2024 Draft Thread - Part II

[closg00]

Read on Twitter

[daSwami]

Nabbing Djurisic at #26 would be sweet.

[nate33]

Just thinking out loud. Why not compare Sheppard to another hyper-efficient, but relatively low usage college point guard with dynamite advanced numbers?

Their numbers are almost identical.

Pcbothwel made this comparison all year. It’s an interesting one. Haliburton has much better length.

Damn! I thought I had an original thought!

[nate33]

.....(the '20 class was also poor....

Wow.....

Anthony Edwards
Lamelo Ball
Tyrese Halliburton
Deni Avdija
Tyrese Maxey
Desmond Bane
Devin Vassell
Obi Toppin
KMart Jr.
Immanuel Quickley
Xavier Tillman
Precious Achiuwa
Onyeka Okonwu
Isaac Okoru
Josh Green
Paul Reed
Isaiah Joe
Sam Merrill
Jaden McDaniels

Superstars:
Edwards
Haliburton

Potential All Stars:
Ball (though health is a problem)
Bane
Maxey

Quality starters:
Avdija
Vassell
Quickley
McDaniels

Rotation players:
Toppin
KMart
Achiuwa
Okongwu
Okoru
Green
Reed
Joe
Merrill

Yeah, that's a good draft - better than expected. But I don't think people expected it to be terrible though. IIRC, I think the consensus assumed that one or two of the top 3 (Ball, Edwards, Wiseman) might pan out to be an All-Star tier guy, and that there were a handful of starter tier guys later in the lottery. Then assume there is usually at least one All-Star surprise in the back half of the draft. This draft was interesting in that there were three big time surprises in Haliburton, Bane and Maxey.

[NatP4]

This is crazy. Doesn’t turn 18 years old until the end of the month.

Read on Twitter

[tontoz]

Maxey did make the AS game this year.

[pcbothwel]

Just thinking out loud. Why not compare Sheppard to another hyper-efficient, but relatively low usage college point guard with dynamite advanced numbers?

Their numbers are almost identical.

Pcbothwel made this comparison all year. It’s an interesting one. Haliburton has much better length.

Thanks Nat.
Beyond the numbers, the other parallels are the concern with being THE lead guard, creating their own shot, and size.
Haliburton is taller/longer, but Haliburton only has a +3 wingspan and a very narrow frame that looks like he'll always be dinged up.

That said, I only used Haliburton as a comp because he was the last guy with a similar profile that scouts over analyzed.
As a play style comp, I see much more FVV.

[pcbothwel]

At #26 I'd be interested in several of the potential wings who could be available there... Kyshawn George, Dadiet, Djurisic, Flowers, Karaban.

But, a guy I have my eye increasingly on is 19 yr old PF Izan Almansa from Spain. Measured 6-9 with a 7-1 wingspan at the combine. He is a multi-skilled, high IQ, high motor player and high level rebounder. He is the type of player we have needed and have lacked seemingly forever.


The Ringer:

Almansa was considered a lottery pick prior to his underwhelming G League season.

Accomplished international big who projects as a versatile offensive hub and prolific rebounder.

SHADES OF: Kevin Love

Feel for the Game
Rebounding
PLUSES
Strong elbow and post playmaker with the ability to handle double-teams and locate shooters and cutters. His NBA team could use him in dribble handoffs since he can also dribble to the basket or turn his back into post-ups.

Beautiful post scorer who moves with purpose. He loves using spin moves straight into hook shots, and it works no matter the angle or the defensive contest. Sometimes, he’ll even do it with his left hand.

Fundamental screener and eager roller with amazing hands. Though he’s capable of dunking over defenders, he primarily finishes through length and contact using his soft touch. He’s patient and uses head and ball fakes to let defenders fly by when needed.

A potential short-roll menace if paired with the right point guard. He’s a strong dribbler and passer, and he also has a push floater that could punish defenses that leave him open. If his shot develops, his open-floor ballhandling would open up his game even more.

Elite rebounder on both ends with a nose for the ball. He’s like a magnet.

