BR -Zaccharie Risacher, Donovan Clingan and Alex Sarr are have been the names tied to Atlanta the most. There seems to be some level of intrigue in Matas Buzelis as well, but presumably only for trade-down purposes. -Teams and agents believe that if the Atlanta Hawks don't draft Alex Sarr, the Washington Wizards will take him at No. 2. Washington has also shown interest in Matas Buzelis. -The Houston Rockets are expected to shop No. 3 without much room to invest in another young prospect's development. It just may be challenging to find a trade partner with the perceived difference between No. 3 and the late lottery being minimal. -(Castle’s) camp has gone dark since the NBA combine. There's no indication that he's worked out for anyone, and if he has, it's been kept quiet. It's possible Castle has some assurance about where he'll be taken. -By draft night, each of the top six teams except for the Houston Rockets are expected to have seen Matas Buzelis. … He's getting looks from the Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons.
Reading those last few posts makes it sound like we will take Sheppard if Sarr and Risacher aren’t available. If Clingan somehow goes top 2 then we would take whoever falls. I don’t see a trade happening. Like the Bari and Amen drafts this is the best way. FVV/Sheppard Green/Cam Brooks/Amen Bari/Tari Sengun/Landale/Adams I would start Brooks but give the bulk of the minutes to Amen.
Is this the first we’re hearing about the FO and Tilman actually saying things. As of two days ago, @Clutch reported they remain quiet. And as a clearinghouse of info, Clutch’s reporting on his Playback channel includes reporting from other notable accounts, like espn, not just what he’s hearing.
I’m concerned about the Rockets’ lack of workouts with top prospects. This feels like the front office has once again (ala 2022) made up its mind and isn’t investigating alternatives. Maybe they’re sure they want to trade the pick or maybe they’re sure about one player - either way, there should plan Bs, plan Cs, etc. Stone knows how to negotiate contracts and Wittus clearly knows how to evaluate talent, but I’m sensing a real lack of strategic thinking from the Rockets FO.
They're just being quiet purposeful. Last thing the Rockets need to do is tell everyone what they're doing.
Got Jalen in, didn’t get Cade in (I believe he said only for team with first pick), didn’t get Mobley in (allegedly because of KPJ) Got Paolo in, didn’t get Jabari(or Chet) in (thought he was going first/top two) Got Thompson twins/Black/Howard/Walker in (of guys who went top 11) Allegedly got Clingan in ______ Hawks got Risacher/Clingan/Sheppard/Buzelis/Williams/Holland in, no Sarr Wizards got Sarr/Clingan/Castle/Buzelis in Rockets got *crickets* Spurs got Risacher/Sheppard/Salaun/Carter in Sheppard worked for Hawks/Spurs/Hornets No leaks on Castle Buzelis worked for everyone except Houston Williams worked for everyone except Houston
I think Risacher may be the most overrated player in this draft. I don't know that I'd take him over Sheppard...I definitely wouldn't take him over Sarr.
If Sarr or Risacher falls that would be pretty cool. Otherwise I like what I see from Sheppard, Castle, and even Clingan. Sheppard has the shooting chops and his decision making looks good. Even though his size isn't great if he winds up taking over for FVV down the road we actually get bigger. Speaking of Fred that seems like the perfect mentor. Thinking about Castle and Amen defending on the perimeter is really intriguing. Will his shot come around? I think it could. A lot of paths for him to become valuable. Clingan is tougher because of the fit next to Sengun. But again with him patrolling the back and Amen doing his thing the defense could be spectacular. How long can Steven Adams keep up his productivity? Possibly for years so I wouldn't be quite as pumped about this pick.
Nothing has changed for me... #3 - Reed Sheppard (52% from 3) #44 - Cam Spencer (44% from 3) (4 years of +40% from 3) (won championship at UConn) Surround Sengun, Tari, and Amen with shooters. That is the mission.
I'm going with Sarr as easily the most overrated prospect in the draft even though he might be the best prospect in the draft. Really a decent chance the shot never comes around and he's not strong enough to play the 5 as anything more than a small ball 5 against 2nd units. I think his fitting as a potential 5 out center is raising his draft stock more than his actual talent suggests. Long story short, he might be good, he might be Mo Bamba with less shooting and rebounding.
I hope you’re right. But if they were public about working all 10 of the top 10 prospects (plus the usual array of 2nd round and likely undrafted talent), I don’t think that would give much away to the other teams. I didn’t mention this before but the fact that the Rockets aren’t publicly working out top prospects and Stephen Castle isn’t publicly working out with teams does make me wonder a bit - are they already each other’s top choice?
Why do y'all think a poor man's Jabari? He seems as good if not better as a shooter. He seems like a more fluid athlete and better ball handler. He seems to be - certainly at a comparable age - a better on ball and rotational defender. Pre-draft prospect Bari > Pre-draft prospect Risacher. But we know what Bari has been... and while certainly hopefully it will get better, so far he is not the generational shooter or defender with length anyone thought. I'm not saying Risacher is/will be better than Bari, just i don't see anything that clearly says "worse Jabari" with his game. Ultimately i actually think they are different positions. Risacher is a 3 that can flex to 4. And Bari is a 4 that can flex to 5 and OCCASIONALLY play 3.
the below says Reed worked out with the Rockets. i think they are just secretive. we didnt know this until the below tweet (if its true). last few years we didnt really know who they worked out either (though in some cases knew who they DIDNT work out)
