College basketball and 2017 draft - One more poll after last game

[Kerrsed]

Read on Twitter

I like how their actual mock has us taking Jackson over Ball.

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

I like how their actual mock has us taking Jackson over Ball.

I just realized that was from March 3rd. I don't know why they would tweet that right now. I was going to go through all the sites the other day and show who it had us taking, and had noticed this one wasn't updated. Every single one I looked at, at the time, had us taking Jackson at 3, and this one at #2.

[Phnxsports]

I have never been a Lonzo Ball guy but this just makes it that much worse for whoever takes him. This is hilarious.

http://amp.usatoday.com/story/99126082/

[kennydorglas]

I have never been a Lonzo Ball guy but this just makes it that much worse for whoever takes him. This is hilarious.

http://amp.usatoday.com/story/99126082/

Yep, no thanks for Lonzo and his brothers.

[Zelaznyrules]

I have never been a Lonzo Ball guy but this just makes it that much worse for whoever takes him. This is hilarious.

http://amp.usatoday.com/story/99126082/

Yep, no thanks for Lonzo and his brothers.

I'm really torn. I think there's a pretty good chance he'll be the best player in this class and IMO there's virtually no chance that he won't be better than Fultz or Jackson. But his dad? I don't want any part of him and if your interviews don't convince you that you can separate the son from The Mouth, I'd seriously consider passing too. And by pass I mean trade him to the Lakers for their number 3 pick this season and a future number 1 (two of them if they'll bite).

[8on]

I think we wasted a high pick on Knight. Sure our highest pick we didn't got for Noel and instead went for Len. Of course we took Booker, when our apparent top choices, Kaminsky and WCS were off the board. There really wasn't anyone worth taking over Warren with that pick. But yeah, we did got with Bender over Murray last year.

i will reprise my role as Knight Apologist (should have been my official title) one more time.

he was 23 years old, he was coming off a very good season with Milwaukee in which he shot 40% from 3. he was very interesting and possibly a very good defensive player in the making, which is the direction we wanted to go in for good reason.

we whiffed. i would do it again, because i didn't have the information (i.e. that we would eventually draft Devin Booker) at that time.

so we drafted Devin Booker. i'm happy. we have the opportunity to draft Lonzo Ball or perhaps even Fultz this summer, meaning we'll probably get what we can get for EB. that's great. we're in a great position.

we didn't need the pick. those Miami picks from the Dragic trade are going to be hot fire as soon as 2018. we have picks and prospects out the wazoo. Booker isn't helping us win (yet), and Booker and Bled aren't enough (yet). We're in a good situation, probably better than any team not named Golden State or Cleveland. we do have a shot at a title.....one day. while Minnesota peaks too early and Portland and Charlotte peaked last year, we'll peak when we're ready.

that's got to be worth something.

[Phnxsports]

I have never been a Lonzo Ball guy but this just makes it that much worse for whoever takes him. This is hilarious.

http://amp.usatoday.com/story/99126082/

Yep, no thanks for Lonzo and his brothers.

I'm really torn. I think there's a pretty good chance he'll be the best player in this class and IMO there's virtually no chance that he won't be better than Fultz or Jackson. But his dad? I don't want any part of him and if your interviews don't convince you that you can separate the son from The Mouth, I'd seriously consider passing too. And by pass I mean trade him to the Lakers for their number 3 pick this season and a future number 1 (two of them if they'll bite).

Im on the other side of the fence. I think Ball will be a complete bust. His shot is broken and he really isn't very athletic. His stats just aren't that impressive to me. When he plays half court offense he really is very average and his defense is way below average to me. No killer instinct at all. Can't stand him.

[bwgood77]

I have never been a Lonzo Ball guy but this just makes it that much worse for whoever takes him. This is hilarious.

http://amp.usatoday.com/story/99126082/

Yep, no thanks for Lonzo and his brothers.

I'm really torn. I think there's a pretty good chance he'll be the best player in this class and IMO there's virtually no chance that he won't be better than Fultz or Jackson. But his dad? I don't want any part of him and if your interviews don't convince you that you can separate the son from The Mouth, I'd seriously consider passing too. And by pass I mean trade him to the Lakers for their number 3 pick this season and a future number 1 (two of them if they'll bite).

IF we moved up to #2 with the draw pushing LA to 3rd, there is pretty much zero chance they'd give swap picks AND give up a future first for him. There are at minimum one or two other players that probably make more sense for them anyway, considering the fact that Russell looks like a far better prospect than Ingram.

Obviously there is that chance that Magic, wanting to bring back Showtime, would really want Ball, but that would be crazy to give up another first to move up 1 spot with other premier players available.

