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2024 NBA Draft Mega Thread

New ESPN mock has Topic falling to the Jazz


Lines up with what I've been hearing on various podcast of sources draft guys. Topic has a wider range of opinions from teams than most realize from him being highly mocked for so long.

A PG, either Topic or Dillingham, is almost certain to fall if the pick order doesn't change much. Too many teams with their solution already in hand. In this mock, they even have CHO taking Dillingham....which could happen tbf.....but that still has a PG falling to 10.

I think the other thing of note is that they have moved Castle into the top 4. They have been slower to move him then just about anyone else. The intel must be aligning with everyone else.
 
Who does it show the Spurs taking? Can you post the top 10?
  1. Zaccharie Risacher – Atlanta Hawks
  2. Alex Sarr – Washington Wizards
  3. Reed Sheppard – Houston Rockets
  4. Stephon Castle – San Antonio Spurs
  5. Matas Buzelis – Detroit Pistons
  6. Rob Dillingham – Charlotte Hornets
  7. Donovan Clingan – Portland Trail Blazers
  8. Tidjane Salaun – San Antonio Spurs
  9. Dalton Knecht – Memphis Grizzlies
  10. Nikola Topic – Utah Jazz
 
A PG, either Topic or Dillingham, is almost certain to fall if the pick order doesn't change much. Too many teams with their solution already in hand. In this mock, they even have CHO taking Dillingham....which could happen tbf.....but that still has a PG falling to 10.

I think the other thing of note is that they have moved Castle into the top 4. They have been slower to move him then just about anyone else. The intel must be aligning with everyone else.
I haven't really been a big fan of taking Dilly or Topic for us... but at 10 you kinda take what is there. Castle was never getting past 6 imo. I would move up to 3-5 if the price is okay (not giving up any 2025 picks but a 2027 pick maybe... I just think 2025 is lining up to be an amazing draft potentially).

Topic I just haven't been able to get a feel for... Dilly I think I understand his floor and ceiling. I know fit shouldn't be the number 1 concern but man the fit with Key, Sexton, Dilly or Topic gets wonky. I wish Topic was a better shooter or slightly better defender... I just hate having two potential red flags like that... and if the knee isn't right it can really throw off the development of the player early. I would understand either guy as the pick but Topic makes me nervous.

I know some are saying in a bad draft swing for the fences (cuz in 2013 that worked I guess) but I almost wonder if taking the high floor guy who projects more as a solid starter type is the smarter play for us before starting to lock in to something positionally. I know you and I both share similar thoughts on the high floor guy being actually high ceiling too... but I wonder if Carter is a better idea than Dilly or Topic for roster building... seems like a more fungible guard that can help the Superstar (if we ever get him).
 
  1. Zaccharie Risacher – Atlanta Hawks
  2. Alex Sarr – Washington Wizards
  3. Reed Sheppard – Houston Rockets
  4. Stephon Castle – San Antonio Spurs
  5. Matas Buzelis – Detroit Pistons
  6. Rob Dillingham – Charlotte Hornets
  7. Donovan Clingan – Portland Trail Blazers
  8. Tidjane Salaun – San Antonio Spurs
  9. Dalton Knecht – Memphis Grizzlies
  10. Nikola Topic – Utah Jazz
I think Topic's scoring ability is an illusion. Layups won't work in the NBA. On defense while he has great size might be slow footed for guards. He might might pair well with a good scoring off guard like Key but don't know.
 
I haven't really been a big fan of taking Dilly or Topic for us... but at 10 you kinda take what is there. Castle was never getting past 6 imo. I would move up to 3-5 if the price is okay (not giving up any 2025 picks but a 2027 pick maybe... I just think 2025 is lining up to be an amazing draft potentially).

Topic I just haven't been able to get a feel for... Dilly I think I understand his floor and ceiling. I know fit shouldn't be the number 1 concern but man the fit with Key, Sexton, Dilly or Topic gets wonky. I wish Topic was a better shooter or slightly better defender... I just hate having two potential red flags like that... and if the knee isn't right it can really throw off the development of the player early. I would understand either guy as the pick but Topic makes me nervous.

