2024 NBA Draft Thread

[clyde21]

I was going to post something similar. Dame, Bane and McCollum is an example of three "old" guys that became a superstar and two borderline All Star level players and they were all 22 I believe, don't really see a big difference between 22 and 23. I do think that taking Knecht #1 would be too rich for my blood even in a draft like this but I don't see any reason why he can't go top 5. I wouldn't hate it if the Pistons took him at 5. I mean, what are the options there? Castle, Buzelis, Holland? Lots of meh there

in 2021 you had 3 guys like this drafted in the top 15, Davion Mitchell, Chris Duarte and Corey Kispert...and we ain't taking any of them #1 overall in any reality

[SelfishPlayer]

I finally have a great match. #13 overall pick Courtney Alexander. Dominated in college. Great athlete. NBA ready. Great skills. NBA body. 23 years of age before the draft.

Watch on YouTube

[NYPiston]

Weber State and Northern Colorado are both in the Big Sky. So hard to scoff at Dame competition if you are giving Knecht credit.
Dame was putting up 20 as a sophomore and Knecht put up 9 as a junior and 20 as a senior.

Also I think Knecht was probably drafted in the 40s-50s if he had just went pro instead of transferring to Tennessee. So let's live in that world, had Knecht been a 2nd rounder last year are we all this fired up about him right now? Would he have been so good you would be willing to give up a top 7 pick in this draft for him?

All I'm saying is that we don't know the reason why Knecht wasn't getting much playing time at North Colorado in his junior year by solely looking at a stat sheet. Maybe they had a lot of upper classmen that the coach trusted over him, maybe the coach didn't recognize his talent or maybe he simply wasn't ready.

I'm just bringing up the competition thing with Lillard and McCollum because it was hard to project how good they'd be because they didn't play anybody really until McCollum showed out against Duke in the tournament in his senior year. Would they have been lottery picks had they left after their junior year? No, because they would have declared if their agents indicated to them that they'd be taken in the lottery or even the 1st round so they didn't really up their stock until their draft year as well.

All I'm saying is that Knecht shouldn't be dismissed because of his age. I'm not saying that he should go #1 or that he should even go top 5 although in this draft I don't see why he shouldn't get mid to high lottery mention, all I'm saying that he shouldn't be dismissed because of his age.

[165bows]

It’s this thread that keeps breaking the whole site isn’t it.

[BlazersBroncos]

I finally have a great match. #13 overall pick Courtney Alexander. Dominated in college. Great athlete. NBA ready. Great skills. NBA body. 23 years of age before the draft.

Interesting find. I would argue that Dalton's 3PT shooting is on much higher volume and most importantly, he showed out in the tourney and in general when playing against teams that had NBA caliber talents. Courtney was on Fresno St and the best team they played all year was probably Tulsa or Wisconsin.

Dalton dropped 40 on Kentucky, 37 on Purdue, 31 and 26 on South Carolina, 37 on UNC, 32 on Vandy.

The age is concerning and we have not seen a guy with his combo of age and a single season in the NCAA go as high as he is mocked but there are always guys breaking the mold.

[FarBeyondDriven]

Hield had a similar senior season at age 23, played almost the exact same role as Knecht and was the College Player of the Year. He was drafted #6 overall. The difference between Knecht and Hield is Knecht is a much better athlete that allows him to finish at the rim and he has better size. Knecht is arguably today's best in-coming college player. You can draft an 18-20 y/o kid and hope he one day becomes as good or better than Knecht but most won't. The ones that do will become all-stars. But how long will that take? And who are they?

If you're the Pistons and you have a #1 in Cade, you have a long defender that can protect Knecht in Ausar Thompson, then Knecht makes a whole lot of sense since his shooting and movement off the ball would really open that offense up for Cade. The Pistons are tired of losing and need someone to help them win now which is why he also makes a lot of sense. I can't say the same for the teams picking before them. It makes little sense for any of them to choose Knecht.

[Pattycakes]

Hield had a similar senior season at age 23, played almost the exact same role as Knecht and was the College Player of the Year. He was drafted #6 overall. The difference between Knecht and Hield is Knecht is a much better athlete that allows him to finish at the rim and he has better size. Knecht is arguably today's best in-coming college player. You can draft an 18-20 y/o kid and hope he one day becomes as good or better than Knecht but most won't. The ones that do will become all-stars. But how long will that take? And who are they?

If you're the Pistons and you have a #1 in Cade, you have a long defender that can protect Knecht in Ausar Thompson, then Knecht makes a whole lot of sense since his shooting and movement off the ball would really open that offense up for Cade. The Pistons are tired of losing and need someone to help them win now which is why he also makes a lot of sense. I can't say the same for the teams picking before them. It makes little sense for any of them to choose Knecht.