High-effort defender with the ability to play in different schemes. He’s nimble enough to switch or blitz.

MINUSES
Subpar free throw shooter and stiff from 3. At this stage, his shooting development is purely hypothetical. But how could someone with his soft touch not end up learning how to shoot 3s?

As a drop-coverage big man on defense, he’s more of a positional defender than an imposing shot blocker. And on the perimeter, he’s solid but not a stopper.


NBA Draft Room:

Draft Notes
Almansa is an incredibly productive and efficient player who might not be the flashiest player around but really gets it done on the court.

He’s an interior focused big man who loves to mix it up in the paint, plays with a lot of energy and effort and contributes in all aspects of the game.

Almansa has great hands, catching everything thrown his way and doing a great job of securing rebounds. He also has a really good feel for cutting and getting himself into position for layups, post scoring and positioning for rebounds. Has a natural feel for the game.

Moves very well up and down the court and is an overall plus athlete with agility, coordination and bounce.

Expanding his shooting range will be key to his success at the NBA level.

Watch on YouTube

Love is a TERRIBLE Comp.
To me, he screams Horford. Undersized 4/5 with High IQ, Effort, passing and questionable shot projection.

[nate33]

At #26 I'd be interested in several of the potential wings who could be available there... Kyshawn George, Dadiet, Djurisic, Flowers, Karaban.

But, a guy I have my eye increasingly on is 19 yr old PF Izan Almansa from Spain. Measured 6-9 with a 7-1 wingspan at the combine. He is a multi-skilled, high IQ, high motor player and high level rebounder. He is the type of player we have needed and have lacked seemingly forever.

Spoiler:

The Ringer:

Almansa was considered a lottery pick prior to his underwhelming G League season.

Accomplished international big who projects as a versatile offensive hub and prolific rebounder.

SHADES OF: Kevin Love

Feel for the Game
Rebounding
PLUSES
Strong elbow and post playmaker with the ability to handle double-teams and locate shooters and cutters. His NBA team could use him in dribble handoffs since he can also dribble to the basket or turn his back into post-ups.

Beautiful post scorer who moves with purpose. He loves using spin moves straight into hook shots, and it works no matter the angle or the defensive contest. Sometimes, he’ll even do it with his left hand.

Fundamental screener and eager roller with amazing hands. Though he’s capable of dunking over defenders, he primarily finishes through length and contact using his soft touch. He’s patient and uses head and ball fakes to let defenders fly by when needed.

A potential short-roll menace if paired with the right point guard. He’s a strong dribbler and passer, and he also has a push floater that could punish defenses that leave him open. If his shot develops, his open-floor ballhandling would open up his game even more.

Elite rebounder on both ends with a nose for the ball. He’s like a magnet.

High-effort defender with the ability to play in different schemes. He’s nimble enough to switch or blitz.

MINUSES
Subpar free throw shooter and stiff from 3. At this stage, his shooting development is purely hypothetical. But how could someone with his soft touch not end up learning how to shoot 3s?

As a drop-coverage big man on defense, he’s more of a positional defender than an imposing shot blocker. And on the perimeter, he’s solid but not a stopper.


NBA Draft Room:

Draft Notes
Almansa is an incredibly productive and efficient player who might not be the flashiest player around but really gets it done on the court.

He’s an interior focused big man who loves to mix it up in the paint, plays with a lot of energy and effort and contributes in all aspects of the game.

Almansa has great hands, catching everything thrown his way and doing a great job of securing rebounds. He also has a really good feel for cutting and getting himself into position for layups, post scoring and positioning for rebounds. Has a natural feel for the game.

Moves very well up and down the court and is an overall plus athlete with agility, coordination and bounce.

Expanding his shooting range will be key to his success at the NBA level.

Watch on YouTube

Love is a TERRIBLE Comp.
To me, he screams Horford. Undersized 4/5 with High IQ, Effort, passing and questionable shot projection.

According to the video, the guy can't shoot or defend. How in the world would Horford be a comp? Horford was an elite defender.

