Groupthink 2024 Mock Draft: Pick #8

[Ed O]

Who do you think San Antonio should take? Try to be a fan or the GM for the team, rather than who you want to have them take based on your Blazers fandom.

Tomorrow morning I'll set up another poll with the results factored in .

1. Atlanta: Alex Sarr, France
2. Washington: Zacharie Risacher, France
3. Houston: Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
4. San Antonio: Stephon Castle, UConn
5. Detroit: Matas Buzelis, G-League
6. Charlotte: Donovan Clingan, UConn
7. Portland: Tidjan Salaun, France
8. San Antonio
9. Memphis
10. Utah
11. Chicago
12. Oklahoma City
13. Sacramento
14. Portland

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I voted Dillingham - seems like the most likely chance to become a starting level player. With Wemby they just need to fill out their lineup with average starters.

I could see a good argument for Holland or Williams though - but they seem like they have higher bust potential.

Topic has the injury risk I don't think a Wemby team needs. Problem with Knecht is he is very unlikely to have starter upside.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I am not sure what they need more an SG or an SF. I just know they could use a shooter next to Castle and Sochan. Either Williams or Knecht is a good option for them. I chose Knecht.

 

[Ed O]

This is a tough call for me... probably the toughest so far.

The three big options I see for the Spurs:

• Dalton Knecht: Might be able to step right in as a starter. Provides perimeter shooting and never would have to be a superstar given Wemby's presence.
• Cody Williams: Length and outside shooting and a lot of potential to be a Robert Horry-like player in San Antonio.
• Nikola Topic: Great size, and such an intriguing potential fit next to Castle if he develops after getting over his injury.

I voted Topic. If I were the Spurs, I would believe I'm more than one draft class away from being where we want to be, and so while going with Topic doesn't help the team much (if at all) in 2024-25, I would take solace in the fact of getting one more lottery pick in a reportedly strong class next year before we really take a run at things.

 

[HoopsFanAZ]

Topic at 8. Castle gets his tryout at PG … which is good for his development as a 2-way player with size for both guard spots.

 

[Pinwheel1]

You guys really think both Castle and Topic is the best idea when they need more shooting?

 

[HoopsFanAZ]

Topic is a very good free throw shooter and finishes well. He’s a willing 3-point shooter who I can see getting to league-average or so … just good enough on close-outs to the hoop. It’s why he’s great at 14 if he falls.

 

[Ed O]

You guys really think both Castle and Topic is the best idea when they need more shooting?

They need eveything other than Wemby. Getting big guards that are capable of handling the ball and distributing it seems like a great idea. Adding shooting is pretty easy if you've got two or three stars already.

 

[Pinwheel1]

They need eveything other than Wemby. Getting big guards that are capable of handling the ball and distributing it seems like a great idea. Adding shooting is pretty easy if you've got two or three stars already.

Yeah but if both your guards are below-average shooters, and Sochan is average at best (unless he is left alone) then that just leaves Victor...and one other player as their "good shooters on the floor. I think you need at least 3 on the floor at all times. (maybe 4)

So if they have already drafted Castle, if I am them I am going with Knecht or Williams.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Yeah but if both your guards are below-average shooters, and Sochan is average at best (unless he is left alone) then that just leaves Victor...and one other player as their "good shooters on the floor. I think you need at least 3 on the floor at all times. (maybe 4)

So if they have already drafted Castle, if I am them I am going with Knecht or Williams.

I don't believe they need to worry about final roster fit when drafting these guys. Your trying to get a rotation level player. Even Sochan is unclear how key of a rotation level player he'd ever be on a contending team. Once these guys become rotational level players then the Spurs can decide how to get the needed amount of shooting on the floor. Its very hard to know how much shooting these guys will end up providing if they develop into NBA rotation players.

I mean of course players that shoot great are better than ones that don't. But better shooters at pick 8 are going to have major disadvantages Topic, Castle, etc don't have.

 

[Ed O]

Yeah but if both your guards are below-average shooters, and Sochan is average at best (unless he is left alone) then that just leaves Victor...and one other player as their "good shooters on the floor. I think you need at least 3 on the floor at all times. (maybe 4)

So if they have already drafted Castle, if I am them I am going with Knecht or Williams.