Buzelis, Clingan, Knecht all make similar sense to me to Detroit. In diff ways I see em all stepping in and helping

[FarBeyondDriven]

Hield had a similar senior season at age 23, played almost the exact same role as Knecht and was the College Player of the Year. He was drafted #6 overall. The difference between Knecht and Hield is Knecht is a much better athlete that allows him to finish at the rim and he has better size. Knecht is arguably today's best in-coming college player. You can draft an 18-20 y/o kid and hope he one day becomes as good or better than Knecht but most won't. The ones that do will become all-stars. But how long will that take? And who are they?

If you're the Pistons and you have a #1 in Cade, you have a long defender that can protect Knecht in Ausar Thompson, then Knecht makes a whole lot of sense since his shooting and movement off the ball would really open that offense up for Cade. The Pistons are tired of losing and need someone to help them win now which is why he also makes a lot of sense. I can't say the same for the teams picking before them. It makes little sense for any of them to choose Knecht.

Buzelis, Clingan, Knecht all make similar sense to me to Detroit. In diff ways I see em all stepping in and helping

I assumed with all the talk of Clingan going #3 (or even #1 now) he'd be gone. As for Buzelis, would he even be an upgrade since he struggles to shoot? Don't you already have someone his size that you've been trying to make a 3 and D PF for years in Stewart and he finally started shooting well (38%) and is still just 22 y/o?

I feel like Knecht is the one guy that could come in and really transform the Pistons immediately. He'd take some of the scoring load off Cade, he'd spread the floor, he'd make it so Ausar can just continue to defend and not have to worry about his shooting so much so less pressure there and he can run PnR with Duren too.

[SelfishPlayer]

If you are a perimeter player still playing college basketball at around age 23, you should absolutely be dominating the game. Buddy Heild averaged 25 ppg, Courtney Alexander average 24.8, and Dalton Knecht averaged 21.7. I'm drafting an 18 year old talented wing that's been at the top of his class like Ron Holland over any of those "NBA ready guys" every single time.

[FarBeyondDriven]

If you are a perimeter player still playing college basketball at around age 23, you should absolutely be dominating the game. Buddy Heild averaged 25 ppg, Courtney Alexander average 24.8, and Dalton Knecht averaged 21.7. I'm drafting an 18 year old talented wing that's been at the top of his class like Ron Holland over any of those "NBA ready guys" every single time.

you're quibbling over 2-3 points a game? Not taking into account the fact that Knecht only played with his new team for a season and was playing in the SEC While HIeld was in the Big 12 and Alexander in the WAC? And Alexander shot the ball 5 more times per game? Okay

[SelfishPlayer]

If you are a perimeter player still playing college basketball at around age 23, you should absolutely be dominating the game. Buddy Heild averaged 25 ppg, Courtney Alexander average 24.8, and Dalton Knecht averaged 21.7. I'm drafting an 18 year old talented wing that's been at the top of his class like Ron Holland over any of those "NBA ready guys" every single time.

you're quibbling over 2-3 points a game? Not taking into account the fact that Knecht only played with his new team for a season and was playing in the SEC While HIeld was in the Big 12 and Alexander in the WAC? And Alexander shot the ball 5 more times per game? Okay

I don't get your angle. I repeat, I'll take the 18 year old everytime.

[FarBeyondDriven]

If you are a perimeter player still playing college basketball at around age 23, you should absolutely be dominating the game. Buddy Heild averaged 25 ppg, Courtney Alexander average 24.8, and Dalton Knecht averaged 21.7. I'm drafting an 18 year old talented wing that's been at the top of his class like Ron Holland over any of those "NBA ready guys" every single time.

you're quibbling over 2-3 points a game? Not taking into account the fact that Knecht only played with his new team for a season and was playing in the SEC While HIeld was in the Big 12 and Alexander in the WAC? And Alexander shot the ball 5 more times per game? Okay

I don't get your angle. I repeat, I'll take the 18 year old everytime.

I've articulated it quite clearly. Sometimes teams are trying to compete and taking an 18 y/o that may not ever be as good as a 23 y/o makes no sense. If you're a rebuilding team and you feel like the 18 y/o might reach or surpass the 23 y/o eventually you obviously take the 18 y/o. If you're the Suns, Sixers, Heat, Magic, Grizzlies, Nuggets, Lakers, etc and hell, even the Pistons, you want instant production that the 23 y/o can provide. What about this angle don't you get?

[SelfishPlayer]

you're quibbling over 2-3 points a game? Not taking into account the fact that Knecht only played with his new team for a season and was playing in the SEC While HIeld was in the Big 12 and Alexander in the WAC? And Alexander shot the ball 5 more times per game? Okay

I don't get your angle. I repeat, I'll take the 18 year old everytime.