I know some are saying in a bad draft swing for the fences (cuz in 2013 that worked I guess) but I almost wonder if taking the high floor guy who projects more as a solid starter type is the smarter play for us before starting to lock in to something positionally. I know you and I both share similar thoughts on the high floor guy being actually high ceiling too... but I wonder if Carter is a better idea than Dilly or Topic for roster building... seems like a more fungible guard that can help the Superstar (if we ever get him).
The thing that I don't like about these guys, is there defense is pretty non-existent. How many times did everyone complain last year about how bad our defense was?. We have enough players that can contribute on offense. We need more defense. I understand BPA, but sometimes I don't necessarily agree with that. That is why I am a huge fan of Devin Carter. He is a two-way and doesn't really give up anything on either side. His height is not the best but if he was taller he would be going a lot sooner in the draft.
 
The thing that I don't like about these guys, is there defense is pretty non-existent. How many times did everyone complain last year about how bad our defense was?. We have enough players that can contribute on offense. We need more defense. I understand BPA, but sometimes I don't necessarily agree with that. That is why I am a huge fan of Devin Carter. He is a two-way and doesn't really give up anything on either side. His height is not the best but if he was taller he would be going a lot sooner in the draft.
Like if salary was all equal... would you rather have Derrick White or Darius Garland? It kind of depends on where you are and what the rest of the roster looks like, but Garland creates some fit issues potentially or some things you need to plan around. I'm also looking at this in a two year draft window and going "if you take Dilly this year then Traore or Harper or another lead guard are the bpa next year then what?"

I think Carter is the guy in our range I feel best about being an nba player and having some decent two-way ability/upside.
 
  1. Zaccharie Risacher – Atlanta Hawks
  2. Alex Sarr – Washington Wizards
  3. Reed Sheppard – Houston Rockets
  4. Stephon Castle – San Antonio Spurs
  5. Matas Buzelis – Detroit Pistons
  6. Rob Dillingham – Charlotte Hornets
  7. Donovan Clingan – Portland Trail Blazers
  8. Tidjane Salaun – San Antonio Spurs
  9. Dalton Knecht – Memphis Grizzlies
  10. Nikola Topic – Utah Jazz

That would be amazing. Topic’s medicals must be causing some angst.
 
Like if salary was all equal... would you rather have Derrick White or Darius Garland? It kind of depends on where you are and what the rest of the roster looks like, but Garland creates some fit issues potentially or some things you need to plan around. I'm also looking at this in a two year draft window and going "if you take Dilly this year then Traore or Harper or another lead guard are the bpa next year then what?"

I think Carter is the guy in our range I feel best about being an nba player and having some decent two-way ability/upside.
This is exactly how I feel. Derek White is the exact player I want and I feel like Carter is hopefully similar to him
 
I haven't really been a big fan of taking Dilly or Topic for us... but at 10 you kinda take what is there. Castle was never getting past 6 imo. I would move up to 3-5 if the price is okay (not giving up any 2025 picks but a 2027 pick maybe... I just think 2025 is lining up to be an amazing draft potentially).

Topic I just haven't been able to get a feel for... Dilly I think I understand his floor and ceiling. I know fit shouldn't be the number 1 concern but man the fit with Key, Sexton, Dilly or Topic gets wonky. I wish Topic was a better shooter or slightly better defender... I just hate having two potential red flags like that... and if the knee isn't right it can really throw off the development of the player early. I would understand either guy as the pick but Topic makes me nervous.

I know some are saying in a bad draft swing for the fences (cuz in 2013 that worked I guess) but I almost wonder if taking the high floor guy who projects more as a solid starter type is the smarter play for us before starting to lock in to something positionally. I know you and I both share similar thoughts on the high floor guy being actually high ceiling too... but I wonder if Carter is a better idea than Dilly or Topic for roster building... seems like a more fungible guard that can help the Superstar (if we ever get him).

The Jazz need to decide how they want to play. I think Will Hardy has been adapting to the limited talent on the roster thus far. My guess is that they’d like to build around a dynamic wing or wing-sized guard who can create advantages and self-create against wing-sized defenders. If that’s the case, then everyone else needs to be effective playing off the ball.

If there isn’t a star to be had in this draft, then the Jazz are likely looking for a high-level complementary player, and that’s one thing this draft does have to offer. It might not even matter much which direction they go. Knecht, Castle (if he’ll shoot), Williams, Carter are all reasonable picks.
 
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