Alex Sarr

[dobrojim]

His playmaking probably did get better. That said, his
teammates probably got better at finishing too.

[Frichuela]

This I like to hear. I hope Smart is successful and gets into Sarr’s head.

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[The Consiglieri]

Basically, I'd imagine its all about time in the weight room, and spending a billion years practicing his finishing and ball handling (catching, dribbling, passing) around the rim. With a guy like him, it's nice to know that the biggest issues are largely issues that can be addressed with lots of repetition and practice.

[Tyrone Messby]

Smart in Sarr’s ear is the best thing I’ve read today. Get that dawg in him, Marcus!

[smoothSeph]

If Sarr puts on 10 lbs and takes on the mindset to try to dunk everything close he's a different player. He'll get to the line a lot more and I think with more attempts he can shoot 78% from there.

[closg00]

Where do you think Alex would go in this next draft? I am guessing mid FRP.

[nate33]

Where do you think Alex would go in this next draft? I am guessing mid FRP.

Nah, he would go in the 5-8 range. He's still as interesting of a prospect as guys like Maluach, Queen and Johnson, and probably above guys like Knueppel and Newell.

Sarr has a rather high bust potential for a high pick, but he still has star caliber upside. If everything breaks right, Sarr is a Mobley tier player. Those guys go high.

Frankly, this draft isn't all that much stronger than the last draft, excluding Flagg and Harper.

[payitforward]

Interesting!

How do you think it may compare to 2022 or 2023??

[nate33]

Interesting!

How do you think it may compare to 2022 or 2023??

Looking at the first rounds only:

2022 produced 3 "stars" plus 10 more "quality starters"
Banchero
Holmgren
JDub
J Smith
Murray
Sharpe
Daniels
Duren
Williams
Eason
Braun
Kessler
Williams

2023 produced 1 star and 7-9 more quality starters (I'm projecting a bit here since these are just 2-year guys).
Wemby
Miller
Amen
Ausar
Bilal
C.Wallace
Lively
Podziemski
Black?
Keyonte George?

I'd say the 2025 draft is likely to be somewhere in between. Maybe 2-3 stars and 7-9 more quality starters.

FWIW, the 2024 draft produced no stars and probably 9 or so quality starters. Eww.
Risacher
Sarr
Castle
Clingan
Edey
Buzelis
McCain
Ware?
Missi?
Carrington?

[closg00]

I think you’re closing the window too-quickly on potential stars out of the Class of 24, McCain was really looking good before he went down with an injury, we probably need another year to evaluate, but the early look at the 24 class is meh so-far.

[payitforward]

I'll be very surprised if Amen doesn't become a star.

[nate33]

I'll be very surprised if Amen doesn't become a star.

If he never learns to shoot, he will forever be more of a "role player" than a star.

[payitforward]

I'll be very surprised if Amen doesn't become a star.

If he never learns to shoot, he will forever be more of a "role player" than a star.

People often use the term "shooting" when it would be better to use the word "scoring." Amen posted a 60.2% TS% last season. That's right up there with your guy Deni Avdija (60.4%).

Only Amen turned the ball over 70% as often as Deni, got more boards -- including 70% more offensive boards -- than Deni, blocked over twice as many shots as Deni, posted over 30% more steals than Deni, & committed fewer fouls than Deni.

Was Amen as good as Jimmy Butler last season? Probably not quite as good. But, he was a ton better than Deni Avdija -- & Deni was absolutely terrific!

As it stands right now, it's already easy to place him among the dozen best players in the league, & he only turned 22 a couple of months ago.

I'm not being contentious; I could care less about Amen Thompson. But he's an effng amazing NBA player.

[nate33]

I'll be very surprised if Amen doesn't become a star.

If he never learns to shoot, he will forever be more of a "role player" than a star.

People often use the term "shooting" when it would be better to use the word "scoring." Amen posted a 60.2% TS% last season. That's right up there with your guy Deni Avdija (60.4%).

