Givonay says Spurs are thrilled to take Harper and aren't looking at trades.
Even if we really wanted to make a big trade with this pick, this is what you come out and say. If you tell every team in the league that you're shopping the pick, the offers for it won't be as good. Tell everyone you're keeping it and see if someone is willing to way overpay for it.
Lots of teams are going to really want a guy like Harper, so they are all bidding against each other anyway if they want to get him.
I just can't see the Spurs wanting to give up on a Harper-Castle-Wemby trio before they even play a game.
Thanks for posting this, seems like a great kid, seems humble but driven, exactly the kind of kid that the Spurs are known for getting the best out of.
I think I can make a case in my mind for making sure to get him and cashing out some of our less valuable pieces to move up a few spots.
Thanks for posting this, seems like a great kid, seems humble but driven, exactly the kind of kid that the Spurs are known for getting the best out of.
I think I can make a case in my mind for making sure to get him and cashing out some of our less valuable pieces to move up a few spots.
It is weird. Everyone needs D&3 guys, but most of the teams ahead of us have bigger needs.
5. Jazz: need everything, Carter doesn't go 5th 6. Wizards: Have Bilal, Sarr, Poole. Need PG and bigs, and depth. 7. Pelicans: Have Herb, Zion, Trey. Need PG and center. 8. Nets: Need basically everything, lots of late D&3 and they have 3 picks 19 and later 9. Raptors: Need Malauch & defenders 10. Rockets: Have Amen/Dillon/Eason, need PG and shooting 11. Blazers: Have Deni and Camara. Need some size and shooting 12. Bulls: D&3 would make sense at SF, but need a center worse. I would go Sorber. 13. Hawks: need center, forward depth, shooting
I could see the Raptors doing it if Malauch is off the board. But they have RJ, Ingram, and Scottie - where does he play? I think Rockets need shooting, but also a guy that can run the point like Fears. I think Nets need to take the swing up upside. Wizards need to take swing on upside.
Which team will get snookered on Queen? I could see it be the Wizards because he actually fits between Sarr and Bilal. I could see Brooklyn, too.
I think Carter Bryant could be a better defending version of Trey Murphy, but it isn't his median outcome by any means.
Adams misses a lot of games, but getting him would take him away from Houston and they really feasted when he was in the game. Houston was +44 in 7 games when he was in the game in the playoffs. That's pretty great considering they lost that series.
I have seen some Harper comparisons to Cade Cunningham. Similar play. I think Cunningham is taller and maybe longer, other comparison is Dewayne wade.
I looked but couldn't find the combine measurements for Cunningham. To me Cunningham has a better shot and a better passer and is longer, but Harper is more athletic,
Coops best comparison is grant hill. It's a good comparison but to me grant hill was more athletic.
I've listened to "experts" and a few are projecting Harper to be a bigger star than coop. Coop is limited athletically, and his size won't translate as well in the nba as it did in college. I would definitely draft him over Harper, but it was interesting to hear a few possible concerns on coop. Coop is such an unusual player and fits today's nba so well that you have to take coop.
Is he really stirring the pot with 10 points? That's great for a backup center but I don't know if it stirs the pot.
Who knows when the photo is from, but 10p 9r and SEVEN blocks in 26 minutes is pretty great work for a backup center. Especially when he was cleaning up for Kristaps, who was 0-3 for 1 point.
I have seen some Harper comparisons to Cade Cunningham. Similar play. I think Cunningham is taller and maybe longer, other comparison is Dewayne wade.
I looked but couldn't find the combine measurements for Cunningham. To me Cunningham has a better shot and a better passer and is longer, but Harper is more athletic,
Coops best comparison is grant hill. It's a good comparison but to me grant hill was more athletic.
I've listened to "experts" and a few are projecting Harper to be a bigger star than coop. Coop is limited athletically, and his size won't translate as well in the nba as it did in college. I would definitely draft him over Harper, but it was interesting to hear a few possible concerns on coop. Coop is such an unusual player and fits today's nba so well that you have to take coop.
The NBA didn't make combine measurements mandatory until the 2024 draft. Wemby didn't get measured, Cade didn't get measured.
I think Cade is a little taller and little thiccer.
I think Tatum or Hill are good comparisons for Coop. Flagg also shot 48/39/84 as a freshman at Duke that should have been a senior in HS. All his advanced stats are great across the board. To bring in the white comp, if he would learn some trash talking, you say Larry Bird.
Bookmark it if you need, but it's not going to be someone getting snookered here. I think he could end up as one of the top 5 players in the draft, but it's obviously dependent on of he's willing to put in the work.
Is he really stirring the pot with 10 points? That's great for a backup center but I don't know if it stirs the pot.
Who knows when the photo is from, but 10p 9r and SEVEN blocks in 26 minutes is pretty great work for a backup center. Especially when he was cleaning up for Kristaps, who was 0-3 for 1 point.
