2024 NBA Draft night open thread, round 1, June 26th

[Cammo101]

Anyone know if Weltman has woke from his mid-morning nap yet? Time to clock in and get to work !!

Surely he won't be napping until after he does his yearly duty of giving away our 2nd round pick.

[Cammo101]

I just looked at some random top 50 list and 16 of the top 50 are 22 years or older. It’s a weird draft.

Get used to it. This is the new world post-NIL money in college. Draft picks will continue to skew older as guys have less monetary incentive to risk coming out before they are ready.

[three3d]

Anyone know if Weltman has woke from his mid-morning nap yet? Time to clock in and get to work !!

Surely he won't be napping until after he does his yearly duty of giving away our 2nd round pick.

Lol so true, I’m sure by now he’s so used to doing that he could do it in his sleep lol

[MartinsIzAfraud]

I do agree that Carrington is a project, but he feels like a much different kind of prospect than Black.

Why is he a better prospect?

Just a different prospect. He can shoot and create offense in a pick and roll.

He's just raw in every other aspect and obviously doesnt have the defense or versatility Black does.

He's the offensive version of AB (6'4" with 6'8" wingspan 195lbs) and while he doesn't have the defensive stats or presence AB has he isn't a pushover as well.

A 4.1 assist to 1.9 turnovers for a freshman is pretty damn impressive especially in the ACC playing the big boys lol. He's has quite a bit of off-ball work in his highlights as well which shows he knows how to move off-ball screens and get to his spots. His finishing is something to work on but, he only shot 57 times at the rim. I'm not sure if that was by design or him knowing he can pull up from anywhere and got too comfortable.

Read on Twitter

just watching this and thinking of him & ab on the court sharing the backcourt would be hella fun. Not to mention the PnR options with Paolo/Franz/WCJ.

For a team lacking this type of creation and shooting ability on the ball we could do a lot worse at 18. I honestly think he could walk in and immediately challenge Cole for his spot. Cole is such a hot/cold shooter and his size really really kills him.

he is my Maxey in this draft. a bucket-getter who can easily work on his defensive side of the game and doesn't get enough credit for his passing talent.

[Black and Blue]

Watching all this game film makes me cringe at remembering AB's college game film from a year ago. I just couldn't see anything to be excited about in that footage. This is a "worse" draft, with far more question marks, and yet I see a lot to be encouraged about in some of these prospects. -Including Carrington.

I've never wanted to be proven wrong more than with Anthony Black. If we hit on that pick it would change so much in a positive way. It would also mean our development team may be the best in the NBA, because there was so, so, SO much to work on with his college play. I can't help but feel like last year is this giant experiment of "how far can we push two guys who have very little in the way of skills, but have great measurables and are smart as hell."

[eyriq]

Watching all this game film makes me cringe at remembering AB's college game film from a year ago. I just couldn't see anything to be excited about in that footage. This is a "worse" draft, with far more question marks, and yet I see a lot to be encouraged about in some of these prospects. -Including Carrington.

I've never wanted to be proven wrong more than with Anthony Black. If we hit on that pick it would change so much in a positive way. It would also mean our development team may be the best in the NBA, because there was so, so, SO much to work on with his college play. I can't help but feel like last year is this giant experiment of "how far can we push two guys who have very little in the way of skills, but have great measurables and are smart as hell."

What does your friend think?

[The Effect]

been busy at work, have we sold our 2nd rounder yet??

[Black and Blue]

Watching all this game film makes me cringe at remembering AB's college game film from a year ago. I just couldn't see anything to be excited about in that footage. This is a "worse" draft, with far more question marks, and yet I see a lot to be encouraged about in some of these prospects. -Including Carrington.

I've never wanted to be proven wrong more than with Anthony Black. If we hit on that pick it would change so much in a positive way. It would also mean our development team may be the best in the NBA, because there was so, so, SO much to work on with his college play. I can't help but feel like last year is this giant experiment of "how far can we push two guys who have very little in the way of skills, but have great measurables and are smart as hell."

What does your friend think?

Basically the same thing, that AB had a surprisingly decent showing his rookie year given where he was at, and if the team can continue to build him from scratch they have something special. It's going to take time though and everyone is gambling heavily on capitalizing on AB's measurables.

For me when AB was drafted, I was like, "What is everyone so excited with this guy? I just don't see it." My friend and the other NBA scouts who know more than I do simply said, "Nothing is going to pop out in that game film because this kid still doesn't really know how to play. You draft him and hope the team can essentially teach him how to play and mold him into something over the coming years from the ground up."

I'm an impatient Magic fan, so a multi-year project where they had to teach a kid how to play was the last thing I wanted to hear about. -Especially when there have been so many failed projects over the years. But after year 1 I'm way more optimistic and can now see a path to him contributing consistently at some point, which is positive given how high his ceiling is.

