2024 NBA Draft Thread

[BigGargamel]

So who's the #1 pick?

Seems like nobody has been the clear cut #1 prospect.

Ugh there is no one to get excited about at #1. I said Cody Williams because I thought he was safe but he just seems like he'll be a solid role player. Not nearly as good as a Brandon Miller.

Alexandre Sarr - defense is important and it looks like he'll be impactful at that end of the court, but is just not a real threat offensively.

Nikola Topic - fun playmaker but not a good athlete and will be eaten alive on defense.

I wish Ron Holland was a better shooter but he still might be my favorite to go number one. He's hanging in there with the mess that is the Ignite, and should do well when he gets into that pre-draft stuff.

There will also be a Coulibaly or two that will emerge and become lottery picks.

If I'm in the top ten I'm drafting a guy with length and potential and just hoping for the best. Williams, Sarr, Risacher, Salaun, Castle, Topic, Walter, Buzelis, Holland, Collier are probably the top ten right now, in no order. I can't draft a guy like Dillingham or Sheppard over one of those dudes.

I usually agree with what someone else said that if you're drafting #1 you shouldn't draft for need, but there is usually a consensus number one pick. Most years you are drafting Wemby or Zion and figuring out the fit later. This year there isn't. So it depends on who lands the top pick. Like, the Spurs could take Topic. The Grizzlies could take Sarr. The Pistons could take Williams.

As much as the top of this draft looks weak, I think the depth is really really good. The playoff teams are going to find some real players. I like the non-freshmen. I see a lot of really good role players. Some of my favorites are Trey Alexander, Dalton Knecht, Zach Edey.

This draft is "weak" because the star players just aren't there, but the depth is good. Just not a year to be excited if you're a fan of a tanking team.

I don't think this class is nearly as bad as 2013 though. For those who remember, we were talking about Nerlens Noel at #1 even though he was injured, because there was literally no one else. I remember Ben McLemore getting some talk as well, just because he simply had a pulse as Kansas. That was an all time bad class.

[peZt]

Nothing pisses me off more in sports than college coaches and their weird ass rotations.
Like nobody can tell me that Zvonomir Ivisic is not good enough to even get 5 minutes on Kentucky

[The-Power]

but there is usually a consensus number one pick.

Hard disagree. There's a broadly consensus #1 pick maybe in one out of three years.

Most years you are drafting Wemby or Zion and figuring out the fit later.

These two are two of the best three prospects in the past 11 years when entering the NBA. You definitely don't draft these guys in ‘most years’.

[Hal14]

Nothing pisses me off more in sports than college coaches and their weird ass rotations.
Like nobody can tell me that Zvonomir Ivisic is not good enough to even get 5 minutes on Kentucky

He was out for the Tennessee game with an illness, I believe..

[BigGargamel]

but there is usually a consensus number one pick.

Hard disagree. There's a broadly consensus #1 pick maybe in one out of three years.

Most years you are drafting Wemby or Zion and figuring out the fit later.

These two are two of the best three prospects in the past 11 years when entering the NBA. You definitely don't draft these guys in ‘most years’.

I don't really feel like arguing that point, but at least every other year there's a wire to wire #1 overall. Cade, Wemby, Zion, Ayton, Simmons, Wiggins. They pretty much started and ended the year as the top guys.

Even Paolo, Ant, Fultz were top 2 or 3 prospects all year.

This year, you could make the claim to five or six guys right now, and others might emerge. That hardly ever happens. So it's the year to draft for need.

[The-Power]

but there is usually a consensus number one pick.

Hard disagree. There's a broadly consensus #1 pick maybe in one out of three years.

Most years you are drafting Wemby or Zion and figuring out the fit later.

These two are two of the best three prospects in the past 11 years when entering the NBA. You definitely don't draft these guys in ‘most years’.

I don't really feel like arguing that point, but at least every other year there's a wire to wire #1 overall. Cade, Wemby, Zion, Ayton, Simmons, Wiggins. They pretty much started and ended the year as the top guys.

Even Paolo, Ant, Fultz were top 2 or 3 prospects all year.

This year, you could make the claim to five or six guys right now, and others might emerge. That hardly ever happens. So it's the year to draft for need.

I wouldn't call most of the players you listed ‘consensus’ but I agree with the overall point that the top of this draft is clearly more open than usual because it lacks high-end talent.

