2024 NBA Draft Thread

[NYPiston]

Feel like a lot of people are grading this draft class at face value with very little projection for players getting better.

That's a big part of the problem with this draft. This is a draft that wasn't highly regarded in the first place and was highly dependent on some guys making a big jump this season and nobody ran with it, the guys who took a big jump like Sheppard, Dillingham and Knecht for instance either have a modest ceiling in Knecht's case or lack the measurables in Dillingham and Sheppard's case so you have a draft where it's pretty much all projection.

Look at these guys...

Sarr
Risacher
Topic
Buzelis
Holland
Cody Williams

These guys are all projected in the top 10 are all raw with very little "face value" at this point, it's almost all projection based on tools.

Then you have guys like Clingan and Edey that are one dimensional and are the type of players that are pretty much role players in todays' game. Castle has a nice overall game but he can't shoot, at all.
Who are the shot creators?

The problem with this draft is that there's no one you can bank on, no one you can say has real star potential which is an extreme rarity for an NBA draft. There will be some good players to come out of this draft but good luck finding a prospect in this bunch that you can be confident in that you know will be a good player.

[EmpireFalls]

We'll see.

Having seen what Myles Turner, Chet Holmgren, Naz Reid, KAT, Porzingis, and Horford have done for their teams this postseason...

I'd hope smart NBA GMs are beginning to realize the power of an actual stretch 5 who can play some defense.

A spacing and offense cheat code.

Ayton is massively better than Ware at every aspect of basketball and no one wanted him last year.

Ayton went #1 overall so I’m not really sure the point you’re trying to make here?

[sip]

Having seen what Myles Turner, Chet Holmgren, Naz Reid, KAT, Porzingis, and Horford have done for their teams this postseason...

I'd hope smart NBA GMs are beginning to realize the power of an actual stretch 5 who can play some defense.

A spacing and offense cheat code.

Ayton is massively better than Ware at every aspect of basketball and no one wanted him last year.

Ayton went #1 overall so I’m not really sure the point you’re trying to make here?

He isn't making a point other than spouting nonsense. Ayton isn't even a stretch big so I don't really see the point in bringing him up when speaking about Ware.

[HadAnEffectHere]

Ayton is massively better than Ware at every aspect of basketball and no one wanted him last year.

Ayton went #1 overall so I’m not really sure the point you’re trying to make here?

He isn't making a point other than spouting nonsense. Ayton isn't even a stretch big so I don't really see the point in bringing him up when speaking about Ware.

Ware shot 66% from the line and took less than two threes a game, he's definitely not a stretch big either right now, lol.

The point is that the NBA hates low motor bigs right now.

[BigGargamel]

I don't think Ware is a lottery pick, mostly due to those motor concerns. But I don't see any way he completely falls out of the first round. His skill set is too valuable, and there are not many big men in this draft. Nuggets or Celtics would scoop him up to be a backup big in a heartbeat, for example.

Sometimes I feel like I'm taking crazy pills coming on here. If this isn't a strong big men class then I don't know what is. I swear, the made-up narratives about this draft class are something else. You have to go back 6 years to the elite 2018 class to find a better big class

2024

Sarr
Clingan
Ware
Missi
Edey
Ighodaro
Bona
Chomche
Filipowski
Almansa

2023

Wembanyama
Lively II
Nnaji

2022

Holmgren
Duren
Williams
Kessler
Koloko

2021

Mobley
Sengun
Jones
Jackson
Garuba
Queta
Petrucevic
Bassey
Mamukelashvili

2020

Wiseman
Okongwu
Smith
Nnaji
Stewart
Oturu
Simonovic
Carey Jr.

2019

Hayes
Bitadze
Kabangele
Fernando
Gafford
Smailagic
Bol

2018

Ayton
Bamba
WC Jr.
Timelord
Robinson

We get it man. You think this class is amazing. You keep listing all players in the class like half of them or more won't fizzle out like they do every year.

You should just get a job as a scout already so you can school all of us losers. Your talents are clearly being wasted as a mere fan.

[SelfishPlayer]

Coleman Hawkins is an interesting PF prospect. For the position, he has elite passing ability. He shoots the three, drives, weak side shot blocks, and has high steal production. He can thread the needle with one hand off the dribble on the move. That and a bunch of Joker style two hand assists from behind the three point line. All of this makes him a really good bet to find a NBA home at some point with an organization that can utilize his type for more than simply floor spacing, rim running, and rim protection.

[165bows]

Is it just me or does Almansa really have some Pervis Ellison to his game?

[Catchall]

Is it just me or does Almansa really have some Pervis Ellison to his game?

