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

[tontoz]

Warming up to Cody Williams. 59% from the field definitely gets my attention. We obviously made a.mistake passing on his brother Jalen.

Looks like he already has a good in between game which is rare for a freshman.

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[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

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.

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I'm watching him right now.

He's impressive!

Protects the rim. Has great hands. Has three point range. Runs the court exceptionally well. Very good passer.

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[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

He's not a round two pick. Not from my first impression.

I think he looks like a lottery pick.

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[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I don't get to watch much any more. Long story. Life circumstances.

That observation on Ivisic is truly based on the first half against Alabama.

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[tontoz]

UK destroying #13 Alabama right now.

[payitforward]

Well, his numbers are mind-blowing.
OTOH, he's only played 60 minutes....

[nate33]

Warming up to Cody Williams. 59% from the field definitely gets my attention. We obviously made a.mistake passing on his brother Jalen.

Looks like he already has a good in between game which is rare for a freshman.

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There's something to be said about a tall guy who just makes shots. His TS% is .662, and he can score from anywhere, either as a creator or a finisher.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Tristen Newton is a baller.

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[NatP4]

Furphy put up 16&8 on 3 total shots today. Double digit scoring in 11 of the last 12 games now. Playing his way into the lottery.

KJ Simpson carried Colorado again. 28-4-3 on 15 shots. Made 5 3s. 11-17 from 3 in his last two games. He’s had two bad games all year long. Outside of that, he’s been unstoppable.

[tontoz]

In his last 4 games Sheppard has 19 steals

Edwards was 10/10 from the field last night with 4 3s. I never paid any attention to him before but he has good size and a nice J.

Ivisic had 18/5 with 4 blocks in 20 minutes.

It will be interesting to see how many NBA players come from this roster.

[nate33]

Furphy put up 16&8 on 3 total shots today. Double digit scoring in 11 of the last 12 games now. Playing his way into the lottery.

KJ Simpson carried Colorado again. 28-4-3 on 15 shots. Made 5 3s. 11-17 from 3 in his last two games. He’s had two bad games all year long. Outside of that, he’s been unstoppable.

I'm not seeing it with Furphy.

I just don't see him holding up against NBA athletes. He tries hard on defense and plays smart. He knows when to show in help and then recover to his man, but his actual defense in space is terrible. He is way too slow-footed and weak. Fast guys blow past him and big guys go right through him. He will definitely be a defensive liability at the next level. In the NBA, teams only play a defensive liability if he is an extremely good offensive player, and I'm not seeing that in Furphy. He is merely an off-ball role player on offense. Yeah, he'll knock down catch-and-shoots like nobody's business, and he's actually really good at taking a bump and finishing on the break, but he is not a movement shooter nor can he create off the bounce. He definitely doesn't have the driving and finishing creativity of a guy like Kispert, nor is he a guy who can come off a curl and knock down shots on the move like a Rip Hamilton or Kyle Korver. He needs to get square before shooting.

His only hope is to get stronger. Much stronger. He is listed at 6-9 but he looks more like 6-7 or 6-8 to me. If he is really 6-9 and can fill out a whole lot, maybe he can play the 4 where his footspeed won't be such a disadvantage. But I'm not optimistic that he will fill out enough.

[NatP4]

Not the biggest fan, but I think he’ll be a decent pro. Something like a Joe Ingles or Mike Dunleavy.

Gradey Dick ended up going in the lottery, think it’ll be the same with Furphy.

[NatP4]

Daron Holmes(age 21): 22.8 points 9.0 rebounds 2.9 assists 2.4 blocks 0.9 steals 62.7% TS

Devin Carter(age 22): 20.0 points 8.6 rebounds 3.7 assists 1.0 block 1.6 steals 60.3% TS

KJ Simpson(age 21): 20.9 points 5.9 rebounds 4.9 assists 0.1 blocks 1.8 steals 62.8% TS

[nate33]

Not the biggest fan, but I think he’ll be a decent pro. Something like a Joe Ingles or Mike Dunleavy.

Gradey Dick ended up going in the lottery, think it’ll be the same with Furphy.

The one thing I liked about Dick is that he was a bit better defensively than perceived. He moves his feet pretty well and would occasionally get a steal or block a shot in isolation. And he also showed flashes of creation off the bounce - not PG skills or anything, but maybe a Duncan Robinson tier ability to run secondary pick-and-roll against a rotating defense. Gradey Dick has Kevin Heurter potential, whereas Furphy strikes me as a Svi Mykhailiuk.

[NatP4]

Not the biggest fan, but I think he’ll be a decent pro. Something like a Joe Ingles or Mike Dunleavy.

