2024 NBA DRAFT INFO Thread

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Originally Posted by fullcourtpress

I agree. How Yves Missi, the C from Baylor, is ahead of Kel' el Ware on most of the mocks ive seen is beyond my understanding

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I do like Missi, not so much on this team because I really don't see him ever shooting but the dude is a physical monster and I can see him being a serviceable backup big pretty quickly. Like if he went to Golden State or something they'd have him working quick.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Laughing myself into a coma with Reed Sheppard recording a 42 inch vert out of absolutely nowhere.

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This has the be a first for a white dude since like 1958 right?

https://imgur.com/i8RCQRA.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFoDTzEt1rQ

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

I do like Missi, not so much on this team because I really don't see him ever shooting but the dude is a physical monster and I can see him being a serviceable backup big pretty quickly. Like if he went to Golden State or something they'd have him working quick.

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Missi, to the Pels, would just rekindle our wishes of having a stretch 5. Kel' el is that dude and a rim protector to boot

turns out Kel'el was a bit taller and a two inch difference in reach 7'2" for Missi and Ware at 7'4"; that combined with Ware being more refined makes him the best C target for the Pels

i dont wanr clingan or edey or flipowski

Ware checks almost all the boxes for me : great size, shot-blocking, mobility and stretch 5 potential, thrived into an NBA style system (Woodson's), got over himself by failing his freshman year, native of Arkansas so Louisiana would feel close to home.

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Originally Posted by Blattman

Ware checks almost all the boxes for me : great size, shot-blocking, mobility and stretch 5 potential, thrived into an NBA style system (Woodson's), got over himself by failing his freshman year, native of Arkansas so Louisiana would feel close to home.

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But don’t we need a proven stretch 5 who can shoot the 3 to pair perfectly with Z?

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Originally Posted by WhyHornetsWhy

But don’t we need a proven stretch 5 who can shoot the 3 to pair perfectly with Z?

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That would be ideal; but, its likely that we cant acquire one as a free agent nor via a fair trade; hence why not go for ont that has 'stretch 5 potential"

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Originally Posted by WhyHornetsWhy

But don’t we need a proven stretch 5 who can shoot the 3 to pair perfectly with Z?

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He made 42.5 percent of his 3pt shot in his sophomore campaign. I can't say he's a proven stretch 5 given the sample size and his FT percentage, but it seems reasonable to see him evolve as such.

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Originally Posted by Blattman

Ware checks almost all the boxes for me : great size, shot-blocking, mobility and stretch 5 potential, thrived into an NBA style system (Woodson's), got over himself by failing his freshman year, native of Arkansas so Louisiana would feel close to home.

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not that their ratings mean ********, but it interesting to note that Ware has the the highest overall rating on nbadraft.net (96) while being their 25th best prospect.
the #1 pick on there also has a 96

https://x.com/ScoopB/status/1796185816479289767

And how would his fit on the Pels be any better than Jonas?

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Originally Posted by Mount_Zion

https://x.com/ScoopB/status/1796185816479289767

And how would his fit on the Pels be any better than Jonas?

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Worse fit at least JV could hit a jumper or 2. And this dude won't guard PnR any better than JV, I hope we don't do this.

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Originally Posted by DroopyDawg

Worse fit at least JV could hit a jumper or 2. And this dude won't guard PnR any better than JV, I hope we don't do this.

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Hopefully they are thinking cost controlled backup to a starting caliber center. Or they are hoping he turns into Jokic lol

Saw that Daron Holmes might have a promise in the late first round.
I really love the guy but I hope it's not the pelicans, too many moving pieces in this draft to handcuff themselves with a promise.

