2024 NBA Draft Thread

[duncan2150]

The sibling thing often doesn't work out. I doubt anyone remembers Derrick Gervin but he played at UTSA if I remember correctly and he was not anywhere near the level of his brother, who goes by George or something like that.

I think it's a plus for cody williams, he earned his stock by having a correct first ncaa season and having some good tools.

[DAF86]

After his game against Marquette I'm higher than ever on Cody Williams

He has EVERTHING you can wish from an NBA prospect, the size, wingspan, mobility, he can shoot and can defend multiple positions.

He's the exact profile Spurs need long term

Stats don't tell the whole story, he's been injured and bc of his age has a lot of ups and downs.

I know it's subjective but having a brother not only in NBA but known for his maturity and BBIQ can't not benefit him as well.

In a draft with no sure prospect, I'd bet on what can't be tought (size, wingpan, IQ, character...)

He can't shoot, though.

[baseline bum]

After his game against Marquette I'm higher than ever on Cody Williams

He has EVERTHING you can wish from an NBA prospect, the size, wingspan, mobility, he can shoot and can defend multiple positions.

He's the exact profile Spurs need long term

Stats don't tell the whole story, he's been injured and bc of his age has a lot of ups and downs.

I know it's subjective but having a brother not only in NBA but known for his maturity and BBIQ can't not benefit him as well.

In a draft with no sure prospect, I'd bet on what can't be tought (size, wingpan, IQ, character...)

I wouldn't be pissed taking a swing with the Toronto pick if it conveys since everything is high risk in this draft. Don't want him with the Spurs own pick unless it falls to #5 to #7 and Risacher, Sarr, Dillingham, and Buzelis are all off the board.

[JPB]

He can't shoot, though.

He can't. And he's very raw, doesn't really have a nice touch.

We should never forget these prospects are mostly playing against scrubs.

[spurraider21]

williams has the outlines of a good two-way player that isnt just a passive corner camper on offense. its just that so much of it is either unrealized or was concealed by colorado's usage

[scott]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Sarr won't match Bassey's BLK% or DREB% numbers. Unless he develops a serious offensive game, I'd rather just have Bassey and his cheap deal than trying to force Sarr's Top Pick salary into a twin tower lineup with Wemby.

[pad300]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Sarr won't match Bassey's BLK% or DREB% numbers. Unless he develops a serious offensive game, I'd rather just have Bassey and his cheap deal than trying to force Sarr's Top Pick salary into a twin tower lineup with Wemby.

I know you like Bassey, but can we be real. He's 23, and had has 3 season ending knee injuries so far in his career (Tibial plateau fracture at Kentucky, left knee patellar tendon (22-23 season with SAS) and then left knee ACL(23-24 season with SAS)). He's made of glass, and I expect the Spurs to let him go this offseason.

[TD 21]

I had forgotten about him until you brought him up. His shooting numbers are fantastic. He seems very motivated and team oriented. For me, the question is how high or low he will go in the draft. But if we could trade some 2nds to move up into the mid to late first to get him, I'd be interested. To me he seems very much like a Brian Wright type player (happy, Cosby kid type of vibe) and so I could see there being some interest there.

For the umpteenth time, Wright is the GM, who is second (third, if the owner is meddlesome) in command in basketball executive hierarchy in terms of decision making, behind the President of Basketball Operations.

Beyond that, he's a relative neophyte and the two geezers have about as much equity built up here as any executives do in any organization, so thinking he's unilaterally making decisions is absurd.

As for McCain, he won't be in range for them and would fit better on a team with a big guard or wing sized primary initiator, so that he can play off ball on offense, but primarily defend PG's.

Cody Williams is such a tough eval.

He's been hurt a bunch and his playing time is sporadic, so there's limited sample size and you have to wonder if he's been anywhere close to 100% while he has been playing. When he's out there, he's invisible for long stretches. By the same token, he's playing on a team where he's not the featured playmaker and it's good that he doesn't force things. His 3 point shooting percentage is good on not very many attempts and his free throw shooting doesn't project as well to his being a three point threat at the next level. Is this guy even a draft pick if not for his brother? Then again, if that's the comparison he's got better numbers than his brother at the same age in a better conference on a better team and he's 2-3 inches taller.

