Good points, both of you. Now I REALLY hope we look at the early 2nd for a big instead of at the top. This crop of bigs looks even deeper than the Duren, Williams, Kessler, Koloko (Orlando Robinson was undrafted this year too) class from a couple years ago.
The thing is, we are not one of those teams that are good enough to add a luxury piece like him. I acknowledge that he’s an immediate impact defender, but we just got one of those. Is any fan of Dunn going to acknowledge the fact that adding Dunn to this current spacing mess doesn’t help the situation? Secure a 1st in the 20’s this year for Camara and then draft Dunn if you feel like he’s a real DPOY kind of guy.
I would love to have Orlando Robinson right now in place of Reath. You could see the potential in Summer League. So if Bradshaw doesn't reach the #32-35 area, who do we like? Missi looks like your typical rim runner, but does he have enough Intangibles? Mara dropped significantly in a couple of mocks. He could be diet Sengun, but I'm not seeing it yet.
That's the reality of it. The thought of both Camara and Dunn shutting down the perimeter is tantalizing, but they're very similar on offense(Camara is actually better). I guess if Camara starts and Dunn backs him up, it could work. When we need stops on defense, put them both in for short stretches. But then you think of Scoot and it just doesn't work. We're all stocked up on guys who can't shoot. Spacing is too important in this league.
As I see it right now… Sarr will go #1-3, depending on where the teams fall after the lotto. Clingan, Filipowski, Ware are going to be selected between #10-20. Bona, Mara, Missi, and Hall look like guys who could go anywhere from early 20s-35. The two wild card bigs will be Smith and Bradshaw. Smith’s shot is pure, and he is still developing on the defensive end. He could land in the 20’s or late teens, but could also be in the 30’s. I wasn’t even aware Bradshaw was back, I’ll have to watch him play. Realistically, I’d be very happy with Bradshaw, Smith, or Hall with a mid 30’s pick. All three guys would drastically change the potential of this team if their shooting translates right away. Bradshaw has the potential to be more than just a role player, but Smith and Hall both look like the prototypical modern big. I would prefer one of these three in the 2nd rather than selecting any of the bigs available between 10-20. Mara would also be interesting if all three of those guys are gone. Use the two 1sts on wings.
I would be more willing to consider Dunn if Camara could be a 35% 3pt shooter by the end of the season. If Camara isn’t a competent shooter, I just don’t like the fit. It will be impossible to play both of these guys at once, meaning Dunn and Camara will be splitting 48 mins every night. Combine that with Scoot’s shooting and Walker’s inconsistent shooting, the spacing is just going to be really bad. You can get as many stops as you want, it only matters if you can put the ball in the basket on the other end. Fans can’t ask for guys like Dunn who are a complete non factor on offense, then complain about Ant having to play hero ball.
I have to scout Hall some more. I don't have a write-up in my notes. Ighodaro really interests me. He's pretty raw offensively, but he looks like a very high IQ/feel player. I think we're going to get our big this year. It's looking pretty good. Smith looks decent. I don't know if the motor is high enough to play starter minutes, but if he falls I'd take a flyer on him.
Man I’m looking more into Bradshaw, and I actually love the idea of having him on this team, the more I think about it. I don’t doubt he will continue to play well, but playing in Kentucky’s system might actually keep him hovering around the mid 20’s even if he plays well, which works to our benefit. I’m going to have to scout him with consideration to the program he’s in, which I should’ve done with Banchero and Adebayo. Off of a few HS tapes I saw a couple months back, he looks like he has all the skills he needs to be a really good scorer in the league. Not Embiid/Jokic level, but maybe Brook Lopez in his Nets years. It’s hard for me to judge him off of two games as he’s coming off from injury, but I’ll be prioritizing his defense, rebounding, and ability to make reads when I watch his college tape. Apparently, he’s pretty switchable? Those are the things that would get him on the floor the quickest in the NBA. We’re going to have to see where his range is at the end of the season. Disregard Williams, I think a trio of DA, a vet big, and Bradshaw with Reath as an emergency big is a really strong center rotation. Bradshaw’s reputation hasn’t been someone you have to start right away, bring him along and make him earn his minutes in a deep rotation. By the time we have to make a decision on DA in a couple seasons, Bradshaw’s development might make it very easy.
