2024 Draft Thread - Part II

[nate33]

All that said, I do not want the next Kemba Walker. I'd rather take on a higher risk of a bust in exchange for the upside of a guy who can be a reliable starter on a good team.

And this mythical guy is....?

A lot of the guys can pan out as quality two-way starters if things break right in their development: Sarr, Sheppard, Holland, Buzelis, Castle, etc. I think all but Sheppard also have bust potential because if they don't learn to shoot (or in Sarr's case, rebound), then they won't be good enough to start on a winning team.

[gesa2]

For me it’s Sarr and Sheppard, not sure who I’d take between them. If not them I’d trade down as far as 9 for even a lotto protected FRP cause I don’t feel like I can differentiate between the next group at all.

[doclinkin]

Want:
Sarr

Very happy with:
Holland, Dillingham & Collier.

Pretty much what all the scouts started the year with. Interesting, I wonder if they weight the criteria the same as yours.

[doclinkin]

I'm out on Nikola Topic. I don't like his shooting form and his defense is absolutely atrocious ... arguably worse in his class. I really question his competition because watching his tape, I'm literally watching him make the same basic moves over and over again and it seemingly works. From his handle, to his slashing and through his finishing... there's not a ton of creativity or versatility but the straight line drives and finishing off one leg seem to work well for him. I don't know that this translates seamlessly to the NBA.

There's also no mid-range game. No real floater. How does he score if he can't get all the way to the rim?

My argument the whole way through. If he were in ACB or the French leagues putting up these numbers, then okay.

[doclinkin]

It's very much like the 2011 draft (without Kyrie) where the top prospects were guys like Derrick Williams, Enes Kanter, Valanciunas and Tristan Thompson. I remember Dat2U recommending that we draft Kemba Walker because he was clearly a good player in all respects except being so small. It turns out, Kemba was a much better choice than Jan Vesely (and many of the other top prospects), even if Kemba was never really the driver of a winning basketball.

Ha! I wanted Kawhi in the 2011 draft. Loved his D. But y'all argued that he couldn't shoot. This year I want another elite defender Castle. And y'all arguing that he can't shoot. Castle will learn to shoot just like Leonard did.

Give me Sarr, then either Castle or Sheppard (Nate may be on to something with his Lillard comparison).

After that it would be Dillingham, Rischaser (maybe) and Clingan.

I like Holland and Collier but I can't see taking them at #2.

Except Sarr who I'm in doubt of, this is pretty much where I have landed.

Except I want Edey in whichever way I can get him other than cashing the #2. If Sarr falls I'd like to hear offers, to both move back and land future prospects. Otherwise I'd trust the front office to make a read on Sheppard vs Castle vs. whomever they got.

I liked both Kemba (best guard on the tourney champs, generally a good call). Liked Kwame.

Still saying Edey could be the rookie of the year with the right team. If he helps us lose because of defense well hey, that helps us too.

[nate33]

It's very much like the 2011 draft (without Kyrie) where the top prospects were guys like Derrick Williams, Enes Kanter, Valanciunas and Tristan Thompson. I remember Dat2U recommending that we draft Kemba Walker because he was clearly a good player in all respects except being so small. It turns out, Kemba was a much better choice than Jan Vesely (and many of the other top prospects), even if Kemba was never really the driver of a winning basketball.

Ha! I wanted Kawhi in the 2011 draft. Loved his D. But y'all argued that he couldn't shoot. This year I want another elite defender Castle. And y'all arguing that he can't shoot. Castle will learn to shoot just like Leonard did.

Give me Sarr, then either Castle or Sheppard (Nate may be on to something with his Lillard comparison).

After that it would be Dillingham, Rischaser (maybe) and Clingan.

I like Holland and Collier but I can't see taking them at #2.

Except Sarr who I'm in doubt of, this is pretty much where I have landed.

Except I want Edey in whichever way I can get him other than cashing the #2. If Sarr falls I'd like to hear offers, to both move back and land future prospects. Otherwise I'd trust the front office to make a read on Sheppard vs Castle vs. whomever they got.

I liked both Kemba (best guard on the tourney champs, generally a good call). Liked Kwame.

Still saying Edey could be the rookie of the year with the right team. If he helps us lose because of defense well hey, that helps us too.

I'm okay with trading back if Sarr drops to #2 and some nice trade offers materialize. I'm uneasy about Sarr because of his poor hands.

I think Portland would seriously consider swapping #7 + #14 for Sarr.

[nate33]

My guess is that teams will take a wait-and-see approach on draft day trades. San Antonio might really covet Sheppard, but they won't offer to trade up from #4 to #2 to get him until we first draft him ourselves. Likewise, Memphis might be willing to trade a 2025 pick to move up from #9 to #2 and land Clingan, but they probably won't make that move until someone first drafts Clingan.

[nate33]

If Risacher or Clingan goes #1 and we are picking at #2 with Sarr still on the board, I wonder if Houston would offer anything to move up and land Sarr themselves? He makes sense for them because he can share the floor defensively with Sengun.

