Draft Day Shenanigans (IV)

[M2J]

Headcace fans for 12 straight hours post draft:

Why don't you go celebrate... The young superstar. Don't worry about it

[sixers hoops]

Fact that VJ was the selection makes your point even more. Who would step in for that?

I don’t think anybody would step in for a team taking their third ranked prospect with the third pick. You are really struggling to separate your opinion of the prospects from the team’s opinion of the prospects. Some people take longer to grasp reality, but you will get there.

There's evidence against him being their number 3, the begging for a meeting before VJ came and again after, but we'll agree to disagree

You can’t be serious lol. The teams want to meet with every prospect in that range. Ace was the only prospect who didn’t have the confidence to workout for them, but that’s his decision. Teams with the third pick always try to meet with all the players in that range. You are really grasping at straws here. You are going to take longer than most to come to terms with reality.

[stormi]

Embiid quietly has an unusually high bar for his frontcourt partner at the 4. He needs someone who’s basically a unicorn, a stretch big who can protect the rim, put the ball on the floor, make smart reads, and pass at a high level. Batum might be the closest fit we’ve seen. The next is the version of Ben Simmons in his offseason workouts.

That was when Joel Embiid was superman. When Joel Embiid was a walking top five defense single handedly. When Embiid could guard the perimeter for half the game, step up into the p&r without getting attacked and still reduce threat at the rim.

He's far from that level of athlete at this point and the NBA is sizing up. As seen with OKC getting iHart to change their defense with Chet. Giannis playing with Lopez. The Celtics constantly alternative between Horford, KP, Kornet and Tatum.

Neither Oubre nor George are even in that same size bracket. Neither offer any resilience at the rim and minimal rebounding.

How many series' have we lost now due to our inability to match-up when the games get bigger?

The Raptors in 2019 checkmated us by playing more Ibaka and less Green when they fell behind 3-2. Lost in 7.
The Celtics in 2023 checkmated us by going double big with Rob Williams alongside Horford when they fell behind 3-2. Lost in 7.
It goes without saying how the Knicks punished us along the margins due to second chance points and rebounding.

That isn't to say Fleming has to play every minute of every game. You can mix and match lineups where you size down with more shooting but if we don't even have the option to make proactive situational line-up tweaks then just abandon the season before it begins.

I get what you’re saying, and I agree, I actually brought up the same idea before about running a double-big lineup. A lot of our playoff losses have come down to the size issues at the 4 and 5.

Back then, the response I got was that size wasn’t the problem because Embiid had a strong +/- and the real issue was our backup center. Funny enough, that take came from a mod. But anyway, carry on.

I think the very best backup centers are the hybrid 4/5s anyways, which Fleming could be if that jumpshot translates. Ideally a player that can play SB5 in line-ups without Joel Embiid, but can also provide productive minutes alongside him.

Even ignoring Drummond, we quite literally just drafted Bona.

You're right in the fact that it's still an area that can absolutely be improved, but I think upgrading on Oubre is far more imperative to rounding out this roster.

[M2J]

I don’t think anybody would step in for a team taking their third ranked prospect with the third pick. You are really struggling to separate your opinion of the prospects from the team’s opinion of the prospects. Some people take longer to grasp reality, but you will get there.

There's evidence against him being their number 3, the begging for a meeting before VJ came and again after, but we'll agree to disagree

You can’t be serious lol. The teams want to meet with every prospect in that range. Ace was the only prospect who didn’t have the confidence to workout for them, but that’s his decision. Teams with the third pick always try to meet with all the players in that range. You are really grasping at straws here. You are going to take longer than most to come to terms with reality.

Y'all keep trying to make me talk about it. But that's not true. They certainly don't try to meet with them before their dream prospect VJ, no more than VJ meeting with Charlotte well before the 3rd team. It was reported before VJ workout that they had been trying to get Ace in for weeks and Ace refused.