After watching Luka and SGA do their thing for their perspective teams this year Im wanting our own big PG living in the paint and collapsing defenses

instead of trading for one of the hawks or cavs guards id rather cut a trade with someone in the top 5 and take nikola topic (for instance houston0

albeit unlikely, at least he could be one of the best guards in the conference, i mean the dude shot 68% on half-court lay-ups playing w grown men this year and he is 18
the year before the draft these dudes averaged:
luka 62%
sga 54%
morant 51%

his weakness is supposed to be his 3 ball but 18 year olds who shoot 87% from the FT will learn to hit the three

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Originally Posted by fullcourtpress

After watching Luka and SGA do their thing for their perspective teams this year Im wanting our own big PG living in the paint and collapsing defenses

instead of trading for one of the hawks or cavs guards id rather cut a trade with someone in the top 5 and take nikola topic (for instance houston0

albeit unlikely, at least he could be one of the best guards in the conference, i mean the dude shot 68% on half-court lay-ups playing w grown men this year and he is 18
the year before the draft these dudes averaged:
luka 62%
sga 54%
morant 51%

his weakness is supposed to be his 3 ball but 18 year olds who shoot 87% from the FT will learn to hit the three

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With topic, I’d like for us to go all in on KAT

You can't draft an 18 year old prospect and expect to compete with him in the starting line-up for playoff.

If the pelicans somehow trade into Topic range, we have to realize that it will be costly except if he has an injury concern and it will take between 2 to 3 years in the best case before contributing in a meaningful way to winning. So basically it would be some sort of soft rebuild.

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Originally Posted by Blattman

You can't draft an 18 year old prospect and expect to compete with him in the starting line-up for playoff.

If the pelicans somehow trade into Topic range, we have to realize that it will be costly except if he has an injury concern and it will take between 2 to 3 years in the best case before contributing in a meaningful way to winning. So basically it would be some sort of soft rebuild.

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A soft rebuild, where BI is traded for a small step back (some combo of youth/picks/better fit) while hoping for improvement from Trey/Zion//Herb to replace what we lose from BI would probably be the best thing we can do this offseason. That said, it would go completely against how Benson/Lauscha/Loomis/Bensel have run this organization for 10 years so I can't imagine them signing off on that.

Yeah. We should probably trade Zion, too, at that point (trading to pickup Topic) because no way would he stay for that development. Not saying that's a bad idea. The injury riddled seasons have prepared my mind for the rebuild, but relying on a PG that young would involve an absolute reset.

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Originally Posted by ml wave

A soft rebuild, where BI is traded for a small step back (some combo of youth/picks/better fit) while hoping for improvement from Trey/Zion//Herb to replace what we lose from BI would probably be the best thing we can do this offseason. That said, it would go completely against how Benson/Lauscha/Loomis/Bensel have run this organization for 10 years so I can't imagine them signing off on that.

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I'd say that given the landscape on trade target it may be wiser to go to the soft rebuild. Spurs, Rockets and Pistons are all candidates for win now move, so with Ingram, the pelicans could land in the Topic territory.
I have to say that Ingram for Johnson/Collins/#4 makes a lot of sense for both sides.

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Originally Posted by Blattman

You can't draft an 18 year old prospect and expect to compete with him in the starting line-up for playoff.

If the pelicans somehow trade into Topic range, we have to realize that it will be costly except if he has an injury concern and it will take between 2 to 3 years in the best case before contributing in a meaningful way to winning. So basically it would be some sort of soft rebuild.

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That sounds waay too realistic.... and probable.

But Topic's ceiling is the best ball handler and offensive threat in this class. our competitors have Luka, SGA, Edwards and we will need an elite guard to beat them.
It's my belief that small markets like us have to 'swing for the fences' more than large markets cause we certainly aren't signing elite guards via FA
ex. the Bucks and Giannis

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Originally Posted by fullcourtpress

That sounds waay too realistic.... and probable.

But Topic's ceiling is the best ball handler and offensive threat in this class. our competitors have Luka, SGA, Edwards and we will need an elite guard to beat them.
It's my belief that small markets like us have to 'swing for the fences' more than large markets cause we certainly aren't signing elite guards via FA
ex. the Bucks and Giannis

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Topic has torn ACL

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...topic-torn-acl

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

Topic has torn ACL

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...topic-torn-acl

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Well he may actually be easier to grab now.

