With the 7th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, The Portland Trailblazers select. . .

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Risacher is already projected to be a much much better defensive player than Bargnani ever was. I think Zach is being a bit undervalued by casual fans. Seems like he could be a really good play finisher and complimentary piece, neither of which Bargnani was.
 
Risacher is already projected to be a much much better defensive player than Bargnani ever was. I think Zach is being a bit undervalued by casual fans. Seems like he could be a really good play finisher and complimentary piece, neither of which Bargnani was.
My comparison for Risacher is Trey Murphy III with potential for better defense.
 
Maybe I'm off, but I'm really hoping Reed Sheppard is there at 7. He's about as close to a sure thing as I can see in this draft. I can't see how he's NOT an effective NBA player. If they move Simons and Brogdon, there's plenty of time to evaluate which of Scoot/Reed/Sharpe to keep.

I can see a low end Steph Curry or Steve Nash without AS good playmaking but better on ball defense.
 
So...Jalen Brunson?

I don't think Brunson is similar to either Curry or Nash. I compare Sheppard to Curry and Nash as guys whose shot opened up the rest of their game and who have GREAT feel for the game. Sheppards feel is so good I just don't see any scenario he's not effective. I know Nash is a way better on ball playmaker, but if he played in 2024 I think Nash would be shooting 9+ 3s a game.

But if I could get Brunson with a top 7 pick in this draft - I mean, that's an easy yes, regardless of how guard heavy your roster is already.
 
I don't think Brunson is similar to either Curry or Nash.
Ok. I guess in my mind, this description:
guys whose shot opened up the rest of their game and who have GREAT feel for the game.
applies to Brunson as well. And yes, if you see Sheppard as that kind of player, it absolutely would make sense to take him.
 
Ok. I guess in my mind, this description:

applies to Brunson as well. And yes, if you see Sheppard as that kind of player, it absolutely would make sense to take him.

Fair enough, but my point is mostly that he's the prospect I'm most confident will turn into a good player in this draft. Every other player I've looked at in the lottery range makes me squint so hard to try and see the vision. And while they could definitely get there, I wouldn't be surprised if we look back 5 years from now and Sheppard is the best player in the draft.

If we had 1 I think I'd draft Sarr based on fit. Starting at 2 I'm taking Reed, Scoot and Shaedon be damned.
 
Fair enough, but my point is mostly that he's the prospect I'm most confident will turn into a good player in this draft. Every other player I've looked at in the lottery range makes me squint so hard to try and see the vision. And while they could definitely get there, I wouldn't be surprised if we look back 5 years from now and Sheppard is the best player in the draft.

If we had 1 I think I'd draft Sarr based on fit. Starting at 2 I'm taking Reed, Scoot and Shaedon be damned.
I agree that Sheppard is probably the highest floor prospect in the top-10, with Knecht close behind.
 
I agree that Sheppard is probably the highest floor prospect in the top-10, with Knecht close behind.

Floor maybe, but I think Sheppard's ceiling is way higher.

For one Sheppard is almost 4 years younger and is already this good. Secondly, his feel on both ends far and away exceeds Knecht who is mostly just a scorer.

I dunno, I have way more confidence in Reed. I wouldn't touch Knecht with either of our picks.
 
Ok. I guess in my mind, this description:

applies to Brunson as well. And yes, if you see Sheppard as that kind of player, it absolutely would make sense to take him.

I think you are breaking S2 rules by being to agreeable and diplomatic. You are supposed to rant/rave, cast aspersions and then block the other person.
 
Interesting tidbits from Sam Vecenie - He doesn't know what to make of Salaun. He just had a great playoff game and there are times when Sam thinks he's going to be something special and other times not. He says teams are definitely intrigued with him as a big swing pick and he has him going in the lottery.

Gimme some Tidjane!
 
Interesting tidbits from Sam Vecenie - He doesn't know what to make of Salaun. He just had a great playoff game and there are times when Sam thinks he's going to be something special and other times not. He says teams are definitely intrigued with him as a big swing pick and he has him going in the lottery.

Gimme some Tidjane!
They were also saying that they think Memphis would want to move up if Clingan is there at 7. How would we feel about moving back to 9 if Memphis made us a good offer?
 
Yeah, I'm warming up to Reed at 7 as well. He has a really nice skill set if Scoot is the guy as the third guard between he and Shae, but also serves as some Scoot insurance if he's not the guy ultimately.

His vertical is legit I think as well. Just shows up more defensively...



