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

[tontoz]

scoring 14 points in the second half,

Actually it was 21 in the second half lol. He didn't score in the first half.

[nate33]

scoring 14 points in the second half,

Actually it was 21 in the second half lol. He didn't score in the first half.

I thought is 21 total and 14 in the second half.

[tontoz]

scoring 14 points in the second half,

Actually it was 21 in the second half lol. He didn't score in the first half.

I thought is 21 total and 14 in the second half.

Nope. I watched the game he didn't score in the 1st half then went ham in the 2nd.

He did screw up on the last play though, throwing an alley up too low to a guy who was covered, and turned it over to end the game.

[pancakes3]

pulling this out of my butt but college offenses are more rote and easier to game. from all that i've seen, Sheppard's mostly jumping passing lanes, not a lot of his steals are quick hands and/or ripping it out of a defender's dribble, which Reese Beekman actually does at least once a game.

the defensive IQ is definitely a bonus, but idk if he's going to be CP3/Stockton when it comes to steals in the NBA. His plus plus skill is obviously shooting; he can easily be a 45%+ 3p shooter in the league. With serviceable handles, passing, and other Tyus-Jonesian skills, I think he grades out as a top 15 PG in the league with best case scenario, Dame or even better (Dame with better shooting).

[tontoz]

pulling this out of my butt but college offenses are more rote and easier to game. from all that i've seen, Sheppard's mostly jumping passing lanes, not a lot of his steals are quick hands and/or ripping it out of a defender's dribble, which Reese Beekman actually does at least once a game.

the defensive IQ is definitely a bonus, but idk if he's going to be CP3/Stockton when it comes to steals in the NBA. His plus plus skill is obviously shooting; he can easily be a 45%+ 3p shooter in the league. With serviceable handles, passing, and other Tyus-Jonesian skills, I think he grades out as a top 15 PG in the league with best case scenario, Dame or even better (Dame with better shooting).

I am not convinced that he will be effective defending on the NBA level either. I know he will at least try and understand where he is supposed to be. But his ability on offense might far outweigh any defensive shortcomings.

My current NBA comp is Brunson. I know we aren't supposed to compare white guys to black guys but that is who comes to mind. However it is hard to be sure given that the sample size we are looking at is so small.

[NatP4]

Divincenzo but better at everything and elite Klay Thompson level shooting.

[Rafael122]

Sheppard screams hustle guy, like a Grayson Allen type. I'm not taking him top 5.

He is way more skilled than Grayson Allen. Whenever he is given the chance, he runs PG for that squad and does a good job. Two games ago, they took away his 3-point ball so he roasted them by penetrating to the rim, scoring 14 points in the second half, all at the rim, off of a bunch of nice hesitation dribbles in isolation coverage.

It may well be that he is too small to be a highly successful pro, but it's not because he isn't skilled. He is a very good playmaker and one of the best shooters in college basketball history. He is way more than a "hustle player". He isn't Steve Wojciechowski

This is a guy Tommy Sheppard would have picked. He's a safe pick, if he were around with our other 1st round pick, sure, take him. He's not going to be there but taking him top 5 is a huge risk.

[tontoz]

UK and Uconn playing ranked opponents on saturday.

[nate33]

pulling this out of my butt but college offenses are more rote and easier to game. from all that i've seen, Sheppard's mostly jumping passing lanes, not a lot of his steals are quick hands and/or ripping it out of a defender's dribble, which Reese Beekman actually does at least once a game.

I actually think it's the opposite. He has incredible hands and somehow manages to grab the ball out of people's hands or slap it away when most guys couldn't. He reminds me a bit of Kyle Lowry in that regard. Where I think he might struggle at the next level is in staying in front of guys in isolation coverage and contesting without fouling.

[nate33]

Sheppard screams hustle guy, like a Grayson Allen type. I'm not taking him top 5.

He is way more skilled than Grayson Allen. Whenever he is given the chance, he runs PG for that squad and does a good job. Two games ago, they took away his 3-point ball so he roasted them by penetrating to the rim, scoring 14 points in the second half, all at the rim, off of a bunch of nice hesitation dribbles in isolation coverage.

It may well be that he is too small to be a highly successful pro, but it's not because he isn't skilled. He is a very good playmaker and one of the best shooters in college basketball history. He is way more than a "hustle player". He isn't Steve Wojciechowski

This is a guy Tommy Sheppard would have picked. He's a safe pick, if he were around with our other 1st round pick, sure, take him. He's not going to be there but taking him top 5 is a huge risk.

