2024 Draft Thread - Part II

[doclinkin]

But I mean, wouldn't it be nice to add a tall shooter who actually makes his outside shots?

[nate33]

While I understand talent acquisition and I’m all for it on a team like ours, I just for the life of me, can’t understand the desire to select a forward. Isn’t the point of a rebuild, finding talent, developing that talent and then adding around those deemed talented enough, with more talent?

If not, then I just don’t get it. For all those advocating for drafting the next 6’9” forward, who’s either decent but not great at anything or great at one thing but bad at others, you are subjecting yourself to watching either that player or Deni, Bilal, Vuk or Corey on the bench, playing very limited minutes.

All I’ve heard for the last couple of years is, let the young players play and develop on the job. There are only so many positional minutes available, with even less usage available but there seems to be a considerable level of neglect to those facts as draft prospects for the Wizards are being considered. Especially when you actually look at the few pieces that we do actually already have on the roster. There are really only two worth mentioning:

Deni, who has taken steps to be a real potential piece for the future and Bilal, who general consensus was saying that if he had come out this year instead of last, would’ve been in the conversation for the top pick. (Btw - Bilal will not be a guard when it’s all said and done) If those two things are true, they need to continue to get a lot of minutes, so why bring in competition that could impede their development, as well as whoever the high draft pick is?

Hence the reason why I just dont see the drafting of Risacher, Salaun, Buzelis, Holland, or any other of the 76 SF/PF mentioned in a trade back scenario, as good asset or development management. Someone ultimately won’t play enough and the complaining about #sowizards will continue. Grab a center or a guard and keep the party going!

I understand this sentiment and I worry a bit about it mostly because I think we have a good chance of drafting yet another forward in the next draft too: Flagg or Bailey.

But at the same time, I'm not too worried about it because the way the modern NBA is going, you need more 6-8 guys than ever. Even if you label them as "forwards", we now see 6-8 guys handling the role of PG and SG as well. As it turns out, the two building block forwards on the roster have the capacity to play non-forward positions on offense. I can see Deni as the "PG", as long we have one other ball-handling shot creator with him. Deni can bring the ball up, get us into sets, and run some pick and roll. And as Coulibaly keeps growing and filling out, I expect him to play power forward and even some smallball center. He is now taller and longer than Precious Achiuwa.

So if we draft Risacher, who is basically a 6-8 shooting guard, we will have situation where all of our nominal "small forwards" actually can play a position other than small forward on offense. So even if we draft yet another forward next year, we can make it work. And there are some elite combo guards available in the 2025 draft as well. If we landed a guy like Traore or Harper and surrounded them with Deni, Risacher and Coulibaly, I think that's a lineup that will work just fine.

We will need a center eventually, so if Sarr is available in this draft, I'm fine with it. But it's far too soon to worry much about fit.

[gesa2]

Love and 100% agree with your Center analysis Nate, great post. Doc reading you somehow always makes me excited to watch us even when we suck.
As to drafting over guys and stunting development I think it’s much less of a thing with wings and forwards than players that only fit as centers or point guards. A good flexible system will find a way to develop and use players that can play 2 or more positions.

[DCZards]

But at the same time, I'm not too worried about it because the way the modern NBA is going, you need more 6-8 guys than ever. Even if you label them as "forwards", we now see 6-8 guys handling the role of PG and SG as well.

This part. Players with the physical makeup (height and length) and skillset of Risacher and Castle are more valuable than ever in the NBA.

Risacher has the potential to be a very good—maybe even elite—3&D guy. Castle believes he can be a quality PG in the NBA. He certainly has the IQ and potential playmaking chops. Castle’s D will be elite.

(I know y’all saw how Holiday secured the win for Boston last night with a great defensive play. You need guys like that!)

[badinage]

Holiday. Man, I love that guy. Sneaky smart plays at the exact time you need them. Year after year.

[closg00]

I am all for trading Kuzma now. We will have guys who need touches and he is just too shot happy. Plus I am tired of watching him.

I want 12 from OKC or 13 from Sac. If this is such a weak draft I think late lotto picks should be available.

I'm starting to reassess Tyler Smith. There's a lot to like, 6-9 (w/o shoes), 7-1 wingspan, 19 yrs old, and pretty athletically dynamic. He's someone I'd be looking at in that range. The immediate comp for me is former Atlanta Hawk Josh Smith...

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

I would like to take a flyer on Tyler Smith, but he won’t be around at 26.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

While I understand talent acquisition and I’m all for it on a team like ours, I just for the life of me, can’t understand the desire to select a forward. Isn’t the point of a rebuild, finding talent, developing that talent and then adding around those deemed talented enough, with more talent?

If not, then I just don’t get it. For all those advocating for drafting the next 6’9” forward, who’s either decent but not great at anything or great at one thing but bad at others, you are subjecting yourself to watching either that player or Deni, Bilal, Vuk or Corey on the bench, playing very limited minutes.

