2026 NBA Draft Thread.....

[dobrojim]

I am not sure if Dawkins values the pg spot as much as many of us do.

How would we know? He seems to do a good job
keeping his cards close to his chest.

[tontoz]

I am not sure if Dawkins values the pg spot as much as many of us do.

How would we know? He seems to do a good job
keeping his cards close to his chest.

Correct all we have is his track record.

[nate33]

Caleb Wilson is an absolute freak athlete. His blow-bys and dunks in this game were jaw dropping. He also has a monstrous wingspan. Check out at 0:10, 0:25 and 2:12.

All that said, I really didn't like his low-energy nonchalance on defense. If he is not on-ball, he is totally relaxed, flat-footed and upright, barely even paying attention to the ball. It looks like he doesn't have a care in the world. If he was more alert, and in a lower, more reactive stance, he could have much more impact as a help defender and rebounder. I hope they can coach that out of him. Low-motor guys are usually a big red flag. Examples at 0:00, 1:40, and 2:35.

Watch on YouTube

[tontoz]

Caleb Wilson is an absolute freak athlete. His blow-bys and dunks in this game were jaw dropping. He also has a monstrous wingspan. Check out at 0:10, 0:25 and 2:12.

All that said, I really didn't like his low-energy nonchalance on defense. If he is not on-ball, he is totally relaxed, flat-footed and upright, barely even paying attention to the ball. It looks like he doesn't have a care in the world. If he was more alert, and in a lower, more reactive stance, he could have much more impact as a help defender and rebounder. I hope they can coach that out of him. Low-motor guys are usually a big red flag. Examples at 0:00, 1:40, and 2:35.

Yeah he is a great prospect but still very raw. I watched the game and he struggled to finish inside when he couldn't dunk. He also had some really bad body language when he thought he should get the ball but didn't. To your point he looks overly casual much of the time moving around the court.

I like him but he definitely has some things he needs to work on.

[payitforward]

For sure, but as nate points out you see him do things with level of speed, agility & balance that can seem impossible! Wow!

[dobrojim]

Too many games to watch yesterday not counting the football. In the early part of the BYU game AJ wasn't very impressive. Didn't see the 2nd half.
I have to say Boozer looked pretty good in his game.
I don't want to like him (not sure why) but he looked good.

Ament looked okay in his game too.

Anxiously waiting to see Darryn play.

[tontoz]

The college game doesn't suit AJ. He wants to attack the rim and is very good at it but when he is driving from the perimeter it is easy to pack the paint on defense because there is no illegal defense in college. I think AJ will benefit the most in the transition to the NBA due to the rules and spacing.

[dobrojim]

Meanwhile Boozer is like a wrecking ball.

[nate33]

Boozer looks like he'll be somewhere between the Domantas Sabonis and Kevin Love. His bully ball and passing game is exactly like Sabonis, only he is a bit smaller. But he also has the wrinkle of being a reliable outside shooter like Love, though his release is a bit slower and he probably won't be quite as accurate.

Defensively, he just isn't big and long enough to protect the rim at center, so he'll have to play PF. He is fairly slow laterally, but he looks a bit quicker than Sabonis/Love so maybe he'll get by defensively at PF.

Overall, he doesn't strike me as a Dawkins type of player. I think Dawkins values versatility on defense too much and would prefer somebody more switchable. I think Dawkins believes our rebounding woes can mostly be resolved by spending more time in the weight room.

[mhd]

I have Wilson above Boozer

[9 and 20]

Agree on Boozer just not looking very explosive at all. Looks ok in a straight line and even side to side. Like a giant Kon Kneuppel, physically.

[dobrojim]

Like I said, I don't want to like Boozer but in spite of
what he might lack in explosiveness might not matter
if he's too strong to stop. That said, I'd put him below
AJ and Caleb in terms of growth in his future.

[tontoz]

Like I said, I don't want to like Boozer but in spite of
what he might lack in explosiveness might not matter
if he's too strong to stop. That said, I'd put him below
AJ and Caleb in terms of growth in his future.

Boozer isn't that strong lol. The bullyball routine works against cupcake teams but hasn't worked against good teams.

Ive only watched the beginning of the game so far. His first shot was this one.

[tontoz]

This game he showed something I've wanted to see. Boozer got inside and kept his pivot foot down, using footwork and fakes to get his shot off. That is how a below the rim plodder has to play.

I don't care about the big statline. Some of that was just bad defense by Arkansas.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Michigan St. and Tom Izzo put the clamps on Caleb Wilson by committee.

One of my favorite 2nd round picks is MSU big man Jaxon Kohler. https://detroitnews.sports.gracenote.com/basketball/ncaab/player/807097
He's an NBA-ready PF/C in the Bill Laimbeer mode.