RealGM

Figured this might be fun, and I wanted it to be a separate thread rather than lost in the discussions in the draft prospect thread.

Post your predictions for the first 5 picks in the NBA draft. Let’s see who gets the closest!

Include trades if you want, but the bragging rights at stake are specifically linked to the PLAYER taken at each spot.

This is the least predictable top 5 we’ve seen in recent memory, so I’m curious to see who (if anyone) gets it right.

It’s crazy but the only player that I think is guaranteed to go top 4 is Sarr.

I could see anyone else potentially being available for us at 5.

I’ll submit a list upon more research.

Atl- Sarr
Was- Clingan
Rockets- Sheppard
Spurs- Risacher
Pistons- Buzelis

Edit: Moved Sheppard into the top 5

halfway between hopes and expectations: Sarr, Risacher, Sheppard, Castle, Clingan.

pistons make a major improvement to their interior defense and then make transactions to improve the rest of the roster.

I feel like there's almost guaranteed to be a trade or 2 amongst Atlanta, Houston, and maybe even San Antonio (if they decide they want to win now) that makes this tricky to predict.

If I was these teams I'd go...
1 - ATL: Sarr
2 - WAS: Topic
3 - HOU: Sheppard
4 - SAS: Risacher
5 - DET: Matas

Spurs could go Dillingham if they think mayyybe someone else sneaks in and takes him before 8 as I think he's a really good fit there with Wemby's defense backing him up. He feels like to be the top scorer in the draft.

Atl-Sarr
Wash-Topic
Hou-Sheppard
Spurs-Risacher
Pistons-Clingan

Easy.

1.Great
2.Great
3.Great
4.Great
5.Ivey

Hawks: Sarr
Wizards: Clingan
Rockets: Risacher (traded)
Spurs: Topic
Pistons: Shepperd

I'd send the pick to the Knicks at this point. I think the value of having the picks to trade is more valuable than the caliber of player Detroit will get here. I don't want another rookie let down

Double

Given that you didn't actually say the draft year, I have you covered for all of them for the foreseeable future:

1. Some team other than Detroit
2. Some team other than Detroit
3. Some team other than Detroit
4. Some team other than Detroit
5. Detroit

We don't even have to wait for the lottery to come around before our franchise can start planning!

Invictus88 wrote:Given that you didn't actually say the draft year, I have you covered for all of them for the foreseeable future:

1. Some team other than Detroit
2. Some team other than Detroit
3. Some team other than Detroit
4. Some team other than Detroit
5. Detroit

We don't even have to wait for the lottery to come around before our franchise can start planning!

A truly valuable contribution!

1) Risacher
2) Williams
3) Knetch
4) Topic
5) Sarr

Willing it into existence!

GreekAlex wrote:It’s crazy but the only player that I think is guaranteed to go top 4 is Sarr.

I could see anyone else potentially being available for us at 5.

I’ll submit a list upon more research.

The thing with Sarr is that he has the foundation to be a really good player with a super high ceiling but he’s most likely 2 years away from being a two-way contributor and he’s also really light so I whilst he’s probably the highest ceiling prospect his floor is low for a 1st overall pick which may make Atlanta worried.

Snakebites wrote:

Invictus88 wrote:Given that you didn't actually say the draft year, I have you covered for all of them for the foreseeable future:

1. Some team other than Detroit
2. Some team other than Detroit
3. Some team other than Detroit
4. Some team other than Detroit
5. Detroit

We don't even have to wait for the lottery to come around before our franchise can start planning!

A truly valuable contribution!

Sorry. I was in a mood

Invictus88 wrote:

Snakebites wrote:

Invictus88 wrote:Given that you didn't actually say the draft year, I have you covered for all of them for the foreseeable future:

1. Some team other than Detroit
2. Some team other than Detroit
3. Some team other than Detroit
4. Some team other than Detroit
5. Detroit

We don't even have to wait for the lottery to come around before our franchise can start planning!

A truly valuable contribution!

Sorry. I was in a mood

I get it. Zeeb had a similar response. People are still salty we got the 5th pick again.

And I get it. Last year I was really upset about it. This year I just don't see it mattering much. This was a really bad draft to be among the league's worst.

1. Sarr
2. Topic
3. Risacher (If they keep the pick)
4. Sheppard
5. Buzelis

I think Clingan slides. If Troy is still GM at draft time, we probably take him...

I know it’s early but Sarr was shooting really well from 3 today in the drills and posted one of the best 3/4 sprints. No way he falls to us

I'm going to go against the grain and say that Castle gets drafted in the top 5, he probably has the best all around game of any prospect outside of the shooting.

1. Atlanta - Sarr
2. Washington - Topic (despite the injury)
3. Houston - Castle
4. San Antonio - Risacher (this seems like the most obvious pick if he's there)
5. Buzelis or Holland

Sheppard is the prospect I'm probably most warming to in this draft pretty much by process of elimination and because I think he has a high floor with shooting that will almost certainly translate but I think the Pistons will take a toolsy forward especially if Weaver is still here so I don't see Sheppard being an option. If Weaver is replaced, that changes the draft board drastically.

As someone who watches 0 foreign games outside of the worlds and olympics and only watches the tournament for college.....

Sarr
Risacher
Castle
Topic
Knecht

No special insight, just picking guys who seem to fit with the general type of player those teams seem to value and then plugging in the only wing with an establish jumpshot for us. Of course, since we always seem to look for small guards or centers, maybe it should be sheppard or Clingan.