Tag: draft

Mike Dunleavy Jr. spotted in France watching top prospect Zaccharie Risacher

The Warriors GM made the trip to France to see one of the top prospects in the upcoming NBA draft.

With the season coming to an end in the play-in tournament, the Golden State Warriors front office will turn its attention to the offseason with free agency and the NBA draft already looming.

Although they don’t have a pick in the first round, the Warriors are doing their research on some of the top prospects in the upcoming NBA draft.

Mike Dunleavy Jr. and other members of the Warriors front office were spotted in France in the crowd of one of Zaccharie Risacher’s games with JL Bourg. The 6-foot-10 French forward is widely considered one of the best players in the 2024 draft class.

Via @kevo408 on X:

Dunleavy Jr. saw Risacher and JL Bourg play against SLUC Nancy Basket in France’s LNB Pro A league. Risacher played 19 minutes, scoring 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting from the field. Risacher added eight boards and an assist with Dunleavy Jr. and the Warriors in the crowd.

The 19-year-old is averaging 10.1 points on 43.6% shooting from the field to go along with 3.9 rebounds in 31 games in the LNB Pro A League. Risacher has played 17 games in the EuroCup, averaging 13.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest.

The NBA draft is June 26

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and X! 

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Reed Sheppard: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2004 | 6’3 | 6’3 WS | 187 LBS Team: Kentucky Agent: CAA/Aaron Mintz Best aggregate mock draft rank: 3 / Worst rank: 8 In 33 games, Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 28.9 minutes, shooting 53.6 percent from the field, 52.1% percent from three, and 83.1 …

 2004 | 6’3 | 6’3 WS | 187 LBS

Team: Kentucky

Agent: CAA/Aaron Mintz

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 3 / Worst rank: 8

In 33 games, Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 28.9 minutes, shooting 53.6 percent from the field, 52.1% percent from three, and 83.1 percent from the free-throw line. He also recorded 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.7 blocks, 2.5 steals, 1.9 personal fouls, and 2.0 turnovers per game.

His parents, Jeff Sheppard, played at Kentucky and for the Atlanta Hawks in 1998-99 then a few seasons overseas. Won two NCAA titles and was named Mr. Georgia.

Rob Dillingham: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2004 | 6’3 | 6’3 WS | 176 LBS Team: Kentucky Agent: Rich Paul and Lucas Newton (Klutch) Best aggregate mock draft rank: 2 / Worst rank: 12 In 2023-24, Dillingham averaged 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 steal per game. He shot 47.5 …

2004 | 6’3 | 6’3 WS | 176 LBS

Team: Kentucky

Agent: Rich Paul and Lucas Newton (Klutch)

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 2 / Worst rank: 12

In 2023-24, Dillingham averaged 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 steal per game. He shot 47.5 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from three, and 79.6 percent from the foul line.

Joe Hortiz reflects on first draft as Chargers general manager: ‘I really believe we made our team better’

Joe Hortiz completed his first draft as Chargers general manager and it’s safe to say it was a major success.

Joe Hortiz completed his first draft as the Chargers general manager and it’s safe to say it was a major success. 

Los Angeles stuck with their No. 5 first overall pick and snagged the best offensive tackle in Notre Dame’s Joe Alt. Additionally, the team added two players, Ladd McConkey and Junior Colson, on Day 2. On Day 3, six more players were selected, adding depth for now and the roster’s future. 

“The opportunity to take the players we took, each time we were just excited to take every one of them,” Hortiz added. “I really believe we made our team better.”

According to Hortiz, the third day of the draft was arguably the most crucial, adding that championship teams are expected to elevate their rosters in rounds four through seven. 

“That’s where the scouts and coaches really do their work,” Hortiz said. “Everyone has their mock drafts on the first and second and third rounds. And honestly, you could pick 36 or 37 players on Day 1 and you’ll get 32 of them right.

“But Day 3 is when the information is not as readily available and that’s where you trust your scouts,” Hortiz added. “Our scouts did a great job knowing the players and identifying the ones that can help us.”

The draft class included nine players at six different position groups. 

