2024 NBA Draft Mega Thread

[KqWIN]

One thing @andylarsen said last year about Keyonte is that if he's not Don, who is he? Now, I thought that was a really dumb question because there is a full spectrum of scoring combo guards from Don to Bones Hyland and beyond.

However, it seems more relevant with Edey and his post game. His shot chart is tightly packed around the rim. Even his shots that are not dunks/layups are extremely close. He creates a ton of shots at the rim with his size/skill/ability, but as far as other offense he's a pure postup guy without much range. You can count the number of guys in the NBA who are effective, heavy post up guys in the league with one hand. I would argue there's really only two, and those two are the last two MVP's and have so many skills beyond posting up. There's really not a big in the NBA that plays the way Edey does. I'm sure Edey will change some in the NBA, but how much can he? Or is he just a transcendent talent that will change the way the game is played? I'm skeptical.

I don't think he has the ability to be a high post, dribble handoff/faceup guy, and I wonder if he can read the defense fast enough to make quick decisions out of the low post. Everyone knows that the bigs in the NBA are more athletic/longer than in college, but that's true for the perimeter players as well and the help defense is MUCH more dynamic. He's killing these college defenses, but it's a different beast when you have NBA athletes doubling down and recovering as well as they do. It's a big reason why post ups and "just pass it to the mismatch" doesn't really fly in the NBA.

 

[default]

One thing @andylarsen said last year about Keyonte is that if he's not Don, who is he? Now, I thought that was a really dumb question because there is a full spectrum of scoring combo guards from Don to Bones Hyland and beyond.

However, it seems more relevant with Edey and his post game. His shot chart is tightly packed around the rim. Even his shots that are not dunks/layups are extremely close. He creates a ton of shots at the rim with his size/skill/ability, but as far as other offense he's a pure postup guy without much range. You can count the number of guys in the NBA who are effective, heavy post up guys in the league with one hand. I would argue there's really only two, and those two are the last two MVP's and have so many skills beyond posting up. There's really not a big in the NBA that plays the way Edey does. I'm sure Edey will change some in the NBA, but how much can he? Or is he just a transcendent talent that will change the way the game is played? I'm skeptical.

I don't think he has the ability to be a high post, dribble handoff/faceup guy, and I wonder if he can read the defense fast enough to make quick decisions out of the low post. Everyone knows that the bigs in the NBA are more athletic/longer than in college, but that's true for the perimeter players as well and the help defense is MUCH more dynamic. He's killing these college defenses, but it's a different beast when you have NBA athletes doubling down and recovering as well as they do. It's a big reason why post ups and "just pass it to the mismatch" doesn't really fly in the NBA.

I see a ton of great things with Edey. My biggest concern is not even guarding away from the hoop. I worry that we will never have driving lanes at all when he is in the game.

 

[Shad]

Bronny James declared for the draft this morning. Would picking him up bring his dad here too?

View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1776263398042267996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1776263398042267996%7Ctwgr%5Ebee9ad4620c72e7322d6a0af1270680f36407298%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.deseret.com%2Fsports%2F2024%2F04%2F05%2Fbronny-james-declares-for-nba-draft-transfer-portal%2F

He's not an nba player so no. We're also dead last since the trade deadline. We're dead last in turnovers. We're dead last in defense. I don't even think a prime LeBron could help our team at the moment

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

One thing @andylarsen said last year about Keyonte is that if he's not Don, who is he? Now, I thought that was a really dumb question because there is a full spectrum of scoring combo guards from Don to Bones Hyland and beyond.

However, it seems more relevant with Edey and his post game. His shot chart is tightly packed around the rim. Even his shots that are not dunks/layups are extremely close. He creates a ton of shots at the rim with his size/skill/ability, but as far as other offense he's a pure postup guy without much range. You can count the number of guys in the NBA who are effective, heavy post up guys in the league with one hand. I would argue there's really only two, and those two are the last two MVP's and have so many skills beyond posting up. There's really not a big in the NBA that plays the way Edey does. I'm sure Edey will change some in the NBA, but how much can he? Or is he just a transcendent talent that will change the way the game is played? I'm skeptical.

I don't think he has the ability to be a high post, dribble handoff/faceup guy, and I wonder if he can read the defense fast enough to make quick decisions out of the low post. Everyone knows that the bigs in the NBA are more athletic/longer than in college, but that's true for the perimeter players as well and the help defense is MUCH more dynamic. He's killing these college defenses, but it's a different beast when you have NBA athletes doubling down and recovering as well as they do. It's a big reason why post ups and "just pass it to the mismatch" doesn't really fly in the NBA.

