2024 Draft Prospects

[Diop]

Just sign bol bol then

[wilson115]

Real Question for those pushing Sheppard, how does he play more than 15 mpg for us? Are you starting him at the 2? Are you moving LaMelo to the 2 full time?

You pack your frontline with defensive-minded bigs and wings like the Cavs, Knicks, Pacers, Wolves, and Mavs do and let your little guys (or defensively-challenged not-so-little ones) who can shoot and handle the ball go to town on offense.

We're lucky to have Grant and Brandon at least, if we can just get Mark healthy and get depth behind them (either internally thru player development, see: Nnaji, James, or through the draft or an FA) we can play with the same chips those other teams have. But we need guys who can shoot.

[JDR720]

If Prichtard can play 25mins for the best team in the league, then Reed should be able play that much for us too.

I actually think he has the cleanest role of the guys we could potentially pick from.

On the bench, he's the long-term backup PG/SG.
Starting, he's the 3pt specialist, PG defender and 3rd playmaker.

[MugzZo]

I think I’m ok if we take Sheppard now. If and when melo goes down we sure could use him. He gives us pg insurance at least so that’s a plus. Micic is a good backup but if if we have to transition not this upcoming year but the following season he would be good to have him in place and ready to go. He can probably get away with some minutes at the 2 for periods of time because he’s a good athlete with defensive instincts. He has upside I just hope he turns into more than Pritchard or mcconell if we draft him.


On to another player if clingan slips id grab him up quickly. We need 2 centers ideally split the 48 mins between the 2 and keep them fresh, then let the future handle itself. If mark is healthy we are rich at center with both holding the fort down. I doubt he will be there but if he is he would be the BPA and we gotta at least consider taking him, simply for his defense alone.

[JustBuzzin]

If we really trying to turn this ship around sooner than later then we should sell out for Mikal Bridges.

Give them 3 1st including this year's lottery pick and Bertans expiring contract.


Melo
Miller
Mk.Bridges
Mi.Bridges
Mark

[Liver_Pooty]

If we really trying to turn this ship around sooner than later then we should sell out for Mikal Bridges.

Give them 3 1st including this year's lottery pick and Bertans expiring contract.


Melo
Miller
Mk.Bridges
Mi.Bridges
Mark

Now you're speaking my language. Did we just become friends?

[KingCat]

No way Mikal is worth 3 first.

[JustBuzzin]

If we really trying to turn this ship around sooner than later then we should sell out for Mikal Bridges.

Give them 3 1st including this year's lottery pick and Bertans expiring contract.


Melo
Miller
Mk.Bridges
Mi.Bridges
Mark

Now you're speaking my language. Did we just become friends?

Nah I'm a loner.

Nah seriously the more I think about this draft it isn't really doing it for me. Why not sell out those picks right now.

We are a playoff team with Mikal Bridges. He's literally the perfect wing you put next to Miller.

[Liver_Pooty]

If we really trying to turn this ship around sooner than later then we should sell out for Mikal Bridges.

Give them 3 1st including this year's lottery pick and Bertans expiring contract.


Melo
Miller
Mk.Bridges
Mi.Bridges
Mark

Now you're speaking my language. Did we just become friends?

Nah I'm a loner.

Nah seriously the more I think about this draft it isn't really doing it for me. Why not sell out those picks right now.

We are a playoff team with Mikal Bridges. He's literally the perfect wing you put next to Miller.

I've been wanting Mikal for over a year now. Nets won't let him go though, unfortunately.

[JustBuzzin]

Now you're speaking my language. Did we just become friends?

Nah I'm a loner.

Nah seriously the more I think about this draft it isn't really doing it for me. Why not sell out those picks right now.

We are a playoff team with Mikal Bridges. He's literally the perfect wing you put next to Miller.

I've been wanting Mikal for over a year now. Nets won't let him go though, unfortunately.

Yeah they reportedly want to build around him. He's not that kind of player imo.

He's a 2nd/3rd option on a contender. Not the face of the franchise. Nets gonna Nets.

[JMAC3]

If Prichtard can play 25mins for the best team in the league, then Reed should be able play that much for us too.

I actually think he has the cleanest role of the guys we could potentially pick from.

On the bench, he's the long-term backup PG/SG.
Starting, he's the 3pt specialist, PG defender and 3rd playmaker.

Yeah Boston also starts two 6-5 guards who just made all defense... obviously that helps them get away with playing a small guard like Pritchard. Our roster is completely different and I don't think we get Pritchard and he is all of a sudden playing 30 mins and we are fine.

[Rich4114]

Terry Rozier had a 6-8.25 wingspan and we thought we were too small with him, but let's re-roll the dice with someone that has a 6-3.5 wingspan...

Terry Rozier was also a chucker who had zero inclination to even try on defense, so there's that too.

Why don't we just go sign the tallest person in the world because they'll clearly be the best player in the world? Well at least during measurements season anyway.

Terry was bad for us because he needed to dominate the ball to be effective. Without the ball, he wasn't a good spot up shooter or defender. That type of basketball is difficult to win with unless you have a dominating front court (which we have basically never had since like 1998).

[JMAC3]

I'm probably picking Topic over Sheppard anyway if they are both there at 6.

There is more to being a basketball player than just measurables though. We get a bit carried away with it during measurements season.

Kai Jones had great measureables but no ability to process a game. What's between the ears is always going to be more important than measurements.

Size isn't everything, but the best way to limit your teams success in the NBA today is to constantly be playing a small backcourt that gets hunted in switches.