Physically, I thought he was similar to Joaqim Noah. I'm having a hard time remembering Pervis Ellison, tbh.

[King Ken]

PJ Hall is very interesting.
Plus 100 BSPARQ
Can shoot with volume
Great screener for a 4
Can PnR and PnP for a big
Over 6'10 for a 4 and 240 pounds so he's physically mature
Mental acuity

This guys screams translation go to the NBA.

Teams to seriously look at him as he's a fit
LAC
ATL
DAL
MEM
OKC
PHI
CLE
DEN
GS

[NO-KG-AI]

Feel like a lot of people are grading this draft class at face value with very little projection for players getting better.

You kind of have to. Projecting how well someone gets better or will improve once they get paid is the biggest crap shoot of all. If you figure that part out, you’ll win every single draft.

[FarBeyondDriven]

I don't think Ware is a lottery pick, mostly due to those motor concerns. But I don't see any way he completely falls out of the first round. His skill set is too valuable, and there are not many big men in this draft. Nuggets or Celtics would scoop him up to be a backup big in a heartbeat, for example.

Sometimes I feel like I'm taking crazy pills coming on here. If this isn't a strong big men class then I don't know what is. I swear, the made-up narratives about this draft class are something else. You have to go back 6 years to the elite 2018 class to find a better big class

2024

Sarr
Clingan
Ware
Missi
Edey
Ighodaro
Bona
Chomche
Filipowski
Almansa

2023

Wembanyama
Lively II
Nnaji

2022

Holmgren
Duren
Williams
Kessler
Koloko

2021

Mobley
Sengun
Jones
Jackson
Garuba
Queta
Petrucevic
Bassey
Mamukelashvili

2020

Wiseman
Okongwu
Smith
Nnaji
Stewart
Oturu
Simonovic
Carey Jr.

2019

Hayes
Bitadze
Kabangele
Fernando
Gafford
Smailagic
Bol

2018

Ayton
Bamba
WC Jr.
Timelord
Robinson

We get it man. You think this class is amazing. You keep listing all players in the class like half of them or more won't fizzle out like they do every year.

You should just get a job as a scout already so you can school all of us losers. Your talents are clearly being wasted as a mere fan.

I'm sorry I hurt your feelings pointing out how absurd your claim was

[FarBeyondDriven]

Feel like a lot of people are grading this draft class at face value with very little projection for players getting better.

That's a big part of the problem with this draft. This is a draft that wasn't highly regarded in the first place and was highly dependent on some guys making a big jump this season and nobody ran with it, the guys who took a big jump like Sheppard, Dillingham and Knecht for instance either have a modest ceiling in Knecht's case or lack the measurables in Dillingham and Sheppard's case so you have a draft where it's pretty much all projection.

Look at these guys...

Sarr
Risacher
Topic
Buzelis
Holland
Cody Williams

These guys are all projected in the top 10 are all raw with very little "face value" at this point, it's almost all projection based on tools.

Then you have guys like Clingan and Edey that are one dimensional and are the type of players that are pretty much role players in todays' game. Castle has a nice overall game but he can't shoot, at all.
Who are the shot creators?

The problem with this draft is that there's no one you can bank on, no one you can say has real star potential which is an extreme rarity for an NBA draft. There will be some good players to come out of this draft but good luck finding a prospect in this bunch that you can be confident in that you know will be a good player.

this is just your, imo, wrong and subjective opinion. Knecht is basically Klay with the ability to put the ball on the floor and can play above the rim. I don't see how that's anyway shape or form a "modest ceiling"

the rest (outside of Williams) were all performing admirably in international tournaments and pro leagues. Holland had much better production that Scoot who was supposedly an elite prospect and one of the main reasons people felt the 2023 class was great (it's not btw).

I'm confident in many of these prospects becoming a good player. This draft is really going to separate the wheat from the chaff on here and with talent evaluators in general.

[babyjax13]

Coleman Hawkins is an interesting PF prospect. For the position, he has elite passing ability. He shoots the three, drives, weak side shot blocks, and has high steal production. He can thread the needle with one hand off the dribble on the move. That and a bunch of Joker style two hand assists from behind the three point line. All of this makes him a really good bet to find a NBA home at some point with an organization that can utilize his type for more than simply floor spacing, rim running, and rim protection.

I love him, have had him in or near the first round all year and thought his combine scrimmages last year were some of the more interesting. I think he will give a team real value off the bench for a long time, just plays the right way. If I were a contender needing a rotation player I'd be drafting him before McCullar (who I loved last year, too), Shannon, and other guys in that range people think are 'NBA ready.' He certainly should not slip past Denver.

