State of the Union. Team Canada Basketball. (FIBA Americas Aug.31-Sep.15)

frumble · Post #121 » by **frumble** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:46 pm

Re Nicholson, per a post earlier in this thread, he is signed for next season.

So I think the only free agents (among current NBAers) will be Joseph and Thompson.

frumble · Post #122 » by **frumble** » Fri May 1, 2015 5:30 pm

Latest draft projections from Draft Express are 17th for Lyles and 50th for Hanlan.
NBAdraft.net mock has Lyles 9th and Hanland 33rd.
Both have Murray 21st in the 2016 draft.

Wiltjer decided to stay at Gonzaga for his senior year and I believe XRM decided to stay at FSU for his sophomore season.

Hendrix · Post #123 » by **Hendrix** » Fri May 1, 2015 7:03 pm

frumble wrote:Latest draft projections from Draft Express are 17th for Lyles and 50th for Hanlan.
NBAdraft.net mock has Lyles 9th and Hanland 33rd.
Both have Murray 21st in the 2016 draft.

Wiltjer decided to stay at Gonzaga for his senior year and I believe XRM decided to stay at FSU for his sophomore season.

21st seems pretty low for Murray considering how he's been going off against the best players in the world, that are his age, lately, and looking like a tier above everyone else.

Maybe it's a size thing though, and they aren't sure if he can play PG. Great size for PG. Mediocre size for SG.

aminiaturebuddha · Post #124 » by **aminiaturebuddha** » Thu May 7, 2015 3:48 pm

Very good ESPN.com article on Tristan Thompson. There's some great stuff in there about playing for Team Canada - basically that he and Kyrie Irving are always trash talking each other, and Thompson saying that he "can't wait until we play each other internationally".

I think the National Team is in a good place with solid leaders like Thompson and C. Joseph.

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2015/story/_/id/12819331/tristan-thompson-fits-cleveland-cavaliers

Chuck Everett · Post #125 » by **Chuck Everett** » Thu May 7, 2015 7:59 pm

Canada has some ballers. Hanlan and Rathan--Mayes are going to be good pros I think. Guys who score like that in the ACC usually translate.

Hell, I remember when Rowan Barrett was a ballhog at St. John's as a kid. Now his son is a baller. Hope he's better than his daddy.

mojo13 · Post #126 » by **mojo13** » Thu May 7, 2015 11:16 pm

Anyone know whats going on with the U19 team repping Canada in the U19 Worlds?
When the tryouts will be, who will likely be invited?

I saw an interview with Dillon Brooks speculating that Jamal Murray and Justin Jackson may play up with the u19s - which would be nice.

We should be solid with guards and wings but that team was pretty small last year upfront (but still did well) so I am curious about the bigs. Would Nolan Narain be playing this year? Not sure why he didn't last year. How about Tristan Etienne, has anyone heard of him since he bailed on UW? I haven't heard a peep. Who will be our main bigs?

How about Proyser for that matter. He seemed to improve a tonne this year after not making the cut last summer. Will he be part of this team?

mojo13 · Post #127 » by **mojo13** » Thu May 7, 2015 11:23 pm

Hendrix wrote:
frumble wrote:Latest draft projections from Draft Express are 17th for Lyles and 50th for Hanlan.
NBAdraft.net mock has Lyles 9th and Hanland 33rd.
Both have Murray 21st in the 2016 draft.

Wiltjer decided to stay at Gonzaga for his senior year and I believe XRM decided to stay at FSU for his sophomore season.

21st seems pretty low for Murray considering how he's been going off against the best players in the world, that are his age, lately, and looking like a tier above everyone else.

Maybe it's a size thing though, and they aren't sure if he can play PG. Great size for PG. Mediocre size for SG.

The critique I hear on Murray is the lack of obvious NBA athleticism and as you mentioned average SG size. I agree if he ends proving out as a PG, his draft prospects will be much higher. I don't think anyone is questioning his skill level and IQ - it is whether as a combo or SG is he going to be able to hang with NBA uber-athletes.

