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

[NatP4]

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[tontoz]

Reed Sheppard was 4-5 from 3 yesterday. On the season he is shooting 60% from 3.

[Frichuela]

Reed Sheppard was 4-5 from 3 yesterday. On the season he is shooting 60% from 3.

Among the top prospects, he seems definitely the safest pick of all. Those stats are incredible both shooting percentages as well as stocks.

[tontoz]

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He made some 3s also.

[NatP4]

Reed Sheppard was 4-5 from 3 yesterday. On the season he is shooting 60% from 3.

Among the top prospects, he seems definitely the safest pick of all. Those stats are incredible both shooting percentages as well as stocks.

Yeah, Sheppard has been the most consistent player in the class by a mile. This might be a don’t overthink it situation, just take Sheppard.

Castle has had back to back awful games. Feels like everything is up in the air.

[pancakes3]

Filipowski went from shooting 28% last season to 42% this season, both at 3.4 3pa/game. He's pretty safe too.

[FAH1223]

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Considering Will Dawkins was with Sam Presti… and that they took his older brother Jalen…

Don’t be surprised if Cody is our pick. Especially if he keeps up the efficiency. He’s way ahead of where his brother was as a freshman (At age 19 Jalen was a 7ppg player at a mid major and nobody knew who he was)

[J-Ves]

Saw in a dream that the Wiz have Sarr and Holland number 1 and 2 respectively on their big board come draft day. Not crazy about this personally, might have to break out the magic eight ball

[NatP4]

Tamin Lipsey from Iowa State is just 20 years old averaging 16 points 6.6 assists 6.0 rebounds 3.6 steals and 2.6 turnovers on 53.5% TS. Elite on the defensive end.

Improved his 3pt% a ton this year, but dropped off with his finishing ability. If he puts the offensive efficiency together, he would be a lottery prospect.

In this awful draft, I think he could continue to rise into round 1 anyways.

[doclinkin]

From the line-ups thread:

Jalen Duren, Dereck Lively, Tari Eason, Mark Williams, TJD recent drafts suggest that players who are notably good will slide down to the late lotto or well outside it. Some like TJD will drop almost all the way out of the draft. Paradoxically upperclassmen tend to slip the furthest, though they are better prepared to play as soon as they enter the league. There's real value there right now.

The league will figure it out again, we will see some inflation in the value of the position. Until then look for players to slip but prove valuable over their NBA career.

Undervalued in this draft:

Zack Edey. But I'll shut up now.

Hunter Dickinson. Mean streak senior Big who has shown 3pt range. Averaging better than a steal per game. Double double average. Minimal fouls. He will probably stay his final year of eligibility to get the large NIL dollars, so he's not in many mocks.

DaRon Holmes. Junior. Projected in the 2nd round. Familiarity prejudice. What team wouldn't want a 6'10" big who is tippytoeing on 60/40/70% shooting. On a high volume 31% usage rate. Per 36 of 22pts 9 boards 3 ast 2.6 blocks. And a profile showing gym rat focus, improving every year in FT% and 3FG%, increasing boards and assists every year, posting a solid positive ast/TO ratio. Small conference, but Holmes is playing better this year even though their strength of schedule has been harder. He's added strength without losing mobility. Holmes is my 2nd round sleeper pick. Hustle player who clearly loves the game and will put in work to improve.

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DaRon Holmes.

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[TGW]

Is this an awful draft? I'm seeing a lot of ballers. No clear #1, but definitely ballers. This is the draft to get multiple FRPs for sure.

[Rafael122]

My top 4 in no order are Sarr, Williams, Topic, Risacher.

[tontoz]

Is this an awful draft? I'm seeing a lot of ballers. No clear #1, but definitely ballers. This is the draft to get multiple FRPs for sure.

The weak draft narrative was a thing 15+ years ago. I don't think it really is any more because there are so many international prospects available now.

[doclinkin]

Guys I'm watching are. Zach Edey. Hunter Dickinson. DaRon Holmes.

Kevin McCullar: Do-everything senior 2-guard. Strong. Back-to-back triple doubles. Grown ass game.

Juan Nuñez: Underrated Euroguard, putting up good numbers in a better league than Topic. Better outside shooting. (worse FT %)

Still don't know who I like in the top 6 or so. I liked Stephon Castle since early on as a triple double candidate at some point in his career. Buzelis is intriguing gives great effort on defense, highly skilled. Warming up to Sarr on size and athleticism. Rob Dillingham is fun to watch. Reed Sheppard is efficient. Ron Holland no doubt hustles like mad. At the top of the draft I will pretty much just have to trust this front office to make a smart choice.

But I want to come away with multiple picks of these skilled upperclassmen and underrated guys in this supposed weak draft. I'd happily trade back (and trade forward for future picks) if we got a strong offer.

[DCZards]

But I want to come away with multiple picks of these skilled upperclassmen and underrated guys in this supposed weak draft. I'd happily trade back (and trade forward for future picks) if we got a strong offer.

I’m with you Doc. More teams need to take a hard look and consider drafting those skilled, experienced upperclassmen. Those so-called older players.

Upperclassmen get dissed early in the draft and many of them like Malcolm Brogdan and Jalen Brunson and, more recently, Herbert Jones, Walker Kessler, and Jaime Jaquez, far outplay their draft positions.

[doclinkin]

But I want to come away with multiple picks of these skilled upperclassmen and underrated guys in this supposed weak draft. I'd happily trade back (and trade forward for future picks) if we got a strong offer.

I’m with you Doc. More teams need to take a hard look and consider drafting those skilled, experienced upperclassmen. Those so-called older players.

Upperclassmen get dissed early in the draft and many of them like Malcolm Brogdan and Jalen Brunson and, more recently, Herbert Jones, Walker Kessler, and Jaime Jaquez, far outplay their draft positions.

McCullar. Tell me this guy wouldn't get minutes on this team this year:

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Teammate Hunter:

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Knows how to play tall, stick the picks and screens instead of slipping too early, launches from range with the ball at an unblockable height.

Let me also add Wooga Poplar:

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Best name in the class. He's got hops and athleticism to keep up. Shooting over 47% from three. 82% FT shooter so it should translate. 5 boards a game, solid for a 2 guard.

[AFM]

Hunter Dickinson sounds like a fake name you tell the substitute teacher
Up there with Mike Hunt and Ben Dover

[NatP4]

Sheppard went off tonight. 24-8-6 on 18 shots.

14-5-4-4 on Saturday.

Far and away the most consistent top 10 prospect.

[nate33]

Sheppard went off tonight. 24-8-6 on 18 shots.

14-5-4-4 on Saturday.

Far and away the most consistent top 10 prospect.

They played him 45 minutes! He played every minute of an overtime game.

[NatP4]

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