2024 NBA Draft Lottery | TODAY! @3pm EST | Update: Raptors Convey 8th Pick to Spurs

[will]

Dont bother. Tankers dont understand logic. It never makes sense to tank, its just gambling. I am happy that we conveyed the pick in a weak draft. We have a solid core, lets build upon it. Another season like the last one would only worsen the situation.

How do we know this is a weak draft? Come on now.

We know cause the entire league is of that opinion. Everybody from Scouts, to FOs, Coaches and even Mascots are telling that.
Its called a Roleplayer Draft for a reason. Can there be one or two individuals who will be better than everybody thought? Yes of course they will be.
But it is far more likely to draft a Player that wont be better than a Roleplayer or even establish themselves in the League.

Scouts and FOs are incorrect a lot of the time. Hence such turnover.

Either way, my point is this is also 'just gambling' as well.

[Badonkadonk]

Zach Lowe's article gave some additional colour for the lottery yesterday: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/40134868/lowe-latest-draft-intel-trade-buzz-superstitions-nba-secret-draft-lottery-room

Stuff that's pertinent to the Raps:

This year, it was borderline casual. There is no consensus No. 1 pick, though several team officials and agents gathered in Chicago for the draft combine told ESPN that center Alex Sarr is the one player most likely to fall in the top two or three of almost every team's draft board. Beyond that, it's chaos. Team officials expect several teams might investigate the return for trading down a few slots -- only to have trouble finding a trade partner eager to deal meaningful assets to move up.

In the weeks leading to Sunday, even officials from teams who stood to potentially lose their first-round picks depending on the luck of the draw -- the Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors among them -- seemed indifferent to the results.

At that moment, seven teams (by ESPN's informal count) owned combinations featuring 6, 10, and 14 and thus had a chance to win the No. 1 pick: the Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs (again?), Raptors, Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers and the Brooklyn Nets -- who, of course, did not own their pick, having traded it without any protection to Houston in the James Harden deal in 2021.

Toronto is probably not that broken up about losing the pick now. It extinguishes its obligation to San Antonio, freeing it to trade more picks going forward. Had it retained its pick this time around, it would have owed it next season -- when the draft is projected to be much stronger -- with the same top-six protection. The Raptors hold the No. 19 and 31 picks in this draft after acquiring both in their respective trades of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.

[Shakril]

Zach Lowe's article gave some additional colour for the lottery yesterday: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/40134868/lowe-latest-draft-intel-trade-buzz-superstitions-nba-secret-draft-lottery-room

Stuff that's pertinent to the Raps:

This year, it was borderline casual. There is no consensus No. 1 pick, though several team officials and agents gathered in Chicago for the draft combine told ESPN that center Alex Sarr is the one player most likely to fall in the top two or three of almost every team's draft board. Beyond that, it's chaos. Team officials expect several teams might investigate the return for trading down a few slots -- only to have trouble finding a trade partner eager to deal meaningful assets to move up.

In the weeks leading to Sunday, even officials from teams who stood to potentially lose their first-round picks depending on the luck of the draw -- the Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors among them -- seemed indifferent to the results.

At that moment, seven teams (by ESPN's informal count) owned combinations featuring 6, 10, and 14 and thus had a chance to win the No. 1 pick: the Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs (again?), Raptors, Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers and the Brooklyn Nets -- who, of course, did not own their pick, having traded it without any protection to Houston in the James Harden deal in 2021.

Toronto is probably not that broken up about losing the pick now. It extinguishes its obligation to San Antonio, freeing it to trade more picks going forward. Had it retained its pick this time around, it would have owed it next season -- when the draft is projected to be much stronger -- with the same top-six protection. The Raptors hold the No. 19 and 31 picks in this draft after acquiring both in their respective trades of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.

Good that we conveyed. It was the best possible outcome.

[aminiaturebuddha]

Zach Lowe's article gave some additional colour for the lottery yesterday: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/40134868/lowe-latest-draft-intel-trade-buzz-superstitions-nba-secret-draft-lottery-room

Stuff that's pertinent to the Raps:

This year, it was borderline casual. There is no consensus No. 1 pick, though several team officials and agents gathered in Chicago for the draft combine told ESPN that center Alex Sarr is the one player most likely to fall in the top two or three of almost every team's draft board. Beyond that, it's chaos. Team officials expect several teams might investigate the return for trading down a few slots -- only to have trouble finding a trade partner eager to deal meaningful assets to move up.

