This always seemed like a near guarantee - not only is the 2025 draft better but there is a chance the Lakers are much worse next year. LeBron/AD had near perfect health. If one or both miss large parts of the season that could be an unprotected lottery pick - in theory even #1 if they really struggle or they make an Atlanta jump and can get Cooper Flag. No way a team should instead settle for #17 this year.
Because the 2025 draft is better and the Lakers have a chance to be MUCH worse. Even if the 2024 draft was significantly better than 2025 it would make sense to defer. I can't think of any two draft classes in NBA history where it would make sense for the Pelicans to settle for #17 when they have a chance of a lottery pick the next year including #1 overall.
I wonder how high the Lakers pick would have to be this year for the Pelicans to have not deferred the pick? I'd imagine if it was a top5 pick the Pelicans would have kept it - but you have many experts saying #1 in this class is like #10 in a typical draft so perhaps its would've made sense to delay the pick at any spot even #1 which is just nuts.
obviously this could all be smoke & mirrors; misdirection and deflection. Cronin may indeed want to move up but not for Clingan however, if he did use both picks to grab Clingan, the negative suspicions I have about him would mostly get confirmed. And yeah, that would likely be worse than 2017. Maybe much worse unless Cronin has a plan to dump Ayton as well I mean, we all know Ayton has a hair-trigger on his malcontent mode. It would certainly be triggered if Portland drafts his heir-apparent. Although I guess Ayton stirring up shit in the locker room would help next year's tank
Do Joe & Schmitz think Donovan is the next Embiid or Jokic? That’s the only way you draft him that high and even @ 7, it’s tough to justify centers have that type of value.
I'm not advocating anything in this post, but a couple things to ponder. First, when Ayton was at UA he wanted nothing to do with playing center and I believe UA started him at the four and used a twin tower lineup. Second, Portland management may now be concerned about twin tower lineups becoming a thing again and want to get ahead of the curve moving Ayton to the four. Third, if one and two are true, Portland very well may be interested in Clingan to form the twin tower lineup. Personally I would like to explore drafting Ware at 14 and making him the four and leave Ayton at center if a twin tower lineup is the goal. But Portland may like Clingan's size and alleged mobility at the five. Simply no idea. Could just be a smoke screen and they are all in on positionless roles.
I still like the versatility of Ware with the later pick. If they do like Clingan, part of the calculation might be that they just don't love anyone else with the #7 pick. If they think he can be as productive as Gobert, I think you'd have to be happy with coming away with the kind of prospect in this draft. Coming away with Clingan/Cody Williams in the first round seems like a productive draft.
Ayton did start at PF at Arizona. I don't think it was as much to do with position, as it had to do with heiarchy. Ristic (the starting C) was a senior. You don't sit him because you have a freshman on the roster. You start both (like Arizona did)... In the NBA, Im always pro getting bigger... but it has to be done in the context of skill set. Ayton and Clingan skills are too similar. Neither one can spread the floor, nor are either one above average passer. Defensively, I think they could manage to be adequate... but not good. I cant buy the argument that Blazers master plan is to pair Ayton & Clingan.
that wouldn't be a master plan...it would be a moron plan I also don't see a shred of evidence that a twin-towers concept is gaining any momentum in the NBA. I think it's headed the other direction. Minny and Cleveland both had twin towers, I can't really recall any of the other teams running it consistently, but maybe I'm missing some team. And both teams that did ended up failing in the playoffs bowing out 1-4. Minny just got pummeled by a team running a rotation of two light, mobile C's costing a fraction of what Minny was paying
2024 NBA Draft Consensus Big BoardRookie Scalehttps://www.rookiescale.com › 2024-consensus-board Nobody knows who's going to excel at the next level.
Ayton's shooting splits from 10-16 and from 16-23 are better than Aldridge's were. Scouting reports indicate that Clingan is an above- average passer for a center. I'm not saying that I believe that they should play together, but the arguments against it should be factual.
Grant could make sense with the Kings - although #13 seems pretty useless as the main piece coming back.
LOL... 'Factual' So much of this is nuanced, that it's all opinions. You're referencing Aldridge like its a good thing. I absolutely HATED Aldridge's inefficient mid-range shots. Also the team played better when Aldridge would play C, but he was such a whiny player he wanted to play PF. Also, the game has changed a lot in the last 10 years since Aldridge was a Blazer. So, yes - Ayton can shoot the midrange better than Aldridge. Does that spread the floor? Not really. Especially at a lower volume that Ayton would have. I know some people 'project' that Clingan will be an above average passer in the future... but he's not one right now. I personally can't see him getting there. He'll be decent, but definitely not above average. Last season he averaged 2.4 assists per game (per 36). Edey -> who no one would call an above average passer averaged 2.3 per game. Compare that to those bigs who are above average: Ighodaro (3.2), Flip (3.3), Mogbo (4.6) So again Clingan is a decent passer, but not above average.
Minny used the twin towers but its different as Towns is a 50/40/90 shooter. I don't think you can do twin towers in today's NBA unless one shoots 3's.
Which is why I am really interested in Ware if he can be a floor spacing PF, rebound and play some 5.
Derrick Lively's has certainly played above expectations. His college stats were not that great, 5 boards a game, 60% ft shooter, doesnt stretch as a 5. Not that great a passer very average with blocked shots.