Gradey Dick ended up going in the lottery, think it’ll be the same with Furphy.

The one thing I liked about Dick is that he was a bit better defensively than perceived. He moves his feet pretty well and would occasionally get a steal or block a shot in isolation. And he also showed flashes of creation off the bounce - not PG skills or anything, but maybe a Duncan Robinson tier ability to run secondary pick-and-roll against a rotating defense. Gradey Dick has Kevin Heurter potential, whereas Furphy strikes me as a Svi Mykhailiuk.

I can’t go that far. Furphy is more productive as a 19 year old freshman than Svi as a 21 year old senior. Furphy atleast has the size to potentially survive as a rotation PF.

6’9 with a TS of 67%. He’s a better version of Cody Williams (which isn’t saying much, Williams is flat out awful).

But again, I’m not a big Furphy fan, just think he’s going to continue to shoot up mock drafts. Can see him going around the same area as Avdija.

[TGW]

Call me crazy, but Topic has elements of his game that is reminiscent of.....John Wall? Checking out some of his games, and he has tendencies that are similar to JW. Seems like he only has two gears (slow or fast AF), there's not much of an in-between game, and he takes a lot of threes even though he doesn't make them at a great clip.

The good is that he has an NBA body, he can run an offense, and he gives an effort on defense. In a regular draft, he's a low lottery/right outside of the lottery guy but I think in this draft he's top 3.

[nate33]

6’9 with a TS of 67%. He’s a better version of Cody Williams (which isn’t saying much, Williams is flat out awful).

But again, I’m not a big Furphy fan, just think he’s going to continue to shoot up mock drafts. Can see him going around the same area as Avdija.

I don't quite get your hatred of Cody. I get that he's not an elite athlete, but he is a 6-8, long-armed bucket getter who can score in a variety of ways with an exceptional 2P% and a reliable 3-point shot as well. He legitimately has GREAT shooting touch. There are some undeniable red flags, particularly the anemic rebounding and the high turnover rate, which should keep him out of the top 5; but he seems like a legit lottery prospect to me.

I see a Cameron Johnson type of player. I do wonder about the rebounding. Colorado is an above-average rebounding team so it doesn't look like the poor rebounding is harming them much. All of his teammates are really good rebounders.

[tontoz]

Call me crazy, but Topic has elements of his game that is reminiscent of.....John Wall? Checking out some of his games, and he has tendencies that are similar to JW. Seems like he only has two gears (slow or fast AF), there's not much of an in-between game, and he takes a lot of threes even though he doesn't make them at a great clip.

The good is that he has an NBA body, he can run an offense, and he gives an effort on defense. In a regular draft, he's a low lottery/right outside of the lottery guy but I think in this draft he's top 3.

Yeah the choices at the top are definitely underwhelming. He is the only guy I would take without hesitation.

Wall only had one gear. The euro step was a foreign concept to him. He used to hit the ground all the time because he was out of control.

Topic is in control when he drives and finishes well with either hand. His jumper is a concern but he shoots 87% from the line so I would guess his jumper comes around.

He hasn't shown any in between game but it seems like he hasn't needed one yet.

[NatP4]

6’9 with a TS of 67%. He’s a better version of Cody Williams (which isn’t saying much, Williams is flat out awful).

But again, I’m not a big Furphy fan, just think he’s going to continue to shoot up mock drafts. Can see him going around the same area as Avdija.

I don't quite get your hatred of Cody. I get that he's not an elite athlete, but he is a 6-8, long-armed bucket getter who can score in a variety of ways with an exceptional 2P% and a reliable 3-point shot as well. He legitimately has GREAT shooting touch. There are some undeniable red flags, particularly the anemic rebounding and the high turnover rate, which should keep him out of the top 5; but he seems like a legit lottery prospect to me.

I see a Cameron Johnson type of player. I do wonder about the rebounding. Colorado is an above-average rebounding team so it doesn't look like the poor rebounding is harming them much. All of his teammates are really good rebounders.

“Hatred” is a bizarre and unnecessary word to throw out there.

Cam Johnson was an elite defender in college and the NBA, Williams is absolutely horrible on defense. He scores on low volume with good efficiency and is tall, that is his only appeal as a prospect.

[tontoz]

Scouting report on Risacher. If the team views Bilal as a 2 then this guy would fit at the 3. Looks like an off ball player which is fine. We have Deni as a secondary ball handler and obviously still need a primary ball handler, but effective off ball players make them easy fits.

If Topic is gone then our choices aren't great. I suspect Sheppard will measure pretty small which might make it hard to take him top 5. Looks 6'1 to me without shoes.

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