Seems like a pattern: French 7-footers don't want to play the 5. Wemby was the same way; until Pops used some psychology and ease him into it. What a player want matters little; especially in their Rookie years. But Hawks picking the other bigs should be fine. Sarr getting picked #2 just means a slight pay cut. What would be ironic is Wiz picking him and then when Bagley and their other C's don't work out; end up playing Sarr at the 5 again.
The Rockets have only had Reed and Clingan in for workouts. That's the list. They haven't brought in anyone else in the Top 30. Beyond those two it's Dillon Jones, Jamal Shead and Jaylen Wells. They aren't trading back. This isn't the draft where you don't work someone out you're interested in because the tape is so good.
That we know about. But that's how it seems. Reed if we stay put, Klingan if we trade (and not necessarily trade DOWN; Atlanta supposedly wants to trade Capela so maybe Klingan + sweetener for Sarr at #1). The Rockets have drafted players they haven't worked out, though. I just am hoping for no Rudy Gay-Slowmile Swift for Battier action.
Stone should tease Pop by asking for Vassell and the 4th in exchange for the 3rd and the 44th. I believe SAS will prefer Castle over Sheppard. Houston can select Sheppard at 4. It's not likely to work, but it might be worth it.
I'd rather have 44th than Vassell. What's Vassell gonna do on this team? He'll just sit on the bench alongside Sheppard. 44th we can get a cheap talent who can be bench filler on the cheap for years like Jamal Shead. My first choice would still be Risacher. If he is off the board ok then Sheppard or Castle. No to Clingan lol wtf.
There are so many more possibilities. They could only have worked those two out for due diligence so that it’s not super obvious they’re desperate to trade out. Could be a draft so inferior to our core 6 that no one is worth working out. People keep forgetting, Stone and Udoka love this core.
There's no "could be" about it. Our core 6 are generally way higher tier prospects than anybody in this draft. And it's not remotely close. We're drafting from a bunch of potential contributing roleplayers, not a bunch of potential high-caliber starters.
https://africa.espn.com/nba/insider...t-first-second-round-predictions-all-58-picks 1. Atlanta Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher, SF, Bourg (France) | Age: 19.2 The Hawks continue to signal that they have not yet determined their draft night direction, which makes sense considering the nature of this draft, how even the talent at the top is and trade opportunities that could unfold once they are on the clock. They simultaneously have decisions to make with players already on their roster, especially Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, who seem destined to part ways in the not-too-distant future. The New Orleans Pelicans loom as a potential destination for one of them, with Brandon Ingram the most attractive and attainable target on the Pels' roster. Jalen Johnson appears to be the only player the Hawks will not consider moving. Risacher, as he has for much of the pre-draft cycle, continues to hold firm as the choice at No. 1 following a positive workout with Atlanta. The feedback from those who have seen him in the United States is that he is a better passer and does a better job of initiating contact and playing through physicality than is expected with his lean frame. Donovan Clingan, another favorite of the Hawks' coaching staff, remains in play at No. 1, but he might be a more realistic option if the Hawks trade down a few spots with the San Antonio Spurs, something that might not materialize until the Spurs are on the clock at No. 4. The Hawks getting back their 2025 unprotected first-rounder from San Antonio would be a huge boon, but it isn't clear whether the Spurs would be willing to pay such a high price, while other great trade opportunities do not appear to have materialized thus far. NBA teams say the Hawks are indicating they could take Alex Sarr at No. 1, which some speculate might be more an attempt to force the Washington Wizards to trade up. -- Jonathan Givony 2. Washington Wizards: Alex Sarr, PF/C, Perth (Australia) | Age: 19.1 3. Houston Rockets: Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Kentucky | Age: 19.9 This pick has been in trade conversations since the moment the Rockets got it in the draft lottery (14 teams), and it likely will continue to be attainable until NBA commissioner Adam Silver announces the selection at No. 3. Many NBA teams are operating under the assumption it will be moved in their internal mock drafts, but that's difficult to plan for considering how rare these types of trades are from a historical perspective. The Rockets are clearly in win-now mode and would love to add star power to their roster, with players such as Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, Mikal Bridges and Brandon Ingram as well as role players including Brook Lopez and Marcus Smart being some that other teams say the Rockets could have interest in targeting (with some names more far-fetched than others). Several of the teams rumored to be exploring the cost of moving up in the draft -- for example, the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder -- appear to have interest in selecting Clingan (the No. 3 player on the ESPN Top 100 Big Board), who has not worked out for the Rockets. Clingan getting selected at No. 3 would have a cascading effect, sending the draft in an entirely different direction than the one we have mapped out below. Should the Rockets stand