2024 NBA Draft true or false: Donovan Clingan worthy of No. 1 general? Bronny James goes to Lakers at No. 17?

Will the No. 1 decide within the 2024 NBA Draft be the subsequent Anthony Davis or Anthony Bennett? Is the most effective shooter on this 12 months’s class from one blueblood faculty from the Bluegrass State, or a Blue Satan? And is it practical to anticipate two-time Nationwide Participant of the Yr Zach Edey to turn into a starter within the NBA?

We dove into all these — and extra — in a roundtable dialogue beneath answering true or false to a few of this 12 months’s most polarizing evals. CBS Sports activities’ Cameron Salerno and 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein made their circumstances beneath to 5 burning questions I posed in true/false kind — and I submitted my very own responses as nicely.

You may see there’s quite a lot of settlement between us and simply as a lot disagreement, which is to be anticipated in a draft class that is still large open even with us barreling in the direction of the homestretch of the cycle. Every of us view gamers and their respective future and present values in a different way which made for an excellent temperature verify as we get nearer to the draft on June 26.

1. True or false: Donovan Clingan is well worth the No. 1 decide

Finkelstein: On this draft? True. Clingan is actually price exploring and the Hawks are doing simply that. The 2-time nationwide champ has been in to Atlanta and supposedly had an excellent exercise, which has led to hypothesis that Atlanta might discover buying and selling right down to take him, and choosing up one other asset within the course of. That was basically Boston’s transfer again in 2017 when everybody thought Fultz ought to go one, however they favored Tatum. Indiana did one thing comparable final 12 months after they wished Jarace Walker and moved again a spot to take him, once more choosing up one other asset within the course of. 

Boone: True. If I am Atlanta I am not 100% positive he’d be my decide, to be clear. In truth, I view his teammate Stephon Fortress as a better upside swing worthy of being the highest decide forward of Clingan. However the flooring and ceiling case for Clingan is clear: he is an anchor on the again finish of your protection who can change the complexion of how your staff defends and performs. Worst-case he is a beginning middle. Greatest-case he may be some iteration of Rudy Gobert. With some questions on different prime prospects and the way their video games may match within the NBA, Clingan presents security and upside.

Salerno: False. Whereas Clingan is in rivalry to be the highest choice alongside Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher, I do not suppose he is price it. Clingan does not have the upside of Sarr. The Hawks can be silly to go on him. May Clingan be the No. 1 decide when it is all stated and executed? Possibly. He is nearer to the mid-lottery on my large board due to his lack of versatility. He is a defensive-first large, which is okay if you wish to take him in the midst of the lottery (I had him No. 7 in my first mock draft this cycle) however he isn’t worthy of the highest decide.

2. True or false: Stephon Fortress can play level guard within the NBA

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Stephon Fortress

UCONN • G • #5

6-6, 210 lbs

Fortress is reportedly telling NBA groups he solely desires to play level guard on the subsequent degree, regardless of enjoying off the ball as a freshman.

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Finkelstein: False. Can he? Sure, he most likely can. Is that his finest, or most pure, place? No it isn’t. He performed with the ball in his palms in highschool, however was usually UConn’s third ball-handler this 12 months. I’ve by no means thought of him the large level guard that he has been billed as since highschool, however his worth is having excessive versatility on each ends of the ground, in addition to being one of many prime perimeter defenders within the class. 

Boone: True. Though, I feel this can-he, can’t-he debate on Fortress particularly is wasted air. I are inclined to agree with Fink for probably the most half. He is a combo guard who has playmaking potential and profiles as the most effective defenders within the draft. His ceiling final result primarily based on his bodily instruments and expertise is a few model of Jrue Vacation in an excellent world. In the event you can squeeze that out of him and develop Fortress right into a constant taking pictures menace then in hindsight, the controversy on whether or not Fortress was worthwhile of a excessive decide due to his positional versatility may look foolish and shortsighted.

Salerno: False. I do not perceive Fortress’s sturdy want to play level guard within the NBA when he did not play the place in any respect throughout his time at UConn. You see it the opposite manner round (a participant performs PG in faculty and a distinct place within the NBA.) Fortress is without doubt one of the prime defenders in his class and has proven a capability to be a stable distributor, however he is extra of a wing on the subsequent degree. For what it is price, Fortress needs to be the UConn teammate in rivalry for the No. 1 decide.

