2024 NBA Draft Thread

[CGD]

Current mock from The Athletic's Sam Vecenie:

1. Risacher (Blazers)
2. Sarr (Wizards)
3. Buzelis (Pistons)
4. Sheppard (Grizzlies)
5. Topic (Spurs)
6. Castle (Hornets)
7. Williams (Spurs via Raptors)
8. Holland (Rockets via Nets)
9. Dillingham (Jazz)
10. Salaun (Hawks)
11. Clingan (Thunder via Rockets)
12. Knecht (Bulls)
13. Collier (Pelicans via Lakers)
14. Walter (Blazers via Warriors)

This seems pretty realistic to me. After the combine, size and potential will climb up the boards. That Saluan kid, for example, will go Top 10 for no other reason (just like Bilal did last year), and Matas will become a Top 5 lock.

I should probably watch Shepard more. Y’all keep bustin nuts about him, and the national media seems to agree. I have a hard time seeing someone with his physical profile going Top 5 once the combine happens, but what do I know.

[JPB]

MJ is much more a case of someone thinking that if they are great at one thing, they’re great at anything they try. He never had a handle on it, and everyone knew he sucked. Most who follow basketball nationwide would value PATFOs opinion over yours 7 days a week, and twice on Sunday, and chastise your arrogance for thinking you know better.

I disagree with that.

A lot of fans have very educated opinions that prove better than NBA FOs' over time. I mean, who can say the wizzards, Pistons, or Knicks before recently have known "better" than most fans these last few years? At the end of the day, it's just BB not quantum mechanics, and there's no information or data (besides training, but traning is not games) FOs have, fans don't. There are factually bad GMs, being in an NBA FO doesn't necessarily make you smarter than educated fans.

Was reaching for Primo (penis put aside) really a smarter decision than many here would have taken? If PATFO was definitely smarter than the mass, they wouldn't have passed on Segun or Haliburton some fans were advocating for... Not eveything they do is gold, you can be trapped in your cer udes sometimes, specially if you believe you're smarter or a 75 y.o coach who seems to have lost grip on things recently... players are done at some point, coaches too and what used to work doesn't anymore.

If Pop and co. truly believe it's worth spending years developing these kids "who will be around Wemby for years", then sorry but he doesn't know better to me, he just has to go, which he would have already in any other team, with in mind that Pop had zero experience before that in rebuilding from scratch and it's as a 70+ coach that he had to take that road.

PS: And true or not, it's honestly scary to imagine Malaki would/could be the guy who improved the most this year.

[exstatic]

I disagree with that.

A lot of fans have very educated opinions that prove better than NBA FOs' over time. I mean, who can say the wizzards, Pistons, or Knicks before recently have known "better" than most fans these last few years? At the end of the day, it's just BB not quantum mechanics, and there's no information or data (besides training, but traning is not games) FOs have, fans don't. There are factually bad GMs, being in an NBA FO doesn't necessarily make you smarter than educated fans.

Was reaching for Primo (penis put aside) really a smarter decision than many here would have taken? If PATFO was definitely smarter than the mass, they wouldn't have passed on Segun or Haliburton some fans were advocating for... Not eveything they do is gold, you can be trapped in your cer udes sometimes, specially if you believe you're smarter or a 75 y.o coach who seems to have lost grip on things recently... players are done at some point, coaches too and what used to work doesn't anymore.

If Pop and co. truly believe it's worth spending years developing these kids "who will be around Wemby for years", then sorry but he doesn't know better to me, he just has to go, which he would have in any other team.

The problem that causes most fans to come up short is that they only see what the player currently is, and that’s not what the draft is. It hasn’t been that way since probably the 1990s. Organizations also have data farms based on years of prospects,like how left handed Serbian forwards under 20 who excelled in FIBA U16 international compe ion fare in the NBA. You just don’t have access to the kind of data.

[KobesAchilles]

The problem that causes most fans to come up short is that they only see what the player currently is, and that’s not what the draft is. It hasn’t been that way since probably the 1990s. Organizations also have data farms based on years of prospects,like how left handed Serbian forwards under 20 who excelled in FIBA U16 international compe ion fare in the NBA. You just don’t have access to the kind of data.

And even without any of that knowledge, an idiot (i.e. me) knew that Primo sucked when we drafted him and Sengun was better. Also knew that Sochan couldn't/shouldn't be a point guard. And that we should surround Wemby with shooters. Some people are like you who think that just because something was great 20 years ago it always stays great. Coaches have expiration dates. All of them. Pop included. Wemby has zero starters on his team right now going forward that will be on our future championship team. That includes Devin.

