2024 NBA DRAFT THREAD 3

[Smalltown]

I can’t see him being much more than a 20 minute guy.

I think that's just the way of the NBA now for most centers to be honest. Outside of all-star calibur centers i think most centers average 18-25 minutes. It more often ends up being a platoon of bigs with different skill sets. Use the right big for the right situation and then change it up as soon as it's called for.

But it is why I'm also hesitant about drafting any center in the top half of the first round.

[Smalltown]

His defence looked terrible. Uconn was getting lobs over him, he couldn't defend guards getting into the paint. He looked extremely slow out there and a liability.

That's was more about Purdue's team defence than Edey's individual defence. Purdue's perimeter players were wildly outmatched.

[WuTang_CMB]

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[WuTang_CMB]

I like Edey but the game has just changed so much. But that's not to say he can't contribute. I see his ceiling like a Zubac type guy in the NBA. 10 and 10 type. But it will depend on if a team gives him a chance. I think OKC would be nice for him. Defensively he will need to adjust as well

[WuTang_CMB]

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6. Toronto Raptors: Donovan Clingan



Team: Connecticut

Position: C

Size: 7'2", 280 lbs

Age/Year: 20, Sophomore

Nationality: American

Pro Comparison: Rudy Gobert

Zach Edey still got his 37 points versus Connecticut, but Donovan Clingan made it difficult throughout the game, using his strength below the rim and reach to force tough hook shots and contested finishes.

He'd been dominant defensively against lower-level bigs, but enough stops against Edey should have helped solidify opinions on his upside protecting the basket.

Given Clingan's size, strength, length and effectiveness at the college level, teams should ultimately feel they can bank on his defense, which could hold extra weight in a draft lacking sure things. And most picking top 10 have an obvious need to become tougher to score against.

[deeps6x]

I know he doesn’t fit the typical archetype for a 6th man, but what if Edey comes off the bench as a 6th or 7th guy?

That's what I was thinking scout. Our bench instantly becomes a nightmare for opposing benches.

I'd really like to get Edey (or Clingan) in this draft, but not with a top six pick, and I think both are gone by the Pacer's pick. Probably in the 9-12 range. Both are flawed players, but both would look really good with our bench players, even if we remain scrub heavy there.

With our top six pick, we need someone to fit with our Barnes/IQ/Barrett/Poeltl core. Dick might be that guy, but he isn't yet.

Castle might work, or at least would look good on the bench if we also added Edey or Clingan. I still like Reed Sheppard. I just don't know if 6 is too high for either of them.

[pharring]

Edey will have a role at the next level. I don't think it will be as a 20-10 guy (though I very much hope that I am wrong). But even now, I think he'd be a good bench C. Rim deterrent. Solid FG% within the paint. Gobble up rebounds. Administers a few hard fouls. Maybe gets the other team's bigs into foul trouble if he can get the ball deep enough. But then sit him down.

Is that worth a first-round pick? I mean, I don't think you TRADE a first-round pick for that (sorry Poeltl). But if you have an outside-the-lottery first rounder, yes I do think you spend that on Edey. I would be surprised (but happy for him) if Edey goes top ten. But I would also be surprised if he is still on the board when the Indiana pick comes up. I like Edey with that pick.

[deeps6x]

He is the most polarizing draft candidate I've seen in a long time, some NBA savants see him as Boban, others as Yao. The right team is any team that sees him as the latter, and builds with him. OKC is certainly a candidate, they have the 12th pick right now (from Houston). I'd certainly take him at 17.

Anybody that thinks he is Yao doesn’t have any memory about how skilled a basketball player Yao was.

Regardless, Edey’s biggest issue is that it is 2024 and not 1994. He won’t be able to guard well enough in the modern NBA to stay on the floor for any longer than spot minutes against other bigs. Using a 1st round pick on him would be a tremendous waste.

Well if we actually keep our 6-4-3-2-1 pick we won't be taking either Edey or Clingan. Not with Jak and Kelly in the fold.

Kelly is more of a PF then a C. He would work well with Edey (on O) on the bench. I don't know how much we'd actually get torched on D with those two giants lurking around the rim. It would be interesting.

Clingan on the other hand, would provide better D to offset Kelly's weak D. Either combo would have it's plusses and minuses.

However, I just don't see either being available at the Pacer's pick.

[OakleyDokely]

The swing skill for Edey is the shooting. His stroke looks good and he shoots 3s in practice/workouts, but Perdue doesn't use him like that in the games. If he can develop a 3 like Lopez did, he can potentially be a starting caliber player.

[dagger]

Anybody that thinks he is Yao doesn’t have any memory about how skilled a basketball player Yao was.

Regardless, Edey’s biggest issue is that it is 2024 and not 1994. He won’t be able to guard well enough in the modern NBA to stay on the floor for any longer than spot minutes against other bigs. Using a 1st round pick on him would be a tremendous waste.

Well if we actually keep our 6-4-3-2-1 pick we won't be taking either Edey or Clingan. Not with Jak and Kelly in the fold.

