2024 NBA Draft Thread

Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Register Log in

The "Way too Early' Draft prognostication

  • Holland

    Votes: 8 16.3%

  • Sarr

    Votes: 41 83.7%

  • Edwards

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    49
What is Nikola Topic's expected draft range?
Just two weeks ago, Nikola Topic was consistently projected in the top 10 picks and seemed unlikely to be on the board in the teens. After news of a partially torn ACL, his draft range has widened considerably. The model has Topic's most likely landing spot as No. 10 to the Utah Jazz, a selection that would have been considered a coup before the injury news. Now he has a 65% chance to still be available then.

Topic's situation brings some recent projected lottery picks to mind. Cam Whitmore slid far past where mock drafts had him landing in 2023, partially a result of medical concerns that came late in the draft process. Michael Porter Jr.'s surgery was well in advance of the 2018 draft, and mock drafts were better able to capture his slide beforehand, projecting him within range of his selection to the Nuggets at No. 14.

Whether Topic's result is more like Whitmore's or Porter's remains to be seen. Given the uncertainty around the injury and how that affects mock drafts, Topic has a greater than 10% shot to go at every pick from No. 8 to No. 13 but is still given more than a 1% chance to go as high as No. 4 and as low as No. 20.
 
For anyone who loves Willams, 90% chance he will be available at 7. only a 5 % chance Castle would be available. Looks like almost a sure thing that Salaun would b available there, but only 2% chance he will be there at 14.
 
UKRAINEFAN said:
For anyone who loves Willams, 90% chance he will be available at 7. only a 5 % chance Castle would be available. Looks like almost a sure thing that Salaun would b available there, but only 2% chance he will be there at 14.
Click to expand...

I think Williams makes a lot of sense. He has the big swing potential, but he has a higher floor than Salaun I think. But I could also see them taking Salaun just because they can afford to wait. There is zero expectation to be good next year.
 
Natebishop3 said:
I think Williams makes a lot of sense. He has the big swing potential, but he has a higher floor than Salaun I think. But I could also see them taking Salaun just because they can afford to wait. There is zero expectation to be good next year.
Click to expand...

Of course, this is true with no matter who we choose. I think both have high ceilings, but I think Cody is more skilled, and thus the safer bet.
 


I've actually come around on both Edey and Clingan over the last month. Taking Edey at 7 would be a bit much, but I can kind of understand it.

More than anything, I'm glad all the intel is that the Blazers are not married to Ayton. I can't believe the amount of stuff I read on other places where fans seem somehow tied to Ayton.
 
Pinwheel1 said:
Of course, this is true with no matter who we choose. I think both have high ceilings, but I think Cody is more skilled, and thus the safer bet.
Click to expand...

He's the safer bet, for sure.

But Salaun is a freak. That's why he's so intriguing. Dude has a 9'2 standing reach. I don't think he's Giannis, but he's the Giannis kind of swing in this draft that we all wish we had made back in 2013.
 
Natebishop3 said:
He's the safer bet, for sure.

But Salaun is a freak. That's why he's so intriguing. Dude has a 9'2 standing reach. I don't think he's Giannis, but he's the Giannis kind of swing in this draft that we all wish we had made back in 2013.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree on the standing reach part, especially since he is also effective on the perimeter. Good combination of skills.
It is the one thing that slightly separates him from a lot of others. But I still lean toward Cody.
 
Pinwheel1 said:
Yeah, I agree on the standing reach part, especially since he is also effective on the perimeter. Good combination of skills.
It is the one thing that slightly separates him from a lot of others. But I still lean toward Cody.
Click to expand...

I think that's the nice part about this draft. There's 4-5 dudes that I'm fine with them taking at 7. Very few players would actually piss me off if they took them.
 
This Edey speculation has been around almost from the jump but not at 7 but at 14 and I do agree this team needs another center cause Williams at best MIGHT be able to stay healthy enough for a 40 to 60 games a season but I think he is now in the Oden schedule where he is limited to 10 to 15 minutes a night and cannot play back to backs etc. Also on Ayton I think the Blazers are covering there backside since even though he showed them something he has shown he can be kind of run hot and cold and they have no idea what Ayton they get per night. Then factor in I am not sure he is worth the contract he would seek in 2 years plus would he want to stay in Portland if this team is still "finding" itself so I think they need to come out of this draft with a center.
 
Natebishop3 said:
I think that's the nice part about this draft. There's 4-5 dudes that I'm fine with them taking at 7. Very few players would actually piss me off if they took them.
Click to expand...
But I have faith in Joe-Cro to find one.
 
The way too early option at the top of this thread reminds me how things can change after a year in college. I had to look up to see who Edwards was. I assume Justin Edwards? I wonder how many studs we project for next year will be underwhelming in college next year. Of course, others will arise that we don't know about.
 
Pinwheel1 said:
The way too early option at the top of this thread reminds me how things can change after a year in college. I had to look up to see who Edwards was. I assume Justin Edwards? I wonder how many studs we project for next year will be underwhelming in college next year. Of course, others will arise that we don't know about.
Click to expand...
Current Draft Projections:

CBS Sports - #25

ESPN - #26

Yahoo Sports - #34

The Ringer - #42

Bleacher Report - #46
I saw SI mocked him at 34 to Portland but the tankathon site rated his defense terrible.
 