3. True or false: Reed Sheppard is the most effective shooter within the draft

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Reed Sheppard

UK • G • #15

6-3, 181 lbs

After taking pictures a torrid 52.1% from three-point vary as a freshman, is Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard the draft’s finest long-range sniper?

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Finkelstein: That is a loaded query, particularly for these of us who watched him in highschool, as a result of there is a large hole between the best way he shot it in highschool and the best way he shot it at Kentucky. He was truly round a 33% profession three-point shooter in highschool, so the soar we noticed this 12 months was stunning. So I am going to simply say that I am extra skeptical than most, who solely watched him this 12 months, that he is positively the most effective shooter within the draft. 

Boone: Fink, you my pal are knowledgeable hedger. Spectacular.

I am going to go together with false right here. I feel the most effective shooter within the draft is Duke’s Jared McCain. Sheppard’s numbers are laughably good from final season — one centesimal percentile in soar photographs, 99th percentile in catch and shoot, 99th percentile on dribble jumpers, 52.1% on 3s. It is a joke! However having watched the mechanics on each I feel McCain has the talents to be extra dynamic as a motion shooter.He actually does a superb job of sprinting to his spots, getting sq. and firing. Off the catch he retains it within the taking pictures pocket then unloads. Reed off the catch is not fairly as fast and tends to deliver it down a bit earlier than unleashing. It is nitpicking, clearly, however within the NBA these minor particulars may decide main outcomes.

Salerno: False. I am siding with Boone. It is McCain. Relationship again to his time in highschool and on the AAU circuit, McCain’s best power has been his taking pictures from distance, and he confirmed this season why he is worthy of that distinction. McCain shot 30 of 53 (56.6%) on transition 3-pointers at Duke. The NBA is filled with fast-paced offenses, and that talent will translate. 

4. True or false: Bronny would be the No. 17 decide (or a primary spherical decide)

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Bronny James

USC • G • #6

6-2, 210 lbs

Will LeBron affect the Lakers — or anyone? — to take his son within the first spherical?

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Finkelstein: False. No, Bronny is not going to be a first-round decide. I anticipate he’ll go 55 to the Lakers. He should not be picked sooner than that, and if any group hopes to select him to get LeBron alongside him, I feel Klutch would probably have the ability to discourage that proactively.

Boone: False. The Lakers go a distinct path at No. 17 and Bronny slips out of the primary spherical solely. I are inclined to suppose he nonetheless lands with the Lakers however I would not fault a staff within the 30s or 40s keen to take an opportunity on him with a assured deal. He is acquitted himself nicely as a prospect in the course of the pre-draft course of and is price investing in even after a turbulent one season at USC. 

Salerno: False. Let’s be trustworthy right here. Bronny James goes to be a Los Angeles Laker. I’d be shocked if another state of affairs occurred on draft night time. The Lakers are in win-now mode, so procuring the No. 17 decide is sensible. That will open the door for Los Angeles to pair LeBron along with his son by deciding on Bronny within the second spherical. 

5. True or false: Zach Edey shall be an NBA starter

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Zach Edey

PURDUE • C • #15

7-4, 299 lbs

A historic faculty participant, can Zach Edey’s sport translate to the NBA?

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Finkelstein: False. The probably final result for Edey is a back-up large, principally as a result of he can solely guard ball-screens in drop protection, however I do not suppose it is out of the query if he will get on a staff that performs that protection solely and so they have a chance. He is not a fantastic match for the NBA sport, however his historical past of continued enchancment is one thing we do not discuss sufficient about. 

Boone: False. Edey has been a top-30 prospect on my Massive Board for a 12 months now so to be clear: I consider in his talent set and suppose he shall be a helpful NBA participant. You’ll be able to’t simply ignore his dimension and manufacturing on the highest degree of the game. A few of these expertise will translate. However a few of his weaknesses shall be exacerbated within the NBA, too. He is price a first-round decide and I might anticipate he has a fruitful profession as a rotational middle who produces for stretches and makes spot-starts now and again, however is rarely a full-time starter.

Salerno: False. OK, you’ve got now realized I’ve stated false for all 5 solutions. Edey is probably the most polarizing participant on this class as a result of if you happen to requested 10 individuals the place you suppose he ought to/will get drafted, you’ll get a distinct reply each time. Some elements of his sport ought to translate to the subsequent degree, however I’ve a tough time believing he shall be something however a job participant on the subsequent degree — and that is OK!

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