2024 NBA Draft Thread

[Knoxxx]

Whose Cade?

[Vienna]

can someone tell me, why McCain worked out for the Warriors, when they have only the #52 pick?

sounds as if they have a deal in place, likely for a late lottery pick? what do they give? Podziemsky? (but they say they love him), or maybe a future 1st (low protected?)

ok.....what about this: Warriors trade Podziemski to the Spurs for #8, plus some more assets. (future picks?)

[SpursDynasty85]

Rumors that three teams are vocal about trading into the 3 spot. Charlotte, Portland, and Memphis, with Hornets and Grizzlies the most aggressive.

One would think the target is Clingan, who might not even be there. Crazy that Donovan Clingan is the massive hinge for this draft. Not something I'd expect.

In the unlikely scenario that Clingan lasts past Houston, I suppose the Spurs could put that pick for sale and trade down. Right now it's hard to think Clingan will last past the first three picks, though, with Houston trading him.

If Houston trades down, they may still get Sheppard. Unlikely, so the play may even be to keep trading down. They don't really need anything from this draft.

Wouldn't be surprised if Zach Edey goes in the lottery too. If Gobert can get maximum money and traded for 4 first round picks then there is definitely a case for Edey and Clingan who looks better.

[R. DeMurre]

For me it's not about the time, but the opportunity.
Spurs don't need to make any big moves this summer.
Hope you draft two good players, give everyone another chance while trying to actually win games and see what happen.
In the meantime, be ready to jump at any opportunity that fits the roster.

Don't make moves for the sake of making moves, but if let's say Markkanen becomes available because Jazz s up his extension, then we need to be the first in line to acquire his services.
Many teams failed because their blew their load too early, but it's not like we haven't seen plenty of teams fail because they were too patient and always thought an even better opportunity will come up.

This, exactly. Don't buy into any preconceived formula, stay flexible. I ran across a great John Wooden quote recently, and I think it sums up the way to approach team building (or life in general): "Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."

You can be on the lookout for a Magic-like PG, a Kirilenko-like combo forward, a Manu-like shooting guard, a Curry-like shooter.... but the chances of that exact guy showing up are very slim. You work with the opportunities in front of you, understand that basketball constantly evolves, and get ready to pounce when those opportunities are presented.

[scott]

Of course they would. Remember, the Spurs are going to have their board even though the media have the draft as a lot flatter at the top than most. They aren't going to be like STers and think if players are in the same tier that they don't have a preference of who falls. They're going to do everything they can to throw off teams to their selections at 4 and especially 8. Like if the Spurs want Buzelis and feel Detroit will take him at five, they're going to avoid a situation where the Pistons trade up to three to snag him. If they can make the Pistons think "Oh no, they're in on Castle instead", then they can trick Detroit into not making the deal and thus landing their guy without having to trade. And if Houston is targeting Sheppard and believes the Spurs would take him at 4 if the Rockets move down, then Houston might not be willing to risk trading with Detroit.

If the Spurs are as in on this draft as I believe they are, they don't need to workouts to tell who they want at the top of the board. They do need those workouts to sort out their second-rounders. I find it interesting that the Spurs a looking at so many upperclassmen. As I've mentioned before, 35 is a great spot to draft some high-floor backfill to be long-term depth. Specifically getting a plug-and-play PG to take over Jones' rotation spot is a high priority in my book even if they draft point-guard at 4 or 8

I agree with all of this, but as a matter of obfuscation, the Spurs could achieve the same level of "smokescreen" by working out EVERYONE as opposed to not working out their preferred targets in hopes of "masking" their interest. In fact, working out everyone might be even more of a smokescreen in that if it appears that the Spurs like everyone, then that is as useful of info as the Spurs liking no one. With that said, I'm not sure if there are rules limiting the number of individual workouts (like the NFL has), and certainly there are bandwidth limitations upon the staff as well as scheduling constraints on both sides. But from a strategy perspective, you'd think it would almost be better to workout the entire range of projected lotto picks. At a bare minimum you'd gain opposition scouting on all of these guys who are about to be playing for rival teams.