What the do you do with all of that?

You pass and let someone else deal with the headache of taking such a raw, flawed player and hoping he can become worthwhile in probably 3ish years.

They don't have time for projects (what's the absolute best case anyway, Jaden McDaniels?) with Wembanyama.

Having said that, I've long said he's probably the favorite.

[scott]

I know you like Bassey, but can we be real. He's 23, and had has 3 season ending knee injuries so far in his career (Tibial plateau fracture at Kentucky, left knee patellar tendon (22-23 season with SAS) and then left knee ACL(23-24 season with SAS)). He's made of glass, and I expect the Spurs to let him go this offseason.

I agree with everything you are saying... my point was more that I don't think Sarr will even match up with Bassey's (a borderline NBA player) DREB% and BLK% numbers (which, for Bassey... are elite, as I've covered in other threads). My post is less about Bassey, and more about Sarr. I just don't see it with this kid.

[Pauleta14]

He can't shoot, though.

Way too early to tell tho, countless examples

His form isn’t bad and it’s a skill you can work on, especially when you have a good work ethic. One thing his family connexion can provide.

He has everything that can’t be tought

[Chinook]

I think Wemby will ultimately be a swing big who has to develop in order to play PF. People are confusing Collins being a uniquely bad fit with Wemby with Victor needing to be a single big. It's why trying to prioritize spacing is a questionable strategy. Wemby needs to be around guys who actually put pressure on a defense, not folks to stand around and watch him struggle to iso with his loose handle and inexperience. Try making his life easier for a change.

[scott]

I think Wemby will ultimately be a swing big who has to develop in order to play PF. People are confusing Collins being a uniquely bad fit with Wemby with Victor needing to be a single big. It's why trying to prioritize spacing is a questionable strategy. Wemby needs to be around guys who actually put pressure on a defense, not folks to stand around and watch him struggle to iso with his loose handle and inexperience. Try making his life easier for a change.

This probably isn't the right thread for it, but it does raise the (all important) question of what the IDEAL lineup construction around Wemby is. I can easily be convinced otherwise, because I acknowledge there are lots of posters here who know basketball better than I do... but my opinion is that it looks like this (offensively):

PG - Need a skilled penetrator who can finish or dish, and be capable (call it 35%-ish) from 3. I'd point to 2012-13 Tony Parker, but I think it's kind of lazy to point to a HOF in a season where he finished 6th in MVP voting. I think someone like Dillingham could potentially be this type of player (ignoring the defensive concerns), but will take some seasoning. Topic... maybe if he could develop his shot but I'm less confident that he'll be a capable finisher in the NBA as he seems to play below the rim. As for current NBA players... I'm not sure.

SG - Need a three level scorer with the ability to beat his man in ISO. The last element is where I think Devin fails and I'm not sure if he'll ever be good enough because he isn't quick/fast enough. Not to mention my "fool's gold" comments previously about him and the lack of evidence thus far of being able to deliver in the clutch. This is the position where I want my second star. Ant Man or even someone with the skill set (but with a brain and more consistency) of a Jalen Green. Devin Booker or Donovan Mitc would be great if you can have a bigger PG next to them. These are obviously not easy players to find, the three I mentioned outside of Green are the Top 3 SGs in the league in PER - obviously we want one of the leagues best players. But I'm just trying to communicate that SG is really what would work best as for where we want that second star next to Wemby, IMO (not PG).

SF and PF I kind of view as interchangeable as to the proper archetype. Give me an MPJ type. Tall, solid rebounder, can hit the 3. I want two of those guys. In that respect, I wouldn't mind drafting Risacher and Buzelis in the hopes they become your starting SF/PF combo. I don't need them to be All-Stars. Lauri Markkenen would be the highest evolution of this archetype.

