2024 Draft Prospects

[GiggitySmalls]

As much as I don't want Reed. If he can help shoulder some Melo injury load and show he's a more than capable pg. I'd be down. Not ny first choice but I'd good with it and root for him. I honestly don't see Melo playing more than 50 games next year. I trust his ankles as much as his brothers knees.

Sent from my SM-F936U using RealGM mobile app

[Rich4114]

In case you guys are interested, I asked CoPilot who the top 8 picks would be:

The top 8 players in the upcoming 2024 NBA draft, according to the latest rankings, are:

Rob Dillingham - Kentucky, Freshman, Point Guard
Zaccharie Risacher - France, Small Forward
Alex Sarr - France, Center
Nikola Topic - Serbia, Point Guard
Reed Sheppard - Kentucky, Freshman, Shooting Guard
Cody Williams - Colorado, Freshman, Shooting Guard
Ja’Kobe Walter - Baylor, Freshman, Shooting Guard
Tidjane Salaun - France, Small Forward

These prospects are ranked based on their performance, potential, and projections for the NBA. Keep an eye on them as the draft approaches!

[JustBuzzin]

My goodness I'm sold on Stephon Castle!


Forget his stats this dude is a all-around player! He had a Brandon Miller chase down block in the game today that was highlight worthy.

Back to his game this dude is just the perfect fit for what we have on this roster. He plays team basketball and he makes the correct play. He would be the perfect sg for this team. He's another guy who can help facilitate the offense he is a very underrated playmaker. This guy is exactly what this team unselfish player who puts team first over stats!

My fear is his stock will rise during March madness.

If we really serious about changing the culture draft Castle. He reminds me of Brandon Miller with his team first mentality. He simply just makes the right plays. I don't see him being a star, but I can see him being a very high level role player. This draft probably has no stars tbh.

Did Castle impress anyone today?

[JustBuzzin]

What's become clear to me watching this team is we don't need another scorer. This team has enough scoring. We need to start adding some unselfish role/glue guys.

Once Melo gets back then you have Miller/Miles there getting their shots we need some good unselfish dirty work guys.

Castle can play multiple positions PG/SG. He doesn't force shots and most of the time he's making the right basketball play. Adding another high IQ player with Miller in the starting lineup will make us that much better.

[SWedd523]

What's become clear to me watching this team is we don't need another scorer. This team has enough scoring. We need to start adding some unselfish role/glue guys.

Once Melo gets back then you have Miller/Miles there getting their shots we need some good unselfish dirty work guys.

I've seen you say this a few times now and I see you complain any time Miller isn't leading the team in shot attempts but none of that really follows.

This year the Hornets are

29th in ORtg
19th in Pace
30th in FT Rate
27th in eFG
27th in FG%
21st in 3P%
29th in Points/PPG

They have perhaps the worst overall offense in the entire league. They need help everywhere, and definitely need help scoring/shooting the ball

[Chapelchilla]

Here is another highlight reel where Reed displays an even more versatile game including - Steals, a nice block where he really shows his hops, several driving lay ups, 7 assists, more exceptional shot making and demands the ball before he hits a tough shot game winner on the road against another good team.

Watch on YouTube

He looks like a high impact winner to me. Can he do that in the NBA? He has some Stephon in his game.

Watching his 2 best games of the year will probably have you a fan of him, but that is probably the case with every prospect.

Clinging to the 3-4 games out of 31 he has played where he looks like a potential top pick seems like a bad process to me. Too many games where he does nothing inside the 3pt line, doesn't get to the free throw line and just doesn't put the ball in the hoop.

I would be shocked if he averages more than 10 ppg next year as a rookie and that is assuming he is the #1 pick, he just has way too many flaws, gaps in his game right now.

He is not a one game wonder.
Over the last month - Kentucky played 7 games. They went 6-1. Against SEC competition including some tough teams.
Reed had 23 (!) steals in those 7 games. Shot really well. Had 11 assists in one game, 7/6/5/5 in others. Facilitated within the offense efficiently. Starred when he was hottest.
I don’t think he is worth the number one pick but at 5 he might well be the guy. If he was drafted here and Melo returns he may not get 10pts a game as a rookie while still being a really good asset. He is a freshman, not a finished product.
John Stockton went to college for 4 years and did not average 10 NBA pts a game until his 4th season in the pros, yet is the all time steals and assists leader and a winning player.
Not sold on anyone yet. I am keeping an open eye on all the college top prospects this month, let’s see how they fare during March Madness!

[JustBuzzin]

What's become clear to me watching this team is we don't need another scorer. This team has enough scoring. We need to start adding some unselfish role/glue guys.