He sounds to me like a slightly taller Kenneth Faried, or maybe a Xavier Tillman.

[closg00]

When I see a sports babe reporter on-camera, I wonder how-many of them are just “news readers” as they call them in England, or do they really understand and geek on the sport that they cover?
I know this sounds horribly sexist, but some of these women are just faces for the content, but they are reporters.

Watch on YouTube

[Dat2U]

At #26 I'd be interested in several of the potential wings who could be available there... Kyshawn George, Dadiet, Djurisic, Flowers, Karaban.

But, a guy I have my eye increasingly on is 19 yr old PF Izan Almansa from Spain. Measured 6-9 with a 7-1 wingspan at the combine. He is a multi-skilled, high IQ, high motor player and high level rebounder. He is the type of player we have needed and have lacked seemingly forever.

Spoiler:

The Ringer:

Almansa was considered a lottery pick prior to his underwhelming G League season.

Accomplished international big who projects as a versatile offensive hub and prolific rebounder.

SHADES OF: Kevin Love

Feel for the Game
Rebounding
PLUSES
Strong elbow and post playmaker with the ability to handle double-teams and locate shooters and cutters. His NBA team could use him in dribble handoffs since he can also dribble to the basket or turn his back into post-ups.

Beautiful post scorer who moves with purpose. He loves using spin moves straight into hook shots, and it works no matter the angle or the defensive contest. Sometimes, he’ll even do it with his left hand.

Fundamental screener and eager roller with amazing hands. Though he’s capable of dunking over defenders, he primarily finishes through length and contact using his soft touch. He’s patient and uses head and ball fakes to let defenders fly by when needed.

A potential short-roll menace if paired with the right point guard. He’s a strong dribbler and passer, and he also has a push floater that could punish defenses that leave him open. If his shot develops, his open-floor ballhandling would open up his game even more.

Elite rebounder on both ends with a nose for the ball. He’s like a magnet.

High-effort defender with the ability to play in different schemes. He’s nimble enough to switch or blitz.

MINUSES
Subpar free throw shooter and stiff from 3. At this stage, his shooting development is purely hypothetical. But how could someone with his soft touch not end up learning how to shoot 3s?

As a drop-coverage big man on defense, he’s more of a positional defender than an imposing shot blocker. And on the perimeter, he’s solid but not a stopper.


NBA Draft Room:

Draft Notes
Almansa is an incredibly productive and efficient player who might not be the flashiest player around but really gets it done on the court.

He’s an interior focused big man who loves to mix it up in the paint, plays with a lot of energy and effort and contributes in all aspects of the game.

Almansa has great hands, catching everything thrown his way and doing a great job of securing rebounds. He also has a really good feel for cutting and getting himself into position for layups, post scoring and positioning for rebounds. Has a natural feel for the game.

Moves very well up and down the court and is an overall plus athlete with agility, coordination and bounce.

Expanding his shooting range will be key to his success at the NBA level.

Watch on YouTube

Love is a TERRIBLE Comp.
To me, he screams Horford. Undersized 4/5 with High IQ, Effort, passing and questionable shot projection.

According to the video, the guy can't shoot or defend. How in the world would Horford be a comp? Horford was an elite defender.

He sounds to me like a slightly taller Kenneth Faried, or maybe a Xavier Tillman.

Doc I believe was a fan of Izan at the beginning of this thread. He was a lotto pick at the start of the draft cycle now he's undervalued as a early 2nd rd'er

The comparison I make isn't Horford but his old college teammate, Joakim Noah. A non-shooter with a high IQ and a motor that does everything else well. I think his future position is C.

[pcbothwel]

At #26 I'd be interested in several of the potential wings who could be available there... Kyshawn George, Dadiet, Djurisic, Flowers, Karaban.

But, a guy I have my eye increasingly on is 19 yr old PF Izan Almansa from Spain. Measured 6-9 with a 7-1 wingspan at the combine. He is a multi-skilled, high IQ, high motor player and high level rebounder. He is the type of player we have needed and have lacked seemingly forever.