Idk if Wemby will leave the Spurs. I do know that he wants to win and the FRANCHISE player is always more important than the coach. Always. This slow and steady sounds good to everyone on this team except Wemby. I know he doubts the talent on his team right now. He was in France with scrubs on his team and carrying them also. The dude is not stupid. Get a PG who can shoot and create for others/himself. Draft your wing player and then take it from there. Sign actual champions as vets instead of the ones we have.

I mean the foolish ego Pop has to think that he can teach Wemby how to play, teach Sochan how to be a PG, teach Vassell how to share the ball, teach KJ how to play defense, teach Champaigne anything, and teach Branham how to play as well is beyond amazing to me and I don't see how nobody here besides me didn't have the foresight to see this. It's impossible to teach kids how to play the game, how to be professionals, how to hold accountability, and how to win close games when your only vet leader is your coach.

[LeBowen]

And even without any of that knowledge, an idiot (i.e. me) knew that Primo sucked when we drafted him and Sengun was better. Also knew that Sochan couldn't/shouldn't be a point guard. And that we should surround Wemby with shooters. Some people are like you who think that just because something was great 20 years ago it always stays great. Coaches have expiration dates. All of them. Pop included. Wemby has zero starters on his team right now going forward that will be on our future championship team. That includes Devin.

This should be a pinned message whenever someone thinks about saying anything positive about the current situation of our franchise, tbh.
PATFO just got complacent over the years and didn't keep up with the evolution of the game.
Still, past 5 years of mismanagement became irrelevant in last year's lottery, but the fact that PATFO's decisions are mostly questionable these days remains.
And will start hurting us this summer if they don't get their together.

No more attempted masterstrokes or pounding the rock nonsense.
Get some damn wings with size that can shoot threes and defend.
And a point guard that can run an offense. It's not ing rocket science.

[exstatic]

And even without any of that knowledge, an idiot (i.e. me) knew that Primo sucked when we drafted him and Sengun was better. Also knew that Sochan couldn't/shouldn't be a point guard. And that we should surround Wemby with shooters. Some people are like you who think that just because something was great 20 years ago it always stays great. Coaches have expiration dates. All of them. Pop included. Wemby has zero starters on his team right now going forward that will be on our future championship team. That includes Devin.

Idk if Wemby will leave the Spurs. I do know that he wants to win and the FRANCHISE player is always more important than the coach. Always. This slow and steady sounds good to everyone on this team except Wemby. I know he doubts the talent on his team right now. He was in France with scrubs on his team and carrying them also. The dude is not stupid. Get a PG who can shoot and create for others/himself. Draft your wing player and then take it from there. Sign actual champions as vets instead of the ones we have.

I mean the foolish ego Pop has to think that he can teach Wemby how to play, teach Sochan how to be a PG, teach Vassell how to share the ball, teach KJ how to play defense, teach Champaigne anything, and teach Branham how to play as well is beyond amazing to me and I don't see how nobody here besides me didn't have the foresight to see this. It's impossible to teach kids how to play the game, how to be professionals, how to hold accountability, and how to win close games when your only vet leader is your coach.

Hindsight is 20/20. The fact is, no one knows what Primo could have become if he had kept his yingyang in his pants. It’s just a guess. Player drafted outside the top 10 doesn’t show a lot as a rookie. Stop the presses.

I liked Sengün, but I kind of wavered, and in fact his success is why I ABSOLUTELY will not come off Topic.

I want the Spurs to use both FRPs this year, if there are two, and sign or trade for a couple of defensive minded vets. Do what Houston did last summer, but better. Hold and use the ATL picks.

[LeBowen]

Hindsight is 20/20. The fact is, no one knows what Primo could have become if he had kept his yingyang in his pants. It’s just a guess. Player drafted outside the top 10 doesn’t show a lot as a rookie. Stop the presses.

He didn't show anything to make us believe he would've been worth the pick.
Failing in draft isn't a problem, the problem are these wild selections noone could've predicted.
OKC can afford to do so because they've got a ton of picks.

For comparison, Lonnie was also a failed pick, but their logic was sound.
Ridiculous athlete, picture perfect jumpshot, solid handles, he just never put it together.

Primo and Samanic were two abstract picks where PATFO tried to prove they're smarter than everyone and it turned out that there's a reason noone else was going for those two with such low picks.

Out of all the years when Spurs favored international players, passing on Sengun was inexcusable.
Worked out well because of 14% lottery win, but if it didn't, Spurs would've broken the worst ever record this year.
Imagine this team without Wemby. At least two more years of less than 20 wins after this one. Would've never recovered from it.

[spurraider21]

Does he have a lottery crystal ball? Because those aren’t even remotely the current team positions.

probably just ran a lottery sim and went with it

[Mr. Body]

Primo showed flashes. Hold on, that came out wrong.