pat, Sheppard has been the favorite here since draft lottery night. Houston's ownership group traveled to meet with him in Los Angeles fairly early in the process, and he visited the Rockets' facility to make his case as the best shooter in the draft. -- Givony 4. San Antonio Spurs: Stephon Castle, PG/SG, UConn | Age: 19.6 The Spurs got an up-close look at Risacher in a private workout this past weekend, which should help them determine how aggressive they want or need to be in trade talks for moving up to No. 1, where the French wing is currently favored to be drafted. The Spurs have the assets to do so if they want, holding the Hawks' unprotected 2025 and 2027 first-round picks as well as a pick-swap option in 2026 thanks to the Dejounte Murray trade. The Spurs are telling rival teams they will be taking a best-player-available approach at picks No. 4 and No. 8 despite having backcourt needs and a lack of shooting and playmaking -- areas they'll need to address in due time. Taking a patient approach seems to be San Antonio's strategy for now, as there are plenty of scenarios in which more attractive options become available in the near future. San Antonio has expressed increasing interest in Clingan as of late, even going as far as interviewing him in recent days to get to know him better. Some think this might be a case of the Spurs signaling to rivals that the No. 4 pick is where they need to get to if they want to draft Clingan, as opposed to real interest in a fascinating twin-towers lineup with the 7-foot-3 UConn champion and 7-foot-5 Victor Wembanyama. They also brought Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham, Matas Buzelis, Dalton Knecht and others in for workouts. With Risacher and Sheppard off the board in this scenario, Castle appears to be a strong candidate to hear his name called here. -- Givony 5. Detroit Pistons: Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, G League Ignite | Age: 19.6 6. Charlotte Hornets: Dalton Knecht, SF, Tennessee | Age: 23.1 Knecht's draft range appears increasingly small, with teams in the range of Nos. 4 to 9 all expressing significant interest, except for Detroit at No. 5. … Rival teams say they would be surprised to see Knecht fall past both the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio at No. 7 and No. 8, where he also seems to be coveted. 7. Portland Trail Blazers: Donovan Clingan, C, UConn | Age: 20.3 Due to the amount of interest in Clingan coming from teams selecting further down in the draft, there's a belief around the league right now that he won't actually make it to Portland's pick at No. 7, which teams view as his floor. There's trade chatter surrounding both the No. 3 and No. 4 picks, with Houston and San Antonio weighing potential trade-back scenarios. Clingan is considered the likely target for whichever team might move up, if that should occur. He is most frequently connected by rival teams to Memphis, which has a clear need for a player in his mold. Some also have speculated on Oklahoma City, which has the wealth of trade assets to maneuver up the board if it chooses. 8. San Antonio Spurs: Rob Dillingham, PG, Kentucky | Age: 19.4 9. Memphis Grizzlies: Cody Williams, SG/SF, Colorado | Age: 19.5 10. Utah Jazz: Nikola Topic, PG, Mega MIS (Adriatic League) | Age: 18.8 11. Chicago Bulls: Devin Carter, PG/SG, Providence | Age: 22.2 12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tidjane Salaun, PF, Cholet (France) | Age: 18.8 13. Sacramento Kings: Ron Holland, SF, G League Ignite | Age: 18.9 14. Portland Trail Blazers: Ja'Kobe Walter, SG/SF, Baylor | Age: 19.7 44. Houston Rockets: Harrison Ingram, SF/PF, North Carolina | Age: 21
The Houston Rockets are big game hunting, and one of the many notable names on their radar is Paul George, league sources told HoopsHype. George could potentially exercise his $48.8 million player option to facilitate a trade to his next destination, but currently, the chances of Houston landing George are unlikely, sources said. Houston has also had exploratory conversations about trading their No. 3 overall pick in a package for a win-now player upgrade and potentially moving back in the draft, league sources said. Should Houston not make a draft-night trade, the Rockets still will be worth monitoring for a splash over the summer. Houston has team options on Jeff Green ($8 million) and Jae’Sean Tate ($7.57 million) and the $8 million non-guaranteed salary of Jock Landale, which can all be used as trade bait. If Houston keeps this pick in the draft, Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard is the current favorite to be selected. If selected by Houston, Sheppard would become the point guard of the future behind Fred VanVleet, who has a $44.89 million team option for the 2025-26 season. Sheppard’s shooting and active hands defensively would translate immediately as a rookie.
Clingan and Wemby would either work incredibly well, or it will be an absolute disaster. I can't imagine anything between.
Smoke screen. Spurs aren't drafting a backup Center at 4. He and Wemby can't play together so that's what he'd be there. Likely just trying to see what trade offers they can receive for him at 4.
I don’t really understand why people think that this wouldn’t work. Wemby can be a PF. He is not really a good post offensive or defensive player. People always equate getting lots of blocks with being a great defensive player. Stronger centers will always dominate him in the post like Sengun did. Centers won’t be guarding him when he is on offense. Jabari will be guarding him for the Rockets, for example.
