2024 Draft Prospects

[Chapelchilla]

Remember when the Suns didn't take Luka because they had Booker?
Kings didn't take him because they had Fox?

They ended up with Ayton and Bagley.

If Topic is actually going to be a version of Luka then I would rather not pass on him because we are worried about fit.
LaMelo and Luka would be able to play together very easily.

Especially since Melo has not proven that he can even play regularly enough to worry about his fit with anyone

[JMAC3]

Remember when the Suns didn't take Luka because they had Booker?
Kings didn't take him because they had Fox?

They ended up with Ayton and Bagley.

If Topic is actually going to be a version of Luka then I would rather not pass on him because we are worried about fit.
LaMelo and Luka would be able to play together very easily.

Especially since Melo has not proven that he can even play regularly enough to worry about his fit with anyone

Topic and Melo don't even really play the same. Topic is more about getting to the rim first and then shooting the 3 when teams back off him. Melo is opposite, shoot the 3 and when he gets crowded go by his guy.

[EmpireFalls]

Topic would've actually been an excellent pick before we got Micic/Mann but I fear he wouldn't really get the reps here.

[JMAC3]

Topic would've actually been an excellent pick before we got Micic/Mann but I fear he wouldn't really get the reps here.

Not drafting an 18 year old top 5 pick because of a 30 year old backup and a buy low guy on an expiring deal is probably the type of short term thinking that has us end up with Cody Zeller 2.0

[fatlever]

Topic would've actually been an excellent pick before we got Micic/Mann but I fear he wouldn't really get the reps here.

who better to mentor topic than micic?

[JMAC3]

Topic would've actually been an excellent pick before we got Micic/Mann but I fear he wouldn't really get the reps here.

who better to mentor topic than micic?

Maybe we already like Topic hence adding all the Euros. Poku and Micic are both Serbian and under contract next year.. #TinFoilHats

[fatlever]

like... give me all the serbian players. our sneaky plan to recruit jokic.

[Bassman]

Remember when the Suns didn't take Luka because they had Booker?
Kings didn't take him because they had Fox?

They ended up with Ayton and Bagley.

If Topic is actually going to be a version of Luka then I would rather not pass on him because we are worried about fit.
LaMelo and Luka would be able to play together very easily.

I don’t get the comparative of Topic to Luca; Topic isn’t nearly a skilled shot maker and likely will never be. I’d be glad to pair him with Melo and have insurance in case Ball’s wheels fall off.

For now Risacher is my #1 pick, with Sarr and Topic vying for #2. Clingan and Buzelis, maybe Holland in the next group.

[JMAC3]

Remember when the Suns didn't take Luka because they had Booker?
Kings didn't take him because they had Fox?

They ended up with Ayton and Bagley.

If Topic is actually going to be a version of Luka then I would rather not pass on him because we are worried about fit.
LaMelo and Luka would be able to play together very easily.

I don’t get the comparative of Topic to Luca; Topic isn’t nearly a skilled shot maker and likely will never be. I’d be glad to pair him with Melo and have insurance in case Ball’s wheels fall off.

For now Risacher is my #1 pick, with Sarr and Topic vying for #2. Clingan and Buzelis, maybe Holland in the next group.

Luka is awesome, was awesome in Europe and is the best prospect to probably ever be drafted from Europe based on resume.

Topic started his first game in EL this season (19 mpg) at age 18, basically over the course of 30 mins in 2 games he had 7 pts, 7 assists leaving game 2 with injury. If he had continued his pace of playing 20 mpg that is probably 2nd to only Luka as an 18 yr old in EL history.

Ricky Rubio as an 18 year old before he was drafted played 13 mpg in the EL and averaged 2.4 ppg.
Belinelli as an 18 year old played 15 mpg and averaged 4.2 ppg
Luka averages in 25 mpg in EL were 14.5 PTS 5.2 REB 4.6 AST 0.4 BLK 1.1 STL

Luka then put up 21/8/6 as a rookie in NBA.

Topic will be around 6 months younger than Luka when he was drafted.

[JDR720]

Topic is more like Josh Giddey. He's not a shooter or perimeter scorer like Luka is or was.

The Ringer updated their mock draft. And Risacher's new profile sort of freaks me out.