We have seen it with Dame/CJ... Garland/Mitchell... Conley/Mitchell...
We just experienced it with Ball/Terry

Why knowingly put us into that situation again? Sheppard is a good shooter, but he is also a pretty poor defender which will probably be even more of an issue in the NBA than it was in college. He also really struggled to get to the rim in college, majority of games he was a complete non-factor inside of 20 feet.

Reed is more of a LaMelo type of defender.. he can make the miracle steal, cheats off his man to run through passing lanes.. but he isn't the type of guy that can survive on an island. Kentucky knew this and that is why Sheppard and Dillingham didn't start, Coach Cal mentioned it several times. Kentucky was one of the worst defenses in the country with one of the best offenses.

Kentucky often times hid Sheppard on the worst offensive players. He wasn't ever assigned to the other team's best offensive player and when he did get switched onto them, he was toast. Knecht specifically called for a clear out every time and Sheppard was getting blown by.

[JMAC3]

Terry Rozier had a 6-8.25 wingspan and we thought we were too small with him, but let's re-roll the dice with someone that has a 6-3.5 wingspan...

Terry Rozier was also a chucker who had zero inclination to even try on defense, so there's that too.

Why don't we just go sign the tallest person in the world because they'll clearly be the best player in the world? Well at least during measurements season anyway.

Terry was bad for us because he needed to dominate the ball to be effective. Without the ball, he wasn't a good spot up shooter or defender. That type of basketball is difficult to win with unless you have a dominating front court (which we have basically never had since like 1998).

Playing him next to an undersized shooter who is a poor defender doesn't really feel like an upgrade. I agree Sheppard could probably make some threes and give us a decent ball handler, but why not just go draft a 3D shooter who can actually defend if we have the opportunity?

Adding a small SG to go with playing 2 guys that are 6-6 at PF doesn't really feel like the best way to improve our defense.

[Rich4114]

No way Mikal is worth 3 first.

It depends on the firsts. I'd happily trade the Dallas, Miami and our own top 3 protected first for him.

[JMAC3]

Beating a dead horse here, but if Reed had Caruso size then yeah maybe I could get more on board.
 
Alex Caruso is 3 inches taller than Reed.
His standing reach is 8-6, Sheppard is 7'-9.5... 8.5 inches higher
Caruso also has a 44 inch vert, Sheppard had 42 inch after cheating on standing reach.

[Rich4114]

Terry Rozier was also a chucker who had zero inclination to even try on defense, so there's that too.

Why don't we just go sign the tallest person in the world because they'll clearly be the best player in the world? Well at least during measurements season anyway.

Terry was bad for us because he needed to dominate the ball to be effective. Without the ball, he wasn't a good spot up shooter or defender. That type of basketball is difficult to win with unless you have a dominating front court (which we have basically never had since like 1998).

Playing him next to an undersized shooter who is a poor defender doesn't really feel like an upgrade. I agree Sheppard could probably make some threes and give us a decent ball handler, but why not just go draft a 3D shooter who can actually defend if we have the opportunity?

Adding a small SG to go with playing 2 guys that are 6-6 at PF doesn't really feel like the best way to improve our defense.

Oh I'm with you on this one. Reed isn't a good fit for us because of everything you mentioned.

I am starting to warm up to Ron Holland though. His shooting numbers were trash, but his form is actually good and his %''s were bad due to his insanely high usage rate, bad shots, lack of organization, etc. Ignite actually makes these prospects look worse than they are, it's run like the Hornets summer league. So if his shot mechanics are good, he's 18 years old, slots into the SG or SF spot at 6'6", is a high energy guy, defends well, etc. It's like the higher upside version of Castle without the "I need to play PG" issue.

Overall, I want to see us get bigger. I think we would have an advantage if we could create mis-matches 1-5. We'll be undersized at the 4 though with Miles at PF but can make up for it everywhere else with a guy like Ron Holland in the lineup.

[JMAC3]

Shooting numbers for the guys we are considering. This is out of the 80 shots they attempted in 3 different drills, stand still shooting, off dribble shooting and catch and shoot off the move.

Top Shooters for reference -
Alex Karaban 65 makes
Mark Sears 61 makes
Dalton Knecht 59 makes
Cam Spencer 59 makes

Guys we are considering
Dalton Knecht 59 makes
Jakobe Walter 50 makes
Reed Sheppard 49 makes
Stephon Castle 46 makes
Kyshawn George 46 makes
Alex Sarr 44 makes
Donovan Clingan 43 makes
Zach Edey 43 makes
Matas Buzellis 42 makes
Ron Holland 40 makes
Isiah Collier 37 makes

Ryan Dunn 28 makes- dead last

Topic - N/A
Risacher - N/A
Dillingham - N/A

[GoBobs]

I think it will be forward or center. The pick might say something about how we feel about Mark Williams health or Miles Bridges chances to resign.

If Bridges leaves you really need help at forward.

If you don't feel great about Mark Williams chances to fully return from injury we really need help at center.

Thinking the pick will be Ron Holland or Edey.

[JustBuzzin]

I think it will be forward or center. The pick might say something about how we feel about Mark Williams health or Miles Bridges chances to resign.

If Bridges leaves you really need help at forward.

If you don't feel great about Mark Williams chances to fully return from injury we really need help at center.

Thinking the pick will be Ron Holland or Edey.

Even if Bridges returns we still lack depth at forward. We have 2 6'6 guys playing pf. We need a true long tall wing. Miller is more of a guard this early in his career.