[The-Power]

It doesn't make much sense to compare Ware to elite rim protectors/shot blockers because he is not that. And while he does have stretch 5 potential, it is a stretch to have him pegged as one already (he only took 40 3s all season and struggled from the line). This is before even fully taking into account the motor concerns. If a team wants to roll the dice with Ware somewhere in the first round, I understand that – as long as everyone's aware that it's a gamble.

[crows2]

It doesn't make much sense to compare Ware to elite rim protectors/shot blockers because he is not that. And while he does have stretch 5 potential, it is a stretch to have him pegged as one already (he only took 40 3s all season and struggled from the line). This is before even fully taking into account the motor concerns. If a team wants to roll the dice with Ware somewhere in the first round, I understand that – as long as everyone's aware that it's a gamble.

Yeah for me it’s essentially where would you draft Jaxson Hayes in the draft? I wouldn’t be spending a lottery pick on him but he’s worth a punt in the later 1st round.

[CoreyVillains]

Just broke down film with Dillon Jones. Elite basketball IQ. One of the most unique players in the class. Needs to shoot at higher volume but he’s a great FT shooter and long midrange shooter.

Watch on YouTube

;si=K-QzD92nKoimaiaA

[HadAnEffectHere]

It doesn't make much sense to compare Ware to elite rim protectors/shot blockers because he is not that. And while he does have stretch 5 potential, it is a stretch to have him pegged as one already (he only took 40 3s all season and struggled from the line). This is before even fully taking into account the motor concerns. If a team wants to roll the dice with Ware somewhere in the first round, I understand that – as long as everyone's aware that it's a gamble.

Yeah for me it’s essentially where would you draft Jaxson Hayes in the draft? I wouldn’t be spending a lottery pick on him but he’s worth a punt in the later 1st round.

Ehh, Hayes is legitimately a horrible person (Ware just doesn't seem that motivated) and Hayes is a much better athlete than Ware. Not sure I love that comparison.

[sip]

It doesn't make much sense to compare Ware to elite rim protectors/shot blockers because he is not that. And while he does have stretch 5 potential, it is a stretch to have him pegged as one already (he only took 40 3s all season and struggled from the line). This is before even fully taking into account the motor concerns. If a team wants to roll the dice with Ware somewhere in the first round, I understand that – as long as everyone's aware that it's a gamble.

Yeah for me it’s essentially where would you draft Jaxson Hayes in the draft? I wouldn’t be spending a lottery pick on him but he’s worth a punt in the later 1st round.

Ehh, Hayes is legitimately a horrible person (Ware just doesn't seem that motivated) and Hayes is a much better athlete than Ware. Not sure I love that comparison.

Ware tested out as bigger and more athletic than Hayes.

[NYPiston]

this is just your, imo, wrong and subjective opinion. Knecht is basically Klay with the ability to put the ball on the floor and can play above the rim. I don't see how that's anyway shape or form a "modest ceiling"

the rest (outside of Williams) were all performing admirably in international tournaments and pro leagues. Holland had much better production that Scoot who was supposedly an elite prospect and one of the main reasons people felt the 2023 class was great (it's not btw).

I'm confident in many of these prospects becoming a good player. This draft is really going to separate the wheat from the chaff on here and with talent evaluators in general.

I'm a fan of Knecht, made mentions of him earlier in the season when he wasn't getting much top 10 hype, but he's not nearly as smooth as Klay is. Knecht is going to have a harder time separating in the NBA because his movements are stiff, I think he'll be more of a spot up shooter than shot creator at the NBA level so I think his upside is limited as a result.

That's my biggest issue with the top of this draft, who are the shot creators?
The reason why Scoot was so highly regarded is because he was a high end shot creator/playmaker, his long range shooting was the biggest question. I don't see a guy like that in this draft that looks like a potential lead player on an NBA team whereas in previous drafts there were several guys you could see with that potential. Doesn't mean there won't be good players and it doesn't mean that none of these can't develop into a #1 option but as we look at the draft right now, I don't see one that fits the mold.

[nybluemeadow]

The more I watch film on the prospects, the more the 2024 draft is looking above average to good...

Alex Sarr - Bigger Jaren Jackson Jr.

Zaccharie Risacher - Brandon Ingram, 9ppg as a rookie but then became a 23ppg scorer

Donovan Clingan - Marc Gasol, DPOY with a dependable jumpshot and high IQ

Cody Williams - Khris Middleton, not specials but solid #2

Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard had disappointing combine numbers but could be some where near Trae Young or Brunson.