Spoiler:

The Ringer:

Almansa was considered a lottery pick prior to his underwhelming G League season.

Accomplished international big who projects as a versatile offensive hub and prolific rebounder.

SHADES OF: Kevin Love

Feel for the Game
Rebounding
PLUSES
Strong elbow and post playmaker with the ability to handle double-teams and locate shooters and cutters. His NBA team could use him in dribble handoffs since he can also dribble to the basket or turn his back into post-ups.

Beautiful post scorer who moves with purpose. He loves using spin moves straight into hook shots, and it works no matter the angle or the defensive contest. Sometimes, he’ll even do it with his left hand.

Fundamental screener and eager roller with amazing hands. Though he’s capable of dunking over defenders, he primarily finishes through length and contact using his soft touch. He’s patient and uses head and ball fakes to let defenders fly by when needed.

A potential short-roll menace if paired with the right point guard. He’s a strong dribbler and passer, and he also has a push floater that could punish defenses that leave him open. If his shot develops, his open-floor ballhandling would open up his game even more.

Elite rebounder on both ends with a nose for the ball. He’s like a magnet.

High-effort defender with the ability to play in different schemes. He’s nimble enough to switch or blitz.

MINUSES
Subpar free throw shooter and stiff from 3. At this stage, his shooting development is purely hypothetical. But how could someone with his soft touch not end up learning how to shoot 3s?

As a drop-coverage big man on defense, he’s more of a positional defender than an imposing shot blocker. And on the perimeter, he’s solid but not a stopper.


NBA Draft Room:

Draft Notes
Almansa is an incredibly productive and efficient player who might not be the flashiest player around but really gets it done on the court.

He’s an interior focused big man who loves to mix it up in the paint, plays with a lot of energy and effort and contributes in all aspects of the game.

Almansa has great hands, catching everything thrown his way and doing a great job of securing rebounds. He also has a really good feel for cutting and getting himself into position for layups, post scoring and positioning for rebounds. Has a natural feel for the game.

Moves very well up and down the court and is an overall plus athlete with agility, coordination and bounce.

Expanding his shooting range will be key to his success at the NBA level.

Watch on YouTube

Love is a TERRIBLE Comp.
To me, he screams Horford. Undersized 4/5 with High IQ, Effort, passing and questionable shot projection.

According to the video, the guy can't shoot or defend. How in the world would Horford be a comp? Horford was an elite defender.

He sounds to me like a slightly taller Kenneth Faried, or maybe a Xavier Tillman.

Sorry... Horford is absolute ceiling/comp. You are correct that Tillman is a great realistic comp.
We have to consider the generational difference. We are talking almost 20 year age difference, and the projected role for guys like Horford were very different in then. Horford was also 2 years older.
I just thought the Love Comp was such a disrespect to how dominant Love was at 19. Almansa is not nearly as polished offensively, but he is bigger, longer, and a better athlete than Love.

[Dat2U]

I like Reed Sheppard more than I do Nikola Topic. Topic sees more as a passer due to his height. I think Topic's handle is a little better and he's more aggressive while Reed picks his spots.

Reed is an elite and versatile shooter and we hope Topic can be league average.

Reed is an elite off the ball defender and suspect on the ball. Topic is suspect on and off the ball. Both can and will be targeted.

The biggest advantage in Topic's favor is he's 6-7? and has been a walking paint touch allowing him to find easy shots for others and also finishing creatively at the rim. I have questions on whether he can replicate this with good but not great athleticism and him being mostly a straight line driver.

[nate33]

I like Reed Sheppard more than I do Nikola Topic. Topic sees more as a passer due to his height. I think Topic's handle is a little better and he's more aggressive while Reed picks his spots.

Reed is an elite and versatile shooter and we hope Topic can be league average.

Reed is an elite off the ball defender and suspect on the ball. Topic is suspect on and off the ball. Both can and will be targeted.

The biggest advantage in Topic's favor is he's 6-7? and has been a walking paint touch allowing him to find easy shots for others and also finishing creatively at the rim. I have questions on whether he can replicate this with good but not great athleticism and him being mostly a straight line driver.

