2024 NBA Draft Thread – (June 26 & 27)

[ThePigeon]

I could be on board with Newton at 54 as well. Esp now that Sallis is gone. I’ve been trying to see if I like Mitchell as a replacement, though.

If you're looking for a Sallis replacement (a wing who can shoot, create his own shot, has pretty good athleticism and decent size) one guy who's been growing on me is Jaylen Wells.

Taller and slightly younger than Sallis. Wells is an interesting prospect..played 2 years of D2 ball before transferring to Washington state for this season..so basically a junior but is still just 20 yrs old so a young junior.

So went from a guy no one really knew about (from playing D2 b all for 2 yrs) to now being on draft radars after having a strong season (12 PPG, but the PPG really picked up late in the season, including a 27 pt game vs Arizona, one of the best teams in college basketball..shot 41.7% from 3 on good volume).

He's a late bloomer, partly because of a growth spurt in HS. Was only 5'6" as a freshman, then 6'2" as a junior, 6'6" as a senior and is now 6'7.5".

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Looks like an Indiana material
He'll succeed there

[redslastlaugh]

Dang, Jaylen Wells moved up to 24!

You think Wells could rise into the 1st round by draft night?

My updated big board.

Rank Player
1 Rob Dillingham
2 Alexandre Sarr
3 Ron Holland
4 Zaccharie Risacher
5 Donovan Clingan
6 Matas Buzelis
7 Stephon Castle
8 Dalton Knecht
9 Cody Williams
10 Devin Carter
11 Reed Sheppard
12 Tyler Smith
13 Kel'el Ware
14 Nikola Topic
15 Kyle Filipowski
16 Nikola Djurisic
17 Tristan Da Silva
18 Isaiah Collier
19 Jaylon Tyson
20 Yves Missi
21 Tyler Kolek
22 Baylor Scheierman
23 Zach Edey
24 Jaylen Wells
25 Ja’Kobe Walter
26 KJ Simpson
27 Johnny Furphy
28 DaRon Holmes
29 Tidjane Salaun
30 Pacome Dadiet
31 Carlton Carrington
32 Jared McCain
33 Ryan Dunn
34 Harrison Ingram
35 Oso Ighodaro
36 PJ Hall
37 Reece Beekman
38 Jalen Bridges
39 Pelle Larsson
40 Tristen Newton
41 Keshad Johnson
42 Adem Bona
43 Kyshawn George
44 Kevin McCullar Jr
45 Juan Nunez
46 Enrique Freeman
47 Jonathan Mogbo
48 Isaiah Crawford
49 Trentyn Flowers
50 Anton Watson

[Hal14]

Dang, Jaylen Wells moved up to 24!

You think Wells could rise into the 1st round by draft night?

My updated big board.

Rank Player
1 Rob Dillingham
2 Alexandre Sarr
3 Ron Holland
4 Zaccharie Risacher
5 Donovan Clingan
6 Matas Buzelis
7 Stephon Castle
8 Dalton Knecht
9 Cody Williams
10 Devin Carter
11 Reed Sheppard
12 Tyler Smith
13 Kel'el Ware
14 Nikola Topic
15 Kyle Filipowski
16 Nikola Djurisic
17 Tristan Da Silva
18 Isaiah Collier
19 Jaylon Tyson
20 Yves Missi
21 Tyler Kolek
22 Baylor Scheierman
23 Zach Edey
24 Jaylen Wells
25 Ja’Kobe Walter
26 KJ Simpson
27 Johnny Furphy
28 DaRon Holmes
29 Tidjane Salaun
30 Pacome Dadiet
31 Carlton Carrington
32 Jared McCain
33 Ryan Dunn
34 Harrison Ingram
35 Oso Ighodaro
36 PJ Hall
37 Reece Beekman
38 Jalen Bridges
39 Pelle Larsson
40 Tristen Newton
41 Keshad Johnson
42 Adem Bona
43 Kyshawn George
44 Kevin McCullar Jr
45 Juan Nunez
46 Enrique Freeman
47 Jonathan Mogbo
48 Isaiah Crawford
49 Trentyn Flowers
50 Anton Watson

I don't know about that. You never know, though. Seems like right now Wells is projected in the 45-60 range, with some mocks even have him going undrafted.

That top 50 rankings I posted is just my personal ranking of the prospects. Not how I predict the draft will go. So I just think Wells is a much better prospect than what the mainstream sites (ESPN, bleacher report, etc.) think.

The fit in Boston is intriguing, too. Him in there at practice everyday going against the Jays, working on his moves, learning moves from them..and his defense (right now I'd say he's average at best defensively. He's much better on offense right now) would get better from defending the Jays everyday in practice. I bet that's a big reason why Hauser improved so much defensively here (along with hard work and good coaching).

[Celts17Pride]

DaRon Holmes II, PF/C, Dayton | Age: 21.7

Sources told ESPN Holmes recently canceled several workouts, raising strong suspicions that he has secured a guarantee in the back part of the first round. Coming off a productive career at Dayton in which he made strides as a shooter (38% from 3 last season), Holmes appears to have helped himself in the pre-draft process, moving himself into the first-round picture.

