Alex Sarr

[Dark Faze]

He's got to get his rebounding numbers up. If the clock runs out on him and he's still low efficiency and bad on the glass, then he's going to need to be unreal defensively to stick it in the league as a starter.

If he can be a plus rebounder and a plus defensively, then he'll get years and years to slowly develop his offense.

[closg00]

Interesting to take look at the 2024 Center Class:

* Alexandre Sarr: 2
* Donovan Clingan: 7th pick
* Kel'el Ware: 15th pick
* Zach Edey: 19th pick
* Yves Missi: 
23rd pick. 


* Adem Bona: 41st pick

Alex is the only "non-traditional" Center of the group, he projects to be a stretch 5 in the mold of Wemby, and KP, he puts up a fair amount of 3-pointers, hopefully his accuracy will increase this season, if he turns out to be another KP, I am fine with that.

[payitforward]

You forgot ighodaro, Post, Chomche & Hukporti among the '24 class at Center....

[Kanyewest]

Sarr is going 11th in Sam Vecceine's 2024 redraft

11. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
Actual pick: No. 2

I ranked Sarr No. 1 before last year’s draft, but I would not have been quite as high on him if he’d been entering the draft this year because of some adjustments in how I look at center prospects.

With Sarr, I got a bit caught up in the idea of how he can expand his game at the center position. Undeniably, he moves incredibly fluidly at his size and has potential to switch. He has potential to shoot it, too, and is comfortable firing from distance. His passing this past season was a revelation, especially out of short rolls. He’s very comfortable with the ball, and I’m a huge proponent of every team needing a five-out look on the offensive end. Sarr can bring that.

However, he does not do the non-negotiable parts of being an NBA center to a startling degree. He doesn’t have great hands when it comes to grabbing contested rebounds and can be moved around when he tries to anchor his position. The same goes on defense, where he can struggle to deal with stronger players and get sealed off positionally.

On offense, Sarr is one of the worst finishers to enter the league at the center position in a long while. He made just 45.1 percent of his layups this past season in half-court settings, per Synergy, which is among the lowest marks I’ve ever seen for a big. He only made 55.4 percent of shots at the rim, and that was the second worst in the league among centers who took at least 150 shots at the rim, in front of only Andre Drummond. He’s also not a particularly good screener, either.

Sarr’s upside remains quite high if he can get stronger, can become a better screener and can somehow fix the catastrophic finishing issue around the rim. But without that, it might be quite difficult to get him into lineups that end possessions effectively on both ends of the court.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6547791/2025/08/14/nba-draft-2024-stephon-castle-zaccharie-risacher/

[J-Ves]

Come on Vecceine throw us a bone

[DCZards]

Vecenie evaluates Sarr’s play based solely on him being a center. I don’t.

He does show some love for Kyshawn. Has him at 13.

13. Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards

Actual pick: No. 24

George and Wells are probably the biggest surprises of the 2024 draft cycle for me and certainly represent my two biggest misses.

At Miami, I did not think George was particularly athletic or impressive on the defensive end. He just did not give the kind of effort or display the awareness that made me think he would turn into a positive defender, even at his size. And yet, in his rookie season, he was a positive defender on a particularly bad defensive team. He was consistently active and engaged and made the opposition’s life harder.

Offensively, George doesn’t have a ton of vertical explosion to finish at the rim and has been hot and cold as a shooter. I think he’ll likely knock down shots off the catch at some point, and he’s an awesome, quick decision-maker as a passer off closeouts, but the role might end up being a bit more limited to that. Still, he looks like a win for the Wizards’ front office.

[AFM]

That entire list is trash. Remind me to throw everything that bozo writes right into the basura bin.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Sarr is going 11th in Sam Vecceine's 2024 redraft

11. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
Actual pick: No. 2

I ranked Sarr No. 1 before last year’s draft, but I would not have been quite as high on him if he’d been entering the draft this year because of some adjustments in how I look at center prospects.

With Sarr, I got a bit caught up in the idea of how he can expand his game at the center position. Undeniably, he moves incredibly fluidly at his size and has potential to switch. He has potential to shoot it, too, and is comfortable firing from distance. His passing this past season was a revelation, especially out of short rolls. He’s very comfortable with the ball, and I’m a huge proponent of every team needing a five-out look on the offensive end. Sarr can bring that.

However, he does not do the non-negotiable parts of being an NBA center to a startling degree. He doesn’t have great hands when it comes to grabbing contested rebounds and can be moved around when he tries to anchor his position. The same goes on defense, where he can struggle to deal with stronger players and get sealed off positionally.

