Normally this would serve as an intro, but the draft is approaching and I know you all have a lot of questions. Let's get started!
I think what the Rockets need most is shooting and rim protection. Shooting is always good, but it seems like a gamble in the draft. I think the league is placing more and more emphasis on the value of big men. I really like Donovan Clingan, the big man out of Connecticut. What do you think? — Jerry C.
It's rare to find a center at this age who has the defensive edge and versatility, the fluidity for his size, and the ability to contain ball-handlers up front, find space behind him, and stop everything at the rim. Clingan is efficient offensively, showcasing his playmaking and screens, and has a soft touch and power when needed.
It's a spacing issue for the Rockets, who boast a top-10 defense even without a traditional rim protector. Clingan made eight 3-pointers last season at Connecticut and is 2-for-9 in his collegiate career. I saw him shoot at the combine and at his pro day, and he's looking decent but still has room to improve.
One of head coach Ime Udoka’s goals last season was to get starting center Alperen Shengung comfortable shooting 3-pointers away from the paint. In the right scheme, a dual-big lineup could work. Houston’s midseason trade for Steven Adams not only shows that Udoka likes to have a physical presence on the court, but also raises the possibility that Adams and Shengung might play together at times. The Minnesota Timberwolves made it to the Western Conference Finals with a versatile inside-outside roamer (Karl-Anthony Towns, Naz Reid) and a traditional rim runner/protector (Rudy Gobert). Udoka had success in Boston a few years ago with Al Horford and Robert Williams III. Let’s not forget how capable Adams is as a rim runner, a 94th percentile big in his last full season (2022-23), and how much Udoka talks about offensive versatility.
The Rockets want to be able to do different things throughout the game depending on what the opponent is doing: sometimes we'll see Jabari Smith under center and some small passing, other times we'll see Shengun or Adams go solo or maybe even a combination of the two.
In a vacuum, would Clingan and Schaengen work? Sure. But given how much the Rockets have shifted toward options going forward, the (healthy) presence of Adams and Udoka's veteran leanings make the theory of Clingan going to Houston a bit harder to pull off.
What would be the “perfect” Spurs draft for you? — “.”
San Antonio is in a strong position heading into the draft, something that is usually unthinkable for a team coming off a 22-win season. It's no exaggeration to say that Victor Wembanyama's rise to stardom, and more importantly, his defensive potential and limitations, has changed the Spurs' thinking. With two picks in the top 10, they have the opportunity to acquire two young players who are on a similar timeline to Wembanyama, and if their development goes as planned, they will have two contributors down the road.
Sam Vecenie's latest mock draft projects the Spurs to select Stephon Castle and Nikola Topic with the fourth and eighth picks. Topic's recent knee injury news has me scared, plus his wingspan (6'5.5″ vs. 6'6″ height) worries me, but any scenario that involves acquiring Castle and another big wing sounds perfect to me. The Spurs have historically acquired high IQ players who can contribute on both ends of the court, and while this draft class isn't as high-profile as last time, some of the names here should be successful.
Imagine a world where San Antonio gets Castle and Matas Buzelis, two contenders who can play with the ball, work well together, and defend. Castle is a more advanced defender than Buzelis, but the former G-League forward is no worse. As a Spurs fan, I would be ecstatic if Kentucky's Reed Shepard was still available at No. 8. But Castle is the benchmark for me. There's also a world where the Spurs draft Castle at No. 4 and trade the No. 8 and No. 35 picks for a veteran guard (Dejounte Murray?). For me, that would be a perfect draft night.
There's been a lot of discussion among Grizzlies fans about whether to trade for a veteran center or draft one. … Is there anyone in this draft who can replicate what Dallas' Derek Lively II did in the playoffs? — Martin H.
Assuming Memphis doesn't move up in the rankings — which it probably won't be — Lively is a rare example of a young rim-runner who quickly adapted to a franchise, in large part due to the gravitational pull of Luka Doncic. There are several players in this class with similar profiles, but none that stand out as likely to make an impact in the opening round.
I've been sifting through the draft landscape for a few weeks now and have seen Indiana's Kel'el Ware's name pop up a few times in mocks with Memphis. Picking a player like Ware that high, even with his athletic gifts, would be a disadvantage for the Grizzlies. They could drop down from No. 9 and scrape together the assets to draft him. Or they could acquire Nic Claxton or Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency to solve their center problem.
The more I watch Ware, the more he reminds me of Christian Wood.
Ware has a lot of room to improve on his decision making, especially on the short roll. Like Wood, there have been a few instances where he didn't make the right read and tried to save himself with his athleticism. Ware was a quality offensive player last season, but I don't think he's a good fit under center for Memphis.
If the Grizzlies were to take a step back, I would look to use Duke's Kyle Filipowski. He's not the type of player Lively is, but a center like Kelly Olynyk might be a better fit for what Memphis needs right now. Filipowski's offensive prowess is mature, and the floor spacing would allow him to line up with Jaren Jackson Jr. and give Ja Morant and Desmond Bane plenty of room to maneuver.
