The (way too early) 2024 Draft thread. Woo! Tanking!

[nate33]

New No Ceilings mock has Castle, Walter, and Williams in the top 5 and Sarr at #1. Topic at #4.

Collier and Holland are clearly dropping and everyone is now penciling Sarr in at #1 for whatever reason.

The Spurs will take either Sarr or Topic, whichever one they can get I would wager, we may be doing the same

Why in the world would the Spurs draft Sarr?

[NatP4]

I’m taking Topic, Sheppard, Castle, and Buzelis over Sarr/Holland/Collier/Walter.

Castle fell off for awhile due to injury, and has struggled to work his way back, but looked fully 100% like himself the other night. Potentially the best player in the draft with superstar upside. Love his game

[closg00]

New No Ceilings mock has Castle, Walter, and Williams in the top 5 and Sarr at #1. Topic at #4.

Collier and Holland are clearly dropping and everyone is now penciling Sarr in at #1 for whatever reason.

The Spurs will take either Sarr or Topic, whichever one they can get I would wager, we may be doing the same

Why in the world would the Spurs draft Sarr?

I read it on one of the mocks, the thinking was that Wemby/Sarr would form some unstoppable front court, not gospel… .

[NatP4]

Sprained knee for Topic, out 6 weeks. Going to be a wild draft cycle. Castle, Topic, Buzelis will all have missed extended time.

[NatP4]

This guy is the real deal. Maybe the best player in the draft now that he’s fully healthy:

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[pcbothwel]

This guy is the real deal. Maybe the best player in the draft now that he’s fully healthy:

Read on Twitter

I loved him and Buzelis, but injuries have hurt both so far.
Castle plays that Butler playmaker role from the high post. Love his style.
I like a lot of guys in the 3 to 5 range. I’d love to end up at 1/2, and then trade down 2 to 4 spots for another first.

[closg00]

I usually like his analysis, but I don't like Zaccharie Risacher as the pick here. Oof

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[FAH1223]

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[dobrojim]

not knowing any better, Tankethon is where I've been going lately re the draft

It's interesting to me to look at the top 5 (or so) projected picks and compare their
respective stat strengths/weaknesses. Sarr is currently #1 but if you based your rating
on those strength/weaknesses, he would not be in the top 5. Clearly, they are projecting
on more than simply those strength/weakness criteria.

So thinking about PIFs mantra that pick position rarely correlates to NBA value,
alternatively how do those strength/weaknesses project to NBA productivity within the 4 years
of a rookie contract? Are they any more reliable? Jackson-Davis says heck yeah (early returns).
Others do not.

Crystal ball vision is hard to come by and maybe the only real conclusion is that
there are certain front offices/franchises that do it consistently better than others.
Even at that, it's an inexact science.

[pcbothwel]

Watch on YouTube

Totally agree about Holland... He isnt a lotto pick to me. Risacher, Clingan, and Collier are also overhyped and should not be top 10 picks. All the guys I "Like" (Sarr, Topic, Castle, Buzelis, etc) are standard 5-10 range guys, but not excited about them in the top 3.

I would LOVE to trade down in this draft. Dillingham, Sheppard, Filipowski, or the guys above in the 10-14 range would be GREAT. Or even the 15-20 range and grab McCullar, Salaun, Dunn, Almansa, Evans.

[NatP4]

Yeah, it’s an incredibly weak draft, but also a ton of factors that have suppressed the value of some quality prospects IMO.

Castle is a top tier talent, with superstar upside, but has played a minimal role with a good UConn team, and struggled with injuries.

Buzelis is playing on an absolute dumpster fire of a team. Everyone is selfish and there’s zero competitive spirit or concept of team. Impossible to evaluate him, and he’s been injured.

Topic is now out for a few months after barely touching euroleague play. Another wildcard

I still go:

Tier 1:
Castle
Topic
Sheppard
Maybe Buzelis? Tough to say

Tier 2:
Evans
Almansa
Risacher
Edey

Dream scenario is trading down from a top 3 pick for Castle and Sheppard.

[dobrojim]

UK with an easy win
Cursory look at the numbers and Shepherd was not impressive.

[doclinkin]

UK with an easy win
Cursory look at the numbers and Shepherd was not impressive.

My man Dillingham was though. Shifty kid scores 23 on near perfect shooting. 23 points in 19 minutes.

[NatP4]

Castle 12-8-6 on 9 shots tonight. 14-9-4 on 9 shots last game. By far, the most dynamic guard prospect in this class.

[gambitx777]

What I need to know is who can shoot and who can't.

Who can defend and who can't.

Who's wants to be here and who doesn't.

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[NatP4]

Best defenders IMO:

Pg: Castle, Sheppard, Boswell
SG: no one. Zero depth at SG in this draft
SF: Dunn, Buzelis, Risacher
PF: Almansa, Evans
C: Filipowski, Edey

[DCZards]

Castle 12-8-6 on 9 shots tonight. 14-9-4 on 9 shots last game. By far, the most dynamic guard prospect in this class.

Yeah…from the film I’ve seen of Castle he looks like a surefire top 5 pick.

Has the physical makeup and some of the offensive tools of a SGA. Not saying he’s going be a SGA….but you never know.

[pancakes3]

Best defenders IMO:

Pg: Castle, Sheppard, Boswell
SG: no one. Zero depth at SG in this draft
SF: Dunn, Buzelis, Risacher
PF: Almansa, Evans
C: Filipowski, Edey

If you're gonna have Dunn, you've also gotta have Reece Beekman

[pcbothwel]

Castle 12-8-6 on 9 shots tonight. 14-9-4 on 9 shots last game. By far, the most dynamic guard prospect in this class.

Yeah…from the film I’ve seen of Castle he looks like a surefire top 5 pick.

Has the physical makeup and some of the offensive tools of a SGA. Not saying he’s going be a SGA….but you never know.

Castle is the guy. There is a bit of SGA in his game, but also Jimmy Butler. Questionable shooter, but high IQ, physical defender, sneaky athleticism, playmaker from the high post.
I REALLY want to trade down from 1-3 => 4-7 and get another pick. Look at all the Lotto teams with multiple picks:
SAS: Their pick and TOR... They already have Wemby, so they may want to trade up(Depending on where they land) to get their Robin.
POR: They have the GSW pick and Scoot & Sharpe. They may move up for Sarr or Buzelis
OKC: They have their core and a ton of picks... They will probably consolidate for higher pick or a player.

[NatP4]

Castle 12-8-6 on 9 shots tonight. 14-9-4 on 9 shots last game. By far, the most dynamic guard prospect in this class.

Yeah…from the film I’ve seen of Castle he looks like a surefire top 5 pick.

Has the physical makeup and some of the offensive tools of a SGA. Not saying he’s going be a SGA….but you never know.

Moves like Donovan Mitchell, has the ability to get to the rim whenever he wants and be a true PG playmaker like SGA, and the thing that I did not expect until watching him at UConn: competes and defends like Jimmy Butler. Is top shelf physical. Elite both individually and as a team defender.

He’s 100% my pick after watching these last couple of games.