2024-2025 College Basketball / NBA Draft - Volume III

[FireMorey]

Can't get over how small Edgecombe looks. Was listening to an interview with Jay Bilas today and he kept calling him a "wing" and he's not a wing. He's not built like one, anyway. He's the size of a PG. I wonder if that will affect his development. A guy who already lacks a pull up game, not having the size to make it easier to shoot over defenders might make that developmental process more difficult.

[Arsenal]

Can't get over how small Edgecombe looks. Was listening to an interview with Jay Bilas today and he kept calling him a "wing" and he's not a wing. He's not built like one, anyway. He's the size of a PG. I wonder if that will affect his development. A guy who already lacks a pull up game, not having the size to make it easier to shoot over defenders might make that developmental process more difficult.

Not just small he’s also slight. These guys people compare VJ to were all much more massive.

[Covi_Marsh]

You're acting like NBA superstars are two way stars though. Lots of stars operate from the midrange and 3. He's probably averae to sligtly below at driving. He seems to have supernova level 3 point shooting, and ability to hit it off the dribble and hesi pullups. I'd say he has better chance at stardom than VJ, who has everything but a handle/pure shot, and a diverse offensive arsenal.

Last I counted of the top 10 NBA players only 2-3 are 2 ways players.

Which players are you referring to? All the all stars aren't two way stars in the league, but they were mostly passable on defense, or at the very minimum, generated turnovers.

And nearly all of them got to the rim and finished at a high percentage and/or generated fouls at a decent rate in college. If the eye test was telling me something different, I'd understand; but he's just limited at getting to the rim and at being an on ball guy.

I'm also not comparing him to VJ, just telling you my thoughts on him in general.

Two way superstars right now would be

Sga
Ad
Ant if he tries
Embiid when healthy

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SGA? Two way?

[Black Mage]

Morey got 6 days left to PUMP AND DUMP on VJ Melton. Need to gas him up to the point he becomes the consensus #3 overall pick. Then trade down for a king's ransom.

At what point will you accept all of what's happening as reality instead of some super secret double agent plan by Morey?

I know Morey is trying to both trade up AND trade down. That means he's not enamored with VJ Melton at #3 overall. Otherwise you'd be hearing the same things from us about VJ that Spurs are saying about Harper, that the pick is locked in.

Therefore my PUMP and DUMP advice stands. Morey may end up picking VJ at #3, but that appears to be the last option.

We also know Morey sets enormous demands and I wouldn't blame him if some team, like Nets, Was, Utah, was dumb enough to trade the house including an unprotected 2026 pick that Morey would do it.

Just because he's trying to swindle someone for a ransom, doesn't mean he's isn't content taking VJ. I mean if Utah or Was offered me 5 or 7 plus their 2026 unprotected oh hell yes, I'm doing that deal no matter how much I may like Ace, VJ, Tre, etc.

[Black Mage]

So let me get this straight

Shooting - Tre
Ball handling - Tre
Passing - Tre slightly
Measurables - Tre
Rim pressure - VJ slightly
Defense - VJ
Dunking - VJ
Character - Even

Shooting - Tre
Ball handling - slightly Tre
Measurables - combine even - in game VJ by a mile
Rim pressure - VJ
Defense - VJ and Tre is disqualified in this category
Free Throw Rate - VJ
Character/Intangibles - VJ by 2 miles and growing

[Negrodamus]

Can't get over how small Edgecombe looks. Was listening to an interview with Jay Bilas today and he kept calling him a "wing" and he's not a wing. He's not built like one, anyway. He's the size of a PG. I wonder if that will affect his development. A guy who already lacks a pull up game, not having the size to make it easier to shoot over defenders might make that developmental process more difficult.

Watch on YouTube

I think he's similar to Dejounte Murray except more athletic, better at drawing fouls, shorter wingspan. Has a better frame than Murray. Has a better shooting profile.

I think the ball handling is somewhat comparable maybe edge to Murray. I like VJ's longterm distance shooting compared to Murray. Murray turned into an insane midrange shooter. Not to say Murray is his ceiling, but it feels like a similar mold and type of player who shows there's upside in departments that they are deficient in: shooting and ballhandling.