Evan Sidery
@esidery
Kel’el Ware is generating buzz to potentially be drafted in the lottery, per
@NBADraftWass
(https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-2-weeks-to-go).

Ware has shown off improved shooting and elite athleticism during the pre-draft process.

At Indiana, Ware averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks.

Zero surprise here

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Originally Posted by Mount_Zion

Evan Sidery
@esidery
Kel’el Ware is generating buzz to potentially be drafted in the lottery, per
@NBADraftWass
(https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-2-weeks-to-go).

Ware has shown off improved shooting and elite athleticism during the pre-draft process.

At Indiana, Ware averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks.

Zero surprise here

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There has been a lot of talk about his motor. Maybe he has eased some of those concerns and a team is willing to take a chance on him.

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Originally Posted by fullcourtpress

pels should take

Devin Carter (cross between Jose albarado and Jalen Brunson)
or
Kel El Ware (would be our own Jarret Allen)


or trade up for Matas Buzelis ( he's a better Franz Wagner)

honorable mention Nikola Topic

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Kel el Ware was the first prospect i loved considering where we were projected to pick. Automatically, that meant that he wouldn't be there.
then it was Devin Carter; hence, he's a goner too, having moved up



question

DaRon Holmes vs Tyler Smith

which would you prefer

If you believe the Pels can coach up Smith on defense he could be worth the risk, but I see him as a PF and I think Zion is a 4 as well

So in turn that may just lead them to take Holmes since I think he could play the 5 in that case

if we didnt get a big....id be stoked if we could somehow land Devin Carter. I think he'll be another tyrese maxey.

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

There has been a lot of talk about his motor. Maybe he has eased some of those concerns and a team is willing to take a chance on him.

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The motor concerns are massively overrated. Everyone I've spoken to has said that that's improved, and watching him the last season, almost all signs of it have gone. People who harp on the motor are using problems from multiple years ago as if it applies today.

Besides, unless they're truly dire, motor style concerns really don't bother me. I still remember people debating whether Jaylen Brown should be drafted where he was because they questioned his commitment to hoops. Anthony Edwards too.

Paul George compared Bronny to Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. I think we need to consider it if he is there at our 1st pick. He will like it here. Just like Zion.

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Originally Posted by 13 - 3

Paul George compared Bronny to Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. I think we need to consider it if he is there at our 1st pick. He will like it here. Just like Zion.

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I have to think there is a team willing to take a flier on the outside shot LeBron decides he really wants to play with his son. Would be pretty hilarious if Bron came to Nola and left AD in LA on a crap team lol

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Originally Posted by 13 - 3

Paul George compared Bronny to Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. I think we need to consider it if he is there at our 1st pick. He will like it here. Just like Zion.

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I don't think that's entirely accurate. I can see where PG is coming from, but I think it vastly overstates the projection for Bronny, largely because of size.

Bronny is good. I think he deserves to be drafted and it's not all just name value. But he is much smaller than both of those guys, and while his pre-college sample projects him well as a shooter, I don't necessarily think we can pencil him in for the explosive shooting that would be needed to overcome the size and strength gap there is between someone like him and Jrue offensively.

And White happens to be massive compared to both Jrue and Bronny, so he's got a different set of demands placed on him that can allow him to have a worse handle; Bronny doesn't get that luxury at 6'1.

I wouldn't take Bronny first round, probably. Maybe if there's some bizarro-draft where nobody drops and everyone else is gone before it gets to our pick, sure, but there are probably better bets available by the time it gets to us.

Since the draft is basically here, here's my rough tier list of players in this draft.

It's a flat draft with no true superstars, so it's honestly a bit of a mixed bag. Keep in mind that this tier list is not Pelicans specific, but is just my general thoughts about the players. In some cases, I have people higher or lower when it comes to the Pelicans. In bold are players that, if they're available at 21, I think the Pels should absolutely go for.

