2024 NBA Draft Thread

HadAnEffectHere · Post #2401 » by **HadAnEffectHere** » Thu May 30, 2024 6:28 pm

JMAC3 wrote:
HadAnEffectHere wrote:Is someone ever going to perform the mental gymnastics to present the argument that Salaun is actually athletic when he averages 0.2 BPG.

When he's constantly in the paint trying for blocks...

Like, he's not very athletic actually.

I mean you can just watch him play basketball at 6-9 and tell he is athletic. Blake Griffin averaged 0.5 bpg pretty much his entire career, was he not athletic? Per 36 Salaun is at 0.4 bpg.

Again these kids are 18 yrs old, expecting them to be tapped out on being able to get bigger, faster and stronger is nuts.

Griffin had short arms and wasn't focused on defense. Salaun has long arms and is constantly gambling for blocks and steals and just fails every time to get blocks.

Griffin also, uhhh, did not shoot 40% on layups.

JMAC3 · Post #2402 » by **JMAC3** » Thu May 30, 2024 6:38 pm

HadAnEffectHere wrote:
JMAC3 wrote:
HadAnEffectHere wrote:Is someone ever going to perform the mental gymnastics to present the argument that Salaun is actually athletic when he averages 0.2 BPG.

When he's constantly in the paint trying for blocks...

Like, he's not very athletic actually.

I mean you can just watch him play basketball at 6-9 and tell he is athletic. Blake Griffin averaged 0.5 bpg pretty much his entire career, was he not athletic? Per 36 Salaun is at 0.4 bpg.

Again these kids are 18 yrs old, expecting them to be tapped out on being able to get bigger, faster and stronger is nuts.

Griffin had short arms and wasn't focused on defense. Salaun has long arms and is constantly gambling for blocks and steals and just fails every time to get blocks.

Griffin also, uhhh, did not shoot 40% on layups.

No idea where you are getting 40% lol, numbers look just fine around the rim to me.

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coutournant · Post #2403 » by **coutournant** » Thu May 30, 2024 9:45 pm

HadAnEffectHere wrote:Is someone ever going to perform the mental gymnastics to present the argument that Salaun is actually athletic when he averages 0.2 BPG.

When he's constantly in the paint trying for blocks...

Like, he's not very athletic actually.

What you say is just bull... Salaun is obviously very athletic, have you ever see him play ? blocks don't tell everything about athleticism.

And Salaun trying for blocks ? absolutely not... he's just a former guard who had a late growth spurt, blocking shot is not the way he defends. He lacks timing and instinct that's why he doesn't try to block shots.
He is one of the best defenders in France, despite being raw in this area.

Don't talk about players you never watched

Chuck Everett · Post #2404 » by **Chuck Everett** » Fri May 31, 2024 12:07 am

Wow, even Tyon Grant-Foster is coming back. He's 24 years old. These guys are taking guaranteed NIL versus trying to fight their way onto a roster. I get it, but I also kinda don't. Bird in the hand beats two in the bush.

HadAnEffectHere · Post #2405 » by **HadAnEffectHere** » Fri May 31, 2024 1:40 am

coutournant wrote:
HadAnEffectHere wrote:Is someone ever going to perform the mental gymnastics to present the argument that Salaun is actually athletic when he averages 0.2 BPG.

When he's constantly in the paint trying for blocks...

Like, he's not very athletic actually.

What you say is just bull... Salaun is obviously very athletic, have you ever see him play ? blocks don't tell everything about athleticism.

And Salaun trying for blocks ? absolutely not... he's just a former guard who had a late growth spurt, blocking shot is not the way he defends. He lacks timing and instinct that's why he doesn't try to block shots.
He is one of the best defenders in France, despite being raw in this area.

Don't talk about players you never watched

Bruh, I've watched tons of Salaun games, he can't defend at all. He's the worst defender in this class other than Cody Williams and Rob Dillingham. He's out of position on every single play.

coutournant · Post #2406 » by **coutournant** » Fri May 31, 2024 5:59 am

That’s not true, that’s all I can say. You must have a vision problem saying he’s not athletic and a bad defender.
These are two of his main qualities. That's so obvious ! Salaun is a freak at 6'10 and 7"2 wingspan, he's strong and fast. He is the most athletic player in almost every game he plays in France, one of the most athletic league in the world. He looks like a center moving like a wing.

You only judge by statitistics without watching them play. Bilal Coulibaly was averaging 0.2 blocks in France last year despite being one of the best athlete and defender of the draft. Same with Salaun. You can't judge athleticism with blocks.