I've articulated it quite clearly. Sometimes teams are trying to compete and taking an 18 y/o that may not ever be as good as a 23 y/o makes no sense. If you're a rebuilding team and you feel like the 18 y/o might reach or surpass the 23 y/o eventually you obviously take the 18 y/o. If you're the Suns, Sixers, Heat, Magic, Grizzlies, Nuggets, Lakers, etc and hell, even the Pistons, you want instant production that the 23 y/o can provide. What about this angle don't you get?

There is a huge leap to NBA level basketball for which you are not accounting. Did 24 year old rookie Buddy Hield provide instant production? No. He was traded during his rookie season. He had to adjust to the game. Everyone has to adjust to the NBA game. "NBA ready" is a mirage. It's not real. Sometimes the younger guy will be better equipt to make the leap because he doesn't have to unlearn as much while accumulating the new information he will need to successfully adjust to the NBA game.

[BlazersBroncos]

Buddy was a 15 ppg guy once traded to SAC. Even in NO he was a 8.6 points in 20mpg on high 3PT volume guy.

He was, by nearly any metric, an immediate contributor. Not just for SAC but for NO as well.

[EMG518]

Hield has a better shot, that's it.

Knecht is a better prospect and will be a better scorer in the league.

[FarBeyondDriven]

I don't get your angle. I repeat, I'll take the 18 year old everytime.

I've articulated it quite clearly. Sometimes teams are trying to compete and taking an 18 y/o that may not ever be as good as a 23 y/o makes no sense. If you're a rebuilding team and you feel like the 18 y/o might reach or surpass the 23 y/o eventually you obviously take the 18 y/o. If you're the Suns, Sixers, Heat, Magic, Grizzlies, Nuggets, Lakers, etc and hell, even the Pistons, you want instant production that the 23 y/o can provide. What about this angle don't you get?

There is a huge leap to NBA level basketball for which you are not accounting. Did 24 year old rookie Buddy Hield provide instant production? No. He was traded during his rookie season. He had to adjust to the game. Everyone has to adjust to the NBA game. "NBA ready" is a mirage. It's not real. Sometimes the younger guy will be better equipt to make the leap because he doesn't have to unlearn as much while accumulating the new information he will need to successfully adjust to the NBA game.

bruh, Hield and Tyreke were the centerpieces in the Cousins trade. There was no adjustment. As soon as he went to SAC and got more touches he was putting up 15 ppg shooting 43% from three.

[SelfishPlayer]

I've articulated it quite clearly. Sometimes teams are trying to compete and taking an 18 y/o that may not ever be as good as a 23 y/o makes no sense. If you're a rebuilding team and you feel like the 18 y/o might reach or surpass the 23 y/o eventually you obviously take the 18 y/o. If you're the Suns, Sixers, Heat, Magic, Grizzlies, Nuggets, Lakers, etc and hell, even the Pistons, you want instant production that the 23 y/o can provide. What about this angle don't you get?

There is a huge leap to NBA level basketball for which you are not accounting. Did 24 year old rookie Buddy Hield provide instant production? No. He was traded during his rookie season. He had to adjust to the game. Everyone has to adjust to the NBA game. "NBA ready" is a mirage. It's not real. Sometimes the younger guy will be better equipt to make the leap because he doesn't have to unlearn as much while accumulating the new information he will need to successfully adjust to the NBA game.

bruh, Hield and Tyreke were the centerpieces in the Cousins trade. There was no adjustment. As soon as he went to SAC and got more touches he was putting up 15 ppg shooting 43% from three.

This is what Pelicans fans thought they were getting with #6 pick Buddy Hield: https://bigeasybeliever.com/2016/06/25/buddy-hield-change-pelicans-culture/

Instead they got a 24 year old starting most of his games while averaging only 8 ppg.

[babyjax13]

If the Spurs trade 4+8 for 1 (Atlanta probably sends something back to balance)

1. who does San Antonio pick (they worked out Risacher, so I assume him)
2. who does Atlanta pick (we have some rumors about Clingan, but anyone else? Does he even make sense?)

[BigGargamel]

If the Spurs trade 4+8 for 1 (Atlanta probably sends something back to balance)

1. who does San Antonio pick (they worked out Risacher, so I assume him)
2. who does Atlanta pick (we have some rumors about Clingan, but anyone else? Does he even make sense?)

I would say the Hawks have their eyes on Clingan. Okengwu is what he is, and that's a backup center. Clingan would provide solid defense at the least.

If they want him I say just take him. But a sophomore at #1 hasn't happened in forever.

The top of this draft is a mess. It's impossible to make sense of anything.

[clyde21]

If the Spurs trade 4+8 for 1 (Atlanta probably sends something back to balance)

1. who does San Antonio pick (they worked out Risacher, so I assume him)
2. who does Atlanta pick (we have some rumors about Clingan, but anyone else? Does he even make sense?)

i dunno but that seems kinda dumb if they do that, in a class like this i'd much prefer 4/8 than #1