There’s Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP who is arguably the best player in the world. There’s Nikola Jovic, the Miami Heat’s 2022 NBA Draft selection at No. 27 overall, who has become a starting wing. And then there’s Nikola Topic, a 6-foot-6 guard who is one of the best at his position heading into the 2024 NBA Draft, which begins in three weeks on June 26.
Although it was reported Wednesday by ESPN NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Givony that Topic, one of the top 2024 prospects, has a Partially torn ACL in his left knee.
NEWS: Nikola Topic, the projected top-10 NBA draft pick, has a partially torn ACL, his agent, Misko Raznatovic, confirmed to ESPN. The topic is at the NBA Draft Combine in Italy, where he passed the NBA medical exam.
HISTORY: https://t.co/j2NjnE38Kl pic.twitter.com/BqGWygrm9b
– Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 5, 2024
The 18-year-old is a consensus top-3 prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft, according to the NBA Draft Room. large consensus table. He is ranked ahead of potential top 5 picks Reed Sheppard, Donovan Clingan and Zaccharie Risacher, among others.
That begs the question: If he starts to go down due to his injury, should the Heat, who have the No. 15 pick, select him?
I already know your first thought: Why would the Heat, one of the most injured teams last year, who deployed 35 different starting lineups, target another injured player with knee problems?
I understand.
There’s not much clarity on what his recovery timeline looks like. Subject said this week that his knee is not completely healed and he has not started running or practicing with a basketball.
Nikola Topic at the NBA Draft Combine in Treviso, Italy, when asked about his knee injury:
“I’m not 100% cured. I didn’t start running or practice basketball. I’m focusing on rehabilitation, on my body and my knee. pic.twitter.com/xL0JsMzkPy
– Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 4, 2024
This could prevent him from working out with teams before the draft. The prediction was revealed during the international NBA Draft Combine in Italy this week. Topic injured his knee in January before being injured again in May, when his professional team, Red Star, participated in the Adriatic League final (Serbia).
That said: it’s a gamble worth taking, in my opinion, with choice No. 15.
Listed at 6-foot-6, he averaged 18.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.1 assists and one steal on 52.3 percent shooting, including 25.9 percent from 3-point range (4 .5 3PA) and 85.5 percent from the free throw line in 12 games. with KK Mega Basket, where he was loaned for the majority of the 2023-24 season.
Topic is arguably the best pick-and-roll playmaker in this class. He is also very good at attacking the basket, using a range of moves as well as a very good change of pace to get to his spots in the lane. His 3-point shooting could use some development, although his free throw and touch around the rim suggest he could be a capable 3-point threat at the next level.
Topic is a more accomplished prospect than Jovic, who played professionally with Mega Basket for two seasons, was at this point. Topic won two ABA League championships and a Serbian Cup title. He also made the All-ABA League team and was named MVP of the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship after averaging 15.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and two steals with 47.4% shooting and 57.8% true shooting over seven games.
He has one of the highest ceilings in the class, regardless of his injury issues. Indicate. Empty. Period.
There is no guarantee that the topic will not appear in the top 10, let alone in the lottery. The San Antonio Spurs own two top-8 picks (No. 4, 8) while the Portland Trail Blazers own the No. 7 and 14 picks, respectively. Organizations like the Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls, who own the Nos. 6, 10, and 11 picks, respectively, could look to target Topic if it falls outside the top 5, assuming it’s a team from outside the lottery trades. until you catch it.
According to Givonyhis agent, Misko Raznatovic, said he does not expect the injury to have a “major impact” on Topic’s stock due to “his youth and early feedback from U.S. doctors who have examined his MRIs “.
On the one hand, an agent is supposed to protect his client and keep his inventory as high as possible; no agent should publicly admitting that this would affect its stock. Each other, there might be some truth in this statement. We really won’t know until June 26.
However, according to According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, it’s possible that Topic’s injury could affect his placement in the “lottery pecking order.”
“He suffered several knee injuries this season, returned in April before being injured again a few weeks later, and his health appears likely to impact his place in the lottery pecking order,” Courting written last weekscathing the subject goes to number 10 in Utah. “Teams selected in the top 15 will receive their medical examination, in accordance with the NBA’s new collective bargaining rules.
“The subject’s size, basketball IQ and playmaking skills make him an intriguing long-term player and potential pick if he ends up on the back end of the lottery.”
Let’s not forget that the Miami Heat had the third-ranked offense for the second year in a row. If Erik Spoelstra gets his hands on a 6-foot-6 18-year-old – who would have has a 7-foot wingspan lead guard with plenty of upside as a primary shot creator, who knows what his ceiling might be. He already has professional experience and still has room to grow, figuratively and literally.
If Nikola Topic were available at #15, I would probably partially tear my ACL trying to pass the card to Adam Silver. He’s a prospect worth betting on at No. 15, injuries aside.
What would you do if you were the Heat, if they fell out of the lottery?
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