The crappy fact is someone picked after # 3 is going to turn into an all star. Just have no idea who but I would definitely bet on it. Past drafts I felt like we got the BPA. This year is a total crapshoot.
Sam: •This is as unpredictable a draft as I can remember in some time. •Everyone expected movement today out of the gridlock. I’m surprised we haven’t gotten that. •This is a complicated situation with the Hawks. Part of the reason we haven’t seen movement today, having made phone calls and involved in trying to figure out what’s going on, no one is 100% sure what Atlanta do. Most popular name right now is Risacher but what people are struggling with is what happens if they surprise tomorrow? People around the league have questions about the Hawks front office connectiveness. Because of that, there are different scenarios floating out there, not necessarily contingent on 1 but if they take Clingan at 1, that changes Detroit process. If Sarr goes one to Atlanta, which I don’t think will happen and would surprise me,… •I’d be surprise if there was a move at one. Feels like Atlanta at one and probably Risacher or Clingan. I’ve gotten a few other names I don’t want to dive into because I don’t want to get aggregated. Risacher at the top. At two, Washington likes Sarr but is comfortable if Risacher falls. At one, it seems like to me Risacher is the more likely outcome right now. I don’t want to say it’s a certainty. … There are a lot of teams that like Risacher. He’s not by far the no matter what guy. He’s in a tier with these guys. Atlanta would be interested in moving down and taking Clingan. Risacher is the more likely guy at one. … Prevailing thought league wide as of right now, this isn’t to say this comes from Atlanta, it seems like Risacher is the most popular person when I talk to other folks. •Number two, impression I get is if Sarr falls, the Wizards are likely to take him. Feels like an easy choice. I think he’s the best bet in this draft. If I didn’t have a top 15 center, I’d take Alex Sarr. … •Number three, there’s a chance they try to move this. They are considering a lot of different angles. If they find the right deal, wouldn’t stun me if they move down. There’s a lot of Donovan Clingan buzz the last couple days. I still think it’s more likely Reed Sheppard if they keep this pick. It’s a real question if they keep the pick. If they get the right deal, if Memphis blows them over, very possible they move down. That’s a possible outcome. Chicago another team with a chance to move up. Reed is the more likely outcome but it wouldn’t blow me over if it’s Clingan. Sheppard, I love the fit in Houston. I love the idea of pairing with Amen Thompson. Incredible combo, sharing lead guard responsibilities. I love the idea of dribble hand offs with Sengun. This is a really good fit if it ends up happening. •Number four, Spurs I think are likely to keep this pick and the most popular name here is Stephon Castle and that’s been true for a little while. •Number five, this is where things get fun. If Clingan gets to 5/6, one of Detroit/Charlotte will move this pick to jump Portland. There are 3 teams with potential to do so. Memphis for obvious reasons. Portland has been connected to Clingan throughout this process. Chicago has interest in moving up. The complicating factor is…Memphis makes most sense. If you go to Chicago, you run the risk of not getting a player you like. If you move to Portland, Portland is out of future first round picks. I think they’ll move this pick. The team that makes most sense is Memphis. Chicago feels too far down. Let’s do number five to Memphis for number nine and a future first of some sort. Detroit trades five to Memphis for nine and a future first, top 4 protected. If it’s Chicago, is there a world where you could do something insane, like convince Detroit to take Lavine into cap space and give up the Portland first and an additional first to move from eleven to five? Trajan Langdon has been so clear throughout his press conferences and talking to teams, he’s been clear he wants assets. It’s all about acquiring assets. The idea would be Lavine, eleven, Blazers first (that is lottery protected) and another first for number five.
I listened to an interview of Reed Sheppard on NBA tv tonight. He's a hard working, humble kid with a lot of perspective from his father who was an excellent college player. This guy's work ethic is going to cause him to continue to improve each year. He'll be a great pro.
I did a bit of research for the first time this draft and my only takeaway is please get someone who can shoot. I am so sick of reading "if his jumper improves, he can be a star..." type stuff. We've already got a whole team full of guys who will be amazing if they learn how to shoot. We don't need any more. Whoever we draft, I just want him to be able to shoot.
Have no idea who he is but 33K followers. 92.9 The Game is Atlanta Sports Radio “Founder/Host Atlanta Eats, Host 92.9 The Game, Food Network personality. Affinity for linguine carbonara, SEC football, Moo-shu beef and Red Zone Channel”
3. Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Kentucky | Age: 20.0 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 44. Houston Rockets (via Warriors) - Harrison Ingram, SF/PF, North Carolina | Age: 21.5
With the Nets trade I think a trade down is more likely now. Because if you want to build assets for a big trade, a future pick is just more useful than a pick taken. Sheppard hype comes mostly because he's such a good fit for this Rockets team, but a small guard is going to have fit issues on some potential teams we may trade with. Whereas a future pick is something the other team's GM has full control over.
