2024 Draft Prospects

[JMAC3]

If Hornets need a catch and shoot guy there may be better choices than Risacher. For example, I would take Johnny Furphy over Risacher. I know that is contrary to the current wisdom of the crowd, but ESPN+ analytics guru Kevin Pelton's Stats Only rankings corroborate. Pelton's Stats Only ranking would have Johnny Furphy tied at #4 with Alex Sarr, behind only Sheppard, Edey and Clingan. On Stas Only, Risacher would be #81. Here's why:

For a freshman wing, Furphy's .609 true shooting percentage was terrific, and more the product of sustainably high 2-point accuracy (64%) than a 3-point hot streak. Furphy's form suggests he could improve on his 35% 3-point shooting as well. Add in good size (a listed 6-9) and Furphy could grow into a multi-positional threat.

Risacher averaged 13.1 PPG in just 24 minutes per game during EuroCup play at 18 years old, making 57% of his 2s and 56% of his 3s. That performance was out of line with Risacher's play in the French LNB Pro A, however, as he shot just 51% on 2s and 34% on 3s. And a 69% career free throw shooting percentage across all first-division competition suggests Risacher's 3-point hot streak in EuroCup play might not be legitimate.

So the thought here is Furphy only shot 35% but he could improve, but we should be worried about Risacher because his shooting was at 56%, but then dropped to only 34% for a time a in LNB. How does that make sense lol? So Risacher in a slump is 1% worse then the totality of Furphy? While playing in a tougher league?

Furphy has a great 2pt % because he only took 2.5 shots inside the arc per game. Half of those are probably open uncontested layups so yeah I would expect his % to be awesome when he is only taking the easyyyy ones.

Risacher also gets to the FT line more.

[amcoolio]

I've changed my mind a hundred times and now I'm on the just take the best shooter train. Sheppard, Risacher, Walter, Sarr, just bring them in and have a shoot off

[Rich4114]

Bottom of that bunch:
9. Buzelis (hard to tell because lol-ignite but just isn't good at much to warrant a top 6 pick)
8. Castle (if you can't shoot you can't play. Best you can hope for is a 20 min off the bench defensive guard like Okoro and nope I do not want that in the lottery)
7. Dillingham (not a bad prospect but a little too Terry Rozierish and poor defensively)
6. I guess gun to my head I would put Sheppard here, but I would be excited to draft him I think. Sneaky good on defense and a ridiculous shooter, I can see him in play in crunch time

I've come around on Clingan after watching Hartenstein in the playoffs, Clingan projects to be better and improves the team's floor dramatically especially with Mark Williams never playing. I would probably take Clingan over Holland but would gamble on Sarr, Risacher and Topic first.

While I truly dislike Nata and his takes, he was on one of the recent Locked on Hornets podcasts and said Clingan is the safest lottery prospect. I agree with him. And I think he’d fit great here as we are desperate for size, rebounding and overall C Depth. Plus Nick Richards is barely an NBA player. If I have to watch him play serious mins again next season, I might not make it the whole way.

[Rich4114]

On the latest Locked On Hornets podcast, Nata Edwards makes a good case for Clingan being a high value pick for the Hornets. Primary points he makes:

1. Can’t call center a strength for this team. Williams issue is his back which is ALWAYS a red flag for 7 footers. Nick isn’t a sufficient back up plan. Williams might never return to a level that deserves long starter minutes.

2. Believes the top talent of this draft is really Sarr and Clingan due to their size/skill attributes and the relative unknowns of all the wings. Still likes Castle, but acknowledges most wings don’t have reliably certain jump shots. Dismisses good shooters like Sheppard due to height and defensive limitations at league level, and Knecht due to his defensive lapses at college level.

3. Says Clingan showed he can apply his size and defensive skills at a league level, with mobility to switch and use his 8’ wingspan to interfere with wings off the pick. Can depend on him finishing strong at the rim, nice shooting from midrange and has just enough on his 3 ball to possibly keep teams honest.

My bad, just saw this after I posted the same thing. I’m leaning Sarr/Clingan right now

[Goodecharlotte]

I've changed my mind a hundred times and now I'm on the just take the best shooter train. Sheppard, Risacher, Walter, Sarr, just bring them in and have a shoot off

Do we need shooters though, we have Miller, Lamelo, Seth & Bertans. I'd say what we need is a defensive guard who can be that stopper like a fit Cody Martin. We can always get a shooter in the 2nd round if you don't think it's enough, I like Uconn's Karaban.

[amcoolio]

I've changed my mind a hundred times and now I'm on the just take the best shooter train. Sheppard, Risacher, Walter, Sarr, just bring them in and have a shoot off

Do we need shooters though, we have Miller, Lamelo, Seth & Bertans. I'd say what we need is a defensive guard who can be that stopper like a fit Cody Martin. We can always get a shooter in the 2nd round if you don't think it's enough, I like Uconn's Karaban.

