2024 NBA Draft Thread – (June 26 & 27)

[cl2117]

Just draft anyone over 6'10" who can make threes over 35%. Oh, and doesn't have kanter lateral quickness.

There's like no one in this draft who fits that description. Perhaps Kel'El Ware..but we'd have to trade up to get him..

Quinten Post

100% co-sign this. He's the big man version of Drew Peterson. He's my favorite pick at #54 or as an UDFA.

[Hal14]

Just draft anyone over 6'10" who can make threes over 35%. Oh, and doesn't have kanter lateral quickness.

There's like no one in this draft who fits that description. Perhaps Kel'El Ware..but we'd have to trade up to get him..

Quinten Post

I would have said him, but he's got Kanter-like lateral quickness.

[return2glory]

Nice write up on Enrique Freeman.

https://open.substack.com/pub/edemirnba/p/enrique-freeman-scouting-report?r=99bc3&utm_medium=ios

Pretty high on him as a pick late first/early second.

I like him. I've been watching more film on him lately. He is one player that doesn't fit what we need most at the moment but is the best player available type of player. If he is available at 30 that is. Reminds me a little of Tobias Harris.

[165bows]

Nice write up on Enrique Freeman.

https://open.substack.com/pub/edemirnba/p/enrique-freeman-scouting-report?r=99bc3&utm_medium=ios

Pretty high on him as a pick late first/early second.

I like him. I've been watching more film on him lately. He is one player that doesn't fit what we need most at the moment but is the best player available type of player. If he is available at 30 that is. Reminds me a little of Tobias Harris.

I kind of like his fit actually, allows them to play big more frequently if they had a player like that. Idk if he will hit or not but he seems a tad bigger than Harris, though that's an interesting comp for him.

[CelticsPride18]

The Athletic mock has the Celtics taking Tyler Smith

[Hal14]

Does any team value the draft rights to Begarin or Madar?

Can we use the rights to Begarin + 54 to move up to SA at 48, to get a better crack at more desirable guy to get on a 2 way? Does Yam’s rights plus 54 get us up to Sacramento at 45? Does either guys rights have any additive value in draft night?

I don't think either guy has any tangible value to use in a trade. Except for maybe being a throw-in.

[Hal14]

Nice write up on Enrique Freeman.

https://open.substack.com/pub/edemirnba/p/enrique-freeman-scouting-report?r=99bc3&utm_medium=ios

Pretty high on him as a pick late first/early second.

I like him. I've been watching more film on him lately. He is one player that doesn't fit what we need most at the moment but is the best player available type of player. If he is available at 30 that is. Reminds me a little of Tobias Harris.

I kind of like his fit actually, allows them to play big more frequently if they had a player like that. Idk if he will hit or not but he seems a tad bigger than Harris, though that's an interesting comp for him.

Freeman is an intriguing fit. If you were to ask me what is the biggest thing our team could improve upon, I might say rebounding.

We really struggled to rebound the ball in that game 4 loss to Dallas..and in some of the other games vs Dallas..and in some of the other playoff/reg season games.

Well, rebounding is Freeman's best attribute. He led all of college basketball this past season with 12.9 RPG. So just based on that, it's an intriguing fit.

If I ask you, what position we have the biggest need for, it's probably at the big man spot (with KP injured, Al is old, Kornet and Tillman are FA, Queta is non-guaranteed for next season).

Now, even though Freeman projects as more of a 4 than a 5, I think he can play small ball 5..based on the rebounding ability, 7'2" wingspan and the fact that he played almost exclusively at the 5 in college.

Having the versatility to play the 4 or the 5 is a nice value-add.

Then of course, to get real rotation mins on this team, it certainly helps if you can shoot. While Freeman isn't a great shooter, he did shoot 37% from 3 this past season. 1.5 3PA per game which is low but it's not terrible. Decent FT% too and he also shot 4/5 from 3 over the 2 scrimmages at the combine.

2 combine scrimmages is a tiny sample size. But if we expand that out to include the G league elite camp and the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (7 games total, all happened since the end of the NCAA season so they're the 7 most recent games he's played in) he shot 8/16 (50%) from 3 on 2.2 attempts per game.