[SpursFan86]

Dream scenario for us tbh…Risacher and Sarr go 1/2, then Memphis trades 9 + Smart to grab Clingan at 3. We take Sheppard at 4 and then grab your preferred choice of Castle/Buzelis/Holland/Williams depending on who’s available at 8.

Extra benefit because I think Sheppard would be a good fit for Houston and Smart doesn’t help them at all

[scott]

can someone tell me, why McCain worked out for the Warriors, when they have only the #52 pick?

sounds as if they have a deal in place, likely for a late lottery pick? what do they give? Podziemsky? (but they say they love him), or maybe a future 1st (low protected?)

ok.....what about this: Warriors trade Podziemski to the Spurs for #8, plus some more assets. (future picks?)

There is still value in getting a workout in with a player who you may have little chance of getting. It gives you some opposition scouting, but it also might be a player that really intrigues you that you may not draft but you'll want to keep tabs on throughout their if a trade opportunity or FA signing presents itself down the road. You'll often hear of teams who "really liked this guy during the pre-draft process" years down the road when maybe they are available. Just a thought.

With that said, the Warriors may very well be looking to do some deals to shore up their cap situation, like you said.

[Mr. Body]

There is still value in getting a workout in with a player who you may have little chance of getting. It gives you some opposition scouting, but it also might be a player that really intrigues you that you may not draft but you'll want to keep tabs on throughout their if a trade opportunity or FA signing presents itself down the road. You'll often hear of teams who "really liked this guy during the pre-draft process" years down the road when maybe they are available. Just a thought.

With that said, the Warriors may very well be looking to do some deals to shore up their cap situation, like you said.

Right-o.

As for getting into the draft, NOLA is rumored to maybe want to sell their 21 for future seconds. NYK have 24 and 25 and are rumored to not want both (or either?).

I'm not sure moving much higher is feasible and that's where McCain will be.

[SpursDynasty85]

Dream scenario for us tbh…Risacher and Sarr go 1/2, then Memphis trades 9 + Smart to grab Clingan at 3. We take Sheppard at 4 and then grab your preferred choice of Castle/Buzelis/Holland/Williams depending on who’s available at 8.

Extra benefit because I think Sheppard would be a good fit for Houston and Smart doesn’t help them at all

Smart, Thompson, Brooks, and Adams sounds like a team not many teams would want to play unless they got shoulder pads.

[Mugen]

This draft is shaping up to be one of the most fun in years. Nobody knows tbh

[SpursFan86]

This draft is shaping up to be one of the most fun in years. Nobody knows tbh

Can’t wait for the Spurs to go with Salaun at 4 and then trade #8 for three future SRPs

[z0sa]

Yeah, just stop being impatient. Firing off assets without knowing what will work is dumb. Every off-season players will become available.

Wanting the Spurs to sell high rather than low if an opportunity presents itself is being impatient now, okay. Spoken like a true disciple of Pop.

Every trade for a rotation player who has never played for your team is a risk. You won't know exactly how it will turn out - the difference between the loss of x leaving and player y joining - until they show up.

We have a very similar situation in this draft. No sure-fire thing. I'd take a great player, especially a triple threat PG, who's proven he belongs in the League over any of these guys in the draft, point blank. And I'd take one over most of our current roster. Keldon has the highest value of anyone the Spurs are able and willing to ship out, but for how long? Again, you misidentify this as impatience when really, it's prudence and actual team-building, which involves making tough decisions and not just casting the die. Too many people are acting like last season simply didn't happen.

[scott]

The fine line of patience and paralysis by analysis. Those who do it right, succeed.

[spurraider21]

I think they had Dillingham in today for his workout.