Saying Primo was going to be bad is just flat out wrong. In Summer League he showed some really great stuff. Then struggled during the season. He was incredibly young, I think only 18 when he was drafted.

So... yeah, if you think you know what he might have become if he didn't have a fly problem, you're wrong. If it makes you feel better to keep saying it, fine, but it's not correct.

[exstatic]

probably just ran a lottery sim and went with it

Someone posted that he did exactly that. Weird methodology for a mock, but, whatever.

[Seventyniner]

Someone posted that he did exactly that. Weird methodology for a mock, but, whatever.

I think it's fine if he does several more mocks with the same methodology. For a one-off it's strange.

[Mr. Body]

He didn't show anything to make us believe he would've been worth the pick.
Failing in draft isn't a problem, the problem are these wild selections noone could've predicted.
OKC can afford to do so because they've got a ton of picks.

For comparison, Lonnie was also a failed pick, but their logic was sound.
Ridiculous athlete, picture perfect jumpshot, solid handles, he just never put it together.

Primo and Samanic were two abstract picks where PATFO tried to prove they're smarter than everyone and it turned out that there's a reason noone else was going for those two with such low picks.

Out of all the years when Spurs favored international players, passing on Sengun was inexcusable.
Worked out well because of 14% lottery win, but if it didn't, Spurs would've broken the worst ever record this year.
Imagine this team without Wemby. At least two more years of less than 20 wins after this one. Would've never recovered from it.

Nah, you're pretty mistaken about Primo and whatever promise he might have had. I get it -- people generally transform the past in order to submit preconceived narratives. Some of us actually remember what was happening at the time.

The other thing everyone conveniently 'forgets' is that there was a serious fall-off in that draft at that point. Obviously Sengun should have been the pick, but everyone passed on him. Even the supposedly brilliant Thunder, who threw him away to Houston. After him, it was Trey Murphy, who was a really poor defender at Virginia and was only a shooter. (He's still only a shooter.) Herb Jones came down the line, so maybe that was a miss, but everyone missed him.

Saying Primo was obviously bad is just sad rewriting of history.

[JPB]

And even without any of that knowledge, an idiot (i.e. me) knew that Primo sucked when we drafted him and Sengun was better. Also knew that Sochan couldn't/shouldn't be a point guard.

Most glaring example.

People (including myself) have been trashed here as beotians who don't know BB vs. Pop the master for saying that Sochan experience was weird, he wasn't a PG, that wouldn't last long and we"d never see the guy ever again play PG here or anywhere else...

but Pop knew better... It hurt not only Sochan but Wemby's development who suddenly started to really blossom with a real PG around... 2 or 3 months lost.

[JPB]

Nah, you're pretty mistaken about Primo and whatever promise he might have had. I get it -- people generally transform the past in order to submit preconceived narratives. Some of us actually remember what was happening at the time.

The other thing everyone conveniently 'forgets' is that there was a serious fall-off in that draft at that point. Obviously Sengun should have been the pick, but everyone passed on him. Even the supposedly brilliant Thunder, who threw him away to Houston. After him, it was Trey Murphy, who was a really poor defender at Virginia and was only a shooter. (He's still only a shooter.) Herb Jones came down the line, so maybe that was a miss, but everyone missed him.

Saying Primo was obviously bad is just sad rewriting of history.

Yeah, that's why he's been a G leaguer for months now. Primo showed absolutely nothing that let suppose he would be anything than a 3rd string PG at best. In any other team, you would have trashed him.

But some of your guys standards are so low, that a soon as one of our young players doesn't dribble on his foot every other possession, he has "upside"... It seems that you fall in love and get emotionally atttached with any player putting on a spurs jersey whether it's Mamu, Barlow, Champagnie, Branham, Blake, all guys that nobody in the rest of the NBA would want as anything else than bench warmers.

We're not suffering from cognitive dissonance, you are just resorting to the Coué method and wishful thnking not to face reality.

[LeBowen]

But some of your guys standards are so low, that a soon as one of our young players doesn't dribble on his foot every other possession, he has "upside"... It seems that you fall in love and get emotionally atttached with any player putting on a spurs jersey whether it's Mamu, Barlow, Champagnie, Branham, Blake, all guys that nobody in the rest of the NBA would want as anything else than bench warmers.

I'd say that a lot of people who are positive about our roster don't watch many other games except for top contenders. I'm not talking just about this forum, but Spurs fanbase in general.
Scrubs like Branham or Wesley hit a couple of layups and people start coping that they're getting on the right track and that there's hope for them to be a part of a legit NBA roster.
Best case scenario for non-Wemby members of the roster is Tre as a subpar backup PG, Sochan as a -stirring utility forward who's actually not that great at the game and Devin as a third/fourth option on a legit playoff team.
But then he'll get traded because he's not worth the money.
Others are completely useless for serious basketball.