We do need a C that can anchor the defense and go up against the large NBA centers like Embiid/Jokic and/or handle the tall lanky guys. Olynyk isn’t much of an defender and Poeltl’s bit injury prone, limited offensively and we need a back-up anyways

So a C is definitely on the priority list. It’s just that Clinton/Edey aren’t ideal candidates. Even Sarr isn’t that good and won’t be able to handle large C’s. Sarr off the bench as a PF might work

I'm fairly confident we won't be taking a C with our own pick (if we retain it) but with the later picks, a development project to replace both Kelly and Poeltl long term is a good idea. Poeltl has trade value that will only increase in a year when his flat-lined contract is half over, and is closer to the rising mid-level exception. He's not old, is not seriously injury prone - a hand injury isn't nearly as career-shortening as a knee injury - and his money is not really that much, so very trade-able.

[ATLTimekeeper]

I’m fine with Edey as long as we don’t use the Pacers pick on him.

If he’s not there with the Pistons pick, it is what it is.

His foot speed is concerning. And his over reliance on that right hand hook (he does have a counter).

I can’t see him being much more than a 20 minute guy. NBA defenses are going to put him action constantly.

Rooting for him but a little worried.

I dunno, he flat out dominated this tournament and all season. One game is creating a lot of overreactions, but I would argue that a lot of players in high stakes competition will have to rely on their best skills. Consider how easily he dominated with that one-hand dominance. The dude just had 37 of his team's 60 points and put all their bigs in foul trouble and fans are using that as evidence that he's a 'situational big.'

In terms of how much he plays, it's hard to get over 30 minutes at 7 feet anyway. Gobert leads all 7+ footers at 34 minutes. If Edey gets into that 25-30 minute range he's well worth the Indy pick.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Edey could have easily fouled out Clingan without Hurley going Shakespearean after every whistle. While I think Clingan is a decent prospect in his own right, one guy was 'the guy' for his team and Clingan was a specialist. Draft stock for them should be about the same, but I would still take the scoring potential of Edey.

[Psubs]

I can’t see him being much more than a 20 minute guy.

I think that's just the way of the NBA now for most centers to be honest. Outside of all-star calibur centers i think most centers average 18-25 minutes. It more often ends up being a platoon of bigs with different skill sets. Use the right big for the right situation and then change it up as soon as it's called for.

But it is why I'm also hesitant about drafting any center in the top half of the first round.

Ya, I think there is no reason to use picks at all for platoon bigs, just use the MLE and sign one. They are like the running backs in the NFL; once a focal point, now the good ones need to just take below league average salaries.

His defence looked terrible. Uconn was getting lobs over him, he couldn't defend guards getting into the paint. He looked extremely slow out there and a liability.

That's was more about Purdue's team defence than Edey's individual defence. Purdue's perimeter players were wildly outmatched.

Ya, UConn's cutting and individual drives past perimeter defenders compromised the defense. Edey pretty much shut down Clingan. Clingan got at least 2 buckets when Edey sat.

Why not throw $20 million per year for 4 years at Isaiah Hartenstein? That's not bad for his age 26-29 prime. In 25 mpg, he gets 1 stl and 1 blk but his defense is pretty good and also has an A/T of 2. He would be prefect for this offense.

[Psubs]

I’m fine with Edey as long as we don’t use the Pacers pick on him.

If he’s not there with the Pistons pick, it is what it is.

His foot speed is concerning. And his over reliance on that right hand hook (he does have a counter).

I can’t see him being much more than a 20 minute guy. NBA defenses are going to put him action constantly.

Rooting for him but a little worried.

I dunno, he flat out dominated this tournament and all season. One game is creating a lot of overreactions, but I would argue that a lot of players in high stakes competition will have to rely on their best skills. Consider how easily he dominated with that one-hand dominance. The dude just had 37 of his team's 60 points and put all their bigs in foul trouble and fans are using that as evidence that he's a 'situational big.'

In terms of how much he plays, it's hard to get over 30 minutes at 7 feet anyway. Gobert leads all 7+ footers at 34 minutes. If Edey gets into that 25-30 minute range he's well worth the Indy pick.

NBA bigs are more skilled and agile. Olynyk will just beat Edey down the court all day. Also in the half-court, take him out to the 3 pt line. On defense Olynyk would hold his own. Edey would get beat down the court all day against other NBA C's. Ware is probably the slowest you can get away with to be effective. Edey and Clingan would be barely playable on the fast break like Tacko Fall and Hasheem Thabeet.

[Randle McMurphy]

I’m fine with Edey as long as we don’t use the Pacers pick on him.

If he’s not there with the Pistons pick, it is what it is.

His foot speed is concerning. And his over reliance on that right hand hook (he does have a counter).

I can’t see him being much more than a 20 minute guy. NBA defenses are going to put him action constantly.

Rooting for him but a little worried.