[spurraider21]

grizzlies wanting Clingan seems so telegraphed at the moment. it made sense intuitively since they clearly liked Adams before his health issues, and Clingan projects to just be a bigger version of that. they also traded away Tillman to Boston so they are particularly thin at center. now with the talk of them trading up, seems even more obvious.

if you are somebody like me who has Risacher and Sheppard as the top 2 of our board, it just gives us another out to have one fall at 4

either hawks take clingan first, wizards presumably take sarr, and then spurs get the leftover of risacher/sheppard depending on who the rockets leave behind (more likely risacher), or

hawks and wizards split risacher/sarr, memphis trades up for clingan at 3, and sheppard therefore falls to 4

[onechance87]

Can’t wait for the Spurs to go with Salaun at 4 and then trade #8 for three future SRPs

lol

[Mr. Body]

The fine line of patience and paralysis by analysis. Those who do it right, succeed.

It's not paralysis it's just keeping their powder dry. They'll do plenty of other things.

[scott]

It's not paralysis it's just keeping their powder dry. They'll do plenty of other things.

What "it" are you referring to? I made a generality, I'm not referring to anything specific.

There is always some unknown, potentially better thing to keep your powder dry for. That's where you run into the realm of paralysis. Say if you could get Lauri for a single FRP and he gave assurances that he'd resign, but you want to be "patient" - that is paralysis hurting you. On the flip side, giving up a massive haul for Trae because he's the first all-star that has shown an interest in being a Spur... that's impatience hurting you. There's a line, and mastering it is a skill that separates good FOs from bad ones. However, we'll never know what deals could or couldn't have been had because we're on the outside looking in.

[Mr. Body]

What "it" are you referring to? I made a generality, I'm not referring to anything specific.

There is always some unknown, potentially better thing to keep your powder dry for. That's where you run into the realm of paralysis. Say if you could get Lauri for a single FRP and he gave assurances that he'd resign, but you want to be "patient" - that is paralysis hurting you. On the flip side, giving up a massive haul for Trae because he's the first all-star that has shown an interest in being a Spur... that's impatience hurting you. There's a line, and mastering it is a skill that separates good FOs from bad ones. However, we'll never know what deals could or couldn't have been had because we're on the outside looking in.

We're talking about big trades this summer. It's not going to happen.

[DPG21920]

Yall are crazy RE: Cade. He is easily worth the ATL picks IMO and I wouldn’t hesitate if that was actually the cost/possible.

Regarding the draft, I really, really hope it starts out Clingan to ATL and Risacher to WAS. That puts HOU in a spot where if they want Reed (which is who I want most for SA) then they have to let Sarr fall to SA and Im sure that will not make them very happy to do it.

Then there could be a chance SA walks away with Sarr and Castle (with Castle maybe falling to 8 or via trade up with Detroit for 5 using pick 8 + something)

[LeBowen]

We're talking about big trades this summer. It's not going to happen.

I admire anyone who can claim anything with such certainty considering the state of the league in 2024 and all the that goes down with noone ever expecting it.

[Mugen]

Yall are crazy RE: Cade. He is easily worth the ATL picks IMO and I wouldn’t hesitate if that was actually the cost/possible.

Regarding the draft, I really, really hope it starts out Clingan to ATL and Risacher to WAS. That puts HOU in a spot where if they want Reed (which is who I want most for SA) then they have to let Sarr fall to SA and Im sure that will not make them very happy to do it.

Then there could be a chance SA walks away with Sarr and Castle (with Castle maybe falling to 8 or via trade up with Detroit for 5 using pick 8 + something)

Would be shocking to see WAS pass on Sarr at #2 tbh.

[Mr. Body]

I admire anyone who can claim anything with such certainty considering the state of the league in 2024 and all the that goes down with noone ever expecting it.

I feel like we're just going to live through last offseason again. The team has been very clear about what they're going to do and not do. You're free to think they're gonna trade for Trae Young or whatever.

[BatManu20]

Rockets reported on Twitter saying Clingan is currently their #1 target with Sheppard right behind him.

[DAF86]

Whose Cade?