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I feel like he's seriously gone under the radar. He was a top 10 2022 guy, but was injured his senior year, then had to play off ball more than would be ideal at UCLA. But he was great during the tournament, has solid size with great reach, fluid and explosive athleticism, can be a solid shooter, good finisher, willing defender and he's a really good playmaker. He was a really efficient two-way player as an 18-19 year old guard for a Final Four team. I think he could be one of the better guards from this class. Watch the film.

Pelly24 wrote:

Spoiler:

I feel like he's seriously gone under the radar. He was a top 10 2022 guy, but was injured his senior year, then had to play off ball more than would be ideal at UCLA. But he was great during the tournament, has solid size with great reach, fluid and explosive athleticism, can be a solid shooter, good finisher, willing defender and he's a really good playmaker. He was a really efficient two-way player as an 18-19 year old guard for a Final Four team. I think he could be one of the better guards from this class. Watch the film.

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NBA draft section of RealGM https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewforum.php?f=3

He’s good. I see him in the KCP mold I guess. Probably worth a mid first rounder

He might have been the biggest disappointment last season and he's not ever going to be a starting caliber NBA player imo. I was very wrong about him. He doesn't have elite traits and he's not very skilled. That's not a great combination.

azcatz11 wrote:He’s good. I see him in the KCP mold I guess. Probably worth a mid first rounder

KCP in hindsight would be a Top 5 pick in his draft so if Amari Bailey comes close to being as good as KCP I think he should be a lottery pick.

he's not going unnoticed

he was the #1 pg out of hs, and scouts never forget

BostonCouchGM wrote:He might have been the biggest disappointment last season and he's not ever going to be a starting caliber NBA player imo. I was very wrong about him. He doesn't have elite traits and he's not very skilled. That's not a great combination.

Just wondering, how was he disappointing? For reference, Keyonte George, who is seen as a mid-late lottery guy, averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists on 38/34/79 splits on a pretty good team, but went 21-11 so nothing crazy. Meanwhile, Amari averaged 11/4/2 on 50/39/70 splits on a team that went to the Final Four, where he was one of the best players on a team loaded with upperclassmen, while also spending most of the season playing off ball when it's clear he would be better *with* the ball given his ball handling and vision and shot-making ability.

Like what's important to me is he was a huge part of a big *winning* team and only got better as time went on, while playing in a role where his skills aren't optimized. Had he gone to a smaller school, there's a world where he averages 17/5/5 on 43/37/71 or something, and he's still a good defender. Basically, he's good at defense, passing and shot-creation. No one thing you can look at and be like, "Ok, he'll never fix that."

there are a few high RSCI guys that can go higher in the draft than some think in this class, he's one of them...i'm not necessarily a huge Bailey guy tho...one of those guys that you just wish was a couple of inches taller because it unlocks a different archetype for him but as it stands he's a combo guard not because he's good at a lot of things but because he's not great at one thing.

wouldn't mind him as an end of round RSCI bet who has some nice tools and a decent ceiling but probably not much higher. if I am making an RSCI bet in this class tho DWH is first on my list.

I'm liking him from trying to scout Clark. UCLA had ALOT of good talent, anything below Final 4 was a letdown...

Bailey reminds me of prime Bazemore. They kinda resemble each other but Bailey should have a higher ceiling.

He's Jerryd Bayless .. zero hoops IQ, skill level isn't great.. he isn't an NBA player imo

Reminds me Byron Scott

rod strickland - not saying he'll be that good, but that type of lead guard, similar size and body type.

Didn't stand out during combines at all. Looks more a like a bench/depth SG to me. I just don't see it. But they put him on ball too often. He looks like an off ball SG to me.

He's the clear definition of a 2nd rounder. Not great at anything, very average measurements. He's going to be overwhelmed physically at the next level. You're drafting a guy with a range [out of the league, 10th-8th] rotation guy. That's a 2nd draft pick.

Upperclass wrote:He's Jerryd Bayless .. zero hoops IQ, skill level isn't great.. he isn't an NBA player imo

Bayless was a way better college player...and a way different player. Absolutely horrible comparison

There are a lot of guards in this draft and he might be a real steal at the top of the second round

I'm telling y'all this kid is slick af with the ball. He has the size, athleticism, length and instincts — and willingness — to be a smart defender and eventually a solid floor-spacer. That's his absolute floor. But he's incredibly crafty with how he dribbles and sets up angles to finish, shoot or pass. He was injured his senior year at Sierra Canyon and never got into his best form, and at UCLA they just didn't use him in an optimal way (on-ball). But he's got all the feints, hesitations, spin moves, floaters, finishing moves, body control. He's so graceful with the ball. His agility and coordination are special. He's got micro skills, high IQ, great burst, a workable jumper. He'll be better than a lot of guards in this draft. High floor, high ceiling. I could see a D'Angelo Russell with excellent athleticism, or possibly a higher IQ Jordan Clarkson (which could be an all-star maybe).

BostonCouchGM wrote:He might have been the biggest disappointment last season and he's not ever going to be a starting caliber NBA player imo. I was very wrong about him. He doesn't have elite traits and he's not very skilled. That's not a great combination.

Au contraire monfrair. Pretty close to an elite athlete imo (16 dunks in 800 minutes at 6'5" is not typical). Looked better running the offense late in the season. Solid first rounder to me with more upside than a lot of guys in his class.

Of course maybe I'm just biased since he's a member of the tribe like me.