2024 Draft Prospect: Nikola Topic

wilson115 · Post #41 » by **wilson115** » Fri May 31, 2024 1:01 am

Snidely FC wrote:ESPN has dropped Topic all the way down to #9 due to the concerns over his knee injuries
Topic's season ended with a knee injury suffered in the Adriatic League Finals, his second in this calendar year, a development that will be studied closely by teams once NBA doctors are able to conduct a thorough physical examination. Several teams have pointed out that European doctors often have different philosophies from their American counterparts regarding ligament injury treatment as well as their likelihood for recommending surgery. So it's all but a certainty that his MRIs will be scrutinized closely and might have an impact on his draft stock if his availability for next season comes into question.

Topic's playmaking prowess -- as a 6-7 pick-and-roll maestro with possibly the fastest processing speed of any prospect in this draft -- should help overcome those question marks, as he was gaining momentum for consideration as one of the draft's top prospects before his season was derailed.

Might not end up relevant but one bullet point from JP's draft history goes: "Unafraid of Injury Risks"

https://www.si.com/nba/hornets/draft/exploring-jeff-peterson-s-draft-history

Spoiler:

LofJ · Post #42 » by **LofJ** » Fri May 31, 2024 1:31 am

If his knee checks out I'd be shocked if the Spurs pass on him. If he's there at 6 and we have intel his knee isn't a serious concern he should be the pick. Having two extremely talented, young playmakers with plus size is a problem every team in the league would love to have.

KingCat · Post #43 » by **KingCat** » Fri May 31, 2024 3:57 am

Yeah Im developing this weird dichotomy for this kid where I think he will be the best player in the top 10, but also will be weary of taking him if he falls to six cause that means something is very wrong with his knee. Kinda like the Michael Porter dilemma back in 2018

Hornet Mania · Post #44 » by **Hornet Mania** » Fri May 31, 2024 12:38 pm

I'm warming up to Topic. Kyrie and Luka's success has made me a bit more optimistic two primary ball handlers could coexist and be successful. Melo is also a great catch and shoot player.

My big concern with that pairing is defense. Can Topic defend? We can't have two turnstiles up front. One of the big reasons Kyrie/Luka has worked is because Kyrie has quietly become a really great defensive player during these playoffs.

JMAC3 · Post #45 » by **JMAC3** » Fri May 31, 2024 1:42 pm

Hornet Mania wrote:I'm warming up to Topic. Kyrie and Luka's success has made me a bit more optimistic two primary ball handlers could coexist and be successful. Melo is also a great catch and shoot player.

My big concern with that pairing is defense. Can Topic defend? We can't have two turnstiles up front. One of the big reasons Kyrie/Luka has worked is because Kyrie has quietly become a really great defensive player during these playoffs.

Kyrie and Luka were both awful defenders early in their careers, Ant used to be pretty meh on defense and has turned into a good defender. Winning games and being in these situations is what is going to have them be good defenders, but yeah as 18 yr old Topic is a pretty bad defender which is not some shock.

JustBuzzin · Post #46 » by **JustBuzzin** » Fri May 31, 2024 1:52 pm

I'm warming up to having 2 injury prone pgs.

Please Charlotte don't be dumb.

Post #47 » by **yosemiteben** » Fri May 31, 2024 2:23 pm

JustBuzzin wrote:I'm warming up to having 2 injury prone pgs.

Please Charlotte don't be dumb.

You can get the "injury prone" label from two injuries happening only four months apart to the same knee?

JustBuzzin · Post #48 » by **JustBuzzin** » Fri May 31, 2024 4:37 pm

yosemiteben wrote:
JustBuzzin wrote:I'm warming up to having 2 injury prone pgs.

Please Charlotte don't be dumb.

You can get the "injury prone" label from two injuries happening only four months apart to the same knee?

Yes. That knee is concerning. And the fit is not the best.

I'm watching Topic and I just don't see the hype. If you telling me he was replacing Melo as the pg I could see it. But those 2 just don't seem like the best fit.

Who is playing sg in this scenario Topic?

