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He looks short with no hops, but looks better than Topic atleast in highlights
He looks short with no hops, but looks better than Topic atleast in highlights
offensively he's exactly the type of player we would need. His combine measurements will be a huge deal regarding draft position.
Spurs fans be like, we gotta trade everything for Anerfernee Simons and then be like, we can't draft Rob Dillingham.
Regarding Dillingham vs Topic, I actually have more confidence that Dillingham is going to become a very good player in the NBA. He eye tests well, he's clearly a great shotmaker, and he's got good passing chops. I think the "small guard" argument really only holds water when you get deep in the playoffs and with 90% of the teams in the league having a small guard as your best offensive player isn't a huge issue. The only time when it's an issue is when you run into a team with 5 guys who can all punish mismatches, have the shooters to punish rotations, and have the length and athleticism to guard you across all 5 positions.
Unfortunately, the two teams in the league who can most effectively do this, OKC and Boston, are the two teams that we have to get through in the playoffs for the next decade (Boston obviously only if we make the finals), and OKC is on the exact same timeline as we are. I think that Dilly as your best offensive player puts a ceiling on your team that can only be appreciated when you're playing elite teams, but that ceiling is very real if you're trying to build a long-term contender. Topic sucks as a defender right now as well and if you played out their careers he might have lower average value than Dilly, but he provides better championship equity if he develops well as a 6'5"-6'6" true offensive engine who can be a force multiplier for your entire team. Your other option is to hope you can get a playmaking shooting wing who can act as a hub, draft Castle, and see if his jump shot comes around.
I realize this reasoning isn't necessarily practical when we're a bottom 5 team in the league just trying to get to 0.500, and I think Dilly will definitely help more than anyone with that. But from a long-term team building standpoint he may not be the clear and obvious choice.
Last edited by SpursBills; 02-22-2024 at 10:53 AM.
Thanks for bringing up the Trae comparison, I was just about to ask because from the descriptions in this thread, sounds like Dilly will have all the same weaknesses that people dislike about Young.
I’m in. I understand this is just one half of basketball, but this was far more impressive than any of Topic’s highlight compilations. At least from this video, Dillingham appears to have that Ja-like “it” factor on the offensive end.
I’m still interested in Trae personally, but if that doesn’t materialize, then hopefully this guy is the consolation prize (in a scenario where we landed Trae but kept our picks this year, I wouldn’t take both).
Bran Ham is a worse defender than Graham and was starting
What range is this guy projected to go? That’s some nifty passing!
We really don't need to worry about Boston. Even if their window is somewhat iffy due to huge contracts and losing key players soon due to age, we're not in a Finals realm. OKC will be a massive rival. To beat them, we will probably have to force them to play our style.
As for Dillingham, at worst I think he'd be a microwave off the bench. Is it spending too much to get that player with a high draft pick? Yes. But he can shoot you into games. Unlike Stephen Jackson, I don't think he'll shoot you out of games. He had a bad first half last night, but wasn't necessarily calling his own shots out of whatever system Calipari runs. What we have seen, though, is that this doesn't affect him. He can light on fire, and this wasn't the first time. In the loss to TAMU, he hit three triples in a row down the stretch to help force overtime.
He's just a player. As for his defense, what I see are three problems:
1. His size and stature. Dude's just small, and not just short. He's going to get posted by big guards and suffer on switches down into the post. There's no way to hide it.
2. His coaching. I've seen him blow switches and not know his assignments, but honestly the whole team was confused even last night, and it's already the end of conference play.
3. His effort. The question is whether he's inattentive, bored, lazy, on defense, waiting to get the ball back in his hands, and I don't think this is the case.
He's already improved the last few games, in my eye, not making the rotational mistakes he was before. His effort is good - he seems to want to be at least a decent defender, but then has attention lapses. Pop won't like those -- where a player zones out and starts watching the action. Rob is also a bit lead-footed, letting players blow by him. He's too quick to let that happen. It may be attention, lack of instinct, lack of learning. He also tightly guards opponents high up near the center line, which isn't necessary.
So... I actually think he has slack in his rope here. There is room for improvement. He played for Donda Academy and then Overtime Elite last year, not exactly coaching havens. That he's calling switches and directing defense (if still ineptly) is a great sign. That he's coming off the bench with no complaint is a great sign. He seems very compe ive, but not tunnel visioned, very coachable, but hasn't had a lot of it.