I dunno, he flat out dominated this tournament and all season. One game is creating a lot of overreactions, but I would argue that a lot of players in high stakes competition will have to rely on their best skills. Consider how easily he dominated with that one-hand dominance. The dude just had 37 of his team's 60 points and put all their bigs in foul trouble and fans are using that as evidence that he's a 'situational big.'

In terms of how much he plays, it's hard to get over 30 minutes at 7 feet anyway. Gobert leads all 7+ footers at 34 minutes. If Edey gets into that 25-30 minute range he's well worth the Indy pick.

Him being a situational big in the NBA has exactly nothing to do with his offense.

[Randle McMurphy]

Edey could have easily fouled out Clingan without Hurley going Shakespearean after every whistle. While I think Clingan is a decent prospect in his own right, one guy was 'the guy' for his team and Clingan was a specialist. Draft stock for them should be about the same, but I would still take the scoring potential of Edey.

Only one of those guys will be able to stay on the floor against a simple PnR in the NBA and it ain’t Edey.

[OakleyDokely]

Teams that have played at the slowest pace this season:

1. NYK
2. CHI
3. MIA
4. ORL
5. DEN
6. CLE
7. BRK
8. LAC
9. CHA
10. MIN
19. TOR

[dagger]

The swing skill for Edey is the shooting. His stroke looks good and he shoots 3s in practice/workouts, but Perdue doesn't use him like that in the games. If he can develop a 3 like Lopez did, he can potentially be a starting caliber player.

That's a good point, another is that the NBA is a trend league, and eventually a new trend emerges. Right now, outside shooting is godly, but a good post scorer can get a higher percentage, and if it's high enough, it forces a change in approach. He's a young senior and if he adds almost anything to his game, he and other 7-footers will force team management to adjust their thinking about interior size and how to draft, trade, sign FAs. He's a good gamble with the Indiana pick, and Kelly - who can't defend a chair inside - could play with him as a stretch 4 off the bench.

And one more thing. In college, because he was carrying Purdue and the NCAA game only allow one five fouls, he couldn't afford to foul opponents like he would be able to do as a bench player in the NBA. Purdue couldn't afford him being in foul trouble. He will not have that issue when is drafted. I expect his D will become more physical and intimidating. The team that drafts him will encourage contact.

One other thing about Edey - he's cut out for FIBA play, no three-second rule, batting ball sitting on rim allowed, and the three point distance is shorter so he has less ground to cover out to the three-point line. All good for Team Canada.

[Randle McMurphy]

The swing skill for Edey is the shooting. His stroke looks good and he shoots 3s in practice/workouts, but Perdue doesn't use him like that in the games. If he can develop a 3 like Lopez did, he can potentially be a starting caliber player.

That's a good point, another is that the NBA is a trend league, and eventually a new trend emerges. Right now, outside shooting is godly, but a good post scorer can get a higher percentage, and if it's high enough, it forces a change in approach. He's a young senior and if he adds almost anything to his game, he and other 7-footers will force team management to adjust their thinking about interior size and how to draft, trade, sign FAs. He's a good gamble with the Indiana pick, and Kelly - who can't defend a chair inside - could play with him as a stretch 4 off the bench. One other thing about Edey - he's cut out for FIBA play, no three-second rule, batting ball sitting on rim allowed, and the three point distance is shorter so he has less ground to cover out to the three-point line. All good for Team Canada.

And one more thing. In college, because he was carrying Purdue and the NCAA game only allow one five fouls, he couldn't afford to foul opponents like he would be able to do as a bench player in the NBA. Purdue couldn't;t afford him being in foul trouble. He will not have that issue when is drafted. I expect his D will be even more intimidating. The team that drafts him will encourage hard fouls.

He won’t be able to foul anybody if he can’t move fast enough to touch them.

[dagger]

The swing skill for Edey is the shooting. His stroke looks good and he shoots 3s in practice/workouts, but Perdue doesn't use him like that in the games. If he can develop a 3 like Lopez did, he can potentially be a starting caliber player.

That's a good point, another is that the NBA is a trend league, and eventually a new trend emerges. Right now, outside shooting is godly, but a good post scorer can get a higher percentage, and if it's high enough, it forces a change in approach. He's a young senior and if he adds almost anything to his game, he and other 7-footers will force team management to adjust their thinking about interior size and how to draft, trade, sign FAs. He's a good gamble with the Indiana pick, and Kelly - who can't defend a chair inside - could play with him as a stretch 4 off the bench. One other thing about Edey - he's cut out for FIBA play, no three-second rule, batting ball sitting on rim allowed, and the three point distance is shorter so he has less ground to cover out to the three-point line. All good for Team Canada.

And one more thing. In college, because he was carrying Purdue and the NCAA game only allow one five fouls, he couldn't afford to foul opponents like he would be able to do as a bench player in the NBA. Purdue couldn't;t afford him being in foul trouble. He will not have that issue when is drafted. I expect his D will be even more intimidating. The team that drafts him will encourage hard fouls.

He won’t be able to foul anybody if he can’t move fast enough to touch them.

Rubbish, you don't have to be Andre DeGrasse to belt somebody going up for a layup.