2024 NBA Draft Thread

[SOMA Spur]

With the prospect of us losing out on the Toronto pick this year (it's like around 50/50 we get it this year). Any interest in trading down to another team that has 2 picks in this years draft? Let's say Toronto jumps us and we get the #5 pick. Maybe give Portland a call for their #7+#13? or OKC for their #10+#11. Would we maybe be able to squeeze a third asset out of them (mediocre future first). Like most of you, I don't really trust our FO and would love for them to have 2 cracks at drafting a future starter this draft.

[Russ]

It's hard for me to fully commit or fully count out any player in this draft. So I'm intrigued about Isaiah Collier.

I've seen Collier twice in person and have been unimpressed (both by him and the team he leads).

That said, guys like Collier are the ones that can become bargains in the draft -- the guy who starts out top 5 or 10 in all the mocks then free falls to late 1st round or even lower.

Like GG Jackson last year -- a consensus top 10 early on then he goes #45 in the 2d round. (I was upset at the time that the Spurs passed twice on him at 33 and 44.)

GG Jackson just scored 27 in his last game in the NBA and he's still only 19.

Collier could be a bargain as long as you take advantage of his fall (if it happens).

His value point looks to be somewhere after the Toronto pick but well before GG Jackson territory.

[Harry Callahan]

Is GG Jackson a full time headache?

I've never seen GGJ play, but Memphis seems to have more than one headache right now on their roster. Unfortunately, their best player is one of them.

[exstatic]

Is GG Jackson a full time headache?

I've never seen GGJ play, but Memphis seems to have more than one headache right now on their roster. Unfortunately, their best player is one of them.

It’s the reason he wasn’t drafted earlier.

[duncan2150]

It's hard for me to fully commit or fully count out any player in this draft. So I'm intrigued about Isaiah Collier.

[Russ]

That bad USC team started the season ranked in the top 25. (Ranked 21st in 1st AP poll.)

[TD 21]

If they're not in position to select Risacher (and I'll guess they won't be), I'm thinking they might go Salaun.

The actualized version of him is basically a souped up Champagnie: Bigger, more athletic 3 and D big wing, who can cross match since they've seemingly decided Sochan is better off generally defending on the perimeter than interior.

If the Craptors 1st conveys, I still think Sheppard will be the primary target.

[ace3g]

[objective]

I feel better about Sheppard's ability to hang in the NBA after watching Podziemski. Because he had some downright ugly defense clips in college interspersed with some defensive playmaking if I remember right, but the defense really put me off him

But he's been playing like 30 minutes a game and contributing, averaging 13, 7, and 7 in February

So I figure even an undersized short arm can hang if the iq is there and the ability to playmake with deflections, strips, and filling his role.

And Shepperd should be able to do that enough even though I figure he's 2 inches shorter

[duncan2150]

That bad USC team started the season ranked in the top 25. (Ranked 21st in 1st AP poll.)

Did you watch some of their games russ ? The spacing and their game plan was awful that's why he called them a bad usc team.

[Russ]

Did you watch some of their games russ ? The spacing and their game plan was awful that's why he called them a bad usc team.

I attended two of their games.

The point I was making is that USC had good talent, a good coach and, therefore, a high preseason ranking (were a 10 seed in last year's NCAA Tournament).

Their implosion this year likely doesn't fall upon their coach (three NCAA Tournament appearances in a row going into the season).

Could some of the unanticipated failure reflect upon the rookie point guard?

But, again, I think Collier could be one of the bargains of this draft (depending on how far he drops).

[Ariel]

There's people here that claim this guy isn't skilled

[CGD]

^ I think he ends up going #1 unless the spurs get that pick. Even then they might pick him and trade him to ATL for Trae!

[TimmehC]

He's skilled but he's the worst kind of frontcourt tweener at the moment. Not a good enough shooter/playmaker to play the 4 on offense, lacks the strength to play the 5 defensively at an NBA level. He should be able to put on some muscle later and maybe become Gobert-lite, but he's probably going to struggle early on. Gobert-lite is definitely good enough for the top pick in this draft though.

[spursparker9]

[Dejounte]

People are too easily impressed with a highlight reel

If Kai Jones was coming out of this draft, he’d be projected #1. His highlights were way better and would fool the same people here.

Each game I watch it’s the same— a Nic Claxton ceiling for this kid. Nice piece, just not one deserving of the hype surrounding him to be a top pick. Not a player you should throw a max at when his rookie contract ends (and those are the only kind you should draft with a top pick) or you’ve massively handicapped your team with a big whose skillset isn’t suited to thrive as a #1 or #2 option in today’s NBA.

