2024 Draft Prospects

[JDR720]

Which is basically double his normal averages.

[MPM]

Whittled down to Topic and Sarr on my end. If for whatever reason both are gone, I legit have little preference. Wonder if we land #3 and Topic and Sarr go top 2, if ATL would do 3 for 10 and 15? In any other draft, the answer is an easy yes. In this one? Who knows. In any case at 10/15 you could walk away with a quality duo. Mocks are all over the place. Some even have Topic slipping to 10ish. I doubt it, but speaks to how open ended this draft is. I don't feel any player outside of the above two are even worth a 3rd pick.

[SWedd523]

Could be the weakest draft in history and I'd still never advocate moving down from 3 to 10 and 15

[MPM]

Could be the weakest draft in history and I'd still never advocate moving down from 3 to 10 and 15

Yeah, normally I'm not a trade down guy. Success stats (draft position vs outcome) don't lie. But mocks are insane. For example, the first three mocks I just pulled up have Dillingham (who I would hate us drafting) at #2, #8, #12. Knecht at #3, #8, #13, etc. There will be real value at 10 and 15 this year. Hell, I'd rather take a gamble on a combo like Collier/Buzelis than someone like Risacher at 3. Again, in this draft.

EDIT - fwiw, Topic is mocked #4 (yahoo), #3 (ringer), #14 (nbadraft), #9 (BR), #6 (CBS) - just zero consensus on anyone outside of Sarr being top 3 really. Strike that - Holland is another outlier/consensus-bringer - 7, 7, 10, 7, 7, 9. Jesus, obviously a busy Sunday for me.

[JustBuzzin]

I see a lot of people favoring Topic.

So my question is do y'all have him starting at PG/SG or coming off the bench as a 6th man?

Micic is pretty solid as a backup. If we draft Topic I hope he can fit with Melo in the starting unit.

[MugzZo]

Topic/micic
Melo/mann

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[JustBuzzin]

Melo giving up the ball good luck with that!

What makes him special is his ability to create with the ball in his hands. I think Topic would be better in the SG role than Melo would.

[MPM]

Topic/micic
Melo/mann

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Yep. Plus, an injury-free Melo is far from a given. Topic and Melo would be an interesting look for stretches as well. Topic needs to improve his shooting but is always pressuring the rim which is a good look with Melo's crazy range shooting.

FWIW, I lean Sarr if he's there, Topic if he's not. If we manage to land Topic, I'd kick the tires on Hartenstein over the summer. Should be some interesting flyer bigs at 41 as well. Brazile, Grant Nelson, come to mind. This said hoping Nnaji can come over and surprise.

[LofJ]

I don't understand why Holland isn't a consensus top 3 pick in a draft as weak as this. He's an athletic wing with a great motor and a workable jump shot. He's a better prospect than Jaylen Brown was coming out of college and he out produced both Scoot and Kuminga in the G-League. His block and steal rate is elite. If he had shot better from 3 this year he'd easily be the runaway best prospect in this draft.

[MPM]

I don't understand why Holland isn't a consensus top 3 pick in a draft as weak as this. He's an athletic wing with a great motor and a workable jump shot. He's a better prospect than Jaylen Brown was coming out of college and he out produced both Scoot and Kuminga in the G-League. He block and steal rate is elite. If he had shot better from 3 this year he'd easily be the runaway best prospect in this draft.

I've got Holland as my third want at this point. Soured on Risacher after watching more of his 'tape'

[LofJ]

I don't understand why Holland isn't a consensus top 3 pick in a draft as weak as this. He's an athletic wing with a great motor and a workable jump shot. He's a better prospect than Jaylen Brown was coming out of college and he out produced both Scoot and Kuminga in the G-League. He block and steal rate is elite. If he had shot better from 3 this year he'd easily be the runaway best prospect in this draft.

I've got Holland as my third want at this point. Soured on Risacher after watching more of his 'tape'

Agreed on Risacher, I don't see it with him. He's passive just like Batum, but less skilled and less talented.

I like Sarr, Holland, and Topic. I like Castle as well, but I don't feel as confident that his shot will develop compared to Holland. And Holland is bigger and more athletic, he's the superior prospect in my opinion.