[Dejounte]

PG: two way player. Cannot be a liability on defense in this day and age. Examples: Jrue, Dejounte, Fox
SG: dynamic scorer. Defense can be less of a focus as this guy is counted on in the clutch and cannot be in foul trouble. Examples: Booker… not many good examples out there.
SF: 3 and D specialist. Examples: Royce O Neal, Dillon Brooks
PF: Most versatile defender in the line-up. Examples: Scottie Barnes, Prime Draymond, Aaron Gordon
scott I guess similar to yours

[DAF86]

Way too early to tell tho, countless examples

His form isn’t bad and it’s a skill you can work on, especially when you have a good work ethic. One thing his family connexion can provide.

He has everything that can’t be tought

That's different than your assesment that "he can shoot". Currently, he can't, tbh.

I'm tired of gettig all these projects that need working on their shooting. How many of those have we actually developed into good shooters? Sochan, Keldon, Tre, Wesley, Siddy. Not a single one has become a reliable shooter and chances are they won't ever. This Williams kid will probably end up being the same. For every Kawhi, there are tens of players that never develop their shot. I think it is time for the Spurs to draft some actually good shooters, we have no more room for more projects, tbh.

[DAF86]

I think Wemby will ultimately be a swing big who has to develop in order to play PF. People are confusing Collins being a uniquely bad fit with Wemby with Victor needing to be a single big. It's why trying to prioritize spacing is a questionable strategy. Wemby needs to be around guys who actually put pressure on a defense, not folks to stand around and watch him struggle to iso with his loose handle and inexperience. Try making his life easier for a change.

You think wrong. The more Wemby plays, the more evident it will become that he needs to play center and only center.

[CGD]

Cody Williams is such a tough eval.

He's been hurt a bunch and his playing time is sporadic, so there's limited sample size and you have to wonder if he's been anywhere close to 100% while he has been playing. When he's out there, he's invisible for long stretches. By the same token, he's playing on a team where he's not the featured playmaker and it's good that he doesn't force things. His 3 point shooting percentage is good on not very many attempts and his free throw shooting doesn't project as well to his being a three point threat at the next level. Is this guy even a draft pick if not for his brother? Then again, if that's the comparison he's got better numbers than his brother at the same age in a better conference on a better team and he's 2-3 inches taller.

What the do you do with all of that?

I agree with you, but even then I can’t quit this guy. Can’t put my finger on it, but I still give him the nod over Risacher. Gotta admit he’s been my top guy for some time now.

[CGD]

That's different than your assesment that "he can shoot". Currently, he can't, tbh.

I'm tired of gettig all these projects that need working on their shooting. How many of those have we actually developed into good shooters? Sochan, Keldon, Tre, Wesley, Siddy. Not a single one has become a reliable shooter and chances are they won't ever. This Williams kid will probably end up being the same. For every Kawhi, there are tens of players that never develop their shot. I think it is time for the Spurs to draft some actually good shooters, we have no more room for more projects, tbh.

That’s what happens when the group think says draft 18-19 year olds and only 18-19 year olds. They’re raw and need a lot of work. Even generational Vic needs work on his shooting.

Anyway not sure who the sniper is out there that you’d want to spend a Top 5 pick on. You find shooting via trades and the free agency anyway.

[DAF86]

That’s what happens when the group think says draft 18-19 year olds and only 18-19 year olds. They’re raw and need a lot of work. Even generational Vic needs work on his shooting.

Anyway not sure who the sniper is out there that you’d want to spend a Top 5 pick on. You find shooting via trades and the free agency anyway.

Easy, the 6'10" guy that is ahooting 40% from 3 playing against professionals and many are projecting as a #1 overall. Don't overthink it.

Heck, I would take Sheppard and Dillingham over Williams.

[Dejounte]

Easy, the 6'10" guy that is ahooting 40% from 3 playing against professionals and many are projecting as a #1 overall. Don't overthink it.

Heck, I would take Sheppard and Dillingham over Williams.

Zaccharie’s last 12 games: 8.5ppg and 10-41 (24%) from three.

[spurraider21]

Zaccharie’s last 12 games: 8.5ppg and 10-41 (24%) from three.

Good thing they play more than 12 games

[Chinook]

You think wrong. The more Wemby plays, the more evident it will become that he needs to play center and only center.