[djFan71]

DaRon Holmes II, PF/C, Dayton | Age: 21.7

Sources told ESPN Holmes recently canceled several workouts, raising strong suspicions that he has secured a guarantee in the back part of the first round. Coming off a productive career at Dayton in which he made strides as a shooter (38% from 3 last season), Holmes appears to have helped himself in the pre-draft process, moving himself into the first-round picture.

Ahh man, doubt that that's us, but would be awesome if it was.

[Hal14]

Yeah if he cancelled all his workouts, I would assume that the team that gave him a promise:
a) has a 1st round pick (probably a top 25 pick, or even higher..)

and

b) is telling him that he'll be able to get mins right away..and maybe even a starting position in the near future

So perhaps a team like New Orleans, Lakers, Miami or OKC. Orlando is known to make strong promises to guys over the past few yrs as well - and Holmes could get some decent playing time there - especially if they trade WCJ..

I doubt he's cancelling all his workouts after getting a promise from the team (Boston) that has arguably the deepest center rotation in NBA history.

I certainly wouldn't mind if we drafted Holmes, though..

[Smart2Nesmith43]

I would be absolutely shocked if Brad Stevens, who has spent his entire tenure as executive prioritizing flexibility above all else, was locking himself into a particular selection a month before the draft.

[zoyathedestroya]

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[Hal14]

Ok, here's a consensus big board, that pulls from 74 big boards and 181 mock drafts.

https://www.nbamockdraftdatabase.com/big-boards/2024/consensus-big-board-2024

-Tyson goes 27th

-Still on the board at 30 according to this: Scheierman, Holmes, Ryan Dunn, Pacome Dadiet, Justin Edwards, Nikola Djurisc, Jaylen Wells, Oso Ighodaro, Adem Bona, Dillon Jones, Mogbo, Ingram. (Jones, Mogbo, Ingram and Scheierman are the only ones who have worked out for the Celtics so those 3 guys could certainly be in play..

-According to consensus, Djurisic is 35th and Wells is 70th. But on my personal big board, Djurisic is 16th and Wells is 24th..However, we have not worked out either of them (to my knowledge at least, not all workouts get reported..)

I say, trade pick 30. Then snag Wells at pick 54 (since it seems like he'll probably still be there. And then snag Anton Watson as an UDFA..and call it a day.

Wells gives us a wing who can shoot, score, create his own shot, handle the rock..hold his own on D, make some connective passes. Has legit upside to possibly average 15 PPG in the NBA one day.

Wells at pick 54 could potentially end up looking like a freaking *steal* down the road.

Watson gives us some front court depth, a PF who can play small ball 5, has some shooting potential..but more importantly is just a tough, hard nosed kid, plays hard, plays the right way, high IQ, good fundamentals, knows how to play the game..could develop into a decent bench piece, could go in there for a few mins here and there, make some plays and not mess anything up..

But we haven't worked out Wells, so maybe we won't take him. If we assume that we get a player(s) who we had in for a workout, then maybe we take Scheierman (if we keep pick 30)..or we trade pick 30 and snag Ingram at 54. Then maybe Newton as an UDFA pickup..

[165bows]

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I actually like this, used to waste way too much time staying up for the second round.

[Celts17Pride]

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[keevsnick1]

Yeah if he cancelled all his workouts, I would assume that the team that gave him a promise:
a) has a 1st round pick (probably a top 25 pick, or even higher..)

and

b) is telling him that he'll be able to get mins right away..and maybe even a starting position in the near future

So perhaps a team like New Orleans, Lakers, Miami or OKC. Orlando is known to make strong promises to guys over the past few yrs as well - and Holmes could get some decent playing time there - especially if they trade WCJ..

I doubt he's cancelling all his workouts after getting a promise from the team (Boston) that has arguably the deepest center rotation in NBA history.

I certainly wouldn't mind if we drafted Holmes, though..

I don't know if I'd say Boston has the deepest Center rotation in the league going into next year. Kornet is a free agent, there's a pretty decent shot somebody pays him enough that he's gone given the C's tax issues. Tillman is also a free agent and a complete zero on offense. KP is a waking injury. Al is 38 and only has one year left on his deal. Neither guy will play B2B's next year.

There's a very real path where the C's will have real minutes for a center next year if they have to let Kornet go, and will Al getting older they have a need long term. It wouldn't be the worst idea to develop a big man with some potential to stretch the floor next year.

[BK_2020]

I don't know if I'd say Boston has the deepest Center rotation in the league going into next year. Kornet is a free agent, there's a pretty decent shot somebody pays him enough that he's gone given the C's tax issues. Tillman is also a free agent and a complete zero on offense. KP is a waking injury. Al is 38 and only has one year left on his deal. Neither guy will play B2B's next year.