[sunsbum]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18901427/lavar-ball-seeks-combined-1-billion-shoe-deal-three-sons


A billion for a kid who hasn't left college, the middle brother is going to be out of summer league before it starts not to mention 4 years of college, and if the third twirp doesn't have a growth spurt he wont be much either. 70$ hats LMFAO. I would hate to draft ball just because I'd have to see his dad and that stupid logo for the next ten years of my life.

[Mulhollanddrive]

He flunked against Arizona, if you take away the narrative where he takes credit for all the wins and ignore the losses, he's not close to the best player this draft.

[MrMiyagi]

He flunked against Arizona, if you take away the narrative where he takes credit for all the wins and ignore the losses, he's not close to the best player this draft.

I like to think that Lauri Markannen was aiming for Lonzo's thumb, and hit his mark.

[blee732]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/page/QTP_170313LaVarBallClaimsHeCouldBeatMichaelJordan/lavar-ball-claims-kill-michael-jordan-one-one-back-heyday

I was on the Lonzo train for a while, but after this and the other recent comments, I'm fully off.

I know this is kinda messed up, but I'm genuinely rooting against Lonzo Ball (and his brothers) now just to embarrass his dad.

[MrMiyagi]

I know there's a lot of worry surrounding Lonzo's dad, but part of me watched that short about the Ball family and I couldn't help but think that Lonzo doesn't care for any of that crap, which could cut two ways - he'll let his dad run his off-court stuff and it'll alienate the franchise that drafts him, or he'll cut the cord and handle his own business.

A lot of the teams that'll draft him have young men who are navigating the NBA business on their own. I'd imagine that seeing that will have some impact on him. I don't think he'll go wild with bad habits like some kids with overbearing fathers, but I could see him separate himself from his dad as he plays professionally.

[Villalobos]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18901427/lavar-ball-seeks-combined-1-billion-shoe-deal-three-sons

LaVar Ball has a price for his sons: $1 billion.

The father of UCLA guard Lonzo Ball and his brothers LiAngelo and LaMelo, high schoolers who are also committed to the Bruins, said he's looking for a packaged shoe deal involving his three sons that would be worth $1 billion.

"A billion dollars, it has to be there," Ball told USA Today in an article published Monday. "That's our number, a billion, straight out of the gate. And you don't even have to give it to me all up front. Give us $100 million a year."

LaVar said last month that if Lonzo didn't sign with Nike, Adidas or Under Armour when he left college for the NBA, he would sign with the Big Baller Brand.

LaVar filed for the trademark to the phrase last year, and was granted the trademark last week for use on athletic apparel. Ball is still waiting for the trademark to the actual logo, which features three "B's" for the sons and the motto "Built For This."

Poor kids.

[MrMiyagi]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18901427/lavar-ball-seeks-combined-1-billion-shoe-deal-three-sons

LaVar Ball has a price for his sons: $1 billion.

The father of UCLA guard Lonzo Ball and his brothers LiAngelo and LaMelo, high schoolers who are also committed to the Bruins, said he's looking for a packaged shoe deal involving his three sons that would be worth $1 billion.

"A billion dollars, it has to be there," Ball told USA Today in an article published Monday. "That's our number, a billion, straight out of the gate. And you don't even have to give it to me all up front. Give us $100 million a year."

LaVar said last month that if Lonzo didn't sign with Nike, Adidas or Under Armour when he left college for the NBA, he would sign with the Big Baller Brand.

LaVar filed for the trademark to the phrase last year, and was granted the trademark last week for use on athletic apparel. Ball is still waiting for the trademark to the actual logo, which features three "B's" for the sons and the motto "Built For This."

Poor kids.

See, this looks like the alienation won't be between Lonzo and whatever franchise gets him, but Lonzo and his Dad. Off court branding is the where LaVar is seeing green. Lonzo will probably be sick of him saying stupid **** like this, affecting potential deals with Nike, Under Armor, and Adidas which'll hurt LONZO's revenue. He'll be hearing guys talking sponsor money once he gets into the league, and he'll want in on that. I doubt "BBB" is very lucrative, and certainly not scaleable. Put "BBB" in front of Mark Cuban on Shark Tank, and I doubt he'd get anyone to partner with him. It's just a brand name. T-Shirts and hats are easy to order from a company to slap a logo on, but you can't do that with shoes, and it'll cost a lot of money to get into that game if you want to compete with the sneaker giants.

Franchises can only do so much given the CBA, there really is no trouble to cause there. Once Lonzo starts seeing how much money he's not getting, he'll start to re-evaluate his dad's business savvy and start to make decisions on his own.

[Mulhollanddrive]

With a dad like that he's gonna spend all his NBA money on drugs to escape him.

[jcsunsfan]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18901427/lavar-ball-seeks-combined-1-billion-shoe-deal-three-sons

LaVar Ball has a price for his sons: $1 billion.