He's not playing like a center. He's playing like a guy who could easily play with a center. The more he improves those parts of his game, the more easily he can play PF. If he's going to play center, he has some steps to take there offensively, and I don't know if that's where he's going to put his dev points. The Spurs should try a variety of legit archetypes next to him and not get complacent at the position

[Dejounte]

Good thing they play more than 12 games

The point is to show a downward trend (is he really a good shooter if it continues to drop?) and that he provides nothing else when his shot is off.

[Dejounte]

He's not playing like a center. He's playing like a guy who could easily play with a center. The more he improves those parts of his game, the more easily he can play PF. If he's going to play center, he has some steps to take there offensively, and I don't know if that's where he's going to put his dev points. The Spurs should try a variety of legit archetypes next to him and not get complacent at the position

He’s definitely playing like a center if you look at the defensive side. I know we all have a tendency to look at only the offensive side of the game…

[TD 21]

He's not playing like a center. He's playing like a guy who could easily play with a center. The more he improves those parts of his game, the more easily he can play PF. If he's going to play center, he has some steps to take there offensively, and I don't know if that's where he's going to put his dev points. The Spurs should try a variety of legit archetypes next to him and not get complacent at the position

Sure he is. He's probably the best shot blocker and vertical spacer ever and one of the best rebounders in the league, too. Those are all center traits. His skill and mobility advantages are also more pronounced at the position.

There's a long history of data that shows 2 big lineups lag offensively and that these hybrid types individually and team wide offense soar when they play solo big, so let's not overthink this.

Reid is the one realistic exception I'd make because he's like a big wing in the body of a big.

The point is to show a downward trend (is he really a good shooter if it continues to drop?) and that he provides nothing else when his shot is off.

It's called spacing and defense.

The goal isn't to pick the most spectacular or electrifying individual talent, it's to pick the player most likely to positively impact winning.

[Chinook]

He’s definitely playing like a center if you look at the defensive side. I know we all have a tendency to look at only the offensive side of the game…

How much different is he playing than a rich man's Ibaka, though? He's often not even playing center on defense nowadays. The Spurs are cross-guarding with Sochan against elite centers and letting Jeremy get cooked while Victor roams the weakside. I don't see why doing that more permanently but with a player who can actually guard the position playing there instead. So far we're talking about undersized folks and Collins (who basically inspires every opponent to go at him as hard as they can) as options.

Sure he is. He's probably the best shot blocker and vertical spacer ever and one of the best rebounders in the league, too. Those are all center traits. .

I don't know that Wemby's a very good vertical spacer, let alone the best ever. He has some big natural advantages there, but his inexperience is glaring. It's getting written on as his teammates' fault, but if one actually looks at the great vertical spacers in league history, there's a lot they do that Victor is maybe just starting to incorporate. He should be the best shot-blocker very soon if he hasn't gotten there, but not every elite shot-blocker played center. He's a very good rebounder, but it's not like him rebounding less as a PF is a bad thing. It's only bad when the center isn't rebounding to make up for it.

There's a long history of data that shows 2 big lineups lag offensively and that these hybrid types individually and team wide offense soar when they play solo big, so let's not overthink this.

Wemby's future deserves an actual consideration though, and not just a flippant glance. Is he a big, or is he just big? There's a continuum between wings tall enough to play the five and true centers, and not everyone on the list would count as part of a "two-big lineup". That's why Wemby's development has a large effect here. If he's going to continue to trend toward a floor game and perimeter shooting, he's going to be more of a oversized wing like Durant or Giannis rather than a stretch-five like Porzingas. It seems pretty clear Wemby at least wants a chance to explore becoming the former before settling into the later, and part of the environment the Spurs are creating is to allow him to have that chance. That means they shouldn't write off playing centers next to him during this transition time to see if it can work. But if they play stretch-fives, it basically defeats the purpose of the versatility. If he's there at 33, I would be a big fan of drafting Edey to see what happens. It doesn't have to work, but that would be far preferable than committing to another year of Collins, Bassey and Barlow as the only options.

Reid is the one realistic exception I'd make because he's like a big wing in the body of a big.

Reid's a good player, but he's not the only archetype that should be tried.