So he checks a lot of boxes, he's got a good motor. And the Celtics had him in for a pre-draft workout - both last year *and* this year.

[165bows]

I like him. I've been watching more film on him lately. He is one player that doesn't fit what we need most at the moment but is the best player available type of player. If he is available at 30 that is. Reminds me a little of Tobias Harris.

I kind of like his fit actually, allows them to play big more frequently if they had a player like that. Idk if he will hit or not but he seems a tad bigger than Harris, though that's an interesting comp for him.

Freeman is an intriguing fit. If you were to ask me what is the biggest thing our team could improve upon, I might say rebounding.

We really struggled to rebound the ball in that game 4 loss to Dallas..and in some of the other games vs Dallas..and in some of the other playoff/reg season games.

Well, rebounding is Freeman's best attribute. He led all of college basketball this past season with 12.9 RPG. So just based on that, it's an intriguing fit.

If I ask you, what position we have the biggest need for, it's probably at the big man spot (with KP injured, Al is old, Kornet and Tillman are FA, Queta is non-guaranteed for next season).

Now, even though Freeman projects as more of a 4 than a 5, I think he can play small ball 5..based on the rebounding ability, 7'2" wingspan and the fact that he played almost exclusively at the 5 in college.

Having the versatility to play the 4 or the 5 is a nice value-add.

Then of course, to get real rotation mins on this team, it certainly helps if you can shoot. While Freeman isn't a great shooter, he did shoot 37% from 3 this past season. 1.5 3PA per game which is low but it's not terrible. Decent FT% too and he also shot 4/5 from 3 over the 2 scrimmages at the combine.

So he checks a lot of boxes, he's got a good motor. And the Celtics had him in for a pre-draft workout - both last year *and* this year.

Thing about the Boston rotation is they have so much versatility already. Not many teams can pick a 4/5 guy in the draft and use him to bounce a small backup PG down the rotation. I'd love someone with this skill set so they can choose between an athletic 4/5 guy, Hauser or Pritchard depending on the matchup. But since they've got 4 guys between White, Jrue, Brown and Tatum that can all play two positions well it gives them crazy flexibility with who they add in on the bench.

Just need to find the right guy, but of course everyone wants that do-it-all versatile big. A few candidates though that could let this team play bigger with someone in that 4 spot which I think would be a great add for this team.

[Cuban Pete]

There's like no one in this draft who fits that description. Perhaps Kel'El Ware..but we'd have to trade up to get him..

Quinten Post

I would have said him, but he's got Kanter-like lateral quickness.

Based on lane agility time, Post isn't that far behind Saar. Besides, Post is an great shooter for a big - 6.2 3ptAtt/100 POS and .821 FT%.

[redslastlaugh]

I’m not really psyched at the idea of drafting Pacôme Dadiet. He’s okay, he’s young, might be good someday, but it just feels Ike an afterthought pick.

Actually reminds me of JR Giddens in 2008, except way younger. We just won the title, bringing back a loaded roster, picking last with the 30th pick, really need a young big to start to develop, and let’s just roll the dice on an athletic swing man who is just like moderately impressive from a physical perspective. If he doesn’t come over right away, we can use the roster spot and money elsewhere, where I have heard that before, Yabu anyone?

I dunno, Dadiet seems like a JAG, there’s 7,8 guys I’d rather pick or just trade the pick for assets into the future. That’s my take.

Read on Twitter

1:03 love the move here. This type of counter and craft is something that we have seen from Tatum and Brown but we didn't really seen them incorporate many of these type of moves until after they had been in the league for a few yrs. The fact that Dadiet has this type of stuff in his bag at age 18 and is doing it in one of the top pro leagues in the world is impressive

[Hal14]

Quinten Post

I would have said him, but he's got Kanter-like lateral quickness.

Based on lane agility time, Post isn't that far behind Saar. Besides, Post is an great shooter for a big - 6.2 3ptAtt/100 POS and .821 FT%.

Eye test tells me that Sarr and Post a worlds apart in terms of quickness/athleticism.

