2024 NBA DRAFT THREAD 2

[Psubs]

they will have their shot with the pacers pick

https://www.swishappeal.com/2009/04/why-we-will-never-know-as-much-as-we.html

There might well be a Redd in this draft, but the only possible indication that he could go from a prospect whose biggest red flag was his jumper to a great shooter was that he went from low 60s from the FT line as a Frosh and Sophomore to 77% as a junior. If you bet on 100 guys who show that kind of improvement from the line to have it translate to the degree Redd did as a 3pt shooter, I don't think you're looking at more than 2-3 guys. He's an extreme example.

I think our best chance at getting a 2nd star to go with Barnes will be in the apparently much deeper 2025 draft.

Which players in the 7-14 range in 2025 would you guys take over the 1-6 range in 2024?

I wanna look up these prospects and do a comparison.

It really isn't that much of a difference. Everyone just likes Cooper Flagg as a clear cut #1 compared to this year. It's 2026 where you might end up a few interesting prospects & we'll have Indy's pick that yr if I'm not mistaken.
2025 does look to be a deep draft tho.

Flagg may not be #1... Ace Bailey and Khaman Maluach might challenge for #1.

With Flagg and Maluach, Duke should at least make the Final 4 if not win it all next year.

Watch on YouTube

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

Flagg at seven next year would be funny.

[aminiaturebuddha]

Which players in the 7-14 range in 2025 would you guys take over the 1-6 range in 2024?

I wanna look up these prospects and do a comparison.

I'm no expert, but it seems like this draft is short somewhere between a top 3-4 guys and next year's has an extra 2-3, so my guess is a pick around #11/12 next year and a pick around #6 this year are equal.

My preference is we pick a project (lots of them around at #6, I can't speak with regards to the non-NCAA guys, but from what I've seen Cody Williams, Walter and Dillingham should all be solidly negative players as rookies (maybe Walter can be an okay backup 2 but the others I can't imagine it, even though Williams' potential to be quite good down the line is obvious), give him too much playing time and lose 60 times next year.

If the Raps lose 60 times next year, then the problem is that Scottie isn't worth being a core guy to build around anyway, especially if he's got what should be solid starters in Quickley, Barrett, and Poeltl surrounding him.

What the team really needs is lottery luck, either this year (I think top 3 would be useful) or, if the pick is transferred, then next year. But the same can be said for every rebuilding team. Just ask the Pistons, who have been bad for a while but haven't had lottery luck, as compared to the Spurs who cashed in on their 14% chance lottery ticket in the most important draft in a generation.

Some stuff you just can't plan for, but you can keep adding solid players and hope that eventually luck turns your way, and then take advantage of opportunities when they arise (as the Raps did when they made the Kawhi trade, or the Lakers did when Davis wanted out of NO).

[DreamTeam09]

Which players in the 7-14 range in 2025 would you guys take over the 1-6 range in 2024?

I wanna look up these prospects and do a comparison.

It really isn't that much of a difference. Everyone just likes Cooper Flagg as a clear cut #1 compared to this year. It's 2026 where you might end up a few interesting prospects & we'll have Indy's pick that yr if I'm not mistaken.
2025 does look to be a deep draft tho.

Flagg may not be #1... Ace Bailey and Khaman Maluach might challenge for #1.

With Flagg and Maluach, Duke should at least make the Final 4 if not win it all next year.

Watch on YouTube

One n done led teams never make it far. Not enough experience to make up for whatever skill advantage may be present

And what link do you copy that allows you to post YouTube clips here. It never works when I do it

[blastttOFF]

Are we getting a wnba team or what.

I want to draft juju in 3 years

[Psubs]

It really isn't that much of a difference. Everyone just likes Cooper Flagg as a clear cut #1 compared to this year. It's 2026 where you might end up a few interesting prospects & we'll have Indy's pick that yr if I'm not mistaken.
2025 does look to be a deep draft tho.

Flagg may not be #1... Ace Bailey and Khaman Maluach might challenge for #1.

With Flagg and Maluach, Duke should at least make the Final 4 if not win it all next year.

Watch on YouTube

One n done led teams never make it far. Not enough experience to make up for whatever skill advantage may be present

And what link do you copy that allows you to post YouTube clips here. It never works when I do it

I guess make sure no start time not from the beginning?

[BoyzNTheHood]

It really isn't that much of a difference. Everyone just likes Cooper Flagg as a clear cut #1 compared to this year. It's 2026 where you might end up a few interesting prospects & we'll have Indy's pick that yr if I'm not mistaken.
2025 does look to be a deep draft tho.

Flagg may not be #1... Ace Bailey and Khaman Maluach might challenge for #1.

With Flagg and Maluach, Duke should at least make the Final 4 if not win it all next year.

Watch on YouTube

One n done led teams never make it far. Not enough experience to make up for whatever skill advantage may be present

And what link do you copy that allows you to post YouTube clips here. It never works when I do it

[ youtube ] video link [ / youtube ]

but no spaces when you actually do it

[Yallbecrazy]

It really isn't that much of a difference. Everyone just likes Cooper Flagg as a clear cut #1 compared to this year. It's 2026 where you might end up a few interesting prospects & we'll have Indy's pick that yr if I'm not mistaken.
2025 does look to be a deep draft tho.

