2024 Draft Prospects

[Chapelchilla]

I will try an early rank -

Should be at least good but I doubt they will be truely great-

1. Sarr - seems to have elite quickness to size ratio and some pro seasoning
2. Rissacher - also long and speedy for his position with decently pro-proven skill set
3. Topic - if not hurt he can run a pro team competently

Could be good to great but currently have obvious flaws -

4. Edey - huge and has offensive skills but slower
5. Castle - good size for his spot, wins, good attitude but poor shooting so far
6. Sheppard - exceptional shooter, quick hands, knows how to play but not tall or super fast on D

probable solid to Good Pro but unlikely to be have a shot at more then that -

7. Clingan - solid center skillset and size but injury/shooting concerns
8. Knecht - top scorer with moxie but older and maybe defensively lacking

Probably can be good but could be unexceptional -

9. Buzelus - decent all around but what is he elite at?
10. Holland - good pro body but is he going to be a good player?
11. Dillingham - quick scorer but will always be tiny

I think we can get a good player out of this draft but they will have to do some serious digging to find the right guy left when we pick.

[luciano-davidwesley]

NSJ doesn't play defense and can't pass. Like I said earlier, Reed has a much more well-rounded game than our other combo guards.

And his size isn't abnormal.

Reed was 6' 1.75' without shoes, I'm rounding that to 6'3 with shoes. He had a 6'3 wingspan.

Trae Mann is 6'4 in shoes with a 6'4 wingspan.
Davion Mitchell is 6'1 in shoes with a 6'4 wingspan.
Coby White is 6'4 with a 6'5 wingspan
Jalen Brunson is 6'2 with a 6'4 wingspan
Tyus Jones is 6'2 with a 6'5 wingspan

So he's slightly bigger than Jalen Brunson and slightly smaller than Trae Mann. He's about an average sized PG.

If he can be a Davion Mitchell that can also shoot and pass instead of just defend, then he'll be a very useful player.

Tre Mann 6-3.25 without shoes and 6-4 wingspan.
Coby White 6-3.5 without shoes and 6-5 wingspan

Not massively bigger, but both are bigger.

But Reed has also proven to be a MUCH better shooter than both of those guys at the same stage of their careers with clearly superior rebound, steal and block rates to boot. Sheppard plays bigger than his measurements. He'd be a fantastic option as a backup PG in his rookie year with the chance of becoming something much better than that down the track.

So we might not draft him for that reason as we have options there already with Mann and Micic. Though I rarely if ever even consider fit when drafting, particularly with lottery picks. Draft BPA and trade for fit is my motto.

Castle just gives me waay too many Okoro vibes but I do appreciate he possesses good secondary playmaking ability and vision - the shooting really scares me though and his shooting and landing footwork base on his jumpshot is awful. He needs to blow that up and start from scratch.

I'd be ecstatic with any of Sarr, Topic, Holland, Sheppard.

I'd be intrigued but not as excited with the likes of Risacher, Castle, Edey and Clingan, possibly Cody Williams too.

I am wary of Knecht, Buzelis, Dillingham, Walter and possibly Cody Williams.

I'm just wondering if Cody Williams is being underated due to his injury ruining his last month or so of games or if he just isn't it.

[amcoolio]

Tidjane Salaun has entered the chat
This is the french playoffs, he is playing his ass off and hitting deep shots
Needs work on ball handling, but is athletically gifted and skilled

Read on Twitter

[Diop]

if we're going to draft a french dude, we gotta let Bravor make the pick

[bravor]

Ty but i already said i have been wrong with Gobert and i am not necessary right on my takes (wrong on Doumbouya as well, but it was a player's maturity & toxic environnement in this case). But let's say we have higher expectations with next draft prospects (25, 26 and 27, between Traore x2, Soliman - who is basically the wing version of Victor at this point - , Yimga-Monkouri and couple more).

