Liddell seems like the prototypical 20-30ish pick to me.
2 Likes
I am fine with any of the top 4 prospects for the Pistons. Jabari, Paolo, Chet and Jaden are all fits for the Pistons. Tbh, they could use a talent infusion anyway. Itās a matter of preference for Weaver depending on where they fall from the lottery.
2 Likes
So Iām just looking at this and seeing that EJ Liddell is actually younger than Keegan Murray. The more I see the NBA prospects in the Big Ten, the more I think Liddell will be a steal of the draft.
4 Likes
Compare and contrast Xavier Tillman v EJ Liddell pre draft prospects. Tillman went early second. Liddell better prospect in my opinion.
1 Like
Thatās hard to compare as they are totally different players. Tillman is so good at the little things that you want him on your bench and know heāll be a great role player. Can Liddell be successful if heās just a secondary option? Probably - but heās not likely to be an elite defender or rebounder or have positional flexibility. Iād draft him for sureā¦just not sure the Tillman comparison is great.
Iām not much of a NBA guy so maybe this is worthless commentary, but EJās height might be a NBA concern. Given his shooting range, I wonder if whoever drafts him will ask him to lose some weight in order to improve his quickness so he can play a more perimeter oriented game at the next level.
1 Like
2 Likes
Iām not saying they are the same. I think itās interesting to compare and contrast
One reason I asked is Dylan big fan of both, also, at this point, draft status for both in same range.
Personally I like Liddell more as NBA prospect because I think he will be able to score consistently in NBA. Same reason I liked Cam Thomas last year.
2 Likes
āBecause fewer upperclassmen have emerged as interesting NBA prospects, this is potentially shaping up to be the year of the āpre-draft,ā a concept where teams try to persuade players to come out a year before theyāre realistically ready and at the highest point of their stock in order to get a higher-upside swing value-wise on their pick ā hoping to get a discount on a valuable player.ā One more example of the NBA trying to ruin college basketball, in this case stockpiling players. Iām not asking for a debate, so please donāt go there with me. Just my opinion, and the truth is I am not a fan of the NBA but I am a huge fan of college basketball and of amateur athletics which college basketball used to be. Again, Iām not debating anybody on this. Itās just my opinion, and, after all, we get to express opinions on message boards, right? 
I know the Zeb thread turned into a Houstan thread about the draft, so will try to refocus here. I think we know the situation with Houstan and that he hasnāt shown any indication of being ready for the NBA and as Michigan fans we want to see him reach his potential in college. But as Dylan has pointed out, he may try to capitalize on his remaining high school buzz and sneak into the draft rather that risk another year in school.
All that was a preamble to this questionā¦what about Max Christie? Also a five star, also has had an up and down year with flashes of potential, has shown a little more diversity in his game than Caleb, more guard skills, worse shooting, a little shorter (not that Caleb really uses his height)ā¦ But he isnāt on any draft boards and there seems to be zero discussion of him leaving. Feelsā¦odd. Wouldnāt an NBA team be just as likely to gamble on him in the second round?
1 Like
Christie has been mentioned in the same way Houstan has. Just more people assume heās coming back. Whether thatās due to intel or just speculation I donāt know but vecenie implied he had heard that Christie is fine with another year in EL. Itās MSU so unlikely he would leave š¤·š¼
4 Likes
Yeah no way Christie is gonna leave, Izzo will keep him locked up for at least 3 full years in East Lansing.
3 Likes
Christie will stay five years. Four years plus a COVID year even though he wasnāt in college last season.
10 Likes
Caleb wouldnāt be leaving for the draft if he wasnāt a top ten preseason prospect who initially planned on leaving. Christie was not anticipating a one and done like Houstan was.
Christie was a consensus 5 star recruit, ranked 18th in his class. Iād say thatās somewhat OAD territory.
Yeah, if Caleb gambles on the NBA because the recruiting services over rated him at #10 while Christie doesnāt even consider it because he was rated ten spots later thatās sort of silly.
2 Likes
Was Christie in the first round of a single mock draft in the preseason? NBA boards and rankings donāt always line up.
2 Likes
I canāt imagine at this point that the high school hype would be enough to prompt a team to draft him. If he had sat on the bench all year, that would be one thing, but he plays starterās minutes and his skills are on display for all to see.
If he tests the waters and blows up in the pre-draft camps somehow, then I could see him staying in.
Smart draft people had been mentioning him in if not the the same breathe then just a bit below Houstan as a first round talent. But most assumed heād come back and thus excluded him from their mocks
2 Likes
Only Izzo that he has a 5* recruits and have them stay an extra year or two. With the exception of JJJ (which is entirely an Izzoās fault for that stupid NCAA tournament rotation thing against Cuse), I canāt remember any other elite recruits end up going one and done for MSU.
1 Like