Will the No. 1 choose within the 2024 NBA Draft be the subsequent Anthony Davis or Anthony Bennett? Is one of the best shooter on this 12 months’s class from one blueblood faculty from the Bluegrass State, or a Blue Satan? And is it real looking to count on two-time Nationwide Participant of the Yr Zach Edey to change into a starter within the NBA?
We dove into all these — and extra — in a roundtable dialogue beneath answering true or false to a few of this 12 months’s most polarizing evals. CBS Sports activities’ Cameron Salerno and 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein made their circumstances beneath to 5 burning questions I posed in true/false type — and I submitted my very own responses as nicely.
You may see there’s plenty of settlement between us and simply as a lot disagreement, which is to be anticipated in a draft class that continues to be huge open even with us barreling in direction of the homestretch of the cycle. Every of us view gamers and their respective future and present values otherwise which made for a superb temperature verify as we get nearer to the draft on June 26.
1. True or false: Donovan Clingan is definitely worth the No. 1 choose
Finkelstein: On this draft? True. Clingan is definitely price exploring and the Hawks are doing simply that. The 2-time nationwide champ has been in to Atlanta and supposedly had a superb exercise, which has led to hypothesis that Atlanta might discover buying and selling right down to take him, and selecting up one other asset within the course of. That was basically Boston’s transfer again in 2017 when everybody thought Fultz ought to go one, however they preferred Tatum. Indiana did one thing related final 12 months once they needed Jarace Walker and moved again a spot to take him, once more selecting up one other asset within the course of.
Boone: True. If I am Atlanta I am not 100% certain he’d be my choose, to be clear. In reality, I view his teammate Stephon Citadel as the next upside swing worthy of being the highest choose forward of Clingan. However the flooring and ceiling case for Clingan is clear: he is an anchor on the again finish of your protection who can change the complexion of how your group defends and performs. Worst-case he is a beginning heart. Greatest-case he is perhaps some iteration of Rudy Gobert. With some questions on different prime prospects and the way their video games would possibly match within the NBA, Clingan presents security and upside.
Salerno: False. Whereas Clingan is in competition to be the highest choice alongside Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher, I do not assume he is price it. Clingan does not have the upside of Sarr. The Hawks can be silly to move on him. Might Clingan be the No. 1 choose when it is all stated and achieved? Possibly. He is nearer to the mid-lottery on my large board due to his lack of versatility. He is a defensive-first large, which is okay if you wish to take him in the course of the lottery (I had him No. 7 in my first mock draft this cycle) however he isn’t worthy of the highest choose.
2. True or false: Stephon Citadel can play level guard within the NBA
Stephon Citadel
UCONN • G • #5
6-6, 210 lbs
Citadel is reportedly telling NBA groups he solely needs to play level guard on the subsequent degree, regardless of taking part in off the ball as a freshman.
Finkelstein: False. Can he? Sure, he most likely can. Is that his greatest, or most pure, place? No it isn’t. He performed with the ball in his fingers in highschool, however was usually UConn’s third ball-handler this 12 months. I’ve by no means thought of him the large level guard that he has been billed as since highschool, however his worth is having excessive versatility on each ends of the ground, in addition to being one of many prime perimeter defenders within the class.
Boone: True. Though, I believe this can-he, can’t-he debate on Citadel particularly is wasted air. I are likely to agree with Fink for essentially the most half. He is a combo guard who has playmaking capability and profiles as among the best defenders within the draft. His ceiling end result primarily based on his bodily instruments and expertise is a few model of Jrue Vacation in a perfect world. For those who can squeeze that out of him and develop Citadel right into a constant capturing menace then in hindsight, the talk on whether or not Citadel was worthwhile of a excessive choose due to his positional versatility would possibly look foolish and shortsighted.
Salerno: False. I do not perceive Citadel’s sturdy want to play level guard within the NBA when he did not play the place in any respect throughout his time at UConn. You see it the opposite manner round (a participant performs PG in faculty and a unique place within the NBA.) Citadel is likely one of the prime defenders in his class and has proven a capability to be a strong distributor, however he is extra of a wing on the subsequent degree. For what it is price, Citadel must be the UConn teammate in competition for the No. 1 choose.
