Ayo makes All Rookie 2nd team

[Jo Jo English]

Now get in the guy, Ayo. All summer long.

Lol. Try not to get into too many guys. He still needs some time to work on his game.

GYM! GYM! I meant to type gym!

[CjayC]

Great pick. I love everything about this kid. Looking forward to seeing how he improves his game.

[kulaz3000]

I love Ayo, and couldn't be happier he is on our team and I honestly wish him nothing but success because he seems like an incredible kid with a great family behind him. But with that said, if there were a blockbuster trade possibility where we acquire a big asset, and the team wanted him, I wouldn't think twice about putting him in the deal. He is probably one of our best assets right now, and I would definitely gauge how strong of an interest he has around the league.

[DuckIII]

I love Ayo, and couldn't be happier he is on our team and I honestly wish him nothing but success because he seems like an incredible kid with a great family behind him. But with that said, if there were a blockbuster trade possibility where we acquire a big asset, and the team wanted him, I wouldn't think twice about putting him in the deal. He is probably one of our best assets right now, and I would definitely gauge how strong of an interest he has around the league.

Absolutely no doubt about it. I’m one of his biggest supporters but he’s not gonna be a superstar. You don’t even think twice about including him as significant sweetener in an impact trade.

But other than that, I’d not be in a big hurry to move him. He’s got a lot more in his bag offensively than he’s shown.

[League Circles]

I've lost a lot of my cba knowledge in recent years. What exactly is the deal with his contract and our rights relative to him? RFA next summer no matter what? Can we match any offer with bird or early bird rights or whatever?

[sco]

I've lost a lot of my cba knowledge in recent years. What exactly is the deal with his contract and our rights relative to him? RFA next summer no matter what? Can we match any offer with bird or early bird rights or whatever?

I think you have it right. The wrinkle is the impact of a poison pill offer on our cap. For a variety of reasons, I'd love him to be in a reserve role next season and not boost his market value so high that someone is willing to poison pill us for him.

He's such a PR boost to this team, I think the FO would be hard pressed to trade him, but I would if it brought in a starting caliber PF or C.

[chicago paxsons]

Great for him! With how he played this season he definitely deserved it.

[dice]

I've lost a lot of my cba knowledge in recent years. What exactly is the deal with his contract and our rights relative to him? RFA next summer no matter what? Can we match any offer with bird or early bird rights or whatever?

I think you have it right. The wrinkle is the impact of a poison pill offer on our cap. For a variety of reasons, I'd love him to be in a reserve role next season and not boost his market value so high that someone is willing to poison pill us for him.

He's such a PR boost to this team, I think the FO would be hard pressed to trade him, but I would if it brought in a starting caliber PF or C.

there's a strong possibility that maxing out zach will cost us ayo even if he's coming off the bench

[dice]

Read on Twitter

they just went with the top 5 in PPG for first team

herb jones got hosed. should've been first team. green was awful for most of the season, doesn't play a lick of defense, and shouldn't have been on either first or second team. voters were going on potential with that one

cunningham was even worse offensively for most of the season, so i wouldn't have him on the first team either. but i have less of a problem with that one given that he plays some D

[Repeat 3-peat]

Read on Twitter

[CjayC]

Read on Twitter

Looking smooth. Hope his work will translate.

[Almost Retired]

One thing I like about Ayo is that he's got that unquantifiable hunger to be the best player he can be. He's got a chip on his shoulder over lasting until the 2nd Round, even though he landed in the best possible place with the injuries we suffered last year. He got much more playing time as a Rookie than probably any other 2nd round pick, even more than a lot of the First rounders drafted ahead of him. He is going to continue to improve year after year. He's a solid character kid. He knows he can change the entire arc of his family's future if he succeeds. And he will.

