2024 NBA DRAFT THREAD 2

[LoveMyRaps]

WHAT AN UPSET.

I had Auburn vs. Kentucky in the finals. SMFH

Coach Cal is a FRAUD.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

Coach Fraudipari

I had them losing in 2nd round but this isnt a big surprise.

[GP2]

I'm not a fan of shooters just going spread eagle on shots. It looks ridiculous.

[Brinbe]

I've always said that I found Sheppard to be extremely intriguing...but I never jumped fully on the bandwagon. His outcomes are all over the place because he has some elite strengths, but also glaring weaknesses. His archetype is pretty bad: short, mediocre athlete, and not a shot creator. That being said elite shooter, smart player, and elite defensive instincts.

That's basically this draft in a nutshell. Even a guy like Sarr. Great defensive player with length but super soft, just shoots jumpers (and can't shoot) and might not hold up as a C at the next level. So a defensive stretch 4 that can't shoot? Great

[TimeForChange]

Read on Twitter

[deeps6x]

Loved seeing Kentucky lose. Every other year I wanted them to win. But I just had to cheer for the underdog in this one.
Jack, 10 3s, wow!

[bballsparkin]

Watch on YouTube

[bballsparkin]

Loved seeing Kentucky lose. Every other year I wanted them to win. But I just had to cheer for the underdog in this one.
Jack, 10 3s, wow!

I picked KU to win in my work bracket but even then didn't mind seeing them lose. Oakland played well.

[bballsparkin]

I've always said that I found Sheppard to be extremely intriguing...but I never jumped fully on the bandwagon. His outcomes are all over the place because he has some elite strengths, but also glaring weaknesses. His archetype is pretty bad: short, mediocre athlete, and not a shot creator. That being said elite shooter, smart player, and elite defensive instincts.

If he's the first pick then yikes at this draft. He looks like #8 material tonight.

edit: and Dillingham looked starting #9

[BoyzNTheHood]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=iDergfyDJveIq9pY2qCCBQ

[dohboy_24]

Why are some Raptors fans really so desperate to hand the Spurs two (2) picks among the first ten (10) selections in this year's draft so they can add any two (2) of Sarr, Risacher, Topic, Sheppard, Dillingham, Williams, Holland, Buzelis, Castle, Walter or Salaun to go along with Wemby, Vassel, Johnson, Sochan, Collins, Jones, and Branham?

While this draft might not produce a lot of All-Star or HOF level players, it does appear to be sufficiently stockpiled with players who can ultimately contribute as a starter, 6th man or key piece of a 9-man rotation.

Considering we likely have IQ (PG), RJ (SF), and Scottie (PF) as our trio for the next 2-3 years (minimum) with KO/JP holding down the C position as we continue to develop Dick and Agbaji as key rotation players at the swing (G/F) positions, the players you can pick up in a draft such as this one are not only going to fit the growth trajectory of said trio, but help to fill in the gaps around them as far as positional and skill-based needs are concerned.

If we're looking for a backup PG, Tyler Kolek or KJ Simpson could be ideal choices if they slip out of the first round and are available at the Pistons pick - otherwise I'm not sold on any of the point guards (Jared McCain, Isiah Collier, Devin Carter) available in the range of the Pacers pick.

If we keep our own pick and we're choosing among the top 6, guys like Rob Dillingham or Nikola Topic could eventually share the backcourt with IQ if we want to have everyone on the floor other than our center have the ability to bring the ball up the court and push the fast break.

If we want to fill the gap at SG, there are lots of them to choose from with Reed Sheppard, Ja'Kobe Walter, Stephon Castle in the range of the top 6 picks and players like Kevin McCullar, Johnny Furphy, Hunter Sallis, Kyshawn George, Trey Alexander, Melvin Anjica, and Terrence Shannon Jr. available between the middle of the first round and the start of the second round when we make our selections with the Pacers and Pistons picks.