If you could describe the perfect player to complement Houston and take them to the next level, what would that person do and what kind of player would they be? With that in mind, who do you think they are targeting this offseason? — Donald C.
The Rockets are currently in Phase 2.5.
Last season they established a competitive edge and culture change that got them within a few games of the play-in tournament, but given the age of their core members, they shouldn't be in a rush to jump into title contention this summer, and should continue to use the experience of their veterans to develop their young players.
But the focus next season should be on making the playoffs, and after 19 wins up the standings, it's hard not to aim higher, even if the climb isn't as steep as last year's.
The ideal player for Houston would be a two-way wing with size, the ability to get the ball up the court, and to some extent create opportunities for himself and others. He doesn't have to be an All-Star type, but someone who is efficient and team-oriented. Think Keldon Johnson in San Antonio or DeMar DeRozan in Chicago. Or they could go the other direction and look for a small-ball dream like Robert Covington in 2019: a smart, unselfish, team-oriented, defensive-minded, court-spacing wing.
Looking at the free agent market, if I were the Rockets (and considering a more realistic route), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown would be circled on my big board. Both are veterans who would mesh with Udoka's defensive discipline and provide the half-court space that was sorely lacking last season. Brown's shooting has declined in recent years, but Royal Ivey and Tiago Splitter were on Brooklyn's staff in 2021-22 when Brown shot 40% on 3-pointers. Caldwell-Pope could have made the All-Defensive team last year. It's a no-brainer, in my opinion.
Without high-level talent in the 2024 draft, should the Spurs' draft philosophy be: 1. Get a safe role player in 2024 and wait for the 2025 draft, or 2. Get a home run caliber player in 2024, always knowing they can rely on a more talented player in the 2025 draft? — Anonymous
Going back to my earlier point about Wembanyama’s timeline, I don’t think the Spurs should get into the habit of hoping for high draft picks over the next three or so years, as that could be dangerous and there’s no inherent benefit to doing so.
The answer is simple: pace Wenbayama. If he proves himself an All-NBA player next season, San Antonio brass will have to start thinking in phases, just like Houston's front office did with the rebuild. Right now, the Spurs are in phase one. Get aggressive in the draft, get the players who have the most potential and fit Wenbayama's defense, and continue to build the team that way. The 2025 draft is loaded with talent, but the Spurs aren't going to wait another year to turn things around.
If the Grizzlies don't have the player they want at No. 9 in the draft, what do you think are the chances they'll pick lower? What trades do you foresee to be made to fill the Grizzlies' two biggest holes (starting center and backup PG)? — Chip C.
Oh no. A fake deal? He's trying to trap me!
Every year we see teams trade down, so I don't think it would be hard to make a trade down on draft night, especially with how aggressive Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman is. Why not give the Trail Blazers a call?
Portland is the only team in the middle of the first round with players who can fill both the center (Williams) and point guard (Malcolm Brogdon) positions that Memphis needs.
Fake Trade 1 — Portland takes No. 9 pick Santi Aldama and Luke Kennard
Memphis acquires the 14th pick in the first round of the 2027 draft (lottery protected) and Williams
(This would require a full investigation into Williams' injury and recovery, but the Grizzlies would likely release two underachieving players on expiring contracts to give the rebuilding Blazers a chance to select two top-10 picks.)
Fake Trade 2 — Portland takes Marcus Smart at No. 9.
Memphis picks No. 14, gets 2027 swap option, Brogdon
Given Udoka's preference for defensive versatility and Stone's draft history of prioritizing positional size, do you think the Rockets, if they hold onto the No. 3 pick, would prioritize a multi-position wing (Lisacher, Buzelis, Holland, Salaun) over a guard or center who lacks the positional versatility of Reed, Clingan, or Dillingham? — Mary S.
Yes, personally, that is the case.
Smith, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore and Tari Eason are examples of Stone taking the position size route. They are four of the six first-round talents that make up Houston's core. Drafting with these guidelines will help the coaching staff by improving their versatility in the future. Udoka certainly wants to add shooting power, but that can be solved in free agency, and he's a defensive player first and foremost. If players like Castle and Buzelis show shooting consistency, I'd be happy (keyword, I) wants.
The Spurs have a lot of options at the 4th and 8th spots. I know they need shooting, but I like the potential and switchability of Castle and Holland. Is there a chance the Spurs will pass on shooters for defense? — Lucas M.
absolutely.
Ron Holland and Jeremy Sochan are scary in spacing, but San Antonio needs to play defense like they did in their prime, with Wenbanyama making the All-Defensive Team and finishing runner-up for DPOY as a rookie. That doesn't happen often.
The Rockets are a clear example of what happens when a defense goes from last to top 10. And they didn't have a player like Wenby who could knock it all off. If a versatile, multi-faceted defender is available, get him and figure out the rest later. Cody Williams is another player to watch for this reason.
(Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
