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2024 NBA Draft Mega Thread

The modern NBA game is space and pace. Good teams space the floor out to 28 feet, to the point it’s impossible to guard the space with a scheme. You can’t send help. Everyone has to guard on the perimeter.

Edey is going to struggle on the defensive side. He’ll be a beast in the post though.
And yet many of the best teams in the NBA have drop bigs who arent great at defending in space.
 
And yet many of the best teams in the NBA have drop bigs who arent great at defending in space.

Porzingis impacts the perimeter and recovers okay. Rudy can guard multiple actions and guard the perimeter and the paint. Chet, I mentioned already. So, no.

Nurkic stays in drop most the time, and that’s a major reason the Suns aren’t real contenders.
 
You can get away with a big in drop coverage if your perimeter defenders are all lock-down. That’s one thing the Celtics have going for them.
 
Porzingis impacts the perimeter and recovers okay. Rudy can guard multiple actions and guard the perimeter and the paint. Chet, I mentioned already. So, no.

Nurkic stays in drop most the time, and that’s a major reason the Suns aren’t real contenders.
Jokic, Lopez, Zubac, Allen, Robinson, Lively, Valaciunas, Embiid, Senguin, Sabonis

Not saying these guys can't survive on the perimeter at times, but the NBA is currently dominated by drop bigs to act otherwise is to be wrong. And Edey moves much better than you're giving him credit for.
 
I mean of course, there is elements of spacing and a lot of NBA teams can and do go to that, but the NBA also spends more time with traditional bigs than some want to admit. IDK if there is a single good team in the NBA who doesnt have a quality drop big they play at least 20 MPG. The closest would be the Thunder and everyone thinks that is their weakness.
 
Jokic, Lopez, Zubac, Allen, Robinson, Lively, Valaciunas, Embiid, Senguin, Sabonis

Not saying these guys can't survive on the perimeter at times, but the NBA is currently dominated by drop bigs to act otherwise is to be wrong. And Edey moves much better than you're giving him credit for.

Jokic: Gets beat on the perimeter. Also gets beat at the rim. It doesn't matter much because the Nuggets are impossible to guard on the other end.
Lopez: Struggles when he goes out on the perimeter, but he's got Giannis playing fee safety watching his back. Regardless, the Bucks' defense dropped a solid level or two since losing Jrue and since Middleton hasn't been healthy. That's why they probably aren't really a top-tier team this year.
Zubac: Plays in drop, but the Clippers have PG, Kawhi, Mann and Hyland locking down the perimeter. Clippers also aren't a top-3 seed.
Valanciunas struggles on the perimeter, and that's one reason why the Pels are flirting with the play-in.
Sengun's team won't make the playoffs.

Allen, Lively, Embiid and even Sabonis (to a degree) can contain on the perimeter without getting beat, but really Philly is this only elite team from within that group.
 
Funny thing in the Clingan Edey walker conversation is I kinda want DaRon Holmes more.

I want Knecht, Holmes, and Kolek.

Holmes tested the draft last year. He measured 6'9" with a 9'1" standing reach. That might not be big enough to really guard the rim. I'm damn curious about Ulrich Chomche though.
 
Jokic, Lopez, Zubac, Allen, Robinson, Lively, Valaciunas, Embiid, Senguin, Sabonis

Not saying these guys can't survive on the perimeter at times, but the NBA is currently dominated by drop bigs to act otherwise is to be wrong. And Edey moves much better than you're giving him credit for.

I'd be surprised if Edey gets picked in the top 20, even in this draft.
 
I'd be surprised if Edey gets picked in the top 20, even in this draft.

It's going to happen
Even if the idea is he is a "gadget" player or 12-15 minute backup that provides an advantage and not a starter level prospect.... I think that will be good enough to take a chance in the top 20. Anywhere between like 15-25 I won't be shocked.
 
I just think people are way too quick to write off Edey. We havent seen anything like him since Yao.

The dude never even played basketball until his 10th grade year and he's pretty damn skilled for a guy who has only played 6 years. With his touch and mechanics I wouldnt be shocked if he developed a 3 pointer.
 
I just think people are way too quick to write off Edey. We havent seen anything like him since Yao.

The dude never even played basketball until his 10th grade year and he's pretty damn skilled for a guy who has only played 6 years. With his touch and mechanics I wouldnt be shocked if he developed a 3 pointer.
So the thing that turned me a bit with him is his screening. Can't remember who mentioned it but he sets nice big screens. It could be something that causes issues as it will be tough to switch on him with a guard obviously and if they play a big center against him then the perimeter guys should have space with a drop big.

There's a world where we feel stupid that the guy who dominated college basketball for a couple years is drafted in the teens/20s and is really good. There's a world where he is a better version of Boban and hangs around as a backup center for 10 years and he doesn't quite translate. Unless you take him top 15-16 in the draft I am not sure the downside is bad.
 
I just think people are way too quick to write off Edey. We havent seen anything like him since Yao.

The dude never even played basketball until his 10th grade year and he's pretty damn skilled for a guy who has only played 6 years. With his touch and mechanics I wouldnt be shocked if he developed a 3 pointer.
He’s going in the lottery. He shoots FT’s well too.
 
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