I understand what you're saying, but I think the odds of neither Castle nor Topic becoming at least decent perimeter shooters are pretty low, and if they BOTH turn out to be good shooters then your back court is a massive strength to match up with Wemby. As a Spurs fan, that's what I'd prefer to take the chance on.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I'll go against the grain. Devin Carter. Pair him and Castle together in the backcourt, I think Pops loves it.

 

[Everything Beagle]

This is a tough call for me... probably the toughest so far.

The three big options I see for the Spurs:

• Dalton Knecht: Might be able to step right in as a starter. Provides perimeter shooting and never would have to be a superstar given Wemby's presence.

Watch SA turn him into 6MOY.

 

[Boomchakalaka2]

DRAFT NIGHT

Portland trades Grant and the 14th & 34th picks to the San Antonio Spurs for #4 selection and Tre Jones PG, Zach Collins PF, and Sochan, F

[Spurs still have #8 and #34 and have acquired combo-forward Jeremy Grant with four years remaining on his contract. A PG will fall to San Antonio at 8th]

ESPN TRADE MACHINE APPROVED

With the 4th pick of the 2024 NBA draft, the Portland Trailblazers select Donovan Clinghan of the University of Connecticut.
It’s not over!

With the 7th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Portland Trailblazers select Matas Buzelis of G League Ignite

Roster:

Ayton / Clinghan / Reath / Williams III
Buzelis / Collins / Walker
Sochan/ Camara / Murray
Simons / Sharpe / Brogdan / Rupert
Scoot / Banton / Tre Jones

what are we missing? who gets demoted or cut?

Players that we can move at the deadline:

Williams III
Brogdan
Simons
Ayton
Walker / Murray / Rupert / Jones / Reath / Collins

Core for the Rebuild:

Scoot
Sharp
Buzelis
Sochan
Clinghan
Camara

 

[SharpesTriumph]

DRAFT NIGHT

Portland trades Grant and the 14th & 34th picks to the San Antonio Spurs for #4 selection and Tre Jones PG, Zach Collins PF, and Sochan, F

[Spurs still have #8 and #34 and have acquired combo-forward Jeremy Grant with four years remaining on his contract. A PG will fall to San Antonio at 8th]

ESPN TRADE MACHINE APPROVED

With the 4th pick of the 2024 NBA draft, the Portland Trailblazers select Donovan Clinghan of the University of Connecticut.
It’s not over!

With the 7th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Portland Trailblazers select Matas Buzelis of G League Ignite

Roster:

Ayton / Clinghan / Reath / Williams III
Buzelis / Collins / Walker
Sochan/ Camara / Murray
Simons / Sharpe / Brogdan / Rupert
Scoot / Banton / Tre Jones

what are we missing? who gets demoted or cut?

Players that we can move at the deadline:

Williams III
Brogdan
Simons
Ayton
Walker / Murray / Rupert / Jones / Reath / Collins

Core for the Rebuild:

Scoot
Sharp
Buzelis
Sochan
Clinghan
Camara

Nice story bro but this thread is about pick #8.

 

[HoopsFanAZ]

If it ends in a tie, Ed O — the thread starter — should decide. IMHO.

 

[Boomchakalaka2]

Nice story bro but this thread is about pick #8.

Yes, I stated in BOLD lettering that Spurs would pick a guard at 8. (If they don’t have a PG fall to them, I’ll say they pick Topic) but sticking with “other” and just commit to their selecting a “guard” at 8.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Yes, I stated in BOLD lettering that Spurs would pick a guard at 8. (If they don’t have a PG fall to them, I’ll say they pick Topic.

You make no sense (yet again). Why would they make a win-now move like 4-Sochan for Grant, and then take an injured PG at 8?

 

[Ed O]

It's a tie between Topic and Williams and I am making the executive decision to give them Topic, mainly because the number of votes for a guard outnumbered the number of votes for a forward.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

It's a tie between Topic and Williams and I am making the executive decision to give them Topic, mainly because the number of votes for a guard outnumbered the number of votes for a forward.

Also, @Boomchakalaka2 voted "other" because of his inane trade proposal, but his follow-up post said that he thought the Spurs would take Topic, so in all reality Topic should have 9 votes.

 

[Ed O]

Also, @Boomchakalaka2 voted "other" because of his inane trade proposal, but his follow-up post said that he thought the Spurs would take Topic, so in all reality Topic should have 9 votes.