Hell yeah brother, that is not enough, and I doubt Bertans is back unless we have no other option in FA

[amcoolio]

Players I would love to trade the pick for (not saying these teams would trade them, more than likely they wouldn't)

Lauri Markkanen (maybe Jazz would bite on #1 overall, maybe if we add a few first, doubt it)
Deni Avdija (only 23 still, would look much better here)
Jalen Green (was a target at trade deadline, too good to trade for now)
Tari Eason (still think he's the perfect fit between Miller and Bridges)
Coby White (maybe Bulls would bite on #1 overall)
Tyler Herro (heat need to create room)
Jaden McDaniels (wolves literally can't afford)
KAT (wolves will have to pick to jettison one of Gobert, KAT, McDaniels and Reid and I honestly think they'll pick KAT. Plus they need to restock picks)

[Goodecharlotte]

I like the sound of KAT with Williams at C and Lamelo at point guard. Miller at SG and rounding out the starting line up Bridges at F. A very nice play in at least starting 5 maybe even play off 5.

[Bassman]

Players I would love to trade the pick for (not saying these teams would trade them, more than likely they wouldn't)

Lauri Markkanen (maybe Jazz would bite on #1 overall, maybe if we add a few first, doubt it)
Deni Avdija (only 23 still, would look much better here)
Jalen Green (was a target at trade deadline, too good to trade for now)
Tari Eason (still think he's the perfect fit between Miller and Bridges)
Coby White (maybe Bulls would bite on #1 overall)
Tyler Herro (heat need to create room)
Jaden McDaniels (wolves literally can't afford)
KAT (wolves will have to pick to jettison one of Gobert, KAT, McDaniels and Reid and I honestly think they'll pick KAT. Plus they need to restock picks)

I’d certainly trade the pick for Lauri Markkanen but they wouldn’t. He’s someone who, when put on the trading block, I pleaded for this team to get. Proved his value and now an integral part of the Jazz core. If we have #1, or even 2 or 3, I wouldn’t deal it for any of those others except (probably) a yes for Towns. KAT would be something for sure but would need to be a sign and trade of Miles plus our pick, and not sure that is worth if if we draft first.

[JMAC3]

Players I would love to trade the pick for (not saying these teams would trade them, more than likely they wouldn't)

Lauri Markkanen (maybe Jazz would bite on #1 overall, maybe if we add a few first, doubt it)
Deni Avdija (only 23 still, would look much better here)
Jalen Green (was a target at trade deadline, too good to trade for now)
Tari Eason (still think he's the perfect fit between Miller and Bridges)
Coby White (maybe Bulls would bite on #1 overall)
Tyler Herro (heat need to create room)
Jaden McDaniels (wolves literally can't afford)
KAT (wolves will have to pick to jettison one of Gobert, KAT, McDaniels and Reid and I honestly think they'll pick KAT. Plus they need to restock picks)

Trading a top 5 pick for Deni Avdija or Tari Eason should get a GM fired on the spot.

[amcoolio]

Players I would love to trade the pick for (not saying these teams would trade them, more than likely they wouldn't)

Lauri Markkanen (maybe Jazz would bite on #1 overall, maybe if we add a few first, doubt it)
Deni Avdija (only 23 still, would look much better here)
Jalen Green (was a target at trade deadline, too good to trade for now)
Tari Eason (still think he's the perfect fit between Miller and Bridges)
Coby White (maybe Bulls would bite on #1 overall)
Tyler Herro (heat need to create room)
Jaden McDaniels (wolves literally can't afford)
KAT (wolves will have to pick to jettison one of Gobert, KAT, McDaniels and Reid and I honestly think they'll pick KAT. Plus they need to restock picks)

Trading a top 5 pick for Deni Avdija or Tari Eason should get a GM fired on the spot.

I think this draft is that bad. Avdija and Eason project to high level starters. Can you say any of the top 8 projected picks are even a 50% chance to be better? If current Deni was in this draft he'd be a consensus #1 overall. Similar to 2014, yet this draft doesn't even have an Oladipo. Of course there is the rare Giannis pick probably hiding in this draft, but its a 1/30 chance and we aren't the type of organization to develop that type of player

[JMAC3]

Players I would love to trade the pick for (not saying these teams would trade them, more than likely they wouldn't)

Lauri Markkanen (maybe Jazz would bite on #1 overall, maybe if we add a few first, doubt it)
Deni Avdija (only 23 still, would look much better here)
Jalen Green (was a target at trade deadline, too good to trade for now)
Tari Eason (still think he's the perfect fit between Miller and Bridges)
Coby White (maybe Bulls would bite on #1 overall)
Tyler Herro (heat need to create room)
Jaden McDaniels (wolves literally can't afford)
KAT (wolves will have to pick to jettison one of Gobert, KAT, McDaniels and Reid and I honestly think they'll pick KAT. Plus they need to restock picks)

Trading a top 5 pick for Deni Avdija or Tari Eason should get a GM fired on the spot.

