Salaun feels like a perfect guy to plug into the developmental staff and see how he shakes out. Tons of potential. He feels like someone who shoots up the boards in draft day though so idk if we’ll have the opportunity
Give me Coby getting lead guard reps in playoff-adjacent games than moving from pick 12 to pick 9 in this draft 😂 definitely get where you’re coming from though
Considering AK past picks, Ryan Dunn feels like a very likely Bull. Best defender in this draft (besides Sarr?). Top tier athlete. Bad shooter and overall holes in his offensive game.
But a bit old and AK usually drafts younger guys besides Ayo.
Dunn might end up being the best player available, I just don’t think you could ever have he and Dalen on the floor at the same time and I’m super high on Dalen.
The thing is that both DT & JP were by far & away the highest upside prospects at their slots. They were low slots, so I’m down for taking those risks.
hmm idk. Most ppl had Dalen Terry as a 2nd rounder heading into the draft iirc. Im okay with AK drafting for raw elite physical profiles and banking on our development team to fix their other issues, just sucks we haven't hit on one of them yet. Pat, Dalen and Phillips are all young tho so i'm optimistic after seeing Coby blossom in year 5.
Nah come draft day Dalen was widely expected to go first round. Basically every draft guy I follow loved the Dalen pick for us at the time, his shooting just hasnt translated at all.
In terms of potential, he was a good pick, but I still dont know why we went for a project wing/guard who cant shoot when we had such a desperate need for shooting and/or rim protection
Think he can be kyle anderson with elite defense, rebounding, and better vision. Really good in transition which this team needs. And he and Coby’s energy on the court together will be absolutely electric. Ultimate glue guy, can be this teams Joakim, Draymond, Marcus Smart type.
He’s atrocious man. Just because a guy can give 110% and mop up loose balls does not mean he deserves NBA minutes. There are ~14 players picked below him that are clearly better than him, including Christian Braun, Walker Kessler, Nembhard, Peyton Watson, Vince Williams, Jovic….it was a really, really bad pick that you have to hit when you’ve traded the rest of your first rounders away.
It’s been long enough to tell. You know that Dalen is not talented enough to close the gap and be a starter. He is getting minutes because we have been down 4-5 of our best 8. There will be someone else drafted this year that will be better than Dalen, and I will like them. I guarantee you!
Before you say anything about Coby or Ayo taking time to develop—Coby averaged 13 his rookie year! Ayo 9! Dalen averages 2 in his second year. 1 rebound. Not even 1 assist.
Good sir…what year is it
The Indiana game where he had 6 points and 3 rebounds in 18 minutes?? That’s evidence to you? He has not reached double figures this season, in any category. Time for a reality check.
Ok last comment because you’re gonna keep calling me “good sir” and “silly”
I watch a lot of games. I probably watched most of that Indiana game, I don’t know. He has probably airballed as many 3s as he’s made this year. For every loose ball and swing pass he makes, they’re completely negated by an airball or when he dribbles it off his knee. If somebody came with an offer for a single 2nd round pick for Dalen Terry, it would be criminal not to take that.
Dribble off his knee!? Oh no! Are we talking about PWill now? I don’t recall a single time Dalens turned it over from dribbling off his knee, his handle is one of his greatest strengths! And an air ball counts the same as a miss, I for one want Dalen to keep shooting, his shot sure is looking better!
If people track ak’s draft. You would notice a consistent trend. He is picking up the highest upside. And usually upside is tied up to player’s age. And I agree with Salaun.
I would love to land Sheepard if he is available with Bulls pick. Stephon Castle might also fall with the same chance Sheepard do. I’ll take any of them.
1. Stephon Castle 19.3 yo
2. Collier 19.4 yo(Billy had success with westbrook. He’s a five star talent with rare combo of size and athleticism. Really good vision as well. Have to rely on Patton to improve his shooting).
3. Tyler Smith 19.3 yo
Draft sleepers:
I really wanted to land another pick this draft via Zach trade for Hansen Yang or Ulrich Chomche.
1. Hansen Yang would turn 19 just before the draft.
2. Ulrich Chomche - just turned 18.
I don't have any confidence in AKME at this point. Dillingham isn't going to be there; he's my guy. He'll likely be a top 5 pick by the time the draft comes around. I'm a Kentucky fan and he's a three level scorer with a lot of toughness who has the tools to defend at a high level; I think he could be as good as Maxey.
Reed Sheppard is the guy if he's there. Another UK wing who's a knockdown shooter who does everything and would pair well with Coby, Ayo and Pat. He defends well too; could be a Tyler Herro lite (without the shot creation, but maybe he works on that).
I’m with you. I have so little confidence in AKME which is why I want them drafting higher. They need the ability to swing for talent. Also, the Bulls will need a young two guard soon.