I am curious, according to you which forward is more athletic than Salaun in this draft ? according to me, there is Ron Holland and that's all

crows2 · Post #2407 » by **crows2** » Fri May 31, 2024 6:09 am

ROballer wrote:
___Rand___ wrote:Alex Karaban, Mark Sears & Caleb Love returning to respective universities.

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Yeah. Called it on Karaban.

You don't pass on the chance to get 3x National Championships if you're not sure you'll be a top pick in the draft(see Clingan).
There's a very and I mean very select club who ever did that.

He'll probably be drafted in the same range as a Junior/Senior as he would have been now, as a sophomore.

I’d be very surprised if they win it all again this year, but Karaban may have a chance to be more featured in the offense (depending on how McNeeley pops I guess), so it’s a solid decision by him as he obviously wasn’t guaranteed a 1st round spot.

FarBeyondDriven · Post #2408 » by **FarBeyondDriven** » Fri May 31, 2024 6:09 am

Chuck Everett wrote:Wow, even Tyon Grant-Foster is coming back. He's 24 years old. These guys are taking guaranteed NIL versus trying to fight their way onto a roster. I get it, but I also kinda don't. Bird in the hand beats two in the bush.

NIL money is preferred over being drafted in the 2nd round. Can't blame these kids one bit. It's not their fault that NBA talent evaluators are clueless and didn't see their value. I think this is actually working out for everyone though. Kids are developing and become more NBA ready once they do come out, they get to make money and the NCAA keeps a lot of talent which improves the quality of play. I'm old enough to remember this being the norm and I prefer watching college over the scripted TV show that the NBA has become.

babyjax13 · Post #2409 » by **babyjax13** » Fri May 31, 2024 8:14 am

The second round looked pretty nice, but this was a rough day. I still like the 10-20 range relative to most drafts, but the second round is just average and the top of the lottery is bad. Pre draft I'd have this above 2013 but below 2020.

HadAnEffectHere · Post #2410 » by **HadAnEffectHere** » Fri May 31, 2024 5:25 pm

ESPN says prospects are refusing to work out for the Hornets.

Norm2953 · Post #2411 » by **Norm2953** » Fri May 31, 2024 5:59 pm

HadAnEffectHere wrote:ESPN says prospects are refusing to work out for the Hornets.

That's weird for the Blazers are down 3 assistant coaches but have had 3 groups of six players come
through with two players (Ware, Smith) likely FRP

shangrila · Post #2412 » by **shangrila** » Fri May 31, 2024 6:50 pm

shangrila · Post #2413 » by **shangrila** » Fri May 31, 2024 6:51 pm

Bit surprised that Nique Clifford withdrew, felt that he was one of the more interesting guys in that late 1st/early 2nd range.

SeattleJazzFan · Post #2414 » by **SeattleJazzFan** » Fri May 31, 2024 6:51 pm

HadAnEffectHere wrote:ESPN says prospects are refusing to work out for the Hornets.

did they mention a reason why?

shangrila · Post #2415 » by **shangrila** » Fri May 31, 2024 6:59 pm

babyjax13 wrote:The second round looked pretty nice, but this was a rough day. I still like the 10-20 range relative to most drafts, but the second round is just average and the top of the lottery is bad. Pre draft I'd have this above 2013 but below 2020.

Eh, I don't think it was a crippling loss. A few unexpected guys pulled out but most of the names I posted above were rumoured to be heading back anyway, were projected later in the 2nd anyway or weren't even on the radar to begin with.

babyjax13 · Post #2416 » by **babyjax13** » Fri May 31, 2024 7:34 pm

shangrila wrote:
babyjax13 wrote:The second round looked pretty nice, but this was a rough day. I still like the 10-20 range relative to most drafts, but the second round is just average and the top of the lottery is bad. Pre draft I'd have this above 2013 but below 2020.

Eh, I don't think it was a crippling loss. A few unexpected guys pulled out but most of the names I posted above were rumoured to be heading back anyway, were projected later in the 2nd anyway or weren't even on the radar to begin with.

There were a few I expected to withdraw, but my mock lost a first rounder (Hawkins) and 6 2nd rounders. Losing guys not gtd. to go in the first round happens every year, but if this draft had a major strength it was depth, and now it's depth really is not that exceptional losing like 7-12 draftable guys.

shangrila · Post #2417 » by **shangrila** » Fri May 31, 2024 7:42 pm

babyjax13 wrote:
shangrila wrote:
babyjax13 wrote:The second round looked pretty nice, but this was a rough day. I still like the 10-20 range relative to most drafts, but the second round is just average and the top of the lottery is bad. Pre draft I'd have this above 2013 but below 2020.