The father of UCLA guard Lonzo Ball and his brothers LiAngelo and LaMelo, high schoolers who are also committed to the Bruins, said he's looking for a packaged shoe deal involving his three sons that would be worth $1 billion.

"A billion dollars, it has to be there," Ball told USA Today in an article published Monday. "That's our number, a billion, straight out of the gate. And you don't even have to give it to me all up front. Give us $100 million a year."

LaVar said last month that if Lonzo didn't sign with Nike, Adidas or Under Armour when he left college for the NBA, he would sign with the Big Baller Brand.

LaVar filed for the trademark to the phrase last year, and was granted the trademark last week for use on athletic apparel. Ball is still waiting for the trademark to the actual logo, which features three "B's" for the sons and the motto "Built For This."

Poor kids.

See, this looks like the alienation won't be between Lonzo and whatever franchise gets him, but Lonzo and his Dad. Off court branding is the where LaVar is seeing green. Lonzo will probably be sick of him saying stupid **** like this, affecting potential deals with Nike, Under Armor, and Adidas which'll hurt LONZO's revenue. He'll be hearing guys talking sponsor money once he gets into the league, and he'll want in on that. I doubt "BBB" is very lucrative, and certainly not scaleable. Put "BBB" in front of Mark Cuban on Shark Tank, and I doubt he'd get anyone to partner with him. It's just a brand name. T-Shirts and hats are easy to order from a company to slap a logo on, but you can't do that with shoes, and it'll cost a lot of money to get into that game if you want to compete with the sneaker giants.

Franchises can only do so much given the CBA, there really is no trouble to cause there. Once Lonzo starts seeing how much money he's not getting, he'll start to re-evaluate his dad's business savvy and start to make decisions on his own.

This is Lonzo's money. It's his career. Where does a dad get off trying to cash in on his kid like this.

[NTB]

Read on Twitter

[carey]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18901427/lavar-ball-seeks-combined-1-billion-shoe-deal-three-sons



Poor kids.

See, this looks like the alienation won't be between Lonzo and whatever franchise gets him, but Lonzo and his Dad. Off court branding is the where LaVar is seeing green. Lonzo will probably be sick of him saying stupid **** like this, affecting potential deals with Nike, Under Armor, and Adidas which'll hurt LONZO's revenue. He'll be hearing guys talking sponsor money once he gets into the league, and he'll want in on that. I doubt "BBB" is very lucrative, and certainly not scaleable. Put "BBB" in front of Mark Cuban on Shark Tank, and I doubt he'd get anyone to partner with him. It's just a brand name. T-Shirts and hats are easy to order from a company to slap a logo on, but you can't do that with shoes, and it'll cost a lot of money to get into that game if you want to compete with the sneaker giants.

Franchises can only do so much given the CBA, there really is no trouble to cause there. Once Lonzo starts seeing how much money he's not getting, he'll start to re-evaluate his dad's business savvy and start to make decisions on his own.

This is Lonzo's money. It's his career. Where does a dad get off trying to cash in on his kid like this.

Do you have kids? Honest question. I don't like his attitude but half the reason this kid is in this position is the work his dad put in to get him there. Yes he is talented but the rest is work & a lot of that falls on the parents. I do think this goes beyond advocating for his sons but i don't see any difference in what he does and what another company does. Only where the money is going.

[MrMiyagi]

Do you have kids? Honest question. I don't like his attitude but half the reason this kid is in this position is the work his dad put in to get him there. Yes he is talented but the rest is work & a lot of that falls on the parents. I do think this goes beyond advocating for his sons but i don't see any difference in what he does and what another company does. Only where the money is going.

I think there's a difference between advocating for you kids and their desires and having their lives planned out for them. It's kind of a blurred line in (we can't really know the full picture) this case. LaVar talked about wanting his sons to be in the NBA and planned a lot of his own decisions to achieve that. Now I'm not saying these kids don't/didn't want to play in the NBA, but this whole "This is what you're going to do" aspect coming from his dad seems to be rather self-serving. He says he doesn't need the money as he has a nice house in a good location, but the emphasis he keeps putting on money, making demands of companies before discussions can even happen is ridiculous. I can see Lonzo being at a meeting with Nike, his dad in tow, getting a rich sneaker deal put in front of him and his dad raising hell about it not being enough. It doesn't seem to cross LaVar's mind you've got to prove your worth in the business world, just like in basketball.

Now, it might be a purposeful gambit in order to get companies to up their offers knowing that it cannot possibly be a billion dollar deal, but he hasn't demonstrated that, and the $60 merchandise for "Big Baller Brand" is pretty damning evidence for a lack of business savvy.