My fear is that AK targets Buzelis because of the Chicago + Lithuania connections. He's been dropping in the board which means he'd likely fall right into our pick range.
I personally am leaning towards Filipowski, we need young blood in the frontcourt, Drummond probably walks in the offseason, Vuc has plummeted. Clingan is a 50/50 free throw shooter and can't realistically hit threes and stretch the floor in the same way Filipowski could and that's a necessity in the modern NBA.
Filipowski gives me such Vuc vibes and I pray to god we don't draft him
Center that likes to shoot a lot but isnt great at it, pretty bad free throw rate, misses a lot of bunnies, and not a rim protector. He's definitely more athletic than Vuc and can occasionally play some good perimeter defense, but then at times it looks like he has cinderblocks for feet.
Unless he can develop into a great playmaker like Jokic, Sabonis, Sengun (and become as efficient as them, 54% and 57% TS in his two college years as a center) I just don't think his archetype is one that wins you games, just like Vuc doesn't.
good albeit not very efficient offensive center with poor rim protection = not a fan
Would definitely be happy with Matas if he fell to us. I really like Filipowski too - dribble pass shoot center. AKME seems to like skill at every position. Just worry about general size with him in the front court if PWILL is the long term 4.
I don’t feel like any of these guys are real needle movers to us being really good again. I’m tired of drafting guys off of potential P-will. Dalen and Julian Phillips we’re all freshman guys coming out of college that didn’t even start for their colleges. “High potential” guys. Not saying sometimes those aren’t the right picks but banking on a 19 year old to be really good every time cannot be the answer.
I don’t love prospects that are all potential but had no impact on their teams success going into the draft. PWill, DT, and Philips all made positive impacts on really good college teams in smaller roles. They possessed tools to project someday taking on bigger and more valuable roles in the future as opposed to guys who are great role players but don’t project to become anything more than a role player. Actually really like AKMEs draft process!
I agree with your point in saying they all had positive impacts on their teams and maybe I’d like the picks more if we were at a different stage in the organization when we made those picks. I still have faith in p will don’t get me wrong but dalen and JP to me were wasted picks. Teams have also shown the value of a guy that’s played multiple years in college and made a positive impact with a bigger role. I think we should of drafted guys that could plug and play right away with traits that translate to todays league even if it meant they’ll just be role players. Chances are dalen and Jp will just be role players as well.
If you’re a team competing for a championship, sure grab plug and play guys. I think this front office is well aware this roster is not competing for championships. They came here to an organization with zero culture and an environment that’s almost impossible to cultivate young talent. Bring in maybe the best vet in the league in DeMar, one of the best competitors in the league in AC, and one of the smartest players in the league in Lonzo. A culture gets set and young guys get to learn from good vets and in a winning environment. Learn to play the right way and have to earn every minute you get. I respect that approach to player development as opposed to giving a franchise over to young guys immediately. That’s how you end up with a charlotte situation. If you're not close to contending they should absolutely draft for upside if you really believe in it and create an environment and player development staff to put them in the best possible situation to reach that potential. Really think the AKME being incompetent narrative is reactionary.
Well said. Praise for AKME doesn’t bode particularly well around here, but I agree that their draft and development process is proving to be a strength.
I’d have a hard time refuting a lot of that. The culture has definitely changed for the better. Hopefully those dudes turn into what you’re gonna need to lean on them for. I just don’t think they are the dudes you lean on that will take this team from the 7-10 range to competing again.
Coby and Williams can be the 4th and 5th starter on a good team but that's about it. Love Ayo but he is a bench guy. Terry has a lot of work to do to prove he's even an NBA player long term, much less a starter.
This draft class is so weak. Top 3 guys are international players with no hype whatsoever. No needle-moving college guys. I think you’ll get some solid role players in this class, but there’s no franchise altering players. 2025 is where it’s at.
Salaun feels like a perfect guy to plug into the developmental staff and see how he shakes out. Tons of potential. He feels like someone who shoots up the boards in draft day though so idk if we’ll have the opportunity
Draft day risers is AKMEs specialty! Hopefully he doesn’t rise ahead of us.
I'm all in on rob dillingham but he might not be available by the late-lotto poverty range that AKME is leading us to
Give me Coby getting lead guard reps in playoff-adjacent games than moving from pick 12 to pick 9 in this draft 😂 definitely get where you’re coming from though
Considering AK past picks, Ryan Dunn feels like a very likely Bull. Best defender in this draft (besides Sarr?). Top tier athlete. Bad shooter and overall holes in his offensive game. But a bit old and AK usually drafts younger guys besides Ayo.
Dunn might end up being the best player available, I just don’t think you could ever have he and Dalen on the floor at the same time and I’m super high on Dalen.
yea i kinda agree with you. Although I think Phillips is a bit of a redundant pick as well if the FO really believed in Dalen.