Of the three marks above, I think the coaching can vastly improve. I think he'll buy in. I don't think his stature/size can be changed, although he can get stronger. Doesn't seem to mind contact. The attentiveness, the instincts, the constant effort and awareness, the getting caught flat-footed -- that's the swing to his defense, to me, whether he'll be absolutely awful or whether he'll be pretty okay.
To me, it's a no-brainer that you take him over (what we know of) Topic right now. We need confident, skilled, dangerous players right now, even if they're little forest elves.
Kolek is widely projected as an early second right now, maybe late first.
Yeah Graham is sitting because the team is trying to develop Wesley/Branham. Surprised he didn't ask for a trade tbh. He'sthe only guy not named Tre Jones on this roster who'scapable of running an offense.
Players on rookie contracts are cheaper. Branham is making ~$3M. Devonte is making ~$12.5M.
I think his floor is solid 6th man. There’s a strong history of guys who are a bucket, but play no defense in that role.
Someone rightly pointed out in a video that I watched that it’s much easier to hide a 6’6”” guy on defense than a 6’2” guy.
Have no idea the context of the game but it sounded like he had trouble scoring and shot himself back into the game late. That's something only elite players typically do, but -- will he be able to hang with the size and athleticism of NBA guards/wings? And what about his passing? That's the key factor imho. Can he get Wemby easy buckets? Or is Tre Jones still going to be the best passer on this team? We don't need another head down, bull in a china shop type living with low efficiency shots trying to get his own. Last thing we need tbh
Oh, definitely, I'm not counting on Dillingham being any better on defense than Trae is (or anywhere other than shooting), my issue basically comes down to cost: anything Trae does I'm measuring against what could be had with a max slot and the assets he'd command (potentially a lot), whereas Dillingham's measuring stick would be the perceived value of any player that could be had at that slot in this class (no guarantees at all). But if you knew in advance you'd get Trae level returns on Dillingham (or anyone), that's a no. 1 pick in this class no questions asked.
For sure, great points! Even if there was only a 10% chance at reaching Trae’s offensive prowess, but the median outcome was a significant above what you are getting from Tre Jones, for example, the cost (both in terms of $ and trade assets like you say) would make that a compelling direction to go. I’m probably still in the Trae camp at this point, but it’s a good argument to be had there.
He's my favorite player to watch in college this year, same as Anthony Black was last year. Completely different players, lol.
Hanging -- he's very quick. I'd say his full blast speed is good, but not Parker level, but he's very quick and changes directions rapidly, jitterbug sort of stuff. Ostensibly this could be harnessed into a hounding defense. His height will affect closeouts, rebounding in traffic, slowing down posts, etc. Everywhere. On offense, if he tightens his already good handles, I think he'll be a headache for defenders. His toolbag is already significant at this age.
Passing -- he's a very willing passer. This isn't a guy with tunnel vision only looking for himself. He'll skip the ball across the court, throw lobs, everything, especially on the move. Isn't always exactly on target and maybe whips it too hard at times, or they're difficult passes, but I have no doubts he can play within a system. He's not a freelance chucker and think he can learn when to greenlight himself while mixing in the larger offense. Now... the question is whether he has to deliberate on getting things started, do his dribble moves to get going and whether that will please Pop. His usage is also a touch under 30%. Off the bench, that may be great. But can he downscale and still do well? Like, if he's on the wing and gets the ball during action, can he respond immediately? Or will he have to stick and face down the defender?
As Body said, late 1st to early 2nd, but if i were betting on it, I'd bet someone reaches a little bit and takes him in the early 20's. I like Kolek, I just don't like him where we are projected. If for some reason we don't take a PG in the top 10 (maybe trading out or going with bigger wings on both picks) I would have no issue packaging a few 2nd's to trade up into that range and taking him. He's a solid upperclassmen who would contribute day 1. He can run an offense and spread the floor a little bit. A solid second unit manager.
Despite that branham is more overpaid
You might like Tankathon's mock draft then:
If available when the Spurs draft would the Spurs draft Sarr if Sarr, Dillingham and Topic are all available? While Sarr might not have Wemby's unicorn upside, would he be the best option on our young roster?
Inject it straight into my veinsYou might like Tankathon's mock draft then:
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