International Combine is Underway + Nikola Topic Injury Update

[@EdgarVillarreal-te2ev]

I'm in San Antonio and absolutely love my Spurs. I hope they draft so well over the next few years with all these picks that even if Wemby pulls a Kawhi and runs off to LA it doesn't set is back for the next 5 to 10 years again. I don't wanna jinx that happening but it scares me. Hopefully we start winning ASAP...

[@1smoothdoc]

I think the top 4 French players, Sarr , Risacher, Salaun, Dadiet will be amongst the top 8 players in this draft, in 2-3 years! Richard, the deficiencies you mentioned for Risacher and Dadiet, as well as Sarr and Salaun, are all fixable through hard work, discipline, training and ability to learn. So it’s up to the individual player’s mental mindset!! (Which is done through interviews, something that we “draftniks” have no access to)

[@Clickgoesthebrick2558]

how do you determine which players will be euro stash players? or is it a post draft thing?

[@LockedOnNBABigBoard]

draft position + NBA readiness from evaluations. Sometimes intel/reports too

[@Clickgoesthebrick2558]

@@LockedOnNBABigBoard do you think guys like pacome and armel traore are likely euro stash guys?

[@Skygooose]

Pacome is my dude this year. Easy top 10 guy for me.

[@BrysonCummings-to2si]

He may not even go in the first round

[@Skygooose]

@@BrysonCummings-to2si cool story

[@toomuchmollie]

He didn’t get hurt at the NBA combine.

[@nazcraz11]

Yeah, I was confused by that part too. Maybe he meant that he got hurt in a Euroleague game while the NBA combine was going on?

[@justinbires6283]

@@nazcraz11i think he means that the Europe NBA draft combine happened and thats where his injury was announced

[@LockedOnNBABigBoard]

ah i listened back and was like no way i said that. Then i heard it back and yep that was poorly worded. He got hurt while the combine was happening is what i meant to say. Good catch

[@valis14]

Yikes, hopefully Brian Wright/R.C. Buford steer way clear of Topic. Think what Stayman is overlooking is how tough Pop is on point guards, how long it takes for him to trust them. Tony Parker was the exception; everyone else spent 2-3 years on the bench, from Joseph to DJ to White. If Topic can't play this entire year, that means he's going to be down the depth chart and not ready to contribute significant minutes until 2 years from now and that's way down the Victor timeline. The Spurs have three -- yes three! -- 1st round draft picks next year, which is much deeper class: their own, Chicago's 1st (top 10 protected) and Atlanta's 1st (unprotected). The playing time for Topic just won't be there if he's not around this year and that's not accounting for the Spurs love of Tre Jones (especially as backup), and have invested a ton of time/development in Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley, who both played 90% of the backup point guard minutes last year. They'll need to find minutes for those guys too. Malaki got multiple starts at point because the Spurs don't have a heliocentric offense, the kind that a non-shooter like Topic is suited to run. In fact, a player like Topic is just going to be taking away assists from Victor, who will be handling the ball even more as a creator next year and he needs guys who can cash his passes, preferably from behind the arc. With their 8th pick, if the Spurs keep it, I see them taking a flier on Salaun if he's available, as he checks all the boxes of that project player at a position they can be patient for.

[@Clickgoesthebrick2558]

I low-key like Ariel huckporti. Old style big man but fun regardless

[@Skygooose]

I'm confused when you said learn from the Sixers mistakes of not drafting overlap. It worked out for them, they got Embiid. If they cared about overlap they would have gotten Noel and passed on Embiid.

[@usernumbereighteen]

I may be wrong but I think he meant that multiple guys at the same position may struggle for playing time while developing

[@LockedOnNBABigBoard]

@@usernumbereighteen correct, that's what I was trying to say but may not have been clear

[@zachras9643]

I think Utah would take topic if he fell to 10

[@ccdccd8615]

Final comment. This is not an international player in the sense he is playing overseas, but why has the talk about Missi stopped???

[@LockedOnNBABigBoard]

We'll do an episode about him! I (Rich) love his game and don't understand why after a good combine his stock seemed to fizzle

[@sarahmccoy1941]

How far does Nikola Topic fall because of his ACL tear?

[@ccdccd8615]

Best guess is Topic is top 20 with the injury. There are 5 top guards in this draft: Reed Sheppard, Castle, Dillingham, Devin Carter and Topic. Of this group, only 2 are PGs (3 if you believe Castle wants to play PG). Also, if you believe the mock drafts, 2-3 of these guards will go in the top 10. So outside the top 10 draft selections, you will probably have 2-3 top guards left and no more than 2 who played PG in college or overseas. Topic will slip, but not that much. I’d be surprised if he was still on the board at 20.