You can spin it how you like, but any sane person here can Google a million articles on why Ace was turning down not just workouts but meetings with teams he didn't want to play for and where he was trying to go

[sixers hoops]

There's evidence against him being their number 3, the begging for a meeting before VJ came and again after, but we'll agree to disagree

You can’t be serious lol. The teams want to meet with every prospect in that range. Ace was the only prospect who didn’t have the confidence to workout for them, but that’s his decision. Teams with the third pick always try to meet with all the players in that range. You are really grasping at straws here. You are going to take longer than most to come to terms with reality.

Y'all keep trying to make me talk about it. But that's not true. They certainly don't try to meet with them before their dream prospect VJ, no more than VJ meeting with Charlotte well before the 3rd team. It was reported before VJ workout that they had been trying to get Ace in for weeks and Ace refused.

You can spin it how you like, but any sane person here can Google a million articles on why Ace was turning down not just workouts but meetings with teams he didn't want to play for and where he was trying to go

Wrong. He did schedule a workout, then he backed out. They didn’t know what they were doing. Their entire process was fueled by panic and disorganization.

[M2J]

You can’t be serious lol. The teams want to meet with every prospect in that range. Ace was the only prospect who didn’t have the confidence to workout for them, but that’s his decision. Teams with the third pick always try to meet with all the players in that range. You are really grasping at straws here. You are going to take longer than most to come to terms with reality.

Y'all keep trying to make me talk about it. But that's not true. They certainly don't try to meet with them before their dream prospect VJ, no more than VJ meeting with Charlotte well before the 3rd team. It was reported before VJ workout that they had been trying to get Ace in for weeks and Ace refused.

You can spin it how you like, but any sane person here can Google a million articles on why Ace was turning down not just workouts but meetings with teams he didn't want to play for and where he was trying to go

Wrong. He did schedule a workout, then he backed out. They didn’t know what they were doing. Their entire process was fueled by panic and disorganization.

You can Google a million articles as to why he cancelled and what they were trying to organize, but a championship winning GM didn't let his talent pass.

Everything I've said on the subject has several sources from multiple requests for meetings before VJ to championship team CEO drafting him top 5 even though the same refusal happened to Utah

[sixers hoops]

Headcace fans for 12 straight hours post draft:

I’ve seen some posters upset before about not getting their way during a draft, but I’ve never seen anybody this unhinged over it, And I didn’t even really care who we drafted.

[sixers hoops]

Y'all keep trying to make me talk about it. But that's not true. They certainly don't try to meet with them before their dream prospect VJ, no more than VJ meeting with Charlotte well before the 3rd team. It was reported before VJ workout that they had been trying to get Ace in for weeks and Ace refused.

You can spin it how you like, but any sane person here can Google a million articles on why Ace was turning down not just workouts but meetings with teams he didn't want to play for and where he was trying to go

Wrong. He did schedule a workout, then he backed out. They didn’t know what they were doing. Their entire process was fueled by panic and disorganization.

You can Google a million articles as to why he cancelled and what they were trying to organize, but a championship winning GM didn't let his talent pass.

Everything I've said on the subject has several sources from multiple requests for meetings before VJ to championship team CEO drafting him top 5 even though the same refusal happened to Utah

You don’t need to google articles to know the Sixers were going to meet with more than one player. It’s common for the third pick. You just need a basically understanding of how teams approach the draft.

[M2J]

Headcace fans for 12 straight hours post draft:

I’ve seen some posters upset before about not getting their way during a draft, but I’ve never seen anybody this unhinged over it, And I didn’t even really care who we drafted.

Wait a second thats not fair... You keep pushing this conversation. I don't really care and again I've never said a negative word about VJ. I've actually barely even posted about the draft after the first 30 minutes.

We're not even having a conversation about the draft pick We're having a conversation that you keep pushing about the process of who the team wanted, and I've tried to opt out a few times now. Neither one of us will ever know what Daryl would've done of Ace wanted to be in Philly....and I don't really care. I just know that time will tell who drafted the best player. I've made my point clear several times.

