Most valuable *individual* player available for 2024 #1 pick

[HornetJail]

Let's say a team wins the lottery and they believe they're a piece away from taking a leap next season. Whether that's OKC jumping from very good to contender status, or a mid-tier team just trying to get to the playoffs. Assume expiring filler or possibly partial immediate cap relief in return.

Who's the best SINGLE PLAYER a team could feasibly trade the #1 pick for?

Don't bother talking about your trade packages involving 2 mid-late 1sts and some okay players, we're talking about one, singular, very good player getting swapped one for one, with the #1 pick. Who is that someone?

[gswhoops]

No one on the Warriors fits - the only guy worth the #1 pick is Steph and for obvious reasons he's not getting dealt.

I think the perceived weakness of this draft at the top means you're probably not returning a superstar or even a borderline superstar. I feel like you're looking at a Brandon Ingtam, Mikal Bridges, Lauri Markkanen level player.

[jbk1234]

I think the playoffs need to play out and extension discussions might have to take place before you even get there. If the Celtics falter, the No. 1 pick, cap savings and filler might get you Brown. I don't think Griffin trusts the draft process, but if Ingram declines to extend, there's an opportunity there for a three-team deal. Maybe the Cavs reset if Mitchell declines to extend (or a three team deal). If Mitchell does extend, maybe the Nets consider building around the No 1 pick.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Trae and KAT?

[zimpy27]

Lauri

[HadAnEffectHere]

Trae and KAT?

There is zero chance Trae is traded for the #1 pick. The #1 pick has almost no chance of being as good as Trae and the Hawks have no picks to rebuild in the future with.

Brandon Ingram is probably the answer to this question.

[HadAnEffectHere]

Lauri

There is zero chance. Sarr's max ceiling if he can't shoot is Nic Claxton and the odds Sarr learns how to shoot are very low. Risacher has no upside and is a 3D guy with limited defensive upside and has no high level shooting upside (less than 70% from the line every year)

The only stars that would ever be traded for Sarr or Risacher are low tier stars who are paid huge amounts of money on teams with cap issues. So like Brandon Ingram.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Lauri

There is zero chance. Sarr's max ceiling if he can't shoot is Nic Claxton and the odds Sarr learns how to shoot are very low. Risacher has no upside and is a 3D guy with limited defensive upside and has no high level shooting upside (less than 70% from the line every year)

Don't think you need to worry there about someone trading the #1 for an expiring 2nd or third option.

[HadAnEffectHere]

Lauri

There is zero chance. Sarr's max ceiling if he can't shoot is Nic Claxton and the odds Sarr learns how to shoot are very low. Risacher has no upside and is a 3D guy with limited defensive upside and has no high level shooting upside (less than 70% from the line every year)

Don't think you need to worry there about someone trading the #1 for an expiring 2nd or third option.

Have you watched the players in this class.

Risacher has almost no chance of being more than a so-so third option and he's #1 on every mock. He straight up cannot jump at all, he cannot create at all, and has never shot 70% or better from the line in his life.

I don't think people truly get how bad of a prospect Risacher is. The likely #1's only two major pluses are his work ethic and motor. He's a pure 3D guy who is not very athletic or good at shooting.

[RookieJazz]

Weak draft. And a tough question. I think a good starter is fair value (not all-star, not borderline all-star).
Names that come to my mind: Julius Randle, Tyler Herro, Grant, Garland, Jarret Alen, Austin Reaves, Beal, Sexton, McCollum....

[RookieJazz]

There is zero chance. Sarr's max ceiling if he can't shoot is Nic Claxton and the odds Sarr learns how to shoot are very low. Risacher has no upside and is a 3D guy with limited defensive upside and has no high level shooting upside (less than 70% from the line every year)

Don't think you need to worry there about someone trading the #1 for an expiring 2nd or third option.

Have you watched the players in this class.

Risacher has almost no chance of being more than a so-so third option and he's #1 on every mock. He straight up cannot jump at all, he cannot create at all, and has never shot 70% or better from the line in his life.

I don't think people truly get how bad of a prospect Risacher is. The likely #1's only two major pluses are his work ethic and motor. He's a pure 3D guy who is not very athletic or good at shooting.

The only potential all-star in this class for me is Topic.

[gswhoops]

I've seen Sarr at #1 more often than Risacher, FWIW.

[brackdan70]

Looks like a Poor draft at the top but might turn out better than expected later down.
Crappy year to have number one. Likely many of the top 5 picks are immediately bad contracts imo.

I don’t have a name but guy still on rookie deal or signed a fair second contract that is a starter but not an all star.
I saw Ingram mentioned above. I wouldn’t trade him for #1.

[HadAnEffectHere]

I've seen Sarr at #1 more often than Risacher, FWIW.

I've seen more Risacher than Sarr, but unless Sarr can shoot like 37% from three, he's just a less talented version of Ayton and Ayton is like...... not valued at all in the NBA?

What NBA team is desperate for an extremely soft center with a limited offensive game?

Sarr only provides value over the many random generic centers in the NBA if he can actually shoot threes and he's been a consistently bad shooter on high volume over the last three years.

[brackdan70]

No one on the Warriors fits - the only guy worth the #1 pick is Steph and for obvious reasons he's not getting dealt.

I think the perceived weakness of this draft at the top means you're probably not returning a superstar or even a borderline superstar. I feel like you're looking at a Brandon Ingtam, Mikal Bridges, Lauri Markkanen level player.

Kuminga?

[brackdan70]

I think a guy like Jonathon Kuminga. If you are the Warriors would you trade him for number 1

[gswhoops]

I've seen Sarr at #1 more often than Risacher, FWIW.

I've seen more Risacher than Sarr, but unless Sarr can shoot like 37% from three, he's just a less talented version of Ayton and Ayton is like...... not valued at all in the NBA?

What NBA team is desperate for an extremely soft center with a limited offensive game?

Sarr only provides value over the many random generic centers in the NBA if he can actually shoot threes and he's been a consistently bad shooter on high volume over the last three years.

I haven't done a ton of research on these prospects tbh, mostly because the Warriors don't have a pick in this draft. Mostly just been reading other people's mock drafts. Sarr seems like he at least has the potential to be a much better defender than Ayton though. He's not a low post banger but could be a switchable hybrid 4/5 a la JJJ or Porzingis. Of course to get away with playing that role he needs to develop an outside shot like you said.

[babyjax13]

Lauri

Not a chance. I *might* do Taylor Hendricks and a non-premium future pick for #1, but that doesn't really fit the brief. I think the answer to this question is DeJounte Murray, but that would be a bad move for a rebuilding team.

[jayjaysee]

I would take Cody Williams if I thought Sarr was Ayton, Zacc was Cam Johnson, and Topic was not going to translate into the NBA..

But if Ayton cared about basketball, he’d probably be seen a lot differently.. centers are highly valued. Centers that don’t care about defense and aren’t elite on offense.. they’re not so highly valued.

[louc1970]

I don’t think there is a good enough player in this draft to equate to sending an average player for them. Additionally it is so team dependent.

Going off of CBS rankings:
My top choice would be Milwaukee sending Lillard and getting either Sarr or Topic.

The next player would be Jrue Holiday.