2024-2025 College Basketball / NBA Draft - Volume III

[Negrodamus]

yes.

Mostly because Embiid is probably cooked lol.

PG can't guard 4s full time and Johnson even if you think he improves is still 190 so he can't guard forwards full time. I also think Grimes is a bit overrated defensively too.

We'd have to play faster and more reckless on defense in that scenario.

Fair. Don’t see how VJ or Kon being inserted instead of Tre really changes things though. MAYBE Ace but he isn’t an option in my mind.

Seems like as long as Embiid and George are here, things are bleak.

Team will need a burly forward regardless of who they pick imo.

That was one of our (many) weaknesses last year in which we tried to play Oubre, Both Martins, and PG there and we got whooped.

It was only fine when we played Yabu and Biid together but Biid then shortly died afterwards (and Nurse for some reason went away from it asap anyway lol).

....which is probably why Negrodamus has been banging the drum for Queen lol.

And because Queen is arguably the third best scorer in the draft. But yea, we need more size that does some play making. I’d also settle for CMB.

I loved how PG complained about how much defending he had to do in the post last year. What a great signing that was.

[M2J]

Yeah. No player is holding out the entire year. People used these same fear mongering scenarios with Ben, Harden, etc., and Morey eventually got what he wanted.

Ace has a really bad agent so unpredictable tactics are possible, but they aren’t going to sit out the entire season. If he sat out, he would lose $8.5 million. Get drafted lower next year and lose another $10-15 million on the value of his new rookie contract, and delay his first free agency by a year, setting him back a few more million. He will probably lose $20-$30 million, and he will have no control over where he ends up next year. I don’t think the Sixers want him anyway, but if they do, I wouldn’t be concerned about taking him.

They literally asked Morey to commit to him in order for him to work out.... Which is a tactic elite players (usually the first or second pick does when they don't want to risk injury or negative press (like the bull crap that came out about VJ today) to get out.

But my point is that there's no reason to believe he won't play for Philly, if anything he wants Philly to guarantee he'll play.

I haven't read that article yet. Just watch Jurassic world rebirth and it was mid..... From what I can tell from some of your posts. I don't really take very much regarding judgment on Ace or judgment on the agent from this stuff from 23 years ago, nor the inhaler stuff when we just saw him play a full season and he actually competed at the combine and was one of the best athletes there. The agent is clearly an experience by his resume, but the move to choose your own destination is not that uncommon and as they continue to leak that they don't feel any fear and are confident that he will be picked up meaning they already have promises from the team they want to go to. Which makes me believe that he will ultimately be selected at three either by Philly or tradeed

They aren’t going to commit to drafting him before the workout and having the opportunity to meet with him in person. The point of the private meeting and workout is to learn more about the player to determine if they want to draft him. And it is uncommon for the third pick to refuse to workout for anybody. Reed Sheppard worked out for several teams before being drafted third. Scoot Henderson worked out for two teams prior to being selected third. Jabari Smith Jr worked out for two teams before being selected third.

Saying his agent is scared he will get hurt is a cop out. If that were true, he would still meet with teams privately. He doesn’t have confidence that his player will perform well, and is potentially costing him significant career earnings. That is why he scheduled a meeting with a team and later cancel it. His agent doesn’t have a good grasp on the situation.

VJ isn’t scared to workout and meet with teams, and now he is the favorite to be drafted third. He has clearly leaped Ace in this process, so is being afraid of negative press really worth it? He has a horrible agent giving him very poor advice and costing him significant lifetime earnings.

You seem to be complimenting his agent for getting a promise from a team that will cost his client tens of millions of dollars. If you need an agent to tank your value and cost you significant amounts of lifetime earnings in an effort to get you into an uncompetitive environment, them he is your guy. However, you could easily tank your own value without giving an agent a cut. If an agent’s goal is to lose you millions of dollars because he thinks you need to be in a situation with no competition, it’s probably time to find a new agent.

Teams draft guys they haven't met, and players get picked by teams they've refused to workout for. Plus they met him at the combine and he worked out at the combine. Not every player they've talked to via zoom has done either, and he seems to be a potential option. But, I think the commitment term is missed by all of us.... More like we plan to take you.... We just want to meet you in person

I said it is typical of a first or second pick to want a team to declare to them before working out for them. I said those numbers specifically because those are the picks where we usually come into the draft knowing who are the first or second best players in the draft and they refuse to work out for teams out of their range. Even they cancelled the workout they said he sees himself as a CLEAR top 3 player and wanted assurances of that. But they're not going to just workout for teams 3-10. Some of the those teams just want to work you out to possibly signal to teams they'll take you and trade the pick and Philly has signaled trading that pick for a month. But with either of the risks I named. Plus you seem to have not understood my position on the agent...I think Ace is going 3rd period, 4th at worst, and will either be that teams pick or to be traded to one of his preferred destinations immediately or down the line.

But, if he were to fall there's ways to make that 5 -10 million over 4 years. You know like when you play, endorsements follow... Better chance at a big 2nd deal And that's his concern for a talent rich team like Philly.

[Negrodamus]

Read on Twitter

The legitimacy of Euro leagues is taking a dive here.

[Arsenal]

Read on Twitter

The legitimacy of Euro leagues is taking a dive here.

Smart move by Noa, proving he's a high IQ guy. No sense risking an Achilles or ACL in a meaningless game the day before a life-changing payday.

As the immortal Ricky Watters said...

