Tag: Ja’Kobe Walter

Lakers could move up in draft to target two specific prospects

The Lakers could end up being very aggressive during the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft.

For months, there have been rumors that the Los Angeles Lakers will be aggressive during the 2024 NBA Draft in an effort to improve their roster. One thing they may look to do is dangle up to three first-round picks in front of another team in order to get it to part with a star guard such as Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young or Dejounte Murray.

Another option Los Angeles has is to move up from the No. 17 pick in order to nab a prospect who it feels could become a difference-maker. If such a move yields the right player, it could be a very prudent one, especially given that the NBA’s salary cap has become even more restrictive, placing even more of a premium on drafting well.

If L.A. does move up in the draft, which starts on Wednesday, it reportedly has two specific prospects in mind.

Via Los Angeles Times:

“Some rival executives believe the Lakers could be aggressive in moving up in the first round,” wrote Dan Woike. “Two players they like, Providence’s Devin Carter and Baylor’s Ja’Kobe Walter, are expected to be picked ahead of No. 17.”

Carter is a 6-foot-2 guard who has a wingspan of over 6-foot-8 and is very aggressive, especially when it comes to taking the ball to the basket and guarding opposing point guards. He was also a very good rebounder in college, and that is an aspect of the game the Lakers badly need help with.

Walter, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, has a nice mid-range game and could have potential as an outside shooter. However, he shot just 37.6% from the field and 34.1% from 3-point range this season.

Latest mock draft has Sixers selecting Baylor’s Ja’Kobe Walter at 16

The latest mock draft has the Philadelphia 76ers selecting athletic Baylor wing Ja’Kobe Walter.

The 2024 NBA draft is now a week away and the Philadelphia 76ers have some decisions to make. They own the No. 16 pick in the first round and there is a good chance they trade the pick to acquire a player that will help them on their title quest right now.

With that being said, the Sixers could make the selection and bring in a young player who can help them move forward in the future. The Sixers still need to chase down the Boston Celtics, but also need young players for the future to develop.

A mock draft put together by Bleacher Report has the Sixers selecting Baylor wing Ja’Kobe Walter who has been a popular mock draft selection for Philadelphia:

No new updates were made to Ja’Kobe Walter’s scouting report after the NBA combine. His measurements, middle-of-the-pack athletic tests and promising shotmaking sequences were all expected.

He will get pegged with a safe label that sees a three-and-D 2-guard who can defend both wing positions. The lack of creation and playmaking may make it tougher for teams to picture upside worth a top-10 pick.

Walter averaged 14.5 points and 4.4 rebounds along with 1.4 assists as a freshman at Baylor. He is an athletic wing who can produce on both ends of the floor. He shot 34.1% from deep, which isn’t great, but it does show promise that he can turn into a legitimate threat from deep in the league.

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Latest mock draft has Sixers selecting Baylor wing Ja’Kobe Walter

The latest 2024 mock draft has the Philadelphia 76ers selecting Baylor wing Ja’Kobe Walter at No. 16.

As the Philadelphia 76ers head into the offseason, President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey knows he must find ways to upgrade the roster around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in order for the Sixers to contend in the Eastern Conference truly.

The way Morey will do that is through free agency and trade as the Sixers have a ton of cap space they can use to acquire a win-now player. Morey can also dangle the No. 16 pick and see if he can get a good role player from a team that wants to stockpile more picks.

With that being said, the Sixers do have that pick. A mock draft put together by HoopsHype has Philadelphia selecting Baylor wing Ja’Kobe Walter:

With Buddy Hield entering unrestricted free agency, Ja’Kobe Walter offers a cheaper three-point marksmanship alternative and is a capable perimeter defender with a 6-foot-10 wingspan.

Walter averaged 14.5 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 34.1% from deep as a freshman at Baylor. He is extremely athletic and will be a rotational player in the NBA.

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Rob Dillingham is among the second group of players invited to the draft green room

Dillingham conducted his required combine testing on Friday, clearing the way for him to become eligible to be selected in the draft.

Former Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham reportedly conducted his required combine testing, clearing the way for him to become eligible to be selected in the 2024 NBA draft.

Dillingham wasn’t able to participate in on-court testing last month at the combine because of an ankle injury. He was cleared this week from the injury and completed the requirements in front of teams on Friday at the Los Angeles Lakers‘ practice facility.

