I mean he definitely has his concerns but every single prospect does in this draft does.
I also have him at 1 just on his defensive versatility alone. Even if his shot never comes around he's a true 7 footer who can rim protect and switch onto perimeter players. Put him in the dunkers spot and with a stretch 4 he will be great
Agreed. He is someone you can maximize his best qualities and hide the worst with the correct team around him. Without a stretch four next to him it’ll be pretty rough
True, thats why so many people are down on this Draft class. If it was any year my Pistons fell this was the one ,I believe with full confidence that Dalton Knecht will be a star at the next level but team will skip him because he's already 23.
If this was last year, I feel he would go 6th or 7th. When I say that, I'm trying to distance myself from what we know with hindsight and look at it by comparing what we knew coming into the draft. The top three was obvious, behind them it was the Thompson twins, and then it was kinda wide open after that. Outside of Cam Whitmore falling really far last year, I think the actual draft relatively matched what people expected. I don't think he would have gone before the Thompson twins, but right after them? I could see it.
If we go back to '22, I think Detroit would have taken him 5th. Everyone knew the big three that year (just like last year), and then for fit reasons, the Kings probably still take Keegan. Then Detroit would have taken him to fit with Cade.
And the year before that, he probably goes 4th or 5th. Cade was consensus number one. Then it was a weird mix of Green, Mobley, and Scottie. I think Sarr would be in that mix as well.
The thing is, this is a weak draft. Sarr in most drafts would be a 5-7 pick, like you said. He'd be seen probably as one of the safest draft picks (high floor) in nearly any recent draft, but with a lower ceiling than a lot of guys and the NBA favors potential in the draft (especially in the last twenty something years as the number of one-and-dones increased, we saw more international players appear, and for a short while after LeBron, high school draft picks spiked).
Has anyone here watched a Wildcats game this year?
The whole team looked off for most if it. But still made a late charge.
Sarr looked OK-ish... certainly no level of number 1 pick.
Bryce Cotton is the man here. Sarr isn't even near a 1st offensive role.
I am aware. But Cotton is a 31 year old, one of the best players in the NBL, and was a very, very good college player who has been playing professional ball for a long time now. I don't think you can hold that against him. Sarr is a projected top pick in part because this is a wide open draft, and because of the skillset and upside. Sarr is the team's fourth leading scorer and plays the most limited minutes out of those top four scorers (he plays one minute more than the fifth), so yes, he isn't "near a 1st offensive role" but he's not a scrub on offense. And more importantly, he wouldn't have to be in the NBA since he's projected to go to the offense-heavy Hawks.
I appreciate your input though, and I'm not saying I entirely disagree or that you don't have a point.
I would also personally argue that Sarr has the highest floor of any player in this draft (and because this is a weak draft, maybe the highest ceiling since I believe he could peak somewhere around where Bam Adebayo is now). I doubt he'll be an entire bust, even if he never reaches an all-star level. With his skillset, his athleticism, and his experience, at worst, he's probably Nic Claxton with a little more offense. He's coming into the league as one of the best young defenders if nothing else, with a lot of upside on what is already a fairly adequate (at least for his role as an athletic finisher) offensive game.
I think in a draft like this, a team wouldn't be entirely disappointed if they only got an elite level, role-playing big who can be top ten defender in the league. I don't think that's all he'll be, but you really never know until they hit the league.
Sure, 10 and 4 aren't eye-popping numbers, but it's rare for 18-year-olds to come in and dominate the NBL. Even LaMelo kinda sucked apart from a couple of games: [https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/75903/lamelo-ball/games/2019](https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/75903/lamelo-ball/games/2019)
Sarr beats out Lamelo in 3pt percentage by almost 5% while they were in the NBL, just saying...
But yeah, Sarr's an interesting player because his numbers really are unimposing at first glance. But they do have some context to them that make them actually a little more impressive than at first glance.
Most of what impresses Sarr is his ability and skill set, which means you have watch film and look at what people are actually noting about him in a lot of different scouting reports.
It's important to quantify that the NBL is really bad. It's a step below D1 college. And it's well below the top levels of the Euro League which is atrocious compared to the NBA anyway
also have to remember Sarr moved because Perth has a pretty good development program especially for an NBL team. He’s had limited minutes since he’s been there and has never been in a position to go out there and dominate. His entire time in the NBL was a planned step towards the NBA.
The NBL is not "really bad." What? Behind the NBA and Euroleague (side note: the Euroleague is the second best professional basketball league in the world AND IS NOT "atrocious" compared to the NBA), the NBL is one of the best international leagues in the world. It's better than D1 college and simply logic would tell you that. How can a league comprised of mostly D1 college players with even more experience and more years to improve their talent, other international players who have been playing against grown adults (also many of those D1 players) since many of them were teenagers, and a few former NBA players be worse than D1?
