2024 NBA Draft Thread

[mo7888]

That 12-22 area looks like the most interesting part of the draft as far as value goes, at least in this mock.

[Ariel]

Interesting.
Would you guy do #4 for #7 and #14?

Bulls and Grizzlies don't really have anything Spurs would want and they'd be willing to give up.

Depends a lot on how the board shapes up. Personally, my 2 targets at 4 are Risacher and Castle. If both of them are projected to go top 3, I might consider moving up if the price is reasonable (say, future lottery protected first a few years down the road). If those 2 are gone, I'd definitely consider all options for trading back or out, I'd probably do 4 for 7+14 with Portland, as for Chicago I do see them as very interesting trade partners because of the protections on the owed '25 pick. Say, move back to 11 in exchange for them unprotecting their '25 pick, or make it top 2 protected but add a '26 or '27 pick swap, or something Presti-esque to that effect.

[Knoxxx]

Re Knecht he is a bigger version of Branham with a reliable 3 PT shot as well as a same sized clear upgrade on Keldon Johnson. He replaces two players, including our best bench player, so Knecht certainly needs to get strong consideration in relation to pick 4, as far as whether to take Knecht at 8.

Add on thought edit: seems like he pairs fine with Castle, Sheppard, or Dilly.

if paired with Sheppard that gives us two white men that CAN jump, what would be the odds. We could put them both in the dunk contest and 3 PT shooting contest

[mo7888]

Interesting.
Would you guy do #4 for #7 and #14?

Bulls and Grizzlies don't really have anything Spurs would want and they'd be willing to give up.

If my top targets are gone then I probably do that deal. If my target is there then I don't, but I might try and package KJ to Portland for Brogdon + 7 or maybe even 14 depending on who's still on the board there.

[LeBowen]

That 12-22 area looks like the most interesting part of the draft as far as value goes, at least in this mock.

Yeah, as per usual one or two great players will be picked in late lottery or even early 20s.
Wouldn't surprise me if for example Devin Carter turns out to be the best guard in the draft.

[Ariel]

Givony is reading me tbh

I'd hate to give Atlanta 4+8 for 1 though, that's the range they'd be most dangerous in. Atlanta coming away with something like Castle & Clingan (in some order) is probably much more favorable for their short term future than Sarr would be, and that doesn't bode well for the outlook of the pick they owe the Spurs in '25. Hopefully they just take Sarr and that ends up with Risacher or Castle falling to no. 4. Best case scenario IMO.

[Ariel]

Reading what Memphis has/is owed for future picks I run into something like this:

2026 first round draft pick from Phoenix, Washington or Orlando (Memphis outgoing to Phoenix)
Washington has the right to swap its 2026 1st round pick, protected for selections 9-30 if Washington does not convey a 1st round pick to New York in 2025, for Phoenix's 2026 1st round pick; Orlando then has the right to swap its 2026 1st round pick for the less favorable of the Phoenix pick and the Washington pick if conveyable; Memphis then has the right to swap its 2026 1st round pick for the least / less favorable of the Phoenix pick, the Washington pick if conveyable and the Orlando pick; if the Washington pick is not conveyable, then Phoenix's obligation to Washington will be extinguished and Orlando will instead have the right to swap its pick for the Phoenix pick [Indiana-Phoenix-Washington, 6/23/2023; Orlando-Phoenix, 7/17/2023; Brooklyn-Memphis-Phoenix, 2/8/2024]

Which is barely comprehensible.

It means Memphis keeps their '26 pick unless it's the worst of the bunch in which case they jump to 3rd best.

[JPB]

I'd hate to give Atlanta 4+8 for 1 though, that's the range they'd be most dangerous in. Atlanta coming away with something like Castle & Clingan (in some order) is probably much more favorable for their short term future than Sarr would be, and that doesn't bode well for the outlook of the pick they owe the Spurs in '25. Hopefully they just take Sarr and that ends up with Risacher or Castle falling to no. 4. Best case scenario IMO.

I believe you can put your house on Zach and Sarr going top 2. And I'm not vrey far from adding Castle as a surefire top 3.