Yves Missi at 14 would be fun... He was late to basketball so his processing isn't where you'd want it to be, but if he can learn how to pass on the short roll, that would pair really nicely with his unique coordination and fluidity facing the basket.



He's like 80% Jarrett Allen with a little bit of Siakam mixed in.

For those that are fans of Stephon Castle, Jamir Watkins is a nice facsimile in the second round.
 
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They were also saying that they think Memphis would want to move up if Clingan is there at 7. How would we feel about moving back to 9 if Memphis made us a good offer?
Depends who's still on the board. If Clingan and 2 of the wings are... then yeah, sign me up
 
They were also saying that they think Memphis would want to move up if Clingan is there at 7. How would we feel about moving back to 9 if Memphis made us a good offer?

I'm liking the idea of drafting Clingan if they really believe he can have a top of the league defensive impact. Is that Clingan? Is it Edey? It would be nice to find our defensive identity -- it would fast track us to getting better.

I imagine the inventive we'd be getting back for swapping would be a future first, which would likely be a late pick for the foreseeable future.
 
Yeah, I'm warming up to Reed at 7 as well. He has a really nice skill set if Scoot is the guy as the third guard between he and Shae, but also serves as some Scoot insurance if he's not the guy ultimately.

His vertical is legit I think as well. Just shows up more defensively...



Yves Missi at 14 would be fun... He was late to basketball so his processing isn't where you'd want it to be, but if he can learn how to pass on the short roll, that would pair really nicely with his unique coordination and fluidity facing the basket.



He's like 80% Jarrett Allen with a little bit of Siakam mixed in.

For those that are fans of Stephon Castle, Jamir Watkins is a nice facsimile in the second round.


If Reed develops into a good NBA player though, he'll be starting next to Scoot. You can't really keep good players on the bench past their rookie year. But if he's a plus defender and rebounds that could work out.

His shooting % is off the charts. It's a small but not insignificant sample size. Curry never shot that well in college, neither did shooting greats like Korver. What if Reed is a generational shooting talent while also not being a defensive liability.
 
If Reed develops into a good NBA player though, he'll be starting next to Scoot. You can't really keep good players on the bench past their rookie year. But if he's a plus defender and rebounds that could work out.

His shooting % is off the charts. It's a small but not insignificant sample size. Curry never shot that well in college, neither did shooting greats like Korver. What if Reed is a generational shooting talent while also not being a defensive liability.
SA needs a PG badly, can't see why they wouldn't take Reed or perhaps Dilly, also Char at 6 may need some Lamelo insurance, for that matter Wizards need a PG (poole ain't it) and Houston could use one as well to groom with FVV being np spring chicken. I think Reed and Dilly are likely gone by the time we pick at 7
 
I might just go yolo route and draft Salaun at 7. I hate how he's bursting onto the scene at the last minute. Doubt he's available at 14.
 
SA needs a PG badly, can't see why they wouldn't take Reed or perhaps Dilly, also Char at 6 may need some Lamelo insurance, for that matter Wizards need a PG (poole ain't it) and Houston could use one as well to groom with FVV being np spring chicken. I think Reed and Dilly are likely gone by the time we pick at 7

Because they might take Topic instead? Topic is more of a pure PG. There's no telling how anything will play out aside from Sarr at #1.
 
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I think this is much better competiton than anything these Ignite guys are playing in. Having experience in games that matter is turning out to be a big deal in projecting draft picks.
 
Because they might take Topic instead? Topic is more of a pure PG. There's no telling how anything will play out aside from Sarr at #1.
Yeah. Passing is so important right now. They don’t have anyone who can consistently get Wemby the ball. Topic is a better fit.
 
am I just being unnecessarily gloomy by thinking that Portland drafting at 7 is about 2-3 slots too late; and drafting at 14 is about 2-3 slots too late?
 
How much would it cost to trade up for Sheppard? Would Simons + 7 do it? Simons + 14? 7 + 14?
 
Unless we are getting rid of Scoot, I really don’t see the point in taking another short guard.

The reason would be because I think he's likely to be the best player from this draft. I think most the others are going to bust.
 
Unless we are getting rid of Scoot, I really don’t see the point in taking another short guard.

The main draw for Reed is possibility that he'll be an ultra-elite shooter. And he has defensive skills that will make up for his height somewhat. Someone who is 6'3 and a good defender is better than someone who is 6-6 and a crappy defender.

Also, we still don't know what we have in Scoot. If Scoot turns out to be meh and Reed turns into a star, it'll be Telfair all over again.
 

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