Flagg may not be #1... Ace Bailey and Khaman Maluach might challenge for #1.

With Flagg and Maluach, Duke should at least make the Final 4 if not win it all next year.

Watch on YouTube

One n done led teams never make it far. Not enough experience to make up for whatever skill advantage may be present

And what link do you copy that allows you to post YouTube clips here. It never works when I do it

That AD, Kidd Gilchrist Kentucky team in 2012 was pretty damn good.

[CazOnReal]

Putting aside the 2025 draft class' top prospects strengths/weaknesses, I really don't think it'll be hard to get a 2025 first to draft a guy the scouting department is high on given the team's asset pool i.e. they could very easily trade out of this draft via the Pacers 1st or even our own if we keep it to acquire a 2025 1st, or they could pair Bruce and one of Boucher/McDaniels to take on bad money and a pick (Cavs or Wolves 2025 pick + John Collins?). What those protections look like and what team it'd come from is another matter entirely.

As an aside but i'm really tired of seeing Yves Missi mocked to us with the Pacers pick. I don't dislike him as a prospect but he's probably the least interesting of the center prospects in the draft. He's..fine? He'll probably be fine as a backup or a starter in a pinch sort of rim running big?

[sofargone]

kind of annoying to navigate but heres some synergy stats for draft guys, topic looks like an elite finisher at the rim
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ukthsv4UfogWmg_Kh3L3sJYmOgaGzYOP/view?pli=1

[Jstock12]

Flagg may not be #1... Ace Bailey and Khaman Maluach might challenge for #1.

With Flagg and Maluach, Duke should at least make the Final 4 if not win it all next year.

Watch on YouTube

One n done led teams never make it far. Not enough experience to make up for whatever skill advantage may be present

And what link do you copy that allows you to post YouTube clips here. It never works when I do it

That AD, Kidd Gilchrist Kentucky team in 2012 was pretty damn good.

Now that's a name I haven't heard in a while.

[Thaddy]

kind of annoying to navigate but heres some synergy stats for draft guys, topic looks like an elite finisher at the rim
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ukthsv4UfogWmg_Kh3L3sJYmOgaGzYOP/view?pli=1

He isn't facing NBA level defenders. I doubt that ability works in the NBA. He isn't an athletic freak and he can't shoot. I'm surprised he's ranked so high.

[Jstock12]

kind of annoying to navigate but heres some synergy stats for draft guys, topic looks like an elite finisher at the rim
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ukthsv4UfogWmg_Kh3L3sJYmOgaGzYOP/view?pli=1

He isn't facing NBA level defenders. I doubt that ability works in the NBA. He isn't an athletic freak and he can't shoot. I'm surprised he's ranked so high.

Even if they're not NBA level defenders, it's still better than nothing. Someone like Ricky Rubio prior to the draft wasn't a good finisher even against the non-NBA level defenders. At least Topic has something to build on.

[ArthurVandelay]

which is why they need to convey this years pick.

a lot of fans are being extremely short sighted and not looking at the big picture.

sure you get a shiny new toy this year that will fall apart in a week, or you let the spurs have the new toy, where as you save up for a new nintendo next year.

I think they can easily be terrible next year. Raptors have a record of 2-22 without Poeltl…and that includes 2-9 with Barnes.

Washington will be naturally awful. Portland will intentionally be awful but they have the talent to win 30 games if they play it.

After that you have Detroit and Charlotte who, speaking of copy cat league, have been awful for a longtime and just watched how Houston rose from the bottom of the league.

San Antonio is done trying to be awful.

Sign Scottie to his max extension this summer and then do what they’ve done the last few years: have no real depth. Play a bench full of projects and rookies with Darko coaching to develop.

Edit: Brooklyn has no motive to be bad but looking like they will. They are idiots for not taking the rumoured Bridges godfather offer from Houston, assuming it was as reported (Green and own picks back).

The East though looks so bad, it could be hard to bottom out again, barring major injuries. Scottie’s injury was a fluke this year.

Bulls could lose DD this offseason. Sixers lose Embiid to injury and they are horrible. Hawks are trending the wrong way. The Magic are the 5th seed this year!

All valid points.

The Raptors are 2-22 without Poeltl including 2-9 with Barnes but no Poeltl.

When we are discussing awful east teams, the Raptors need to be near the top of the list.

[ArthurVandelay]

Which players in the 7-14 range in 2025 would you guys take over the 1-6 range in 2024?

I wanna look up these prospects and do a comparison.

I'm no expert, but it seems like this draft is short somewhere between a top 3-4 guys and next year's has an extra 2-3, so my guess is a pick around #11/12 next year and a pick around #6 this year are equal.

My preference is we pick a project (lots of them around at #6, I can't speak with regards to the non-NCAA guys, but from what I've seen Cody Williams, Walter and Dillingham should all be solidly negative players as rookies (maybe Walter can be an okay backup 2 but the others I can't imagine it, even though Williams' potential to be quite good down the line is obvious), give him too much playing time and lose 60 times next year.

