2024 Draft #8 Pick Question: Any regrets with the trade?

[Cassius]

Raptors fan here, who obviously was incredibly vested in the #8 pick that acted as (hopefully) our final penance for the Kawhi trade. I’m Canadian, so of course I was high on Zach Edey even when he was being mocked in the late teens, but was convinced that RC was going to trade down to get him and some other assets.

Especially after a season where the Wolves had just knocked off the Nuggets with two bigs, and the Celtics/Mavs deployed a 48-minute platoon of quality 5s.

Seeing what Edey is doing off the bench for Memphis, does anyone here wish that they’d have picked him instead of kicking the pick down the road? The Cavs, Thunder and Rockets seem to be headed down the same “twin tower” path and I wonder what you think of the team’s vision, given how much time Victor is spending on the perimeter. Victor/Zach could have been the heirs apparent to Giannis/Brook Lopez (though Vic spaces… you get it) but I’d love to learn what you believe the teams’ vision to be, and whether or not you agree with it.


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[G R E Y]

Raptors fan here, who obviously was incredibly vested in the #8 pick that acted as (hopefully) our final penance for the Kawhi trade. I’m Canadian, so of course I was high on Zach Edey even when he was being mocked in the late teens, but was convinced that RC was going to trade down to get him and some other assets.

Especially after a season where the Wolves had just knocked off the Nuggets with two bigs, and the Celtics/Mavs deployed a 48-minute platoon of quality 5s.

Seeing what Edey is doing off the bench for Memphis, does anyone here wish that they’d have picked him instead of kicking the pick down the road? The Cavs, Thunder and Rockets seem to be headed down the same “twin tower” path and I wonder what you think of the team’s vision, given how much time Victor is spending on the perimeter. Victor/Zach could have been the heirs apparent to Giannis/Brook Lopez (though Vic spaces… you get it) but I’d love to learn what you believe the teams’ vision to be, and whether or not you agree with it.


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Considering he's a starter (9 of 15 games) at Wemby's preferred position, no. Edey is a 'is what he is' player and that fine considering he's very good at it. But barely any 3s and poor FTs is not what the other players alongside for example Giannis provide.

Wemby doesn't need an Edey to get better, so that's not really the point to highlight. Teams like GSW make the non C thing work because everyone is so locked into their system. We're coming up with one around Wemby and we need both overall talent upgrade around him (work in progress) and we need help when he rests. Using a lotto pick on a back up C is not prudent.

Our GM has been accumulating picks for 2031 and has flipped the 2024 8th pick for an unprotected one in that year.

There are many ways and players to fill a back up C role so I don't regret we didn't draft Edey especially with the 8th pick. We have anywhere from two to I think four 1sts in 2025 and can still go a number of ways to both upgrade overall talent and fill needs.

[mikejames23]

SA sometimes looks into acquiring other stars like Trae Young, but I don't think Edey was all that for us. If he keeps working on his center skills, he could probably transition into some guy that's pretty good, like a successful version of Boban Marjanovic.

Feels like Edey is 300+ lbs, and that's where teams plan to use him for an advantage.

As far as prospects go, Steph Castle has made me happy so far, so I think rebuild has been working.

Just watch Giannis in NBA cup, Wemby has a while to go if he wants to get to that level. I think he can, currently #10 in MVP ladders.

I don't regret Edey that much, I think he would have trouble in the SA scheme. Fit and identity is a huge thing in SA, I believe that's why we don't just bite on these moves and bring in stars.

[Cassius]

Thanks. I hadn't looked at the lineup data and have only watched a handful of Spurs games for this season, but last year when I saw him play live or on TV, it felt like he always had a PF/second big on the floor with him. Knowing how Pop has almost always kept a second big on the floor (Rasho, Malik Rose, Splitter, Dedmon, etc.) next to his big man/offensive fulcrum, I figured he would still be doing the same thing. Now, looking at the data, it seems like Jakob Poeltl signaled a change not because he's so limited offensively, but because Pop's actually changed.

Maybe Sochan is the vision for the proper PF running mate, equal parts Rodman and (vegan) Diaw.

Thanks!

[imagump1313]

Raptors fan here, who obviously was incredibly vested in the #8 pick that acted as (hopefully) our final penance for the Kawhi trade. I’m Canadian, so of course I was high on Zach Edey even when he was being mocked in the late teens, but was convinced that RC was going to trade down to get him and some other assets.

Especially after a season where the Wolves had just knocked off the Nuggets with two bigs, and the Celtics/Mavs deployed a 48-minute platoon of quality 5s.

Seeing what Edey is doing off the bench for Memphis, does anyone here wish that they’d have picked him instead of kicking the pick down the road? The Cavs, Thunder and Rockets seem to be headed down the same “twin tower” path and I wonder what you think of the team’s vision, given how much time Victor is spending on the perimeter. Victor/Zach could have been the heirs apparent to Giannis/Brook Lopez (though Vic spaces… you get it) but I’d love to learn what you believe the teams’ vision to be, and whether or not you agree with it.


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Well I regret it. I wanted him all along as a backup and also some kind of back to the basket tutor for Wemby (which I believe he needs). I never thought he would be a super star or a starter but a competent backup. He is smart, works hard and is great fundamentally which is something this team used to covet.

We do need better players alongside Wemby and we have struggled to do that. He is a guy that just makes the team overall better. It was kind of deflating passing him up IMO.

[Cassius]

Well I regret it. I wanted him all along as a backup and also some kind of back to the basket tutor for Wemby (which I believe he needs). I never thought he would be a super star or a starter but a competent backup. He is smart, works hard and is great fundamentally which is something this team used to covet.

We do need better players alongside Wemby and we have struggled to do that. He is a guy that just makes the team overall better. It was kind of deflating passing him up IMO.

Okay, it's good to hear another perspective. Ironically, the Jakob Poeltl arc is what I thought about. Another guy who is limited, but figured it out in a few years and is now a dependable starter on his own but devastating when paired with a superstar. Steven Adams is another one.

[Rustyman]

Looking back, I have no regrets. Initially I wanted the Spurs to pick Salaun or Dillingham but if they did, we would not have been able to sign Chris Paul or trade for Harrison Barnes.

Looking at it now, it was obviously the right decision. That may however change at the end of the season.