In the weeks leading to Sunday, even officials from teams who stood to potentially lose their first-round picks depending on the luck of the draw -- the Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors among them -- seemed indifferent to the results.

At that moment, seven teams (by ESPN's informal count) owned combinations featuring 6, 10, and 14 and thus had a chance to win the No. 1 pick: the Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs (again?), Raptors, Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers and the Brooklyn Nets -- who, of course, did not own their pick, having traded it without any protection to Houston in the James Harden deal in 2021.

Toronto is probably not that broken up about losing the pick now. It extinguishes its obligation to San Antonio, freeing it to trade more picks going forward. Had it retained its pick this time around, it would have owed it next season -- when the draft is projected to be much stronger -- with the same top-six protection. The Raptors hold the No. 19 and 31 picks in this draft after acquiring both in their respective trades of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.

He also says that not only did the Raps have the first three numbers on the number one pick, but on picks 2, 3, and 4 as well. Seems they were fairly close to moving up into the top 4.

"* After the first four-number combination determines which team gets the No. 1 pick, the league then draws combinations for the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 picks. The Raptors had three of the four numbers in each of those combinations too."

But I agree, I wouldn't be surprised if the front office is actually somewhat relieved that they can now move forward with a clean slate.

[DelAbbot]

These posters referring to Detroit dropping to 5th as evidence tanking doesn't work are exposing themselves as lacking of basic understanding of math and probabilty.

The lottery exists with a probability. If your team is devoid of talent, you try to get highest probability to acquire top end talent through the draft. What these guys are saying is "hey look at Detroit, their tanking / losing for the highest probability didn't guarantee them the top pick - they shouldn't even have tried / tanked".

Go back to school before posting

[Scase]

Probably 22-23 wins out of 50 games. We won 2 games after Barnes and him went down back to back or the same game can't remember. Give or t

36-40 actually since he joined. Directly in treadmill land, chefs kiss.

Yak’s impact seems to be greater than you would think of a player of his skill level, but it is precisely because they have no other player that can perform that role on the team.

Without him, their record is horrible. With him it is decent. He is not going to turn them into a contender, that is what BBQ’s development would potentially do. But he makes them relevant, and creates a baseline from which the roster can build off.

You're half right. It's not his impact, it's the impact of a competent centre. The issue is, that Masai has been a complete and utter failure trying to resolve the glaring hole at C after losing gasol/ibaka, and the only way he was able to do it, was giving up an 8th OA pick. Meanwhile tons of teams have found absolutely serviceable players for a fraction of the cost.

There is nothing wrong with Jak, there was tons wrong with how, when, what it cost to acquire him.

[ConSarnit]

i've been pretty consistent on this trade.
in isolation, the trade was fair and fine. but in context when the team was 7th or 8th worst, it made more sense to lean into getting a high pick by tanking.
having said that, in hindsight, tanking would've gotten us the 3rd pick at best if we could've beat out the blazers in the tank spot, which I'm highly skeptical on. that means scoot who has been very underwhelming as a rookie;
this year, our tanking gambit failed and we gave up our pick; obviously this draft process still has to play itself out but I highly doubt that poeltl will be worse than all of 8 top players picked in this draft.
tanking would've failed us last year and it did fail us this year.
my post is aimed at those who think tanking is the cure of all the ills of this team.

It’s not just Poeltl for the 8th. It’s moving down 6-7 draft slots last year. It’s completely losing the 8th pick this year. It’s (probably) moving down draft slots again next season.

Just looking at the balance sheet:

No Poeltl trade:

2023: 5th/6th overall pick
2024: 8th overall pick
2025: 4th/5th overall pick

With Poeltl trade:

2023: 13th pick
2024: no pick
2025: 11th(?) pick

ZERO PLAYOFF WINS

That’s pretty terrible considering the benefits Poeltl was supposed to provide (playoff wins) currently stands at zero and our draft equity has suffered in the mean time. It’s literally the worst of all worlds. We’re going to have paid Poeltl for 3 full years with him having actively harmed our long term outlook (not that Poeltl is a bad player).

poeltl is a (good) role player; its the wrong metric to judge him by playoff wins.
i agree a lot of this stuff is up in the air; what we do know is that dick is outplaying his draft position while scoot is not.
we can judge the poeltl draft next year.
we dont know what will happen next draft; today a playin team won the lottery. so best not to count the chickens before they are hatched.