[sco]

One thing I like about Ayo is that he's got that unquantifiable hunger to be the best player he can be. He's got a chip on his shoulder over lasting until the 2nd Round, even though he landed in the best possible place with the injuries we suffered last year. He got much more playing time as a Rookie than probably any other 2nd round pick, even more than a lot of the First rounders drafted ahead of him. He is going to continue to improve year after year. He's a solid character kid. He knows he can change the entire arc of his family's future if he succeeds. And he will.

I liked what I saw for a while then he either hit the wall (best case) or teams figured him out. I'm really not sure if he has anything more than a rotation player ceiling. I also feel like his hype was amplified much more than it would have been if he were drafted in the 20's...in other words, was he just plain good, good for a rookie, or good for a 2nd round pick? The perceptions were all over the place. I am looking forward to seeing him in the bench PG next season with more scoring and playmaking responsibilities, with Caruso playing secondary playmaker and defensive leader.

[MrSparkle]

Reasonable goals for significant improvement:

- Add 2-4 3P attempts and 1-2 makes per game (needs higher volume- way too much hesitation)

- Improve FT draw and % (0.7/1.0 doesn’t cut it)

Really, just tentative play on the whole. He had his hot nights, but pretty much a quiet/lackluster offensive game every 2 out of 3.

If he becomes a 3P threat, his game would really round out. He has nice all-around scoring and passin ability, but he doesn’t have the handles to put defenders on ice. Must shoot more than his 2.4 3PAs per game to open up the floor for himself (and still make atleast 37%). Him and Coby should be averaging atleast 5-6 threes each.

I kinda feel like his and Coby’s rises and dives were really what did us in, considering they had to step up with injuries. They’re young so you hope/expect more consistency with experience. But it can’t be understated: both guys veered between very nice games and negative game scores (totally horrible performance for guards).

IMO you keep them for the long haul and let them develop, unless a great offer comes around. I am at the point where neither’s extension should be worth that much, but if their price explodes, then that’s a good problem to have (ala Brunson).

[DuckIII]

but he doesn’t have the handles to put defenders on ice.

That’s a vague standard so I’m not entirely sure what you mean, but he absolutely does have a sufficient handle to get his shot in isolation at an NBA level.

“On skates” like Kyrie, Steph, J-Crossover, etc.? Definitely not nor will he ever. He doesn’t have a star player ceiling. But he has all the chops to be a capable 3-level scorer with the ball in his hands

Like with Pat (though Pat’s ceiling is significantly higher), his role on this veteran team with an established top 3 scoring options it’s going to show itself more slowly than fans might like.

[DuckIII]

I also feel like his hype was amplified much more than it would have been if he were drafted in the 20's...in other words, was he just plain good, good for a rookie, or good for a 2nd round pick?

Considering he made all rookie second team in a year with a historically loaded draft the second two things are clearly true and all three can be true at once.

As for the hype being impacted by draft position there is no doubt. But that speaks far more to this fan base’s ignorance of his game than anything else. Ayo was a late teens/low 20s quality draft prospect. Had he been drafted at a spot consistent with his actual quality as a prospect, the hype would have been lower because the Bulls fans who didn’t know really anything about Ayo other than his draft position would have expected what he in fact delivered and not have been so surprised. That surprise factor undoubtedly inflated the hype.

[fleet]

Read on Twitter

Looking smooth. Hope his work will translate.

Ah yes, the oft seen, offseason workout hype video.

[dice]

Read on Twitter

Looking smooth. Hope his work will translate.

Ah yes, the oft seen, offseason workout hype video.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[MrSparkle]

Looking smooth. Hope his work will translate.

Ah yes, the oft seen, offseason workout hype video.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

I still find it very funny that the one time we got zero hype about a player’s summer training montage, our prospect exploded into an all star (Jimmy summer 2014).

No internet and cable FTW.

[kodo]

Read on Twitter

Looking smooth. Hope his work will translate.

Ah yes, the oft seen, offseason workout hype video.

The part I'm most excited for is that he'll be wearing a stocking cap during games next season.