As for this year's prospects, all have flaws. One of the bright spot is that they are hard workers. I already said what i thought about them.
Salaun had a good game for the first match up against a (normally) tough Paris team. But he's been very up and down all season, we will see if he can be consistent. I am still dubious about his defense, i already said. 2nd game will be a home game (home advantage is huge in Europe as you know), we will see how Paris reacts.
Also curious to see how Salaun performs when he's out of his comfort zone.

Risacher had a solid game too in his game against Nanterre yesterday (14 pts, 2/5 3 pts, 6 rbds, 1 as, 1 bk, 2 to though in 23 mn played). He only had one free free to shoot yesterday though (i assume this is something concerning to some extent for some). He should be more consistent and impactful overall no matter what. He can impact the game much more than from scoring

And, again, i hope you dont get any frenchie this year for your own sanity (lol..). None are sure things to me this year. Some will succeed most likely, but i have a hard time being confident for any of them besides Risacher (and mostly because i have his dad body archetype in mind, his dad was a solid wing EL player back in the days).

[Snidely FC]

If it's true that SA are interested in Salaun at 8 that could be significant because presumably it would necessitate Spurs taking their PG of choice (Topic Sheppard or Dillingham) at 4

While all NBA eyes were on the combine in Chicago, an notable development was happening in Paris, France, where Tidjane Salaun had a career-best performance in the most important game he has played to this point in the season. With 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal later, the gym was buzzing about Salaun's highlight-laden performance, which included deep 3s, monster dunks, important offensive rebounds, clutch late plays and incredible energy and activity level to help his Cholet team win Game 1 of the French league playoffs against No. 2 seed Paris. One of the best teams in European basketball, Paris is fresh off winning a EuroCup championship and was in the midst of a 25-game winning streak.

Digging into the film, Paris' strategy of not guarding Salaun at all on the perimeter backfired, as the 6-11 teenager stepped into NBA range 3-pointers confidently, broke free off cuts for above-the-rim finishes, and used his tremendous physical tools to crash the paint and secured multiple extra possessions for his team.

After talking with numerous NBA teams about Salaun this week, it seems he's much closer to being a top-10 pick than the late lottery candidate he is currently ranked in the ESPN Top 100 at No. 10. Several teams are flagging the San Antonio Spurs at No. 8 as a real landing potential spot for Salaun. The French connections with Victor Wembanyama are obvious, as the two share an agent and know each other dating back to 2017 when their sisters played together at the FIBA U-16 European Championship.

Salaun clearly didn't hurt his draft stock, and a big contingent of NBA executives is now en route to France to take in the rest of the LNB quarterfinals, where both him and potential No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher are competing against Parisian-based teams, making for one-stop scouting shopping for lottery teams. -- Givony

[Snidely FC]

ESPN+ Givony and Woo confirming this draft is flat

Givony: It's clear many NBA teams are still in the early stages of their decision-making process. Most teams and executives say they have considerable work in front of them -- watching player film, conducting private workouts and interviews and a thorough examination of medical records and background intel. Usually by this stage, the draft is decently clear, but due to the lack of star power at the top and how flat the talent level is outside the lottery, things seem wide-open. Expect considerable movement on our upcoming mocks and big boards, and all the way up to draft night as we piece together how things are evolving.

Woo: This draft is just as challenging to figure out as it was two days ago before the start of the combine. Players always stand out here, but if you ask 10 different scouts who the best prospect out of scrimmages is there might be 10 different answers. For me, this week reaffirmed this is very much an eye-of-the-beholder draft class. And based on conversations with teams, there will be a lot of drafting for best fit, which means less adhering to consensus -- and most likely, some surprises on draft night.