This is literally the reason he was brought in. I’m not judging Poeltl the player (who is a solid role player) but the move to get a Poeltl-type player. He was brought in to win games and we have failed to do so. This failure has cost us lottery positions and a lottery pick. If we finish tenth next year and move up to 1 that’s extreme luck and will happen in spite of Poeltl.

So far the Poeltl trade has put us in the worst position to be in: treadmilling with no playoff experience and at a draft capital deficit. The trade has worked out terribly for us. I don’t blame Poeltl for any of this as he’s a solid player doing his job. I blame the front office for compromising what many thought should have been a rebuilding period. If Poeltl plays 60 games next year it’s going to happen again as he’s a solid floor raiser but we’re still no lock for even the play-in. It’s just wasted time imo.

[douggood]

* After the first four-number combination determines which team gets the No. 1 pick, the league then draws combinations for the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 picks. The Raptors had three of the four numbers in each of those combinations too.

[DreamTeam09]

It’s not just Poeltl for the 8th. It’s moving down 6-7 draft slots last year. It’s completely losing the 8th pick this year. It’s (probably) moving down draft slots again next season.

Just looking at the balance sheet:

No Poeltl trade:

2023: 5th/6th overall pick
2024: 8th overall pick
2025: 4th/5th overall pick

With Poeltl trade:

2023: 13th pick
2024: no pick
2025: 11th(?) pick

ZERO PLAYOFF WINS

That’s pretty terrible considering the benefits Poeltl was supposed to provide (playoff wins) currently stands at zero and our draft equity has suffered in the mean time. It’s literally the worst of all worlds. We’re going to have paid Poeltl for 3 full years with him having actively harmed our long term outlook (not that Poeltl is a bad player).

poeltl is a (good) role player; its the wrong metric to judge him by playoff wins.
i agree a lot of this stuff is up in the air; what we do know is that dick is outplaying his draft position while scoot is not.
we can judge the poeltl draft next year.
we dont know what will happen next draft; today a playin team won the lottery. so best not to count the chickens before they are hatched.

This is literally the reason he was brought in. I’m not judging Poeltl the player (who is a solid role player) but the move to get a Poeltl-type player. He was brought in to win games and we have failed to do so. This failure has cost us lottery positions and a lottery pick. If we finish tenth next year and move up to 1 that’s extreme luck and will happen in spite of Poeltl.

So far the Poeltl trade has put us in the worst position to be in: treadmilling with no playoff experience and at a draft capital deficit. The trade has worked out terribly for us. I don’t blame Poeltl for any of this as he’s a solid player doing his job. I blame the front office for compromising what many thought should have been a rebuilding period. If Poeltl plays 60 games next year it’s going to happen again as he’s a solid floor raiser but we’re still no lock for even the play-in. It’s just wasted time imo.

Well here's another poster to disagree with the notion that Jakob was brought here to win games. He was brought here because we needed a C. We haven't had one since Ibaka & gasol left. He was brought here so Barnes wouldn't play the 5. He was brought here because it became evident that this team needs a competent C as a foundation to build your philosophy.

We would've won more games if everyone was healthy & locked in

[JB7]

36-40 actually since he joined. Directly in treadmill land, chefs kiss.

Yak’s impact seems to be greater than you would think of a player of his skill level, but it is precisely because they have no other player that can perform that role on the team.

Without him, their record is horrible. With him it is decent. He is not going to turn them into a contender, that is what BBQ’s development would potentially do. But he makes them relevant, and creates a baseline from which the roster can build off.

You're half right. It's not his impact, it's the impact of a competent centre. The issue is, that Masai has been a complete and utter failure trying to resolve the glaring hole at C after losing gasol/ibaka, and the only way he was able to do it, was giving up an 8th OA pick. Meanwhile tons of teams have found absolutely serviceable players for a fraction of the cost.

There is nothing wrong with Jak, there was tons wrong with how, when, what it cost to acquire him.

