2024 Draft - Who you got?

[KATKlownFeet]

I see a lot of depth at the 4 and 5 this year and even though we badly need a guard, that's probably where I'd go with our picks.
Guard crop is really suboptimal.

Maybe we find a Gobert protege or future 4 (already out on Miller ever being a starting caliber player).

Edey might fall into trade up range, or Daron Holmes if we stay put.

You’re already out on Miller??

He looks better than Naz Reid did coming into league. So maybe you should be out on Naz too.

[Worm Guts]

I see a lot of depth at the 4 and 5 this year and even though we badly need a guard, that's probably where I'd go with our picks.
Guard crop is really suboptimal.

Maybe we find a Gobert protege or future 4 (already out on Miller ever being a starting caliber player).

Edey might fall into trade up range, or Daron Holmes if we stay put.

You’re already out on Miller??

He looks better than Naz Reid did coming into league. So maybe you should be out on Naz too.

Disagree. Miller has the better physical attributes, but Naz always had the better skill set.

[minimus]

You’re already out on Miller??

He looks better than Naz Reid did coming into league. So maybe you should be out on Naz too.

Disagree. Miller has the better physical attributes, but Naz always had the better skill set.

I don't whether footwork and body balance are physical attributes or skillset, but Naz has one of the best footwork, body balance among NBA bigs, while Miller one of the weirdest footwork and body balance. When Miller shoots his legs don't move naturally, when he finishes around rim, he often falls awkwardly after every contact. Miller best attribute is his relentless motor and ability to stretch the floor, I hope he improves his body and jumpshot during this off-season.

[shangrila]

He looks better than Naz Reid did coming into league. So maybe you should be out on Naz too.

Disagree. Miller has the better physical attributes, but Naz always had the better skill set.

I don't whether footwork and body balance are physical attributes or skillset, but Naz has one of the best footwork, body balance among NBA bigs, while Miller one of the weirdest footwork and body balance. When Miller shoots his legs don't move naturally, when he finishes around rim, he often falls awkwardly after every contact. Miller best attribute is his relentless motor and ability to stretch the floor, I hope he improves his body and jumpshot during this off-season.

Miller looks like he's still growing into his body. He was one of those small guards that had an absurd growth spurt is high school so it makes some sense.

The shot form isn't this though. It's just a weird quirk that he's developed, likely in an attempt to get more power from his legs. But the whole clicking his heels together like he's in the Wizard of Oz definitely needs to get ironed out. The rest of his form is more than fine, as we can see in his FT%.

[shangrila]

I could be talked into Christie pretty easily at 27. Three point shooting off the bounce is an insanely valuable trait that this kid looks to have in spades. He's a decent ball handler and passer and much of his defensive and finishing deficiencies will improve with age and strength. He could easily be an important bench piece pretty quickly.

Get Cam and Adem Bona and I'm good.

That would be a solid draft. I do really want them to get a PG, just to have some long term insurance and honestly to make Summer League somewhat watchable, but Cam+Bona would be solid building blocks moving forward.

I am worried about Cam's finishing numbers. I know some of that will improve with strength and more experience but IIRC he was sub 30% on floaters which, combined with 44% around the rim, indicates he might lack touch from that area. And that's something that's hard to develop.

[shangrila]

snipped

I wish Dillon Jones was 6'5" without shoes, but he plays more like 6'4" comboguard. I'd take Djurisic with #37 pick if no other projected first rounders fall into 2nd round. I like idea of big european wing at SF as part of bench unit.

So my scenario would be an energy big (for instance, Holmes) and Djurisic(draft-and-stash). Bring back Monte Morris, let Anderson and McLaughlin test FA market. Maybe bring back Luka Garza for min

Gobert/Towns/Holmes
Towns/Reid/Miller
McDaniels/Minott/??? +Jaylen Clark (2W)
Edwards/NAW/Moore + Djurisic (draft-and-stash)
Conley/Morris/NAW + Nix (2W)

Jones' wingspan should allow him to play bigger than his height so I wouldn't be concerned about him guarding SFs. The real concern is the footspeed. Maybe that can be improved by shedding some weight (from memory he's something like 238lbs, which is nuts for a guy his size) but that's not a given.

As I said, not really a fan of Djurisic. I'm just not sure what his role is in the NBA. He struggled playing off ball but isn't good enough to play on ball. It's also frustrating watching his defensive effort since he does seem capable of locking people down but is rarely as engaged as he needs to be.

Although after Bolmaro I've given up on trying to accurately predict Euro prospect defence so I could be wrong there.

[shangrila]

I’m taking AJ Johnson at 27. I’d probably trade the 2nd rounders unless Christie or Durisic are there.

Johnson is interesting and definitely has a high ceiling but he's likely 3 years away at best. Can we wait that long to start getting production from these picks?