If we want more depth at the SF spot, Zaccharie Risacher, Cody Williams, Ron Holland, and Matas Buzelis would be available in the range of the top 6 picks while players like Tidjane Salaun, Dalton Knecht, Bobi Klintman, Tristan DaSilva, and Baylor Scheierman could likely be picked up somewhere between the Pacers and Pistons picks.

If we want more depth behind Scottie at the PF spot, we could likely choose one of Tyler Smith, DaRon Holmes II, Justin Edwards, Collin Murray-Boyles, or Izan Almansa with either the Pacers or Pistons pick and if we want to develop a long-term replacement for KO/JP to play alongside them for the next 2-3 seasons, one of Donovan Clingan, Kyle Filipowski, Yves Missi, Kel'el Ware, Ulrich Chomche, Zach Edey, N'Flay Dante, or Oumar Ballo would likely be available somewhere between those same picks.

Assuming we do not convey our pick to the Spurs, we could ideally walk away with three of the following players by the end of the 2024 draft:

Spurs pick:
(BPA) - Alex Sarr | Nikola Topic | Zaccharie Risacher | Cody Williams | Rob Dillingham | Reed Sheppard | Stephon Castle | Matas Buzelis | Ja'Kobe Walter | Ron Holland

Pacers pick:
(G) - Terrence Shannon Jr. | Johnny Furphy | Kyshawn George | Kevin McCullar
(F) - Tidjane Salaun | Dalton Knecht | Tyler Smith
(C) - Kyle Filipowski | Yves Missi | Kel'el Ware | Donovan Clingan | Ulrich Chomche

Pistons pick:
(G) - Tyler Kolek | KJ Simpson | Hunter Sallis | Tyler Alexander | Melvin Anjica
(F) - Baylor Scheierman | Collin Murray-Boyles | Justin Edwards | DaRon Holmes II | Bobi Klintman | Tristan DaSilva | Izan Almansa
(C) - Zach Edey | N'Faly Dante | Oumar Ballo

Potential Depth Charts:

If we keep our 2024 pick and choose a guard...

(G) - Immanuel Quickley | Spurs draft pick - (Nikola Topic | Reed Sheppard | Rob Dillingham | Stephon Castle | Ja'Kobe Walter) | Ochai Agbaji | Bruce Brown
(F) - Scottie Barnes | RJ Barrett | Gradey Dick | Chris Boucher | Pistons draft pick - (Baylor Scheierman | Collin Murray-Boyles | Justin Edwards | DaRon Holmes II | Bobi Klintman | Tristan DaSilva | Izan Almansa) | Jalen McDaniels
(C) - Jakob Poeltl | Kelly Olynyk | Pacers draft pick - (Kyle Filipowski | Yves Missi | Kel'el Ware | Donovan Clingan | Ulrich Chomche)

If we keep our 2024 pick and choose a forward...

(G) - Immanuel Quickley | Ochai Agbaji | Bruce Brown | Pistons pick - (Tyler Kolek | KJ Simpson | Hunter Sallis | Trey Alexander)
(F) - Scottie Barnes | RJ Barrett | Spurs draft pick - (Zaccharie Risacher | Cody Williams | Matas Buzelis | Ron Holland) | Gradey Dick | Chris Boucher | Jalen McDaniels
(C) - Jakob Poeltl | Kelly Olynyk | Pacers draft pick - (Kyle Filipowski | Yves Missi | Kel'el Ware | Donovan Clingan | Ulrich Chomche)

If we keep our 2024 pick and choose Sarr as the BPA...

(G) - Immanuel Quickley | Ochai Agbaji | Bruce Brown | Pistons pick - (Tyler Kolek | KJ Simpson | Hunter Sallis | Trey Alexander)
(F) - Scottie Barnes | RJ Barrett | Gradey Dick | Pacers pick - (Tidjane Salaun | Dalton Knecht | Tyler Smith) | Chris Boucher | Jalen McDaniels
(C) - Jakob Poeltl | Kelly Olynyk | Spurs pick - Alex Sarr

... or we could target a G with the Pacers pick and a F with the Pistons pick to end up with:

