Kai Jones

Post #1 » by **yosemiteben** » Wed Jul 21, 2021 1:07 pm

Went back 15 pages and couldn't find a thread on this guy. Projects to be a first rounder and potentially a lotto pick.

Let's see some discussion.

Wizop · Post #2 » by **Wizop** » Wed Jul 21, 2021 1:53 pm

I like him at 13 for my Pacers as I see him playing the 4. Mocks have him all over the place from top 10 to in the 20's. Chad Ford has his range as 11-22.

Josephy477 · Post #3 » by **Josephy477** » Wed Jul 21, 2021 2:04 pm

You can search it, why you checked out all 15 pages?

mylonestar

Post #4 » by **yosemiteben** » Wed Jul 21, 2021 2:45 pm

Josephy477 wrote:You can search it, why you checked out all 15 pages?

Apparently I suck at the search function :lol:

Thought it was easier to search using the browser and just searching text on the pages.

K_chile22 · Post #5 » by **K_chile22** » Wed Jul 21, 2021 2:52 pm

He seems to be dropping in the pre draft process. I like his upside but he has real "out of the league by the end of his rookie deal" potential. I'd love to take him after the lotto on a team that will let him develop though

clyde21 · Post #6 » by **clyde21** » Wed Jul 21, 2021 5:51 pm

uncanny movements for a 6-10 guy, potential through the roof defensively, but a pretty low floor in terms of his path to being able to get consistent minutes in the NBA early in his career.

i know a lot have him lotto here, but I just can't get that high, too much question marks and i don't know if the juice will be worth the squeeze in the end if you're gonna take him that high.

i think ceiling for him should be #16 for OKC, but nothing higher.

Catchall · Post #7 » by **Catchall** » Wed Jul 21, 2021 8:38 pm

He might be the guy people were hoping Marquese Chriss would be. He has a lot of potential, but a lot of his production at the NBA level is still theoretical. Whether he has a true position, or whether he gets stuck between the 4 and the 5 (like Marvin Bagley), remains to be seen.

Stillwater · Post #8 » by **Stillwater** » Wed Jul 21, 2021 10:21 pm

9-12 is the range I have him in Kings Pels Hornets Spurs could all target him
I would take him at 8 if I was ORL as well but I think he becomes more realistic after the top 8 or 10 are gone

EMG518 · Post #9 » by **EMG518** » Thu Jul 22, 2021 2:13 am

I think I have him ranked 13th. I have no issue with people thinking he should go later but I don't think he should fall out of the teens personally. He could really be a problem for other teams defensively. His floor to me is a guy who can play really good defense and disrupt the other teams offense for 20 minutes. He can switch onto anybody with his feet and length. What you are hoping is he develops more on the offensive side, the defense will for sure improve and all the tools are there.

Post #10 » by **Nuntius** » Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:44 am

yosemiteben wrote:
Josephy477 wrote:You can search it, why you checked out all 15 pages?

Apparently I suck at the search function

Thought it was easier to search using the browser and just searching text on the pages.

Alright, the fact that this poster's first post on RealGM was to inform a mod about the site's search function is just hilarious to me :lol:

PS: I can relate, though, I also suck at the search function :oops:

Post #11 » by **Nuntius** » Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:46 am

Catchall wrote:He might be the guy people were hoping Marquese Chriss would be.

Yes. And he could also be what Marquese Chriss actually was. It's a boom or bust pick.

Post #12 » by **Ruzious** » Thu Jul 22, 2021 9:52 am

Nuntius wrote:
Catchall wrote:He might be the guy people were hoping Marquese Chriss would be.

Yes. And he could also be what Marquese Chriss actually was. It's a boom or bust pick.

He could easily bust, but he's such a unique defensive player with his ability to guard 3's at that size. Hopefully he gets with a coach that can figure out how to get some offensive use out of him - because he does have some skills - he just hasn't used them very much and didn't develop much on that big Texas front court. He needs a lot of coaching up.

Post #13 » by **Nuntius** » Thu Jul 22, 2021 10:08 am

Ruzious wrote:
Nuntius wrote:
Catchall wrote:He might be the guy people were hoping Marquese Chriss would be.

Yes. And he could also be what Marquese Chriss actually was. It's a boom or bust pick.

He could easily bust, but he's such a unique defensive player with his ability to guard 3's at that size. Hopefully he gets with a coach that can figure out how to get some offensive use out of him - because he does have some skills - he just hasn't used them very much and didn't develop much on that big Texas front court. He needs a lot of coaching up.

He needs to learn how to play. Not just on offense, on defense too. They physical tools are all there but the awareness isn't. And that's entirely natural. Kai was training as a track & field athlete, a long jumper, in particular, up until 2015. He had a growth spurt, though, and grew too tall for that sport (you cannot really be a long jumper at his size) so that's when he picked up basketball. With less than 6 years of organized basketball experience, no one should expect him to know how to play. There are 13 year olds that have more organized basketball experience than Kai.

As I said, though, the athletic talent is there. You do not pursue a career as a long jumper without athletic talent. Kai needs to be drafted by a team that can develop players. He needs to be drafted somewhere where they can teach him how to play. The Spurs would be an ideal landing spot for him.

Onus · Post #14 » by **Onus** » Thu Jul 22, 2021 2:48 pm

He has the athletic ability to be an impact player, but he's so far behind on how to actually play basketball that he's going to take a few years for him to get there

Upperclass · Post #15 » by **Upperclass** » Thu Jul 22, 2021 6:35 pm

looks alot like Nic Claxton imo

BostonCouchGM · Post #16 » by **BostonCouchGM** » Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:16 pm

really don't see why he's considered a lottery talent. I'm not sure I take him until well into the 2nd round.

Kobblehead · Post #17 » by **Kobblehead** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 9:41 pm

Fantastic defensive talent, but if the guy couldn't figure out how to play and be productive through two seasons at Texas, not sure he'll do that on a rookie deal in the NBA. Probably will take until his 3rd or 4th team to finally figure things out. Ultimately, it's probably a waste of time for his drafting team. I would pass on him altogether. If you really want him, sign him 5-6 years from now to a MLE deal. I'm sure he'll be available.

Post #18 » by **Nuntius** » Thu Jul 29, 2021 1:02 pm

Kobblehead wrote:Fantastic defensive talent, but if the guy couldn't figure out how to play and be productive through two seasons at Texas, not sure he'll do that on a rookie deal in the NBA. Probably will take until his 3rd or 4th team to finally figure things out. Ultimately, it's probably a waste of time for his drafting team. I would pass on him altogether. If you really want him, sign him 5-6 years from now to a MLE deal. I'm sure he'll be available.

To be fair, he has only played basketball for 4-5 years. It makes sense that he doesn't know how to play yet.

kobyz · Post #19 » by **kobyz** » Thu Jul 29, 2021 1:32 pm

99% bust potential

Roger Murdock · Post #20 » by **Roger Murdock** » Thu Jul 29, 2021 3:04 pm

Should go mid R2

Low bbiq
Really bad hands
Weak motor

It’s hard to see a path for him right now. Basically the low hanging fruit attributes you need to check to be a rookie contract rim runner be doesn’t check

He’ll be available after his rookie contract for a min deal

NBA comp - Ryan Hollins