Once Melo gets back then you have Miller/Miles there getting their shots we need some good unselfish dirty work guys.

I've seen you say this a few times now and I see you complain any time Miller isn't leading the team in shot attempts but none of that really follows.

This year the Hornets are

29th in ORtg
19th in Pace
30th in FT Rate
27th in eFG
27th in FG%
21st in 3P%
29th in Points/PPG

They have perhaps the worst overall offense in the entire league. They need help everywhere, and definitely need help scoring/shooting the ball

I watch the games. If you bringing those kind of stats then you're talking to the wrong guy.

The eye test tells me scoring is not the issue. We have scorers. When Melo comes back that's another guy who gets you 20ppg. If people think Miller is the real deal then why would you draft another scorer when you already have 3 guys fighting for shots in Melo/Miller/Bridges?

Tbh this draft doesn't really have an elite scorer. So I'm not sure if anyone qualifies as a true scorer.

Knecht is probably the best scorer in this draft and it's why I don't have him high on my draft list. To other teams he would be great, but we need guys who can defend
while also having the ability to score.

[JMAC3]

Here is another highlight reel where Reed displays an even more versatile game including - Steals, a nice block where he really shows his hops, several driving lay ups, 7 assists, more exceptional shot making and demands the ball before he hits a tough shot game winner on the road against another good team.

Watch on YouTube

He looks like a high impact winner to me. Can he do that in the NBA? He has some Stephon in his game.

Watching his 2 best games of the year will probably have you a fan of him, but that is probably the case with every prospect.

Clinging to the 3-4 games out of 31 he has played where he looks like a potential top pick seems like a bad process to me. Too many games where he does nothing inside the 3pt line, doesn't get to the free throw line and just doesn't put the ball in the hoop.

I would be shocked if he averages more than 10 ppg next year as a rookie and that is assuming he is the #1 pick, he just has way too many flaws, gaps in his game right now.

He is not a one game wonder.
Over the last month - Kentucky played 7 games. They went 6-1. Against SEC competition including some tough teams.
Reed had 23 (!) steals in those 7 games. Shot really well. Had 11 assists in one game, 7/6/5/5 in others. Facilitated within the offense efficiently. Starred when he was hottest.
I don’t think he is worth the number one pick but at 5 he might well be the guy. If he was drafted here and Melo returns he may not get 10pts a game as a rookie while still being a really good asset. He is a freshman, not a finished product.
John Stockton went to college for 4 years and did not average 10 NBA pts a game until his 4th season in the pros, yet is the all time steals and assists leader and a winning player.
Not sold on anyone yet. I am keeping an open eye on all the college top prospects this month, let’s see how they fare during March Madness!

A lot of people have him outside their top 12 on their big boards even in a weak draft because of the Red Flags. You would think that give people pause from constantly trying to compare him to Hall of Famers like Steph, Stockton, Nash etc... but yet those are the most common comps people want to throw out.

If he played for Wisconsin instead of Kentucky I really believe we would be talking about him as a top 20 type of player.

[SWedd523]

Scoring is not the issue for the worst offense in the league...

Three guys fighting for shots.

1 can't play more than half the season, another with an impending free agency that we won't control, and the third a rookie who shouldn't be depended on as the centerpiece of an NBA offense.

An additional scorer is unquestionably a very serious need

[Chapelchilla]

Watching his 2 best games of the year will probably have you a fan of him, but that is probably the case with every prospect.

Clinging to the 3-4 games out of 31 he has played where he looks like a potential top pick seems like a bad process to me. Too many games where he does nothing inside the 3pt line, doesn't get to the free throw line and just doesn't put the ball in the hoop.

I would be shocked if he averages more than 10 ppg next year as a rookie and that is assuming he is the #1 pick, he just has way too many flaws, gaps in his game right now.

He is not a one game wonder.
Over the last month - Kentucky played 7 games. They went 6-1. Against SEC competition including some tough teams.
Reed had 23 (!) steals in those 7 games. Shot really well. Had 11 assists in one game, 7/6/5/5 in others. Facilitated within the offense efficiently. Starred when he was hottest.
I don’t think he is worth the number one pick but at 5 he might well be the guy. If he was drafted here and Melo returns he may not get 10pts a game as a rookie while still being a really good asset. He is a freshman, not a finished product.
John Stockton went to college for 4 years and did not average 10 NBA pts a game until his 4th season in the pros, yet is the all time steals and assists leader and a winning player.
Not sold on anyone yet. I am keeping an open eye on all the college top prospects this month, let’s see how they fare during March Madness!