3. True or false: Reed Sheppard is one of the best shooter within the draft
Reed Sheppard
UK • G • #15
6-3, 181 lbs
After capturing a torrid 52.1% from three-point vary as a freshman, is Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard the draft’s greatest long-range sniper?
Finkelstein: That is a loaded query, particularly for these of us who watched him in highschool, as a result of there is a large hole between the best way he shot it in highschool and the best way he shot it at Kentucky. He was really round a 33% profession three-point shooter in highschool, so the leap we noticed this 12 months was surprising. So I am going to simply say that I am extra skeptical than most, who solely watched him this 12 months, that he is undoubtedly one of the best shooter within the draft.
Boone: Fink, you my good friend are an expert hedger. Spectacular.
I am going to go along with false right here. I believe one of the best shooter within the draft is Duke’s Jared McCain. Sheppard’s numbers are laughably good from final season — a hundredth percentile in leap pictures, 99th percentile in catch and shoot, 99th percentile on dribble jumpers, 52.1% on 3s. It is a joke! However having watched the mechanics on each I believe McCain has the talents to be extra dynamic as a motion shooter.He actually does a wonderful job of sprinting to his spots, getting sq. and firing. Off the catch he retains it within the capturing pocket then unloads. Reed off the catch is not fairly as fast and tends to convey it down a bit earlier than unleashing. It is nitpicking, clearly, however within the NBA these minor particulars would possibly decide main outcomes.
Salerno: False. I am siding with Boone. It is McCain. Courting again to his time in highschool and on the AAU circuit, McCain’s best power has been his capturing from distance, and he confirmed this season why he is worthy of that distinction. McCain shot 30 of 53 (56.6%) on transition 3-pointers at Duke. The NBA is filled with fast-paced offenses, and that talent will translate.
4. True or false: Bronny would be the No. 17 choose (or a primary spherical choose)
Bronny James
USC • G • #6
6-2, 210 lbs
Will LeBron affect the Lakers — or any individual? — to take his son within the first spherical?
Finkelstein: False. No, Bronny is not going to be a first-round choose. I count on he’ll go 55 to the Lakers. He should not be picked sooner than that, and if any group hopes to select him to get LeBron alongside him, I believe Klutch would possible be capable to discourage that proactively.
Boone: False. The Lakers go a unique course at No. 17 and Bronny slips out of the primary spherical solely. I are likely to assume he nonetheless lands with the Lakers however I would not fault a group within the 30s or 40s keen to take an opportunity on him with a assured deal. He is acquitted himself nicely as a prospect throughout the pre-draft course of and is price investing in even after a turbulent one season at USC.
Salerno: False. Let’s be trustworthy right here. Bronny James goes to be a Los Angeles Laker. I’d be surprised if another state of affairs occurred on draft night time. The Lakers are in win-now mode, so purchasing the No. 17 choose is smart. That will open the door for Los Angeles to pair LeBron along with his son by deciding on Bronny within the second spherical.
5. True or false: Zach Edey can be an NBA starter
Zach Edey
PURDUE • C • #15
7-4, 299 lbs
A historic faculty participant, can Zach Edey’s sport translate to the NBA?
Finkelstein: False. The almost definitely end result for Edey is a back-up large, largely as a result of he can solely guard ball-screens in drop protection, however I do not assume it is out of the query if he will get on a group that performs that protection solely and so they have a chance. He isn’t an amazing match for the NBA sport, however his historical past of continued enchancment is one thing we do not discuss sufficient about.
Boone: False. Edey has been a top-30 prospect on my Large Board for a 12 months now so to be clear: I consider in his talent set and assume he can be a helpful NBA participant. You’ll be able to’t simply ignore his measurement and manufacturing on the highest degree of the game. A few of these expertise will translate. However a few of his weaknesses can be exacerbated within the NBA, too. He is price a first-round choose and I would count on he has a fruitful profession as a rotational heart who produces for stretches and makes spot-starts every now and then, however isn’t a full-time starter.
Salerno: False. OK, you may have now realized I’ve stated false for all 5 solutions. Edey is essentially the most polarizing participant on this class as a result of should you requested 10 folks the place you assume he ought to/will get drafted, you’d get a unique reply each time. Some facets of his sport ought to translate to the subsequent degree, however I’ve a tough time believing he can be something however a job participant on the subsequent degree — and that is OK!