Tier 1 (Mega-star prospects):
- Nobody

Tier 2 (Complimentary all-star level guys, secondary tier stars):
- Alex Sarr
- Ron Holland

Tier 3 (Starter tier upside, outside shot at being a star)
- Isaiah Collier
- Nikola Topic
- Rob Dillingham
- Reed Sheppard
- Kel'el Ware
- Matas Buzelis

Tier 4 (Decent, solid mid tier prospects. Some star chances but very small, roleplayer upside is there though)
- Stephon Castle
- Zaccharie Risacher
- Devin Carter
- DaRon Holmes
- Yves Missi
- Bub Carrington
- Cody Williams
- Tidjane Salaun
- Donovan Clingan
- Zach Edey
- Dalton Knecht
- Ajay Williams
- Tyler Smith
- Jared McCain

Everyone after that is just kind of a sludge of interchangeability depending on team confidence and stuff. But that's 22 names, so there should be at least one of them still there when we pick.

I hope the pelicans stay away from Missi.

I hardly see what he has over Chomche. They basically have the same measurements, both have limited feel for the game due to lack of experience, Ulrich has a better upside with his shooting ability and is 2 years younger.

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Originally Posted by Blattman

I hope the pelicans stay away from Missi.

I hardly see what he has over Chomche. They basically have the same measurements, both have limited feel for the game due to lack of experience, Ulrich has a better upside with his shooting ability and is 2 years younger.

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Missi screens well making contact from both sides, with elite recovery skills, fantastic hip mobility, and got to the line at a frankly insane rate. His decision making skills are also pretty excellent, albeit not exactly diverse.

Chomche has basically no NBA ready skills right this minute. He's flashed some intriguing passing upside, and shot a good percentage from 3, but he also shot 42% from the floor as a big man against terrible competition, has been extremely inconsistent, and has extremely under-developed decision making skills.

While it's true that his ultimate ceiling is certainly higher than Missi's, his floor is also comfortably lower I think and he has a lot further to go before he's at a level where you can assume a median outcome. If he goes somewhere with great development that can afford to basically burn a year or two on him getting up to speed, it'll work out well, but I'm not sure how many teams are looking to take on projects like that.

It's not like Missi floor is so high. He may struggle to even be able to stay on court in his rookie campaign. So give me the high ceiling over the dubious floor.

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Originally Posted by Blattman

It's not like Missi floor is so high. He may struggle to even be able to stay on court in his rookie campaign. So give me the high ceiling over the dubious floor.

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It's true that Missi's floor isn't giant - that's why he's in the tier marked roleplayer upside. Obviously if your upside looks like a decent roleplayer, your floor is worse than that, and worse than a role player is a fringe NBA player or worse.

It's not a great draft. That's kinda the entire point.

The problem is that Missi right now, to me, looks like someone who has a realistic pathway to being on an NBA roster and still contributing by the end of his rookie contract. Chomche may accomplish the same thing, but I also wouldn't be surprised if he went the Smailagic way.

Whatever happened to Liam Robbins, the Sec defensive player of the year, the Pels signed last year as an UDFA.
He was supposed to be a rim protecting C.

Robbins had a season ending injury in G-league in january.

Most mocks project Missi to be the pick for the pelicans. I hope they are wrong or that out FO saw something in him that I missed because I'd be so salty if NO chose him over someone like Ware or Collier.

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Originally Posted by Blattman

Robbins had a season ending injury in G-league in january.

Most mocks project Missi to be the pick for the pelicans. I hope they are wrong or that out FO saw something in him that I missed because I'd be so salty if NO chose him over someone like Ware or Collier.

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Yeah, I think it's all relative.

If everyone I prefer more had gone and we took Missi, I'd be fine with it. I think it's a justifiable pick.

If we took Missi when Ware was still on the board, it would be a horrible whiff imo.

It's 21. The likelihood of getting a difference maker there, especially in such a weak draft, is pretty slim.

