2024 NBA Draft Thread

[Bruno]

I quite like Topic but what I truly hate about him is his agent.

This is what he told to media while Topic had a torn ACL:
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/sto...nts-stats-more

Monday, he appeared to reinjure the same knee, looking unable to put any weight as he limped off the court in obvious distress. A postgame examination revealed Topic avoided serious injury, sources told ESPN, and he will not require surgery. His injury is being described as a left knee sprain. A source told ESPN that Topic "froze up" after feeling pain in his previously injured knee, but recovered quickly in the locker room.

This level of lying is unreal, even for an agent defending the draft stock of his player.

[BackHome]

Right now, regarding players potential availability at #4 and #8, I think the situation is the following:
- Players who won't be there at #4 : Sarr and Risacher.
- Players who could be there at #4 but won't be there at #8: Clingan, Sheppard, Buzelis and Castle.
- Players who could be picked at #8 without being a huge reach: Dillingham, Knecht, Salaün, Topic, Holland, Cody Williams and Devin Carter.

Personally, I would go with Castle at #4 and Cody Williams at #8.

I agree with how players will go on draft night and I actually like those two players

[rascal]

pistons and blazers? that's interesting. maybe he could go before the 8th pick.

Don't say that!

Spurs may draft him at 4 if they fear he'll go before 8.

[sfernald]

in the big picture we should expect that both 2nd round picks might be stashed. (or traded). the roster is filled up anyway and there are some more 1st rounders coming in 2025. not that I wish they go that route, but I wouldn't be surprised and the reasons are obvious.

there will be enough raw talent to place a bet on and watch them develop for two or three years. like Johnson, Dadiet, Djurisic, Ajinca, Chomche, Flowers.

Roster is filled up with garbage. Every one of these guys should be fighting for his job at training camp except Wemby. It would be like Okc saying let’s not draft Jalen Williams cause we already have Tre Mann lmao.

[exstatic]

After consideration, we’ll come away from the draft with Castle, somehow, some way.

[Mr. Body]

After consideration, we’ll come away from the draft with Castle, somehow, some way.

Only way not is if Risacher drops. Might mean Washington takes Castle, anyway. But if the Spurs are looking at Risacher and Castle and take the former, that'll be a mistake.

[PhantomDashCam]

Grain of salt? Interesting if true.

https://clutchpoints.com/nba-fan-mai...a-draft-rumors

The next order of business pertains to the San Antonio Spurs, with the fourth and eighth overall selections. The Spurs are said to have interest in hearing out offers for either pick, sources said, yet it is unlikely that they would relinquish both. The need for immediate production next to Victor Wembanyama in the backcourt will be addressed with one of these selections.

[objective]

Juan Nunez with some good measurements ... 6-4 barefoot with a 6-6 wingspan

Slow as one might have expected but he's going to be a legit 6-5 in shoes, let's get that 2nd round stash

[rascal]

Only way not is if Risacher drops. Might mean Washington takes Castle, anyway. But if the Spurs are looking at Risacher and Castle and take the former, that'll be a mistake.

I also like Castle more.

He fills a need and it's the perfect time to get that type of player out of this draft.

Next year the Spurs will most likely have at least two lottery picks and its deeper with higher end offensive players.
Better to get the offensive upside SF next year, get the top perimeter defensive player out of this draft.

[alfahdlan]

Castle/Dilly (Knecht)

or

Sheppard/C Williams (Castle, Buzelis, Holland)

Sheppard/Holland = Offense/Defense

[Mr. Body]

Grain of salt? Interesting if true.

https://clutchpoints.com/nba-fan-mai...a-draft-rumors

Wouldn't be a surprise at all to see one of the picks move. I think we'll see two rookies, at least, and there are still the 35 and late SRP. The new CBA makes early SRPs potentially more valuable than late FRPs for contending teams (two-way vs. guaranteed contracts), and there will be gems later in the first round.

Booting the 8 and pulling into the late first isn't a bad use of assets. The option is there.

[R. DeMurre]

Juan Nunez with some good measurements ... 6-4 barefoot with a 6-6 wingspan

Slow as one might have expected but he's going to be a legit 6-5 in shoes, let's get that 2nd round stash

Interesting that Nunez's measurements of 6'4" w/ 6'6" wingspan are "good," but Topic's 6'6" w/ 6' 5.5" wingspan are somehow an unmitigated disaster....

[Big Empty]

Castle will be gone by our pick, but 6’6 combo guards are a dime a dozen every year. So Clingan at 4 and Knect at 8. We plug 2 huge holes in a defensive center and shooting. Im ok with running it back with Tre & Blake running the point for one more year and this if the Spurs dont trade future picks for D Murray/Trae or Garland as there are alot of rumors going around.

Wemby/Clingan/Barlow
Sochan/Collins/Mamu
Champange/K Johnson/Cissoko
Vassell/Knect/Branham
Jones/Wesley

this is a solid line up. Obviously Pop is gonna slowly work the rookies into the rotation and we can focus on a pg and defensive wing next year with our two picks unless we trade them for a veteran pg

[JPB]

Take it for what's it's worth, but Givony is also reporting, after Clingan worked out for them, that ATL could be contemplating the idea of trading down.

"Clingan is a top-three prospect who might experience a minor drop on draft night because teams that are in the Nos. 3-6 range already have starting centers in place. He's in conversation at No. 1 after working out in Atlanta (which is exploring trade-down scenarios).