[Pauleta14]

Autralian league looks really weak defensively compared to the French league. Forget about euroleague...

Might prepare for the spacing but not sure about all the defensive fundamentals

[SpursBills]

For a second round flyer or even trade up target at the end of the first round, I'd take a look at Colin Murray-Boyles. Can't shoot the 3, only ok FT shooter, but he's an undersized big with pretty elite steal and block percentages, BPM around 10, and he's basically the youngest or one of the youngest guys in the draft (turns 19 in June). Also with excellent rebounding numbers and a positive AST:TO ratio which is a very unusual combination for a guy so young. Also playing for an excellent SC team this year and a major contributor to their success. Seems like the kind of guy Memphis typically drafts who inexplicably succeeds.

EDIT:
Did a deeper dive on him. I'm a fan, he seems like he just knows how to play. Smart plays, good passing, positionally sound defense with good stance and a wide base. Put his measurements and numbers side by side against Draymond Green as a sop re - it's uncanny how similar they are. As a bonus, the NBA is transitioning to taller mobile bigs (Wemby, Chet, Mobley, Sarr) and the wide body quick forward with a strong base is a good counter to these types of players.

[spurraider21]

Sarr wouldn't go #1 in most drafts, but this isn't most drafts. In a year where even the high end guys look like role players, Sarr fills a heck of a role as a rim protector with ++ mobility, length, and enough flashes of offensive skill to think there's something there other than just an athletic finisher. I'm still not convinced on the offense outside of transition, and his shooting looks pretty illusory compared to Wemby who came in with shooting questions.

If the spurs didnt have wemby right now, and had instead landed miller/scoot/thompson, we'd all be circling Sarr as the de facto spurs #1 option in the draft and not really thinking twice. Wemby's presence complicates it, but if the spurs landed #1 overall and didnt trade it, its not like Sarr would be an awful pick. We've already seen that Wemby gets gassed when he gets extended run, and its noticeable how much our defense drops off with him off the court. But if you had Sarr as a backup and not being expected to have a significant offensive load, thats a nice 1-2 at center, with hopes that they can one day coexist on the floor together.

Could do much worse in this draft

obviously, risacher fills a much more glaring need. if the decision makers feel there isnt a significant talent gap, sure, go ahead and prioritize need. but if they do their assessment and think sarr is the superior prospect who just doesnt fill as big a need, i would still take the better player given how barren the roster is, especially if they're going into the offseason with ideas of trading collins

i havent watched much of these guys yet other than game highlights that get posted here and on twitter, so im not going to pretend to have done any real study or analysis for any of these guys. i only really dive that deep for the nfl draft.

[Mr. Body]

Whoever drafts Sarr will essentially hope they're getting Evan Mobley. A very good defensive PF or possible C who can't shoot.

https://www.tankathon.com/players/co...n--evan-mobley

That's them before drafting with Claxton thrown in. Mobley is very good but it's hard for Cleveland to play him and Jared Allen together because neither can shoot, but they're doing well overall.

The problem with the Spurs isn't so much that we don't know if Sarr can be Evan Mobley, it's that we don't even know what kind of big man works with Wemby. He takes up and requires so much space. And then those high end rookie extensions are pretty bad if the fit isn't there. You definitely don't want to use a top pick on someone who has to come off the bench and even then his role is fairly limited. I don't even understand why Sarr doesn't even get twenty minutes a game. And young players who have come out of his league haven't exactly been great.

Wildly though, I actually think I believe in his upside more than Risacher. Something just feels off about ZR to me right now.

[scott]

This is such a tough draft… I lack guanine enthusiasm for any of these prospects, yet I still want that TOR pick to convey this year.

[Mr. Body]

This is such a tough draft… I lack guanine enthusiasm for any of these prospects, yet I still want that TOR pick to convey this year.

Last year 1-5 was much better, this year 6-10 or 12 imo is much better.

[scott]

Last year 1-5 was much better, this year 6-10 or 12 imo is much better.

What’s your current big board, say 1-12, right now?

[exstatic]

Last year 1-5 was much better, this year 6-10 or 12 imo is much better.

There’s a good chance that 2023’s 3-5 all bust. They were drafted as deer.

[Mr. Body]

What’s your current big board, say 1-12, right now?

Don't really know. These are not in particular order, grouped more by type

Sarr
Risacher
Topic

Holland
Buzelis

Dillingham
Sheppard

Williams
Walter

Filipowski
Knecht

Castle
Furphy

Salaun