“These players fit the Chargers profile, and we really believe all nine of these guys do,” Hortiz said. “You want high-character players, you want highly competitive players, passionate players, intelligent, durable, tough. Guys that care about each other. And I can really say that about every one of them.

“We had the blue star that we brought with us here … we drafted three of them, “Hortiz continued. “We don’t got a bunch of them, each scout gets one. They put it on a guy and we were able to take three of them.

“Frankly, all nine of these players can be blue star-type players, but we’re limited in the number we can give out so you pick one, put it on,” Hortiz added. “That’s a real positive thing for us.”

Following the draft, the Chargers’ roster is in much better standing. They addressed the positions of need that we highlighted ahead of the event with players who mostly ranked higher or aligned with the consensus big board.

Warriors add Clemson’s PJ Hall in latest NBA mock draft from The Ringer

The Clemson forward averaged 18.3 points on 48.8% shooting from the field with 6.4 reboundd and 1.4 assists per game last season.

While the NFL draft is taking over the sports world this week, its a good reminder to look ahead at what the NBA draft could potentially look like with a mock draft.

Although the Golden State Warriors currently don’t have a first-round pick, Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Steve Kerr will have the chance to add a player in the second round.

In the latest NBA mock draft from Kevin O’Connor at The Ringer, the Warriors landed first-team All-ACC forward PJ Hall in the second round. According to O’Connor, Hall would be a natural fit with the Warriors.

Via The Ringer:

Hall’s playmaking skill from the frontcourt would be a natural fit for Golden State’s style. It wouldn’t be a shocker if Hall, much like Trayce Jackson-Davis, were to earn minutes right away.

Read O’Connor’s full mock draft via The Ringer here.

In his fourth college season, Hall helped lead the Tigers to an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 18.3 points on 48.8% shooting from the field with 6.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game last season.

Hall tallied a season-high 31 points on 11-of-23 shooting from the field to go along with a season-high 17 rebounds in an explosive performance against Georgia Tech last season. Hall tallied seven double-double performances for the Tigers last season.

The NBA draft starts Wednesday, June 26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and X! 

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Tracking the Chargers’ 2024 undrafted free agent signings

Keep up with who the Los Angeles Chargers sign from the undrafted free agency pool.

The 2024 NFL draft has wrapped up, and teams will now begin filling their 90-man offseason rosters. After selecting nine players in the draft, the Chargers will now turn their attention to signing undrafted free agents.

While there’s no guarantee that any of this year’s UDFAs will turn into big contributors, Los Angeles has had an excellent track record of finding hidden gems throughout the years.

We’re going to be tracking all of the team’s college free-agent signings here. So please refresh this page because the list of players will be updated every time we learn of a new signing.

Here is a list of the UDFA’s Los Angeles has signed thus far:

 

 

 

 

Details of Packers trade up with Bills in fifth round of 2024 draft

The Packers sent a sixth-round pick to the Bills to move up 5 spots in the fifth round of the 2024 draft.

After trading up in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft to get Oregon safety Evan Williams, the Green Bay Packers traded up again in the fifth round before selecting Duke offensive lineman Jacob Monk at No. 163 overall.

General manager Brian Gutekunst sent a sixth-round pick (No. 219) to the Buffalo Bills to move up five spots from No. 168.

The target was Monk, an experienced and versatile offensive lineman who tested like an elite athlete pre-draft. He made 58 starts — with starts at guard, center and right tackle — and has a Relative Athletic Score of 9.74. The cost was one of the Packers’ two remaining sixth-round picks.

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Trade details

Packers send: No. 168 (fifth round), No. 219 (sixth round)
Bills send: No. 163 (fifth round)

According to the Rich Hill trade value chart, the Packers sent 12 points of value (168: 9; 219: 3) and received 9 points in return (163: 9)

The Packers remaining Day 3 picks (4)

Fifth round, No. 169 (Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State)
Sixth round, No. 202
Seventh round, No. 245
Seventh round, No. 255

Details of Packers trade up with Jets in fourth round of 2024 draft

The Packers sent a sixth-round pick to the Jets to move up 25 spots in the fourth round of the 2024 draft.