We're already potentially getting squeezed financially now and I doubt anyone has confidence that either Moore or Minott is ready to play a consistent role in our rotation, which essentially makes them wasted picks.

[shangrila]

We need shooting.

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While true, I'd argue shot creation is a greater need. We have no one outside of Ant that can generate a shot off the bounce and that was clearly an issue in the playoffs.

[Klomp]

I see a lot of depth at the 4 and 5 this year and even though we badly need a guard, that's probably where I'd go with our picks.
Guard crop is really suboptimal.

Maybe we find a Gobert protege or future 4 (already out on Miller ever being a starting caliber player).

Edey might fall into trade up range, or Daron Holmes if we stay put.

Maybe we see happen what unfolded in the NFL Draft. Everyone zeroed in on offense because that's where the talent in the draft supposedly was. Rather than jumping too high to make a desperate move, Minnesota was able to wait until 17 and still got the third defensive player off the board.

If everyone sees this as a forward/bigs draft, that might allow the guards to fall farther than they would in a normal year.

[Mattya]

I’m taking AJ Johnson at 27. I’d probably trade the 2nd rounders unless Christie or Durisic are there.

Johnson is interesting and definitely has a high ceiling but he's likely 3 years away at best. Can we wait that long to start getting production from these picks?

We're already potentially getting squeezed financially now and I doubt anyone has confidence that either Moore or Minott is ready to play a consistent role in our rotation, which essentially makes them wasted picks.

I don't think there are any players in this draft that could come in a play quality minutes for us in year one. Especially with the picks we have. We gotta hope we can bring back Morris, or find some vet minimum guys who already have experience. With that I'm just taking the biggest swings for the future.

[Klomp]

Who has seen a major drop between what people thought going into college and what people think going into the draft? We seem to like those kinds of prospects.

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[younggunsmn]

He looks better than Naz Reid did coming into league. So maybe you should be out on Naz too.

Disagree. Miller has the better physical attributes, but Naz always had the better skill set.

I don't whether footwork and body balance are physical attributes or skillset, but Naz has one of the best footwork, body balance among NBA bigs, while Miller one of the weirdest footwork and body balance. When Miller shoots his legs don't move naturally, when he finishes around rim, he often falls awkwardly after every contact. Miller best attribute is his relentless motor and ability to stretch the floor, I hope he improves his body and jumpshot during this off-season.

Agree with most of this assessment on Miller other than the motor part.
He looks way way too light out there and his movements are not smooth and natural most of the time.
He's not as awkward as Minott but I'm out on him ever turning into anything special.
Maybe he proves me wrong.

Naz's skills were apparent right from the start, he just came into the league with a bad body on the opposite end of the spectrum from Minott/Miller, and he had much better instincts on the floor right from the start.

[Klomp]

Disagree. Miller has the better physical attributes, but Naz always had the better skill set.

I don't whether footwork and body balance are physical attributes or skillset, but Naz has one of the best footwork, body balance among NBA bigs, while Miller one of the weirdest footwork and body balance. When Miller shoots his legs don't move naturally, when he finishes around rim, he often falls awkwardly after every contact. Miller best attribute is his relentless motor and ability to stretch the floor, I hope he improves his body and jumpshot during this off-season.

Agree with most of this assessment on Miller other than the motor part.
He looks way way too light out there and his movements are not smooth and natural most of the time.
He's not as awkward as Minott but I'm out on him ever turning into anything special.
Maybe he proves me wrong.

Naz's skills were apparent right from the start, he just came into the league with a bad body on the opposite end of the spectrum from Minott/Miller, and he had much better instincts on the floor right from the start.

I think it's fair to have questions and doubts, just because we haven't seen them yet. They might still carve out careers as role players, it just might not be here. I think of former Connelly draftees Beasley and Vanderbilt as examples. But I think star upside is unlikely, or we would have seen more glimpses by now.

[Sealab2024]

I could be talked into Christie pretty easily at 27. Three point shooting off the bounce is an insanely valuable trait that this kid looks to have in spades. He's a decent ball handler and passer and much of his defensive and finishing deficiencies will improve with age and strength. He could easily be an important bench piece pretty quickly.

Get Cam and Adem Bona and I'm good.

That would be a solid draft. I do really want them to get a PG, just to have some long term insurance and honestly to make Summer League somewhat watchable, but Cam+Bona would be solid building blocks moving forward.

I am worried about Cam's finishing numbers. I know some of that will improve with strength and more experience but IIRC he was sub 30% on floaters which, combined with 44% around the rim, indicates he might lack touch from that area. And that's something that's hard to develop.

