2024 NBA Draft Thread

[rascal]

Stephon Castle seems like a nice pick up at the mid teens, but there's guys of that archetype (big guards with all around games that can defend and pass but not shoot), like Anthony Black, Dyson Daniels, etc. I feel like we're more likely to get his type later on, than we are of getting a big skilled wing like Buzelis or a scoring lead guard like Dillingham. Also, as pointed out by several others, he overlaps with Sochan's skill set and role, and I'd add with Tre Jones, Blake Wesley, and even Cissoko. At some point you can't use your entire developmental quota on players who all have the same fatal flaw, and that may be a problem putting 2 of them together on the floor at once in a playoff game.
More so by exclusion than anything else, I keep circling around Dillingham and Sheppard at PG, and Buzelis and Knecht at the wing. As possible alternatives, I'd take a closer look at Topic and Collier at PG, and Risacher and Cody Williams as wings. And I don't rule out Sarr, because I still see in him some qualities you can't teach (size, length, how he moves, flashes of skill) and if we're going to take someone who doesn't fit, I'd rather go with him than anyone else.

Trade sochan, he's too small anyways for PF and he doesn't shoot well either. Why feel the need to have to be stuck with Sochan.

[exstatic]

Stephon Castle seems like a nice pick up at the mid teens, but there's guys of that archetype (big guards with all around games that can defend and pass but not shoot), like Anthony Black, Dyson Daniels, etc. I feel like we're more likely to get his type later on, than we are of getting a big skilled wing like Buzelis or a scoring lead guard like Dillingham. Also, as pointed out by several others, he overlaps with Sochan's skill set and role, and I'd add with Tre Jones, Blake Wesley, and even Cissoko. At some point you can't use your entire developmental quota on players who all have the same fatal flaw, and that may be a problem putting 2 of them together on the floor at once in a playoff game.
More so by exclusion than anything else, I keep circling around Dillingham and Sheppard at PG, and Buzelis and Knecht at the wing. As possible alternatives, I'd take a closer look at Topic and Collier at PG, and Risacher and Cody Williams as wings. And I don't rule out Sarr, because I still see in him some qualities you can't teach (size, length, how he moves, flashes of skill) and if we're going to take someone who doesn't fit, I'd rather go with him than anyone else.

Anthony Black went #6 last year in a much better draft. Doubt Castle lasts past 10.

[Ariel]

Why are people on a white guy, Buzelis, who can't shoot.

If I thought he couldn't shoot I'd stay away, but his form doesn't look bad and he shot over 40% from 3 in high school, given that I'd be willing to gamble on his struggles having a lot to do with adjusting to new (hostile) environment in Ignite, which is probably optimistic but a better gamble than the rest plus if it turns out correct you may truly have a future no. 2 to go along with Wemby.

[Ariel]

Trade sochan, he's too small anyways for PF and he doesn't shoot well either. Why feel the need to have to be stuck with Sochan.

Because I'd rather keep Sochan and use the pick on someone else, than trade him for peanuts to get the guard version of him.

[Ariel]

Anthony Black went #6 last year in a much better draft. Doubt Castle lasts past 10.

Neither did Dyson Daniels and I don't disagree with you in that he might go top 10, but that wasn't my point. I remember lots of you being dismissive of Cam Whitmore because he was painted as being low IQ and selfish, he slid all the way to 20 because of medical concerns and a laid back personality, yet he's probably a top 3 talent and much better than well rounded guys taken in front of him. Something similar the year before with Tari Eason. Houston makes a living taking the challenge with talents others shy away from based on concerns blown out of proportion (add Sengun to the mix), there's a lesson to be learned there.

[exstatic]

Neither did Dyson Daniels and I don't disagree with you in that he might go top 10, but that wasn't my point. I remember lots of you being dismissive of Cam Whitmore because he was painted as being low IQ and selfish, he slided all the way to 20 because of medical concerns and a laid back personality, yet he's probably a top 3 talent and much better than well rounded guys taken in front of him. Something similar the year before with Tari Eason. Houston makes a living taking the challenge with talents others shy away from based on concerns blown out of proportion (add Sengun to the mix), there's a lesson to be learned there.

Houston isn’t exact a template to follow. They’ve drafted these weirdos and head cases, spent a boatload of money last summer, and they’re still in the lottery.