My prediction for the top 3 is the same as it's been a for a little while now and similar to Givony and Woo. Correction, their projection is the same as mine

1. Risacher
2. Sarr
3. Castle.

[Ariel]

I believe you can put your house on Zach and Sarr going top 2. And I'm not vrey far from adding Castle as a surefire top 3.

Very possible, yes.

[LeBowen]

I don't think Rockets pick Castle at #3, but if they trade their pick then that team probably gets him.

Spurs probably take one of Dillingham/Topic and one of Buzelis/Holland/Williams/Salaun in that scenario.

[exstatic]

Ja, Bane, JJJ and Smart should be off limits, I haven't seen much of their G-league roster this season to know who's valuable. I don't think they'd be willing to trade that GG Jackson kid.

Blazers don't really have anyone Spurs would want except maybe Brogdon, but he's not worth trading down. 7+14 for 4 would be the only option.

Chicago won't remove protection for 2025 pick, I doubt they'd give up Caruso or White, other assets don't interest Spurs.

Trading GG Jackson would be selling very high on a prospect who was probably top 10 talent wise, but dropped due to a at ude. Let some other team experience that .

[Ariel]

I would absolutely be open to what packages these teams might like to use to get Clingan but this is where Houston will jump in.

Probably, but maybe could be a hedge against the Spurs preferred targets (I assume it's Risacher and Castle) going top 3. If that's the case, then Clingan is there at 4 and I would 100% go for extra assets than settle for whatever is there. And if Clingan was taken by Houston, then surely one of the Spurs preferred targets (supposedly Risacher or Castle) are there at 4 so no biggie.

[The Truth #6]

Right now I'm accepting this isn't a draft for stars. Avoiding Ignite losers. Avoiding hail Mary upside players.

Give me Castle at 4 and Carter at 8. They could play well together and provide elite POA defense. That's an iden y least. Rookies with a veteran at ude. Next year look for star offensive players. I'm still cool with Dillingham. Still intrigued by Knecht. But that maybe about it.

[LeBowen]

Carter at 8.

I haven't seen enough of him to properly form an opinion, but what's the reason for him being projected relatively low considering his skillset? Other than his age?

Watched some videos and he seems like a perfect fit for any system.
Castle can't shoot, Dillingham can't defend, Sheppard is an undersized shooting guard.
Carter's only flaw is his age. But mock draft people are often way too low on players just because they're a year or two older.

[mo7888]

I haven't seen enough of him to properly form an opinion, but what's the reason for him being projected relatively low considering his skillset? Other than his age?

Watched some videos and he seems like a perfect fit for any system.
Castle can't shoot, Dillingham can't defend, Sheppard is an undersized shooting guard.
Carter's only flaw is his age. But mock draft people are often way too low on players just because they're a year or two older.

It's mostly age and the fact that some scouts don't believe in his shooting. Personality, I think he's a solid pick with a high floor and some upside that can be mined..

[Mr. Body]

I'd also say shooting -- he's been great at nice volume this year, but not the last two years. The age thing.

Also, I'd say, he doesn't quite project as a PG, so could be more of an undersized SG.

And... draft slots get really sticky. If you're considered top 8 or range 12-18, it can be hard to move down too much or up through a thicket of players. Definitely happens, like Coulibaly last year, but players get stuck sometimes.

[Mr. Body]

Rumors are that players are refusing to workout for Charlotte. If true, not just Castle. It's a show of a franchise, but is under new management. Still, you've got Miles Bridges, a complete chuckle in LaMelo Ball, some other losers like Bouknight (I think he's gone, tho), and Brandon Miller who is still the guy who ported a gun to friends in the middle of the night. Its fanbase seems to be checked out, too.

[The Truth #6]

NC is all about college basketball. The Hornets are an afterthought and then an embarrassment considering what purity fans get from the elite college teams. Just my opinion.

[scott]

The 4 for 7 + 14 idea is interesting, but mostly if we'd look to monetize one or more of 7, 8, 14 in some other deal. I actually like the talent in that range (and drafting Salaun becomes a lot more palatable if it is part of a draft day haul of, for example, Carter, Knecth, and Salaun).

