2024 NBA Draft Thread

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The "Way too Early' Draft prognostication

  • Holland

    Votes: 8 16.3%

  • Sarr

    Votes: 41 83.7%

  • Edwards

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    49
PtldPlatypus said:
Your fundamental failing is assuming that anyone posting in this thread is primarily concerned about next season.
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My bad FAMS..... I assumed if they were in the draft thread it was about nothing BUT next season. I'll stay in my lane.
 
THE HCP said:
You literally are about to reach Uber Driver Status
You're saying Hagans is better than Scoot? I'm so confused.
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is Ashton better then Scoot overall, no. Better complimentary player next to Simons... that's debatable. Just going by what i saw on the court. Not advanced win shares or other applicable metrics
 
THE HCP said:
Once again you are naming what some call the top 3 picks in this trash draft. You might get the 5th and 14th pick at best right? What are you taking with THOSE picks and please sell us on how that would help us next season.
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At best? Do you not know how the lottery works? You might want to go read up on that before commenting on the lottery.

You want me to tell you who we should take with those picks without knowing what other teams would do? There are more than a dozen different ways this can go. You don't draft for next season. I'm pretty sure no team is.
 
AmirIcon said:
At best? Do you not know how the lottery works? You might want to go read up on that before commenting on the lottery.
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So you obviously know how it works…..thus you’re getting your hopes up for 2 of the best players available?
 
Been watching here and there. Some of these players haven't performed as well but here are my thoughts.

- This isn't a draft for a primary option/NBA superstar. This is a draft for a Khris Middleton, a Paul Millsap, a Jerami Grant...with the hope that you get a Demar Derozan or LaMarcus Aldridge tier player. There should still be 4-6 All Stars and a few borderline All Stars which makes it better than a 2000 or 2013 Draft.

- Cody Williams is dealing with a very recent ankle injury, which obviously limits him. Not exactly easy playing on a recently sprained ankle so I think it's smarter to evaluate him prior to his late February self, when he was doing quite well and dominated Oregon (whereas, he slipped up against Oregon recently).

- Reed Sheppard didn't play as well as he could. Unless Portland wants to flip Scoot or Simons for a top pick or player, the Blazers don't need a PG but I feel Sheppard could be a similar player to Mike Bibby with shades of CP3 in that, he can get passes and make steals while hitting 17-20ppg.

- DJ Wagner should return to college. He doesn't look NBA ready. Maybe having a bigger role next year as the main PG could make his stock jump ala Morant or Ivey. Maybe he doesn't have confidence in himself but I think he should rest up his ankle and heal up for next season and try to become a Top 5 pick, which he did show flashes of at the beginning of the season prior to the injury.

- Zach Edey should be on everyone's watch list. Check him out. In the NBA, he'll probably be limited due to lack of mobility but on the right team, he will flourish. By the right team, I mean a team with two guards that can open the floor up for him and get him the ball while having wing defenders to make up for his limited mobility.....which his mobility isn't that limited like some people say. On the Rockets, Spurs, Sixers, Nuggets, and the Blazers.....he'll thrive. I really think he's a lottery pick and many are beginning to warm up on that idea of him going #12-20.

I will note this about Edey: He broke the college PER record twice. Every player who plays in a major Div I program (meaning that he has to compete for ball usage and against tough competition) that has had his level of efficiency have turned out well in the NBA. The Top 5 are Freshman Zion, Keegan Murray (the two closest to Edey's PER), John Collins, Brandon Clarke, and Kelly Olynyk. The first two, which Edey is closest to, are young stars. Collins is a good starter. Clarke and Olynyk have been Sixth Men of the Year contenders. So I don't think he'll bust. I just can't predict whether he'll be a Yao Ming or an Enes Kanter. If the Blazers want to replace Robert Williams III, Edey is it

- Stephon Castle is a good player and I expect him to be a Joe Johnson/Demar Derozan hybrid with similar levels of talent. He had an earlier injury, too, that slowed him down. That said, I don't see Brandon Roy or D-Wade like some others have stated (that belongs moreso to Sharpe and Edwards).
 
MickZagger said:
I’m not understanding why this being a bad draft means so much. There’s good players in every draft. Do your homework and make a good pick. What other option do we have?
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It only means something to the person who wants to denigrate others for being interested in the draft.
 