In that scenario, we move to to #3, pick up a little something extra, and still grab Sheppard.

That something extra could be a guy like Whitmore or Eason, or maybe a future FRP.

[closg00]

The league is expected to invite 11-12 more players.

Rob Dillingham and Nikola Topic did not receive green room invites for this initial round

Interesting

[tontoz]

Dillingham has not yet completed all the requirements needed to be eligible for selection in the draft, per the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. An ankle injury prevented Dillingham from conducting athletic testing and shooting drills at the NBA draft combine in Chicago in mid-May, and has thus far also prohibited him from attending private workouts with NBA teams.

Dillingham's ankle has healed, and he plans on fulfilling those requirements at the Lakers' practice facility Friday, clearing the way for him to receive his invite to the NBA draft, his agent Lucas Newton of Klutch Sports told ESPN.

[DCZards]

I'm okay with trading back if Sarr drops to #2 and some nice trade offers materialize. I'm uneasy about Sarr because of his poor hands.

I think Portland would seriously consider swapping #7 + #14 for Sarr.

I agree that trades are likely to happen, if at all, during the draft and not before. If both Sarr and Clingan are there at 2 I could see potential suitors looking to make a trade with the Zards.

However, if the Zards FO is convinced that Sarr is the guy they really, really want, which I believe they might, then they’ll draft him and not think twice about trading back. I’d have no problem with that.

[Frichuela]

The plot thickens..

Read on Twitter

[closg00]

Really!?! Getting Risacher is worth all of this maneuvering?…if it’s really to get him and not Sarr, his private workouts must be amazing. Sarr could be ours then..
Edit: I don’t believe the Spurs would do this for Risa

[nate33]

The plot thickens..

Read on Twitter

This all certainly bodes well for us.

It looks like Atlanta wants Clingan but figures they can trade down and still get him. The Spurs want Risacher and believe that he won't still be on the board at #4 so they should move up to get him.

If these rumors are to be believed, it looks like, one way or another, Sarr will still be available at #2.

[gesa2]

Holy cow. Please let the Hawks decide Sarr or Clingan is their hearts desire so we can do this trade instead

[nate33]

Holy cow. Please let the Hawks decide Sarr or Clingan is their hearts desire so we can do this trade instead

Good point!

Atlanta drafts Sarr at #1

San Antonio trades #4 and #8 to us for #2 and drafts Risacher

Houston drafts who? Clingan? Sheppard? Castle?

If Sheppard is still there at #4, this would be incredible! Draft Sheppard at #4 and Holland at #8

[tontoz]

Wemby wants Risacher. I cant imagine that the Spurs would do this for Risacher if they werent getting pressured from Wemby.

[payitforward]

It's very much like the 2011 draft (without Kyrie) where the top prospects were guys like Derrick Williams, Enes Kanter, Valanciunas and Tristan Thompson. I remember Dat2U recommending that we draft Kemba Walker because he was clearly a good player in all respects except being so small. It turns out, Kemba was a much better choice than Jan Vesely (and many of the other top prospects), even if Kemba was never really the driver of a winning basketball.

Ha! I wanted Kawhi in the 2011 draft. Loved his D. But y'all argued that he couldn't shoot. This year I want another elite defender Castle. And y'all arguing that he can't shoot. Castle will learn to shoot just like Leonard did.

Give me Sarr, then either Castle or Sheppard (Nate may be on to something with his Lillard comparison).

After that it would be Dillingham, Rischaser (maybe) and Clingan.

I like Holland and Collier but I can't see taking them at #2.

Except Sarr who I'm in doubt of, this is pretty much where I have landed.

Except I want Edey in whichever way I can get him other than cashing the #2. If Sarr falls I'd like to hear offers, to both move back and land future prospects. Otherwise I'd trust the front office to make a read on Sheppard vs Castle vs. whomever they got.

I liked both Kemba (best guard on the tourney champs, generally a good call). Liked Kwame.

Still saying Edey could be the rookie of the year with the right team. If he helps us lose because of defense well hey, that helps us too.

I'm with you -- I want Edey too. Who knows how good he'll be, but he ain't going to bust! &, above all, he would make us very interesting!

[Frichuela]

Wemby wants Risacher. I cant imagine that the Spurs would do this for Risacher if they werent getting pressured from Wemby.

I think you may be into something here…

[Frichuela]

Rumor mill so far:

*As SAS (and Wemby in particular) is set on Risacher, they are likely to approach first ATL and then us to trade up and secure his pick.
*ATL has not worked out Sarr yet, but we have which may demonstrate interest on our part. We have also worked out Clingan and Williams.
*ATL is also rumored to be very keen on Clingan, who has other suitors (e.g. POR and MEM).

Of course this may be all smoke screens, but if these rumors were true, this is how the top of draft might go: ATL trades #1 to SAS and gets #4 plus their 2025 1st back. At #1 SAS pick Risacher and at #2 WAS picks Sarr. ATL is then hoping HOU passes on Clingan at #3 so they can pick him at #4.