I'm back on the Reed Sheppard bandwagon again after having some second thoughts.

I really think Sheppard can be a first rate on-ball scorer in the NBA because of his ability to shoot off the dribble with a quick release. That's the foundation of a deadly pick-and-roll game. He just needs a little more work on his handle and in completing those pick-and-roll passes. And I think he already has a naturally strong lower body which should get stronger with more training. And that strength will be enough to allow him to hold up defensively in switches like how Van Vleet and Lowry do.

I keep coming back to the Haliburton comparison. Haliburton was just a really smart, effective and efficient college basketball player that people underestimated because of his relatively low usage. But it wasn't low usage because he couldn't score against defensive attention, it was merely that Haliburton was just trying to make sure everyone got their touches because that's good basketball. Franz Wagner was similar (although obviously a different type of player). All the stats were great except for low usage, and he was able to scale the usage up in the NBA.

Don't overthink it. Good players are good players. Sheppard has elite advanced stats for a freshman. That usage can scale up.

[nate33]

I like that Ryen Russilo bit a while ago about how this draft is like a normal draft except the first 5 or so top players are missing. So if you are picking #1, it's like picking #6. That's a good way of looking at it, and helps address the fear of blowing the pick because we aren't landing a superstar talent at #2.

Just pretend like the Wizards have the 7th pick in the draft after 5 imaginary better prospects have already been picked by 5 imaginary teams. If we are picking 7th, are you disappointed in taking a guy like Sheppard, Topic, Castle, Holland, Buzelis or Clingan? Not really. All those guys could be quality starters.

[pcbothwel]

I like that Ryen Russilo bit a while ago about how this draft is like a normal draft except the first 5 or so top players are missing. So if you are picking #1, it's like picking #6. That's a good way of looking at it, and helps address the fear of blowing the pick because we aren't landing a superstar talent at #2.

Just pretend like the Wizards have the 7th pick in the draft after 5 imaginary better prospects have already been picked by 5 imaginary teams. If we are picking 7th, are you disappointed in taking a guy like Sheppard, Topic, Castle, Holland, Buzelis or Clingan? Not really. All those guys could be quality starters.

If all those guys were available at 7, then I would trade down 5 spots and grab a 2025 1st.

[nate33]

I like that Ryen Russilo bit a while ago about how this draft is like a normal draft except the first 5 or so top players are missing. So if you are picking #1, it's like picking #6. That's a good way of looking at it, and helps address the fear of blowing the pick because we aren't landing a superstar talent at #2.

Just pretend like the Wizards have the 7th pick in the draft after 5 imaginary better prospects have already been picked by 5 imaginary teams. If we are picking 7th, are you disappointed in taking a guy like Sheppard, Topic, Castle, Holland, Buzelis or Clingan? Not really. All those guys could be quality starters.

If all those guys were available at 7, then I would trade down 5 spots and grab a 2025 1st.

I'm not opposed to trading down. I just think there aren't going to be many teams trying to trade up, so it's easier said than done.

[The Consiglieri]

Consiglieri -- obviously, we disagree, but if you think that everybody knows how "bad" this draft is, it's so obvious, agreed on by everyone & known since mid-'22 how can you imagine that a team would give us a top 5-10 pick this year, a '26 R1 pick & an early R2 pick this year?