I don't think Cam will ever be a threat to penetrate and finish in the half court, which will limit his long term upside a bit but what is there I like. My thoughts are that some size and strength will help him finishing on the break or semi transition, which to me is more important as it adds a layer to his game beyond shooting. He's certainly athletic enough. To me the shooting ability off the dribble lends itself to pick and pop opportunities from 15-18 feet and the motion already being there out to 23 feet means it's really a matter of repetition to bring it in. That would make him a 2 level scorer, which is more than workable as a 6th or 7th man in the rotation.

And in my perfect world we get Cam, Adem and somehow trade back in to get Jamal Shead for the exact reason you stated. I think Jamal is a year of putting up a thousand jumpers a day away from being a fully functional menace to the rest of the league, so I wouldn't be mad swapping him for Bona at all.

[KATKlownFeet]

You’re already out on Miller??

He looks better than Naz Reid did coming into league. So maybe you should be out on Naz too.

Disagree. Miller has the better physical attributes, but Naz always had the better skill set.

Miller is more than 4 years younger and so we don't yet know how good he can become. I think Miller can be a decent defender whereas Naz is a complete train wreck as a defender. I'm keeping Miller over Naz and when you factor in Naz's salary, I'd trade Naz before Miller every day of the week. I like Naz OK, but he was a negative during the playoffs, and with all the hype about his being 6th man, I'd consider selling high on him, especially as he can leave after next season. If we could get someone like Trey Murphy or Herb Jones for Naz, that would be a coup! Those guys may not be realistic, but one can hope since Pels might say goodbye to Valanciunas. I'd love Jalen Suggs, DiVincenzo, Okongwu, Duren, Kuzma too. I have no idea what Naz's trade value is, but are any of these names realistic?

PS: I read the Ringer's rankings of trade values which they compiled in February and pretty much all the names I listed might be realistic. Only Suggs at 69 was listed ahead of Naz at 70. I know he's a popular guy, but Naz's trade value may never be higher and he can leave after next year. https://nbarankings.theringer.com/trade-value Naz is even ranked ahead of McDaniels, which sounds whack to me. By comparison, Ant is ranked 7th, KAT-34th, Gobert-50th.

PS(2): I see that both Murphy and Jones are ranked ahead of Naz in their player rankings list, and Murphy is younger than NAZ and he ranks a little behind him in trade value rankings. I think Pels love Murphy and that is reason Ingram is being shopped, so I'd surprised if they consider trading him, but if they love Naz enough, who knows. I love Murphy enough that I'd add our 2024 first round pick plus Naz to get him.

[Neeva]

Hmm are the Christie fans here just gopher fans? maybe it will be like the McDaniels and the younger Bro is the good one? I think if we take him wolves need to trade back. Most mock drafts have him going in the second round. Maybe with Portland? Wolves can get picks 34 and 40 and end up with Christie, Scheiermann and Bona. Then sign Shead when he goes undrafted
Add Miller and that one Italian guy, and Clark and I’d be pretty excited for the summer league team.

[Klomp]

Hmm are the Christie fans here just gopher fans? maybe it will be like the McDaniels and the younger Bro is the good one? I think if we take him wolves need to trade back. Most mock drafts have him going in the second round. Maybe with Portland? Wolves can get picks 34 and 40 and end up with Christie, Scheiermann and Bona. Then sign Shead when he goes undrafted
Add Miller and that one Italian guy, and Clark and I’d be pretty excited for the summer league team.

1. Am I a Gophers fan? Sure. Is that why I'm interested in him? Absolutely not. Does it give locals a better understanding of what a prospect might be able to do? Of course.
2. Having a GM put together your team's board based on online draft boards is Kahn-level decision-making.

[Norseman79]

First, if they look to move Kat, this whole conversation is pointless until we know what is coming back.

Second, if they run it back, we will find out if they are honest or full of it regarding Miller.

Conley, NAW
Edwards, Clark
McDaniels, Miller
Towns, Reid
Gobert,

That's what is there, I'm not even going to bother with Moore or Minott.

So pick 27, 37, limited cap space to get a back up 5, and some type of microwave scorer off the bench....

[Neeva]

Hmm are the Christie fans here just gopher fans? maybe it will be like the McDaniels and the younger Bro is the good one? I think if we take him wolves need to trade back. Most mock drafts have him going in the second round. Maybe with Portland? Wolves can get picks 34 and 40 and end up with Christie, Scheiermann and Bona. Then sign Shead when he goes undrafted
Add Miller and that one Italian guy, and Clark and I’d be pretty excited for the summer league team.

1. Am I a Gophers fan? Sure. Is that why I'm interested in him? Absolutely not. Does it give locals a better understanding of what a prospect might be able to do? Of course.
2. Having a GM put together your team's board based on online draft boards is Kahn-level decision-making.

I don’t think he’s going in the first round period!

[Klomp]

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