The VJ Edgecombe thread

[fatlever]

A placeholder for VJ conversations

[Braggins]

VJ Edgecombe ~ SG
Baylor (B12) ~ Fr ~ 19.9 yrs
6'4" barefoot ~ 6'7.5" wing ~ 8'5.5" reach ~ 193 lb
per70: 19.5 pts ~ 7.3 reb ~ 4.3 ast ~ 2.7 stl ~ 0.8 blk ~ 2.6 tov ~ 3.3 pf
50.0% 2pt (9.0 2pta) ~ 34.0% 3pt (6.0 3pta) ~ 78.2% ft (5.6 fta) ~ 55.2% ts
+11.4 bpm (+7.1/+4.3) ~ 24.1% usg ~ .373 FTr

Watch on YouTube

[KingCat]

Quickly starting to sell myself on him.

Never a bad thing to pick up the best athlete in a class. I perosnally just can't shake the feeling that he will end up more of a prime Gary Payton THE SECOND (important distinction there) level player. Great connective piece. Good defender. Not someone you can expect to score 20 a game.

If you feel that Lamelo and Miller will be our reliable stars going forward, then you should be running to the podium to draft this guy as a complimentary piece.

[Braggins]

Quickly starting to sell myself on him.

Never a bad thing to pick up the best athlete in a class. I perosnally just can't shake the feeling that he will end up more of a prime Gary Payton THE SECOND (important distinction there) level player. Great connective piece. Good defender. Not someone you can expect to score 20 a game.

If you feel that Lamelo and Miller will be our reliable stars going forward, then you should be running to the podium to draft this guy as a complimentary piece.

Edgecombe is bigger than GPII and can also shoot decent. GPII is pretty much a non-shooter. I think the comparison actually kind of bodes well for him in terms of a floor though. Bigger GPII that can shoot at least decent is a pretty solid floor.

[GiggitySmalls]

He my target. Best athlete in the draft, improving shooter, good passer, high defensive motor, high end connector. Will be the best player available at 3 or 4 and happens to fit pretty much perfectly. Will solidify the sg position with Mann. He's the type of guy you want next to Melo. Hes ideal for us if we didnt end up with flagg and we won't. No brainer pick.

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[Snidely FC]

DWade had a nearly 6’11 wingspan and was an alpha male scorer who had the handles and aggression to iso post up and playmake. Watch his Marquette highlights Wade was a different player than VJ. I buy more the Oladipo comps though even Dipo had a nearly 6’10 wingspan

[MPM]

Defensive instincts and crazy athleticism are why I like VJ but think his solid combine measurements, development as a secondary playmaker and improving shot are what could sell me on him. Beyond highlight dunks, his finishing is a concern.

[Bassman]

Agree with most who feel he’s the next best player after the two gifts the league handed to their favorite teams. Sadly he will likely be taken 3rd, either by the Sixers or a team trading up for him. Is there enough difference between VJ and either Ace or Tre to force CLT to lose a future pick for Edgecombe?

[yosemiteben]

Saw a scouting video that compared him physically and athletically to Russell Westbrook. Is that a possible comp? Their college stats compare favorably.

[LofJ]

The thing I like about VJ beyond the defense and athleticsm is his production, at multiple different levels. He produced at college and the Olympics. And he got a lot better as the season progressed at Baylor. He shot 80% or over from the line for a few years now, so his shot isn't a fluke. And he's also by all accounts a standup person, which is a nice bonus.

You don't have to try that hard to envision him being a really good player in the NBA. He has some similarities to Donovan Mitchell. He won't become that good without massive development with his handle, but with his athleticism, defensive playmaking, and IQ the potential for him to become a star is there.

[Walt Cronkite]

Initial feelings are similar to KingCat's. A tenacious perimeter defender is something I think the FO would really be looking to acquire, hopefully he would bring much more to the table than just that at 4. Feels like the early front runner when you consider what the FO says they value.

[EmpireFalls]

Saw a scouting video that compared him physically and athletically to Russell Westbrook. Is that a possible comp? Their college stats compare favorably.

I don’t think he’s Westbrook, Russ had this indefatigable mentality of attack-attack-attack and was a better ball-handler and playmaker. Plus is one of the 5 best athletes in NBA history.

VJ is maybe only an A athlete, which is still great, but expecting Russ is too much.

Oladipo makes more sense.

[Braggins]

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[Braggins]

The thing I like about VJ beyond the defense and athleticsm is his production, at multiple different levels. He produced at college and the Olympics. And he got a lot better as the season progressed at Baylor.

This is a selling point for me, especially the Olympics. Dude has stood out as someone who impacts winning at every level. And its not like we're applying this label as a way to gloss over lack of talent. Hes one of the most athletic players in the draft and has a solid skill basis already.

[LofJ]

The thing I like about VJ beyond the defense and athleticsm is his production, at multiple different levels. He produced at college and the Olympics. And he got a lot better as the season progressed at Baylor.

This is a selling point for me, especially the Olympics. Dude has stood out as someone who impacts winning at every level. And its not like we're applying this label as a way to gloss over lack of talent. Hes one of the most athletic players in the draft and has a solid skill basis already.

If he develops a handle he's exactly what this team needs next to LaMelo. I know developing his handle is not a given at all (especially with this organization), but he is a mature, hard-working guy from all accounts so it's not impossible.

I think the ultimate decision comes down to his mentality. Does he want to be a star player? Or is he content to take a back seat and be a role player? If it's the latter I might be hesitant to take him, but if it's the former run to the podium. He needs to be confident in himself and believe that he has the potential to be special (and that he'll have to work for it).

[EmpireFalls]

Miller and Salaun came in with questionable handles and have not improved one bit. I don’t trust our development staff at all

[JMAC3]

VJ is the safest option that will be left at 4.
Solid size, good defense, solid shooting, solid all around- but not great at any one thing.

[Goodecharlotte]

My fear is he gets no better than MKG did

[fatlever]

My fear is he gets no better than MKG did

mkg had 4 problems
- completely broken mechanics
- low confidence
- injuries
- too nice to be a dog on defense

plus, mkg wasnt really an elite athlete. he had nba body at early age, hustle and good instincts. the early injuries wrecked what little confidence he had, on top of rebuilding jumper thru several shooting coaches. hornets get an F for his player development - both physical and mental.

[KingCat]

My fear is he gets no better than MKG did

This is my one petty greivance for Edgecombe. I don't even think their games are that similar. Just something esthetically about him reminds me of MKG.

I still can't get over my MKG trauma.