On offense, Sarr is one of the worst finishers to enter the league at the center position in a long while. He made just 45.1 percent of his layups this past season in half-court settings, per Synergy, which is among the lowest marks I’ve ever seen for a big. He only made 55.4 percent of shots at the rim, and that was the second worst in the league among centers who took at least 150 shots at the rim, in front of only Andre Drummond. He’s also not a particularly good screener, either.

Sarr’s upside remains quite high if he can get stronger, can become a better screener and can somehow fix the catastrophic finishing issue around the rim. But without that, it might be quite difficult to get him into lineups that end possessions effectively on both ends of the court.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6547791/2025/08/14/nba-draft-2024-stephon-castle-zaccharie-risacher/

When Sar was drafted, I said I thought he was SORRY. He is soft.

doclinkin and Kevin Broom see the glass on Sarr as more than half full. Payitforward is optimistic, IIRC

I'm more optimistic now. He greatly improved his three-point shot. He works hard. Alex will ultimately play PF.

[dckingsfan]

That entire list is trash. Remind me to throw everything that bozo writes right into the basura bin.

I might agree with you - who is your top 5 in a redraft? Or are you thinking it is way to early to do the redraft?

[payitforward]

When Sar was drafted, I said I thought he was SORRY. He is soft.

doclinkin and Kevin Broom see the glass on Sarr as more than half full. Payitforward is optimistic, IIRC

I'm more optimistic now. He greatly improved his three-point shot. He works hard. Alex will ultimately play PF.

I'm not *entirely* optimistic, but I am hopeful. He brings a lot of plus stuff -- potentially -- but he was really really a godawful rookie.

That said, he was my choice at 2 -- for that matter, he would be again. That hasn't changed.
&, I agree! Alex will be an NBA forward -- not a Center.

[AFM]

That entire list is trash. Remind me to throw everything that bozo writes right into the basura bin.

I might agree with you - who is your top 5 in a redraft? Or are you thinking it is way to early to do the redraft?

It's way too early, but his article reads as "who had the best rookie season", not an actual redraft. But then he puts Sheppard at 4 because of "potential". Doesn't make any sense.

[dckingsfan]

That entire list is trash. Remind me to throw everything that bozo writes right into the basura bin.

I might agree with you - who is your top 5 in a redraft? Or are you thinking it is way to early to do the redraft?

It's way too early, but his article reads as "who had the best rookie season", not an actual redraft. But then he puts Sheppard at 4 because of "potential". Doesn't make any sense.

This. It is how I feel. Give it a year or two.

Now, if the article argued that this was a weak draft. I don't think it is too early to posit this. Then again, that may be too early if a couple of these players break out.

[doclinkin]

When Sar was drafted, I said I thought he was SORRY. He is soft.

doclinkin and Kevin Broom see the glass on Sarr as more than half full. Payitforward is optimistic, IIRC

I'm more optimistic now. He greatly improved his three-point shot. He works hard. Alex will ultimately play PF.

I'm not *entirely* optimistic, but I am hopeful. He brings a lot of plus stuff -- potentially -- but he was really really a godawful rookie.

That said, he was my choice at 2 -- for that matter, he would be again. That hasn't changed.
&, I agree! Alex will be an NBA forward -- not a Center.

That’s where I’ve been since the draft. I agreed with the reports where supposedly he didn’t see himself as a center. Alex is a supersized 3&D forward. His best hope is if that outside shot starts falling. Then he becomes a real asset by opening up the court. We still need a real front court beast.

Not my choice. I wanted a trade back for Castle + Edey.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

When Sar was drafted, I said I thought he was SORRY. He is soft.

doclinkin and Kevin Broom see the glass on Sarr as more than half full. Payitforward is optimistic, IIRC

I'm more optimistic now. He greatly improved his three-point shot. He works hard. Alex will ultimately play PF.

I'm not *entirely* optimistic, but I am hopeful. He brings a lot of plus stuff -- potentially -- but he was really really a godawful rookie.

That said, he was my choice at 2 -- for that matter, he would be again. That hasn't changed.
&, I agree! Alex will be an NBA forward -- not a Center.

He wouldn’t be my choice.

Buzelis is a much better player who will have a much better career.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

When Sar was drafted, I said I thought he was SORRY. He is soft.

doclinkin and Kevin Broom see the glass on Sarr as more than half full. Payitforward is optimistic, IIRC

I'm more optimistic now. He greatly improved his three-point shot. He works hard. Alex will ultimately play PF.

I'm not *entirely* optimistic, but I am hopeful. He brings a lot of plus stuff -- potentially -- but he was really really a godawful rookie.