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

It's 21. The likelihood of getting a difference maker there, especially in such a weak draft, is pretty slim.

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Eh, I think in pretty much every draft theres someone available at 21 that ends up being good. It's just a question of whether or not you're locked into the right things, have a good developmental process, and get a little lucky.

The likelihood is slim, but it's not zero. Someone's gotta be the lucky one, why not us?

Most people consider 2000 the worst draft ever, and even that still had Eddie House and Michael Redd available at 21.
2013, too, most people consider pretty awful and that still had Gobert and Reggie Bullock on the board at 21.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Eh, I think in pretty much every draft theres someone available at 21 that ends up being good. It's just a question of whether or not you're locked into the right things, have a good developmental process, and get a little lucky.

The likelihood is slim, but it's not zero. Someone's gotta be the lucky one, why not us?

Most people consider 2000 the worst draft ever, and even that still had Eddie House and Michael Redd available at 21.
2013, too, most people consider pretty awful and that still had Gobert and Reggie Bullock on the board at 21.

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That's the thing, it is all about luck. There are never 21 guys in a draft that are difference makers and those odds decrease significantly with each selection. That is why I said the odds were pretty slim (not zero).

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

That's the thing, it is all about luck. There are never 21 guys in a draft that are difference makers and those odds decrease significantly with each selection. That is why I said the odds were pretty slim (not zero).

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The odds do decrease, but they're always there because teams regularly pass on good players for baffling reasons. Brandon Clarke and Desmond Bane come to mind as fairly recent examples of players who most ''draft guys'' had as lottery players, who dropped for frankly silly reasons, and who ended up being picked past #21 and both were good.

For all we know, this year's ''wait, what?'' drops will be like, I don't know, Ron Holland and Kel'el ware, in which case taking them both at #21 is a no-brainer for upside.

I’m thinking we’ll move 21 in a BI deal, so all these prospect takes might be moot, but if we do make the pick I hope we don’t shoehorn a big at 21. If a guy like Dillingham is still available you take him that kid gets buckets. He’s not Trae Young but he can develop into an exciting player.

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Originally Posted by DroopyDawg

I’m thinking we’ll move 21 in a BI deal, so all these prospect takes might be moot, but if we do make the pick I hope we don’t shoehorn a big at 21. If a guy like Dillingham is still available you take him that kid gets buckets. He’s not Trae Young but he can develop into an exciting player.

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Dillingham will likely not fall, but his size worries me. Reminds me a lot of Kira in stature.

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

Dillingham will likely not fall, but his size worries me. Reminds me a lot of Kira in stature.

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It's a fair concern, he's very small and the skill level demanded on such small players is high.

I will say though, he's a better prospect than Kira. The thing about Kira was that he was all ''wow, he's SUPER young and super fast, the potential is crazy!''.

That's not Dillingham. Dillingham's pitch is that he is just legitimately very good at basketball, super polished offensively, a good pull-up shooter, decent passer, etc. That's all right now, not a developmental hope based on age and agility.

Also lmao I forgot Tristan Da Silva.

He's good!

Who is our top pick if they fall to our spot (realistically speaking)?

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Originally Posted by JJackisangry

Who is our top pick if they fall to our spot (realistically speaking)?

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Being semi-realistic (that is, not assuming anyone popularly mocked top 10 is just going to drop, even though that does sometimes happen) here are my thoughts.

Bleacher Report's most recent mock has Ware going 19th - if he fell to 21, I'd take him instantly.

They also have Isaiah Collier 26th. If he was there at 21, he's an absolute steal - I have him top 8.

They have DaRon Holmes at 28th - I'd love him at 21st as well, he's good.

Wasserman posting that Missi might be a late riser on the boards, may not be there at 21.

Dillingham, Holland names I’ve heard in jeopardy of sliding

— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) June 26, 2024

Missi potentially going higher, Dillingham and Holland sliding? Intriguing.