PoundTown · Post #128 » by **PoundTown** » Fri May 8, 2015 12:04 am

I think Murray's athleticism is sneaky enough and he can change speeds very well. Kind of has a Brandon Roy feel to his game with athleticism you might compare to someone like Deron William. Whether or not you deem him a point or not is kind of like asking if James Harden is a point. I think Jamaal projects to be a primary ball handler whether it be off the bench or as a starting guard.

Hendrix · Post #129 » by **Hendrix** » Fri May 8, 2015 2:14 am

mojo13 wrote:
Hendrix wrote:
frumble wrote:Latest draft projections from Draft Express are 17th for Lyles and 50th for Hanlan.
NBAdraft.net mock has Lyles 9th and Hanland 33rd.
Both have Murray 21st in the 2016 draft.

Wiltjer decided to stay at Gonzaga for his senior year and I believe XRM decided to stay at FSU for his sophomore season.

21st seems pretty low for Murray considering how he's been going off against the best players in the world, that are his age, lately, and looking like a tier above everyone else.

Maybe it's a size thing though, and they aren't sure if he can play PG. Great size for PG. Mediocre size for SG.

The critique I hear on Murray is the lack of obvious NBA athleticism and as you mentioned average SG size. I agree if he ends proving out as a PG, his draft prospects will be much higher. I don't think anyone is questioning his skill level and IQ - it is whether as a combo or SG is he going to be able to hang with NBA uber-athletes.

Yeah, position is the whole thing here.

TBH though, I think people are under-selling his athleticism. Some of the dunks while travelling at speed, and acrobatic layups he's shown in the last few all star games are not things you see done by NBA PG's. Maybe the top end ones like Wall, and Rose, but most guys aren't turning the corner off a screen then elevating to finish above the rim in traffic, or travelling at max speed in the open court then elevating above the rim to throw down a dunk with power. Even a lot of SG's aren't doing that. For example, he seems to be the same size as Beal, and I don't think I've seen Beal throw down the same types of dunks.

I dunno. To me it all depends on how well he can shoot (important for guard in today's age), handle, and run a team with passing. If he can do it to the level of a PG, he could be a hell of a prospect with excellent size. If he's a SG, he's not as good of a prospect, but still has decent enough physical attributes that if he can create for others, and shoot he'd be a decent commodity. The amount of SG's that can do that these days is limited.

Hendrix · Post #130 » by **Hendrix** » Fri May 8, 2015 2:25 am

PoundTown wrote:I think Murray's athleticism is sneaky enough and he can change speeds very well. Kind of has a Brandon Roy feel to his game with athleticism you might compare to someone like Deron William. Whether or not you deem him a point or not is kind of like asking if James Harden is a point. I think Jamaal projects to be a primary ball handler whether it be off the bench or as a starting guard.

Yeah, those are some good points. He seems like he can handle the ball, create for others, create his own shot, shoot. He's a guard. If you want to classify it as a PG, or SG, whatever. He's the same size as Mayo, McLemore, Beal, Keith Bogans, and Rodney Stuckey. He's the same height as Wade, and Harden, with the biggest difference being a few inch different in wingspan with those 2. It would be nice if he had Kobe's physical attributes, but it doesn't seem like the end of the word, and like you said, from the eye test, he looks sneaky athletic.

Post #131 » by **Patman** » Fri May 8, 2015 2:38 am

Jamal Murray has such a smooth game. Reminds me of a smaller Paul Pierce.

moemoe2423 · Post #132 » by **moemoe2423** » Fri May 8, 2015 2:58 am

Patman wrote:Jamal Murray has such a smooth game. Reminds me of a smaller Paul Pierce.

For sure! I went to high school with him, good buddy of mine.

RaptorsFan100 · Post #133 » by **RaptorsFan100** » Fri May 8, 2015 7:49 pm

They aiiight. Not better than America doe

mojo13 · Post #134 » by **mojo13** » Sat May 9, 2015 12:20 am

RaptorsFan100 wrote:They aiiight. Not better than America doe

Thank you for that deep insight and thoughtful analysis.

mojo13 · Post #135 » by **mojo13** » Wed May 27, 2015 8:19 pm

Jamal Murray is supposedly down to three leading choices:
1) Kentucky 2015
2) Oregon 2015
3) staying with Oakville for a post grad year

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports. ... de-future/

Either way, I hope he plays for the Canada U19s in the World's this summer.

