2024 NBA Draft Prospects

HadAnEffectHere · Post #241 » by **HadAnEffectHere** » Fri May 31, 2024 1:49 am

Catchall wrote:I think the Jazz are going to try to trade up in this draft. It's too risky to just sit at #10, unless the Jazz are psyched about Knecht, Collier or Salaun.

I'm leaning towards Salaun as the pick and him being out of the NBA in 3 years.

Reminds me of Joe Alexander.

But I think Ainge is going to be very mad he didn't get Coulibaly and try to get Salaun even though Coulibaly didn't even work out and Salaun is so much worse.

Catchall · Post #242 » by **Catchall** » Fri May 31, 2024 2:06 am

HadAnEffectHere wrote:I like how David Locke watched Matas Buzelis and immediately had an existential crisis at how absolutely terrible this guy is.

Probably the most overrated prospect in a few decades and anyone who watches him at all immediately knows how bad he is.

He could bust if the shooting doesn't come together for him in a big way. Same could be said about Ron Holland. Buzelis is a pretty good passer, but it won't matter if no one wants to guard him.

Catchall · Post #243 » by **Catchall** » Fri May 31, 2024 2:11 am

The players I like for the Jazz are Topic, Risacher, Sarr and Cody Williams, though Williams needs at least 15 lbs to have the physical presence he needs. I can see the argument for Reed Sheppard if you think he can expand his game off the dribble and you think he's like Mark Price in every other respect.

None of those guys are going to be there at #10.

So then it's like -- do you take Kel'el Ware and bet you can motivate him? Do you take Knecht? Do you take George and try to develop his body?

Post #244 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Fri May 31, 2024 12:43 pm

Catchall wrote:The players I like for the Jazz are Topic, Risacher, Sarr and Cody Williams, though Williams needs at least 15 lbs to have the physical presence he needs. I can see the argument for Reed Sheppard if you think he can expand his game off the dribble and you think he's like Mark Price in every other respect.

None of those guys are going to be there at #10.

So then it's like -- do you take Kel'el Ware and bet you can motivate him? Do you take Knecht? Do you take George and try to develop his body?

I think Cody Williams could be there at #10. I've seen plenty of mocks with him going 10 or lower.

HadAnEffectHere · Post #245 » by **HadAnEffectHere** » Fri May 31, 2024 1:51 pm

ESPN on guys the Jazz are looking at: Topic, Holland, Knecht, Ja'Kobe, Cody Williams

Catchall · Post #246 » by **Catchall** » Sat Jun 1, 2024 1:51 am

HadAnEffectHere wrote:ESPN on guys the Jazz are looking at: Topic, Holland, Knecht, Ja'Kobe, Cody Williams

Injury concerns could push Topic behind Sheppard and Castle, meaning that there is actually some chance that Topic could slip to #10.

Hoops Addict · Post #247 » by **Hoops Addict** » Sat Jun 1, 2024 4:29 pm

Is Topic real any good? I am not so sure.

My choices would be 1. Castle 2. Cody Williams 3, Topic

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/nikola-topic/

Hoops Addict · Post #248 » by **Hoops Addict** » Sat Jun 1, 2024 4:34 pm

The new nbadraft.net came out.

Cody Willams at #4?
Klingon to the Jazz at #10? Any chance Jazz do that?
Salaun is at #14 Some mocks have him top 7. Does Ainge covet him?

Post #249 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Sat Jun 1, 2024 5:09 pm

Hoops Addict wrote:The new nbadraft.net came out.

Cody Willams at #4?
Klingon to the Jazz at #10? Any chance Jazz do that?
Salaun is at #14 Some mocks have him top 7. Does Ainge covet him?

I can see you're a star trek fan. That's actually a good nickname for him.

I don't see the point of the Jazz drafting Clingan. If he's good he's basically Kessler. Do we need this type of redundancy?

If you're referring to the nbadraft.net mock, then they have Topic at #13 and I'd much rather rolling the dice on him.

babyjax13 · Post #250 » by **babyjax13** » Sat Jun 1, 2024 9:10 pm

Hoops Addict wrote:Is Topic real any good? I am not so sure.

My choices would be 1. Castle 2. Cody Williams 3, Topic

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/nikola-topic/

I think he is, he has some of the deception that guys like Haliburton and Ginobili had with their passing. I don't think he's *that* level of prospect, but if he slips to 10 I'd be pretty pleased.

HadAnEffectHere · Post #251 » by **HadAnEffectHere** » Sat Jun 1, 2024 9:30 pm

Topic has good enough physical tools and a good enough handle and an extremely high BBIQ, but he's extremely raw and early in development.

He's never been asked to defend so his defensive fundamentals are all terrible.
He's always been way bigger than everyone else so he's never had to learn how to do difficult finishes at the rim.
He's always been way faster and quicker and stronger than everyone else so he's never had to learn how to do complex dribble moves.
And his jumpshot form is unusable because it's so low and slow.