After making nearly half of his 3s in his first 34 games this season, Risacher has made only 24.5 percent in the 14 since. It’s possible that his hot streak was nothing more than that. In his first three years playing pro, he made only 32 percent of his 3s, so his recent percentage is a lot closer to his historic norm. In all four pro seasons, he's also made only 71.1 percent of his free throws. And Synergy says he also makes just 29.4 percent of his dribble jumpers and only 40 percent of his floaters. So it’s not like he has a particularly soft touch from that range.

That's... pretty awful shooting numbers for someone who's upside is based on shooting.

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/mock-draft

[JMAC3]

and don't get me wrong. I am not saying Topic is a sure thing. This draft is still full of question marks.

But as a 17 year old vs grown men in the Serbian Pro League he averaged 17.8 points on 55.2% shooting from the field, 5.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game.

Then as a 18 year old in a better league playing the Adriatic pro league he averaged He averaged 18.6 points, 6.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds.

The ABA is definitely a stronger league then the NBL. LaMelo averaged 17 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game, shooting 37.7 percent from the field as an 18 year old.

[JMAC3]

Topic is more like Josh Giddey. He's not a shooter or perimeter scorer like Luka is or was.

Topic is a much better scorer than Giddey.

Giddey- 32 mpg 10 ppg, 7.5 apg, 7.4 rpg.
29% on 3.5 threes per game
2.4 FTA 69.1%

Topic- 33 mpg 18.6 ppg, 6.9 apg, 3.7 rpg
26% on 4.5 threes per game
4.6 fta 85%

The ABA is seen as the tougher league than the NBL.

[wilson115]

Well, now that the new FO's finally shown their hand, have to assume a primary ballhandler like Topic gets penciled in at the top of the team's mocks going forward. Seeing all of the coaching candidates so far look like offense-first guys and those types absolutely need someone to run the offense through every time down the floor. = not just when LaMelo's in uniform.

[EmpireFalls]

Outside of Sarr I legitimately have no clue who I want and I’ve been following this draft incredibly closely. It changes by the day.

[wilson115]

Outside of Sarr I legitimately have no clue who I want and I’ve been following this draft incredibly closely. It changes by the day.

Sarr's my first choice too, really need another long-term big and someone who looks like another Mobley's just too good to pass up.

I'd also look into grabbing another pick in the late lottery for Tyler Smith, he's got things to work on but the fit as a modern stretch 5/4 is just too intriguing.

Spoiler:

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[Diop]

this is the most unsure I've been in a draft for a long time

[luciano-davidwesley]

I need to do more research before drawing stronger conclusions but the guys I'm gravitating to so far are (in no particular order)
Sarr, Topic, Sheppard and Holland.

Players I'm on the fence: Castle, Cody Williams, Risacher, Dillingham, Clingan

No thanks: Knecht, Walter

Left field considerations (likely second round) or aquire a later first: Edey, Tristan da Silva

[JustBuzzin]

this is the most unsure I've been in a draft for a long time

I think we are all unsure. This draft is literally a toss up. There is no clear cut #1 prospect.

I like Risacher/Castle mainly because of fit, but even then im not sure either will be the best in this class. This feels like a draft were the best player might be selected in the 2nd round.

[Bassman]

Topic is more like Josh Giddey. He's not a shooter or perimeter scorer like Luka is or was.

The Ringer updated their mock draft. And Risacher's new profile sort of freaks me out.

After making nearly half of his 3s in his first 34 games this season, Risacher has made only 24.5 percent in the 14 since. It’s possible that his hot streak was nothing more than that. In his first three years playing pro, he made only 32 percent of his 3s, so his recent percentage is a lot closer to his historic norm. In all four pro seasons, he's also made only 71.1 percent of his free throws. And Synergy says he also makes just 29.4 percent of his dribble jumpers and only 40 percent of his floaters. So it’s not like he has a particularly soft touch from that range.

That's... pretty awful shooting numbers for someone who's upside is based on shooting.

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/mock-draft

Some stats worth considering for sure. He’s been at the top for me, but like everyone else here, I can find many warts with every pick in this draft. The best shooters don’t play defense well enough, and best defenders are marginal offensive players.

[JDR720]

Also notable that Knecht moved up to 4th in that mock draft.

He's got size and is a very good shooter. Odds we draft him?