Where do you think Bradshaw stacks up against Sarr as a prospect? To me, Bradshaw’s potential on offense is higher than Sarr’s. But do you think Bradshaw’s defensive production can match Sarr’s offensive production? If you think he can, he sounds like he has the makings of a star, and I might try to find a way to nab him anyway even if he isn’t in the #32-35 range. I think the suppression of Bradshaw’s true skillset in Kentucky’s system and the amount of NBA ready bigs in the draft could still put him in the #25 range. Ant was pick #24, I think you have to grab him at all costs if you think he has Brook Lopez potential, especially in such a weak draft. Let’s say we don’t win the lotto, but end up with picks #4 and #10. We could still grab a forward prospect at #4, then trade down from #10 to grab Bradshaw wherever he lands, and also get a future protected 1st in ‘25 or beyond. We could swing high with another forward prospect like Dailyn Swain with a 2nd, or trade up with both 2nds to land him. Swain has lotto potential in ‘25 imo but could still come out this year. He’s going to have to spend at least two seasons in the GL, but looks like a real 3-D prospect in the mold of Trey Murphy, but will be a better defender.
The fucking draft is over six months away. A draft thread is somewhat understandable at this point. A thread that basically ignores the other thread and concentrates on players like a sixth of those drafted who won't start next season is fucking ridiculous. I haven't seen it approaching drafts before this season, therefore over half a year away from it makes even less sense. Congratulations on a thread that shouldn't have been made. I'm surprised that the guy who started it doesn't have a moniker that starts with Rasta.
I’m sorry you feel that way man. My reason for making this was to look at guys who would raise our floor. People love talking about the guys in the lotto, and random guys will pop to the top like Hendricks all the time. I hope for this thread to include guys who are juniors and seniors who would still make contributions to the team without expectation they will be a high level starter or star. I wanted to separate the two. Not sure why you had such a strong reaction to it. Guys like Newton who won’t be 1st rounders will have much bigger contributions than a lot of 1st rounders this year. You don’t have to start to help out this team. No one needs to contribute to this thread. If anything, I will use it as public notes of prospects who can contribute to a bench as deep as the Celtics or the Spurs during their dynasty. If you like looking through this thread later in the year, your prerogative. Again, not sure why you had such a strong reaction to it. Just ignore it big homie. The other draft is still going to be used, I’m just looking to separate it. I’m often the only one who says anything in the actual 2024 thread anyways. Thanks for the opinion though.
The reason I felt like I wanted to make this thread was also a newfound optimism that Scoot can lead a bench mob that can come in and change games. I’m not looking for people to shit on Scoot in this thread, the other ones are already available for that. Guys like Newton can shoot, play defense, and play either position next to Scoot. Guys like Hall can really space the floor for Scoot. Etc. I love team building, and I love scouting players and the overall draft process. You don’t have to be.
The draft is a lot more fun to talk about since we're a young team that's tanking. As a draft guru, or whatever you want to call it, the last decade of being a 5th to 8th seed has been lame. Also, I'm watching more college and international basketball the last two years than that decade combined. @BankTeller, I'll have to get back to you about Bradshaw vs Sarr. It looks like the mocks are already moving Bradshaw back into the lottery.
None of the main mocks you would see with a quick google search. No ceilings, Vencenie and Spinella are about the only ones I trust. They took notice of Bradshaw's return and were mentioning moving him back up in some podcasts.
Vecenie said he still has lottery upside if he plays well the rest of the season. I think it'd need a bit of a sample size, tbh. but I guess this the year for a ton of movement because of the lack of clarity up top. to wit: sarr went from mid first round up to #1, #2 just on the heels of those GLI showcase games.
Do you think being in Kentucky’s systems is going to limit Bradshaw’s ability to showcase everything he can do? That could be reason for him possibly staying around the mid 20s.