After watching this video he reminds me of a poor man's Shaq but with range -

I legit believe he is one of the hardest prospects to grade out cause he has tons of talent but with his size does he fit in to today's NBA where the size is sleek and athletic and he is a bruiser / mauler type. One of the reasons I am not as low on him as some is I think he has a work ethic that makes him want to be good and that could help him evolve not just his game but himself so he could fit into this NBA. I know I said I would be upset if the Blazers took him at 7 but IF Clingan is not there and this front office thinks they need a center then I might warm up to it but it would be a major gamble. One more thing on the gamble part of it is would he be more of a gamble then the Euro players or the young players like Holland and Williams and in some ways I do not think so and that has to play some factor into a decision. The big problem becomes then they would need to make some trades and picks that can play some D to make up for Edey who at least for the first year or 2 could get beat to the rim.

I am not sold on Edey at 7 and to be honest not sure I think that Edey at 7 is not just a smokescreen or something maybe for the Rockets who might think they can squeeze more out of the Blazers so this rumor is like fine we will take Edey who might end up better then Clingan in the long run anyways. I mean as we know any news right now and as locked on Blazers guy says it's the lying season and he is right so any news we hear between today and the draft should be taken with a grain of salt.
 
Ripcity4life77 said:
After watching this video he reminds me of a poor man's Shaq but with range -

I legit believe he is one of the hardest prospects to grade out cause he has tons of talent but with his size does he fit in to today's NBA where the size is sleek and athletic and he is a bruiser / mauler type. One of the reasons I am not as low on him as some is I think he has a work ethic that makes him want to be good and that could help him evolve not just his game but himself so he could fit into this NBA. I know I said I would be upset if the Blazers took him at 7 but IF Clingan is not there and this front office thinks they need a center then I might warm up to it but it would be a major gamble. One more thing on the gamble part of it is would he be more of a gamble then the Euro players or the young players like Holland and Williams and in some ways I do not think so and that has to play some factor into a decision. The big problem becomes then they would need to make some trades and picks that can play some D to make up for Edey who at least for the first year or 2 could get beat to the rim.

I am not sold on Edey at 7 and to be honest not sure I think that Edey at 7 is not just a smokescreen or something maybe for the Rockets who might think they can squeeze more out of the Blazers so this rumor is like fine we will take Edey who might end up better then Clingan in the long run anyways. I mean as we know any news right now and as locked on Blazers guy says it's the lying season and he is right so any news we hear between today and the draft should be taken with a grain of salt.
Click to expand...

Yeah not at 7, but I would at 14. And if he is not there at 14, that means one more player has slipped to us. The more the merrier.
 
Yeah--I doubt the Blazers draft him at 7, and I also doubt that he is still available at 14. There will be a group of Blazer fans that will be quite upset about that, fully convinced that the Blazers missed out on the next superstar center. And who knows--maybe they'll be right.
 
Eastern Conference executive No. 3 on Cody Williams: I saw him a couple of times this year. Saw him at McDonald’s (All American Game), at the Hoop Summit. He’s never played well when I watched him play. I see the skill set. I see the shooting ability. I don’t see an alpha basketball player. His body is very thin and it’s going to take time. He could be very good because of his ability to shoot the ball. But when I saw him, there were times when I didn’t even realize he was on the court.
– via New York Times
 
Hoopguru said:
Eastern Conference executive No. 3 on Cody Williams: I saw him a couple of times this year. Saw him at McDonald’s (All American Game), at the Hoop Summit. He’s never played well when I watched him play. I see the skill set. I see the shooting ability. I don’t see an alpha basketball player. His body is very thin and it’s going to take time. He could be very good because of his ability to shoot the ball. But when I saw him, there were times when I didn’t even realize he was on the court.
– via New York Times
Click to expand...

I really don't care that much if Cody isn't an alpha. I'm hoping Scoot can be an alpha.... or draft a real alpha next summer.
 
Natebishop3 said:
I really don't care that much if Cody isn't an alpha. I'm hoping Scoot can be an alpha.... or draft a real alpha next summer.
Click to expand...
I don't care if hes not an alpha either...

My issue is when you don't even notice that he's on the court. I can't support drafting him
 
CJ_is_Gone said:
I don't care if hes not an alpha either...

My issue is when you don't even notice that he's on the court. I can't support drafting him
Click to expand...
Bridges was invisible in Phoenix until they made the run to the finals. Then everyone noticed him.
 
BIG Q said:
Bridges was invisible in Phoenix until they made the run to the finals. Then everyone noticed him.
Click to expand...
False.
I live in Phoenix. Bridges was one of my favorite prospects in that year's draft. He made an immediate impact with the team.

He was never invisible. He just did the dirty work
 
this draft is a mess so I’m willing to be open to whatever happens because it’s even more of a crapshoot than usual. also, the draft very frequently makes smart people look stupid the moment players get new shirts and start playing in new systems.

dilly or edey would be a hell of a thing, though! woof!
 
It would be great if edey turned out to be a mini shaq and a clear superstar. Has to be like a 20% chance of happening, right?
 
Freshtown said:
It would be great if edey turned out to be a mini shaq and a clear superstar. Has to be like a 20% chance of happening, right?
Click to expand...
lol what?

if edey had a 20% chance at becoming a "mini shaq and clear superstar," dude would unequivocally be going #1 in this draft.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top