Feigen -Zaccharie Risacher -Reed Shepherd https://nbadraft.theringer.com/mock-draft -Nikola Topic https://theathletic.com/5483958/2024/05/12/nba-mock-draft-2024-lottery-hawks-vecenie/ -Donovan Clingan https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...op-pick-in-lottery-stephon-castle-to-wizards/ -Rob Dillingham 5 mocks, 5 different picks
Feigen: Sarr-Clingan-Risacher On3: Sarr-Clingan-Risacher SI: Sarr-Holland-Risacher DraftKings: Sarr-Clingan-Risacher FieldLevelMedia: Sarr-Clingan-Risacher Tankathon: Risacher-Sarr-Clingan Yahoo: Sarr-Risacher-Clingan The Athletic: Sarr-Topić-Clingan Sporting News: Sarr-Topić-Clingan LastWordOnSports: Risacher-Sarr-Clingan NBADraftRoom: Sarr-Topić-Clingan USA Today FTW: Sarr-Topic-Sheppard ESPN: Sarr-Risacher-Sheppard SB Nation: Sarr-Topić-Dillingham CBS: Sarr-Castle-Dillingham USA Today: Sarr-Risacher-Topić The Ringer: Sarr-Clingan-Topić NBADraft.net: Risacher-Sarr-C.Williams
To be honest I am surprised so many of those would have Risacher available at pick 3! I imagine the next month is going to see a fair bit of movement as well.
The way I see it Sarr is more or less the consensus BPA now (The "Chet" of this class) so he is gone either 1 or 2, lots of analysts say he is a tier above the others etc. Wizards have a ton of wings they have Poole, Kuzma, Coulabily, Avdija and Kispert. My guess is they like either Sarr or would pick a PG like a Topic or a big like Clingan. So I think if Atlanta doesn't pick Risacher no 1 he will be available to us. Granted there's also a big chance Atlanta picks Risacher no 1 but I hope they don't.
I think Sarr is definitely the best pick for both franchises. I guess I can see the argument for Atlanta taking Risacher since they already have Okongwu, but both him and Sarr can conceivably play the 4 and both have a chance at becoming shooters, and Atlanta badly needs more defense to cover for their leaky perimeter, so I bet they go for upside and pick Sarr. For Washington, Sarr is the best option if he's on the board, kind of a no-brainer. They need upside and they need defense. So I kinda doubt he makes it to us either way. If Atlanta takes Sarr, I think Washington passes on Risacher since they already have Bilal and Deni who both have very similar player profiles--it'll probably be Topic for them if Atlanta takes Sarr, would be my guess. Fairly high ceiling and fills a long-term need for them at point guard.
Now I'm all torn between Sheppard, Clingan and Risacher. What I really want is a combination of all 3. Need to start looking at Topic. Unbelievable that the Rockets will only have 2 guys they can't draft instead of 8.
I will say, whether he's the "correct" pick or not--I can see the argument both ways--I kind of doubt this front office picks Reed Sheppard at #3. I think this FO is very much a "best player available" front office, and a front office that values more traditional upside metrics (size, length, athleticism, versatility). I suspect we only end up with Reed if we trade back and he's available later on in the draft. That's just a hunch though. I also somewhat doubt we take Clingan for some of the same reasons--he obviously has the size but I think he's a high-floor kind of pick.
Topic is a very interesting prospect, I see him as a mix between Goran Dragic and Luka, or at least that's probably his ceiling.
In a weak draft, aren't most players gonna fit that description? You could theoretically pick a lot of these guys at both 3rd or as low as 9th where the Rockets were originally slotted. I've seen mock drafts listing Clingan and Sheppard high and low in the lottery.
I can more easily see this FO picking Risacher, Cody Williams, or even Topic even though I personally don't think I'd go with the latter two for reasons of fit. They have a bit more upside in a traditional sense (mainly related to their positional size).
The Rockets were targeting Brandon Podziemksi with #20. Reed Sheppard is basically a much better version of him.
I'd say this front office has scouts and data guys. I think the data guys are going to be screaming for Clingan and Sheppard assuming Sarr and Topic are gone. I do think the scouts are going to like Raptors 6-7 to 6-10 positional versatility type guys. I just don't think the scouts are going to love their guys as much as the data guys love their guys (i.e., the guys that scouts like had flaws that made them less productive while the data loved guys thrived even with their flaws). Caveat: This assumes the scouts don't think they can easily fix a shot from one of the bad shooters. Also, it is possible the scouts really love CW or Risacher.
I will be satisfied with Topic at the 3. He's a safe and traditional PG with good height. He's a very good passer. His jumper isn't broken. He seems to have recovered well from injury, although this will definitely need to be looked into very carefully.
Yeah I can't see the Rockets taking him at 6-1. 6-3 I liked him but was a fit thing. Feel like that combine measurement is going to drop him.