(G) - Immanuel Quickley | Ochai Agbaji | Bruce Brown | Pacers draft pick - (Terrence Shannon Jr. | Johnny Furphy | Kyshawn George | Kevin McCullar)
(F) - Scottie Barnes | RJ Barrett | Gradey Dick | Chris Boucher | Pistons draft pick - (Baylor Scheierman | Collin Murray-Boyles | Justin Edwards | DaRon Holmes II | Bobi Klintman | Tristan DaSilva | Izan Almansa)| Jalen McDaniels
(C) - Jakob Poeltl | Kelly Olynyk | Spurs draft pick - Alex Sarr

... or we could target two (2) guards since both Agbaji and Brown can play both G-F positions the same as RJ:

(G) - Immanuel Quickley | Ochai Agbaji | Bruce Brown | Pacers draft pick - (Terrence Shannon Jr. | Johnny Furphy | Kyshawn George | Kevin McCullar) | Pistons pick - (Tyler Kolek | KJ Simpson | Hunter Sallis | Trey Alexander)
(F) - Scottie Barnes | RJ Barrett | Gradey Dick | Chris Boucher | Jalen McDaniels
(C) - Jakob Poeltl | Kelly Olynyk | Spurs draft pick - Alex Sarr

... or we could target two (2) forwards for the same reason:

(G) - Immanuel Quickley | Ochai Agbaji | Bruce Brown | Gradey Dick
(F) - Scottie Barnes | RJ Barrett | Pacers pick - (Tidjane Salaun | Dalton Knecht | Tyler Smith) | Chris Boucher | Pistons draft pick - (Baylor Scheierman | Collin Murray-Boyles | Justin Edwards | DaRon Holmes II | Bobi Klintman | Tristan DaSilva | Izan Almansa) | Jalen McDaniels
(C) - Jakob Poeltl | Kelly Olynyk | Spurs draft pick - Alex Sarr

Of all the above scenarios, those in which we end up with Sarr are probably among the least desirable compared to those in which we end up with a G (Topic | Sheppard | Dillingham | Castle | Walter) or a F (Risacher | Williams | Buzelis | Holland) since we can use the Pacers pick to grab a C (Kyle Filipowski | Yves Missi | Kel'el Ware | Donovan Clingan | Ulrich Chomche) and chose from among Tyler Kolek, KJ Simpson, Hunter Sallis, Tyler Alexander, Melvin Anjica, Baylor Scheierman, DaRon Holmes II, Bobi Klintman, Tristan DaSilva, Collin Murray-Bayles, Justin Edwards, and Izan Almansa with the Pistons pick.

With this trio of picks, we could add any of these combinations of players to what we already have with IQ, RJ, Scottie, Dick, Agbaji, JP, KO, Brown and Boucher:

Ja'Kobe Walter + Yves Missi + Trey Alexander (all younger than 20 years old with length/potential + Walter/Missi are teammates)

(G) - IQ | Brown | Walter | Agbaji | Alexander
(F) - Scottie | RJ | Dick | Boucher
(C) - JP | KO | Missi

Reed Sheppard + Kyle Filipowski + Baylor Scheierman (join Dick + one of JP/KO to form a Celtics-era white-out lineup)

(G) - IQ | Sheppard | Brown | Agbaji
(F) - Scottie | RJ | Dick | Boucher | Scheierman
(C) - JP | KO | Filipowski

Zaccharie Risacher + Tijdane Salaun + Melvin Anjica (Raptors draft the French connection)

(G) - IQ | Brown | Agbaji | Anjica
(F) - Scottie | RJ | Risacher | Dick | Salaun
(C) - JP | KO | Boucher

Stephon Castle + Donovan Clingan + Alex Karaban (Raptors make history drafting three players from the same team)

(G) - IQ | Castle | Brown | Agbaji
(F) - Scottie | RJ | Dick | Boucher | Karaban
(C) - JP | KO | Clingan

Rob Dillingham + Kel'el Ware + Tyler Kolek (Kentucky guard + Indiana big man + Marquette guard)

(G) - IQ | Dillingham | Brown | Agbaji | Kolek
(F) - Scottie | RJ | Dick | Boucher
(C) - JP | KO | Ware