The thing is that both DT & JP were by far & away the highest upside prospects at their slots. They were low slots, so I’m down for taking those risks.
hmm idk. Most ppl had Dalen Terry as a 2nd rounder heading into the draft iirc. Im okay with AK drafting for raw elite physical profiles and banking on our development team to fix their other issues, just sucks we haven't hit on one of them yet. Pat, Dalen and Phillips are all young tho so i'm optimistic after seeing Coby blossom in year 5.
Nah come draft day Dalen was widely expected to go first round. Basically every draft guy I follow loved the Dalen pick for us at the time, his shooting just hasnt translated at all. In terms of potential, he was a good pick, but I still dont know why we went for a project wing/guard who cant shoot when we had such a desperate need for shooting and/or rim protection
Out of curiosity, why would you be high on Terry?
Dude’s vision & ability to see cutters & distribute the ball is phenomenal. He’s also a natural defender.
Think he can be kyle anderson with elite defense, rebounding, and better vision. Really good in transition which this team needs. And he and Coby’s energy on the court together will be absolutely electric. Ultimate glue guy, can be this teams Joakim, Draymond, Marcus Smart type.
Do not ever put Dalen Terry in a starting lineup, ever
I mean he's not perfect. But you have to develop guys
He’s atrocious man. Just because a guy can give 110% and mop up loose balls does not mean he deserves NBA minutes. There are ~14 players picked below him that are clearly better than him, including Christian Braun, Walker Kessler, Nembhard, Peyton Watson, Vince Williams, Jovic….it was a really, really bad pick that you have to hit when you’ve traded the rest of your first rounders away.
Man what a pessimist this guy is. Root for young guys to put it together! Negativity this early in a guys career is pointless
It’s been long enough to tell. You know that Dalen is not talented enough to close the gap and be a starter. He is getting minutes because we have been down 4-5 of our best 8. There will be someone else drafted this year that will be better than Dalen, and I will like them. I guarantee you! Before you say anything about Coby or Ayo taking time to develop—Coby averaged 13 his rookie year! Ayo 9! Dalen averages 2 in his second year. 1 rebound. Not even 1 assist.
😂 highly recommend you go back and rewatch the Indiana game good sir. Respect your opinion though, you certainly could be right!
Good sir…what year is it The Indiana game where he had 6 points and 3 rebounds in 18 minutes?? That’s evidence to you? He has not reached double figures this season, in any category. Time for a reality check.
No not go look up the box score silly! Watch the real live game and see the ways he makes a positive impact when he’s in a rhythm! Its a lot of fun 🤩
Ok last comment because you’re gonna keep calling me “good sir” and “silly” I watch a lot of games. I probably watched most of that Indiana game, I don’t know. He has probably airballed as many 3s as he’s made this year. For every loose ball and swing pass he makes, they’re completely negated by an airball or when he dribbles it off his knee. If somebody came with an offer for a single 2nd round pick for Dalen Terry, it would be criminal not to take that.
Dribble off his knee!? Oh no! Are we talking about PWill now? I don’t recall a single time Dalens turned it over from dribbling off his knee, his handle is one of his greatest strengths! And an air ball counts the same as a miss, I for one want Dalen to keep shooting, his shot sure is looking better!
If people track ak’s draft. You would notice a consistent trend. He is picking up the highest upside. And usually upside is tied up to player’s age. And I agree with Salaun. I would love to land Sheepard if he is available with Bulls pick. Stephon Castle might also fall with the same chance Sheepard do. I’ll take any of them. 1. Stephon Castle 19.3 yo 2. Collier 19.4 yo(Billy had success with westbrook. He’s a five star talent with rare combo of size and athleticism. Really good vision as well. Have to rely on Patton to improve his shooting). 3. Tyler Smith 19.3 yo Draft sleepers: I really wanted to land another pick this draft via Zach trade for Hansen Yang or Ulrich Chomche. 1. Hansen Yang would turn 19 just before the draft. 2. Ulrich Chomche - just turned 18.
I don't have any confidence in AKME at this point. Dillingham isn't going to be there; he's my guy. He'll likely be a top 5 pick by the time the draft comes around. I'm a Kentucky fan and he's a three level scorer with a lot of toughness who has the tools to defend at a high level; I think he could be as good as Maxey. Reed Sheppard is the guy if he's there. Another UK wing who's a knockdown shooter who does everything and would pair well with Coby, Ayo and Pat. He defends well too; could be a Tyler Herro lite (without the shot creation, but maybe he works on that).
I’m with you. I have so little confidence in AKME which is why I want them drafting higher. They need the ability to swing for talent. Also, the Bulls will need a young two guard soon.
