2025 NBA Draft (2)

[eyeatoma]

Russ was awesome. Let's not get carried away now.

Russ was entertainment, he was like watching the WWE in the NBA. If he was so awesome the Thunder would have won a chip, especially when they had young KD and Harden. Russ was always about Russ, he didn't like the moniker that he couldn't share the ball, so he dedicated himself to averaging a triple double to quiet the naysayers, but it was clearly manufactured. OKC scorekeepers would also give him a lot of assists that were not assists (though that happens a lot in present day NBA).

He's a positive player, but his ego and brovado is a little too much. Dude is the **** you want on your team, but he's also to angry for his own self.

[stormi]

And what is your upside star potential comp for VJ? What is your best case scenario in that situation. Also what would his floor be like?

Finally, what would your solution be on this team with three players who are similarly sized, with an aging and injured front court. Isn't the prudent option to toe the line of upside, while also making team building less of a headache by getting someone who fits in well now and the future, and doesn't necessitate multiple trades?

VJ's 6'5 with a 6'8 wingspan, we don't really have this archetype.

Watch on YouTube

Take a good look at what he was doing against grown men as an 18 year old and come to your own conclusion.

16.5/5.5/4 with 2 steals on 57/38/81 splits. The athleticism is uncanny, the shooting mechanics are good, the defense and the passing is very promising.

If I saw a prospect with greater 'star upside' than this I'd be campaigning for them at #3, I promise you that.

I want to be down with VJ, I know you say this is no comp, but can you give me a rough outline? Bigger version of or shorter verison of? Or a blend of a few players. I really don't like the Oladipo comparison, if that is his projection.

I think his absolute peak is in that two way star Wade -> Edwards -> Pacers Oladipo (pre knee) archetype, he also could shift far more defensively and be a White/Holiday style force. Shades of Russ too with the way he can attack downhill.

He's such a raw talent that it's impossible to pin down an exact comparison, he's already showing all-around promise but he's truly just scratching the surface.

[eyeatoma]

VJ's 6'5 with a 6'8 wingspan, we don't really have this archetype.

Watch on YouTube

Take a good look at what he was doing against grown men as an 18 year old and come to your own conclusion.

16.5/5.5/4 with 2 steals on 57/38/81 splits. The athleticism is uncanny, the shooting mechanics are good, the defense and the passing is very promising.

If I saw a prospect with greater 'star upside' than this I'd be campaigning for them at #3, I promise you that.

I want to be down with VJ, I know you say this is no comp, but can you give me a rough outline? Bigger version of or shorter verison of? Or a blend of a few players. I really don't like the Oladipo comparison, if that is his projection.

I think his absolute peak is in that two way star Wade -> Edwards -> Pacers Oladipo (pre knee) archetype, he also could shift far more defensively and be a White/Holiday style defense first force. Shades of Russ too with the way he can attack downhill.

He's such a raw talent that it's impossible to pin down an exact comparison, he's already showing all-around promise but he's truly just scratching the surface.

Comps I like, still not sure why he's not going higher then. Sounds like he'll be a better player than Harper, and possibly Flagg if those are his potential absolute high comps. If it's just because both of them are more polished I guess I get it. Also not sure how his development is going to go with 3 guards. If he's that good, 1 will 100% need to be traded. Maxey will also have the reigns for 3 years minimum, that's a lot of reps that you're not getting, because of the guard overload on the team.

[Iverson Armband]

VJ is basically all theoretical. That’s the intrigue.

No thanks.

[Negrodamus]

I want to be down with VJ, I know you say this is no comp, but can you give me a rough outline? Bigger version of or shorter verison of? Or a blend of a few players. I really don't like the Oladipo comparison, if that is his projection.

I think his absolute peak is in that two way star Wade -> Edwards -> Pacers Oladipo (pre knee) archetype, he also could shift far more defensively and be a White/Holiday style defense first force. Shades of Russ too with the way he can attack downhill.

He's such a raw talent that it's impossible to pin down an exact comparison, he's already showing all-around promise but he's truly just scratching the surface.

Comps I like, still not sure why he's not going higher then. Sounds like he'll be a better player than Harper, and possibly Flagg if those are his potential absolute high comps. If it's just because both of them are more polished I guess I get it. Also not sure how his development is going to go with 3 guards. If he's that good, 1 will 100% need to be traded. Maxey will also have the reigns for 3 years minimum, that's a lot of reps that you're not getting, because of the guard overload on the team.

I think Harper is like a Paul Pierce type SG: bruiser, super strong, guys bounce off of him. He has his blemishes too, but he's currently built like a tank while Edgecombe needs to fill out more.

I could listen to someone's argument that Edgecombe is the pick over Harper but I'd likely disagree with that selection. I can also see a world in which VJ is the better player, but based on the information at hand and the physical attributes, Harper is the better prospect.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Can't really go off comparisons, especially with Edgecombe. He's a unique talent in my opinion. He's got guard size, but he's a racehorse in the open floor. Jaden Ivey is another one he reminds me of. If Edgecombe is the pick, I won't be mad. In fact if Nipples, Ace, Queen, Tre, or Edgecombe are the pick, I won't be mad. If Harper somehow falls to us, even better. I hope the Spurs try and get cute with that pick. Maybe they'll be the ones to over think ****.

[Negrodamus]

VJ is basically all theoretical. That’s the intrigue.

No thanks.

To be fair, they're all theoretical.

[eyeatoma]

Yeah if it's all potential in Vj I'd prefer the better fits of Bailey and to a lesser extent Tre.

