2024 Draft - Who you got?

[Slim Tubby]

I watched a ton of Terrance Shannon Jr. this season and he is by far the most creative Wing scorer in the Draft. He also plays extremely hard on defense but lacks discipline on assignments.

IMO, he will be the steal of this draft with MPJ being his floor in the NBA. If he slides past 15, Connelly needs to work his magic to move up for him.

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[Klomp]

Ajay is growing on me

Might be growing on the team too....multiple visits to Mayo Clinic Square

[Klomp]

I watched a ton of Terrance Shannon Jr. this season and he is by far the most creative Wing scorer in the Draft. He also plays extremely hard on defense but lacks discipline on assignments.

IMO, he will be the steal of this draft with MPJ being his floor in the NBA. If he slides past 15, Connelly needs to work his magic to move up for him.

Sent from my N152DL using RealGM mobile app

Had the legal question, but an intriguing skillset for sure

[minimus]

How many international players have the Spurs drafted over the same time period?

Which time period is that? I'm guessing the answer is "lots."

Anybody know anything about Spagnolo? Is he coming or is under contract in Europe?

He had foot surgery in April. Not sure how long he'll be out of commission.

I have trouble seeing him as an NBA player. He can't shoot, is a poor defender and while a decent passer - is very careless with the ball.

I saw Matteo playing right in front of me, here in Germany. Unfortunately, he doesn't have NBA skills.

[wolves_89]

I watched a ton of Terrance Shannon Jr. this season and he is by far the most creative Wing scorer in the Draft. He also plays extremely hard on defense but lacks discipline on assignments.

IMO, he will be the steal of this draft with MPJ being his floor in the NBA. If he slides past 15, Connelly needs to work his magic to move up for him.

Sent from my N152DL using RealGM mobile app

Had the legal question, but an intriguing skillset for sure

I do wonder how much the off court problems knock him down the draft board for the Wolves. Connelly really seems to place a lot of value on high character guys. They did bring him in for a workout, so if he was able to alleviate the character concerns he could still be in the picture (though I see little chance we would move up to take him).

[moss_is_1]

Keyshawn George - Tyler Kolek - Baylor Scheiermam - Aj Johnson

These are the ones I've had stand out in looking at prospects who might be there at our pick. Getting 2 of them would be awesome. George and Johnson are more raw but have high potential, where the other 2 look like they could contribute immediately and still have areas to grow.

[LibertyPrime]

I've been dicking around with ESPN's mock draft simulator -

https://espnanalytics.com/nba-draft-sim/

(What the hell, it's something to do, right?)

I ran through it ten times with the assumption that shooting and PG are needs (seeing as we are pretty well set for bigs right now). Assuming no trades, here's what I ended up with:

Johnny Furphy, Tyler Kolek
Tyler Kolek, Baylor Schierman
Kyshawn George, Baylor Schierman
Kyle Filipowski, Justin Edwards
Johnny Furphy, Justin Edwards
Baylor Schierman, Justin Edwards
Bobi Klintman, Baylor Schierman
Bobi Klintman, Tyler Kolek
Kyshawn George, Baylor Schierman
Kyshawn George, Justin Edwards

Times Appeared:
Schierman 5
Edwards 4
Kolek 3
George 3
Furphy 2
Klintman 2
Filipowski 1

Obviously results would vary for other people, as they might not share my assumptions about what the team needed, and it's based on ESPN's predictions of what other teams would take - not to mention whatever fixations the Wolves draft team might have developed in the mean time. But my not-at-all scientific results suggest that barring a trade, we're most like to end up with Schierman and/or Edwards. And I am okay with this.

Would love to see what other folks come up with.

[LibertyPrime]

I've been dicking around with ESPN's mock draft simulator -

https://espnanalytics.com/nba-draft-sim/

(What the hell, it's something to do, right?)

I ran through it ten times with the assumption that shooting and PG are needs (seeing as we are pretty well set for bigs right now). Assuming no trades, here's what I ended up with:

Johnny Furphy, Tyler Kolek
Tyler Kolek, Baylor Schierman
Kyshawn George, Baylor Schierman
Kyle Filipowski, Justin Edwards
Johnny Furphy, Justin Edwards
Baylor Schierman, Justin Edwards
Bobi Klintman, Baylor Schierman
Bobi Klintman, Tyler Kolek
Kyshawn George, Baylor Schierman
Kyshawn George, Justin Edwards

Times Appeared:
Schierman 5
Edwards 4
Kolek 3
George 3
Furphy 2
Klintman 2
Filipowski 1

Obviously results would vary for other people, as they might not share my assumptions about what the team needed, and it's based on ESPN's predictions of what other teams would take - not to mention whatever fixations the Wolves draft team might have developed in the mean time. But my not-at-all scientific results suggest that barring a trade, we're most like to end up with Schierman and/or Edwards. And I am okay with this.