Eh, I don't think it was a crippling loss. A few unexpected guys pulled out but most of the names I posted above were rumoured to be heading back anyway, were projected later in the 2nd anyway or weren't even on the radar to begin with.

There were a few I expected to withdraw, but my mock lost a first rounder (Hawkins) and 6 2nd rounders. Losing guys not gtd. to go in the first round happens every year, but if this draft had a major strength it was depth, and now it's depth really is not that exceptional losing like 7-12 draftable guys.

The draft still has depth it just doesn't theoretically stretch into the late second anymore. Which is fine, realistically the majority of these guys aren't going to do much of anything in the NBA anyway.

Having Hawkins in the first is a pretty wild take though. I had him as a mid-2nd and honestly someone I didn't expect to make it to a second contract.

babyjax13 · Post #2418 » by **babyjax13** » Fri May 31, 2024 8:10 pm

shangrila wrote:
babyjax13 wrote:
shangrila wrote:Eh, I don't think it was a crippling loss. A few unexpected guys pulled out but most of the names I posted above were rumoured to be heading back anyway, were projected later in the 2nd anyway or weren't even on the radar to begin with.

There were a few I expected to withdraw, but my mock lost a first rounder (Hawkins) and 6 2nd rounders. Losing guys not gtd. to go in the first round happens every year, but if this draft had a major strength it was depth, and now it's depth really is not that exceptional losing like 7-12 draftable guys.

The draft still has depth it just doesn't theoretically stretch into the late second anymore. Which is fine, realistically the majority of these guys aren't going to do much of anything in the NBA anyway.

Having Hawkins in the first is a pretty wild take though. I had him as a mid-2nd and honestly someone I didn't expect to make it to a second contract.

6-10 guy who can shoot, dribble, pass, and isn't a sieve defensively. He is the kind of guy that looks better in the NBA than college. Playing center this year didn't do him a ton of favors, but I think teams contending right now could use his skillset. I know I like him more than the consensus, but I'm having my mock this year more closely track my big board. I really think ESPN's mock has been seriously compromised by "quid pro quos" with agents, and I don't think there are others that are super intelligent driven. Plus this draft is pretty flat from about 25-40 (less so now) so there will be a lot of variance. I like him a lot, I think there is something there as a good bench player. He's also been a top 3 player at the combine scrimmages two years in a row.

shangrila · Post #2419 » by **shangrila** » Fri May 31, 2024 8:41 pm

babyjax13 wrote:
shangrila wrote:
babyjax13 wrote:There were a few I expected to withdraw, but my mock lost a first rounder (Hawkins) and 6 2nd rounders. Losing guys not gtd. to go in the first round happens every year, but if this draft had a major strength it was depth, and now it's depth really is not that exceptional losing like 7-12 draftable guys.

The draft still has depth it just doesn't theoretically stretch into the late second anymore. Which is fine, realistically the majority of these guys aren't going to do much of anything in the NBA anyway.

Having Hawkins in the first is a pretty wild take though. I had him as a mid-2nd and honestly someone I didn't expect to make it to a second contract.

6-10 guy who can shoot, dribble, pass, and isn't a sieve defensively. He is the kind of guy that looks better in the NBA than college. Playing center this year didn't do him a ton of favors, but I think teams contending right now could use his skillset. I know I like him more than the consensus, but I'm having my mock this year more closely track my big board. I really think ESPN's mock has been seriously compromised by "quid pro quos" with agents, and I don't think there are others that are super intelligent driven. Plus this draft is pretty flat from about 25-40 (less so now) so there will be a lot of variance. I like him a lot, I think there is something there as a good bench player. He's also been a top 3 player at the combine scrimmages two years in a row.

Yeah, I don't care about consensus either.

I don't trust his defence, he doesn't rebound well enough for a 6-10 guy and he's not consistent enough at the things he does well to give me belief that they'll meaningfully translate. For example, he can pass the ball but I watch him force some really dumb passes. As an older prospect I expect better decision making than I see from him. That's not even discussing his poor measureables; 215 for a 6-10 guy is anemic and a sub 30inch vertical matches what I thought.

But this draft is definitely more eye of the beholder than previous years. I've got a 1st round grade on Jamal Shead for example and I'm sure most will disagree with that.

BigGargamel · Post #2420 » by **BigGargamel** » Fri May 31, 2024 9:13 pm

I see a few potential second rounders in that above list, but no one that would have cracked the first round. Just trimming the fat, really.

NIL definitely seems to be good for both the NBA and college games. First round guys will still remain in the draft, but the fringe and 2nd rounders will stay in school, improve their game and make that product better instead of fighting for 2 way and G-League call up scraps.