2024 NBA Draft Thread

[JPB]

I respect people saying they're not sold in a vacuum but mock drafts who have Risacher sliding because he cooled down in the secod part of the season is terrible scouting and evaluation process. That's everything you shodln't do, evaluate a prospect player in the moment. Should he have stopped playing in 2024, he would be the consensus #1...

Meanwhile, same mock drafts keep Topic top 5 who stopped playing in 2024 after 2 terrible Euroleague outings because of a mysterious 4 week tuned month injury that suddenly got better lately afer his team was out of the Euroleague... And College players keep being evaluated upon their tounrament performances every year, while every pro scout and (good) GM will tell you the Tounament isn't that important in their evaluation and can be deceptive...

Risacher played the equivalent of 2 College seasons in one year, in pro, compe ive leagues, Put Castle, Dilly, Sheppard... in that position and they probably struggled a bit after 40 games too... It's all about potential. And if you don't like, fine. but you're betting on developing a player like Risacher so he built on that first part of the season (and what he's still showing). At least, that's something, and more than 2 or 3 Tournament games.

[Vienna]

I respect people saying they're not sold in a vacuum but mock drafts who have Risacher sliding because he cooled down in the secod part of the season is terrible scouting and evaluation process. That's everything you shodln't do, evaluate a prospect player in the moment. Should he have stopped playing in 2024, he would be the consensus #1...

Meanwhile, same mock drafts keep Topic top 5 who stopped playing in 2024 after 2 terrible Euroleague outings because of a mysterious 4 week tuned month injury that suddenly got better lately afer his team was out of the Euroleague... And College players keep being evaluated upon their tounrament performances every year, while every pro scout and (good) GM will tell you the Tounament isn't that important in their evaluation and can be deceptive...

Risacher played the equivalent of 2 College seasons in one year, in pro, compe ive leagues, Put Castle, Dilly, Sheppard... in that position and they probably struggled a bit after 40 games too... It's all about potential. And if you don't like, fine. but you're betting on developing a player like Risacher so he built on that first part of the season (and what he's still showing). At least, that's something, and more than 2 or 3 Tournament games.

totally agree. remember Lamelo? he played 12 games in Australia, got injured in November (would have missed 4 weeks) and decided to shut down the season. player who don't play usually don't fall, if they already got a certain status with the teams regarding the upcoming draft. so why should players fall, who do play?
it will rather count for Risacher, that NBA teams could see that his body can stand a long season. he missed just 2 games the whole season, while playing at least 2 games a week since September last year.

I can see, that he isn't the most fascinating prospect, when talking about a top3 pick, considering his expected role in the NBA.
and in most other drafts he might be an estimated 6 to 10 pick. nothing wrong about that. but, as we know, this draft lacks that kind of highly talented players, so he moves up. not his fault. I doubt he will be the number 1 pick, that will likely be Sarr, because of his supposed upside. so Risacher will likely be picked at 2 or 3. I rather see Topic fall to mid lottery. (he might become available with the Raptors pick).

[Dejounte]

All Risacher built during the “first part” of his season was the fact that he looked the part of a tall guy who could shoot and then for the “second half” he looks like just a tall guy who is an average shooter. That’s it. He’s way more being judged by the fact that he’s not great with the ball in his hands and has little potential there in his future.

The real equivalent here is Patrick Baldwin Jr. from last year. The guy was a top 5 pick and then had a college season that was underwhelming. There’s your “potential” guy that you would have fallen for since you love a guy who's tall and looks like they could shoot. Except PBJ saw his stock drop, just like Risacher rightfully should, because the weaknesses of his game got exposed.

[Vienna]

yeah sure. Baldwin, a guy as athletic as 40 years old Dirk, playing 11 games for a joke collge in a joke conference is now the Risacher equivalent. oh well..

[Dejounte]

yeah sure. Baldwin, a guy as athletic as 40 years old Dirk, playing 11 games for a joke collge in a joke conference is now the Risacher equivalent. oh well..

It’s not Baldwin’s fault he was born an American

Let’s come back here in five years to see who turned out right about this guy.

People cry about the current Spurs roster being a team full of role players and they want to draft another one in Risacher. Smh

Risacher will have his 20 pt games every now and then because that’s what shooters do. Forbes had multiple 20 pt games. What we’re betting here is that Risacher is a role player and nothing more. And you don’t waste a top 5 pick on a guy whose ceiling is clearly limited, even in a weak draft like this.

[spurraider21]

It’s not Baldwin’s fault he was born an American

Let’s come back here in five years to see who turned out right about this guy.

People cry about the current Spurs roster being a team full of role players and they want to draft another one in Risacher. Smh

Risacher will have his 20 pt games every now and then because that’s what shooters do. Forbes had multiple 20 pt games. What we’re betting here is that Risacher is a role player and nothing more. And you don’t waste a top 5 pick on a guy whose ceiling is clearly limited, even in a weak draft like this.

Absolutely nothing wrong with role players so long as they actually fill their roles. Champagnie as a 3 and D role player who doesn’t hit all that many 3s and doesn’t defend particular well while not adding much else in other departments is frustrating to see play starters minutes. Sochan as the defensive specialist who only seems to have a big impact in about a quarter of his games is frustrating. Don’t think people complain about Tre Jones being a role player since he usually plays up to his role.

[The Truth #6]

Dejounte, are there any players you particularly like in this draft?

[JPB]

Givony updated his mock draft today:

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/sto...p-25-prospects

His top 10:

Risacher
Sarr
Clingan
Dilly
Topic
Buz(elis)
Sheppard
Knecht
Castle
Williams

As he noted, Risacher got out of his '(relative) slump these last 4 games, in front of a bunch of scouts. I also still believe he's #1... 6"10, versatile, nice defense, and you bet on actually making him a reliable shooter in the NBA. I mean Wemby was shooting 27.5% on 3 last year in the french league. He shot 32.5% this year and progressing. Risacher is shooting 39% on 3 over the season.

[JPB]

4. Rob Dillingham | PG | Kentucky
6-2 | Age: 19.3 | Previously ranked: 4

"Dillingham is one of the more polarizing players projected in the lottery, and where he gets drafted will depend on how the final lottery order shakes out. Teams in need of playmaking help will have to look hard at him: He creates shots off the bounce more naturally than anyone in the class and has developed into a very good shooter. On the other hand, many around the league are skeptical Dillingham becomes a starter on a winning team, primarily due to his lack of size and what he's likely to give up on the defensive end. As a result, he's a major risk-reward proposition early in the draft, and might be looking at a pretty wide range of outcomes within the lottery, depending on how the pre-draft process goes. -- Woo"

[CorrectCrusader]

As long as we come out of the draft with a kentucky guard I'm happy

[LeBowen]

As long as we come out of the draft with a kentucky guard I'm happy

Imo, it's pretty clear what's going to happen, unless someone impresses in workouts.
Risacher or Sarr if they're available because they're just too good to pass on. I expect them both to be top3 picks, so it's about how the lottery goes.
If Spurs aren't in top3, then it's between Dillingham, Sheppard and Topic, with Spurs having the choice between those three since it's just the Wizards that could also select a point guard.
But they'll either be in top3 and select Risacher/Sarr or drop below Spurs so it won't matter.

Then if Toronto pick conveys we can talk about Buzelis, Williams and other wing prospects.