The funny thing is despite all the above being true, we still have one of the deepest center rotations in the league. The state of center rotations in the NBA is grim, which is to be expected given how few people grow to 6'8 let alone 7 feet.

[Hal14]

The no. 16 prospect on my personal big board.

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He's 35th ranked on the consensus board, though. So we could possibly take him at 30. Or possibly trade down into like the 33-38 range and take him there..

[keevsnick1]

I don't know if I'd say Boston has the deepest Center rotation in the league going into next year. Kornet is a free agent, there's a pretty decent shot somebody pays him enough that he's gone given the C's tax issues. Tillman is also a free agent and a complete zero on offense. KP is a waking injury. Al is 38 and only has one year left on his deal. Neither guy will play B2B's next year.

The funny thing is despite all the above being true, we still have one of the deepest center rotations in the league. The state of center rotations in the NBA is grim, which is to be expected given how few people grow to 6'8 let alone 7 feet.

Most teams don't have two centers as good as Al and KP, that's true. I guess my point is there could very easily be real minutes for a developmental third center next year. Not sure the C's will go that direction but it wouldn't shock me.

[Parliament10]

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I don't think that's such a good idea, giving up 4 & 8 for #1.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

I don't know if I'd say Boston has the deepest Center rotation in the league going into next year. Kornet is a free agent, there's a pretty decent shot somebody pays him enough that he's gone given the C's tax issues. Tillman is also a free agent and a complete zero on offense. KP is a waking injury. Al is 38 and only has one year left on his deal. Neither guy will play B2B's next year.

The funny thing is despite all the above being true, we still have one of the deepest center rotations in the league. The state of center rotations in the NBA is grim, which is to be expected given how few people grow to 6'8 let alone 7 feet.

Most teams don't have two centers as good as Al and KP, that's true. I guess my point is there could very easily be real minutes for a developmental third center next year. Not sure the C's will go that direction but it wouldn't shock me.

If Kornet walks and if Tillman walks (and it's unlikely that both would happen), the Celtics still have Queta under contract. He is a better third string center than what most teams can put on the floor.

I'm optimistic about Walsh's future but until he proves he belongs on an NBA floor, Boston only has three NBA caliber wings (Tatum, Brown and Hauser). Considering the fact that you need to fill a lot more wings minutes than center minutes there is arguably a much bigger depth issue at that position.

[redslastlaugh]

Jelavic just worked out for the Celtics.

One of the guys I was high on for us (Johni Broome) announced today that he's returning for 1 more year at Auburn.

So him and Ivisic (2 guys I was high on) are going back to college.

Here's a new guy to put on the radar, though - Andrija Jelavic. Plays for Mega, the team that Jokic played for. Jelavic is about 6'10"/6'11"..can play the 4 or the 5 (plays more at the 4 for Mega but can play the 5 too). Can shoot it pretty well from deep. Shows some passing flashes. He's young, only 20 yrs old. He starts, plays a lot and puts up some pretty good numbers in one of the top pro leagues in the world.

Could possibly stash him..or bring him right over - nice to have that flexibility.

Jelavic has declared for the draft but could withdraw his name prior to the deadline..

[threrf23]

Kind of besides the point for us, but towards the top of the draft I'm liking Ron Holland as a value play. He is one of the youngest players in the draft, and is probably receiving buzz for the #1 pick if he is a better shooter. Great blend of talent/frame/athleticism/intangibles.

I'm not that sure about the intangibles part, but he is a high motor guy who produces on defense without fouling too much.

I feel like Risacher is maybe the anti-Holland. Appears to maybe be a sharp shooter, but his production is nothing too special elsewhere. French prospects are all the rage right now, but so many have disappointed over the years.

Glad to see we worked out Jelavic. Not surprised that Carter was promised. Still surprised to see Jamal Shead mocking so low. Maybe I'm missing something, but at worst he comes across to me as something like Pat Bev with a better head on his shoulders.

[Hal14]

Jelavic just worked out for the Celtics.

One of the guys I was high on for us (Johni Broome) announced today that he's returning for 1 more year at Auburn.

So him and Ivisic (2 guys I was high on) are going back to college.

Here's a new guy to put on the radar, though - Andrija Jelavic. Plays for Mega, the team that Jokic played for. Jelavic is about 6'10"/6'11"..can play the 4 or the 5 (plays more at the 4 for Mega but can play the 5 too). Can shoot it pretty well from deep. Shows some passing flashes. He's young, only 20 yrs old. He starts, plays a lot and puts up some pretty good numbers in one of the top pro leagues in the world.

Could possibly stash him..or bring him right over - nice to have that flexibility.

Jelavic has declared for the draft but could withdraw his name prior to the deadline..

Would not hate it at all if we snagged him w/ pick 54..

Keep in mind, in these highlights he's only 19 yrs old yet he's playing in a pro league (same league and same team that Jokic played for before the NBA)

He's like 6'10.5" so pretty good size..and for a guy that size he moves well and also shoots/drives well..

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