Post #49 » by **yosemiteben** » Fri May 31, 2024 5:15 pm

JustBuzzin wrote:
yosemiteben wrote:
JustBuzzin wrote:I'm warming up to having 2 injury prone pgs.

Please Charlotte don't be dumb.

You can get the "injury prone" label from two injuries happening only four months apart to the same knee?

Yes. That knee is concerning. And the fit is not the best.

I'm watching Topic and I just don't see the hype. If you telling me he was replacing Melo as the pg I could see it. But those 2 just don't seem like the best fit.

Who is playing sg in this scenario Topic?

I don't care about fit, we're not good enough to care about that. Draft the better player and then move him if he doesn't fit once we're ready to be a competitive team.

He has excellent size and has legit A+ PG skills proven in a professional league at just age 18. I honestly don't understand how someone could not want him unless there is evidence that he has permanent knee damage.

JustBuzzin · Post #50 » by **JustBuzzin** » Fri May 31, 2024 5:19 pm

yosemiteben wrote:
JustBuzzin wrote:
yosemiteben wrote:You can get the "injury prone" label from two injuries happening only four months apart to the same knee?

Yes. That knee is concerning. And the fit is not the best.

I'm watching Topic and I just don't see the hype. If you telling me he was replacing Melo as the pg I could see it. But those 2 just don't seem like the best fit.

Who is playing sg in this scenario Topic?

I don't care about fit, we're not good enough to care about that. Draft the better player and then move him if he doesn't fit once we're ready to be a competitive team.

He has excellent size and has legit A+ PG skills proven in a professional league at just age 18. I honestly don't understand how someone could not want him unless there is evidence that he has permanent knee damage.

I mean you may like him, I just don't see it. He's tall for a pg he can drive and be a playmaker. His shot is questionable. That's what scares me. Then you have the knee concern.

I have in 7-10 on my big board. Would I be mad if we drafted him? No, but I wouldn't be ecstatic either.

Post #51 » by **yosemiteben** » Fri May 31, 2024 5:26 pm

JustBuzzin wrote:
yosemiteben wrote:
JustBuzzin wrote:Yes. That knee is concerning. And the fit is not the best.

I'm watching Topic and I just don't see the hype. If you telling me he was replacing Melo as the pg I could see it. But those 2 just don't seem like the best fit.

Who is playing sg in this scenario Topic?

I don't care about fit, we're not good enough to care about that. Draft the better player and then move him if he doesn't fit once we're ready to be a competitive team.

He has excellent size and has legit A+ PG skills proven in a professional league at just age 18. I honestly don't understand how someone could not want him unless there is evidence that he has permanent knee damage.
I mean you may like him, I just don't see it. He's tall for a pg he can drive and be a playmaker. His shot is questionable. That's what scares me. Then you have the knee concern.

I have in 7-10 on my big board. Would I be mad if we drafted him? No, but I wouldn't be ecstatic either.

He had an almost 50% FG% in a professional league and shot 88% FT. His 3PT% is low (not Castle low) but with his form and FT% that's not a major concern for me.

JustBuzzin · Post #52 » by **JustBuzzin** » Fri May 31, 2024 5:36 pm

yosemiteben wrote:
JustBuzzin wrote:
yosemiteben wrote:I don't care about fit, we're not good enough to care about that. Draft the better player and then move him if he doesn't fit once we're ready to be a competitive team.

He has excellent size and has legit A+ PG skills proven in a professional league at just age 18. I honestly don't understand how someone could not want him unless there is evidence that he has permanent knee damage.
I mean you may like him, I just don't see it. He's tall for a pg he can drive and be a playmaker. His shot is questionable. That's what scares me. Then you have the knee concern.

I have in 7-10 on my big board. Would I be mad if we drafted him? No, but I wouldn't be ecstatic either.

He had an almost 50% FG% in a professional league and shot 88% FT. His 3PT% is low (not Castle low) but with his form and FT% that's not a major concern for me.

I mean if you like him that's fine. He's just not at the top of my list.