[Mik317]

VJ looks small on tape and that is my biggest hold up atm

but both of the finals teams have run out lineups of 3 6'3 to 6'5 guys so its not the end of the world.

the issue is that we have no real forwards on the roster lol

[eyeatoma]

Which players are you referring to? All the all stars aren't two way stars in the league, but they were mostly passable on defense, or at the very minimum, generated turnovers.

And nearly all of them got to the rim and finished at a high percentage and/or generated fouls at a decent rate in college. If the eye test was telling me something different, I'd understand; but he's just limited at getting to the rim and at being an on ball guy.

I'm also not comparing him to VJ, just telling you my thoughts on him in general.

Two way superstars right now would be

Sga
Ad
Ant if he tries
Embiid when healthy

Sent from my SM-S938B using Tapatalk

Cade Cunningham - was a two way stud in college
Tyler Herro - A decent comp for Tre honestly; did have a 2 STL% suggesting he was bare minimum ok at generating steals
Evan Mobley- 2 way stud in college
Jalen Brunson - Exploitable defender which was arguably one of the reasons he's sitting at home now
Paolo Banchero - 2 way stud in college
Scottie Barnes - 2 way stud in college
Tyrese Maxey - Was a decent defender in college
Tyrese Haliburton- 2 way stud in college
DeAaron Fox - 2 way stud in college
Lauri Markkanen - Exploitable defender on a bottom tier team in the NBA and on a regrettable contract apparently.
Darius Garland - injured in college
Ja Morant - 2 way stud in college
Jarrett Allen - 2 way stud in college
Dejounte Murray - 2 way stud in college
Fred VanVleet - 2 way stud in college
Andrew Wiggins - 2 way stud in college

I mean, if we're banking on Tre being like Jalen Brunson (foul merchant), Trae Young (foul merchant, elite distributor), Dame Lillard, type guy who has the 8+ BPM where they have an extremely low DBPM, thats fine, but those guys usually have a few other elements to their game aside from difficult shot making and they need the entire team built around them to hide their poor defense.

I get your point, but none of the players ont hat list are as good a three point shooter as Tre Johnson. Only reason I'm saying he can be a star is he's nuclear from there.

A better Tyler Herro is an all-star and offensively he can be that. Many of the players who you mention are two are woefully deficient as shooters:

Bachnero
Barnes
Fox
Morant
Allen
Murray
Cade

Bsically it'll be be the flip for Tre Johnson, as good as they are on offense and defense, he'll be better on offense, while at best passable at defense if he tries.

I'd rather bet on that, then VJ Edgecomb, learning 4/5 key skills of being an offensive star.

[okboomer]

I didnt realize both Ace and Tre have the sand handsize as Kenny Pickett . Tre's was the smallest at the combine. Not that it matters as much as a quarterback. VJ's size is fine at 6'4 with 6'7.5 wingspan for a guard. He is very skinny though. His wingspan is exactly the same as Jimmy's...

[Mik317]

is his defense an effort or knowledge issue or physical?

thats the question you have to answer...and if you can either fix it or live with it.

[76ciology]

If VJ Edgecombe struggles to finish at the rim despite his athleticism struggles or struggles in scoring off the dribble despite his shooting profile, and we justify his upside by saying his tools give him room to improve, then shouldn’t the same logic apply to Tre? Tre has length and athleticism too, so it’s reasonable to believe he can improve as a defender and get better at attacking the rim.

Another point is that Tre projects as a far more superior offensive player, specially as a scorer. He doesn’t need his defense to carry his game, he just needs to be a neutral defender, and let his offense carry him to stardom.

I’m not saying who’s better between the two. I see both as strong options, and I understand the rationale for picking either VJ or Tre depending on what a team values.

[Black Mage]

VJ looks small on tape and that is my biggest hold up atm

but both of the finals teams have run out lineups of 3 6'3 to 6'5 guys so its not the end of the world.

the issue is that we have no real forwards on the roster lol

Which is why I keep coming back to really wanting to find a way back into the 1st around picks 14-16 to get one of Coward or Fleming.

[76ciology]

VJ looks small on tape and that is my biggest hold up atm

but both of the finals teams have run out lineups of 3 6'3 to 6'5 guys so its not the end of the world.

the issue is that we have no real forwards on the roster lol

We have more problems at the C position if we’re going to discuss positional need.

Grimes, Edwards, George and Oubre can play SF.

