2024 NBA Draft Thread

[Mr. Body]

C Williams has 16 turnovers in the last three games and four fouls in each. A lot of offensive fouls. As they enter the meat of the conference schedule, teams have scouted and figured his weaknesses. Not at all a killer, but a concern.

[scott]

My concern with Topic is that he would really seem to work best if we had a Mike Conley (now off the board) type to start for 1.5-2years while he develops. Unless we plan on another season or two of 30-win seasons, doesn't seem like Topic is will be ready to start, unless he is going to have a Luka-like impact.

[spurraider21]

My concern with Topic is that he would really seem to work best if we had a Mike Conley (now off the board) type to start for 1.5-2years while he develops. Unless we plan on another season or two of 30-win seasons, doesn't seem like Topic is will be ready to start, unless he is going to have a Luka-like impact.

Still have Tre under contract next year. hes not a good starter but hes at least competent

[scott]

Still have Tre under contract next year. hes not a good starter but hes at least competent

Yeah, but I think running it back with this roster + Topic is still a recipe for 30 wins at most.

[Ariel]

Still have Tre under contract next year. hes not a good starter but hes at least competent

If we're drafting a PG to be a long term starter eventually (say Topic or Dillingham), I'd still like to sign Tyus Jones in the offseason to be a short term starter and long term quality backup. Tre Jones is probably a good candidate to be included in any trade, and regardless his contract expires after next season, so there's no harm in adding a better PG than him.

[exstatic]

My concern with Topic is that he would really seem to work best if we had a Mike Conley (now off the board) type to start for 1.5-2years while he develops. Unless we plan on another season or two of 30-win seasons, doesn't seem like Topic is will be ready to start, unless he is going to have a Luka-like impact.

Brogdon might be pryable from Portland, if they’d go for the CHI pick for a player who is an ending contract next season. He brings a lot of the same stuff at a younger age. Do an extend and trade, adding maybe 2 years to his deal.

[baseline bum]

My concern with Topic is that he would really seem to work best if we had a Mike Conley (now off the board) type to start for 1.5-2years while he develops. Unless we plan on another season or two of 30-win seasons, doesn't seem like Topic is will be ready to start, unless he is going to have a Luka-like impact.

Could sign Tyus Jones but gotta think he wouldn't sign here just to have the Spurs forced to trade his brother. Could be an option if they draft a forward though, assuming the Toronto pick doesn't convey, since you could slide Tre back to the backup point then.

[Ariel]

Yeah, they all have risks, but I feel pretty good about a number of them - at least those in the range of the Taylor Hendrickses and Jarace Walkers last year.

Cody Williams, just dunno. On the one hand, even in the last few games when his turnovers shot through the roof (he's weak and fairly slow, having to push-off to get anywhere on good defenders) his shooting efficiency has been really high. Like, when he shoots, he often makes. (Except free throws, although that's an issue for almost all these guys.) He has the length to be a good defender, but isn't yet. And then he just doesn't do anything else. Okay assists, few rebounds. I think he got slotted way too high on the back of his brother and will need to move down again.

C Williams has 16 turnovers in the last three games and four fouls in each. A lot of offensive fouls. As they enter the meat of the conference schedule, teams have scouted and figured his weaknesses. Not at all a killer, but a concern.

Might work out in our favour in the end. I have a lot of reservations going with Cody Williams with the Spurs own pick, but if he falls a bit he'd be a reasonable gamble at 7/8/9 with Toronto's pick. Buzelis and Dillingham are other candidates at that range.

[baseline bum]

Brogdon might be pryable from Portland, if they’d go for the CHI pick for a player who is an ending contract next season. He brings a lot of the same stuff at a younger age.

I'm surprised no one traded for him this deadline. Wonder if Portland was asking for the moon or maybe they think Scoot sucks.

[baseline bum]

Might work out in our favour in the end. I have a lot of reservations going with Cody Williams with the Spurs own pick, but if he falls a bit he'd be a reasonable gamble at 7/8/9 with Toronto's pick. Buzelis and Dillingham are other candidates at that range.

Don't really see Memphis out-tanking the Raptors.

[exstatic]

I'm surprised no one traded for him this deadline. Wonder if Portland was asking for the moon or maybe they think Scoot sucks.

They won’t get it this summer for a 31 YO on an ending contract.

[Ariel]

I'm surprised no one traded for him this deadline. Wonder if Portland was asking for the moon or maybe they think Scoot sucks.

Allegedly they were happy with him and asking for a first rounder, which is bizarre because there's plenty of evidence his value was a late first (Boston trade, Clippers failed trade) and that was when he was younger and healthier. But I would be willing to give up the Spurs own 2nd rounder (right now at 33) and maybe another 2nd rounder for Brogdon, if none of the Spurs target are there (I'd take Ajay Mitc , Kolek, KJ Simpson there).

