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2024 NBA Draft Mega Thread

Handlogten's Heros said:
I like Topic but while he is a bigger guard he is still a variation on the same theme of offensive guard who is a complete target on defense we continue to see in Utah. I don’t like making decisions based on the current roster when drafting that high but I don’t know that I’d want to develop him and Keyonte at the same time. At 8 you kinda take what’s there obviously so if it’s Topic then figure it out. Top 4 I’d rather get a great prospect who is also a theoretical fit (and if they fit with Key they likely fit with others we might acquire).
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I don’t agree at all. We should not be worrying about fit this early in the rebuild. Take the best player possible. Tony just said last night Lauri is the only player he would guarantee getting 30 mins on opening night next year.
 
KqWIN said:
Ok I also like Castle, but the degree to which people are overlooking his obvious shooting concerns is pretty crazy. He can still be an effective player with a poor jump shot and there’s always a chance a bad shooter turns into a good one, but just tossing it aside like a nothing burger seems like an oversight.
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He’s a hesitant shooter as we saw last night. I mean the guy literally is 9/38 from three in his last 13 games.
 
Also, Topic is a better player and prospect than Keyonte. I’m not passing on him because we have Keyonte. I think that’s wild. So are we passing on Sarr because we have Kessler too?
 
Elizah Huge said:
Also, Topic is a better player and prospect than Keyonte. I’m not passing on him because we have Keyonte. I think that’s wild. So are we passing on Sarr because we have Kessler too?
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I definitely need to watch some more Topic film because I didn't come away with your level of confidence when I watched some of his film earlier this year.
 
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sip said:
I definitely need to watch some more Topic film because I definitely come away with your level of confidence when I watched some of his film earlier this year.
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I think you should revisit. Watch his U18 tournament highlights where he was the MVP too.
 
KqWIN said:
Ok I also like Castle, but the degree to which people are overlooking his obvious shooting concerns is pretty crazy. He can still be an effective player with a poor jump shot and there’s always a chance a bad shooter turns into a good one, but just tossing it aside like a nothing burger seems like an oversight.
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If he didn't have shooting concerns he'd be a top 5 lock no matter the draft. Seems like most of the lotto picks have shooting concerns lately. People loved the Thompson twins and Black, and Bilal last year and they had even fewer shooting chops, in a better draft class.

If you watch him play and the admittedly rare times he shoots, I really don't know what people see that makes them so certain he'll never be respectable from three point distance. Feel free to save this post, I will be stunned and eat all the crow if a lack of even an average catch and shoot game ends up washing Castle out of the league, or makes him a fringe player. There is a much better chance he becomes an above average shooter and >40% on open catch and shoots imo.


Elizah Huge said:

View: https://twitter.com/_utilitysports/status/1775269330659516506


I also read that Sheppard was in the 99th percentile of PNR efficiency.
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Sheppard would be a very nice get for the Jazz.
 
Bawse Dawg said:
If he didn't have shooting concerns he'd be a top 5 lock no matter the draft. Seems like most of the lotto picks have shooting concerns lately. People loved the Thompson twins and Black, and Bilal last year and they had even fewer shooting chops, in a better draft class.

If you watch him play and the admittedly rare times he shoots, I really don't know what people see that makes them so certain he'll never be respectable from three point distance. Feel free to save this post, I will be stunned and eat all the crow if a lack of even an average catch and shoot game ends up washing Castle out of the league, or makes him a fringe player. There is a much better chance he becomes an above average shooter and >40% on open catch and shoots imo.



Sheppard would be a very nice get for the Jazz.
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The biggest thing for me is it just doesn’t go in. Of course he can improve and become respectable. He is a hesitant shooter too which doesn’t bode well for his confidence shooting the ball.
 
Elizah Huge said:
The biggest thing for me is it just doesn’t go in. Of course he can improve and become respectable. He is a hesitant shooter too which doesn’t bode well for his confidence shooting the ball.
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Except that it clearly isnt a confidence thing all that much rather than a team concept and dominating his role.

Reed Sheppard took 3 threes against Oakland. Isnt that a bigger admission of lack of confidence if someone as good at shooting as Reed is failing to step up in a game that should have been an easy win?
 
Saint Cy of JFC said:
Except that it clearly isnt a confidence thing all that much rather than a team concept and dominating his role.

Reed Sheppard took 3 threes against Oakland. Isnt that a bigger admission of lack of confidence if someone as good at shooting as Reed is failing to step up in a game that should have been an easy win?
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I mean, if a guy is literally daring you to shoot and you don’t it’s definitely a confidence thing. A wide open three is one of the best shots available (might be the best?).

Reed absolutely played the worst game of his college career against Oakland. A lot of factors went into that but I don’t think Reed has any confidence issues shooting the ball. That is grasping at straws to the highest degree.
 
Bawse Dawg said:
If he didn't have shooting concerns he'd be a top 5 lock no matter the draft. Seems like most of the lotto picks have shooting concerns lately. People loved the Thompson twins and Black, and Bilal last year and they had even fewer shooting chops, in a better draft class.

If you watch him play and the admittedly rare times he shoots, I really don't know what people see that makes them so certain he'll never be respectable from three point distance. Feel free to save this post, I will be stunned and eat all the crow if a lack of even an average catch and shoot game ends up washing Castle out of the league, or makes him a fringe player. There is a much better chance he becomes an above average shooter and >40% on open catch and shoots imo.



