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

[jangles86]

Sheppard is a talent. Controls the offence at a high level, terrier on defence.
I would be happy to see him in a wizards uniform.

[Tyrone Messby]

Man Dillingham is electric. Think he’s going to be a player at the next level. Absolutely fearless and a freak.

[NatP4]

Unique player, but going to be a highly effective pro. Less C, and more of a face up scoring 4, but Holmes is as good as any big man prospect.

https://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=daron-holmes-ii--al-horford

I've been talking him up for a bit, however with the run that Dayton has been on this year, with DH2 carrying them on his back, I think they get a good seed in the Tourney and Holmes earns a ticket to the 1st round in the draft. If we want him it might have to be with that late 1st.

Bad loss for Dayton last night, but I think you’re right. They’ll be a dangerous mid seed and Holmes is going to be a tournament star on the big stage.

I’m feeling Holmes, Simpson, or Devin Carter with that late 1st. Maybe Carter-Boyles, but I don’t think he’ll enter this draft.

[doclinkin]

I’m feeling Holmes, Simpson, or Devin Carter with that late 1st. Maybe Carter-Boyles, but I don’t think he’ll enter this draft.

I think the team will probably take a swing on potential over production with their late first. I'm looking for unknowns and expecting surprises. A player that I think will jump in out of nowhere after the combine will be a player like Ulrich Chomche from NBA Academy Africa.

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=NBAAfrica

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=WERBALLERS

18 year old from Cameroon. Unshaped pure potential but the kid just roars upside. 6'11" with a 7'4" wingspan and still growing. Looks like he has never touched a weight room and even so just casually climbs up to tap balls out of orbit on blocks. Huge mitts, swats shots like they were tennis balls. Surprising grace in his shooting form. But otherwise looks like a puppy with flopping limbs, everything looks brand new to him. Zero low post moves shoots 42% overall. Can't dribble if guarded. Needs a Big Man boot camp and veteran sensei. But is putting up Per36 numbers of 10+ boards, 4 assists, 3.2 blocks, 1.6 steals, while hitting 38% 3FG from NBA range and 75% from the line. Raw as sugarcane but with freak upside. He's popping up in 1st round mocks out of nowhere, and will jump when he gets measured at the combine. If he's still there with that late pick I can't see them pass him up.

[pancakes3]

Robbie Avila 2026 second round pick. If Mike Muscala can have a 10 year career, so can this guy.

[nate33]

I’m feeling Holmes, Simpson, or Devin Carter with that late 1st. Maybe Carter-Boyles, but I don’t think he’ll enter this draft.

I think the team will probably take a swing on potential over production with their late first. I'm looking for unknowns and expecting surprises. A player that I think will jump in out of nowhere after the combine will be a player like Ulrich Chomche from NBA Academy Africa.

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=NBAAfrica

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=WERBALLERS

18 year old from Cameroon. Unshaped pure potential but the kid just roars upside. 6'11" with a 7'4" wingspan and still growing. Looks like he has never touched a weight room and even so just casually climbs up to tap balls out of orbit on blocks. Huge mitts, swats shots like they were tennis balls. Surprising grace in his shooting form. But otherwise looks like a puppy with flopping limbs, everything looks brand new to him. Zero low post moves shoots 42% overall. Can't dribble if guarded. Needs a Big Man boot camp and veteran sensei. But is putting up Per36 numbers of 10+ boards, 4 assists, 3.2 blocks, 1.6 steals, while hitting 38% 3FG from NBA range and 75% from the line. Raw as sugarcane but with freak upside. He's popping up in 1st round mocks out of nowhere, and will jump when he gets measured at the combine. If he's still there with that late pick I can't see them pass him up.

I like his demeanor. He is all business. After making a play, he just gets back on D and matches up with his man. I also liked that he finished gracefully with his left hand on that eurostep during the fast break early in the 2nd video. And he definitely has an NBA frame. 4 assists/36 is interesting too.

[doclinkin]

Which sorta puts me at odds with the front office.

Me personally, I like the guys who have shown they can play and know the game. I feel like I could put together a great team out of this draft with cats who are instant veterans when they step on the court. High energy tough players who succeed off their effort more than their unmatchable athleticism and upside. Guys like:

PG Devin Carter/KJ Simpson
SG Kevin McCullar/Jaylon Tyson
SF Ryan Dunn/Ron Holland/Dillon Jones
PF DaRon Holmes/ Oso Ighodaro/ Kyle Filipowski
C Zach Edey/ Hunter Dickinson

Scrappy, tough, skilled, competitive.

And even with the inexperienced guys, I lean towards the BBIQ players like Reed Sheppard, Izan Almansa, Nikola Topic.

That means I would take a Nikola Jokic, or Marc Gasol, but will miss on a Giannis. I get the sense this front office would rather take the Giannis types. My guys would fight hard but ultimately lose against the rare hypertalents who do grow into their full potential. Which is why at the top end I trust the scouts and lifers. Jerry West. Guys who just see a player and know who they will become. I catch a few like Stef Curry. Allen Iverson. Andre Iguodala. There are some guys you can spot immediately and know early they are a true talent. But there are very few players like Giannis who are both supremely talented and overachievers, guys who grow into their talent and surpass it due to desire and work ethic.

[nate33]

Sarr moves incredibly well for a 7”+ footer. He is extremely raw but the athletic gifts are there to be potentially a defensive player of the year candidate at his peak.