I wondered if that's what he meant but I didn't want to spend brain juice unraveling it... thank you for doing that and glad it all worked out. Haha

 

[Boomchakalaka2]

Also, @Boomchakalaka2 voted "other" because of his inane trade proposal, but his follow-up post said that he thought the Spurs would take Topic, so in all reality Topic should have 9 votes.

Actually I was uncommitted and selected “other” because the Spurs would most likely have some good options to select from. If we trade into pick 3 or 4, we would be taking a Center and a forward (with 3/4 and 7) leaving San Antonio with options at guard. And I’ll stick with this “other” because I don’t have a good guess as to who might be available. If it so happens that Topic is available, he, like any rookie selected, is not for the win-now move. Nevertheless they will pick a guard at 8th. If I were SA, I’d sign a FA or make a trade for a PG. selecting Topic and make a big splash and sign & trade for Maxie or Quickly.

 

[Boomchakalaka2]

Also, @Boomchakalaka2 voted "other" because of his inane trade proposal, but his follow-up post said that he thought the Spurs would take Topic, so in all reality Topic should have 9 votes.

insane?

Insane happens! Look at 2006 Draft for the Blazers! Pulled off the insane.

———- insane happens ———
On Feb. 1, 2008, the Los Angeles Lakers swung a franchise-altering trade with the Memphis Grizzlies that netted All-Star big man Pau Gasol and a second-round draft pick in exchange for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the draft rights to Marc Gasol and first-round picks in 2008 and 2010.

oh yeh! I called for a big blockbuster trade proposal to bring Carmelo Anthony. Insane! But we did wind up getting Carmelo (day late and a dollar short I might add) and what’s that thread up to now….LOL

 

[Ed O]

Actually I was uncommitted and selected “other” because the Spurs would most likely have some good options to select from.

You can do whatever you want, but that's not the point of this series of posts. It is to vote, given the previous selections in the Groupthink Mock Draft, which player the given team would select.

 

[Whyachi]

options, Spurs could use a PF, they need some muscle alongside Wemby. They also need... heck, the Spurs need everything to build around Wemby.

 

[Whyachi]

San Antonio should trade this pick and other stuff for Cade Cunningham. Then start adding vet role players. The Pistons owner might be dumb enough to hit the "sounds good" button.

 

[Boomchakalaka2]

Also, @Boomchakalaka2 voted "other" because of his inane trade proposal, but his follow-up post said that he thought the Spurs would take Topic, so in all reality Topic should have 9 votes.

insane?

Insane happens! Look at 2006 Draft for the Blazers! Pulled off the insane.

———- insane happens ———
On Feb. 1, 2008, the Los Angeles Lakers swung a franchise-altering trade with the Memphis Grizzlies that netted All-Star big man Pau Gasol and a second-round draft pick in exchange for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the draft rights to Marc Gasol and first-round picks in 2008 and 2010.

You can do whatever you want, but that's not the point of this series of posts. It is to vote, given the previous selections in the Groupthink Mock Draft, which player the given team would select.

“Other” is the box I checked

If you want me to give you a name of whom the Spurs will wind up with:

Topic at 8th selection

I apologize. Wasn’t trying to mess up your poll.

 

[STOMP]

insane?

Insane happens! Look at 2006 Draft for the Blazers! Pulled off the insane.

———- insane happens ———
On Feb. 1, 2008, the Los Angeles Lakers swung a franchise-altering trade with the Memphis Grizzlies that netted All-Star big man Pau Gasol and a second-round draft pick in exchange for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the draft rights to Marc Gasol and first-round picks in 2008 and 2010.


“Other” is the box I checked

If you want me to give you a name of whom the Spurs will wind up with:

Topic at 8th selection

I apologize. Wasn’t trying to mess up your poll.

Fwiw, the post you responded to from PtldPlatypus called your proposal inane not insane. In other words, in a poll thread about who the Spurs might draft at 8 putting forth an elaborate trade proposal instead is a little silly and misplaced.

STOMP

 

[Boomchakalaka2]

Fwiw, the post you responded to from PtldPlatypus called your proposal inane not insane. In other words, in a poll thread about who the Spurs might draft at 8 putting forth an elaborate trade proposal instead is a little silly and misplaced.

STOMP

thanks STOMP

LOL, I don’t know what fwiw means let alone inane verses insane I’m just a 63 year old basketball junkie, living in Mexico, and can’t wait for draft night! Hoping my nba league pass subscription hasn’t expired and will be streaming it live! Hope everyone enjoys the night(s)!