Celtics didn't wear green tonight.
I know it. That was a great game for a backup center and a crazy number of blocks. I would be thrilled if we signed him with the MLE. Steven Adams I like too but he has some age to him especially for a big. He has to have some aches and pains by now and may be more injury prone.
Bird was a bad man. His confidence and BBIQ was off the charts.
Flagg to me doesn't have the cut throat that Bird had. Bird was such a cold mfer. Flagg looks like a choir boy in comparison.
But I could see the comparison to Bird in a few aspects. Flagg is a night and day better defender than Bird ever was. And Flagg finishes a lot stronger at the rim than Bird ever did. But Bird was deadly. His shot was better than Flagg, and overall Bird was just a better passer and crazy high BBIQ.
I think there will only be one Bird. If I had the choice between Flagg and Bird, I would take Bird every day of the week. He was a killer.
Bookmark it if you need, but it's not going to be someone getting snookered here. I think he could end up as one of the top 5 players in the draft, but it's obviously dependent on of he's willing to put in the work.
I think he is the biggest high risk high reward guy in the draft. But he was the biggest loser on strength and agility day at the combine. Something like 22" standing vertical and 28" max and all-time worst physicality numbers.
Someone will take a shot on him, but it wouldn't be me. I would take Sorber 1000 times over him. Queen may put up numbers, but I don't think he will ever start on a Finals team.
We really need Newell, CMB, Queen, and Sorber to go in the top 13, which would essentially guarantee our choice of Bryant/Fleming.
I think Bryant may go top ten, but Fleming might be around at 14 because he is so much more limited offensively.
Bird was a bad man. His confidence and BBIQ was off the charts.
Flagg to me doesn't have the cut throat that Bird had. Bird was such a cold mfer. Flagg looks like a choir boy in comparison.
But I could see the comparison to Bird in a few aspects. Flagg is a night and day better defender than Bird ever was. And Flagg finishes a lot stronger at the rim than Bird ever did. But Bird was deadly. His shot was better than Flagg, and overall Bird was just a better passer and crazy high BBIQ.
I think there will only be one Bird. If I had the choice between Flagg and Bird, I would take Bird every day of the week. He was a killer.
Yeah, I don't think anyone has the cut throat mentality that Bird had. Garnett tried to fake it.
But the style of game could be similar, but I think Flagg is more athletic by a good bit, which is why the Tatum and Hill comparisons make sense.
Bookmark it if you need, but it's not going to be someone getting snookered here. I think he could end up as one of the top 5 players in the draft, but it's obviously dependent on of he's willing to put in the work.
I think he is the biggest high risk high reward guy in the draft. But he was the biggest loser on strength and agility day at the combine. Something like 22" standing vertical and 28" max and all-time worst physicality numbers.
Someone will take a shot on him, but it wouldn't be me. I would take Sorber 1000 times over him. Queen may put up numbers, but I don't think he will ever start on a Finals team.
We really need Newell, CMB, Queen, and Sorber to go in the top 13, which would essentially guarantee our choice of Bryant/Fleming.
I think Bryant may go top ten, but Fleming might be around at 14 because he is so much more limited offensively.
Fleming had such a strong combine he moved up, I don't know if he got past 14 though.
I would be happy with sorber. I like Bryant but he has a ways to go, to me he is a risk. 14th pick though in general is a risk. I would take Fleming over all those we need a shooter. Sorber has a lot of quickness for a big.
A player that hasn't been mentioned on this board in a while is McNeely. He had strong shooting at the combine and his combine height was higher than what was listed. He plays with confidence and is similar to klay Thompson.
Bookmark it if you need, but it's not going to be someone getting snookered here. I think he could end up as one of the top 5 players in the draft, but it's obviously dependent on of he's willing to put in the work.
I think he is the biggest high risk high reward guy in the draft. But he was the biggest loser on strength and agility day at the combine. Something like 22" standing vertical and 28" max and all-time worst physicality numbers.
Someone will take a shot on him, but it wouldn't be me. I would take Sorber 1000 times over him. Queen may put up numbers, but I don't think he will ever start on a Finals team.
We really need Newell, CMB, Queen, and Sorber to go in the top 13, which would essentially guarantee our choice of Bryant/Fleming.
I think Bryant may go top ten, but Fleming might be around at 14 because he is so much more limited offensively.
Fleming had such a strong combine he moved up, I don't know if he got past 14 though.
I would be happy with sorber. I like Bryant but he has a ways to go, to me he is a risk. 14th pick though in general is a risk. I would take Fleming over all those we need a shooter. Sorber has a lot of quickness for a big.
A player that hasn't been mentioned on this board in a while is McNeely. He had strong shooting at the combine and his combine height was higher than what was listed. He plays with confidence and is similar to klay Thompson.
Yeah, I still like McNeely and think someone will get a steal, but it will be post lottery. He was my guy for a long time, but had a rough season.