On film, Sarr looks to move about as quick as any 7-footer I have ever seen. Whereas Post seemed to be moving in slow motion in the draft combine scrimmages.

You can't base everything on the lane agility drill. On film, I see Dadiet doing a pretty good job of locking guys up out on the perimeter, sliding his feet to contain drivers. And I see Justin Edwards doing a decent job as a wing defender out on the perimeter. Yet they're both behind Post in lane agility drill time which just does not match up with the eye test at all.

I was pretty high on Post (had him ranked in like the 52-62 range) but after seeing how slow he was moving in the combine scrimmages (seemed to be a couple steps slower than pretty much everyone else out there), he just does not seem like an NBA player (when you factor in the quickness/athleticism combined with being 24 yrs old)..

I think he'll probably get a summer league spot and maybe a 2-way. But think he's probably better off playing overseas somewhere..where the athleticism and speed of the game is not quite as high.

[redslastlaugh]

Freeman could be what we wanted Grant Williams to be, a physical switchable forward who can shoot a little bit, except Freeman has a body more built to succeed in the modern NBA. 6-8, 215 with a 7-2 wingspan, Freeman has the length (unlike Grant) to actually be able to rebound and also finish from 4-8 feet extending with the jump hook.

Freeman is no slam dunk, can’t-miss prospect, he’s way older and didn’t play the highest competition level. But I really like him because he has a chance to be good and also to help in an area of need for the Celts.

Nice write up on Enrique Freeman.

https://open.substack.com/pub/edemirnba/p/enrique-freeman-scouting-report?r=99bc3&utm_medium=ios

Pretty high on him as a pick late first/early second.

I like him. I've been watching more film on him lately. He is one player that doesn't fit what we need most at the moment but is the best player available type of player. If he is available at 30 that is. Reminds me a little of Tobias Harris.

I kind of like his fit actually, allows them to play big more frequently if they had a player like that. Idk if he will hit or not but he seems a tad bigger than Harris, though that's an interesting comp for him.

[djFan71]

Freeman could be what we wanted Grant Williams to be, a physical switchable forward who can shoot a little bit, except Freeman has a body more built to succeed in the modern NBA. 6-8, 215 with a 7-2 wingspan, Freeman has the length (unlike Grant) to actually be able to rebound and also finish from 4-8 feet extending with the jump hook.

Freeman is no slam dunk, can’t-miss prospect, he’s way older and didn’t play the highest competition level. But I really like him because he has a chance to be good and also to help in an area of need for the Celts.

I like him. I've been watching more film on him lately. He is one player that doesn't fit what we need most at the moment but is the best player available type of player. If he is available at 30 that is. Reminds me a little of Tobias Harris.

I kind of like his fit actually, allows them to play big more frequently if they had a player like that. Idk if he will hit or not but he seems a tad bigger than Harris, though that's an interesting comp for him.

I’m intrigued by him as well, but for all the Freeman supporters out there, where does he fit if we resign Tillman? Does he do anything better than X right now? Or are we thinking just long term depth with Freeman?

Which is fine given our roster and where we’re picking. Just trying to gauge the level of excitement people have for Freeman.

[threrf23]

Freeman, statistically, vaguely resembles collegiate Javonte Green. Or Andre Roberson, but without the steals and with slightly worse foul efficiency against worse competition. Roberson, overall, might be the best comp. edit, Freeman might be the better interior scorer but that won't effortlessly translate to the NBA.

Rebounding is probably the best predictor of NBA success and at worst, he seems like a great energy guy to bring off the bench, have in practice, etc. But he wouldn't be on my radar in the first round.

[165bows]

Freeman could be what we wanted Grant Williams to be, a physical switchable forward who can shoot a little bit, except Freeman has a body more built to succeed in the modern NBA. 6-8, 215 with a 7-2 wingspan, Freeman has the length (unlike Grant) to actually be able to rebound and also finish from 4-8 feet extending with the jump hook.

Freeman is no slam dunk, can’t-miss prospect, he’s way older and didn’t play the highest competition level. But I really like him because he has a chance to be good and also to help in an area of need for the Celts.

