A second round promise would be plenty for a lot of guys. It’s probably not so enticing when your brother jumped to a projected top 5 pick after going back to school for a year. Why not try to follow in his footsteps?
I agree. My point was that Kris is making what I have always thought was a good decision. If it works out as you say, he will add to a long recent list of guys who have turned a big returning year into a better draft pick. Franz, Ivey, Davis, his brother, etc. I was always hoping that one of our two freshmen would choose a similar option. Alas…not to be.
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Timme coming back to Gonzaga. Feels like he could wind up the winningest player in college basketball history. Another 30 wins season on the way.
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are you kidding me? this mfer is back?
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the reason the two this year didn’t come back (and Franz did) is because their parents weren’t umhoops posters. everyone around here needs to start pulling their weight, progeny wise. posting is winning.
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Somehow guys at other schools aren’t just sick of school, too old, are what they are, stock not getting any better, nothing left to accomplish, etc.
This isn’t going to be the exact same scale as KenPom and even adjusting the heck out of RAPM means wide error bars. But still, about what you’d guess for Moussa and Caleb. Guys who if you had 13 guys about that good you’d end up somewhere between the NIT and bubble in. Can go a lot farther if they’re you’re 4th or 5th best starter not your 2nd.
But also worth noting just how few freshmen RAPM likes a lot better than them.
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Nate Duncan started his draft profile series today with Jaden Ivey.
Long story short, their take was elite in transition (duh), his offensive game while often not very “crafty” just works (finishing, floaters). They compared his 3 to Morant - it’s a set shot, and will probably max out as a counter to keep teams honest than a genuine asset. They thought his passing was about average for a college two guard, and were neither enthused nor concerned. They thought his man-to-man defense was fine, was turned off by his lack of play making (though noted he’s quite good at chase-down blocks). Generally a little concerned about his frame/weight/ability to add weight.
Compared him to a healthy Victor Oladipo.
Just reading some blogs and pre draft rankings there’s another big from France who is already 21 years old but getting lots of love Ismael Kamagate 6’10 with 7-3 wing span a shot blocker and top tier defender. Some have him early 2nd late 1st.
The Givony “Best Available/Best Fit” thing had Caleb going 35th as “best fit” and 34th as “best available”. Moussa didn’t appear.
It seems like Houstan in the early 2nd round is solidifying.
Houstan is getting a look from the Nuggets.Nuggets are hosting another pre-draft workout Monday. Names I'd keep an eye on here: Kendall Brown and Caleb Houstan pic.twitter.com/tBl3URO8wa
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) June 13, 2022
Nuggets just traded for OKC’s #30 pick…
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A certain team has 3 picks in the 20-40 range though.
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Houstan better hope the Spurs or Nuggets take him in the first and he doesn’t end up on the Kings when they pick 37.
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Houstan at 29, No Moussa
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There shouldn’t be a second-round stigma
Today and Thursday: Rob Dauster examines why college players don’t mind staying the NBA Draft — even if they’re not a first-round lock.
When it comes to criticizing players for leaving school early, the lowest of the low-hanging fruit is the argument that anyone leaving school without being a first-round pick is taking too big of a risk. They are not getting guaranteed money so it’s foolish for them not to come back to school.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. Some numbers:
In the last four NBA Drafts, there have been 100 college basketball players selected in the second round.
- 57 got at least one year guaranteed salary at the league minimum, which was $925,000 in 2021-22.
- 38 got at least two years guaranteed (which was $2.4 million minimum salary for 2021 second rounders).
- Of the 43 players that did not get guaranteed contracts, 34 got two-way deals (half the league-minimum, $462,500 last season, non-guaranteed).
It’s getting better if you’re in the top half of the second round. In the last two years, 20 of those 32 players got at least two years of guaranteed money. Among the Top 50 picks, nine more players got two-way deals. And only one (Marcus Zegarowski, No. 49 overall to the Nets), inked a G League deal; the rest were European players.
Put another way, if you know you’re going to end up being a Top 50 pick, pencil in a two-way salary, which is equivalent to some of the best NIL deals available.
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Houstan at 24, No Diabate
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Houstan resembling GameStop from last year. Perceived value keeps going up for some unjustified reason. Soon enough he’s going to be projected as a lottery pick.
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Pacers say hello. I’m sure they’d prefer to draft another Plumlee, but why not go Houstan at 6? He’s the Canadian Reggie Miller!