McNeeley and Harper both hit 60% of their threes.
I don't think Bryant is much of a risk - I think his floor is an upgraded Champagnie. But I think his ceiling is Trey Murphy with better defense. Bryant had a 39.5" vertical. From the interviews, he looks like he has the right mind on. He was talking that his favorite thing to do is play defense and he can't wait to play defense on Booker, Tatum, and Kyrie. Love a kid with that mindset. He says after defense, his favorite part of the game is passing. He's an inch taller than Castle with 3" longer wingspan and 2.5" higher vertical.
The thing about Fleming is his frame and athleticism isn't common. He's bigger and longer than Kawhi but he hit 39% from three. The thing that will hold him back is the mid-major and the handles. I don't think he will dribble or pass as well as Bryant. I think Bryant will be a more complete player. But I think Fleming is a much more unique player.
I'd be thrilled with any of them. Or Essengue. But Essengue is a much bigger project. Fleming might end up starting next year.
Bookmark it if you need, but it's not going to be someone getting snookered here. I think he could end up as one of the top 5 players in the draft, but it's obviously dependent on of he's willing to put in the work.
I think he is the biggest high risk high reward guy in the draft. But he was the biggest loser on strength and agility day at the combine. Something like 22" standing vertical and 28" max and all-time worst physicality numbers.
Someone will take a shot on him, but it wouldn't be me. I would take Sorber 1000 times over him. Queen may put up numbers, but I don't think he will ever start on a Finals team.
We really need Newell, CMB, Queen, and Sorber to go in the top 13, which would essentially guarantee our choice of Bryant/Fleming.
I think Bryant may go top ten, but Fleming might be around at 14 because he is so much more limited offensively.
Fleming had such a strong combine he moved up, I don't know if he got past 14 though.
I would be happy with sorber. I like Bryant but he has a ways to go, to me he is a risk. 14th pick though in general is a risk. I would take Fleming over all those we need a shooter. Sorber has a lot of quickness for a big.
A player that hasn't been mentioned on this board in a while is McNeely. He had strong shooting at the combine and his combine height was higher than what was listed. He plays with confidence and is similar to klay Thompson.
Yeah, I still like McNeely and think someone will get a steal, but it will be post lottery. He was my guy for a long time, but had a rough season.
McNeeley and Harper both hit 60% of their threes.
I don't think Bryant is much of a risk - I think his floor is an upgraded Champagnie. But I think his ceiling is Trey Murphy with better defense. Bryant had a 39.5" vertical. From the interviews, he looks like he has the right mind on. He was talking that his favorite thing to do is play defense and he can't wait to play defense on Booker, Tatum, and Kyrie. Love a kid with that mindset. He says after defense, his favorite part of the game is passing. He's an inch taller than Castle with 3" longer wingspan and 2.5" higher vertical.
The thing about Fleming is his frame and athleticism isn't common. He's bigger and longer than Kawhi but he hit 39% from three. The thing that will hold him back is the mid-major and the handles. I don't think he will dribble or pass as well as Bryant. I think Bryant will be a more complete player. But I think Fleming is a much more unique player.
I'd be thrilled with any of them. Or Essengue. But Essengue is a much bigger project. Fleming might end up starting next year.
I like Fleming a lot, I hear what you are saying on Bryant with the measurements and projections, but he hasn't stepped into the spotlight yet. He has great measurements and fa nice looking shot, but what really matters is how well he plays basketball. 6.5 ppg hasn't really proved anything,
McNeely had a solid regular season at UConn. He was big east freshman of the year. then struggled in the big east tourney but he had an injury and was playing hurt partly. He also had an injury at the beginning of the season. In the march tourney he had a rough game against ou. That happens and that was a sec school. Then played Florida who proved to be the best team in the tourney. I remember at the end of that game when McNeely hit a 3 as time expired and he was closer to half court than to the arc. His shot was perfect, reminded me of curry and his range beyond the arc.
He went 24 out of 30 for three at the combine, and his size woyld make him a bigger than average nba small forward, . Or he could play power forward as he has the strength and body for it. Plus his shot. 87 percent at the free throw line and scored 38 points and 10 rebounds against creighton.
His combine make him a much more versatile player, and he has a broader offensive game than Fleming. He is also two years younger. Based in his combine I might put him above Fleming.
Queen's numbers are just all time bad at any position. I don't think he has the work either or bbiq to overcome bottom tier size and athleticism in the nba
Dylan Harper on potentially playing with Fox & Castle: “The NBA is really positionless basketball, so I mean you could play with a bunch of ball handlers and a bunch of people that could get opportunities for themselves, but let other people get opportunities for them.”
Personally really glad we are going with Harper and not Knueppel. He benefitted offensively with Flagg and defensively with both Flagg and Maluach. I think his agility scores would have bottomed out also if he wasn't hurt.
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