2024 NBA Draft Thread

[scott]

Just ran a Tankathon Sim where we ended up with #6 and #7 and didn't hate it, but mostly because of who was on the board (it had us taking Dilly and Walter, though Matas was on the board and went 8th - so that's what I would have done. Dilly + Matas would be great).

But it got me thinking, who are the real threats to take Dilly ahead of #7? Detroit won't take PG, neither will CHA. Likewise, Portland is out and Memphis is almost certainly not taking PG unless they decide to blow it up and move Morant (of which there is no indication they will). That leaves only WAS. Maybe they take Dilly, but that will leave Topic. But mostly likely they take Topic and leave Dilly for us. Other teams behind us in the lottery: Houston (via BKY), nope; ATL, nope; OKC via HOU can't jump us as it would go back to HOU; UTA if they jumped into top 4 is a possibility; CHI or NOP are possibilities I suppose.

I feel pretty good about Dilly being there with the TOR pick, freeing us to take our top wing with our natural pick.

[Mr. Body]

Just ran a Tankathon Sim where we ended up with #6 and #7 and didn't hate it, but mostly because of who was on the board (it had us taking Dilly and Walter, though Matas was on the board and went 8th - so that's what I would have done. Dilly + Matas would be great).

But it got me thinking, who are the real threats to take Dilly ahead of #7? Detroit won't take PG, neither will CHA. Likewise, Portland is out and Memphis is almost certainly not taking PG unless they decide to blow it up and move Morant (of which there is no indication they will). That leaves only WAS. Maybe they take Dilly, but that will leave Topic. But mostly likely they take Topic and leave Dilly for us. Other teams behind us in the lottery: Houston (via BKY), nope; ATL, nope; OKC via HOU can't jump us as it would go back to HOU; UTA if they jumped into top 4 is a possibility; CHI or NOP are possibilities I suppose.

I feel pretty good about Dilly being there with the TOR pick, freeing us to take our top wing with our natural pick.

I've expressed being totally okay, even better, with dropping with out pick (but wanting the Toronto pick, too), to clear out of the expensive rookie salaries. Depends on how the team values Risacher and Topic. It's hard to get a bead on them for me. I think #6 and #7 would be great. We're (probably) getting some of the same tiers of players.

Good points on Dillingham. I can see Memphis take him, although it doesn't seem to be a player type they favor and would likely go with a spot-up wing. The Wizards are more likely. They need everything, although a Topic makes more sense. The fellow bad teams already have a lot of guards, as you say. I think question marks will keep Dillingham lower and I still wonder if Sheppard will go before him. I might mention that OKC has enough assets that they can go get any player they want in this draft (if they desired).

I doubt the Spurs will go for Dillingham, though. Maybe, like, if they really value Risacher, get the Toronto pick, and take a swing.

[Mr. Body]

Two players that may crash into the lottery and possibly top 10 are Tyler Smith and Johnny Furphy, who's been discussed. Smith is a sweet-shooting big man for Ignite who has drawn at least faint comparisons to a younger LaMarcus Aldridge. Furphy is probably better than Gradey who also came out of Kansas last year.

An older point guard prospect who might be picked late first, early second, is Devin Carter of Providence. Good shooter, collects a crazy 8.3 rebounds a game, although his assist numbers aren't too high.

[onechance87]

Two players that may crash into the lottery and possibly top 10 are Tyler Smith and Johnny Furphy, who's been discussed. Smith is a sweet-shooting big man for Ignite who has drawn at least faint comparisons to a younger LaMarcus Aldridge. Furphy is probably better than Gradey who also came out of Kansas last year.

An older point guard prospect who might be picked late first, early second, is Devin Carter of Providence. Good shooter, collects a crazy 8.3 rebounds a game, although his assist numbers aren't too high.

is murphy a good defender

[exstatic]

is murphy a good defender

It’s Furphy. That wasn’t a typo.

[rascal]

Just ran a Tankathon Sim where we ended up with #6 and #7 and didn't hate it, but mostly because of who was on the board (it had us taking Dilly and Walter, though Matas was on the board and went 8th - so that's what I would have done. Dilly + Matas would be great).

But it got me thinking, who are the real threats to take Dilly ahead of #7? Detroit won't take PG, neither will CHA. Likewise, Portland is out and Memphis is almost certainly not taking PG unless they decide to blow it up and move Morant (of which there is no indication they will). That leaves only WAS. Maybe they take Dilly, but that will leave Topic. But mostly likely they take Topic and leave Dilly for us. Other teams behind us in the lottery: Houston (via BKY), nope; ATL, nope; OKC via HOU can't jump us as it would go back to HOU; UTA if they jumped into top 4 is a possibility; CHI or NOP are possibilities I suppose.

I feel pretty good about Dilly being there with the TOR pick, freeing us to take our top wing with our natural pick.