The 19-year-old was among the second group of prospects who received invitations from the NBA to attend the draft in the green room on June 26-27 at the Barlcays Center in Brooklyn, New York, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Teams with first-round picks each year vote on the players they believe will be drafted early, typically the top 20-25 prospects. Last year, 25 prospects were invited to the green room and only one wasn’t selected in the first round (Rayan Rupert, 43rd overall pick).

Included in the second batch of invitations were Serbian guard Nikola Topić, Duke players Jared McCain and Kyle Filipowski, Miami forward Kyshawn George, USC guard Isaiah Collier, Baylor center Yves Missi and Kansas forward Johnny Furphy.

The first group of players invited to the green room included French players Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr and Tidjane Salaün; UConn players Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle; G League Ignite players Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland; and Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard.

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Post-lottery mock draft has Sixers selecting Baylor wing Ja’Kobe Walter

A mock draft post-lottery has the Philadelphia 76ers selecting Baylor wing Ja’Kobe Walter at No. 16.

The lottery has been drawn for the 2024 NBA draft and the order is set for the nights of June 26 and June 27. The Atlanta Hawks will have the No. 1 pick in the draft as they seek an impact player to improve their roster.

The Philadelphia 76ers own the No. 16 pick in the draft. While one has to assume they’ll move the pick, there are options that can help them in that area of the draft.

A mock draft put together by The Athletic has the Sixers selecting athletic Baylor wing Ja’Kobe Walter:

Walter had an up-and-down season, averaging 14.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He was an inconsistent shooter, although teams don’t worry about his long-term upside there. His shot looks clean and he can make them from a variety of situations.

Teams, however, worry about everything else. Walter isn’t really a lead guard because he doesn’t see the floor well as a passer. Defensively, Walter struggled at times to stay in front of players.

Scouts are split on Walter’s upside. Most don’t see him as a star, but they disagree on whether he’s a long-term NBA starter or merely a rotation player. Those who believe he will a high-level shooter despite making just 34.1 percent from 3 last season tend to be buyers. But his range is somewhere from No. 11 down to No. 22 or so, which is lower than what it was earlier in the season.

Again, the Sixers are likely to trade this pick. Morey knows he’s on the clock to deliver a title to Philadelphia and he has to bring in a player who’s ready to win right now rather than a developmental player. However, a guy like Walter could end up helping over time.

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Ja’Kobe Walter: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2004 | 6’5 | 6’10 WS | 195 LBS Team: Baylor Best aggregate mock draft rank: 1 / Worst rank: 16 2023-24 stats: In 2023-24, Walter averaged 14.5 points in 35 games with 32.3 minutes per contest game. He recorded 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.2 blocks, …

2004 | 6’5 | 6’10 WS | 195 LBS

Team: Baylor

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 1 / Worst rank: 16

2023-24 stats:

In 2023-24, Walter averaged 14.5 points in 35 games with 32.3 minutes per contest game. He recorded 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.2 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game. His shooting percentages were 37.6 percent from three, 34.1 percent from three, and 79.2 percent from the foul line.

Big 12 Freshman of the Year Ja’Kobe Walter announces NBA draft decision

Walter was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year after averaging 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 35 games.

Baylor guard Ja’Kobe Walter told Shams Charania of The Athletic on Monday that he will forgo his remaining college eligibility and declare for the 2024 NBA draft.

Walter was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year after averaging 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals on 34.1% shooting from 3-point range in 35 games. His 508 total points rank as the second-most by a freshman in program history.

He was also named to the All-Big 12 third team.

Walter struggled during the first month of conference play but settled in and finished the year on a high note. He totaled 39 points and 10 rebounds in two games in the NCAA Tournament as the Bears lost to Clemson in the round of 32.

Walter is projected to be a mid-first-round pick, given his scoring ability after producing nine 20-point games. He can get to his spots well, pull up from virtually everywhere, and get into the paint and finish. He can also lock up on defense and make things tough for the opposition.

He will have the opportunity to improve his draft positioning in team interviews and workouts over the pre-draft process. He could also be invited to compete in the G League Elite Camp or draft combine next month in Chicago, Illinois.

The 2024 NBA draft take place June 26-27 in New York City.