[Ariel]

Houston isn’t exact a template to follow. They’ve drafted these weirdos and head cases, spent a boatload of money last summer, and they’re still in the lottery.

Houston is ABSOLUTELY a template to follow when it comes to drafting on the teens. I'd much rather take a gamble on Sengun, Cam Whitmore and Tari Eason, than Primo or Samanich, both of whom seemed like huge reaches even at the time. They are not only far superior talents but, ironically, much better character guys. When in doubt, ALWAYS GAMBLE ON TALENT.

[exstatic]

Houston is ABSOLUTELY a template to follow when it comes to drafting on the teens. I'd much rather take a gamble on Sengun, Cam Whitmore and Tari Eason, than Primo or Samanich. They are not only far superior talents but, ironically, much better character guys.

But we’re not drafting in the teens, and the one time we did,the questionable guy turned out to have reasons for it.

[rascal]

Because I'd rather keep Sochan and use the pick on someone else, than trade him for peanuts to get the guard version of him.

I wouldn't keep Sochan. He's too small for being a non shooter. If I have a non shooter pf I want a bigger pf who can finish strong at the rim and be a strong rebounder/shot blocker.

I wouldn't let Sochan being on the roster prevent me from drafting Castle.

[Ariel]

But we’re not drafting in the teens, and the one time we did,the questionable guy turned out to have reasons for it.

The Spurs drafted in the teens several times: Lonnie Walker (18 in '18), Samanich (19 in '19), Vassell (11 in '20) and Primo (12 in '21). Lonnie Walker didn't pan out but wasn't an unreasonable gamble, Samanich was a gamble but a blind one rather than a smart one. The rest weren't the better talent available. Also, the Spurs have plenty of ammo to use if they see someone falling. Cam Whitmore falling to 20 last year should make every franchise that let it happen (3-19, but especially from 9 onwards) feel embarrassed with their own talent evaluation. The point remains no matter where you draft, and in this case the Spurs may draft 7-9 still.

[spurraider21]

Houston is ABSOLUTELY a template to follow when it comes to drafting on the teens. I'd much rather take a gamble on Sengun, Cam Whitmore and Tari Eason, than Primo or Samanich, both of whom seemed like huge reaches even at the time. They are not only far superior talents but, ironically, much better character guys. When in doubt, ALWAYS GAMBLE ON TALENT.

Wasn’t Samanic a gamble on talent

[rascal]

The Spurs drafted in the teens several times: Lonnie Walker (18 in '18), Samanich (19 in '19), Vassell (11 in '20) and Primo (12 in '21). Lonnie Walker didn't pan out but wasn't an unreasonable gamble, Samanich was a gamble but a blind one rather than a smart one. The rest weren't the better talent available. Also, the Spurs have plenty of ammo to use if they see someone falling. Cam Whitmore falling to 20 last year should make every franchise that let it happen (3-19, but especially from 9 onwards) feel embarrassed with their own talent evaluation. The point remains no matter where you draft, and in this case the Spurs may draft 7-9 still.

I liked Cam Whitmore. I remember the draft gurus on this site saying he was so bad.

[objective]

If I thought he couldn't shoot I'd stay away, but his form doesn't look bad and he shot over 40% from 3 in high school, given that I'd be willing to gamble on his struggles having a lot to do with adjusting to new (hostile) environment in Ignite, which is probably optimistic but a better gamble than the rest plus if it turns out correct you may truly have a future no. 2 to go along with Wemby.

I don't know, I don't like how his shot looks, plus he's shooting under 70% from the free throw line. Just reminds me of young Samanic video

And he did hit like 43-44% on threes at about 4 attempts a game in high school as a senior, but only 28% or so as a junior.

[Pauleta14]

Could you explain it to the rest of us? I assure no one else on this board gets the reference to “Mexican armies”

It comes from the Mexican revolution originally, it’s a french saying to describe an hierarchical organisation with way too many bosses and globally disorganised bc of it.

PS/ I'm surprised tbh with all the STers originating from Mexico I thought it'd be a popular expression

[Mr. Body]

It comes from the Mexican revolution originally, it’s a french saying to describe an hierarchical organisation with way too many bosses and globally disorganised bc of it.