Teams become less rationale and more impulsive about their chances the closer an opportunity comes to move the bottom line, and GM's paychecks depend on the right here, right now performance for teams that aren't obviously tanking. If you're a team that's stalling out between the 6th and 10th seed, or outside that grouping, you can totally get the grunfeld/sheppard effect and make moves prioritizing the now after tomorrow. It doesn't matter that it's a known, known that this draft sucks, this draft, free agency and trade are the only options to change the bottom line for teams in '24-'25. They can't draft the '25 or '26 classes now and some of those GM's won't be around to blow, or seize the opportunity with lottery luck in '25 or '26 unless they get the job done in the present, so simply getting usable assets, players they can plug in for defensive or offensive production here and now, trumps the tomorrows. That's how you get asinine trades like Rasheed Wallace for Rod Strickland, Chris Webber for Mitch Richmond, a pick that could have landed Steph Curry for two bench options etc. Those kind of dumb --- win now moves are everpresent because fans and GM's are engaged in a totally different game. Fans are in it, as lifers (or supposedly are), GM's are in it for their career, and the misalignment of incentives between coaches, GM's, and fans can make for incredibly stupid short term thinking based decisions and preferences. The fact that this draft sucks doesn't change the fact that it will have players that can improve a club incrementally and maybe more in '24-'25. Finding the idiot team, the Grunfeldian Wizards, in that scenario should be an objective for our new FO, there will be one and probably more than one. What can you get for that? Not sure, that's why I suggested looking for a pick not in '25, but later in '26, but honestly, I may be way off, I don't know what you could get for moving down a good 5-10 slots this draft in terms of 2nd round capital and future firsts, but is it worth figuring out if some coach/GM combo scared ----less they're about to be canned worth looking for and talking with? Absolutely.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Love is a TERRIBLE Comp.
To me, he screams Horford. Undersized 4/5 with High IQ, Effort, passing and questionable shot projection.

According to the video, the guy can't shoot or defend. How in the world would Horford be a comp? Horford was an elite defender.

He sounds to me like a slightly taller Kenneth Faried, or maybe a Xavier Tillman.

Doc I believe was a fan of Izan at the beginning of this thread. He was a lotto pick at the start of the draft cycle now he's undervalued as a early 2nd rd'er

The comparison I make isn't Horford but his old college teammate, Joakim Noah. A non-shooter with a high IQ and a motor that does everything else well. I think his future position is C.

Yeah I thought the Love comp was strange. I guess they were really focusing on the rebounding. I definitely like the Noah comp better. Maybe a cross between Noah and Pau Gasol.

[80sballboy]

More from ESPN+
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/page/NBADraft24-40145332/2024-nba-draft-combine-prospects-workout-highlights-measurements-stats-more

The NBA's pre-draft season is in full swing as the league held its draft lottery Sunday, with the Atlanta Hawks moving up to grab the No. 1 pick, and there are more than 120 prospects in Chicago this week for the draft combine and agency pro days.

The G League camp got things going Saturday, and Monday marked the start of drills, measurements, athletic testing, medical examinations, team interviews and 5-on-5 scrimmaging at Wintrust Arena. On Tuesday and Wednesday, players took to the court for scrimmages and games.


NBA draft experts Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Woo, Bobby Marks and Jamal Collier recap the biggest takeaways from the combine, assess the prospects who are rising (or potentially falling) and address league reaction and news around the 2024 NBA draft, to be held June 26-27 in Brooklyn.


What's your biggest takeaway from Wednesday?
Givony: It's clear many NBA teams are still in the early stages of their decision-making process. Most teams and executives say they have considerable work in front of them -- watching player film, conducting private workouts and interviews and a thorough examination of medical records and background intel. Usually by this stage, the draft is decently clear, but due to the lack of star power at the top and how flat the talent level is outside the lottery, things seem wide-open. Expect considerable movement on our upcoming mocks and big boards, and all the way up to draft night as we piece together how things are evolving.


Woo: This draft is just as challenging to figure out as it was two days ago before the start of the combine. Players always stand out here, but if you ask 10 different scouts who the best prospect out of scrimmages is there might be 10 different answers. For me, this week reaffirmed this is very much an eye-of-the-beholder draft class. And based on conversations with teams, there will be a lot of drafting for best fit, which means less adhering to consensus -- and most likely, some surprises on draft night.


Who stood out during Wednesday's scrimmages?
KJ Simpson, PG, Colorado: After a strong first scrimmage, Simpson (ranked No. 47 in our ESPN 100) wrapped up the combine with 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a win. Simpson, who averaged 19.7 points for a Colorado team that won two NCAA tournament games, helped his cause in Chicago with his passing ability -- showing unselfishness and creativity with impressive timing and pace. He's smart using screens, drives the paint with his head up and can operate in short and midrange spots.



