Tag: 2024 NBA Draft

Potential Thunder draft prospect Dalton Knecht torches Purdue in Tennessee’s loss

Potential Thunder draft prospect Dalton Knecht torches Purdue in Tennessee’s loss.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to come to OKC than the latter.

With the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament concluded, the top prospects were in the spotlight as they drew national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht. He finished with 37 points on 14-of-31 shooting, 6-of-12 from 3 and three rebounds in 37 minutes in No. 2 Tennessee’s 72-66 loss to No. 1 Purdue in the Elite Eight on Sunday.

The third-year player has enjoyed a career season at Tennessee after spending the last two years with small-school Northern Colorado. The 22-year-old is one of the older lottery prospects, but the negative connotation surrounding age has slowly faded.

Knecht’s best skill is outside shooting; he has been a high-volume 3-point shooter. He has averaged 21.1 points on 47% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He’s shot 39.7% from 3 on 6.2 attempts.

The high-volume outside shooter would add another 3-point threat for the Thunder. Sharpshooters are always in demand in the NBA. He can provide OKC with spacing.

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Potential Thunder draft prospect Zach Edey dominates as Purdue reaches Final Four

Potential Thunder draft prospect Zach Edey dominates as Purdue reaches Final Four.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to convey to OKC than the latter.

With the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament concluded, the top prospects were in the spotlight as they drew national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Purdue center Zach Edey. He finished with 40 points on 13-of-21 shooting, 14-of-22 from the free-throw line and 16 rebounds in 39 minutes in No. 1 Purdue’s 72-66 win over No. 2 Tennessee in the Elite Eight on Sunday.

Edey is a polarizing figure as a draft prospect. After opting out of last year’s draft, he returned for his senior season at Purdue and put up monster numbers. In 35 games, he averaged 24.5 points on 62% shooting, 12.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. He led Purdue to a No. 1 seed.

The concern with the 7-foot-4, 300-pound big man is his mobility and slowness. If he can’t improve in those areas, he might not survive as an NBA center.

On the Thunder, Edey adds serious size to a small roster. He can play a traditional big-man role and pair with Chet Holmgren nicely. He ultimately might not fit with OKC due to his lack of playmaking.

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Should the Spurs aim for best fit next to Victor Wembanyama in the 2024 NBA draft, or highest ceiling?

San Antonio will have another shot at picking up a foundational player to pair with Victor Wembanyama.

The San Antonio Spurs will have another shot at picking up a foundational player to pair with rookie French forward phenom Victor Wembanyama in the 2024 NBA draft this summer. When it comes to the prospect they elect to select with their first round pick, should the Spurs aim for the player who is the best fit next to Wemby, or the prospect with the highest ceiling?

There are different philosophies on how to approach the NBA draft, with drafting for upside being the dominant approach for most teams, especially in the lottery, where truly transformational players tend to be found. But in this draft, there is a consensus that there are few if any such players at any point in the draft class, so could drafting for fit make more sense?

The host of the “Locked On Spurs” podcast, Jeff Garcia, linked up with the host of the “Sweep The League” podcast, Rudy Campos, stops by to discuss if the Spurs should draft the best fit or best available option.

Check it out above!

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Potential Thunder draft prospect Donovan Clingan leads UConn in win over Illinois

Potential Thunder draft prospect Donovan Clingan leads UConn in win over Illinois.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to come to OKC than the latter.

With the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament underway, the top prospects are in the spotlight as they draw national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is UConn center Donovan Clingan. He finished with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, 10 rebounds, five blocks and three steals in 22 minutes in No. 1 UConn’s 77-52 win over No. 3 Illinois in the Elite Eight on Saturday.

In his second season, Clingan has been part of a dominant UConn squad that seeks to repeat as national champions. The 7-foot-2 center averaged 12.5 points on 64% shooting, 7.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.

At 280 pounds, he has an NBA-ready frame and can give a team a classic rim-running big who can protect the rim. UConn went 31-3 and is No. 1 in the East Region.

The Thunder could envision Clingan adding serious size at center. He could start alongside Holmgren for jumbo lineups or serve as an efficient backup center for OKC.

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Potential Thunder draft prospect Dalton Knecht leads Tennessee to win over Creighton

Potential Thunder draft prospect Dalton Knecht leads Tennessee to win over Creighton.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to come to OKC than the latter.

With the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament underway, the top prospects are in the spotlight as they draw national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht. He finished with 24 points on 8-of-21 shooting, 3-of-7 from 3, six rebounds, five assists and two steals in 38 minutes in No. 2 Tennessee’s 82-75 win over No. 3 Creighton in the Sweet 16 on Friday.

The third-year player has enjoyed a career season at Tennessee after spending the last two years with small-school Northern Colorado. The 22-year-old is one of the older lottery prospects, but the negative connotation surrounding age has slowly faded.

Knecht’s best skill is outside shooting; he has been a high-volume 3-point shooter. He has averaged 21.1 points on 47% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He’s shot 39.7% from 3 on 6.2 attempts.

The high-volume outside shooter would add another 3-point threat for the Thunder. Sharpshooters are always in demand in the NBA. He can provide OKC with spacing.