[Snidely FC]

ESPN+ Notes: Who Stood Out At Wednesday Combine Scrimmages

AJ Johnson, PG/SG, Illawarra Hawks (NBL): This was a positive two-day stretch for Johnson, who had a significant platform at his disposal running the point full time for Team St. Andrews. Johnson, 19, dished out 10 assists in 48 minutes, showing some real vision and pace finding teammates driving and passing over the top out of pick-and-roll. He had several highlight-reel finishes showing his fluidity and explosiveness, hit a deep 3 and looked much improved defensively relative to where he was a year ago prior to signing in Australia, showing that his apprentice season playing limited minutes in the NBL wasn't for naught. NBA teams are intrigued by the long-term upside the 6-foot-5 1/2 teenage guard possesses, who has moved himself firmly into the guaranteed contract conversation with his play in Chicago this week. -- Givony

Nikola Djurisic, SG/SF, Mega MIS: Djurisic, ESPN's No. 53-ranked prospect, had a quiet first day, scoring 4 points in 11 minutes, but in the final scrimmage scored 16 points in 21 minutes -- giving teams a stronger viewing of his offensive versatility.

He made a pair of 3s off movement, several above the rim finishes running the floor and attacking closeouts and showed his passing vision with creative and unselfish play.

After two up and down seasons on a Mega MIS team, it was important for Djurisic to show he can hold his own against his American peers. NBA teams still have some questions about his feel for the game, shooting consistency and general streakiness, but big wings in Djurisic's mold who have size, skills, shot-making versatility and passing aren't easy to come by, making him a viable prospect to draft in the second round. -- Givony

Alex Karaban, SF/PF, UConn: After a quiet first game, Karaban had a much more active day Wednesday, with a number of good moments and solid defensive play to help remind teams why he's been important and successful at UConn. His game is predicated more on cutting and spacing for teammates -- not always obvious in a scrimmage setting -- but Karaban was decisive about his touches (12 points on five shots) and moved his feet on the perimeter, boxed out and showcased his excellent basketball IQ. His decision to turn pro or return to UConn hinges on how good he feels about his potential landing spots. -- Jeremy Woo

[MasterIchiro]

And based on conversations with teams, there will be a lot of drafting for best fit,

This is what I'm gathering from all the draft coverage. Best player available fits your team best, despite rival scouts challenges that other options are more talented. If the talent doesn't fit your team, the player may not fully develop/optimize that talent.

Surround Castle with elite spacing (LaMelo/Miller) and his creation off the dribble for his own shots and for others will flourish. He will have all the time in the world to relax and calmly get off a good shot. Defenses will have no choice but to cheat him, mindful of LaMelo and Miller. Those two spacers can hit from so deep, and both command double teams. Castle is already good at attacking the rim. He will quickly start to spot open lanes to the basket given all the space. He's going to make the right read/play with that space and the game will slow down quicker.

Defensively, Hornets need to add another defender like Grant Williams, Cody Martin and Mark Williams. If Castle makes a mistake as POA defender, Mark Williams is an eraser. We have the luxury of backing our perimeter defense with an elite prospect who has elite length and shot blocking ability.

In summary, Castle can connect/glue the offense while establishing himself as a formidable bedrock of the defense with Mark Williams.

With Castle, Hornets will increase quality possessions on both ends.

[MasterIchiro]

In line with the theme of teams drafting for fit...

1 - Hawks - Sarr: With Capela on the outs (expiring deal) and Okongwu graded as a bench big, Atlanta should look to remodel their frontcourt.

2 - Wizards - Topic: With Tyus Jones departing as a free agent, Washington should select the best pure point guard who can get the ball to all the high lottery prospects they will be drafting during their rebuild in the coming years. Best fit is the class's top playmaker. Topic will make everyone around him better with brilliant court vision, professional poise and high IQ.

3 - Rockets - Clingan: Houston hunted rim protection at the deadline because Sengun does not excel at it, despite his significant value on offense. The Rockets should remodel their defense with their pick. Clingan is compatible next to Jabari Smith spacing with shooting range or beside Sengün spacing with clever passes. Donovan is a perfect fit for this young frontcourt. Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason round out the wing prospects. FVV is locked on a massive contract, and there's no floor general here worth selecting with Topic off the board.

