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ive always felt spurs were gonna target topic,Not sure with his injury now.
Does anyone still see the Spurs taking Topic over Dillingham?
They tend to be conservative even reaching for a player if they think they might not get him but I think they have/had Topic in their sights over Dillingham.
ive always felt spurs were gonna target topic,Not sure with his injury now.
Huge risk if you want that. Better to trade picks for proven players if you want a sure thing. The thing is that could make us Dallas Southwest eventually though if things don’t work out.
I certainly hope they do. I think Topic is a better prospect... Neither Dillingham nor Sheppard is a starter for Kentucky. Why? I doubt it's that their coach is a complete moron...
My guess is that is mostly due to politics (Wagner was a big time recruit if I remember correctly)
I guess it depends on how you define 'contributor'. They guys in my top two tiers who could actually start 'some of the time' are the high floor guys (Risacher and Shephard). Most of the other one's I'd see as part of the rotation hopefully playing behind some vets. Then it's a matter of evaluating when their ready to move up.
1. Zaccharie Risacher
2. Alex Sarr
3. Nikola Topic
Tier 2:
4. Matas Buzelis
5. Reed Shephard
6. Robert Dillingham
7. Cody Williams
8. Tidjane Salaun
9. JaKobe Walter
Not what I asked though. I’m asking about the NBA readiness of this year’s class.
I've still got Topic higher, but part of it is that I'm not knocking him for that injury info yet because i don't trust it. That could drop him significantly ..
Are we looking at a situation where next year’s ROTY is going to be someone who averages 13/5?
I’d define contributor as someone who will be able to come in and be part of the rotation and not in the type of way that Branham or Collins are in the rotation but lead to a massive drop off. I don’t need our guys to be starters right away (though would be nice if one of them could be the starting SF at least, depending on who we go after in the offseason).
I’d say if we take PG and SF, “contributing” would be players who could successful displace Champangnie and Wesley from the rotation and for that to look like an improvement.
most picks in the spurs range will be 18-19 year old freshman so no not ready to play at all. You would have to drop down a grouping or two to the Keven Mccullars and Dalton Knechts if you want players ready to move the needle. I don’t think there’s a Wemby, Chet, Paulo or even a Brandon Miller in this draft. Maybe a Jaime J.
A certain player you might know, Devin Booker, also didn't start for Kentucky.
Interesting... I haven't really contemplated award season next year. This is a wild ass guess, but the guy with the most sizzle could be Isaiah Collier if he lands on a team that treats him like 1st year Ja....
Using your definition of contributor, I'd add Buzelis, Dilly, and Topic (if the injury stuff isn't a problem) to Risacher and Shephard.
I don't think anyone else is on that particular list in the top 9 (my top 2 tiers). There are a few guys lower that could contribute year 1, even though they may have either lower ceilings (Knecht) or higher bust potential (Collier/ Castle)
If that’s your minimum standard then yes almost anyone we draft will be good enough to replace Champangie and Wesley.
I think he will be contributing on a team right away. Obvious concerns about his defense, but people act like he's three feet tall and weak as a sponge. He's definitely not great, but there are a lot of poor or developing defenders in the league.
But... honestly? His scoring is so completely natural and astonishingly effortless, his handles and shiftiness so advanced, he gets whatever shots he wants, that I would not be surprised to see him putting up 15 ppg in his rookie year. Maybe even more. I mean, obviously there is a lot to go, but his top skills are already up there.
Devin Booker wasn't a starter at Kentucky either
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...-booker-2.html
Damnit, beat me by six minutes
I've been having Dillingham around my top 3 for a while now. He's my top pick right now. Do I think he'll actually get picked first? No.
But I've seen enough. It's too many times where Kentucky, a team full of young but very highly rated recruits, gets bogged down and falls behind, their supposedly high-end offense not getting anything going, and then he starts ripping things apart.
And it's not because he's calling his own shot over and over, it's because he starts putting so much pressure on the defense they have trouble handling it. He's so shifty, so quick. It's really hard to guard him because of how he handles the ball -- he's flashy, but it's all for a purpose, his spins are for a purpose, his advanced moves. He's always a threat to get somewhere, but then he pops off shots super-quickly. It's hard, maybe even impossible, to read when he's about to shoot, and maybe that's the thing - he's so instinctual, so fast in his processing of defenses, that he's never having to plan things out. There's no sitting and thinking strategy.
Anyway, I find his knack unbelievable. It's not just that he's a really good shooter, it's that he's lightning fast getting there, and then he's playing within their system, and he sees open guys. Plus he does this at vital times. Too many times I've seen him take over games when they've needed him. But isn't a ball-hog. He's not taking really bad shots at all. I mean, here or there, like heat-checks, but he's not what I'd call a chucker. So, like, not only is he a crazy good scorer and ballhandler, who plays within his team, will get guys the ball and seems to relish that, he also seems super clutch.
Now... do I think he can play off-ball, lower usage, actually run an offense for the Spurs? Do I think the way he gets himself open, his spins and stepbacks, in a way that might seem wild, will work with Pop? Dunno.
But there's no question in my mind that he's the best player in this draft. He's just undersized.
Sochan also didn't start at Baylor and he's a far better pro than the guy who started in front of him.
Sometimes coaches just like the structure of the bench. Whatever this is seems to work for Calipari and it's clear that Sheppard and Dillingham finish the games. Like... Manu.
It's true there are examples of guys who didn't start in the NCAA coming good in the NBA. Not sure I can think of an example involving a PG (ie someone who's primary job is handling the ball and running the team's offence). I rate Topic a better prospect, because he's doing it against much better compe ion. Sure the ABA isn't the euroleague.. It's still streets better than the NCAA on a night in night out basis.
Or Houston west.
SEC right now is way way better than where Topic was playing.
I'd rather see the Spurs draft a sop re or even junior like Jalen Williams who had time to improve his game rather than an 18-19yo tbh
Very simplistic reasoning, bro. Manu was also a non-starter. Was Manu bad or Pop a complete moron?
I assume you've been smoking something? It's 2024, not 1974.
Yes, lol, 100%.
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