He's a guy where nothing looks seriously wrong that would stop him from being a high level player... But there's a lot that needs to go right over several years.

babyjax13 · Post #252 » by **babyjax13** » Sun Jun 2, 2024 7:47 am

HadAnEffectHere wrote:Topic has good enough physical tools and a good enough handle and an extremely high BBIQ, but he's extremely raw and early in development.

He's never been asked to defend so his defensive fundamentals are all terrible.
He's always been way bigger than everyone else so he's never had to learn how to do difficult finishes at the rim.
He's always been way faster and quicker and stronger than everyone else so he's never had to learn how to do complex dribble moves.
And his jumpshot form is unusable because it's so low and slow.

He's a guy where nothing looks seriously wrong that would stop him from being a high level player... But there's a lot that needs to go right over several years.

His handle is also pretty basic. Of all of it, the shot is what I feel best about coming around and if it does, that will open some things up for him.

SoCalJazzFan · Post #253 » by **SoCalJazzFan** » Mon Jun 3, 2024 5:38 pm

I'm starting to get into reviewing videos of these guys. Quite honestly, pretty discouraging. Nearly every player seems to have some serious fault(s).

Topic is a wonderful passer/playmaker with great court vision. It appears he has a decent first step and ability to get to the rim. However, he is not an above the rim guy, his knee is concerning, and I am not even sure if he tries at all to play defense.

Cody Williams shows some flashes, but will he be able to play against the bigger, stronger NBA players, even if he gets stronger?

If the Jazz end up conveying their pick to OKC one of the next two drafts, instead of this one, I will be very unhappy about it.

SoCalJazzFan · Post #254 » by **SoCalJazzFan** » Mon Jun 3, 2024 5:45 pm

Daron Holmes apparently has a promise and has cancelled future workouts. He was projected to go at the end of the first round. Does anyone know if the Jazz worked him out? I haven't watched film on him, but his stats indicate he could be a Naz Reid-like player- am I wrong?

Catchall · Post #255 » by **Catchall** » Tue Jun 4, 2024 3:57 pm

SoCalJazzFan wrote:Daron Holmes apparently has a promise and has cancelled future workouts. He was projected to go at the end of the first round. Does anyone know if the Jazz worked him out? I haven't watched film on him, but his stats indicate he could be a Naz Reid-like player- am I wrong?

I don't know if the Jazz worked him out, but I doubt the Jazz would tie up their late picks with a promise to Holmes. If I had to guess, I would predict that either NY (with back-to-back picks at 24 and 25) or Denver (at 28) are promising him rotation minutes at the 4/5. Knicks are expected to lose Hartenstein in FA, and the Nuggets needs a backup big in the worst way.

Catchall · Post #256 » by **Catchall** » Tue Jun 4, 2024 4:06 pm

SoCalJazzFan wrote:I'm starting to get into reviewing videos of these guys. Quite honestly, pretty discouraging. Nearly every player seems to have some serious fault(s).

Topic is a wonderful passer/playmaker with great court vision. It appears he has a decent first step and ability to get to the rim. However, he is not an above the rim guy, his knee is concerning, and I am not even sure if he tries at all to play defense.

Cody Williams shows some flashes, but will he be able to play against the bigger, stronger NBA players, even if he gets stronger?

If the Jazz end up conveying their pick to OKC one of the next two drafts, instead of this one, I will be very unhappy about it.

The hope with Topic is that he becomes like a Serbian version of James Harden, as a drive-and-kick guard. Nevermind the step-back jumper.

The hope with Williams is that he develops into a slightly bigger version of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Notice how I use the word 'hope.'

HadAnEffectHere · Post #257 » by **HadAnEffectHere** » Tue Jun 4, 2024 4:39 pm

Cody Williams can barely dribble at all despite playing PG throughout HS, he will not be SGA.

Williams' ceiling is probably close to Pascal Siakam, but this requires a ton of stuff to go right (he needs to add 40-50 pounds while getting more athletic and better at dribbling and shooting)

bkohler · Post #258 » by **bkohler** » Wed Jun 5, 2024 2:30 am

I’m seeing Rob Dillingham mocked to the Jazz a lot and that just doesn’t make much sense to me. I’d prefer Reed if you’re taking one of the Kentucky guards but both just seem so small.

Catchall · Post #259 » by **Catchall** » Wed Jun 5, 2024 2:45 am

HadAnEffectHere wrote:Cody Williams can barely dribble at all despite playing PG throughout HS, he will not be SGA.

Williams' ceiling is probably close to Pascal Siakam, but this requires a ton of stuff to go right (he needs to add 40-50 pounds while getting more athletic and better at dribbling and shooting)

Yeah, I'll go ahead and disagree categorically with this take.

Catchall · Post #260 » by **Catchall** » Wed Jun 5, 2024 2:46 am

bkohler wrote:I’m seeing Rob Dillingham mocked to the Jazz a lot and that just doesn’t make much sense to me. I’d prefer Reed if you’re taking one of the Kentucky guards but both just seem so small.

There's a reasonable chance that Dillingham is available in the Jazz's draft range. People have mocked a bunch of players to the Jazz: Holland, Collier, Dillingham, Williams, Knecht... I wouldn't read too much into it.