Armed with eight picks to start Day 3, the Green Bay Packers traded up in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft to get Oregon safety Evan Williams at No. 111 overall.

General manager Brian Gutekunst did business with the New York Jets. To move up from No. 126 overall, the Packers sent the Jets a sixth-round pick (No. 190).

The pick traded away was acquired by the Packers in a trade down with the New Orleans Saints in the second round.

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Trade details

Packers send: No. 126 (fourth round), No. 190 (sixth round)
Jets send: No. 111 (fourth round)

According to the Rich Hill trade value chart, the Packers sent 26 points of value (126: 20; 190: 6) and received 28 points in return (111: 28)

The Packers remaining Day 3 picks (6):

Fifth round, No. 168 (from NO)
Fifth round, No. 169
Sixth round, No. 202
Sixth round, No. 219
Seventh round, No. 245
Seventh round, No. 255

ESPN’s Louis Riddick has high praise for 49ers new CB Renardo Green

The ESPN NFL analyst had high praise for San Francisco’s second round pick.

After adding offense in the opening round of the draft on Thursday, the San Francisco 49ers flipped to the defensive side of the ball in the second round of the draft.

Following a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs, the 49ers were on the clock with the No. 64 overall pick in the draft. John Lynch and the 49ers selected Florida State corner Renardo Green.

Following the pick, it didn’t take long for one of the members of ESPN’s broadcast to weigh-in on San Francisco’s selection. ESPN analyst Louis Riddick had high praise for Green, specifically one of his traits on the field.

Riddick called Green the best press cornerback in the draft class.

I thought he was the best press corner in the draft. He lives up at the line of scrimmage and there’s good reason why.

Via @EricGalko on Twitter:

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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Grading the 49ers third round pick: Kansas OL Dominick Puni

Grading the 49ers selection of Kansas OL Dominick Puni in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

After moving back in the second round, the San Francisco did the opposite in the third round, moving up from No. 94 to No. 86 on day two of the draft. The 49ers traded No. 94 overall pick, and the No. 132 overall pick (Round 4) to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the 86th selection.

Following a trade-up, the 49ers selected Kansas Jayhawk offensive lineman Dominick Puni at No. 86 overall. While playing for Central Missouri and Kansas in college, Puni bounced around to different positions at the offensive line, including guard and tackle.

The 6-foot-5, 313 lb offensive lineman earned First-team All-Big 12 conference honors last season in Lawerence. According to Pro Football Focus, Puni earned an 80.6 grade last season while not allowing a single sack on 342 pass-blocking snaps.

Following the 49ers third-round selection, the Niners Wire team linked up to stamp grades on the pick.

Kyle Madson – Managing Editor: 

This is a nice pick for the 49ers because Puni could theoretically answer a bunch of different questions on San Francisco’s offensive line. He projects as a guard and he could be in the mix to offer an upgrade at right guard. He played a ton of tackle in college though which gives the 49ers reason to believe he might be able to compete as an upgrade over right tackle Colton McKivitz. If he doesn’t beat out any of them, he’s a versatile depth piece who could develop into a long-term starter a la Aaron Banks. San Francisco didn’t reach to fill their biggest need, and instead traded up in Round 3 by giving up just their third-round pick and one of their trio of fourth-round picks. Nice work by John Lynch and Co.

Grade: B+

Tommy Call – Contributor: 

Heading into the draft, the offensive line felt like the biggest position group of need. And I saw group, because you could make the argument guard, tackle and even center could be addressed in the draft. However, through two rounds, the 49ers didn’t look at the offensive line.

Yet, finally, in round two, the 49ers answered the call of many fans and drafted an offensive lineman. And not just any offensive lineman; a player that has proven experience at multiple positions on the offensive line, essentially filling that need across the position group. Dominick Puni thrived at offensive tackle for the Jayhawks last season, not allowing a single sack. Yet before shifting to tackle, Puni played guard in Kansas. Puni could instantly compete at multiple positions for the Niners on the offensive line while he continues to develop.

Grade: A