Yeah, I think Clingan will be heard from. Coach Snyder is said to like him in ATL, and I think WAS could really use a defensive anchor to reboot its iden y. No idea what Houston is thinking, but a bad ZR workout here or there and he could be there at 4.
And, if he is, I’m immediately calling CHA to see what they need to swap 6 for 8, so we can grab Castle.
I see some folks advocating for the Hawks to do the same-- to trade Trae and Dejounte for future picks and expiring contracts, meaning whoever their pick at #1 is this year, it wouldn't be enough to keep them from being bad enough to have another shot at #1 next year.
I´d be SHOCKED if Washington takes Clingan, their choices scream upside (positional size, athleticism, all around players) and it wouldn't surprise me if Castle is in fact #2 or #3 on their big board over Clingan. Likewise, Houston has gone for upside over fit pretty much every time (Jalen Green, Sengun, Tari Eason, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore), so I wouldn't be so sure Sheppard is their cup of tea, unless Ime really forces their hand.
I’ve watched Filipowski play multiple times. I like him a lot and think he’s a good player, but I don’t see much separation between him and Zach Collins. The former is slightly taller and more mobile while the latter is slightly more physical, but they’re essentially very similar players.
That said, backup PF is a sneaky need for this team right now.
Filipowski isn't a PF. Despite the t-rex arms, like Olynk and Collins, he's a C, but one who'll need supplemental rim protection/defensive rebounding alongside (and floor spacing too, if his 3 tops out as more like the latter than the former) since he can't do the job of one.
I can't believe people still think Risacher gets to 4. Even in the event he's not the preferred option for the Wizards, given his universal fit and both the need and dearth of such players, surely one of the next few would be willing to trade up.
I wouldn't be surprised if he falls to 4. Not betting on it, but the tier of top players is so big and flat with room for people having their preferences that mocks can't pick up on. Just like Anthony Bennett going 1, teams have their own rankings that they don't share
Even the mocks and media analysts seem to agree that Risacher has a limited ceiling and will never be a "star". That's the kind of player who is primed to slide, because teams usually try to trade into the top 3 to get a star and not a solid #4 or #5 starter
Those four GMs really aren't unbiased sources though. I could imagine Houston's GM would love to hype the out of this draft to get someone to trade up for #3 so they don't have to take Sheppard with such a high pick.
Though I could see someone trading up to #5 for Castle in that scenario. No way the Pistons are wed to that pick.
He also said guys like Reed that are 6'1" get routinely hunted in the playoffs.
No midgets on this team please.
Because he's not good at anything. He shows flashes in every area and is not elite at any of them. Which means he could put it together or he could just be a bust like Samanic. With Risacher you know that you'll get defense and shooting which are the 2 most valuable skills in the league.
Bill Simmons said that word is the Hawks might trade Trae and DJ. That would be great for us.
Sure, then don't go read the Branham and Wesley thread from last year...
Then give ST your expertise on what players do you believe in this historically weak draft will be end up as significantly better than Branham or Wesley so we can have a good laugh in a few months.
Only reading the expectations on many guards form the last two much deeper drafts compared to how they've done is entertaining.
Bill Simmons says a lot of things. Most of which are nonsense when it comes to player moves.
He projects his preferred scenarios and starts talking as if he's a credible source.
There's absolutely no way Hawks trade both if they can't get their picks back.
But Spurs don't want to give them their picks back. Meaning Hawks can't tank and it's an infinite circle of why it's not going to happen.
Every year is the same, the closer the draft, the more overhyped it becomes and the more fantasies about its prospects people start to get attached to. And GMs are no different.
Then the kids start to play... How exactly this draft would go from "the weakest in history" for most GMs to a good one, without the kids playing one NBA game? The fact there's still so much uncertainty in the top 5 and top 10 is actually a sign of weakness that've been brought for months but suddenly would become a a sign of depth... You don't see so much uncertainty in strong drafts.
There's a big lack of superstar or even star potential in this draft.
You shouldn’t be SHOCKED if DC takes Clingan. They need everything, not least of which a defensive iden y and anchor. They are also under new management and everyone except Bilal is disposable. I’d make zero assumption about past projecting their future.
no GM would intentionally hurt the value of his assets and picks in an upcoming draft are major assets.
we might see even more trade activities in this draft than usual, because some GM don't like what they could get.
but none of them will go out and claim he looks for a trade because the draft is crap. they will claim they like the options, but but but (insert whatever reason....)
talking about possible trades.......I'm pretty sure the rumored trade of Bridges to the Rocktes finally happens.
Rocktes will sweeten the package around sending back their pick 3 with what it will take to get the deal done. more picks? they will add it. Nets are desperate for picks.
and then the question will be, what the Nets do at 3.
We’ve seen this from the Spurs big board #2 where it was indicated the Spurs like the draft better than expected.
That could be true, or it could be the Spurs trying to pump the value of those picks before a trade.
Two weeks left until the draft, Spurs will draft two of these players barring some ridiculous swings noone sees coming.
And barring one of the picks being traded away. Maybe even there's a trade up or down. The only thing I can't see happening is both picks being traded away.
Tbh, I have no idea how it plays out.