That is exactly the point. Yak is a competent C that raises the floor for the team. He was the competent C available via trade. And all it cost them was the 8th pick in a weak draft and 2 SRPs.

What other competent C was available for less?

[Scase]

Yak’s impact seems to be greater than you would think of a player of his skill level, but it is precisely because they have no other player that can perform that role on the team.

Without him, their record is horrible. With him it is decent. He is not going to turn them into a contender, that is what BBQ’s development would potentially do. But he makes them relevant, and creates a baseline from which the roster can build off.

Pretty much. He's still a true center after we've had the likes of Baynes and birch in recent years.

It's still a crappy acquisition because the timing, the cost, and the fit didn't make sense. Its still better than playing Boucher at the 5 or something with him out there.

However, people are reaching when they want to justify his existence, like how our younger players need to learn to play with a true center.
Playing with a non-spacing/non-elite shot blocking center is like playing 2000s basketball in the 2020s.

Nah I think Poeltl is fine. He's a least an elite finisher around the rim and if your big is not a shooter a good passer at the position still makes an impact offensively.

Several playoff teams are still running non 3pt shooting bigs. Knicks, Cavs and Heat in the East, Wolves, Clippers, Mavs, Pelicans, Kings, Clippers out west.

Heat : Not in the playoffs
Clippers : Zubac 13th in the league in BPG.
Wolves : Uh KAT? And Gobert is 6th in the league in BPG
Knicks : Both Robinson/Hartenstein average over a block a game. The latter of which was 18th in the NBA in BPG.
Cavs : Lol wut? Mobley is one of the best shot blockers in the NBA
Pels : eliminated first round
Mavs : The only team that isn't either spacing or shot blocking, and they run a 19 year old rookie centre. BUt they also have 2 of the best shooters in the NBA
Kings : Sabonis shoots 38% from 3

Chandan said non-spacing/non-elite blocking centre. As in one or the other, you focused only on 3pt shooting.

[ConSarnit]

poeltl is a (good) role player; its the wrong metric to judge him by playoff wins.
i agree a lot of this stuff is up in the air; what we do know is that dick is outplaying his draft position while scoot is not.
we can judge the poeltl draft next year.
we dont know what will happen next draft; today a playin team won the lottery. so best not to count the chickens before they are hatched.

This is literally the reason he was brought in. I’m not judging Poeltl the player (who is a solid role player) but the move to get a Poeltl-type player. He was brought in to win games and we have failed to do so. This failure has cost us lottery positions and a lottery pick. If we finish tenth next year and move up to 1 that’s extreme luck and will happen in spite of Poeltl.

So far the Poeltl trade has put us in the worst position to be in: treadmilling with no playoff experience and at a draft capital deficit. The trade has worked out terribly for us. I don’t blame Poeltl for any of this as he’s a solid player doing his job. I blame the front office for compromising what many thought should have been a rebuilding period. If Poeltl plays 60 games next year it’s going to happen again as he’s a solid floor raiser but we’re still no lock for even the play-in. It’s just wasted time imo.

Well here's another poster to disagree with the notion that Jakob was brought here to win games. He was brought here because we needed a C. We haven't had one since Ibaka & gasol left. He was brought here so Barnes wouldn't play the 5. He was brought here because it became evident that this team needs a competent C as a foundation to build your philosophy.

We would've won more games if everyone was healthy & locked in

Are you trying to argue that the Poeltl trade was not a win-now move?

[WuTang_OG]

Zach Lowe's article gave some additional colour for the lottery yesterday: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/40134868/lowe-latest-draft-intel-trade-buzz-superstitions-nba-secret-draft-lottery-room

Stuff that's pertinent to the Raps:

This year, it was borderline casual. There is no consensus No. 1 pick, though several team officials and agents gathered in Chicago for the draft combine told ESPN that center Alex Sarr is the one player most likely to fall in the top two or three of almost every team's draft board. Beyond that, it's chaos. Team officials expect several teams might investigate the return for trading down a few slots -- only to have trouble finding a trade partner eager to deal meaningful assets to move up.

In the weeks leading to Sunday, even officials from teams who stood to potentially lose their first-round picks depending on the luck of the draw -- the Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors among them -- seemed indifferent to the results.