MickZagger said:
I’m not understanding why this being a bad draft means so much. There’s good players in every draft. Do your homework and make a good pick. What other option do we have?
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They just keep repeating drivel without thinking about it for more than 3 seconds.
 
Weird as it is to say, this Grant-Foster kid is legit. Like lotto pick now, good.
 
Portland lost while Memphis won, so in the race for lottery balls Portland has a 4 game lead on Toronto and a 4.5 game lead on Memphis

meanwhile, the Blazers only trail Charlotte by 1.5 games and the two teams play, in Charlotte on April 3. But other than Portland, Charlotte has a killer ending schedule filled with playoff teams. So the odds of Portland catching them seem small. Those two OT wins against Memphis and Toronto are dragging the Blazers down...I mean up...wrong direction?
 
So curious, are the two Oregon guys getting any draft buzz? I haven't seen anything about Dante or Cousinard? I would think Dante would be looked at as a flyer in the second by someone?
 
twobullz said:
So curious, are the two Oregon guys getting any draft buzz? I haven't seen anything about Dante or Cousinard? I would think Dante would be looked at as a flyer in the second by someone?
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From what I've seen, Evans is rated higher than the two you mentioned
 
twobullz said:
The guy who contributed 5 rebounds and 0 points last night in 38 minutes?
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The post was who of the 3 is rated higher in the draft. So if I were an NBA evaluator I can see how they would rate the 19-year-old Evans as having a longer NBA career than the 25-year-old Cousinard or the 22-year-old Dante who has questionable knees. Evans has the body and the athleticism. But like most freshman forwards, he needs a jump shot. He is not ready now but yeah bet he will be the best of the 3.....in the NBA IMO.

Hopefully, Dante's knees check out ok. I am pulling for that guy
 
Edey playing on CBS right now.

Cream Abdul-Jabbar playing in the NIT on ESPN.

Some people get so caught up in Edey's size and the lack of agility that will hurt him on the defensive end that they miss just how much space he creates for others on the offensive end because his screens are a $20 cab ride to get around and he's a phenomenal passer.

Avila, though, is the best passing big in college hoops this year, and ranks among the best I've ever seen. I think he's a Walton/Sabonis-level distributor. His game with the 3-point shot and the wraparound shot fake and drive is so much like a mini-Jokic it's scary.

He's fun to watch play, especially with Indiana State and the way those guys move without the ball.
 
MickZagger said:
I’m not understanding why this being a bad draft means so much. There’s good players in every draft. Do your homework and make a good pick. What other option do we have?
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trade all the picks and bring in a better, more established players ?
 
THE HCP said:
Ask the GMs around the league if they were more excited for last years draft.
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That still doesn't mean this is a bad draft. Take out Wemby and they'd be talking about last year's draft the way they're talking about this year's draft.
 
PCmor7 said:
Edey playing on CBS right now....

...Some people get so caught up in Edey's size and the lack of agility that will hurt him on the defensive end that they miss just how much space he creates for others on the offensive end because his screens are a $20 cab ride to get around and he's a phenomenal passer.
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He fits like a glove in Portland. Having reliable guards open the floor up for Edey allows him to flourish in Purdue. And Portland is one of a few teams that does have this.

Of course, the Blazers need to use their pick to acquire a defensive capable wing like Williams, Risacher, or Holland to help ease potential defensive lapses on Edey's part but that's probably who Portland should be targeting anyway.

Otherwise, I've already listed that Edey's college PER very likely means he'll succeed in the NBA. Once you get past a certain PER threshold on a top tier Div I team, it seems that players have translated into the NBA. From Olynyk and Brandon Clarke (back up bigs that contend for sixth man of the year) to John Collins and Keegan Murray (good starters) to freshman Zion (very unlikely to be a Zion tier player but if you read old scouting reports, people were saying similar things about Jokic where he's simply an advanced stat nerd's dream, unathletic, and couldn't keep up at the Nike Hoops summit....just food for thought).

There's also another threshold where just about every traditional center that can hit 12ppg/8.4 rbg per 28 minutes on efficient FG%, as freshmen, have turned out quite well in the NBA due to being so far ahead of the curve. Edey has this.

Hall of fame quality centers like Shaq, Embiid, Hakeem, Robinson showcased this btw. Greg Oden qualified and could've potentially been here too.