He is also spending time in Washington, which has the No. 2 pick. Clingan isn't expected to drop past the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 7, whom he just visited for a private workout as well. He is being discussed among teams as a possible target for the likes of Chicago, Memphis, Oklahoma City or Utah, who all might explore trading up for a player in his mold."

[RC_Drunkford]

Just get Dillingham, man. Won't pay anything for him. Way cheaper, he's Wembanyama's age, and good chance he'll be at least as good as Garland if not even better.

I was in that boat, but how big is the chance of Dillingham turning out to be Garland? I mean basically best case scenario is Dillingham becomes a Garland-level player. Then why not just take Garland who's a sure thing and won't have to develop for 3 years? Besides that Garland is definitely a better defender as of now, even though he still sucks on that end too. Garland and Tre Young are basically the only All-Star level PGs 25 and under who will be available and if they are available now, you need to pull the trigger. Otherwise we'll be sitting here in 2028 still looking for an All-Star PG.

If we use both picks I definitely want to draft Dillingham, but if he doesn't hit and these 2 guys have been traded to other teams we will have a PG problem for a while.

[RC_Drunkford]

Obviously.
But that second option should be someone who doesn't need to have a lot of time on the ball.
That's why I've been repeating myself that Markkanen should be the primary target and that DJ should be in serious consideration for point guard position.
Imagine Wemby with another 7 footer who shoots 40% from deep on 8 attempts, can score from anywhere and is a solid enough defender?
And a two-way point guard on a team friendly deal.

Volume shooting is where it's at in today's league.
That's why I don't rate shooting splits from a lot of these players.
Someone who's shooting in low 30s while being left wide open isn't a shooter.
We need players that need to be chased around screens and closed down in order to create enough spacing for Wemby.

I'm with you on Markkanen, but I'm not sure DJ is the best fit at PG. He doesn't break down the defense to create open shots and he's also not a good point of attack defender. I'd much rather get a dynamic PG like Garland/Dillingham who can break down the defense and draw help and have somebody like a Castle develop off the bench into that Jrue Holiday mold, so you can change the line up if you need defense at the 1.

[mystargtr34]

I'm with you on Markkanen, but I'm not sure DJ is the best fit at PG. He doesn't break down the defense to create open shots and he's also not a good point of attack defender. I'd much rather get a dynamic PG like Garland/Dillingham who can break down the defense and draw help and have somebody like a Castle develop off the bench into that Jrue Holiday mold, so you can change the line up if you need defense at the 1.

Agree on DJ. I don’t want him here he’s not a needle mover. Decent floor raiser on a bad team but not someone who’s gonna win you playoff series because he needs the ball in his hands to be effective but if the balls in his hands he’s not good enough with it to win you playoff series.

A Westbrook-lite if you will.

[cutewizard]

Tbh, letting Wemby have his way once only for it to fail miserably would be a good way to make him realize not to question people who are actually paid to scout, evaluate, trade and draft players.
(I'm not saying that Wemby will even do soemthing like this, just in case it happens.)
---------------------------

Dejounte or White



Spurs starting lineup needs, no particular order:
1) Primary playmaker.
2) Shooting.
3) Point of attack defender.
4) Perimeter defense in general.

Risacher is the only prospect who fills at least one need on both sides of the floor and he looks to be the safest pick, even if his ceiling isn't that high.
Other than him, it's either defenders that can't shoot or shooters that can't defend. Or theoretical players who need to improve everything in order to even stay in the league.

Other than Risacher, Dillingham would fill playmaking and shooting needs, but he'd be the worst defender in the league.
I'm not that high on Risacher, but I can see the logic if they think his floor is a solid 3-D player with upside to develop into elite 3-D player.
With the way the game is being played today, an elite wing defender that shoots 40% from deep on 8 attempts per game would be invaluable.

[cutewizard]

FWIW, I tried simulating the Spurs on 2K by adding a bunch of different prospects (Risacher, Castle, Dillingham, Topic, and Salaun) to the roster. Here are my observations:

1. Risacher is such a good fit on this current roster.
2. The rotations were more sensible when a PG like Dillingham or Topic was on the roster.
3. Castle can start at the 3 between Vassell and Sochan.
4. Backup 4 is a sneaky need for this team right now, unless you believe in Bassey.

-----------------------------------------

On point , totally agree

[cutewizard]

the coming man is........................

[cutewizard]

[cutewizard]

[cutewizard]

the new Bird, hehehehehe

[mo7888]

I was in that boat, but how big is the chance of Dillingham turning out to be Garland? I mean basically best case scenario is Dillingham becomes a Garland-level player. Then why not just take Garland who's a sure thing and won't have to develop for 3 years? Besides that Garland is definitely a better defender as of now, even though he still sucks on that end too. Garland and Tre Young are basically the only All-Star level PGs 25 and under who will be available and if they are available now, you need to pull the trigger. Otherwise we'll be sitting here in 2028 still looking for an All-Star PG.

If we use both picks I definitely want to draft Dillingham, but if he doesn't hit and these 2 guys have been traded to other teams we will have a PG problem for a while.

I can't see Dilly becoming Garland. At best, I see him as an energy scorer off the bench. That's a valuable thing though, so this isn't a diss, but they aren't comparable in my book.

[cutewizard]