A lot of people have him outside their top 12 on their big boards even in a weak draft because of the Red Flags. You would think that give people pause from constantly trying to compare him to Hall of Famers like Steph, Stockton, Nash etc... but yet those are the most common comps people want to throw out.

If he played for Wisconsin instead of Kentucky I really believe we would be talking about him as a top 20 type of player.

Are you looking at Recent mocks? Cause when you google nba mock drafts the top 5 results have him at
#1, #3 twice, #4 (to us) and #6.
Again, I am not saying he IS the next HOFer but those guys are his top end comparo's. Like Williams could be a pippenish at the top end or Edey could be Patrick Ewingish. They may all suck, be ok, or good to great.

Reed is 19 years old and has a very solid skill set to build on. He shoots it Exceptionally and steals the ball a lot. Guy also appears to have a knack for making big plays and seeing the court well. Let's see how the tourney goes and what the pre-draft process shows for ALL of them. It would be stupid at this point to rule any of them, including Reed, out as a top 5 pick.

[Liver_Pooty]

Scoring is not the issue for the worst offense in the league...

Three guys fighting for shots.

1 can't play more than half the season, another with an impending free agency that we won't control, and the third a rookie who shouldn't be depended on as the centerpiece of an NBA offense.

An additional scorer is unquestionably a very serious need

One could say it's THE need.

[JMAC3]

Are you looking at Recent mocks? Cause when you google nba mock drafts the top 5 results have him at
#1, #3 twice, #4 (to us) and #6.
Again, I am not saying he IS the next HOFer but those guys are his top end comparo's. Like Williams could be a pippenish at the top end or Edey could be Patrick Ewingish. They may all suck, be ok, or good to great.

Reed is 19 years old and has a very solid skill set to build on. He shoots it Exceptionally and steals the ball a lot. Guy also appears to have a knack for making big plays and seeing the court well. Let's see how the tourney goes and what the pre-draft process shows for ALL of them. It would be stupid at this point to rule any of them, including Reed, out as a top 5 pick.

Yeah but there are also guys like Ryan Russillo, Sam Vecenie that say half of the NBA guys they talk to think he is a role player and don't know if they would take him in the lottery.

I also think the fact that 6/10 guys don't play college basketball has given Reed a boost because most people haven't sat down and watched a full game of Topic, Sarr, Holland, Saluan, Risacher, Buzelis.

Cody Williams has been hurt and plays in the Pac12, if he played for Duke people probably are higher on him by default. Same with Collier who has been hurt and plays in the Pac12.

Hence my comment about Reed, if he played for Washington St do you think he would be getting the same buzz?

[SWedd523]

Voted most likely to get you a favorable tax return

[yosemiteben]

What's become clear to me watching this team is we don't need another scorer. This team has enough scoring. We need to start adding some unselfish role/glue guys.

Once Melo gets back then you have Miller/Miles there getting their shots we need some good unselfish dirty work guys.

I've seen you say this a few times now and I see you complain any time Miller isn't leading the team in shot attempts but none of that really follows.

This year the Hornets are

29th in ORtg
19th in Pace
30th in FT Rate
27th in eFG
27th in FG%
21st in 3P%
29th in Points/PPG

They have perhaps the worst overall offense in the entire league. They need help everywhere, and definitely need help scoring/shooting the ball

I watch the games. If you bringing those kind of stats then you're talking to the wrong guy.

The eye test tells me scoring is not the issue. We have scorers. When Melo comes back that's another guy who gets you 20ppg. If people think Miller is the real deal then why would you draft another scorer when you already have 3 guys fighting for shots in Melo/Miller/Bridges?

Have you watched the games where we struggle to score 95 points? I have a hard time believing that you've watched us play all season and your big takeaway is "definitely don't need any more scoring".

[JMAC3]

The NBA has clearly been letting Defenses do more in an attempt to keep scoring down. They love scoring until it starts to look like guys aren't trying and we are getting 60-70 pt games nightly...

but typically it is nothing for a game to be 120-118 in the NBA this year. The average team scores around 115 ppg.

So saying we have 3 guys who can score 20 isn't really all that impressive IMO, Now if one of them is going to score 28+ then yeah maybe having 2 more guys that score 20 is good but idk if you can ever have too much scoring in todays league.

[JustBuzzin]

I've seen you say this a few times now and I see you complain any time Miller isn't leading the team in shot attempts but none of that really follows.