4 - Spurs - Sheppard/Dillingham. Size matters, but Wemby brings it anchoring the defense. Spurs can go all in on scoring here. Flip a coin between the Kentucky guards, as both will impact scoring despite size issues. Both can run some offense and develop has primary or secondary handlers.

5 - Pistons - Buzelis - Pistons have a hole at the 4 and need spacing next to Duren. All other positions are covered with high lottery prospects (Cade, Ivey, Ausar). Buzelis has the length to space at the 4.

6 - Hornets - Castle - Hornets need a culture reset on defense more than anything. Bringing in Grant Williams initiated the process. He's become captain on that end. The return of Mark Williams to health may accelerate the transformation. Castle has excellent size for the 2 and the ability to guard 1-3 as POA defender.

[JMAC3]

But Reed has also proven to be a MUCH better shooter than both of those guys at the same stage of their careers with clearly superior rebound, steal and block rates to boot. Sheppard plays bigger than his measurements. He'd be a fantastic option as a backup PG in his rookie year with the chance of becoming something much better than that down the track.

So we might not draft him for that reason as we have options there already with Mann and Micic. Though I rarely if ever even consider fit when drafting, particularly with lottery picks. Draft BPA and trade for fit is my motto.

Castle just gives me waay too many Okoro vibes but I do appreciate he possesses good secondary playmaking ability and vision - the shooting really scares me though and his shooting and landing footwork base on his jumpshot is awful. He needs to blow that up and start from scratch.

I'd be ecstatic with any of Sarr, Topic, Holland, Sheppard.

I'd be intrigued but not as excited with the likes of Risacher, Castle, Edey and Clingan, possibly Cody Williams too.

I am wary of Knecht, Buzelis, Dillingham, Walter and possibly Cody Williams.

I'm just wondering if Cody Williams is being underated due to his injury ruining his last month or so of games or if he just isn't it.

Defense is much more than steal and block rates. Reed isn't a very good actual defender in terms of staying in front of his guy. Coach Cal called him out several times through out the year publicly. It was a big reason he didn't start and sometimes played limited mins despite shooting 52% from 3.

Kentucky defense was awful mainly due to Sheppard and Dillingham being so bad on defense.

[Rich4114]

But Reed has also proven to be a MUCH better shooter than both of those guys at the same stage of their careers with clearly superior rebound, steal and block rates to boot. Sheppard plays bigger than his measurements. He'd be a fantastic option as a backup PG in his rookie year with the chance of becoming something much better than that down the track.

So we might not draft him for that reason as we have options there already with Mann and Micic. Though I rarely if ever even consider fit when drafting, particularly with lottery picks. Draft BPA and trade for fit is my motto.

Castle just gives me waay too many Okoro vibes but I do appreciate he possesses good secondary playmaking ability and vision - the shooting really scares me though and his shooting and landing footwork base on his jumpshot is awful. He needs to blow that up and start from scratch.

I'd be ecstatic with any of Sarr, Topic, Holland, Sheppard.

I'd be intrigued but not as excited with the likes of Risacher, Castle, Edey and Clingan, possibly Cody Williams too.

I am wary of Knecht, Buzelis, Dillingham, Walter and possibly Cody Williams.

I'm just wondering if Cody Williams is being underated due to his injury ruining his last month or so of games or if he just isn't it.

Defense is much more than steal and block rates. Reed isn't a very good actual defender in terms of staying in front of his guy. Coach Cal called him out several times through out the year publicly. It was a big reason he didn't start and sometimes played limited mins despite shooting 52% from 3.

Kentucky defense was awful mainly due to Sheppard and Dillingham being so bad on defense.

Feels like a risky choice for a Hornets team that has been bad defensively in the backcourt for 100 years

[EmpireFalls]

Draft visits will be very interesting. All the reading I’ve been doing suggests that teams are taking this slower than most years and the visits, workouts, and interviews will be crucial.