PS/ I'm surprised tbh with all the STers originating from Mexico I thought it'd be a popular expression

From when Mexico kicked the French colonialists out of their country? Sounds like copium.

Why would they have that saying themselves?

[Pauleta14]

From when Mexico kicked the French colonialists out of their country? Sounds like copium.

Why would they have that saying themselves?

I’d say probably from the 1st war that saw Napoleon III colonialising Mexico. To give such a Nick name to ur opponents my guess is that Mexican army really sucked initially.

mexico took back their country a few years later so I guess they learned ^^

PS/ I wasn't implying mexcican ppl were using the saying to qulif themselves lmao

I thought the US used it as well and it was a banter thing. French and English have tons of sayings about each other that we are aware of

[CGD]

It comes from the Mexican revolution originally, it’s a french saying to describe an hierarchical organisation with way too many bosses and globally disorganised bc of it.

PS/ I'm surprised tbh with all the STers originating from Mexico I thought it'd be a popular expression

No, i get it from the French perspective, which is whatever — but hey Corona now gets to sell more beer on Cinco de Mayo, so, thanks?

I was more interested in the earlier posters use of “Mexican armies” as an analogy for Spurs athletic trainers. So random and weird.

[Pauleta14]

No, i get it from the French perspective, which is whatever — but hey Corona now gets to sell more beer on Cinco de Mayo, so, thanks?

I was more interested in the earlier posters use of “Mexican armies” as an analogy for Spurs athletic trainers. So random and weird.

JPB who used the expression initially explained that he meant there’s a development assistant for every little thing in today’s NBA.
Don’t think he meant the Spurs in particular nor the pejorative aspect of the saying tho

Not sure I get ur reference about corona and Cinco de Mayo…

It’s not a french perspective it’s a french saying that, I’ve been Googling since, has also been used since by the brits. No offense I hope (to anyone with Mexican origins) We all have weird saying and stories from the past

[mo7888]

I liked Cam Whitmore. I remember the draft gurus on this site saying he was so bad.

I had Cam #4 ahead of the Thompson twins...

[mo7888]

I don't know, I don't like how his shot looks, plus he's shooting under 70% from the free throw line. Just reminds me of young Samanic video

And he did hit like 43-44% on threes at about 4 attempts a game in high school as a senior, but only 28% or so as a junior.

Samanic never had the handle, court vision, or passing ability Buzelis has. Shooting is the only real concern.

[The Truth #6]

Samanic never had the handle, court vision, or passing ability Buzelis has. Shooting is the only real concern.

Are you not concerned about poor motivation? Or has that improved?

[mo7888]

Are you not concerned about poor motivation? Or has that improved?

I'm not concerned about Buzelis's motivation. His shooting is my only real concern.

[Mr. Body]

Samanic had promise. His at ude was awful.

Buzelis apparently is basketball obsessed and wants to succeed. The shooting is a major concern. As far as comparison, he seems taller and longer than Samanic, maybe, and shiftier with the ball in his hands, more guard like. That said, I'm still not sure he's much of a playmaker for others.

[Ariel]

JPB who used the expression initially explained that he meant there’s a development assistant for every little thing in today’s NBA.
Don’t think he meant the Spurs in particular nor the pejorative aspect of the saying tho

Not sure I get ur reference about corona and Cinco de Mayo…

It’s not a french perspective it’s a french saying that, I’ve been Googling since, has also been used since by the brits. No offense I hope (to anyone with Mexican origins) We all have weird saying and stories from the past

https://tigerhawk.blogspot.com/2009/...ican-army.html
https://www.urbandictionary.com/defi...mexican%20army

Each language has its idioms, sometimes us non native English speakers borrow some from our mother tongue (in my case, Spanish), forgetting they're not global and the reader doesn't have the same background, so it gets lost in translation. Happened to me sometimes, and it isn't rare that i find myself confused by some expression posted here that I have to google.

[The Truth #6]

Mexican armies. I hadn't heard that one. I like it. I know someone from Mexico who will sometimes say, translated to English, "they put a little too much cream on their taco". I think it means someone is too full of themselves. But maybe I'm getting it wrong. Anyway. Slang is always interesting. It's great that this site has diverse posters.