[CocoaFan]

Sam Vecenie suggested today on his podcast that the Bulls might be looking to trade back from 11, and it sounded like18/Orlando might a good landing spot for the Bulls to still get the guy they want(Shannon).

If the Magic really like someone surely to be gone at 18 would you package that Denver pick to move up in this draft, or are we better off holding on to the Denver pick for a potential trade?

Feel like Carter could help us out this year, while guys available at 18 are probably more future rotation guys.

If we're moving up for Topic I think it would be worth it.

[eyriq]

Watching all this game film makes me cringe at remembering AB's college game film from a year ago. I just couldn't see anything to be excited about in that footage. This is a "worse" draft, with far more question marks, and yet I see a lot to be encouraged about in some of these prospects. -Including Carrington.

I've never wanted to be proven wrong more than with Anthony Black. If we hit on that pick it would change so much in a positive way. It would also mean our development team may be the best in the NBA, because there was so, so, SO much to work on with his college play. I can't help but feel like last year is this giant experiment of "how far can we push two guys who have very little in the way of skills, but have great measurables and are smart as hell."

What does your friend think?

Basically the same thing, that AB had a surprisingly decent showing his rookie year given where he was at, and if the team can continue to build him from scratch they have something special. It's going to take time though and everyone is gambling heavily on capitalizing on AB's measurables.

For me when AB was drafted, I was like, "What is everyone so excited with this guy? I just don't see it." My friend and the other NBA scouts who know more than I do simply said, "Nothing is going to pop out in that game film because this kid still doesn't really know how to play. You draft him and hope the team can essentially teach him how to play and mold him into something over the coming years from the ground up."

I'm an impatient Magic fan, so a multi-year project where they had to teach a kid how to play was the last thing I wanted to hear about. -Especially when there have been so many failed projects over the years. But after year 1 I'm way more optimistic and can now see a path to him contributing consistently at some point, which is positive given how high his ceiling is.

Makes sense. 4:3 assist to turnover ratio in college screams court vision but inexperience. That was in a playmaker role but obviously he shared the court with other playmakers.

His free throw rate, off-ball movement, size, and defense in college was ridiculously good, and that translated right away.

Shooting 39% from three as a rookie was shocking.

Mosley coached to AB's strengths. Playmaking wasn't touched, nor was any isolation ball. It was all connector piece and defense as a rookie. Which was still very good for us and why he contributed to winning.

I honestly don't get why he doesn't pass the eye test.

[Black and Blue]

Sam Vecenie suggested today on his podcast that the Bulls might be looking to trade back from 11, and it sounded like18/Orlando might a good landing spot for the Bulls to still get the guy they want(Shannon).

If the Magic really like someone surely to be gone at 18 would you package that Denver pick to move up in this draft, or are we better off holding on to the Denver pick for a potential trade?

Feel like Carter could help us out this year, while guys available at 18 are probably more future rotation guys.

If we're moving up for Topic I think it would be worth it.

11 is actually a really great draft spot in this particular draft to move up, especially if there is a single guy the team is high on. A lot of talented people are going to go in that 11-17 range (unfortunately for the Magic).

That said, next year's draft is so much better than this one I would not be willing to give any of next year's picks. Especially for such a small trade up. Hopefully the Bulls and Magic still have a good relationship after the Franz and Carter trade to hammer out a small deal contingent on the Magic wanting someone who is available at 11.

[Def Swami]

This is the least invested I’ve been in a draft since Daniel Orton and Deandre Liggins in 2010 and 2011.

With that said, if we keep the pick, Jared McCain and Tristan Da Silva are my favorite prospects. If Rob Dillingham, Devin Carter, or Topic fall, I’d swipe them too.

The real intrigue for me is how aggressive we are on the trade front.

[Knightro]

I would absolutely trade 18 + the 2025 Denver pick to get Devin Carter. I think he's a real stud.

[Black and Blue]

What does your friend think?

Basically the same thing, that AB had a surprisingly decent showing his rookie year given where he was at, and if the team can continue to build him from scratch they have something special. It's going to take time though and everyone is gambling heavily on capitalizing on AB's measurables.

For me when AB was drafted, I was like, "What is everyone so excited with this guy? I just don't see it." My friend and the other NBA scouts who know more than I do simply said, "Nothing is going to pop out in that game film because this kid still doesn't really know how to play. You draft him and hope the team can essentially teach him how to play and mold him into something over the coming years from the ground up."

I'm an impatient Magic fan, so a multi-year project where they had to teach a kid how to play was the last thing I wanted to hear about. -Especially when there have been so many failed projects over the years. But after year 1 I'm way more optimistic and can now see a path to him contributing consistently at some point, which is positive given how high his ceiling is.