If the Raps lose 60 times next year, then the problem is that Scottie isn't worth being a core guy to build around anyway, especially if he's got what should be solid starters in Quickley, Barrett, and Poeltl surrounding him.

What the team really needs is lottery luck, either this year (I think top 3 would be useful) or, if the pick is transferred, then next year. But the same can be said for every rebuilding team. Just ask the Pistons, who have been bad for a while but haven't had lottery luck, as compared to the Spurs who cashed in on their 14% chance lottery ticket in the most important draft in a generation.

Some stuff you just can't plan for, but you can keep adding solid players and hope that eventually luck turns your way, and then take advantage of opportunities when they arise (as the Raps did when they made the Kawhi trade, or the Lakers did when Davis wanted out of NO).

60 losses with KO as your starting C with no depth/bench of projects and rookies wouldn’t be an indictment on the ability to build around Barnes.

[ArthurVandelay]

kind of annoying to navigate but heres some synergy stats for draft guys, topic looks like an elite finisher at the rim
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ukthsv4UfogWmg_Kh3L3sJYmOgaGzYOP/view?pli=1

He isn't facing NBA level defenders. I doubt that ability works in the NBA. He isn't an athletic freak and he can't shoot. I'm surprised he's ranked so high.

I’m not comparing Topic to Doncic, but this is deja vu as the same arguments were said about Luka.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/luka-doncic-1.html

[billy_hoyle]

kind of annoying to navigate but heres some synergy stats for draft guys, topic looks like an elite finisher at the rim
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ukthsv4UfogWmg_Kh3L3sJYmOgaGzYOP/view?pli=1

He isn't facing NBA level defenders. I doubt that ability works in the NBA. He isn't an athletic freak and he can't shoot. I'm surprised he's ranked so high.

Elite finishing is a touch/feel thing. Being able to adjust and have different angles to hit shots around the rim at different speeds. At elite levels that can translate no matter the athletic ability of the player. Think Goran Dragic or Manu in their prime. Not saying that's Topic, but those are the compa he's getting, and a reason he's rated so highly by some.

[ArthurVandelay]

One sliver of positivity on this draft:

This draft is deep with quality role players who could carve out long careers on successful teams. But it’s lacking a clear-cut top prospect.

https://www.theringer.com/college-basketball/2024/4/1/24117783/ncaa-tournament-nba-draft-final-four-preview

[TGM]

I know people prefer athletic black prospects, thinking they have more upside, but Reed Sheppard is the real deal. If he is there at 6 you got to take him. Dalton Knecht is the other white man Desmond Bane.

[Mark_83]

One sliver of positivity on this draft:

This draft is deep with quality role players who could carve out long careers on successful teams. But it’s lacking a clear-cut top prospect.

https://www.theringer.com/college-basketball/2024/4/1/24117783/ncaa-tournament-nba-draft-final-four-preview

3. Alabama’s Mark Sears is a Jalen Brunson clone.

As a left-handed, 6-foot-1, 185-pound point guard, Mark Sears looks like Jalen Brunson, moves like Jalen Brunson, and plays like Jalen Brunson. Brunson is about an inch taller and was about 10 pounds heavier when he was drafted in 2018, but their games are extremely similar.

Watch any highlight, and it’s easy to see the similarities. Much like Brunson, Sears is a deadeye shooter from 3 both off movement and off the dribble, while he also showcases hard-nosed at-rim finishing skills. He uses crafty moves to create space for his own shot or deliver the ball to his teammates. Brunson was a bit more deceptive when operating from midrange at Villanova, but Sears is asked to play a different style since Alabama emphasizes layups and 3s while ignoring the midrange. Sears had shown more shiftiness at his prior school, Ohio, before his transfer in 2022.

As my Mismatch cohost Chris Vernon said last week, “You’ve gotta think to yourself, Brunson’s immense success helps [Sears].” I think so, too. Sears will skyrocket into the middle of the first round in my next Big Board update, and he might end up even higher if he aces his big test against UConn this weekend. Sears will need to get by Castle and Newton and score over Clingan.

It’ll be a monumental challenge that’ll propel him up draft boards if he succeeds. But it’ll be understandable if he falls short or even struggles, considering he’s one of the only sources of creation for Alabama. I still love his overall game aside from scoring. He can pass. He competes on defense. He’s a leader. And yes, it helps that we’ve seen a player a lot like him blossom into a star.

Returning to my previous post. Player A is Brunson in his draft year. Player B is Sears. Not going to say he's a star in waiting, but he's being slept on not even being ranked to go in the second round of most mocks (hence, my FVV comps).

Player A, Junior PG, Big East
(Draft Age: 22 years 2 months)
(Per 40) 23.8pts 3.8reb 5.8ast 1.2stl
52.1/40.8/80.2

Player B, Senior PG, SEC
(Draft Age: 22 years 1 month)
(Per 40) 25.7pts 5reb 4.9ast 2stl
50.4/43.4/85.9