[Ariel]

Don't really see Memphis out-tanking the Raptors.

They might, but don't have to: if Toronto stays at 6 pre-lottery, their pick has a 54% chance of being 7th or worse (meaning it conveys).

[mo7888]

Way to early, but here is my top 30 so far:

2024 NBA Draft Board
Tier 1:
1. Zaccharie Risacher
2. Alex Sarr
3. Nikola Topic
Tier 2:
4. Matas Buzelis
5. Tidjane Salaun
6. Cody Williams
7. JaKobe Walter
8. Reed Shephard
Tier 3:
9. Robert Dillingham
10. Stephen Castle
11. Isaiah Collier
12. Johnny Furphy
13. Ron Holland
14. Kyle Filipowski
15. Ryan Dunn
16. Tyler Smith
17. Dalton Knecht
Tier 4:
18. Ke'lel Ware
19. Yves Missi
20. Donovan Clingan
21. Zach Edey
22. Bobi Klintman
23. Kyshawn George
24. Pacome Dadiet
25. Trevon Brazile
26. Kevin McCullar
27. Tyrese Proctor
28. Juan Nunez
29. Tyler Kolek
30. Tristan Da Silva

[TD 21]

Since I see the focus with the natural pick being wing, my sense is the most likely scenario at PG is they take a run at whichever of the Hawks PG's they more than likely trade this off season.

If it's Murray and the Craptors 1st conveys with Walter on the board (he fits the Grimes archetype they seem to want and need next to Young), maybe that, the '27 Hawks 1st, possibly the Hornets 1st and Graham?

Failing that, if the Craptors 1st conveys they draft Sheppard and have him play it nominally (less of a stretch than trying to convert Primo) or sign Jones.

[vy65]

Don't really see Memphis out-tanking the Raptors.

https://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength

Some interesting things here:

1) Raptors and Nets are separated by only two games and will play each other three more times
2) Nets have the second-easiest schedule from here on out
3) Spurs play Memphis twice, Brooklyn once

Those three games between Brooklyn and Toronto are going to be decisive imo

[TD 21]

^ The Rockets will receive the Nets '24 1st via the Harden trade.

[alfahdlan]

C Williams has 16 turnovers in the last three games and four fouls in each. A lot of offensive fouls. As they enter the meat of the conference schedule, teams have scouted and figured his weaknesses. Not at all a killer, but a concern.

On the other hand, Reed has 17 steals in the last 4 games. If ever UK runs deep in games ahead, we cannot totally disregard these things. Not only is he a sharpshooter but also a ball hawk and makes winning plays.

[spurraider21]

sheppard's defensive production is frankly absurd

derrick white as a senior for colorado averaged 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals (alongside 18/4/4.4), with shooting splits of roughly 50/40/80
sheppard as a freshman for kentucky is averaging 0.8 blocks and 2.6 steals (alongside 12/4.4/4) with shooting splits of roughly 52/50/80

derrick's last name is white. sheppard is white. the parallels go on

[ace3g]

[objective]

sheppard's defensive production is frankly absurd

derrick white as a senior for colorado averaged 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals (alongside 18/4/4.4), with shooting splits of roughly 50/40/80
sheppard as a freshman for kentucky is averaging 0.8 blocks and 2.6 steals (alongside 12/4.4/4) with shooting splits of roughly 52/50/80

derrick's last name is white. sheppard is white. the parallels go on

I don't know, if he keeps his hair short, Sheppard is a little closer to Floresiensis on the cranium scale

Needs to up his brain pan game

[onechance87]

sheppard's defensive production is frankly absurd

derrick white as a senior for colorado averaged 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals (alongside 18/4/4.4), with shooting splits of roughly 50/40/80
sheppard as a freshman for kentucky is averaging 0.8 blocks and 2.6 steals (alongside 12/4.4/4) with shooting splits of roughly 52/50/80

derrick's last name is white. sheppard is white. the parallels go on

is he a pg tho.....i know he should be better then branham...But would he better running the pg then
tre jones at pg.

[alfahdlan]

During crunch time, Calipari trusts Reed at the point.

[spurraider21]

He seems more Pat Bev/Caruso than a true point. While wemby has flashed true hub/distributor ability, we’re not there yet. Dno if we survive on offense without a more traditional penetrating and passing PG

at the very least Sheppard can replace branham as the bench combo guard

[TD 21]

If Primo, Sochan, Branham, etc. can play "lead guard" in this (motion) offense, there's no reason Sheppard can't. We're not talking about initiating constant p-n-r's here.

If he's the 3 and D, secondary initiator he appears to be, then he opens up all kinds of lineup configurations no matter what archetype their eventual primary initiator is.

Even now, he can pair with any of the other guards in the back court, though ideally he should be the lone small guard so that he can primarily defend PG's.