Makes sense. 4:3 assist to turnover ratio in college screams court vision but inexperience. That was in a playmaker role but obviously he shared the court with other playmakers.

His free throw rate, off-ball movement, size, and defense in college was ridiculously good, and that translated right away.

Shooting 39% from three as a rookie was shocking.

Mosley coached to AB's strengths. Playmaking wasn't touched, nor was any isolation ball. It was all connector piece and defense as a rookie. Which was still very good for us and why he contributed to winning.

I honestly don't get why he doesn't pass the eye test.

I think you nailed it, both in why he was drafted but also why he doesn't yet pass the eye test for some folks: He still has a decent way left to go. Last year the team did an excellent job playing him to his strengths, but he spent a heck of a lot of time handing the ball off on offense and then standing in the corner (which was the plan). I think he passed every test the Magic chose to hand him last year, which is simply excellent and a sign of good things to come. It's why I went from "Why did we draft this guy" to "Hold up, we may have something here".

He still has the hardest tests ahead of him:

-Can he be a playmaker and facilitator on a team that needs those two attributes more than anything?
-Was the small sample size on his shooting indicative of his play, or was it boosted abnormally by the defense leaving him alone?
-Can AB become more of a verbal teammate as he gets more comfortable? He is notoriously quiet, but a PG needs to be talking constantly.
-Has AB worked on his shot enough to have the coaches loosen his restraints?
-With his comfortability improving, can he work on his speed on offense?

There are more, but you get the picture. If he can even add some of these to his game in 24-25, the team is going to be pumped and he will be on track to start the season after next. He has got to work his butt off though so the jury is still out, but so far so good.

[Black and Blue]

I would absolutely trade 18 + the 2025 Denver pick to get Devin Carter. I think he's a real stud.

I agree it would be really, really tempting.

A lot of experts have said pick 25 in next year's draft is going to be like the 10th pick in this one. It's why I knee jerk that it's smarter to hold onto that Denver pick. That said, if the Magic scouts are sold on Carter being a stud, and the free agent/trade market is barren (which the Magic should know at this point), then agreed you shoot the shot.

[Message Boar]

Where I'm at currently, from the prospects that may realistically be there:

Hype me up, Scotty:

- Tristan Da Silva
- Ja'Kobe Walter
- Jared McCain
- Bub Carrington
- Kel'el Ware
- Terrence Shannon

Do not want (at 18):

- Isaiah Collier
- Johnny Furphy
- KyShawn George
- Kyle Filiposwki
- Pacome Dadiet
- Baylor Scheierman

Meh, that's all right:

- Zach Edey
- Yves Missi
- Tyler Kolek
- Jaylon Tyson
- Tyler Smith

*Oh, and this is working under the assumption that Topic and Dillingham are gone, those two were straight up top 2 on my board until Topic' injury, so I would very much be down with grabbing (trading up for?) either of those if they actually do slide. Or Carter.

[Skybox]

I'm really liking McCain...and not in a G-League for a year kind of way. I hope he's there and I'd add DEN 25 to make sure we got him.

IF Topic were to drop to #18...absolutely, but I prefer McCain's shooting and health

There's a bunch of guys in our range that I'd be into...here's the few I'm not into (but, admittedly, could get behind):
KyShawn George
Zach Edey
Pacome Didiet
Johnny Furphy (I guess...)
Filipowski
Tyler Smith
Ryan Dunn (PLEASE not another 100% defender, no offensive game)

[OnlyFranz22]

Shannon
Da Silva

[Blue_and_Whte]

I'm really liking McCain...and not in a G-League for a year kind of way. I hope he's there and I'd add DEN 25 to make sure we got him.

IF Topic were to drop to #18...absolutely, but I prefer McCain's shooting and healthy

There's a bunch of guys in our range that I'd be into...here's the few I'm not into (but, admittedly, could get behind):
KyShawn George
Zach Edey
Pacome Didiet
Johnny Furphy (I guess...)
Filipowski
Tyler Smith
Ryan Dunn (PLEASE not another 100% defender, no offensive game)

Ryan Dunn would be a complete draft failure.

[Black and Blue]

I'm really liking McCain...and not in a G-League for a year kind of way. I hope he's there and I'd add DEN 25 to make sure we got him.

IF Topic were to drop to #18...absolutely, but I prefer McCain's shooting and healthy

There's a bunch of guys in our range that I'd be into...here's the few I'm not into (but, admittedly, could get behind):
KyShawn George
Zach Edey
Pacome Didiet
Johnny Furphy (I guess...)
Filipowski
Tyler Smith
Ryan Dunn (PLEASE not another 100% defender, no offensive game)

And-1 for this post. I need to make valentines cards for my wife next year that say, "I love you...and not in a G-League for a year kind of way."