So one thing that turned me on Edey a bit is the screen setting. I think it was Vecenie or KOC or someone talked about his improvement as a screener. If he can combine the post stuff with some screens that get guards some separation he could cause some additional havoc. If you are switching he should be able to eat or command attention. The passing will need to be good. I wonder if he can be pre-shooting Brook Lopez. I also wonder if he can shoot a little but I don't think that is the swing skill.

I think he might be a guy that gets 10 minutes one night and 25 minutes another night depending on matchup. He might be a guy who causes issues in some playoff series and is unplayable in others. In most drafts i think he should be a guy taken in the 20s (that is where I think you get some value taking the right kind of big prospects). In this draft I think end of lottery is okay... it wouldn't be my preference but I'd understand it.

Part of me also wonders if this whole defensive revolution that some want would benefit guys like Edey. I wouldn't base draft decisions on that and I think that the "offensive problem" is overstated... but if they went to a 4 second defensive rule it would benefit drop bigs.

 

[Bawse Dawg]

I don't even think a prime LeBron could help our team at the moment

Then we are already forgetting how ****ing good he was. Wasn’t even prime LeBron in 07 when he dragged the Cavs to the finals.

Prime LeBron and Lauri on the same team is a contender. Full stop

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I see a ton of great things with Edey. My biggest concern is not even guarding away from the hoop. I worry that we will never have driving lanes at all when he is in the game.

In college where teams can play a zone and the paint is already congested I think this is a bigger issue. I think in the NBA if he sets big screens I think it may open things up for guards. Even is the big drops he has to cover a driver and someone has to tag Edey for the role/offensive rebounding assignment. If you switch and he posts you almost have to bring a double.

I think the issue will be defending in space and keeping up with the pace of the game. Boban was decent in the halfcourt as a defender... like he might get cooked in space of course but guys that big will have defensive value near the rim just by existing. Its keeping up with the pace of the game and nba athletes. Boban seemed to have a hard time getting up and down the floor.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Bronny James declared for the draft this morning. Would picking him up bring his dad here too?

View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1776263398042267996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1776263398042267996%7Ctwgr%5Ebee9ad4620c72e7322d6a0af1270680f36407298%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.deseret.com%2Fsports%2F2024%2F04%2F05%2Fbronny-james-declares-for-nba-draft-transfer-portal%2F

If Bronny declares I think what will happen is we trade either the 27th pick or 32nd to LA so they can take Bronny. We will then get them to remove the protections from the 2027 pick and give us another second for our trouble. I'm calling my shot here.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I do think 1 or 2 of the upperclassmen will pop Jaime Jacquez style... I also think there will be a few Chris Duarte's. Having a hard time deciding who is who though.

 

[stitches]

One thing @andylarsen said last year about Keyonte is that if he's not Don, who is he? Now, I thought that was a really dumb question because there is a full spectrum of scoring combo guards from Don to Bones Hyland and beyond.

However, it seems more relevant with Edey and his post game. His shot chart is tightly packed around the rim. Even his shots that are not dunks/layups are extremely close. He creates a ton of shots at the rim with his size/skill/ability, but as far as other offense he's a pure postup guy without much range. You can count the number of guys in the NBA who are effective, heavy post up guys in the league with one hand. I would argue there's really only two, and those two are the last two MVP's and have so many skills beyond posting up. There's really not a big in the NBA that plays the way Edey does. I'm sure Edey will change some in the NBA, but how much can he? Or is he just a transcendent talent that will change the way the game is played? I'm skeptical.

I don't think he has the ability to be a high post, dribble handoff/faceup guy, and I wonder if he can read the defense fast enough to make quick decisions out of the low post. Everyone knows that the bigs in the NBA are more athletic/longer than in college, but that's true for the perimeter players as well and the help defense is MUCH more dynamic. He's killing these college defenses, but it's a different beast when you have NBA athletes doubling down and recovering as well as they do. It's a big reason why post ups and "just pass it to the mismatch" doesn't really fly in the NBA.

According to Cy his range is somewhere between more athletic Yao and bigger Kareem. (only half joking here)

 

[hgb]

If Bronny declares I think what will happen is we trade either the 27th pick or 32nd to LA so they can take Bronny. We will then get them to remove the protections from the 2027 pick and give us another second for our trouble. I'm calling my shot here.

Sounds reasonable. '25 and '27 2nds + remove protections on the pick for 32?

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I can see Clingan being a fairly effective center in the NBA. I'd feel comfortable comparing his overall skill level to Vucevic, to which he then adds defense, at least in the post. His ceiling goes way up if he can step out and shoot. His shooting signals aren't as strong as Vuc's though.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

View: https://twitter.com/CoreyTulaba/status/1776285331077124682