[amcoolio]

And based on conversations with teams, there will be a lot of drafting for best fit,

This is what I'm gathering from all the draft coverage. Best player available fits your team best, despite rival scouts challenges that other options are more talented. If the talent doesn't fit your team, the player may not fully develop/optimize that talent.

Surround Castle with elite spacing (LaMelo/Miller) and his creation off the dribble for his own shots and for others will flourish. He will have all the time in the world to relax and calmly get off a good shot. Defenses will have no choice but to cheat him, mindful of LaMelo and Miller. Those two spacers can hit from so deep, and both command double teams. Castle is already good at attacking the rim. He will quickly start to spot open lanes to the basket given all the space. He's going to make the right read/play with that space and the game will slow down quicker.

Defensively, Hornets need to add another defender like Grant Williams, Cody Martin and Mark Williams. If Castle makes a mistake as POA defender, Mark Williams is an eraser. We have the luxury of backing our perimeter defense with an elite prospect who has elite length and shot blocking ability.

In summary, Castle can connect/glue the offense while establishing himself as a formidable bedrock of the defense with Mark Williams.

With Castle, Hornets will increase quality possessions on both ends.

So, who do you like in the draft?

[JDR720]

Castle openly says he wants to be a PG and he's a bad shooter. That isn't exactly screaming "good fit" with this team.

[KembaWalker]

Castle openly says he wants to be a PG and he's a bad shooter. That isn't exactly screaming "good fit" with this team.

Didn’t seem to bother anyone here when it was Scoot Henderson

[JDR720]

Castle openly says he wants to be a PG and he's a bad shooter. That isn't exactly screaming "good fit" with this team.

Didn’t seem to bother anyone here when it was Scoot Henderson

Scoot was viewed as a higher potential prospect and was an actual PG. Castle is a non-shooting SG that wants to be a PG.

But on the reverse of that, it is interesting that certain people who were anti-Scoot now suddenly want Castle.

[KembaWalker]

Castle openly says he wants to be a PG and he's a bad shooter. That isn't exactly screaming "good fit" with this team.

Didn’t seem to bother anyone here when it was Scoot Henderson

Scoot was viewed as a higher potential prospect and was an actual PG. Castle is a non-shooting SG that wants to be a PG.

But on the reverse of that, it is interesting that certain people who were anti-Scoot now suddenly want Castle.

He just needs to start saying he got the dog in em and everyone will be on board

But the big thing is that Castle isn’t a midget

[JustBuzzin]

Castle openly says he wants to be a PG and he's a bad shooter. That isn't exactly screaming "good fit" with this team.

Didn’t seem to bother anyone here when it was Scoot Henderson

Scoot was viewed as a higher potential prospect and was an actual PG. Castle is a non-shooting SG that wants to be a PG.

But on the reverse of that, it is interesting that certain people who were anti-Scoot now suddenly want Castle.

That's because we view Castle as a SG who can play PG.

Also Castle is known for his on ball defense. Comparing him to Scoot makes no sense because they are nothing alike besides having questionable jumpshots.

Castle is more of a high end role player who will be the glue piece to the offense. I think his defense is what makes people think he can be a good fit on between Melo/Miller. Scoot needs the ball to be effective. Castle on the other hand doesn't need the ball. He fit in well at UConn because of his unselfishness and his desire to play defense. That's a winning player we need to help change the culture.

If Melo goes down with injury then great we have a guy who can play that backup PG role if need be. Castle brings versatility something Scoot wasn't gonna bring.

Castle can play with Melo. Scoot couldn't play with Melo. That's the difference at least imo.

[amcoolio]

Scoot, even after his rookie season, would still go #1 in this draft if it were allowed, this draft is that bad. He looked much better the last month despite being in a terrible situation and he has a defined role, and his form on his shot is much better than Castle's.

I would take both Thompson twins over Castle as well, because of superior size and athleticism. Again, Castle will only play if he figures out that shot. He can't be afraid to take them. His form looked much improved during the combine