I kind of like his fit actually, allows them to play big more frequently if they had a player like that. Idk if he will hit or not but he seems a tad bigger than Harris, though that's an interesting comp for him.

I’m intrigued by him as well, but for all the Freeman supporters out there, where does he fit if we resign Tillman? Does he do anything better than X right now? Or are we thinking just long term depth with Freeman?

Which is fine given our roster and where we’re picking. Just trying to gauge the level of excitement people have for Freeman.

He's pretty high on my list - I think he is much more athletic and a threat to score inside than Tillman. Which I know it's all about shooting today and that's important but part of the value of shooting is it opens up rim threats better.

On Tillman I think there is a good bit of overlap. Tillman seems shaded towards the 5 who can get away with the 4 a little bit (esp since Boston has so much shooting at the 5), whereas my impression is Freeman is more 4 who according to Ersin Demir (link a page or two back) is as much a 3-4 on defense as anything.

Basically I like the idea of adding versatility, size and athleticism and he seems to have some upside in that mold while still having a shot to meet the skills requirements this team clearly holds. But there are some other guys that are likely less athletic that may be better in multiple ways.

[165bows]

Freeman, statistically, vaguely resembles collegiate Javonte Green. Or Andre Roberson, but without the steals and with slightly worse foul efficiency against worse competition. Roberson, overall, might be the best comp. edit, Freeman might be the better interior scorer but that won't effortlessly translate to the NBA.

Rebounding is probably the best predictor of NBA success and at worst, he seems like a great energy guy to bring off the bench, have in practice, etc. But he wouldn't be on my radar in the first round.

Man Javonte Green had some crazy steal rates in college.

That said Freeman is a tier taller and has a .637eFG% compared to Green's pretty pedestrian .528eFG%, with only modestly lower scoring volume.

Green also notched a couple of seasons in the teens (11th and 14th) in total rebound percentage in the NCAA, Freeman holds the 13th best total career rebound % mark (edit: and 6th overall career defensive reb%) in BBref's entire NCAA database, which is pretty impressive.

[Hal14]

Freeman, statistically, vaguely resembles collegiate Javonte Green. Or Andre Roberson, but without the steals and with slightly worse foul efficiency against worse competition. Roberson, overall, might be the best comp. edit, Freeman might be the better interior scorer but that won't effortlessly translate to the NBA.

Rebounding is probably the best predictor of NBA success and at worst, he seems like a great energy guy to bring off the bench, have in practice, etc. But he wouldn't be on my radar in the first round.

Totally fair if you wouldn't want to take him in the 1st round.

But Javonte is like 4 inches shorter than Freeman (Javonte is also a wing, whereas Freeman is a 4/5) so not a very relevant comp, imo. And Roberson was drafted over 10 yrs ago so also not super relevant to this year's draft.

I did a little bit of a deep dive into Freeman's statistical breakdown here.

Read on Twitter

The TL/DR version of this thread is that if you just look at Freeman's rebound numbers this season as a filter, add a filter for guys 6'7" and up..and filter out non-shooters (at least 2 3PA/100 possessions), Freeman is literally the only guy who meets that criteria among all college basketball players since 2008.

So he is a very unique prospect..

[Hal14]

I’m intrigued by him as well, but for all the Freeman supporters out there, where does he fit if we resign Tillman? Does he do anything better than X right now? Or are we thinking just long term depth with Freeman?

Which is fine given our roster and where we’re picking. Just trying to gauge the level of excitement people have for Freeman.

Short answer is that I'd be picking Freeman moreso for added depth up front, rather than being a guy who would be higher than Tillman on the depth chart.

Expanding on that: Realistically, Freeman probably doesn't leapfrog Tillman in the rotation. Tillman is an established rotation level player in this league. Freeman is not. Freeman is unproven guy who will go 2nd round w/ the slight chance of going late in the 1st round.

Also, you could possibly play Freeman and Tillman at the same time. Probably wouldn't be ideal, unless 1 (or both) of them develop to be more of a scoring threat. But it's possible.

We also don't know for sure that Tillman will resign.

