Risacher is younger than BM and is also playing in a pro league already. Regardless whether he turns better or worse than BM he is a better prospect than Reed Sheppard.
Do you really think Risacher is still on the board at 3? I have him as my #1 overall prospect - The gem of this draft. I could easily see Atlanta taking him instead of Sarr (I think they should - hope they don't). Much like the past where Cade, Chet & Wemby went before we had a chance to pick, that's what I see happening here. We'll never have an opportunity to draft Risacher. Arguing to take him above Sheppard is really kinda pointless.
I don’t think it’s zero, like “absolutely no chance he’s there”. There’s a tiny chance. If the Hawks take him, then obviously…yeah. Is this like Jabari/Paolo where Jabari was mocked to Orlando all the way up to them being on the clock and then taking Paolo? Sarr being mocked and then taking Risacher? Risacher is being mocked first in a few but still mostly Sarr. Wizards: they are starting from scratch, need everything. And are mocked everyone. Clingan. Sheppard. Topic. Castle. Sarr. Risacher. Their current roster: G: Tyus Jones | Jared Butler G: Jordan Poole | Bilal Coulibaly | Landry Shamet | Johnny Davis | Jules Bernard(2W) F: Deni Avdija | Corey Kispert | Justin Champagnie(2W) F: Kyle Kuzma | Patrick Baldwin Jr. | Eugene Omoruyi C: Marvin Bagley III | Richaun Holmes | Eddie Gill | Tristan Vukcevic Free Agents: Tyus Jones, Richaun Holmes ($12.8M player option), Landry Shamet (non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed 6/29/24), Eddie Gill, Tristan Vukcevic (team option) Again, they need everything but what would you say, point guard and big? Edit: now seeing/reading Poole was playing PG for the last 15 games or so. PG Poole? I feel safe saying the Hawks aren’t taking Sheppard. I don’t know what they’re doing — trading Young, trading Murray, trading neither, trading both — to take another small guard. In the unlikely event Sheppard and Risacher are still on the board at 3, who are you taking? (I think I know the answer. Anyone not named Sheppard come draft night, the BBS will be pissed. )
Why is it a waste if they were going to pursue one of those guys in free agency anyway? A rookie would likely be cheaper and under team control for longer. And it fills arguably the Rockets greatest area of need right now. The whole "waste of a pick" logic just falls apart the more you look at it. If you oversimplify these guys to the most basic elements of their game, I could make the same argument for most of these prospects. If the Rockets like Sheppard the most and value his skillset, they should draft him at 3. Period.
3. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets) USA Today: Nikola Topic, PG, Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) ESPN: Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky CBS Sports: Donovan Clingan, C, UConn Bleacher Report: Donovan Clingan, C, UConn Three new names for the Rockets here. Topic's size (6 feet, 6 inches) and impressive playmaking at point guard make him an intriguing prospect. He can finish around the rim but needs to improve his jump shot and defense.
Wow….just watched Risacher highlights and Rockets need to trade up one spot to take this guy. Almost 50% threes and great iq.
I don't see the appeal of Risacher at #1, I don't think that he has the ability to put the ball on the floor and go by people. He is dependent on others to create shots for him. He is a good athlete, but not great. He can likely guard solidly in the post though, and he can shoot from the corners and key. He is also very young. He feels more like a 3-5 type pick in a draft because of his limitations.
Yeah - I am not going this far. It is Kentucky, and they had three top prospect small guards that all had to play together. If Sheppard played for a smaller school, or even a different school, he likely would have scored 20 a night. There are a lot of limitations in place at Kentucky.
Nah. I think that the Rockets fans would be happy with Risacher at #3. While he is never going to be a huge offensive creator, he will likely shoot well from the outside at high volume, he will likely be a solid defender, and he isn't a black hole as a passer. Sengun/Risacher/Smith is a really interesting 3-5. There would be some defensive issues in certain match ups, but you would have a great passer in Sengun and two longish wings that are naturally talented shooter. It would also take a little bit of pressure off Thompson to shoot well.
The way you describe Risacher - he's basically redundant of Smith. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing, at some point, if Smith gets expensive and he remains at the role player level - it's much better to have a cheaper version of him.
I like Risacher, but think having strong opinions about almost everyone in this draft is likely an oversell. I think Risacher is defintely Top 5. On Rockets not having an opprtunity to draft him, I'd say odds are about 60% he's available at No. 3.
