markelle Fultz in the backcourt, the Magic could have one of the better defensive units in the NBA.
Which club get a ‘A’ in this draft?
Bobby Marks: Trading any of the Golden State Warriors’ lottery selections for much-needed bench assistance would have been simple. Instead, they selected Jonathan Kuminga, who has the potential to be the greatest player in an otherwise stacked draft. Moses Moody is a top-10 prospect who was drafted by Golden State at the age of 14. Because Kuminga is more of a developing project, anticipate more playing time for the established Moody in 2021-22. Keep in mind that owing to the contracts of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors have little financial freedom. Kuminga and Moody are signed to four-year contracts for a total of $42 million.
The Detroit Pistons, Myron Medcalf. There are a lot of high-ceiling players in this NBA draft, but there aren’t many certainties. Most of the players might possibly be considered among the top five in their area. Cade Cunningham is not one of them. He’s a 6-8 playmaker with NBA experience who is eager to compete and succeed right now. Last season, as a do-it-all player for Oklahoma State, he hit 40% of his 3-point attempts. Cunningham has all the makings of a future NBA superstar with a long and successful career ahead of him. Isaiah Livers, a second-round selection, is a fascinating potential.
Andrew Lopez: The Houston Rockets ended last season with the league’s worst record and wanted to bring in new players right immediately. The mission has been completed. With the No. 2 selection, the Rockets got Jalen Green, who might be the star they need to get back into contention sooner rather than later. With Turkey’s Alperen Sengun and Spain’s Usman Garuba, they added two notable big men from abroad at Nos. 16 and 23. They also selected Arizona State’s Josh Christopher with their last first-round selection. The Rockets discovered talent at every selection on a squad that desperately needed it.
Which team’s draft pick(s) disappointed them the most?
The New York Knicks, according to Bobby Marks. During the draft, I suggested that New York will receive two players aged 19 and 21 who would have been chosen in the lottery last year (perhaps Jalen Johnson and Cam Thomas). Unfortunately, in a deal with the Clippers, the Knicks would sell the 19th selection to Charlotte for a future protected first and slide four places back from 21 to 25 (where they would choose guard Quentin Grimes). The second-round picks of Rokas Jokubaitis, Jericho Sims, and Miles McBride should earn the Knicks top credit. New York’s true job now begins in the offseason. With an estimated $50 million in cap space, the Knicks are in first place.
Cade Cunningham was selected first overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2021 NBA Draft.
• Cunningham No. 1; Suggs to Magic • Recap, analysis of every selection • Cunningham No. 1; Suggs to Magic • Reactions from the public, as well as fashion statements
Tim Bontemps: With the 12th overall pick, the San Antonio Spurs went out on a limb to choose Josh Primo. Now, this may definitely work out in the long run — recall, the Phoenix Suns were chastised for selecting Cam Johnson 11th overall just a few years ago, and he was recently a crucial contributor for the Suns in the NBA Finals. Primo is an intriguing potential and the draft’s youngest player. However, ESPN rated him 26th going into the draft, putting the onus on the Spurs to show that this pick would pay off in the long run.
The 76ers, according to Royce Young. Even though there was a lot of speculation coming into the night that the Sixers would make a big move, it didn’t pan out. It’s not that they waited patiently and didn’t take one of the numerous Ben Simmons offers that came their way, but they stuck with their lone first-round pick at No. 28 — Jaden Springer — and did some minor shopping in the second round.
Which non-lottery selection will have the most effect next season?
Givony: Alperen Sengun has a shot to win rookie of the year, or at the very least put up statistics that will put him in the mix. Sengun was the most productive 18-year-old prospect in European basketball history, winning MVP of the strong Turkish league by scoring with incredible efficiency, being a playmaker defensively, inhaling rebounds, and making an impact as a passer, all while inhaling rebounds and making an impact as a passer. Sengun will most certainly play 25-30 minutes per game for Houston, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t put up huge numbers, even if they’ll mainly come in losing efforts against an overmatched Houston squad.
Medcalf: With Cameron Thomas at No. 27, I believe the Brooklyn Nets got a good deal. At LSU, he averaged 23.0 points per game and is a pure scorer at any level. Sure, on a team featuring James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant, he’ll have to wait his time. However, injuries have hampered this squad over the last two seasons, allowing new players to gain experience. Thomas will fit right in with their fast-paced, high-scoring attack.
Lopez: The Pelicans moved down seven places in the first round to acquire Virginia wing Trey Murphy III, who was one of their top targets. Murphy, who is three weeks older than Pelicans star Zion Williamson at 6-9, 206 pounds, fills an urgent need for the Pelicans with his shooting. Last season at Virginia, Murphy shot 50.3 percent overall, 43.3 percent from three, and 92.7 percent from the line, and he’s also a good defender. He should start looking for minutes straight immediately.
Which draft-night transaction stood out the most to you?
Youngmisuk: It’s the Lakers-Wizards showdown. Russell Westbrook provides much-needed energy and unrelenting drive that the Lakers lacked last season, thanks to GM Rob Pelinka’s addition of a playmaking third star to assist LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Los Angeles still has to acquire shooters and perimeter defenders, so Frank Vogel will have to figure out how to make the three work. The Westbrook period in Washington lasted just a year. With Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, they were able to add defense and potential cap room around Bradley Beal. In addition, they acquired Indiana point guard Aaron Holiday in exchange for the Lakers’ No. 22 selection.
The NBA’s free-agent signing period for 2021 will start on August 2, two days after the draft.
• The most up-to-date free agency and trade news and buzz The offseason will be defined by ten questions. The most important choices for all 30 teams • FA rankings by team for 2021 and 2022 Every club has draft assets that may be traded.