I agree that he is a Tommy Sheppard pick. That doesn't necessarily mean that it's right or wrong though.

I doubt Weaver/Dawkins will pick him with a top 5 pick. He doesn't strike me as an OKC type of guy. They value positional length and high basketball IQ. Sheppard has the basketball IQ, but not the length.

[tontoz]

Castle is so similar to SGA i have to think he is the leader in the clubhouse so to speak. I would think Topic would probably be above Sheppard on their boards also.

[tontoz]

Just watching the end of UK vs Ole Miss and my biggest takeaway from the game is that I don't want to take a center with our top 5 pick. Reason being is there are plenty of athletic 7 footers out there at lesser known schools that could make good rim protectors.

Watching the game I am like who is this guy Cisse, 33 on Ole Miss? Never heard of him and I was about to start looking into him further and then he pulls off this move after getting knocked down at the bottom of the screen. I had to make a vid about it. The announcers were like

https://youtu.be/d6WD3xERZ40?feature=shared

[NatP4]

Castle showed the top 3 potential tonight. 14-4-6 on 10 shots no turnovers +34.

Read on Twitter

[Dark Faze]

Is there not a consensus #1 prospect in this draft?

[nate33]

Is there not a consensus #1 prospect in this draft?

Not at all.

Most mock drafts have Sarr as the #1 guy by default because hyper athletic bigs are so rare, but nobody thinks Sarr is a can't miss prospect.

There are 5 or 6 guys that most would consider to be fairly typical top 10 talents in a normal draft, but there is no guy that would be a sure-fire top 3 talent in a typical draft.

[payitforward]

Is there not a consensus #1 prospect in this draft?

Not at all.

Most mock drafts have Sarr as the #1 guy by default because hyper athletic bigs are so rare, but nobody thinks Sarr is a can't miss prospect.

There are 5 or 6 guys that most would consider to be fairly typical top 10 talents in a normal draft, but there is no guy that would be a sure-fire top 3 talent in a typical draft.

All of which probably means that we'll have the best crop of new NBA players in a decade!

[jangles86]

Anyone watching the rising stars games Buzelis looks like he’s got a lot stronger and hit a sweet 3 and a beautiful dish.

Also hit the turn around base line fade away game winner over Brandon Miller.

That was impressive.

[NatP4]

Yeah, he looked good. I think Buzelis is legit. In the 2nd half of the year he’s been much better. Shooting 52% from the field and 38.5% from 3. Racks up the steals and blocks, rebounds like a 4.

He’s playing on a team with zero guard play. No coaching, and a handful of self-centered teammates. Awful situation.

Still such a talented player. One of the only 1st overall type talents in the draft. Wagner/Avdija mold with even more upside.

[nate33]

Yeah, he looked good. I think Buzelis is legit. In the 2nd half of the year he’s been much better. Shooting 52% from the field and 38.5% from 3. Racks up the steals and blocks, rebounds like a 4.

He’s playing on a team with zero guard play. No coaching, and a handful of self-centered teammates. Awful situation.

Still such a talented player. One of the only 1st overall type talents in the draft. Wagner/Avdija mold with even more upside.

How do you rank Cody Williams, Buzelis and Risacher?

[NatP4]

Yeah, he looked good. I think Buzelis is legit. In the 2nd half of the year he’s been much better. Shooting 52% from the field and 38.5% from 3. Racks up the steals and blocks, rebounds like a 4.

He’s playing on a team with zero guard play. No coaching, and a handful of self-centered teammates. Awful situation.

Still such a talented player. One of the only 1st overall type talents in the draft. Wagner/Avdija mold with even more upside.

How do you rank Cody Williams, Buzelis and Risacher?

I don’t see it with Cody Williams. Defensive liability, rebounds like a PG, negative A/TO ratio. I wouldn’t pick him top 10. KJ Simpson drives the bus for that Colorado team, not Williams.

Risacher is a nice player, with production in a good league at 18 years old. Similar mold to Williams though, you have the mediocre rebounding and negative A/TO, but atleast average defensively. I think he’d be a fine pick at 7-12 range, but tops out as an average starter.

Buzelis is a top 3 talent. What are your thoughts?