NBA draft combine preview: New rules and five prospects to watch
Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo

Answering 14 questions on the NBA draft lottery: What now for the Hawks, Wizards and Rockets?

Simpson measures at 6-foot-1½ in shoes and 187 pounds, so demonstrating his point guard abilities rather than at combo like he has been billed most of his career was important. Defensively, he pressured the ball and fought over screens -- critical at his size. In a league filled with oversized wings, some NBA teams won't consider drafting a player of Simpson's stature, so showing he can be productive in a different role was a positive step in positioning himself to get drafted. -- Givony

AJ Johnson, PG/SG, Illawarra Hawks (NBL): This was a positive two-day stretch for Johnson, who had a significant platform at his disposal running the point full time for Team St. Andrews. Johnson, 19, dished out 10 assists in 48 minutes, showing some real vision and pace finding teammates driving and passing over the top out of pick-and-roll. He had several highlight-reel finishes showing his fluidity and explosiveness, hit a deep 3 and looked much improved defensively relative to where he was a year ago prior to signing in Australia, showing that his apprentice season playing limited minutes in the NBL wasn't for naught. NBA teams are intrigued by the long-term upside the 6-foot-5 1/2 teenage guard possesses, who has moved himself firmly into the guaranteed contract conversation with his play in Chicago this week. -- Givony

Ulrich Chomche, C, NBA Academy Africa: Chomche, ranked No. 40 in our ESPN 100, didn't have an incredibly productive two-day showing in Chicago, posting 7 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist and 4 turnovers in 31 minutes, leaving him on somewhat uncertain standing going into the NCAA's early-entry withdrawal deadline on May 29. The 18-year-old Cameroonian showed flashes of attacking slow big men on the perimeter, intelligent passes, energetically running the floor and exceptional mobility and length trapping ball screens out to half court. He also looked unsure in moments with his rudimentary skill level and lack of experience on both ends of the floor. It might take several years of development before he's ready to play real minutes in the NBA.

Big men who can theoretically stretch the floor, switch onto smaller players and protect the rim are rare, but Chomche didn't make as strong a case for a guaranteed contract as he probably hoped this week. -- Givony

Nikola Djurisic, SG/SF, Mega MIS: Djurisic, ESPN's No. 53-ranked prospect, had a quiet first day, scoring 4 points in 11 minutes, but in the final scrimmage scored 16 points in 21 minutes -- giving teams a stronger viewing of his offensive versatility.

He made a pair of 3s off movement, several above the rim finishes running the floor and attacking closeouts and showed his passing vision with creative and unselfish play.

After two up and down seasons on a Mega MIS team, it was important for Djurisic to show he can hold his own against his American peers. NBA teams still have some questions about his feel for the game, shooting consistency and general streakiness, but big wings in Djurisic's mold who have size, skills, shot-making versatility and passing aren't easy to come by, making him a viable prospect to draft in the second round. -- Givony


Bronny James, G, USC: James looked a lot more comfortable Wednesday, bouncing back from a shaky showing Tuesday to finish with 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting. James, who is ranked No. 98 in ESPN's Top 100, had a pair of catch-and-shoot 3s and showcased creative passes. His poise held up well against a team of older, more experienced college upperclassmen.

While evaluators generally view Bronny as a second-round talent at best, the immediate feedback from scouts was better today. He showcased his willingness to share the ball, play a role and knock down shots. Still, most of the concerns have always been the same: He's undersized for an off-ball guard in the NBA, particularly on the defensive end, and struggles to create for himself. Still, Wednesday was a much better look for James as he attempts to strengthen his case for draftability in June. -- Woo

Alex Karaban, SF/PF, UConn: After a quiet first game, Karaban had a much more active day Wednesday, with a number of good moments and solid defensive play to help remind teams why he's been important and successful at UConn. His game is predicated more on cutting and spacing for teammates -- not always obvious in a scrimmage setting -- but Karaban was decisive about his touches (12 points on five shots) and moved his feet on the perimeter, boxed out and showcased his excellent basketball IQ. His decision to turn pro or return to UConn hinges on how good he feels about his potential landing spots. -- Jeremy Woo

