2024 NBA Draft Thread

[Jamaaliver]

If the shooting comes around, he'll be special.

Watch on YouTube

[Jamaaliver]

6'3" sweet shooting PG with solid defense:

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

Justin Edwards | 6-8 wing | 20 years old | Kentucky

Watch on YouTube

Welcome back to the party! Over his last 10 games, Edwards, a five-star recruit initially considered a potential top-five pick before a difficult start to the season, is averaging 11.3 points and three rebounds per game while shooting 61.5 percent from the field and 55 percent from 3. He and the Wildcats battled through his early struggles and seem to have come out on the other side with a productive player who has contributed to important wins recently. Whereas he was a mess on defense early in the season as he struggled to get Kentucky’s rotations down, he’s been more consistently in the right places of late. Instead of trying to do too much with the ball, as was the case most of the campaign, he’s now happy to play within the flow of the offense as a floor-spacer who attacks closeouts occasionally and cuts.

NBA scouts latched onto Edwards initially because they love big wings who can knock down shots and play with the ball a bit. Now, he’s finally starting to fit that criteria more and more. The high lottery is out of the question, but don’t be stunned if Edwards is able to at least secure a first-round slot after his horrible start. He deserves credit for fighting through the adversity, as does Wildcats coach John Calipari for sticking with him.

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

KAM Jones outta Marquette has had an amazing last month of college basketball. he's a 6'5 Junior SG who's built like a tank, has no fear and hits from all over the court. Reminds me a lot of prime Lance Stephenson.

Why is he overlooked as an NBA prospect?

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

6'3" sweet shooting PG with solid defense:

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

This new mock draft from Givony at ESPN Insider is a pretty lazy effort.
Feels like something ESPN threw together last night for deadline.
(Hawks take two teenaged PGs in the top 20 who can't shoot or effectively run an offense?)

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

NBA PG Prospects advancing to the Sweet 16

Tyler Kolek | PG | Marquette | Age: 22.9 | Top 100: No. 29

Spoiler:

Kolek returned this past week from an oblique injury that sidelined him since Feb. 28. While likely not playing at 100%, he impacted the game in several ways as usual, coming up big to lead Marquette to the Sweet 16 with wins over Western Kentucky (18 points and 11 assists) and Colorado (22 and 11). With Kentucky losing on Thursday, the Golden Eagles have a favorable pathway to the Elite Eight, with No. 11-seed NC State lying in wait in the Sweet 16, giving Kolek a great platform as well as another handful of days to rest and get healthier.

While it did come with some turnovers, Kolek's playmaking was terrific in the nail-biter against the Buffaloes, where he took full advantage of the matchup and was able to involve teammates and ultimately dictate the flow of the game enough to advance. An excellent improviser who excels going to his strong hand side, Kolek uses ball screens well and gets into the paint effectively despite a below-average athletic profile by NBA standards.

Kolek's limited tools will make him a bit more divisive than some other guards, but it's hard to deny the level at which he drives winning in college. The prospect of going further into the tournament creates another opportunity for him to extend his career and solidify himself as a potential first-rounder. -- Woo

Jared McCain | PG/SG | Duke | Age: 20.0 | Top 100: 19

Spoiler:

McCain was impressive versus James Madison right from the opening tip, dropping 22 first-half points (6-of-8 from 3) to give Duke a 22-point lead at half in the eventual 38-point victory. He drained step-back jumpers, 3s drifting off movement, rose up sharply in transition or from the corners, and showed polished footwork, pace and intelligence operating out of the pick and roll with tremendous confidence, all while never forcing anything and bringing excellent intensity defensively and on the glass. Now shooting 42% from 3 on the season, McCain's scoring instincts and versatile shot-making prowess give him an easy niche he can fill in the NBA when combined with his feel for the game, toughness and aggressiveness. A tough task lies ahead on Friday with No. 1 seed Houston, one that also brings great promise in terms of McCain's NBA prospects if he can hold his own against the best defense in college basketball. -- Givony

ESPN Insider

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

Tristan da Silva | SF/PF | Colorado | Age: 22.8 | Top 100: No. 18

Watch on YouTube

One of the big winners of March thus far, da Silva finished his excellent senior season on a strong note, with Colorado beating Boise State and Florida before coming close to an upset of Marquette on Sunday. He scored 54 points and went 9-of-16 from 3 in three tournament games, playing an immensely important role for the Buffaloes on both ends of the floor and showcasing the versatility that makes him a pretty safe bet to find a spot in the NBA in relatively short order.