Guards:
Sheppard - elite spot up shooter, great IQ on both ends, questionable size and defense because of it, self-creation and playmaking.
Dillingham - superstar offensive engine potential, horrible defense and high bust potential due to his lack of size.
Castle - elite defense and solid all-round game with highly questionable shooting. Value drops severely if he can't develop into a point guard.
Topic - elite playmaking, anywhere between questionable and awful in every other aspect, torn ACL.
Carter - elite defense and rebounding for his size, solid driving game, massive shooting improvements, questionable playmaking. Being older lowers his stock.
McCain - great shooter, good defender for his size, questionable playmaking and lack of speed smaller guards need.
Forwards:
Risacher - great shooting and defense, no self-creation whatsoever.
Buzelis - theoretical player that's hardest to evaluate. Could become an all-round star, but has equal chances of being out of the league in a couple of years.
Holland - very good defender and athlete, can't play basketball and is useless in half-court. Character issues.
Salaun - great frame, has both shooting and defensive potential, but doesn't know how to play basketball as of now.
Williams - probably the best all-round game out of all these forwards, question marks if he can take any of those aspects to the next level. Really underweight.
Knecht - amazing shooter, lacks self-creation, bad defender. Older.
#4 selection is somewhat straightforward.
Risacher would probably be the pick if he's available.
If not, Sheppard or Castle.
Drafting anyone else with #4 seems like a reach as of now.
#8 is where anything could happen.
Those three I mentioned alongside Sarr and maybe Clingan we're not interested in should be top4 picks.
As for the other listed players, any order can happen.
Carter and Knecht would be the only two ready to contribute right away, but with lower ceiling.
Everyone else would be an uncertainty for various reasons.
I just hope PATFO gets this draft right after 2021 and 2022 failures. Regardless of who gets picked.
I'd be fine with any of the three mentioned players at #4.
As for #8, I don't like Ignite duo and Topic. I also don't think drafting Knecht with one useful skill is a good use of a top10 pick.
Just take a swing with Dillingham, Williams or Salaun.
I would add Bub Carrington to the list. I don’t think he’d be a Primo-like wild swing, but 8 would seem a smidge high. He seems to be the type of guy we like. He is young. He has good PG size and can handle the ball. I like that he can make difficult shots, create for others. His defense supposedly improved a great deal over the second half of the season.
Much of a draft's narrative is created early in the season before the draft. Last year's was set early not just because of Wembanyama, but because everyone was swearing Scoot Henderson was a "generational talent who would go number one in any other draft." And drooling over the Thompson twins' athletic profiles. Brandon Miller had a great NCAA season. In retrospect, Scoot might have been a wee bit overrated and the twins aren't even at a "Is shooting .267 for threes bad?" level. Turns out the draft as a whole was more questionable than portrayed.
Next year is a 'generational' draft headlined by a guy who hasn't played a minute of non-high school basketball and who can't shoot. Supposedly he's a generational, can't-miss prospect.
This year, a lot of the supposed top picks cratered early, giving the draft a bad reputation. I agree that it lacks those top, supposed star quality players, but then it's closer to the 2021 draft (Suggs, Mobley, Jalen Green, Barnes wins ROY) which might have been a bit overrated.
That draft, 2021, had Darius Garland, btw, who every two minutes people talk about sending a big package for him or Trae Young and they're both the size of Rob Dillingham (no, a few pounds doesn't matter). Like, people are obsessed with getting them. Judging the only way we can, with their freshman years, Dillingham is a far, far better shooter than Trae and a more decisive playmaker. He's shiftier and quicker than Garland. Garland only played six games in his NCAA career (injury problems, like always), against cupcakes. Hard to judge by those, but Dillingham still beats him.
Good players, in short (ha ha), are right in front of us. Maybe the draft doesn't have the bangers in some drafts. Maybe some drafts don't have the bangers they are built up to have. No one can take every player from a draft, anyway. Let's go in and get a couple good players and ignore overall reputation.
The mocks and media analysts seem to agree that while it's likely someone(s) will eventually unexpectedly emerge, right now it's seems unlikely any will be stars.
Virtually every team is looking for wings/forwards like Risacher.
If he gets to 2 and isn't the Wizards preference (understandable given where they're at), why wouldn't the Rockets or Spurs have interest in trading up? There's no natural selection for either (you could argue Sheppard, but only one will get him anyway).
ATL or WAS haven't probably really made their mind before Risacher's workouts and itvs. Things should get clearer by the end of the week. Not that we'll really know by then. Lots of smoke sreens and pundits trying to play the insiders rehashing or throwing stuff around.
Yeah, this guy sure knows by now who the top 4 team are gonna pick, thanks to his "intel"... Those teams might not even be sure themselves, with some workouts yet to be done.
I can't wait to see what potential ok role players we draft.
I absolutely don't understand why Carrington is in the high 20s in most mocks. I'm not sure if he should be considered in the lottery, but he definitely should be in the teens. some days ago I pointed to the development of his shooting at the end of the season. over the last 10 games he shot 40% on a good volume (25-62). if teams think this showed his true shooting ability, he will be picked far higher than the mocks rank him.
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