Oso Ighodaro, F/C, Marquette: Ighodaro had a good showing in Wednesday's second scrimmage, scoring 11 points, on 4-for-4 shooting and hitting three free throws. He showcased his passing ability, effectiveness as a screener and defensive versatility, switching onto smaller players. However, he's a non-shooter outside the paint, a below-average rebounder and lacks elite rim protection skills. A creative team might see more of his upside and envision a way to optimize him off the bench. -- Woo

Coleman Hawkins, F, Illinois: Hawkins had a notable showing in Wednesday's first scrimmage, showcasing a wide range of offensive skills. He's a plus passer, looked comfortable shooting from distance, moves well for his size and finished well around the basket, scoring 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting. However, he lacked on defense with occasional lapses in decision-making. The concern with Hawkins has always been on his reliability but he has the potential to become a useful frontcourt player if he puts it all together. If he can win people over in interviews and private workouts, he'll help his chances of getting drafted. -- Woo

Pelle Larsson, SG/SF, Arizona: Larsson turned in another solid performance Wednesday which wasn't reflected in the box score: While he shot just 1-of-7 from the field, he made positive contributions all over the floor with good passes, boxing out and battling defensively. While more of a connector than a scorer, Larsson played more assertively than he did in college and was able to get into the paint and draw fouls against weaker defenders. He checks a lot of boxes teams value in perimeter role players, such as being able to contribute on both ends without needing heavy usage and operating as a secondary handler. Larsson is the type of unselfish, experienced prospect who might soak up minutes on a team with playoff aspirations early in his career but will need to shoot well in workouts to show teams his potential. -- Woo

Justin Edwards, SF, Kentucky: The highest-ranked prospect on the ESPN Top 100 who participated in scrimmages, Edwards was a touch inconsistent, scoring just five points Wednesday after turning in 14 on Tuesday. That being said, he looked a bit leaner physically, hitting a number of shots from the perimeter, and looked like a player capable of eventually filling an NBA role. Edwards still doesn't have much of a secondary skill set and lacks creation for others, but wings his size who can knock down open shots, finish plays and step in defensively tend to earn minutes in the league. Once projected as a lottery-level talent, Edwards made a good decision to play at the combine and looked comfortable enough on the floor to help reassure teams that he's worth a shot from a development standpoint. -- Woo

Pay close attention to Tidjane Salaun
While all NBA eyes were on the combine in Chicago, an notable development was happening in Paris, France, where Tidjane Salaun had a career-best performance in the most important game he has played to this point in the season. With 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal later, the gym was buzzing about Salaun's highlight-laden performance, which included deep 3s, monster dunks, important offensive rebounds, clutch late plays and incredible energy and activity level to help his Cholet team win Game 1 of the French league playoffs against No. 2 seed Paris. One of the best teams in European basketball, Paris is fresh off winning a EuroCup championship and was in the midst of a 25-game winning streak.

Digging into the film, Paris' strategy of not guarding Salaun at all on the perimeter backfired, as the 6-11 teenager stepped into NBA range 3-pointers confidently, broke free off cuts for above-the-rim finishes, and used his tremendous physical tools to crash the paint and secured multiple extra possessions for his team.


After talking with numerous NBA teams about Salaun this week, it seems he's much closer to being a top-10 pick than the late lottery candidate he is currently ranked in the ESPN Top 100 at No. 10. Several teams are flagging the San Antonio Spurs at No. 8 as a real landing potential spot for Salaun. The French connections with Victor Wembanyama are obvious, as the two share an agent and know each other dating back to 2017 when their sisters played together at the FIBA U-16 European Championship.

Salaun clearly didn't hurt his draft stock, and a big contingent of NBA executives is now en route to France to take in the rest of the LNB quarterfinals, where both him and potential No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher are competing against Parisian-based teams, making for one-stop scouting shopping for lottery teams. -- Givony