I think JSJ comp is a very good comp. I like Risacher's ability to attack closeouts slightly better. I like JSJ's ability to guard bigger players better as well as I think JSJ has more self creation upside as he seems bettter at just rising up in a crowd and shooting. I think Risacher's strength needs more work than JSJ needed when he entered the NBA. I love JSJ so I would like having Risacher as well. I don't see them as being redundant as guys that can shoot and play defense can be on the court at the same time without taking usage away from each other.
The more interesting thing is Risacher/Jabari at 4/5 for the minutes when Sengun's on the bench. Jabari during Sengun's injury showed he can be a stretch 5. And this lineup will allow for Amen/Jalen more space to attack the basket. To me this is the much better option for a second unit than having a lumbering big like Adams or Clingan to play center when Sengun's resting. Whereas Sheppard doesn't solve this issue because his minutes would come at the expense of one of the guards on the team.
This is the draft where the Rockets need to pick the right player. With there being no consensus about where players should go in this draft; the Rockets just have to pick whomever they grade the highest on their board. Be it someone else’s #9 graded player or a #1 rated player. Look at Sengun, the Rockets had him rated very high and he has flourished as a 16th pick. Unless another team falls in love with a player that should be there at #3 that they have to have, the Rockets are fine staying there and picking a player.
I like the idea of Risacher spacing the floor as a 4 when the opposing team goes small. Though, I really like the idea of Clingan on defense completely shutting down opposing teams second units with the help of Amne and/or Tari as well. While Risacher helps with Sengun off the court, Reed would help with FVV off the court. Also, when Sengun is on the bench, Amen is so good at the runner role that he may be a better 4 man option than Risacher. I like Reed, Risacher, and Clingan as the No. 3 pick options. I'm not too strongly one way or the other except I'm leery of strong opinions. I think the Rockets probably have Matas and Castle in the thoughts as well. I'm for just picking the best guy without worrying about fit.
Spoiler 3. Donovan Clingan 44. Houston: Payton Sandfort Spoiler The Houston Rockets are transitioning to a win-now mode and looking to take the next step to become a playoff team after significant progress from their young core under coach Ime Udoka. The No. 3 pick – one of five potential first-round picks the Rockets can trade this offseason in a package to land a star player – will be discussed in trade talks leading up to draft night, league sources told HoopsHype. It’s worth noting the Rockets have already been linked as a potential suitor for Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell and previously tried to acquire Brooklyn Nets swingman Mikal Bridges at the trade deadline. While Houston may select Donovan Clingan, as the aggregate mock poll shows, it could be for another team. When asked if he could form a potential tandem with Rockets center Alperen Sengun, Clingan replied, “I feel like I can be able to step out behind the three-point line and knock down threes to be able to go out there and pair up with another big at the same time. If it’s inside and out, I can play in the post. I can pass on the three-point line, I can pass all over, find open guys, and be able to knock down three-pointers.” However, it’s hard to imagine a world where Sengun and Clingan play together when they occupy the same position and would get potentially exposed on the perimeter in pick-and-roll switches guarding quicker perimeter players. It’s worth noting Sengun and Clingan are also both represented by NBA agent Sean Kennedy of Excel Sports Management. As for Clingan, a back-to-back UConn champion and one of the top shot blockers and rebounders in the draft, the biggest question he’ll be able to answer in upcoming workouts is whether he can effectively space the floor. When asked by HoopsHype if there’s a misconception about his game, Clingan replied, “I’m trying to show people that I’ve been working on my game and getting better. I’m really trying to work on stepping behind the three-point line and get more threes up.” Should Houston keep the pick, the Rockets could select from several guards, including former Kentucky teammates Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham, Nikola Topic, and Stephon Castle. Or, Houston could select Matas Buzelis, who can play both forward positions. •“The Washington Wizards expect to choose between French prospects Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 2 overall pick, league sources told HoopsHype.” •Sheppard to (7)Portland. — “I can see Sheppard as a Monte Morris type of player who’s a solid backup guard because he won’t make mistakes, and he’ll make shots,” a veteran NBA executive told HoopsHype. “I worry about him because he’s a little small. Coaches will love him.” Take Jared McCain off the board. I’m joking
French Trevor Ariza. Last thing this team needs is another low IQ chucker project. We're 3 years into our last low IQ chucker project still hoping he can put two consecutive months together.
Remember that #3 pick rookie scale is 10-14 million per year. No way you lock up that money in Reed or Clingan imo. Probably smarter to sign a undervalued Monte Morris or resign Holiday while trying to trade down for cheaper rookie scale contracts.