[SWedd523]

finished with the same record as Portland and we split the series. Any word on final standing

[JDR720]

finished with the same record as Portland and we split the series. Any word on final standing

I think it'll be determined via coin flip.

[JDR720]

Read on Twitter

[JDR720]

My top 3 Mock Draft, assuming we end up 4th and the order in front of us doesn't change.

1- Pistons, Sarr. The fit is weird since nobody on Detroit can shoot, but Sarr can play PF next to Duren. Can't see them pick Castle or Topic. Dark horse? Buzelis.
2- Wizards, Topic. If the Pistons pass, they'll get Sarr.
3- Portland, Buzelis. I don't see them picking Castle due to poor fit with Scoot. Also no Topic. So they get Buzelis who can sort of do it all.


That leaves our potential picks.

- Topic, if the Wizards don't pick him.
- Buzelis, if he isn't surprise #1 or a Blazer.
- Castle, I think it's basically guaranteed he'll be there. The Wizards are the only potential landing spot besides us.
- Clingan
- Holland
- Reed
etc.

Eliminating Topic and Buzelis for simplicity.

That leaves Clingan, Holland, Castle and Reed.

I don't like Castle's fit. Are we drafting Clingan with Mark? If we do, that's a really bad sign for Mark. Reed is guaranteed to be a good shooter, but "lacks upside".

So... that leaves Holland.

[JDR720]

Pretty in depth report on Holland.

https://mavsdraft.com/ron-holland-scouting-report

[MugzZo]

Holland is a very good get in the draft. We would be lucky ti have him and i think he's obviously a better prospect than castle.

Some were comparing castle to Marcus smart. Well some on here have said Holland is a better prospect than jaylen brown. So if that's the case, it's an easy call.

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[Diop]

I see a lot of people favoring Topic.

So my question is do y'all have him starting at PG/SG or coming off the bench as a 6th man?

Micic is pretty solid as a backup. If we draft Topic I hope he can fit with Melo in the starting unit.

Topic is also very young, like Kobe Bryant young. You gotta limit your expectations for his first year.

[Diop]

Could be the weakest draft in history and I'd still never advocate moving down from 3 to 10 and 15

Yeah, normally I'm not a trade down guy. Success stats (draft position vs outcome) don't lie. But mocks are insane. For example, the first three mocks I just pulled up have Dillingham (who I would hate us drafting) at #2, #8, #12. Knecht at #3, #8, #13, etc. There will be real value at 10 and 15 this year. Hell, I'd rather take a gamble on a combo like Collier/Buzelis than someone like Risacher at 3. Again, in this draft.

EDIT - fwiw, Topic is mocked #4 (yahoo), #3 (ringer), #14 (nbadraft), #9 (BR), #6 (CBS) - just zero consensus on anyone outside of Sarr being top 3 really. Strike that - Holland is another outlier/consensus-bringer - 7, 7, 10, 7, 7, 9. Jesus, obviously a busy Sunday for me.

not to sound like Mitch from previous years, but do we want 2 rookies next year?
How many positions do we have available?

Ball, Mann, Curry
Miller, Micic, Smith Jr
Cody, Bertans??
Miles, Grant, Poku
Mark, Richards,

We need an upgrade at backup 5 who can be relied upon to start. As in a veteran, not hoping Sarr lands and works out. (also i reckon Grant could bully Sarr in the post, let alone a big centre). The players in bold are the ones I really want to keep, and I wouldnt be mad if we kept them all. Cody with his worrisome knee is the player I want to upgrade the most.

So they have some decisions and moves to make.

[JDR720]

Holland is a very good get in the draft. We would be lucky ti have him and i think he's obviously a better prospect than castle.

Some were comparing castle to Marcus smart. Well some on here have said Holland is a better prospect than jaylen brown. So if that's the case, it's an easy call.

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I think Holland is a better prospect than Castle. Neither can shoot, but Holland is more athletic and bigger.

Holland seems to be the prototypical "high floor" player, due to his defensive ability and hustle. Of course, he could be Stanley Johnson too.

Maybe something like 15/7/2 on 45/30/75 can be reasonable for him.