[@ccdccd8615]

Correction: the PGs are Dilly, Topic and Carter (not counting Castle who play PG in high school)

[@ccdccd8615]

Risacher at 6??? Why wouldn’t SA take him at 4??? SA needs a PG and a wing!

[@WembysCastle]

If Zaccharie Risacher is at 4 no way we are passing on him. If he isn't Spurs at 4 - Stephon Castle Spurs at 8 - Tidjane Salaun

[@ccdccd8615]

@@WembysCastle Agree 100%!!!. If Risacher is available at 4, taking him is a no-brainer. Risacher and Salaun are the two top wings that can shoot AND defend. Between the two, Risacher is the more finished product and should be able to start next season. Salaun is likely to take more time to develop. Top 10 players need to be able to step in and contribute immediately which makes Risacher an automatic choice at 4 if he is still on the board. Also agree with your picks at 4 and 8 if Risacher is off the board. Castle is big and he can play 1-3. Calling card is defense, but this shot isn’t broken. Not likely to start at PG next season, but his size and defensive skills will get him on the court immediately. Salaun is the other wing besides Risacher who can shoot and defend. Taking Castle at 4 means SA has to take a wing who can score and at the very least, is not a defensive liability. Salaun meets SA’s needs and is likely to be there at 8. Not as polished a player as I would ideally want, but he has a big upside. Salaun may not start next season, but his offense will get him on the court: SA desperately needs a scoring wing. If SA gets both of these players, IMHO the team had a solid draft with players who should make the team much better next season. Add a few key veteran role players and I see no reason why SA should be no worse than a play-in team and perhaps a playoff team is things go well. Exciting times for SA fans.

[@WembysCastle]

@@ccdccd8615 agreed . So another option for the Spurs. If Risacher is available at 4. We take Risacher, And if Charlotte takes Castle at 6. I would actually love to see my Spurs do something like this: Zaccharie Risacher at 4 Tidjane Salaun at 8 Then Trade Keldon, Malaki, Zach or Devonte and Chicago top 10 protected first round pick 2025 , Charlotte pick lottery protected 2025 , For an established PG. Example: Darius Garland, Af Simons, etc That way Sochan can be our Defensive Sixth man off the bench (Sochan was a 6th man in college) our bench defense sucks. Possible lineup PG: Darius Garland/ whatever PG we get SG: Devin Vassel SF: Zaccharie Risacher PF: Jeremy Sochan/ Tidjane Salaun C: Victor Wembanyama 6th: Jeremy Sochan/Tidjane Salaun Bench players to fill out in free agency: KCP, DEATHONY MELTON, ISAIAH HARKENSTEIN, ETC .

[@PodiumTuningRacing]

​@@WembysCastle That's my draft win scenario, Castle and Tidjuan. Love what each bring!

[@ccdccd8615]

@@WembysCastle This is one of the other options and it makes a lot of sense. SA needs more vet leadership and you know what you are getting with a vet PG (certainly more so than going with any player who has not been in the NBA). If I were the GM and decided to go this way, I’d try to make the trade for a vet PG prior to the draft as that would make clear what you need in the draft. The trade might also require one of SA’s picks. If you pick 2 wings in the draft as you have, now you really have to make a trade for a PG. The other option floating around the internet is trading 4 and 8 to get Atlanta’s No 1 pick and taking Sarr. I see Sarr in the NBA as more of a big mobile 4 than a 5. Sarr improves the defense but does not have the shot you would want. SA would probably still need an offensive wing and this does nothing for your PG needs. Personally, I think SA has too many immediate needs for this to make sense. Anyway, SA has lots of options.

[@ccdccd8615]

Disagree with SA taking Topic with the 8th pick. SA is trying to get better now because Wemby is so good. From what what I have heard, SA wants to be no worse than a play-in team NEXT YEAR. Topic is dropping out of the top ten.

[@sarahmccoy1941]

With the injury.

[@ccdccd8615]

@@sarahmccoy1941 Of course. Take away the injury and he is a top 5 player, even though a relatively flat shot and lack of finishes above the rim concern me at the NBA level.

[@HelloThere-lo3qi]

You mean SA fans 😂 even wemby said he s not skipping step, yall have to chill next season wemby is 21 years old “21”.. and we legit are 1 or 2 roleplayer away from playin spot, id rather take risk with topic + we have 2 picks

[@tyandbrand]

I think Topic doesn't get past Utah if he gets to 10.

[@damonmd3]

Dang this changes my mock completely. If Risacher Is still on the board i think the Spurs take him. If not i think they try to trade down. My mock had them taking Klintman with the 8th pick and still like his fit along Wemby so i'd try and nab him one way or the other . I think Castle slides and the spurs try to trade back to 15 with miami and take Topic there. Heck maybe they gan find a way to Hero and Klintman . I think both would be solid wings that would benifit from Wemby's gravity.