As far as comparing them, I'd say:
-Tillman is like 25-30 lbs heavier. So that's one key difference..he's better equipped to handle physicality and bang around w/ guys near the basket. Tillman is more of a 5/4..where Freeman is more of a 4/5.
-Tillman is also a much better defender..especially being able to switch out on the perimeter and defend in space
-Freeman though appears to be a better rebounder (sometimes Tillman isn't a great rebounder for a big) and also has potential to be a better shooter.
-Freeman is also about 2 yrs younger, so there's upside for improve in any/all areas and to egt stronger physically.

Freeman's ceiling is likely an energy guy off the bench, solid rotation player (that's also the ceiling for guys like Bona, Ighodaro and PJ Hall). Realistically, he's probably not gonna be a starter. Only bigs in this draft who I think could maybe be a starter as a somewhat realistic ceiling is Sarr, Clingan, Filipowski, Edey, Missi and possibly Holmes.

Honestly, I don't even think Freeman is that far behind Holmes as a prospect (I probably have them in the same tier at this point). Main difference is Holmes is 1.5" taller and about 24 lbs heavier so is more of a pure center..whereas Freeman is more of a 4/small ball 5 type of guy. I don't know if Freeman has the size to start at the 5 in the NBA - Holmes does though..

[redslastlaugh]

Freeman could be what we wanted Grant Williams to be, a physical switchable forward who can shoot a little bit, except Freeman has a body more built to succeed in the modern NBA. 6-8, 215 with a 7-2 wingspan, Freeman has the length (unlike Grant) to actually be able to rebound and also finish from 4-8 feet extending with the jump hook.

Freeman is no slam dunk, can’t-miss prospect, he’s way older and didn’t play the highest competition level. But I really like him because he has a chance to be good and also to help in an area of need for the Celts.

I kind of like his fit actually, allows them to play big more frequently if they had a player like that. Idk if he will hit or not but he seems a tad bigger than Harris, though that's an interesting comp for him.

I’m intrigued by him as well, but for all the Freeman supporters out there, where does he fit if we resign Tillman? Does he do anything better than X right now? Or are we thinking just long term depth with Freeman?

Which is fine given our roster and where we’re picking. Just trying to gauge the level of excitement people have for Freeman.

Tillman body wise is way more a Big Baby, Danny Fortson, Reggie Evans type. Freeman body wise is more Pistons Rodman - they’re like 40 - 50 pounds difference in weight.

Freeman is a whole notch better rebounder, shot better in limited 3pt attempts and can extend vertically on the release to finish in the paint. Tillman also has some funky touch issues with his shot, where he’s even been under 50% FTs in recent seasons. Freeman’s shooting numbers are in an uptrend, last yr 37% from three, 72% from the line.

But Tillman is special defensively, way more physical, can guard Jokic all the way to Kyrie on the switch. We just saw how impactful Xavier was on the switch against Doncic. And Tillman way better passer.

Freeman keeps getting better tho. He’s super interesting.

[threrf23]

The TL/DR version of this thread is that if you just look at Freeman's rebound numbers this season as a filter, add a filter for guys 6'7" and up..and filter out non-shooters (at least 2 3PA/100 possessions), Freeman is literally the only guy who meets that criteria among all college basketball players since 2008.

So he is a very unique prospect..

Jemerrio Jones likely makes your list, 6'5 174 and averaged 18.4 rebounds per 40 his final season at New Mexico State, averaged 2.5 3PA per 100 possessions even if he barely hit any.

Yes, it's impressive, especially for a guy who is physically a wing, even if he was a senior playing for Akron.

But most guys on that list never made it far in the NBA, if they did make it to the NBA. The only ones who had NBA careers made that list as an underclassman. And here we're talking about a guy who didn't even really see the floor for Akron as a true freshman. Granted his sophomore stats, in terms of rebounding and to a lesser extent shot blocking, were dominant.

On that note, where is Norchad Omier mocking? 18.4 rebounds per 40 as a freshman, maybe a poor man's Tshiebwe but foul efficiency would suggest he's about as agile as Freeman.

Also, if Roberson is somehow too long ago to make a valid comparison, then Tyler Bey should make a better comparison perhaps.