Philadelphia did meet with several players. They zoomed Kon, they didn't meet Tre who was in the range. Couldn't meet Dylan. But the reports show who they tried to meet first, and he didn't want to meet them. I think that was a mistake on his part, but they didn't... And it could've played a part if they hypothetically had them in the same range as you say.

Just leave it at that.

Also Stormi it's spelled headcase and no one used that language when you gave yourself a self imposed mental health timeout after melting down about the draft a week ago.

Play nicely

[sixers hoops]

Headcace fans for 12 straight hours post draft:

I’ve seen some posters upset before about not getting their way during a draft, but I’ve never seen anybody this unhinged over it, And I didn’t even really care who we drafted.

Wait a second thats not fair... You keep pushing this conversation. I don't really care and again I've never said a negative word about VJ. I've actually barely even posted about the draft after the first 30 minutes.

We're not even having a conversation about the draft pick We're having a conversation that you keep pushing about the process of who the team wanted, and I've tried to opt out a few times now. Neither one of us will ever know what Daryl would've done of Ace wanted to be in Philly....and I don't really care. I just know that time will tell who drafted the best player. I've made my point clear several times.

In Philadelphia did me with several players. They zoomed Kon, they didn't meet Tre who was in the range. Couldn't meet Dylan. But the reports show who they tried to meet first, and he didn't want to meet them. I think that was a mistake on his part, but they didn't... And it could've played a part if they hypothetically had them in the same range as you say.

Just leave it at that.

Also Stormi it's spelled headcase and no one used that language when you gave yourself a self imposed timeout after melting down about the drafta week ago.

Play nicely

I agree. Thanks

[MVP1992]

.

[M2J]

Did anyone else see this
CMB being called out to Toronto

Read on Twitter

His Mom kept him on track though

[MVP1992]

.

[ProcessDoctor]

Wow Fleming is still out there? Would love him or Raynaud.

[Stanford]

Benefit of the doubt... " ****" shakes head in disbelief. Overwhelmed.

Pretty sure that was it.

[youngcrev]

This shook out really well for 35 so far. A bunch of big wings/bigs sitting there.

Getting Kalkbrenner or Fleming feels like a great outcome.

[youngcrev]

Hmm, think drafting VJ makes it more likely Eric Gordon sticks around?

[Kolkmania]

Did anyone else see this
CMB being called out to Toronto

Read on Twitter

His Mom kept him on track though

Wish she clipped him under the ear.

Instant millionaire living the dream.

Benefit of the doubt... " ****" shakes head in disbelief. Overwhelmed.

Or, he wanted to go where he wasn't a quantuplicate of similar size and archetype wings to get playing time.

https://raptorsrapture.com/raptors-just-bizarrely-drafted-player-already-countless-versions-collin-murray-boyles

I personally think he was one of the best players available, but the fit with their roster is so strange.

His biggest strength on offense will probably be acting as an internal hub, revolving around dribble hand-offs, short rolls, etc. The fit with Maxey and McCain would have been beautiful. The lack of dynamic shot making and P&R ball handler partners on the other hand will really hurt him in Toronto.

[zaz102]

Hmm, think drafting VJ makes it more likely Eric Gordon sticks around?

Probably not. Morey got rid of PG's buddy last year without hesitation. I think Gordon could stick around, but moreso because his option is a player option rather than a team option and because other teams would want the Sixers to pay to take his salary.

If there's not a deal that helps the Sixers, you may as well keep him on the roster until one pops up. Or maybe they keep him for depth if he plays well enough.

[zaz102]

VJ wasn't my personal pick, but I don't know how some people can be so sure of Ace over VJ (and Tre and Kon).

Ace has big, obvious flaws in his game. Otherwise, San Antonio would've been debating between Ace and Harper or people's big boards would have had him consistently at #3 (or again even #2 if he wasn't so flawed).

We'll see how it shakes out, but I'll be rooting for VJ to maximize his potential. At the very least, he seems like he's a prepared for the road ahead and not immature or a headcase like some of our other big time prospects that flamed out.