2024 Draft Prospect: Nikola Topic

[Liver_Pooty]

I'm not here to judge. My guy is Castle I don't care what others think.

My buddies laughed at me for wanting Miller over Scoot last year. It turned out pretty well for me.

We all have a right to have our favorites. Stick with your guy forget what everyone else thinks.

You're not the only person in the world that wanted Brandon Miller over Scoot. Just an FYI for the 57th time.

Which is why I said "my buddies".

Cmon Liver Pooty let me cook!

Lol get to cookin my man

[JMAC3]

I already mentioned depending on the news that comes out over the next few days I will probably shuffle the top of my board a bit with Topic moving from #1 to probably 3-5 just because missing time could hurt his overall development early. I was expecting him to be a 6-6 with a 6-6 wingspan so this isn't way off what I figured he would be.

I just don't think this wingspan thing is all that big of a deal, its not like he is a 6-11 center with a 6-10 wingspan where all of a sudden he is undersized for his position. He is still massive as a PG and still average size for an NBA 2.

Tyler Herro for instance was 6′ 4.5” with a 6′ 3.25” wingspan as an NBA shooting guard. So he was already on the smaller side for his position with a true negative wingspan. That is more concerning or Zeller being 6-11 with a 6-10 wingspan center...

[wilson115]

Well, I just hope he comes back fine from the injuries. The positives are so good someone will roll the dice eventually, just not sure that should be us given our circumstances.

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[Rich4114]

Thinking about it some more, I wouldn’t be completely out on Topic. It sounds like a partial tear is way less concerning than a full one. There’s not many prospects in this draft with an elite skill but he’s one of them.

[KembaWalker]

What’s even the functional difference in a full versus partial tear? You’d imagine both need surgery and rehab and a partial tear just sounds like a full tear is coming sooner or later

[Rich4114]

What’s even the functional difference in a full versus partial tear? You’d imagine both need surgery and rehab and a partial tear just sounds like a full tear is coming sooner or later

From Google: ACL injuries can either be complete or partial. While complete ACL tears almost always require surgery, partial ACL tears may be treated effectively with nonsurgical methods.

But reading this is what will give us all pause because it’s possible he will just miss his rookie season a la Chet: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nikola-topic-injury-projected-top-10-pick-in-2024-nba-draft-could-see-stock-fall-after-partially-torn-acl/amp/

Still if he’s got the potential, is not having him for one season that bad? Depends on the expectations for this season I guess. I’m not saying we should definitely take him if he’s there but I just wouldn’t take it off the season.

[KembaWalker]

What’s even the functional difference in a full versus partial tear? You’d imagine both need surgery and rehab and a partial tear just sounds like a full tear is coming sooner or later

From Google: ACL injuries can either be complete or partial. While complete ACL tears almost always require surgery, partial ACL tears may be treated effectively with nonsurgical methods.

But reading this is what will give us all pause because it’s possible he will just miss his rookie season a la Chet: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nikola-topic-injury-projected-top-10-pick-in-2024-nba-draft-could-see-stock-fall-after-partially-torn-acl/amp/

Still if he’s got the potential, is not having him for one season that bad? Depends on the expectations for this season I guess. I’m not saying we should definitely take him if he’s there but I just wouldn’t take it off the season.

I know there’s a spectrum of terminology for ligaments, where a sprain can be called a degree of tear. Assuming if they are using the actual term tear that that it will require repair surgery and rehab and functionally be the same thing as a full blown tear, maybe with a bit less rest time needed on the front end. I don’t think it’s just gonna heal on its own

[Snidely FC]

ESPN+ updated their draft rankings today dropped Topic to 10:

NBA teams' fears were realized when it was revealed at the draft combine medicals this week that Topic has a partially torn ACL that will require surgery. The extent of Topic's recovery process will be determined by specialists in the U.S., but it will not be surprising if he will require a redshirt season -- similar to how Chet Holmgren, Joel Embiid, Michael Porter Jr. or Blake Griffin started their NBA careers.

The fact Topic is only 18 -- younger than six of the 24 McDonald's All Americans entering college this season -- and was at one point in consideration as a potential No. 1 pick prospect early in the season, means he is unlikely to fall very far down the board on draft night. San Antonio (No. 8), Utah (No. 10), Oklahoma City (No. 12) and Portland (No. 14) are viewed by teams as potential landing spots depending on team doctors' full assessments of his medicals, which have yet to be distributed. Only teams picking in the top 15 will have access to those, per new CBA rules. -- Givony

[Rich4114]

I know we are anxious to get another player who will contribute right away and begin developing, but man this guy sounds like he’s got a ton of potential. It’s a tough decision and I bet whoever hedges their bet and is patient will win in the long run.

[JMAC3]

Utah going to land him at 10th and in a year Danny Ainge will have done it again.

[Rich4114]

Utah going to land him at 10th and in a year Danny Ainge will have done it again.

That's why I think it's a mistake for a lottery team to pass on him because of the injury. I think a team like the Spurs are smarter than that tbh. If he's there at 6th, I still consider taking him.

[JMAC3]

Utah going to land him at 10th and in a year Danny Ainge will have done it again.

That's why I think it's a mistake for a lottery team to pass on him because of the injury. I think a team like the Spurs are smarter than that tbh. If he's there at 6th, I still consider taking him.

I think Topic is a great talent, one of the most productive 18 yr olds in Europe in history level of good.
I understand the injury is a negative and I have accepted not being 100% disappointed if we pass because we want to be better this year....... but if we pass and then let Miles walk in FA and basically accept being bad again for another year then I think passing on Topic would be really dumb.

[Rich4114]

Utah going to land him at 10th and in a year Danny Ainge will have done it again.

That's why I think it's a mistake for a lottery team to pass on him because of the injury. I think a team like the Spurs are smarter than that tbh. If he's there at 6th, I still consider taking him.

I think Topic is a great talent, one of the most productive 18 yr olds in Europe in history level of good.
I understand the injury is a negative and I have accepted not being 100% disappointed if we pass because we want to be better this year....... but if we pass and then let Miles walk in FA and basically accept being bad again for another year then I think passing on Topic would be really dumb.

My mindset on this is whoever we draft is likely not going to be a major part of the rotation this season anyway unless it's a C. Even if Topic was healthy, he's an 18 year old so maybe he gets some mins here and there but he'd mostly be in GBO. If the tape/scouting says he's the BPA then I think they should still take him regardless of the injury given it's something he most certainly recovers fully from. It's obviously still a risk (see Derrick Rose for example) so they need to trust the medical info one way or another too.

[amcoolio]

Utah going to land him at 10th and in a year Danny Ainge will have done it again.

That's why I think it's a mistake for a lottery team to pass on him because of the injury. I think a team like the Spurs are smarter than that tbh. If he's there at 6th, I still consider taking him.

Hot take but I don’t think the Spurs are that smart. They just got really lucky and won two generational lotteries, otherwise they probably would be on the level of the Hornets the last 30 years. Aside from Kawhi they’ve blown plenty of first round picks

[fatlever]

3 generational lotteries - david robinson was arguably a hotter draft prospect than duncan.
but kudos for embracing the euros and ball movement. finding manu and parker late in the draft was the difference.

[JMAC3]

...The closest comps in my database are

Tyler Herro, Sasha Vujacic, Luke Kennard, Austin Reaves, Matt Carroll, Christian Braun, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Jason Kapono

Parameters:
Height: 6'3.25-6'6.75
Weight: 190-215 lbs
Wingspan: 6'4.5-6'6.5

Note: There are other names (total 16)

Also, I didn't have to only include white guys lol.. wingspan did that all by itself.