Nikola Topic + Ulrich Chomche + Bobi Klintman (foreign EuroLeague prospect + foreign ABL prospect + foreign NBL prospect)

(G) - IQ | Topic| Brown | Agbaji
(F) - Scottie | RJ | Dick | Klintman
(C) - JP | KO | Chomche

Matas Buzelis or Ron Holland + Tyler Smith + Izan Almansa (Raptors make history drafting three players from the G-league Ignite)

G - IQ | Brown | Dick | Agbaji
F - Scottie | RJ | Buzelis or Holland | Smith | Almansa
C - JP | KO | Boucher

Cody Williams + Kyshawn George + Collin Murray-Boyles (freshman long bois - all 6'7 or taller with length and athleticism)

G - IQ | Brown | George| Agbaji
F - Scottie | RJ | Williams | Dick | Murray-Boyles
C - JP | KO | Boucher

Given those trios and any combination of them, there is a good chance we can come away with three (3) solid prospects in this draft that we can add to the core we already have, allowing them to grow together over the course of the next 2-3 years while we still have them under contract.

If we pick our pick this year, the pick we send in 2025 can be anywhere from 7-30 because if it's one of the top 6 in the 2025 draft, we'll keep it for ourselves again and have to send two (2) second round picks in 2026 as compensation instead.

Given the situation with the pick(s) we need to send to the Spurs, these are the possible scenarios:

Scenario #1: Keep our own pick in 2024 (top 6) + Pacers 2024 pick + Pistons 2024 pick + we miss the play-in tournament next year + we end up with one of the sixth worst records again + keep our own pick in 2025 (top 6) - send two (2) second round picks to the Spurs in the 2026 draft

Scenario #2: Send our own pick in 2024 to the Spurs (7-12) + Pacers 2024 pick + Pistons 2024 pick + we miss the play-in tournament next year + we end up with one of the sixth worst records again + keep our own pick in 2025 (top 6)

Scenario #3: Keep our own pick in 2024 (top 6) + Pacers 2024 pick + Pistons 2024 pick + we make the playoffs next year as one of the top 6 seeds in the Eastern conference - we send our 2025 draft pick to Spurs (21-30)

Scenario #4: Keep our own pick in 2024 (top 6) + Pacers 2024 pick + Pistons 2024 pick + we make the play-in tournament next year - we send our 2025 draft pick to Spurs (13-20)

Scenario #5: Keep our own pick in 2024 (top 6) + Pacers 2024 pick + Pistons 2024 pick + we miss the play-in tournament next year - we send our 2025 draft pick to Spurs (7-12)

Scenario #6: Send our own pick in 2024 to the Spurs (7-12) + Pacers 2024 pick + Pistons 2024 pick + we miss the playoffs and play-in tournament next year + keep our own pick in 2025 (top 12)

Scenario #7: Send our own pick in 2024 to Spurs (7-12) + Pacers 2024 pick + Pistons 2024 pick + we make the play-in tournament next year + keep our own pick in 2025 (13-20)

Scenario #8: Send our own pick in 2024 to Spurs (7-12) + Pacers 2024 pick + Pistons 2024 pick + we make the playoffs next year as one of the top 6 seeds in the Eastern conference + keep our own pick in 2025 (21-30)

Given the options above, why would you want to convey the pick this year instead of next year (2025) when it will likely be in the 13-20 range (assuming the Raptors make enough improvement next year to make the play-in tournament) or in 2026 when it will be two (2) second round picks (assuming the Raptors don't improve and are still one of the six worst teams next year)?

Unless you think scenario #2 is the most likely to occur and we'll be bad enough next year to get a guaranteed top 6 pick in the 2025 draft, how does conveying the pick this year and ending up with one of scenario #6, #7, or #8 going to produce better outcomes for our team than keeping the pick and ending up with one of scenario #1, #3, #4, or #5?

