2024 Draft Thread - Part II

[Frichuela]

Salaun is a big dude, with a large wingspan. Nuñez’s measurements are decent too.

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[NatP4]

Edey scored a pretty fair amount in regular time too, particularly at the beginning of the game. He definitely feasted on UConn's backups a bit in the second half though. I think Clingan played him pretty well but had too many situations where he allowed Edey to seal him off deep in the paint and that allowed Edey to get some easy buckets. Some simply impressive hooks in there too where I think Clingan defended him well but still gave up the points.

Scored the majority of his points at the beginning of the game when Clingan was trying to avoid early foul trouble, and at the end of the game in garbage time on wide open dunks that UConn was obviously content to give up with a 20 point lead.

First 8 minutes: 11 points 5-7 shooting
Next 23 minutes: 9 points on 3-10 shooting
Final 9 minutes: 17 points on 7-8 shooting

[NatP4]

Having watched Kentucky several times I don't buy the narrative that Sheppard was just the beneficiary of open shots created by teammates. A lot of his shots were contested and/ or off the dribble.

I think if anything his production might have been limited by having so many mouths to feed. When he actually decided to play aggressively and look for his own shot, he went off.

My observation from watching full Kentucky games: Sheppard drove the bus, was by far the most impactful player on the roster. Made all the right plays. Deferred to Reaves and Dillingham way too much.

[Frichuela]

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[closg00]

Glad we worked-out Cody, does anyone have an opinion on the value of private workouts vs analytics and game film review? The Bulls were impressed with Matas Buzelis’s workout and may try to move up for him, Matas wasn’t very good in the G-League but has impressed in workouts, how does that shake out?

[nate33]

Sheppard clearly has a floor of a Grayson Allen/Divincenzo type of shooting guard

Based on what?

Do you think his floor is lower?

[tontoz]

Glad we worked-out Cody, does anyone have an opinion on the value of private workouts vs analytics and game film review? The Bulls were impressed with Matas Buzelis’s workout and may try to move up for him, Matas wasn’t very good in the G-League but has impressed in workouts, how does that shake out?

I think the value is that they can test the players on things they didn't show in games. Cody didn't really shoot jumpers off the dribble this season. It was either catch and shoot or drive and finish inside, which he did very well.

The most impressive thing I saw from Cody was his ability to finish inside. He can finish with either hand in a variety of ways. Good handle.

I see him as a 2 not a 3. Very fast but his slight build might be a problem at the 3. He tied for 9th fastest sprint at the combine.

[tontoz]

Cody runs around 3 screens here and was still just a step away from getting a block.

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[TGW]

Having watched Kentucky several times I don't buy the narrative that Sheppard was just the beneficiary of open shots created by teammates. A lot of his shots were contested and/ or off the dribble.

I think if anything his production might have been limited by having so many mouths to feed. When he actually decided to play aggressively and look for his own shot, he went off.

While he doesn't have the handles that Steph does his release is much higher. His pullup j is money and he doesn't need much space to get it off.

Mark Price is a much better comparison. Price wasn't as athletic as Sheppard. I don't think Price ever dunked in a game.

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Peak Mark Price....yes I would definitely take that in this crapshoot of a draft. And very appropriate comp too...when I watch Sheppard I get a 90's point guard vibe.

[NatP4]

Sheppard clearly has a floor of a Grayson Allen/Divincenzo type of shooting guard

Based on what?

Do you think his floor is lower?

Too low of a floor.

Allen and Divincenzo barely played as freshmen. Sheppard had better age 19/freshman numbers than Allen at age 22/senior, and Divincenzo at age 21/redshirt sophomore.

[payitforward]

When you go out for dinner, you can only order what's on the menu.

At 2 in this year's draft, that's Sarr, Risacher, Sheppard, Clingan, Topic & Castle. No one else has a chance to be chosen at that spot.

Would I rather trade down for the 6th pick, take whomever is left from that list (or Holland or Dillingham, if my enthusiasm pointed their way), & also get what might be expected to come in such a trade (e.g. a pick around #20)?

You bet I would! But that kind of trade will be hard to make happen this year.

Still, it's not altogether inconceivable. If we could figure out exactly whom Houston, SA or Detroit wants at 3, 4 & 5, we could commit to taking that guy. It'd be a stare-down, but I've got faith in Winger & Dawkins in that kind of situation.

It's risky too. You gotta do what you say you're going to do. In any case, it's a low likelihood. We probably won't move off of 2.

Increasingly, if we stay there, I'm thinking we should (and will) take Clingan. I just don't see Sarr or Rissacher. Too many question marks around Topic. I like Castle. But I'd find it hard to take him over Clingan.

Probably all wrong. &, certainly!, subject to change....

[Dat2U]

I'd rather have Clingan at this point than Risacher for what it's worth.

I'm with you on that.

Yeah. I don't view Risacher as a defensible selection at #2. He screams 'JAG' to me. Its like I'm watching Landry Shamet - the SF version. Everything he does seems perfectly average or slightly below average but since he's 6-10, 19 and can shoot on thd move - people get excited about an upside that isn't really there yet.