Only Amen turned the ball over 70% as often as Deni, got more boards -- including 70% more offensive boards -- than Deni, blocked over twice as many shots as Deni, posted over 30% more steals than Deni, & committed fewer fouls than Deni.

Was Amen as good as Jimmy Butler last season? Probably not quite as good. But, he was a ton better than Deni Avdija -- & Deni was absolutely terrific!

As it stands right now, it's already easy to place him among the dozen best players in the league, & he only turned 22 a couple of months ago.

I'm not being contentious; I could care less about Amen Thompson. But he's an effng amazing NBA player.

Yes, he is an amazing player. But his lack of shooting makes offense much harder his teammates because his defender cheats off him to jam up other actions. Despite his individual scoring efficiency, Amen doesn't really help his team ORtg that much. Typically, a non-shooter must either have the ball in his hands (like prime Westbrook) or he must be in the dunker's spot, which is typically where the center is. In a 7-game series, these are the types of weaknesses that teams exploit and it's one of the reasons that #2 seed Houston lost to #7 seed Golden State.

[payitforward]

We'll never get anywhere continuing to discuss this subject if the fact that Golden State won the series is somehow evidence against Amen Thompson -- who was, btw, the only Rocket to have a good game 7 against GS!

I also question whether it's very likely defending teams cheat off a guy with a 60%+ TS%.

Didn't they also used to say that about Jimmy Butler as well...? "Can't shoot."

edit -- off topic, but how about the game Buddy Hield had in that victory! Turned 15 shots into 33 points -- wow!!

[dobrojim]

Hield won the game for them.
Podziemski also played really well for them.
He looks like a good draft pick at this time.

[DCZards]

You’re both right. Amen is an extremely impressive player who will likely only get better. His defense is elite. His unreal athleticism is the chief reason he’s good on offense.

But he’ll need to improve his perimeter shooting before he can be considered a top 15 player, imo. He needs a more well-rounded offensive game. Teams will figure out a way to take away what he currently does well on that end of the court.

[Dat2U]

If he never learns to shoot, he will forever be more of a "role player" than a star.

People often use the term "shooting" when it would be better to use the word "scoring." Amen posted a 60.2% TS% last season. That's right up there with your guy Deni Avdija (60.4%).

Only Amen turned the ball over 70% as often as Deni, got more boards -- including 70% more offensive boards -- than Deni, blocked over twice as many shots as Deni, posted over 30% more steals than Deni, & committed fewer fouls than Deni.

Was Amen as good as Jimmy Butler last season? Probably not quite as good. But, he was a ton better than Deni Avdija -- & Deni was absolutely terrific!

As it stands right now, it's already easy to place him among the dozen best players in the league, & he only turned 22 a couple of months ago.

I'm not being contentious; I could care less about Amen Thompson. But he's an effng amazing NBA player.

Yes, he is an amazing player. But his lack of shooting makes offense much harder his teammates because his defender cheats off him to jam up other actions. Despite his individual scoring efficiency, Amen doesn't really help his team ORtg that much. Typically, a non-shooter must either have the ball in his hands (like prime Westbrook) or he must be in the dunker's spot, which is typically where the center is. In a 7-game series, these are the types of weaknesses that teams exploit and it's one of the reasons that #2 seed Houston lost to #7 seed Golden State.

Amen is not the reason they lost. To me, he's the rare outlier to needing perimeter shooting. Teams can't really back off him on the ball because he attacks space so well and suddenly. They did struggle to score but I look more at Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr, Dillon Brooks as bigger reasons for their offensive struggles. Still I will say they need to put Amen on the ball and let FVV walk.

[AFM]

Sounds like they need COREY KISPERT.

[payitforward]

Hield won the game for them.
Podziemski also played really well for them.
He looks like a good draft pick at this time.

A lot of us here really liked him. Nat comes to mind.