Sheppard would be a very nice get for the Jazz.
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Seems like people are acting like he's a top 5 lock and don't see his shooting as a concern at all. I might actually have him in the top 5 of my board, but I still think it's an oversight to see the obvious concern. Most players that are extremely hesitant to shoot and shoot 27% from 3 do not turn into above average shooters. Please do not pull up some anecdotal name that did, that's not how it works. Like I said, there's always a chance a bad shooter turns into a good one, but the extreme confidence people have in him either improving or that it doesn't matter is a bit much for me.

I'm more convinced when people can acknowledge both sides to a topic. Seems like people are just turning a blind eye on Castle's shooting.
 
Elizah Huge said:
The biggest thing for me is it just doesn’t go in. Of course he can improve and become respectable. He is a hesitant shooter too which doesn’t bode well for his confidence shooting the ball.
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I waited all night for him to take a shot yesterday. Then he took two in quick succession. Both were dead on target, one swish, one was halfway down and came back out. The mechanics looked solid to me.

It was just very easy for me to imagine that this kid has never once in his life needed to rely on a jumpshot. Every stage of basketball of his life before getting to UCONN I'm sure he could drive to the hoop and make a good play. It simply is not ingrained in him yet to look for an open three ball. And I highly doubt his UCONN coaches made it a focus for him, which is the first thing NBA coaches will beat into him. The question is can he be coached, and will he get better at it? And based on what we know and have seen of him so far, he's a guy I will bet on.
 
We really using any excuse for Castle now… huh. He’s playing within the team that’s why he passed up wide open threes. Maybe it’s the fact he shot 26.7% from three on the year and isn’t confident shooting it.
 
Bawse Dawg said:
I waited all night for him to take a shot yesterday. Then he took two in quick succession. Both were dead on target, one swish, one was halfway down and came back out. The mechanics looked solid to me.

It was just very easy for me to imagine that this kid has never once in his life needed to rely on a jumpshot. Every stage of basketball of his life before getting to UCONN I'm sure he could drive to the hoop and make a good play. It simply is not ingrained in him yet to look for an open three ball. And I highly doubt his UCONN coaches made it a focus for him, which is the first thing NBA coaches will beat into him. The question is can he be coached, and will he get better at it? And based on what we know and have seen of him so far, he's a guy I will bet on.
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He also air balled a floater and bricked two free throws in succession.
 
KqWIN said:
Seems like people are acting like he's a top 5 lock and don't see his shooting as a concern at all. I might actually have him in the top 5 of my board, but I still think it's an oversight to see the obvious concern. Most players that are extremely hesitant to shoot and shoot 27% from 3 do not turn into above average shooters. Please do not pull up some anecdotal name that did, that's not how it works. Like I said, there's always a chance a bad shooter turns into a good one, but the extreme confidence people have in him either improving or that it doesn't matter is a bit much for me.

I'm more convinced when people can acknowledge both sides to a topic. Seems like people are just turning a blind eye on Castle's shooting.
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What are you reading? His shooting is all people are talking about. Some believe in his development more than others but that is like the topic when discussing him. And what everyone agrees will make or break him in the league?
 
Elizah Huge said:
I don’t agree at all. We should not be worrying about fit this early in the rebuild. Take the best player possible. Tony just said last night Lauri is the only player he would guarantee getting 30 mins on opening night next year.
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Like I said... it may not be Keyonte. It might be another guard you put next to Topic. If he doesn't shoot or defend (I think one is fixable) then its going to be a tough fit with any backcourt mate. It may not be a Keyonte thing... it might be a he doesn't fit with Collin thing... or any other guard who is offense first.

I just worry you can't develop two guys with the profiles Keyonte and Topic have. I would have really like to see Topic against the better competition. You are right that you don't draft fit as much as you do talent... but Key would be in the same draft tier as Topic for me... and since you already have him then you factor that in. If he is the last guy in that tier or the best fit of the last guys in that tier... then by all means take him.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
Like I said... it may not be Keyonte. It might be another guard you put next to Topic. If he doesn't shoot or defend (I think one is fixable) then its going to be a tough fit with any backcourt mate. It may not be a Keyonte thing... it might be a he doesn't fit with Collin thing... or any other guard who is offense first.

I just worry you can't develop two guys with the profiles Keyonte and Topic have. I would have really like to see Topic against the better competition. You are right that you don't draft fit as much as you do talent... but Key would be in the same draft tier as Topic for me... and since you already have him then you factor that in. If he is the last guy in that tier or the best fit of the last guys in that tier... then by all means take him.
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Topic at least has the tools to become a better defender with his size. 6’7 in shoes with a 7’0 wingspan. I’m willing to bet on a guy with those measurables.
 
Bawse Dawg said:
What are you reading? His shooting is all people are talking about. Some believe in his development more than others but that is like the topic when discussing him. And what everyone agrees will make or break him in the league?
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People know it's the obvious concern, but then they go on to say they have extreme confidence he will either become a good shooter or that it doesn't matter. I'm saying that when it comes to this topic, people are way too tilted in one direction.
 
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