Would love to see what other folks come up with.

Okay, I got WAY too into this and ran it through 100 times to see what the results would be. Again, this is ESPNs model but also my assumptions and as such it's probably pretty terrible for a statistical model. Bearing that in mind, with 100 run-throughs (meaning 200 bites at the apple for any one player), here's the probability of getting a player in either first or second round presuming no trades (names and percentages):

J. Edwards 24.5
B. Schierman 21
B. Klintman 13
K. George 11.5
J. Furphy 8.5
T. Kolek 5.5
K. Filipowski 5
T. Shannon 4
J. Nunez 2
C. Christie 2
J. Tyson 2
AJ Mitchell 0.5
I. Collier 0.5


Again, Edwards and Schierman are the big standouts here, followed by Klintman, Kyshawn George, Johnny Furphy, Tyler Kolek, and Filipowski. Others have less than a 5% chance.
My assumptions:
- we're drafting for ourselves rather than as part of a trade.
- we're looking for a shooter or PG, or ideally both, rather than a big. Edey fell once and I didn't choose him because I thought he was a bad fit. I made an exception for Filipowski who is a decent outside shooter. Only afterwards did I realize Kel'el Ware also had an excellent 3-point (although he only attempts a little more than 1 per game), and he came up as a possibility a few times for the first round pick, so this model wrongly excludes Ware.
- the rumor about Nunez and the Wolves isn't true, or at least, they haven't promised him he'll get the 1st round pick. He was pretty much available every single time I picked in the second round so I doubt he's FRP-worthy.

Anyhoo.... it was something to do. I learned a lot more about draft prospects in the process, so it wasn't a total waste of time.

[minimus]

I've been dicking around with ESPN's mock draft simulator -
https://espnanalytics.com/nba-draft-sim

My impression after playing with this simulation is that we are more likely to draft two wings: one shooter and one 3&D. Or one wing and one guard.

[KATKlownFeet]

Jamarion Sharp, anybody? One of best rim protectors in college with Rudy like wingspan and is like 7 foot 5. Watching video of him, I see he moves around the court well for a man of his height. I'd definitely want to sign him as an undrafted free agent or potential second round. We badly need a backup center who can protect the rim and not sure if there will be one available for the taking at 27. I do like Edey but he probably doesn't fall to 27. I'm considering Ware, Missi, Holmes too. Cozart is an undersized guy who blocked 3.9 shots in college and he is interesting as a late second/Undrafted FA type too.

[shangrila]

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Rundown:

F.Aimaq - A 6-11 unathletic big who has shown flashes of passing and shooting abilities. Unlikely to be a real NBA prospect due to the athletic issues and the fact that he's a 6th year guy who's still only showing flashes.

J.Couisnard - Not familiar with him, but stats wise he's a 6-4 SG with middling efficiency and a near even AST:TO ratio. Maybe there's something defensively that pops on tape and doesn't show up in the stats but otherwise he seems like an overseas guy.

A.Mitchell - As Klomp pointed out this is Ajay's second workout. Not sure what that means exactly but a 6-5ish combo guard who can play on or off ball and competes defensively? I'd be happy taking a swing on that.

T.Thomas - Undersized SG like Couisnard above. Better efficiency but still not a true prospect.

D.Pember - Interesting 6-11 big from a skills POV, able to shoot, slide his feet, put the ball on the floor, and make passes. The issue is he's a 5th year guy who weighs 215 pounds. That lack of bulk/physicality was on display at Portsmouth and its only going to get worse in the NBA. Might be an interesting 2-way/G league guy but needs to hit the weight room on a Supersize Me diet post haste.

T.Shannon Jr - A roughly 6-7 wing with plus athleticism, even at the NBA level, I just can't get there with him. He's great in transition and around the rim but I don't buy that he's incredibly skilled, just more experienced at this point (as a 5th year guy). His shot form is a little wonky which tracks with his inconsistencies over the years, his handle isn't advanced (though with his physical tools it is effective), and I don't see him making the kind of reads you want to see from an experienced guy. Defensively he's got the tools but it feels like he gets blown by more than he should and off ball I've seen him fall to sleep more than I want too, although he is good at chasing guys around screens and the like.

Maybe I'm overthinking it with him but he gives me Ochai Ajbaji vibes.