[EvanZ]

Cam Christie is growing on me as a FRP

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Any C out of the lottery that can defend and move their feet? Bonus if they can catch a lob or at least shoot decent from the line

[BAMAFREAK]

Does GG Jackson go #1 if you put him back in his original class this year?

[clyde21]

Hilarious that GG dropped that far.

[babyjax13]

Does GG Jackson go #1 if you put him back in his original class this year?

I don't think so, but he'd def. be lottery and probably high lottery if he showed he had a pulse and wasn't selfish like he was in college (i.e., played more like he is in Memphis).

[ItsDanger]

Letting a high upside player like GG Jackson fall to 45 just shows these GMs are overthinking it. League is about scoring now.

[HadAnEffectHere]

The GG Jackson stuff feels like when weird guys started talking about how every GM missed on Jaden Hardy because his rookie G-League stats were OK

[God Squad]

Does GG Jackson go #1 if you put him back in his original class this year?

IMO, no.

[HadAnEffectHere]

"Measured 6-foot-2 in shoes with a 6-3 wingspan and 187 pounds at Kentucky's pro day, Sheppard's dimensions aren't going to blow teams away, which is why making the transition to full-time point guard will likely be important to maximize his draft stock down the road. Can he attack pick-and-roll switches when teams force him to be a one-on-one scorer? Does he have the size and length to slow down elite-level guards consistently? How will his ballhandling hold up when he's the focal point of an opposing scouting report?"

2.5 inches shorter than Caruso and with a wingspan 2.5 inches less as well.

3D guys who are this tiny are just....... IDK.

[HadAnEffectHere]

Feels like JaKobe Walter should be sliding at least a bit with how horrible he's been in conference play.

[BigGargamel]

Feels like JaKobe Walter should be sliding at least a bit with how horrible he's been in conference play.

I thought so as well but who do you move up?

I think Risacher, Holland, Williams, Topic, Sarr go in the top five, in whatever order. After that? Man I dunno. Walter still has to lead that second group. Everyone else has also been so underwhelming.

I wish Dillingham was bigger. He's been the most impressive, but he's just so small.

[HadAnEffectHere]

Feels like JaKobe Walter should be sliding at least a bit with how horrible he's been in conference play.

I thought so as well but who do you move up?

I think Risacher, Holland, Williams, Topic, Sarr go in the top five, in whatever order. After that? Man I dunno. Walter still has to lead that second group. Everyone else has also been so underwhelming.

I wish Dillingham was bigger. He's been the most impressive, but he's just so small.

I mean, you're right... But this is just depressing.

Walter being 4th on a lot of sites despite shooting 39/35 and having no creation at all is just... this is one really bleak draft.

[MemphisX]

Feels like JaKobe Walter should be sliding at least a bit with how horrible he's been in conference play.

I thought so as well but who do you move up?

I think Risacher, Holland, Williams, Topic, Sarr go in the top five, in whatever order. After that? Man I dunno. Walter still has to lead that second group. Everyone else has also been so underwhelming.

I wish Dillingham was bigger. He's been the most impressive, but he's just so small.

I mean, you're right... But this is just depressing.

Walter being 4th on a lot of sites despite shooting 39/35 and having no creation at all is just... this is one really bleak draft.

This is not a draft problem. It is a draft evaluator problem.

[HadAnEffectHere]

I thought so as well but who do you move up?

I think Risacher, Holland, Williams, Topic, Sarr go in the top five, in whatever order. After that? Man I dunno. Walter still has to lead that second group. Everyone else has also been so underwhelming.

I wish Dillingham was bigger. He's been the most impressive, but he's just so small.

I mean, you're right... But this is just depressing.

Walter being 4th on a lot of sites despite shooting 39/35 and having no creation at all is just... this is one really bleak draft.

This is not a draft problem. It is a draft evaluator problem.

Nah, these guys just suck. Cody Williams is easily the #1 pick and he moves like he's trapped in quicksand. I can't think of 8 guys I would take over JaKobe Walter and his absolute max ceiling is like... KCP?

Which players do you have over JaKobe Walter and his 39/35 splits?

Stephon Castle, a guard who can't dribble or shoot?

Matas Buzelis, an unathletic shooter who can't shoot?