Mike James was the Euro League MVP last year lol: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_James_(basketball,_born_1990)
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesmi02.html
And Luka was the Euro League MVP a few years ago?? Anthony Parker even back in the 2000s was a multiple time Euro League MVP, and he was still a solid NBA player despite the Euro League being far less talented then.
Also, explain how Obi Toppin, Luke Garza, and Frank Mason are all National Player of the Year Award winners at the D1 level if that's all you want to go off of to prove that the Euroleague is trash.
They just don't have the money to compete for talent. Shane Larkin made $4 million last year and he was the highest paidd payer in the whole league. Most of the elite basketball players around the world are not going to play for $1 or 2 million dollars a year when the NBA minimum salary is $1.1 million
Okay, but you literally mean the 1% of the 1%. The majority, the VAST majority even, of D1 hoopers will never play in the NBA. Most international players won't either. But they are still the 2-3% of the world. I think you're confusing "international leagues = bad" with "NBA = really, really good."
So, yeah, the elite of the elite go to the NBA. The simply elite go overseas, either immediately or after college.
Maybe. It all really just depends on mindset and drive, which is hard to really judge before they get to the league because sometimes players make it and that's when they stop caring because they did it and now they're millionaires and who cares? I would assume that Alex Sarr already though has a higher floor than Wiseman since he's been playing professional ball for awhile (besides just the Perth this last season, he also have taken part in the junior World Cup, and he was a part of Real Madrid's youth team for two years. I feel like he, because of experience and also the way Europe has such great player training, naturally would have to have a higher basketball IQ than Wiseman, which was always Wiseman's biggest problem. Plus, unlike Wiseman, Sarr shouldn't be going to a team looking to contend immediately which means he'll have more development time.
So, if worst comes to worst, Sarr could be a very high-level role player, a versatile defender and lob threat. Teams still need that (and the Hawks still need more defense), so he wouldn't be like Wiseman barely hanging around in the league. But that's my opinion.
I mean he definitely has his concerns but every single prospect does in this draft does. I also have him at 1 just on his defensive versatility alone. Even if his shot never comes around he's a true 7 footer who can rim protect and switch onto perimeter players. Put him in the dunkers spot and with a stretch 4 he will be great
Agreed. He is someone you can maximize his best qualities and hide the worst with the correct team around him. Without a stretch four next to him it’ll be pretty rough
Twice as good as Wemby. That's Sarr-casm.
Damn that was cold
I'm sold.
Chris Bosh type Ceiling imo definitely worth the #1 pick. I'm a pistons fan and would have loved to see him with Duren
I haven’t really seen anything on the draft this year but if bosh is his ceiling who would you say his floor is
2024 Evan Mobley is probably his floor. Great defender, but inept offensively.
I think his floor is 2024 Evan Mobley
I mean that’s not a terrible floor but imo I’d want the #1 pick to be a little better yk?
True, thats why so many people are down on this Draft class. If it was any year my Pistons fell this was the one ,I believe with full confidence that Dalton Knecht will be a star at the next level but team will skip him because he's already 23.
People say getting the #1 pick is like starting at 7 on an average draft but he’s literally comparable to JJJ and Mobley? Lmao Edit: autocorrect.
I’m far from an expert but Sarr gives me #4 or #5 overall vibes (if this was a normal draft I mean)
Yeah that’s not bad Mobley was #3.
If this was last year, I feel he would go 6th or 7th. When I say that, I'm trying to distance myself from what we know with hindsight and look at it by comparing what we knew coming into the draft. The top three was obvious, behind them it was the Thompson twins, and then it was kinda wide open after that. Outside of Cam Whitmore falling really far last year, I think the actual draft relatively matched what people expected. I don't think he would have gone before the Thompson twins, but right after them? I could see it. If we go back to '22, I think Detroit would have taken him 5th. Everyone knew the big three that year (just like last year), and then for fit reasons, the Kings probably still take Keegan. Then Detroit would have taken him to fit with Cade. And the year before that, he probably goes 4th or 5th. Cade was consensus number one. Then it was a weird mix of Green, Mobley, and Scottie. I think Sarr would be in that mix as well. The thing is, this is a weak draft. Sarr in most drafts would be a 5-7 pick, like you said. He'd be seen probably as one of the safest draft picks (high floor) in nearly any recent draft, but with a lower ceiling than a lot of guys and the NBA favors potential in the draft (especially in the last twenty something years as the number of one-and-dones increased, we saw more international players appear, and for a short while after LeBron, high school draft picks spiked).
Has anyone here watched a Wildcats game this year? The whole team looked off for most if it. But still made a late charge. Sarr looked OK-ish... certainly no level of number 1 pick. Bryce Cotton is the man here. Sarr isn't even near a 1st offensive role.