I think this draft is that bad. Avdija and Eason project to high level starters. Can you say any of the top 8 projected picks are even a 50% chance to be better? If current Deni was in this draft he'd be a consensus #1 overall. Similar to 2014, yet this draft doesn't even have an Oladipo. Of course there is the rare Giannis pick probably hiding in this draft, but its a 1/30 chance and we aren't the type of organization to develop that type of player

High Level Starters? Neither are probably even starters on 25 NBA teams. Eason might not even be in the Rockets rotation next year depending on how much Whitmore develops. There is no world where a 23 year old Deni is the #1 pick in this class, let alone him as a prospect who went 9th in 2020.

Jaden McDaniels had 1 good playoff series, he was very average the majority of this year. Coby White is a 6% epm defender.

I could see KAT and Jalen Green having some appeal to certain teams. Green isn't a fit for our team though.

[amcoolio]

Deni was a 17/9/4 player after the all-star break and a smart, tough team player. We would all absolutely be thrilled to get that with the #1 overall pick in this draft I'd say 2 out of the top 8 prospects actually reaches those stat lines in 5 years

[JMAC3]

Deni was a 17/9/4 player after the all-star break and a smart, tough team player. We would all absolutely be thrilled to get that with the #1 overall pick in this draft I'd say 2 out of the top 8 prospects actually reaches those stat lines in 5 years

On a team that was awful... Kuzma put up 22 ppg on the season should we want to give up multiple top 5 picks for him?

[HornetJail]

on today's episode of "guess the player based on their very pointless march and april games"...

[amcoolio]

on today's episode of "guess the player based on their very pointless march and april games"...

Again, we aren't the Pacers or Thunder here....this is the poverty Hornets, one of the worst teams that ever existed in professional sports with a terrible track record in developing players... if you give me the choice between Deni and Dillingham, Knecht or Castle the choice should be very clear. What point does drafting one of those players solve? They wouldn't even play any next season for us, a team that severely lacks NBA talent

[luciano-davidwesley]

I've changed my mind a hundred times and now I'm on the just take the best shooter train. Sheppard, Risacher, Walter, Sarr, just bring them in and have a shoot off

Do we need shooters though, we have Miller, Lamelo, Seth & Bertans. I'd say what we need is a defensive guard who can be that stopper like a fit Cody Martin. We can always get a shooter in the 2nd round if you don't think it's enough, I like Uconn's Karaban.

BPA, not taking the likes of Bertans and Curry into account when making first round picks lol

[luciano-davidwesley]

Players I would love to trade the pick for (not saying these teams would trade them, more than likely they wouldn't)

Lauri Markkanen (maybe Jazz would bite on #1 overall, maybe if we add a few first, doubt it)
Deni Avdija (only 23 still, would look much better here)
Jalen Green (was a target at trade deadline, too good to trade for now)
Tari Eason (still think he's the perfect fit between Miller and Bridges)
Coby White (maybe Bulls would bite on #1 overall)
Tyler Herro (heat need to create room)
Jaden McDaniels (wolves literally can't afford)
KAT (wolves will have to pick to jettison one of Gobert, KAT, McDaniels and Reid and I honestly think they'll pick KAT. Plus they need to restock picks)

Trading a top 5 pick for Deni Avdija or Tari Eason should get a GM fired on the spot.

Add Herro to that list

[Snidely FC]

NBA released a Top 10 list for medical info sharing purposes...

For the first time in league history, the NBA has released a list of its top 10 draft prospects this year with Australian center Alex Starr projected to be the first pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

The league’s new collective bargaining agreement mandates all prospects must share their medical information with teams unless they’re projected to be top-10 picks.

Starr’s medical information will only be shared with teams who own top-10 draft picks this year.

Matas Buzelis of the G League Ignite, UConn's Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan, Zaccharie Risacher of France, and Nikola Topic of Serbia are considered prospects ranked No. 2 through six. Their medical information will be shared with any team that owns a top-15 pick.

Kentuck's Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard, Ron Holland II of the Ignite, and Tennessee's Dalton Knecht are expected to be picks No. 7 through 10, and will have their medical information distributed to all teams with a top-25 selection.

[GoBobs]

The best player in the draft by a very wide margin is Edey. Even if the worst fears about his defense are true and he can only give you 20 min per game where you play zone, he is still the best player and it isn't close.

For those 20 min you will get dominant scoring at the rim the other team will have to respond to. This will open up 3pt shooters for open shots. You will also get dominant rebounding at both ends of the floor.

We are talking about a guy who averaged 25 pts the last two years. When you are number 1 you get everybody's best shot. Every team he has faced has a defense designed to stop him but no one could stop him.

The only negative associated with him are questions about his mobility, but no one knows the answers to those questions for sure. People said the exact same thing about Sengun but it turned out to not be a big deal. There is a very real possibility that he can be a much better defender than Lopez, and on the same level as Gobert.

There is a very real possibility that he can come in and be the most impactful rookie and then continue to get better. When a guy is 7'4'' and this good after only playing basketball a limited number of years there is no ceiling. Edey is the player with the highest floor and the highest ceiling.