My two worries: 1) Atlanta or Washington suddenly becoming smart franchises and drafting the Shepp. 2) If 1) doesn't happen, Stone being too freaking dumb and trying to get cute and not drafting the Shepp.
I wouldn’t worry about it. Atlanta is not taking a guard no. 1 and anyone trading up to no. 1 is doing it for Sarr or possibly Clingan. Washington has to take a gamble on the highest ceiling player and by all indications most teams believe that is Sarr or Risacher. Sheppard will be there at 3. The only question is whether the Rockets value Sheppard as the bpa at 3 or if someone puts together a good enough package for them to move down. I predict they keep the pick, because nobody gives them a decent package and select Sheppard.
actually it’s crossed my mind that all the intentionally leaked Clingan buzz may also be about discouraging the Spurs from cutting a deal with one of the top 2 teams to move up for Sheppard.
With all the talk of the Spurs trading down, it only makes sense if they want Sarr or Sheppard with the Hawks high on Clingan.... anyone else would just be there for the Spurs at 4. I would definitely tell the Hawks if they trade with the Spurs and the Spurs get Sheppard, we're definitely taking Clingan just to spite them.
That is a great strategy. I hope Stone is smart enough to do something like that but I have my doubts.
Hopefully that was tongue in cheek. The NBA doesn’t work like that and the GM would lose all credibility to work with any team. The Rockets recent history is that they take who they believe is the BPA. Maybe that’s Sheppard, maybe it isn’t. I do believe they are trying hard to trade the #3 pick for a help now veteran and a somewhat lower pick or future pick. That should give you some idea of what they think of this draft class.
Reed is going to help the young guys so much. His skillset blends so well with what we have. And i know theres been some Jalen vs Reed talk but i actually think Reed is the best prospect to get the best out of Jalen. I think he's the guy thats going to help him more than any of these other prospects. Reed isnt going to take the ball out of his hands. Hes a good and willing passer. Has shown flashes of top tier pg vision. He'll open up the floor tremendously. Hes a really good outlet and fast break passer and Green loves to run. If we are talking about a player that fits seamlessly with what we already have going and wont rock the apple cart...meanwhile he's also a top three talent
Not tongue in cheek at all, you'd be letting the Hawks know up front they will not get their guy if they help another team trade up and take the guy the Rockets want. That's doing them a courtesy. You let them know they can either get their guy at 1, or not get them. You then draft Clingan and see if you can trade him/the pick for #5 or whatever so you can get the next guy on your list and the Hawks don't get their guy. All you can really ask is that others be straight forward in their dealings and that's what you'd be doing.
It would also tell the whole league who you are targeting and give Atlanta even more leverage to trade the pick to a team that wants Sheppard.
Sure... if Atlanta wants to miss out on their guy. It would also make the cost of trading up that much higher. In reality it would make Atlanta MUCH less likely to trade with anyone. There are almost no quality bigs in this draft and that's what they want. The Rockets SHOULD want Sheppard, but there are other guards they could go with that would be a downgrade... but it's there any other bigs besides Sarr and Clingan that are even with a first rounder? Sarr snubbed Atlanta, so it's Clingan or bust. That's why the Rockets would hold the leverage in that discussion.
I trust ch44 more than anyone in the media other than WOJ and he rarely predicts anything just has the sources to be first to break the news. Ch44 says they are trying hard to trade the #3 pick. Doesn’t mean they will accomplish it, but I’m sure they are trying. Means they don’t really value anyone at the top of this draft as a contributor this year. That being said, I don’t think they get a decent package and stay where they are and pick whichever is available of Sarr, Sheppard, or Clingan in that order.
Man, I was just imagining Snakehead going up to the podium to read out the results of the first draft pick and imagined him calling out Sheppard to Atlanta and had a momentary fit inside. This draft is going to be a nail biter cause literally any of these guys could go first.
If I’m either of those 2 teams, I don’t take Sheppard. He makes more sense for us at 3 or the spurs at 4
Agree, I believe there could be a lot of surprises in the Lottery this year given how the ratings for a lot of players seem to be in the eye of the beholder. Zack Edey may surprise folks in where he ends up going. Could also see bigs like Filipowski and Tyler Smith going higher than they're currently projected.