JMAC3 · Post #53 » by **JMAC3** » Fri May 31, 2024 5:54 pm

Topic Scenarios
1. He is awesome and him and LaMelo gel, we have an awesome backcourt.
2. He is awesome, but him and LaMelo don't work. I mean awesome and we probably can move him for more than the 6th pick was ever worth in this class.
3. LaMelo gets hurt and Topic plays a lot.
4. Topic isn't good or gets hurt and we made a bad pick at 6.
5. Topic is just okay and we spent the 6th pick on a backup point guard.

MPM · Post #54 » by **MPM** » Fri May 31, 2024 7:20 pm

I want to draft him just for the thread title Hot Topic.

Post #55 » by **luciano-davidwesley** » Fri May 31, 2024 9:49 pm

JustBuzzin wrote:
yosemiteben wrote:
JustBuzzin wrote:Yes. That knee is concerning. And the fit is not the best.

I'm watching Topic and I just don't see the hype. If you telling me he was replacing Melo as the pg I could see it. But those 2 just don't seem like the best fit.

Who is playing sg in this scenario Topic?

I don't care about fit, we're not good enough to care about that. Draft the better player and then move him if he doesn't fit once we're ready to be a competitive team.

He has excellent size and has legit A+ PG skills proven in a professional league at just age 18. I honestly don't understand how someone could not want him unless there is evidence that he has permanent knee damage.
I mean you may like him, I just don't see it. He's tall for a pg he can drive and be a playmaker. His shot is questionable. That's what scares me. Then you have the knee concern.

I have in 7-10 on my big board. Would I be mad if we drafted him? No, but I wouldn't be ecstatic either.

You've got concerns over Topic's shooting yet you rave about Castle. Do you not see the contradiction here?

JustBuzzin · Post #56 » by **JustBuzzin** » Fri May 31, 2024 10:34 pm

luciano-davidwesley wrote:
JustBuzzin wrote:
yosemiteben wrote:I don't care about fit, we're not good enough to care about that. Draft the better player and then move him if he doesn't fit once we're ready to be a competitive team.

He has excellent size and has legit A+ PG skills proven in a professional league at just age 18. I honestly don't understand how someone could not want him unless there is evidence that he has permanent knee damage.
I mean you may like him, I just don't see it. He's tall for a pg he can drive and be a playmaker. His shot is questionable. That's what scares me. Then you have the knee concern.

I have in 7-10 on my big board. Would I be mad if we drafted him? No, but I wouldn't be ecstatic either.

You've got concerns over Topic's shooting yet you rave about Castle. Do you not see the contradiction here?

Castle plays defense.

The main reason I want him is to lead our defensive mentality. Pairing him with Mark gives us 2 guys who will play defense and maybe that gets everyone else at least trying to play defense. He also has the ability to be a secondary playmaker on the court. His cutting ability will also help as he finds ways to get easy baskets off the cut.

Does that explain the difference?

KingCat · Post #57 » by **KingCat** » Fri May 31, 2024 10:37 pm

Only scenario I can see him falling to us is if Washington takes Clingan at 2

Sarr
Clingnan
Risacher
Sheppard (could easily go here though)
??? Castle? Matas? Knetch? (Could also see him going here since they seem to have given up on Ivey)
Topic.

Feels like a pipedream situation

MPM · Post #58 » by **MPM** » Fri May 31, 2024 10:59 pm

Someone else mentioned it, but it seems near impossible the Spurs pass at 4. Such a fit. (This said could see them surprising with Castle)

LofJ · Post #59 » by **LofJ** » Fri May 31, 2024 11:04 pm

MPM wrote:Someone else mentioned it, but it seems near impossible the Spurs pass at 4. Such a fit. (This said could see them surprising with Castle)

I don't see it, the Spurs are going to go back to their international roots. They've drafted a lot of mediocre, jack of all trade combo guards lately. I'd bet money they're locked in on guys like Topic and Salaun.

MPM · Post #60 » by **MPM** » Fri May 31, 2024 11:06 pm

LofJ wrote:
MPM wrote:Someone else mentioned it, but it seems near impossible the Spurs pass at 4. Such a fit. (This said could see them surprising with Castle)

I don't see it, the Spurs are going to go back to their international roots. They've drafted a lot of mediocre, jack of all trade combo guards lately. I'd bet money they're locked in on guys like Topic and Salaun.

Topic seems so very very Spursy.