While not a high-volume scorer by nature, da Silva has the right array of skills to provide valuable connective tissue in different types of lineups, and he can do it on both ends of the floor. The knock on him long centered on his passive approach to scoring but he's taken a jump in that area, proving he can step up when called upon as a scorer, displaying a comfort level getting into his shot off the catch and off the dribble, as well as cutting and attacking closeouts. He's also a smart passer with solid positional size, making good decisions that should let him fit nicely alongside better talent.

Da Silva needs to get a bit stronger and could be more physical in general, but he's a fluid mover who can switch defensively, showcasing good acumen away from the ball in rotations. He has an ability to alter shots by closing out as well as around the basket and the agility to stay with smaller players. While not a stopper in one-on-one situations, he does project as a solid team defender out of the box, which coupled with his offensive game makes for a pretty attractive mix of skills. It's ultimately not too hard for coaches to find minutes for role players who do the things da Silva does at a high level, and he would seem to be on very good footing headed into the pre-draft process. -- Woo

[jayu70]

This new mock draft from Givony at ESPN Insider is a pretty lazy effort.
Feels like something ESPN threw together last night for deadline.
(Hawks take two teenaged PGs in the top 20 who can't shoot or effectively run an offense?)

Read on Twitter

2 small guards.
Hawks need MORE SIZE. Not less.

[King Ken]

Read on Twitter

Tristan da Silva | SF/PF | Colorado | Age: 22.8 | Top 100: No. 18

Watch on YouTube

One of the big winners of March thus far, da Silva finished his excellent senior season on a strong note, with Colorado beating Boise State and Florida before coming close to an upset of Marquette on Sunday. He scored 54 points and went 9-of-16 from 3 in three tournament games, playing an immensely important role for the Buffaloes on both ends of the floor and showcasing the versatility that makes him a pretty safe bet to find a spot in the NBA in relatively short order.

While not a high-volume scorer by nature, da Silva has the right array of skills to provide valuable connective tissue in different types of lineups, and he can do it on both ends of the floor. The knock on him long centered on his passive approach to scoring but he's taken a jump in that area, proving he can step up when called upon as a scorer, displaying a comfort level getting into his shot off the catch and off the dribble, as well as cutting and attacking closeouts. He's also a smart passer with solid positional size, making good decisions that should let him fit nicely alongside better talent.

Da Silva needs to get a bit stronger and could be more physical in general, but he's a fluid mover who can switch defensively, showcasing good acumen away from the ball in rotations. He has an ability to alter shots by closing out as well as around the basket and the agility to stay with smaller players. While not a stopper in one-on-one situations, he does project as a solid team defender out of the box, which coupled with his offensive game makes for a pretty attractive mix of skills. It's ultimately not too hard for coaches to find minutes for role players who do the things da Silva does at a high level, and he would seem to be on very good footing headed into the pre-draft process. -- Woo

My only issue with da Silva is rebounding but the way CU plays, they let Lampkin and the other bigs get the boards

[King Ken]

This new mock draft from Givony at ESPN Insider is a pretty lazy effort.
Feels like something ESPN threw together last night for deadline.
(Hawks take two teenaged PGs in the top 20 who can't shoot or effectively run an offense?)

Read on Twitter

I think that's his big board.

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

This guy is a perfect reason why I am reluctant to expend high draft capital for defensive specialists. You can find and develop high end perimeter defenders if you look hard enough without spending first round picks in the draft or in trade.