At that moment, seven teams (by ESPN's informal count) owned combinations featuring 6, 10, and 14 and thus had a chance to win the No. 1 pick: the Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs (again?), Raptors, Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers and the Brooklyn Nets -- who, of course, did not own their pick, having traded it without any protection to Houston in the James Harden deal in 2021.

Toronto is probably not that broken up about losing the pick now. It extinguishes its obligation to San Antonio, freeing it to trade more picks going forward. Had it retained its pick this time around, it would have owed it next season -- when the draft is projected to be much stronger -- with the same top-six protection. The Raptors hold the No. 19 and 31 picks in this draft after acquiring both in their respective trades of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.

Thanks for posting.
I like that we conveyed in a crappy top end draft. But I am also just as happy because we now own our future. I didn't want it lingering for a rebuilding club.

[Scase]

Yak’s impact seems to be greater than you would think of a player of his skill level, but it is precisely because they have no other player that can perform that role on the team.

Without him, their record is horrible. With him it is decent. He is not going to turn them into a contender, that is what BBQ’s development would potentially do. But he makes them relevant, and creates a baseline from which the roster can build off.

You're half right. It's not his impact, it's the impact of a competent centre. The issue is, that Masai has been a complete and utter failure trying to resolve the glaring hole at C after losing gasol/ibaka, and the only way he was able to do it, was giving up an 8th OA pick. Meanwhile tons of teams have found absolutely serviceable players for a fraction of the cost.

There is nothing wrong with Jak, there was tons wrong with how, when, what it cost to acquire him.

That is exactly the point. Yak is a competent C that raises the floor for the team. He was the competent C available via trade. And all it cost them was the 8th pick in a weak draft and 2 SRPs.

What other competent C was available for less?

There have been many over the years of **** the bed by our FO. Knicks C lineup, Allen, Claxton, and so on. We were in talks for the latter 2 as well. Hell, they got Allen for basically a pick in the 20's, a SRP, and Exum.

I am hard pressed to believe many people would rather have a 28 year old Jak for a lotto pick vs a 22 year old Allen for peanuts. But yeah, lets keep pretending the only option ever available was Jak. Masai flamed out COUNTLESS times to find even a competent centre, and gave up so he threw away a weakly protected FRP.

[Badonkadonk]

Kevin O'Connor chimes in with a draft perspective and the weird situation the Hawks find themselves in with the #1 pick.

I have PTSD over the Bargnani draft, which is why I think this year's lottery is both triggering me and making me laugh my ass off.

I think he summed it up nicely by saying at least they're better off picking 1st than 10th

https://www.theringer.com/nba-draft/2024/5/13/24155290/atlanta-hawks-nba-draft-lottery-rumors-trae-young-dejounte-murray

[JB7]

This is literally the reason he was brought in. I’m not judging Poeltl the player (who is a solid role player) but the move to get a Poeltl-type player. He was brought in to win games and we have failed to do so. This failure has cost us lottery positions and a lottery pick. If we finish tenth next year and move up to 1 that’s extreme luck and will happen in spite of Poeltl.

So far the Poeltl trade has put us in the worst position to be in: treadmilling with no playoff experience and at a draft capital deficit. The trade has worked out terribly for us. I don’t blame Poeltl for any of this as he’s a solid player doing his job. I blame the front office for compromising what many thought should have been a rebuilding period. If Poeltl plays 60 games next year it’s going to happen again as he’s a solid floor raiser but we’re still no lock for even the play-in. It’s just wasted time imo.

Well here's another poster to disagree with the notion that Jakob was brought here to win games. He was brought here because we needed a C. We haven't had one since Ibaka & gasol left. He was brought here so Barnes wouldn't play the 5. He was brought here because it became evident that this team needs a competent C as a foundation to build your philosophy.

We would've won more games if everyone was healthy & locked in

Are you trying to argue that the Poeltl trade was not a win-now move?

Raps FO was pursing Yak for longer than just the trade deadline. The only reason he was finally dealt at the deadline was it was the point at which SAS had to make a decision, and the cost to the Raps was at its lowest.

Had Yak been traded to the Raps in the summer before that season, would you consider it a win now move?