Then, there is KAT, Cousins, Ayton, Robert Williams III, Wendell Carter Jr. Most recent players who demonstrated this are Jalen Duren and Walker Kessler (Chet may or may not count as traditional center, depending on how you view things, but he achieved this too).

Essentially, you draft Edey as your Robert Williams III replacement and if he magically blossoms into another Jokic/Yao or whatever, great. If not, he'll be Robert Williams III tier.

I don't think he's a fluke, whatsoever. Then, he passes the eye test, too. Who can guard a hyper efficient 7'11" wingspan that draws FTs and has good FT% while also being able to kick back out? Seems like only Wemby can match that.

At #13 and with a few more lottery bound drafts still ahead, I think it's worth a gamble.

Now, if you don't like that gamble, Donovan Clingan has also put up a similar freshman year and might be available.
 
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AmirIcon said:
That still doesn't mean this is a bad draft. Take out Wemby and they'd be talking about last year's draft the way they're talking about this year's draft.
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Honest question .....has there ever been a "bad" draft then? If you are so hyped about the #5 and #14th picks....look back. There have been some BRUTAL lotteries. Save the late 1st or 2nd round picks that worked out. I'm talking about LOTTERY picks. There isn't much to get excited about this year that will make us better next season plain and simple. And if dudes on here are mad at me fro bringing this up and not getting excited, sorry. They're the same guys who hate on me for predicting we will only win 20 something games instead of 55. Just trying to keep it real. But on the bright side, you won't have to read my opinions in any draft threads this year. I'll let the experts do that.
 
AmirIcon said:
That still doesn't mean this is a bad draft. Take out Wemby and they'd be talking about last year's draft the way they're talking about this year's draft.
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I strongly disagree with this.
Even taking out Wemby, the '23 and '24 draft classes are not comparable.

Combining draft classes:
Sarr would be taken ~5-6 (after Miller, Scoot, & Thompson twins)
Risacher would be taken in the 10-14 range (similar level prospect to Howard, Dick, Hawkins)
Topic would be in that same 10-14 range (slightly better than Bufkin, Hood-Schifino)

Williams, Holland, Buzelis would all be in the 15-25 range (Jaquez, Podziemski, Whitmore, OMax, etc).
 
I'd have taken Miller, the Thompson twins, Scoot, Jarace, and probably even AB and Lively over everyone in this draft.
 
THE HCP said:
If you are so hyped about the #5 and #14th picks....look back.
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Nobody in here is "so hyped about the #5 and #14th picks". You're arguing against a position that nobody holds. What people ARE doing is discussing which players that will be available at the spots where we will draft have size/skillset combinations that will best complement our current rebuild.

THE HCP said:
I'm talking about LOTTERY picks. There isn't much to get excited about this year that will make us better next season plain and simple.
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Nobody in here is talking about players that will make us better next year. You're arguing against a position that nobody holds. What people ARE doing is talking about players that we hope will be part of a competitive team 2-3 years down the road.

THE HCP said:
And if dudes on here are mad at me fro bringing this up and not getting excited, sorry.
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Nobody in here is mad at you for not getting excited. You're arguing against a position that nobody holds. What people ARE annoyed by is you being a wet blanket any time they're minimally excited about anything.

Fact is, how posters or analysts label this draft doesn't change the reality of the Blazers' draft situation. They will, in fact, have two first round picks. One would hope that Blazer fans would be united in their desire for the front office to make the most of those picks, even in a "bad draft."
 
THE HCP said:
Honest question .....has there ever been a "bad" draft then? If you are so hyped about the #5 and #14th picks....look back. There have been some BRUTAL lotteries. Save the late 1st or 2nd round picks that worked out. I'm talking about LOTTERY picks.
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It's becoming increasingly clear that you don't actually understand how the lottery works. We're actually least likely to get the fifth pick in the top 5.

There isn't much to get excited about this year that will make us better next season plain and simple. And if dudes on here are mad at me fro bringing this up and not getting excited, sorry. They're the same guys who hate on me for predicting we will only win 20 something games instead of 55. Just trying to keep it real. But on the bright side, you won't have to read my opinions in any draft threads this year. I'll let the experts do that.
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Who uses next year as a barometer of whether or not a draft was successful? The best guard in the league took 4 years to develop (SGA).
 
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