Anything new on the SMNT? No one has really declared themselves out for national team duty yet so far. Cory Joesph and Tristan Thompson's contract situations still seem the biggest threats.

Anyone know if Tyler Ennis's recent shoulder surgury impacts his summer with the SMNT?

Post #136 » by **Double Helix** » Wed May 27, 2015 11:36 pm

Murray has improved a ton this year. To me, he's becoming a longer George Hill.

That's a compliment. George Hill is a very nice guard. Murray has evolved into that type of player but he's taller.

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Hendrix · Post #137 » by **Hendrix** » Wed May 27, 2015 11:46 pm

mojo13 wrote:Jamal Murray is supposedly down to three leading choices:
1) Kentucky 2015
2) Oregon 2015
3) staying with Oakville for a post grad year

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports. ... de-future/

Either way, I hope he plays for the Canada U19s in the World's this summer.

Anything new on the SMNT? No one has really declared themselves out for national team duty yet so far. Cory Joesph and Tristan Thompson's contract situations still seem the biggest threats.

Anyone know if Tyler Ennis's recent shoulder surgury impacts his summer with the SMNT?

I'm just sitting around waiting for some relevant team Canada basketball in July at this point. Haven't heard anything about TT, and CJ, but this isn't really the time for that. Especially TT who's in the middle of a great playoff run. I suspect we'll find out shortly after the season is over.

I'm really digging TT's play though here, and finals experience. That's a great thing to bring to a team. Much better than last year when he was just another dude, on a 20 something win team.

aminiaturebuddha · Post #138 » by **aminiaturebuddha** » Thu May 28, 2015 4:25 am

TT and Joseph's contract situations are the biggest unknown, but at the same time, those two have been the NBA players most committed to the program. When push comes to shove, I think they'll be there, since they've waited so long to play meaningful games with the NT, and a chance to go to the Olympics is pretty big. I would guess that neither will play for the Pan-Am team, but as long as they're there for the qualifier, that's what really counts.

And agreed, Hendrix, on the play of Thompson. Very encouraging to see him come into his own and find his niche in the NBA. If he can do the same stuff for the national team (defence, offensive rebounding, hustle) and not need the ball much, leaving scoring to Wiggins, Olynyk, Stauskas, etc. I think we'll be in really good shape.

frumble · Post #139 » by **frumble** » Tue Jun 2, 2015 10:44 pm

mojo13 wrote:Anyone know whats going on with the U19 team repping Canada in the U19 Worlds?
When the tryouts will be, who will likely be invited?

I saw an interview with Dillon Brooks speculating that Jamal Murray and Justin Jackson may play up with the u19s - which would be nice.

We should be solid with guards and wings but that team was pretty small last year upfront (but still did well) so I am curious about the bigs. Would Nolan Narain be playing this year? Not sure why he didn't last year. How about Tristan Etienne, has anyone heard of him since he bailed on UW? I haven't heard a peep. Who will be our main bigs?

How about Proyser for that matter. He seemed to improve a tonne this year after not making the cut last summer. Will he be part of this team?

I haven't seen anything re the U19 team other than the FIBA.com interview with Brooks that you mentioned.
We might get more news this week, as the U19 open tryout is Thursday at Humber (the worlds start June 27).
Maybe Narain and Ekiyor join Egi as the primary bigs?

The U16 camp is on now at Humber. With Barrett Jr. and Simi Shi-ttu on board, the team has two elite players. Don't know enough about the other guys to know who else will likely be starting (Kabongo? Nembhart?), or how good our depth is. Still, I think with RB and SS, a top 2 finish at the Americas is quite possible (maybe even likely).

Post #140 » by **Undefeated** » Tue Jun 2, 2015 11:16 pm

frumble wrote:Don't know enough about the other guys to know who else will likely be starting (Kabongo? Nembhart?), or how good our depth is. Still, I think with RB and SS, a top 2 finish at the Americas is quite possible (maybe even likely).

Jaden Bediako. Dude's a beast when I watched him play.