[Dat2U]

When you go out for dinner, you can only order what's on the menu.

At 2 in this year's draft, that's Sarr, Risacher, Sheppard, Clingan, Topic & Castle. No one else has a chance to be chosen at that spot.

Would I rather trade down for the 6th pick, take whomever is left from that list (or Holland or Dillingham, if my enthusiasm pointed their way), & also get what might be expected to come in such a trade (e.g. a pick around #20)?

You bet I would! But that kind of trade will be hard to make happen this year.

Still, it's not altogether inconceivable. If we could figure out exactly whom Houston, SA or Detroit wants at 3, 4 & 5, we could commit to taking that guy. It'd be a stare-down, but I've got faith in Winger & Dawkins in that kind of situation.

It's risky too. You gotta do what you say you're going to do. In any case, it's a low likelihood. We probably won't move off of 2.

Increasingly, if we stay there, I'm thinking we should (and will) take Clingan. I just don't see Sarr or Rissacher. Too many question marks around Topic. I like Castle. But I'd find it hard to take him over Clingan.

Probably all wrong. &, certainly!, subject to change....

In a completely wide open draft, I think it's a mistake to fully buy into these bad mocks and draft guru's pushing agent agendas (cough, DraftExpress, cough).

[Dat2U]

I'll "reach" for Dillingham or Holland at 2 before I'd select Clingan at 2 if a trade down was not available.

[payitforward]

When you go out for dinner, you can only order what's on the menu.

At 2 in this year's draft, that's Sarr, Risacher, Sheppard, Clingan, Topic & Castle. No one else has a chance to be chosen at that spot.

Would I rather trade down for the 6th pick, take whomever is left from that list (or Holland or Dillingham, if my enthusiasm pointed their way), & also get what might be expected to come in such a trade (e.g. a pick around #20)?

You bet I would! But that kind of trade will be hard to make happen this year.

Still, it's not altogether inconceivable. If we could figure out exactly whom Houston, SA or Detroit wants at 3, 4 & 5, we could commit to taking that guy. It'd be a stare-down, but I've got faith in Winger & Dawkins in that kind of situation.

It's risky too. You gotta do what you say you're going to do. In any case, it's a low likelihood. We probably won't move off of 2.

Increasingly, if we stay there, I'm thinking we should (and will) take Clingan. I just don't see Sarr or Rissacher. Too many question marks around Topic. I like Castle. But I'd find it hard to take him over Clingan.

Probably all wrong. &, certainly!, subject to change....

I'll "reach" for Dillingham or Holland at 2 before I'd select Clingan at 2 if a trade down was not available.

Actually, that's a fair & sensible response, dat. I forgot to list that as a possible tactic.

Plus, you wouldn't even need to "reach." You'd just offer the #2 to Portland for the #7 plus #34 -- no one's going to turn down that offer!

In fact, I'd start by asking for 7, 34 & 40. Even that would be hard to turn down! Throw in 51 if needed.

You'd have turned the #2 into Holland, KJ Simpson & whoever you wanted to pick up at 40 (Trentyn Flowers? Cam Christie? Dillon Jones? Adem Bona? Harrison Ingram? Tristen Newton?...)

This is actually quite an interesting idea, IMO. & I think there's a good chance Portland would go for it. Or the Spurs for 8, 35, 48 plus a future R2...?

[doclinkin]

Having watched Kentucky several times I don't buy the narrative that Sheppard was just the beneficiary of open shots created by teammates. A lot of his shots were contested and/ or off the dribble.

I think if anything his production might have been limited by having so many mouths to feed. When he actually decided to play aggressively and look for his own shot, he went off.

While he doesn't have the handles that Steph does his release is much higher. His pullup j is money and he doesn't need much space to get it off.

Mark Price is a much better comparison. Price wasn't as athletic as Sheppard. I don't think Price ever dunked in a game.

...

Peak Mark Price....yes I would definitely take that in this crapshoot of a draft. And very appropriate comp too...when I watch Sheppard I get a 90's point guard vibe.

Okay.

Re-watching Sheppard's standout games (currently the second half of the Mississippi State game where Sheppard took over). I do think there is a solid chance that he is the guy that teams kick themselves for misjudging, especially given his statistics. And that Kentucky guards tend to do better after they are out of the program. If Sheppard does better than he did in college (same efficiency, higher volume) he'd be a first ballot lock in Cooperstown.

Watching for his PG skills, he does everything just about exactly right. Subtle things like the timing of a lead pass on a roll, he throws to exactly where his man is going to be right where only he can catch it. In stride. Outlet passes with instant recognition of if his teammate has the edge. He didn't get to work with dominant Pick and Roll bigs, so I'm curious to see how that part of his game would show up. Or a high caliber stretch 5. He does recognize at all times who has the mismatch and where the ball is supposed to go. Quick decisions.