"For who? For what?"

[Negrodamus]

I also think Morey can squint and see Harden in Tre. The difference is Harden was actually a nasty athlete at ASU and generated steals and fouls at an elite rate.

Tre already has a very good handle and I think it can be taken to another level. He is obviously a great shooter. But he's not a good athlete despite what his athletic testing suggests which prevents him from any rim pressure. And he doesn't generate any steals while being a total liability on defense.

I'd say the leg up that Tre has on Harden at a similar age is the midrange game. I don't have the numbers for Harden since thats too long ago, but the midrange hasn't ever really been a big part of his game. Tre likes to operate in backdown situations (kinda like Kobe) and has a variety of moves to get his shot off over smaller defenders.

Tre is not close to Harden. I already went through that exercise, and that’s exactly how I ended up ranking Kasparas at #3, he’s the one who most closely fits the Harden model but still far apart because of scoring volume and steals. Next to Kasparas would be Kon.

As a coping comparison, Tre reminds me a bit of Zach LaVine, he can shoot the three over defenders and has that scoring mindset. LaVine is also someone Morey seems to value when Harden isn’t on the table.

Honestly, I think Tre is a better comp for Maxey than for Harden, both had early career concerns with efficiency and defense, but gradually made major development in both areas.

I think Zach is too athletic as a comparison. His ceiling, for me, is still Jamal Murray:

Watch on YouTube

Which is a very good player; I think I was pretty high on him in that draft. The knock on Murray was not being able to beat his man and getting roasted on defense too. The question everyone must ask is if Jamal Murray would have the level of success he's had without Jokic, an all time gravitational player with elite passing. We have the shell of that kind of gravitational player and his passing isn't in the realm of Jokic.

[Negrodamus]

Day before draft feeling: if we don't trade the pick, I think the pick will be.... Tre.

Read on Twitter

[sodmoraes]

May be wrong, but i think Tre profile, as a shooter, was way better than Murray at college level?

[sodmoraes]

Day before draft feeling: if we don't trade the pick, I think the pick will be.... Tre.

Read on Twitter

I would be happy with Tre. Not as happy as i would if we got Bailey , but happier than i would if we get Edge, that would be ok too, but not that excited with him. I just dont want Kon, cant get excited drafting a Kon, although i really like Nipples

[Iverson Armband]

Odds have jumped for Tre too +350 now, VJ +225. Basically a coin flip

[Iverson Armband]

May be wrong, but i think Tre profile, as a shooter, was way better than Murray at college level?

Murray was seen as a pretty good shooter, but not potentially elite like Tre.

[Iverson Armband]

Who was the last truly elite lottery projected shooting prospect? Hield?

[Negrodamus]

May be wrong, but i think Tre profile, as a shooter, was way better than Murray at college level?

Depends on what you consider for a "shooter". If you mean all three levels, then Murray was decidedly better closer to the basket. Otherwise, Tre was a better outside shooter when weighted on % of unassisted baskets (higher level of difficulty).

Jamal had a suspiciously low FT% which hasn't been that low for his entire career, but otherwise was a flamethrower. Also, Murray played with the best PG in the country, so he didn't exactly have the same opportunity to just freelance on offense like Tre did.

Ironically, the thing that sold me on him was his pre-college Team Canada highlights, the only guy who I really latched onto that type of content up until Edgecombe came around.

[the_process]

Day before draft feeling: if we don't trade the pick, I think the pick will be.... Tre.

Read on Twitter

Makes sense. Highest upside offensive player.

That being said, they still need to trade down.

What the Sixers are trying to accomplish is not just future star hunting biggest draft swing.

[Sixersftw]

Who was the last truly elite lottery projected shooting prospect? Hield?

Cam was a pretty bonkers shooter, not that anyone had any assumption of star upside with him.

[Negrodamus]

Reed Sheppard had the most insane shoot year I've seen in a while.

[Negrodamus]

Here's what I find encouraging about Tre:

Conference games: 29.5 FTr
Top 50 games: 29.5 FTr, 6.8 OBPM

STL%: 1.7 consistently the entire year

He generated fouls better in top games to a level that is satisfactory to me (>.300 FTr)

STL% suggests he'll be over 2 in his sophomore year if he stuck around.

His offensive output improves when the opponents get tougher.

[Iverson Armband]

Reed Sheppard had the most insane shoot year I've seen in a while.

I still think he’s Nash.

[sixers hoops]

Let the bidding war commence!!!

Read on Twitter

Let's hope this is true. WSH and NOP and BKN in a bidding war to pay Morey is wonderful. That is what we should want.

Should not be in love with anyone on the board, save Flagg who even Nico Isn't trading. Ideally Sixers draft a couple guys, accumulate some future assets, and grab a win now player or two.

This is my thinking. I would be fine with Ace, Tre, VJ, etc, primarily because I don’t know a ton about them. I just don’t see a difference maker available, so I would rather let somebody who values those guys more pay to move into that spot.

[Negrodamus]

Reed Sheppard had the most insane shoot year I've seen in a while.

I still think he’s Nash.

I'm curious what they do with VanVleet this summer. If they feel good about Reed, then he needs to hit the road.

[Iverson Armband]

Reed Sheppard had the most insane shoot year I've seen in a while.

I still think he’s Nash.

I'm curious what they do with VanVleet this summer. If they feel good about Reed, then he needs to hit the road.

Apparently they want to sign him long term. I do not understand that move at all.