2024-25 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread

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Which 2 rookies are you most high on / impressed with?

Zach Edey
66
25%
Reed Shephard
26
10%
Zaccharie Risacher
36
14%
Alexandre Sarr
8
3%
Stephon Castle
21
8%
Matas Buzelis
12
5%
Ron Holland
5
2%
Bub Carrington
12
5%
Donovan Clingan
23
9%
Other (Dillingham, Knecht, Eells, Salaün, Williams, Ware, McCain, etc.)
57
21%
 
Total votes: 266

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Re: How did Knecht fall to 17 in a Weak Draft? 

Post#381 » by LockoutSeason » Mon Nov 18, 2024 7:46 pm

Same reason Edey wasn’t the #1 pick. Too old.
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Re: How did Knecht fall to 17 in a Weak Draft? 

Post#382 » by levon » Mon Nov 18, 2024 7:49 pm

Infinite Llamas wrote:I mean, he’s only two years younger than Anfernee Simons and Simons is already in his 7th year. Bottom feeding teams aren’t looking for guys who are closer to finished products.

Right, they'd rather pick someone younger so they can spend the extra four years to end up being a worse player than the 23 year old now.

I think in the bigger picture, even bad teams should consider older players with how advancements in medicine and training have players staying productive later into their careers. Also, if you have a high-production older player looking good on your tanking team, you can flip them for more assets.
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Re: How did Knecht fall to 17 in a Weak Draft? 

Post#383 » by LoveTheNBA23 » Mon Nov 18, 2024 7:57 pm

There’s a lot to like about Knecht and his development. He’s a late bloomer and his year to year progression shows a great work ethic. 40 inch vertical and a strong build will help with getting his shot off especially with that quick release. He is a great cutter too. Kid is fearless too which you can’t teach. Carried his team to the Final Four so he has big game experience.
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Re: How did Knecht fall to 17 in a Weak Draft? 

Post#384 » by Snakebites » Mon Nov 18, 2024 8:11 pm

levon wrote:
Infinite Llamas wrote:I mean, he’s only two years younger than Anfernee Simons and Simons is already in his 7th year. Bottom feeding teams aren’t looking for guys who are closer to finished products.

Right, they'd rather pick someone younger so they can spend the extra four years to end up being a worse player than the 23 year old now.

I think in the bigger picture, even bad teams should consider older players with how advancements in medicine and training have players staying productive later into their careers. Also, if you have a high-production older player looking good on your tanking team, you can flip them for more assets.

Some of the players picked before him will be worse than him.

But multiple, even in a weak draft, are likely to be better. For a bad or middling team they need to be more ambitious than adding a solid 7th or 8th man. The pick made sense for the Lakers though.
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Re: How did Knecht fall to 17 in a Weak Draft? 

Post#385 » by NCHeels2008 » Mon Nov 18, 2024 8:12 pm

ChiTownHero1992 wrote:Age, his "growth" will be very limited, in fact I'm very much of the mindset that what you see is what you'll get, and he wont grow much more than what he currently is. Could be wrong and hope he does develop more but I just don't see it, he'll be a solid player for 8-10ish years but All-Star? not a chance. Solid Starter - maybe, i'd even say very likely

(I see a McDermott trajectory, or other NCAA seniors that had solid careers Napier, Dwight Powell, Joe Harris, etc)


Also solid starter is a damn good outcome for 17th pick, median for like 10th pick IIRC
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How did Nikola Topic fall to 12 in a Weak Draft? 

Post#386 » by Memories » Mon Nov 18, 2024 8:16 pm

Kind of crazy considering his first name is Nikola.

How did this kid slip to 12 in a weak draft?
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Re: How did Nikola Topic fall to 12 in a Weak Draft? 

Post#387 » by Lo Wang » Mon Nov 18, 2024 8:17 pm

Injury.
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Re: How did Knecht fall to 17 in a Weak Draft? 

Post#388 » by Jadoogar » Mon Nov 18, 2024 8:19 pm

The last juniors and seniors selected in the top 10 since 2010)
- Edey (Sr. 9th)
- Rui Hachimura (Jr. 8th)
- Mikal Bridges (Jr 10th)
- Kris Dunn (Jr. 5th), Buddy Hield (Sr. 6th)
- Kaminsky (Sr. 9th)
- Elfrid Payton (Jr. 10th)
- Oladipo (Jr. 2nd), McCollum (Sr. 9th)
- Dame Lillard (Jr. 6th)
- Kemba Walker (Jr. 9th), Jimmer Fredette (Sr. 10th)
- Evan Turner (Jr. 2nd), Wesley Johnson (Jr. 4th), Ekpe Udoh (Jr. 6th)

Very few hits. If you're going to be a star, you will show it in college within your first 2 seasons
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Re: How did Nikola Topic fall to 12 in a Weak Draft? 