Marks: I appreciate what the Charlotte Hornets did leading up to the draft and throughout it. When they acquired veteran Mason Plumlee from the Pistons, they filled an obvious need at center. The Hornets were expected to have $22 million in salary space, but they spent $8.8 million on Plumlee, leaving $14 million in free agency to improve their bench. Kai Jones, a player with lottery potential who fits a need, was acquired in a trade with New York for the No. 19 selection, an unusual move for their usually cautious front staff. And although signing James Bouknight was not a trade, the guard is an insurance policy in case free agent Malik Monk leaves.
Bontemps: The Washington Wizards not only got Russell Westbrook without giving up a first-round selection or taking on bad debt, but they also got a first-round pick in the trade. General manager Tommy Sheppard did an outstanding job turning perhaps the worst deal in the league, that of John Wall, into long-term flexibility — and he did it without sacrificing a draft choice. Let’s just say I don’t believe this will work out for the Lakers, since Westbrook will be joining his fourth club in as many seasons.
Which second-round selection has the best chance of becoming an All-Star first?
Givony: Sharife Cooper enjoyed a historic season, being just the second rookie in the last 30 years to average over 20 points and eight rebounds, after Trae Young. Cooper has a potential to substantially outperform his selection position since he’s one of the greatest ball handlers in the draft, has a lightning-quick first step, and can go anywhere he wants on the court. Cooper’s small stature didn’t stop him from leading college basketball in points generated per game (40), demonstrating a great ability to create offense against top-tier opponents. Cooper will stay in his hometown of Atlanta, where he’ll most likely see G League action while waiting for his chance to prove NBA scouts wrong.
Medcalf: Jrue Holiday, a 6-3 defensive stalwart who hit 39 percent of his 3-pointers this season, led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA championship. Last season, Jared Butler, a 6-3 guard who will be 21 next month, guided Baylor to a national championship by hitting 42 percent of his 3-point attempts. Butler has the potential to become a high-level NBA player if he can improve as a defender (Baylor’s opponents committed mistakes on one-fourth of their possessions with Butler on the court) and retain his shooting stroke.
Young: Second-round picks are often tough to predict, but Isaiah Todd, the 31st overall selection, is a good bet. He was a top high school recruit in 2020 and played for the G-League Ignite last season. With his unusual mix of size and talent, he fell back into the second round, but was listed as a first-rounder on many draft boards. He’ll be joining a Washington team in urgent need of frontcourt depth, and despite being a project selection, he may have an early chance to grow.
What about this draft shocked you the most?
Pelton: The first SEC guard chosen was Josh Primo. In ESPN’s Top 100, he ranked fourth behind Tennessee’s Keon Johnson, Arkansas’ Moses Moody, and Auburn’s Sharife Cooper, and just one place ahead of LSU’s Cameron Thomas. Primo finished 14th in my consensus predictions, and I felt I was high on him. However, the San Antonio Spurs were clearly better, selecting him at No. 12 overall.
Lopez: I didn’t believe the NCAA tournament’s best player would fall that deep into the second round, but that’s exactly what occurred when Jared Butler dropped to No. 40 overall, where he was selected by Utah after passing through Memphis and New Orleans. Butler was flagged for a medical problem during the NBA combine, but a medical panel eventually cleared him. Still, his collegiate record speaks for itself: third-team All-American in 2020 and consensus first-team All-American in 2021 while leading the Bears to a national title.
Jalen Suggs is outside of the top four picks, according to Bontemps. I realize it doesn’t seem like much of a jump from fourth to fifth, but there seemed to be a strong consensus at the top of this class coming into the NBA draft lottery a month ago: Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley, and Suggs. It was surprising to watch Suggs sit on the bench for the Toronto Raptors before being passed up in favor of Florida State player Scottie Barnes. Suggs, on the other hand, finds himself in a position with the Orlando Magic, where he will be handed the keys to the Magic Kingdom from the start and will be the franchise’s initial face. With his stunning silver suit on Thursday night, he proved he can handle the limelight.
Who will win the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2022?
In his one season at Oklahoma State, Cade Cunningham averaged 20.1 points per game. Getty Images/Melanie Fidler/NBAE
Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green should be in a good position to fight for Rookie of the Year, but I’d give Cunningham the small advantage. With the ball in his hands, he’s in a position to succeed on a team that should be more competitive than Green’s Rockets.
Jalen Green, Youngmisuk. Green has previously played against guys in the G-League, which could aid his transition to the professionals more than some of his collegiate peers. He should also have plenty of chances to score. Green’s explosiveness and scoring skills should shine out even with John Wall and Kevin Porter Jr. in the backcourt.
Jalen Suggs is a young man. Because the Magic is undergoing a complete overhaul, Suggs will be given the keys to the vehicle very immediately and will be able to establish himself early. Suggs is a fierce competitor as well as a culture maker. He’ll join the Magic brand with the intention of turning the tables. Of course, the same can be said about Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, but with his penchant for huge plays, Suggs has the potential to create award-worthy moments.
Last year, when the Galaxy S8 launched, it was largely greeted with positive reviews, as it made a lot of improvements over the GS7. It was praised for its sleek new design, its powerful new processor, and its impressive new camera. But Samsung also had a few shortcomings, which some people noticed. The fingerprint sensor on the rear, for example, was not as fast as the one on the GS7. Furthermore, the battery was found to be smaller than that of the Galaxy S7. The most significant oversight, however, was the absence of a microSD card slot.. Read more about nba draft lottery 2021 rules and let us know what you think.
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James Gordon
