2024 Draft Prospects

[MasterIchiro]

Would I like OG Anunoby more if he could create for others like a combo guard? Duh. But he has to have a 3 ball because he can't. So I should not want him, right? False equivalence.

[MasterIchiro]

...

If Castle went to another school besides UCONN, would you like him as much?

He just scored 2pts on 16% shooting... and his team won by 20. Including a 30-0 run. This UCONN team is loaded, he's basically a role-player.

5th in scoring.
4th in rebounds.
3rd in assists.
5th in steals. 4th in blocks.
2nd to last (among those who play) in 3pt%.

If we're drafting top 5, picking Castle would be a pretty big reach.

If he played for UNC or Duke, I wouldn't know as much about him. So I would not find as many things to like about him.

But I just got through saying my first choice in this draft is not even playing in the NCAA, let alone playing for my team or yours. He's from Serbia.

You guys have been framing me as a UConn homer since Kemba. Yet I was a huge supporter of Malik Monk who played for Kentucky. I despise Kentucky and hate Calipari.

So quit the bull.

Hard to have a conversation around here if you are gonna try to box me in like this.

[MasterIchiro]

y'all who want Topic because LaMelo is injury prone a reminder Topic just missed 3 months with a knee injury

For me with Topic it started when LaMelo was still on the floor, not yet injured, not yet shut down for the stretch.

It started before the deadline. I determined we needed IQ and playmaking even WITH LaMelo. I never bought in to Terry as a playmaker due to his iso tendencies. He was the one who needed to go. He's low IQ. He gets tunnel vision. Topic and LaMelo have elite court vision. You need that if you're playing with a post player at the 5 long term who strictly finishes plays and doesn't initiate at all.

Castle at least is a combo guard so he brings some of that creation for others we need, plus we need defense. Topic is elite at creating for others, a better shooter, but doesn't bring the elite perimeter defense we need.

All of these prospects are missing something. We can all agree on that. We have to pick and choose and go without. We have to prioritize.

The ball needs to move. The players need to make the right play.

I think we saw how smart players like Micic can make an impact. Grant makes smart plays on defense. We prioritized IQ at the deadline.

We should continue to do so. Just my preference.

[MasterIchiro]

But Castle does have high IQ, on both ends no less, so he checks off that box. I'm flexible.

Topic I just think has more upside to be special beyond his role. I think Castle profiles more as being special within his role. Nick Smith Jr. adds a layer of shooting off the bench that accommodates either Castle or Topic as the pick. We are hedged. We don't have to rely on either shooting the ball from deep as well as LaMelo, Miller and Nick Smith Jr.

[MasterIchiro]

I think Topic can make the offense elite. And while Castle can make the defense elite, as you all know, I favor offense over defense in this league. So I'm at odds with the guy who buried Malik Monk under MCW and gave more shot attempts to JT Thor than James Bouknight.

[Rich4114]

Hahaha

Read on Twitter

LOL - yeah it's called trying. He should look into that style of play some day

[Rich4114]

I really haven't looked closely at the top prospects, just casually really. Plus the rising stars games. It's hard to not like the potential of Matas Buzelis. He seems to have the length, skill and drive that makes a good player.

[yosemiteben]

Nik Topic is my guy, guy. He's not a shooter either.

Would you like him less if he also was an elite shooter? It's just a truly wild take to spin him being a bad shooter as a positive.

I don't think you understand that these prospects, all of them, offer talents that come with some limit and you have to prioritize skills that fit the team.

So you think my view is that these prospects have unlimited talent in all areas?

I'm well aware that they do not all have the same skill set.

My view is that if we're drafting someone primarily to be a high BBIQ POA defender and facilitator at a guard spot, then I want someone with elite size / length that does not have a size disadvantage when guarding big wings

I don't know why you keep making these Rozier arguments, no one is saying let's draft an undersized non-PG with limited on ball creation and playmaking skills and make him a primary offensive option.

[yosemiteben]

Would I like OG Anunoby more if he could create for others like a combo guard? Duh. But he has to have a 3 ball because he can't. So I should not want him, right? False equivalence.

If Castle had Anunoby's size and length I'd be more interested. I don't see it.

If Castle shows up at the combine and is 6'6"+ at 230+ lbs with a 7'2"+ wingspan like OG was, I'll find him a lot more interesting.

His ability to create for others is neutered if he's a non-shooting guard, he's not going to command attention and will let people help off him.

[GoBobs]

Edey with 40 and 16 to carry his team to the final 4

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/a5RGjwExZyk

[JDR720]

Proctor with a solid 0pts against NC State.

Edey is totally dominant. It's not really even fair.

[Diop]

Proctor with a solid 0pts against NC State.

Edey is totally dominant. It's not really even fair.

Send him to bloody New Zealand

[luciano-davidwesley]

Read on Twitter

Was the Illinois defender drunk when he laid out the red carpet to the baseline?

[Snidely FC]

The complaint about Edey. Cutting the net without a ladder showed it’s easier for Edey to maintain verticality, I guess?
https://athlonsports.com/college-basketball/everyone-has-the-same-complaint-about-zach-edey-on-sunday

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/mens-basketball/2024/03/31/tennessee-basketball-reaction-zach-edey-officiating-purdue-elite-8-game/73161620007/

https://www.rockytopinsider.com/2024/03/31/what-rick-barnes-tennessee-players-said-about-officiating-in-elite-eight-loss/

[fatlever]

Who would you rather have as Mark insurance?
Clingan or edey?

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[Snidely FC]

Clingan

[MugzZo]

Who would you rather have as Mark insurance?
Clingan or edey?



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Clingan. If Purdue and uconn win, that's gonna be a huge game for both of them in terms of draft evaluation.

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[SWedd523]

Who would you rather have as Mark insurance?
Clingan or edey?

Sent from my SM-G973U using RealGM mobile app

Klingon

I don't care one bit how well they perform in the tournament. I don't see Edey being a viable solution due to his lack of speed and spacing.

I don't necessarily think Klingon is a good fit in his own right because he's not really a floor spacer either, but at least he shows some athleticism and mobility

[GoBobs]

Edey has been remarkably durable while Klingan has a history of foot injury. I think Klingan will need to gain some weight to not get pushed around all the time. If he does gain weight that puts more pressure on the foot and limits the mobility which is what people like about him.

There are fouls occurring on every play down low in basketball between guys fighting for a rebound. Edey gets fouled more than anyone else, but he can play through it a lot of times because he is 300 lb and physical. Over the course of the game he drains the other guys stamina bar who are trying to box him out. A lot of guys are fouling him because they feel there is nothing else they can do, but also because they are tired.

We are almost certainly going to see a head to head between Klingan and Edey. Edey is a terrible matchup for Burns and UCON has been murdering everyone with superior coaching.

When that happens you will see Edey drain Klingan's stamina bar over the course of the game. Also Edey's endurance is amazing for a guy that big. Last game he played almost the entire game with no rest.

[Snidely FC]

regardless it would be a shame to use a Top 10 pick on insurance or a backup player

there are other prospects in this draft to take an upside swing at before either of those Centers