Even in best case scenario for each player's development, all of them except Devin will have serious, fundamental flaws that just can't be fixed.
Whether it be size, bball IQ, lack of shooting mechanics or lack of athleticism on defense.

[The Truth #6]

I wanted Primo to do well, but in summer league they were trying him at point guard and he couldn't get by anyone and I think by the end of summer league they sort of shifted away from that a little bit. I don't think there was much promise for him coming out of Summer League. I think most people were frustrated at picking him but in some weird way somewhat relieved he got cut because he was going to be given too much time to try and be a point guard instead of just learning how to be a role player who can shoot the three really well. That's how I remember it at least.

[The Truth #6]

Primo actually would have been very helpful as an off the bench guard or wing as he was a pretty good three-point shooter.

[rankingtear]

He didn't show anything to make us believe he would've been worth the pick.
Failing in draft isn't a problem, the problem are these wild selections noone could've predicted.
OKC can afford to do so because they've got a ton of picks.

For comparison, Lonnie was also a failed pick, but their logic was sound.
Ridiculous athlete, picture perfect jumpshot, solid handles, he just never put it together.

Primo and Samanic were two abstract picks where PATFO tried to prove they're smarter than everyone and it turned out that there's a reason noone else was going for those two with such low picks.

Out of all the years when Spurs favored international players, passing on Sengun was inexcusable.
Worked out well because of 14% lottery win, but if it didn't, Spurs would've broken the worst ever record this year.
Imagine this team without Wemby. At least two more years of less than 20 wins after this one. Would've never recovered from it.

OKC also loved Primo and passed on Sengun. Now they got Chet and we have Wemby. We are really like OKC. Now to reach on the draft again and get our Jalen Williams.

[LeBowen]

OKC also loved Primo and passed on Sengun.

There was nothing wrong with Primo pick if we weren't in the lottery.

Now they got Chet and we have Wemby. We are really like OKC. Now to reach on the draft again and get our Jalen Williams.

We got Sochan instead.

[rankingtear]

There was nothing wrong with Primo pick if we weren't in the lottery.



We got Sochan instead.

We can get his brother.

[rankingtear]

Most glaring example.

People (including myself) have been trashed here as beotians who don't know BB vs. Pop the master for saying that Sochan experience was weird, he wasn't a PG, that wouldn't last long and we"d never see the guy ever again play PG here or anywhere else...

but Pop knew better... It hurt not only Sochan but Wemby's development who suddenly started to really blossom with a real PG around... 2 or 3 months lost.

It is for spacing cause Sochan can't shoot yet. That double big lineup with Sochan off ball would be as much of a distaster.

[SOMA Spur]

Current mock from The Athletic's Sam Vecenie:

1. Risacher (Blazers)
2. Sarr (Wizards)
3. Buzelis (Pistons)
4. Sheppard (Grizzlies)
5. Topic (Spurs)
6. Castle (Hornets)
7. Williams (Spurs via Raptors)
8. Holland (Rockets via Nets)
9. Dillingham (Jazz)
10. Salaun (Hawks)
11. Clingan (Thunder via Rockets)
12. Knecht (Bulls)
13. Collier (Pelicans via Lakers)
14. Walter (Blazers via Warriors)

If this is the order, and available players, I'm taking Dilly at 5, and a wing at 7 (Williams or Holland or Knecht) and am pretty damn happy with the draft. Both with the talent infusion and their reasonable contracts.

[scott]

Current mock from The Athletic's Sam Vecenie:

1. Risacher (Blazers)
2. Sarr (Wizards)
3. Buzelis (Pistons)
4. Sheppard (Grizzlies)
5. Topic (Spurs)
6. Castle (Hornets)
7. Williams (Spurs via Raptors)
8. Holland (Rockets via Nets)
9. Dillingham (Jazz)
10. Salaun (Hawks)
11. Clingan (Thunder via Rockets)
12. Knecht (Bulls)
13. Collier (Pelicans via Lakers)
14. Walter (Blazers via Warriors)

If it played out this way, I think I'd want us to double dip on wings and take Williams and Holland, which might be a little bit of a hot take. I'm going cold on all of the PG prospects in this draft, quite honestly. Knecht or even Filipokski might be in play for me in these scenarios as well.

If that happened, I'd feel like we did the best we could in the draft but still pretty meh.

[spurraider21]

damn, passing in dillingham twice? thats gotta be a no from me dog

[scott]

damn, passing in dillingham twice? thats gotta be a no from me dog

Dilly might be one of my favorite players in this draft, but I'm starting to feel like the Spurs wouldn't take him for no other reason than his size. If I am wrong, I'd be happy. I'd go Dilly/Holland in that case. I don't love Holland, but I like him more than Williams I think.