[shangrila]

Feels like this deserves a mention too:

"There are other teams that love Bronny. For example, Minnesota, Dallas, Toronto. If it's not the Lakers, it will be someone else. Minnesota would love to get Bronny in, but I don't know who their owner is going to be. [Mavs GM] Nico Harrison is like an uncle to Bronny. If the Lakers don't take him at 55, Dallas would take him at 58 and give him a guaranteed deal. Masai [Ujiri, Raptors president,] loves him. They could take him without even seeing him at 31. Workouts aren't everything for these teams."

-Rich Paul

I know most of you will hate it but there you go. I said earlier that he ticked a lot of the boxes Connelly seems to look for so I wouldn't lock it in but I'd prepare yourselves for the possibility.

[Sealab2024]

Feels like this deserves a mention too:

"There are other teams that love Bronny. For example, Minnesota, Dallas, Toronto. If it's not the Lakers, it will be someone else. Minnesota would love to get Bronny in, but I don't know who their owner is going to be. [Mavs GM] Nico Harrison is like an uncle to Bronny. If the Lakers don't take him at 55, Dallas would take him at 58 and give him a guaranteed deal. Masai [Ujiri, Raptors president,] loves him. They could take him without even seeing him at 31. Workouts aren't everything for these teams."

-Rich Paul

I know most of you will hate it but there you go. I said earlier that he ticked a lot of the boxes Connelly seems to look for so I wouldn't lock it in but I'd prepare yourselves for the possibility.

I wouldn't hate Bronny at 37, I've half jested that this might be a good idea, but you cannot take him at 27. He's unplayable year 1 and a decent progression would be backup PG for 12-15 minutes in year 2. In the meantime this team has a championship window open and has holes it needs to address in a shorter time period than maybe 3 years from now. And thats what it would have to be with Bronny since he has no discernable NBA level trait like shooting, passing or defense with which to garner early playing time.

At 37 I'd be comfortable taking the chance that sitting him next to Bite Bite for 2 years could be the perfect developmental situation and that 3 years from now we'd have Lebron's kid as the perfect starting PG next to Ant. At 27 you have to shoot for better than that. Especially with the minimal amount of 1sts you have over the next 5 years.

[Klomp]

Don't rule out the possibility of drafting Bronny to trade him later on for someone on the Lakers bench we might have interest in

[Neeva]

Hey look at it this way, someone will draft Bronny and that means someone decent will go undrafted in his place (and also the two forfeited picks) and the wolves can pick up as ufa to be the next Naz.

[LibertyPrime]

Drafting Bronny with the second round pick for a Lakers trade is an interesting idea.

The downside is that the Lakers don't seem to have many players that they seem likely to trade who would also be a plus on this team.

If they don't value Bronny enough to take him with their first round pick, they probably wouldn't be interested in conveying much for him - maybe mutiple future second-rounders.

Perhaps we could convey Moore, Bronny, and a future second for a resigned Taurean Prince? How does that sound? (Probably wishful thinking.)

Also, we can't be the only team thinking this way....

[Klomp]

Drafting Bronny with the second round pick for a Lakers trade is an interesting idea.

The downside is that the Lakers don't seem to have many players that they seem likely to trade who would also be a plus on this team.

If they don't value Bronny enough to take him with their first round pick, they probably wouldn't be interested in conveying much for him - maybe mutiple future second-rounders.

Perhaps we could convey Moore, Bronny, and a future second for a resigned Taurean Prince? How does that sound? (Probably wishful thinking.)

Also, we can't be the only team thinking this way....

There are a couple of candidates I'll point out....

1. Cam Reddish (if he accepts his player option): I believe he can still find a role in this league going into his age 25 season, and I think being around Ant's energy could help him flourish.
2. Jalen Hood-Schifino: I know little-to-nothing about his game, but he's a 21-year old point guard who this staff could possibly find intriguing.

[cmoss84]

Bronny and WMJ for Jaxson Hayes?

[LibertyPrime]

Drafting Bronny with the second round pick for a Lakers trade is an interesting idea.

The downside is that the Lakers don't seem to have many players that they seem likely to trade who would also be a plus on this team.

If they don't value Bronny enough to take him with their first round pick, they probably wouldn't be interested in conveying much for him - maybe mutiple future second-rounders.

Perhaps we could convey Moore, Bronny, and a future second for a resigned Taurean Prince? How does that sound? (Probably wishful thinking.)

Also, we can't be the only team thinking this way....

There are a couple of candidates I'll point out....

1. Cam Reddish (if he accepts his player option): I believe he can still find a role in this league going into his age 25 season, and I think being around Ant's energy could help him flourish.
2. Jalen Hood-Schifino: I know little-to-nothing about his game, but he's a 21-year old point guard who this staff could possibly find intriguing.

Reddish is kind of interesting, although he's been all over the place during his career, both physically and metaphorically.

[Klomp]

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