Spurs will likely take Topic wherever they pick if he is available.

Topic(3) and Castle(7) will be nice. Get a wing next year as there will be better wing options next year and fewer pg options. Can't say any of the wing options this year are sure things or are the best player available as compared to the pgs.

Castle can play at times at either the 1 or 2, while Vassell stays at the 2 and Topic stays at the 1, primary ball handler.

And the Spurs can have a three guard rotation with Topic, Castle and Vassell.

Only question is both Topic and Castle need improvements with their perimeter shooting but if they get their 3 pt % numbers up some that will be a solid three guard rotation.

[mo7888]

Spurs will likely take Topic wherever they pick if he is available.

Topic(3) and Castle(7) will be nice. Get a wing next year as there will be better wing options next year and fewer pg options. Can't say any of the wing options this year are sure things or are the best player available as compared to the pgs.

Castle can play at times at either the 1 or 2, while Vassell stays at the 2 and Topic stays at the 1, primary ball handler.

And the Spurs can have a three guard rotation with Topic, Castle and Vassell.

Only question is both Topic and Castle need improvements with their perimeter shooting but if they get their 3 pt % numbers up some that will be a solid three guard rotation.

If i were taking two guards that high I'd go Topic and JaKobe. If Topic was off the board one of Castle/ Shephard/ Dilly, depending on who's there..

[Mr. Body]

is murphy a good defender

He's not bad. Needs seasoning and work, but he has good lateral quickness and a good team defender. I don't think he'll be a sieve. He also crashes the boards, which is important.

[Mr. Body]

Really doubt the Spurs take two non-shooters in Topic and Castle. As questionable as the Serbian is, Castle looks pretty awful as a shooter. If they take two guards, which I doubt, the other would probably be Sheppard.

[SpursBills]

Spurs will likely take Topic wherever they pick if he is available.

Topic(3) and Castle(7) will be nice. Get a wing next year as there will be better wing options next year and fewer pg options. Can't say any of the wing options this year are sure things or are the best player available as compared to the pgs.

Castle can play at times at either the 1 or 2, while Vassell stays at the 2 and Topic stays at the 1, primary ball handler.

And the Spurs can have a three guard rotation with Topic, Castle and Vassell.

Only question is both Topic and Castle need improvements with their perimeter shooting but if they get their 3 pt % numbers up some that will be a solid three guard rotation.

I actually like this idea only if the spurs don't see a future with Wesley. If they see Wesley as someone who's worth developing moving forward as an athletic POA defender with some size and a questionable jump shot, then Castle that high is a little bit too redundant I think.

[spurraider21]

Spurs will likely take Topic wherever they pick if he is available.

Topic(3) and Castle(7) will be nice. Get a wing next year as there will be better wing options next year and fewer pg options. Can't say any of the wing options this year are sure things or are the best player available as compared to the pgs.

Castle can play at times at either the 1 or 2, while Vassell stays at the 2 and Topic stays at the 1, primary ball handler.

And the Spurs can have a three guard rotation with Topic, Castle and Vassell.

Only question is both Topic and Castle need improvements with their perimeter shooting but if they get their 3 pt % numbers up some that will be a solid three guard rotation.

No shot the spurs use both picks without one of them being a plus shooter. Castle would pair better with a pg like Dillinghan or even a “pg” like Sheppard than Topic anyway. Topic and castle would synergize poorly since their strengths and weaknesses overlap quit a bit and don’t really complement one another

[CGD]

All the Trae/Murray smoke suggests the spurs have some level of appe e to trade for their PG of the future. Even if that weren’t the case, it would be a poor use of two top 8 picks to come away with two guards, even in this draft. Take the best available SF first, then the best available PG second.

[spurraider21]

Other than Vassell at SG and obviously Wemby at the 5 I’m not letting anybody on the spurs dictate what is a “need” lol. Wesley, Sochan, Tre, keldon, etc. they don’t factor into the equation at all to me.

[TD 21]

Man, it's a conundrum.

You need shooting.

But do you use a 1-4 pick on shooting?

Not really.

Absolutely. Not the defensive liability, catch and shoot specialist type (McDermott, Forbes, etc.) of course.

Just ran a Tankathon Sim where we ended up with #6 and #7 and didn't hate it, but mostly because of who was on the board (it had us taking Dilly and Walter, though Matas was on the board and went 8th - so that's what I would have done. Dilly + Matas would be great).

But it got me thinking, who are the real threats to take Dilly ahead of #7? Detroit won't take PG, neither will CHA. Likewise, Portland is out and Memphis is almost certainly not taking PG unless they decide to blow it up and move Morant (of which there is no indication they will). That leaves only WAS. Maybe they take Dilly, but that will leave Topic. But mostly likely they take Topic and leave Dilly for us. Other teams behind us in the lottery: Houston (via BKY), nope; ATL, nope; OKC via HOU can't jump us as it would go back to HOU; UTA if they jumped into top 4 is a possibility; CHI or NOP are possibilities I suppose.