All I’ve heard for the last couple of years is, let the young players play and develop on the job. There are only so many positional minutes available, with even less usage available but there seems to be a considerable level of neglect to those facts as draft prospects for the Wizards are being considered. Especially when you actually look at the few pieces that we do actually already have on the roster. There are really only two worth mentioning:

Deni, who has 1wtaken steps to be a real potential piece for the future and Bilal, who general consensus was saying that if he had come out this year instead of last, would’ve been in the conversation for the top pick. (Btw - Bilal will not be a guard when it’s all said anda[tweet][/tweet] done) If those two things are true, they need to continue to get a lot of minutes, so why bring in competition that could impede their development, as well as whoever the high draft pick is?

Hence the reason why I just dont see the drafting of Risacher, Salaun, Buzelis, Holland, or any other of the 76 SF/PF mentioned in a trade back scenario, as good asset or development management. Someone ultimately won’t play enough and the complaining about #sowizards will continue. Grab a center or a guard and keep the party going!

If the BPA is a 6'9" PF, I would hope he's not more of the same as who is currently on the roster.

I think the team lacks an explosive, powerful interior player. If that player can also play C and has three point range, then regardless of height I would support drafting that player.

Better still, why not Reed Sheppard? Or, Stefon Castle? Or trade back for Devon Carter and a pick.

I don't want another SF/ PF who will not get playing time.

[payitforward]

I’m all for trading to get additional picks in this year’s draft…but then again you do eventually butt up against the reality of finding the playing time to truly develop your young players if you have more than 3 or 4 on your NBA roster.

Again... take a look at OKC.

The idea that developing rookies is like having pots cooking on the stove & if you have too many you'll lose control... is, I believe, invented. These young players have every one of them been coached non-stop since they were 12-14 years old! The issues they face have to do with how capable they are of dealing with the higher level of competition in the NBA -- both on the opposing team & competition for playing time on their own team.

IOW, most development is on the player himself. Are they good enough? Are they motivated enough? Do they have it in them to deal with tougher opposition players? For that matter, who are the vets competing for minutes? To put it another way -- we've seen what these vets can do -- nothing much. We don't need to know more.

& anyway... what is threatened if we fail to feature Kuz? Or trade him? If Tyus moves on? If Poole stays as bad as he was last year? Last year we got all the way to 15 wins. Will we have trouble getting there this year?

There are 20,000 minutes available!

Butler turns 24 this Summer; put him on the court. Ditto Baldwin. & let's add 4 rookies to the mix. Or more.

We won't win many games, that's for sure. So what?

[DCZards]

Like it or not, PIF, as long as Kuz and Poole are on the team they’ll get a ton of minutes. Same is true for Deni, Kispert and Jones, assuming he re-signs.

Bilal will—and should—play 30 plus mins a game.

There will not be as many minutes for rookies as you would like for there to be.

[payitforward]

Zards -- sure. Based on last year's numbers those guys will use about 12,000 minutes. That will leave @ 7000 minutes, which is plenty.

OTOH, it's possible Tyus won't be here. It's possible Kuz will be moved. Poole's per game minutes declined in the last 1/3 of the season; they may not jump back up. Kispert's productivity actually dropped some last year from his 2d season; not sure what his status is/will be.

Like it or not, we are rebuilding from the bottom up. We won 15 games last season. Why? Because there is next to no talent on this squad. I don't see any practical way to increase our talent base except through the draft. I'm sure Dawkins isn't expecting any miracles either.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

While I understand talent acquisition and I’m all for it on a team like ours, I just for the life of me, can’t understand the desire to select a forward. Isn’t the point of a rebuild, finding talent, developing that talent and then adding around those deemed talented enough, with more talent?

If not, then I just don’t get it. For all those advocating for drafting the next 6’9” forward, who’s either decent but not great at anything or great at one thing but bad at others, you are subjecting yourself to watching either that player or Deni, Bilal, Vuk or Corey on the bench, playing very limited minutes.

All I’ve heard for the last couple of years is, let the young players play and develop on the job. There are only so many positional minutes available, with even less usage available but there seems to be a considerable level of neglect to those facts as draft prospects for the Wizards are being considered. Especially when you actually look at the few pieces that we do actually already have on the roster. There are really only two worth mentioning:

Deni, who has taken steps to be a real potential piece for the future and Bilal, who general consensus was saying that if he had come out this year instead of last, would’ve been in the conversation for the top pick. (Btw - Bilal will not be a guard when it’s all said and done) If those two things are true, they need to continue to get a lot of minutes, so why bring in competition that could impede their development, as well as whoever the high draft pick is?

Hence the reason why I just dont see the drafting of Risacher, Salaun, Buzelis, Holland, or any other of the 76 SF/PF mentioned in a trade back scenario, as good asset or development management. Someone ultimately won’t play enough and the complaining about #sowizards will continue. Grab a center or a guard and keep the party going!

I understand this sentiment and I worry a bit about it mostly because I think we have a good chance of drafting yet another forward in the next draft too: Flagg or Bailey.