[ItsDanger]

I'd take a long look at Trevon Brazile if he can play PF, he played C at Arkansas. Fallen off mocks, had a disappointing season but they didn't involve him much in the offense. Can knock down the 3, decent athleticism, plus wingspan, can block shots. Maybe injury prone and too many fouls though. Coming off knee surgery maybe he wasn't 100%? Could be a cheap option at the 4 for bench.

[Psubs]

Read on Twitter

Just give Ivisic a guaranteed 3 year deal drafting him #31.

I'm starting to lean with Topic. Maybe he's at least as good as Giddey?

[PhilBlackson]

I’ve been mainly saying Big Z for the Pacers pick (assuming Saluan doesn’t fall) but man when you watch Kel’El Ware’s highlights it’s hard not to feel like what if you get him to build up more consistency (like we’re trying with Scottie)…

But if Kel’El can just be locked in every game he probably has the most star potential of anyone in that range. Even if he doesn’t he should have a Myles Turner like fit which I think everyone wanted (just many didn’t want to give up 2 picks at the time). Kinda ironic to get a big man like Turner from Indiana thanks to Indiana lol. I think Ware has actually shown more offensively and been more of a lob threat than Turner was at the same age buuuut still would obv be great if he even just reached MT’s level. I’d roll the dice on Kel’El at the IND pick (and still take another roll on Yang with the DET one lol like a potentially souped up Serge/Marc 2.0)

[Potential]

Yeah after watching that Kentucky game... just give the pick to the Spurs

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

By the way, we'll find out very soon just how legit Sheppard and Dillingham are, no team with Kentucky's particular balance between offensive and defensive (non) efficiency has ever reached the sweet 16. It would be a historical first. Margin of error is razor thin for UK, their guards need to shoot the **** out of the ball.

^^^^


Another team that would qualify as a historical first to make the sweet 16 given the discrepancy in off/def efficiency balance is Alabama. They will win zero or one game and then be done.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

I've always said that I found Sheppard to be extremely intriguing...but I never jumped fully on the bandwagon. His outcomes are all over the place because he has some elite strengths, but also glaring weaknesses. His archetype is pretty bad: short, mediocre athlete, and not a shot creator. That being said elite shooter, smart player, and elite defensive instincts.

It's pretty obvious by this point what Reed is. The attempted block last night where he was too short to block the shot and hit the dude's arm was the most glaring giveaway that he is just going to be athletically limited at next level. He is a connective piece who will need to play off others as his floor navigation ability is not good and he gets swallowed up by size which will prevent him from being a great facilitator. Not to mention his handle isn't anything to write home about.

Dillingham's defense appears to be just too trash for him to be more than a 6th man in NBA.

Big Z looks borderline undraftable.

That's where I stand.

[dohboy_24]

I'd take a long look at Trevon Brazile if he can play PF, he played C at Arkansas. Fallen off mocks, had a disappointing season but they didn't involve him much in the offense. Can knock down the 3, decent athleticism, plus wingspan, can block shots. Maybe injury prone and too many fouls though. Coming off knee surgery maybe he wasn't 100%? Could be a cheap option at the 4 for bench.

Was projected to be a 2nd round pick before the injury and doesn't look like he's done enough to improve on that projection for this draft after a down year while coming back from his ACL surgery.

With the Pistons pick, there are a lot of players I'd place ahead of Brazile in a BPA list.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

honestly props to antonio reeves for playing well in this game after the massive chokejob that screwed his team against KSU last year. he has earned my respect and could have an end of bench shooting specialist role in NBA if things go well.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

creighton was seriously impressive today, once they got into a rhythm they looked insanely dominant

they have a hard path to champ game but they have some very serious players with tons of experience and this is their last dance. great coach, disciplined team that outsmarts you and outplays you, four guys in starting lineup who are excellent 3 point shooters... if they end up meeting purdue they will be way more battle tested by having played tennessee and if they meet a houston they will have been way more battle tested by beating tenn and purdue.

creighton are legit heavyweights this year and being overlooked i feel due to their more difficult path to get to champ game but maybe just maybe they're good enough to get there despite the difficulty because they are badasses who play an awesome brand of basketball