I'm intrigued though.

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[okboomer]

VJ is basically all theoretical. That’s the intrigue.

No thanks.

That's exactly what the rest of prospects other than Flagg and Harper are. If there wasnt a 3rd prospect with such flaws as the potential ones to be there at 3 it wouldnt be such debated.

[eyeatoma]

VJ is basically all theoretical. That’s the intrigue.

No thanks.

To be fair, they're all theoretical.

Fair but in that case isn't fit better with an established team? What are your thoughts on Tre?

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[sodmoraes]

I may be too much of an Ace prophet to think clearly, but this leaking news of the Sixers having dinner with VJ just solidifies my understanding that he´s not our pick, and we are just doing this to get something of Charlote. If i learn anything from Harden´s stint here is that Daryl Morey is a liar, so there´s a reason for that news to pop right now. He´s a pro, he wouldnt reveal his poker hands like that. Edgecombe is just bait in Morey´s smokescreen master plan to get a pick from the Hornets, just watch .

[FireMorey]

It seems like all the guys with VJ's general profile(high level athlete, more defensive potential than offensive, shooting potential, super raw offensively with ball handling and offensive creation) who develop into high level players are wings. When is the last time a guard who had more defensive upside than offensive upside developed into a star? There are a lot of those kinds of guys around the league who've carved out good careers for themselves, but I can't think of many who became stars without elite offensive upside.

I've said it before, if VJ were 6'8 I'd be totally fine with him. Might even prefer him to the others. Don't like his profile as a 6'4 guard.

[Arsenal]

VJ's 6'5 with a 6'8 wingspan, we don't really have this archetype.

Watch on YouTube

Take a good look at what he was doing against grown men as an 18 year old and come to your own conclusion.

16.5/5.5/4 with 2 steals on 57/38/81 splits. The athleticism is uncanny, the shooting mechanics are good, the defense and the passing is very promising.

If I saw a prospect with greater 'star upside' than this I'd be campaigning for them at #3, I promise you that.

I want to be down with VJ, I know you say this is no comp, but can you give me a rough outline? Bigger version of or shorter verison of? Or a blend of a few players. I really don't like the Oladipo comparison, if that is his projection.

I think his absolute peak is in that two way star Wade -> Edwards -> Pacers Oladipo (pre knee) archetype, he also could shift far more defensively and be a White/Holiday style force. Shades of Russ too with the way he can attack downhill.

He's such a raw talent that it's impossible to pin down an exact comparison, he's already showing all-around promise but he's truly just scratching the surface.

Don’t leave out Gary Harris as a good comp, as noted by your draft god Sam Vecenie.

That’s assuming he can become a good enough open 3PT shooter.

[Iverson Armband]

VJ is basically all theoretical. That’s the intrigue.

No thanks.

To be fair, they're all theoretical.

Yes and no.

Tre - you know he’s going to be at minimum a deadeye nuclear shooter. Special off the dribble shooter. You can take that to the bank and cash it.

Ace - at minimum he’s going to be 6’9 rangey wing who can knock down C&S 3s and play adequate defense on and off ball.

VJ - who knows? Average at C&S 3’s. Not good off the dribble. Not special going to the rim. Not freakishly long. I guess the one thing you a bank on is he’ll defend on ball, but not great off. He’s just “cool” across the board.

[Arsenal]

VJ is also a sophomore cosplaying as a freshman. One year older than Ace and almost a year older than Tre, KJ etc.

He’s that old and still hasn’t developed any on ball skills, yet he has proclaimed himself to be a point guard.

The most common scam of the draft is small guards pretending to be point guards when they don’t have the skill set.

[Mik317]

Ace and VJ both shot the same from 3. Ace is bigger and younger (I think?). VJ has a better first step and was a better FT shooter. Both have shaky handles and fall asleep off ball. Ace is a better finisher but VJ gets there more.

[eyeatoma]

I want to be down with VJ, I know you say this is no comp, but can you give me a rough outline? Bigger version of or shorter verison of? Or a blend of a few players. I really don't like the Oladipo comparison, if that is his projection.

I think his absolute peak is in that two way star Wade -> Edwards -> Pacers Oladipo (pre knee) archetype, he also could shift far more defensively and be a White/Holiday style force. Shades of Russ too with the way he can attack downhill.

He's such a raw talent that it's impossible to pin down an exact comparison, he's already showing all-around promise but he's truly just scratching the surface.

Don’t leave out Gary Harris as a good comp, as noted by your draft god Sam Vecenie.

That’s assuming he can become a good enough open 3PT shooter.

I'd throw up if our #3 pick is for a player with Gary Harris potential lol.

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[Arsenal]

Uh oh…

Read on Twitter

[Iverson Armband]

I want to be down with VJ, I know you say this is no comp, but can you give me a rough outline? Bigger version of or shorter verison of? Or a blend of a few players. I really don't like the Oladipo comparison, if that is his projection.

I think his absolute peak is in that two way star Wade -> Edwards -> Pacers Oladipo (pre knee) archetype, he also could shift far more defensively and be a White/Holiday style force. Shades of Russ too with the way he can attack downhill.

He's such a raw talent that it's impossible to pin down an exact comparison, he's already showing all-around promise but he's truly just scratching the surface.

Don’t leave out Gary Harris as a good comp, as noted by your draft god Sam Vecenie.

That’s assuming he can become a good enough open 3PT shooter.

[Jailblazers7]

VJ is basically all theoretical. That’s the intrigue.

No thanks.

What does that make Tre’s defense potential? Fan fiction?