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Potential Thunder draft prospect Jared McCain helps Duke in win over Houston

Potential Thunder draft prospect Jared McCain helps Duke in win over Houston.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to come to OKC than the latter.

With the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament underway, the top prospects are in the spotlight as they draw national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Duke guard Jared McCain. He finished with seven points on 3-of-6 shooting, 1-of-4 from 3, six rebounds and four assists in 40 minutes in No. 4 Duke’s 54-51 win over No. 1 Houston in the Sweet 16 on Friday.

McCain will likely be a one-and-done case as the freshman guard has played a vital role in Duke’s success. In 34 games, he averaged 14 points on 46.5% shooting, five rebounds and 1.9 assists. He’s shot 41.5% from 3 on 5.7 attempts.

The 20-year-old is a crafty scorer who can stretch the floor. Size is an issue  at 6 feet, 3 inches and 197 pounds, but he can grow into a solid frame over time.

On the Thunder, McCain can be a crafty scorer off the bench. He can enrich their deep guard depth and can be another catch-and-shoot option for OKC.

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Potential Thunder draft prospect Kyle Filipowski helps Duke in 54-51 win over Houston

Potential Thunder draft prospect Kyle Filipowski helps Duke in 54-51 win over Houston.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to come to OKC than the latter.

With the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament underway, the top prospects are in the spotlight as they draw national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Duke center Kyle Filipowski. He finished with 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting, nine rebounds and two assists in 34 minutes. He shot 3-of-5 from 3. No. 4 Duke escaped with a 54-51 win over No. 1 Houston in the Sweet 16 on Friday.

Filipowski has been the offensive hub for Duke this season. The 7-foot center can stretch the floor and pass when needed. He has an NBA-ready frame at 248 pounds, which means he should immediately contribute and not be physically overwhelmed.

In his second year at Duke, he’s averaged 17.1 points on 51% shooting, 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 blocks. He’s shot 35% from 3 on 3.2 attempts. The 20-year-old has led Duke to a 24-8 record and the No. 4 seed in the South Region.

The Thunder could hope to add Filipowski to add some serious size at their center spot. He could start alongside Holmgren for jumbo lineups. He’s also versatile enough to fit with OKC.

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Potential Thunder draft prospect Zach Edey dominates in Purdue’s win over Gonzaga

Potential Thunder draft prospect Zach Edey dominates in Purdue’s win over Gonzaga.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to come to OKC than the latter.

With the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament underway, the top prospects are in the spotlight as they draw national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Purdue center Zach Edey. He finished with 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting and 14 rebounds in 38 minutes in No. 1 Purdue’s 80-68 win over No. 5 Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 on Friday.

Edey is a polarizing figure as a draft prospect. After opting out of last year’s draft, he returned for his senior season at Purdue and put up monster numbers. In 35 games, he averaged 24.5 points on 62% shooting, 12.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. He led Purdue to a No. 1 seed.

The concern with the 7-foot-4, 300-pound big man is his mobility and slowness. If he can’t improve in those areas, he might not survive as an NBA center.

On the Thunder, Edey adds serious size to a small roster. He can play a traditional big-man role and pair with Chet Holmgren nicely. He ultimately might not fit with OKC due to his lack of playmaking.

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Florida State sophomore Baba Miller to enter transfer portal, test NBA draft

Florida State sophomore Baba Miller will reportedly enter the transfer portal, while opting to test the 2024 NBA draft.

Florida State sophomore Baba Miller will reportedly enter the transfer portal, while opting to test the 2024 NBA draft, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Miller averaged 7.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 blocked shots on 44.9% shooting from the field in 33 games this season. He scored in double figures eight times, including a season-high 14 points, three rebounds and three blocks on Jan. 9.

He finished 10th in the ACC in total blocks (37).

Miller projects to be one of the top players in the transfer portal and will likely have several programs interested in landing him. He will test the pre-draft process and have the opportunity to meet and work out with prospective teams.

Miller opted to return to Florida State after an up-and-down freshman campaign. He was limited to 15 games with the Seminoles due to an offseason injury and a suspension stemming from a rules infraction committed in 2020.

He was previously highly recruited as a four-star prospect and ultimately chose the Seminoles over Gonzaga. Miller, standing at 6 feet, 11 inches, is highly touted for his versatility, athleticism and ability to defend with his 7-foot-2 wingspan.

Miller previously represented Spain in the 2023 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup. He averaged 9.4 points, six rebounds and 1.3 assists in seven games, helping Spain win the gold medal.

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Should Spurs target best player or best fit in 2024 NBA Draft?

In the 2024 NBA Draft, should the San Antonio Spurs focus on fit or just take the best player available?

The San Antonio Spurs changed the course of their franchise forever last offseason when they picked Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick. The French big man has been amazing in his rookie season, and this summer will be a chance for the Spurs to build on the success he’s found by putting a better team around him.

Because they have struggled so much this year from a win-loss perspective, the Spurs will have another top pick in the upcoming draft. This means they should be able to add a second high-level young prospect to pair with Wembanyama. But what direction should they go in during the draft?

The Locked On Spurs podcast recently discussed whether or not the Spurs should target the best for their roster or the best player in the draft.

Adding a player who fits well next to Wembanyama would be ideal for the Spurs, but at the same time, getting the best player available seems like the smart decision.

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