NOTE: 2nd Round picks for these guys is reasonable.

Read on Twitter

[King Ken]

This guy is a perfect reason why I am reluctant to expend high draft capital for defensive specialists. You can find and develop high end perimeter defenders if you look hard enough without spending first round picks in the draft or in trade.

NOTE: 2nd Round picks for these guys is reasonable.

Read on Twitter

I agree. This might be the year to buy a late 2nd for a defensive wing we can develop into a big wing as a 2 way contract

[Jamaaliver]

Wing scorer to consider in the 20s.

Think Cam Thomas of the Brooklyn Nets. He can score when he gets hot, but not much else. If you can get him to defend at a decent level, he'd make a formidable weapon in the playoffs.

Jaylon Tyson | 6-7 wing | 21 years old | California

Watch on YouTube

Tyson’s gone on a real journey to this point. After entering college as a top-40 player in his recruiting class, Tyson has gone from Texas to Texas Tech to Cal in three years. Now, finally, he is emerging as a real NBA prospect. At 6-7 with long arms, he has great measurements for the NBA. He’s not an explosive athlete, but he’s powerful and isn’t all that bothered by contact, allowing him to get the most out of his length and athleticism. He averaged 19.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from 3.

He’s another guy scouts are on the fence about. His decision-making can be frustrating, he often predetermines his reads and his shooting remains in question because he’s never really taken a high volume of 3s. Somewhere between picks No. 20 to No. 40 looks about right at this stage, although I think he could move up in the pre-draft process.

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

Watch on YouTube

[Jamaaliver]

Stephon Castle, G, UConn

Watch on YouTube

Castle’s momentum as both an NBA prospect and college player was slowed almost immediately after a knee injury kept him out of UConn’s lineup for nearly a month at the start of the season. The freshman guard returned to the court at the start of Dec., but needed a few more weeks to look like himself. He slowly rounded into form during conference season, and now has emerges as a critical piece for the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.

Castle checks a lot of NBA boxes for a top complementary player. Listed at 6’6, 215 pounds, Castle is a menace defensively who is quick enough to keep his chest in front of speedy guards, and strong enough to handle bigger wings. He can rip the ball away from opponents with hard digs into the paint, or end possessions with a defensive rebound. He’s a freight train in transition when turning defense into offense.

Castle has more of a ‘connector’ skill set offensively than the typical archetype of point guards and shooting guards. He’s at his best when he gets downhill to attack the basket, often finishing through contact or getting to the foul line. He’s capable of scoring off tough pivots and fadeaways when he generates a deep paint touch, almost like a less refined version of Jalen Brunson or Jimmy Butler. He’s probably not a primary ball handler, but he looks capable running pick-and-roll in a pinch when he’s not making passes around the perimeter.

There’s one big hole in Castle’s skill set, and that’s his jump shot. He enters the tournament 16-for-57 from deep, which translates to 28.1 percent. He has a tendency to turn down open looks, and just doesn’t seem all that confident in his three-point stroke off the catch. He is a solid 75.6 percent free throw shooter, though, which is a nice indicator for his future shooting development. In addition to a wonky jumper, Castle can also be slow at times making decisions with the ball. He very much plays at his own speed, which often works to his advantage when he can bully weaker defenders in the paint, but it will occasionally stall out the Huskies’ offense.

UConn feels like the best team in college basketball entering March Madness. Castle won’t have to carry the offense with Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer next to him, and he knows he has Donovan Clingan behind him to clean up messes at the rim defensively. Castle is a high-floor player for his motor and connective passing, but he also represents the top-end of UConn’s ceiling when he gets cooking at a scorer. If he gets hot as a three-point shooter during this tournament run, it feels like he can rise significantly on draft boards.

SB Nation

[Jamaaliver]

Because Matas can create his own shot...Zacc needs to be setup by a playmaker to truly thrive.

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

Straight bucket. Absolutely fearless!!