But at the same time, I'm not too worried about it because the way the modern NBA is going, you need more 6-8 guys than ever. Even if you label them as "forwards", we now see 6-8 guys handling the role of PG and SG as well. As it turns out, the two building block forwards on the roster have the capacity to play non-forward positions on offense. I can see Deni as the "PG", as long we have one other ball-handling shot creator with him. Deni can bring the ball up, get us into sets, and run some pick and roll. And as Coulibaly keeps growing and filling out, I expect him to play power forward and even some smallball center. He is now taller and longer than Precious Achiuwa.

So if we draft Risacher, who is basically a 6-8 shooting guard, we will have situation where all of our nominal "small forwards" actually can play a position other than small forward on offense. So even if we draft yet another forward next year, we can make it work. And there are some elite combo guards available in the 2025 draft as well. If we landed a guy like Traore or Harper and surrounded them with Deni, Risacher and Coulibaly, I think that's a lineup that will work just fine.

We will need a center eventually, so if Sarr is available in this draft, I'm fine with it. But it's far too soon to worry much about fit.

IMO this draft is all about upside. I'm going for youth and potential over a ready now player to be inserted into the lineup.

I've reconciled the Wizards will select Risacher with the 2nd pick (funny my auto correct wants to change Risacher to "Disaster")...

So I'm focusing on our later picks, and with those I want them to go for long-term upside.

At 26 the player I like who may be gone but I'm hoping will drop to go us is Tyler Smith. Rookie Scale Consensus Board has him 21. 6-10 19 yr old PF.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

If Tyler is gone before we pick, then I'm going Cam Christe. I love his shot, the sweetest shooting stroke in the draft. 18 yr old 6-6 SG.

Watch on YouTube

At 51 there are a couple international big men I like that rebound and play the scrappy dirty work role with skill and IQ, high level role players that we has sorely lacked.

First one I hope will drop to us is Izan Almansa. Rookie Scale Consensus Board shows the 19 yr old 6-10 PF/C at 40.

Watch on YouTube

And if Almansa is gone before we pick, then I'm taking 6-11 19 yr old PF Zacharie Perrin.

Watch on YouTube

Interested in what you all think? Risacher at 2, Tyler Smith or Christie at 26, Almansa or Perrin at 51... Especially Nat, you know the international prospects, what do you think? Do you like Almansa and/or Perrin? I know Perrin and Risacher have played together so that would be a bonus. Also Tyler Smith and Almansa were teammates as well. And I know you want Dadiet at 26, but you gotta admit Christie is a sweet shooting 18yr old SG! And Tyler Smith has really grown on me, I mean as an upside swing he's got the high ceiling!

[9 and 20]

For the draft people -

I don't know that Edey will ever be as good as Yao Ming, but if Yao were in this draft, would he also have the same types of 'too slow' questions marks?

[tontoz]

I like the tier method. When multiple guys are on the same tier, take the one that's the best fit.

I just went to the Atlanta board and apparently there are people in their front office that are Clingan fans.

[nate33]

For the draft people -

I don't know that Edey will ever be as good as Yao Ming, but if Yao were in this draft, would he also have the same types of 'too slow' questions marks?

Yao Ming would be much less effective on defense in the current NBA with every team playing 4-out or 5-out.

[payitforward]

... Castle believes he can be a quality PG in the NBA. He certainly has the IQ and potential playmaking chops. Castle’s D will be elite.

(I know y’all saw how Holiday secured the win for Boston last night with a great defensive play. You need guys like that!)

Wow... I *love* that comparison of Castle to Holiday! Well done, Zards!

[payitforward]

... Castle believes he can be a quality PG in the NBA. He certainly has the IQ and potential playmaking chops. Castle’s D will be elite.

(I know y’all saw how Holiday secured the win for Boston last night with a great defensive play. You need guys like that!)

Wow... I *love* that comparison of Castle to Holiday! Well done, Zards!

[9 and 20]

For the draft people -

I don't know that Edey will ever be as good as Yao Ming, but if Yao were in this draft, would he also have the same types of 'too slow' questions marks?

Yao Ming would be much less effective on defense in the current NBA with every team playing 4-out or 5-out.

Yao was a DPOY candidate almost every year. So maybe less effective on defense if offense has changed - I can buy that.

Wouldn't he still be in discussion for a top draft pick, though? Especially if the rest of the draft is considered so weak.

Getting a Yao Ming-ish guy on offense for 25 minutes a game seems like a big win for some team, especially if they're drafting in the teens.

[tontoz]

For the draft people -

I don't know that Edey will ever be as good as Yao Ming, but if Yao were in this draft, would he also have the same types of 'too slow' questions marks?

Yao Ming would be much less effective on defense in the current NBA with every team playing 4-out or 5-out.

Yao was a DPOY candidate almost every year. So maybe less effective on defense if offense has changed - I can buy that.

Wouldn't he still be in discussion for a top draft pick, though? Especially if the rest of the draft is considered so weak.

Getting a Yao Ming-ish guy on offense for 25 minutes a game seems like a big win for some team, especially if they're drafting in the teens.

Yao didn't let guys shoot layups right in front of him.

This might be the worst one I have on Edey.

Watch on YouTube

[FAH1223]

Read on Twitter

[DCZards]

Read on Twitter

He's someone I'd like to see the Zards draft at 26...assuming that Sarr is not the #2 pick.