[Mik317]

VJ looks small on tape and that is my biggest hold up atm

but both of the finals teams have run out lineups of 3 6'3 to 6'5 guys so its not the end of the world.

the issue is that we have no real forwards on the roster lol

We have more problems at the C position if we’re going to discuss positional need.

Grimes, Edwards, George and Oubre can play SF.

talking more about the 4 which was a problem all year for us. PG technically can but isn't good at it lol....specifically rebounding in which 2 of our 3 centers also aren't great at it lol. I think we are picking a bigh with our second big tho....i think all of them around that pick suck but lol

[M2J]

This draft stinks so much, it's a shame this was the one we sold out for, but it's the only one that made sense.

There are so many things that have to go right for most of these guys at 3-8 that you have to take the guy who has the most projectable traits. Edgecombe, Knueppel, Ace, Fears, Tre, Jaku, Maluach all of massive question marks across their games; feels like way more than most top 5 projected freshmen.

Collin Murray-Boyles really has one major question: Can he get that shot right? Looking at this Finals, I can see him getting substantial minutes for either of these teams as he gets comfortable in the league. He's just not a freshman.

Another guy who I'm getting more interested in after watching recent clips of his games is Ben Saraf, Essengue's teammate. He clearly looks much larger than Jakucionis, who is supposed to be of a similar build. I think teams are going to sleep on him a bit since he's playing right now during this process and Noa is getting all the looks, but I could see him panning out.

I'm currently at either:

- Draft VJ at 3
- Trade down and get one of CMB, Queen, or Kasparas

OH NO! Your genius calculations can't decide? Everytime you look for free throw rate... Coming up snake eyes? Guess everyone in the lottery should go to the G League.



No excuses Daryl... Plenty of stars in this draft

[MVP1992]

VJ looks small on tape and that is my biggest hold up atm

but both of the finals teams have run out lineups of 3 6'3 to 6'5 guys so its not the end of the world.

the issue is that we have no real forwards on the roster lol

We have more problems at the C position if we’re going to discuss positional need.

Grimes, Edwards, George and Oubre can play SF.

Who's our PF ?

[76ciology]

VJ looks small on tape and that is my biggest hold up atm

but both of the finals teams have run out lineups of 3 6'3 to 6'5 guys so its not the end of the world.

the issue is that we have no real forwards on the roster lol

We have more problems at the C position if we’re going to discuss positional need.

Grimes, Edwards, George and Oubre can play SF.

Who's our PF ?

Mostly Oubre at the 4, with George able to play some minutes there as well. They’ll likely add a signing like Larry Nance Jr. or Jabari Walker or re-sign Yabu.

[Negrodamus]

This draft stinks so much, it's a shame this was the one we sold out for, but it's the only one that made sense.

There are so many things that have to go right for most of these guys at 3-8 that you have to take the guy who has the most projectable traits. Edgecombe, Knueppel, Ace, Fears, Tre, Jaku, Maluach all of massive question marks across their games; feels like way more than most top 5 projected freshmen.

Collin Murray-Boyles really has one major question: Can he get that shot right? Looking at this Finals, I can see him getting substantial minutes for either of these teams as he gets comfortable in the league. He's just not a freshman.

Another guy who I'm getting more interested in after watching recent clips of his games is Ben Saraf, Essengue's teammate. He clearly looks much larger than Jakucionis, who is supposed to be of a similar build. I think teams are going to sleep on him a bit since he's playing right now during this process and Noa is getting all the looks, but I could see him panning out.

I'm currently at either:

- Draft VJ at 3
- Trade down and get one of CMB, Queen, or Kasparas

OH NO! Your genius calculations can't decide? Everytime you look for free throw rate... Coming up snake eyes? Guess everyone in the lottery should go to the G League.



No excuses Daryl... Plenty of stars in this draft

Totally normal response.

[MVP1992]

We have more problems at the C position if we’re going to discuss positional need.

Grimes, Edwards, George and Oubre can play SF.

Who's our PF ?

Mostly Oubre at the 4, with George able to play some minutes there as well. They’ll likely add a signing like Larry Nance Jr. or Jabari Walker or re-sign Yabu.

If we trade expiring contracts like Drummond & Gordon & Oubre maybe.

Yabu for the 5.7m is a stretch too far I'm guessing.

[76ciology]

Bet on OKC lead guard archetype

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1717819