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Chicago Bulls select 6-foot-5 guard in latest 2024 NBA Mock Draft

A recent 2024 NBA Mock Draft has the Chicago Bulls selecting Baylor guard Ja’Kobe Walter.

This summer will be an important one for the Chicago Bulls as they will have a chance to seriously plan for the future. The 2024 NBA Draft will provide them with an opportunity to add some much-needed young talent to the roster, ideally to complement the likes of Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Patrick Williams (if he re-signs).

A recent 2024 NBA Mock Draft from Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report has the Bulls selecting Baylor guard Ja’Kobe Walter with the 12th pick. Walter is a 6-foot-5 guard who is in his freshman season with the Bears and could be a solid shot-creator in the NBA.

Wasserman notes this skill as a reason teams may look to select him.

“A falling three-point percentage won’t cause scouts to stop seeing an NBA shotmaker in Ja’Kobe Walter. Dating back to high school, the eye test shows a versatile shooter with impressive positional tools and some extra ability to hit tough runners,” Wasserman wrote. “It’s the lack of creation and playmaking that raise some concern and highlight the importance of Walter being able to consistently knock down jumpers. Over Baylor’s last 13 games, he’s just 19-of-80 from deep with 21 assists”

So far this season at Baylor, Walter is averaging 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 38.5% from the field and 32.3% from behind the three-point line.

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2024 NBA Mock Draft: Latest first-round projections at midway point of season

Rookie Wire took a look at the 2024 NBA draft class and where the top prospects stand as of Feb. 1.

The top NBA draft prospects worldwide have collectively reached the second halves of their respective seasons as they look to showcase themselves in front of scouts and executives.

The class this year has seen several players help their stock, while others have struggled and fallen down draft boards. Some players have also dealt with recent injuries and other factors that have prevented them from reaching their potential.

The draft is widely considered open at the top of the board, with several prospects in the conversation to be the first selection. Unlike last year, when Victor Wembanyama was the consensus No. 1 pick, there is no clear-cut choice this year.

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Prospects will continue to see their standing fluctuate over the remaining two-plus months of action on the court as scouts have more time to evaluate them. The sheer unknown atop the draft board should create plenty of storylines to follow over the remainder of the season.

The NBA announced on Wednesday that the draft will be expanded to a two-night format, with the first round set to take place on June 26 at the Barclays Center. The second round will be at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York the following night.

Rookie Wire looked at the class and where the top prospects stand at this point of the season. The order was determined by the reverse order of the NBA standings as of Feb. 1.

Note: Player fit wasn’t necessarily taken into account with each pick. Pick protections and other notes courtesy of Tankathon.

Latest NBA Mock Draft has Bulls select Baylor wing with 8th pick

In a recent NBA Mock Draft, the Chicago Bulls selected Ja’kobe Walter out of Baylor.

As the season rolls on, the Chicago Bulls should focus most of their energy on the trade deadline. Despite their recent success, the Bulls still don’t have the talent to compete with the top teams in the East, and getting assets in return for their veteran assets should be a top priority.

However, since the Bulls will likely finish toward the bottom of the conference and perhaps even miss the playoffs, the NBA Draft will be important, too. Chicago could end up with a top-10 pick this year, and nailing that selection will be crucial to the future success of the franchise.

In a recent NBA Mock Draft compiled by Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, the Bulls would select Ja’kobe Walter out of Baylor.a

The 19-year-old is currently in his freshman season with the Bears. At 6-foot-5, he’s proven to be a reliable three-point shooter with solid defensive tools.

“Positional tools and shotmaking versatility create a floor and easy fit that’s seemingly solidified Ja’Kobe Walter in the top-10 discussion,” Wasserman wrote.

“His skill set is tailored for plug-and-play off-ball scoring, with Walter shooting 40.0 percent on spot-up threes and 9-of-16 on shots off screens. But he’s also looked effective scoring in ball-screen situations, mostly by attacking downhill, finishing through contact or earning trips to the free-throw line.

“At 6’5″ with length and strength, he has the defensive tools to pair with a jumper, creating a low-risk, popular archetype.”

So far this year, Walter is averaging 15.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 44.5% from the floor and 41.3% from deep on 5.8 three-point attempts per game.

For a Bulls team that should be constantly looking to add shooting, Walter makes a ton of sense.

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