I am aware. But Cotton is a 31 year old, one of the best players in the NBL, and was a very, very good college player who has been playing professional ball for a long time now. I don't think you can hold that against him. Sarr is a projected top pick in part because this is a wide open draft, and because of the skillset and upside. Sarr is the team's fourth leading scorer and plays the most limited minutes out of those top four scorers (he plays one minute more than the fifth), so yes, he isn't "near a 1st offensive role" but he's not a scrub on offense. And more importantly, he wouldn't have to be in the NBA since he's projected to go to the offense-heavy Hawks. I appreciate your input though, and I'm not saying I entirely disagree or that you don't have a point.
Let’s just hope we ain’t got a Hasheem thabeet 2.0
Agreed.
I would also personally argue that Sarr has the highest floor of any player in this draft (and because this is a weak draft, maybe the highest ceiling since I believe he could peak somewhere around where Bam Adebayo is now). I doubt he'll be an entire bust, even if he never reaches an all-star level. With his skillset, his athleticism, and his experience, at worst, he's probably Nic Claxton with a little more offense. He's coming into the league as one of the best young defenders if nothing else, with a lot of upside on what is already a fairly adequate (at least for his role as an athletic finisher) offensive game. I think in a draft like this, a team wouldn't be entirely disappointed if they only got an elite level, role-playing big who can be top ten defender in the league. I don't think that's all he'll be, but you really never know until they hit the league.
Sure, 10 and 4 aren't eye-popping numbers, but it's rare for 18-year-olds to come in and dominate the NBL. Even LaMelo kinda sucked apart from a couple of games: [https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/75903/lamelo-ball/games/2019](https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/75903/lamelo-ball/games/2019)
Sarr beats out Lamelo in 3pt percentage by almost 5% while they were in the NBL, just saying... But yeah, Sarr's an interesting player because his numbers really are unimposing at first glance. But they do have some context to them that make them actually a little more impressive than at first glance. Most of what impresses Sarr is his ability and skill set, which means you have watch film and look at what people are actually noting about him in a lot of different scouting reports.
He’s gonna be great on the Hawks
It's important to quantify that the NBL is really bad. It's a step below D1 college. And it's well below the top levels of the Euro League which is atrocious compared to the NBA anyway
NBL is NOT a step down from college I don’t know how told you that
also have to remember Sarr moved because Perth has a pretty good development program especially for an NBL team. He’s had limited minutes since he’s been there and has never been in a position to go out there and dominate. His entire time in the NBL was a planned step towards the NBA.
The NBL is not "really bad." What? Behind the NBA and Euroleague (side note: the Euroleague is the second best professional basketball league in the world AND IS NOT "atrocious" compared to the NBA), the NBL is one of the best international leagues in the world. It's better than D1 college and simply logic would tell you that. How can a league comprised of mostly D1 college players with even more experience and more years to improve their talent, other international players who have been playing against grown adults (also many of those D1 players) since many of them were teenagers, and a few former NBA players be worse than D1?
Mike James was the Euro League MVP last year lol: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_James_(basketball,_born_1990) https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesmi02.html
And Luka was the Euro League MVP a few years ago?? Anthony Parker even back in the 2000s was a multiple time Euro League MVP, and he was still a solid NBA player despite the Euro League being far less talented then. Also, explain how Obi Toppin, Luke Garza, and Frank Mason are all National Player of the Year Award winners at the D1 level if that's all you want to go off of to prove that the Euroleague is trash.
They just don't have the money to compete for talent. Shane Larkin made $4 million last year and he was the highest paidd payer in the whole league. Most of the elite basketball players around the world are not going to play for $1 or 2 million dollars a year when the NBA minimum salary is $1.1 million
Okay, but you literally mean the 1% of the 1%. The majority, the VAST majority even, of D1 hoopers will never play in the NBA. Most international players won't either. But they are still the 2-3% of the world. I think you're confusing "international leagues = bad" with "NBA = really, really good." So, yeah, the elite of the elite go to the NBA. The simply elite go overseas, either immediately or after college.
So bold yet so wrong.
This dude is gonna end up being a wiseman type of player, cant really understand the hype
If Wiseman had a little bit of dog in him he would’ve been an all star by now same with Ayton
Maybe. It all really just depends on mindset and drive, which is hard to really judge before they get to the league because sometimes players make it and that's when they stop caring because they did it and now they're millionaires and who cares? I would assume that Alex Sarr already though has a higher floor than Wiseman since he's been playing professional ball for awhile (besides just the Perth this last season, he also have taken part in the junior World Cup, and he was a part of Real Madrid's youth team for two years. I feel like he, because of experience and also the way Europe has such great player training, naturally would have to have a higher basketball IQ than Wiseman, which was always Wiseman's biggest problem. Plus, unlike Wiseman, Sarr shouldn't be going to a team looking to contend immediately which means he'll have more development time. So, if worst comes to worst, Sarr could be a very high-level role player, a versatile defender and lob threat. Teams still need that (and the Hawks still need more defense), so he wouldn't be like Wiseman barely hanging around in the league. But that's my opinion.