Post#389 » by UcanUwill » Mon Nov 18, 2024 8:32 pm

He was like 12th man on Zvezda, if that. But I assume this thread is a troll?
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What's Your Thoughts On: Matas Buzelis 

Post#390 » by WillyJakkz » Mon Nov 18, 2024 8:42 pm

Image

I've been trying to catch some Bulls games on League Pass etc but often see only a few mins of a handful of their games but I noticed this guy.

From what I've seen he reminds me of a taller version of Brent "Bones" Barry as he's athletic, lanky, can shoot the 3, put it on the floor, and had some nice dishes like him.

I don't think he can throw it down from the FT line though but is this an accurate assessment? Cause I like what I'm seeing from him!
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Re: What's Your Thoughts On: Matas Buzelis 

Post#391 » by Karate Diop » Mon Nov 18, 2024 8:49 pm

Has looked like a discount Dzanan Musa.
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Re: What's Your Thoughts On: Matas Buzelis 

Post#392 » by pipfan » Mon Nov 18, 2024 9:41 pm

Bulls fans like what we see so far-lots of work to do (must get stronger) but has the right attitude.
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Re: What's Your Thoughts On: Matas Buzelis 

Post#393 » by HotelVitale » Mon Nov 18, 2024 10:09 pm

WillyJakkz wrote: From what I've seen he reminds me of a taller version of Brent "Bones" Barry as he's athletic, lanky, can shoot the 3, put it on the floor, and had some nice dishes like him. I don't think he can throw it down from the FT line though but is this an accurate assessment? Cause I like what I'm seeing from him!


Barry was one of the best 3pt shooters in the league and was top-20 in the league in assists at his height. I know you're just making a general comp but those are usually so imprecise that they're not useful at all for telling how good a player will be.
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Re: What's Your Thoughts On: Matas Buzelis 

Post#394 » by Chuck Everett » Mon Nov 18, 2024 10:14 pm

He's currently a jack of all trades, master of none. Needs a lot of strength and to improve as a shooter. Shot profile looks decent enough, but it never goes in.
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Re: What's Your Thoughts On: Matas Buzelis 

Post#395 » by wemby » Mon Nov 18, 2024 10:28 pm

Poll is missing an option: BUST. Not saying that's what he'll be, but definitely looks like a possibility if the shot doesn't come around.
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Re: What's Your Thoughts On: Matas Buzelis 

Post#396 » by Mavrelous » Mon Nov 18, 2024 10:31 pm

He needs a haircut and a jumper STAT
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Re: What's Your Thoughts On: Matas Buzelis 

Post#397 » by JRoy » Mon Nov 18, 2024 10:40 pm

Mavrelous wrote:He needs a haircut and a jumper STAT


Chili bowl and corner 3 are the Highway to success.

Matas “Muskrat Love” Buzelis is catchy.
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I was hoping and expecting this to be one of the first replies. You did not disappoint. Jroy have it all.
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Re: What's Your Thoughts On: Matas Buzelis 

Post#398 » by Lo Wang » Mon Nov 18, 2024 10:50 pm

If he's a "superstar," he'll at least be in a constant rotation on one of the worst teams in the East.
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Re: What's Your Thoughts On: Matas Buzelis 

Post#399 » by BigGargamel » Mon Nov 18, 2024 10:52 pm

The worst player to get his own thread on the GB in quite a while. :lol:
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Re: How did Knecht fall to 17 in a Weak Draft? 

Post#400 » by ChiTownHero1992 » Mon Nov 18, 2024 10:55 pm

levon wrote:
ChiTownHero1992 wrote:Age, his "growth" will be very limited, in fact I'm very much of the mindset that what you see is what you'll get, and he wont grow much more than what he currently is. Could be wrong and hope he does develop more but I just don't see it, he'll be a solid player for 8-10ish years but All-Star? not a chance. Solid Starter - maybe, i'd even say very likely

(I see a McDermott trajectory, or other NCAA seniors that had solid careers Napier, Dwight Powell, Joe Harris, etc)

Lol, what are these comps? McDermott averaged 3 points at 23 years old. Knecht's better now than any year of McDermott's career. Joe Harris didn't reach Dalton's current production until his age 26 season, and even if you didn't know that, you could see they're entirely two different players when you watch them. Knecht can actually threaten the rim and score in the midrange.


Well you obviously failed to read as i compared their career outlooks, not their skill set or even their statistical output. Rather that I think Dalton will have a solid 7-10 year career, never really being "great" but never being "bad" either.

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