That said, he was my choice at 2 -- for that matter, he would be again. That hasn't changed.
&, I agree! Alex will be an NBA forward -- not a Center.

That’s where I’ve been since the draft. I agreed with the reports where supposedly he didn’t see himself as a center. Alex is a supersized 3&D forward. His best hope is if that outside shot starts falling. Then he becomes a real asset by opening up the court. We still need a real front court beast.

Not my choice. I wanted a trade back for Castle + Edey.

Trading back for two winners, Castle and Edey would have been a no-brainer.

Castle won af UConn and in HS. Edey killed it at Purdue.

[DCZards]

When Sar was drafted, I said I thought he was SORRY. He is soft.

doclinkin and Kevin Broom see the glass on Sarr as more than half full. Payitforward is optimistic, IIRC

I'm more optimistic now. He greatly improved his three-point shot. He works hard. Alex will ultimately play PF.

I'm not *entirely* optimistic, but I am hopeful. He brings a lot of plus stuff -- potentially -- but he was really really a godawful rookie.

That said, he was my choice at 2 -- for that matter, he would be again. That hasn't changed.
&, I agree! Alex will be an NBA forward -- not a Center.

That’s where I’ve been since the draft. I agreed with the reports where supposedly he didn’t see himself as a center. Alex is a supersized 3&D forward. His best hope is if that outside shot starts falling. Then he becomes a real asset by opening up the court. We still need a real front court beast.

Not my choice. I wanted a trade back for Castle + Edey.

I was a BIG fan of Castle and would have been happy with him at #2. But I preferred Sarr because of his size and length…and somewhat unique skillset for a 7 footer. I’m still fine with the pick.

I would have also traded for Castle and Edey. But no team would have traded two of the top 9 picks for the 2024 draft’s second pick, which, as it turns out, would have needed to happen in order to draft both Castle and Edey.

[payitforward]

...he was my choice at 2 -- for that matter, he would be again. T
&, I agree! Alex will be an NBA forward -- not a Center.

Not my choice. I wanted a trade back for Castle + Edey.

Trading back for two winners, Castle and Edey would have been a no-brainer...

In retrospect, sure!

doc, I don't recall you explicitly writing that we should trade back for Castle & Edey. I do recall you liking Edey -- as I also did.

In any case, no such trade back would have been available given who owned what picks. & in any case, I can't see anyone giving up the #9 pick to move up from 4 to 2.

Would you have taken Memphis' 2 picks? 9 & 39? Nah! Yet, that would have gotten us Edey & Jaylen Wells.

Of course, one could imagine that we'd kept Deni & traded 2 to Portland for 14, 34 & 40 -- then we could have taken Bub, Jaylen Wells (or Ajay Mitchell), & Adem Bona to add to the roster along with Avdija.

Always someting better in retrospect!

[doclinkin]

Not my choice. I wanted a trade back for Castle + Edey.

Trading back for two winners, Castle and Edey would have been a no-brainer...

In retrospect, sure!

doc, I don't recall you explicitly writing that we should trade back for Castle & Edey.

That’s just because you’re old.

I explicitly stated it multiple times. In fact I’m pretty sure it was as you who challenged me with the follow up question, if that deal isn’t available then which would I take at 2? And I said if pressed to pick one I’d take Castle. Though I’d maneuver to get Edey anyway lower down if I could. Move up if necessary.

Also I knew the Spurs wanted Castle so one thought was snatch him and see what we could extort from them. Take Edey and assets. And if they weren’t bidding, be happy with Edey.

We got Sarr. So we make the best of it. Which in my opinion is play him where he naturally floats. Pull in a big to take the bruises up front until Sarr thickens up. If ever.

[payitforward]

Fair enough (on all counts!)

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Trading back for two winners, Castle and Edey would have been a no-brainer...

In retrospect, sure!

doc, I don't recall you explicitly writing that we should trade back for Castle & Edey.

That’s just because you’re old.

I explicitly stated it multiple times. In fact I’m pretty sure it was as you who challenged me with the follow up question, if that deal isn’t available then which would I take at 2? And I said if pressed to pick one I’d take Castle. Though I’d maneuver to get Edey anyway lower down if I could. Move up if necessary.

Also I knew the Spurs wanted Castle so one thought was snatch him and see what we could extort from them. Take Edey and assets. And if they weren’t bidding, be happy with Edey.

We got Sarr. So we make the best of it. Which in my opinion is play him where he naturally floats. Pull in a big to take the bruises up front until Sarr thickens up. If ever.

https://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=jayden-quaintance--yaxel-lendeborg

Acquire Yaxel Lendeburg.

I think he's going to be a Shawn Marion or Scottie Pippen type player.