I feel pretty good about Dilly being there with the TOR pick, freeing us to take our top wing with our natural pick.

Wrong. Teams like the Pistons and Hornets, who have wing and big guard sized primary initiators could theoretically select Dillingham and if he becomes starting caliber, cross match while playing him as the secondary creator on offense.

The Rockets are another possibility, if they view Thompson as their primary initiator of the future.

Of course, it'll all be moot since Dillingham is the an hesis of what the Spurs have been looking for in a "lead" guard.

[rascal]

I actually like this idea only if the spurs don't see a future with Wesley. If they see Wesley as someone who's worth developing moving forward as an athletic POA defender with some size and a questionable jump shot, then Castle that high is a little bit too redundant I think.

I don't see Wesley as a solid option as a pg moving forward. Castle can play either the 1 or 2. Of course depending on his shooting improving then he will be great but Topic also needs to improve shooting.

Next year projects to be even weaker for pgs in the draft and good luck thinking the Spurs are going to trade enough of their draft assets for an all star level pg or sign one in fa.

Next year is deeper in SF and SG and the Spurs will probably end up with one better than what they will get this year.

The SF/Sg crop this year aren't any better than the PGs(so there is no clear best player available strategy) with all players having questions about them.

Look at the draft as a two year process of building the team. PGs this year and SF/SG next year unless they land at number 1 this year where you go big and take Sarr.

[scott]

Stupid.

[heyheymymy]

Caitlin Clark got clipped by a court storming student/fan too

is getting out of hand

[heyheymymy]

here for the Dilly show

not sure how it all shakes out but I am a personal fan of Dilly and enjoy watching him play. Just a thrilling exciting player

[Mr. Body]

Kyshawn George for Miami remains pretty interesting. He's the dude from Switzerland whose dad was an American player. He's old for a freshman and not quite there. Not sure he'd come out this year, but Miami isn't exactly great this year and I think someone will get him in the draft. I would strongly consider promising him if he'd actually wait until our #33. I think he gets grabbed in the late first. Multi-skilled wing, creation ability, good shooter, just not all there to be a lottery pick yet.

[rascal]

No shot the spurs use both picks without one of them being a plus shooter. Castle would pair better with a pg like Dillinghan or even a “pg” like Sheppard than Topic anyway. Topic and castle would synergize poorly since their strengths and weaknesses overlap quit a bit and don’t really complement one another

Dillingham is not a good pg prospect more a sg also not wanting a small guard on the team. I'm looking for a 3 guard interchangeable rotation with Castle playing at times the 1 or 2 with Vassell and/or Topic.

Topic and Castle would be excellent on the break. Castle will make up for Topic's deficiencies on defense. Draft a shooter at SF next year. It's not a complete team fix in one season, it's a two year process at minimum.

The Spurs will have several options to get a player with star potential at SF in next year's draft. Early mock drafts have next year's draft stacked with SFs. Have to look at building the team through the draft as a minimum a two year process. PGs this year

[Mr. Body]

Kentucky's Ivisic might also come out this year. No sense in sticking with a rocky program in Kentucky. He might also go late first early second.

[Mr. Body]

here for the Dilly show

not sure how it all shakes out but I am a personal fan of Dilly and enjoy watching him play. Just a thrilling exciting player

He's fun to watch to be sure. Definitely a point and clearly can move the ball and looks to do so.

[Mr. Body]

Dillingham gets more assists per-36 than Isaiah Collier, Stephon Castle, and Reed Sheppard, by the way.

[SpursBills]

Dillingham is not a good pg prospect more a sg also not wanting a small guard on the team. I'm looking for a 3 guard interchangeable rotation with Castle playing at times the 1 or 2 with Vassell and/or Topic.

Topic and Castle would be excellent on the break. Castle will make up for Topic's deficiencies on defense. Draft a shooter at SF next year. It's not a complete team fix in one season, it's a two year process at minimum.

The Spurs will have several options to get a player with star potential at SF in next year's draft. Early mock drafts have next year's draft stacked with SFs. Have to look at building the team through the draft as a minimum a two year process. PGs this year

Dillingham is absolutely a pg prospect if you watch him if you just want to look at numbers compare his assist rate to the other guys on his team. I get the small guard argument but calling him a sg prospect is just incorrect tbh. Otherwise I agree with the rebuild being a 2 year process but it depends on various peoples' (including Wemby's) appe es for having a giant hole in the lineup for another year.

[TD 21]

The notion of selecting both Topic and Castle is ludicrous given their inability to shoot and how big of an issue that's been long term for this team.

George fits the Spurs stereotype, but as of now would be considered a significant perceived reach. Sure, that didn't stop them with Primo, but it was also a late lottery pick.