The Raps FO was inquiring in the summer (they knew they needed a C), but the reported cost at the time was 2 FRPs SAS was asking for, and they would have probably been picks in 2023 & 2025. Raps waiting until the deadline got it down to the top 6 protection in 2024, 2025 and 2026, with the low protection to ensure it had a greater chance to convey in 2024 (the known weak draft).

[Inklink]

Hopefully this debacle is behind us now.

[JB7]

You're half right. It's not his impact, it's the impact of a competent centre. The issue is, that Masai has been a complete and utter failure trying to resolve the glaring hole at C after losing gasol/ibaka, and the only way he was able to do it, was giving up an 8th OA pick. Meanwhile tons of teams have found absolutely serviceable players for a fraction of the cost.

There is nothing wrong with Jak, there was tons wrong with how, when, what it cost to acquire him.

That is exactly the point. Yak is a competent C that raises the floor for the team. He was the competent C available via trade. And all it cost them was the 8th pick in a weak draft and 2 SRPs.

What other competent C was available for less?

There have been many over the years of **** the bed by our FO. Knicks C lineup, Allen, Claxton, and so on. We were in talks for the latter 2 as well. Hell, they got Allen for basically a pick in the 20's, a SRP, and Exum.

I am hard pressed to believe many people would rather have a 28 year old Jak for a lotto pick vs a 22 year old Allen for peanuts. But yeah, lets keep pretending the only option ever available was Jak. Masai flamed out COUNTLESS times to find even a competent centre, and gave up so he threw away a weakly protected FRP.

Wasn't it rumored that the Raps were trying to get in on the Allen deal, when he was gifted to the Cavs?

Are you proposing the Raps trade a FRP for Mitchell on the Knicks? IH was a FA, but the Raps would have been competing with the Knicks to sign him, and would he be a 1st C option. He has done very well on the Knicks, but that is mostly because of the general style the Knicks play. His numbers don't blow anyone away.

And Claxton is overrated. Two years ago, he would have cost much more than a FRP in the 2024 draft.

Masai got a decent C for a FRP in a weak draft.

[Wargreymon]

Well at least we own all of our first round picks moving forward...unless Masai does another dumb trade. We do have the Pacers pick and the Det 2nd to add to our young core so it's not all doom and gloom...

[Scase]

That is exactly the point. Yak is a competent C that raises the floor for the team. He was the competent C available via trade. And all it cost them was the 8th pick in a weak draft and 2 SRPs.

What other competent C was available for less?

There have been many over the years of **** the bed by our FO. Knicks C lineup, Allen, Claxton, and so on. We were in talks for the latter 2 as well. Hell, they got Allen for basically a pick in the 20's, a SRP, and Exum.

I am hard pressed to believe many people would rather have a 28 year old Jak for a lotto pick vs a 22 year old Allen for peanuts. But yeah, lets keep pretending the only option ever available was Jak. Masai flamed out COUNTLESS times to find even a competent centre, and gave up so he threw away a weakly protected FRP.

Wasn't it rumored that the Raps were trying to get in on the Allen deal, when he was gifted to the Cavs?

Are you proposing the Raps trade a FRP for Mitchell on the Knicks? IH was a FA, but the Raps would have been competing with the Knicks to sign him, and would he be a 1st C option. He has done very well on the Knicks, but that is mostly because of the general style the Knicks play. His numbers don't blow anyone away.

And Claxton is overrated. Two years ago, he would have cost much more than a FRP in the 2024 draft.

Masai got a decent C for a FRP in a weak draft.

Can't say about the Allen bit as I've never heard that rumour. Doesn't really check out either, what reason does any team have to help out the Cavs and destroy their return.

Mitchell was picked 36th overall, not exactly sure what a FRP has to do with anything. I'm applauding their ability to draft a decent C with virtually no cost.

IH is on a 2 year 8m/y contract. He would have been the full time starting centre here, and could have easily thrown another year at him. Or the Masai special and give him a PO on the 3rd year. There is zero chance a guy who just came off a min salary contract is saying no to guaranteed money just to play on the Knicks who finished 37-45 the year prior.

Would claxton have cost more, yes absolutely. I would also take him over Jak 10 times out of 10. He was rumoured in trades a couple years ago, so yeah I would definitely trade for a 23 year old centre with tons of potential over a mid 28 year old.

Like what even is this argument. I have no clue, how people are STILL defending this trade after everything we've all seen.