This year the Hornets are

29th in ORtg
19th in Pace
30th in FT Rate
27th in eFG
27th in FG%
21st in 3P%
29th in Points/PPG

They have perhaps the worst overall offense in the entire league. They need help everywhere, and definitely need help scoring/shooting the ball

I watch the games. If you bringing those kind of stats then you're talking to the wrong guy.

The eye test tells me scoring is not the issue. We have scorers. When Melo comes back that's another guy who gets you 20ppg. If people think Miller is the real deal then why would you draft another scorer when you already have 3 guys fighting for shots in Melo/Miller/Bridges?

Have you watched the games where we struggle to score 95 points? I have a hard time believing that you've watched us play all season and your big takeaway is "definitely don't need any more scoring".

Scoring is more than how many points you put on the board.

It's the way we run our offense. There is no flow, just Bridges iso most of the time. They run a screen for Miller every now and then. For the most part it's just guys doing there on thing.

We suck because not many players are playing defense. If you want a better offense you need to look at guys who play smart. Adding another scorer does nothing but take away shots from our main core of Melo/Bridges/Miller. That's plenty offense.

The game is played on both sides. You need other players who play their role and not try to jack up shots just because. I watch Castle and he's not going to come in here and play hero ball. He does the little things and makes the correct play. He's not my #1 player, but I do think he would be a great fit with our starters.

[JustBuzzin]

Scoring is not the issue for the worst offense in the league...

Three guys fighting for shots.

1 can't play more than half the season, another with an impending free agency that we won't control, and the third a rookie who shouldn't be depended on as the centerpiece of an NBA offense.

An additional scorer is unquestionably a very serious need

Who's gonna play defense if you just got scoring on the floor?

Who wants a team all offense and no defense?

We still need to develop Miller. This guy is highly regarded around the league. I watch games and the other teams broadcast are all saying he's going to be special.

Melo will solve a lot of our scoring issues just by being on the floor. We need smart high IQ players who can play their role without gunning for shots.

How do you guys just not see scoring was not our issue when we just traded Rozier and Hayward. Scoring wasn't the problem. It's always been about defense and playing team ball.

We were losing games with Rozier. Scoring is not the problem.

[JDR720]

Last season, one of the biggest divides in the Scoot/Miller debate was shooting ability.

Reed shoots better than Miller... yet somehow he shouldn't be picked.

Miller adapted to the NBA better than expected because he's smart and knows how to play. Reed is smart and knows how to play... yet shouldn't be picked.

Miller is a 2-way player. Reed is a 2-way player... yet shouldn't be picked. He's also shown passing agility. Yet shouldn't be picked.

The overall point being, so far, Reed has shown a complete 2-way game as a 19yr old freshmen. You may think that doesn't translate to the NBA for whatever reason, but his college game has no significant holes or weaknesses.

You can talk about size, but 6'3 isn't unusual. Most of the playoff teams are starting guards that are 6'5 and under. A couple of them start guards 6'3 and under. Melo + Reed would be an above average sized back court.

If the argument is defense, Melo needs to be hidden on the worst offensive player the other team has. Reed can guard the PG and Miller/Miles can guard whoever Melo isn't being hidden on.

[JustBuzzin]

Who is the best scorer in this draft?

That is Dalton Knecht for me.

[yosemiteben]

I watch the games. If you bringing those kind of stats then you're talking to the wrong guy.

The eye test tells me scoring is not the issue. We have scorers. When Melo comes back that's another guy who gets you 20ppg. If people think Miller is the real deal then why would you draft another scorer when you already have 3 guys fighting for shots in Melo/Miller/Bridges?

Have you watched the games where we struggle to score 95 points? I have a hard time believing that you've watched us play all season and your big takeaway is "definitely don't need any more scoring".

Scoring is more than how many points you put on the board.

It's the way we run our offense. There is no flow, just Bridges iso most of the time. They run a screen for Miller every now and then. For the most part it's just guys doing there on thing.

We suck because not many players are playing defense. If you want a better offense you need to look at guys who play smart. Adding another scorer does nothing but take away shots from our main core of Melo/Bridges/Miller. That's plenty offense.

The game is played on both sides. You need other players who play their role and not try to jack up shots just because. I watch Castle and he's not going to come in here and play hero ball. He does the little things and makes the correct play. He's not my #1 player, but I do think he would be a great fit with our starters.

Really not tracking this take.

Scoring is literally the act of adding points to the board. You say it's something else, and then immediately say we don't need another scorer because Melo / Miles / Miller are enough points. Not sure what your operating definition is scoring / scorer is.

And I'll just repeat that we routinely struggle to break 100 points. We are not overrun with scorers / "people who score points".