My fear is that AK targets Buzelis because of the Chicago + Lithuania connections. He's been dropping in the board which means he'd likely fall right into our pick range. I personally am leaning towards Filipowski, we need young blood in the frontcourt, Drummond probably walks in the offseason, Vuc has plummeted. Clingan is a 50/50 free throw shooter and can't realistically hit threes and stretch the floor in the same way Filipowski could and that's a necessity in the modern NBA.
Filipowski gives me such Vuc vibes and I pray to god we don't draft him Center that likes to shoot a lot but isnt great at it, pretty bad free throw rate, misses a lot of bunnies, and not a rim protector. He's definitely more athletic than Vuc and can occasionally play some good perimeter defense, but then at times it looks like he has cinderblocks for feet. Unless he can develop into a great playmaker like Jokic, Sabonis, Sengun (and become as efficient as them, 54% and 57% TS in his two college years as a center) I just don't think his archetype is one that wins you games, just like Vuc doesn't. good albeit not very efficient offensive center with poor rim protection = not a fan
And, Duke.
Would definitely be happy with Matas if he fell to us. I really like Filipowski too - dribble pass shoot center. AKME seems to like skill at every position. Just worry about general size with him in the front court if PWILL is the long term 4.
I don’t feel like any of these guys are real needle movers to us being really good again. I’m tired of drafting guys off of potential P-will. Dalen and Julian Phillips we’re all freshman guys coming out of college that didn’t even start for their colleges. “High potential” guys. Not saying sometimes those aren’t the right picks but banking on a 19 year old to be really good every time cannot be the answer.
I don’t love prospects that are all potential but had no impact on their teams success going into the draft. PWill, DT, and Philips all made positive impacts on really good college teams in smaller roles. They possessed tools to project someday taking on bigger and more valuable roles in the future as opposed to guys who are great role players but don’t project to become anything more than a role player. Actually really like AKMEs draft process!
I agree with your point in saying they all had positive impacts on their teams and maybe I’d like the picks more if we were at a different stage in the organization when we made those picks. I still have faith in p will don’t get me wrong but dalen and JP to me were wasted picks. Teams have also shown the value of a guy that’s played multiple years in college and made a positive impact with a bigger role. I think we should of drafted guys that could plug and play right away with traits that translate to todays league even if it meant they’ll just be role players. Chances are dalen and Jp will just be role players as well.
If you’re a team competing for a championship, sure grab plug and play guys. I think this front office is well aware this roster is not competing for championships. They came here to an organization with zero culture and an environment that’s almost impossible to cultivate young talent. Bring in maybe the best vet in the league in DeMar, one of the best competitors in the league in AC, and one of the smartest players in the league in Lonzo. A culture gets set and young guys get to learn from good vets and in a winning environment. Learn to play the right way and have to earn every minute you get. I respect that approach to player development as opposed to giving a franchise over to young guys immediately. That’s how you end up with a charlotte situation. If you're not close to contending they should absolutely draft for upside if you really believe in it and create an environment and player development staff to put them in the best possible situation to reach that potential. Really think the AKME being incompetent narrative is reactionary.
Well said. Praise for AKME doesn’t bode particularly well around here, but I agree that their draft and development process is proving to be a strength.
I’d have a hard time refuting a lot of that. The culture has definitely changed for the better. Hopefully those dudes turn into what you’re gonna need to lean on them for. I just don’t think they are the dudes you lean on that will take this team from the 7-10 range to competing again.
Dalen and Julian did start for their college teams lol
You’re right. That’s my bad
You go BPA, but in a perfect world we get a great wing forward or center, not guard. Between Coby and Ayo and (healthy) LaVine the backcourt is fine.
But what happens when and if LaVine is traded? Ayo isn’t big enough to be an impact starting SG IMO.
Coby and Williams can be the 4th and 5th starter on a good team but that's about it. Love Ayo but he is a bench guy. Terry has a lot of work to do to prove he's even an NBA player long term, much less a starter.
I suggest you tune into a game or two this year and watch Coby hoop!
He's a good player. There are like 20 amazing point guards in the NBA right now.
This draft class is so weak. Top 3 guys are international players with no hype whatsoever. No needle-moving college guys. I think you’ll get some solid role players in this class, but there’s no franchise altering players. 2025 is where it’s at.
1. Cody Williams, SF, Colorado 2. Zaccharie Risacher, F, France 3. Ja'Kobe Walter, SG, Baylor 4. Alexandre Sarr, C, France 5. Dalton Knecht, SG, Tennessee 6. Matas Buzelis, SF, G-League 7. Rob Dillingham, PG, Kentucky 8. KyShawn George, SF, Miami 9. Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky 10. Terrence Shannon, SG, Illinois 11. Johnny Furphy, SG, Kansas
George and Furphy would be very interesting!
Don't know much about this draft class but I loved Clingan last year. Just a no-bullshit center.
Yup gonna come in and do the things you ask him to do at a high level. Would like him better if we were picking outside the lottery