Yeah I'd be happy with the selection. I think the smarts will scale to the next level. He will make the adjustments once he recalibrates for the speed and length.

And it would be nice to draft a player who shoots a pretty ball and plays hard at both ends.

[payitforward]

Dat -- how far down could we move & still be pretty sure to get Holland? (while accumulating more draft picks obviously...)

I see Holland mostly mocked from 10 to 14. It seems pretty certain he'd be there at 7 or 8....

[nate33]

Having watched Kentucky several times I don't buy the narrative that Sheppard was just the beneficiary of open shots created by teammates. A lot of his shots were contested and/ or off the dribble.

I think if anything his production might have been limited by having so many mouths to feed. When he actually decided to play aggressively and look for his own shot, he went off.

While he doesn't have the handles that Steph does his release is much higher. His pullup j is money and he doesn't need much space to get it off.

Mark Price is a much better comparison. Price wasn't as athletic as Sheppard. I don't think Price ever dunked in a game.

...

Peak Mark Price....yes I would definitely take that in this crapshoot of a draft. And very appropriate comp too...when I watch Sheppard I get a 90's point guard vibe.

Okay.

Re-watching Sheppard's standout games (currently the second half of the Mississippi State game where Sheppard took over). I do think there is a solid chance that he is the guy that teams kick themselves for misjudging, especially given his statistics. And that Kentucky guards tend to do better after they are out of the program. If Sheppard does better than he did in college (same efficiency, higher volume) he'd be a first ballot lock in Cooperstown.

Watching for his PG skills, he does everything just about exactly right. Subtle things like the timing of a lead pass on a roll, he throws to exactly where his man is going to be right where only he can catch it. In stride. Outlet passes with instant recognition of if his teammate has the edge. He didn't get to work with dominant Pick and Roll bigs, so I'm curious to see how that part of his game would show up. Or a high caliber stretch 5. He does recognize at all times who has the mismatch and where the ball is supposed to go. Quick decisions.

Yeah I'd be happy with the selection. I think the smarts will scale to the next level. He will make the adjustments once he recalibrates for the speed and length.

And it would be nice to draft a player who shoots a pretty ball and plays hard at both ends.

Yeah, I'm starting think I might just take Sheppard even if Sarr is still on the board. Sheppard's only real weakness is his lack of an elite handle, but at age 19, I think that can improve. He may never get to a Kyrie/Curry level, but if he can just handle reliably like Conley or Stockton, that's all he needs. For a little while, I think Sheppard will have trouble against teams with switchable bigs because he might not have the one-on-one creation to beat those guys just yet, but I think that will improve over time.

My first choice is to trade down to the #5-9 range and land Holland, Buzelis or Castle there (plus a 2025 pick), but if no such trade is available, I'll just take Sheppard.

[Endless Loop]

Okay.

Re-watching Sheppard's standout games (currently the second half of the Mississippi State game where Sheppard took over). I do think there is a solid chance that he is the guy that teams kick themselves for misjudging, especially given his statistics. And that Kentucky guards tend to do better after they are out of the program. If Sheppard does better than he did in college (same efficiency, higher volume) he'd be a first ballot lock in Cooperstown.

Watching for his PG skills, he does everything just about exactly right. Subtle things like the timing of a lead pass on a roll, he throws to exactly where his man is going to be right where only he can catch it. In stride. Outlet passes with instant recognition of if his teammate has the edge. He didn't get to work with dominant Pick and Roll bigs, so I'm curious to see how that part of his game would show up. Or a high caliber stretch 5. He does recognize at all times who has the mismatch and where the ball is supposed to go. Quick decisions.

Yeah I'd be happy with the selection. I think the smarts will scale to the next level. He will make the adjustments once he recalibrates for the speed and length.

And it would be nice to draft a player who shoots a pretty ball and plays hard at both ends.

Yeah, I'm starting think I might just take Sheppard even if Sarr is still on the board. Sheppard's only real weakness is his lack of an elite handle, but at age 19, I think that can improve. He may never get to a Kyrie/Curry level, but if he can just handle reliably like Conley or Stockton, that's all he needs. For a little while, I think Sheppard will have trouble against teams with switchable bigs because he might not have the one-on-one creation to beat those guys just yet, but I think that will improve over time.

My first choice is to trade down to the #5-9 range and land Holland, Buzelis or Castle there (plus a 2025 pick), but if no such trade is available, I'll just take Sheppard.

Wouldn't it be interesting if Atlanta traded Young and drafted Sheppard?

[payitforward]

At 2 in this year's draft, that's Sarr, Risacher, Sheppard, Clingan, Topic & Castle. No one else has a chance to be chosen at that spot.....

In a completely wide open draft, I think it's a mistake to fully buy into these bad mocks and draft guru's pushing agent agendas (cough, DraftExpress, cough).

Just out of curiosity, & leaving aside any decision the Wizards might make, do you think that Houston or SA is likely to take someone who isn't on that list? E.g. Dillingham or Holland or Buzelis or....?