However, I just don't think adding three rookies to this team is the smartest idea, especially with potentially two more lotto picks this year.

[The Truth #6]

I haven't seen enough of him to properly form an opinion, but what's the reason for him being projected relatively low considering his skillset? Other than his age?

Watched some videos and he seems like a perfect fit for any system.
Castle can't shoot, Dillingham can't defend, Sheppard is an undersized shooting guard.
Carter's only flaw is his age. But mock draft people are often way too low on players just because they're a year or two older.

He's undersized too most likely but at least plays big. Fills up the stat sheet. Feels like another potential Jaquez, Bane, Herb Jones type of upper class men just sitting there and getting overlooked for younger upside players with limited upside. But I'm not an expert with the details, I look more from the big picture.

[Eaglenole2002]

I haven't seen enough of him to properly form an opinion, but what's the reason for him being projected relatively low considering his skillset? Other than his age?

Watched some videos and he seems like a perfect fit for any system.
Castle can't shoot, Dillingham can't defend, Sheppard is an undersized shooting guard.
Carter's only flaw is his age. But mock draft people are often way too low on players just because they're a year or two older.

While he tested off the charts athletically, and he certainly is athletic, I don’t think he will be explosive enough to consistently break down NBA defenses. His shooting looks good on paper, but he has a slow release that occasionally he was able to speed up in contested situations.

Hos defense is incredible though. He can be a game wrecker while doing enough offensively to start, space the floor and beat hard close outs. I don’t think we would want him to be our lead ball handler/creator, but he could pair very well with a Castle as interchangeable ball handlers who will absolutely torment opposing back courts and have some nice switch ability. Even though he’s 6-2, I think Carter can hold his own defending 3s in the right matchup or I’m the case of switches.

[JPB]

I'm personnaly not attracted by the "4 for 7 and 14" idea. 14 is already a big drop, but all the more on this weak draft where 14 is probably end of first in most others, to such a point it doesn't make up to me for going from 4 to 7 and risking missing on your first choice here.

That's also why I'm really not sure (I don't believe it actually) 4 and 8 alone would could give you 1 or 2.

[Vienna]

It’s looking increasingly likely that Castle will be the pick at #4. At this point; the only real drama left will be figuring out who they pick at #8 (and the second round).

my bet is on Castle plus Cody Williams.

[mo7888]

The 4 for 7 + 14 idea is interesting, but mostly if we'd look to monetize one or more of 7, 8, 14 in some other deal. I actually like the talent in that range (and drafting Salaun becomes a lot more palatable if it is part of a draft day haul of, for example, Carter, Knecth, and Salaun).

However, I just don't think adding three rookies to this team is the smartest idea, especially with potentially two more lotto picks this year.

I'm OK with adding 3 rookies. In your scenario (Knecht, Salaun, Carter) two of those guys play immediately in the rotation and the other is an upside swing. That's a real attractive scenario in my book.

[Mr. Body]

I'm personnaly not attracted by the "4 for 7 and 14" idea. 14 is already a big drop, but all the more on this weak draft where 14 is probably end of first in most others, to such a point it doesn't make up to me for going from 4 to 7 and risking missing on your first choice here.

That's also why I'm really not sure (I don't believe it actually) 4 and 8 alone would could give you 1 or 2.

Oh, I'd definitely disagree.

The only player I'd cry about missing out on is Castle, and he may just go two or three anyway. So, I don't place a difference between 4 and 7. Maybe I'd game out who I might lose, but one of those players is Clingan, so I'm only losing two spots, right? If I can still manage Castle, then brilliant.

I don't think I actually want to use the 14, necessarily, but it depends on who is there. Carter, brilliant. A guy like Furphy, why not? But I would shop it around.

As for trading up to 2 with the 4 or 8, absolutely not. I can't think of a universe where that's good value, even if I liked Castle so much to ensure Washington or Houston don't take him. Risacher does not move the needle like that at all.