The (way too early) 2024 Draft thread. Woo! Tanking!

[J-Ves]

Castle 12-8-6 on 9 shots tonight. 14-9-4 on 9 shots last game. By far, the most dynamic guard prospect in this class.

Yeah…from the film I’ve seen of Castle he looks like a surefire top 5 pick.

Has the physical makeup and some of the offensive tools of a SGA. Not saying he’s going be a SGA….but you never know.

Moves like Donovan Mitchell, has the ability to get to the rim whenever he wants and be a true PG playmaker like SGA, and the thing that I did not expect until watching him at UConn: competes and defends like Jimmy Butler. Is top shelf physical. Elite both individually and as a team defender.

He’s 100% my pick after watching these last couple of games.

Really? Dropping Topic and Sheppard like a sack of potatoes just like that?

[closg00]

Now that Morant is out for the year, Memphis will definitely join the tank, that’s competition.

[NatP4]

Yeah…from the film I’ve seen of Castle he looks like a surefire top 5 pick.

Has the physical makeup and some of the offensive tools of a SGA. Not saying he’s going be a SGA….but you never know.

Moves like Donovan Mitchell, has the ability to get to the rim whenever he wants and be a true PG playmaker like SGA, and the thing that I did not expect until watching him at UConn: competes and defends like Jimmy Butler. Is top shelf physical. Elite both individually and as a team defender.

He’s 100% my pick after watching these last couple of games.

Really? Dropping Topic and Sheppard like a sack of potatoes just like that?

Sheppard is a trade down/slide to 6 option. Castle and Topic are top 5 talents, and Topic just injured his knee and will miss a good portion of the season.

Castle is the highest upside guard in the draft.

[tontoz]

The more guards/bigs that work their way to the top of the draft, the better. I really don't want another forward. If there was a forward on a tier above these guys then i could see taking him but that doesn't appear to be the case.

[remi_222]

Alex Sarr - Bilal Coulibaly is the next duo

[jangles86]

Put me down as a Jakob’e Walter fan.

Going to be a big time scorer at nba level. His shot is a laser.

[jangles86]

If Isiah Collier falls to mid lottery then wizards should take a look at him.

[payitforward]

How are we going to get a look at him in "mid lottery'"?

[NatP4]

Read on Twitter

[nate33]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[Frichuela]

Yep. Reed Sheppard is the real deal. From Kentucky, I also like Rob Dillingham. There are concerns about his size but I see the potential to be a Garland equivalent with more athleticism if things break right.

[nate33]

Yep. Reed Sheppard is the real deal. From Kentucky, I also like Rob Dillingham. There are concerns about his size but I see the potential to be a Garland equivalent with more athleticism if things break right.

The more I watch Reed Sheppard, the more I think he is going to steadily decline in the draft rankings. I think NBA execs are going to be too afraid to spend a high pick on an undersized guy who hasn't shown enough on-ball creation. As long as Sheppard plays alongside Dillingham and Wagner, he isn't going to get an opportunity to assuage doubts about him as a primary PG.

My guess is he is going to slip into the teens. I just hope we can find a way to acquire another FRP to draft him.

[NatP4]

14-4-4 on 7 shots for Castle against Georgetown. Got to the free throw line all game.

[jangles86]

How are we going to get a look at him in "mid lottery'"?

By trading 2 of our 45 trillion second round picks to move up duh!

[popper]

14-4-4 on 7 shots for Castle against Georgetown. Got to the free throw line all game.

Who knows how he will develop but doesn't it concern you that he has no outside shot?

[NatP4]

14-4-4 on 7 shots for Castle against Georgetown. Got to the free throw line all game.

Who knows how he will develop but doesn't it concern you that he has no outside shot?

Not really. He’s a lights out mid range shooter, shot the 3 well in high school, just hasn’t taken a ton in college. Good free throw shooter. He’s one of those guys that is almost too competitive to settle for jump shots, and no one can keep him out of the paint. UConn has him playing a strange role as basically a small ball 4 off the bench.

Between injuries and the strange role, he’s another tough evaluation, like most everyone in this class. He’s definitely not a sure thing. Plenty of risk.

[nate33]

I already know Sheppard is a genius defending the passing lanes, but it's on-ball defense like this that will sell him to NBA scouts as a legit lottery-worthy draft pick:

Read on Twitter

[nate33]

I'm revisiting Matas Buzelis. He has posted 8, 11, 15, 2 and 10 rebounds in his last 5 games respectively. He has also blocked 2, 3, 2, 3 and 1 shots in those 5 games. A big knock on him is that he lacks the willingness to be physical, but if this improved rebounding holds up, maybe he has overcome that problem. I would like to see him get to the free throw line more often, though.

I don't think Buzelis is good enough to go in the top 5 where we are likely to pick, but if we traded down with Portland for the #5 and #10, then maybe a guy like Buzelis becomes interesting.

[NatP4]

I'm revisiting Matas Buzelis. He has posted 8, 11, 15, 2 and 10 rebounds in his last 5 games respectively. He has also blocked 2, 3, 2, 3 and 1 shots in those 5 games. A big knock on him is that he lacks the willingness to be physical, but if this improved rebounding holds up, maybe he has overcome that problem. I would like to see him get to the free throw line more often, though.

I don't think Buzelis is good enough to go in the top 5 where we are likely to pick, but if we traded down with Portland for the #5 and #10, then maybe a guy like Buzelis becomes interesting.

Yep, basically averaging 15&10 on 60% TS in the last 5. Always gets steals and blocks. His A&TO has been awful though. The numbers would look significantly better if not for a 1-10 shooting performance on the 7th.

I still think he’s a top 3 talent that’s extremely difficult to evaluate due to the mess of a developmental situation.

My personal opinion of the top 10 right now:

1. Castle: still some major risk, lack of production due to injury. Big time upside
2. Topic: major risk due to lack of euro league play and injury. Big time upside
3. Sheppard: safest pick in the draft
4. Buzelis: major risk due to the ignite mess, high upside
5: Filipowski: relatively safe pick, could be a Walker Kessler level steal
6: Risacher: safe, but low upside
7: Walter: safe, but low upside
8: Holland: major risk, but becoming underrated. Moderate upside
9: Almansa: safe pick, going to be a quality hustle rotation big. Eason/Sochan mold
10: any of Edey/Clingan/Dunn/Knecht/Dillingham

[J-Ves]

Any opinion on Zvonimir Ivisic, aka BigZ?