He is a very raw version of Even Mobley right now.

That's an interesting comparison:



Statistically, they're the same player except that Sarr takes way too many 3's at terrible efficiency. (Their 2P% are basically the same, it's the 3-balls that are tanking his TS%.) Sarr is also a year younger, and I doubt those weights are accurate. Sarr definitely has a little more meat on his bones than Mobley did.

The big difference between the two are the intangibles. Mobley was a heady defensive player who rotated well and knew how to deter shots even if he didn't always get the block. Sarr just goes after everything. The question is, will Sarr figure things out?

[daSwami]

Man Dillingham is electric. Think he’s going to be a player at the next level. Absolutely fearless and a freak.

He's an amazing offensive player, but defense - not so much. His combine measurements will have a huge bearing on where he's selected. If he's truly 6'3" - he goes top 5, if he's closer to 6'0" (as rumored) - he'll go mid-teens.

[NatP4]

I dream of a Kuzma deal to grab another pick in the mid to late 1st to snag DaRon Holmes, and pick one of Simpson/Carter with our late 1st. Still taking Topic with out first pick.

Guys like Jared Butler, KJ Simpson, and Devin Carter can be great on/off the ball with a guy like Topic.

Simpson/Carter Butler
Topic Davis
Coulibaly Kispert
Avdija Holmes

Fill the C position in 2025.

[pancakes3]

You can't just be letting 20ppg scorers go for late lotto draft picks.

[penbeast0]

Sarr moves incredibly well for a 7”+ footer. He is extremely raw but the athletic gifts are there to be potentially a defensive player of the year candidate at his peak.

He is a very raw version of Even Mobley right now.

That's an interesting comparison:



Statistically, they're the same player except that Sarr takes way too many 3's at terrible efficiency. (Their 2P% are basically the same, it's the 3-balls that are tanking his TS%.) Sarr is also a year younger, and I doubt those weights are accurate. Sarr definitely has a little more meat on his bones than Mobley did.

The big difference between the two are the intangibles. Mobley was a heady defensive player who rotated well and knew how to deter shots even if he didn't always get the block. Sarr just goes after everything. The question is, will Sarr figure things out?

Mobley's numbers were also consistently better across the board. Part of that is the difference in minutes, part if Euroleague v. college, part may also be talent . . . I'm not sure. But Mobley has more points, rebounds, blocks, shoots a (slightly?) higher percentage from 2, and shoots better percentages from 3.

[NatP4]

Sarr plays in the NBL.

I think the biggest difference between those two is that Evan Mobley was elite in terms of team defense/rotations at USC. I remember a number of people on this board (including myself) comparing him to Tim Duncan and Anthony Davis. His feel for the game was elite at USC.

I do like the comparison, but that is a fundamental difference. There’s a real chance that Sarr never develops that kind of feel for the game, that’s not something that typically develops.

[gesa2]

Sarr plays in the NBL.

I think the biggest difference between those two is that Evan Mobley was elite in terms of team defense/rotations at USC. I remember a number of people on this board (including myself) comparing him to Tim Duncan and Anthony Davis. His feel for the game was elite at USC.

I do like the comparison, but that is a fundamental difference. There’s a real chance that Sarr never develops that kind of feel for the game, that’s not something that typically develops.

I’m leery of drafting players who show so little feel for the game. I know there are exceptions, but so many of the biggest busts are great athletes who never see the game well.

[Mizerooskie]

I dream of a Kuzma deal to grab another pick in the mid to late 1st to snag DaRon Holmes, and pick one of Simpson/Carter with our late 1st. Still taking Topic with out first pick.

Would *much* rather parlay Kuzma into FRP(s) in the 2025 or 2026 class.

It happens every year. People get enamored with the prospects in the current class, because they've got the most media/data available.

2025/26 are generally considered much better classes than 2024, no?

[NatP4]

Holmes up to #29 with the Tankathon update.

Also, Furphy exploded up to #16. Topic jumped Sarr for the top spot.

[tontoz]

I think Ivisic will move up the mocks once the workouts start. Found this clip from 2 years ago. Looks like he should be in the 3 pt contest.

Watch on YouTube

[nate33]

I think Ivisic will move up the mocks once the workouts start. Found this clip from 2 years ago. Looks like he should be in the 3 pt contest.

Watch on YouTube

Tankathon has him at 49th. I'd absolutely take a flyer on him with our #48 pick if he is still on the board. I'm intrigued by his passing ability. Good court awareness for passing typically translates into good help defense. Though for now, his foul rate is pretty awful.

I don't know if I could be convinced to use our 27th pick on him though. He is very duplicative with Vukcevic and it would be hard to develop both guys at the same time.

[NatP4]

Play the guy. Kentucky is a total disaster right now, lost 6 of their last 12, and Calipari still refuses to play the guy. Rocking the small ball lineups that get absolutely destroyed defensively. Such an overrated coach.

[tontoz]

Play the guy. Kentucky is a total disaster right now, lost 6 of their last 12, and Calipari still refuses to play the guy. Rocking the small ball lineups that get absolutely destroyed defensively. Such an overrated coach.

Kentucky fans want Cal fired.

In fairness they got screwed by the NCAA not letting Ivisic play for so long. Then when he did get eligible he had injury/illness issues and once again missed practice time. I am not sure just how well he knows the system. He has looked lost at times when he does play.